Hong Kong: Novel ways to promote building safety To provide building rehabilitation related information and assistance services all under one roof, the Urban Renewal Authority established the first Building Rehabilitation Resource Centre in To Kwa Wan. Through the use of 4D visual technology, visitors are shown the serious consequences of neglecting building maintenance, with mascot "BRBot" serving as a tour guide to introduce the various exhibition areas. Urban Renewal Authority Manager (Building Rehabilitation) Samuel Wong said they applied digital technology to showcase the importance of building maintenance and rehabilitation in improving citizens' living environment and extending the lifespan of buildings. Here, we take a fun and innovative approach to raise public awareness about building rehabilitation and maintenance, and the introduction of the new concept of preventative maintenance. Crucial assistance Mrs Chan lives in a nearly 50-year-old private residential building in Jordan. As the owners' corporation chairperson, she decided to join a guided tour of the centre. She learnt about the different building rehabilitation subsidy schemes and application procedures and was quick to share her new-found information with the corporation members. They then decided to apply for the Operation Building Bright 2.0 scheme and the Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme. Our buildings external wall finishes are peeling, so we need to fix that as soon as possible. If I had not joined the tour, I would not have known that our building is eligible to apply for the Operation Building Bright 2.0 scheme. Building repair and maintenance costs are expensive. If our applications for these subsidy schemes are successful, our resident owners say they are willing to support the building rehabilitation work. Rehabilitation tour The centre was officially opened to the public in July 2023. By the end of the year, about 6,000 people had entered its doors. More than 40 tours were organised for the general public, building owners and professional organisations, and the response has been positive. Property Management Company Assistant Property & Facility Manager Pansy Ip described the tour as being informative and effective. As I am now working in a 10-year-old commercial building, in the past, I did not know this kind of new building would need some maintenance work. After I joined this tour, I plan to take this information and apply it to our building. Aside from the guided tour, visitors are welcome to pop in to the centre during office hours without the need to book an appointment in advance and admission is free. There is a video consultation service available for those who intend to apply for the various building rehabilitation subsidy schemes and they can go through the relevant application procedures, fill in the application forms and submit documents online. This story has been published on: 2024-01-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Kharkiv region prosecutor's office provided further evidence on Saturday that Russia attacked Ukraine with missiles supplied by North Korea, showcasing the fragments. A senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that Russia hit Ukraine this week with missiles supplied by North Korea for the first time during its invasion. Dmytro Chubenko, spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, said the missile, one of several that hit the city of Kharkiv on Jan. 2, was visually and technically different from Russian models. "The production method is not very modern. There are deviations from standard Iskander missiles, which we previously saw during strikes on Kharkiv. This missile is similar to one of the North Korean missiles," Chubenko told media as he displayed the remnants. He said the missile was slightly bigger in diameter than the Russian Iskander missile, while its nozzle, internal electrical windings, and rear parts were also different. "That is why we are leaning towards the version that this may be a missile which was supplied by North Korea." Chubenko declined to give the missile's exact model name. Russia attacked Kharkiv with several missiles this week, killing two people and injuring over 60 in one of its biggest missile and drone strikes since the start of the large-scale war in February 2022. North Korea has been under a United Nations arms embargo since it first tested a nuclear bomb in 2006. U.N. Security Council resolutions approved with Russian support ban countries from trading weapons or other military equipment with North Korea. (Reuters) https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/us-house-speaker-criticizes-white-house-for-lack-of-strategy-on-ukraine-conflict-1116042665.html US House Speaker Criticizes White House for Lack of Strategy on Ukraine Conflict US House Speaker Criticizes White House for Lack of Strategy on Ukraine Conflict Sputnik International US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday reproached the White House for the lack of strategy on the Ukrainian conflict, saying that he had repeatedly requested information about it, but never received a response. 2024-01-07T18:55+0000 2024-01-07T18:55+0000 2024-01-07T18:55+0000 americas mike johnson us joe biden ukraine white house biden administration ukrainian crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/07/1116042245_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_51df209c174f1bfdb84c18ee52fc82b5.jpg Republicans in Congress are trying to negotiate a deal with Democrats and the White House to include stronger border security policies in a supplemental funding bill that would include $60 billion in additional funds for Ukraine. The legislation is currently stalled in the Senate amid ongoing negotiations. The speaker added that the issue of sending money to Ukraine is very serious, and in order to assist Kiev in the conflict, Washington has to "borrow it from somewhere else." "The White House has not been forthcoming with those answers. I have begged them in writing, publicly, privately in every way to give us those answers and they have not done it," Johnson said, noting that it is "very difficult" to get the funding without answers. Western countries have been providing military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict. The United States ran out of funding for Ukraine on December 30, 2023, and the Biden administration repeatedly urged Congress to approve more funds. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231231/there-is-no-stomach-in-us-to-continue-funding-ukraine---ex-pentagon-official-1115908133.html americas ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us, us house of represntative, us house speaker, mike johnson, white house, biden administration, ukraine, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian conflict, us stance on ukraine, war in ukraine, us house speaker critisizes biden, us house speaker critisizes biden administration https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/us-house-speaker-suggests-corruption-a-concern-in-washington-kiev-1116044065.html US House Speaker Suggests Corruption a Concern in Washington, Kiev US House Speaker Suggests Corruption a Concern in Washington, Kiev Sputnik International House leader Mike Johnson called for oversight of Ukraine aid, continued investigation of Biden, and a renewed focus on the US southern border. 2024-01-07T22:42+0000 2024-01-07T22:42+0000 2024-01-07T22:42+0000 americas corruption us joe biden mike johnson ukraine republicans congress impeachment hunter biden https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/07/1116044258_0:192:3072:1920_1920x0_80_0_0_dbf397d8fd735481ec98e702ebc8714c.jpg US House Speaker Mike Johnson called for greater oversight of US aid to Ukraine Sunday, suggesting concerns over corruption in Kiev played a role in many Republicans hesitancy to approve further funding.What we're saying is, let's do this in a rational manner, he added. We need accountability for the people who are funding that. The White House has not been forthcoming with those answers, Johnson stressed.Americans support for arming Ukraine has declined sharply over the last several months with a plurality now saying the US has sent too much money to the country. The anti-establishment flank of the Republican Party has led the charge against Ukraine aid as President Zelenskys vaunted 2023 counteroffensive against Russia was widely considered a failure.Some Republicans have also alleged an axis of corruption extending from US President Joe Biden to Kiev. Former President Donald Trump famously attempted to have authorities in Ukraine investigate the Biden familys ties to the country, which are under a cloud of controversy.Meanwhile Ukraine has been dubbed the most corrupt nation in Europe by journalists, with various data supporting the dubious honor. It was reported a year ago that the Kiev regime was using US aid to purchase Russian oil even as the two countries battled in the Donbass region, with officials pocketing the money saved from buying the cheaper fuel.House Republicans pursued an impeachment inquiry against Biden late last year after it was revealed he had greater knowledge of his son Hunter Bidens business dealings than he originally claimed. Johnson slammed the Biden administrations lack of cooperation with their efforts, noting the investigation has been impeded, the White House has suddenly refused to turn over documents that have been requested and certain witnesses that are key to unwinding exactly what happened.Investigations have revealed that Biden was with his son Hunter during phone calls where Hunter discussed business dealings in Ukraine. Republicans have also unearthed a web of complex companies and financial maneuvers the Biden family has used to move money around. Biden was previously one of the poorest US senators with a reported net worth of negative $106,000 in 2008, but his financial fortunes have dramatically improved since his time as vice president under Barack Obama.We know that Joe Biden discussed Hunter Biden's business dealings at least 22 times with his associates from these foreign countries, and we know he was not truthful about it, he lied about the American people at least 16 times on record, he added. So it raises a lot of questions.Johnson also insisted any further US aid to Ukraine must be accompanied by funds devoted to border security; House Republicans have made repeated efforts to legislatively link the two issues in recent weeks. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230929/biden-latest-of-five-us-presidents-to-face-or-be-threatened-with-impeachment-1113804539.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/us-house-panels-say-considering-contempt-of-congress-charges-against-hunter-biden-1115999526.html americas ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International mike johnson, biden family, biden corruption, corrupted biden, corrupt biden, corrupt family, corrupt president, biden family corruption, corruption among biden, biden corruption, corruption among biden, biden corruption scandal, biden fake identities, biden aliases, biden pseudonyms, hunter biden's corrupt influence-peddling, hunter's laptop from hell, laptop from hell, biden bribery and corruption, biden probe, biden impeachment probe, biden and ukraine Since making an appearance on Canadian soil with conditioner Richard Moreau, Taurasi has finished third followed by three straight victories in the feature class at Woodbine Mohawk Park. On Saturday (Jan. 6), the five-year-old Racing Hill gelding won the $36,000 Preferred Pace as part of his continued success in the featured division. As the gate pulled away and the field moved through the first turn, Livinthebeachlife (Louis-Philippe Roy) battled against Covered Bridge (James MacDonald) for the front. Through the opening panel in :26.3 and half in :55.1, Taurasi (Doug McNair) settled in fourth along the rail. Livinthebeachlife continued on the front, followed by Covered Bridge. Taurasi pulled first over en route to the three-quarters in 1:23.2. In the final turn, McNair and the Moreau student had achieved the lead with open track ahead. The pair strided home to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:51.1. Points North (Sylvain Filion) finished second while Covered Bridge rounded out the triactor. Brad Grant co-owns Taurasi with Alagna Racing LLC. In 32 career appearances, the gelding has a new record of 13 wins, five seconds and five thirds with $419,321 in the bank. Living up to his designation as the bettors' choice, Taurasi paid $3.50 to win. Along with Taurasi, Moreau trained four victors after MacDonald piloted Maskedman ($4.30) to a half-length victory in 1:53.3, McNair took Stormalong to a one-length victory in 1:52.2 and McNair returned in the finale with a half-length victory in 1:54 with Rockabilly Rebel N ($4.60). To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park. (Standardbred Canada) Artist Tony Griffin will demonstrate his drawing techniques in a live demonstration at the Iredell Arts Council. Griffin will discuss materials and talk his way through the drawing process with a live model on Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m. Students and collectors of art, friends and curious neighbors will love this free to the public event. Refreshments and conversation included in this night in the Old Jail. Griffin is a classically trained artist, originally from North Carolina, who has made his way to Florence, Italy and beyond, now finding his way back home to settle in Statesville. The Old Jail is at 203 S. Meeting St. An Iredell County elementary school student narrowly avoided being struck by a motorcycle after the student exited his bus on Thursday. On Saturday, the N.C. State Highway Patrol arrested Ishmael Partida Gonzalez, 18, of Davidson, Master Trooper Christopher Casey said in a news release. He is charged with passing a stopped school bus, careless and reckless driving, no motorcycle endorsement and a registration violation. Gonzalez was arrested after turning himself in at the Iredell County Sheriffs Office. He was issued a $2,500 bond, the release stated. The Iredell-Statesville Schools district released camera footage capturing the moment a motorcycle passed a stopped school bus shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. The bus was stopped along Carlyle Road at Farmdale Drive. As the motorcycle passed the bus, a male student was crossing the street in front of the bus. The video shows the student jumping back to avoid being struck as the motorcycle comes around the front of the bus and continues down the road. Casey said the warning lights were activated and the stop arm was extended when the motorcycle passed the bus. The stop arm can be seen in one of the videos provided by the school district. We want to remind our community to slow down and pay attention, the school district said in a release. Driving distracted is not worth someones life. If you see a stopped school bus with red flashing lights and extended stop arms, this indicates the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off the bus. Drivers must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again. Telegram Messenger said it does not know why fines against it and other major technology companies were dropped in Russia, but said it has no assets, offices, or employees there. Fines imposed by Russian courts on Alphabet's Google and YouTube, Meta, TikTok, and Telegram appear to have been settled as the companies are no longer registered as debtors in the state bailiffs' database, online records showed this week. "Telegram has no assets, offices, employees or equipment in Russia," a Telegram spokesperson told Reuters on Friday. "Without any presence there, we have no visibility as to why the fines against Telegram and the other companies were dropped." Telegram noted that some Russian news outlets had reported that the fines may have been terminated as bailiffs were unable to locate assets that could be forcibly seized. Russia has been at loggerheads with foreign technology companies over what it deems unlawful content and a failure to store user data locally, in simmering disputes that intensified after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Telegram is widely used in Russia, both for sending messages and as a source of news. Its founder and CEO Pavel Durov left Russia in 2014 after losing control of his previous company and now holds dual citizenship of the United Arab Emirates and France. One more thing! We are now on WhatsApp Channels! Follow us there so you never miss any updates from the world of technology. To follow the HT Tech channel on WhatsApp, click here to join now! This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle, Washington. The US air safety regulator said Saturday it was grounding some Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets pending inspections, a day after a panel blew out of one of the planes over the western state of Oregon. The Federal Aviation Administration "is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight," the agency said on X. It added that around 171 aircraft worldwide would be affected, with each inspection taking four to eight hours. Alaska and United Airlines fly the largest number of MAX 9 planes, while Icelandair and Turkish Airlines have smaller fleets of the aircraft. Boeing has so far delivered about 218 of the 737 MAX planes worldwide, the company told AFP. US-based Alaska Airlines grounded all 65 of its Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes on Friday after a flight carrying 171 passengers and six crew was forced to make an emergency landing, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) saying a sealed-over door panel had opened and come off mid-flight. Alaska Flight 1282 had departed from Portland International Airport and was still gaining altitude when the cabin crew reported a "pressurization issue," according to the FAA. The plane quickly returned to Portland, and there were no major injuries. Images posted on social media showed a side panel of the plane blown out, with emergency oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling. "Following tonight's event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft," Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement Friday. "Each aircraft will be returned to service only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections," he said. Passenger Kyle Rinker told CNN the problem occurred soon after takeoff. "It was really abrupt. Just got to altitude, and the window/wall just popped off," he told the broadcaster. The NTSB said no one was sitting in the two places nearest the panel, but the Oregonian newspaper quoted passengers as saying a young boy seated in the row had his shirt ripped off by the sudden decompression, injuring him slightly. Another passenger, Vi Nguyen, told The New York Times that a loud noise during the flight had woken her. "I open up my eyes and the first thing I see is the oxygen mask right in front of me," Nguyen told the newspaper. "And I look to the left and the wall on the side of the plane is gone." "The first thing I thought was, 'I'm going to die,'" she added. 'Very, very fortunate' Aviation specialist John Ostrower, of the Air Current website, said the affected panel was a "mid-aft door," which, for some carriers, Boeing deactivates before delivering the new planes. To passengers, the panel would appear like a normal window, he said. The NTSB dispatched a team to Portland to examine the craft. The board's chair, Jennifer Homendy, said it was "very, very fortunate" that the incident had not ended in tragedy. "We have the safest aviation system in the world. It is incredibly safe," she said. "But we have to maintain that standard." Homendy revealed that the door had fallen off over the Portland suburb of Cedar Hills, and called on residents to come forward if they found it. The FAA and Alaska Airlines said they were also investigating. "While this type of occurrence is rare," the airline said in an earlier statement, "our flight crew was trained and prepared to safely manage the situation." Alaska Airlines said Saturday that more than a fourth of its Max 9 fleet had been inspected since the incident, with nothing noteworthy being found. The plane, which had been headed to Ontario, California, was certified airworthy in October and was newly delivered to Alaska Airlines, according to the FAA registry website. "Safety is our top priority and we deeply regret the impact this event has had on our customers and their passengers," Boeing said in a statement. "We agree with and fully support the FAA's decision to require immediate inspections of 737-9 airplanes with the same configuration as the affected airplane." United, which has the world's largest fleet of 737 MAX 9s, said it grounded 46 of the planes and that 33 had now been inspected. This was expected to cause 60 flight cancellations Saturday. Aeromexico said it was grounding all of its 737 MAX 9 planes while inspections are carried out, and Turkish Airlines announced Sunday that it would also suspend flights of five MAX 9 planes for checks. The Panamanian carrier Copa Airlines said it was grounding 21 of its 737 MAX 9s, while Icelandair said none of its 737 MAX 9's featured the plane configuration specified in the FAA grounding order. Boeing has struggled in recent years with technical and quality control issues related to its 737 MAX models. In December, the US aviation giant told airlines that MAX aircraft should be inspected to check for loose hardware on plane rudder control systems after an international operator discovered a bolt with a missing nut while performing routine maintenance. Boeing's 737 MAX planes were grounded worldwide following two MAX 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people in total. The FAA approved the planes' return to service only after the company made changes to its flight control system. 2024 AFP Major rivers across Britain were flooded on Friday after heavy rain, with the government issuing more than 300 flood warnings, travel operators announcing serious disruption and around 1,000 homes suffering damage so far. A succession of storms in recent weeks meant prolonged rainfall that started on Thursday fell on saturated ground and quickly caused already-swollen rivers and waterways to burst their banks across England and Wales. The storms have also caused flooding in other parts of Europe in recent days. The River Trent in central England flooded, prompting the local authority to declare a major incident. London's fire service said it had to escort around 50 people to safety late on Thursday after a canal in the east of the capital overflowed. "We have woken up to, as many people will see, to a very wet situation across the country," Caroline Douglass, the director in charge of flood management at the Environment Agency, told the BBC. Douglass said around 1,000 homes had so far been flooded. Great Western Railways said its lines in three parts of the south of the country were closed. Roads in the worst affected areas were also closed. More rain was forecast for Friday, albeit not at the same intensity as seen overnight, with drier weather expected to follow. (Reuters) The Israeli army said on Saturday it had "completed the dismantling" of Hamas's command structure in the northern Gaza Strip. "We have completed the dismantling of the Hamas military framework in the northern Gaza Strip," army spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters. He added that Palestinian militants were now operating in the area only sporadically and "without commanders." "Now the focus is on dismantling Hamas in the center of the Gaza Strip and in the south of the Gaza Strip," he said, while acknowledging that the task will take time. Israel vowed to crush Gaza's Hamas rulers after they carried out the deadliest attack in the country's history on Oct. 7. It resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. The militants also took around 250 hostages, 132 of whom remain in captivity, according to Israel. Israel responded by bombarding the territory and sending in ground forces, killing at least 22,722 people, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Speaking about military efforts to dismantle Hamas in the central and southern Gaza Strip, Hagari said "we will do it in a different way" without elaborating. "The refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip are crowded and full of terrorists," he said. In the south, the large urban landscape of Khan Yunis has an elaborate underground network of tunnels, he said. "It takes time." Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government had directed the army to "eliminate Hamas", return all the hostages and ensure that Gaza will "never again be a threat to Israel". "The war must not be stopped until we achieve all of the goals," he said in a statement. (AFP) Blog Archive: Mar 2024 (90) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (156) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) The arrival of 2024 brings with it the implementation of Nebraskas new Voter ID law. The Hall County Election Office will provide information sessions about the Voter ID requirements leading up to the May 14, 2024, presidential primary election in Nebraska. The information sessions will be held at the Grand Island Public Library Jan. 21 through April. We want to make sure that everyone is ready to cast their ballot and that means having a valid photo ID, Hall County Election Commissioner Tracy Overstreet said in a news release. For most folks that photo ID will be a drivers license or a state ID. For others it may be a passport or an in-state college ID. But there are nuances to the law that voters may not know about. A drivers license can be expired and doesnt have to have a current address, Overstreet said. Also student IDs from public and private colleges in Nebraska are acceptable, but for high school students or faculty, only a public high school ID will work. Overstreet will talk about how the requirements apply to voting in person at the polling sites, voting early in person and voting by mail. Shell also discuss how voters may obtain a free state ID for voting purposes. Each session will run about 30 minutes and then open to questions. Spanish translation will be available. The sessions are open to the public. Theyll be held in Meeting Room BC. Theyll be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 21; 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 4; 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 24; 7 p.m. Monday, April 8, and 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 30. No Spanish translation will be available at the March 3 session. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code ENERGY Minister Stuart Young has taken umbrage at comments made by Ronald Harford, former chairman of Republic Financial Holdings Ltd, as he boasted about the success of the energy sector. Young said whenever somebody becomes a former, their mouth gets big, as he quoted from an article in Fridays Express report where Harford made critical comments. Over the last few years, Leon Coldero has arguably become just as renowned for his insatiable cuisine as he is as an entertainer. Having spent four decades in entertainment, giving soca parang lovers hits that never get old, opening his restaurant was just a natural progression for Coldero, who used the downtime during the Covid-19 pandemic, to delve full throttle into the restaurant business. A new camera system is being installed along this countrys roadways with the aim of tackling traffic congestion and reducing the countrys crime. This was said yesterday by Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan, who spoke with the media at the intersection of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway and Golden Grove Road in Piarco. With ten people murdered between Thursday and Saturday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley took to Facebook yesterday to assure citizens that State agencies will not give up the fight to rid our streets and other places of the evil that is now widespread as a gun culture in Trinidad and Tobago. And in a voice note to the media, Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher said, We are determined to dismantle criminal gangs and make a difference in transforming impacted communities. In the course of a year we see dozens of books by Southern Arizona Authors, and the literary output of our fellow desert dwellers never fails to surprise and delight us. Its a pleasure to be able to tell you about them: to that end we offer a list of 10 titles that the reviewers found especially noteworthy in 2023. Morgan (A Lyric) by Boyer Rickel. Cold Line Press. 85 pages. $10 paperback. At the end of his life, devastated by cystic fibrosis, 31-year-old poet Morgan Lucas Schuldt turned to his older, secret lover, poet Boyer Rickel, and said that it was time you write about us. The result is this rich collage of poetry, reflections, memories, images and metaphor but also painful, gruesome killings from the The Iliad, Schuldts end-of-life physical indignities, and Schuldts casual ambivalence to his lovers devotion. It masterfully and beautifully illuminates the lovers relationship. Christine Wald-Hopkins Really, writes archeologist and retired Pima Community College instructor Sterling Vinson, the United States can never come to terms with its racism until it admits that the South won the war with Union help. Further, despite a history of social programs and legislative acts, America can take strong action for a short time, he writes, but is unwilling to make the sustained effort required to eliminate racism. Its complicated. A product of white Arkansas privilege, descendant of American colonists, but a current ACLU and border activist, Vinson has produced a valuable and relatable compendium of family stories, history and personal reflection that examines that complication. Christine Wald-Hopkins The difference between American political clowns of the MTG and Santos ilk and 16th-century conspirators against Mary, Queen of Scots, is that our clowns produce no results. Not so, the Elizabethans. According to former intelligence expert and Air Force Academy history professor R. Kent Tiernan, the psychological, devious, secretive, patient machinations of Queen Elizabeths Secretary of State, Sir Francis Walsingham, and her Lord High Treasurer, William Cecil, created a brilliant intelligence and counterintelligence network that made Marys demise inevitable. Scrupulously researched, but presented with aids to the lay reader, its fascinating, actually. Machiavellian, definitely. Shakespearean, nearly. Christine Wald-Hopkins The Sky at Night: Easy Enjoyment from Your Backyard by Tim B. Hunter. University of Arizona Press. 208 pages. $22.95; Kindle $19.37. Tim Hunter, the Arizona Daily Stars Sky Spy columnist, has been enlightening Southern Arizonans about all things astronomical since 2007. In this excellent book, Hunter has collected information from more than 750 columns and the result is a font of celestial knowledge, thoughtfully arranged into subject areas, illustrated and indexed. The moon, planets, stars and constellations each get a chapter filled with how-tos for identification, important terminology and useful aids for observation, presented in accessible language in the spirit of science for the rest of us. Its a boon to amateur astronomers and indeed, to anyone whos ever looked up at the night sky with wonder. Helene Woodhams Rim to River: Looking into the Heart of Arizona by Tom Zoellner. University of Arizona Press, 376 pages. $24.95; $9.99 Kindle. To come to terms with his native state, fifth generation Arizonan Tom Zoellner hiked the 790-mile Arizona Trail from Utah to the Arizona Ranch Arizonas nominal birthplace just south of the border in Sonora, Mexico. He writes about it in this seamlessly choreographed volume, gracefully interweaving the account of his trek simultaneously breathtaking and arduous with smart, often eyebrow-raising, and consistently intriguing essays. A former reporter for the Arizona Republic, Zoellner has a deep understanding of the history, culture and curiously crazy politics of the state; its a land of contradictions which he addresses with keen insight and an uncanny knack for pitch-perfect anecdotes. This isnt just food for thought: its a veritable banquet. Helene Woodhams Picturing Sabino: A Photographic History of a Southwestern Canyon (Southwest Center Series) by David Wentworth Lazaroff. University of Arizona Press. 456 pages. $21.10, $19.95 Kindle. This enthralling compendium of photographs, brilliantly curated by Tucson writer and photographer David Wentworth Lazaroff, examines the evolution of Sabino Canyon from 1880 to 1985, chronicling how Tucsonans discovered the iconic desert oasis and interacted with it over the decades as it became a well-loved recreational area. An appendix of the photographs includes estimated latitude and longitude of the original camera positions with GPS in hand, readers can take in the current view from the point where the photographer stood. Lazaroffs easy familiarity with his subject, his scrupulous research and his lively narrative make this a book to savor, and a welcome addition to any Southwest library. Helene Woodhams His appearance in the iconic photo of six Marines raising the American flag during the deadly battle for Iwo Jima made Ira Hayes immortal. But Hayes hated the limelight: the young soldier knew from his Akimel Oodham upbringing that the real heroes were his fallen comrades. The sense that he was a fraud, coupled with the internalized horrors of war, posits author Tom Holm, might have contributed to his tragic demise of alcohol poisoning and hypothermia at the age of 32. The author, who is Native American and a Vietnam veteran, views Hayess experiences through the lens of Akimel Oodham history, traditional ceremonies and the tribes collective trauma from near extinction by famine. In this deeply-researched, eloquent volume, Holm treats his subject with the sensitivity and profound understanding that Hayes never received in his lifetime. It is beyond enlightening, and thoroughly moving. Helene Woodhams The Time Travelers by Richard C. Brusca. Quetzalcoatl Press. 267 pages. $12.95. Tucson zoologist, biologist and sea and desert naturalist Richard C. Brusca tricks the reader into learning a little history, archeology, anthropology and even space-time theory in this entertaining, imaginative Mexican time-juggling novel. Split-set in Tenochtitlan (Aztec Mexico City), 1519; and Mexico City, 2026, it features the contemporary discovery of a mysterious jade and obsidian knife, which could be catalyzed to shed blood and upend the history of the world on the Day of the Dead. A grand story from the signs that persuaded the seven Nahuatl-speaking tribes to vacate Aztlan, through their migrating south and constructing Tenochtitlan, to Cortezs destruction of Aztec culture. And its a grand read. Christine Wald-Hopkins Changing Woman: A Novel of the Camp Grant Massacre by Venetia Hobson Lewis. Bison Books (The University of Nebraska Press), 260 pages. $24.95, Kindle $10.70. Deftly blending fiction with actual historic figures and events, the author offers a unique perspective on the Camp Grant Massacre by viewing its life-altering impact on the lives of two young women. For Valeria Obregon, the discovery of her husbands secret role in the pre-dawn raid on an unprotected Apache encampment undermines everything she believed was true. Nest Feather, a young Apache girl kidnapped during the attack, must draw strength from the teachings of her tribe as she tries to process her familys murder and her terrifying new circumstances. Lewiss deeply-researched, atmospheric narrative immerses the reader in the complex cultural and political climate in 1870s Tucson, with thought-provoking results. Helene Woodhams The Flying Z by Leo W. Banks. Brash Books. 267 pages. $18.99. Veteran Tucson travel and history writer Leo W. Banks lets a beautiful Gabriel Garcia Marquez-loving Ph.D. student slide her vintage Mustang into a ditch on the cartel-threatened, border property of handsome, Shane-loving rancher, Will Zachary, and what do you get? A killer Western thriller spiced with literary allusion, touched by magical realism and dogged by the question of what constitutes a man in contemporary Western society. In an effort to protect his Patagonia-area family ranch, Will had made a secret cartel arrangement that ends up risking not just their lives, but that of his beloved uncle, stricken with dementia, who nonetheless lives by the old rifle-ready cowboy code. With memorable characters, a clear fondness for the area, touch-and-go romance, and one-on-ones with bad guys, its a lively, entertaining read. Christine Wald-Hopkins The Arizona Daily Star Sportsmens Fund raises money so children from low-income households and military families can attend summer camp at little or no cost to their families. Since 1947, the Sportsmens Fund has helped pay for 44,033 children to go to camp. Were one of the oldest 501(c )(3) charities in Arizona and one of the most efficient, with 97 cents from every dollar going to send kids to camp. We send local kids to weeklong YMCA, Boy Scout and Girl Scout overnight camps, as well as overnight camping at Camp Tatiyee for school-age children with special needs. Last year was our 76th year of raising money to help local boys and girls do more and be more. In 2003, 1,009 people or groups donated $211,911 to help us in this important mission. We sent 539 boys and girls to overnight camp at a cost of $207,460. As is our tradition, we kick off our fundraising for the summer camp season on Feb. 21, the day before the Rodeo Parade, with a donation envelope in that Wednesday's Arizona Daily Star. Your contribution to the Arizona Daily Star Sportsmens Fund Send a Kid to Camp fund qualifies for the Arizona tax credit of up to $841 for donations to qualifying charitable organizations. Our code is 20450. You can donate until April 15 for tax year 2023 and anytime this year for your 2024 taxes. Donations are welcome throughout the year. Recent donations include: Ronald and Deloris Anderson, $250. Cade Campbell, in memory of Frank Albert Campbell on what would have been his 115th birthday, $115. Margaret A. Ellsworth, $150. Carol and George Franklin, in memory of Marc Miller, $841. James Harrison, $200. Pat Jessup, in memory of Kathryn Jessup, $104.42. Michael and Robin Sue Kaiserman, $250. Col. Martin J. Lenzini USMC (Ret), $100. Alfred and Sandra Luckau, $50. JoAnne Mallie, $10.72. Martha A. Mecom, $100. Amy Pugliese, $10.72. Janet Rives $80. Wallace H. Jr. and Susan S. Roberts, $1,000. Len Whitman, $25. Neil Zaer, $208.54. Four anonymous donations totaling $1,577, including one in memory of Bert and Mary, Spike and Mary for $421. Tucson police have arrested a suspect in a June 2023 homicide. Homicide detectives arrested Jose Ruben Jaramillo, 46, in connection with the killing of Rahsaan Avant. Avant was found with fatal gunshot wounds at about 1 a.m. June 5 on West Alto Place near North 14th Avenue and West Speedway. Police were issued a warrant on Dec. 15 for Jaramillos arrest. Working in conjunction with the Operations Division West and the Community Response Team, and with a Tucson Police Department K9, authorities found Jaramillo on Jan. 1 near the area of North Oracle Road and West Grant Road, police said in a news release Saturday. Jaramillo is being held on a $500,000 bond. Police ask that anyone with information about the homicide call 9-1-1 or 88-CRIME. Callers can remain anonymous. The Pima County Sheriff's Department is seeking information on an apparent traffic incident in which a cyclist was injured Friday on the Tucson area's far southeast side. The department gave the following account in a news release late Saturday: The sheriff's department received a report about 5 p.m. Jan. 5 of an injured cyclist who had been taken to a local hospital after passersby found the rider. Deputies received information that the incident, which was not described in the news release, likely took place between noon and 1 p.m. that day near South Pistol Hill Road and East Colossal Cave Road. Traffic unit detectives took over the investigation and are asking that anyone with information call 9-1-1; or that they "submit an anonymous tip, with the potential for a reward, by text, phone, or by going to 88CRIME.org". A man using a wheelchair who was crossing a street mid-block was fatally struck early Saturday on Tucson's south side, police said. Tucson police gave the following account in a news release: Shortly before 4 a.m. Jan. 6, officers were called to the area of East Ajo Way and South Fair Avenue for reports of a collision involving a 2013 Ford Edge and the man. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name is being withheld pending notification of family. Detectives determined that the Ford Edge was traveling east on Ajo when it struck the man, who was not in or near a marked or unmarked crosswalk. "Mid-block crossing by the pedestrian is the major contributing factor of the collision," and no citations have been issued. PHOENIX Its taken four decades, Saudi cows munching on alfalfa grown with Arizona water and national headlines about whether Arizona is finally drying up. But state lawmakers appear to finally be ready to update the 1980 Groundwater Act to plug the holes it left even as Gov. Katie Hobbs considers a recommendation from her Water Policy Council to approve what could be a new exception. Resolving some of the issues over requirements for adequate water supplies could in turn help alleviate the states other pressing problem of affordable housing. It all comes down to the requirement in the groundwater law that new homes built in active management areas have a 100-year assured water supply. The idea was to wean development away from groundwater. Only thing is, state law designated just five management areas: Tucson, Phoenix, Prescott, Pinal and Santa Cruz. There is an option for area residents to create their own through petition and election, as occurred in 2022 in the Douglas area. A similar election was defeated in the Willcox basin. And there are whole areas of the state with no limits on groundwater pumping. That has become increasingly clear in recent years as corporate farms, made aware of the lack of pumping limits, have bought or leased land in rural areas. The most prominent example was Fondomonte, a subsidy of the Saudi dairy company Almarai, which has been growing alfalfa on Arizona groundwater to feed cattle in the kingdom which, being a desert, does not allow such pumping. Other examples include U.S. Farming Realty Trust, which purchased about 20 square miles of land in La Paz County. That firm then leased some of the land to Al Dahra Farms, based in the United Arab Emirates, which grows hay that gets shipped to countries in the Middle East and Asia. That whole purchase was financed in part by a 2012 investment of $175 million by the Arizona State Retirement Fund. Creating a statewide active management area does not appear to be feasible. So lawmakers are being presented with a proposal to allow local officials or the Arizona Department of Water Resources to form some sort of rural groundwater management area that would come up with a plan to deal with groundwater overdraft, or depletion of water that isnt replenished. At the very least it would mandate reporting and monitoring of existing pumping, which are not now required. The big opposition could come from the Arizona Farm Bureau. Stefanie Smallhouse, its president, said there is a concern any plans to regulate agriculture would override the interests of farmers who have been on the land for generations. Other water issues Also likely to force legislative attention was the announcement by the Arizona Department of Water Resources in May it wont issue any permits for new subdivisions in certain areas on the fringes of Phoenix. That came after a new analysis of the groundwater in the basin showed there simply wont be enough to provide the legally required 100-year supply. And while that didnt affect cities served by water companies with their own assured supply, it halted development in other areas around Buckeye and Queen Creek. That move drew derision from Senate President Warren Petersen, who said that 100-year number a figure that goes back even before the 1980 law was arbitrary. But the Gilbert Republican said he has no interest in trying to repeal it. What is more likely to happen could best be described as a work around. A proposal from the Water Policy Council to Hobbs would allow developers to get credit for new alternative supplies obtained from other source, such as effluent or surface water from those who have the rights to it. But it is meant to be temporary, giving the go-ahead for new home construction in the affected areas while developers find a more permanent water source, including a steady and readily available supply of treated effluent. This change could be ordered by the governor, without the need for legislation. Lawmakers also are being asked to address exceptions to the requirement for an assured water supply in the 1980 law. The most notable is that it applies only to owner-occupied properties. That means anything constructed as a rental including entire build-to-rent subdivisions are exempt from having to show they have necessary water. Affordable housing The water issue is tracking closely with the issue of affordable housing. Last month, the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona lashed out at the Arizona Department of Water Resources for what it calls a moratorium on home building in the most affordable parts of the (Phoenix) Valley. The builders claim the state action is leading to rapidly escalating home prices. Solving the affordability problem, though, will require more than just letting developers put up more single-family homes in the far suburbs of Phoenix. A big part of that is zoning an issue that often pits cities and their existing residents, who want the character of their neighborhoods preserved, against those who want more affordable housing. One of the more radical ideas includes zoning by right. It would allow some landowners to convert the use of their property from how it was zoned to something else, all without having to first get city approval. It also includes having the state and not local governments set standards for zoning, requiring cities and towns to allow a mix of more affordable development including smaller lot sizes, duplex and triplex homes, and manufactured housing. There also are proposals to have the state help first-time homebuyers qualify for a mortgage. Potentially more tricky is the question of affordable rents. Some Democrats want to repeal a ban on city rent caps or control. But that is unlikely to go far in the Republican-controlled Legislature. A more likely scenario is something to make more rental units available. One part of that involves casitas, legally referred to as auxiliary dwelling units, that homeowners could build in their yards without running afoul of zoning regulations that allow only one house on a lot. Several cities, including Tucson and Phoenix, already are moving ahead on that, without state mandates. But some lawmakers are having second thoughts on a 2016 law that stripped local communities of their ability to regulate short-term vacation rentals. It was sold by then-Gov. Doug Ducey as a way to let a homeowner make a little extra cash by renting out a bedroom to a winter visitor or during a national sporting event. But the reality proved far different, with individuals and companies buying up homes in neighborhoods for the sole purpose of making them vacation rentals, taking then off the market for local residents looking for a place to live. Teacher pay Lawmakers also appear ready to make a major investment in teacher salaries. The Legislature approved a plan in 2018 that was supposed to provide an average 20% pay raise to teachers over a four-year span. But the measure lacked teeth and some districts used the extra cash for other expenses. Even with the raises, the most recent figure from the National Education Association puts the average Arizona teacher salary at $56,775, which it says ranks 32nd in the nation. State schools chief Tom Horne said Arizona loses about 40% of new teachers within their first four years. The new plan being pushed by Republicans would leverage some of the cash inside a special state land trust account to provide $4,000 across-the-board raises. The money would be earmarked solely for teacher salaries and could not be siphoned off for any other use. There are some unanswered questions, including the fact that those extra trust dollars about $350 million a year already are being set aside for K-12 education. Any plan to extend the diversion past 2025, when it is set to expire, would need voter approval. Abortion laws One other issue could elbow its way to the top of the legislative agenda: abortion. When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade in 2022, a Pima County Superior Court judge ruled that automatically revived a territorial-era law never repealed after Roe that outlaws the procedure in Arizona except to save the life of the mother. But Planned Parenthood Arizona pointed out that abortion foes at the Legislature in 2022 approved a 15-week ban, a measure designed to be in place had the U.S. justices simply upheld a nearly identical Mississippi law instead of overturning Roe. The Court of Appeals ruled the 15-week law takes precedence over the territorial-era ban. Now the issue is before the Arizona Supreme Court. A potential dilemma for anti-abortion lawmakers comes if the Arizona Supreme Court ultimately rules the territorial-era law is the one that takes precedence. Thats because a group is circulating petitions that would ask voters to enshrine the right of abortion into the Arizona Constitution. That would permit the procedure up until fetal viability generally considered between 22 and 24 weeks, as it was before Roe was overturned but with allowances to terminate a pregnancy beyond that to protect the physical or mental health of the mother. Foes of the measure believe they can defeat it at the ballot in November as too extreme. But it also raises the possibility voters may choose the initiative if the only other option is going back to the days when virtually all abortions were illegal. That could pressure even abortion foes to support legislation that is more moderate or to repeal the territorial-era law outright. House Speaker Ben Toma said there is no contingency plan, calling the question hypothetical. At this point were going to wait and see what the Supreme Court actually does before we decide what to do about that, he said. And so were not going to have any substantive discussions about that until it actually happens. Petersen, the Senate President, also brushed aside similar questions as hypothetical, saying he wont respond until there is a ruling. The Arizona justices, who heard arguments last month, have not set a date for issuing a ruling. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: For nearly five years, Pima County and the City of Tucson have led a coalition of charitable organizations and state and local governments to prevent a daily humanitarian crisis from occurring on the streets of our border communities. It has been a herculean effort involving many hundreds of people and many millions of dollars. Up until now, those dollars have come from various federal funds approved since 2019 by the Congress and the President to cover the costs of the short-term, overnight sheltering of the thousands of legally processed asylum seekers (LPAS) being released into our city and county by U.S. Customs and Border Protection every month. By the end of February 2024, if not sooner, those federal funds will run out. Congress has yet to appropriate further funding to pay for costs incurred protecting our communities and the legal asylum seekers through this program. Neither the County nor the City can afford to use local tax dollars to continue safely assisting asylum seekers on their journey once federal funds are exhausted; this is a federal responsibility. Its important that the public, members of Congress, and President Biden understand the devastating implications of the loss of this federal funding. Since Sept. 1, 2023, Border Patrols Tucson Sector has released more than 130,000 legally processed asylum seekers into Cochise, Santa Cruz, and Pima counties. Thats about 1,080 a day, roughly half in Cochise and Santa Cruz counties, and the other half in Tucson. None of these legal asylum seekers have ended up on the street. Catholic Community Services (CCS), through its Casa Alitas shelter, is contracted by Pima County to give asylum seekers the aid they need to move on to other parts of the country. Most legal asylum seekers are only with Casa Alitas an average of 36 to 48 hours while transportation is coordinated. The sheltering coalition also assists Cochise and Santa Cruz counties by transporting people being released there to Casa Alitas to prevent humanitarian catastrophes in those areas. If the current volume of border crossers persists after the federal funding has run out, Border Patrol will still be releasing 500 or more people a day onto the streets of Tucson and hundreds more onto the streets of Nogales and Douglas, where those rural communities have far fewer resources. There will be little to no shelter space available for them. Who will help these asylum seekers with language barriers make flight or bus reservations? Where will they get food and water? Where will they go the bathroom? Where will they sleep? As the 500 released today struggle to figure out how to move on, they will be joined by another 500 tomorrow. And another 500 the day after that, and another, and another, day after day until there are thousands of desperate people on the street just trying to survive, let alone book a flight out of town. A humanitarian crisis of this magnitude must not be allowed to happen. We are determined to prevent it. So far, we have. All of those questions above are answered every day by the sheltering coalition coordinated by Pima County, the City of Tucson, and Catholic Community Services. We can keep doing it as long as the federal government keeps funding it. We have proven that local agencies can manage and prevent the harmful effects of federal immigration policy if Congress provides the funding. Finally, we often are asked why we are doing this. Preventing the horrific situation described above is the obvious answer. We are duty bound to protect the health and safety of the people of Tucson and Pima County. But there is also a greater reason than civic duty its simply the right thing to do. The people seeking asylum legally in the United States are human beings. They are fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters trying to make a better and safer life for themselves in our great country. They have been apprehended by U.S. border authorities, interviewed and processed, given an immigration hearing date for their asylum claims, and then released into the United States where federal law says they are legally allowed to remain until their hearing. How could we, as a loving and caring community, and as kind-hearted human beings who have genuine concern about the health and well-being of others, stand by and watch day after day the constant compounding of a massive humanitarian crisis? We cannot. We will not. We will do what is right. We implore our Congressional delegation and all of the nations Representatives and Senators to find a solution to this crisis and to do what is right by continuing to provide the necessary funding for the temporary sheltering of legally processed asylum seekers released into border communities in Arizona. Sharon Bishop-Baldwin Sand Springs Leader Staff Writer Follow Sharon Bishop-Baldwin Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today SAND SPRINGS Real estate developer, civic leader and philanthropist Montie Box, well-known by his nickname, Mr. Sand Springs, died at his home Tuesday, just 15 days after the City Council voted unanimously to rename a portion of downtown Sand Springs as the Box District in his honor. He was 93. City leaders proposed the rebranding of the area both as a way of promoting positivity and advocacy for community and also of honoring one of Sand Springs most dedicated civil servants. The area encompasses Boxs business, the Montie Box Co. City Manager Mike Carter had told the council at its Dec. 18 meeting that a theme for the city in 2024 and beyond would focus not on being against things but rather on being for things, and Montie Box is the standard of being for things. Carter said last week that every city has elected officials and unelected leaders. Montie Box was one of the most influential leaders I have seen. And what made him so effective was that he led from a position of positivity. While many people find things to be against or to complain about, Montie was our communitys ultimate advocate, he said. Throughout his life, he didnt only use words, but he backed it up with generous donations to charity, the use of his time and, most importantly, his talents for the benefit of our community. These efforts gave him the nickname Mr. Sand Springs. Although nearly a lifelong Sandite, Box was born in Comanche, about 40 miles southeast of Lawton, on July 31, 1930. As a young boy, his family moved first to Broken Arrow and soon after to Sand Springs. His father was a manager of a farm owned by the Sand Springs Home, making $25 month. Box himself might not have started out exactly as managerial material, though, preferring instead to sleep a little later. Daddy would sometimes come in and throw me in the floor and say, Its time to deliver that milk, he told the Sand Springs Leader in October. I delivered the milk to the (Widows) Colony and to the orphanage, and then I drove 5 miles back and hitchhiked to make 8 oclock band practice, where he played the clarinet and alto saxophone. After graduating from Sand Springs High School at age 17, Box joined the Navy Reserve and soon after began attending Oklahoma A&M College, now Oklahoma State University. It was there that he switched branches from the Navy to the Army. He received a bachelors degree in agricultural economics in 1951 before eventually serving in Germany during the Korean War as a second lieutenant, primarily as the company commander of a counterintelligence unit. After returning home to Sand Springs, Box began a 68-year career in real estate development, joining his father-in-law, Ray Brown, in his insurance and real estate business. Box eventually purchased the Ray Brown Agency and then built a larger building in the heart of downtown Sand Springs. Box worked tirelessly to promote the growth of Sand Springs, developing residential subdivisions, warehouses, office and retail space and commercial shopping centers, indirectly providing housing, industry and financial support for the city for many years. He served the community in countless other capacities, too. He took enormous pride in founding the Sand Springs Education Foundation in 1989 with his wife, Betty Box. Over the lifetime of the foundation, it has contributed more than $1.5 million to teachers, which Sand Springs Public Schools Superintendent Sherry Durkee called a remarkable accomplishment that speaks volumes about the Boxes commitment to the educational well-being of the community. Montie Box lived his life with an unwavering commitment to the betterment of the Sand Springs community and the educational system here, she said. He understood that education has the power to shape our future. He has left an indelible mark on our community, and his legacy of service before self will continue to have a profound effect on the people of Sand Springs. Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce President Amanda Wion said Box, who was the chambers president in 1959, was not just a businessman; he was the embodiment of all that is good, a living testament to hard work, kindness and true Sandite Spirit. Box also served on the Tulsa County fair board and was a member of the Tulsa Metro Chamber. He was a regent and chairman of the Board of Regents for Tulsa Community College. He helped rewrite the Sand Springs City Charter and served on the citys Personnel and Airport Advisory boards. He was the co-chairman of the bond effort to bring a Whirlpool plant to Tulsa and served on the Vision 2025 board. He also has been a supporter of numerous charitable organizations, including the Sand Springs Masonic Lodge, the Sand Springs Rotary Club, the American Legion, the Shriners, the VFW, the Lions Club, The Salvation Army and the Tulsa Boys Home. Box was inducted into the Sand Springs Education Hall of Fame in 1994 and was named the citys Hometown Hero in 1995. He was awarded the John M. Hess Municipal Award for Outstanding Citizenship in 2007. Box was honored in October by Sand Springs Billie A. Hall American Legion Post 17 for his 70 years of continuous membership with the American Legion, which he joined immediately upon his return home from the Korean War in 1953. Karen Cruice, Post 17s commander, said at the time that it was important to mark the milestone because Montie not just with the Legion but with the city of Sand Springs has been such a pillar of our society. Its not only the 70 years but the Montie Box 70 years thats important to recognize. Hes just done so much for our city. Box suggested in an interview related to the honor that he was just giving as good as he got. You look back on your life sometimes and where it all went, he said. Your life goes so quick. Life in Sand Springs has been good to me. A funeral service was held Saturday at the Sand Springs Methodist Church under the direction of Dillon Funeral Home, with burial at Woodland Memorial Park. Box is survived by his wife of nearly 42 years, Betty Box; three children, Gayle Lawrence, Jimmy Box and Dana Box; a stepson, Danny Baker; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Judy Walton; and two nephews. Friends are contributing to the Sand Springs Education Foundation, the Tulsa Boys Home, the Sand Springs Methodist Church or The Salvation Army. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Tech Demo Day in Greenwood set for Thursday Build In Tulsas Techstars will host its third Demo Day event on Greenwood Avenue at Vista 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday. Demo Day will feature 12 tech-enabled start-up founders, pitching their companies successes and projections in the company of potential investors and Tulsa community leaders. The event, lead by Tre Baker, managing director of Build In Tulsas Techstars, will also feature guests John Hill, evangelist at Techstars, and Miles Dotson, partner at Devland. Techstars is a global startup network. This event will also be supported by Tulsa community organizations such as the George Kaiser Family Foundation, Build In Tulsa, Atento Capital, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and the Oklahoma Center of the Advancement of Science and Technology. The spirit that once made Black Wall Street great is alive and well in Tulsa. It is one of entrepreneurship, community, and cooperation, Baker said in a news release. The event is free, but does require registration and has limited capacity. The event will begin with a networking happy hour, followed by 12 pitches by the accelerator companies. Sale of Waterford multifamily property announced Vesta Capital, a real estate investment firm that specializes in the acquisition, renovation and ongoing management of multifamily communities, announced it sold Waterford, a 344-unit multifamily property in Tulsa. The Waterford property, 5181 S. Harvard Ave., was initially acquired for $23,564,000 ($67,500 per unit) at the end of 2018. The divestment, now at $32,336,000 ($94,000 per unit), results in a total project return of 21.8% for investors and a project equity multiple of 1.92x, a Vesta news release said. This transaction highlights Vestas adept financial management and reinforces its position as a prominent player in the real estate investment sector, the company said in the release. Over the past 5 years, weve achieved remarkable success at the Waterford community, delivering not only for our valued investors but also for the residents who call Waterford home. We take immense pride in what weve accomplished, said Marc Kulick, founder and CEO of Vesta Capital. Now, as we navigate these uncertain economic times, I am equally proud and excited to secure a win for our investors and provide stellar returns. The sale of Waterford is not just a transaction; its a testament to our commitment to excellence in the real estate industry. Vesta Capitals current portfolio consists of 10,000-plus units across Class A, B, and C+ assets in Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Applications for Ag business accelerators now open Applications for Oklahoma Farm Bureaus 2024 Oklahoma Grassroots Rural & Ag Business Accelerators program year are now open until March 1 for rural Oklahoma and agricultural innovators looking to develop their enterprises and deepen their business understanding. The Activate Oklahoma rural innovation pipeline provides resources and assistance for innovative rural Oklahoma businesses that have an innovation or product that will bring economic opportunities to rural Oklahoma. The newly revamped AgCelerate Oklahoma agricultural innovation pipeline is for innovators who have innovations and technologies with an on-farm or production agriculture application that will help diversify opportunities for farmers. The AgCelerate pipeline prepares innovators to apply for the national AgLaunch365 agricultural business accelerator or participate in Activate Oklahoma. Each innovation pipeline provides innovators with multiple training sessions that begin in April and May and run through September. The trainings include pipeline-specific boot camps that connect entrepreneurs with Oklahoma-focused business resources and curriculum to grow and expand their businesses. Additional training will follow the initial boot camps to provide a well-rounded experience for innovators. Graduates of both Activate Oklahoma and AgCelerate Oklahoma will have the opportunity to pitch their ideas for an opportunity to receive equity investment from the programs partnering organizations. Both pipelines also prepare innovators for additional funding opportunities such as grants, loans and creative funding mechanisms. Applications for both the Activate and AgCelerate pipelines are available on the Oklahoma Farm Bureau website at okfarmbureau.org/AcceleratorApp. There is no cost to participate in either innovation pipeline, and successful candidates must attend all provided training sessions. Successful applicants must have significant business operations in Oklahoma and be located in a community with a population of 50,000 or less. From Staff Reports The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Scroll through your social media account, and you will find perfectly curated ads, targeted to your interest and needs. Stream the latest episode of your favorite show, and youll likely see more ads promoting medication for an illness youve been googling or the new car youve been researching. This is not a coincidence, and frankly there isnt a company out there that can afford not to think about how it promotes itself. Were all competing in a digital market, and employers are no different. If organizations want to attract and retain top talent, they must implement employer branding principles. The competitive job market Even when the labor shortage lessens, the competition for top talent will continue to be a struggle for companies that dont have a pulse on their workforce marketing strategy. Employers who are more aware of the needs of their employees and the evolving post-COVID workplace will have the upper hand on attracting and retaining the best in the business. In a recent survey of skilled workers in Oklahoma, Resolute PR found several persisting trends companies should consider. For example, todays employees desire a more flexible and supportive work environment. A startling 61% of the unemployed cited both the cost and the time involved with caregiving as the top reason for not returning to work. Employed workers are also seeking increased stability with opportunities for growth within their current organizations. When asked what their top reasons were for working, health insurance and retirement savings were two of the top benefits mentioned. Dont shy away from highlighting the benefits of work. These key selling points are just a few of the building blocks to creating a strong employer brand. Culture and values are key The process of determining an employer brand is very similar to that of positioning a companys consumer brand. Company values and culture must be at the heart of the strategy to be authentic and effective. Resolute PRs workforce study found that 53% of workers said they desired a culture of respect, appreciation and positive attitude. While this may seem intuitive, the reality is survey respondents likely highlighted this work environment because they werent getting it in their current jobs. To help guide your employer branding exercise, ask yourself and your employees these key questions: What makes your culture unique from other places youve worked? How do you engage with your employees on a regular basis? Describe the experience of being an employee within your company. Why would an employee want to work with your company? Are you transparent with employees about company goals, struggles and expectations? If any of these questions cause pause or anxiety, it may be time to dig deeper into how your workplace culture could be improved. Internal audiences are the loudest voices Never assume current employees know about all the great benefits that are offered. Leverage your employer branding in retention efforts to remind employees regularly about these unique opportunities. Happy employees can be the greatest advocates in telling your story. Likewise, unhappy employees can cause tremendous damage to your companys reputation. Take the time to be intentional about your employer brand to ensure you are projecting a message that is a true reflection of who you are. Hiring practices through a marketing lens Once youve identified core benefits and the DNA of your employer brand, think about how your organization can showcase this to better market itself to current and potential employees. Brainstorm with human resources about unique benefits, career growth programs and recruitment efforts that could be incorporated into your workforce marketing materials and campaigns. Dont forget to launch your employer brand into the digital marketplace. A strong digital presence is a powerful tool in attracting the next generation of workforce. Keep your employer brand in mind when strategizing digital content for your website, social media or digital ads. Defining a top employer brand To rise above the noise in todays job market, defining an authentic employer brand is critical. A top employer will encourage collaboration between marketing and HR to amplify their message. Bring your team together to highlight the company value and your recruitment messages will be tailor made for top talent. Nicole Morgan is CEO of Tulsa-based Resolute PR. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Tim Stanley Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Tim Stanley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today We can always use a little more hope. Taking that as our cue, the Tulsa World is rolling out a special series starting Sunday called Faces of Hope. Its a good time for hope-themed stories because, for one thing, the new year is here, and thats always a time for feeling more hopeful. But another and maybe better reason is that hope is very much a current topic of interest. Inspired by an emerging field of psychology that makes hope measurable, Oklahoma has set a goal of producing more hope as a state. Hope science, as its called, defines hope as the understanding that not only can the future be better but that I as an individual have the power to make it so through the active role I play. Once that fact is embraced, an evidence-based process and tools have been developed that can help. Among those for whom hope science offers something especially promising are individuals who have serious trauma in their backgrounds. Thats important in Oklahoma, because we rank high nationally for Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs as they are commonly called. So, in light of all that, for this series, weve asked some of our fellow Oklahomans with personal stories of hope to share them with us. In overcoming serious trauma to thrive, what did hope look like for them? How did their experiences affirm what experts now believe about the science of hope? And how might their journey be helpful to others? Our first story focuses on Dr. Chan Hellman of OU-Tulsa. As Oklahomas own Dr. Hope, Hellmans personal story of hope is one you wont want to miss. It will be followed by two more stories on upcoming Sundays this month. Also: Our idea is that this initial trio of stories could serve as a springboard for a continuing series, with future stories to run in the coming months. So if you like what you read, let us know. If youd like to recommend someone who has a good story of hope, please let us know that, too. Contact me at tim.stanley@tulsaworld.com. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Dots and dashes: U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin told The Hill he would be surprised if Minority Leader Mitch McConnell seeks another term leading the Republican Conference, but he added, I will tell you, I dont think anybody challenges him or beats him if he decided to run. Although Congress doesnt really get back to work until this week, U.S. Sen. Lankford reportedly was in Washington last Tuesday to resume talks on border security legislation. Former President Donald Trump met with Sean OBrien, the Teamsters president that Mullin challenged to a fight during a hearing late last year. Third District Rep. Frank Lucas praised his former Democratic colleague, Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, who died last week. Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Lee Anne Bruce Boone spent her first day as executive director of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission meeting people in Tulsa. As the new leader of an agency with big responsibilities and a small staff and budget, Bruce Boone is depending on relationships to get the job done. We have limited funding, so what can we do to try to be proactive, to reach out? So I really want to work on establishing rapport in the first several months, she said. In its current form, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission has six employees and a budget of about $820,000 a year, making it one of the smallest and least-funded state agencies. Bruce Boone takes over after Ashley Kemp resigned in December after 10 years with the commission and seven as executive director. Kemp pointed to a continuing lack of financial support. Of the commissions $820,000 budget, $688,000 $20,000 less than a few years ago is appropriated. The rest of the budget comes from fines and fees, but even that is limited to no more than $150,000 a year. Anything over that goes into the states general fund. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission administers and enforces the state laws related to lobbying, state employee ethics and political campaign finance. That has often put it at odds with people of power and influence, inside government and out, and left to fight ever more complex battles with short sticks and few real allies. Bruce Boone said she wants to even the odds through proactive education and partnerships with other state agencies. Making sure people understand the rules and the reasons for them she said, should head off many of the complaints and allegations the commission hears. I want people who go through the office, regardless of what the allegation is, to feel like theyve had due process, that theyve been heard, and that theyve been treated fairly, she said. With Bruce Boone, the commission is taking something of a turn from recent executive directors. Her background is in human services, and while she has considerable experience with ethics and state government, Bruce Boone isnt as familiar with campaign finance. Commission Chairman Jarred Brejcha of Sapulpa said Bruce Boone possesses other assets sought by him and his fellow commissioners. We knew it was unlikely that we would have someone who was an expert on campaign finance from day one, so we were looking for someone with the capacity and ability to learn those kinds of things, Brejcha said. Lee Anne obviously has those abilities. Her leadership really shined through, and her heart for service, and her ability to excel throughout her career wherever she was. Those details about campaign finance, shell gain those along the way. Bruce Boone has worked in state government more than 20 years, first in her native Tennessee and for the past 10 years in Oklahoma. Until moving to the Ethics Commission, she was the Oklahoma Department of Healths chief accountability officer, a job that involved investigating allegations of wrongdoing and misbehavior by department personnel. An attorney with a masters degree in civic leadership, Bruce Boone takes over the commission at the start of an election year that has the potential of becoming quite contentious. Her office has little or no involvement in presidential and congressional elections those are the responsibility of the Federal Election Commission and the only statewide election is for Corporation Commission, but the financing of campaigns at the legislative and even local school board level have become quite sophisticated and in some cases ruthless. Bruce Boone, though, said she is used to difficult situations. In the mid-2000s, as an attorney with the Tennessee Department of Human Services, she found herself in the middle of a painful reduction of the states Medicaid program. Hundreds of thousands of people lost benefits, either entirely or partially, and Bruce Boone said she received death threats. It was a serious matter and painful to a lot of people, she said. In Oklahoma, Bruce Boone served as chief of staff to Department of Human Services Director Ed Lake before moving to the Department of Health. Working in state government, she said, gives you a feeling that what you do matters. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. While a number of businesses saw their sales dampened by an economic downturn, vendors at Han Market in Da Nang City, central Vietnam posted upbeat revenue buoyed by a massive influx of international tourists during the first days of 2024. Local vendors made the most of this sales-driving opportunity to promote their products to the international visitors, with the majority of them South Koreans, Indians, and Japanese. Most of the tourists preferred dried fruits like jackfruits, lychees, and longans thanks to their low prices and pleasant tastes. Nguyen Thi Anh, owner of a stall at the market, revealed that international visitors to her stall opted for jelly fruit candies and dried fruits, adding that she pinned high hopes on better sales this year. Vendors in charge of fabrics and garment stalls were also busy selling their items. Tran Thi Thien, who has offered clothes for sale at the market for more than 33 years, said clothing stall owners there had transformed their businesses by switching to selling more items promoting the image of Vietnam. The soaring number of international visitors to the market during the New Year holiday has enabled the vendors to improve their sales considerably, Thien said and wished for increasing sales in the upcoming time. Min Ju, a South Korean visitor who was holding three large bags containing products bought at the market, shared that he felt very at home as there were so many South Koreans at the market. The locals are friendly and speak Korean rather well," Min said. I bought lots of clothing items for my next trip to [neighboring] Hoi An." A group of South Korean tourists go shopping at Han Market in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Nguyen / Tuoi Tre Nguyen Thu, deputy head of the Han Market management authority, confirmed that the marketplace had served a huge volume of tourists these days. As the markets sales are closely associated with the local tourism growth, the management authority already spent VND8.5 billion (US$348,700) renovating the market to better serve visitors, Thu said. Founded in 1940, the Han Market is situated at 119 Tran Phu Street in Hai Chau 1 Ward, Hai Chau District and is bounded by four of the busiest streets in Da Nang, including Tran Phu, Hung Vuong, Bach Dang, and Nguyen Thai Hoc. The 28,000-square-meter market houses 576 stalls and 36 kiosks selling a wide selection of products. It opens from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm every day. Data from the Da Nang Department of Tourism showed that 434 domestic and international flights arrived in this central coastal city during the New Year holiday. Since Christmas, the city has serviced 123,000 domestic visitors and 138,000 international vacationers. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! India's solar observation mission on Saturday entered the Sun's orbit after a four-month journey, the latest success for the space exploration ambitions of the world's most populous nation. The Aditya-L1 mission was launched in September and is carrying an array of instruments to measure and observe the Sun's outermost layers. India's science and technology minister Jitendra Singh said on social media that the probe had reached its final orbit "to discover the mysteries of Sun-Earth connection". The United States and the European Space Agency have sent numerous probes to the centre of the solar system, beginning with NASA's Pioneer programme in the 1960s. Japan and China have both launched their own solar observatory missions into Earth's orbit. But the latest mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation is the first by any Asian nation to be placed in orbit around the Sun. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed it as yet another "landmark" in the country's space programme. "It is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists," he said on social media. "We will continue to pursue new frontiers of science for the benefit of humanity." Aditya, named after a Hindu Sun deity, has travelled 1.5 million kilometres (932,000 miles) from the Earth -- still only one percent of the distance between humanity's home planet and the star at the centre of our solar system. It is now at a point where the gravitational forces of both celestial bodies cancel out, allowing it to remain in a stable halo orbit around the Sun. The orbiter, which reportedly cost $48 million, will study coronal mass ejections, a periodic phenomenon that sees huge discharges of plasma and magnetic energy from the Sun's atmosphere. These bursts are so powerful they can reach the Earth and potentially disrupt the operations of satellites. The mission also aims to shed light on the dynamics of several other solar phenomena by imaging and measuring particles in the Sun's upper atmosphere. India has a comparatively low-budget space programme, but one that has grown considerably in size and momentum since it first sent a probe to orbit the Moon in 2008. In August last year, India became the first country to land an uncrewed craft near the largely unexplored lunar south pole, and just the fourth nation to land on the Moon. India became the first Asian nation to put a craft into orbit around Mars in 2014, and it is slated to launch a three-day crewed mission into Earth's orbit later this year. It also plans a joint mission with Japan to send another probe to the Moon by 2025 and an orbital mission to Venus within the next two years. In the kitchen of his Abidjan restaurant, Ivory Coast chef Charlie Koffi prepares his country's staggering tropical bounty with the techniques of fine French cuisine. And he's far from alone. A growing number of his fellow chefs in the West African nation are retouching local specialities with cooking skills picked up elsewhere. One of Koffi's signature dishes is an adaptation of gouagouassou sauce, a local specialty. In his version, a rabbit is stewed with African eggplants, spicy oil, powdered akpi seeds and local fefe pepper. "It is one of the dishes I really loved as a child," Koffi told AFP. "As a chef, it was almost an obligation to come back to it." Koffi was trained in France before opening his Abidjan restaurant, Villa Alfira, in 2017 to showcase his country's cuisine. In the well-lit main dining room overlooking a pond where fish on the menu swim, Eric Guei tucked into a gouagouassou casserole. "I find taste and audacity in this dish," the happy customer said. "It mixes Western know-how with local flavours." Guei enjoyed the copious but beautifully presented meal with his friend Yasmine Doumbia. "Gouagouassou is a very traditional Ivory Coast dish, and to see it in a restaurant like this is a real pleasure," she said. Villa Alfira is a change from the "maquis", typical animated local eateries where braised chickens and fish are eaten by hand, along with traditional sauces, manioc polenta, and fried plantains. Grilled okra and cassava chips A few kilometres away, a chef at the upscale restaurant La Maison Palmier is working on her new creation: a taster dish inspired by placali, a typical Ivorian dish made with sticky gumbo sauce, bits of meat and dried fish, accompanied by fermented manioc paste. Hermence Kadio, who trained locally, has her own much lighter take on the classic. She grilled the gumbo (okra), while the cassava is puffed up and turned into chips. Every week the restaurant's French head chef Matthieu Gasnier offers amuse-bouche -- small bite-sized appetisers -- like these to "re-awaken the memories of people who grew up with these dishes". About half his clientele is Ivorian, he said. "Even if our restaurant's cuisine is intended to be international since we are in a five-star hotel, I think it would be wrong not to take advantage of all these beautiful products that surround us," he said. Grains such as fonio and sorghum grow in the Ivory Coast's hot dry northern savannas, said Koffi, while the forested south produces local varieties of spinach and typical tropical products such as bananas and yams. Healthier and tastier N'Cho Yapi, who founded the group Chefs: Creators of Emotions, said Ivorian cooks began going back to their culinary roots just after the turn of the century. Before that, chefs at fancy restaurants "had the habit of offering Western dishes with imported products," he said. "But the cost of living kept going up," so they turned to less-expensive products "they had just under their noses". And local specialties are appearing more and more on the menus of the luxury restaurants that have mushroomed across Abidjan in recent years, Yapi added. Valerie Rollainth, an Ivorian chef trained in France at the famous Institut Paul Bocuse, insisted that typically hearty Ivorian cuisine is no longer suited to the capital's increasingly sedentary lifestyle. "There are too few vegetables, a shocking quantity of oil, and the dishes are cooked too long" and lose their nutrients, she said. At the nutritional workshops she organises she urges people to eat local products in new ways, such as raw okra, which "is very good against diabetes". "Some diseases are linked to eating habits," she said. "In the Ivory Coast, not everyone has access to health care, but everyone has access to healthy food." Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong affirmed at a reception for Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on Saturday that Vietnam always gives the highest priority in bilateral relations with Laos. Vietnam will stay alongside Laos and support the latter in the fulfillment of its international duties in 2024, the Vietnamese leader underlined. Lao Prime Minister Siphandone, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation from Laos arrived in Hanoi on Saturday morning, commencing their official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, according to Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This marks Siphandone's first Vietnam visit since assuming power in late December 2022. At the reception, State President Thuong expressed his hope that the Lao leaders visit would create a new stimulus for the two nations friendship and strengthen their solidarity. The top Vietnamese official underscored that the Vietnamese state and Party believe that Laos will keep making great strides in its socio-economic development and spurring the nations role and position in the region and the international arena. Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong (R) receives Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in Hanoi on January 6, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency The Lao premier asserted that the Lao Party, state, and people are always grateful to Vietnam for its support over the past many years. He also appreciated Vietnamese firms investments in Laos that have contributed to the nations socio-economic growth. The two leaders reached a consensus on maintaining all-level delegation exchanges, and fostering cooperation in the defense, security, and diplomatic realms. In addition, the two countries will focus on their multifaceted partnership to boost economic, trading, educational, and tourism development. State President Thuong emphasized that the two nations should promote their political ties and work closely to implement cooperative deals to produce benefits for the two peoples. During his two-day stay in Vietnam, the Lao PM is scheduled to co-chair the 46th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee. Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong (R) and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. Photo: Vietnam News Agency Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam and Laos have pledged to strengthen the connectivity between the two economies, further promote multifield cooperation, and accelerate existing projects including the Hanoi-Vientiane expressway. Both sides have also signed four new cooperative agreements. The pledge was made during the talks between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Laotian counterpart Sonexay Siphandone on Saturday, when the latter and his spouse, along with their entourage, arrived in Hanoi for a two-day official visit and the 46th meeting of the two countries Inter-Governmental Committee. PM Chinh highly appreciated the first visit to Vietnam by PM Siphandone and affirmed Vietnam treasures and gives top priority to beefing up the special relationship between the two nations. The guest thanked the government and people of Vietnam for their warm and respectful welcome for the Laotian delegation. The two leaders expressed their pleasure at the fruitful development of the bilateral ties in all fields between the two countries over the past years. They agreed to continue to effectively implement the agreements between the two governments, including the Vietnam-Laos strategic co-operation agreement for the 2021-30 period, the bilateral cooperation agreement for the 2021-25 period, and the agreement on the Vietnam-Laos cooperation plan for 2024. The two sides emphasized the need to strengthen the connectivity between the two economies, especially in institutions and policies, finance, transport infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, and tourism. They were determined to expedite the Vientiane-Hanoi expressway project, the railway project to connect Vientiane in Laos and Vung Ang in north-central Vietnams Ha Tinh Province, and other key cooperation programs. The two PMs agreed to keep improving the effectiveness of defense and security cooperation, including strengthening border management and protection, and preventing transnational crimes, especially those relating to drugs. They committed to strengthening their collaborative efforts in the search, recovery, and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives in Laos. Vietnam and Laos have agreed to mutually support the construction of independent, self-reliant economies, emphasizing proactive, active, deep, substantive, and effective international integration in each country. The two leaders also pledged to promote development cooperation between the localities of the two nations. The host and guest vowed to review and remove all obstacles facing Vietnamese businesses in Laos, thereby facilitating their operations in the country. The two sides were determined to effectively implement protocols and cooperation projects in education and human resource development. PM Chinh and his guest also discussed a number of international and regional issues of mutual concern, pledging continued collaboration at regional and international platforms like ASEAN, the UN, and the Mekong sub-region cooperation mechanisms. They reiterated their commitment to supporting each other and prioritized strengthening close cooperative relations between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He affirmed that Vietnam is ready to support Laos to successfully undertake international responsibilities in 2024, including its role as the ASEAN chair. After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing ceremony for four cooperation documents, including a protocol on border defense cooperation, a plan for educational and training cooperation, and two memoranda of understanding on border trade infrastructure connection and on collaboration between the Vietnamese governments office and the Laotian prime ministers office. Vietnam and Laos set up diplomatic ties in 1962 and their relationship has fruitfully developed in all fields ever since. Last year, two-way trade between Vietnam and Laos topped US$1.5 billion, a testament to the flourishing economic ties between the two nations, according to the Voice of Vietnam. As of today, Vietnam boasts a substantial presence in Laos with 241 investment projects, amounting to a total value of $5.47 billion. This places Vietnam comfortably in third place among all countries and territories investing in Laos. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is seen at the talks with his Laotian counterpart Sonexay Siphandone in Hanoi on January 6, 2024. Photo: Hai Nguyen / Tuoi Tre Visiting Laotian Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone speaks at the talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on January 6, 2024. Photo: Hai Nguyen / Tuoi Tre Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone witness the defense minister of Vietnam and Laos exchange cooperation deals in Hanoi on January 6, 2023. Photo: Hai Nguyen / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Truong Hai Auto Corporation (Thaco), a Vietnamese automaker, has unveiled plans for a circular economic complex valued at over VND100 trillion (US$4.1 billion) in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. The proposed complex integrates bauxite exploitation, alumina and aluminum production, agricultural plant cultivation, the establishment of an agricultural product processing factory, and the promotion of eco-tourism. Thaco has submitted the research findings for the bauxite factory project to the Lam Dong People's Committee. These results include data collection, surveys, site selection, and the formulation of a comprehensive plan to execute the project. The firm affirmed that the bauxite exploration and exploitation is in line with the governments mining development plans. In particular, Thaco suggested developing the Lam Dong 2 alumina factory in Bao Lam District, Da Huoai District, Da Teh District, and Bao Loc City with a capacity of four million metric tons per year. The factory will be developed until 2033 over three phases. Of the total investment, Thaco will source more than VND30.9 trillion ($1.3 billion) from its budget and borrow loans totaling VND72 trillion ($2.9 billion). The firm expects to operate the project for 50 years, including 20 years of mining bauxite ores, submit some VND4.8 trillion ($197 million) to the state budget per year, and employ 4,000 laborers. Workers exploit bauxite at the Tan Rai Bauxite Complex in Bao Lam District, Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands. Photo: M.V. / Tuoi Tre The provincial government has tasked the Department of Planning and Investment with coordinating efforts alongside the Department of Industry and Trade, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Construction, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Department of Transport. Collaboration with the administrations of Bao Lam District, Da Huoai District, Da Teh District, and Bao Loc City is also mandated to review Thaco's plans and offer essential guidance to the company. There is currently a bauxite exploitation and alumina production project in the area surveyed for Thacos project, which is the Tan Rai Bauxite Complex of Lam Dong Aluminum Company under Vietnam National Coal Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin). The complex annually produces around 600,000 metric tons of alumina. Vinacomin also operates another bauxite exploitation and alumina production project in Dak Nong Province, Lam Dongs neighbor, named Nhan Co alumina factory. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! What you need to know today in Vietnam: Politics -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone held talks in Hanoi on Saturday, during which they agreed to deepen the two countries cooperation in the coming time. The Lao premier arrived in Hanoi on Saturday morning for his two-day visit to the neighboring country. -- Le Thi Bich Tran, spouse of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Vandara Siphandone, spouse of Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, visited and gave gifts to children in difficult circumstances at the Thai Binh SOS Childrens Village in the namesake northern province on Saturday afternoon, the Vietnam News Agency reported. -- Vietnam always gives its top priority to the relations with Laos and will support the neighbor in fulfilling its international responsibilities in 2024, Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong affirmed during a reception for Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, who is in Vietnam for a state visit on Saturday and Sunday. Society -- The administration in Nhon Trach District, Dong Nai Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, on Saturday started work on three road projects at an estimated cost of over VND2 trillion (US$82 million). These roads will be connected to Beltway No. 3 in Ho Chi Minh City, and the under-construction Long Thanh International Airport and Phuoc An Port in Dong Nai. -- Police in An Giang Province, southern Vietnam are tracking down three teenagers who fatally stabbed another young person 21 times in a minute at about 1:00 am on Saturday, a source of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported the same day. -- Police in Ho Chi Minh City successfully dismantled multiple drug trafficking rings that were involved in transporting and trading narcotics from Laos into Vietnam during the months of November and December last year, a representative of the municipal police said on Saturday. They arrested 26 people and seized over 290 kilograms of drugs, a gun, as well as many other exhibits. Business -- Truong Hai Auto Corporation (Thaco), a Vietnamese automaker, has unveiled plans for a circular economic complex valued at over VND100 trillion ($4.1 billion). The proposed complex integrates bauxite exploitation, aluminum production, agricultural plant cultivation, the establishment of an agricultural product processing factory, and the promotion of eco-tourism. World News -- "U.S. regulators on Saturday temporarily grounded certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 jetliners for safety checks following a cabin panel blowout that forced a brand-new Alaska Airlines jet carrying passengers to make an emergency landing," Reuters reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Health authorities in Ho Chi Minh City will advise the municipal administration to apply Cubas family doctor model in five districts on a trial basis the aim of strengthening public health protection, Dr. Tang Chi Thuong, director of the Department of Health, said recently. Dr. Thuong made the statement at a workshop conducted by the department on Friday to learn about Cubas family doctor model. The event was attended by Cuban Prof. Dr. Jose Armando Aronte Villamarin and Prof. Dr. Sonia Maria Gonzalez Vega, who paid a working visit to the city recently at the invitation of the department. After providing city officials with an overview of the Cuban family doctor model, which has been in operation for 40 years, Prof. Villamarin noted that implementing this model in Ho Chi Minh City may encounter challenges due to the concentration of the medical workforce in significant numbers within hospitals. He pointed out that this situation contrasts sharply with Cuba, where over 50 percent of doctors and nurses are assigned to basic health care services. In Cuba, doctors at grassroots health facilities receive regular and comprehensive training. The professor highlighted that Cuba's primary human resource for grassroots healthcare systems is comprehensive medical doctors. In Cuba, a general clinic, equivalent to a district-level health center in Vietnam, has 20-30 family doctor offices each of which is responsible for providing healthcare to 1,000-1,500 people. Prof. Villamarin emphasized the vital role of family doctor offices in Cuba, strategically situated in residential areas, actively contributing to primary healthcare. In this model, family doctors visit patients at their homes, conducting examinations, evaluations, and classifications. This approach enables tailored care, consultation, and treatment based on the specific needs of individuals. The Cuban experts pointed out many challenges facing Ho Chi Minh City in developing a model of family doctors like Cubas. One challenge lies in the fact that the human resources at the grassroots level for medical services are still insufficient compared to the demands and objectives of establishing a comprehensive family medicine network. Cuban Prof. Dr. Sonia Maria Gonzalez Vega and Prof. Dr. Jose Armando Aronte Villamarin (R, 1st and 2nd) are seen at a working session with health authorities in District 8, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T. / Tuoi Tre Another challenge is the difficulty in persuading and encouraging private clinics to participate in a family medicine network that prioritizes the concept of prevention over cure. Prof. Villamarin emphasized the critical understanding that a family doctor is not someone expected to treat all diseases. Instead, a family doctor should genuinely function as a consultant, focusing on disease prevention, managing common illnesses, and promptly liaising with specialist doctors at hospitals when required. Agreeing with the opinions of the Cuban expert, Dr. Thuong affirmed that he has anticipated the challenges the city has to overcome during the transformation of grassroots health stations into family doctor networks. He really hoped to receive advice and support from Cuba's leading medical experts so that the health department can successfully build a family doctor model like Cubas in the near future. It is necessary to sign a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Health of Cuba and Ho Chi Minh Citys health authorities on short-term training, consultancy, and sharing experience in building a roadmap to set up a family medicine system, Dr. Thuong suggested. Thuong expressed his willingness to provide consultation to the citys administration in the process of selecting five rural districts for piloting the Cuban family doctor model. I want this model to be piloted in Binh Chanh District as it will be tremendously useful in taking care of public health, said Tran Van Nam, secretary of the Binh Chanh Party Committee, who has recently paid a working visit to Cuba. In addition to the family doctor model, the city also wishes to cooperate with Cuba in trade and production of drugs, vaccines and biopharmaceuticals. Dr. Thuong said. Since being initiated by Cuban President Fidel Castro in 1984, the family medicine network has accumulated a total of 12,833 family doctors, attaining a rate of one family doctor for every 857 people. This model has made it easier for Cuban people to access to primary healthcare services, and their health indicators have thereby improved significantly. Notably, Cuba has a completely free healthcare system and can self-produce many kinds of medicines and vaccines. This Latin American country has so far sent 23,000 doctors to 55 countries around the world to offer medical assistance to local health systems. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The administration of District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City has said it is addressing excessive parking fees at tourist spots such as Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street and Bach Dang Wharf in response to complaints made by residents and visitors. The Peoples Committee of the district vows to handle unauthorized parking operations while intensifying inspections of licensed parking establishments. It plans to organize motorcycle parking through bidding on the three routes near Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, namely Mac Thi Buoi, Ngo Duc Ke, and Hai Trieu, to select suitable operators and set reasonable charges. The committee has also sought permission from the citys administrion for the temporary use of vacant land in downtown areas for parking during festivals and public holidays. It also proposed that the city extend public transportation hours during festivals to reduce personal vehicles and deter overcharging. In 2023, the urban order management team of District 1 collaborated with relevant agencies to issue 291 citations for parking violations, amounting to over VND900 million (US$36,915) in administrative fines. Among that, Ben Nghe Ward dealt with 56 violations, exceeding VND259 million ($10,623) in fines. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tran Thi Ngoc Trinh, well known as Ngoc Trinh, a 34-year-old Vietnamese lingerie model, who was arrested in October last year for allegedly causing social disorder, has expressed her expectation to receive leniency, according to Ho Chi Minh police officers. Trinh was detained for riding a large-displacement motorcycle while performing offensive and dangerous acts and wearing no protective gear, as depicted in videos of the stunt she uploaded on social media. Investigators in Ho Chi Minh City issued results of a probe into accusations against Trinh and her 36-year-old trainer, Tran Xuan Dong, who was charged with using counterfeit documents and causing social disorder, a source of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper said on Saturday. During the investigation, police confiscated three motorcycles of unknown origin, a drone, fake vehicle papers, and many electronic devices. According to police officers, both Trinh and Dong were aware of their violations in detention. Ngoc Trinh is shown under arrest in October 2023. Photo: Supplied Ngoc Trinh, dubbed an underwear queen, was found to have no special license that would allow her to legally ride a motorcycle with an engine over 175cc. On October 6, 2023, she and Dong rode a motorcycle with a cylinder capacity of 999cc on D15 Road in the Saigon Hi-Tech Park in Thu Duc City. In early September last year, both rode motorcycles on Tran Bach Dang Street in the Thu Thiem urban area in the city. While riding her motorcycle, Ngoc Trinh put both legs to one side of the vehicle, knelt on the saddle, and let go of both hands. Police said her behaviors caused social disorder and negatively affected traffic safety in Thu Thiem Ward, Thu Duc City. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Wild 2023 UK heist thriller Culprits will premiere on SBS this week. The 8 part series stars Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Gemma Arterton, Eddie Izzard, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Niamh Algar. Family man Joe Petrus is living the American dream with his fiance and step-kids. However, unbeknownst to them, Joe was involved in a mysterious crime three years ago, and now his dangerous past is about to catch up with him. When a killer starts targeting the crew behind the crime, Joe realises its only a matter of time before his family is targeted. He returns to London to track down his old gang and find out who is coming after them no matter the cost. Episode One: Joes perfect family life is shattered when a killer targets the crew behind his old heist. Thursday, 11 January at 9.25pm on SBS. Made in Chelsea: Sydney, a locally-filmed version of the long-running UK reality show, will screen on Hayu next week. The Chelsea set are jetting off down under to escape the UK winter for Sydneys sun, sand and heaploads of drama. Expect new relationships, old vendettas and plenty of confrontations. Making their way down under for Made in Chelsea: Sydney are cast members Olivia Bentley, Sam Prince, Harvey Armstrong, Bella Sharpe, Yasmine Zweegers and Ruby Adler. Also joining the cast are Sydney locals JJ Van Der Viet, Lachlan Mclean, Mia Loehr, Tayla Cohen, and Isabella Cicero. Keen to make the most of a summer in Sydney, the gang hit the world-famous Sydney Harbour, climb the majestic Sydney Harbour Bridge, hop onto some fabulous yachts and top up their tans on the iconic Bondi Beach but will their troubles stay put at home on the Kings Road, or will there be drama down under? Coming up on Made in Chelsea: Sydney: Liv and Sam hit the town, sampling all Sydney has to offer, leaving behind a confused and neglected Yas. Will Sam choose partying with partner in crime Liv over resolving his tumultuous relationship with Yas? Meanwhile old flames Lauren and Harvey are flirting up a storm in Sydney! When late arrival Tristan touches down, hopeful of a reunion with Lauren, how will he react to find out what his best friend and former beau have been up to? Bella is left confused by the status of her relationship with Reza, and his continuing friendship with Ruby isnt helping matters. But Bella has caught the eye of handsome Hugo who is keen to help her see theres more to Australia than just Reza Made in Chelsea: Sydney is produced by Monkey, which is part of Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. For Monkey, Leonie Joss, Lucie Rake and Joe Street are executive producers. The series is directed by David Reid and Jake Taylor, with Sarah Carnie as series director. Monday January 15 on Hayu. As the the third and final season of Total Control approaches, star Deborah Mailman is content that her character, Alex Irving, never became the first Indigenous Prime Minister. After Alex started as a renegade Independent and rose quickly through the corridors of power, it seemed like the top job was in her sights. In a reality where a Referendum was defeated, achieving such seems more likely in a world of fiction. But according to Mailman, the show arguably had less lofty ambitions. Were not going to see (a black PM) maybe in our lifetime, so in the meantime, lets create a show that has high stakes, that is entertaining, that can be aspirational. she tells TV Tonight. But we can still lean on all that subject matter that is important to us as Blackfellas. Indeed as Season Two ended, the PM title was snatched out of the hands of Rachel Anderson (co-creator and co-Executive Producer Rachel Griffiths) and given to Paul Murphy (Wayne Blair). Mailman is pragmatic about how well Alex might have performed in the role, had the writers charted a different path. I think shed be shithouse at it! Shed be a terrible Prime Minister! she laughs. Also, I dont think thats where she wants to be. Shes already seen first-hand that your hands are tied. Theres not a lot of moving and shaking you can do even though it seems like thats where the power lies. But its actually all behind the scenes stuff. The kingmakers are where the power lies. By Season Three, which picks up two years after the last episode, Murphy is struggling in the PM role, but is assisted by his new Head of Policy Charlie (Rob Collins) -after having been fired by his sister, Alex. Alex, meanwhile, begins the series dealing with floods in Winton as well as juggling matters closer to home. Clearly she is more experienced to deal with the turmoil. In Season One she was a novice. All she wanted to do was open a medical centre in Winton. It was a really simple, but big world, problem in Winton. Suddenly, shes confronted with a death in custody that leads into a completely different direction and becomes her focus, she explains. Coming into Season Three that is still there for her. She hasnt let up in any way in regards to a Royal Commission into Deaths in Custody and making both governments -previous and current- accountable for that incident. What we find, though, in Season Three is that her health takes a turn. So shes faced with a little bit of her own mortality, which underpins every decision that she makes. Theres an urgency to what shes trying to achieve because of the health issues. I guess shes trying to set up something better for her son, Eddie (Wesley Patten) as well. Also featuring are Anthony Hayes, Steph Tisdell, Daniela Farinacci, Lisa Flanagan, Benedict Hardie, Anita Hegh, Huw Higginson, Catherine McClements, Fayssal Bazzi, Ursula Yovich, Lisa Hensley and Trisha Morton-Thomas. This season teenage son Eddie creates headaches for Alex as he flouts the law, at the same time as she is pursuing Youth Justice legislation. There are ramifications both politically and personally for Alex. Hes got a lot of fire in him, young Eddie Irving, Mailman agrees. Hes like his mum. When he sees something wrong, he wants to right it. Hes not afraid to actually confront what is wrong and hold people to account, which gets both of them into trouble, all the time. But there will also be allegations of corruption that threaten to bring down both Alex and former PM Anderson as they battle to control their political destinies. With Total Control as her first series lead, Mailman maintains that she declined overtures to participate in the Writers Room. The door was always open and they did ask me, particularly in Season Two, What are your thoughts? But Im not a writer. Im just like, I really love where this is going. Ive just trusted the process. I like being surprised by where they think Alex should end up. I dont really want to be too hands on with any of that. So as the Blackefella Films series draws to a close, is she equally content it has fulfilled all it set out to achieve? The answer is Yes, but its not one around changing politics or even the equity for First Nations people. Its less about that and more about being a really f***ing good show. Its about people going, What an excellent Australian drama. So yes it is about all that cultural change, but also I think, equally, if not more important, was for us to just go, Its good drama. Its a good show. (Rachel Griffiths) would probably give you the opposite of what Im saying and say, Yes, lets argue what our democracy looks like. Why have we got a two party preferred system? Why are we just accepting what is here as a system? Absolutely, we should be looking at what were doing for politicians, and looking at the double standard that happens, particularly for female politicians. One of the things Rachel really wanted to explore is the cost of personal sacrifice, that particularly politicians deal with. So were exploring At what cost? Theres the focus for Alex to really make a difference and make change and reform in that way. But its at the cost of her relationship with her family. Going from Winton to Canberra to Winton not being able to make it to her mother dying, because she couldnt get on the plane, she recalls. Theres a lot personally at stake when youre trying to change the world. Total Control returns 8:30pm Sunday on ABC. By SA Commercial Prop News Eris Property Group CEO, Warren Schultze says his company is collaborating with Momentum Global Investment Managers on launching an African Real Estate Fund focused on Sub-Saharan Africa. Property services and development company Eris Property Group and Momentum Global Investment Managers are collaborating on setting up an African Real Estate Fund focused on Sub-Saharan Africa. High stakes for high return, if you can stick it out for the long term investors are buying into a boom in sub-Saharan African real estate. Forecasts for 20-per-cent net annual returns from investing in shopping malls, office blocks or industrial complexes in countries from Zambia to Kenya are drawing in new investors, despite more immediate concerns in some countries about Ebola, terrorism or political stability. In that vein, Eris Property Group is currently involved in launching a R2.6 billion (US $250-million) African Real Estate Fund in collaboration with Momentum Global Investment Managers, a fellow subsidiary in the MMI Group. The investment vehicle, will focus initially on shopping malls and office buildings in key African locations including Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Ghana and Rwanda. Commenting on the venture, Warren Schultze, CEO of Eris Property Group (Pty) Ltd, said "Many African economies are growing at a rapid rate with GDP growth of approximately 7% per annum in certain African economies. Any dramatic change to the landscape creates investment opportunities." Schultze adds that there is currently a shortage of office and retail space in many African countries, and these countries may offer investors potential returns in excess of what is currently achievable locally in South Africa. "The South African IPD Index reflects average total returns from property of roughly 17.5%, but this may be difficult to sustain and thus investing in Africa may be a more viable option," he said. As Africas fast-growing population gains spending power and moves into cities, demand for real estate will grow, fund managers say. Urbanization and population growth will boost the number of people in cities globally by 2.5 billion over the next three decades, with much of that growth in Africa and Asia, a recent United Nations study said. The No. 1 reason [to invest] is return 18 to 20 per cent on an annual basis, if you are in for the full eight years, said David Lashbrook, head of Africa investment strategies at Momentum. The investors we are looking at targeting are institutions who can be locked up for the whole eight years. According to David Morley, head of real estate at private equity firm Actis, The desire of the increasingly middle class to meet, socialize, shop and spend their leisure time in facilities or retail developments that are on a par with what you find around the world is not going to abate, it is going to continue. Why real estate? Building costs in many African countries are high, real estate specialists say, partly because many materials have to be imported. But potential rents are also high at a monthly $25 to $30 a square metre for high-end office blocks in cities like Rwandas capital Kigali, or Ghanas capital Accra, compared with less than $20 in Johannesburg. There are currently eight Africa-focused, unlisted real estate funds targeting $1.25-billion in capital, according to data provider Preqin. Around 69 per cent of capital raised for African real estate funds between 2009 and 2013 was focused on sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa, up from 40 per cent from 2006 to 2009. Private equity funds look to attract institutional investors and traditionally do offer higher returns, due to the risks of investing in unlisted companies which may be less transparent. But Ghana and Nigeria already have real estate investment trusts similar to mutual funds which can be listed on stock markets and make it easier for retail investors to access the sector. Kenyan legislation to allow REITs is expected to go through this year. The REIT market worldwide totals more than $1-trillion, according to consultancy EY, in more than 30 countries. The market is less well established in emerging markets, but countries such as Mexico and Brazil have REITs. Stanlib is among fund managers looking to set up a Kenyan REIT. It already has a fund listed in Johannesburg, which focuses on listed African real estate in countries such as Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mauritius, as well as South Africa. Keillen Ndlovu, head of listed property funds at Stanlib, said the 200-million-rand ($18.82-million) fund had trebled in size this year and was accessible to retail investors. Investors are focusing on commercial properties rather than residential due to a limited supply of private housing and the lack of mortgage markets in Africa. We are not at that stage, we have been shown quite a few residential projects, there might be a chance we have seen a few mixed developments, said Mr. Lashbrook at Momentum. If you are building residential, in a lot of these countries there is no mortgage market. Returns of 20 per cent or more dont come without significant risks. Africa has been hitting the headlines for the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and attacks in investment favourites Nigeria and Kenya, including last years attack by the al-Shabaab Islamist group on Nairobis Westgate shopping mall. But real estate specialists say that while Ebola may devastate countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia, it is a short-term issue, whereas they seek long-term gains from property. Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea also do not rank among the main sub-Saharan markets targeted for real-estate investment. Terrorism may add to the building costs of shopping malls, due to security and insurance costs. There is a concern, thats one of the first questions that come in you do get more political risk, Mr. Ndlovu said. But the risk of terrorism is not unique to Africa, investors point out. A bigger issue is land security, with documentation varying widely from country to country, and within countries. That adds to the risk of investing in residential property, although Stephen Bailey-Smith, head of Africa research at Standard Bank in London, who recently built a beach house in Ghana, says the residential sector will eventually open up to investors. If you go into any city in Africa, you can see the need for decent housing is infinite, he said. Kim Churchill, a well-known advocate for human rights, is the official NDP candidate for the district of Conception Bay East-Bell Island in the 2024 byelection. (Henrike Wilhelm/CBC - image credit) Kim Churchill, a well-known advocate for human rights, is the official NDP candidate for the district of Conception Bay East-Bell Island in the 2024 byelection. Kim Churchill, a well-known advocate for human rights, is the NDP candidate for the district of Conception Bay East-Bell Island in the 2024 byelection. (Henrike Wilhelm/CBC) New Democratic Party candidate Kim Churchill officially launched her campaign for the upcoming byelection in Conception Bay East-Bell Island in an event at Murray's Pond Fishing & Country Club in Portugal Cove on Sunday. Dozens of supporters attended the event, among them provincial NDP Leader Jim Dinn and federal NDP President Mary Shortall. While Churchill said she had never seen herself going into politics, now seemed like the right time. "Throughout my life, I've had to face so many obstacles and I overcame every single one of them," Churchill told reporters on Sunday. "I've never allowed anything that's happened to me to stop me from doing the things that I wanted to do. And in fact, the things that have happened to me have only proven to make me a stronger person and fight even harder." Churchill made national headlines in her fight for proper education for deaf children in the province, one of them being her son Carter. Churchill and her husband took the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District to court to ensure Carter could be taught using American Sign Language and won the human rights case in March. "No parent should ever have to fight for human rights, like education, and no one should ever have to fight for basic needs. Yet we see that happening every single day in this province, with affordability, housing, health care," Churchill said in her speech to supporters. "This is made worse by a Liberal government that does not seem to get it." Churchill said the NDP is the only party she could have imagined running for, given its support throughout her fight for her son's education. Story continues In turn, provincial party leader Jim Dinn described Churchill as an ideal candidate who cares about the same issues, like improving health care, solving the housing crisis and making the provincial education system more inclusive. Kim Churchill officially launched her election campaign on Sunday, and was cheered on by dozens of supporters. Kim Churchill launched her election campaign on Sunday, and was cheered on by dozens of supporters. (Henrike Wilhelm/CBC) "We need the NDP in government. That's basically what we need. And until then, we need a strong, vocal opposition to hold government accountable," said Dinn. "This is where Kim comes in. She's articulate, tenacious, she has a strong sense of social justice, determined and courageous. I would have to say I would rather have her on my side than fighting against me." Churchill herself emphasized her focus on health care, housing and affordability, but also the need for better services for Bell Island, including a shore-based ferry manager. "When I talk to people on Bell Island, one thing is very clear: They are being treated much differently than the rest of the province," she said. "The ferry is the lifeline for the residents of Bell Island, and everything is connected to it. Without it, we'll never see health care improve. We will never see economic developments improve. We will never see tourism improve. And what happens on Bell Island does impact all of us. We have seen how the government has ignored the residents of Bell Island, has given a knee-jerk reaction to homelessness, has forgotten seniors who are on fixed incomes." Churchill is going up against well-known candidates. Fred Hutton, former journalist and advisor to the premier, is running for the Liberal Party, while PC candidate Tina Neary has been a Portugal Cove-St. Philip's town councillor for years. Darryl Harding, former PC district association president and Portugal Cove-St. Philip's town councillor, is running as an independent candidate. In December, Harding accused PC Leader Tony Wakeham of choosing Neary as the candidate without a fair and open nomination process. All four are vying to fill the chair of David Brazil, the former interim PC leader who stepped away from politics at the end of December to focus on his health. The district has voted Conservative for the last 20 years, and the NDP won only 10.7 per cent of the vote in the last district byelection. Yet, Churchill said she tries not to think about the other candidates and instead focus on herself. "I will say that there's a huge difference between telling a news story and being the news story. There's a huge difference to having lived experience and being the person who can be in the House of Assembly and have walked the walk than a person who has just worked with other people and can tell a story. I've lived it," she said. "I had to go up against one of the biggest entities in this province and win. So, I've already proven myself to people. They know the story and they have confidence to know that I will be the person that when I'm in the House of Assembly, I will get the job done." Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page. Let's Get Together and Watch 'Bob Marley: One Love' - Arriving on 4K UHD and Blu-ray on May 28 Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Views & Analysis Bangladesh Tests Ailing Democracy on Ballot After much international media hype on the Bangladesh election, the day dawned on 7 January, 2024. Read More Sunday January 7, 2024 12:23 PM , Saleem Samad [Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina casting her vote Sunday January 07, 2024.] After much international media hype on the Bangladesh election, the day dawned on 7 January, 2024. On the eve of the tense election battle of the ballots, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association, Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, called the election environment in Bangladesh repressive, saying that he is deeply disturbed. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has also expressed profound concern over the 12th Parliamentary Elections to ensure free and fair elections in Asia voiced its concern. ANFREL said it strongly believed that this election is at risk of lacking genuineness and electoral competitiveness, raising serious questions about its adherence to democratic principles and international election standards that assess the legitimacy of the electoral process. The statement also said ANFREL believes that the risk of lacking genuineness and electoral competitiveness emanates from the observed absence of accountability, fairness, and inclusivity in the electoral processes. Amnesty issued a 10-point human rights charter and urged all contesting political parties to ensure that the protection and promotion of human rights is a core part of their plans for the country. The 10 points are: Respect and protect freedom of expression and media freedom; Protect the protest; Sustainable solutions to the Rohingya crisis; End impunity for enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions; Protect womens rights; Protect the rights of religious minorities and indigenous peoples; Abolish the death penalty; Inclusive, sustainable responses to the climate crisis; End impunity for custodial deaths and torture; and Uphold corporate accountability and labour rights. The question they are addressing to the wrong group of politicians, and political parties, including the governing Awami League. None of them has the mood to listen to the civil society and often blames them for working for the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami. On the other hand, a senior Indian journalist Bharat Bhusan writes that the staged election could result in political instability in the country. He believes that the national election on January 7 is widely expected to be neither inclusive nor competitive. Instability, because Bangladesh has fallen into geo-political fault. China, Russia and India want Sheikh Hasina, the President of the Awami League should return to power with an overwhelming majority. Indias conspicuous silence over the one-sided election has encouraged China and Russia to adopt a similar policy to keep Hasina in power for another term. China and Russia are singing the same tune, which could be understood to counter the United States, European Union and other West putting pressure on Bangladesh to hold a free, fair and inclusive election. Members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) marched through the streets of Dhaka in opposition to Sundays general election. The BNP calls for an election boycott and claims PM Sheikh Hasina is leading a sham vote towards her fourth straight term. pic.twitter.com/RQvGVI0YWS Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) January 6, 2024 The election needs no prediction as BBC News dubbed the polls as a one-woman election, while the result already looks inevitable, writes Anbarasan Ethirajan. The predicted win of the stage-managed election would be a win for India, Russia and China. Its an election of Awami League versus Dummy League. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has advised his political hierarchy to nominate dummy candidates to ensure that if the contestant application is rejected by a higher court or the election commission, at least there is one standby candidate to fight the ballot. As the dummy candidates have no political credibility and accountability in their constituency they are known to be troublemakers for the rebel candidates who failed to get nomination from governing Awami League. The dummy candidates are also a political nuisance in the area for obstructing independent candidates, also creating rowdyism for other party candidates. There are reports of clashes and attacks on rival candidates in scores of district towns. News of vandalism of polling centres is also pouring. Such incidents give a chilling message of violence during voting. The fear is likely to hinder voters from going to the polling station. Such fear means the election is not free. The voters will go to the polling station with fear and impending violence among supporters and henchmen of rival candidates. It is expected that violence would be lowest, as the Awami League has no opposition in the real sense. The independent and rebel candidates are unlikely to pose any threats. In several seats, the rebel candidates are very influential and have a strong support base in the certain constituency. Most rebel candidates have strong people-to-people contacts. The parliamentary election as Western and Indian media are agog with stories that the election is one-sided and Sheikh Hasina, the "Mother-of-Humanity" will be elected for the fifth tenure. She will surely be included in the Guinness World Records, as the longest-serving woman Prime Minister in the world. Well, the call for agitation by the BNP and its allies has fallen flat. As the BNP failed to garner the support of the people to protest the one-sided election. Agitation in the form of a general strike (hartal) and lockdown to disconnect from the rest of the country could not woo the people to support the anti-government movement. What did not surprise the political observers was that a significant number of candidates from the loyal opposition Jatiya Party, Trinamool BNP and other Kings parties have stepped out of the election race. More than 225 of the 265 Jatiya Party candidates have pulled out of the race, terming the election one-sided and staged and others blamed the non-cooperation of the ruling Awami League. However, only the contestants who were blessed with a quota of 26 have not pulled out. Its too late for the candidates to drop out from the race as the last date for withdrawal has long gone. The Bangladesh Election Commission has also reiterated that they also envisage holding a free and fair election, but could not assure that the election would be free of violence. Despite repeated promises by the government and the election commission, it seems neither the West nor the international media are convinced that the election would be free, fair, credible and inclusive. Meanwhile, foreign election observers will be only allowed to visit polling centres within a range oftwo-hour road drive. The observers can travel to cities and towns where domestic airlines fly. The election commission has given election observer accreditation cards to 127 foreign observers. On the other hand, the Ministry of Foreign Ministry, Information and Broadcasting, and Home Affairs have imposed conditions on foreign journalists to issue visas to cover the election. Only 73 journalists were accredited to cover the election and visit polling centres. The award-winning journalist Nazmul Ahasan in a Twitter (X) posted that foreign journalists granted visas are mostly those based in the India bureau. Some are required to sign agreements mandating that their footage receives official approval before publication and that they will not harm the national image or sentiment. Indirectly, the Bangladesh authorities have imposed censorship and restrictions on foreign journalists who are not free to report independently. [The writer, Saleem Samad, is an award-winning independent journalist based in Bangladesh. A media rights defender with the Reporters Without Borders (@RSF_inter). Recipient of Ashoka Fellowship and Hellman-Hammett Award. He could be reached at saleemsamad@hotmail.com; Twitter: @saleemsamad. The above article is first published in the NorthEast News, Guwahati, Assam, India, 6 January 2024.] Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Middle East Got raped by his eyes: Israel finally finds evidence of Hamas sexual assault Mia Shems a little over 30-minute interview brought the Zionists another round of embarrassment as she failed to add any credible evidence to the Israeli claims of Hamas involvement in sexual violence and rape. Read More Sunday January 7, 2024 4:50 PM , Aleem Faizee, ummid.com [The latest image of Mia Shem along with the picture of a Palestinian hostage with telling captions is viral after her latest interview, with question being raised did this hypocritical Franco-Israeli suffer a holocaust and was at risk of rape?] Tel Aviv/Gaza Strip: Desperately pursuing the world to believe that the Palestinian Resistance Fighters during their Operation Al Aqsa Flood Oct 7, 2023 committed sexual assault, the Zionists have come with another bizarre interview to establish their unfounded claims. The interview aired by the Israeli Hebrew TV Channel 13 last week is of Mia Shem. Shem, a 21-year-old dual Israeli-French citizen, was released on November 30 as part of the prisoners swap deal between Israel and Hamas. Mia Shem who - while being handed over to Red Cross and on her way to Tel Aviv from Gaza on Nov 30, had lauded the Palestinians for treating her well during her captivity in Gaza for 54 days. They treated me well and took care of me. They provided me with food and medicines, and did everything to keep me happy, she said in front of the camera. After more than one month following her release by Hamas and enjoying hospitality in Gaza where local residents are facing acute shortage of not only the essential commodities but also drinking water because of the Israeli blockade, Mia Shem in a most bizarre manner claimed, Her kidnapper raped her with his eyes. They shut me inside a dark room. I can't talk, can't be seen, can't be heard. I was hidden. With a terrorist watching me 24/7, raping me with his eyes, she said while talking to Channel 13. In the interview, Mia Shem claimed that she would have been actually raped if her kidnappers wife and children was not there. I was afraid of being raped, that was my biggest fear there. His wife was outside the room with their children, that's the only reason why he didn't rape me, Mia Shem said. Mia Shem admitted her kidnappers wife used to bring them meal but described her a mean woman. Interestingly, Mia Shem also said it was her kidnapper who took her, in Hijab and Niqab, to a hospital in Gaza where surgery was done on her injured arm, and also admitted that a relationship had evolved between her and her kidnapper. I was afraid something would suddenly happen. So I connected with him in a friendly way, she said in the interview, contradicting her own claim made in the same interview of being raped by her captive with his eyes. In the same interview, Mia Shem also described what damage the Israeli airstrikes are causing in the civilian areas of Gaza and said she was shifted from one house to another because of the Israeli bombardments. "They bombarded the entire area where I was kept. Windows of the house where I was in, shattered on top of me. The house shook. The force blew me away. I couldnt hear for three days, she said. She said it was because of the Israeli bombardment she was shifted from her kidnappers house and at one point was kept inside a house with four Palestinian fighters. When they moved me from house to house during those two weeks of bombardments, there was one time I was kept inside a house with four terrorists covered faced and AK 47s on alert, she said. Interestingly, the four terrorists who were alone with Mia Shem did not do any physical harm to her even though she was totally on their mercy and there were also not present their wives as was the case when she was with her kidnapper in his home. In contrast, Mia Shem developed a bond with the four and even cooked food for them. I asked them if they are hungry. They said yes. So, I sent one of them to a marketplace, and asked him to get some items, cooked them my Tbeha dish, she said in the interview with the leading Israeli media. They named me Mother of the Sultan. I got them to look at me differently. To respect me, she said. Mia Shems a little over 30-minute interview brought the Zionists another round of embarrassment as she failed to add any credible evidence to the Israeli claims of Hamas involvement in sexual violence and rape. Israel is using different platforms, including the United Nations, to accuse Hamas and other Resistance Fighters of involvement in sexual violence and rape. No one in the world however is ready to believe the Zionists because of their established record of being a leader in fabrication, misinformation, and planting fake news done to justify the Israeli war crimes and atrocities against the Palestinians. Also Read Are Israeli Hostages in Love with Palestinian Fighters? Buzz after incredible videos Making the Israeli case weaker, Haaretz, a top Israeli newspaper, vehemently rejected the Israeli allegations against Hamas and other Palestinian Resistance groups, saying there is no evidence to actually support the rape claim as there is no first hand witness nor an actual victim of rape. The Israeli police are facing difficulties in finding victims of alleged sexual assaults in the 7th of October operation, Haaretz said in a report. Most of the testimonies of sexual assaults, including what was presented at the United Nations and what was published by the New York Times, are based on the testimonies of one young woman. Police were unable to reach the women described in the New York Times report, the newspaper said in a report headlined No physical evidence or victims matching testimonies about Oct sexual violence. Hamas and other Palestinian groups have also rejected the New York Times report titled "'Screams Without Words': How Hamas Used Sexual Violence as a Weapon on October 7" as Zionist propaganda. The Palestinians also accused the US media of being complicit in spreading Zionist propaganda to spread lies and demonise Palestinian struggle to justify war crimes. In a further setback to the New York Times, Miral Alter, sister of the Oct 7 victims Gal Abdush, denied rape claims and accused the leading US daily of manipulating her testimonies. [The writer, Aleem Faizee, is Founder Editor of ummid.com. He can be reached at aleem.faizee@gmail.com. Written with inputs from agencies.] Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home South Asia Maldivian Minister terms fake reports of his suspension from cabinet Tagging the tweet by a local media outlet that led to the reports claiming suspension of the Maldivian ministers, Hassan Zihan wrote Fake news without elaborating further. Read More Sunday January 7, 2024 10:38 PM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies [Malsha Shareef, Maryam Shiuna and Mahzoom Majid (Image tweeted by Adhadhu @AdhadhuMV)] Male (Maldives)/New Delhi: Amid a flood of reports in the Indian media that the Maldives government has suspended some deputy ministers over social media posts derogatory to PM Modi, Hassan Zihan, Deputy Minister of Transport and Civil, termed fake news reports claiming his suspension from the cabinet. Tagging the tweet by a local media outlet that led to the reports claiming suspension of three Maldivian ministers, Hassan Zihan wrote Fake news without elaborating further. Adhadhu, a local media writing on social media platform X claimed, Deputy Ministers Maryam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Hassan Zihan have been suspended for insulting Modi. The media outlet in a follow-up message also claimed that there are calls for their dismissal. Media reports later claimed that Mahzoom Majid, and not Hassan Zihan, has been suspended along with Malsha and Shiuna. Why strain in India, Maldives relations? Diplomatic relation between India and Maldives turned sour in October last when Mohamed Muizzu won the Maldivian election and declared all foreign troops on the Maldivian soil have to be removed . Since India has its troops stationed in Maldives, it was claimed that the announcement was targeted at India. Some reports also claimed that the decision was done at the behest of China. The latest escalation in India and Maldives came Friday - a day after PM Modi visited Lakshadweep and posted on social media platform X videos and photos of him relaxing on beaches and snorkelling in the sea. Some social media users and BJP supporters forwarded these videos and images promoting Lakshadweep as an alternate tourist destination to the Maldives. A social media user even called Maldives a "Chinese puppet". Responding to these tweets, Mariyam Shiuna, Deputy Minister at the Maldives Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Art, in a now deleted post on X called Indian Prime Minister Modi "clown" and "Israeli puppet". Malsha Shareef, Deputy Minister at Ministry of Youth Empowerment shared PM Modi's videos from Lakshadweep on X using derisive emoji. Joining the social media debate, Abdullal Mahzoom Majidh, also Deputy Minister at the Maldives Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Art, wrote: While I wish success for Indias tourism, targeting the Maldives so explicitly isnt diplomatic. India faces significant challenges competing in beach tourism, considering our resort infrastructure exceeds their total islands (sic). Meanwhile, Zahid Rameez, a member of the Progressive Party (PPM) in Maldives Senate since January 2013 and a graduate from Unity University College, in a social media post said India would never be able to compete with Maldives in regards to tourism. "The move (promoting Lakshadweep) is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfal", Rameez wrote on X. Outrage, condemnation The tweets by the Maldivian ministers sparked a massive outrage in India with calls of boycotting Maldives. The posts also received backlash at home with former President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed terming them "appalling". "What appalling language by Maldives government official Mariyam Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives' security and prosperity. The Mohamed Muizzu government must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy," Nasheed wrote in a post on X. Abdulla Shahid, former Foreign Minister of Maldives also condemned the language used by the ministers and asked the government to take action against them. "I call on the Government to reprimand these officials. Public figures must maintain decorum. They must accept that they are no longer social media activists and that they are now entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the interests of the people and the country", he wrote on X. "India is a time tested friend and an unwavering ally. They have historically been the first to respond in our time of need. Our close relationship has been bound by mutual respect, history, culture and strong people-to-people relations", Abdulla Shahid added. Meanwhile, the Maldives government distanced itself from the derogatory remarks made by Shiuna and other ministers. In a statement, the government said the "opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives". The government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, and negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and international partners", the Maldives' government said in a statement. "The relevant authorities of the government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks," it added. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Megan Fan Munce is a reporter who joined the San Francisco Chronicle as part of the two-year Hearst Journalism Fellowship, spending her first year of the program at the Houston Chronicle. Munce grew up in San Jose before attending Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, graduating with a B.S. and M.S. in journalism and a second major in political science. She previously worked as an audience engagement fellow and a reporting fellow at the Texas Tribune, as well as an audience intelligence intern for KQED. She can be reached at Megan.Munce@sfchronicle.com. AN GIANG The Mekong Delta province of An Giang on Friday exported a total of seven tonnes of green-peel elephant mango (Mangifera Indica) to Australia and the US. Speaking at the event, Deputy Chairman of Cho Moi District Peoples Committee oan Thanh Loc said that export initially affirmed the position of the localitys fruit in demanding markets like Australia and the US. This is also a significant event of the local agricultural sector, helping bring about enormous economic opportunities while bolstering the image and reputation of the provinces agricultural products in the international market. Huynh Kim inh, Deputy Director General of the Department of Co-operatives and Rural Development, said her office committed to continue accompanying, supporting and creating favourable conditions for local co-operatives and enterprises to participate in the project and promote the development of sustainable mango production-consumption links. Cho Moi District has the largest mango growing area in An Giang Province with more than 6,401ha. In 2009, 40 mango farming households in Tan My, My Hiep, and Binh Phuoc communes of the district carried out mango production according to VietGAP standards under the direction of the Central Horticultural Association. The district has issued 41 area codes for planting green elephant mango with an area of over 6,149ha for export to China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, and the US. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone co-chaired a Viet Nam-Laos investment cooperation conference in Ha Noi on Sunday, as part of the latter's ongoing visit to Viet Nam. Along with highlighting the investment environment and incentives for investors of Viet Nam and Laos, participants evaluated bilateral investment and business cooperation over the years, and sketched out collaboration orientations for the future. Vietnamese investors in Laos pointed out obstacles facing them and proposed solutions. Currently, Viet Nam is investing in 241 projects in Laos with a combined capital of US$5.47 billion. PM Sonexay noted opinions and proposals by investors, affirming that the growth of Vietnamese investment in Laos has encouraged the development and implementation of socio-economic targets of Laos as well as the country's efforts to achieve an independent and self-reliant economy. He held that the two Governments, business communities, and peoples should continue working hard together to make new breakthroughs, implement new projects and specify agreements reached between the two Parties, thus making the bilateral ties deeper, more substantial and effective. The Lao leader said that the Government had focused on building and completing institutions, including policies to encourage investment, while redesigning their planning, including for 12 economic zones and industrial parks across the country. It had ordered ministries and sectors to continue researching and supplementing policies to call for investment in particular periods, and to listen to the voices of enterprises to deal with their difficulties, he said. PM Sonexay said he hoped Vietnamese firms would continue to invest in areas of Laos strengths such as clean agriculture, agricultural processing, mining and clean energy. This year, Lao would be taking the role of the ASEAN Chair, he said, expressing his hope for support from Viet Nam in general and the Vietnamese business community in particular Laos hoped to welcome more Vietnamese visitors, especially in the Lao Tourism Year 2024, he stated. PM Chinh highlighted the all-round development in the Viet Nam-Laos great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, including economic and investment collaboration. He said that the two sides should make a breakthrough in bilateral economic and investment cooperation, strengthening public-private partnerships to expand infrastructure systems, fostering connections between the two economies by developing expressways, railways and air routes between the two countries, and building the infrastructure system linking border gates. Breakthroughs were also needed in high quality human resources training, which should become a focal point in the bilateral relations in the future, said the Vietnamese leader. He proposed that the two sides focus on prioritised areas such as high-tech industries, innovation, energy, mining, high-tech agriculture and e-commerce. He asked ministries, sectors, localities and businesses of the two sides to coordinate closely in dealing with current problems to speed up projects and strengthen investment cooperation. The two Governments should continue to complete institutions and policies, creating favourable legal frameworks, improving the investment environment, and speeding up administrative reform to reduce investment costs for businesses, while giving priorities to each other's businesses in the spirit of harmonious and shared interest. PM Chinh emphasised that each cooperation programme and project carries in-depth political meaning, showing bilateral political trust and contributing to the socio-economic development in each country and the growth of the Viet Nam-Laos special ties. At the conference, PM Chinh and PM Sonexay witnessed the granting of investment licences and the exchange of memoranda of understanding among agencies and businesses of the two countries across various fields, including finance, agriculture and mining. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam always treasures and gives high priority to constantly consolidating and strengthening the good, friendly, traditional-neighbourly relationship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia, for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries, as well as for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai made the statement at the ceremony commemorating the 45th anniversary of the victory in the fight to defend the southwestern border and, together with the Cambodian army and people, defeat the Pol Pot genocidal regime (January 7, 1979 - January 7, 2024) on Sunday in Ha Noi. The ceremony was co-held by the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations and the People's Committee of Ha Noi. President Vo Van Thuong also attended the ceremony. Khai cited Vietnamese folk verses "The Mekong River still flows for thousands of years, the friendship never fades." I believe that the Viet Nam-Cambodia relationship will continue to develop to new levels, he said. That was also the wish of the peoples of the two countries as well as of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the two peoples, he said. According to Khai, the historic victory was a common victory of the two peoples, firmly protecting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia and Viet Nam, closing the darkest page of Cambodia's history, saving the people of Cambodia from the genocide, opening a new era for developing in independence, freedom, peace, neutrality and prosperity. The victory also made an important contribution to maintaining peace and stability in Southeast Asia and the world. Inheriting the tradition of solidarity and the heroic spirit of January 7, 1979, Viet Nam and Cambodia would continue to promote the relationship of "good neighbours, traditional friendship, comprehensive, long-term sustainable cooperation" to a new level. Accordingly, the two countries deepen the political relationship, considering it the foundation for cooperative relations, strengthening the pillars of national defence and security cooperation, closely coordinating in foreign affairs, and enhancing effective cooperation in economics, culture, scientific and technical education. In 2022, Viet Nam-Cambodia trade turnover reached over US$10 billion and the two sides were determined to soon reach $20 billion. Viet Nam is the country with the second largest number of international tourists to Cambodia in 2023. The two sides had signed many cooperation documents, especially in the field of connecting the two economies and participating in connecting other countries in the region. People-to-people exchanges are increasingly developing with many practical activities, he said. More and more Cambodian students were coming to study in Viet Nam. On this occasion, Khai expressed sincere appreciation to Cambodia for its valuable support and assistance to Viet Nam in the past struggle for national liberation, as well as in the process of building and defending the homeland today. Speaking at the ceremony, representative of the Cambodian delegation attending the celebration, Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun, said January 7, 1979 has penetrated deeply into the hearts of Cambodians. Every year, Cambodian people always celebrated the important event in the spirit of forever remembering with greatest gratitude the patriots, and especially the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, who shed blood and sacrificed their lives to overthrow the genocidal regime of Pol Pot and liberate the Cambodian people, he said. Without the timely help and support of Vietnamese volunteer troops, the Cambodian people were truly at risk of genocide. I respectfully bow my head to remember the souls of millions of compatriots and comrades in the Vietnamese army, who sacrificed their lives on the international mission to liberate Cambodia from this dark regime," he added. The valuable relationship between Viet Nam and Cambodia was increasingly tightened through regular contact activities and delegation exchanges at all levels, he said. According to Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun, the people of the two countries are enjoying great benefits from the achievements of bilateral cooperation, covering many fields of economy, trade, investment, agriculture, transportation, telecommunications, education, culture, sports, national defence, security and tourism. Cambodia gives high priority to preserving the tradition of solidarity and mutual support between the two countries, he said. They were very pleased with the development of relations between ministries, sectors, border provinces, people and youth. We can truly affirm that Viet Nam - Cambodia are typical good neighbours in the world, showing kindness, brotherhood, friendship and loyalty," he said. The 45th anniversary of the victory is an opportunity for the Parties, Governments and peoples of the two countries to review the history of the struggle to coordinate to fight against the common enemy of the peoples of Viet Nam and Cambodia. After a victory in 1975, the peoples of Viet Nam and Cambodia wished to live in peace to restore and develop the two countries after many years of war, sacrifice and hardship. However, immediately after coming to power in April 1975, the Pol Pot group took advantage of the achievements of the revolution, betrayed the Cambodian people and established the so-called "Democratic Cambodia State", implementing an extermination regime, bringing Cambodia into a terrible disaster, unprecedented in history. Thousands of schools and hospitals were closed, millions of innocent people were brutally murdered. In only three years, eight months and 20 days, more than three million Cambodians and tens of thousands of Vietnamese people were brutally murdered. The Pol Pot group also mobilised most of its main military power to invade the southwest border, seriously violating the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Viet Nam, distorting history, inciting national hatred, and trampling on the good values of the traditional friendship and good relationship between the two peoples of Viet Nam - Cambodia. Responding to the urgent call of the Cambodian National Solidarity Front for National Salvation, and the Cambodian people to protect the sovereignty of the fatherland, and protect the lives and property of the Vietnamese people, the Vietnamese Party and the State, the army and the people exercised their legitimate right to self-defence, crushed acts of aggression, and together with the armed forces and people of Cambodia, overthrew the brutal genocidal regime on January 07, 1979. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam and Laos have vowed to expand bilateral trade turnover in 2024 by 10-15 per cent compared to 2023, said Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone after the 46th meeting of the two countries Inter-Governmental Committee on Sunday. The two prime ministers said the political relations had been strengthened while the Intergovernmental Committee, chaired by the two ministers of planning and investment, continued to prove effective and promote the implementation of cooperation agreements in all fields. In 2023, the two sides accomplished 13 groups of tasks set out at the 45th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee on Viet Nam-Laos bilateral cooperation, according to reports. The two countries have stepped up cooperation in security, defence and building the Viet Nam-Laos borderline into the border of peace, stability, friendship, cooperation and comprehensive development. Ministries and agencies of both sides proactively exchanged and shared experiences on macroeconomic management and building an independent and self-reliant economy in the context of international integration. There are currently 245 Vietnamese projects with valid investment certificates in Laos, with a total registered investment capital of about US$5.5 billion. In 2023, Viet Nams investment capital in Laos reached $116.6 million, an increase of 65.3 per cent compared to 2022. Laos now has 18 investment projects being stably implemented in Viet Nam with a total registered capital of over $110 million. The Vietnamese authorities have created favourable conditions for Lao firms in investment and business. In 2023, the total bilateral trade turnover reached about $1.6 billion, a slight decrease of 2.1 per cent year on year, but the import value from Laos surged by 4.2 per cent. Electricity purchase and sale cooperation continues to be promoted. Viet Nams electricity imports from Laos achieved the set target for the 2021-25 period. Vietnam Electricity has signed 19 power purchase contracts with investors to buy electricity from 26 hydroelectric plants invested in Laos with a total capacity of 2,689 MW. The two leaders pledged to continue to concretise and effectively implement the agreement between the Politburos of Viet Nam and Laos; outcomes of the meeting between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the LPRP and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Hun Sen and agreements signed at the 46th Intergovernmental meeting. The two sides vowed to intensify political and diplomatic relations; maintain and improve the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms; and effectively organise visits, meetings and contacts between senior leaders in various flexible forms. They also agreed to strengthen information exchange, share macroeconomic management experience, and build an independent and self-reliant economy in the context of deep, substantive and effective integration. They agreed to hold dialogues between Vietnamese businesses and Lao authorities to resolve difficulties and obstacles in cooperation and investment projects. The Lao government will create preferential and favourable conditions for large and key projects of Vietnamese enterprises, and study and adjust regulations on implementation time in hydropower and mining investments to suit the new situation. They also vowed to address difficulties in transport infrastructure, mobilise resources, and search for investors interested in Vung Ang-Vientiane railway projects and Ha Noi-Vientiane Expressway. The two countries agreed to consider agriculture and rural development as one of the pillars of bilateral economic cooperation. The Vietnamese government will continue to offer 1,120 scholarships for Lao officials and students to study in Viet Nam, and send teachers to teach the Vietnamese language in Laos. The two sides agreed to promote tourism connections between the two countries and the 'One journey, three destinations' connection with Cambodia. The two governments, ministries and authorities continue to coordinate closely and support each other at multilateral and regional forums. Viet Nam will actively and effectively support Laos to successfully assume the Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024, AIPA 45 and other high-level conferences. Concluding the meeting, the two prime ministers emphasised that they would order ministries and businesses to closely coordinate and effectively implement agreements and commitments, and continue to create maximum favourable conditions for businesses of the two countries to foster cooperation in investment, production and business. Both sides believed that the success of the meeting would create new momentum to elevate the bilateral relationship to become more in-depth, substantive, trustworthy, and effective, contributing to continuously strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos in the future. VNS HA NOI - National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong inh Hue had a meeting with visiting Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in Ha Noi on January 7, during which he affirmed that Viet Nam always gives the highest priority to the special traditional relations with Laos. The Vietnamese top legislator congratulated Laos on successfully hosting the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Parliamentary Summit in December 2023 which helps foster the relations among the three parliaments in particular and the three countries in general. PM Sonexay underlined that Laos always treasured and considered the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Viet Nam as the top priority. He spoke highly of NA Chairman Hue's visit to Laos in May 2022 and thanked Viet Nam for supporting Laos in organising the first Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Parliamentary Summit. The two sides shared their pleasure at and highly valued the achievements of the Viet Nam-Laos cooperation in general and the collaboration between the two NAs in particular. They agreed on the need to work more closely together in implementing high-level agreements, and underlined the necessity of strengthening bilateral trade and investment cooperation as well as connections between the two economies, including transport connectivity, along with collaboration in education-training, culture and people-to-people exchanges. They pledged to work together in settling difficulties facing businesses and important joint projects. Regarding cooperation between the two legislatures, the two sides agreed to support the increase of visits and meetings between leaders of the two NAs and NA committees, while strengthening the experience sharing, especially in the building of institutions and legal systems and supervising the implementation of agreements and deals reached by the two Governments. The two NAs should coordinate in organising conferences on professional topics for NA agencies, they said. They concurred to support the two NAs collaboration at international and regional forums, especially the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). NA Chairman Hue congratulated Laos for taking the role of the ASEAN and AIPA Chair in 2024, affirming that Viet Nam's willingness to give maximum assistance to Laos in performing this important role. He suggested that the two NAs cooperate with the Cambodian parliament in effectively implementing outcomes of the first Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam Parliamentary Summit. VNA/VNS CAN THO An air route connecting the Mekong Delta city Can Tho and Taiwan (China) will be resumed to serve the increasing travel demand during the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival. Accordingly, flights on the Can Tho - Taiwan route will be operated on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays from January 21. Flights from the Can Tho International Airport will take off at 2:30 pm, while return flights will land at the Can Tho International Airport at 10:45 pm of the same day. Meanwhile, flights on the route between Can Tho and Incheon International Airport of the Republic of Korea (RoK) have been stably operated since late 2023 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday every week. The resumption of the routes aims to create favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to return home to celebrate Tet. VNS HCM CITY The HCM City government has instructed the police to speed up their investigation into the alleged frauds by the chairwoman of property company Van Thinh Phat which resulted in losses of trillions of ong to a local bank. Speaking at a meeting last week, Nguyen Van Nen, secretary of the city Party Committee, said it was important to also complete the trial of Truong My Lan this year since the case had caused public anger. Lan was arrested in October 2022 along with three others, including her companys CEO, on charges of misappropriating trillions of ong. Her arrest caused a run on the Saigon Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SCB) because of its close links with her company. According to the police, Lan did not hold any position at SCB but owned a 91.5 per cent stake in it, and between 2012 and 2022 received over 2,500 loans worth over VN1 quadrillion (around $44 billion) from it, or 93 per cent of all the loans it gave, using a network of over 1,000 companies affiliated to Van Thinh Phat. She allegedly paid bribes to various officials to conceal the banks precarious financial situation, including $5.2 million to the head of the central banks department of inspection and supervision, o Thi Nhan. Also on trial will be 85 others, including senior executives at SCB, officials at the central bank and Government Inspectorate, and a State Audit official. Van Thinh Phat operates in commerce, hospitality and real estate, and owns major real estate in prime locations in the city. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has castigated the Ministry of Finance, the State Securities Commission and the central bank for their lack of oversight. Lans trial is the highest-profile case since the Government began a crackdown on corruption in 2021. VNS HA NOI - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse guided visiting Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his spouse in their tour of Ngoc Son Temple and around Hoan Kiem Lake in Ha Noi on Sunday. PM Chinh and his wife introduced the Lao guests to Thap But (pen tower), ai Nghien (ink slab tower), The Huc Bridge, Ngoc Son Temple, and especially the turtles in the lake and the legend of Hoan Kiem Lake. Legend has it that King Le Loi returned his magic sword to the Golden Turtle in the lake after defeating the Ming Empire. Hoan Kiem Lake with Ngoc Son Temple on the lake was recognised as a special national relic site in 2013. On the occasion of the New Year and the upcoming Lunar New Year of the Dragon, PM Chinh presented PM Sonexay with a calligraphy with Vietnamese words which read Viet Nam-Laos friendship is forever green and solid for generations. After their trip, the two PMs and their wives had an exchange with Vietnamese and Lao students. The two PMs expressed their hope that Vietnamese and Lao students in particular and youngsters in general would exert efforts in studying, practising, developing themselves and building their own careers, thus realising their dreams, implementing their social responsibility and contributing to national defence and construction in each country. They should maintain and promote their national identity, while staying united and supporting each other, writing more golden pages of the close brotherhood, great friendly neighbourhood, and the special and rare solidarity as well as the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. Viet Nam and Laos have enjoyed fruitful education-training cooperation In the 2011-2021 period, Viet Nam received nearly 30,000 Lao students for training. Meanwhile, since 1982, the Lao Government has trained nearly 5,000 officials and students of Viet Nam. Vietnamese, Lao PMs spouses visit SOS Children's Village The spouses of the Vietnamese and Lao Prime Ministers, Le Thi Bich Tran and Vandara Siphandone, visited and gave gifts to children with difficult circumstances at SOS Childrens Village Thai Binh in the northern province of Thai Binh on Sunday afternoon. According to Director of SOS Childrens Village Thai Binh Nguyen Van Tan, established in 2013, the village provides disadvantaged children with family-based care with favourable conditions for their full development. From December 22, 2013 to December 2023, the facility nursed and provided support for 218 children. Currently, it is taking care of 136 kids. On the same day, the two ladies visited a tussore silk weaving village in Nam Cao Commune, Kien Xuong District. In Nam Cao Commune, they visited an over-100-year-old house with the typical style in the North and a weaving cooperative, watched artisans' silk spinning performance, and listened to Cheo (classical opera) singing while enjoying green tea and cay cake a specialty of the province. They also experienced silk spinning with local artisans. The weaving profession in the commune is more than 400 years old and has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. Currently, about 200 households in the village are still involved in the traditional profession. The village's silk products are being exported to countries, including Laos, Thailand, and Europe. VNA/VNS By Bich Phuong & Luong Huong A farmer from Duong Phong Commune in the northern province of Bac Kan earns up to VN200 million (US$8,200) per month by livestreaming agricultural products on his social networks. Luong Quang ai, 33, an ethnic Tay man, might look nothing like a hot TikToker with his modest rustic appearance, but his channel has over 425,000 followers and 8 million likes. His channel, ai Bac Kan, features short videos about his familys daily lives and the specialities of the northern mountainous region. During bamboo shoot harvesting season, he goes searching for bamboo shoots and prepares stir-fried dishes and soup. On sunny days, he might film himself catching crabs and grilling them on the spot. In another video, he takes his followers into the forest, teaching them how to drink water from leaves and enjoy delicious wild fruits. His videos have received numerous comments and millions of views. "Your videos have given me positive energy to overcome the toughest moments in my life, I have cried, felt empathy, and experienced happiness through watching your lives or Gentle, sophisticated, and authentic, if you continue in this direction of storytelling, you will definitely sell a lot are some of the comments on ais videos. Before becoming a TikToker, ai used to travel and take up various jobs to make ends meet. After getting married in 2013, he decided to settle in his homeland. The everyday life of a farmer in the forests, mountains and paddy fields has nurtured his love, passion and pride. "I started to learn about TikTok in early 2022 and saw users sharing interesting content about various regions. I came up with the idea of making similar videos about rural life in the mountainous regions, ai said. It was challenging at first. I had to surf the web to learn about filming, editing, and merging to create short videos. Then, I figured out how to add music and how to convey the message I wanted to deliver to viewers. It took me a while, but after a few short clips, I received positive feedback and I felt excited and motivated to continue. In the early days, ai only had a cheap smartphone with low storage capacity. Having no assistant, he would plug his phone into a tree stump, film himself, and speak alone. Many times, the frame wasn't aligned correctly, so he had to redo the shots. "My first videos were filmed in the forest because I was afraid that other villagers would think I looked weird," he said. After a video showcasing his familys mandarin orchard was released at the end of 2022, many viewers commented on their wish to buy the fruit, which inspired the ethnic farmer to start selling agricultural produce on Facebook. The mandarins from his orchard were packaged and shipped to customers as far as the central province of Nghe An within three days, while the fruit was still fresh and delicious. ai has even helped his neighbours in the commune to sell their products via live-streaming. In April 2023, he was invited to participate in a training programme for selling farm products, organised by TikTok in collaboration with the local government. He was supported in setting up an online store and joined a community of farm produce sellers on the digital platform. With a popular and well-established channel, ai's initial livestream sessions attracted several hundred viewers. Food specialities of his homeland, such as handmade vermicelli, dried bamboo shoots and herbal tea, are in high demand among the viewers. One of his videos selling Jiaogulan tea went viral even before the live session, attracting over 1,000 viewers. After 40 minutes, I had to end the livestream abruptly because we ran out of goods to sell, ai said. "Previously, my wife and I worked hard, earning a maximum of VN200 million per year. But now, through online sales, we can make VN150-200 million a month. The TikToker and his wife have established a cooperative to sell agricultural products from their community, with the goal of promoting Bac Kan's specialities to a wider market. The cooperative now employs three full-time workers and 10 seasonal workers. With their new sales approach, the family no longer has to worry about finding markets for their products like before. According to Hoang Thi Ha, deputy secretary of the Youth Union of Bach Thong District, ai and his wife are among the exemplary young individuals in the commune who have applied digital transformation in the marketing of farm produce. Not only an example of overcoming poverty and innovating in agriculture, ai also wishes to give back to the community and help those in need. He has purchased a car and gives poor patients a free ride to local clinics. ai has been honoured recently as one of the 10 outstanding young people in Bac Kan Province for his remarkable achievements in digital transformation. His family has also been given the Happy Young Family title by the Viet Nam Youth Union for their efforts in building a prosperous, happy, and progressive life. VNS Film director-painter Trinh Lam Tung has been involved in the animation industry for over 20 years. He and his colleagues recently launched the film series Trang Quynh in His Childhood -- a 3D animation of up to 450 episodes -- to preserve the traditional beauty of Vietnamese culture. Thanh Nga interviewed him to learn more. Inner Sanctum: Please introduce yourself and your association with the animation industry. I was born and raised in Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province, with a childhood dream of becoming a cartoonist. In 2002, after graduating from the National College of Arts Education and studying South Korean and Japanese comics for over a year, I joined the animation studio at Viet Nam Television. There, I had the opportunity to meet and work with my first animation teacher, director Pham Minh Tri. We collaborated on Viet Nam's first computer animation series. In 2005, I continued my studies at the University of Fine Arts and worked for the Viet Nam Animation Studio. Over the years, I went through various roles and stages in the film production process. In 2010, I directed my first film. Throughout this journey, I also had a degree in Film and Television Directing at the University of Theatre and Performing Arts of Ha Noi, which provided me with a solid foundation and a balanced approach to studying and working effectively. I established my own studio in 2017, which eventually evolved into Alpha Animation Studio. Despite the numerous difficulties, hardships, and failures I encountered during my journey in animation, my love for the art never wavered. Inner Sanctum: Your film series "Trang Quynh in His Childhood" has just been released. Could you elaborate on the main idea and plot of this film? The project is an entirely new creation that draws inspiration from the rich Vietnamese folklore. It combines elements of universality and contemporary sensibilities to create an engaging and culturally authentic story. The series revolves around simple, everyday narratives and humorous situations presented through gentle yet captivating storytelling. The film incorporates folk songs, proverbs, and traditional games set against the backdrop of ancient Vietnamese architecture. Inner Sanctum: With such a large-scale project, what challenges did you encounter making it? Folk culture is a challenging topic for filmmakers because it requires in-depth research and access to limited documentation. The script for this film was meticulously crafted to meet several criteria, including the preservation of folk culture, humour, modernity, and universality, while capturing the essence of the stories. The sheer volume of work necessitates a significant number of personnel. However, finding qualified individuals who meet the project's professional standards has proven difficult. Additionally, most of the team are young and lack practical experience, so training and sharing expertise becomes a time-consuming task. Furthermore, 3D animation technology is expensive, and the equipment required for the production carries potential risks. Inner Sanctum: What is the main goal of the project? What do you hope to achieve through this film? The primary goal is to offer a pure Vietnamese cultural experience among the sea of low-quality animated products. Through Trang Quynh in His Childhood, I aim to introduce the rich folk culture of Viet Nam, with vivid imagery and humanistic values, to international audiences. This endeavour contributes to the Vietnamese animation industry. Currently, the project has entered phase two, focusing on producing high-quality series tailored for discerning markets and prestigious platforms. Furthermore, we are expanding the project's ecosystem by developing derivative product lines to enhance recognition, coverage, and establish a stronger foundation. Inner Sanctum: What changes and new trends do you see in animation? The animation industry is growing at a rapid pace, and it is essential to stay attuned to the evolving trends. I believe that the industry should align with the overall development of society. As a result, I constantly update myself and choose appropriate solutions for each stage of my studio's development. This project has been developed over many years and requires careful planning and foresight to ensure maximum efficiency. I strive to incorporate the latest trends and techniques that align with the goals of the project and resonate with the target audience. By staying abreast of industry advancements, I can create engaging and visually impressive animations that captivate viewers and meet their evolving expectations. Inner Sanctum: Who is the target audience for your project, and what do you hope the film will bring to them? Initially, Trang Quynh in His Childhood was positioned to target the 6-8-year-old viewer segment of the market. This age group consists of children who have developed reading skills and have a natural inclination to explore and learn. After the project achieved success, we expanded our audience to include 3-4 years old as well as older children between 8 and 12. Our aim is for Trang Quynh in His Childhood to serve as moral nourishment for multiple generations within a family. The series is intended to be a repository for preserving and cherishing the essence of "Vietnamese childhood". Adults can reminisce about their own childhoods, filled with forgotten folk games and simple pleasures. Children, on the other hand, can enjoy refreshing and carefree laughter after hours of stressful studying. Inner Sanctum: What advice would you give to young people aspiring to a career in animation? Animation is a vibrant and enchanting world, but creating within it requires continuous effort in studying and practising. Animation possesses a unique power and purpose that sets it apart from other film genres. We should utilise that power to create beautiful and meaningful works that enrich life and society. It is a profession that demands meticulousness. From the early stages of your studies, cultivate the discipline to prioritise your health, reasoning abilities, and awareness, enabling you to persevere in pursuing your dreams. Inner Sanctum: Finally, what message would you like to convey to your audience? Vietnamese animation, as well as Vietnamese cinema in general, greatly relies on the support and love of the audience. This support serves as a tremendous motivation and encouragement for filmmakers like us to utilise our talents, strengths, and intelligence in creating better and bigger works that express gratitude to the Vietnamese audience and strive to captivate global audiences. VNS Stanford University is preparing to hire a new president this spring, just as the task of leading the worlds most influential schools and keeping that job has become more politicized and scrutinized than ever before. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle 2022 Stanford University is preparing to hire a new president this spring, just as the task of leading the worlds most influential schools and keeping that job has become more politicized and scrutinized than ever before. Presidents set the agenda and the tone for universities, a role that echoes across classrooms, student dorms and donor decisions. They serve as fundraiser-in-chief for their campus, as its top administrator and, at places like Stanford and the Ivy League schools, are among its brainiest scholars. But academia is increasingly a target in the evolving American culture wars, as the political right attacks diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and as the left demands that universities boycott Israel and divest from investments tied to that country. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Candidates for top university posts like Stanfords and at leading public universities like UC Berkeley, where Carol Christ is in her last semester as chancellor, will need to develop a sharper political radar than ever before as scrutiny continues. Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned after drawing criticism for telling a congressional hearing that she could not say unequivocally that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the schools conduct policy. Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press 2023 This became evident after the recent resignations of Presidents Claudine Gay of Harvard and Elizabeth Magill of the University of Pennsylvania, who gave lawyerly, imprecise answers on Dec. 5 to questions posed in a congressional hearing by Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican. Stefanik repeatedly asked whether the presidents believed that calling for the genocide of Jews on campus violated policies on bullying or harassment, and both faced criticism for failing to simply say yes. Underscoring presidents new vulnerability as political targets was the boasting this month by conservative activist Christopher Rufo, who told Politico that he had participated in an orchestrated effort to bring them down. Rufo, known for stirring up opposition to teaching the history of race relations in K-12 classrooms, told the news site that the resignations were a team effort to shape the narrative around the presidents and apply political and financial pressure. Advertisement Article continues below this ad You squeeze hard enough, Rufo said, and you see the results. Its unclear whether the presidents fate would have changed if they had had better public relations skills or keener political savvy. But Gay, Harvards first Black president, became its shortest-serving president. Magill served just 17 months. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a professor of history, race and public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, said that presidents who believe in reversing historical inequalities in higher education will need to skillfully stand their ground against critics. Future presidents of all colleges, including elite ones, will need to be excellent academics, Muhammad said. They will have to protect academic freedom against any form of censorship and fascist propaganda. And they will need to double down on ensuring that historically marginalized people, including white women, whose experiences today continue to be shaped by the legacies of scientific racism and sexism, are well represented on campus and in the curriculum. An evolution in the job skills of presidential search committees is also taking place: They need to find better ways of vetting the academic integrity of their intellectually stellar candidates. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Stanford University is searching for a new president after Marc Tessier-Lavigne resigned from his position in July amid questions about the accuracy of neuroscience papers he co-wrote. L.A. Cicero/Stanford University Harvards Gay also faced allegations. Her conservative opponents unearthed evidence of plagiarism in her articles and doctoral dissertation, and a Harvard investigation confirmed at least two examples of duplicative language without appropriate attribution. Gay has defended the integrity of her work. What a shame that we now have to scrutinize those peoples work in a way we didnt in the past, said Shaun Harper, a professor of education and business at the University of Southern California, where he is also executive director of the USC Race and Equity Center. But if youre going to be the president of Stanford, perhaps it is not unreasonable to be vetted. This is a turning-point moment in higher education, said Larry Kamer, a Bay Area crisis communications consultant who has represented universities. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Stanford officials did not respond to requests for comment about the presidential search, the schools timeline or what it is seeking in a new leader. In October, the university surveyed its campus, alumni and parents on that question, and received 4,000 responses. The campus has not made the results public. Trustee Lily Sarafan, a co-chair of the search committee, spoke in general terms, telling the Stanford Daily last fall that our goal is to understand the communitys expectations and aspirations for our next president. Yet the changing landscape makes certain characteristics inescapable. The (new) president of Stanford has to be about the smartest, wisest, most savvy person in any room, able to navigate political situations with aplomb, Kamer said. Since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and the ongoing counterstrikes by Israel that have killed more than 22,000 Palestinians in Gaza and displaced nearly all of its population, American universities have become a stage on which the emotional fallout of these events has been playing out. Student sympathies have largely aligned with Palestinians, and university leaders have been forced to navigate a microcosm of tense Mideast relations among students and faculty as antisemitic and anti-Muslim behaviors have soared. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Across the country, university leaders have been perceived as failing to speak forcefully and clearly against hate, and to apply campus bullying policies to stop or punish verbal and physical attacks. Critics have spread petitions, rallied in protest and withheld donations in the name of more clarity from the heads of institutions from Harvard to Stanford and others. In 2024, candidates for presidential jobs are likely to have to demonstrate to search committees that they can come across as plainspoken and fair, yet forceful, said Kamer and others who weighed in on the question of who campus leaders need to be in these precarious times. If this person hedges, prevaricates or gives weaselly answers, Kamer said, theyre disqualified. At Stanford, interim President Richard Saller and Provost Jenny Martinez have tried to negotiate with pro-Palestinian students who have been camped out in White Plaza since October and are demanding that the university divest from Israel. The administrators have suspended a lecturer accused of calling Jewish students colonizers. And theyve weathered accusations by undergraduate Abdulwahab Omira that the university was too slow to address an apparent hate crime in which a sport utility vehicle struck Omira on Nov. 3 as he walked to class wearing a shirt with the word Damascus written in Arabic. The driver is said to have yelled, F you people, before speeding away. Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, has urged university leaders nationwide to speak plainly about difficult issues. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle 2021 Because of such rising tensions, universities searching for new leaders, including presidents, provosts and deans, need to include consideration of how the individual will handle the challenges of free speech on campus, said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law. Chemerinsky has urged university leaders to speak plainly about difficult subjects, and to neither hold back nor obfuscate. There has been enough silence and enough tolerance of antisemitism on college campuses, Chemerinsky wrote in an opinion piece published in the Los Angeles Times three weeks after the Hamas attack. I call on my fellow university administrators to speak out and denounce the celebrations of Hamas and the blatant antisemitism that is being voiced. The ambiguous responses by Harvards Gay and Penns Magill to questions about antisemitism left them open to conservative attacks. On Dec. 5, Republican House members held their hearing on antisemitism and grilled the presidents of Harvard, Penn and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for more than four hours. Their suggestion was that Gay, Magill and Sally Kornbluth were responsible not only for the rise in antisemitism but also for a host of other trends on campus that the conservative politicians objected to. For years, universities have stoked the flames of an ideology which goes by many names anti-racism, anti-colonialism, critical race theory, DEI, intersectionality, the list goes on, Rep. Virginia Foxx, a North Carolina Republican, said as she opened the hearing titled Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism. The presidents handling of the subsequent hostile grilling suggests they were less than prepared for a new reality facing campus leaders, said attorney Jarrod Bernstein of Morrison Cohen, who serves on the civic education task force of the New York City Bar Association. Managing a public policy crisis is becoming a necessary job for a university president, he said, adding that if he were on the committee that is about to vet a new Stanford leader, Id want to hear candidates talk about how theyd manage that. After her resignation, Gay acknowledged in an opinion piece for the New York Times that she made mistakes, while also pointing to the politics in play. In my initial response to the atrocities of Oct. 7, I should have stated more forcefully what all people of good conscience know: Hamas is a terrorist organization that seeks to eradicate the Jewish state. And at a congressional hearing last month, I fell into a well-laid trap. I neglected to clearly articulate that calls for the genocide of Jewish people are abhorrent and unacceptable and that I would use every tool at my disposal to protect students from that kind of hate. University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill resigned after giving lawyerly, imprecise answers to questions at a congressional hearing on whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate campus policies. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images 2023 The American Council on Education offers professional development workshops to university administrators hoping to rise in leadership positions. Hironao Okahana, executive director of the organizations Education Futures Lab, declined to say how such instruction might change in a shifting landscape. Nevertheless, he said, were carefully following the events as theyre unfolding and tracking how best to serve our members. In 2022, the Stanford campus and its leaders faced a lawsuit over the suicide of a student facing what some saw as overly harsh campus discipline, accusations of inadequate mental health services, and assertions that the university insufficiently punished students and employees who violated campus policies on sexual assault and harassment. None of these controversies will disappear for the new president. By Alex Reeves @afreeves23 Thai food really hits the sweet (and spicy) spot. Many a time I have found Vietnamese friends and I debating the merits of different cuisines, some with a more traditional palate take little pleasure in Frances stinky cheeses or even in the heavily salted meat and broths of continental neighbours, Japan. Conversely I have had almost as many conversations with visiting family, friends, and even some temporary residents of Viet Nam itself about the country's own cuisine. Some seem confused by the prospect of seasoning to your own satisfaction or, beyond a few classic local dishes, struggle with the flavour combinations at play here. My take on Thai food is that it is overwhelmingly given the thumbs up from anyone and everyone. It is spicy, sweet, salty, sour and savoury; flavours aplenty to keep everyone at the table happy. Such is its popularity and variety that it is often the dominant Asian background to so many culinary fusion ventures and every town and city has a spot, though quality and authenticity may vary. The aforementioned temporary residents, especially those of a certain area, need worry no more, as an already much-loved (by those familiar) eatery has taken the opportunity to expand operations to a larger venue. Little Thai, has gone big. Taking over a three-storey venue around the corner from their previous spot, they can now accommodate even more of Tay Hos hungry residents, and theres room for the rest of us too. The new place, located at 33/67 To Ngoc Van Street has two outdoor eating areas in the front yard and the roof terrace for an al fresco feel, sure to make it more popular through weather patterns which change only mildly less frequently than the cravings of the average expat, myself most certainly included. Indoor caters for larger groups upstairs and more intimate affairs at the ground level. Its nicely lit to add a romantic vibe to an evening or a fresh feeling around lunch with the rooftop catching a pleasant amount of sun. The almost French touch to the setting doesnt end with the new-colonial architecture which characterises so much of Ha Noi, Monsieur Edouard is experienced in the restaurant trade and on-hand to keep operations tight throughout. The grand opening was earlier this month and recent attention from the well-informed bunch over at @whereinhanoi has seen positive commentary which matched my own experience from the soft opening I attended in November. A recent netizen posted what they believed to be a long-shot trying to hunt down a rare Northern-Thai curry (Khao Soi) and Little Thai was on hand to shorten those odds to a certainty. The star of the show here and what really separates this establishment from many of the others in town is Chef Pim. Rumour, which she will kindly and modestly verify, has it that she has cooked for Thai Royalty and brings the same focus and pride to cooking for us here in Ha Noi. Her knowledge of the homeland and its bounty is abundantly clear, from the Tom Yam Goong (VN255,000 or US$10) which was as rich in colour as it was flavour. The chef spends hours perfecting the iconic base to this soup each day. Phad Se-Ew Gai (VN175,000 or $7) is the stir-fried chicken and wide flat noodles we know so well, the balance of aromatics alongside familiar chilli, garlic and vegetables are unmistakable to anyone who has had the pleasure of eating in Thailand. Lastly, we were able to enjoy a special of Tod Mun Goong (VN220,000 or $9), a type of crispy shrimp doughnut with sweet chilli sauce - always checking the board has never let me down. This should become the de facto place to go for Thai food in Ha Noi. Setting, authenticity, good service, a variable menu and a chef fit for royalty who cooks that dish you miss from your first trip to Southeast Asia, yes please. Its a restaurant that will certainly lure me to the north-western corner of the cities central districts on a more regular basis. To me, LittleThai has always been where Western and Vietnamese preferences for new food converge and I invite any culinarily diverse couples or friend groups to head here searching for delicious common ground, for a full restaurant and bar experience. There is much peace and satisfaction to be found when a little Thai wisdom meets a big appetite. VNS Little Thai Restaurant Tel: 0967 315 088 Address: 33/67 To Ngoc Van Street, Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District, Ha Noi Price: VN1.2 million or US$49 (for three dishes and drinks) Top tip: The classics are good, but theres a whole medley of less common dishes to enjoy choose something new. by Nguyen My Ha "Moi nam hoa ao no (Each year when peach trees are in bloom) "Lai thay ong o gia (Again the elderly teacher re-appears) "Bay muc tau giay o (Displaying his Chinese black ink and red paper) "Ben pho ong nguoi qua... (On the pavement of a crowded street)... This classic poem by poet-teacher Vu inh Lien (1913-1996) represents nostalgia for the age-old traditions and customs, the good old days that have been fading as a new westernised lifestyle takes over. Penned in 1936, the poem Ong o (The Han Script Teacher) appeared early after the French colonisation of Indochina, in which, three regions of today's Viet Nam were known as Tonkin, Annam and Cochinchina. The Confucian scholar, who symbolises the ancient roots of Oriental philosophy, traditions, and fundamental societal norms, in the poem was described by Lien as being marginalised by the increasing Western influence on society. The way society used to function was slowly fading, its Han Chinese and Vietnamese ancient Nom ideographic writings were swept away by growing Western influence, when Portuguese missionaries used the Latin alphabet to phonetically record Vietnamese sounds. The old royal exams held from the district up to royal court level were abolished, which led to the less important status of ideographic script scholars. They went from being one of the pillars of society to being sidetracked and gradually losing their power. Ever since the French invasion, the Eastern roots and Western reality never stopped elbowing each other to win over the Vietnamese populace. But now a positive decision shows that the East with its long traditions must be respected and not overlooked on the international level. The United Nations General Assembly in late December acknowledged the significance of the Lunar New Year and invited the UN agencies at headquarters and other duty stations to avoid holding meetings on the Lunar New Year. Earlier, an appeal calling on the UN top leadership to recognise the world's cultural diversity was co-signed by Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritius, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The Lunar New Year usually falls in late January or early February of the Gregorian calendar, and is celebrated by about one-fifth of the world's population. This official recognition by a world organisation shows not only the contribution of Oriental culture to the world, but also puts an end to a seemingly never-ending dispute of whether to keep celebrating the Lunar New Year or only celebrate the Gregorian New Year. The Lunar New Year side wants to keep the traditions of following the weather and seasonal changes for agriculture and farming purposes. They also tend to respect traditions and follow customs from the forefathers' generations without questioning them. You may notice that Japan was not on the list of countries that wanted the Lunar New Year be recognised by the UN. This is what those against Lunar New Year base their argument on: a strong country like Japan doesn't even celebrate the Lunar New Year. Agriculture Professor Vo Tong Xuan said "If you want to cling to the Lunar New Year, our country will forever stay poor!" When he said this famous line back in 2006, he meant that we only need to celebrate New Year once. He was saying that from December 31 until the Lunar New Year, for a few weeks, work slowed down in Viet Nam as everyone was preparing to greet the Lunar New Year, by celebrating again and again. According to Prof Xuan, it's a waste of resources. Having spent all his life studying the rice plant, living with the farmers and helping export Vietnamese rice all over the world, Xuan, who was awarded VinFuture prize only a few weeks ago, certainly knows what he was up against. We need to be clear not to misinterpret his message. Lunar New Year is deeply rooted in our culture, but we need to see that bad practices can hinder our people on an individual level, and our country as a whole. Some of the bad habits on Lunar New Year include overdrinking and getting drunk, drink-driving, burning firecrackers, and intense gambling, either during the holiday, or even the whole first lunar month. The first month of the Lunar New Year is usually dubbed the 'hanging around month', as everyone starts to visit pagodas, shrines and temples, and not much gets done. Xuan was quoted as saying that we should not abolish the Lunar New Year, but only have three days off, then go back to work. Not everyone welcomed the UN news as positive. "Many traditional customs have faded, such as customs for the days leading to Tet or during the month after it. Tet, or Lunar New Year today has only one good thing, it pushes people to spend money to keep the economy growing. But it would be hard on workers and small-scale farmers because too many holidays means their savings shrink," said a social worker. The law has it that companies should still let workers have public holidays off with pay, but they can cut the payments. It won't affect you if you have accumulated significant savings, but if you live hand to mouth, it's really hard to maintain your job, especially if you have children at school or in college. Some companies offer an open choice for their workers so that those who quickly want to go back to work can do that for extra income. Too much swing either way will neither be good for society or mental health, nor the economy. Having a long holiday, like partying too much, could have a negative impact. Even joy, or nostalgia for the good old days, needs to be consumed in moderation. VNS PHNOM PENH Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Samdech Techo Hun Sen highlighted the significance of the victory over the Pol Pol genocidal regime 45 years ago, at a ceremony to celebrate the historical event in Phnom Penh on January 7. In his speech, Hun Sen reviewed the historical context of Cambodia in the 1970s, saying that after nearly four years in power, the Pol Pot genocidal regime pushed Cambodia to the brink of perdition as nearly 3 million Cambodian civilians - a quarter of the country's population at that time were killed. With the support of the people throughout the country and the great and timely assistance of the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, and peace and justice-loving forces around the world, the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation (KUFNS) overthrew the genocidal regime on January 7, 1979, rescuing millions of Cambodians from genocide, he said. Hun Sen emphasised that this year's event took place in the context that Cambodia has continued to reap many new achievements in various fields, and been progressing with self-confidence on the path of peace, democracy, rule of the law, and development. He also affirmed the holding of the ceremony was conducted in the spirit of keeping in mind the tragedy caused by the genocidal regime to the country and people of Cambodia, and forever keeping in mind the noble contributions by members of the KUFNS and Vietnamese volunteer soldiers to the toppling of the Pol Pot genocidal regime and the prevention of its return. In addition to the celebration in Phnom Penh, activities marking the victory were also organised in many provinces and cities in the country. According to Sok Eysan, a spokesman of the CPP, the celebration not only aims to celebrate the victory but also demonstrates the strength of great solidarity between Cambodia and Viet Nam. Nearly five decades after the victory, Cambodia has revived and recorded many remarkable achievements. The Southeast Asian nations GDP increased tenfold to US$29.6 billion in 2022 from $3.11 billion in 1998. During 2017-2022, foreign direct investment into the country surged 15-fold. In 2023, Cambodia's economic growth expanded 5.6 per cent, and is forecast to rise by 6.6 per cent in 2024. VNA/VNS Benny Miao, head of corporate finance and Southeast Asia at Cathay United Bank (CUB) said, "Vietnam boasts a population of 100 million people, most of whom are young and increasingly becoming familiar with the use of digital payment tools. Thus, CUB is focusing on building a digital consumer finance platform with a view to launching more digital products and services in the country." In the same vein, Lu Wei Chieh, general director of CUBs Ho Chi Minh City Branch said, "In addition to offering financial services to Vietnamese- and Taiwanese-invested businesses, the bank is eager to offer financial solutions to retail customers. The expansion marks a major transition for CUB as it strives to provide comprehensive banking services and diverse financial solutions for all. It aims to roll out digital products for individual clients in 2024." The representative of CUB said that the attractiveness of Vietnam to overseas investors remains strong. The country has attracted a significant foreign influx from Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea. In particular, Taiwanese companies are establishing manufacturing and processing hubs in the nation. The country is also becoming one of the top destinations for foreign investors as they diversify their risks amidst the restructuring of global supply chains. CUB is constantly expanding its markets in Asia-Pacific, with a current presence in 11 countries and territories. Among them, it has been in the Vietnamese market since 2005, which is one of its development priorities in Southeast Asia. Taiwanese financial behemoth Cathay United Bank supports foreign investment in Vietnam Taiwanese investors are leveraging their networks and stepping up interest in Vietnam's stock market as well as in technology and insurance. Benny Miao, executive vice president of Cathay United Bank Taiwan, sheds light on Taiwan's continuing presence in Vietnam and the banks strategies to cement its position. Maybank Kim Eng and Cathay Securities ink alliance Maybank Kim Eng Group and Cathay Securities Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding yesterday to formalise their collaboration in equity brokerage. Tran Ba Duong, chairman of THACO Group The project was announced in late December and encompasses a full circular economy chain, spanning bauxite mining, alumina and aluminium processing, environmental rejuvenation, and extending to agricultural and ancillary industries, including ecotourism. The comprehensive investment for this groundbreaking project is set at over $4.2 billion, with equity financing 30 per cent ($1.3 billion) and the remaining 70 per cent through loans. The project's developmental roadmap is segmented into three phases, with completion and operational stability targeted beyond 2024. Central to this initiative is the Lam Dong 2 Alumina Plant. With an annual capacity of 4 million tonnes, it is located across Bao Lam, Da Huoai, and Da Teh districts, and Bao Loc city. THACO had initially projected the total investment for the bauxite mining and processing complex at $2.1 billion, including a bauxite ore beneficiation plant and an alumina processing facility. As part of its long-term strategy, THACO envisions expanding into sectors where it has a competitive edge, like agriculture, renewable energy, and post environmental restoration. Following extensive research, THACO has now doubled its original investment estimate, integrating additional projects such as red mud material production, a logistics centre with an inland dry port, auxiliary factories, resettlement and residential zones, and high-tech agriculture and ecotourism developments. The project, with a 50-year operational horizon from the investment approval date, foresees the alumina plant's mining phase lasting for 20 years. This will be followed by sourcing raw materials externally for the remainder of the project's lifecycle. THACO anticipates receiving the green light for investment by March, with construction approvals slated for December. The alumina plant's first phase is scheduled to commence in August 2025, aiming for operational status by 2028. The project expects an average annual return of 16.2 per cent and a payback period of nearly 11 years. Over two decades, the exploitation of the Lam Dong 2 mine reserves is forecasted to contribute around $202.5 million to the state budget and generate approximately 4,000 direct employment opportunities. THACO has requested a January meeting with the Lam Dong People's Committee to discuss detailed research outcomes, the project implementation plan, and related proposals, laying the groundwork for the Thaco Circular Economy Complex. The corporation plans to complete its pre-feasibility study and submit it to the relevant authorities for Q1 approval, following consultations with governmental bodies. Jardine Cycle & Carriage invests $350 million in THACO Truong Hai Corporation (THACO Group) one of Vietnams largest privately held conglomerates - successfully issued bonds totalling approximately $350 million on November 14, marking the largest single bond offering in Vietnam since the beginning of the year. Concrete is pouring for the first phase of a rail-trail project along the railbed of the abandoned Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad. The project, bid at $4.2 million, is partially funded by a $2.3 million contribution from the Texas Department of Transportation and a carbon reduction grant to the Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization. Local contractor Barsh Construction was selected to build the 12-foot-wide, 1.23-mile concrete bike and footpath. Waco capital improvements manager Jim Reed said the project officially kicked off in October and the trail will remain closed for about nine more months. The first phase began at Faulkner Lane and Garrison Street and will continue along the railbed to Gholson Road. The second phase will run from the same start point to about Turner Street, and the final phase will finish the trail from Turner and Ashburn streets to a point near Dallas Street, Reed said. A $469,000 grant through the federal Carbon Reduction Program will pay to plant trees along the trail. Reed said the trees will replace those removed during an earlier project to install a 30-inch-diameter water main between Riverside Treatment Plant and the Gholson Road storage tank, the reason for the city taking possession of the land in 2013. Reed said the tree project is about 90% designed, but will begin after the trail is completed to create a natural buffer, aesthetic boundary and restore some tree canopy. So far the contractor has cleared the way for the path, a substantial effort uncovering shopping carts, debris and old landfills filled with tires. Crews are working on grading and setting forms, and concrete can be seen near Garrison Street. The trail will be anchored by two trailheads, one near the Dallas Street terminus and another at a partner development at Gholson Road, Reed said. Local developer Brenner Campbell announced a housing development on 10 acres of his 36-acre property near Gholson Road and Herring Avenue. Next door, the Estella Maxey Place apartments, to be renamed Melody Grove, are set to undergo redevelopment soon. Reed said the trail project will play into a larger network of bike and pedestrian connectivity, with another project planned to add bike lanes and sidewalks along Dallas Street between Ashburn Street and Elm Avenue. The Dallas Street project is funded by a $4.4 million grant from the federal Transportation Alternative Set-aside Program administered by TxDOT. The Dallas Street reconstruction will include water and sewer utilities, streets, curbs and drainage as well as pedestrian elements, Reed said. The project likely will stretch into 2028. Elm Avenues $12 million overhaul reconfigured the street in a shared lane structure for bikes and motorists and included continuous sidewalks. Then Elm Avenue provides access to the riverwalk and connects to Washington Avenue, which has bike lanes all the way to 18th Street, Reed said. Another unused Union Pacific railroad right of way running between M. Lipsitz & Co. and Mann Street could present another opportunity tying to Elm Avenue, Reed said. A larger piece has been considered to continue along the MKT railbed toward Industrial Boulevard in Bellmead and Lacy Lakeview, but first Waco will have to prove the usefulness of the trail, he said. The right time will likely come eventually, but the city will need to evaluate the complete projects effectiveness before bringing in other entities, Reed said. Plus, having other cities on board one day will make for more competitive funding applications, he said. Reed said he is looking forward to seeing what the project will offer the area, not only repurposing the railbed but also helping amplify the streets around it. The area, with dense vegetation and dead ends, has become attractive for illegal dumping, but by making it more visual and open he hopes the streets stay clean. WATERLOO Firefighters were dispatched at about 11 p.m. Saturday to a fully engulfed home at 420 Bayard St. Battalion Chief Ben Petersen with Waterloo Fire Rescue said the dwelling was vacant and the utilities had been shut off. Firefighters found no one inside after putting out the flames and searching. He declared the home to be a complete loss and unrepairable. Its the second time in recent weeks firefighters have dealt with a fire in a vacant house in Waterloo. Less than a half mile away, authorities determined someone had broken into a house at 1027 W. Third St. and set a fire Dec. 28. Those flames didnt extend beyond the fireplace and chimney. On Bayard Street, a neighbor called in the emergency Saturday after hearing a crackle and a pop, according to Petersen. Witnesses indicated to first responders that thered been signs of recent entry prior to the fire. The cause remains under investigation. Firefighters quickly knocked down the bulk of the flames in a 10-30 minute span, but were still on the scene for about an hour putting out smaller fires. They were working there for several more hours into early Sunday morning and put out another small fire igniting there around 7:30 a.m. The white, two-story home sits in a densely residential area and had a basement, attic and porch. Flames did not spread to any nearby structures. The homes immediately to the north and south suffered minor heat damage to their siding. Seventeen firefighters and emergency medical service personnel responded, said Petersen. Waterloo police also assisted. Property records show the home is deeded to Tonya Williams with a Mississippi mailing address. Its construction dates back to 1907. Close Flags fly outside a former President Donald Trump commit to caucus rally Tuesday in Waterloo. Trump 2024 teddy bears are seen at a vendor stand before a former President Donald Trump commit to caucus rally Tuesday in Waterloo. A vendor moves his cart outside a former President Donald Trump's commit to caucus rally Tuesday in Waterloo. Supporters wait to enter a former President Donald Trump's commit to caucus rally Tuesday in Waterloo. Alex R. of Fairfax, Va., waits to enter a former President Donald Trump commit to caucus rally Tuesday in Waterloo. Alex R. of Fairfax, Va., waits to enter a former President Donald Trump commit to caucus rally Tuesday in Waterloo. PHOTOS: Trump supporters await former president's arrival in Waterloo, Iowa Former President Donald Trump is making his second stop this year in Waterloo on Tuesday. The 45th president, who is vying for a second term, is holding a Commit to Caucus event less than a month before the Iowa caucuses Jan. 15. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Waterloo Convention Center. The doors opened at 3 p.m. Flags fly outside a former President Donald Trump commit to caucus rally Tuesday in Waterloo. Trump 2024 teddy bears are seen at a vendor stand before a former President Donald Trump commit to caucus rally Tuesday in Waterloo. A vendor moves his cart outside a former President Donald Trump's commit to caucus rally Tuesday in Waterloo. Supporters wait to enter a former President Donald Trump's commit to caucus rally Tuesday in Waterloo. Alex R. of Fairfax, Va., waits to enter a former President Donald Trump commit to caucus rally Tuesday in Waterloo. Alex R. of Fairfax, Va., waits to enter a former President Donald Trump commit to caucus rally Tuesday in Waterloo. As a growing number of states have moved to expand coverage for new moms under Medicaid to 12 months in the last three years, Iowa lags behind as one of only a handful of states that does not offer the extended coverage. Around 40% of births in Iowa are covered by Medicaid, and eligibility limits are higher for pregnant women. But many new mothers lose Medicaid coverage for their post-pregnancy health needs as soon as two months after giving birth. Womens health advocates are hoping Iowa lawmakers will pass legislation this year to extend that coverage from the 60 days currently required by law to 12 months, an option made available to states under the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. Iowa is now one of only three states alongside Idaho and Arkansas that have not passed a full 12-month extension, plan to implement the extension or have a proposed limited extension, according to KFF. Supporters say the extension is vital to keeping new mothers healthy in the months after their pregnancy, when a number of health problems including heart issues, mental health issues and substance abuse may crop up as a result of the pregnancy. Emily Boevers, a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist in Waverly, said extending coverage can help doctors address health problems that may persist or appear months after a pregnancy, as well as monitor mental health issues and cases of domestic abuse. Providing the care could also help address Iowas maternal mortality rate, which has risen over the last two decades, Boevers said. You may have opportunities to make a significant difference in peoples health, in that one year period after a delivery, because peoples mentality and peoples situations do change a lot in that time, she said. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, extending Medicaid postpartum coverage would result in 6,000 additional mothers each year being covered for a year after their Medicaid-covered birth in Iowa. Expanding the program would cost the state around $14 million over four years, according to bills proposed during the last legislative session, while the federal government would cover around 60% of the programs cost. Extending that coverage is one of several policies around maternal health care and womens health care that lawmakers may consider during the upcoming legislative session, which begins on Monday. Republicans, who hold a majority in both the House and the Senate, have yet to unify around a proposal to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage, though some have been supportive of the move. House Speaker Pat Grassley and Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver did not commit to passing the measure this year. In an interview, Grassley said while implementing the extension may be in consideration from some House Republicans, it is not a priority of the whole caucus. I think all types of ideas like this are going to get more and more conversation, he said. Whether each individual one has the support to pass in one session, or if its part of a multi-step approach in what we look at. But Grassley said House Republicans do want to address care after birth and for new families as lawmakers move forward from a six-week abortion ban they passed during a special session last year. He said his priorities include increasing financial accountability for fathers in cases of unwanted pregnancies, and expanding adoption services. We need to be willing to also be there after birth, he said. It doesnt just end at that point in time I think too long the conversation has just been about, we want to advocate for life, but then theres the next steps in life. Senate Republicans passed a bill that would have extended postpartum Medicaid coverage in 2022, but it did not pass in the House. Whitver pointed to that past support and said it would be part of the conversation this year. If youre only the last state to do something, or only a couple left, that obviously plays into that decision making, he said. If youre one of the last three, its definitely something to look at. Republican Rep. Devon Wood, the vice chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, said she would like to work on legislation to pass the expansion, though she does not know if it will draw support from the full caucus. Democrats put forward legislation last year to expand the coverage. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, a Democrat from Windsor Heights, said she is hopeful that Republicans will come together to support the legislation. Weve been supportive of that for a long time, and were happy to provide (Republicans) language, she said. But this is a critical need. If were going to make sure that kiddos get their best start, we want to make sure that moms are able to get their best start. And that makes sure that theyre not worried about health care for their kids or their family right after they have a baby. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds declined a request to be interviewed for this legislative preview series. Asked whether she would support a measure to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage, a governors spokesperson said she would lay out her legislative agenda during her Jan. 9 Condition of the State address. Rural maternal care Access to maternal health care is especially difficult in rural areas, as birthing centers have continued to close around the state. A 2023 report from the March of Dimes found that a third of Iowas counties are maternity care deserts, meaning they have no hospital birthing centers and no OB-GYN providers. Lawmakers passed legislation last year funding family medicine obstetrics fellowships in rural areas and Centers of Excellence to encourage collaboration between health systems. Boevers said her hospital benefited from the obstetrics fellowship, but there is still a need for more specialized physicians in rural areas of the state. Workforce shortages across the board are affecting hospitals access to nurses, ultrasound technicians and other specialists. State policy to address that include making Iowa a more attractive place for maternal health providers to work and increasing Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates for clinics and hospitals, Boevers said. Running a hospital in a rural area like mine, it just really requires a higher payment rate for the services so that we can keep our margin less negative than it has been, she said. Many, many rural hospitals are consistently running in a negative margin and, and trying to rely on things like grants and little shortfalls to fill the gap when the ends are not meeting. Wood said she wants to meet with hospitals in the state to see what their needs are and craft legislation to support maternal health in rural areas. Wood and Grassley pointed to changing populations as a cause of rural access shrinking, as rural populations have also decreased in recent years. When youre looking at the rural maternal maternal health care, talk to your hospitals and figure out what to do they need to be successful in that area, and how you can support them through that, Wood said. Abortion access Konfrst said allowing women access to abortion is key to any maternal health care solutions. Republicans this year passed a bill to ban abortions after a heartbeat can be detected in a pregnancy, which could be as early as six weeks. The bill is being held up in court as the Iowa Supreme Court weighs its constitutionality. Its no exaggeration to say that women will die when this ban goes into effect, Konfrst said. The Republicans have put this ban forward and want to ban abortion in this state. Womens lives will be at risk. House Democrats have proposed a constitutional amendment that would enshrine a constitutional right to an abortion and reproductive health care. Without a majority in the House the bill is highly unlikely to see any action this year. Grassley said Republicans are going to wait for a decision from the court before proposing any new bills dealing with abortion. Republicans gave first approval to a constitutional amendment in 2020 that would explicitly state there is no right to an abortion in the state of Iowa. It will need to be passed a second time and then pass a majority vote from the public on an election ballot before going into effect. At this point in time. I think were focused on getting a positive ruling from the courts to get that to be the law, Grassley said. Birth Control Reynolds proposed a bill last year to allow pharmacists to dispense birth control without a prescription to Iowans 18 and older. The proposal, Senate File 326, passed the Senate but stalled in the House, where Republicans amended it to require a patient to see a doctor within 15 months of receiving birth control from a pharmacist. Lawmakers ultimately could not reach a consensus and ended the session without passing legislation. Grassley said hes supportive of us having that conversation, but hes not sure how his caucus would vote on the measure. Democrats have long been supportive of proposals to remove those barriers to birth control access, Konfrst said. But she said Republicans have tried to reach a consensus within their party rather than work on bipartisan legislation to get it passed. Democrats are ready to have the conversation about how we can get this over the finish line if Republicans would just accept that we can do this in a bipartisan way, she said. Right now, theyre just waiting to get enough Republican votes. And were here ready to vote for it. Tom Barton of the Gazette Des Moines Bureau contributed to this report. 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventablehere's a closer look at maternal mortality in the US 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventablehere's a closer look at maternal mortality in the US Before the pandemic, the rate of pregnancy-related deaths approached 18 per 100,000 live births The overall national rate obscures significant racial disparities Causes of death demonstrate additional disparities Ireland West Airport enjoyed a record-breaking 2023 with passenger numbers increasing by 13% to 818,000 for the first time in the airport's history, surpassing the previous record of 807,000 passengers achieved in 2019. The airport now serves 21 International destinations and is served by three of Europes major International airlines, Aer Lingus, Lauda Europe, and Ryanair. Passenger numbers traveling on services to and from the UK totaled 665,000 in 2023, boosted by the commencement of a new daily service to London Heathrow with Aer Lingus, which provides onward connectivity to 80+ destinations worldwide. Ryanair recorded its busiest-ever year for passenger numbers at the airport carrying over 730,000 passengers, a 3% increase on 2022 with record numbers using their services to and from Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Manchester in the UK. The number of passengers traveling on services to Mainland and Continental Europe hit a new high for the airport, with 148,000 passengers traveling to and from Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Majorca, Malaga, Milan, Cologne, Lanzarote and Tenerife which represented a 7% increase on 2022 figures. When compared to 2019, the previous busiest year on record, short-haul traffic to the UK increased by 19%, while passenger numbers traveling to the sun and European city break destinations increased by 16%. August proved to be the busiest month of the year with 102,000 passengers traveling through the airport during this period, with the busiest individual day of the year also occurring in August, when over 4,500 passengers traveled through the airport on Tuesday 29th August. In total over 6,000 flights departed and arrived at the airport in 2023 with less than 10 flights impacted as a result of adverse weather at the airport, the lowest figure on record at the airport. Last year also saw continued investment in the Airport Transformation Programme, with a number of infrastructural projects completed during the course of 2023, aimed at transforming the facility and modernising the airport to ensure the facility will meet the future needs of both our airline customers and passengers. One of the headline projects, completed in 2023, was the installation of a new next-generation cabin baggage screening system which is now fully operational at the airport. These new machines remove the need for passengers to remove laptops, phones, and liquids from cabin bags, and the restriction on liquids of more than 100ml no longer applies, which will further speed up the journey time through the airport. Commenting on the 2023 performance, Arthur French, Chairman, Ireland West Airport said: We are delighted to have seen such a strong recovery in passenger travel in 2023, which has resulted in a record year for the airport, which is great news for tourism and job creation, both at the airport and in the wider economy. "2023 was a milestone year for the airport, we had the honour of welcoming the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden, to the West of Ireland, as he touched down at the airport on Friday April 14, in what was a momentous occasion for the airport and indeed the West of Ireland. We launched new services to both Lanzarote and Tenerife with Ryanair, and for the first time launched a new daily service with Aer Lingus, to one of Europes major international airport hubs, London Heathrow. "I would like to thank Minister Eamon Ryan TD, Minister of State Jack Chambers, TD, and Govt representatives for their continued support for the airport. In addition, I wish to express our gratitude to our customers, airline and tour operator partners, stakeholders, tourism groups, and Local Authority partners for their ongoing support in helping us to continue to grow passenger numbers and develop international connectivity for the region. "I would also like to say a special word of thanks to the staff at the airport for their hard work and continued focus on ensuring the customer and passenger experience through the airport is both a safe and welcoming one. "We will continue to work with our stakeholders and airline partners over the next 12 months as we strive to further grow our suite of routes from the airport whilst continuing to invest in our airport transformation programme. In February 2023, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, center, fired former Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong after a city investigation found he mishandled two misconduct cases. Thao said she wouldnt rehire Armstrong, yet his name was on a list of potential replacements provided in December by the citys police commission. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle The Oakland Police Commissions search for a new police chief has been mired in gaffes. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle 2021 The Oakland Police Commission is supposed to be a national example of collaborative and effective civilian-led law enforcement oversight, but lately, it hasnt been. Problems plaguing the commission go far beyond the leadership disputes that have derailed public meetings and captured the attention of local media. The most recent and egregious gaffe by the commission was its management of the citys crucial search for a police chief. The seven-member body sent a list of candidates to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao last month that included a person Thao had previously fired and someone under investigation at their current job. This list was a waste of time, but it served as a sobering reminder of the commissions questionable track record in making personnel decisions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Now, with a complicated six-year body of work to look at, its time to have an honest conversation about how the Oakland Police Commission can better use its power. Police oversight is imperative, and while were still not getting it right, it is critical to have some form of accountability on power versus none, said Rania Adwan, a Bay Area-based expert on police oversight bodies who has previously been consulted to support the operations of commissions throughout the country, including in San Francisco and Oakland. At the end of the day, these oversight agencies are manned by members of the public voluntarily, with their own lives, jobs, stresses, families, commitments and constraints. That means these bodies are susceptible to the worst and best of human nature. The Oakland commission is composed of Oakland residents. They have public meetings on the second and fourth Thursday of each month, and they work with the city in a volunteer capacity. These members are just regular people. But too often, it seems Oaklands commission is letting the worst of human nature playing politics and refusing to collaborate get in the way of its vital, but unglamorous, work. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Oaklands police commission was created through a ballot measure in 2016 that more than 83% of voters supported. At the time, the department was under intense scrutiny over some of the its members involvement in a sexual misconduct and exploitation scandal involving a teenager. The department was also caught up in a scandal involving racist text messages. In 2016, the department went through four police chiefs in nine days. City leaders made sure the commission was as strong and independent as possible. They also gave it the authority to remove some oversight-related city employees, fire a police chief and take the lead in hiring new chiefs. Its a big responsibility for the average person to bear, and the commission hasnt always had an easy time handling it. From 2018 to 2022, the commission fired two directors overseeing the Community Police Review Agency, the groups investigative arm, without providing a public explanation. One of those firings resulted in the city having to pay a $40,592 settlement. In 2019, the commission fired Oakland Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, who then won her wrongful termination lawsuit in 2022 and received a $1.5 million settlement. The jury found Kirkpatrick was fired in retaliation for pointing out alleged misconduct by the commission. And in 2023, the Police Commission mishandled the high-profile search for a new police chief. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thao fired the citys former chief, LeRonne Armstrong, last February following a police misconduct scandal, and she made it clear she would not rehire him. Still, former Police Commission chair Tyfahra Milele held a town hall to determine whether to include Armstrongs name on the list of finalists for the job. Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong was fired in February 2023. The citys police commission recently provided a list of candidates that included Armstrongs name. The mayor rejected the list, and the commission will have to restart its search for a police chief. Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Several members on the commission boycotted the town hall and future meetings until Milele and another commissioner completed their terms in October. At the time, the decision to stay away conveyed a sort of solidarity with the mayor. However, in December, the mayor received a new list of candidates from the same boycotting commissioners that, oddly, still included Armstrongs name. Two other candidates were also on their list: Abdul Pridgen, the chief of police in San Leandro, who is currently on administrative leave as the city investigates him for policy violations; and Kevin Hall, the assistant chief of police in Tucson who reportedly sought the position of chief in Oakland in the past. Thao rightfully rejected the list. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The commission members arent speaking to the news media, so their intent remains a mystery. Whatever their reason, the outcome is the same Oakland will have to restart its search for a police chief while the city struggles to deal with violent crime. If the commission wants to restore some of its credibility, it needs to concentrate on its strengths like the review and revision of the police departments policies and getting the community involved in public safety dialogues. It might also think about teaming with professionals who specialize in personnel management and oversight to ensure hiring and firing decisions are grounded in best practices and well-informed judgments. And, it should go without saying, the commission should be transparent about its decisions, including how it picks the finalists for Oaklands next police chief, which will be announced in March. The commission is supposed to list at least three candidates. Once the commission addresses its deficiencies, it can fulfill its potential as a national leader and not be what it has been lately: an embarrassing symbol of political dysfunction. Today I invited American military expert, former Marine and US Army intelligence officer Scott Ritter, who has already been to the Chechen Republic, to the formation of law enforcement officers of the Chechen Republic. Over 25 thousand tactically trained soldiers in full equipment gathered on the square, hundreds of combat vehicles and captured Western weapons were exhibited. We invited the guest to this event in order to convey to the United States and the entire West our serious intentions and plans, to show the world that we will not retreat and will not allow them to infringe on the interests of Russia and its citizens. The whole world sees how American democracy betrays its friends, makes them bargaining chips in dirty political games, destroys entire nations, and does not disdain double standards in statements. In his speech, Scott Ritter rightly noted the unjustifiably negative attitude of the West towards the Chechen Republic and its representatives. Having a background as a Marine, he noted the high level of training of our soldiers, who distinguished themselves during the liberation of populated areas of Donbass. I know for sure that the lives of ordinary Ukrainians mean nothing to the US leadership. They are only interested in their own interests, so they made a statement to show the true colors of American politicians. Namely: I am ready to exchange these 20 Ukrainian prisoners of war for the lifting of sanctions against my dear MOTHER Aimani Nesievna Kadyrova, my daughters, my minor children and my wife Medni Musaevna. All of them have absolutely nothing to do with politics. Obviously, the States will not do this. But its interesting to hear their excuses, if they have any. Scott Ritter, unlike some, took this fat trolling correctly. As for sanctions, they dont interfere with our lives in any way. Kadyrov Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (6 January 2024) The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. In Kupyansk direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Zapad Group of Forces and artillery, four counterattacks by assault groups of AFU 30th and 32nd mechanised brigades have been repelled near Sinkovka (Kharkov region). In addition, enemy strongholds have been hit near Kislovka, Kotlyarovka, Tabaevka, and Krakhmalnoye (Kharkov region). The enemy losses were up to 80 AFU servicemen, two armoured personnel carriers, three motor vehicles, one Olkha MLRS combat vehicle, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, supported by artillery, have hit AFU manpower and hardware concentration areas near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic) and Serebryansky forestry. The enemy losses were up to 100 troops, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. In Donetsk direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Yug Group of Forces and artillery, two enemy counterattacks have been repelled near Georgievka, units of 28th, 42nd mechanised brigades of the AFU have been defeated close to Andreevka, Bogdanovka, Kleshcheevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemy losses were over 190 soldiers, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four pickup trucks. In addition, Msta-B, D-20, and D-30 howitzers have been hit during counter-battery warfare. In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, with the support of Operational-Tactical Aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems, have defeated formations of the 79th Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Novomikhailovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemy losses were over 90 soldiers, two armoured fighting vehicles, and six motor vehicles. In Zaporozhye direction, as a result of skillful actions by units of the Russian Group of Forces, Operational-Tactical Aviation, and artillery, manpower and hardware of 117th mechanized, 71st infantry brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the 15th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine have been eliminated close to Verbovoye, Rabotino, and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses were up to 25 soldiers, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles. In Kherson direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Dnepr Group of Forces and systematic fire, the enemy losses were up to 45 servicemen, one tank, four motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, as well as one ammunition depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been destroyed near Ingulets (Kherson region). Over the past period, Missile Troops and Artillery, Operational-Tactical Aviation and unmanned aerial vehicles of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed one control point of the Donetsk Operational Tactical Group close to Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk Peoples Republic), 127 artillery units in firing positions, manpower, and military hardware in 138 areas. Air defence facilities have shot down one Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian Air Force near Tyaginka (Kherson region). Four aircraft guided missiles have been intercepted, as well as one HIMARS projectile. In addition, 29 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been hit close to Belogorovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region), Kardashinka and Kairy (Kherson region). In total, 565 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,488 unmanned aerial vehicles, 447 air defence missile systems, 14,494 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,201 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 7,645 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,121 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. Tags: WtR We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form San Francisco police are investigating a fatal shooting Saturday night near Chase Center. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle A man was fatally shot near Chase Center on Saturday night, San Francisco police said. The shooting was reported about 10 p.m. in the area of Terry A. Francois Boulevard and 16th Street. Officers found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound and rendered aid. Paramedics then took the victim to a hospital, where the person died, police said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police did not release the victims age or name. Witnesses told officers a vehicle was possibly involved in the shooting. No further information was available Sunday morning. Nikki Sixx, the legendary rock icon, is the creative force behind Motley Crue. From the rebellious beats of heavy metal to the electrifying tales of a shattered rock stars life, Nikki has made fans so loved with his music. Here, we delve into Nikki Sixx net worth and explore his highs, lows, and everything in between. Who is Nikki Sixx? Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna Jr., mostly known by his stage name Nikki Sixx, stands out as a prominent American musician. He is the bassist, primary songwriter, and co-founder of the band Motley Crue. Preceding Motley Crue, Sixx contributed to Sister and subsequently collaborated with his Sister bandmate Lizzie Grey to establish London. Nikkis musical ventures extended to the formation of the side band Sixx: A.M. in 2006. Beyond Motley Crue, Sixx collaborated with numerous artists and groups, contributing to songwriting and production. His diverse collaborations include work with Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, Alice Cooper, Lita Ford, and many more. Furthermore, Sixx entered the radio scene, co-hosting nationally syndicated rock/alternative music radio programs like The Side Show Countdown and Sixx Sense. Quick Bio Full Name Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna Jr. Stage Name Nikki Sixx Born December 11, 1958 (age 65) Birthplace San Jose, California, US Nationality American Profession Bassist, Musician, Songwriter Genre Rock, Metal Social Media Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Net Worth $65 million Nikki Sixx Net Worth Famous Bassist of the metal rock band Motley Crue, Nikki Sixx, is a millionaire. And his music career contributed to most of his wealth and earnings. As of 2024, the musician owns around $65 million net worth. Apart from music, Nikki also has his own clothing brand, and he is actively involved in several other activities in and out of the media. All these, too, have contributed to his millions of dollars in net worth. Early Life Born Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna Jr. in December 1958, Nikki Sixx hailed from San Jose, California. Raised in a complex family dynamic, Sixx experienced the challenges of a broken family, with his fathers departure leading to a partial upbringing by his single mother, Deana Richards. Facing further shifts in his living situation, Sixx found himself under the care of his grandparents after his mother left. This period brought about numerous relocations as he navigated the ups and downs of adolescence. Nikki had a sister who tragically passed away. He also has a half-brother, Rodney Anthony Feranna. Additionally, he shares a half-sister named Ceci. Nikkis early years were filled with musical influences like Deep Purple, Harry Nilsson, The Beatles, and more. Despite facing several challenges in his youth, Nikki developed a passion for music. After a short stint in Seattle with his mom, he even managed to buy his first bass guitar and learned it. Music Career Nikki Sixx began his music journey in LA at the age of 17. He initially joined Sister but was later fired along with bandmate Lizzie Grey. Undeterred, they formed the band London in 1978 and made the start of Sixxs musical evolution. After a stint with London, Sixx co-founded Motley Crue in 1981, which became a groundbreaking heavy metal band. Motley Crue produced some of the iconic albums like Too Fast for Love, Shout at the Devil, Theatre of Pain, and Girls, Girls, Girls. Another one was Dr. Feelgood, which became their most successful record to date. Post-1990s, Nikki explored collaborations with artists like Steve Jones, Alice Cooper, Lita Ford, and many more. In 2006, Motley Crue reunited and launched successful tours, releasing the album Saints of Los Angeles in 2008. Simultaneously, Sixx embarked on his side band Sixx:A.M. Nikki continued musical endeavors working on albums like This Is Gonna Hurt, Modern Vintage, Prayers for the Damned, and Prayers for the Blessed with Sixx:A.M. The band went on hiatus in 2017, and members went on to explore their new and solo projects. Source Behind Nikki Sixx Net Worth Success in Music Music is likely Nikki Sixxs major source behind his fortune. As a Motley Crue member, Nikki has released nine studio albums so far, along with over fifty singles and music videos. They have sold over a hundred million copies of their albums worldwide. Out of these, 25 million are within the US. Apparently, Nikkis band has had great commercial success, which has also earned him millions in net worth. Even though the band took a hiatus back in 2008, they officially reunited in 2019 and toured extensively. Business Success Beyond Motley Crue and music, Nikki Sixx also showed his entrepreneurial spirit by launching the Royal Underground clothing line. He launched the brand in 2006 alongside Kelly Gray. Initially, starting with mens clothing, Nikkis brand was later expanded into womens clothing, too. Fans can find them on his official website. He has had quite a noteworthy notable success in his business. Radio Shows Apart from music, Nikki Sixx also ran his own radio shows for a brief time. Launched in February 2010, Nikkis first radio show, Sixx Sense, was aired on rock/alternative music stations. Host Nikki Sixx, a rock star himself, shares insights into the music industry and discusses various lifestyle topics. The show originally featured co-host Kerri Kasem until March 28, 2014, and later welcomed radio personality Jenn Marino. In October 2017, Nikki announced his departure from Sixx Sense, with his last show airing on December 31, 2017. Real Estate Riches Nikki Sixx and his wife owned a luxurious mansion in Westlake Village, LA. They bought it for $4.125 million in 2014 and sold this custom home for $5.18 million in 2021. Making over a million than he paid for it. Additionally, Nikki used to own a residence in Calabasas for $1.89 million and later listed it for sale for $2.399 million. In November 2022, the musician acquired another mansion for $6.9 million in the Lake Sherwood neighborhood. Personal Life In his personal life, Nikki Sixx has experienced several relationships. He was once engaged to Denise Vanity Matthews in 1987. Following his divorce from Playboy Playmate Brandi Brandt in 1996, he married actress Donna DErrico. But that, too, ended up divorcing in 2007. Nikki then dated tattoo artist Kat Von D and eventually married Courtney Bingham in 2014. Nikki and Kat welcomed their first child, Ruby Sixx, in 2019. The rock musician Nikki also practices Transcendental Meditation. FAQs Why did Nikki Sixx pick his name? Inspired by Jeff Nicholsons persona, Nikki decided to take it on as his own. Who made the most money out of Motley Crue? Tommy Lee, who is also one of the founding members of Motley Crue, is the richest among the band members. Where does Nikki Sixx live right now? Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx is currently living in Wyoming with his family. Conclusion Nikki Sixx net worth shows how successful he was and still is in music. From his big impact in Motley Crue to his other projects like writing and real estate, Nikki keeps growing. Even though he faced several challenges, like his drug addiction, he still managed to acquire a noteworthy fortune. A 5-year-old boy was fatally shot outside a Bessemer home Sunday morning. The gunfire also left an adult male injured. The shooting happened at 10:15 a.m. in the 500 block of Seventh Avenue North. The boys grandmother had taken her child to the home to get his hair cut. Bessemer police Det. Justin Burmeister said the victims were outside when someone opened fire on the house. Multiple shots were fired. The child and the barber were struck. We know someone not at the house shot towards the house, Burmeister said. The 5-year-old was taken to Childrens of Alabama where he was pronounced dead a short time later. The adult male was taken to the hospital and is in critical condition. Burmeister said investigators are following up several leads. Its terrible, he said. Our thoughts are with the family during this incredibly challenging time. We are working tirelessly to gather all available information and evidence to determine the sequence of events that led to this tragic outcome, he said. The child is Bessemers first homicide of 2024, and third throughout Jefferson County since Friday. There were two homicides Saturday, one in Birmingham and one in Fairfield. Anyone with information is asked to call Bessemer police at 205-481-4366, 425-2411 or the tip line at 205-428-3541. A file photo shows boxes of ballots waiting to be counted at the Department of Elections at San Francisco City Hall in 2022. Bronte Wittpenn / The Chronicle Like it or not, election season is once again upon us; Californias primary election is only two months away on March 5. For members of the Chronicles editorial board, that means its time to dive into the endorsement process, which culminates in us making recommendations as to who we think are the best candidates as well as whether we think voters should say yes or no to various state and local ballot measures. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Why do we feel its important to offer up this guidance to voters? Lets be honest you probably dont need much help from us to make an informed choice for president. Those candidates will have been under a microscope for months or years by the time your ballot arrives, receiving more coverage than you could possibly need to make a decision that fits your values. The further down the ballot you go, the trickier things can get. Its in these races that reliable information is tougher to come by. In some cases, unqualified candidates and their supporters are counting on you being uninformed. Not long ago, voters in Los Angeles County nearly elected as judge a white supremacist who had written about his desire to strip nonwhite Americans of their voting rights because his candidacy flew under the radar. This is exactly the scenario the Chronicles endorsement process is trying to prevent. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But elections matter beyond worst-case-scenarios, too. Its our job to dig into them as deeply as we can, tell you what we find, and be honest if we think a candidate has the potential to make government work better for the Bay Area or worse. We can do this because, unlike news reporters, the editorial board and its writers are on the opinion side of the paper. Though we often use the same reporting techniques as news writers, its our job to interpret the facts we gather and turn them into informed recommendations. Just because were in the opinion section doesnt mean we arbitrarily pick favorites. Members of the editorial board which is composed of myself, publisher Bill Nagel, editorial writers Emily Hoeven and Nuala Bishari and editors Zeba Khan, Harry Mok and Pete Wevurski spend hours researching each race, interviewing candidates, looking into their backgrounds, and speaking to policy experts about the wisdom and feasibility of the candidates ideas. We dont care if a candidate is moderate, progressive, Democrat or Republican. Here in California, these distinctions are becoming increasingly meaningless, anyway. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Instead, our ideal candidates have a deep understanding of the problems Bay Area communities face, offer innovative solutions to those problems, and have the experience and competence to execute on those ideas. No, we do not consider empty ideological promises that sound good on paper, but have no basis in reality, to be good ideas. So, how do our deliberations work? To begin with, we try to figure out what races our recommendations will be most useful in. We dont have the bandwidth to endorse in every race in the state. Nor, frankly, should we. We dont live in Kern County, nor do we follow most of its issues or the politics. It makes no sense for us to endorse there. Instead, we try to keep our focus on what we know the Bay Area and its public officials at the local, state and federal levels. Yes, we may also weigh in on key national races, such as president. When we do, our goal is to keep a local focus to inform voters on how these candidates and their ideas would impact California and the Bay Area. Advertisement Article continues below this ad All members of the editorial board participate in endorsement interviews with candidates some more than others. Editorial writers do most of the writing of our endorsement pieces while the editors edit. This election cycle, editorial writer Emily Hoeven will largely focus her research and writing on candidates for statewide office and state ballot measures, while editorial writer Nuala Bishari will prioritize local measures and races. Its worth noting that reporters from the news side of the paper whose job, unlike ours, is to dispassionately gather and present facts can and do sit in on our interviews with candidates. We value these reporters expertise and their ability to ask tough questions. But news reporters do not have a say in who the editorial board selects for its endorsements nor are they a part of our internal discussions about the candidates. As for the endorsements themselves, we dont just check a box next to a candidates name and call it a day. Our goal in all cases is to explain in-depth why we believe our preferred candidate and is the right person for the job, while being honest about their liabilities. Even if you dont agree with our conclusions, our hope is that youll enter the voting booth more informed about the races and candidates youre voting on than you were before you read us. One important thing that differentiates us from many other editorial boards in California: We dont guarantee that a candidate will secure our endorsement in each race. They have to earn it. If we go through the endorsement process and decide voters have a terrible, impossible choice before them, were not going to sugarcoat it. We will do our best to only endorse candidates that are worthy of your vote. A Prattville man died Saturday afternoon after his pickup truck crashed into a tree in Bibb County, according to state troopers. Timothy Knox Jr., 39, died on the scene of the single-vehicle crash, Senior Trooper Brandon Bailey with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said in a press release. Knox was not using his seat belt at the time of crash, was ejected and pronounced deceased at the scene, Bailey said in the release. The passenger, Samantha J. Grayson, 40, also of Prattville, was injured and transported to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital (UAB) for treatment. Knox was driving a 1996 Dodge Ram, which left the roadway, struck a tree, and overturned on Alabama 139 near Six Mile Creek, approximately 10 miles east of Brierfield, in Bibb County. The crash is under investigation. Refuge In Troubled Times Community Development Corporation, a Birmingham nonprofit, will host its fourth annual candlelight vigil to memorialize people who have died from violence and COVID-19 at 6 p.m. on Jan. 8 at Kelly Ingram Park. In case of inclement weather, the vigil will be hosted at the Civil Rights Activist Committee Headquarters in the Historic 4th Ave Business District. The city ended 2023 with 135 homicides, a 6% decrease from 2022 when the city had 144 homicides, marking the deadliest year in recent history. While the drop in homicides, families across the city are still grieving the loss of their loved ones. Brenda Paige Ward, founder of Refuge In Troubled Times, said her goal is to bring the community together and set a path for change. We need to come together in unity and do something about all of the deaths, and the murders, and the homicides and all of the things that are going on around our city. This is our city and we have to do something for our children, Ward said. Ward created the nonprofit in 2011, after the fatal shooting of her eldest grandson RaSheed Ali Ward, 19, on June 17, 2010. Keith Hilson, 24, was also killed in the shooting. No one has been arrested for their deaths. She said she remembers how her mother reacted when her two sons, Wards brothers, were shot and killed. She realized she finally understood her mothers pain when her grandson was shot. Now I know what my mother felt like when my two brothers died and how she moaned, and cried, and she held her stomach and she just cried and cried, Ward said. [RaSheeds death] was just a traumatic experience. I couldnt cry, you know, my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. It was just horrifying, what had happened. And I was trying to figure out who would do such a thing. She said she does not want anyone else to have to experience the grief she and her mother experienced. The vigil is open to the public to provide support to community members. The event will include a wreath laying to pay respects to the dead, prayers and a list of guest speakers including Commissioner Sheila Tyson, Sheriff Mark Petway, District Attorney Danny Carr, Chaplain Don Thomas and members of What About Us, a support group for mothers who have lost children to gun violence. Grief counselors and members of the Birmingham Police Department will be available to those in need of support. This is a community problem. It is a problem for all of us. And we got to get concerned about whats going on and not just pass it over and say well its not at my door. It is at your door, if its in your neighborhood, at your neighbors house. It could have been your mom, your brother, your sister, your dad. It could have been you, Ward said. I want the whole community to be involved because we all are affected. By Chris Marquette | CQ-Roll Call (TNS) Ashli Babbitts family filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Friday against the U.S. government, alleging a Capitol Police officer was negligent and did not have legal justification to shoot and kill her during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The lawsuit asking for $30 million, brought by the conservative group Judicial Watch on behalf of Babbitts family, takes aim at the officer who shot Babbitt, Michael Byrd, along with the Capitol Police for negligent supervision and training. The Justice Department declined to bring charges and the Capitol Police cleared Byrd, who has since been promoted to captain. The Capitol Police is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Babbit was a pro-Trump rioter and Air Force veteran who stormed the Capitol. Byrd fatally shot her as she tried to climb through a broken window into the Speakers Lobby, an area that abuts the House floor, as members were evacuating. The suit claims Byrd breached several standards of care including the safe use of a firearm, the assessment of imminent threats, use of force levels, the use of warnings and obtaining timely, appropriate medical aid. Had Lt. Byrd adhered to these standards, he would not have fired, and Ashli would be alive today, the suit states. Byrd, the suit claims, used his firearm in a negligent manner because he unholstered his gun before he saw Ashli and before any expected, prudent, and lawful discharge, the suit says, quoting a Capitol Police directive. He also failed to keep his unholstered weapon at low ready rather than point his gun at more than three people on the other side of the Speakers Lobby doors, the lawsuit states. He didnt diligently assess the appropriateness of using deadly force against Babbitt and did not give proper warning that he was going to fire, the lawsuit states. Other law enforcement officers on the scene were accused of acting negligently in the suit. Sgt. Timothy Lively, Officer Kyle Yetter, Officer Christopher Lanciano, and CERT officers Steven Robbs, Don Smith, Brandon Sikes, and Mike Brown owed Ashli a duty to act as reasonably prudent officers to protect her from harm. Jason Gandolph, a House Sergeant at Arms employee, also owed Babbitt that duty, the lawsuit states. Byrds history of shortcomings on the department were brought up as reasons the department is responsible for negligent supervision, discipline and retention of Byrd. The suit makes note of when he left a loaded Glock 22 in a Capitol Visitors Center in 2019 and when he failed to meet his firearms qualifications, as well as an off-duty shooting incident that was not justified and a use of force matter that was originally sustained. The Capitol Police, Capitol Police Board, and ultimately Congress, as Lt. Byrds employer, breached their duty to Ashli to use reasonable care in the supervision, discipline, and retention of Lt. Byrd by retaining, promoting, and even allowing Lt. Byrd to serve as incident commander of the House chamber on January 6, 2021 despite multiple, serious warnings about his dangerous and/or otherwise incompetent behavior, the lawsuit states. ___ 2024 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. Visit at rollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More charges have been filed against the parents of a Winston County infant who died one week ago today. Shannon Lee Stewart, a 33-year-old Double Springs man, was already charged with capital murder in the Dec. 30 slaying of his 2-month-old daughter Amasia Faith Stewart. He now faces eight new charges: one count of sexual assault of a child less than 12, two counts of willful abuse of a child, three counts of chemical endangerment and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. And Amasias mother, 24-year-old Brittany Scoggins, is now charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, three counts of chemical endangerment and failure to appear. She was taken into custody Jan. 3. Shannon Lee Stewart(Winston County Jail) Amasia was taken by ambulance to Lakeland Community Hospital in Haleyville on Dec. 30. Winston County Coroner Tracey Holley pronounced the infant dead at the hospital. No additional details have been released. She was the perfect baby, her mother, Brittany Scoggins, told AL.com in an interview the day after her daughter died. She was so happy, always smiling. In compliance with an order which has been set forth in this investigation, the Winston County Sheriffs Office is restrained from making extrajudicial statements in all regards except for the basest of facts, Sheriff Caleb Snoddy said a Facebook post. I ask that everyone please be kind in respect to the families of the victims, the law enforcement officers, and many others involved in the sphere of this investigation, the sheriff said. A Pinson woman died in a crash on I-459 early Saturday morning, according to state troopers. Serra S. Burchfield, 47, was driving a 2020 Subaru Outback that left the interstate near Amber Hills Road, according to a news release from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The vehicle struck a fence and railroad tracks, then overturned, said Brandon Bailey, a senior trooper, in the release. The crash happened around 1:40 a.m. about two miles north of Irondale. Burchfield was pronounced dead at the scene. ALEAs Highway Patrol Division is investigating the crash. Our epidemic of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) does not appear to be abating, and Big Pharma hasnt developed an mRNA vaccine for it yet. Those employed in government, academia, media, and medicine seem to be at highest risk. Robert Reich is a case in point. He was Bill Clintons secretary of labor, and hes currently a professor of public policy at Berkeley giving him two TDS risk factors. He recently published an article in The Guardian entitled Here are 10 new year resolutions for saving American democracy. It illustrates the devastating effects of TDS. Without getting into the whole were a republic, not a democracy debate, lets examine what Reich considers the most critical actions for Americans to take followed by my humble commentary. 1. Become a political activist to ensure Trump is not elected. Because we will not be a self-governed country if we choose the wrong person. Consult the Colorado Supreme Court for a list of democratically approved candidates. 2. Do not succumb to the tempting anesthesia of complacency or cynicism. The stakes are too high. See number 1 above, and note that Donald Trump is up in the polls. Dont sit out the next election no matter how depressing it is to vote for the incompetent, demented old guy in the Oval Office. 3. Counter lies with truth. If youre confused about which is which, anything said by a person in a red hat is a lie, and anything said by Adam Schiff is the truth. When in doubt, check your DNC talking points pamphlet. 4. Do not tolerate bigotry and hate. The only DNC-approved targets of hate are Donald Trump, his followers, pro-life activists, supporters of Israel, and those insisting that man/woman is a science thing. 5. Do not resort to name-calling, bullying, intimidation, violence or any of the other tactics that Trump followers may be using. The only poll-tested and approved pejorative is semi-fascist MAGA Republican extremist. If you insist on doing violence, be smart, and do it in a blue jurisdiction, where a Soros prosecutor can run interference. 6. Be compassionate toward hardcore followers of Trump, but be firm in your opposition. Reich suggests that rational Americans not waste their time on the closed-minded masses of MAGA. Unlike himself, were terminally stupid. He suggests that everyone have a fulfilling debate of competing ideas in the liberal echo chamber. 7. Dont waste your time and energy commiserating with people who already agree with you. Its a waste of time and energy complaining about constants in the universe. Yes, he tells his readers, Trump is awful, but hell still be awful tomorrow. Similarly, dont waste time complaining that Biden has failed to live up to expectations. If Bidens failures give you a sour stomach, youre going to have acid reflux for the next year. Take some Pepto and deal with it. 8. Dont decide to sit this election out or to vote for a third-party candidate, because you dont especially like Biden and youre tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. Then Reich really said this: Biden may not be perfect, but hes not the lesser of two evils. I had to read it three times, but thats what he really said. Robert Reich is giving the useful idiots of the left permission to vote for the greater of two evils, to prevent Trump from slowing our dash toward socialist nirvana. 9. Demonstrate, but dont mistake demonstrating for political action. Organize and mobilize to get the vote out (i.e., collect all the cemetery ballots) and save democracy by defeating Trump. After the election, you can organize and mobilize to burn the cities down mostly peacefully. 10. Dont get distracted by the latest sensationalist post or story by or about Trump. Dont be distracted by facts, no matter how eye-opening they are. The next election is critical to Americas transition from the land of the free to Northern Cuba. Keep your eyes closed, ignore reality, and stay laser-focused on your mission: to defeat Trump. So, with the world approaching WWIII; political polarization tearing America apart; fiscal policies making economic collapse inevitable; institutions charged with protecting our Constitution instead destroying it; crime turning our cities into a year-round rerun of The Purge; a president taking bribes from China, Ukraine, and Russia; Congress stuffing its pockets via insider trading; homelessness and drug addiction making our sidewalks look like a scene from The Walking Dead; and South America trying to move into North America for the free housing and medical care, Robert Reich considers our biggest threat...Donald Trump. TDS is quite real. The Donald has caused otherwise intelligent people to go bat-crap crazy. The syndrome is a weird mash-up of obsessive-compulsive disorder and delusional paranoia. The afflicted have a warped perception of reality in which Donald Trump is a supernatural being visiting calamity on the Earth with mean tweets and a stern gaze. I can imagine Reich sitting in his office at Berkeley writing his article, while twirling a couple of ball bearings in his hand, and mumbling about Trump stealing the strawberries. Lets compare Reichs ten suggestions to mine. You can judge whos saner. Veto any bill raising the national debt to stop economic suicide before its too late. Finish the border wall because theres nothing compassionate about facilitating human-trafficking. Push legislation empowering the states and individuals to hold the federal government accountable since the feds wont police themselves. Pull all funding to sponsors of international conflict which shouldnt even need to be stated. Make congressional insider trading illegal remind them that they work for us. Deny bailouts to private companies and local governments accountability counters bad decision-making. Drill, baby, drill for economic prosperity and national security. Outlaw public employee unions to stop them from funding politicians who give them sweetheart contracts with our money. Pass legislation requiring that strategic products be manufactured domestically because theyre currently made in countries that would like to colonize us. Cancel all government subsidies of technology and research because the picking of winners and losers has created only losers and bigger losers. Which are saner recommendations to preserve our democracy: my stop committing national suicide, or Reichs stop Donald Trump? After reading Reichs article, I was left with the impression that TDS destroys imagination. As the world approaches 21st-century Armageddon, his primary concern is the orange boogeyman that visits him in his nightmares. That it creates such a blindness to the threats facing America illustrates the danger of TDS. John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He is a staff writer for the American Free News Network and can be reached at greenjeg@gmail.com. Image via Pxhere. The internet has gone insane. Divergent opinions concerning the war on Gaza have resulted not only in outrageous opinions being vented, but in questionable actions being taken. Lets face it: the internet has become the publics id. The most vile and repugnant ideas are happily expressed, sometimes openly and proudly. One has to wonder: just what are these people thinking? Intelligence and education are not barriers. Organizations like Stopantisemitism,org have been set up to fight an exponential increase on online antisemitism. Some of their work is commendable. They do expose dangerous examples of recent antisemitism. However, some of their work is sloppy. On this page, one can see a report on Robert Sterkeson, only to see an image of the inflammatory Baptist preacher Stephen Anderson, with an SS cap Photoshopped on his head. Now some members of the Jewish community are upset with Pastor Anderson for various reasons but Anderson is not Robert Sterkeson, and he never served in the SS. And then there is the case of Rick Steves. Rick Steves may be hyper-liberal, but he is not antisemitic. Stopantisemitism.org, in my opinion, twisted Steves comments. Stopantisemitism.org on X (Twitter) also gathers information from social media and asks people to identify the culprits so they can be fired...and then gloats about it. Some of the comments were vile. But some did not merit being fired. In one case, a young woman is exposed for merely wearing a pro-Palestinian sweatshirt, and her identity is given out. Was that last status necessary? The girl was not on X. She was merely walking around with a political sweatshirt. Was it dumb? Yes! Did it need to be exposed internationally? No! A lot of Stopantisemitism.orgs actions can be justified. Yet I fear it may backfire. What if someone doxxed those who work at Stopantisemitism.org? Indeed, one Jewish man may have been counter-doxxed, and it is not pretty. His name is Yoel Ackerman. He reported pro-Palestinian activity on his campus and is now being threatened with expulsion. A Jewish law student is facing expulsion at Rutgers University for allegedly doxxing a pair of student Hamas supporters after they either shared or endorsed a video denying atrocities that happened on Oct. 7, a new lawsuit claims. ... The two students accused Ackerman of doxing them which means exposing personal information about a person and defaming them by referring to them as Hamas supporters because of the inflammatory video they shared that questioned the atrocities of Oct. 7, the lawsuit says. First, I am not so sure that what Mr. Ackerman did was doxxing, which usually includes reporting people to employers (to get them fired) or publicly listing their private addresses. So the headline may be erroneous. Neither am I privy to all the details of the controversy and the news reports are biased one way or the other. But Mr. Ackerman was upset by this atrocity denial. The Jewish Journal has a more complete version of events that may exonerate Ackerman, but the media are all over the place. It is a study on media bias. However, the original story of October 7 has, indeed, been questioned even by some Israelis. I myself have no doubt that atrocities occurred. But some Israelis have noted that some of the victims were the result of Israeli friendly fire, and the practice of Israeli armed forces to prevent hostages being taken, even if it means they are killed in the process. Remember that Israel exercises a degree of censorship during its wars, and even when admitted, it is done so obliquely, as this story (an Israeli source) hints at. Casualties fell as a result of friendly fire on October 7, but the IDF believes that beyond the operational investigations of the events, it would not be morally sound to investigate these incidents due to the immense and complex quantity of them that took place in the kibbutzim and southern Israeli communities due to the challenging situations the soldiers were in at the time. Incidents occurred. A fudging admission of friendly fire? It is claimed that Mr. Ackerman was bullied because he reported atrocity denial to the university. In this particular case, I am more partial to Mr. Ackermans side. I suspect more went on. Yet ABC7 in New York reports this ridiculous synopsis. His lawyers have filed a lawsuit against the university, stating that the law student is being punished for allowing a culture at the school that makes life uncomfortable for Jewish students. Uncomfortable?! If you want to see discomfort, just look at a female liberal arts major taking a test in a mandatory calculus class, after she was drinking the night before. This is ridiculous. Either Mr. Ackerman was being actionably harassed or he was not. Comfort is not the issue. I suspect that the problem rose to the level of harassment. Here is more info on the problem: The first-year Orthodox Jewish law student is facing discipline after he shared messages, including their names and photographs, with the Jewish Law School Association. The Jewish community is fighting back, with everything at its disposal, against antisemitism. Some of those outed, or doxxed, claim that this is a suppression of free speech. I am perplexed here. I applaud that Jews are uniting against antisemitism, but some (not all) of Stopantisemitism.orgs actions are over the top. Stopantisemitism.org likes to expose people who tear down the posters of kidnapped Israelis. I agree that that is despicable. But what if the other side puts up posters of dead children in Gaza to blame Israel? A few Jews might be upset with those, and might tear them down. Would they appreciate it if they were doxxed? This is nasty business. Should people have their lives and livelihoods destroyed because they are doxxed for being against the Jewish state, and think it was a historical mistake? It is claimed that denying the Jews a right to self-determination in Israel is inherently antisemitic. Is one anti-Welsh because he thinks Welsh independence is wrong? Yet anti-Zionism is now considered inherently antisemitic. Is one anti-Spanish if he thinks the Basque country should be free, or anti-Basque if he disagrees? What about Texas independence or Southern independence? Mind you, I am in favor of Israel. I think Zionism is great. But are counter-opinions forbidden on social media, under penalty of losing employment? I hope Israel destroys Hamas, but some commenters dont even want to allow the term Palestinian. This is a war without courtesy. Every jot, tittle, and opinion is contested. There was a time, before social media, when ideas were free to discuss. I guess the rule of thumb is to think forty years ahead before one posts anything. And remember that if you dox them, they can dox you. Image via Pexels. There isnt much left in this regime to shock the consumer of news. We have grown accustomed to the daily cavalcade of assaults on American freedoms in the Federal Register; both the autocrat-in-chief and his press secretary have mainstreamed the practice of lying about virtually every issue. They attempt to take both sides of foreign policy issues within the same speech, claiming to be supporters of Israel while supporting Hamas, claiming to be opposed to the risk of nuclear war while encouraging Iranian nuclear advancement. What is left to shock us, in such an environment? Well, sometime Friday, January 5, the story developed that Lloyd Austin, the 70-year-old Secretary of Defense, was in intensive care, at Walter Reed Hospital, and had been for four days without anybody notifying anyone in the regime. In fact, not only did the Department of Defense keep his hospitalization a secret from the White House and the National Security Advisor, DoD personnel specifically lied when asked, claiming that Mr. Austin had been working from home. Now, we must of course stipulate, before we go any further, that Lloyd Austin isnt exactly a standout in his role. Like everyone else in the Biden-Harris regime, hes been lackluster at best, dreadful at worst. He bears at least partial responsibility for many of the foreign policy and military disasters throughout this dumpster fire of a presidential term. Austin has issued orders to the military in support of convoluted leftist redefinitions of extremism in an effort to drive Republicans out of the military. Austin implemented mandatory use of untested COVID vaccines and supervised the dismissal of servicemen who refused, even on religious grounds. Austin was in charge of the DoD when it so severely mismanaged the pullout from 2021 Afghanistan, leaving tens of billions of dollars worth of sensitive equipment behind, not to mention abandoning thousands of employees and allies to the Taliban. And thats just the highlight reel of his disastrous tenure. Even if none of these decisions were his choice, an honorable Secretary of Defense would have resigned his office and left the administration rather than agreeing to implement such positions. Lloyd Austin made them his own, implementing every leftist, anti-American decision that the Biden-Harris regime came up with. But all his failures notwithstanding the Secretary of Defense remains a critical element of the decision process, whenever the United States has to make a quick policy decision. Even when its just being the person to say the cursory yes, of course, make it so to an obvious question still, he is the one to say it, the one who has to say it. And that means both the DoD and the White House have to be able to reach him at a moments notice. As we go to press, this story is still developing. It is not yet known exactly who knew Lloyd Austin was in the Intensive Care Unit all this time. But this much is certain: for over three days, possibly more like four or five, neither the White House and Cabinet nor the leadership of the House and Senate were informed of his condition. Congress is, of course, offended; they own the Constitutional responsibility of oversight over each department, and have to be able to get to any Cabinet secretary at any time, as needed. Congressional leaders have said that heads will roll; this is simply an unacceptably irresponsible lapse. Even the press, for once, is aghast; even the mainstream media, biased though they be in favor of the standard Biden-Harris line, knows full well that they need access to Cabinet secretaries, just to do their jobs and share their administration swill with their readers and viewers. But thats not the main lesson of this news story. Whats most shocking about this story is that it provides a rare look inside the minds of the bureaucrats, the people we often think of as the technocracy, or even the Deep State. Obviously, someone at the Department of Defense knew Lloyd Austin was in the ICU at Walter Reed. Someone had to make up the lie that the man was working at home, to cover up the fact that he was suffering complications from some as-yet-unidentified elective surgery (if it was indeed elective, thats a story in itself, as well). Some staffers, and presumably some undersecretaries, knew the truth of the situation and collaborated to keep both the whereabouts and the potentially life-threatening condition of the Secretary of Defense a secret from both his legislative and executive superiors. Why? Why did they think they had the right? Thats the really interesting lesson in this story, isnt it? When our Constitutional government was founded in 1789, some federal departments were truly tiny. The Department of State constituted a few ambassadors reporting to Thomas Jefferson; the Department of the Treasury was primarily a few hundred Customs commissioners, collecting the import duties to fund the government. It was expected that each department would be tiny, run carefully and efficiently by its very hands-on cabinet secretary. Since the 17th Amendment removed our state governments from the picture in 1913, however, the federal government has exploded in size and scope. Each department has become overstuffed with career bureaucrats, mostly protected by the Hatch Act and insulated from the political firing process. These bureaucrats too often believe themselves immune to presidential elections; they are there until they retire, with the power to write regulations in flagrant disregard for the Constitutional or Congressional authority that originally created their positions. With Congress unwilling to devote the energy necessary to keep the bureaucracy under heel, each of our federal departments has become a self-perpetuating behemoth of its own, spreading its tentacles, continually seeding its new growth and expanding its petty dictatorship in all directions. But they dont admit to it. These bureaucrats still spout the fiction, publicly at least, that they report to the Congress, the president, and the American people. Nothing could be further from the truth. And this is what the first week of 2024 proved, to Washington watchers all around the world. The chiefs at the DoD, both Hatched and un-Hatched, didnt feel any need to tell anyone else about their figurehead of a Secretarys illness and indisposition. They didnt keep a secret as their boss was shuttling between confidential meetings across the globe, or anything similarly job-related. The man was just in a nearby hospital, sedated, with a possibly life-threatening condition, and they didnt tell his bosses, the press, or the American people, all of whom deserve to know. Some things are obvious. This shows their cockiness and irresponsibility; they didnt tell a boss they dont respect, or a press they dont respect, or a public they dont respect. Lots of people should be offended today. But even more than that, this shows more clearly than anything else how independent, how rudderless, how powerful our bureaucracy thinks itself to be. All the conservative accusations of the past half century are proven true by this one situation. We say that the bureaucracy has gotten too big for its britches, that the deep state behaves as if its independent of the political system and the will of the people. And sure enough, the biggest department the one with the guns, the one that our Founding Fathers would definitely have said was the most important one to keep under heel doesnt respect the concept of civilian control enough to even report the incapacity of its Secretary up the chain of command. The Leviathan has indeed developed an ego that needs to be reined in, before its too late. John F. Di Leo is a Chicagoland-based international transportation professional and trade compliance consultant. A one-time Milwaukee County Republican Party chairman, he has been writing a regular column for Illinois Review since 2009. Read his book on vote fraud (The Tales of Little Pavel) and his political satires on the current administration (Evening Soup with Basement Joe, Volumes I and II, and the brand new Volume Three). Image: U.S. Secretary of Defense, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.0 DEED How much do Meghan Markle, duchess of Sussex, and Michelle Obama, exfirst lady, have in common? Its odd how much, yet how little of distinction or substance is in that muchness given the strong hints of vacuity in both women, and in spite of the gushing excesses of personality in their public profiles. There are so many legitimately accomplished and courageous female heroines, past and present. It is an unfortunate characteristic of reportage that the likes of these two get the insistent coverage withheld from those far more deserving. The two women share middle-class backgrounds and higher education (Michelle Ivy League, Meghan top-tier) degrees. Both women have been (Michelle) and are (Meghan) using their own mothers to help raise their children, in a sort of familial au pair capacity. Both have high-fashion tastes and use private jets for travel. Both are frequent commentators on their own racial victimization. The serious press doesnt run much on Meghan, yet just enough to legitimize the tabloids; social media; and bored, dissatisfied individuals across the world who opine that the duchess is something worth thinking about. Michelle Obama, by contrast, is heavily reported, always, in the MSM. Michelle does revolving books (or someone does for her). Apparently, she has a heavy hand in the Obama Netflix MAGA attack theatre. She routinely fills up the Obama unearned privilege tank with loads of cash, to spend or invest, from wildly overpaid speeches and cameo appearances. Never has grifting been so easy. At last count, Michelle has four mansions to live in and enjoys her subsidized, international celebrity vacation tours annually. We were told, shortly after Meghans ascent via her heavily strategized betrothal and royal marriage to Prince Harry that Michelle and Meghan were already friends (really?). There is no longer intel on that friendship through the MSM waves which silence is, of itself, meant to carry a message to us. Is Michelle not happy with Meghans aggressive socio-political ambitions in the race market? Michelle O is, to any marginally perceptive voter, an argumentative, uber-aggrieved individual who leaves no quarter for rivalry. (Ask Jill Biden.) Meghan is small beer compared to Michelle or the press really thinks so. So what is the commercial glue that holds these two aloft, at least in the progressive mind? Why, racism, of course. Just ask poor old Oprah, who filmed a long whine-in session after Duchess Meghans flight back to Canada (with her prince in tow), and then to California, where Hollywood is. The main topic was Meghans so-called privileged sufferings across the pond in Britain as a Black. Goodness, who knew? Michelle has those privileged sufferings, too, in her White House desert years, and perennially. Here Michelle Obama is, with exfirst lady Laura Bush, both commenting from Tanzania on life in the White House: MRS. OBAMA: No, there are prison elements to it [The White House]. (Laughter.) But it's a really nice prison, so... MRS. BUSH: But with a chef. The nuances and cultivation of racism are brought to the American public through the services of our nearly fascistic government and MSM which government/MSM is reinventing the common humanity (remember the human race?) of the American people now in hyper-regulated P.C., separate parts of a slice-and-dice universe with no human solidarity, and thus no shared moral core. Racism is further devolving around us into faux feminism and faux gender-transitioning and any other divisive, unproven absurdity, now almost overtaken by climate changeism. We are being separated and estranged from one another to give the brutish U.S. government and the worlds elite a power lock on our lives. A handy barometer for the federal, monetized aggression via isms against the American people can be readily seen in the current documents of the U.S. Census, as it fails to justify its growing demands upon our privacy and insists on the priority of race in every evaluation: The racial categories included in the census questionnaire generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country and not an attempt to define race biologically, anthropologically, or genetically. In addition, it is recognized that the categories of the race item include racial and national origin or sociocultural groups. People may choose to report more than one race to indicate their racial mixture, such as American Indian and White. People who identify their origin as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish may be of any race. OMB requires five minimum categories: White, Black, or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Oh-kay. The U.S. Census does admit that it is not using formal definitions or understandings, let alone science, regarding what race means. That is right they arent but they are making up some. Whatever might be a social definition of race? All it took for Meghans version of her racially victimized past to stick was to haul her Black Mother who raised her less than her white father did across the ocean and announce to the world (having landed Harry) that the duchess is not really white, as it turns out (like her despicable, too responsible dad), but black. Meghan is hip that, in the currency of her journey, white is not a good look. She needs the MSM and progressive buy-in and wants it driven, as part of the winning political message, out to the streets, where the clueless, protesting public await another bone to chew on. At present, how goes the polling on Meghan and Michelle? Michelle is widely proffered as a candidate for the 2024 presidential race. The exfirst ladys oft-cited popularity, almost exclusively extant among the Democrats, is a result of at least a decade of unrelieved, inaccurate, fatuous, Photoshopped, and insistent accolades from the MSM and social media. Well, she could secure the Obama fourth term which should be, to any sentient creature, a truly horrific prospect. And what of poor little Meghan, still toiling as an outfielder in the polling world? Hilariously, Meghan has been advanced by several including Bidens sister as a good presidential prospect. Meghan has no political qualifications. Michelle is less politically qualified than exfirst lady Hillary was, in her bespoke, scandal-bedeviled nomination, positioned as a heavyweight in the inherently dubious exfirst lady presidential qualification scales. Meghan is not polling very well, even as a popular influencer, lately. Well, thats show business. Soap actress Meghan, bless her, may have to wait for 2028. Michelle may be more lucky. In the meantime, maybe Meghan should pick up a law degree. Harvard is looking for some good press. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Is Bill Ackman the financial world's answer to tech's Elon Musk? Sure seems like it. After declaring war on MIT and Business Insider for exposing his wife's less-than-plagiarism-free doctoral thesis, which came as payback for his calls to end antisemitism on elite campuses, he hasn't wasted a minute of time, working to expose MIT, its professoriat or its leadership. Yesterday, he announced this: My wife, @NeriOxman, was just contacted by Business Insider claiming that they have identified other plagiarism in her work including 15 examples in her dissertation where she did not cite Wikipedia as a source. Business Insider told us that they are publishing their story Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) January 5, 2024 Today, he dashed off a 2,500-word piece on what he thinks he's doing, focusing on the power of artificial intelligence to keep wokester academic research honest: Last night, no one at @MIT had a good nights sleep. Yesterday evening, shortly after I posted that we were launching a plagiarism review of all current MIT faculty, President Kornbluth, members of MITs administration, and its board, I am sure that an audible collective gasp Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) January 7, 2024 It's quite a word-gusher to complete in such a short period of time, but it has substance and you can tell he's thought about these things for at least a while. Helloooo, red pill. Then he gets into the first tranche of his research, using his formidable hedge-fund guy knowledge: No, I did not. The Chairman of @MIT Mark Gorenberg committed tax fraud (based on all the available facts and he has not responded to my request for a correction if I got anything wrong) using the @MIT donor advised fund to fund his wifes charity. I had to mention that it was https://t.co/rBL0JGxHrS Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) January 7, 2024 Well. And that is just his starting off point, he hasn't gotten to the professors yet, but based on his tweets, he's clearly looking for the most efficient "Oppenheimer" way, as he put it. But another finance guy did lay out why he thought MIT and the others had things to worry about: Going after @BillAckmans wife is one of the dumbest moves Ive ever seen. MIT and Business Insider dont understand the force of nature thats about to come after them. This guy literally beat out Brad Pitt competing for his wife. While you were losing sleep over not having pic.twitter.com/LQdJfYMYF0 Robert Sterling (@RobertMSterling) January 6, 2024 Robert Sterling writes: Going after @BillAckmans wife is one of the dumbest moves Ive ever seen. MIT and Business Insider dont understand the force of nature thats about to come after them. This guy literally beat out Brad Pitt competing for his wife. While you were losing sleep over not having toilet paper during Covid, he was making $2.6B shorting the entire economy. The dude is just built different. Ackman is righteously pissed off. Hes motivated. Hes rich af, and hes got some of the best research analysts in the world working for him (I worked in military intelligence, and DOD/IC analysts dont come close to Wall Street short-sellers when it comes to autistically meticulous research). You think Gen Z clickbait journalists and MIT deans more comfortable in chemistry labs than in tense board-room proxy fights are ready for a guy like this once he gets on the war path? Yeah, right. The piece gets funny when one reads all the curt, clipped, and witty comments from people who at least know of the guy, and who appear to be linked to financial markets, particularly with interest in that phrase "autistically meticulous research." For me, an old bond-market reporter, it's something I recognize as bond-trader humor; maybe its name is "finwit" as one commenter put it. As a lot of them tweet back, it's popcorn time because Ackman is a man of action out to clean up wokester academia the way Elon Musk cleaned up free speech, and like Musk, he has been roused to the warpath. He's in beast mode now. Image: Twitter screen shot Arnold Schwarzenegger in FUBAR. Christos Kalohoridis/Netflix Dear Arnold, In the new Netflix action series, FUBAR, youre terrific as a retiring CIA agent pulled back into a messed-up intelligence conflict because he didnt realize his daughter is also a secret agent. You also may not realize that, in real life, the door just opened for you to be pulled back into the FUBAR (Fed Up Beyond All Recognition) of our national politics. Im writing to ask you to walk through that door, and run for president for the good of our country. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Youve long said that you would run for president, if not for two facts: that you were born an Austrian, and that Article II, Sec. 1 of the U.S. Constitution says no Person except a natural born Citizen shall be eligible to the Office of President. The article hasnt changed, but American devotion to the Constitution and its provisions on presidential eligibility has. Donald Trump is responsible for this. Incredibly, he has inspired leading Democrats and Republicans to take the position that being constitutionally ineligible to serve as president is no longer a barrier to running for president. A new consensus has emerged: Voters have the right to choose whomever they want as president, no matter what the Constitution says. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is the product of Trumps own ineligibility for the presidency. The Constitutions 14th Amendment bars any officer of the U.S. who took a constitutional oath and then engaged in insurrection as Trump did after losing the 2020 election from holding any other government office. Leading constitutional scholars, from right and left, have affirmed that Trump isnt eligible. But being ineligible hasnt stopped Trump from running from office or from remaining on the ballot in every state, including the two states, Colorado and Maine, that ruled him ineligible. With the U.S. Supreme Court expected to decide the eligibility question nationwide, and its conservative majority all but certain to keep Trump on ballots, state actions have not taken effect. Arnold, this makes it clear that you can run. Who could object without looking like a hypocrite? The courts cant, once theyve blessed Trumps unconstitutional run. Trump certainly cant, given his own ineligibility and his repeated promises to terminate the U.S. Constitution itself. The media wont stop Trump, because they need in the race to draw audiences and keep their failing enterprises afloat. Democrats wont stop him because they want to run against him hes the weakest Republican presidential contender. And Trumps Republican challengers, fearful of his deranged base, are simply too scared to challenge him aggressively, even in debates when hes not present. Advertisement Article continues below this ad You, on the other hand, have challenged him openly for years. And he hasnt been able to lay a glove on you in response. Thats because youre an entertainer even more skilled than Trump at parrying media attacks. Youre as famous as he is, but more respected. You can make Trump look small. In entering the race, you should emphasize that Republicans and Democrats, by keeping Trump on the ballot, have rubber-stamped the notion that voters should get to choose whomever they want as president, Constitution be damned. When opponents refer to that Article II requirement that candidates be natural born, you should make two arguments. First: Youve always felt American in your heart and soul a natural born American, in fact. Second: If the Biden vs. Trump matchup is the best that native-born citizens can manage, then its high time to welcome foreign-born contenders. But you shouldnt just run to stop Trump. You should run to win. In our interview this summer, you offered huge visions of the future for improvements in education, for the restoration of peoples health, and for revamping American infrastructure to realize our greatest dreams in economy, technology and environment. By contrast, the tired President Biden hasnt offered a detailed second-term agenda, much less a vision. And Trump talks endlessly about the past, about history, about grievance, about the 2020 election. By offering your ideas, you can show the poverty of Trump and Bidens campaigns. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When you dont have a vision of the future, its easier to look back, you wrote in 2023. When you dont have a vision, today doesnt have much meaning because you dont know why youre here doing what youre doing right now, and tomorrow is downright scary. Now, I know that running for president is hard, and lets face it, youre 76 years old. But youre still younger than Trump and Biden. I know that running for president when the Constitution still says you cant might look crazy and illegitimate. But the recall that elected you in California was also called crazy and illegitimate. I know that your friends, family and co-stars wont want you leaving them to jump into politics again. But is anything more important than using your power to try to save our FUBAR country? Incredible! A sociology professor(?!) who doesnt buy into DEI? He wont last long: One of the seldom discussed aspects of the ongoing revolution in contemporary higher education is the problem institutions are having filling courses that are designed to impart the DEI message to students. In the mediasphere, the conversation on DEI in higher ed is mostly about, e.g., the fear that conservative politicization will drive enrollments down. Students, it is claimed, just wont stand for conservative reforms of the type instituted by Floridas Ron DeSantis. This, of course, overlooks all the work that higher-education institutions have been doing for decades to politicize curricula and drive enrollments downward via their own politicized mechanisms. Image: New Horizons in Conservation Addresssing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Challenges Conference. Wikimedia Commons.org. Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic. The narrative demands a constant, evil conservative assault on the most important thing any college can teach: DEI. It is not easy to get data on this [under enrollment] and other aspects of the consequences of DEI expansion on campuses, because institutions are interested in hiding inconvenient details. Yet those of us on college faculties are aware, for example, of how faculty recruitment has been altered in recent years to skew decision making away from scholarly productivity and promise and toward candidates identities and DEI politics. The author, Alexander Riley, is what one hopes all university professors might be: curious: I did a little research in my own institution, however, drawn by the fact that departments that are having enrollment problems have begun reaching out to the campus community in mass emails to try to stir up student interest. The English department, for example, recently sent out a campus note that listed a number of courses with space available. All of the courses were, by their titles alone (Latinx Theater, Sex, Sexuality, and Rape Culture in the 18th Century, Affrilachia: Regional Literature, Race, and Power), identifiable as classes focusing on the obsession with identity politics that is presented by DEI offices as the new raison detre of higher education. English teachers are like Marines: neither can be ex, only former. I only do grammar on request; former Marines only take beaches on request. Im ashamed any English department would engage in such sophistry, but theyre not alone: Another department on campus, History, went even further in endeavoring to shore up faltering enrollments in identity politics-centered courses. They sent out a campus email inviting students to an informational session, lasting an hour, on several under-enrolled courses, among them Black Womens History and Brujas, Machos, y Travestis. (The latter is in Spanish and means Witches, Machos, and Transvestites. Machos literally means males, but it is also used in slang to refer to male-presenting lesbians.) This is the first time I can remember seeing this kind of intensive outreach by a department, aiming to recruit students to a class they had not chosen to enroll in. I wonder why, with catchy course titles like that, the History Department is having trouble finding suckerser, students. I meant students. Another way in which schools are endeavoring to fill such courses with bodies is to change curricular requirements such that they fulfill university-wide learning goals, which all students must meet in order to graduate. A recent example from my campus is illustrative. Graduation requirements also pad the tuition account. Previously, it was required that all students in the College of Arts & Sciences take a given number of courses with the designation Diversity in the US to graduate. The process by which a professor got his or her course that designation was distant from the courses specific approach to diversity. There was, that is, no requirement to present diversity in any particular way other than descriptively. For example, a history professor might say, The United States has a fair amount of diversity throughout at least its recent history (though the story is different earlier on). But that requirement came to be seen by our faculty as too unsubstantial in supporting the DEI regime, so the Diversity in the US requirement was eliminated and replaced with a straightforwardly ideological one. The new designation bears the far less subtle name of Race, Power, and Inequality. Dr. Alexander displays a rare dedication to academic integrity. Historically, most college students dealing with graduation requirements tried to find classes that might be at least somewhat interesting. Easy, to be sure, but something that wouldnt bore them to rage. The words gets around about which professors are boring and unreasonably strict in grading, and which might require a bit of work, but do it in an interesting manner. That contemporary students also use the grapevine, and dont want to be harangued unto death by dim-witted and lazy DEI profs, can only be seen as a positive and hopeful development. Hopefully, Prof. Riley has a good attorney, or is planning to retire. Like Bruce Willis, DEI dies hard. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. After an improbable -- O.K., nearly interminable -- amount of time, (former) Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned her post last week after an almost overwhelming amount of scholarly misconduct came to light. In recent days, Gay has been credibly accused of turning a blind eye to antisemitism and of multiple accounts of plagiarism. This prompted the always-unbiased Associated Press to run an article titled, "Harvard president's resignation highlights new conservative weapon against colleges: plagiarism. The same headline graced a corresponding post in X. So, Democrats, at least the ones working for the Associated Press, are claiming that Republicans somehow weaponized plagiarism charges against Harvards Claudine Gay, who was recently removed as president of the formerly elite institution? (Though she is reportedly still a professor at the Ivy Leagues most infamous famous Indoctrination Center, and an extremely well paid one at that.) Later in the day, after being subject to some well-earned mockery, the AP changed the title to "Plagiarism charges downed Harvard's president. A conservative attack helped to fan the outrage." A conservative attack? Democrats now claim Republicans are weaponizing virtually everything against them. Quite the opposite is the case. Democrats have succeeded in weaponizing the (open) border, illegal immigrants-- and indeed the entire federal government-- against Republicans, conservatives, MAGA types, and the bulk of American citizens. Why is there no talk of Democrats weaponizing the Watergate break-in against Nixon and Republicans? And how can it be that no one is responsible for their bad-- or even criminal-- behavior, and that pointing out serial egregious actions is weaponizing those behaviors and actions against those who committed them? Democrats, and their soulless sycophants in the media, have actually complained that Republicans weaponized Hunter Bidens laptop against him. Pretty sure he did that himself. Yet, the demonstrable truth is Democrats coerced Big Tech and other media into weaponizing their own coverageor lack thereof-- against Republicans. Incredibly, Democrats have weaponized crime, not against criminals but against law abiding citizens. Moreover, they are -- in an almost literal sense in the process of weaponizing the Second Amendment against Americans by dismissing their right to bear arms and protect themselves. And they certainly weaponized January 6 -- against any Trump supporter who was in the vicinity of the Capitol that day, and/or was wearing a red hat. Many of whom are still languishing in dank jail cells. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. A telling observation attributed to Lord Acton, it appeared in the first episode of Star Trek, which Im old enough to have watched during its first TV broadcast on September 8, 1966. It would seem the more power and the faster its given to small minds, the greater and more rapid the corruption, as Mary Katherine Ham observes at Outkick.com: Speaking in 2023 at a gathering of Braver Angels, a non-profit designed to lessen American political polarization by bringing people of differing viewpoints together, [Dr. Francis] Collins admitted that considering other viewpoints outside a certain zip code wasnt part of his job description. Heres how he described his and other public health officials response to the Covid 19 pandemic. As a guy living inside the Beltway feeling a sense of crisis trying to decide what to do in some Situation Room in the White House with people who had data that was incomplete, we werent really thinking about what that would mean to [a] family in Minnesota, a thousand miles away from where the virus was hitting so hard. We werent really considering the consequences in communities that were not New York City or some other big city. Image: NIAID. Wikimedia Commons.org. CCA2.0 Generic. This kind of hubristic, willful blindness explains a great deal about Covid mandates and lockdowns. Perhaps Collins and his fellow scientists shouldnt have been upending lives and the economy based on incomplete data? I seem to recall something about a scientific method. If youre a public health person and youre trying to make a decision, you have this very narrow view of what the right decision is and that is something that will save a life. It doesnt matter what else happens. It obviously didnt, not to Collins, Fauci and the rest. Hamm continues: Again, a frank admission of a bad way of thinking. Many of us suspected this was the case, and criticized public health officials like Collins for exactly this myopia in 2020. Later in the discussion, Collins says hes learned how critical it is for those kinds of policy decisions to reflect the realities of each community, eschewing blanket recommendations for a vast and diverse nation in the future. One can hope, but in 2020, those criticisms were met with disdain and censorship, particularly for the public-health dissidents of the Great Barrington Declaration, whom Collins himself tried to discredit in concert with Anthony Fauci, according to his emails and public statements. He now calls its authors very distinguished in their credentials, but at the time called them a fringe component of epidemiology and their ideas dangerous to The Washington Post as he orchestrated a quick and devastating published take down. Ethical scientists dont act on incomplete data. They respect contrary opinions. Of course, that requires scientists that follow the scientific method, which examines contrary evidence and relies on rigorous, reproducible, standards of proof. They certainly dont enlist the media to engage in personal attacks on others. So you attach infinite value to stopping the disease and saving a life, Collins told this gathering. You attach a zero value to whether this actually totally disrupts lives, ruins the economy, and has many kids kept out of school in a way that they never quite recovered. This is a public health mindset, Collins concluded, then acknowledging it was a mistake that lost trust. But what has been done to fix it? Doing away with every Covid mandate? A weary and angry public dealt with those. Restoring trust in the science? Essentially nothing, and late, arrogant pseudo-apologies arent helping. Collins is obviously a charter member of the Self-Imagined Elite (SIE), Public Health Division. Few of the SIE are more prone to corruption than medical doctor bureaucrats given the power to ruin a nation. Their self-imagined morality is limitless. Collins was among that cadre that knew no decency or concern for the lives of others. It has often been said one death is a tragedy, but a million are statistics. One might be forgiven for thinking Collins cared for neither. Dealing with pandemics requires flexible minds able to keep in perspective medicine, and those upon who it is inflicted. In this, Collins is exactly like other Beltway politicians and bureaucrats. As much as they claim to care for individual lives, they truly see them as abstractions, which individuals discover whenever they ask the SIE to acknowledge or uphold their rights or lives. Collins forgot the essence of the Hippocratic Oath, which requires practitioners to do no harm. Collins, Fauci and their bureaucratic colleagues put personal power above lives and the nation. Its going to take decades, if its at all possible, to restore public trust. Collins might hasten that process by shutting up and going away. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. Back in the old days, when President Trump sought a piddly couple of billion to build a border wall, Democrats bellowed that it was too costly and America couldn't afford it. My, my, how things have changed. These days we learn that if shutting down an open border with a wall is costly, prising open a border wider for all illegal comers is even more costly, and I'm not talking about the lifetime of taxpayer-paid "services" illegal border crossers are going to be requiring once they get in. Right now, Joe Biden is calling for $14 billion to "protect" the border, and blaming the GOP-controlled Congress for not giving it to him. Congress has resisted all right, and Byron York has pointed out an interesting reason for that which hasn't gotten much attention: Joe Biden has already been spending a lot of money on so-called border control. According to York, in a Washington Examiner column: In fiscal 2021, according to the report, Congress appropriated $4.869 billion for Border Patrol operations and southwest border surge funding. In fiscal 2022, that figure grew to $6.235 billion. In fiscal 2023, it grew to $7.153 billion. Altogether, that is a 47% increase in funding for the border during the Biden years. During that same time, the report notes, monthly encounters with illegal crossers at the border have grown from 163,043 in fiscal 2021 to 230,549 in fiscal 2022 to 266,762 in fiscal 2023. That is a 63% increase. And so far, in fiscal 2024, the number has jumped again, to 308,933. So they've handed Biden billions after billions, raising the Border Patrol's budget by 47% in Biden's three years, but somehow ended up with a 63% increase in illegal border crossings through 2022 and probably more in 2023. More money, more illegal crossings, and it's not a one-to-one-ratio, it's exponentially higher on the migrant side the more cash that gets shoveled in. We've seen this dynamic elsewhere -- the more money that gets spent on schools, the lower their outcomes in test scores and literacy. We've also seen that the more money that gets spent on homeless programs, the more homeless a city has. Economist Thomas Sowell has described that as having all the poverty you'd like to pay for, and this border crisis spending would definitely would go into that category. After all, if Joe Biden had wanted to invest his own money on something with this kind of a return, he'd have a outperforming portfolio. More money equals more illegal border crossings, basically because Joe spends that money on speedier migrant "processing," the way opening more checkout lines in a supermarket contributes to higher turnover. York attributes it to the baseline of the problem which is policy: The current catastrophe resulted from one act: Upon taking office, Biden signaled to the world that if you enter the United States illegally, you will be allowed to stay. Since then, millions have come lowest estimate 6 million, and perhaps many more than that and only a small portion has been turned away. That has created an enormous magnet to draw immigrants, nearly all of whom do not have a legitimate claim of asylum. It is a problem entirely of Biden's creation. Biden blames much of the influx on poverty. Yes, lots of people in the poorer parts of the world would like to come to the U.S. for more money and a better life. But that has been true for a long time. What changed in January 2021 was that Biden opened the door come, and you can stay. Migrant satisfaction comes first. Actual border security contradicts the first purpose, so no border security. So handing Joe $14 billion to secure the border, is in fact handing him $14 billion to open the border. That's seven times what President Trump asked for for the construction of a border wall, which actually would have secured the border Is it too much to say that giving Joe Biden twice the money for border contol which is what he is asking for, might just double or triple the illegal border crossings now seen going on in the states? It doesn't seem as though there could be any other outcome. York notes that Republicans are onto this, which is a good thing. Now, Johnson and his fellow House Republicans have prepared a report on how much money has already been spent on the border during the Biden years. The spending has been going up, up, up, and it just brings more illegal border crossers. "Congress has appropriated more funds, always beyond President Biden's budget requests, and seen record crossings at the border," the report says. Now it's time for Republicans to get the word out about this disastrous spending to the voters. Image: Bruce de Torres, via Flickr // public domain Poor Joe Biden. He had a hard day at Valley Forge telling us democracy is on the ballot, and I understand power. No one knows what he meant by that. It was a day so hard he was badly confused thereafter as Fox New reports: President Biden appeared perplexed upon his arrival in Delaware following an anti-Trump speech in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, on Friday. President Biden garnered the attention of some social media users on Friday after he delivered a speech in Pennsylvania and appeared "confused" landing in Delaware later that evening. Its becoming increasingly hard to tell Bidens normal, daily level of confusion from confusion worthy of more than passing mention. After delivering the address, first lady Jill Biden quickly approached the podium and hugged the president before taking him by the hand and leading him off the stage. The couple appeared to whisper something to one another, but what [they] said wasn't discernible based on the angles of the main camera. After embracing his wife, Biden turned back to the mic and spoke over the loudspeakers that had already begun playing exit music. "I understand power. Thank you all so very much," he said before slowly leaving the stage. Jill Biden is Joes constant companion, particularly when it comes time to guide him off stage in the hope of avoiding more video of him trying to shake hands or speak with invisible people or haplessly stumbling in circles, trying to find a way to exit the stage. Highlighting the instance in a post to social media, one user noted that Jill Biden helped the president "off the stage following his remarks lest he get confused, and/or lost, or falls." When he got off the helicopter, his confusion was far above normal: Image: X RNC Research, screenshot "After two weeks of vacation and a 32-minute speech, Biden is back in Delaware for a weekend respite. He was VERY confused upon landing," RNC Research, an account managed by the Republican National Committee, remarked on X. Sharing the same clip, conservative commentator Benny Johnson wrote in a post to X, "Biden is lost again." Hes lost more or less constantly, even after two weeks of vacation keeping him out of the public eye. Brennan Gorman, an Independent voter, joined "FOX & Friends Weekend" in November and offered his perspective on why he finds Biden's age a problem for not only his campaign, but the entire country. "I'm absolutely concerned," he said at the time. "He exhibits many issues when it comes to physical and cognitive abilities, but also it's difficult for him to connect with the younger generation. Our electorate is getting younger and younger, and we're electing people who are older and older." Seventy-six percent of voters agreed Biden is "too old" to serve a second term, compared to just 48% who said the same about Trump, according to the poll. Its becoming increasingly obvious the medications Biden is taking to have even an hour or two of relative lucidity arent working as well as they once did. Doctors generally dont diagnose patients they havent seen, but Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) has unique qualifications to do just that. He was White House physician for Presidents Obama and Trump: "I've been saying for quite some time now, when he was candidate Joe Biden, that I didn't think that he had the cognitive ability to do the job," Jackson said on "FOX & Friends." Jackson emphasized that Biden has "degenerated" over the last three years. Thats obvious even to non-physicians. "He's got these people that surround him that are inappropriately encouraging him to continue to run, because it builds up who they are and what they do. But our border, our wars overseas, our economy, you know, it's just a disaster right now. And he just can't do the job. And it's just on display every day that he's not capable of doing this job anymore," Jackson warned. People like Jill Biden and the Obama retreads handling him. Will Joe Biden withdraw? Considering his public statements about refusing to recognize his age and its limitations, thats unlikely. Will the Democrat/socialist/communist Party push him aside forKamala Harris? Thats unlikely too. As long as they think they can prop him up without him doing little but muttering and drooling, theyll run a second basement campaign. They have their mummified meat puppet. They dont need anotheryet. They also realize Kamala Harris is even more unpopular than Biden, but pushing aside a semi-black woman would cripple their voting base, an impossibility for a party based on identity politics. Another problem is Harris wont read briefing books or listen to handlers. She really seems to believe shes on top of things. Hang on for a wild, and potentially destructive, ride from now until the election and beyond. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. The US Bureau of Labor ended the first week of 2024 announcing good news, bad news. Good news. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 216,000 in December, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment continued to trend up in government, health care, social assistance, and construction, while transportation and warehousing lost jobs. President Joseph Biden (D) gushed: Well, yeah. But...yeah, theres is a big but! While not downplaying those jobs importance, most of the new employment was in government and health care and social servicesrelated jobs, which are supported by taxes paid for by private, wealth-generating, tax-generating jobs in the private sector, which declined e.g., transportation and warehousing jobs. Wait...more buts to the seemingly good news. Bad news. The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons, at 4.2 million, changed little in December but was up by 333,000 over the year. These individuals, who would have preferred full-time employment, were working part time because their hours had been reduced or they were unable to find full-time jobs. (See table A-8.) The number of persons not in the labor force who currently want a job edged up to 5.7 million in December and was up by 514,000 over the year. These individuals were not counted as unemployed because they were not actively looking for work. ... The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged down by 0.1 hour to 34.3 hours in December. In manufacturing, the average workweek was little changed at 39.8 hours, and overtime remained at 2.9 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged down by 0.1 hour to 33.7 hours. (See tables B-2 and B-7.) The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for October was revised down by 45,000, from +150,000 to +105,000, and the change for November was revised down by 26,000, from +199,000 to +173,000. With these revisions, employment in October and November combined is 71,000 lower than previously reported. (Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.) Oh. So how are all these workers being paid? Borrowing. Loans. Lots and lots of them. As public broadcasting (PBS), paid for with your tax dollars and donations, explains: U.S. national debt hits record $34 trillion as Congress gears up for funding fight WASHINGTON (AP) The federal governments gross national debt has surpassed $34 trillion, a record high that foreshadows the coming political and economic challenges to improve Americas balance sheet in the coming years. The U.S. Treasury Department issued a report Tuesday logging U.S. finances, which have become a source of tension in a politically divided Washington that could possibly see parts of the government shutdown without an annual budget in place. ... So far, Washington has been spending money as if we had unlimited resources, said Sung Won Sohn, an economics professor at Loyola Marymount University. But the bottom line is there is no free lunch, he said, and I think the outlook is pretty grim. The gross debt includes money that the government owes itself, so most policymakers rely on the total debt held by the public in assessing the governments finances. This lower figure $26.9 trillion is roughly equal in size to the U.S. gross domestic product. Last June, the Congressional Budget Office estimated in its 30-year outlook that publicly held debt will be equal to a record 181% of American economic activity by 2053. Oh. $34,000,000,000,000. That is what 34 trillion looks like in real numbers. Twelve zeros. Or to make it more comprehensible, 34,000 billion. Or as the late Senator Dirksen (R-Ill.) may or may not have understood, a billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon youre talking real money. Oh, again. Real, real money, meaning something like this: Akabas said, There is growing concern among investors and rating agencies that the trajectory were on is unsustainable when that turns into a more dire situation is anyones guess. Oh. Other than that, have a nice day. But after the nice days, many more bad days are coming. Many. Be prepared. And by the way, Mrs. Lincoln was not confronted with the mythical question. Its something people say when someone has made an idiotic remark. Usually something hideously insensitive or inappropriate. A description of President Joseph Biden (D). Image via Picryl. Sally Kornbluth is the last woman standing. the last of the three university presidents who appeared before Congress and could not say that calls for genocide and rampant antisemitism in any way violated the rules of their schools. They were certain such things depended on context, but none could be found under their enlightened leadership. Heather Mac Donald at City Journal reports on Kornbluths plans: MIT president Sally Kornbluth announced on Wednesday that the university would soon reveal its inaugural Vice President for Equity and Inclusion (VPEI). If one wanted evidence of the disconnect between university culture and the outside world, Kornbluths announcement provides it. Since October 7, universities have been the focus of nearly unprecedented public attention, triggered by student and faculty support for the Hamas terror attacks on Israel. Alumni from schools like Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania charged their universities with complicity in anti-Semitism and demanded that Jews be included in the roster of marginalized groups protected by the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) bureaucracy. Image: MIT President Sally Kornbluth. Wikimedia Commons.org. Public Domain. Mac Donald notes the trios moral depravity has awakened donors to DEI destruction on campus, and is costing billions in donations. The damage to university prestige is incalculable. Its been hard to miss this new consensus among university critics. National and state legislators, governors, and other public figures have called for the elimination of DEI administrations. Denunciation of the equity and inclusion bureaucracy is now part of every call to reform of the postOctober 7 universityto the point that left-wing defenders of the university are railing against what they view as conservatives exploitation of the Hamas campus crisis to defund essential diversity initiatives. That anyone supposedly charged with higher education would think DEI essential speaks volumes. And yet here was Sally Kornbluth on January 3, blithely trumpeting the imminent arrival of MITs latest diversity sinecure, the VPEI. The university already has an Institute Community and Equity Officer (ICEO) charged with being a thought leader on the subjects of community, equity, inclusion, and diversity, according to the ICEOs official description. This equity officer oversees MITs Strategic Action Plan for Belonging, Achievement, and Composition, which requires each academic program to improve the representation of underrepresented graduate students, faculty, postdocs, and undergraduates. The Strategic Action Plan for Belonging, Achievement, and Composition posits that the composition of our community, and of our leadership, should reflect a commitment to diversity. It provides no argument for why MITs composition should reflect a commitment to diversity, nor evidence for why such a commitment is compatible with colorblind academic excellence. Kornbluth has heretofore avoided the intense heat directed at the now-ousted presidents of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard, despite having given a similarly robotic (and similarly hypocritical) defense of campus free speech at the now-infamous December 5 House hearing on anti-Semitism. The best that could be said of Kornbluths congressional performance was that she avoided the condescending hauteur and sense of aristocratic weariness with GOP yokels that characterized then-Harvard president Claudine Gays testimony. MITs Jewish alumni started organizing after what they viewed as the administrations inadequate response to student lawlessness during a pro-Palestinian occupation of MITs main campus building on November 9, 2023. But the MIT alumni have yet to reach the critical mass or clout of alumni from the Penn and Harvard business schools. Kornbluths seeming blindness to DEIs loss of legitimacy raises further questions about her fitness to lead MIT, however, at the very least on grounds of sheer political cluelessness. MIT has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the worlds preeminent science schools, a reputation built on academic, scientific excellence and accomplishment. In other words, MITs reputation, and ability to fund raise, relies on merit, on enrolling the best scientific minds and training scientists that produce replicable results. In that pursuit, nothing matters but merit. DEI is incompatible with the very purpose of MIT, yet Kornbluth apparently thinks it the path to personal aggrandizement and institutional success. Now, however, MIT, too, has succumbed to the ideology of color-consciousness, as the 2020 cancellation of a speech on planetary science by geophysicist Dorian Abbot made clear. (Abbot had co-written an unrelated article supporting meritocratic excellence in college admissions and faculty hiring.) An MIT computer scientist, Mauricio Karchmer, has just resigned, citing the priority put on promoting a particular world view in many of MITs departments and programs. Kornbluth exemplifies a rule of thumb: anyone in a university leadership position not affirmatively opposed to race politics supports antimeritocratic ideas. If MIT wants to continue to contribute to civilization rather than its downfall, Kornbluth will be given the opportunity to virtue signal elsewhere, and DEI will be shown the door. Im not holding my breath awaiting the outcome of that science experiment. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. Oy! Those Jews...conquering the world, one Palestinian at a time. As per the mainstream media, the dinky little sliver of dirt known as Israel is an aggressive expansionist empire. History, however, offers a different perspective. In his book Migrations and Cultures (1996), Thomas Sowell has a chapter titled The Jews of the Diaspora. In it, he describes how, during the 19th century, Jews who were scattered throughout Eurasia began to move back into their ancestral homeland known then as Palestine, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire to escape various forms of persecution. Other historians have described Jews as the last remaining citizens of the Roman Empire which, during its heyday, provided the conduit for the diaspora in the first place. Ignorance of this series of events was most conspicuously showcased by Barack Obamas Cairo Speech of 2009. In it he parroted the standard Palestinian Liberation narrative, accusing Zionists of being foreign invaders of their ancestral homeland. Various internet trolls contend that Ashkenazi Jews (typically eastern European) have no historical connection to Palestine whatsoever, since they were made Jewish by the conversion of the Khazars to Judaism centuries ago. Most scholars dismiss this theory as both bogus and thinly veiled antisemitism. The defeat and dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire, because Turkey was on the losing side of World War 1, plunged the Middle East into prolonged chaos. The British and French had a secret arrangement to impose their respective spheres of influence over this area, known as the Sykes-Picot Treaty. Ultimately, at the end of WW2, France and Britain fought over Syria just after Germanys surrender. Back during the First World War, the British diplomat Mark Sykes instigated a hoax claiming that the Turks were massacring Zionist Jews in Palestine. Although the Turks were reasonably accommodating to the Jews in Palestine, the hoax was readily believed outside the Middle East because of the real genocide the Turks imposed on the Armenians. Sykess motive was to further galvanize support for the Allied cause but he also caused Jewish Zionists in Europe and America to adopt the establishment of a sovereign Jewish nation as their goal. Hence, we have the state of Israel, the aggrandizing imperial juggernaut that is enslaving the innocent Hamas and Hezbollah freedom-fighters...not. Such characterization also butts up against the long established stereotype of Jewish passivity resulting from being a small, distinct minority wherever they lived. True, in early biblical times, the Hebrew people were fierce combatants. The Book of Numbers is largely a roll call of the assembled warrior groups. First the Canaanites and then the Philistines (from which the name Palestine is derived), etc., had to be fought and beaten. That was the way the world was back then. Once the grotesque horror of the Holocaust was revealed, much of the world reacted by getting on board with the establishment of the nation of Israel especially U.S. president Harry Truman. At that time, it was the British who were mostly standing in the way, but the Zionists eventually pushed them aside. A common fallacy is that Israeli Arabs are second-class citizens, sequestered by a form of apartheid. There have been Arab members of the Knesset since the first day of Israeli independence. Arab citizens of Israel have enjoyed complete legal equality since 1966. When I first started exploring these data, I assumed that it was only Christian Arabs who were being counted. I was wrong. Eighty-two percent of Israeli Arabs are Muslim, and Arabs of all faiths constitute over 20% of the Israeli population. As previously written, some of the first Christians were Arabs since they were there when the faith was born. Christian Arabs elsewhere in the Middle East are often fiercely persecuted and would probably very much enjoy suffering under the Zionist jackboot. Image via Pxfuel. In the early summer of 55 BC Julius Caesar had already begun his conquest of Gaul three years earlier. At that time the eastern border of the new provinces was located on the Rhine. The Germanic tribes on the eastern side of the river launched incursions to the west under the protection provided by this natural border. But on the other side of the river there were also tribes allied with Rome, like the Ubians. They offered Caesar ships for the legions to cross the river and attack the Germanic tribes. The Ubians, too, who from all the nations beyond the Rhine, had sent ambassadors to Caesar and formed an alliance and given hostages, earnestly begged to bring them help, because they were gravely oppressed by the Suebi; or, if other matters prevented him, let him at least transport his army up the Rhine '; that this would be enough for their present help and their hope for the future; () They promised a large number of ships to transport the army. Julius Caesar, Comments on the Gallic War IV.16 Caesar's Rhine Bridge, by John Soane (1814) However, Caesar rejected the offer and decided to build a bridge instead. In doing so, he would demonstrate not only his support for the Ubian allies, but also Rome's ability to carry the war whenever it wished across the border. Also, as he wrote, that he considered ships unsafe, this was more consistent with his own dignity and that of the Roman people. Caesar, for the reasons I have mentioned, had resolved to cross the Rhine; but not to cross it in ships that he did not consider sufficiently safe, nor did he consider consistent with his own dignity or that of the Roman people. Therefore, although he had the greatest difficulty in forming a bridge, due to the breadth, speed and depth of the river, he felt that he should try it himself, or that his army should not be led in any other way. Julius Caesar, Comments on the Gallic War IV.17 The construction was carried out between present-day Andernach and Neuwied, downstream from Koblenz, an area where the depth of the river would be up to 9 meters. Watchtowers were erected on both banks to protect the entrances, and piles and barriers were placed upriver as a measure of protection against attacks and debris carried by the current. Caesar's 40,000 soldiers built the bridge in just 10 days on double wooden piles that were driven into the riverbed, dropping a huge and heavy stone on them as a mace. The construction system ensured that the greater the flow, the harder the bridge was held together. Illustration of Caesars Rhine Bridge from History of Rome, and of the Roman people, from its origin to the invasion of the barbarians" (1883) Two foot-and-a-half thick logs pointed at the bottom, and as long as the river was deep, were locked together with two feet of separation; these were inserted and fitted with devices into the river, and were driven with mallets, not perpendicularly like posts, but inclined and stretched out towards the river current. Then further down, at a distance of forty feet, he would set in front of the first two others locked in the same way and struck against the force and current of the river. Both, in addition, were kept firmly separated by beams two feet thick (the space occupied by the junction of the piles), placed at their ends between two brackets on each side, and consequently that these were in different directions and fixed on opposite sides to each other, so great was the force of the work, Julius Caesar, Comments on the Gallic War IV.17 It is not known who was the engineer responsible for this new bridge construction technique, which had never been used before. Cicero suggests in a letter that his name was Mumarra, although we cannot rule out the possibility that it was Marcus Vitruvius Polio (the architect who was the author of the famous Ten Books of Architecture ), who was meeting Caesar. It is estimated that the length of this bridge could have been between 140 and 400 meters, and its width between 7 and 9 meters. Once it was finished, Caesar crossed with his troops to the other bank, where the Ubians were waiting for him. Then he learned that the tribes of the Sicambrians and the Suevi had withdrawn to the East, in anticipation of his arrival. Not being able to present a battle and after destroying some villages, Caesar decided to turn around, cross again the bridge and knock it down behind him. It had lasted 18 days. A scale model of Caesars Rhine Bridge at The Museo Della Civilta Romana in Rome. Photo: MrJennings/Flickr Two years later history repeated itself. Near the place where the first bridge had been and about 2 kilometers to the north (possibly next to the current Urmitz), Caesar built a second, although this time he did not elaborate on the details. Having decided on these matters, he began to build a bridge a little higher than the place where he had earlier transported his army. Once the plan is known and established, the work is carried out in a few days due to the great effort of the soldiers. Having left a strong guard on the bridge on the side of the Trier, so that no commotion would occur between them, he led the rest of the forces and the cavalry. Julius Caesar, Comments on the Gallic War VI.9 As before, the Suebi, seeing what was coming their way, retreated to the East again, abandoning their villages and hiding in the forests. Caesar returned to Gaul and again destroyed the bridge. Only this time he only knocked down the end that touched the eastern shore, erecting defense towers to protect the rest of the bridge. In order not to completely free the barbarians from the fear of their return, and in order to delay his warriors, having driven back his army, he broke, over a distance of 200 feet, the far end of the bridge, which connected him to the Ubian shore, and at the end of the bridge he erected four-story towers, and placed a guard of twelve cohorts for the purpose of defending the bridge, and reinforced the place with considerable fortifications. Julius Caesar, Commentary on the Gallic War VI.29 Reconstruction of a Roman pile driver, used to build the Rhine bridge at Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Koblenz, Germany. Photo: Holger Weinandt/Wikimedia Commons Caesar's strategy produced the desired effect. It demonstrated the power of Rome and her ability to cross the Rhine at will at any time. Thus Julius Caesar secured the borders of Gaul, and for several centuries the Germans refrained from crossing them. It also allowed the Roman colonization of the Rhine Valley, where permanent bridges would later be built in Castra Vetera (Xanten), Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (Colonia), Confluentes (Coblenz) and Moguntiacum (Mainz). Archaeological excavations carried out in the late 19th century in the Andernach-Neuwied area found remains of pilings in the Rhine (their analysis in the 20th century showed that they had been cut down in the middle of the 1st century BC), which may belong to Caesar's bridges, although the place of its location has never been able to be determined exactly. Possible location of Caesars Rhine Bridge. Photo: Ekem/Wikimedia Commons As for the Ubians, in 39 BC Marco Vipsanio Agrippa finally transferred them to the west bank of the Rhine in payment their longstanding loyalty, as they had been asking for a long time, fearing reprisals from neighboring tribes. They remained loyal to Rome throughout its history, eventually mixing with the Franks who gave rise to new kingdoms in Gaul during the Middle Ages. This article was originally published in La Brujula Verde. It has been translated from Spanish and republished with permission. Samsungs much-anticipated Galaxy S24 Ultra will debut with two versions of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chipset, offering varying clock speeds for the most powerful Cortex-X4 core based on the region of purchase. The official specification slides for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 revealed a maximum clock speed of 3.30GHz for its single Cortex-X4 core. According to insider information from @TheGalox_alt on X, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy will be available in two versions, both catering to three specific markets B, N, and U. U designates the U.S. market, N represents Samsungs home market, Korea, while B does not have specified regions but is likely to cover the rest of the world. Advertisement Advertisement One version features a Cortex-X4 running at the standard 3.30GHz, offering no difference from the regular variant in terms of clock speed. The second, slightly overclocked version, boasts a 3.40GHz Cortex-X4, presenting a marginal improvement. No Exynos 2400 for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but two different versions of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Its noteworthy that the top-tier Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra will exclusively launch with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, with no plans for an Exynos 2400 variant. Despite the minute clock speed difference, Samsungs decision to offer different versions based on market locations may add a layer of complexity for some people. Industry experts consider the US and Korea to be two crucial markets for Samsung. However, these two markets will reportedly get the version with a 3.30GHz Cortex-X4, the same as the regular Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The rest of the world will likely get the version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy chip with the Cortex-X4 core running at 3.40GHz. While a 100MHz difference may not yield substantial real-world contrasts, Samsungs strategy could potentially complicate the supply chain and confuse end users. The decision to offer two versions based on geography might aim to address various factors, including regional preferences, regulations, or supply constraints. However, it remains to be seen how the market will respond to these nuanced differences and whether the advantages of the overclocked version will be noticeable. San Francisco Mayor London Breed speaks at a campaign kickoff at the Japantown Peace Plaza for Measures C, E and F on the March ballot. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle San Francisco Mayor London Breed joined other local leaders Saturday in Japantown to urge voters to back three ballot measures that supporters say will make the city safer and more vibrant. The three measures, which will appear on the March ballot, attempt to address some of the citys most visible, persistent issues downtowns sluggish economic recovery, public safety concerns and the drug crisis that Breed has been focusing on ahead of her upcoming, potentially tough reelection campaign. Standing in front of dozens of supporters at Japantowns Peace Plaza, Breed said the initiatives will face the issues head-on. We need to dig in, and we need to go harder and stronger and not be afraid to make the hard decisions that are going to get us to a better place, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The first of the three initiatives the leaders touted, Measure C, would waive the citys transfer tax, which currently ranges from 0.5% to 6%, for buildings converted from offices to housing the first time they are transferred to new owners, in an effort to diversify and revitalize San Franciscos downtown core. State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, touts Measure C, which would make it more financially feasible to turn empty office buildings into housing. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, said at the rally that by making it more financially feasible to turn empty office buildings into housing, the measure would help bring life and activity to downtown and the Financial District outside of the workweek. We need to make sure that people are able to come in and do what they need to do with those buildings and convert some of them to housing, and that were not letting our taxes get in the way of those changes that we need in downtown San Francisco, he said. The other two measures Breed and her allies promoted Saturday, E and F, have drawn more controversy. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Measure E, called the police policies and procedures measure, would cut down on the amount of paperwork officers must fill out, including after certain use-of-force incidents, with the goal that officers spend no more than about a third of their time on recordkeeping and reporting. San Francisco Mayor London Breed, center, and her allies promote March ballot Measures C, E and F during a campaign kickoff at the Japantown Peace Plaza. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle It would also allow the Police Department to use public surveillance cameras, drones and facial recognition technology without approval from the Police Commission, which sets policy for the agency, and would expand when officers are allowed to engage in a vehicle pursuit when they believe someone is committing a felony or violent misdemeanor, as long as it can be done safely. Critics of the proposal have said it would weaken police oversight and could lead to abuse, and that the loosened rules around vehicle pursuits could needlessly put people in danger. Last year, two police chases in the Mission District killed one person, injured six others and destroyed a historic storefront. On Saturday, Breed said Measure E is about giving police the tools that they need to do their job, especially as residents become frustrated with slow response times, and she pointed to recent reductions in reported crime in the city as evidence that she and the Police Department are making progress on public safety. Advertisement Article continues below this ad She added that, in an era where people can record everything on smartphones, using drones to fight crime is just 21st century policing. But she said the proposal didnt mean that police reforms and transparency are forgotten. Measure E doesnt mean we walk away from our values, she said. It just means we have another tool to help combat the crime that is terrorizing San Francisco. Finally, Measure F would require welfare recipients with substance use disorders to enroll in treatment to continue to receive cash assistance through the County Adult Assistance Program an idea Breed floated in the fall that received immediate pushback. Cedric Akbar, a substance abuse recovery advocate, says Measure F would get more people into treatment as fatal drug overdoses in the city rise. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle While critics have argued that the measure threatens vulnerable populations that rely on the government assistance, Cedric Akbar, a substance abuse recovery advocate and the director of the Positive Directions Equals Change treatment center, said Saturday that the proposal is an effort to get more people into treatment, especially as fatal drug overdoses in the city rise. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Its time for change, he said, adding that the proposal wouldnt force anyone into treatment or sobriety, but would encourage people to seek out help. Breed emphasized that Measure F would not strip people of housing or shelter access, but only require people to seek out treatment if they are getting cash assistance. She said the treatment wouldnt have to be a 24/7 program, but could involve going in once or twice a week to access treatment services and meet with a caseworker to discuss options. While Breed acknowledged that theres never enough treatment services available for every person grappling with substance abuse in the city, she plans to expand the options available as requests for treatment ramp up. She said she hopes the measure would at least get more people in the door who might otherwise not have sought help otherwise. Sony has finally started rolling out Android 14 update for the Xperia 5 V. Originally introduced with Android 13, the phone was made available for purchase last September. The new update for the Xperia 5 V offers all the new features that Google packed in the Android 14 release. Xperia 5 Vs Android 14 update brings flash notifications, expanded Nearby Share feature, and more After upgrading, the Xperia 5 V users can finally set the screen or LED light to flash when receiving notifications. The update brings support for the Find My Device application. It allows the users to remotely lock and locate the Xperia 5 V. Also, theres also the ability to remotely erase all contents on the device. Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, the update brings enhanced Nearby Share functionality. This allows the Xperia 5 V users to wirelessly send files to the phone from their Windows computer. Lastly, the update adds the ability to customize the lock screen shortcuts. The users can now show their favorite app shorts right on the lock screen easily. As expected, the update should bring usual performance and stability enhancements. Just like other updates, Sony is rolling out the Android 14 update for the Xperia 5 V in a gradual manner. So, not everyone will get it right away. The users can also check the availability of the new update by going to the Settings section, in case theres no notification. Sony has already updated the Xperia 1 V and Xperia 10 V to the latest version of Android Its worth mentioning that Sony already updated the Xperia 1 V flagship and 10 V mid-ranger to Android 14 in November. The phones were updated to the newer Android version barely a month after it was released to the Pixel 8 series. Apart from the usual features, the Sony Xperia 1 V received an improved Bokeh mode in the Android 14 update. The improved version made the Bokeh effect look more natural. As for the Xperia 10 V, its update brought support for the Find my device app. This finally offered the ability to track lost devices signed in with a Google account. The update also offered an improved version of Game enhancer, Photo Pro, Video app, and External monitor apps. An amber cold health alert has been issued for parts of England throughout the week as temperatures are set to plummet. It comes as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for ice on Monday across London and the south east from 4am to 10am with a forecast of temperatures near zero later on Sunday. Many regions are also still trying to cope with flooding following heavy rainfall in recent days. By Sunday lunchtime, the Environment Agency (EA) said there were 172 flood warnings and 176 flood alerts in England. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to members of the Environment Agency (Frank Augstein/PA) The amber cold health alert (CHA) for the North West of England, West Midlands, East Midlands and South West of England, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office, runs until 12pm on Friday January 12. An amber alert means cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time. There is also a yellow cold health alert in place for the North East of England, Yorkshire and The Humber, East of England, South East of England and London. Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: With the Met Office forecasting drops in temperature across the United Kingdom into next week, it is important to check in on the wellbeing of those most vulnerable to the cold. The cold weather can increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections and can have a serious health impact for older people and those with pre-existing health conditions. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to a member of the Environment Agency as he looks at flood defences during a visit to Osney, Oxford, Oxfordshire (Frank Augstein/PA) Dr Sousa added: Temperatures are expected to turn particularly cold overnight, as we would expect at this time of year. If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65 it is important to try and heat the rooms where you spend most of your time, such as your living room or bedroom, in the coming days. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said flooding has been having a devastating impact on communities up and down the country as he spoke to affected residents in Oxford on their doorsteps before visiting EA workers at their depot on Osney Island. Addressing the media in front of the fast-moving River Thames, Mr Sunak said: Flooding has been having a devastating impact on communities up and down the country. I was in the East Midlands last week on Thursday and Im in Oxfordshire here today talking to some of those that have been affected, but also saying thank you to our first responders who were doing a fantastic job over the past week. We have over 1,000 Environment Agency personnel on the ground in local communities helping, over 200 pumps have been deployed. Weve invested 5.2 billion in flood defences over the period in question, thats a record sum, far more than weve done, in the future thats contributed to protecting over 300,000 homes. And of course, there have been many people affected by whats happened over the past week, but also over 49,000 have been affected by flooding. The EA has previously warned that more properties maybe flooded in the coming days amid increased river levels and more rain. Labour has accused the Government of being asleep at the wheel over flood warnings with leader Sir Keir Starmer vowing to make flood defences fit for purpose, writing on social media that peoples lives shouldnt be upended by extreme rain. Yellow weather warning issued Ice across parts of southeast England Monday 0400 Monday 1000 Latest info https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/SX0YsbSNci Met Office (@metoffice) January 7, 2024 More than 1,800 properties have already flooded after prolonged wet weather and intense rainfall, the agency said, with the impact of high water levels likely to continue, particularly around the rivers Trent, Severn and Thames. The agency said buildings will flood and there will be travel disruption during that time period, and local groundwater flooding is also possible in the South of England, Yorkshire and the Humber. Forecasters have also said that slower journeys could be faced by people in parts of southeast England who should be braced ice across the region on Monday. The Met Office yellow weather warning states: A mix of sleet and snow showers will move in from the east later on Sunday night along with temperatures near zero. Given these wintry showers, and also wet surfaces after recent wet weather, some icy patches are likely on untreated surfaces. Additionally a few of the snow showers could turn quite heavy; these probably only affecting a narrow zone but a few places could see 1-3cm, mainly over the north Downs and on grassy surfaces. Scottish independence would raise living standards and productivity, First Minister Humza Yousaf is expected to say in the first of a series of economic policy speeches. Mr Yousaf will speak at Glasgow University on Monday, drawing comparisons between the SNP, Labour and the Tories including on the EU and migration ahead of an election expected this year, as well as releasing plans for industrial policy in an independent Scotland. His speech comes after a similar event held by Sir Keir Starmer this week, while Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told journalists he favoured the second half of the year for a new poll. Rishi Sunak said he favoured the second half of the year for a general election (Jacob King/PA) In the first speech, the First Minister is expected to draw heavily from a report by the Resolution Foundation, which found that if the UK closed its income and inequality gaps to the same level as similar economies namely Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands households would be 8,300 better off. The First Minister will say: If we use the same analysis for countries that are similar to Scotland such as Denmark, Ireland and Finland the difference for the typical Scottish household would be even greater. They would be 10,200 better off. That is the prize of independence. Not to match the performance of those independent countries overnight, no-one is saying that, but to start catching up so Scotlands level of prosperity becomes more normal, more like that of comparable nations. It is the UK that is the outlier. The First Minister will speak at Glasgow University on Monday (Jane Barlow/PA) While Scotland has extraordinary resources and key economic strengths, the First Minister will say the UK economy is one of low growth, low productivity and chronic inequality. He will also launch an attack on the two main Westminster parties, kicking off a year likely to be dominated by electioneering. Both Labour and the Conservatives agree that the UK should be out of the EU and the huge European single market, and they both want to cut vital inward migration, he is expected to say. Those are just two examples which demonstrate that for the two main UK parties, Westminster political interests will always override Scottish economic interests. Keir Starmers inability to offer any alternative to the managed decline of the UK is an abdication of leadership. The SNP Scottish Government will ensure that Scotland, its economy, and its people are not ignored by Westminster. Scottish Tory finance spokeswoman Liz Smith said it beggars belief that the First Minister will lecture people on economics after she claimed his Government created a 1.5 billion black hole in Scotlands finances. The SNP has presided over stagnant growth and utterly failed to engage with business or promote economic prosperity, she added. He attacks the Westminster settlement delivering the highest ever block grants, a public spending bonus worth more than 2,000 a head and a huge tax cut in national insurance. By contrast, his SNP Government made Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK and has just raised taxes yet again to cover completely uncosted wage rises, council budgets and botched vanity projects. Its difficult to know which is more alarming the First Ministers economic illiteracy or his arrogant unawareness of it. Meanwhile, Scottish Labour economy spokesman Daniel Johnson said the countrys potential had been held back by an SNP Government bereft of ideas or ambition. Families dont need fantasy economics from Humza Yousaf in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, they need his government to get a grip on its waste and incompetence, he added. While Labour talks about how we can change our economy to make work pay and put money back into your pocket, the SNP and the Tories seem to be having a competition to see who can sound more out of touch. Scots are sick of paying the price of SNP failure we need a government focused on growing our economy, creating quality jobs, and protecting public services. And Pamela Nash, chief executive of the anti-independence group Scotland in Union, said the speech Mr Yousaf is due to give will not address the devastating impact separation would have on Scotlands economy. The speeches, which are expected to cover areas including workers rights, inward investment, the business landscape and ownership, will supplement the more policy-heavy papers in the Building a New Scotland series. Started under Nicola Sturgeon, the papers are designed to form the prospectus for an independent Scotland. More than 170 Boeing passenger jets have been grounded after a refrigerator-sized hole opened up in a plane mid-flight. Phones, magazines and even the shirt off a childs back were sucked out of an Alaska Airlines service from Oregon to California on Friday, prompting concerns about the Boeing 737 Max 9 plane used by commercial airlines all over the world. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded 171 US-operated planes while officials perform safety checks. Britains Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has demanded that all planes of the same model are inspected before entering UK airspace. The grounding of hundreds of aircraft, which are mainly used for internal American flights, risks causing knock-on delays and travel chaos in the coming days. First investigations show that a deactivated emergency door had popped out - Twitter Preliminary investigations on Saturday suggested that the faulty section of the plane was a deactivated emergency door built into the aircraft, but it was not in use at the time. The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, Jennifer Homendy, said the two seats next to the portion of fuselage that blew out were unoccupied. We are very, very fortunate here that this didnt end up in something more tragic, she added. Passengers said their phones and other loose items were ripped from their hands as the cabin suffered an explosive depressurisation and was forced to return to Portland for an emergency landing. One toddler seated near the hole had his shirt pulled from his back as his mother tried to stop him from being dragged out of the planes cabin. A passenger said the boy appeared to have lost his shirt, and his skin looked red and irritated. Flight attendants reportedly helped the mother and son move to the other side of the plane a few minutes later. In the distress call to air traffic control, a woman can be heard saying: We are an emergency. We are depressurised, we do need to return back. Pilots made the emergency landing 35 minutes after takeoff, and around 15 minutes after the section of the plane detached. Emma Vu, a passenger on the flight, later posted her text messages to members of her family on TikTok. She wrote: I am so scared right now. Please pray for me, adding: Please, I dont want to die. Evan Smith, another passenger, told reporters: There was a really loud bang towards the left rear of the plane and a woosh noise and all the air masks dropped. They said there was a kid in that row who [had] his shirt sucked off him and out of the plane and his mother was holding onto him to make sure he didnt go with it. Diego Murillo, also on the flight, said the gap was as wide as a refrigerator, while another, Elizabeth Lee, described the deafening noise as a powerful wind tore through the cabin. Part of the plane was missing and the wind was just extremely loud, the 20-year-old said. It was honestly horrifying. She added that the whipping wind meant that announcements made over the speaker system were inaudible. No serious injuries were initially reported among the 171 passengers and six crew members. One flight attendant reportedly sustained minor injuries. Passengers said the sound of the wind made the announcements over the speaker system inaudible - X Passengers who experienced the ordeal were given a complimentary flight by the airline with more leg room, and free drinks and snacks. Alaska Airlines grounded all 65 of its Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft for testing, to ensure the accident is not repeated on any of its other services. Ben Minicucci, the companys chief executive, said: Each aircraft will be returned to service only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections. My heart goes out to those who were on this flight I am so sorry for what you experienced, he added. Boeing said it was aware of the incident and is working to gather more information. The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 Max 9 planes before they can return to flight, said Mike Whitaker, an FAA administrator. United Airlines also said on Saturday it had temporarily suspended service on all Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft to run inspections required by the FAA. Meanwhile, the CAA said there are no Boeing 737 Max 9 planes registered in the UK and that the impact on British travellers is therefore likely to be minimal. Only in service for a month A spokesman for the company said: We have written to all non-UK and foreign permit carriers to ask for confirmation that inspections have been undertaken prior to any operation in UK airspace. Chinas aviation regulator said it is conducting an emergency meeting to consider a response to the incident, including a possible grounding of the Boeing Max fleet in the country. Images show the hole which opened up was in the back third of the plane, behind the wing, where the aircraft sometimes has an emergency exit. Alaska Airlines chose not to configure its plane with an emergency door there, and the panel that covered the hole in the fuselage appears to have been ripped off. The plane had only been in service for a month, having been certified in October, according to FAA records. The incident comes fewer than three months after Alaska Airlines suffered an attempted hijack by an off-duty pilot who appeared to be suffering a psychotic episode. Joseph Emerson, 44, later said he was under the influence of psychedelic mushrooms when he attempted to cut the planes engines and open the emergency exit, believing he was in a dream. The Max is the newest version of Boeings 737 a twin-engine, single-aisle plane frequently used on US domestic flights. The plane went into service in May 2017. The model has been described as the most scrutinised transport aircraft in history after a series of safety issues and investigations. Ongoing controversy Two Max 8 planes crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people and leading to a near two-year worldwide grounding of all Max 8 and Max 9 planes. They returned to service only after Boeing made significant modifications. About 1,300 737 Max aircraft have been delivered to customers, Boeing data show, and they are primarily used in the US by Alaska Airlines and United. The FAA said its inspection of the domestic fleet of 737 Max 9 planes would take between four and eight hours per aircraft. By Saturday afternoon, Alaska Airlines said it had already begun clearing some of its fleet for takeoff, after safety inspections that returned all-clear. Other international operators that use the plane include Copa, Aeromexico, Turkish Airlines and Icelandair. A Boeing spokesman said: Safety is our top priority and we deeply regret the impact this event has had on our customers and their passengers. We agree with and fully support the FAAs decision to require immediate inspections of 737-9 airplanes with the same configuration as the affected airplane. In addition, a Boeing technical team is supporting the National Transportation Safety Boards investigation into last nights event. We will remain in close contact with our regulator and customers. Seat belt key to survival The Alaska Airlines incident could have been much worse if passengers had not been wearing their seat belts or quickly secured their oxygen masks, according to experts. The jet had reached 16,000 feet when a chunk, described as the size of a refrigerator, was ripped off. Anthony Brickhouse, an air safety expert at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University said: This is a very, very serious situation, and it could have been a lot worse. He said the incident underscores the importance of passengers keeping their seat belts fastened while seated in an aircraft, even if the fasten-seat belt light is off. If someone had been sitting in that seat and they werent buckled in, it would have been a different situation. In previous incidents, passengers have tragically died after being fully or partially sucked out of broken windows. In 2018, Jennifer Riordan died after being partially sucked out of a window on a Southwest Airlines plane hit by debris from a blown engine at an altitude of 32,000 feet. Passengers are also encouraged to quickly secure oxygen masks if their aircraft becomes damaged. Prof Graham Braithwaite, an expert on flight safety at Cranfield University, said: It appears to have happened rapidly. In this situation, the aircraft will depressurise very quickly; the air will rush out, there might be mist in the cabin, and certainly a loud noise. It will be pretty dramatic and scary for passengers. The incident would have been more severe if it occurred at cruising altitude, he added. Depressurisation is more forceful at higher altitudes; for example, if the plane is cruising between 30,000 to 35,000 feet, and it can be more extreme on smaller flights. The larger the damage to the aircraft structure, the faster the decompression rate. Prof Braithwaite said: This one was at 16,000 feet, and the cabin would be pressurised between 8,000 to 10,000 feet, so the pressure difference would not have been as much as if they were at 30,000 to 35,000 feet. On the flight deck, they will want to descend quickly to get the aircraft down to 10,000 feet, at which people can breathe normally. Oxygen masks at high altitudes are essential for avoiding hypoxia. Hypoxia is a state caused by low oxygen levels in the arterial blood, leading to confusion and difficulty breathing, and if sustained, it can lead to brain damage. He said: When a decompression happens, it is imperative that everyone on board gets an oxygen mask on. The risk of developing hypoxia happens quite quickly, which stops people from thinking logically. The temperature also plummets as the cabin temperature equalises with the outside air. Additionally, air whips through the cabin, and a mist or fog can descend from the change in humidity. Debris and unsecured items may also fly around the cabin or be ejected from the aircraft, while dust can limit visibility. Airline staff encourage passengers to remain calm and not remove loose personal items from bags or seat pockets. They may also instruct passengers to sit in the brace position and protect their heads from loose items. Labour has accused the Conservatives of caving to the reported demands of a disgraced ex-MP to pick his partner to stand in his former seat during a by-election. Former Tory Peter Bone was ousted from the Commons in December and a by-election triggered after more than 10% of constituents in his Wellingborough seat voted to recall him. The recall petition was sparked when Mr Bone was handed a six-week suspension from the House of Commons after an inquiry found he had subjected a staff member to bullying and sexual misconduct. Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden announced on Sunday that Helen Harrison, a councillor on North Northamptonshire Council, had been picked to fight the election for the party. He tweeted: Congratulations to Cllr Helen Harrison on being selected for Wellingborough at a packed meeting of Conservative members this afternoon. It has been widely reported that Mr Bone and Ms Harrison, who contested the Bolsover seat in 2017 for the Conservatives, are dating. Ms Harrison has posted a number of photos on social media of them out canvassing together, including since the Tory whip was suspended from Mr Bone following the publication of an inquiry by Parliaments behaviour watchdog into his conduct. According to a report in The Times in October, Mr Bone, a former minister, had been threatening to stand as an independent candidate in the by-election, potentially splitting the Tory vote, if Ms Harrison was not selected as the partys candidate. Labours Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow paymaster general, said: Rishi Sunak caving to Peter Bones demand to select his partner so he doesnt run as an independent shows just how weak the Prime Minister is. Rishi Sunak is too weak to lead his own party, let alone the country. Congratulations to Cllr @helenharrisonuk on being selected for #Wellingborough at a packed meeting of @Conservatives members this afternoon#WellingboroughByElection pic.twitter.com/X67OglqzEx Richard Holden MP (@RicHolden) January 7, 2024 The people of Wellingborough deserve the best possible candidate to represent them, not the product of a quick political fix. Only Labour can deliver the change the voters want to see and give Britain its future back. In October, Mr Bone was found to have committed many varied acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct against a staff member in 2012 and 2013. Parliaments behaviour watchdog, the Independent Expert Panel, upheld an earlier investigation which found he broke the MPs code of conduct on four counts of bullying and one of sexual misconduct. The panel found that he had indecently exposed himself to the complainant in the bathroom of a hotel room during a work trip to Madrid. Mr Bone has repeatedly denied the allegations and said in his statement following the result of the recall petition last month that he will have more to say on these matters in the new year. The veteran politician was kicked out of the Tory parliamentary party a day after the report was published on October 16. A date for the by-election has not been set but rules around parliamentary procedure mean it will not take place before February. Wellingborough has been held by the Conservatives since 2005, when Mr Bone won it from Labour. The upcoming contest is likely to be a test for the Prime Ministers party, despite Mr Bone securing a healthy majority in 2019. He held the Northamptonshire seat with a majority of 18,540 over Labour, but the Tories have suffered a series of by-election defeats in recent years, including in constituencies which were theoretically safer. The majority is smaller than the Tory cushions in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire which fell to Sir Keir Starmers party in October. Labour has picked Gen Kitchen as the partys candidate in Wellingborough. It will be one of at least two Westminster by-elections due this year, with Chris Skidmore triggering a contest in his Kingswood constituency in South Gloucestershire when the former Government net-zero tsar announced last week that he was leaving Parliament in protest at Mr Sunaks decision to grant more North Sea oil and gas drilling licences. Low home inventory and high prices are driving a sellers market in the Bay Area, but buyers can negotiate costs. Michael Noble Jr./The Chronicle 2016 Its rarely easy to buy a home in the Bay Area. But more people might try soon. Many real estate industry experts expect mortgage rates to decline this year. Though they probably wont fall anywhere near the record-low levels of 2021 and 2022, theyve largely reversed course from months of steady increases. That doesnt necessarily mean buyers have the upper hand in negotiations. Bay Area real estate agents told the Chronicle the regions market still favors sellers, due to its limited supply of housing. But there are some ways to make the negotiation process easier. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Here are three of their top tips. Buyers shouldnt wait for mortgage rates to go down, but should focus on getting the home they want at a price that works. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle 2021 Tip 1: Figure out what youre willing to pay This piece of advice might sound obvious, but Megan Micco, an East Bay Realtor with Compass, pointed out that there are many costs buyers might not immediately consider. That includes home insurance, which she noted is getting harder to obtain as insurers leave California. Some agents are also asking buyers to pay their commission if the seller doesnt, after a court ruling against the National Association of Realtors policy that sellers must offer a commission to both parties agents. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bay Area properties are often listed at less than what the home is worth to attract more bids, Micco added, with the sale price generally ending up about 30% more than the listing price. Buyers shouldnt wait for mortgage rates to come down more, said Sandy Jamison, a real estate broker with the San Jose-based Jamison Team, as they will probably be competing with many more bidders if they do. Many people refinance their mortgages after buying the home, she added. Generally, buyers should focus on making sure they get a home they like, rather than on getting the lowest price possible, Jamison said. Its more important to get the right house at a fair price than it is to get the wrong house because you got a good deal, she added. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A rate buydown lowers monthly payments through a lump sum to reduce the rate. Getty Images Tip 2: Consider a buydown carefully One way to reduce mortgage costs is to get a rate buydown, which essentially lowers monthly payments through a lump sum to reduce the rate. Susie Wyshak, an East Bay Realtor with Keller Williams, said buydowns have recently become more common. In same cases, sellers are willing to contribute to the buydown if the buyer accepts a higher price on the home. The strategy has some important limitations. Sellers who are fielding several offers have less of an incentive to offer buydowns, though those whose listings have been on the market for longer than 30 days are usually more willing to negotiate, Micco said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Jamison warned that a buydown isnt always the best option unless the buyer keeps the loan terms for the entire term and most dont. Another option is asking the seller to pay the closing costs or for minor repairs. They wont always agree, especially if they have other strong offers, but Jamison said many do. Knowing the homeowners circumstances or reasons for selling can give the buyer an advantage. Keith Srakocic/Associated Press 2019 Tip 3: Try to figure out what the seller needs Of course, the simplest way to get a seller to accept a bid is to offer the most money. But thats not an option for every buyer, with less than 1% of homes in the Bay Area considered affordable to the typical household. There are other ways to make an offer more appealing, however. Knowing the homeowners circumstances or reasons for selling can give buyers a hint, Wyshak said. For example, many homeowners in the Bay Area dont want to buy another home until their current property is sold. Such sellers might be drawn to an offer allowing them to stay in their home for up to 29 days. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Willem Dafoe has said biopics that try to do an imitation and actors that are too needy repel him. The 68-year-old US actor, who has starred in films including Spider-Man (2002) and The Lighthouse (2019), discussed what it was like to play a character part-inspired by US journalist Hunter S Thompson in 2023 film Gonzo Girl. Speaking to The Guardian, he said: Of course, we borrow a lot from the real-life character, but I never wanted to do an imitation. Mark Ruffalo, Emma Stone, and Willem Dafoe, attend the UK gala screening of Poor Things (Jonathan Brady/PA) Thats why biopics that try to do an imitation always drive me crazy, because it ultimately becomes a show of the actor. Somewhere that embarrasses me and repels me. Really. And the actors that repel me are ones that are too needy. In the film, which sees American actress Patricia Arquette make her directorial debut, Dafoe portrays Walker Reade, a novelist who has a reputation for drugs and partying. The film is based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Cheryl Della Pietra, loosely inspired by her time spent working as an assistant for Thompson. Dafoe, who has been acting for more than four decades, said it is tragic that people now tend to watch movies at home rather than in the cinema. He said: The kind of attention that people give at home isnt the same. More difficult movies, more challenging movies can not do as well, when you dont have an audience thats really paying attention. Thats a big thing. I miss the social thing of where movies fit in the world. Willem Dafoe appears as Walker Reade in the 2023 film Gonzo Girl (Ian West/PA) You go see a movie, you go out to dinner, you talk about it later, and that spreads out. People now go home, they say, Hey, honey, lets watch something stupid tonight, and they flip through and they watch five minutes of 10 movies, and they say, forget it, lets go to bed. Wheres that discourse found? Speaking further on the film industry, he said: There arent ballsy producers like there used to be. There are some savvy ones, but you dont have the same kind of characters that you used to have, that would sell their house to make a movie, and do crazy things to get it done. Theyre a little harder to find. In his career Dafoe has received a number of accolades including the Honorary Golden Bear at Berlin International Film Festival in 2018. On Saturday he received the excellence in artistry award at the 2024 Astra Film Awards and for Yorgos Lanthimos directed film Poor Things, Dafoe is nominated for best performance by a male actor in a supporting role at the Golden Globes taking place on Sunday evening in the US. Watch The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper: Miracle on the Hudson tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT. All the moments Vallie Collins hadnt yet lived flashed before her eyes as she texted her husband her flight was going down. Her youngest sons first homerun. Planning her kids birthday parties. Beaming as mother of the bride. Im not a perfect mother, but Im their mother, the mom of three said. And to think that I wouldnt finish raising them was pretty hard. Collins was in seat 26D on US Airways Flight 1549, which crashed in the Hudson River in New York 15 years ago this month, a miracle landing that left all 155 people onboard alive and gave many a new lease on life. The maneuver was dubbed by aviation experts as the most successful ditching of an aircraft of all time, raising Capt. C.B. Sully Sullenberger to hero status and later movie fame in the film Sully. Ric Elias - CNN Sitting in the front row of the plane that day, Ric Elias realized all the things he wouldnt miss: Money, another victory, another trip. He, too, reflected on not being there to raise his family. Nearby in seat 1C, Barry Leonard kept thinking of his family, from his wife and kids to his mother. He didnt scream I didnt do anything, he said. In these fleeting moments of the plane descending, the silence of both engines not whirring stood out to some onboard. Thoughts of dying invaded the minds of many, fearing the worst outcome. Sullenberger and some of the passengers sat down with CNN for a special The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper marking the 15th anniversary of the Miracle on the Hudson to reflect on how that day changed the course of their lives, in ways good and bad. This is the captain. Brace for impact Taking off from New Yorks LaGuardia Airport, Sullenberger said he remembered being startled when a flock of Canada geese, with wingspans of up to six feet, hit the airplane. Then both engines lost thrust. The veteran pilot made a quick announcement to the cabin alerting them to an emergency landing. This is the captain. Brace for impact, Sullenberger said he remembered telling the cabin. I could hear the flight attendants in the front began shouting their commands to the passengers in unison. Brace, brace, brace. Heads down. Stay down. Over and over again. As panic rippled through the cabin, Sullenberger assessed his landing options with air traffic control. He realized they wouldnt make it back to LaGuardia, he said in air traffic control recordings, and later ruled out Teterboro and Newark airports in nearby New Jersey. Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger - CNN They were going to land in the Hudson River, he told air traffic control. It was 208 seconds from the plane hitting the birds until Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles maneuvered and landed the plane on the Hudson River. It was a pretty big jolt, passenger Leonard said. I guess my knee hit my sternum because my sternum cracked. The plane shook in the rough and violent landing, Collins remembered. When we seemingly stopped, I looked up and I thought, Im in one piece. This plane is in one piece. But the relief of landing was short-lived. Flight attendants directed passengers to the wings to exit the aircraft, as another challenge emerged. The water just came rushing in, Collins said. That was my scariest moment. I thought, Lord, please do not let me drown. It was so cold. It was 20 degrees that afternoon. Leonard unbuckled his seat belt, took off his shoes and jumped into the icy-cold river. Barry Leonard - CNN I looked back and I saw people walking on water, he said. I actually thought that I died. And it was only after I started swimming back this way that I realized that people were on the wing, and I wasnt dead. The captain went through every row of the plane twice, checking for passengers. I was in such a state of stress, I didnt trust my eyes and ears, Sullenberger told CNN. The plane was still taking on water a flight attendant shouted they needed to get off the plane. Miraculously, all 155 onboard survived. Some passengers embraced change, others felt lost There is a distinct before and after the landing on the Hudson, the moment that forever changed the lives of the people onboard the flight. After the harrowing landing, Clay Presley, who had been in seat 15D, said he became extremely claustrophobic something he still suffers from. Even today, I cannot get in those very close quarters unless I know and feel that I have got a very, very easy out, Presley told CNN. Clay Presley - CNN While Presley said he experienced PTSD in the wake of the emergency landing, he decided to take his fear of flying and own it. The former businessman learned to fly. The heroism of Sullenberger and the first responders that day inspired him to become a pilot, he said. Presley flies small airplanes and his own plane has the tail number 1549H, named after US Airways Flight 1549. Psychologists like Sonja Lyubomirsky say people respond to traumatic experiences in different ways. Some people may feel and stay low, while others may experience depression and bounce back, showing resiliency, she said. And others may come back to a higher baseline than they started from, said Lyubomirsky, a University of California, Riverside psychology professor and happiness expert. For passenger Pam Seagle, who was in seat 12A, the near-death experience inspired her to take stock of her life and make big changes, she said. She was a senior marketing executive in 2009 and she realized she wanted to be more present for her two children, who were teenagers at the time, and her husband. Seagle also asked her employer to move into a different line of work, seeking greater fulfillment. Pam Seagle - CNN There just isnt enough rights for women and economic empowerment and so were looking to change that, said Seagle, who now develops programs that promote the economic empowerment of women. This growth after trauma is common, but everyones path is different, explains Richard Tedeschi, a researcher and psychologist with more than 40 years in practice. They often say to us that the events theyve been through have changed the direction of their lives, Tedeschi said. Maybe its introduced them to things that they have never considered for themselves before. But the positive changes werent as apparent for some of the passengers, like Collins. I was just not myself, she said, remembering how she felt a month later. I became just really sad, really blue. Suddenly I did not feel equipped to keep everything going. Collins described her personality as Tigger from Winnie the Pooh a tiger filled with energy and optimism. Yet then she felt like Eeyore, a gloomy and depressed donkey, much the opposite of Tigger. Vallie Collins - CNN I was part of one of the greatest acts in aviation history and walked off of it without a scratch on me, she said. Like, what is wrong with you? Like, snap out of it! You felt so ungrateful. Collins said she believes some parts of her life are better after that day shes more involved with her church and her community, shes served on nonprofit boards. Yet she knows she wont ever be the same person that walked on that flight, she said. The power of a feel-good story The Miracle on the Hudson landing came at a time when anxiety and angst were dominating the thoughts of Americans. It was a time of recession, bank closures, layoffs and financial instability. It became the feel-good story of the time, with people marveling about the miraculous landing and the heroism of the crew and the first responders who came to their aid. There is a heroic pilot, New York Gov. David Paterson said after the incident. We have had a miracle on 34th Street, I believe we now have a miracle on the Hudson. The media frenzy around Sullenberger brought a hum of generators and reporters outside his familys home, his wife Lorrie Sullenberger remembers. But it also brought something else. A handwritten note printed out on the familys fax machine with a message: America needed a win. Thank you, the unsigned fax said. And droves of people from around the world sent so much mail that the postal workers had to bring it in bins, Lorrie Sullenberger said. One letter still stands out. In the last year, I had lost my father to cancer. I lost my job and then my home. I had lost my faith. You, sir, gave it back, Sullinbergers wife said the letter read. A crowd gathers to honor US Airways pilot C.B. Sullenberger at a celebration in his honor January 24, 2009, in Danville, California. - David Paul Morris/Getty Images The whole ordeal makes Sullenberger reflect on the everyday acts of people who may not be seen. This is a reminder of all the people out there who are not corrupt, who are courageous, who are compassionate, theyre doing things, important things, compassionate things all the time. We just dont know who they all are, he said. They havent been publicly noticed as we were. But thats a potential that each of us has. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The family of a 35-year-old California woman who was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer during the Jan. 6 insurrection has filed a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government. Ashli Babbitt was shot and killed Jan. 6, 2021, while she tried to climb through a broken door into the Speaker's Lobby outside the House Chamber, as a mob of dozens of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol while lawmakers were preparing to certify the results of the 2020 election. The shooting was captured on cell phone video. Babbitt later died at a hospital. In the lawsuit, which was filed Friday in federal court in Southern California, Babbitt's family claimed that she was unarmed and had her hands in the air when she was shot once by Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd. "Ashli posed no threat to the safety of anyone," the lawsuit states, going on to claim that she was "ambushed" by the officer. The lawsuit also argued that Byrd was "not in uniform," "did not identify himself as a police officer" and did not issue a warning before opening fire. However, in August of 2021, Capitol Police reported that an internal investigation had determined Byrd had acted within department policy, had violated no laws and would not be disciplined for the shooting. The investigation also found that Byrd's actions had "potentially saved members and staff from serious injury and possible death." "USCP officers had barricaded the Speaker's Lobby with furniture before a rioter shattered the glass door. If the doors were breached, the rioters would have immediate access to the House chambers," Capitol police said at the time. "The officer's actions were consistent with the officer's training and USCP policies and procedures." Babbitt, an Air Force veteran, had traveled to Washington, D.C., from her home in San Diego because she "loved her country and wanted to show her support" for Trump, the lawsuit read, adding that she "did not go to Washington as part of a group or for any unlawful or nefarious purpose." The lawsuit accuses Capitol Police of assault and battery and negligent use of force, among other allegations. In March, Babbitt's mother, Micki Witthoeft met with then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in his office. Before the meeting, Witthoeft has been leading nightly Jan. 6 protests outside the D.C. jail for months. Almost three years on, nearly 1,200 people have so far been charged in connection with the Capitol riot, and more than 700 have pleaded guilty. According to investigators, 140 police officers were assaulted at the Capitol. In July 2021, as part of a plea deal, the man who live-streamed Babbitt's shooting pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. CBS News has reached out to Capitol Police for comment, but did not immediately hear back. Robert Legare, Scott MacFarlane and Melissa Quinn contributed to this report. Houthi militia defies U.S. warning with 25th Red Sea attack Saturday Sessions: Lola Kirke performs "He Says Y'all" Saturday Sessions: Lola Kirke performs "My House" Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) dug into Rep. Elise Stefaniks (R-N.Y.) labelling of Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rioters sentenced to prison as hostages, calling the New York Republicans word usage a disgrace and outrageous. Stefanik earlier Sunday told NBC Newss Meet the Press she has concerns about the treatment of January 6th hostages. The remark was reminiscent of former President Trumps rhetoric the previous day about those involved in the Capitol insurrection. In an interview with Cheney, CBS News Face the Nation anchor Margaret Brennan noted how Stefaniks remarks echo the word Trump used to refer to the prisoners, to which Cheney said, Thats why shes using it. Its outrageous and its disgusting, Cheney continued. And if you go and you look at what individuals have been convicted for, who are incarcerated, youll find it, you know, extensively, these are people who were involved in violence against police officers in the assault on the Capitol. And it is really disgraceful for Donald Trump be saying what hes saying and then for those who [are] attempting to enable him or attempting to further their own political careers [to] repeat it. Its a disgrace, and you cannot say you are a member of a party that believes in the rule of law, you cannot say you are pro-law enforcement if you then go out and you say these people are hostages, its disgraceful, Cheney added. Cheney served as the vice chair of the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack and has not held back in her condemnation of Trumps role in the incident. As a three-term conservative, Cheney blamed the former president for provoking the violence that day, provoking the ire of several GOP members. Cheney eventually lost her seat to a Trump-backed challenger, Rep. Harriet Hageman, in the 2022 Wyoming primaries, a state where Trump maintained wide support among voters. Stefaniks and Cheneys comments come one day after the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack. About 730 people have pleaded guilty to charges, and another 170 have been convicted of at least one charge at a trial, according to an Associated Press database. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Lawmakers will begin to return to Washington Monday with just 11 days to avoid a partial government shutdown. The coming standoff between Republicans and Democrats over government spending is a sequel of sorts to 2023's battles one about the debt ceiling and two about possible shutdowns that were averted with last-minute deals. But this latest confrontation could prove the most complicated yet. Emotional issues from the southern border to abortion to Ukraine are all likely to play a role in the complex and overlapping talks. "It is tight to say the least," said White House budget director Shalanda Young on Friday, summing up the mood of many. "Dont mark me down as optimistic this morning," she added. The coming clash will also be conducted with fewer off-ramps at the ready. House Speaker Mike Johnson has repeatedly pledged no more short-term continuing resolutions a reference to the type of bill that averted government shutdowns in both October and November. House Speaker Mike Johnson, center left, led a group of Republican members of Congress to the Texas-Mexico border on Wednesday. They are demanding hard-line immigration policies. (Eric Gay/AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) It adds up to what is likely to be another protracted fight and one that is already beginning to extract economic costs, as agencies spend money preparing for a possible shutdown and have less freedom to launch new initiatives. "It's definitely a problem, it's definitely a drag," said former Biden budget official Michael Linden of those already evident costs in an interview. Impact on the broader economy Linden, who worked in Biden's Office of Management and Budget and helped negotiate the debt ceiling deal in 2023, contends that past standoffs were averted because of last-second realizations that the pain could be severe. But it remains to be seen if the same reasoning prevails this time. The largest threat, he adds, could be a protracted stoppage. "As time goes on there will be breakage," he notes. "There will be damage that is hard to predict; it's very hard to know exactly how it will happen." There is a similar concern among those in the financial community. BTIG director of policy research Isaac Boltansky recently told Yahoo Finance Live that for now he is advising clients to "push the noise from D.C. out of their investing thought process," but that could change. "The only thing that, when I think about a government shutdown, that worries me is that if it is prolonged," he added. The most expensive government shutdown in history was a five-week partial stoppage that occurred in 2019 and permanently cost the US about $3 billion, according to Congressional Budget Office calculations. Government shutdowns also delay billions of dollars more in government spending from reaching the economy, but that balance is usually made up after the government reopens. In addition to the direct economic costs, perhaps a larger economic threat this time around comes from from the world of credit ratings. S&P made a call in 2011 to downgrade the US credit rating. Last August, Fitch followed up with a downgrade of its own and cited government dysfunction as a key reason for doing so. Moody's made its own move in November, turning negative on the US but stopping short of a downgrade. Young, the White House budget director, added in Friday's remarks that her main concern in the coming fight is whether another wave of Washington dysfunction "will continue to play heavily in the minds of credit agencies as they continue to look at United States creditworthiness." Many also note there are costs to consider around the extensive preparations needed to plan for furloughing over a million federal workers, whether or not it ever happens. "The last shutdown drama cost a lot of time and effort and energy and money just getting ready," noted Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a recent Yahoo Finance live appearance. "The 55,000 or so men and women of this department have better things to worry about all day as they look after American transportation safety than worry about whether they're going to get paid in two weeks." Issues at play in the talks One swath of the government from the Food and Drug Administration to the Energy and Transportation Departments is currently funded only until Jan. 19, 2024. They would shut down on that date without action from Congress. Authorization for the remainder of Washington's discretionary spending is set to expire just two weeks later, on Feb. 2. Part of what will likely make the coming weeks hard to track is the wide array of issues and talks that may not formally be part of the shutdown conversation but appear all but certain to have a role. First and foremost is immigration. Speaker Johnson traveled to the border this past week with GOP colleagues in an appearance that underlined the likelihood those talks will play a role in government funding. "Shut down the border or shut down the government," was the refrain from many in Johnson's caucus. Just Friday, Speaker Johnson's team released a new memo assailing Biden for using what it called "debunked" talking points on border security. The House of Representatives is even likely to begin impeachment proceedings in the coming days against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the issue. But Greg Valliere, the chief US policy strategist at AGF Investments, recently wrote that Johnson's "real weapon is the threat of a government shutdown." One front in the immigration talks is in the Senate where Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), left, and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), right, have been meeting behind closed doors with Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) to try and hammer out a bipartisan deal. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) And immigration is far from the only topic in focus. The formal appropriations process has already included heated fights over social issues like abortion, LGBTQ rights, and gender-affirming care. Those clashes, which are likely to continue, arose after House Republicans inserted provisions around those issues into their proposals for how government money should be spent in the year ahead. Aid to Ukraine and Israel is also bound up in the conversations. President Biden recently asked for nearly $106 billion in aid to Ukraine and Israel as well as funding for combatting China and money for the border. Republicans have blocked that request so far, saying policy changes at the border and not just money are needed before they will consider any additional funds. If a shutdown is not averted, it would impact a variety of industries immediately. Aviation could be up first, with air traffic controllers potentially facing a loss of paychecks on Jan. 19 (but still being asked to stay on the job) followed by TSA agents potentially facing a similar situation in February. The shutdown also could come as the annual tax filing season begins to get underway, with the IRS potentially facing furloughs of its own. At this point, economic observers have begun to warn that some flavor of shutdown is now perhaps more likely than not. Stifel chief Washington policy strategist Brian Gardner calls a shutdown "our base case" while HSBC's Jose Rasco recently said the odds of a modest shutdown "are probably higher than we're comfortable with." Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance The Federal Aviation Administration said Saturday it will temporarily ground some Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes used by U.S. airlines after a panel appeared to have detached from an Alaska Airlines flight midair. The FAA said it will also ground 737 Max 9 planes that operate in U.S. territory. In total, the order will affect about 171 of the airplanes out of 218 worldwide, the FAA said. The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 Max 9 planes before they can return to flight, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. Safety will continue to drive our decision-making as we assist the [National Transportation Safety Boards] investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. No serious injuries were reported on the flight, which turned back and landed safely at Portland International Airport on Saturday evening. The FAA said in a directive that the decision to ground all 737 Max 9 planes stems from "a report of an in-flight departure of a mid cabin doorplug, which resulted in a rapid decompression of the airplane," referring to the Alaska Airlines incident. The agency added that it is issuing this directive because of unsafe conditions that could potentially occur in a similar scenario in another aircraft of the same model, including "injury to passengers and crew, the door impacting the airplane, and/or loss of control of the airplane." Boeing said it supports the FAAs decision. Safety is our top priority and we deeply regret the impact this event has had on our customers and their passengers, Boeing said in a statement. We agree with and fully support the FAAs decision to require immediate inspections of 737-9 airplanes with the same configuration as the affected airplane. A Boeing technical team is supporting the NTSBs investigation, the statement read. We will remain in close contact with our regulator and customers, Boeing said. airline mishap (Courtesy Kyle Rinker) Alaska Airline temporarily grounded all 65 of its 737 Max 9 aircraft Saturday for maintenance and safety inspections. It said a quarter of the inspections were completed with no concerning findings and so far 18 aircraft were cleared to return to service on Saturday. The remaining aircraft inspections are expected to be completed in the next few days. United temporarily suspended service on select Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft to conduct an inspection. The removal is expected to cause about 60 cancellations. Panama's Copa Airlines also said it was complying with the order and temporarily suspending flights on the planes. 'A loud bang' Flight 1282 was bound for Ontario International Airport in San Bernardino County, California, but turned back to Portland, Oregon, shortly after takeoff. The FAA said the plane returned to the airport after the crew reported a pressurization issue. According to FlightAware, an air travel tracking site, the flight took off from Portland at 5:07 p.m. and landed back at Portland at 5:27 p.m. Its not clear how or when the panel became separated from the passenger jet. The plane was carrying 174 passengers and six crew members, according to Alaska Airlines, which initially described what happened as an incident. A photo from a passenger on board showed an entire panel missing from a side of the fuselage, next to a row of seats. Kyle Rinker posted a photo from inside the plane on the social media platform X, along with the caption, When the wall of the plane just breaks off mid flight. A passenger on the plane who gave her name only as Elizabeth told NBC affiliate KGW of Portland, Oregon, that the incident happened about 20 minutes after departing Portlands airport. Everything was going fine until we just heard like a loud bang! Or like a boom, she said. And I look up, and the air masks are, like, out, popped down. And I looked to my left, and theres just this huge gaping hole, on the left side where the window is, she told the station in a phone interview. She said the sound of the wind was very loud. She said everyone had their seat belts on and people stayed calm, she said. Alaska said in a statement, The safety of our guests and employees is always our primary priority, so while this type of occurrence is rare, our flight crew was trained and prepared to safely manage the situation. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said on X Saturday morning that he has been briefed on last nights incident and remain[s] in close contact with FAA on the response. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) An international armed force slated to fight violent gangs in Haiti this year will face multiple challenges including shifting gang allegiances and widespread corruption among police, politicians and the countrys elite, a new report warned Friday. The multinational force, which will be led by Kenya, has yet to deploy as it awaits a court ruling in the east African country. If given the green light, a small team of Kenyans is expected to arrive in Haiti early this year, with a total of up to 5,000 personnel eventually participating in the mission. Burundi, Chad, Senegal, Jamaica and Belize also have pledged troops for the multinational mission. Major challenges lie in wait for the mission once it is on the ground, the report by Belgium-based International Crisis Group stated. Haitis gangs could ally to battle it together. Fighting in Haitis ramshackle urban neighborhoods will put innocent civilians at risk. Links between corrupt police and the gangs could make it difficult to maintain operational secrecy. For all these reasons, preparation will be of critical importance. Some 300 gangs control an estimated 80% of the capital of Port-au-Prince, with their tentacles reaching northward into the Artibonite region, considered Haitis food basket. Last year, gangs were suspected of killing nearly 4,000 people and kidnapping another 3,000, a spike compared with previous years, according to U.N. statistics. More than 200,000 people also have been forced to flee their communities as gangs set fire to homes, killing and raping their way across neighborhoods controlled by rivals. Haitis National Police is no match for them: less than 10,000 officers are on duty at any time in a country of more than 11 million people. Ideally, there should be some 25,000 active officers, according to the U.N. The police are completely outnumbered and outgunned by the gangs, said Diego Da Rin, with International Crisis Group, who spent nearly a month in Haiti late last year to do research for the report. He said the people he interviewed were very skeptical that the force would even be deployed, given that it was approved by the U.N. Security Council last October, a year after Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry requested the urgent mobilization of an international armed force. International Crisis Group also warned that authorities need to determine what will happen to gang members as the forces carry out their mission. It noted that prisons are severely overcrowded, and that Haitis broken judicial system will be unable to handle thousands of cases once suspected criminals are arrested. Da Rin said he interviewed a Haitian security expert who did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation whom he quoted as saying, Where are the prison facilities to put thousands of gang members? Is the international community suggesting that we kill thousands of lads? What structures are in place to reintegrate these young people into society? Im appalled by whats left unsaid. International Crisis Group also interviewed unidentified people it said were privy to deployment discussions who were quoted as saying that gang leaders might unite to face foreign armed forces and attack them if they perceive the mission as weak. However, they said gang leaders would be willing to talk about possible disarmament if it appears the mission could overpower them. Last August, Jimmy Cherizier, a former police officer considered Haitis most powerful gang leader, said he would fight any foreign armed force if it commits abuses. The mission also faces other challenges, according to the report. Protecting civilians will be tricky because gang members control Port-au-Princes crowded slums and can easily blend in since they dont wear uniforms or have any distinctive symbols. In addition, collusion between gangs and police will likely cause leaked information that would stonewall operations, the report stated. International Crisis Group said it separately interviewed two sources within Haitis National Police who were quoted as saying that senior commanders previously managed to prevent the capture of a powerful gang leader because of his alleged links to politicians or police. Even if the mission is successful, officials must stop the flow of weapons and ammunition into Haiti, the report stated, and sever the strong bond between gangs and Haitian business and political elites." Winter storm warnings and advisories impacted most of the country Sunday as three different systems put millions at risk. The first major storm began Saturday and brought heavy snow and strong winds to northeastern states and the central Appalachians, according to the National Weather Service. The second system is expected to heavily impact the Midwest while the third will arrive over the Pacific Northwest on Sunday night. The major winter storms are forecast to bring severe weather conditions through midweek. As much of the country prepared for more snow, a tornado appeared to touch down in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday evening, hitting structures and power lines, according to videos posted on social media. Here's how the weather will impact the nation over the next week. Tornado touches down in South Florida A tornado touched down in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, shortly after the National Weather Service issued a warning for the area. The twister formed over land and hit ground around 6 p.m. just west of Las Olas Boulevard and the Intracoastal Waterway, according to the citys account on X, formerly Twitter. Fire crews continued to assess damage Sunday as Florida Power & Light began restoring power to some affected areas. There have been no reports of injuries, so far, but city officials warn the public to be cautious of debris and downed powerlines. Videos posted on social media show flashes of light as the tornado ripped through some powerlines in the downtown area. More snow, wintry mix in the Northeast Winter storm warnings and watches were in effect throughout the Northeast, and icy roads made for hazardous travel as far south as North Carolina. About 60 million residents in the Northeast were being impacted by the snow, according to Accuweather. "In portions of New England, upstate New York and in parts of Pennsylvania, the snow will fall at the rate of an inch per hour or more, and that could be difficult for road crews to keep up with," Accuweather chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. Ice arrived early Saturday to some western North Carolina and southern Virginia areas, ranging from a fine coating to around a quarter-inch. Watauga County, North Carolina saw some of the highest amounts, said meteorologist Dennis Sleighter of the National Weather Services Blacksburg, Virginia, office. In Pennsylvania, the National Weather Service said a foot of snow was reported in parts of Monroe County and more than 11 inches reportedly fell in Jim Thorpe. Sussex County in New Jersey had 11 inches. While warnings were being canceled and highway reduced-speed limits and other restrictions were lifted Sunday, forecasters were still cautioning motorists of spotty freezing rain and black ice that made for hazardous driving in parts of southeast Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey. The storm brought mostly rain to New York City, but counties to the north and west saw double-digit snow totals by Sunday morning. Millbrook in Dutchess County, about 75 miles north of New York, recorded a foot of snow. Port Jervis in Orange County measured 13 inches. In Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island, the National Weather Service declared a winter storm warning from 4 p.m. Saturday through 1 a.m. Monday. Some communities in Massachusetts had already recorded nearly a foot of snow by Sunday morning, according to the weather service. More than 16,000 electric customers in the state were without power. Hundreds of flights at Logan International Airport were delayed or canceled Sunday, according to tracking website FlightAware. Snow totals were lower for coastal communities; Boston reported just a couple of inches. The snow was expected to continue throughout the day, and some areas could top out at more than a foot. The storm reached into Maine, and some locations saw snow totals of up to 12 inches with locally higher amounts over southern New Hampshire and southwestern Maine. Wind gusts up to 35 mph could add to blowing and drifting snow. Moderate to heavy snow was expected to continue in Vermont, and total accumulations could hit 6 to 12 inches. The National Weather Service said the major winter storm would continue into Sunday evening. Snow was expected in parts of New England and rain and freezing rain were likely in the central Appalachian mountains. A resident walks a dog as snow falls in Portsmouth, N.H., on Jan. 7, 2024. Snow, strong winds expected in Pacific Northwest Back-to-back powerful storms will cross the Pacific Northwest Monday night and Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy snow and strong winds are expected. For the Cascade Range, snow levels will rise to around 5,000 feet Monday night with an atmospheric river, the weather service said. But it will "quickly fall" to between 1,500 and 2,500 feet behind a cold front on Tuesday, which will lead to considerable impacts for many mountain passes with the second storm. High surf and strong onshore winds are also expected early this week on the coastlines of Washington and Oregon. Sierra Nevada could see 20 inches of snow In the West, a winter storm warning had been in effect through late Saturday in the Sierra Nevada from south of Yosemite National Park to north of Reno, where the weather service said as much as 20 inches of snow could fall in the mountains around Lake Tahoe with winds gusting up to 100 mph over ridgetops. The California Highway Patrol said numerous spinouts and collisions forced the temporary closure of I-80 for several hours from west of Truckee, California, to the state line west of Reno, Nevada, where more than 27,000 homes briefly lost power in high winds at midday. More than 13,000 electric customers in California were still without power by Sunday morning. The weather service said that system continued to bring heavy mountain snow and coastal rain overnight before moving into central and Southern California, then off to the Southwest and the southern Rockies. Western states face cold temperatures, strong winds The storm system passing through Arizona was projected to be more potent in the north, creating snow-packed roadways and low visibility conditions. Transportation officials said several highways in northern parts of the state including Interstate 40 near Williams and State Route 64 near Grand Canyon National Park were closed Sunday afternoon due to weather-related crashes and slide-offs from snowfall. The weather service said Flagstaff was expected to get 4 to 8 inches of snow by Sunday night. And areas between 3,000 and 5,000 feet could see anything from light dustings to 3 inches of snow. In Nevada, the weather service said the wind chill dropped to 32 degrees at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas around 7:30 a.m. Sunday. Winds were gusting to 37 mph. Blizzard conditions in the Midwest The storm system is likely to reorganize over the Southern Plains on Monday, bringing heavy snow and strong winds over the Midwest Monday and Tuesday. The highest totals of snow are likely to exceed 12 inches in some Midwestern states, according to the National Weather Service. Meteorologists warn blizzard conditions are likely in the southern High Plains and Central Plains. Wind gusts could exceed 50 mph, causing near-zero visibility and dangerous travel conditions. Winter storm watches are in effect for parts of the southern High Plains, Central Plains and middle Mississippi Valley. Flooding in the Gulf Coast Forecasters also warned of another storm Tuesday into Wednesday that is expected to bring up to 6 inches of rain and some flooding as well as high winds and coastal flooding. Powerful onshore winds will lead to widespread coastal flooding along the eastern Gulf Coast and most of the East Coast, and significant flooding is expected in the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic. AccuWeather and weather service meteorologists warned that the cold northern front will clash with the warmer southern front, bringing a risk of severe thunderstorms Monday across parts of southeast Texas, southern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and the western Florida panhandle. Wind gusts and tornadoes are also possible across those areas late Monday night, and wind gusts could exceed 50 mph in the eastern Gulf Coast, possibly leading to power outages. A piece of robust energy will bring disruptive thunderstorms that can produce damaging winds, hail and tornadoes to the Gulf Coast states," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alexander Duffus. "An inflow of moisture along the Gulf of Mexico from eastern Texas and southern Louisiana will aid in the development of thunderstorms across the region." Contributing: Dylan Wickman, Arizona Republic; Associated Press Contact Adrianna Rodriguez at adrodriguez@usatoday.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Snow, flooding, tornadoes: Storms bring dangerous weather to the US An Alaska Airlines plane suffered a blowout that left a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage. The federal government has ordered some U.S. airlines to stop using Boeing 737 Max 9 planes until they are properly inspected. Elizabeth Le/Associated Press Two major Bay Area airports say they have not been impacted by the widespread grounding of some Boeing planes, which came after an Alaska Airlines flight suffered a blowout Friday that left a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage. Spokespersons from Oakland International Airport and San Jose Mineta International Airport said none of their flights was expected to be impacted by the grounding mandate issued Saturday by the Federal Aviation Administration. Spokespeople for San Francisco International Airport, the largest airport in Northern California, did not return requests for comment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Some U.S. airlines have been ordered to stop using Boeing 737 Max 9 planes until they are properly inspected. The required inspections take four to eight hours per aircraft and affect about 171 airplanes worldwide, the Associated Press reported. Alaska said late Friday that it is temporarily grounding its fleet of 737 Max 9 planes until all are inspected. The inspections of the remaining aircraft in Alaska Airlines fleet was expected to be completed in the coming days, the Associated Press reported. Of the 65 such aircraft in Alaskas fleet, crews by Saturday had inspected 18, all of which were cleared to return to service. An Alaska Airlines plane sustained damage after part of its fuselage blew out, leaving a gaping hole. The Oregonian The Alaska Airlines incident spurred fear and panic on social media, where videos of the blowout disseminated. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Late Friday, shortly after the Alaska Airlines jetliner took off and was 3 miles above Oregon a portion of its fuselage blew out, leaving a gaping hole in one of the panels that forced the pilots to make an emergency landing. The flights 171 passengers and six crew members clung to their oxygen masks, though no one was seriously hurt. Passengers said the shirt of a boy sitting in the affected row with his mother was ripped off his body and flew out of the plane. Several passengers also lost their phones. The plane landed safely about 13 minutes after the window blew out. Alaska Airlines canceled more than 100 flights 15% of its Saturday schedule by midday, the Associated Press reported. Spencer Platt/Getty Images The Wall Street Journal reported that executives at Elon Musk's companies worried about his drug use. At SpaceX, the outlet reported, execs worried Musk was high during an "unhinged" staff meeting. The report said Musk was an hour late and rambled for 15 minutes before SpaceX's president took over. After Elon Musk arrived nearly an hour late to an all-hands meeting at SpaceX, rambling and slurring his words for about 15 minutes before the meeting was taken over by the spacecraft manufacturer's president, executives of the company privately worried whether Musk was on drugs, The Wall Street Journal reported. The Journal's new report said Musk was unusually incoherent when he took the stage in front of his SpaceX employees to discuss the development of the company's Big Falcon Rocket prototype, with one executive describing the event to the outlet as "nonsensical," "unhinged" and "cringeworthy." SpaceX's president, Gwynne Shotwell, had to step in for Musk and take over the meeting, the Journal reported. Musk's drug use, which people familiar with the matter said included LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, and ketamine, is at the center of an extensive new report from the Journal that details how executives at several of the billionaire's companies have struggled to manage his substance use and erratic behavior. At SpaceX, where illicit drug use could jeopardize the billions of dollars of government contracts enjoyed by the defense contractor due to federal regulations, the Journal's reports of Musk's drug use put at risk nearly $1 trillion in assets held by investors, about 13,000 jobs, and the future of the US space program. Representatives for Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Alex Spiro, Musk's attorney, told the Journal the description of the fraught all-hands meeting was "false as has been confirmed by countless people who were present." Reports have previously pointed to Musk's drug use, including ketamine to treat depression, and have sparked concerns with board members. But one particularly public incident landed the billionaire in hot water after he smoked marijuana on an episode of a Joe Rogan podcast. After the episode aired, NASA insisted that SpaceX promise in writing that the company would follow federal guidelines on drug use in the workplace and spend $5 million in taxpayer money to train SpaceX employees, the Journal reported. SpaceX also began cracking down on illegal substances at the company by bringing in drug-sniffing dogs, sources told the Journal. His alleged drug use has also caused frustration among executives in his other companies, including the former Tesla director Linda Johnson Rice. The report said the director became so concerned about the impacts of his drug use that she didn't seek a reelection bid at the company. Rice did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent during the weekend. Some of Tesla's board members have also speculated whether Musk may have been on drugs when he tweeted in 2018 that he wanted to take the company private, which shocked shareholders and sparked a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation. The incident led to $40 million in penalties and Musk's relinquishing his chairman role at Tesla for a time. Read the original article on Business Insider By Joseph Ax and Brendan O'Brien NEW YORK (Reuters) -New York City's historic, two-year snow drought may not come to an end this weekend, despite the arrival of a winter storm system that began passing through the most populous U.S. city and across the East Coast on Saturday. The city's 8.5 million residents have not seen more than 1 inch (2.54 cm) of snow fall in Manhattan's Central Park since Feb. 13, 2022, a record-long streak of 692 days. But as of 7 p.m. Saturday, only 0.2 inch had been recorded in Central Park, and the National Weather Service was forecasting only 0.8 inch of accumulation before the storm moves out to sea late on Sunday night. Marc Chenard, an NWS meteorologist, said on Saturday evening that the city's long streak of paltry snow looked set to continue. "It's already mixing into rain and it's going to continue to do that," he said. Last winter, just 2.3 inches (5.84 cm) of snow fell in New York City, the least in recorded history in a city where snowfall of more than a foot (30 cm) was, at least until recently, not uncommon. Experts say New York City's lack of snow is another sign of how climate change is affecting weather patterns around the world. The U.S. Southwest, for example, experienced a record stretch of extreme heat last summer. The weather service also warned of minor urban flooding and the possibility of roads being glazed with ice. Beyond the city, as much as 8 inches (20 cm) of snow was forecast in interior portions of New York state, New Jersey and northeast through New England along and just north of Interstate 95. Some areas could see as much as a foot of snow, the weather service said. The agency and state officials urged the 16 million people who were under a winter storm watch across the region to stay vigilant as snow from the storm could cover roads and topple trees and electrical lines, making travel treacherous and knocking out power. Boston, home to about 650,000 people, was expected to get as much as 7 inches (18 cm) as heavier snow moved in on Saturday evening. Mayor Michelle Wu cautioned residents to be careful over the weekend, but said the storm appeared unlikely to disrupt the start of the workweek. Winter weather was also on tap for parts of eastern California and the West Coast, where some communities across the region could get as much as a foot (30 cm) of snow and wind gusts of more than 40 mph (64 kph), causing whiteout conditions on roadways, the weather service warned. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; Additional reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler) Neither succeeded in full measure, but very quickly came to terms with the ground realities The fact is that despite the 1962 war, and the consequences of the Cold War, the leaderships of both China and India have sought to maintain stability in their relationship. (Image: Twitter) A note written by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the countrys first home minister, in 1949 on the view India ought to take of China is once again in the news. It is fairly well known that Sardar Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru had adopted a different approach on some issues, but that Patel deferred to Nehru on such matters. Four points need to be remembered while analysing the difference in the approach of the two great leaders. First, that Patel felt free enough to pen down his views, differing with those of the Prime Minister, and recorded them for posterity. He was not intimidated by Nehrus wider and deeper knowledge of world affairs and world history, a fact that Mahatma Gandhi himself had recognised. Second, both leaders were dealing with a decolonising Asia in rapid transition. Both China and India and, indeed, much of Asia had entered a new world as new entities with new leaderships. In todays more settled world, despite all the uncertainties that characterise the post-Cold War world, it is not often easy for younger generations to comprehend the uncertainties of that new post-colonial, post-war era. Everyone was experimenting. Everyone was crossing the river by touching the stones, to quote a famous Chinese folk saying. Third, the dominant sentiment in India at the time in thinking about the world was the anti-colonial sentiment. Differences may have been there in the way Pandit Nehru and Sardar Patel viewed the world and in the way that other nascent political groups did so. However, everyone was united by a patriotism born in the crucible of the anti-colonial freedom struggle. Finally, the post-colonial leaderships of both China and India were still very nervous about their hold over their newly-constituted nations and territories. It would be no exaggeration to suggest that the Communist leadership in China was perhaps as nervous about its hold over its far- flung borders as Indias was. If Mao Zedong wanted to secure control over Tibet, Nehru and Patel too would have wanted to secure control over Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East Frontier Agency areas. Neither succeeded in full measure, but very quickly came to terms with the ground realities. To judge them today based on the perceptions gained over time, through lenses acquired, dispensed with and re-acquired over time, does not do justice to their intellectual acumen nor to their nationalism and commitment to building a truly New India -- an independent, new republic of many nationalities, ethnicities, linguistic groups and religious faiths. It is easy for many today to assert that India is in fact Bharat, that the present is but a natural inheritor of a distant past. However, in the 1940s and 1950s the republic was still being constituted as one nation. In this process, many newly independent nations made many mistakes. Some like Korea and Vietnam came into being as free nations and were immediately split up. Others like India were first split up before being created. Many others were first imagined on paper and then constituted into nations on the ground. One must enter the mind of the political leadership of those times to understand their fears and aspirations. To adopt a superior attitude today in faulting the leadership of the past would be churlish. The fact is that despite the 1962 war, and the consequences of the Cold War, the leaderships of both China and India have sought to maintain stability in their relationship. What destabilised the relationship, so to speak, was the sharply differential performance of both their economies between 1990 and 2010. Chinas emergence as the second biggest economy and the worlds biggest trading power placed it in a category of its own. By 2010, China began viewing itself as a global power in the same league as the United States. India, it believed, was still a developing economy in the company of many other Asian and African economies. It is interesting to note that in a recent comment on the bilateral relationship by Chinas English-language publication, Global Times, a Chinese commentator has noted that the Narendra Modi government was now adopting a more pragmatic view of where China and India stood. By not allowing the border issue, with China occupying newly acquired territory along the so-called Line of Actual Control to further mar the relationship, Prime Minister Modi has yielded space and conceded ground. Equally importantly, by repeatedly drawing attention to the difference in the size of the two economies and urging Indians to come to terms with this reality, the Modi government has changed the debate around the trade deficit. In a tongue-in-cheek remark, Zhang Jiadong, director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, draws attention to a change in Indias approach to the huge trade deficit that it faces in its bilateral trade with China. Says Mr Zhang: When discussing the trade imbalance between China and India, Indian representatives earlier used to primarily focus on Chinas measures to reduce the trade imbalance. But now they are placing more emphasis on Indias export potential. In short, what Mr Zhang is saying is that rather than complain about Chinas unfair trade practices and the unlevel trade playing field, as India did for close to two decades, including through Prime Minister Modis first term, it had now come around to accept the size differential between the two and it now views the trade deficit as a consequence of Indias limited export potential and weak performance. This is a neat swipe, and so far, we have not heard any protestations from the governments spokespersons or the Swadeshi Jagran Manch. In this remark on the approach to the trade imbalance lies the core of the Chinese view of Indias status. China merely wants India to come to terms with the power differential and potential. Interestingly, Mr Zhang seems to suggest that Narendra Modi may have finally come to terms with it. Both Patel and Nehru believed that China and India were equals, while neither Mao Zedong nor Zhou Enlai did so. Patel and Nehru adopted different perspectives on how to deal with this imbalance, in perceptions and performance, as have subsequent Indian leaders. This debate will go on till India ups its performance. Posturing will not do much. At the Angelus, Pope Francis spoke of the ecclesial communities of the East who celebrated Christmas today, wishing them that the birth of the Lord Jesus fills them with light, charity and peace. He also urged the faithful to continue to pray for peace. In the Sistine Chapel, the pontiff baptised 16 newborns. Vatican City (AsiaNews) In his address after todays Angelus prayer, Pope Francis noted that, Today the ecclesial communities of the East who follow the Julian calendar are celebrating the Holy Nativity. In a spirit of joyful fraternity, I wish that the birth of the Lord Jesus fills them with light, charity and peace. The pontiff also renewed his appeal for peace, reiterating what he said yesterday, Solemnity of the Epiphany. [P]lease, he stressed, let us continue to pray for peace: for peace in Ukraine, in Palestine, in Israel and all over the world, inspired by the historic gesture of fraternity between Saint Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras who met on 5 January in Jerusalem, 60 years ago. Francis also expressed his closeness to the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, affected by floods and landslides caused by heavy rains, which have destroyed about 40,000 homes and killed hundreds of people. Likewise, he spoke of the situation in Colombia, where many people have been kidnapped. I invite you to join in my prayer for the unconditional liberation of all the people currently kidnapped in Colombia, Francis said. This act, which is a duty before God, will also promote a climate of reconciliation and peace in the country. Earlier, at 9:30 am, the pope led the Holy Mass in the Sistine Chapel during which he administered the first sacrament to 16 children. On todays Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, I baptised some newborns, he said. Let us pray for them and for their families, extending these prayers to all the children who will receive holy Baptism in these days. During his brief, unscripted homily, Francis said that the babies are the "protagonists in this ceremony". Hence, May they show us how to receive our faith: with innocence and with open hearts. He also told parents and godparents to "accompany them in their growth, because this is a way of helping, so that faith grows in them." In his commentary before the Angelus, Pope Francis focused on the Word of the day (Mk 1:7-11). Today's Gospel refers to the story of the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, when John the Baptist performed the rite of purification, which expresses the commitment to renounce sin and to convert. Jesus too went to the Jordan, where people go to be baptised humbly, to show that He wants to be close to the sinners, to come for them, for us, for all of sinners! This episode reveals to us that Jesus is the Son of God, speaking to us of our Baptism, which has made us in turn children of God, Francis explained. With the baptism, the first Sacrament, God comes into us, purifies, heals our heart, makes us forever His children, the pope explained. For this reason, it is important to remember the day of our Baptism, and also to know the date. Hence, Let us thank the Lord for Baptism, and welcome Gods presence within us. The Holy Father invited the faithful present in St Peter's Square, on a rainy morning, to devote a special thought of gratitude to the people who made it possible; first of all, the parents, but also the community, and the godfathers and godmothers. Lastly, Francis repeated several times that the baptism is like a new birthday", inviting the faithful to remember this and celebrate it. Oral Sex Guide for Men Tips, Tricks and Products for Performing Mind-Blowing Oral Every Time The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. If you want to get your partner off, its going to take more than a few hearty thrusts. Research has found that only 18 percent of women ages 18 to 94 can orgasm from vaginal penetration alone. Nearly 37 percent of women needed clitoral stimulation to climax, and another 36 percent said that, while they didn't need clitoral stimulation to orgasm, it enhanced the experience. The takeaway? More mouth stuff is never a bad thing. RELATED: Straight Facts About What Women Really Want From Oral On that front, though, there seems to be a shortage when it comes to men delivering. Research published in the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality found that heterosexual women are two times more likely to perform oral sex than men, even though they enjoy it less. Whats more, a survey found that 59 percent of men ages 21 to 45 dont know what their partner even likes when receiving oral sex. While communication is usually the best way to find out someones interests in the bedroom, introducing the topic can be tough only 30 percent of women feel comfortable telling their partner what they need to orgasm. RELATED: How to Talk About Sex With a Partner To help, AskMen spoke with three experts on everything you could ever wish to know about oral sex. What Is Oral Sex? Oral sex is oral-vaginal sex (cunnilingus), oral-penile sex (fellatio) and oral-anal sex (anilingus or rimming), says Dr. Zhana Vrangalova, sexpert for LELO and NYU professor of human sexuality. That can take the form of sucking, licking even nibbling at times. Basically, if youre using your mouth, lips and/or tongue to stimulate someones genitals, you are practicing oral sex. The Benefits of Oral Sex Oral sex feels great and primes the body for penetrative sex, helping the vagina self-lubricate and the penis become erect. If that werent enough, its good for our bodies as well. Sexual activity increases blood flow, resulting in lower blood pressure and decreased stress levels, states Antonia Hall, psychologist and author of The Ultimate Guide to a Multi-Orgasmic Life. Regular blood flow to the genitals helps keep them healthy and functional. RELATED: The Brain Chemicals That Fuel Your Sex Life Many believe oral sex helps them feel more connected to their partner, and if youre someone who takes no issue in swallowing, semen contains spermatozoa, oxytocin and serotonin, all of which can elevate moods. It also contains melatonin, commonly used to help with sleep so its practically a multivitamin. The Best Tips for Cunnilingus Cunnilingus, also known as eating someone out, is when someone performs oral sex on a person with a vagina. The focus is typically, but not always, on licking the clitoris, which, like the penis, is extremely sensitive and the site of many nerve endings, allowing for serious pleasure potential and a good likelihood of orgasm. Get Comfortable Before You Start Adding a pillow under the hips and butt can make cunnilingus easier for the giver and more pleasurable for the receiver, says Hall. Be Sure to Go Slow Despite the wonderful things youve heard about the clitoris, warm up the rest of the vulva first. Tease it, make it beg for you to touch the clit, suggests Vrangalova. Most clits are different from most penises, they don't like to be handled much until they get a bit aroused already. Hall recommends using the tip of your tongue and lips to tease the inner thighs and along the pelvic bone. Start With the Hood After you've warmed up the vulva, refrain from going directly for the clit. Play with it over the clitoral hood instead," says Vrangalova. "For many, the clit itself is too sensitive for direct stimulation. See how your partner responds, then try for the clitoris directly. RELATED: Understanding Vaginal Anatomy Hall suggests you start light with a slow increase in pressure. Using a flat tongue, slowly lick upward along the opening of the vagina, circling the clitoral hood, she says. Don't Be Afraid to Experiment Many vulva-owners like the licking motions more, but some prefer sucking and others even enjoy gentle biting or face rubbing. RELATED: Unique Ways to Go Down on Her To figure out which your partner prefers, Vrangalova recommends you experiment with different strokes and listen to your partner's reactions. When you find a rhythm that works, stay consistent and do not change it too often. Use Your Fingers If your partner is up for it, cunnilingus can also be combined with fingering to offer clitoral and vaginal pleasure at the same time. Check with them beforehand, but if theyre down, you can introduce your index finger into the vagina and start moving it back and forth in a come hither motion. Depending on the size and tightness of the vagina, and your partners comfort levels, you can experiment with adding more of your fingers. Beware of Stubble Burn With no substantial academic research on the topic, we asked our experts how women feel about mens facial hair during oral sex. Everyone is different, of course, but I'd say that a beard might be most of a negative issue when it's a stubble, because it can really scratch the vulvar area in an unpleasant way for many people, suggests Vrangalova. In those cases, try not to rub or grind your face hard against clit or vulva." Keep your beard clean and oiled, adds Hall. If your partner really hates the sensation of your facial hair on their crotch, and youre not down to shave it off, you can place a protective barrier between your beard and your partner's genitals while pleasuring them. Dental dams offer a good barrier and also help prevent potential STIs. The Best Tips for Blowjobs Blowjobs, also known as fellatio, are the practice of performing oral sex on someone with a penis. Typically this involves sucking on the penis, and can include paying special attention to the head, or glans, of the penis, using ones hands to stimulate the shaft, and/or deep throating. Be a Tease Treat the penis like a clitoris and do some teasing before diving in. Vrangalova recommends kissing and licking the shaft all over, including the balls. Eye contact can be hot, and enthusiasm always is. Switch It Up When the penis in your mouth, experiment with different speeds while staying consistent. This is especially important as the orgasm is near. RELATED: How to Get the Best Blowjob Ever The delicate frenulum area (where the head and shaft meet) is often a particularly pleasurable area to have stimulated, says Hall. Use Your Hands Vrangalova says its important you incorporate your hands, recommending you stroke the base of his penis and play with his balls but be gentle! For more, see our guide on testicle stimulation. Make Your Mouth a Nice Environment Don't use your teeth and wrap your lips over your teeth while sucking, says Vrangalova, suggesting you keep your mouth wet at all times. Drink some water, spit on it or use flavored lube. Do Some Exploring If hes having a good time, try briefly licking his perineum and see how he responds, says Vrangalova. If he likes it, it might be an invitation to incorporate some rimming or a finger in his anus ... a lot of guys like this during a blowjob. (If youre more of an ass fan, weve got a guide to rimjobs, too). The Best Toys for Oral Sex Though not required, sex toys can enhance an already pleasurable experience. To help you find which are best for oral sex, we asked our experts. My Secret Screaming O Vibrating Lipstick Adding some gentle vibration to your blowjob can feel amazing, says Hall. To do this comfortably, she recommends you run My Secret Screaming O Vibrating Lipstick along the penis or gently tease the frenulum with the toy while licking the tip of the penis. If hes comfortable with it, feel free to use the toy on the scrotum, perineum and anus. $14.97 at ScreamingO.com BILLY 2 If anal stimulation is enjoyed, you may want to add a favorite anal sex toy for additional stimulation, suggests Hall. A great toy for beginners is LELOs BILLY 2. It fits like a glove, has eight different vibration settings and is easy and comfortable to insert and remove. $139 at LELO.com LELO SONA 2 LELO also has its own line of oral sex toys, a top seller being the LELO SONA 2. It uses sonic waves to create a unique sucking motion thats deep yet gentle without making direct contact with the clitoris. Sound like magic? Thats because it is. $99.00 at LELO.com Beginners Bondage Fantasy Kit If your partners into a little BDSM with their pleasure, oral sex can be better with bondage. No dungeon required just some hand-cuffs and blindfolds are all you need. $24.95 at PinkCherry.com You Might Also Dig: January 6, 2024: Coyote is a lightweight expendable UAV, as in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, that entered service nearly a decade ago but only entered regular use recently. The 5.9 kg Coyote was designed for use by patrol aircraft and helicopters as it can be launched from heights of up to 9,100 meters from the sealed tube it is stored and shipped in. Coyote is battery operated and has endurance of 60-90 minutes. It can operate under operator control while up to 130 kilometers from the operator and cruises at about 100 kilometers an hour, which is 1.8 kilometers a minute, for two hours. Coyote can be programmed to follow a set pattern and send images back to the operator. Max altitude is 6,000 meters and payload is 900 gr. Like earlier UAVs of this type, it can carry explosives instead of sensors. But Coyote is also designed to operate as part of a swarm of UAVs searching or attacking together. This is part of the American LOCUST, or Low-Cost UAV Swarming Technology where dozens of these small UAVs can be launched quickly and communicate with each other for attack, recon or electronic warfare missions. This form of cooperative software technology creates a form of artificial intelligence that can quickly adapt to rapidly changing situations and get the mission done before the enemy can defend themselves. Since the 1980s the U.S. Department of Defense has been spending more time and effort on developing technology to make it possible for autonomous robots to communicate and cooperate in maintaining the most efficient swarm of robotic sensors or weapons. Progress has been slow but successful. Recently the navy has been testing swarms of small submarine systems for detecting surface and underwater vehicles. The air force has already developed swarming systems for UAVs as well as some types of aerial decoys. The army is doing the same with small robotic vehicles used for surveillance and security. After more than half a century of theoretical and practical work, the swarms are about to enter service. The three military services have already developed tactical uses for the swarms. In the 1990s the navy began developing tactics for using swarms of aerial, surface, and underwater unmanned vehicles to precede large fleet movements to ensure safe transit of the U.S. warships. The air force already has tactics for using swarms for penetrating complex air defense systems. You could see this coming. For example, in 2011 an American firm conducted a successful test of UAV swarming software. In practical terms, this is flight control and search software that enables two or more UAVs to organize and carry out the most efficient search of an area, once ordered to do so by an operator who controls all of them. Two ScanEagle UAVs were used for the test. The swarming technology also has commercial applications, for any situation in which you want a land or sea area to be searched quickly and thoroughly using UAVs. But the military is particularly in need of this new tech, as there are often a number of different UAVs in an area, and the swarm tech enables all these UAVs to quickly participate in an automated search, where the strengths and limitations of each UAV are considered. Not all of these small expendable UAVs are built with just swarming in mind. In early 2016 Israel introduced Green Dragon, a lightweight UAV that is launched from canisters that can be carried by infantry or used from boxes holding 12 or 16 Green Dragon canisters. These boxes can be put in the back of a vehicle and launched by a nearby operator. The 15 kg Green Dragon is battery powered with a two hour endurance. Green Dragon can operate up to 40 kilometers from the operator. The three kg warhead can be guided by the operator to the target with great precision, within a meter of the aiming point. The operator controls Green Dragon with a device about the same size as a tablet computer. Green Dragon gives infantry their own air force and is similar to the U.S. Army Switchblade UAV systems sent to Afghanistan in 2009 for secret field testing. This was very successful, and the troops demanded more, and more, and more. Initially Switchblade was mainly used by Special Forces and other special operations troops. In 2011, after a year of successful field testing, the army ordered over a hundred Switchblade UAVs for troop use and last year ordered more as regular infantry units got their hands on it and demanded more. Back in 2012 the U.S. Army and Marine Corps ordered hundreds of the new Switchblade micro-UAV/cruise missiles after combat zone testing proved so successful. Switchblade was developed for the army, but the marines apparently noted the success that soldiers and SOCOM (Special Operations Command) had with this system and ordered them as well. Switchblade was very popular with troops in Afghanistan and with SOCOM in all sorts of places they wont discuss in detail. Switchblade is a one kilogram expendable (used only once) UAV that can be equipped with explosives. The Switchblade is launched from its shipping and storage tube, at which point wings flip out, a battery powered propeller starts spinning and a vidcam begins broadcasting images to the controller. The Switchblade is operated using the same gear the larger two kg Raven UAV employs. A complete Switchblade system, including missile, container, and controller, weighs 5.5 kg. UAVs like Switchblade and Green Dragon can also be adapted to operate in a LOCUST system. Coyote is also used to measure conditions inside a hurricane. This includes atmospheric air pressure, temperature, moisture, wind speed and direction as well as surface temperature. Coyote can also be used to intercept and destroy UAVs. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. SUV kW AMG Examples boasting a four-digit output are pretty common, at least when it comes to North America, but the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is a unicorn overseas. As a result, it immediately captures the attention of bystanders in all kinds of environments, especially during a drag racing event, which is where this black copy was filmed doing its thing.With no outside intervention, this beastlyis capable of hitting 60 mph (97 kph) quicker than some previous-generation supercars. The sprint is dealt with in 3.4 seconds, and aiding its performance is the ubiquitous Hellcat motor. The 6.2-liter V8 supercharged engine produces 707 horsepower (717 ps/527) and is good for 645 pound-feet (875 Nm) of torque.Mind you, numerous tuning companies would gladly take your hard-earned cash in exchange for unleashing more horses from this very potent power unit. As we told you before, it's not uncommon to stumble upon various copies with roughly 1,000 horsepower, and this was the reported output of the black Grand Cherokee Trackhawk depicted on video below at a drag racing event on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.Having that much grunt available via the fun pedal allows the super SUV to take on some truly fast cars. In fact, it is so potent that it can even take a swing at the exotic establishment, which is what it did by going neck and neck in a straight-line battle with a Lamborghini Huracan. The Italian machine was apparently in the Evo configuration, meaning that its 5.2L naturally aspirated V10 is good for 631 hp (640 ps/470 kW) and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque.Lamborghini's Huracan Evo takes 2.9 seconds to hit 62 mph (100 kph) from naught and it can hit over 202 mph (325 kph) where the road and legislation allow it. Thus, it was the Jeep that was clearly the underdog in this drag race due to it being significantly bigger and heavier. Nevertheless, the 1,000 horsepower unleashed by its supercharged V8 should be enough to help it give the Lambo a run for its money.So, which one crossed the finish line first? That's for you to find out by watching the video embedded after this paragraph. At over five minutes long, the footage shows the same Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk engaging in other straight-line battles against various other machines, including a Range Rover, a Mercedes-GLE 63, and an Audi RS 6 Avant. If Grand Theft Auto was known before for its digital satirization of society, it looks that with GTA 6, the irony is permeating reality itself and merging the two existential fabrics together in one funny episode that could be featured in South Park. Florida Joker is the name of our hero, or better said, villain, and oh, boy, get ready to laugh. In the end, he does live up to his name. Photo: Alleged Films/CBS Miami - YouTube Photo: Alleged Films/CBS Miami - YouTube At the time of writing, the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer has exactly 165,139,002 views on YouTube. When it came out, it shattered all previous records for most views in 24 hours. Suffice it to say that the popularity of Rockstar Games' upcoming title is sky-high, to say the least. Never mind that GTA Online is raking in over $700 million yearly. Keep this in mind for later because it's relevant to our story.Now, in the Grand Theft Auto VI trailer, at precisely 1 minute 5 seconds, we see a young man with purple dye in his hair arrested and shown on a news bulletin. The real-life inspiration for that character is someone known as "Florida Joker." His real name is Lawrence Sullivan, and now he wants money from Rockstar; a lot of money.After the GTA 6 trailer hit on December 5, three days later, Mr. Sullivan posted a video on social media about how he and Rockstar Games "gotta talk" because of his likeness depicted in the trailer. Furthermore, he felt he deserved "a mil or two."A few days later, on December 12, he posted another video where he upped his "shakedown" money by a cool million dollars. Florida Joker said that thanks to him, Rockstar was profiting from the "biggest free marketing they got in their entire history of running this GTA game."Apparently, selling over 190 million copies of GTA V and making over $700 million a year doesn't compare to the free publicity coming from him. Then he threatened that his lawyers, plural, are on the case with "hard evidence." Of course, nothing became of that threat aside from another video.More recently, on December 27 and January 5, "The King of Miami" (his words) made two more videos about how, after speaking with his two lawyers, sent a letter and are taking "legal actions." Oh, and he upped the ante to 5 million dollars, then to $10 million. The new ultimatum is three days after his birthday on January 11.The reason for all this headache is that he's supposedly getting harassed everywhere he goes, including but not limited to the airport, the streets, or while eating a pizza. People keep coming up to him asking for pictures with the "GTA Joker," and he's not having any of that while he's eating, he said.A whole month of "free pulicity" as he put it, and all he got out of it was "suffering and pain and defamation of a character." Besides, "When did GTA ever make the news? Never," he said. If you think that's funny, then get ready for Florida Joker's best joke yet."And you not gonna lock me up, GTA. You ain't gonna put me in no psych ward. Keep playin' with me. Keep playin' with me. I'm gonna break that kid out the psych ward right now. Show you the real Joker. I'll break that kid out the psych ward and hack your system again. Keep playing."He's obviously referring to Arion Kurtaj , the 18-year-old British man who hacked Rockstar Games in September 2022 and released videos and images from GTA VI while it was still in development. During the trial, Mr. Kurtaj was found guilty and sentenced to an "indefinite hospital order," as reported by Joe Tidy, BBC News journalist.Mr. Sullivan appeared in a short interview on January 2 about the situation regarding Rockstar Games, where he said, "We will see what we can do. At least try to work with them. At least voice the character, maybe."Now comes the biggest punchline! During the short interview , the Florida Joker disclosed that he doesn't work at all. "I don't do nothing. To be honest, my dad helps me," he said. At least, we now know why he wants $10 million so much.Surprisingly, Red Dead Redemption 2's Arthur Morgan actor, Roger Clark, is helping out Mr. Sullivan by offering advice on how social media works and how he could make money off it.This is all extremely amusing, given the irony that Mr. Lawrence Sullivan is copying a character from the DC Universe, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. In other words, he's threatening to sue Rockstar Games because they copied him copying Joker from Batman. If that's not a South Park episode in the making, I don't know what is.Now, another theory comes to mind. Maybe Florida Joker started out being serious about this whole thing. But after "Arthur" helped him with some advice, Mr. Sullivan could be escalating things on purpose now, just to grow his social media presence and finally earn some money on his own, rather than his current method.Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to come out sometime in 2025, and from the looks of it, it could easily break historical sales records, much like GTA 5 did when it came out in September 2013, more than a decade ago. 7 January 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Religious leaders in Armenia have rekindled propaganda that strengthens feelings of aggression and revenge. The fact that religious representatives started such a campaign on the eve of peace talks that remain outstanding shows the next paradoxical approach of Armenia. The question of establishing peace in the South Caucasus in 2024 has become an object of discussion in the European and Western media. Armenia expresses its positive intentions regarding peace, but it is not obvious that any steps have been taken for peace so far. On the contrary, Armenia is day by day becoming the sphere of influence of both foreign lobbyists and some religious figures affiliated with the government inside the country. In his address to the Armenian society on the occasion of the New Year, Karekin II the Second Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians noted that "Artsakh can never be the past for us". Karekin II, the supreme religious leader of Armenians delivered some verses from the religious book as a message to his Armenian nations. The messages in the verses imply two meanings: "We have not forgotten and will not forget Garabagh (once occupied by Armenia)." In the second sense, the message of "we will rise again and continue the occupation" is quite tangible. It is not difficult to imagine how Armenia, following the sermon of religious leaders, prepares for the peace process with such messages. First of all, if we are talking about peace, in any case, instilling feelings of aggression and revenge in society is against the principles of peace in the diplomatic framework. The concept of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia may not mean fraternization of peoples (Armenians and Azerbaijanis) and complete forgetting of everything that happened in the near past although, this may not be an exception. However, when we say peace, it is necessary to clearly understand that this is a kind of insurance for the safe future of both Armenia and the peoples of the South Caucasus in general. Given the global challenges in the modern era, strengthening the economy is considered one of the most important issues. We have to remember that it has been only three years since we left behind the most difficult period - the global pandemic. At that time, the world was covered by such a dark cloud that it seemed as if the hopes for the future had diminished. On the one hand, the ongoing Ukrainian-Russian tension in the region is showing its negative impact on the economic situation. Despite all these tensions, the economy of Azerbaijan has successfully taken the dynamics of development. However, Azerbaijan wants the neighboring countries to benefit from its economic opportunities that are moving towards prosperity. We must remind that the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly emphasized in his speeches that Azerbaijan wants Armenia to participate in large-scale projects. However, the steps to be taken until then have not yet been reflected. The question arises, how does Armenia, which wants to get out of the blockade in the region, imagine the development of economic relations with neighboring states? Shouldn't Armenia, which wants to open borders with Turkiye and jointly benefit from the Middle Corridor project with Azerbaijan, take more decisive steps for 2024? Or does Yerevan still think that the sermons of religious figures in churches will make the heavenly manna sent down on the people? Dear patriarch, let it be known that the doors of the miracles in the heavens have been locked since Islam came to the universe. Time favors the smarter and more pragmatic thinkers. Guns and vengeance can bring nothing but oppression and suffering to the people. This also applies to diplomats in the US State Department who accused Azerbaijan of a lack of religious tolerance and added it to the Watch List. If they don't see it, then let them hear that in Azerbaijan none of the religious organizations nurture or preach revenge and aggression like in Armenia. If they determine exactly who is supposed to be on which list, they might at least respect themselves. Azerbaijan has nothing to lose. The only losers will be those who are outside of objectivity and seek truth and justice in the wrong ways. History already sees and records everything with its subtlety. We have been patient for thirty years, and we got back what belonged to us. From now on, we will propagate the patience and justice characteristic of our religion to our future generations. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews Deputy Editor-in-Chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 January 2024 20:00 (UTC+04:00) Nigar Hasanova Read more Following a terrible fire in 2019, President Emmanuel Macron pledged on Sunday that 2024 will be a year of hope and pride for France, highlighted by the 2024 Olympic Summer Games in Paris and the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral. "Only once in a century does one host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, only once in a millennium does one rebuild a cathedral," Macron stated. "2024: a year of resolve, decisions, healing, and pride. Indeed, a hopeful year." This seems like a doable resolution for the New Year, but let's review what the French people need to overcome to move on, be resilient, and take pleasure in their experiences. Macron was speaking at the conclusion of a turbulent year that saw his government appeal a very unpopular pension reform and deal with summer rioting following the young man's death at the hands of the police. Recently, the administration divided its own ranks when it approved a controversial immigration bill with support from the far right. Rewind to March, when Macron's administration approved pension reform. With his campaign to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, Macron wanted to solidify his reputation as the president who modernised France's economy for the twenty-first century. Rather, he encounters opposition to his leadership in both parliament and large cities. His blatant attempt to push through a pension reform plan without a vote has enraged the opposition and may make it more difficult for his administration to enact laws over the final four years of his term. Following Macron's last-minute decision to use the government's constitutional authority to enact the measure without a National Assembly vote, the largest protest of the decade was held against this strategy. Later that summer, in the capital, there was uproar when Nahel, who was of Moroccan and Algerian descent, was killed during a traffic stop in France. That year, 13 people had died in France, the majority of them being black or Arab. The fury expanded throughout French cities and even into neighbouring nations like Belgium and Switzerland in the days that followed. Macron called the deadly shooting "inexplicable" and "unforgivable," criticising the police in a rare move. Meanwhile, the UN human rights office urged France to "seriously address the deep issues of racism and discrimination in law enforcement." But in the midst of two nights of riots, the initial outrage quickly gave way to extreme law-and-order rhetoric. Analysts warned that the true lessons of Nahel's assassination, like previous tragedies in the past, would not be learned as police unions publicly spoke of fighting against "vermin" and "savage hordes." Meanwhile, the president is having a tough time heading into the New Year as France's manufacturing sector is in a "downward spiral." This assessment comes in light of recent data showing that the industry continues to shrink. The French manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 42.1 at the end of the year. A reading below 50 indicates activity is contracting and is the lowest reading since May 2020. The sector's prospects don't appear to be improving anytime soon, with economists predicting the situation will remain unchanged in the coming months. Just in the same month as the speech urging the people's recovery was about to conclude, the French government dealt a severe blow by passing legislation that tightened France's immigration laws. President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Renaissance party supported the altered law. The new law delays immigrants' access to social benefits and makes it harder for them to bring family members to France. It also outlaws holding children in correctional facilities. Regarding eligibility for benefits, a contentious clause separates citizens from immigrantseven those who are legally residing in the nation. This unexpected action was branded a "kiss of death" for Macron's party by the French media. It is still unclear if the kiss of death will be able to wake the president up to hold on to his promises of restructuring France by taking into account the thoughts, desires, and roles of its citizens. However, Macron's New Year's pledge still remains outstanding, given that 2023 was an exceptionally turbulent year for social upheaval, even by French norms, with the largest protest movement this century and the worst riots in nearly two decades. From beginning to end, the minority government of President Emmanuel Macron found it difficult to enact laws in a polarised and divisive parliament, frequently choosing to forego them entirely. It is evident that Macron's approach to the ruling nation is the only important area that needs reforming right now. French political scientist Bruno Cautres added: "2023 did not provide clear and intelligible answers to the main question: where is Emmanuel Macrons second term heading? There is no direction. We still do not know what his priorities and goals are." As political scientists mentioned, because of this unstable approach, the same individuals Emmanuel Macron's reforms were meant to placate have already abandoned him, and if this trend continues, France and Macron will face even greater difficulties. Political data shows that by December 15, 68% of French citizens disapproved of Macron's leadership and his alleged reform agenda. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 January 2024 13:22 (UTC+04:00) Nigar Hasanova Read more Tax incentives for film production have been introduced in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. This was written by Vugar Bayramov, a member of the Economic Policy, Industry, and Entrepreneurship Committee of the Milli Majlis, on his facebook account. He noted that according to the changes made to the Tax Code, 75 percent of the profit obtained from the entrepreneurial activity of the cinematographic enterprise registered in our country and producing and dubbing the film has been exempted from tax since January 1 of this year. "Concessions will apply to enterprises that are not subjects of micro-entrepreneurship and will be valid for the next 3 years. It should be noted that these concessions are included in Article 106 of the said code, entitled Exemptions and Concessions. The introduction of these concessions was important in terms of supporting local film production. Although there has been some activity in this sector in recent years, there are still difficulties in introducing fundamental products. The new concessions will not only increase the income of cinematographic enterprises but also create re-investment opportunities for them. This is expected to have a positive impact on the development of the film industry. In addition to all this, it is advisable to further expand the range of tax benefits in this sector. In particular, there is a need to apply incentives that minimize the costs of cinematographic enterprises. Discussions in this direction will be continued," he said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 January 2024 16:29 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and India totaled $1.1bn in January-November 2023. Based on the report of the State Customs Committee, the volume of this indicator decreased by 40 percent, or $751.1 million, compared to the corresponding period of last year. Thus, in January-November 2022, the volume of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and India totaled $1 bln 859.1 mln. Exports to India decreased from $1.7bn to $9bn and imports from India dropped from $197m to $183m. Since this decrease happened against the backdrop of several geopolitical and economic occurrences, the increase poses several questions. First of all, Azerbaijan's main export to India consists mainly of oil. The main decrease in trade turnover relates to the Azerbaijani side. The exports of Azerbaijan dropped by $738 mln or 44 percent. So, it could be interpreted as meaning that India found another oil supplier. Besides, it is known that India actively provides Armenia with lethal weapons, which concerns Azerbaijan. Baku denoted its dissatisfaction over the issue. To top it all off, the breakout of the Hamas-Israeli war and the conflict in the Red Sea following it caused price increases throughout the world. Thus, the next question arises, whether all the current events can have a negative impact on the trade relations between Azerbaijan and India? Speaking to Azernews, Dr. Mehmood ul Hassan Khan tried to clarify the issue. He noted that it is partially true because India succeeded in exporting oil from Russia at discounted rates despite international sanctions, which resultantly substantially reduced its exports of oil from Azerbaijan. "Moreover, Azerbaijan and Pakistan's increasing socio-economic, geopolitical, and geostrategic ties also annoyed the policymakers of India to divert its energy supplies towards Russia. The emerging military ties between Armenia and India are also one of the key factors in the overall reduction of Azerbaijans oil exports to India. Thus, it seems that unfortunately, the true spirits of geo-economics have been overtaken by the euphoria of geopolitics, which has also clear-cut geostrategic intentions in the South Caucasus," Mehmoud ul Hassan Khan said. He emphasised that the policymakers of Azerbaijan should not take this as any kind of setback to its energy supply or exports; rather, Azerbaijan should focus on further strengthening its energy cooperation with Pakistan, China, Iraq, Indonesia, and many other regional countries. "Economics and politics work in harmony, and any diplomatic dispute or conflict always has a direct correlation with its economic or commercial cooperation. The same has been replicated for Azerbaijani and Indian exports. Due to increasing economic and military ties between Armenia and India, the preferences for socio-economic integration have also drastically changed. Ultimately, national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and patriotic spirit must be preferred over any short-term economic gains and bounties," Khan said. He added that the Red Sea has now become another flash point in the world. The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has now affected the peace, prosperity, and stability of the Middle East. The proxies and marital forces are continuously disturbing regional peace, and frequent attacks on passing ships and commercial containers by Houthis have created serious hurdles for the easy sailing of the blue economy. Global trade has shuddered over blockages in the Red Sea, which may have devastating impacts even on the Suez Canal. A string of recent attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels on commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea to the Suez Canal have forced global shippers to once again shift how they transport goods. Thus, trade between Azerbaijan and India has also suffered," expert Mehmoud ul Hassan concluded. --- Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz January 6, 2024: Over the past 70 years the United States has spent thirty billion dollars on several generations of ballistic missile early warning systems, which is often shortened to BMEWS. This effort began in the 1950s, before the Russians, as the Soviet Union, strived to create such a threat. When the Russians finally did build a large number of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, or ICBMs, they found they were behind in the development of an early warning system. In 2009, the United States put into orbit a pair of experimental STSS (Space Tracking and Surveillance System) satellites. These have better heat sensors and are there to provide earlier warning of ballistic missile launches, so that anti-missiles hit ballistic missiles earlier and with a higher probability of destroying them. STSS can also track other satellites, making it easier to destroy enemy satellites in wartime. STSS recently demonstrated an ability to detect short range, air-launched missiles. STSS is another component of the BMEWS. The half century old system uses radars and satellites to monitor the planet for ballistic missile launchers (specifically ICBMs, but any large missile launch is detected.) If STSS passes more tests, it will become part of a new generation of BMEWS satellites. Early on, BMEWS consisted of long range radars that could spot warheads coming over the North Pole (from Russia). When SSBNs (ballistic missile carrying nuclear subs) entered the Russian arsenal in the 1970s, BMEWS was augmented by satellites equipped with heat sensors that could detect the enormous amount of heat generated by a ballistic missile launch (or any large explosion, like an above-ground nuclear weapons test). These satellites cover the entire planet, while the radars only cover part of the Middle East. In all, 23 of these DSP (Defense Support Program) satellites were launched by 2007. This was when the replacement of the DSP satellites began. The 2.3 ton DSP satellites were replaced by the Space-Based Infrared System or SBIRS. This was a network of four stationary orbits. There are 24 low orbit infrared or heat sensing satellites that provided more detail than the DSPs. SBIRS was fully operational by 2012. By this time SBIRS had been renamed the Space Tracking and Surveillance System or STSS. The latest upgrade was made in 2021 with the addition of a new Long Range Discrimination Radar or LRDR. There are six of these, three in the continental United States, two in Greenland and one in Britain. The United States has provided Israel with access to its BMEWS. Twice before, in 1991 and 2003, the U.S. allowed Israel to plug into BMEWS, to get warning of Iraqi missile launches. Later BMEWS provided Israel warnings of any Iranian ballistic missiles headed west from Iran to Israel. 7 January 2024 16:47 (UTC+04:00) Nigar Hasanova Read more Between January and October of last year, Azerbaijan increased its import of tomatoes from Turkiye by 419 times, Azernews reports, citing the State Statistics Committee. According to the information provided by the State Statistics Committee, in 10 months, Azerbaijan imported 117.36 tons of tomatoes worth 66.44 thousand US dollars from Turkiye. Compared to the corresponding period in 2022, the value of imports increased 230 times. The value and volume of tomatoes exported by Turkiye to Azerbaijan during the reporting period are 11 times and 11.4 times higher than the value and volume of tomatoes exported in 2022, respectively. According to the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters Union of Turkiye, the country's tomato export in 2023 increased by 42.8 % compared to 2022 and reached 538 million 724 thousand US dollars. During the mentioned period, 588,418 tons of tomatoes were exported to 52 countries, including Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Great Britain, the Seychelles, Russia, Denmark, Spain, Azerbaijan, Italy, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Estonia, and France. Among the countries to which Turkiye exported the most tomatoes in the previous year, Romania ranked first. The previous year, tomatoes worth 91 million 983 thousand dollars were imported by Romania from Turkiye. Following Romania, Russia, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine were also listed in the ranking. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Ganja State Philharmonic Hall has launched the project "Cultural Heritage of the Nation" (Xalqn mdni srvti). The project, which runs from January 8 to 14, features Fikrat Amirov, an outstanding Azerbaijani composer and the founder of the symphonic mugham genre in world music, Azernews reports. The main goal of the project is to promote classical examples of Azerbaijan in the regions and convey national and spiritual values and folk music to modern youth. Each month, the project will be dedicated to prominent cultural and artistic figures. The project is being implemented by the Ganja-Dashkesan Regional Department of the Culture Ministry and the Ganja State Philharmonic Hall. Fikrat Amirov, the founder of the symphonic mugham genre, brilliantly synthesised folk music and mugham traditions with modern musical techniques. The composer wrote the first Azerbaijani lyrical-psychological opera on a contemporary theme. In the opera Sevil, the composer used a variety of musical forms. Amirov's symphonic mughams, Shur and Kurd Ovshari, are unprecedented in the history of world music. He is the author of numerous operas, ballets, symphonies, symphonic poems, symphonic mugham, suites, capriccio, piano concertos, sonatas, musical comedies and songs, love songs, piano pieces, music for dramatic productions, and movies. Fikrat Amirov's heritage, which calls for patriotism, always instills spiritual richness, and glorifies human ideals, is one of the brightest pages in the history of Azerbaijani music. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are intended to further strengthen their ties in different areas. Director of the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre in Uzbekistan Samir Abbasov and the Executive Director of the Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Friendship Society Erkin Nuridinov discussed the issues of expanding bilateral cooperation, Azernews reports. The sides also mentioned the visit of the delegation of the Friendship Society to Azerbaijan this year and the interaction between universities in the two countries. Samir Abbasov and Erkin Nuridinov discussed the implementation of joint projects with the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University and Ganja State University. During the meeting, it was noted that from this year on, the students of the Tashkent State Pedagogical University can study Azerbaijani language and literature. The sides discussed the holding of the mutual lectures and organisational issues related to the Days of Azerbaijani Culture to be held at the state level this year in Uzbekistan. In addition, an exchange of ideas was held to promote the heritage of Nizami Ganjavi, Muhammad Fizuli, and Maksud Sheikhzade, as well as the implementation of projects for translating and publishing their works. Note that the Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Friendship Society operates under the Committee of Interethnic Relations and Friendly Relations with Foreign Countries under the Uzbekistan Culture Ministry and on the basis of the Tashkent State Pedagogical University named after Nizami Ganjavi. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lamiva993 7 January 2024 12:31 (UTC+04:00) Nigar Hasanova Read more On January 7, Orthodox Christians celebrate one of the most important Christian holidays - Christmas, Azernews reports. According to the Orthodox, this is the last day of the 40-day fast and a time of more solid preparation for the celebration of Christmas. In the evening, after sunset, the whole family gathers at the table, where there are 12 lean dishes according to the number of apostles. None of the dishes should be left untouched; you should taste at least a little of each. It is advisable to burn a candle - a living flame - on the table. The main dish of the holy evening meal is kutia. It is traditionally made from wheat, but other cereals can also be used. Grain is a symbol of people who are part of humanity. Honey or sugar syrup is used as glue in kutia. Christmas fasting ends with this dinner: on January 7, all restrictions are removed and a real feast can be arranged. The Orthodox Christian Community of Azerbaijan traditionally celebrates Christmas every year. Christianity has a very ancient history in Azerbaijan. It is no coincidence that the first Christian temples in the Caucasus were built here. In this land, world religions have played an invaluable role in establishing friendly and brotherly relations between people for centuries. Cases of national and religious intolerance have never occurred in Azerbaijan. Like representatives of other confessions, Azerbaijani Christians are full members of society and actively participate in the country's life. There are several Orthodox temples in Azerbaijan. On the night of January 67, solemn worship ceremonies were held in all Orthodox churches in Azerbaijan. Archimandrite Alexi (Nikonorov), the secretary of the Baku diocese, told reporters in an interview before the start of the Christmas ceremony at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Women of Miradas: "Christmas is a special holiday for our country. The President of Azerbaijan traditionally congratulates Orthodox Christians every year. In his congratulatory letter, he particularly emphasises the high level of interreligious dialogue as well as the festive atmosphere." "In 2023, which is significant in the modern history of Azerbaijan, all our lands were freed from occupation," Archimandrite Alexi added. The representative of the Russian Orthodox Church stressed that there are forces in the world trying to disrupt our holidays, and it is not pleasant for them to see Azerbaijan as a strong, economically, and culturally developed country. According to him, the transformation of Azerbaijan into a powerful and influential state is not at the heart of many: "Azerbaijan is being attacked in various ways; our country is accused of having problems in inter-religious relations, in the relations between the state and religion. and other regions were invited to the most prestigious international platforms, where the most laudatory speeches were made about our country, and we were asked to share our unique experiences. But unfortunately, now those people are trying to tarnish Azerbaijan, which is characterised by a special spirit of tolerance, peace, and tolerance." Archimandrite Alexi stressed that, despite these difficulties, Azerbaijan will continue on its path with confidence. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 January 2024 10:29 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Turkiye's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloghlu said in an interview with "Tvnet" that the Zangazur corridor project, which will connect his country with the Turkic world, may be realised in 2028, Azernews reports. The minister said that the work on the corridor will continue for the next 5 years. "Recently, positive reports have been coming from Armenia on this issue. The 43 km part of the corridor is on the territory of Armenia. The issue will be resolved after the planning is finalised. Thus, it will be easier for us to reach the Turkic world". Uraloglu noted that Iran also wants to join the Zangazur corridor: "There are ongoing negotiations between Iran and Turkiye on this matter. The Zangazur corridor is very important for us. We can also help Iran join this project. We have taken steps regarding the 224-kilometre section of the Zangazur Corridor from the Turkish side. Hopefully, we will complete all the work in 2028." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 January 2024 12:45 (UTC+04:00) First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva shared a post on the occasion of the Christmas holiday on her official Instagram account. According to Azernews, the post reads: "On the occasion of the Christmas holiday, I sincerely congratulate the Christian community of Azerbaijan, and I wish good health and happiness to all our compatriots!" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 January 2024 15:34 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to the Christian community of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Christmas, Azernews reports. The letter reads: "Dear fellow compatriots! I cordially congratulate the entire Christian community of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Christmas and convey my heartfelt wishes to each of you. In Azerbaijan, known for its rich traditions of tolerance, representatives of different nations and religions have lived in peace, mutual respect and trust for hundreds of years. We assess the ethnic and religious diversity, which is one of the predominant qualities of our society, as an unprecedented achievement of our statehood. The preservation of the atmosphere of democratic coexistence prevailing in our country, the promotion of progressive public values based on the principles of humanism and tolerance are among the priority directions of our public policy. It is commendable that our Christian compatriots, taking advantage of the broad opportunities created by the exemplary relations between the state and religion, are keeping their unique traditions, language, and culture alive and are closely involved in the large-scale construction works carried out in our country and in all areas of our public and political life together with representatives of other faiths. Dear fellow compatriots! Christmas is a symbol of renewal, purity, and feelings of mercy and kindness. I once again congratulate all of you and wish your families happiness, abundance, and blessings on the occasion of this dear day. Happy holiday! Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 5 January 2024" --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 January 2024 17:18 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more The trial on the criminal case against Fuad Mammadov, former Deputy Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan, former head of the Main Department of Material and Technical Supply, late Lieutenant General Fuad Mammadov, and employees Fuad Sheidabekov and Azer Khalilov, accused of embezzlement of state funds in especially large amounts, has continued, Azernews reports. At the trial at the Baku Military Court, chaired by Judge Fikrat Aliyev, the court investigation was declared open. The prosecutor announced the indictment. According to the indictment, the late General Fuad Mammadov, in collusion with two officials of the company, Fuad Sheidabekov and Azer Khalilov, embezzled about AZN 15 mln in state funds. The company officials did not plead guilty to the charges. Fuad Mammadov's son was recognised as the legal successor in the case. Commenting on the charge, he stated that his father was innocent and asked to stop the criminal case against his father. The court also learned that the property of the deceased general, valued at a large sum, had been seized. The court decided to hold the trial behind closed doors. The trial will continue on January 24. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 January 2024 16:36 (UTC+04:00) President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to appoint Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev as the President of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), the 19th session of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 19), and the 6th session of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 6). As per the order, Mukhtar Babayev was authorised to form a team of representatives responsible for preparations for the COP29, CMP 19 and CMA 6, and for the implementation of the presidency. The order underscores Azerbaijans commitment to taking all necessary measures to perfectly organize COP29 and achieving successful and triumphant results for Azerbaijan and humanity. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 January 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00) Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is preparing to fly its new line of aircraft, dubbed HURKUS-2, in June, which featured new optimizations and upgrades, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. The company, based in the Turkish capital of Ankara, developed the HURKUS line, a new generation of advanced training and light attack aircraft designed for all levels of pilot training, as well as close air support missions. The HURKUS line initially began as a training aircraft and later was expanded to include variants of light attack and armed reconnaissance variants. The company has been conducting the HURKUS-2 project for some time, thanks to improved capabilities developed during the HURKUS program. TAI is set to deliver 55 units of the advanced HURKUS-2 aircraft, into the inventory of the Turkish Air Forces 122nd Fighter Training Squadron. The HURKUS-2 aircraft is to conduct its first flight in June. The aircraft, expected to provide advantages with its low use cost, is categorized as the advanced variant by the 3rd Main Jet Base in the central city of Konya. The company also developed the HURKUS Air and Ground Integration variant for the use of fire support units and advanced air controller training activities of the Turkish Air Force. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz January 7, 2024: Over a decade ago the U.S. Navy developed a new Unmanned Surface Vessel or USV, called the Blackfish. It was designed from scratch as a USV, not just the usual practice of taking existing small boats and adapting them for remote and autonomous control. The Blackfish was 3.2 meters long, looked like a large, unmanned jet ski, and was equipped with video cameras, sonar, and some other sensors. Using GPS, it can automatically patrol a predefined route, or be controlled remotely. What the navy wanted was an inexpensive USV for patrolling port areas where American ships are tied up, and so had to be able to detect divers, as well as small boats. That sort of work was eventually replaced by oceanographic research, and environmental monitoring. The U.S. Navy earlier developed the AMN 1, which is a flat-bottomed USV for operating in shallow coastal waters and up rivers. For riverine operations, the navy has had to develop navigation software for tricky situations, like having the radar (in this case, laser-based lidar) be able to detect a bridge as something it can go under, and not an obstacle to further movement. AMN 1 is equipped with most of the equipment that current USVs have been successful with. Some USVs, like the Israeli Protector and the American Spartan Scout, are already being used to patrol coastal and port areas like the Gaza coast, and the waters around the Lebanese border. These USVs are basically 4-8 ton, 11 meter speed boats equipped with radar, GPS and vidcams, and armed with a remote control 12.7mm machine-gun using night vision and a laser rangefinder. There is also a public address system, to give orders to boats that should not be there. These USVs have been used for two decades. They can be controlled from an operator ashore, or in a nearby ship, usually out to the horizon or at least 10-20 kilometers distant. They can stay out 8-48 hours at a time, depending on how much high speed movement is used. The one big shortcoming is that most USVs are built for speed, not rough seas. When the weather turns bad, and the waves get higher, they have to be brought in. Spartan Scout was particularly useful when it got its first tryout in the Persian Gulf during late 2003. There are lots of small boats moving about, some of them up to no good. An Arab linguist on the mother ship was able to interrogate suspicious boats the Spartan Scout ran down. The civilian sailors were somewhat taken aback when they were interrogated by this Arab speaking boat that had no one aboard. While Spartan Scout was developed primarily to work with the now retired Littoral Combat Ship, most similar ships, like frigates and destroyers would like to have one just for port security. The U.S. Navy has also developed a new anti-submarine USV (unmanned surface vessel) to operate from its LCS (Littoral Combat Ships). Officially called the 11-meter Fleet class Anti-Submarine Warfare Unmanned Surface Vehicle (ASWUSV), the 12.6 meter long boats weigh 8.5 tons and can carry 2.5 tons of sensors and other equipment. This USV can move up to 63 kilometers an hour and stay at sea for up to 24 hours. Most of the time, it would be moving slowly, using its sonar to search for subs. The ASWUSV is equipped with GPS and a computerized navigation system that allows it to automatically run search patterns. Thus, the sailors controlling the boat remotely can move it to an area where helicopter or aircraft dropped sonobuoys have picked up a contact and pursue it more intensively with the more powerful sensors it has on board. Such pattern searching, worked out with algorithms derived from experience with what subs can do, has been a successful tactic since World War II. While ASWUSVs can be used by frigates and destroyers, they can also be used from shore stations. Some were apparently tested in the Persian Gulf, to help keep the Straits of Hormuz free of Iranian submarines. The ASWUSV also carries video cameras and radar, to assist in avoiding collisions with other ships, and to keep Iranian gunboats from capturing or damaging one. The ASWUSV was developed based on experience with the Spartan Scout, while the AMN 1 is building on that experience and developing new design features for the next generation of USVs. South Korea is the latest nation to develop and user an ASWUSV. 7 January 2024 14:25 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more The Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Ahmed Attaf, expressed his deep regret over the erroneous and inaccurate information about Algeria in the latest statement by the US Department of State on the freedom of religion. According to Azernews, the Algerian Embassy in Azerbaijan has shared a post about this on its official X page. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Ahmed Attaf, expressed his deep regret over the erroneous and inaccurate information about Algeria in the latest statement by the US Department of State on the freedom of religion pic.twitter.com/8efcaenTVb Embassy of Algeria in Azerbaijan (@algeriabaku) January 7, 2024 Note that on November 30, 2022, in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, as amended, the Secretary of State placed Algeria on the Special Watch List for having engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom. Furthermore, on January 4, 2024, the United States added Azerbaijan to its Special Watchlist of countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom and require close monitoring, a classification that potentially opens the countries to sanctions from the U.S. government. Releasing his annual index of designations, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken kept all 12 countries that had been on the previous year's blacklist: Burma, China, Cuba, the DPRK, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. "In addition, I have designated Algeria, Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam as countries for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom," Blinken said in a statement. The U.S. religious freedom body USCIRF, in a statement, 'welcomed' the decision to put Azerbaijan on the watchlist. Last month, USCIRF released a new report that provides an update on religious freedom conditions in Azerbaijan, saying that although the country has in recent years ceased some problematic practices regarding state interference in its peoples practice of their religion or beliefs, the government has "shown little interest in reforming laws and policies that violate Azerbaijans international human rights commitments." According to USCIRF claims, within the last three years, the government has twice amended its religion law to introduce new restrictions on a variety of religious activities. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 January 2024 14:14 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir announced that Turkiye's first Turkish astronaut, Alper Gezeravci, will go to space on January 18, 2024, Azernews reports. Alper Gezeravci will participate in the space mission along with Spanish, Italian, and Swedish astronauts. The four-member Ax-3 crew will travel to the International Space Station with the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, USA. The flight will take place at 02:11 on January 18, Azerbaijan time. Please note that Alper Gezeravci will stay on the International Space Station for 14 days and will conduct 13 different scientific experiments. Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir said that one of the experiments in fields such as biology, medicine, material science, and genetics was conducted by students of the Mush Science and Arts Centre. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 January 2024 21:45 (UTC+04:00) Tokyo prosecutors have arrested Yoshitaka Ikeda, a member of the lower house of parliament from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets. He is a member of the faction of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and is suspected of violating the law on receiving income from collecting political donations. This is the first high-profile arrest in the so-called kickback scandal, which is how the Japanese press calls receiving income from collecting political donations in violation of reporting rules. The scandal has already led to major reshuffles in the Japanese government and the leadership of the LDP, and has also caused a sharp decline in the rating of trust in the government. The scandal concerns fundraising through receptions and evenings, for which people, mostly business representatives, purchase paid tickets, thus making donations. The funds collected must be declared accordingly and reflected in the financial statements. Factions in the LDP set fundraising standards that depend on the status of a politician, his experience and authority. However, it is alleged that in some cases, politicians collect more funds through paid events than is provided for by the established internal party norm. The scandal concerns the difference between the funds raised and the norm set for a particular MP, since these funds are supposed to have been returned to some politicians in the form of so-called kickbacks and could be used as shadow political funds. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 January 2024 20:40 (UTC+04:00) The Chinese government plans to invest about 80 billion yuan (over $11 billion) in the development of the economy of the Tibet Autonomous Region in 2024, Azernews reports, citing Xinhua news agency. According to him, the funds will be used for the construction of infrastructure facilities - railways, expressways and airports. In particular, the authorities will begin or continue the construction of 10 key air harbors in the region. In addition, according to the agency, the allocated budget funds will be used to finance projects for the supply of environmentally friendly energy. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 7 January 2024 20:15 (UTC+04:00) The annual Ice and Snow Festival with its fabulous ice sculptures has opened in Harbin. The event attracts crowds of tourists to the capital of China's northernmost province, Heilongjiang, founded in the late 19th century, Azernews reports, citing foreign media. This year the area of the ice park is 810,000 square meters, and 250,000 cubic meters of sculptural ice collected from the nearby frozen Sungua River is illuminated at night with colorful lights. The sculptures, some of which are as tall as multi-storey buildings, depict Chinese-style buildings and bridges, fairy-tale castles, towers and even the Beijing Temple of Heaven. Several ice slides have been built in the park for children and adults. Sun Zemin, the festival's vice director of marketing, said that the average number of people visiting the park daily has increased significantly this year to about 30,000, and hotel rooms in the city have been booked in advance. "In 2018, the average number of people visiting the park per day was about 18,500... Thus, the total number of people has almost doubled compared to previous years," he said. During the New Year holidays, the festival park was visited by more than five times more visitors than a year ago 163,200 people. This brought in revenue of 46.18 million yuan ($6.45 million), which is almost six times more than a year ago, according to local Heilongjiang TV. This year's winter turned out to be an important season for Harbin, as interest in the ice destination increased dramatically after reports appeared on social media that many citizens from the warm south were flocking to the snow-covered city, which is seen as a key factor in launching the "ice and snow" economy there. "This is the first winter vacation since the pandemic restrictions were lifted, and people can't hold back," said Long Ping, a 19year-old college student, adding that people wanted to go outside and relax after several stressful years of the COVID pandemic. China lifted its strict quarantine restrictions in connection with COVID in December 2022 and many businesses, especially in the tourism sector, began to revive a little. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Dragon Oil Company, wholly owned by the Government of Dubai, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turkmenbet Company (Turkmenistan Oil), expanding its investments in the Turkmen oil and gas sector, including three new oil fields within Block 19, stated Emirates News Agency (WAM). Touching on the agreement, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dragon Oil explained that the memorandum will enable the company to transfer technology and modern technology in the oil sector while making technical and financial investment to develop the fields covered by the memorandum, pointing out that the memorandum is only the first of the excellent relations that we have brought together with Turkmenistan. Al Tayer stated that Block 19 includes the three new fields close to the Chelken field in which we operate the concession, where we conducted a seismic survey at a cost of $35 million, and the results of the analysis we conducted showed that Block 19 is promising, adding, Our expansion plans in Turkmenistan are located in An area close to the Chilken field is a promising area, and we know it well. He pointed out that the next stage after signing the goodwill agreement is to drill two to three wells, while the third stage is the stage of developing production when exploring for oil. Al Tayer said, Signing the memorandum of understanding with Turkmenistan reflects the great confidence that the company enjoys with the government of Turkmenistan, whose presence in this hospitable country dates back more than 20 years. Al Tayer added, The company is moving to expand investment in three oil fields with the aim of raising and increasing production in the near future. Turkmenistan is a very important oil country and has great oil and gas capabilities. We are seeking to strengthen our presence there through new investments that will reflect positively on both parties on the one hand, Enhancing the states income from revenues and creating new work jobs, especially since the company counts more than 2,000 employees in Turkmenistan alone. The signing of the agreement was attended by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan; Meredov Rashid, Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Amanov Batyr Amanglidievich, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Turkmenistan; Biglev Acherguli, Advisor to the President of Turkmenistan on Oil and Gas Issues; Babayev Maksat Mamitsaparovich and Agaganov Jovansh, Head of the Service. Also present from the UAE side were Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dragon Oil; Ahmed Al Hai Al Hameli, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Turkmenistan; Ali Rashid Al Jarwan, CEO of Dragon Oil; and Saeed Salem Al Shamsi, General Manager of Marketing and Government Communications, Dragon Oil Company. At the beginning of the meeting, Al Tayer, welcomed the presence of the Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan and conveyed the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. During the meeting, he also thanked the Turkmen government for supporting the company over the years and also praised for the wise leadership and support for the companys various projects. On the sidelines of the signing, the Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan met with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dragon Oil Company. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation and explore the possibilities of advancing the energy sector and oil and gas industry in Turkmenistan, given Dragon Oil's extensive experience and notable achievements in these areas. Berdimuhamedow extended his thanks and great gratitude to Dragon Oil Company for its support of the Turkmen health sector with health equipment and medicines, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the company provided about 19 ambulances and three clinics equipped with all medical equipment intended for Covid patients, in addition to the clinics it provided. Integrated in the company's fields to serve its employees. At the end of the meeting, the agreement was signed on the Emirati side by Ali Rashid Al Jarwan, CEO of the company, and Aghajanov Jovansh, Head of the State Administration Turkmenneft on the Turkmen side. Dragon Oil has been engaged in oil and gas cooperation with Turkmenistan on the basis of a production sharing agreement since 2000. Its primary focus is on the extraction of hydrocarbon resources in the Caspian Sea, in the Chilikin Contractual Area. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union were due to walk out from Monday until the end of the week (Jonathan Brady/PA) Strikes by London Underground workers which would have crippled Tube services this week have been suspended following progress in talks over a pay dispute. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) were due to walk out from Monday until the end of the week in protest at a 5% pay offer. The RMT announced it was suspending the planned strikes after progress in talks with Transport for London (TfL). RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: Following further positive discussions today, the negotiations on a pay deal for our London Underground members can now take place on an improved basis and mandate with significant further funding for a settlement being made available. This significantly improved funding position means the scheduled strike action will be suspended with immediate effect and we look forward to getting into urgent negotiations with TfL in order to develop a suitable agreement and resolution to the dispute. A Transport for London spokesperson said: Last week, we discussed our pay offer extensively with the three trade unions that had rejected it, making clear that TfL cannot afford any more. This remains the case. Today, we were made aware that the mayor was able to provide additional funds to enable discussions with the unions to continue. We have all consistently made clear that strike action is bad for everyone and would have a negative impact on the city as it recovers from the pandemic. This intervention from the mayor has been discussed with the unions, and the RMT union has now suspended the planned strike action. However, as the action has been suspended at this late stage, Londoners will still face disruption tomorrow and we advise all customers to check the TfL website or the TfL Go app for the latest travel information. We will now meet with representatives of all the unions to agree on the best way for this funding to be used to resolve the current dispute. We will also seek to meet as soon as possible with the unions representing TfL staff. We always strive to work constructively with the unions and avoid disruption to London. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: Im delighted that this weeks Tube strikes have now been suspended. They would have caused huge disruption for Londoners and would have been a major blow to the capitals businesses at the worst possible time. The week of action would have cost our hospitality industry 50 million alone. This shows what can be achieved by engaging and working with trade unions and transport staff, rather than working against them. In contrast, the adversarial approach taken by ministers has led to years of strikes across the country, whether on national rail, or in our health and education services all exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis. The suspension of strikes is really good news as commuters return after the new year. Lawson had hit out at what he termed woke issues Portraying woke issues in soap operas helped launch the career of Charlie Lawson, a Co Antrim celebrity columnist has said after the Northern Irish actor hit out at political-correctness in TV drama. Lawson played the role of Jim McDonald in Coronation Street in a number of stints from 1989 until 2018, but the Enniskillen-born actor has hit out at what he called woke storylines turning viewers off soap operas in recent years. He told The Sun viewers were getting turned off by too many young storylines. "I do know there are at least two long-term cast members who arent happy, he said. There is a feeling there are too many episodes and that the production team dont have time to give the attention to detail they did before. "In my day, in the Nineties, we didnt have any woke issues, we didnt have any political correctness, we had none of that s****. We were able to tell stories and tell them properly. "I suspect now half the meetings that they have upstairs on the sixth floor are about what is politically acceptable, all this stuff that they feel they have to address. Read more New IRA terror threat posted on Dublin wall not sanctioned by leadership However, celebrity columnist Anthony Miller has said Lawsons comments are ironic given one of his early storylines would have been seen as woke during its era. Lawsons character Jim McDonald was the perpetrator of domestic abuse towards wife Liz (played by Beverley Callard). Anthony Miller "The issue of domestic violence is a very, very serious topic, which, prior to the time it was addressed in the soap, was something that was brushed under the carpet and sadly somewhat accepted as part and parcel of domestic life, Miller told the Belfast Telegraph. "It was shows such as Coronation Street, and EastEnders with Den and Angie that helped bring it to the fore. I should imagine many men in particular at the time would have thought it very woke to be outing it in a soap. "I wonder has he (Lawson) taken a moment to consider his contribution to the woke discussions we hear him constantly moan about today? Miller who regularly appears on BBC NI and Radio Ulster said Lawsons comments could be an attempt at staying in some way relevant. "I wonder, if he was busy on the air, in the soaps, watching his colleagues tackle sensitive and serious issues would he be so annoyed? he said. "All in all, he is entitled to his rants, I encourage free speech, and would ultimately defend his right to an opinion to the hilt! "In regard to taking his views as truly and honestly held, or with any gravitas, I would first pass it through a few filters of sour grapes and a want or hunger to remain in the news. "We now have hundreds of channels on our tellies and online. Interestingly, Netflix and the likes which are awash with woke style programming are leading the way. "Maybe Charlie should consider changing course, and that might lead to him getting back into work. Former Tory MP Peter Bone was ousted by voters through a recall petition (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Labour has accused the Conservatives of caving to the reported demands of a disgraced ex-MP to pick his partner to stand in his former seat during a by-election. Former Tory Peter Bone was ousted from the Commons in December and a by-election triggered after more than 10% of constituents in his Wellingborough seat voted to recall him. The recall petition was sparked when Mr Bone was handed a six-week suspension from the House of Commons after an inquiry found he had subjected a staff member to bullying and sexual misconduct. Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden announced on Sunday that Helen Harrison, a councillor on North Northamptonshire Council, had been picked to fight the election for the party. He tweeted: Congratulations to Cllr Helen Harrison on being selected for Wellingborough at a packed meeting of Conservative members this afternoon. It has been widely reported that Mr Bone and Ms Harrison, who contested the Bolsover seat in 2017 for the Conservatives, are dating. Ms Harrison has posted a number of photos on social media of them out canvassing together, including since the Tory whip was suspended from Mr Bone following the publication of an inquiry by Parliaments behaviour watchdog into his conduct. According to a report in The Times in October, Mr Bone, a former minister, had been threatening to stand as an independent candidate in the by-election, potentially splitting the Tory vote, if Ms Harrison was not selected as the partys candidate. Labours Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow paymaster general, said: Rishi Sunak caving to Peter Bones demand to select his partner so he doesnt run as an independent shows just how weak the Prime Minister is. Rishi Sunak is too weak to lead his own party, let alone the country. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The people of Wellingborough deserve the best possible candidate to represent them, not the product of a quick political fix. Only Labour can deliver the change the voters want to see and give Britain its future back. In October, Mr Bone was found to have committed many varied acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct against a staff member in 2012 and 2013. Parliaments behaviour watchdog, the Independent Expert Panel, upheld an earlier investigation which found he broke the MPs code of conduct on four counts of bullying and one of sexual misconduct. The panel found that he had indecently exposed himself to the complainant in the bathroom of a hotel room during a work trip to Madrid. Mr Bone has repeatedly denied the allegations and said in his statement following the result of the recall petition last month that he will have more to say on these matters in the new year. The veteran politician was kicked out of the Tory parliamentary party a day after the report was published on October 16. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content A date for the by-election has not been set but rules around parliamentary procedure mean it will not take place before February. Wellingborough has been held by the Conservatives since 2005, when Mr Bone won it from Labour. The upcoming contest is likely to be a test for the Prime Ministers party, despite Mr Bone securing a healthy majority in 2019. He held the Northamptonshire seat with a majority of 18,540 over Labour, but the Tories have suffered a series of by-election defeats in recent years, including in constituencies which were theoretically safer. The majority is smaller than the Tory cushions in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire which fell to Sir Keir Starmers party in October. Labour has picked Gen Kitchen as the partys candidate in Wellingborough. It will be one of at least two Westminster by-elections due this year, with Chris Skidmore triggering a contest in his Kingswood constituency in South Gloucestershire when the former Government net-zero tsar announced last week that he was leaving Parliament in protest at Mr Sunaks decision to grant more North Sea oil and gas drilling licences. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Jordans king and foreign minister and visited a World Food Programme warehouse in Amman as he pressed ahead with an urgent Middle East diplomatic mission to prevent Israels war against Hamas in Gaza from spreading. On his fourth visit to the region in three months, Mr Blinken stressed the need for Israel to adjust its military operations to reduce civilian casualties and significantly boost the amount of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza while highlighting the importance of preparing detailed plans for the post-conflict future of the territory, which has been decimated by intensive Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives. After a day of talks with Turkish and Greek leaders in Istanbul and Crete, Mr Blinken met on Sunday with Jordans King Abdullah II and foreign minister Ayman Safadi seeking buy-in for US efforts to calm resurgent fears that the three-month-old war could engulf the region, ramp up aid deliveries to Gaza and prepare for the eventual end of hostilities. Antony Blinken, left, meets with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (Evelyn Hockstein/AP) Jordan and other Arab states have been highly critical of Israels actions and have eschewed public support for long-term planning, arguing that the fighting must end before such discussions can begin. They have been demanding an immediate cease-fire since mid-October as civilian casualties began to skyrocket. Israel has refused and the US has instead called for specified temporary humanitarian pauses to allow aid to get in and people to get to safety. Mr Blinken also toured the World Food Programmes Regional Coordination warehouse in the Jordanian capital where lorries are being packed with aid to be delivered to Gaza through both Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings. The US has been pressing Israel for weeks to let greater amounts of food, water, fuel, medicine and other supplies into Gaza, and the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution on December 22 calling for an immediate increase in deliveries. Three weeks ago, Israel opened Kerem Shalom, adding a second entry point for aid into Gaza after Rafah. Still, the rate of lorries entering has not risen significantly. This week, an average of around 120 trucks a day entered through Rafah and Kerem Shalom, according to UN figures, far below the 500 lorries of goods going in daily before the war and far below what aid groups say is needed. Almost the entire population of 2.3 million depends on the lorries coming across the border for their survival. One in four Palestinians in Gaza is starving, and the rest face crisis levels of hunger, according to the UN. More than 85% of people in Gaza have been driven from their homes by Israeli bombardment and ground offensives. Most live in UN shelters crowded beyond their capacity, in tent camps that have been sprung up, or on the streets. The few functioning hospitals are overwhelmed with the wounded as well as patients amid outbreaks of disease, as sanitation systems have collapsed. In Greece on Saturday, Mr Blinken said his trip would be dominated by not necessarily easy conversations with allies and partners about what they are willing to do to build durable peace and security. Mr Blinkens visit comes as developments in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea and Iraq have put intense strains on what had been a modestly successful US push to prevent a regional conflagration since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, and as international criticism of Israels military operation mounts. From Jordan, Mr Blinken will travel to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday and Saudi Arabia on Monday. Mr Blinken and Mr Safadi in Amman, Jordan (Evelyn Hockstein/AP) He will then visit Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday and Wednesday before wrapping up the trip in Egypt. These are not necessarily easy conversations, he said in Greece. There are different perspectives, different needs, different requirements, but it is vital that we engage in this diplomacy now both for the sake of Gaza itself and more broadly the sake of the future for Israelis and Palestinians and for the region as a whole. He said his priorities are protecting civilians, far too many Palestinians have been killed, getting more humanitarian aid into Gaza, ensuring Hamas cannot strike again, and developing a framework for Palestinian-led governance in the territory and a Palestinian state with security assurances or Israel. Hours before Mr Blinkens meetings on Saturday, Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah militia fired dozens of rockets at northern Israel and said the barrage was an initial response to the targeted killing, presumably by Israel, of a top leader from the allied Hamas group in Lebanons capital this past week. Israel responded in what became one of the heaviest days of cross-border fighting in recent weeks. Meanwhile, stepped-up attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels have disrupted international trade and led to increased efforts by the US and its allies to patrol the vital commercial waterway and respond to threats. The coalition of countries issued what amounted to a final warning to the Houthis on Wednesday to cease their attacks on vessels or face potential targeted military action. Since December 19, the militants have carried out at least two dozen attacks in response to the Israel-Hamas war. Smoke rises after an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip (Mohammed Dahman/AP) By Julia Frankel, Samy Magdy and Najib Jobain, Associated Press By Julia Frankel, Samy Magdy and Najib Jobain, Associated Press The Israeli military signalled that it has wrapped up major combat in northern Gaza, saying it has completed dismantling Hamass military infrastructure there, as the war against the militant group entered its fourth month. Israel did not address troop deployments in northern Gaza going forward. Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said late on Saturday that forces would focus on the central and southern parts of the territory and strengthen defences along the Israel-Gaza border fence. The announcement came ahead of a visit to Israel by US secretary of state Antony Blinken, who on Sunday was in Qatar, a key mediator. Lorries carrying humanitarian aid line up at the Rafah Border Crossing, Egypt, on the way to Gaza (Amr Nabil/AP) Biden administration officials have urged Israel to wind down its blistering air and ground offensive in Gaza and shift to more targeted attacks against Hamas leaders. In recent weeks, Israel has scaled back its military assault in northern Gaza and pressed its offensive in the south, where most of Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians are squeezed into smaller areas in a humanitarian disaster while being pounded by Israeli air strikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists the war will not end until the objectives of eliminating Hamas, getting Israels hostages returned and ensuring that Gaza will not be a threat to Israel are met. The war was triggered by Hamass October 7 attack on southern Israel in which the militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 people hostage. Israels retaliation has killed more than 22,800 Palestinians and wounded more than 58,000, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The death toll does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Health officials say about two-thirds of those killed have been women and minors. Israel blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the group operates in heavily populated residential areas. People watch smoke rising to the sky after an explosion in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel (Leo Correa/AP) An air strike near the southern city of Rafah killed two journalists on Sunday, including Hamza Dahdouh, the oldest son of Wael Dahdouh, Al Jazeeras chief correspondent in Gaza, according to both the Qatari-owned Arabic-language channel and local medical officials. Al Jazeera broadcast footage of Dahdouh weeping and holding his sons hand before walking away in a daze. Israels military had no immediate comment. Al Jazeera strongly condemned the killings and other brutal attacks against journalists and their families by Israeli forces, and urged the International Criminal Court, governments and human rights groups to hold Israel accountable. Dahdouh lost his wife, two children and a grandchild in an October 26 air strike, and was wounded in an Israeli strike last month that killed a co-worker. The world is blind to whats happening in the Gaza Strip, Dahdouh said, blinking back tears. Another air strike hit a house between Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, killing at least seven people whose bodies were taken to the nearby European Hospital, according to an Associated Press journalist at the facility. One man hurried in carrying a baby, and later walked the blanket-wrapped child to the mortuary. Palestinians look at a car targeted by an Israeli air strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip (Hatem Ali/AP) Everything happening here is outside the realms of law, outside the realms of reason. Our brains cant fully comprehend all this that is happening to us, said a grieving relative, Inas Abu al-Najja, her quavering voice rising. Men worked the rubble with picks and bare hands. On Sunday, officials at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies of 18 people, including 12 children, killed in an Israeli strike late on Saturday. More than 50 people were wounded in the strike on a home in the Khan Younis refugee camp, set up decades ago to house refugees from the 1948 war over Israels creation. Israeli forces pushed deeper into the central city of Deir al-Balah, where residents in several neighbourhoods were warned that they must evacuate. The international medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by the acronym MSF, said it was evacuating its medical staff from Deir al-Balahs Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. A bullet penetrated a wall of the hospitals intensive care unit on Friday, and drone attacks and sniper fire were just a few hundred metres from the hospital over the past couple of days, said Carolina Lopez, the groups emergency co-ordinator there. She said the hospital received between 150 and 200 wounded people daily in recent weeks. Israeli soldiers are seen near the Gaza Strip border, in southern Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) The International Rescue Committee and Medical Aid for Palestinians said they were also forced to withdraw from the hospital. The amount of injuries being brought in over the last few days has been horrific, surgeon Nick Maynard with the IRC medical team said in a statement. The World Health Organisation urged the protection of health workers across Gaza. Rear Admiral Hagari, the military spokesman, said scattered fighting in northern Gaza was to be expected, along with rockets sporadically being launched from there towards Israel. He said Hamas militants without a framework and without commanders were still present. The military, without presenting evidence, has said that it has killed more than 8,000 Hamas fighters. Rear Admiral Hagari said Israeli forces would act differently in the south than in northern Gaza, where heavy bombardment and ground combat levelled entire neighbourhoods. He said urban refugee camps targeted by the military are packed with gunmen and that an underground city of sprawling tunnels was discovered underneath Khan Younis. Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Echoing Israeli political leaders, he said fighting will continue throughout 2024. In addition to US appeals for scaling back high-intensity combat, Mr Blinken on his fourth Middle East trip in three months is calling for more aid to reach Gaza and urging Israels leaders to come up with a post-war vision for the besieged territory. Two US senators who inspected aid deliveries over the weekend described a slow and cumbersome process, largely due to Israeli inspections of cargo trucks, with seemingly arbitrary rejections of vital humanitarian equipment. The Biden administration and Mr Netanyahu remain far apart on who should run the territory after the war, with the Israeli leader rejecting the Washington-floated idea of having a reformed Palestinian Authority, an autonomous government in parts of the occupied West Bank, eventually administer Gaza. An escalation of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah has complicated the US push to prevent a regional conflict. Hezbollah described Saturdays rockets as an initial response to the targeted killing of a top Hamas leader in a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut last week, presumed to have been carried out by Israel. Donald Trump holds a military academy photo of himself that he got from a person in the crowd (AP) Former US president Donald Trump has marked the third anniversary of the assault on the US Capitol on January 6 2021 by casting the migrant surge on the southern border as the real insurrection. Just over a week before the Republican nomination process begins with Iowas caucuses, Mr Trump continued to claim that countries have been emptying jails and mental institutions to fuel a record number of migrant crossings. There is no evidence that this is the case. Mr Trump said in Iowa: When you talk about insurrection, what theyre doing, thats the real deal. Thats the real deal. Not patriotically and peacefully peacefully and patriotically. Mr Trump is seen as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination (AP) He was quoting from his speech on January 6, before a violent mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol as part of a desperate bid to keep him in power after his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. Mr Trumps remarks came a day after Mr Biden delivered a speech near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where he cast Mr Trump as a grave threat to democracy and called January 6 a day when we nearly lost America lost it all. With a likely rematch of the 2020 election looming, both Mr Biden and Mr Trump have frequently invoked January 6 on the campaign trail. Mr Trump, who is under US federal indictment for his efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Mr Biden, has consistently downplayed or spread conspiracy theories about a riot in which his supporters spurred by his lies about election fraud tried to disrupt the certification of Mr Bidens victory. The former leader also continued to bemoan the treatment of those who have been jailed for participating in the riot, again labelling them as hostages. Mr Trump spoke at a rally at Des Moines Area Community College in Newton, Iowa (AP) More than 1,230 people have been charged with federal crimes connected to the violence, including assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. Mr Trump was holding a pair of commit-to-caucus events in Newton in central Iowa and Clinton in the states far east just over a week before voting begins on January 15. Earlier on Saturday, he courted young conservative activists in Des Moines, speaking to members of Run GenZ, an organisation that encourages young conservatives to run for office. Many in the audience at the Embassy Suites hotel in Des Moines seemed surprised to see Mr Trump, whose visit had not been previously announced. Mr Trumps campaign is hoping to turn out thousands of supporters who have never caucused before as part of a show of force aimed at denying his rivals momentum and demonstrating his organising prowess heading into the general election. His chief rivals, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida governor Ron DeSantis, were also campaigning in the state as they battle for second place in hopes of emerging as the most viable alternative to Mr Trump, who is leading by wide margins in early state and national polls. Mr Trump has used the trip to step up his attacks against Ms Haley, who has been gaining ground. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley are Mr Trumps main rivals for the Republican nomination (AP) He again cast her as insufficiently conservative and a globalist beholden to Wall Street donors, and accused her of being disloyal for running against him. Nikki will sell you out just like she sold me out, he charged. On Friday night, Mr Trump highlighted several recent Haley statements that drew criticism, including her comment that voters in New Hampshire correct Iowas mistakes (You dont have to be corrected, he said) and her failure to mention slavery when asked what had caused the Civil War. I dont know if its going to have an impact, but you know like slaverys sort of the obvious answer, as opposed to her three paragraphs of bullshit, he told a crowd Friday. In Newton, he said that he was fascinated by the horrible Civil War, which he suggested he could have prevented. Its so fascinating, he said. Its just different. I just find it Im so attracted to seeing it So many mistakes were made. See, that was something I think could have been negotiated, to be honest with you. Ms Haleys campaign has pointed to his escalating attention, including a new attack ad, as evidence Mr Trump is worried about her momentum. God bless President Trump, hes been on a temper tantrum every day about me and everything hes saying is not true, Ms Haley told a crowd Saturday in North Liberty, Iowa. Derry beauty and Irish rugby star hubby Conor Murray start their own boozy brand selling pre-mixed drinks Joanna will have a busy 2024 with her new drinks company Newlywed model Joanna Cooper rolled out the barrel for Christmas with her very own boozy drinks brand of pre-mixed cocktails. With the help of Irish rugby star hubby Conor Murray (34), the Derry beauty has been plugging Coops Cocktails on her social media. In one video the 29-year-old quaffs a Whiskey Sour while sharing her tips for achieving the ultimate foamy top. Elsewhere on her Instagram, the model and fashion designer shows fans how to knock up an Espresso Martini with a thirsty Conor arriving at the end to taste test. Conor Murray and Joanna Cooper on their wedding day The range of pre-mixed cocktails, which retail at 35 a pop, include Pornstar and Espresso Martinis, Cosmopolitan, Whisky Sour and Margarita. Earlier this month the new venture found itself briefly on the rocks after the website crashed as it launched. Taking to her Instagram Stories to announce the brand, Joanna shared a snap of her margarita mix soaked in sunshine on a beach with the caption: Marg on the rocks anyone? In a follow-up post she said the website had crashed but thanked people for letting her know, adding: working to fix it xx. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Last month the model had an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction in the middle of a Dublin department store after she dropped her knickers. Joanna joked her face might never be the same colour again after the incident while she was shopping for underwear in Penneys. Again detailing the mishap on social media she shared an image of a torn-open Penneys bag with a caption detailing the embarassing incident. Coops Cocktails She said: The bottom fell out of my Penneys bag walking through the shopping centre, it was obviously filled to the brim with knickers/socks. The place was PACKED, a wee old lady was howling laughing shouting you dropped your knickers and my face might never return to a normal colour. Its been a busy period for Joanna who recently hopped over to London for some festive fun with her fellow rugby WAGs. The former Miss Universe was joined by pal Harriet Beirne, who tied the knot with Tadgh Beirne in 2022, as well as Munster rugby star Rory Scannells other half Aisling Colwell. Joanna will have a busy 2024 with her new drinks company Joanna married hubby Conor Murray in June and following the sun-soaked celebrity wedding in Portuga,l it was revealed the pair had actually tied the knot in secret weeks before they flew out to the Algarve. Responding to followers on Instagram, Joanna said: Long story short, we actually had a church wedding a few weeks ago, just the two of us, wee Kev (their dog) and our two witnesses. She also shared some photos from the intimate ceremony including a snap of her and Conor walking down the aisle hand-in-hand as their Cavapoo pranced along in front of them, as well as a pic of the pooch in a tux. Model Joanna Cooper The US airline regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has ordered the grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 jets after part of one plane fell off during an Alaska Airlines flight. The temporary grounding of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft operated by US airlines or in US territory would affect 171 planes worldwide. The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. Safety will continue to drive our decision-making as we assist the NTSBs investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. The Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) requires operators to inspect affected aircraft before further flight. The required inspections will take around four to eight hours per aircraft, it said. "Safety is our top priority and we deeply regret the impact this event has had on our customers and their passengers. We agree with and fully support the FAA's decision to require immediate inspections of 737-9 airplanes with the same configuration as the affected airplane. In addition, a Boeing technical team is supporting the NTSB's investigation into last night's event. We will remain in close contact with our regulator and customers," a Boeing statement said. On Friday the Alaska Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing after take-off from the US state of Oregon. The Alaska Airlines flight from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California, had reached 16,000ft (4,876m) when it began its emergency descent, according to flight tracking data. The airline, carrying 177 passengers and crew, landed safely back in Portland. The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is investigating the incident, confirmed on Saturday that nobody had been sitting next to the affected section. "We are very, very fortunate here that this didn't end up in something more tragic," Jennifer Homendy said. She added that investigators believed the door that came off the plane was now in the Cedar Hills neighbourhood in Portland and urged anyone who found it to contact local police. Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. BENNINGTON The first of the Select Boards town budget work sessions on Saturday highlighted a number of police, fire and highway department spending requests for the next fiscal year. Another four-hour public session will be held on Jan. 13, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Bennington Firehouse meeting room, offering another chance for residents to hear department heads talk to the board about their fiscal 2025 budget requests. Detailed information on the $17 million budget proposal, as submitted by Town Manager Stuart Hurd and office staff after meetings with department heads, can be found on the Select Board page on the town website. After the two work sessions, the Select Board will vote later this month on a final budget to submit to voters at the March annual town meeting. The fiscal 2025 budget covers the period from July 1 to June 30, 2025. Police, fire, highways Public Safety Director and Police Chief Paul Doucette and police Lt. Camillo Grande talked about the police requests, which include $41,600 toward continuing a part-time crisis clinician position, which now is covered by grant funding through United Counseling Service. The chief said the new program allows a clinician to respond to calls along with police officers when there is a person experiencing a mental health crisis. Currently, he said, a clinician is available to ride with officers three nights per week and UCS staff are available during the daytime. For us, this is really working, Doucette said. Another program the BPD wants to continue, he said, is one for which the department is seeking $48,000 for two part-time community resource specialists both currently retired law enforcement officers. They assist BPD officers as needed in traffic-related duties, he said, including issuing parking tickets, conducting some interviews and helping citizens fill out required. They are not armed, Doucette said, and dont wear a police uniform. Weve gotten a lot of positive feedback, he said. Impound yard needed Discussing future needs, likely beyond fiscal 2025, Doucette said the department wants to create a fenced-in vehicle impound yard with a 35- by 50-foot building near a former highway facility on Orchard Road, which is already fenced. He said the BPD currently lacks a secure facility or space to store vehicles that were in crashes or related to crimes while evidence is collected or a warrant is issued to conduct a search. He said the project would likely have significant volunteer support for the building construction, and donated building supplies are possible. K-9 replacement, shelter Similarly, the BPD needs a temporary holding facility for dogs or other animals until they can be transferred to more permanent shelters, Doucette said. The proposed small facility, which also might be on Orchard Road, would have three dog runs connected to individual shelter enclosures. Doucette also cited the need to think about a new dog to replace Gracie, the K9 units German Shepherd, who is aging and probably has two good years left. It is time to purchase and train a puppy to become a member of the K9 unit, he said, adding that the next police dog will likely be a Labrador. Donations also are considered possible toward filling that need. The BPD also seeks to replace two aging SUV hybrid police vehicles at a total cost of $122,500 after installation of police equipment on each, and seeks $28,130 toward a five-year lease purchase agreement to replace worn officer body cameras. Fire expenses Doucette said the fire department spending proposal is a very responsible budget for 2025. He and Fire Chief Jeffrey Santarcangelo said a key request is for much-needed firefighter air-pack bottle filling equipment to replace aging equipment that dates back about 20 years. The proposal is to purchase the $82,000 item over several years, beginning with $10,340 in the next budget as the first annual payment. This is a necessary piece of equipment, Doucette said, adding the current failing piece of equipment could potentially fail during a major emergency when there is a significant demand for filled oxygen bottles. The department also is requesting $12,450 to replace four communications radios and potentially four pagers, and $20,250 for five new sets of firefighting gear. Those two items are standard requests in budgets, Doucette said, with a number of updates expected annually. And the fire department is seeking $19,180 for security equipment in the firehouse on River Street, including replacing a key locking system for some doors with push-button locking, Doucette said. During the fire budget discussion, resident Nancy White asked if town officials have talked about a need to transition from a volunteer department to a full or partially paid force and how much that might cost the town. Santarcangelo said that type of change hasnt been under discussion, but he estimates the increased cost at roughly $8 million for a fully paid department, adding, It would be very expensive. Public works Hurd said the highway and public works budget includes a focus on sidewalk replacement or repair in and around East Main Street, where there has been frost-related damage to the concrete sidewalks. The manager added that the town continues to favor installation of asphalt sidewalks when possible because the cost is less and town crews can take on much of the work. Installation of a concrete sidewalk, he said, requires specialized construction skills, and usually requires hiring a contractor. Concrete sidewalks can last much longer, he said, but lower initial and replacement costs for asphalt could make that method more cost-effective. Select Board Chairwoman Jeannie Jenkins asked Hurd to develop a comparison of the costs per foot for each type of sidewalk construction. Resident Asher Edelson told board members he is one of those who would like to see more sidewalks to make the downtown more walkable. Flood control Responding to a question about flood control measures, especially along the Roaring Branch, which was a major factor in flood damage during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, Assistant Town Manager and Planning Director Dan Monks said a flood management plan worked out with the state has since prevented flooding. He said the management plan includes provisions allowing the town to clear sediment near the bridges, such as on North Branch Street, and/or clear vegetation when either are reducing the flow of the water in the now-widened channel. This has functioned well in [recent] storms, he said. Proposed budgets The total town budget submitted last month by Hurd to the Select Board reflected a 5.26 increase over the current fiscal year. He said a total of $580,480 was cut from the original department requests after meetings with department heads. The fiscal 2024 town budget approved by voters in March 2023 totaled $16,084,940. PITTSFIELD Gov. Maura Healey said that while the number of people requesting emergency shelter in Massachusetts has decreased over the last several months, she cant rule out the need to house additional families in the Berkshires as part of the states right to shelter law. Its a little hard to predict, Healey said while in Pittsfield for the inauguration of city leaders on Tuesday. I think were managing the situation weve seen the numbers drop off some. In late October, a total of 84 people primarily from Haiti arrived in the Berkshires and were placed in two local hotels as part of the states emergency housing assistance program. A group of 19 families is being sheltered at a hotel in Great Barrington and 35 families are sheltered at a hotel in Pittsfield, according to the latest data from the state from Dec. 28. Reporting from The Eagle on Friday revealed that the state has allocated $1.5 million to cover the cost of renting rooms for these families from late October through late June. During the governors visit to Pittsfield, she thanked the hotels and local service organizations who have helped care for these families over the last few months. I just want to express how grateful I am to the city of Pittsfield, to so many communities and community service providers including the faith community, churches, temples and other organizations who stepped forward in this time to try to help with this issue, Healey said. The families being sheltered in the Berkshires arrived just before the Healey administration instituted a major change to the right to shelter program in the state. The governor said the number of migrants and asylum seekers to the state has been increasing over the last couple years but seemed to pick up exponentially in March. That added additional stress to the states already well-used shelter system and in mid-October, Healey announced that the system was nearing its capacity. Healey proposed a cap of 7,500 families for the emergency shelter system around that time. After a legal challenge by the Lawyers for Civil Rights failed to block the cap, the limit went into effect on Nov. 1. Nine days later, the state hit the cap and state leaders began advising people to apply for a waitlist for emergency shelter placement. New data on that waitlist was first reported on by the State House News Service, which published a report on the subject from the Executive Office for Administration and Finance and the Executive Office for Housing and Livable Communities to the state legislature. That report shows that 1,393 families have applied for waitlist placement since Nov. 10. Nearly 400 families have been deemed eligible and placed on the list. Whether any of the families on the waitlist will be moved to Pittsfield or Great Barrington remains unclear. Healey said Tuesday that one thing that is helping to move people through the emergency shelter assistance program and to a more permanent solution is a wave of work authorizations that the state processed in November. I asked the Biden administration to get on the ground here a few weeks ago and they did, Healey said. We processed over 2,000 people for work authorizations. That's important because we've got a lot of jobs, a lot of employers, a lot of industries, looking to put people to work. That's a good thing, Healey added. It will also help relieve some of the pressure on our existing housing shelter system, as more people are working, they'll be exited out of shelter. Data from the report shows that about half of the nearly 7,500 families in the emergency shelter system are migrants, refugees or asylum seekers. From the 3,525 families in that category, 2,713 people have received their work authorizations either from their own efforts or through the two clinics run by the Department of Homeland Security and state agencies in November. The governor reiterated her support for immigration reforms put forth by the Biden administration which she said deals with things like border security, the asylum process [and] trafficking of fentanyl. President Biden has put that forward, Healey said. It's up to Congress to act. BOSTON The FBI is looking for help identifying a man who allegedly assaulted federal officers at the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6 while wearing a s Donald Trump hit the campaign trail Saturday in the first-in-the-nation presidential nominating state of Iowa, vowing to win "for the third time" as Americans marked the anniversary of the deadly assault on the US Capitol by a mob of his supporters. Many watched in horror three years ago on January 6, 2021, as rioters -- egged on by the ex-president and fueled by his false claims of voter fraud -- stormed the seat of US democracy in a bid to halt the transfer of power. In a rambling, two-hour speech Saturday to supporters in Newton, Iowa, Trump did not delve into the events of that day, but described those jailed over their roles in the assault as "hostages." He has said that if elected, he will pardon many. Trump mocked President Joe Biden, his putative rival in November's election. He said Biden has overseen economic decline and invited chaos at the nation's borders, while failing to stop Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "I would've absolutely stopped Putin," he said. Trump warned of World War III if Biden is re-elected, adding, "This is our last chance to save America." Never having given up on the fiction that he won the 2020 election, Trump declared that in November he will win "for the third time." The runaway leader in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Trump was impeached for inciting insurrection and faces multiple felony charges over his conduct leading up to and during the violence. In an evening appearance at a middle school in the town of Clinton, Trump gave another meandering speech in which he attacked Biden as too old to govern, incompetent and leading the United States to ruin with overrun open borders. "We are a failing nation," Trump said in the hour-long address. "We're going to bring it back from hell," he added. Biden, who offered blistering criticism of Trump in a speech Friday, has no public events planned this weekend, the White House said. Trump leads rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis by more than 30 points in Iowa, which stages its Republican nominating contest -- known as a "caucus" -- on January 15, kicking off the 2024 primary season. Trump has described January 6 as "a beautiful day" and has made the "great patriots" and "hostages" imprisoned over the riot a cause celebre. The false claim that Democratic election theft led to January 6 has become orthodoxy among many Republicans, with hard-liners in Congress promoting the fantasy that the chaos at the Capitol was a "false flag" operation by federal agents. A Washington Post/University of Maryland poll released Thursday found that 44 percent of Trump voters believe the FBI organized and encouraged the riot. But polls also show that Democrats and independents hold strongly negative views of the riot and the rioters, and of Trump's role in encouraging them. "We will never forget the horrific events of January 6, 2021," Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement Saturday, adding that those responsible "must be held accountable, because in this country no one is above the law." Vice President Kamala Harris posted on social media that a victory by those "who seek to dismantle our democracy" would bring violence and chaos. - Threat to democracy - The House, controlled at the time by the Democrats, impeached Trump for inciting the violence, which was linked to the deaths of five police officers and several rioters, although he was acquitted by allies in the Senate and denies all wrongdoing. A later congressional investigation concluded that the violence was the culmination of a criminal conspiracy led by Trump to subvert the election. The ex-president is facing multiple federal and state felony charges related to the events. MSNBC on Saturday released chilling new video footage from January 6 showing two Republican lawmakers speaking with Capitol rioters who scream at and taunt them through the broken windows of the House chamber doors. Capitol officers point guns at the mob trying to breach the floor. Democrats plan to make the tycoon's conduct on January 6 a key campaign issue, pointing to the 450-plus Trump supporters jailed over allegations ranging from seditious conspiracy to trespassing and assaulting police. In his speech Friday in Pennsylvania, Biden framed the election as a test of the robustness of the republic and he highlighted the Capitol riot as a demonstration of Trump's threat to democracy. And he accused his predecessor of echoing Nazis with his rhetoric on immigration, accusing him of being willing to "sacrifice our democracy" to regain power. ft/nro/bbk/acb/lb BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. If youre tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to team up (by means of funding) with universities around the country, this time in a bid to stomp out the Manosphere. In keeping with the formal purpose and tasks of the DHS, the idea is to treat the Manosphere, positioned as an anti-feminist effort, as a terrorist threat. Regardless of somebodys stance pro or against modern variations on feminism, some observers are wondering if opposing this social and ideological phenomenon can in fact fit within any definition of terrorism. Some explain this opposition as simply a negative yet lawful reaction to the so-called third wave feminism already being bankrolled by some of the largest foundations out there, and then using this money and exposure in the media to promote and even impose wokeism in pretty much the only way wokeism works the oppressive one. Those who feel oppressed here, the Manosphere, consist of figures from social media and political discourse, generally speaking, arguing in favor of mens rights. Whats noteworthy is that reports say the government, via DHS, has now apparently picked its side in this ongoing social and cultural to-and-fro between the two groups. And now, Arizona State University (ASU) is shown to have forged (monetary) links with DHS thanks to documents that have become public. As reported by Zero Hedge, specifically, the schools McCain Institute is involved here, which in turn has ties with Big Tech and like-minded NGOs such as ADL and SPLC. It doesnt help matters that the stated goals in the now-revealed documents goals is to promote hate speech surveillance nor does indeed, redirecting traffic from both websites and social networks as a means to do it, apparently a method to be used under the grant. However, this isnt the first DHS foray into spending money and teaming up with US universities to work against a number of issues that appear closer to its tasks, namely, actual terrorism, but also probing the activities of those who express patriotic political sentiment, and even preppers. As for the money given to ASU, it is part of TVPT (Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention) scheme which, according to DHS itself, last year went to 34 recipients, and was worth $20 million. One of the very best exposes of the covert, very well-hidden, bellicose attempts to rob all of humanity barring the miniscule number of psychotic individuals comprising the inimical opposition of their material possessions and their immaterial freedom, was published fairly recently. It is accurately titled The Great Taking (2023), and was written by David Webb, one of the most courageous and finance-savvy authors I have ever come across. He introduces the book on p. 1 in uncompromising terms: What is this book about? It is about the taking of collateral, all of it, the end game of this globally synchronous debt accumulation super cycle. This is being executed by long-planned, intelligent design, the audacity and scope of which is difficult for the mind to encompass. Included are all financial assets, all money on deposit at banks, all stocks and bonds, and hence, all underlying property of all public corporations, including all inventories, plant and equipment, land, mineral deposits, inventions and intellectual property. Privately owned personal and real property financed with any amount of debt will be similarly taken, as will the assets of privately owned businesses, which have been financed with debt. If even partially successful, this will be the greatest conquest and subjugation in world history. We are now living within a hybrid war conducted almost entirely by deception, and thus designed to achieve war aims with little energy input. It is a war of conquest directed not against other nation states but against all of humanity. In the Prologue of the book Webb paints a richly textured, autobiographical picture of his provenance as finance guru, obviously with exceptional intelligence and, it turned out, courage. His knowledge of finance and economics has been the result of long years of work in the field, but he recalls the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, before the start of his professional career, when he was a child, and what he calls (witnessing) the subsequent industrial collapse of the US in Cleveland, where the family lived, culminating in the complete destruction of everything we had known (p. vii). Before he gets into the details of his life, he commences the Prologue with an indirect intimation of his reasons for writing the book (p. vi): Presently, as we well know, families are divided. People are experiencing a kind of isolation, perhaps not physically, but in spirit and mind. This has been made to happen through the dark magic of false news and narrative. This alone has been a great crime against humanity. The tactical purposes are many: to confuse and divide; to cause disengagement; to demoralize; to instill fears and to introduce false focal points for these fears; to manipulate the historical narrative; to create a false sense of the present reality; and ultimately, to cause people to acquiesce to what has been planned. It is impossible to overstate the urgency of Webbs message everyone who reads this article should download the book (free) at the link provided above, or at least view the documentary based on it at CHD.TV, Rumble and (I dont know for how long) YouTube. It makes for compulsive reading a kind of non-fictional, real-world detective story, where you, the reader, are both the victim of the crime and the one looking over the detectives shoulder at the evidence that he is digging up. And is there persuasive evidence! In the court of human justice which should be established, if it does not exist the primary documentary evidence adduced by Webb would be sufficient to incarcerate all of these culprits, if not condemn them to capital punishment (recalling that, etymologically, capital, or of the head in Latin, relates to ones head, which was usually implicated in hanging and decapitation; it also echoes in wearing a cap). That Webb knows only too well how he has exposed himself (and his family) with this book and earlier, in addresses where he shared his findings with audiences in Sweden and the US is clear where he writes, against the backdrop of the two occasions where he presented his insights, together with evidence (p. xxx): Less than a month after speaking at that conference in the U.S., a man contacted me who asked to meet in Stockholm. He had been the Chairman of a U.S. political party, and had a long career related to the defense establishment. He stayed at a hotel within a short walking distance from my apartment. We had lunch. He suggested a pint of ale. He asked me to explain the subject of which I had spoken at the conference. I went through the evidence and implications. The odd thing is that he then asked no questions about the subject. Instead, he fixed me in the eye and said, Does your family know you are doing this? He said nothing more; that was the end of the meeting. I paid the bill and left. Perhaps it had been a courtesy call. We all have to die sometime, and being assassinated must be among the most honorable ways to do it. One must have been doing something right! Made a difference! No classier way to die, really. I always wanted to be like John Lennon! One could easily be fooled by Webbs debonair shrugging-off of what could indeed have been a thinly veiled death threat from his dinner guest, but the fact remains that anyone who has the courage to oppose the psychopaths trying to hijack the world runs a tremendous risk, the more high-profile such opposition becomes. This is shown in the recent death by suicide (yeah, right!) of Janet Ossebaard, who made the series, The Fall of the Cabal, and was involved in the unmasking of a network of pedophiles. The chances that she committed suicide, as reported, are pretty slim, I would say; she was evidently a thorn in the side of the murderous cabal. Returning to Webbs book, he tellingly recounts how, after 9/11, when he saw all the signs of a deteriorating US economy everywhere, concomitantly there were undeniable indications that the Bush administration was spreading disinformation on this, covering it up by disseminating spurious reports of American economic strength. In reality, however, the opposite was the case, symptomatic of which was the rapid shutting down of American manufacturing capacity and outsourcing it to China (which was obviously in on the deal). Nothing less than the (planned) loss of the American industrial base was occurring, while, accompanying this, Alan Greenspan was lauding the putative productivity miracle resulting from technology investment and development. It was a masterly performance of pulling the wool over Americans eyes. Simultaneously, the impression of prosperity was further solidified by projecting the illusion that there was no risk in borrowing money; the ability to repay loans was ostensibly guaranteed. Webbs persistent, perspicacious sleuthing has uncovered the trail which reveals the steps taken years ago to prepare for the global economic collapse we are facing now. This included the 2008 financial collapse, of which he writes wryly (p. xxviii): In the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis it eventually became known that tens of trillions in losses in derivative positions were housed in the biggest banks, which were then bailed out with newly created money. The prime brokers would have failed, but to prevent that they were made banks and also received direct injections of created money from the Fed. No one was prosecuted. On the contrary, the perpetrators were rewarded with enormous bonuses. It was almost as if it had all gone according to plan. If I understand Webb correctly, this is the strategy that has been repeated several times, at least since the second half of the 19th century, resulting in the rich getting (much) richer and the poor getting (much) poorer. In brief, focusing on Velocity of Money (VOM) Velocity multiplied by Money Supply = GDP. Lower Velocity results in lower GDP (p. 3) Webb shows that, given the cyclical collapse of economies and empires in the 20th century, following the Great War, and the demonstrable benefit, despite all this hardship, of certain banking interests regarding control (and creation) of money, as well as of key institutions, the contemporary heirs of all this control knew that a similar collapse would recur. They have been preparing for it. And they are determined to remain in control. Hence the supposed Great Reset. During the Dot-com bubble and bust period Webb studied the relationship between financial markets and the Federal Reserve bank, and realised that the latter was deliberately influencing the former by manipulating the money supply that is, routinely printing more money than, correlatively, GDP growth. If money supply growth is more than GDP growth, a financial bubble develops, divorced from any real economic growth. By the end of 1999 the money supply had increased by more than 40% of GDP annually, signaling that VOM was imploding. Does this sound familiar? Since the start of the plandemic trillions of US dollars have been printed, accelerating the widening of the gap between money supply and real economic productivity, and thus hastening the financial collapse. This is what the cabal wants. After all, as Webb tersely remarks (p. 4), Crises do not occur by accident; they are induced intentionally and used to consolidate power and to put in place measures, which will be used later. Rather apocalyptically, he continues (pp 5-6): VOM has now contracted to a lower level than at any point during the Great Depression and world wars. Once the ability to produce growth by printing money has been exhausted, creating more money will not help. It is pushing on a string. The phenomenon is irreversible. And so, perhaps the announcement of the Great Reset has been motivated not by Global Warming or by profound insights into a Fourth Industrial Revolution, but rather by certain knowledge of the collapse of this fundamental monetary phenomenon, the implications of which extend far beyond economics. Just how far becomes increasingly clear as one reads through this densely documented book not a book with many pages, but a big book as far as the importance of its theme (and its substantiation) is concerned. Given the number of reports and other sources which Webb cites, it is impossible to do justice here to all their details and their pertinence for Webbs argument, that the so-called elites have spent years to prepare for a super-cycle collapse that will necessitate the transition to a New World Order, with them still in control. I can therefore only lift out the salient parts of his argument. The first is neatly captured where he writes (p. 7): There are now no property rights to securities held in book-entry form in any jurisdiction, globally. In the grand scheme to confiscate all collateral, dematerialization of securities was the essential first step. The planning and efforts began over half a century ago. Not only was the CIA intimately involved in this dematerialization which essentially meant moving from paper-based stock certificate archiving, to a computer-based system but the CIA project leader was moved to a senior position in the banking sector without any banking experience. Webb raises the possibility, interrogatively, that the ensuing paperwork crisis was manufactured to justify the dematerialisation process, which paved the way for the present electronic archiving system worldwide. Small wonder the epigraph for this chapter is a quote from Sun Tzu (which is just as applicable to today): All warfare is based on deception. This also covers the topic of the next chapter: Security Entitlement, of which Webb writes (p. 9): The greatest subjugation in world history will have been made possible by the invention of a construct; a subterfuge; a lie: the Security Entitlement. And indeed, having informed one that, since their inception more than 400 years ago, these tradable financial instruments were recognised, by law, as personal property, he hits the reader with the news that this is not the case any longer. In practice, Webb explains, this implies that even if, wishing to avoid the complications of a car dealership possibly going bust after purchasing a car on an installment plan, one has bought it for cash, this will no longer work. Security entitlements have been changed legally to permit creditors of the bankrupt car dealership to seize your car as an asset that still belongs to the dealership. Webb sums this legal coup up as follows (p. 10): Essentially all securities owned by the public in custodial accounts, pension plans and investment funds are now encumbered as collateral underpinning the derivatives complex The protected class have legally stolen all our assets from us even before the anticipated (and engineered) global financial implosion occurs (if it does). Moreover, through additional legislation, this has been harmonised to ensure that secured creditors be guaranteed that their assets be protected through cross-border mobility of legal control of such collateral (p. 16). Furthermore, safe harbour provisions were made timeously to protect the ruling class (p. 32): In 2005, less than two years before the onset of the Global Financial Crisis, safe harbor provisions in the U.S. Bankruptcy code were significantly changed. Safe harbor sounds like a good thing, but again, this was about making it absolutely certain that secured creditors can take client assets, and that this cannot be challenged subsequently. This was about safe harbor for secured creditors against demands of customers to their own assets. It gets worse. It turns out that, if something called Central Clearing Parties tasked with providing clearing and settlement for trades in a variety of financial transactions is insufficiently capitalised to prepare for the eventuality of failing, and such a failure occurs, it is the secured creditors who will take the assets of the entitlement holders. This is where it is going. It is designed to happen suddenly, and on a vast scale. Webb goes on to disabuse readers of the belief that the so-called Bank Holiday ended the Great Depression (Chapter VIII), and of believing Ben Bernankes promise, in 2002, that the Federal Reserve wont do it again (i.e. make its mistakes regarding what led to the Great Depression). Instead, he cautions (p. 46): Is the Fed indeed very sorry? Can one believe the promise that we wont do it again? They have studied the lessons of the past in detail; however, their purpose has been to prepare a new and improved global version for the spectacular end of this debt expansion super-cycle. Thats what this book is about. Webbs elaboration on The Great Deflation (Chapter IX) is a salutary reminder that this kind of thing has happened before, in the 1930s, albeit not on the scale that is being planned this time. In the Conclusion (p. 64) he drives his point home by confronting readers with the stark reality of what is happening; I feel like quoting the whole of this powerful chapter, but obviously that is redundant, because the book can (and should) be downloaded free via the link provided near the beginning of this article please read it; it is imperative to read all the detail that cannot be supplied here. Here is a smattering of citations from it: As a human being, should this not concern you? What part of the organized slaughter of vast numbers of innocent people can you find acceptable? Do you believe that you are special in some way, that you were being protected, or that you will be protected now? There has been abundant evidence of great evil at work in the world, throughout time and in our present time. Do you really wish to be ignorant of its existence and operation? (p.64.) To not know is bad. To not want to know is worse. Willful ignorance of the existence and operation of evil is a luxury even the wealthy can no longer afford. We are in the grip of the greatest evil humanity has ever faced (or refused to acknowledge, as the case may be). Hybrid war is unlimited. It has no bounds. It is global, and it is inside your head. It is never-ending. (p. 65.) We have witnessed designs and real attempts to exert physical control over every persons body, globally, and this is continuing...Why is this happening? I will make a startling assertion. This is not because the power to control is increasing. It is because this power is indeed collapsing. The control system has entered collapse. Their power has been based on deception. Their two great powers of deception, money and media, have been extremely energy-efficient means of control. But these powers are now in rampant collapse. This is why they have moved urgently to institute physical control measures. However, physical control is difficult, dangerous and energy-intensive. And so, they are risking all. They are risking being seen. Is this not a sign of desperation? (pp. 67-68.) Never before has a system benefitted so few at the great expense of so many. Is this not inherently unstable and unsustainable? Physical control, as opposed to rule by deception, requires enormous energy. Can this be sustained while destroying all economies, and abusing all people, globally? They do not know how to build back better. Look at their footprint around the worldthe destruction, the economic devastation. (p. 68.) Let me close with John F. Kennedys own words: Our problems are man-made; therefore, they can be solved by man. (p. 70.) In turn, I shall conclude with the last paragraph of Webbs Prologue; let us take this to heart, spread the link to his book far and wide, and, to quote Naomi Wolfs recent books title, face the beast bravely and resolutely: It is my hope that in making this unpleasantness explicit, and doing so at this time when developments are becoming more apparent, that awareness might spread, and that the worst might be averted. Perhaps this Great Taking might not be allowed to happen if we each hold up our endeven the investment bankersand say forcefully: we will not allow this. It is a construct. It is not real. Amen. At a moment the front lines are at a standstill and Ukraine is suffering severe manpower and ammunition supply woes, its military continues high-risk attacks on Russian territory, including two days of missile and drone launches on Crimea. Russia in return has been unleashing even harsher retaliatory strikes in Ukrainian cities, as it warned it would do. The Russian military has said Saturday it deflected a fresh missile attack on Crimea, having shot down four inbound Ukrainian missiles overnight. The day prior, Russia downed 36 attack drones over the peninsula, a defense ministry statement also said. Aftermath of latest shelling on Russian city of Belgorod, via Telegram. However, Kiev said some of its projectiles made it through the anti-air measures, with Mykola Oleshchuk, the commander of Ukraine's air force, announcing on social media: "Saki airfield! All targets have been shot!" - in reference to the Russian airbase in western Crimea. Ukraine's military also said it targeted a command post near Sevastopol. Air raid sirens have been sounding in various border regions of Russia stretching back to Thursday: Air alerts were heard over the Russian oblasts of Krasnodar and Belgorod, as well as temporarily occupied Crimea, on Jan. 4 as Russias aggressive war on Ukraine increasingly hits closer to home in Russia. Russia claimed nearly 50 drones were used in the separate attacks, with explosions heard in occupied Crimea and Belgorod, and reports of injuries in Belgorod. In the latest direct hit on a residential neighborhood in Belgorod city, two Russian civilians were injured by shelling. Belgorod Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram, "According to preliminary data there are two injured: one man has shrapnel wounds to the forearm, and another has shrapnel wounds to the shin." "Windows were shattered in several apartments and more than 30 vehicles were damaged because of a shell explosion near an apartment building," according to regional media. "One house suffered roof damage and a car was damaged." Russia has throughout nearly two years of war warned that countries externally supplying weapons to Ukrainian forces would be treated as direct participants in the conflict if their weapons are found to be used against Russia. The US in particular has been the biggest supplier of heavy weaponry, followed by NATO and EU countries. Moscow has all the while underscored the proxy war nature of the conflict and showdown with NATO, but so far a WW3-style escalation has been narrowly avoided, but this worst case scenario certainly looms large. This especially as President Putin has lately charged that Ukraine is using Western advanced weapons systems to directly target Russian cities and territory. United and Alaska Airlines both reported on Monday that loose hardware had been discovered on some of their Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes during preliminary inspections after a dramatic mid-flight incident last week. The disclosures come as US federal transportation inspectors probe what caused a so-called door plug component to blow out last Friday on an Alaska Airlines passenger plane, forcing it to make an emergency landing. United said on Monday it had "found instances that appear to relate to installation issues in the door plug -- for example, bolts that needed additional tightening." Hours later, Alaska Airlines said its staff had found that "loose hardware was visible on some aircraft." Boeing shares tumbled on Monday as investors began to assess the financial implications of the incident, while US aviation authorities provided airlines with protocols to check planes with similar configurations to the 737 MAX 9 aircraft involved in Friday's incident. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) inspectors said late Monday that they did not find bolts for the component that came off on Friday's Alaska Airlines flight, but hadn't determined whether they existed or had flown off with the panel. Through further equipment testing, "we will be able to determine whether the bolts were there," NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters. Homendy didn't comment directly on the latest disclosures from United and Alaska about loose components, saying the probe was focused on Friday's incident. But the board could issue an urgent safety recommendation if need be, she said. Hundreds of flights have been canceled due to the grounding of a fraction of the MAX fleet. "As operators conduct the required inspections, we are staying in close contact with them and will help address any and all findings," Boeing said late Monday. "We are committed to ensuring every Boeing airplane meets design specifications and the highest safety and quality standards." Aviation analysts said the issue appeared to be a quality control defect rather than a design issue akin to the problem with a flawed flight handling system involved in two fatal MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019. But Boeing has struggled with supply chain and quality control problems since the MAX returned to service, limiting its output and hitting its bottom line. In December, Boeing urged airlines to undertake additional inspections to check for loose hardware on plane rudder control systems after an international operator discovered a bolt with a missing nut while performing routine maintenance. - Inspection protocols - United has 79 MAX 9 planes, more than any other carrier. The US airline said it has canceled 200 MAX 9 flights since the incident and expects "significant cancelations" on Tuesday. Following the Alaska Airlines incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered operators to ground 171 jets with the same door plug configuration. A door plug is a cover panel used to fill an unneeded emergency exit in planes with smaller seat configurations. On Monday, the FAA announced that it approved a roadmap for airlines to complete inspections that include both left and right door plugs, components and fasteners. Alaska Airlines said it was still awaiting "final documentation" from Boeing and the FAA before beginning the formal inspection process. "The safety of these aircraft is our priority and we will take the time and steps necessary to ensure their airworthiness," the carrier said. AeroMexico, which has suspended 19 planes, said it is in the "final phase" of inspections, adding: "We expect all MAX-9s in our fleet to return to operation in the upcoming days." - Culture challenge - The incident is the latest setback for Boeing, particularly over the 737 MAX. The worst were two crashes -- a Lion Air flight in October 2018 and an Ethiopian Airlines flight in March 2019 -- that caused the deaths of 346 people in total and triggered the grounding of all 737 MAX planes for nearly two years. Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun called a company-wide meeting for Tuesday focusing on safety. Analysts said the Alaska Airlines problems may have stemmed from a manufacturing defect. Since the crashes, Boeing has repeatedly slowed or suspended production on both the MAX and the larger 787 Dreamliner due to problems uncovered by staff. The latest episode is "indicative of a major cultural challenge" facing Boeing, said Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory. "They need to change. They can't just keep lurching from crisis to crisis." Analysts said Boeing could face slower government approvals for new jets or on proposed repairs. jmb/dhw Graham Norton thinks getting stabbed changed his life "for the better". The Wheel of Fortune host spoke to the Daily Telegraph newspaper about the attack in London during his drama school days when he was in his mid-20s. Advertisement He said while he was afraid for his life following the incident, it helped put other things in perspective, adding that he stopped getting worried about trivial things because just being alive was enough. Asked about the worst moment of his life, he said: "Getting stabbed in 1989. I lost half my blood. "The bad moment I remember because when its happening, is all just trauma but then the morning after, I was in the hospital ward and I remember a nurse came up to me and said, do you want us to contact anyone? Do you want us to contact your parents? Advertisement "And in my head, I was thinking, well, I dont want to worry my parents, but equally, if Im going to die, theyd probably like to come and say goodbye to me, because theyd be annoyed if I didnt tell them. Advertisement "So, I said to the nurse, am I going to die? And she went, Eerrrrm and I was like, dont pause. This is not the place to pause. This is quite serious. So that was bad. "But the positive of it was I was probably in my mid to late 20s; I was going into a third year at drama school, and it just put everything into perspective. "They were doing the castings for the third-year shows; there were a lot of people crying and running into toilets and slamming doors. And I was just sitting there going, Im alive. Im good. Im golden. "So, in a way, it kind of changed my life for the better." Advertisement The 60-year-old talk show host also spoke about another medical incident, and admitted he ended up having his appendix removed to save face after lying about being ill to get out of school. Advertisement "I pretended to be sick, and my mother knew I was lying so she frog-marched me down to the doctor. Shed done this with my sister. And the doctor had gone, Theres nothing wrong with that girl, and so my sister was in even more trouble. So now it was my turn to be humiliated by the doctor. "I got to the doctor, and he was examining me and I was saying Ive got a pain in my tummy. And Im going, Oow, oow oow. And then I get sent out of the room, and hes talking to my mother, and Im sitting in the waiting room thinking, Oh, here it goes, Im in such trouble, and they call me back in and he says, youve got appendicitis and were going to take your appendix out. "In that moment, youve got to decide, do I fess up and have two adults very annoyed with me. Or do I have a general anaesthetic and have an operation? So, I went with the operation. Advertisement "I was very young, but yes, I went ahead with it. But that moment in the doctors office wasnt great." The Israeli military signalled that it has wrapped up major combat in northern Gaza, saying it has completed dismantling Hamass military infrastructure there, as the war against the militant group entered its fourth month. Israel did not address troop deployments in northern Gaza going forward. Advertisement Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said late on Saturday that forces would focus on the central and southern parts of the territory and strengthen defences along the Israel-Gaza border fence. The announcement came ahead of a visit to Israel by US secretary of state Antony Blinken, who on Sunday was in Qatar, a key mediator. Lorries carrying humanitarian aid line up at the Rafah Border Crossing, Egypt, on the way to Gaza (Amr Nabil/AP) Advertisement Biden administration officials have urged Israel to wind down its blistering air and ground offensive in Gaza and shift to more targeted attacks against Hamas leaders. In recent weeks, Israel has scaled back its military assault in northern Gaza and pressed its offensive in the south, where most of Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians are squeezed into smaller areas in a humanitarian disaster while being pounded by Israeli air strikes. Advertisement Israeli prime minister Binyamine Netanyahu insists the war will not end until the objectives of eliminating Hamas, getting Israels hostages returned and ensuring that Gaza will not be a threat to Israel are met. The war was triggered by Hamass October 7th attack on southern Israel in which the militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 people hostage. Advertisement Israels retaliation has killed more than 22,800 Palestinians and wounded more than 58,000, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The death toll does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Health officials say about two-thirds of those killed have been women and minors. Israel blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the group operates in heavily populated residential areas. Advertisement People watch smoke rising to the sky after an explosion in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel (Leo Correa/AP) An air strike near the southern city of Rafah killed two journalists on Sunday, including Hamza Dahdouh, the oldest son of Wael Dahdouh, Al Jazeeras chief correspondent in Gaza, according to both the Qatari-owned Arabic-language channel and local medical officials. Al Jazeera broadcast footage of Dahdouh weeping and holding his sons hand before walking away in a daze. Advertisement Israels military had no immediate comment. Al Jazeera strongly condemned the killings and other brutal attacks against journalists and their families by Israeli forces, and urged the International Criminal Court, governments and human rights groups to hold Israel accountable. Advertisement Dahdouh lost his wife, two children and a grandchild in an October 26th air strike, and was wounded in an Israeli strike last month that killed a co-worker. The world is blind to whats happening in the Gaza Strip, Dahdouh said, blinking back tears. Another air strike hit a house between Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, killing at least seven people whose bodies were taken to the nearby European Hospital, according to an Associated Press journalist at the facility. One man hurried in carrying a baby, and later walked the blanket-wrapped child to the mortuary. Palestinians look at a car targeted by an Israeli air strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip (Hatem Ali/AP) Everything happening here is outside the realms of law, outside the realms of reason. Our brains cant fully comprehend all this that is happening to us, said a grieving relative, Inas Abu al-Najja, her quavering voice rising. Men worked the rubble with picks and bare hands. On Sunday, officials at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies of 18 people, including 12 children, killed in an Israeli strike late on Saturday. More than 50 people were wounded in the strike on a home in the Khan Younis refugee camp, set up decades ago to house refugees from the 1948 war over Israels creation. Advertisement Israeli forces pushed deeper into the central city of Deir al-Balah, where residents in several neighbourhoods were warned that they must evacuate. The international medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by the acronym MSF, said it was evacuating its medical staff from Deir al-Balahs Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. A bullet penetrated a wall of the hospitals intensive care unit on Friday, and drone attacks and sniper fire were just a few hundred metres from the hospital over the past couple of days, said Carolina Lopez, the groups emergency co-ordinator there. She said the hospital received between 150 and 200 wounded people daily in recent weeks. Israeli soldiers are seen near the Gaza Strip border, in southern Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) The International Rescue Committee and Medical Aid for Palestinians said they were also forced to withdraw from the hospital. The amount of injuries being brought in over the last few days has been horrific, surgeon Nick Maynard with the IRC medical team said in a statement. The World Health Organisation urged the protection of health workers across Gaza. Rear Admiral Hagari, the military spokesman, said scattered fighting in northern Gaza was to be expected, along with rockets sporadically being launched from there towards Israel. He said Hamas militants without a framework and without commanders were still present. Advertisement The military, without presenting evidence, has said that it has killed more than 8,000 Hamas fighters. Rear Admiral Hagari said Israeli forces would act differently in the south than in northern Gaza, where heavy bombardment and ground combat levelled entire neighbourhoods. He said urban refugee camps targeted by the military are packed with gunmen and that an underground city of sprawling tunnels was discovered underneath Khan Younis. Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Echoing Israeli political leaders, he said fighting will continue throughout 2024. In addition to US appeals for scaling back high-intensity combat, Mr Blinken on his fourth Middle East trip in three months is calling for more aid to reach Gaza and urging Israels leaders to come up with a post-war vision for the besieged territory. Two US senators who inspected aid deliveries over the weekend described a slow and cumbersome process, largely due to Israeli inspections of cargo trucks, with seemingly arbitrary rejections of vital humanitarian equipment. The Biden administration and Mr Netanyahu remain far apart on who should run the territory after the war, with the Israeli leader rejecting the Washington-floated idea of having a reformed Palestinian Authority, an autonomous government in parts of the occupied West Bank, eventually administer Gaza. An escalation of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah has complicated the US push to prevent a regional conflict. Advertisement Hezbollah described Saturdays rockets as an initial response to the targeted killing of a top Hamas leader in a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut last week, presumed to have been carried out by Israel. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Jordans king and foreign minister and visited a World Food Programme warehouse in Amman as he pressed ahead with an urgent Middle East diplomatic mission to prevent Israels war against Hamas in Gaza from spreading. On his fourth visit to the region in three months, Mr Blinken stressed the need for Israel to adjust its military operations to reduce civilian casualties and significantly boost the amount of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza while highlighting the importance of preparing detailed plans for the post-conflict future of the territory, which has been decimated by intensive Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives. Advertisement After a day of talks with Turkish and Greek leaders in Istanbul and Crete, Mr Blinken met on Sunday with Jordans King Abdullah II and foreign minister Ayman Safadi seeking buy-in for US efforts to calm resurgent fears that the three-month-old war could engulf the region, ramp up aid deliveries to Gaza and prepare for the eventual end of hostilities. Advertisement Antony Blinken, left, meets with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (Evelyn Hockstein/AP) Jordan and other Arab states have been highly critical of Israels actions and have eschewed public support for long-term planning, arguing that the fighting must end before such discussions can begin. Advertisement They have been demanding an immediate cease-fire since mid-October as civilian casualties began to skyrocket. Israel has refused and the US has instead called for specified temporary humanitarian pauses to allow aid to get in and people to get to safety. Mr Blinken also toured the World Food Programmes Regional Coordination warehouse in the Jordanian capital where lorries are being packed with aid to be delivered to Gaza through both Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings. The US has been pressing Israel for weeks to let greater amounts of food, water, fuel, medicine and other supplies into Gaza, and the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution on December 22 calling for an immediate increase in deliveries. Advertisement Three weeks ago, Israel opened Kerem Shalom, adding a second entry point for aid into Gaza after Rafah. Still, the rate of lorries entering has not risen significantly. This week, an average of around 120 trucks a day entered through Rafah and Kerem Shalom, according to UN figures, far below the 500 lorries of goods going in daily before the war and far below what aid groups say is needed. Advertisement Almost the entire population of 2.3 million depends on the lorries coming across the border for their survival. One in four Palestinians in Gaza is starving, and the rest face crisis levels of hunger, according to the UN. Advertisement More than 85% of people in Gaza have been driven from their homes by Israeli bombardment and ground offensives. Most live in UN shelters crowded beyond their capacity, in tent camps that have been sprung up, or on the streets. The few functioning hospitals are overwhelmed with the wounded as well as patients amid outbreaks of disease, as sanitation systems have collapsed. In Greece on Saturday, Mr Blinken said his trip would be dominated by not necessarily easy conversations with allies and partners about what they are willing to do to build durable peace and security. Advertisement Mr Blinkens visit comes as developments in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea and Iraq have put intense strains on what had been a modestly successful US push to prevent a regional conflagration since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, and as international criticism of Israels military operation mounts. From Jordan, Mr Blinken will travel to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday and Saudi Arabia on Monday. Advertisement Mr Blinken and Mr Safadi in Amman, Jordan (Evelyn Hockstein/AP) He will then visit Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday and Wednesday before wrapping up the trip in Egypt. These are not necessarily easy conversations, he said in Greece. There are different perspectives, different needs, different requirements, but it is vital that we engage in this diplomacy now both for the sake of Gaza itself and more broadly the sake of the future for Israelis and Palestinians and for the region as a whole. He said his priorities are protecting civilians, far too many Palestinians have been killed, getting more humanitarian aid into Gaza, ensuring Hamas cannot strike again, and developing a framework for Palestinian-led governance in the territory and a Palestinian state with security assurances or Israel. Hours before Mr Blinkens meetings on Saturday, Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah militia fired dozens of rockets at northern Israel and said the barrage was an initial response to the targeted killing, presumably by Israel, of a top leader from the allied Hamas group in Lebanons capital this past week. Israel responded in what became one of the heaviest days of cross-border fighting in recent weeks. Meanwhile, stepped-up attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels have disrupted international trade and led to increased efforts by the US and its allies to patrol the vital commercial waterway and respond to threats. Advertisement The coalition of countries issued what amounted to a final warning to the Houthis on Wednesday to cease their attacks on vessels or face potential targeted military action. Since December 19, the militants have carried out at least two dozen attacks in response to the Israel-Hamas war. Many South Africans are turning to private security firms amid a steep rise in crime. Thamsanqa Mothobi was going about his life in Johannesburg when he was carjacked and taken to an informal settlement where robbers accessed his mobile banking apps. Advertisement They had guns and demanded the PIN codes for my apps. They increased the withdrawal limits in my accounts and emptied them. I was only released in the early hours of the morning, the father of three said, adding that his one comfort was that he was not killed. It is an all-too-common story in South Africa, a country that in the past year has seen an average of 75 killings and 400 robberies with aggravating circumstances every day, according to official statistics. Advertisement While it may be Africas most developed country, it also has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world. Advertisement A suspect scooter is tracked from a private security vehicle east of Johannesburg, South Africa (Denis Farrell/AP) Experts have warned that the South African police are losing the battle against crime and that has led those citizens who can afford it to turn to a booming private security industry. Advertisement Its not getting better, it is getting worse, said Anton Koen, a former police officer who now runs a private security firm that specializes in tracking and recovering hijacked and stolen vehicles. The murder rate is the highest in 20 years, violence is getting worse because our justice system seems to be failing us, the public of South Africa. There are more than 2.7 million registered private security officers in the country, according to the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, making South Africas security industry one of the largest in the world. That compares with fewer than 150,000 police officers for the countrys 62 million people. Advertisement Private security companies earn a monthly fee for patrolling neighbourhoods and providing armed response to their clients alarm systems. They also offer tracking and car recovery services, which often results in them getting involved in high-speed chases of car thieves and hijackers. Figures from PSIRA show that the number of security businesses in South Africa grew by 43 per cent in the past decade, while the number of registered security officers has increased by 44 per cent. Advertisement Private security officers on patrols around suburbs in east Johannesburg, where they perform the role of the police in many circumstances. Advertisement Mr Koen was armed with an assault rifle and wore a bulletproof vest as he patrolled in his response vehicle, which is fitted with cameras and has car registration identification technology that can pick up suspected stolen vehicles. During one of the patrols, Mr Koen sped to where two suspects had been apprehended by other private security personnel after a vehicle they were travelling in was linked to burglaries and armed robberies. The suspects were handed over at a nearby police station, which typically happens to those apprehended by security firms. But staying safe and avoiding crime is another example of the stark inequality that afflicts South Africa, as only the wealthy few can afford private security services. The majority of South Africans must still rely on an under-resourced and struggling police force. More than 580,000 private security guards are currently active and employed, more than the police and army combined, according to figures from PSIRA. People with money make up a very small percentage of South Africa. That means that the vast majority of South Africans dont really benefit from this security industry, said Chad Thomas, an organized crime expert who has worked more than 30 years in police work and now in private security. Advertisement If you live in a traditional township environment, or if you live in an informal settlement, it is few and far between that you will see security patrols in those areas because they dont have paying customers. Even those who are lucky enough to have private protection cant always be sure of safety. In November, a South African government minister and her bodyguards were held up at gunpoint on a highway and robbed of money and their mobile phones. Anton Koen, a former police officer who now runs a private security firm (Denis Farrell/AP) The two bodyguards were made to lie on the ground while the robbers ransacked their vehicle and stole their police-issued guns. It was a reminder that as long as violence is so prevalent in South Africa, everyone is in danger. Thomas, like many, ties the high levels of violent crime in South Africa to anger over the countrys deep problems of poverty. We have seen this anger playing out in violent acts, Mr Thomas said. So, what should be a normal robbery where someone gets pointed (at) with a firearm and their belongings are taken becomes an opportunity for the robber to vent frustration and anger on that innocent victim. Violent crime in South Africa has spiked over the past decade after a period when it decreased substantially. Advertisement There were 27,494 killings in South Africa in the year to February 2023, compared with 16,213 in 2012-2013. South Africas homicide rate in 2022-2023 was 45 per 100,000 people, compared with a rate of 6.3 in the United States and around one in most European countries. The police say 10,000 new police officers are going into service from the start of 2024, in an effort to reverse the trend. This is more boots on the ground, well have more members on the ground who will be able to reach more communities and more delivery of services, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola said during a graduation parade in December for some of the new officers. In an indication that police are overwhelmed, local government authorities in the Gauteng province that includes Johannesburg, South Africas largest city, have recently introduced their own crime wardens to help with law enforcement. The uniformed but unarmed wardens provide support to police operations, though they have faced questions over their legal status. Mr Thomas said that crime can thrive in an environment where there is a disorganised police force. We dont have a disorganised police force because they set out to be disorganised, he said. It is simply because they dont have sufficient resources, they dont have sufficient capacity. Rescue teams worked through snow to deliver supplies to isolated hamlets, six days after a powerful earthquake hit western Japan, killing at least 126 people. Heavy snowfall forecast in the Ishikawa Prefecture later on Sunday and through the night added to the urgency. Advertisement After Mondays 7.6 magnitude tremor, 222 people remain unaccounted for with 560 people injured. Hundreds of aftershocks have followed, rattling the Noto Peninsula where the quakes are centred. Taiyo Matsushita walked three hours through mud to reach a supermarket in Wajima city to buy food and other supplies for his family. The home where he lives with his wife and four children, and about 20 nearby homes, are among the more than a dozen communities cut off by landslides. Power was out and, in a matter of hours, they could not even use their cell phones, he told Jiji Press. Advertisement Advertisement In this photo provided by Japanese ministry of defence, members of Japan self-defence forces carry relief goods in Suzu, Ishikawa prefecture (Japanese ministry of defence via AP) We want everyone to know help isnt coming to some places, Mr Matsushita said. We feel such an attachment to this community. But when I think about my children, its hard to imagine we can keep living here. Late on Saturday, a woman in her 90s was rescued from a crumbled home in Suzu in Ishikawa after 124 hours trapped in the rubble. Advertisement Chances for survival greatly diminish after the first 72 hours. Ishikawa officials say 1,370 homes were completely or partially destroyed. Many of the houses in the western coastal region of the main island are aging and wooden. More than 30,000 people were evacuated to schools, auditoriums and community facilities where they slept on cold floors. Advertisement Some people were living out of their cars and long lines formed at gas stations. Food and water supplies were short with worries growing about snow and rainfall, which raise the risk of mudslides and further damage. A fire that raged for hours gutted a major part of Wajima and a tsunami swept through homes, sucking cars into muddy waters. Former US president Donald Trump has marked the third anniversary of the assault on the US Capitol on January 6 2021 by casting the migrant surge on the southern border as the real insurrection. Just over a week before the Republican nomination process begins with Iowas caucuses, Mr Trump continued to claim that countries have been emptying jails and mental institutions to fuel a record number of migrant crossings. Advertisement There is no evidence that this is the case. Mr Trump said in Iowa: When you talk about insurrection, what theyre doing, thats the real deal. Thats the real deal. Not patriotically and peacefully peacefully and patriotically. Mr Trump is seen as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination (AP) Advertisement He was quoting from his speech on January 6, before a violent mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol as part of a desperate bid to keep him in power after his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. Advertisement Mr Trumps remarks came a day after Mr Biden delivered a speech near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where he cast Mr Trump as a grave threat to democracy and called January 6 a day when we nearly lost America lost it all. With a likely rematch of the 2020 election looming, both Mr Biden and Mr Trump have frequently invoked January 6 on the campaign trail. Mr Trump, who is under US federal indictment for his efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Mr Biden, has consistently downplayed or spread conspiracy theories about a riot in which his supporters spurred by his lies about election fraud tried to disrupt the certification of Mr Bidens victory. Advertisement The former leader also continued to bemoan the treatment of those who have been jailed for participating in the riot, again labelling them as hostages. Mr Trump spoke at a rally at Des Moines Area Community College in Newton, Iowa (AP) More than 1,230 people have been charged with federal crimes connected to the violence, including assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. Advertisement Mr Trump was holding a pair of commit-to-caucus events in Newton in central Iowa and Clinton in the states far east just over a week before voting begins on January 15. Advertisement Earlier on Saturday, he courted young conservative activists in Des Moines, speaking to members of Run GenZ, an organisation that encourages young conservatives to run for office. Many in the audience at the Embassy Suites hotel in Des Moines seemed surprised to see Mr Trump, whose visit had not been previously announced. Mr Trumps campaign is hoping to turn out thousands of supporters who have never caucused before as part of a show of force aimed at denying his rivals momentum and demonstrating his organising prowess heading into the general election. His chief rivals, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida governor Ron DeSantis, were also campaigning in the state as they battle for second place in hopes of emerging as the most viable alternative to Mr Trump, who is leading by wide margins in early state and national polls. Advertisement Mr Trump has used the trip to step up his attacks against Ms Haley, who has been gaining ground. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley are Mr Trumps main rivals for the Republican nomination (AP) He again cast her as insufficiently conservative and a globalist beholden to Wall Street donors, and accused her of being disloyal for running against him. Advertisement Nikki will sell you out just like she sold me out, he charged. On Friday night, Mr Trump highlighted several recent Haley statements that drew criticism, including her comment that voters in New Hampshire correct Iowas mistakes (You dont have to be corrected, he said) and her failure to mention slavery when asked what had caused the Civil War. I dont know if its going to have an impact, but you know like slaverys sort of the obvious answer, as opposed to her three paragraphs of bullshit, he told a crowd Friday. In Newton, he said that he was fascinated by the horrible Civil War, which he suggested he could have prevented. Its so fascinating, he said. Its just different. I just find it Im so attracted to seeing it So many mistakes were made. See, that was something I think could have been negotiated, to be honest with you. Ms Haleys campaign has pointed to his escalating attention, including a new attack ad, as evidence Mr Trump is worried about her momentum. God bless President Trump, hes been on a temper tantrum every day about me and everything hes saying is not true, Ms Haley told a crowd Saturday in North Liberty, Iowa. Advertisement Eating outJust open Melbourne is swimming in wine bars, but this new Carlton North charmer has something extra Five friends who met working in some of Londons most influential wine bars have just opened their very own in Melbourne. Say hello to Brico. Emma Breheny January 8, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share This venue appears 10 hot summery spots to soak up the last weekend of the season collection. See all stories . We could try really hard to not label it a wine bar. But I think thats how people are going to use it, and thats our expertise, says Josh Begbie, the former Bar Liberty manager whos just opened his first venue, Brico, in Carlton North. Melbourne is swimming in wine bars. But there are those that use the label indiscriminately, and then theres Brico. Brico has opened in the charming corner site formerly known as Little Andorra. Paul Jeffers Its owners met working in some of East Londons most influential wine bars: Phil Bracey co-owned P.Franco and its offshoots, Robyn Nethercote was front-of-house at The Quality Chop House, Begbie was at Brawn. Fellow owner Tegan Hendel does design work for food and drink businesses. Chef Simon Ball-Smith worked at Bright, sister restaurant to P.Franco, alongside Bracey. Brico owners Phil Bracey, Tegan Hendel, Simon Ball-Smith, Robyn Nethercote and Josh Begbie. Supplied Advertisement As cornerstones of the organic, biodynamic and natural wine movements in London, these venues attracted a whos who of visiting winemakers and chefs from across Europe and the world. Some of that spirit and those enviable connections are on display at Brico, which opened on January 4. Mussels in escabeche with toast and aioli at Brico. Paul Jeffers Wines are drawn from Gippsland to Portugal and go beyond the usual roster of labels, with the main criteria being good grapes that are responsibly farmed. Examples from the current list include South Australias Manon, Nino Barraco from Sicily and Benjamin Taillandier from France. Ball-Smith (ex-Moon Under Water, Carlton Wine Room and Hobarts Franklin) takes a similar approach in the kitchen, paying attention to provenance and sourcing from local farms to use produce thats in peak condition. Advertisement Light, bright Brico. Paul Jeffers Expect European classics such as mussels escabeche served on toast with aioli, panzanella salad, or grilled whole flounder with brown butter. Theres also panisse (French chickpea fritters) with sage and parmesan, and pipis simmered in sherry with salty jamon. I dont think youll find many unfamiliar combos on the plate, says Bebgie. But [Simons] letting good produce elevate these, rather than adding something quirky. Pipis, butter beans, jamon and sherry are on the menu at Brico. Paul Jeffers Moving into the corner site that was previously Little Andorra (and, long ago, Tansys), the team didnt want to mess too much with the 19th-century buildings bones. But theres a brighter dining room, new timber booths, white cafe curtains (made by Braceys partner Hendel) and a light colour scheme that will soon play backdrop to brightly coloured Laminex tables that are en route. Advertisement Upstairs, one of two private dining rooms will be converted into a wine cellar and a residence will be added for visiting chefs or winemakers, bringing some of that P.Franco/Bright/Brawn spirit to Carlton North. Open Wed-Sat 5pm-late, Sun 2pm-6pm. 555 Nicholson Street, Carlton North, 03 9191 7990, bricomelbourne.com The sunny Brico courtyard. Paul Jeffers 11 of Melbournes best wine bars Advertisement Four teenagers have been arrested and charged after they allegedly stole an Audi from an upmarket Brisbane suburb, prompting police to call in a helicopter and use tyre spikes. Police said an Audi S3 was stolen from a property on Main Street in Bardon, early on Saturday. The missing vehicle was reported to police that afternoon, with officers tracking the Audi until the police helicopter was involved. About 8pm, police used road spikes, before the car came to a stop on Gympie Arterial Road in Carseldine. Do you have to baptise your child to get them into a faith-based private school in Brisbane? The answer is no, but its complicated. Pope Francis baptises a baby at the Vatican in 2018. Credit: LOsservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP Brisbane is becoming less religious in 2021, 41 per cent of residents said they had no religion, up from 23 per cent a decade ago. Despite this, some parents who have chosen to baptise will quietly admit future school choices played some part in their decision. Daily rainfall records were also broken in Rochester, which recorded 125 millimetres, and in Bendigo, which recorded 92 millimetres in the 24 hours to 9am. High Street, the main road into Heathcote, was under water on Monday. Credit: Sam Christiansen Residents of Rochester, a town devastated by the October 2022 floods, were advised that more than 30 homes could be flooded as early as Monday evening or Tuesday morning. Efforts were under way on Monday to sandbag vulnerable properties. Farmer Ian Meherall, who lives on the banks of the Goulburn River at Nagambie, north of Seymour, said he spent Monday morning moving pontoons, boats and seating to higher ground given his property was affected by the 2022 floods. Weve had three significant rainfall events in the last three weekends, he said. So thats where Im a little bit concerned. Its the culmination of all that water. The grounds not taking it any more. Weve got a wheat crop, which has been harvested, thank goodness, but the water is through the stubble [in that paddock], which I havent seen before. Meherall said his son-in-law had sent him a picture earlier on Monday that showed the main road into Heathcote, a town about 40 kilometres south-east of Bendigo, covered by floodwater. Apparently the roads between Nagambie and Heathcote are all underwater, he said. Seymour service station worker Raelene Clark said she drove to the banks of the Goulburn on her way home from an overnight shift on the Hume. She watched from her car, stunned, as the water swallowed a picnic table. It came right up to the road, so I said, Time to go. Its obviously burst its banks and theres gonna be more to come. You cant get down half the streets. Clark said she drove to a supermarket to stock up on food after witnessing the rising water. After the last floods they had here, you never know whats going to happen. Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said emergency services have so far rescued 38 people across the state, including people whose homes were flooded or who drove through floodwaters. Severe thunderstorms were expected to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in parts of the north and north-east of the state later on Monday. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning at midday, advising residents of Shepparton they could be affected. The bureau issued a severe weather warning for Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour, Kyneton, Wodonga and Wangaratta early on Monday morning, as a low-pressure system developed across the north-west of the state. The bureaus severe weather warning was expanded to include Corryong, Bright, Falls Creek and Omeo midmorning on Monday. Locally intense rainfall, which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding, is also possible during this period with six-hourly rainfall totals up to 100 millimetres, the bureau said. Flash flooding in central Victoria has led to several road closures, including the Wimmera Highway between Newbridge and Marong, and the McIvor Highway between Bendigo and Heathcote. Travellers have been warned of dangerous driving conditions on parts of the Hume, with water pooling on roads between Broadford and Seymour. Emergency crews have responded to hundreds of calls for help, including 26 flood rescues in Victoria in the 24 hours to 6am on Monday, bringing the states total flood rescue count to 46 since January 1. There were more than 700 calls for assistance to VICSES over the same period for flooding, trees down and building damage. As at 10am today, in the last 24 hours weve received over 920 requests for assistance, including 503 for flood, 210 trees down, 118 counts of building damage, VICSES said in a statement. Redesdale, in the City of Greater Bendigo local government area, recorded 60 millimetres of rain in the three hours to 1.30am. Flowerdale, just 95 kilometres from Melbourne in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, recorded 60 millimetres over a six-hour period to Monday morning. Avalon, north-east of Geelong, observed 66 millimetres in three hours. The Maribyrnong River catchment has recorded more than 50 millimetres of rainfall since 9am on Sunday and up to 15 millimetres was forecast for the catchment on Monday. A top of 22 degrees was forecast for Melbourne on Monday, with the bureau warning of possible thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said rain was likely easing around the city; however, there was the chance of additional downpours. Were expecting the punchier showers that give us heavier totals to continue through this morning and into the early part of the afternoon, trending back to patchy showers through the later afternoon and evening, Bradbury said. In addition to the showers, theres also the risk of thunderstorms given how warm it is. If we do see those storms developing again over the Melbourne area even higher falls are still possible. Bradbury said conditions in the central and northern parts of Victoria, including Bendigo and Shepparton, were expected to ease on Monday afternoon as the weather system moved east across the state. Loading Authorities issued a major flood warning for people living near the Campaspe River Lake Eppalock on Monday, urging people in the area to immediately move indoors and away from floodwater. Rainfall totals of more 130 millimetres have been recorded across the catchment in north central Victoria since 9am on Sunday, causing river levels to rise above five metres. Emergency services have warned the Campaspe River at Barnadown may reach around six metres late on Monday morning, similar to the November 2010 flood level. For Gippsland and parts of the north-east district, the bureau forecast risk of heavy falls was persisting into Monday evening, after largely avoiding the heavy downpours over the weekend. Its only starting to ramp up in Gippsland at the moment, Bradbury said. We have seen some higher falls in the 30 to 50 millimetres range, but for the most part, we have seen much lower to moderate falls. A new fence to curb roadkill on the Mornington Peninsula is being trialled, but the legions who visit the tourist mecca this summer may not even notice it. Rows of deep green bollards have been erected along either side of a winding three-kilometre stretch of road in rural Boneo, about 65 kilometres south of Melbournes CBD. Installed under a pilot program to reduce crashes involving kangaroos, they blend into the roadside bush by day but come to life between dusk and dawn. Mornington Peninsula shire councillor David Gill has championed virtual fencing to try to reduce kangaroo roadkill in the region. Credit: Chris Hopkins Activated by the headlights of oncoming vehicles, each solar-powered pole emits a high-pitched sound inaudible to humans designed to drive kangaroos off the road. Browns and Jetty roads were selected as Mornington Peninsula Shires first location for emerging virtual fencing technology because they carve through a popular grazing area for roos. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size With upbeat music blaring inside the stadium in Semarang, Indonesias presidential election frontrunner, Prabowo Subianto, shuffled his stout, 72-year-old frame across the stage, delighting the thousands of assembled supporters. Once authoritarian: Indonesias Prabowao Subianto, a former army general (left), is on a rebranding drive. Young people with little memory of the past are now imitating his signature dance moves. Credit: Screengrab/Tribun Network The former generals inclination to break into dance at the rally in the Central Java capital wasnt spontaneous. He has rolled out the moves at other campaign events and clips of them have gone viral on social media, where imitations have been posted. As Indonesia draws nearer to choosing its next leader on February 14, Subiantos exploits have not only turned him into a phenomenon on the influential online platform TikTok and, incomprehensibly, made him almost trendy, but also coincided with him building an overwhelming lead in the polls. In two of five recent surveys, his ticket has backing of nearly 50 per cent, which, if replicated on election day, would secure him a victory by majority, avoiding the need for a run-off between the top two candidates mid-year. Advertisement Having the son of outgoing President Joko Widodo as his running mate has allowed him to ride in the slipstream of the leader known as Jokowi, capitalising on the latters enduring popularity. But Subianto has benefited from a very deliberate public makeover, refashioning himself as a loveable, grandfatherly figure rather than the podium-banging firebrand with the dark military history who twice took on Widodo and lost. Indonesian President Joko Widodo (left) and Opposition Leader Prabowo Subianto on the latters estate in 2016. Credit: Presidential Palace In 2014 he rode into a stadium on horseback in boots and pseudo-military attire and as many people pointed out at the time looked a lot like an Indonesian Mussolini, said Ian Wilson, an Indonesian politics expert at Murdoch Universitys Indo-Pacific Research Centre. In 2019, he was on the stage with Islamists, so he was adopting a hard line then. Both of those tactics failed for him so I think its a very conspicuous strategy to soften his image, to come across as a kind of benign uncle figure, likeable with a sense of humour etc. Subianto hopes it is third time lucky for him in next months election. Credit: Bloomberg With Widodo unable to contest the election and thwart his presidential ambitions due to Indonesias two-term limit, this may finally be Subiantos moment and his team is pulling out all stops. Advertisement In Jakarta, enormous billboards covering the entire sides of buildings feature cartoonish pictures of him and vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest child of Widodo. He is a noted animal lover, so Instagram pages for Subiantos cat have even emerged. An election game plan known as gemoy, meaning cute and adorable, has taken flight. The ploy, aided by his pairing with the youthful son of his old rival, aims to win over younger voters. About half of the 204 million Indonesians entitled to vote next month are under 40 and their impressions are not all formulated from the past. Loading The remodelling of Subiantos image also appears to have been designed to divert attention from his links to the regime of late dictator Suharto, his former father-in-law. For decades, allegations of human rights abuses from his time as a commander of the armys feared special forces, Kopassus, have followed him. He has denied accusations he was responsible for killings in Timor-Leste and West Papua, but he was discharged from the military over another episode abductions of 22 pro-democracy activists in 1998 in the last days of Suhartos New Order. Thirteen of those who disappeared were never seen again. Gibran Rakabuming Rakam, the eldest child of President Joko Widodo and mayor of their hometown Solo, is Subiantos running mate. Credit: Bloomberg Advertisement It is a pitch to try to detach from the past ... 1998 is a big weak spot for him, Wilson said. Its a big vulnerability. Not because he regrets anything that he did. But he has a real sense of humiliation from that time. Subianto lived in exile in Jordan after the fall of Suharto and was unable to enter the United States under presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, a ban lifted only after Widodo brought his adversary into the fold by making him defence minister in 2019. Subianto has moved to fortify himself against any damage he might sustain electorally from the abductions. In a momentary return to form, he became heated when his human rights record was raised during the first debate last month with the other two presidential candidates, former Jakarta governor and university president Anies Baswedan and ex-Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo, the son of a policeman. Subianto (centre) at last months first presidential debate with fellow candidates Ganjar Pranowo (left) and Anies Baswedan. Credit: AP Loading Opportunism abounds. Subianto has highlighted he has backing even from some Reformasi campaigners who were imprisoned and tortured before the democratic transition a quarter of a century ago. Advertisement I think Im a staunch defender of human rights, he said during the debate. People who were detained, the political detainees whom I was accused of kidnapping, are now in my camp, supporting me. Dont politicise human rights issues. Greg Fealy, an emeritus professor of Indonesian politics at the Australian National University, said Subianto had completely remade himself politically since joining Widodos cabinet four years ago. He had to adopt a different strategy, he had to stop scaring people, he had to appear responsible as if he could work within the system and he had to present an image of a much more rounded person, rather than trading on his previous military career entirely, he said. As for what kind of president he might be, forecasts vary. President Joko Widodos fanatical supporters have mobilised behind the Subianto-Gibran ticket. Credit: Getty Internationally, his performance as defence minister suggests he would be more assertive than Widodo, who was a reluctant player in the global arena. From an Australian perspective, he has developed solid relations with ministerial counterparts in Canberra. In the biggest stress point in relations with Indonesia of the past few years Australias plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines via the AUKUS pact he has been fairly agreeable from the outset. Advertisement Rafah, Gaza Strip: An apparent Israeli airstrike killed two Palestinian journalists in southern Gaza, including the son of veteran Al Jazeera correspondent Wael Dahdouh, who lost his wife, two other children and a grandson and was nearly killed himself earlier in the war. Dahdouh has continued to report on the fighting between Israel and Hamas even as it has taken a devastating toll on his own family, becoming a symbol for many of the perils faced by Palestinian journalists, dozens of whom have been killed while covering the conflict. Al Jazeera journalist Wael Dahdouh (left) mourns his son Hamza. Credit: AP Hamza Dahdouh, who was also working for Al Jazeera, and Mustafa Tharaya, a freelance journalist, were killed when a strike hit their car while they were driving to an assignment in southern Gaza on Sunday (Gaza time), according to Al Jazeera. A third journalist, Hazem Rajab, was seriously wounded, it said. Amer Abu Amr, a photojournalist, said in a Facebook post that he and another journalist, Ahmed al-Bursh, survived the strike. The emergency landing of a Boeing 737 Max jetliner with a gaping hole in its side and the airline's decision to ground identical planes is renewing questions about the safety of Boeing's best-selling plane one that was involved in two deadly crashes. A window panel blew out on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 Max seven minutes after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, on Friday. The rapid loss of cabin pressure pulled the clothes off a child and caused oxygen masks to drop from the ceiling, but miraculously none of the 174 passengers and six members were injured. Pilots made a safe emergency landing. Hours after the terrifying incident, Alaska Airlines announced that it would ground its entire fleet of 65 Max 9s for inspections and maintenance. CEO Ben Minicucci said Alaska expects the inspections to be completed in the next few days. Even a short grounding will pose significant problems for the airline and its passengers the Max 9 accounts for more than one-fourth of Alaska's fleet. On Saturday, Alaska canceled about 100 flights, or 13 per cent of its schedule, by midmorning on the West Coast, according to FlightAware. United Airlines also operates a large fleet of 737-9 Max jets. A United spokesman said Saturday the airline had nothing yet to announce about its Max fleet. Photos showed a hole in the Alaska jet where an emergency exit is installed when planes are configured to carry a maximum number of passengers. Alaska plugs those doors because its 737-9 Max jets don't have enough seats to trigger the requirement for another emergency exit. India's aviation watchdog told its airlines to immediately inspect emergency exits of all Boeing 737-8 Max planes, a slightly smaller model than the 737-9 Max. The country's aviation authority complained about a lack of guidance from Boeing. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board said they would investigate Friday's incident. Boeing has offered only a brief statement. We are aware of the incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282," the company said Friday night. "We are working to gather more information and are in contact with our airline customer. A Boeing technical team stands ready to support the investigation. The plane involved is brand-new it began carrying passengers in November and has made only 145 flights, according to Flightradar24, a flight-tracking service. The Max there are currently three versions: the 8, 9 and 10, which differ mainly in size is the newest version of Boeing's venerable 737, a twin-engine, single-aisle plane frequently used on U.S. domestic flights. More than a decade ago, Boeing considered designing and building an entirely new plane to replace the 737. But afraid of losing sales to European rival Airbus, which was marketing a more fuel-efficient version of its similarly sized A320, Boeing decided to take the shorter path of tweaking the 737 and the Max was born. A Max 8 jet operated by Lion Air crashed in Indonesia in 2018, and an Ethiopian Airlines Max 8 crashed in 2019. Regulators around the world grounded the planes for nearly two years while Boeing changed an automated flight control system implicated in the crashes. Federal prosecutors and Congress questioned whether Boeing had cut corners in its rush to get the Max approved quickly, and with a minimum of training required for pilots. In 2021, Boeing settled a criminal investigation by agreeing to pay $2.5 billion, including a $244 million fine. The company blamed two relatively low-level employees for deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration about flaws in the flight-control system. Boeing has estimated in financial reports that fallout from the two fatal crashes has cost it more than $20 billion. It has reached confidential settlements with most of the families of passengers who died in the crashes. After a pause following the crashes, airlines resumed buying the Max. But the plane has been plagued by problems unrelated to Friday's blowout. Questions about components from suppliers have held up deliveries at times. Last year, the FAA told pilots to limit use of an anti-ice system on the Max in dry conditions because of concern that inlets around the engines could overheat and break away, possibly striking the plane. And in December, Boeing told airlines to inspect the planes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder-control system. A passenger on a Southwest Airlines jet was killed in 2018 when a piece of engine housing blew off and shattered the window she was sitting next to. However, that incident involved an earlier version of the Boeing 737, not a Max. The Sunni militant group said its members detonated an explosive device on the bus carrying Shiite Muslims, whom they called disbelievers, in a statement released shortly after the explosion Saturday. It was the first attack in the country in 2024 | Photo: Unsplash The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a minibus explosion in the Afghan capital late Saturday that killed at least two people. Fourteen others were wounded in the attack in Kabul's western Shiite neighbourhood of Dashti Barchi, according to police spokesperson Khalid Zadran. The Sunni militant group said its members detonated an explosive device on the bus carrying Shiite Muslims, whom they called disbelievers, in a statement released shortly after the explosion Saturday. It was the first attack in the country in 2024. The Dashti Barchi area of Kabul has been repeatedly targeted by the Islamic State group's affiliate in Afghanistan. The group has carried out major assaults on schools, hospitals, and mosques, and has also attacked other Shiite areas across the country. In November, in the same area of Kabul, the IS claimed responsibility for a minibus explosion in which seven people were killed and 20 others were wounded. On October 26, four people were killed and seven were wounded when an explosion hit a sports club in the same neighbourhood. IS also claimed responsibility for that attack. Taliban Defence Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid said on December 31 that there was a 90 per cent decrease in attacks by the IS affiliate in the past year. The IS affiliate has been a major rival of the Taliban since the latter seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021. IS militants have struck in Kabul and in northern provinces, often targeting Shiites, whom IS considers to have abandoned their faith. Joe Biden fails to protect the nations sovereignty from invasion by illegal migrants while he holidays in the tropics. His party denied his opponents a voice on a debate stage. One state party juggled the primary date over the objections of another just to give the impression of an advantage for Joe. Another state cancelled their party primary altogether rather than allow opposition to Joe (FL). This is the autocratic roguery of real dictators.Colorados Secretary of State Jena Griswold said, Donald Trump engaged in insurrection and was disqualified under the Constitution from the CO ballot (X, 12/28/23) so four Democrat court appointees removed him from the ballot.Insurrection is a serious federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison under Title 18 US Code 2383. Trump hasnt been charged or convicted of insurrection except in the minds of Griswold, Cousin Eddie and others with TDS who want to keep Bidens chief opponent off the ballot.Dec 13, the U.S. House voted to open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Bidens alleged shady business dealings. Bidens defenders cry no evidence linking Biden to his sons dealings, however it was revealed Joe used pseudonyms to send or receive 82,000 pages of emails, 5,400 of which are locked up in the National Archives (NYPost 8/28/23).Joe said he never discussed business with his son, then he and his son were never in business together(Daily Mail 7/25/23) and recently Hunter claimed his father was never financially involved in his business dealings (CNBC 12/13/23) as more evidence emerged.So if its possible to kick a presidential candidate off a ballot for unverified charges, why not turn smug grins into frowny faces by removing Biden from every state ballot for allegations of his violations (plural) of the U.S. Constitution, allegations significant enough for an impeachment inquiry?Ralph Miller I have written Profiles of Valor for many years, most often about past and current recipients of the Medal of Honor. However, every week I review accounts of law enforcement officers (LEOs) killed in the line of duty. Being a police academy graduate early in my career, and having served as a uniformed police officer, my association with LEOs and agencies has continued for decades. My connection with and advocacy for our brothers and sisters on that Blue Line has never ceased. That advocacy has been particularly important since the summer of 2020, when Joe Biden and his Democrat race-hustling cadres politicized the death of a Minneapolis street thug in police custody, a career criminal and perennial drug offender with a violent history.Endeavoring to enflame their (now defunct) so-called "Black Lives Matter" radicals and their antifa movement of self-styled anti-fascist fascists ahead of the 2020 election, in the middle of the COVID pandemic, they succeeded in turning the deceased into a "victim," fomenting riots nationwide under the I cant breath mantra. As Booker T. Washington declared a century ago, "There is a certain class of race-problem solvers who dont want the patient to get well, because as long as the disease holds out they have an easy medium through which to make themselves prominent before the public. (For the record, if Democrats really believed that Black lives mattered, they would be focused on their failed social policies resulting in the grossly-disproportionate record of daily Black-on-Black murders and violence.) That "summer of rage" surge of violence across our nation resulted in dozens of civilian murders, billions in damage to private and public properties, and a significant increase in assaults against police officers. That record violence spilled over into the years that followed and has yet to subside. In due respect to the officers who put their lives on the line every day, I am devoting this valor profile to one instance of the heroic actions by officers that occur almost daily across our nation, while defending fellow officers and citizens alike. In this case, I salute Detroit Officer Amanda Hudgens, who protected her dying partner, Loren Courts, despite imminent threat to her own life. The incident in question was typical of those that are repeated many times each day in mostly urban centers across our nation officers responding to a shots fired call. But in this case, it was an ambush. As Hudgens recounts the tragedy: Weve answered thousands of shots fired runs. He looks at me and I look at him. He asked, You got me? Always. We do our special handshake. Then, I just knew. I got you. She continued: We pull in. I remember hearing the gunshots, seeing the muzzle flash, feeling the glass break, and seeing him get out of the car as Im getting out of the car. We run, in sync we move in sync, everything we do is in sync. He goes one way, Im going the same. Weve got each other, always. I see him holding his neck, and then he collapsed, and I just, I screamed a horrific scream. I couldnt the east side heard me. Everybody heard me. I know the city of Detroit heard me, and I just held him, and I held pressure. I remember turning around and I remember seeing the assailant. I just looked at Loren, said, I love you I wasnt letting go of him, because I wont ever let go of him, and I just held on and I turned my back. I couldnt drag him to cover because I couldnt let go. The only thing I could think of was to be his cover, and just hold him. Courts suffered a mortal wound, and as the assailant rushed Hudgens position, but she kept pressure on Courtss wound in hopes of preventing him from bleeding out. Hudgens says: I just begged him not to go. I could feel him breathing, and then its slowing down, and I just started to scream, Help me. And I feel like he was watching over me, because thats when the other officers came, because I was bracing to get shot in my back. Fortunately, the 19-year old assailant was killed by other officers just before he reached Hudgens and Courts. In the previous two years he had seven other police encounters. This was another case of a Black assailant murdering a Black officer. Detroit PD Chief James White described Hudgenss actions as beyond hero. Officer Courts is survived by his wife, Kristine, his 15-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter. Subsequently, in reference to the hatred Demos have heaped on police officers, Hudgens said: Im a police officer. Im used to the hate. The fact is, police officers risk their lives daily, often for those who despise them. In the wake of the Demos defund the police campaigns, their jobs are much deadlier. According to a just-released report from the Fraternal Order of Police, there were a record 378 law enforcement officers shot in 2023. According to the data, 46 officers were killed, 20 of whom were targeted in the 115 ambush attacks on officers. There were 138 officers shot in ambush attacks. Please join me in prayer for our nations First Responders and their families. Thank you, First Responders. (Tributes to all LEOs killed in the line of duty are posted at "End of Watch" ( https://patriotpost.us/end- of-watch .) Bill Hullander with the Browns at the Hullander Farm about 20 years ago photo by Earl Freudenberg WDYN general manager Tom Sneed with the Browns about 20 years ago photo by Earl Freudenberg The late Hamilton County Commission Chairman Curtis Adams and his wife, Dot, enjoyed the Browns photo by Earl Freudenberg Ridgedale Baptist Church photo by Earl Freudenberg The Browns today Previous Next Its almost time for Bill and Linda Hullanders January Red Back Hymnal Singing. This months event will be held at the Ridgedale Baptist Church, 1831 Hickory Valley Road. Mr. Hullander said special guests will be the award winning Brown Family Southern Gospel group. Ive watched this family from the very beginning of their career and I'm certainly glad they want to return to Chattanooga. The family has a love for the hymns we grew up singing and I look forward to their leading us, said Mr. Hullander. Hamilton County Trustee Bill Hullander opens his farm the third Sunday of each month for friends to come from all around and sing the great ole hymns right out of the red back hymnal. The singing will start at 6:00 and is free but a love offering will be taken. Doors will open at 5:30 and theres plenty of parking. Shelly Brown said the group looks forward to returning to Chattanooga and seeing all their friends. She released the following. Its truly a family affair when The Browns hit the stage with their music. The musical stylings of Adam, Michaela, and Andrew exude excitement on the stage and offer an experience to all who hear them. The Browns deliver the powerful message of the Gospel through word and song that engage audiences of all ages. The Browns have been touring across the United States since the group began 22 years ago. The heralded group began on the local and state level and has expanded and grown into a national and international touring group. The Browns received the prestigious honor of Top 10 Mixed Group of the Year and have been awarded the Top Horizon Group of the Year. The group has just finished their newest recording, BRAVE as a StowTown Recording artist, with Dove Award winning producer, Wayne Haun. The Browns newest radio single Take Me Back is climbing the national charts. In 2015 the family bought and restored a hundred-year-old historic building into a state-of-the-art live music theater in their hometown of Le Mars, Iowa. They have since added more buildings to the Browns Hospitality Group including a gift shop, event center buffet experience, and bed and breakfast. They welcome thousands of tourists and Brown music lovers to Le Mars each year. From singing over 30 shows at the Americana Theatre in Branson, MO, to Dollywood Theme park stages, to singing on over 10 Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise ships, this award winning family will inspire you with their close-knit family harmony and talent. The Browns love what they do, love each other, and the audiences to whom they sing! Ridgedale Baptist Church pastor Dr. Doug Plumlee said hes very excited about the hymn sing and welcomes everyone to an evening of Praising the Lord in song. Cherokee veterans Rex Earl Starr, left, and Dwight Birdwell were honored during the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December. Both men served in Vietnam, and Birdwell was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor for his distinguished service. Former Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor Nick Lay, right, arranged the honoring of the two veterans at the NFR. If you do a lot of baking, vanilla extract is one of those ingredients you probably use all the time. However, its origin isnt familiar to everyone. Have you ever stopped to ask where exactly vanilla extract comes from? Or what vanilla even is? Well, weve got answers, so keep reading to find out more. For starters, vanilla comes from orchids in the genus Vanilla. Those orchids originally came from Mesoamerica and only grow in very specific regions of the world, including parts of Mexico and Madagascar, the latter country producing a whopping 80 percent of all the flowers. The harvesting process is extremely labor-intensive. The pale, waxy, vine-like plants bloom just one morning each year, so farmers must move quickly to ensure that the flowers mature into vanilla pods. They hand-pollinate the orchids by pushing the male and female segments of each flower together. The success of the pollination is immediately apparent because the thick green base of the flower will swell. Eventually, the swollen base will transform into a long, green seedpod that will turn yellow when ripened and split open at the end. Vanilla is one of the most expensive spices in the world due to the time and energy it takes to cultivate the crop. Aside from the painstaking practice of hand pollination, the vanilla beans must be sorted and graded after harvesting. Then, they are blanched in hot water to slow down fermentation. From there, they will undergo alternating periods of drying in the sun during the daytime and sweating in containers at night. The whole process can take around a year. Plus, about five to seven pounds of green vanilla beans are needed to produce just one pound of processed vanilla, which drives up the prices even further. So, it might not be too much of a surprise to learn that most of the vanilla we consume is actually artificial vanilla flavoring. In reality, 99 percent of the worlds vanilla extract is fake imitation vanilla. Instead of coming from the plant itself, the artificial stuff is flavored with vanillin, a compound that is synthesized from petrochemicals. Vanillin is essentially made up of the same compounds that occur naturally in real vanilla beans, but its a lab-produced version. It also mimics vanillas smell, but some may argue that it doesnt quite capture the essence of true vanilla. On the other hand, not even professional tasters have been able to detect a difference in flavor when its used in cakes and cookies. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. As a perpetually sleepy person, I thought I was an expert at the art of nodding off. Whether its in the middle of a long movie or during a boring lecture back in college, I can always count on my eyes getting heavy, threatening to pull me into a slumber. Sometimes, I might succumb to the sleepiness but then jerk awake immediately after. But it turns out that nesting chinstrap penguins are the true masters of whats referred to as a microsleep. Microsleeps are seconds-long slips out of consciousness that include eye closure and sleep-related brain activity. The birds accumulate more than 11 hours of sleep each day using this strategy. They fall asleep more than 10,000 times a day. Their series of naps lasts only about four seconds. The penguins sleeping patterns challenge the notion that fragmented sleep is detrimental to sleep quality, especially since the flock that scientists studied didnt seem to show any ill effects from their interrupted sleep. In fact, the penguins were healthy, fit, and could successfully reproduce. Researchers from France, Germany, and South Korea studied 14 wild chinstrap penguins in King George Island, Antarctica. The penguins were incubating eggs in an area where predators like the brown skua bird lurked about. During incubation, parents take turns guarding the nest and foraging for food. They switch off every 22 hours or so. For their observations, the researchers implanted electrodes into the animals brains and neck muscles. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Weve been told that we need to go to college and get a four-year degree in order to land a high-paying job. While that may be the traditional path, many people, from huge companies to high school students, are learning that a college degree isnt everything. So, its still possible to earn a stable, six-figure income without that expensive piece of paper. Whether youre fresh out of high school or an adult looking to make a career change, you can secure a job that makes bank. Here are several high-paying jobs that are up for grabs. Social Media Manager As social media becomes an essential tool for businesses, social media managers are now a hot commodity. Many of the people who are most knowledgeable in the ways of social media are young and completely self-taught through online channels that they may have started just for fun. The majority of older generations arent so skilled in this department, which reduces the number of competitors vying for social media management roles. The best part is that you can demonstrate your abilities through your own profiles, making it so that work is just a creative hobby you actually enjoy doing. The typical pay for a social media manager starts at around $75,000 per year. Real Estate Agent Real estate agents are always in demand. They are responsible for facilitating the sale of properties. There is a lot of flexibility regarding the types of properties they can focus on, from commercial to residential. Their day-to-day consists of a wide variety of tasks, such as hosting open houses, taking buyers on tours of properties, and managing closings. Being a real estate agent has lots of earning potential since their pay is based on commission. On average, they can make around $100,000 per year, but depending on commission, their earnings could be much higher. While no degree is necessary to become a real estate agent, proper licensing is required. If you decide to pursue real estate, you will need to take a course and pass the exam to become licensed in your state. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Home Opinion Are the new year prophecies from God or men? In my culture, it has become an annual ritual for Christians to gather every 31st day of December to hear declarations of what will happen in the coming year. I do not know if it happens in the Western world, but in my country, most pastors have words from God for their congregation on the eve of the new year. These words are perceived by their followers as the inerrant word of God that will guide them and shape their lives throughout the coming year. Whether these words come from God or are manufactured by men is what we need to be sure of. The Scripture enjoins believers to judge prophecies (1 Corinthians 14:29). There is no doubt that some of these prophecies are inspired by God and are delivered by men as the Spirit gives them utterances, but it is also obvious that the majority of these words are from men who excite their congregations with words of promises that never come to fruition. What bothers me most is that the majority of the pastors usually state it categorically clear that they heard the words directly from the mouth of God. Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. There is a difference between straw and grain! (Jeremiah 23:28). This difference between the straw and the grain is what many Christians have failed to identify. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Words like these were all too common just a few days ago: The Lord said that your year of uncommon fortune and prosperity has come, I hear God pronounce mega breakthrough in all you do in 2024. God is releasing keys to exotic cars and houses for you now, receive them! God said that I should tell you that you will not experience poverty, pains, difficulties, and suffering in 2024. People have heard these exact prophecies in previous years and never saw them fulfilled. Yet many still believe that this years prophecies might be different from others. The major reason why people are gullible is because poverty has been weaponized in my country and people are prone to believe anything that promises solutions to their hardships and sufferings. They usually jump, shout Amen and throw their money at these people to claim these words which they believe were from God. Many of them have forgotten the previous years prophecies given to them by the same people. Notable pastors have even prophesied that God told them that the killings of Christians in Nigeria would be over yet the killings continued unabated. Many worshipers now have itching ears and are excited when these falsehoods are dished out to them from the pulpits. I recently listened to a prophet in one of the mega-churches in Nigeria accusing his congregation of being responsible for his unfulfilled prophecies. He blamed them for not having enough faith to provoke Heaven to act. Is it not time for Christians to start judging prophecies that are given to them? Shouldn't pastors and prophets be held accountable for the words which they claimed they heard from God? Many ministers of God have become very careless with words that they claim are from God simply because no one is held accountable when these words fail. Ghanaian Police in a security briefing before the new year warned religious leaders to share false prophecies and go to prison for 9 years. Is this not embarrassing to the body of Christ? A Nigerian lady recently lamented bitterly how 2023 has gone without her getting married after her pastor gave prophesied that she would be married by the end of the year. Is it really God who spoke to this pastor about this lady's marriage? Can't we go to church and pray to usher in the new year without a prophetic declaration? Must we manufacture words and call them words of God? He who has not heard from God should keep quiet and commune with Him in prayers. The faith of many believers is on the line. Home News Christian group launches first-ever religious violence database tracking global persecution A database tracking incidents of violent religious persecution worldwide has been launched by Global Christian Relief, a U.S.-based group monitoring Christian persecution. The Violent Incidents Database stands as the first and only events-based global religious freedom dataset of its kind. The VID, accessible to the public, catalogs over a dozen types of violence, including killings, arrests, abductions, sexual harassment, pressure and forced marriages. It allows searches by country, religion and perpetrator, offering an unprecedented level of verification, the group says. The perpetrators responsible for persecution include ethnic group leaders, extended family, government officials, ideological pressure groups, multilateral organizations, civilians, organized crime, political parties, religious leaders, revolutionaries or paramilitary groups, and violent religious groups. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The database, which began recording global reports of violent attacks in 2022, is currently tracking more than 6,000 incidents, according to GCR. This database helps give a voice to the voiceless by recording and sharing details of specific attacks suffered by Christians and other people of faith globally, says GCRs CEO David Curry. Our hope is that this remarkable resource will be utilized by anyone advocating and reporting on behalf of the persecuted church. The Violent Incidents Databases research is funded by GCR and conducted by the International Institute for Religious Freedom, a leading think tank in religious freedom. We live in a world where the violent persecution of Christians and other religious groups is rampant and increasing, says Ronald Boyd-MacMillan, GCRs Chief of Global Strategy and Research. This database not only helps us track the violence but helps us better understand what persecuted Christians really need from their brothers and sisters around the world. The database will be featured at the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30-31. It will also contribute to the upcoming GCR Global Religious Freedom Index, a comprehensive tool launching this spring, the group says. According to Aid to the Church in Need, over 4.9 billion people reside in countries with severe violations of religious freedom. These 4.9 billion people live in 61 countries, where the state of religious freedom, as secured in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, looks grim, said an ACN report titled "Religious Freedom in the World Report 2023" that covered the period from January 2021 to December 2022. It means that 62% of humanity lives in countries where people are not free to practice, express or change their religion, ACN said. Culprits of religious freedom violations range from armed terror groups to authoritarian governments, but the rule continues to be one of impunity for attackers who are rarely, if ever, brought to justice or criticized by the international community. Of the 61 countries, 28 were marked in red, denoting hot countries where persecution is rampant, while an additional 33 were marked in orange, indicating high levels of discrimination. The GCRs VID aims to record violations of religious freedom, with an emphasis on tracking violence on five continents, but doesnt claim exhaustive coverage, according to IIRF, which notes that the data is based on reports published in digital media available on the internet. Many incidents are never made public or do not receive sufficient attention from authorities or media, it acknowledges. Home News Pro-life coffee company raises nearly $300K to support pregnancy resource centers A pro-life coffee company has donated nearly $300,000 to pregnancy resource centers nationwide to enable them to continue serving as a shield and protector to pregnant women, as centers in some states face threats to their funding and ability to operate. Founded in 2021, Seven Weeks Coffee is named after the stage in a womans pregnancy when her pre-born child is the size of a coffee bean. The company supports the mission of pro-life pregnancy centers, which provide free resources and counseling services to pregnant women and families by donating 10% of its earnings from coffee sales to them. Pregnancy centers can also partner with Seven Weeks Coffee by signing up for its affiliate program online. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe From the companys founding to the one-year anniversary of Roe v. Wades reversal, Seven Weeks Coffee raised around $125,000 for pregnancy resource centers. The pro-life company raised the same amount of money again within six months. In an interview with The Christian Post, Seven Weeks Coffee founder Anton Krecic said the company evolved from what he described as a grassroots movement as more people began spreading the word about it. One of the reasons Krecic believes Seven Weeks Coffee has been able to raise that amount of money is due to its partnerships. Krecic believes part of the reason for the companys continued growth is the attention it has received from major pro-life advocates like Lila Rose and Allie Beth Stuckey. He also highlighted the companys partnerships with over 700 pregnancy centers, which he said allows coffee connoisseurs to help their local pregnancy center by buying Seven Weeks Coffee. They see the real pains that people are facing, Krecic said about pregnancy resource centers. Theyre intervening in a crisis and acting as a shield and protector for mom and child. In addition to its partnership with over 700 pregnancy centers, Krecic said Seven Weeks Coffee partners with multiple pro-life organizations through its affiliate program, including the Center for Client Safety and Sidewalk Advocates for Life. And basically, what were trying to tailor is, Hey, we sell coffee of an amazing quality.' So if thats pregnancy centers, if thats adoption clinics, organizations like Center for Client Safety that are shutting down abortion clinics were going to find whoever we can thats doing pro-life work and fund it through the sale of our coffee. he added. The Seven Weeks Coffee founder said his company partners with pregnancy centers throughout the country, including in Alaska, New York, Virginia, Texas and Pennsylvania. Pregnancy centers in Pennsylvania are facing a new challenge after Gov. Josh Shapiros administration announced in August an end to a contract that provided funding to Real Alternatives. The organization comprises a network of pregnancy centers offering various resources to pregnant women, including temporary shelter and parenting support. Krecic said Seven Weeks Coffee held an online fundraiser for Real Alternatives from Aug. 11-14, 2023, that raised a couple thousand dollars on their behalf. According to the Seven Weeks Coffee founder, the brand has raised over $10,000 for pregnancy centers in Pennsylvania overall. Detractors of pregnancy centers argue that these pro-life charitable organizations manipulate women into choosing life for their children and rely on deceptive strategies to lure women away from abortion facilities and into their centers. Critics also allege that pregnancy centers lie about the services they provide women by posing as medical clinics. We want to be advocates for pregnancy centers and convey the truth that they provide free medical care to women who are in real crisis, Krecic said. There are zero financial motives from a pregnancy center. Pregnancy centers are there to help mother and child. Abortion clinics are there to make a sale, convincing mothers that abortion is their only choice, he continued. A December 2023 report released by the Charlotte Lozier Institute, surveyed 2,750 pregnancy centers in 50 states. According to the report, pregnancy centers served over 970,000 clients and provided over $350 million worth of services to women and families in 2022. A total of 44,930 volunteers and 17,646 paid staff helped women seeking assistance at pro-life pregnancy centers. Over 97% of people who sought help from a pro-life pregnancy resource center reported that their experience was a positive one. Home News Congregation halts plans to destroy historic NYC church after celebrities object Plans to demolish the historic West Park Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, New York, due to its financial struggles have been halted following objections from local residents and celebrities, including Matt Damon and Mark Ruffalo, according to reports. The 133-year-old church had intended to sell the property for development into luxury apartments. However, the buildings landmark status, granted in 2010, required approval from the citys Landmarks Preservation Commission for demolition, according to The New York Times, which said the churchs request for permission, made in 2022, sparked widespread support for the buildings preservation, including from actors Damon and Ruffalo. The congregation withdrew its application, influenced by a lawsuit against a tenant regarding a lease dispute, days before the commission was scheduled to vote on the churchs application on Tuesday, the Times said. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe However, the church plans to resubmit the application in the future. The congregation said in a statement that they resolve to resubmit our application to the LPC when the litigation is resolved so that we can finally invest in the modern, accessible worship and community space that the Upper West Side deserves and further support our mission in our neighborhood and across New York City, as quoted by West Side Rag. Leaders of the church signed a binding contract in 2022 with the condominiums developer due to a $2 million repair bill they could not afford. They also filed a hardship application seeking to de-landmark and demolish the building to make way for the condominium, which would also include worship space for the church. Gale Brewer, a city council member representing the Upper West Side, expressed hope that the delay might lead to the buildings preservation. Amid New York Citys housing crisis, some are arguing that opposition to the churchs demolition hinders the development of much-needed housing. As an elder of the church and a founding member of the Center at West Park, I'm also frustrated with the difficult position we find ourselves in today, Marsha Flowers, ruling elder of the West Park Presbyterian Church and a founding board member of the Center at West Park, said in a statement to The Christian Post at the time. We helped create the Center in 2017 to celebrate the arts while fundraising for repairs to the building, but the funds never came through despite more than a decade of promises and commitments from local leaders, Flowers added. Our congregation is now focused on creating a new space for worship and the arts, and we hope to use our proceeds to help other churches meet their mission and avoid circumstances like ours. In an effort to support the buildings preservation, actor Matt Damon participated in a play performance at the church last November. Wendell Pierce; comedian Amy Schumer, as well as rapper and actor Common have also thrown their star-power behind the effort to save the building. Home Opinion Let's resolve to know our Bibles better in 2024 The new year is upon us, and I hope we have plans to immerse ourselves in Gods Word in 2024. Throughout church history, Christians who have been mighty in the Scriptures have systematically read Scripture year after year. A new year is a great opportunity for a fresh start, which is why we all should be encouraged to be diligent and disciplined in our Bible reading. We should first consider two wrong motivations for reading Gods Word. We must not read the Bible simply to amass information. There are millions of unregenerate people in Bible studies, churches, universities, and seminaries, who do not know God and have never been transformed in the slightest from their studies. We also should not read the Bible simply as another task on our daily task list. It is vital that, as we consider Bible study and reading in 2024, we realize the real possibility to check off every days reading but not to benefit from our time in the Word. This is why we must come to the Bible, not as if we are doing something for God by reading His Word, but as people who are hungry for Him to do something in us. The point of Bible reading is sanctification, transformation, and growing in holiness. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Jesus words in John 17:17 help to solidify these truths in our minds. Here Jesus prayed, Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. This is a marvelous request Jesus makes of the Father. He asks the Father to sanctify all believers in the truth, which He equates with the Word of God. There are three things to think about as we consider this petition of our Lord. First, consider the meaning of sanctification. At the most basic level, sanctification is being set apart and made holy. For example, the sabbath day in the Old Testament was to be holy. People also could be holy, as we see in Jeremiah 1:5, where we read, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations. The word translated consecrated means sanctified, and it has the idea of being set apart. Jeremiah was set apart for service to God as a prophet to the nations before he was ever born. The meaning of sanctification makes it clear that it is both a positional reality and a progressive process. A person might be said to be sanctified, while at the same time, it is true that he is being sanctified. God sets people apart for His own use, and those people gradually grow in their usefulness to God as they learn to imitate His character, manifesting that they belong to God by faith that expresses itself in obedience motivated by love. As we study the Scriptures, we find that this is how sanctification is described. Sanctification is not merely external, nor just a change in our behavior. People who are not set apart for God unbelievers fulfill the lusts of the flesh and live for their own selfish desires. Believers, however, do not have the same desires dominating their lives. They still battle ungodly lusts, which we are commanded to deny. The difference is, however, that in the believer new desires emerge and grow, which are to please God, to do the will of God, to seek glory for our Lord Jesus Christ, and to live for the good of others, and to magnify the grace of our God. Second, understand the process of sanctification. Sanctification is Gods gracious work in our lives. No one deserves to be sanctified by God. We have no claim on God in ourselves whereby we can come to Him and demand that He sanctify us. The reality of sanctification being a work of God is emphasized throughout the New Testament in addition to its attribution to all three Persons within the Triune God. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 reads, Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sanctification is also ascribed to Jesus Christ in Ephesians 5:26, which states, So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word. Further, we see in 2 Thessalonians 2:13 that the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. Paul wrote, But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. The Triune God is at work in our sanctification. Thats not to say that we dont have a part to play in our sanctification. Scripture is full of commands to obey, to purify ourselves, to abstain from iniquity, to flee from immorality, to deny ungodly lusts, and to pursue righteousness and godliness. We are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. However, we must always remember that even if we labor more than all others and attain holiness that surpasses all other sinners, it is only due to the grace and power of God in our lives, and not to our strength, power, or effort. How does God sanctify us? Sanctification has two senses, one that happens at conversion and is a once-for-all event; and one that is progressive throughout our lives. Both senses of the term happen through the truth of Gods Word. God initially sets us apart for Himself through the truth of His Word. We know that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ. Or as James put it in James 1:18, In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. Peter makes the same point in 1 Peter 1:23, writing, For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. Progressive sanctification happens in the same way as our conversion, through Gods Word and the Spirit of God uses the Word to make us more holy. Besides John 17:17, one of the clearest statements to this effect is Acts 20:32, where Paul, as he left the Ephesian elders for the final time, said, And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Paul was assured that the Ephesians had all they needed in the Word of God to finish the race strong. Some of the most beloved verses on this subject are found in the 119th Psalm, where we are given wonderful testimony to the power of the Word in sanctification. In verse 104, the Psalmist says, From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Notice that the person who comes to Gods Word with faith acquires an understanding of truth, righteousness, justice, wisdom, holiness, sin, and salvation. The Word draws us to itself by revealing the truth to us, and the Spirit works in our hearts. We dont want lies, philosophies of the world, or counsel of the ungodly; we only want the truth. Finally, we must apply the process of sanctification. How do we read so that Gods power transforms us through His Word? First, treasure the word of God. If we want to be changed by Gods word, we need to love and delight in it. It is a wonder that the eternal God should reveal anything to us at all, let alone such a complete and full revelation of Himself in His Word! Second, read Gods Word prayerfully. As we read, we should be in a spirit of prayer, asking the Spirit to examine our hearts, expose our sins, and comfort us in our discouragements and afflictions. Third, read it with faith. The promises of God are all ours in Christ Jesus, so we can believe, trust, and rest in His words. Fourth, read the Word humbly. We cannot change Gods Word to make it say what we want, but we must receive what it says regardless of our own preconceived ideas. Fifth, read the word with a desire to obey it. We do not come to the Word merely to gain information, but to be transformed! We must read the Word with a heart to keep it. As we read the Word with these principles in mind, God will be faithful to work in us and sanctify us by His Word. Will we be faithful to come humbly and faithfully to Gods Word each day with a heart that desires holiness? I pray that this is our hearts desire as we begin another year that the Lord has so graciously given us. Happy New Year! In this article UAL ALK BA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Boeing's new 737 MAX-9 is pictured under construction at their production facility in Renton, Washington, Feb. 13, 2017. Jason Redmond | Reuters Boeing 's plan to get back on solid footing after a series of quality flaws in its bestselling jet suffered a near disaster when a plane panel blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight, leaving a gaping hole in row 26. The Federal Aviation Administration on Saturday, less than a day after the accident, ordered a grounding of most 737 Max 9 planes, affecting some 171 aircraft worldwide, so they can be inspected. On Sunday, the agency said, "they will remain grounded until the FAA is satisfied that they are safe." Several factors onboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 that turned back Portland, Oregon, minutes into the flight to Ontario, California, on Friday afternoon including its lower-than-cruising altitude and unoccupied seats where it mattered most helped avoid serious injury, or worse, for the flight's 171 passengers and six crew. The force from the event was so violent it ripped some headrests and seatbacks out of the cabin, blew open the cockpit door, and ripped off the first officer's headset, according to early details of the federal investigation. A schoolteacher in the Portland area found the door plug in his backyard, the National Transportation Safety Board said late Sunday. The terrifying incident means renewed scrutiny for Boeing, which has been working to get its 737 Max program back on track after two fatal crashes, the Covid-19 pandemic's supply chain havoc and a series of smaller but troubling quality issues in recent months. The 737 Max 9 flown by Alaska Airlines on Friday was delivered less than three months ago. "The fact that it was a practically brand-new aircraft is a cause for concern," said Jim Hall, a former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, the largest operators of the 737 Max 9, on Saturday said they suspended flights with those planes, forcing the carriers to cancel more than 400 flights. Boeing's leadership has spent roughly five years regrouping after the 2018 and 2019 fatal crashes of its smaller and more popular Boeing 737 Max 8, which prompted a worldwide grounding of both the Max 8 and Max 9, the two types flying commercially. Regulators began clearing the planes to fly again in late 2020, and Boeing has won hundreds of new orders for the planes as airlines trip over each other to secure new jets, which are sold out for most of this decade at Boeing and rival Airbus. Boeing has been trying to ramp up production of the workhorse jet while simultaneously stamping out quality issues such as rudder system bolts that were possibly loose and holes that were incorrectly drilled on certain aircraft. Those defects prompted additional inspections and in some cases slowed down deliveries to airlines. Boeing still hasn't won regulator approval for carriers to start flying the smallest Max 7 and largest Max 10 models. "I've heard from a few of you wondering if we've lost a step in this recovery," Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told Wall Street analysts on an earnings call in October. "You might not be surprised to hear that I view it as exactly the opposite. Over the last several years, we've added rigor around our quality processes." Calhoun said last month in a statement announcing a new COO that 2024 would be a "significant transitional year in our performance as we continue to restore our operational and financial strength." Wall Street analysts expect Boeing to post its sixth consecutive quarterly net loss when it reports results on Jan. 31, according to FactSet estimates. They also anticipate the manufacturer to be profitable this year, starting in the first quarter. Shares of Boeing climbed close to 37% in 2023, the stock's best percentage gain since 2017 and its first annual advance since a modest rise in 2019. The company's shares tumbled more than 8% in premarket trading on Monday, the first trading day since the incident. Calhoun told employees on Sunday that he's canceled a leadership summit early this week and will instead hold an all-employee meeting on Tuesday to discuss safety. "While we've made progress in strengthening our safety management and quality control systems and processes in the last few years, situations like this are a reminder that we must remain focused on continuing to improve every day," Calhoun said in a staff memo Sunday. Flight risk Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation into Friday's accident, said at a press briefing Saturday night in Portland that the probe is centered around the Alaska Airlines flight and that specific aircraft, not the entire fleet of Boeing 737 Maxes. There will be big questions to answer about how exactly the panel blew out at 16,000 feet, putting a plane full of passengers at risk. Fuselage supplier Spirit Aerosystems said it installed the plug door, an emergency exit door that's cut into the plane but not intended for use under certain plane configurations, like those on United and Alaska, and is therefore sealed off. A Boeing spokeswoman declined to comment on whether Boeing is the last to seal the door before the planes are delivered to airlines, citing the ongoing investigation. John Goglia, a former member of the NTSB and a transportation safety consultant, said that the Alaska Airlines incident will likely be a "blip" for Boeing but argued federal regulators should further scrutinize Boeing as it gears up to produce even more 737 Maxes. "If I was the FAA, I'd say, 'Show me six months where you don't have any assembly problems,'" he said. "The FAA needs to slow Boeing down." According to Jefferies, the 737 Max 9 represents just 2% of Boeing's backlog of more than 4,500 Max planes. It's far less popular than the Max 8, which accounts for around 68% of the Maxes that customers have ordered from Boeing. And while the planes will remain grounded for the time being, some safety experts don't expect the same level of impact on the company as it saw after the 2018 and 2019 Max crashes, in which a piece of flight-control software was implicated. Richard Aboulafia, managing director at aviation consulting firm Aerodynamic Advisory, said the problem on the Alaska Airlines plane appears to be a manufacturing defect, not an inherent design flaw. That should make the investigation and recovery easier for Boeing, he said. And, of course, there's the fact that no one died following Friday's flight in contrast to the 346 people who were killed in the 2018 and 2019 crashes. Narrowly escaping tragedy Indian Air Force (IAF) recently carried out a night landing at Kargil airstrip on its C-130J aircraft, which is also called the Super Hercules. Lockheed Martin's C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the IAF said the exercise also helped in a training mission of the Garuds. The Garud Commando Force is the special forces unit of the IAF. Here is a look at the special landing: In a first, an IAF C-130 J aircraft recently carried out a night landing at the Kargil airstrip. Employing terrain masking enroute, the exercise also dovetailed a training mission of the Garuds.#SakshamSashaktAtmanirbhar pic.twitter.com/MNwLzaQDz7 Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) January 7, 2024 IAF pilots had earlier shown daredevilry in the Uttarakhand tunnel rescue mission using the same aircraft. The IAF successfully landed two Super Hercules aircraft on a primitive and challenging airstrip in Uttarakhand. This critical mission, conducted amid adverse weather conditions, aimed to transport heavy engineering equipment for the rescue of 41 workers trapped inside the under-construction mountain tunnel. Last year, the IAF also used this aircraft for a daring nocturnal mission in Sudan. The IAF manoeuvred its C-130J Super Hercules onto an unprepared runway amidst darkness to evacuate 121 individuals from a small airstrip in conflict-ridden Sudan. The airstrip in Wadi Sayyidna presented a challenging scenario as it lacked navigational approach aids, fuel, and landing lights essential for guiding aircraft during nighttime landings. However, the IAF executed a flawless landing, using Night Vision Goggles (NVGs). UTAH Group repping TikTok, Meta and X sues over limits on app use for minors SALT LAKE CITY A trade group that represents TikTok and other major tech companies sued Utah on Dec. 18 over its first-in-the-nation laws requiring children and teens to obtain parental consent to use social media apps. Two laws signed in March by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox will prohibit minors from using social media between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. unless authorized by a parent and require age verification to open and maintain a social media account in the state. The restrictions are designed to protect children from targeted advertisements and addictive features that could negatively impact their mental health. Both laws take effect March 1. The NetChoice trade group argues in its federal lawsuit that although Utah's regulations are well-intentioned, they are unconstitutional because they restrict access to public content, compromise data security and undermine parental rights. The trade association includes many of the world's leading social media companies, including TikTok, Snapchat parent company Snap Inc., Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta, and X, formerly known as Twitter. Cox predicted there would be lawsuits challenging both bills but said he wasn't worried because there is a growing body of research that demonstrates how social media use can negatively impact the mental health outcomes of children. Utah's state laws impose steep fines for social media companies that do not comply with the age-verification rule, which NetChoice says may lead companies to collect an excess of personal information from users that could end up threatening their online safety. The state regulations prohibit companies from using any design or feature that causes a child to become addicted to their app. The lawsuit also challenges the state-imposed social media curfew, arguing that it could negatively impact children by cutting them off from the news, study tools and communications with their peers. WYOMING Woman who set fire to abortion clinic ordered to pay hefty fine A 22-year-old woman who set fire to Wellspring Health Access in Casper in 2022 Wyoming's only remaining abortion provider was ordered on Dec. 26 to pay almost $300,000 in restitution. Lorna Green must pay $298,170.95 in restitution, a federal order shows. About 80% will be paid to Nationwide General Insurance Company, the clinic's insurance provider. The remainder will be distributed to Julie Burkhart, the president of Wellspring Health Access, and to the building's owner. The restitution, which was the full amount requested by federal prosecutors, appears to cover about the total cost of the damage, the federal order shows. Green was also sentenced to five years in prison on the federal arson charge in September. The five-year sentence was the mandatory minimum while the maximum sentence is 20 years. She "eagerly looks forward to a productive and peaceful life," after serving her sentence, Ryan Semerad, Green's attorney, said in emailed statement on Dec. 27. On May 25, 2022, Green tried to burn down Wellspring Health Access, which was weeks away from opening at the time. "Green stated she did not like abortion and was having nightmares which she attributed to her anxiety about the abortion clinic, so she decided to burn the building," the federal complaint states. Pierce Brosnan accused of trespassing in Yellowstone thermal area CHEYENNE Pierce Brosnan, whose fictitious movie character James Bond has been in hot water plenty of times, is now facing heat in real life, charged with stepping out of bounds in a thermal area during a recent visit to Yellowstone National Park. Brosnan walked in an off-limits area at Mammoth Terraces, in the northern part of Yellowstone near the Wyoming-Montana line, on Nov. 1, according to two federal citations issued on Dec. 27. Brosnan, 70, is scheduled for a mandatory court appearance on Jan. 23 in the courtroom of the world's oldest national park. Yellowstone officials declined to comment. Brosnan was in the park on a personal visit and not for film work, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Wyoming said. Mammoth Terraces is a scenic spot of mineral-encrusted hot springs bubbling from a hillside. They're just some of the park's hundreds of thermal features, which range from spouting geysers to gurgling mud pots, with water at or near the boiling point. Going out-of-bounds in such areas can be dangerous: Some of the millions of people who visit Yellowstone each year get badly burned by ignoring warnings not to stray off the trail. Getting caught can bring legal peril too, with jail time, hefty fines and bans from the park handed down to trespassers regularly. In addition to his four James Bond films, Brosnan starred in the 1980s TV series "Remington Steele" and is known for starring roles in the films "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "The Thomas Crown Affair. NEBRASKA Court reverses ex-lawmakers conviction of lying to feds LOS ANGELES An appellate court on Dec. 26 reversed a 2022 federal conviction against former U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska, ruling that he should not have been tried in Los Angeles. Fortenberry was convicted in March 2022 on charges that he lied to federal authorities about an illegal $30,000 contribution to his campaign from a foreign billionaire at a 2016 Los Angeles fundraiser. He resigned his seat days later following pressure from congressional leaders and Nebraska's GOP governor. In its ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit wrote that the trial venue of Los Angeles was improper because Fortenberry made the false statements during interviews with federal agents at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska, and in his lawyer's office in Washington. A federal jury in Los Angeles found the nine-term Republican guilty of concealing information and two counts of making false statements to authorities. He vowed to appeal from the courthouse steps. Fortenberry and his wife, Celeste Fortenberry, praised the court's decision. Thom Mrozek, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles, noted that the appellate court left a path open for future proceedings against Fortenberry. Fortenberry was charged after denying to the FBI that he was aware he had received illicit funds from Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire of Lebanese descent. NEW MEXICO Wells Fargo workers at Albuquerque branch vote to unionize Employees at a Wells Fargo bank in New Mexico have voted to unionize, the first time that workers at a major U.S. bank have attempted to organize in the modern era. The vote comes after a series of extraordinary gains for unions in the U.S., with organized labor sealing huge contracts in industries that have historically had strong labor representation, and inroads in those that have not. Bankers and tellers at the Wells Fargo branch in Albuquerque will join the Communications Workers of America's Wells Fargo Workers United, the Committee for Better Banks said in a prepared statement on Dec. 20. The workers say they are understaffed, underpaid, and mismanaged. The bank employees join others in a push to unionize in places that have not had a strong presence of organized labor. Workers at more than 200 U.S. Starbucks locations walked off the job in November in what organizers said was the largest strike yet in the 2-year-old effort to unionize the company's stores. Starbucks, which opposes the union effort, has also tried to shift the conversation on that issue. In December, the company announced it was committed to bargaining with its unionized workers and reaching labor agreements in 2024. Maybe your last words will be badass. Maybe theyll be defiant. Maybe theyll be depressing. Its also possible for them to be all three. Just take after the following examples, and make sure the last thing you ever say is some variation of this line: I am definitely not going to die. 5 Good. A Woman Who Can Fart Is Not Dead via Wiki Commons In the 1600s, in the French commune of Moret-sur-Loing, there lived a nun named Louise Marie-Therese. People called her The Black Nun of Moret of The Moret Mooress. She told people that she was secretly the daughter of the Queen, Maria Theresa of Spain. That makes her sound like a crazy person, some nun just raving away in her abbey, but people believed her. She had a lifetime pension from the palace, and was occasionally visited by a son of Maria Theresa, for reasons no one could otherwise explain. Louise died in 1730. She spent the last two days bedridden, and in her final moments, she farted loudly. Good, she said, as she turned over. A woman who can fart is not dead. Its also true that a woman who can speak is not dead, but she may well be about to die, and Sister Lousie died right after saying this. 4 I Am So Healthy, I Expect to Live On and On via Wiki Commons Jerome Irving Rodale was an advocate for organic farming, and for quackery in general. He built a publishing business on the basis that organic food is healthier. Really, organic food is costlier and less efficient, but Rodale believed that health comes from purity. For this same reason, he criticized vaccines and favored folk cures over modern medicine. He also wrote a book titled Happy People Rarely Get Cancer, and the less we say about that book, the better. Advertisement You might think it would be ironic if the author of such a book went on to get cancer, but Rodale died more suddenly than that and while in the spotlight. On June 8, 1971, he went on The Dick Cavett Show. As one of his quack remedies, he brought with him some asparagus boiled in urine. Im in such good health, that I fell down a long flight of stairs yesterday and I laughed all the way, said Rodale. Ive decided to live to be a hundred. Shortly after, he said, I am so healthy, I expect to live on and on. When the next guest popped up, Rodale remained on stage, sitting on the couch. Then he let out a snort and died, as the cameras rolled. They never aired that episode. Talk shows like this are never broadcast live, on the off-chance that a health expert keels over or a clown shoots the host in the face. Advertisement 3 Everything Will Be Okay via Wiki Commons When Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, an unlikely person held himself responsible: Juan Romero, the busboy in the above photo. The two were shaking hands at the exact second the bullet hit. If I wouldnt have extended my hand, he wouldnt have gotten shot, Romero would later say. Advertisement That might be true, and it also might not be true. If Kennedy were a standing in a slightly different position, the assassin still would have aimed at him. Either way, theres often a big difference between causation and moral responsibility, and if we held ourselves accountable for all the infinite consequences of our actions, wed all go mad. Advertisement Along with the burden/honor of placing a rosary in Kennedys hand as he died, Romero had the burden/honor of hearing the senators last words. Everythings going to be okay, RFK said. If he was referring to his own prognosis, he was wrong, and if he was referring to other possible victims, he wasnt so right either a handful of other people got hit as well. Perhaps he was instead referring to the wider struggle. He meant everything would be okay because he had an heir, and RFK Jr. would save us all. 2 They Couldnt Hit an Elephant at That Distance Mathew Benjamin Brady Some say soldiers should be fearless. Thats nonsense. If youre truly fearless, you are mentally incompetent and should not be allowed to enlist. No, a soldier should feel fear, and should be brave enough to fight anyway, but also should use that fear as a guide on how to stay alive. A soldier who has no fear may quickly die, which doesnt make them as useful as they might have been. Advertisement During the Civil War, at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, many soldiers on the Union side were wary of the Confederate sharpshooters a thousand yards away. Bullets kept hitting the ground nearby, and bullets sting. Major General John Sedgwick showed no fear. What? he said. Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line? Then, after a little bit, he said, Why are you dodging like this? They couldn't hit an elephant at that distance. Then, just as his chief of staff was telling him, General, theyre firing explosive bullets, one of those bullets hit Sedgwick under his left eye. Sedgwick is tied as the highest-ranking officer to die during the Civil War. Advertisement He was still technically right, as the Confederates hit no elephants. The King of Siam had offered to send elephants, but the president turned down the offer. Advertisement ?? Iniciamos el 2024 con la emocion y expectativa por las actividades del ano #APECPeru2024 tras asumir, por 3. vez, la presidencia pro tempore de @APEC. Calentemos motores repasando momentos del ISOM que se llevo a cabo en Lima, una de las ciudades sede.https://t.co/8sEJy0WFcH What to do about Bad Uncle Andrew? That's the pressing problem facing King Charles over his morning egg and it's not an easy one to solve. The latest batch of court documents exposing more lurid details about Prince Andrew's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein would test even the closest brotherly bond. They reiterate claims by Virginia Giuffre that Andrew sexually assaulted her three times when she was 17 and 18, including once during an orgy, and include testimony from one of Epstein's housekeepers that Andrew had daily massages while spending 'weeks' at the paedophile financier's home. Despite all this, it's clear that Charles feels a degree of sympathy towards his younger brother, who has strenuously (if not entirely convincingly) denied all the allegations. The appearance of Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, alongside other members of the Royal Family at church at Sandringham on Christmas Day would certainly imply as much. The latest batch of court documents exposing more lurid details about Prince Andrew's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein would test even the closest brotherly bond But as King, Charles's first duty must always be to the Crown, as his mother's was before him. And this new chapter in this wretched business might force him to think again. Indeed, how he responds may be the first serious test of his reign. Even if the specific allegations are never proven, Andrew's association with two sex offenders, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, casts a shadow over the Monarchy, and in particular the moral integrity of an institution that has, thanks in large part to another troublesome sibling, Prince Harry, taken rather a beating of late. However absurd or unlikely the accusations levelled at senior Royals by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, however hard it is to prove what happened between Prince Andrew and Giuffre two decades ago, the fact is that mud sticks. We live in a world where a mere allegation is enough for people to assume guilt, and where concrete evidence is not necessarily a requirement to obtain a conviction in the court of public opinion. The truth is that Prince Andrew is the gift that keeps on giving for those who want to get rid of the Monarchy. It doesn't matter how impeccably the rest of the Royals behave, how tirelessly they devote their time to good causes, how adorable the young'uns are. With Andrew in the fold, their efforts will always be undermined. Note how the anti-monarchist group Republic reported Andrew to Scotland Yard and is calling for the latest accusations to be investigated by the police. Note, too, how Sir Keir Starmer has said that wherever 'credible' allegations have been made, they should be investigated. In the past, Sir Keir has said he 'often used to propose the abolition of the Monarchy'. Maybe he now sees his chance. If King Charles is to uphold his mother's legacy, he cannot afford to let his brother's past jeopardise the future of the Crown. He must distance himself and the institution from the object of these appalling allegations. He has to make it clear that he takes these accusations seriously, and that while his brother deserves a fair hearing, until and unless the matter is resolved satisfactorily in his favour, he cannot expect to enjoy the trappings of a full-blown Royal. As King, Charles's first duty must always be to the Crown, as his mother's was before him. And this new chapter in this wretched business might force him to think again. Indeed, how he responds may be the first serious test of his reign Crucially, the King must not find himself backed into a corner. He has to act before he is forced to. The late Queen made a start by stripping Andrew of his HRH and retiring him from Royal duties. The withdrawal of funding for security at Andrew's home, the 30-bedroom Royal Lodge (the name is rather misleading: it's basically a palace), should be the next step. Hopefully this would force him to move to the less ostentatious Frogmore Cottage which, while not exactly a hardship by most standards, would at least be a step in the right direction. But even that wouldn't, I suspect, lance the boil. Because however the King deals with Prince Andrew, he'll always be Prince Andrew: entitled, arrogant, entirely lacking in self-knowledge. In fact, not unlike Prince Harry. Two spares with a talent for driving everyone else even more spare. And it shows, every time he opens his mouth in public. Not just in that disastrous Newsnight interview, but at Sandringham on Christmas Day, when he asked Royal fans why they were there and filming him. When it was explained that they found the scenes 'wonderful' and 'lovely', Andrew responded: 'You ought to come and stand on this side and see what it's like'. Aaargh. Talk about ungracious. I'm afraid there's no choice: Andrew needs to be out of sight and out of mind. I suggest a lengthy sojourn on a Caribbean island, but given the circumstances that might not be ideal. Perhaps, rather than Frogmore, he could live quietly at Sandringham, hosting dinner parties for the hunting/shooting/fishing set. Just keep him away from the front gates. It is more than four years since the World Health Organisation was tipped off about a mysterious new disease that had emerged in Wuhan. This proved to be the start of a deadly pandemic as the virus hurtled round the planet, sparking the most serious public health catastrophe for a century. Now, it is beyond dispute that Chinas dictatorship covered up Covids eruption in Wuhan with disastrous consequences. The regimes officials hid the initial outbreak, silenced whistleblowers and censored data that could have saved millions of lives. Yet, last year, when Michael Gove told the UK Covid-19 inquiry there was a significant body of judgment that believes that the virus itself was man-made he was slapped down as the lead counsel, Hugo Keith, told him: Were not going to go there. So this bloated, costly inquiry is happy to admonish British politicians while ignoring the much bigger issue of whether the pandemic was sparked by cutting-edge scientific research or if there was natural transmission from infected animals. EcoHealth says the documents are incomplete and the 'allegations are false based on misunderstanding of edits and comments on the document, and based on misleading out-of-context quotations and a lack of understanding the process by which federal grants are awarded' The Covid-19 pandemic is believed to have first been detected at Wuhan's Huanan seafood market Read More: The Mail reported in April 2020 the possibility of a lab leak origin theory Advertisement Keiths hasty response reflected the desperate efforts of Western political, scientific and media establishments to stifle such discussion as they kowtow to Chinas bullying rulers and cover up funding ties to risky research outsourced to Wuhan labs. Zero reliable evidence has emerged to back claims of zoonotic (animal to animal) transmission. But there has been a steady trickle of evidence to suggest that it may be no coincidence that Covid emerged in the city with Chinas maximum bio-safety lab, the biggest repository of bat coronaviruses in Asia. I have reported on these issues since early 2020 and it has been deeply disturbing to witness systemic attempts to shackle debate for it corrodes public confidence in science, politics and the media. Obstruction has been led by heads of key American and British funding bodies. Yet last month a study disclosed 309 laboratory-acquired infections between 2000 and 2021 along with 16 cases of pathogens escaping a laboratory. The P4 laboratory at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on April 17, 2020 Alarming details about the work in Wuhan and Chinas cover-up have been exposed along with concerns over Wild West safety and details of secret schemes to boost the infectivity of coronaviruses. Today, there is growing acceptance that a laboratory incident might have caused the pandemic. While no one knows for sure the answer to this scientific riddle, one thing is clear. There has been a toxic conspiracy of silence in collusion with China over Covids origins that has betrayed the values of democracy and science. This undermines all efforts to prepare for the next pandemic. Well, this is all very odd. A few days ago, Members of Parliament received their first communication of the year from the office of the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. After declaring that he hoped they had enjoyed a 'restful recess', MPs were informed that 'as part of Speaker-led diplomacy', on January 10 the Commons would be 'flying the Palestine flag in honour of [the] Palestine Ambassador'. They were also told that on the same afternoon, at '15.30-16.00', the Speaker would be having a meeting in Parliament with the 'Palestine Ambassador'. The first the wider world knew about this was on Friday when it was revealed on the Twitter/X account of Policy Exchange, Westminster's most influential political think-tank. It observed: 'Should the Speaker be committing the entire House of Commons to such a controversial position on the current conflict? What is Speaker-led diplomacy? Is it appropriate in this case?' Sir Lindsay Hoyle has served as Speaker of the House of Commons since 2019. Pictured: Sir Lindsay next to the Speaker's Flagpoles in New Palace Yard Members of Parliament received this comunication from the office of the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle No British government has recognised 'Palestine' as a state: it has a Mission here, led by Husam Zomlot, but no Embassy, and no Ambassador All good questions. To which the Speaker's office rapidly responded: 'A routine internal planning email was sent in error. We can confirm no meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador is scheduled to take place.' Later, it tried a slightly different tack: 'Following a routine diary review meeting this morning, it became clear that the Speaker could no longer attend due to other diary pressures ... he hopes to reschedule when diaries allow.' There was no word about the flying of the 'Palestine flag' at the Commons. (Not that MPs will be unfamiliar with it, as for days on end, pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been waving it around Westminster, while shouting slogans which have, at times, given British Jews cause to fear for their safety). What a farce. Apart from anything else, there is no such person as 'the Palestine Ambassador'. No British government has recognised 'Palestine' as a state: it has a Mission here, led by Husam Zomlot, but no Embassy, and no Ambassador to present credentials to the monarch. Even if we accept the claim of a 'routine planning email sent in error', it is astonishing that the Speaker's Office does not know this. If you are going to have something called 'Speaker-led diplomacy', it would not be a bad idea to understand the most basic fact about the diplomatic status of Mr Zomlot. I spoke at the weekend to Sir Stephen Laws, now a senior fellow at Policy Exchange and who was previously First Parliamentary Counsel. In all those years in that role of advising on Parliamentary procedure, he told me, he had never heard of the term 'Speaker-led diplomacy'. Something like it has long existed in the United States, but the U.S. Constitution parcels out foreign relations to both the executive and legislative branches, as part of the 'separation of powers'. The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives is not just the parliamentary leader of the House, but also second in the line of succession, after the Vice-President, should the President become incapacitated. In this country, diplomacy is solely the responsibility and duty of the elected government. It is not even a parliamentary function, let alone an area of responsibility for the Speaker's office. Given that the Speaker, by convention, 'has no tongue with which to speak or eyes with which to see other than as directed by the House', it is, in any case, not for Sir Lindsay to take a 'diplomatic' initiative which might repel many unconsulted Members of Parliament who have their own strong opinions. The trouble is that Sir Lindsay, while a welcome breath of fresh air after his toxic predecessor, John Bercow who treated a number of his staff in the Commons vilely and who allowed his opposition to Brexit to affect his supposedly impartial decisions in the Chair is rather too keen on getting his own picture in the papers, his own name in the news. Sir Lindsay is a welcome breath of fresh air after his toxic predecessor, John Bercow, but is istill too keen on getting his own pictures into the papers Government papers show that Tony Blair was warned, when Prime Minister, that Hoyle was 'a publicity-mad loony' Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove is seeking to prevent local councils and other publicly-funded bodied from 'pursuing their own foreign policy agendas' When he was an ordinary backbench Labour MP, this would have been perfectly normal conduct. Although he took it a bit too far in 1997, when he persistently asked the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to make a statement about whether any 'British security agents' were involved in the Paris car crash which killed Diana, Princess of Wales. A couple of years ago, Government papers were released about this, showing a No. 10 official warning Blair that Hoyle was 'a publicity-mad loony'. The PM wrote to Hoyle in less disparaging tones but telling him his campaign was 'ridiculous' and 'deeply distressing' to the Princess's family. Much more recently, as Speaker, Hoyle was himself ridiculed when he declared that the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth would be 'the most important event that the world will ever see'. It may well have been the most important event in which Sir Lindsay will ever have taken part, but that is not quite the same thing. And it was perhaps unwise of the Speaker, last September, in an interview with the BBC, to say of the then recent chaos at the heart of the British Government: 'Who would have thought that we'd end up like a South American banana republic?' I'm not suggesting that this showed any open political bias on Hoyle's part he is innocent of that but, again, it gave the impression that he wanted to be a star on the field, when his role is solely that of umpire (or referee, if you prefer). In fact, his unfortunate business with the Palestinian flag is linked to a pet project which Hoyle's office has dubbed 'The Speaker's Flagpoles'. In 2021, he decided that three flagpoles should be installed in New Palace Yard (highly prominent on the Parliamentary estate). His office put out a statement at the time, pronouncing grandiloquently: 'The Speaker regularly meets with international dignitaries and visitors, a key component in his role in leading the UK's parliamentary diplomacy. When these meetings take place at the House of Commons, the flag of their country will also be flown.' However, the same press release, illustrated by a photograph of Hoyle standing in front of the new flagpoles, alongside four members of the Armed Forces, also said that flags would be flown to mark 'significant national events such as Lancashire Day'. I suppose this was meant to be funny, as Sir Lindsay is a proud Lancastrian. But these are serious matters. And, in the case of the mooted flying of the Palestinian flag, the timing was peculiarly insensitive, and not just because of the war in the Middle East. For Wednesday, January 10 the day, the MPs were told, that the Palestinian colours were to be raised on the 'Speaker's Flagpoles' is also the date of the third reading of the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill. This measure, led by the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, is designed to prevent local councils and other publicly-funded bodies from 'pursuing their own foreign policy agendas'. A specific target of the legislation is councils engaging in the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions campaign, which seeks to block purchases of Israeli-linked goods. The point of this measure, in part, is to emphasise that foreign policy is the preserve of the elected Government of the day, not local councillors with their own particular views of international developments which are none of their business (at least, not in any official capacity). Exactly the same applies to the Speaker of the House of Commons. An upcoming true crime documentary is set to unravel the twisted case of the real-life 'Gone Girl' after a couple were accused of staging her kidnapping and rape. Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn became known as the Gone Girl hoaxer couple in 2015 after she was abducted from their home in Vallejo, California. For two days, the then 29-year-old was drugged and raped by her abductor in a remote house before being released in an alley next to her parents' home. But investigators did not believe their far-fetched story until the real perpetrator eventually confessed. Huskins later sued the police department for defamation - and won. Here, FEMAIL has laid bare the chilling details of the case as Netflix gets set to release American Nightmare. Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn became known as the Gone Girl hoaxer couple in 2015 after she was abducted from their home in Vallejo, California The trailer shows footage of the doting boyfriend in police interrogation rooms as he was questioned about an argument with his girlfriend over messages she had found on his phone Days later her captor inexplicably dropped her off in an alley outside her parents' home - much to everyone's astonishment The new trailer for American Nightmare begins with the harrowing 911 call Quinn made in March 2015 in which he asserts: 'My girlfriend Denise got kidnapped last night.' The operator immediately asks why he did not call at the time, to which he replies: 'I was tied up.' The couple, who were both physiotherapists, had been asleep in bed at the time of the intrusion with Quinn later recounting the shocking series of events to investigators. 'I wake up. There's a bright light blinding us, a taser goes off and I see they're wearing wetsuits... They asked Denise to tie my hands behind my back,' he said. The perpetrator brandished a fake gun before playing a pre-recorded message that made it seem as if there was more than one kidnapper. The terrified pair were then drugged and blindfolded with blacked-out goggles before Huskins was bundled into the trunk and driven nearly 500 miles away. Police arrived at the scene to find blood spattered throughout the house, zip ties, toy guns and even a blow-up doll. But questions began to swirl about who could be behind Huskins' disappearance and suspicion immediately fell on Quinn. Police arrived at the scene of the abduction to find blood spattered throughout the house as well as zip ties The perpetrator brandished a fake gun before playing a pre-recorded message that made it seem as if there was more than one kidnapper Bizarrely, investigators even found a blow-up doll following Huskins' abduction The trailer shows footage of the doting boyfriend in police interrogation rooms as he was questioned about an argument with his girlfriend over messages she had found on his phone shortly before her disappearance. The culprit had been demanding $15,000 in ransom for Huskins' safe return during the two-day ordeal. But days later her captor inexplicably dropped her off in an alley outside her parents' home - much to everyone's astonishment. Recalling the moment the couple reunited, Huskins told ABC's 20/20: 'Every moment in captivity I kept picturing him, I kept just visualizing what that feeling must be like to finally feel safe in his arms again. 'When he knocked on that door and I opened it, we just embraced... we were crying and holding each other.' Quinn added: 'I knew our lives had changed forever and we'd go through more struggles but at least we had each other.' But Huskins' release only made observers more suspicious. Many said it was proof that the couple had lied and they were inundated with comments on social media from trolls who believed that had made the story up. Vallejo Police Lt. Kenny Park said as much at a press conference after Huskins resurfaced. 'We were not able to substantiate any of the things that he was saying. If anything, it is Mr. Quinn and Ms. Huskins that owe this community an apology,' he said. The vindicated couple the knot in 2016 - a year after the kidnapping - before welcoming their daughter in 2020 Huskins and Quinn sued the police department for defamation and won a $2.5 million settlement Similarly, commentators in the new series stated Huskins 'looked more like a suspect,' adding: 'I've never heard of a case where the kidnappers drop their victim off at the front door of their house.' But the case would take yet another shocking turn when Matthew Muller, a 41-year-old disbarred lawyer, turned himself in to police several months later. He pleaded guilty to the crime and revealed that he had been watching the couple in their home with drones. Huskins testified in court that Muller had treated her like 'an animal' as he raped her, explaining: 'You flopped me around the bed like a rag doll. Matthew Muller, a 41-year-old disbarred lawyer, turned himself in to police several months later 'The only way I got through it was to picture that it was Aaron that I was with, and that will haunt me for the rest of my life.' She said of the harrowing assault: 'I told myself, no matter what they do, I'm not going to beg and scream. 'If it is the last moments that I am going to be living, I am just going to stay calm and be grateful for the life I had.' Muller, a former Marine, told prosecutors that he suffered bipolar disorder and was medicated when he abducted Huskins. He pleaded guilty to federal kidnapping charges and was sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2017. Muller was later sentenced to a further 31 years to serve concurrently after pleading no contest to two counts of forcible rape of Huskins as well as robbery of an inhabited dwelling, residential burglary and false imprisonment. Huskins and Quinn have since shared their story in a book titled Victim F: From Crime Victims To Suspects To Survivors. The vindicated couple the knot in 2016 - a year after the kidnapping - before welcoming their daughter in 2020. They sued the police department for defamation and won a $2.5 million settlement. Netflix's American Nightmare airs on January 17 Princess Anne's soon-to-be appointed lady in waiting has been deeply connected to the Royal Family for years - most notably as a close friend (and maid of honour) to Zara Tindall. A trusted confidante described as 'fiercely loyal and discreet' by friends, who is the NHS midwife who has become indispensable to the Royal Family? Dolly Maude, 51, famously helped deliver Zara's third child Lucas on a bathroom floor when her birthing plan went awry in 2021, and has been a close friend of the King's niece for over two decades. With a shared love of horses, Dolly and Zara quickly grew close and briefly lived together in 2003 after the royal's relationship with her fiance Richard Johnson ended. Zara and the jockey had dated from 1998 and lived in the Cotswolds together, leaving the Princess Royal's daughter urgently in need of somewhere to call home. Princess Anne 's soon-to-be appointed lady in waiting has been deeply connected to the Royal Family for years - most notably as a close friend (and maid of honour) to Zara Tindall Dolly Maude, 51, famously helped deliver Zara's third child Lucas on a bathroom floor when her birthing plan went awry in 2021 Thankfully, her friend Dolly was there to offer her a place to stay - and a shoulder to cry on - until she found her feet after the heartbreak. The pair remained close as Zara and former rugby union player Mike Tindall's friendship blossomed into a romance just months later, in 2004. Dolly was maid of honour at Zara and Mike's wedding in 2011, and has been present at the birth of all three of their children - Mia, 9, Lena, 5, and two-year-old Lucas. The former England rugby player has even described Dolly as 'more important than I am', given her role in assisting Zara when she went into labour at their Gatcombe Park home with her son, Lucas. The now two-year-old had arrived so fast Zara and Mike couldn't make it to a hospital, and Dolly helped deliver their son on the bathroom floor of their home. It does make sense that Zara would have Dolly on speed dial for the births of her children, considering she worked as a maternity practitioner for the NHS in Gloucestershire for 13 years. Dolly also worked on the maternity unit of a hospital in Kambia, Sierra Leone for a month as part of the Kambia Appeal in 2013, teaching staff basic nursing and theatre skills. Like Zara, who received an MBE in 2007 for services to equestrianism and won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics as a member of the Great Britain Eventing Team, Dolly loves horses. Dolly was maid of honour at Zara and Mike's wedding in 2011, and has been present at the birth of all three of their children - Mia, 9, Lena, 5, and two-year-old Lucas With a shared love of horses, Dolly and Zara quickly grew close and briefly lived together in 2003 after the royal's relationship with her fiance Richard Johnson ended Like Zara, who received an MBE in 2007 for services to equestrianism and won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics as a member of the Great Britain Eventing Team, Dolly loves horses Prior to becoming a midwife, Dolly ran Dolly Maude Equine Ltd, a company which rehabilitated injured racehorses with a view to getting them back on the racecourse. It also broke in young thoroughbreds and trained point-to-pointers. Photos on her social media pages suggest she too is no stranger to competing in horse events, including dressage and cross country. She is married to Chris Maude, 52, a former jump jockey turned master valet, who comes from a farming background and grew up in the Hatherleigh area of Devon. His successes in the saddle included wins over the Grand National fences on Indian Tonic (twice) and Young Hustler, as well as the 1997 Tote Gold Trophy on Make A Stand, the 1995 Mildmay-Cazalet Chase on Deep Bramble, and the 1998 Greenalls Chase on Dom Samourai. Prior to becoming a midwife, Dolly ran Dolly Maude Equine Ltd, a company which rehabilitated injured racehorses with a view to getting them back on the racecourse The 51-year-old also shares Zara's tongue-in-cheek sense of humour Dolly has four children with husband Chris: Billy, 26, Nell, 24, Ted, 17 - who was a page boy to the Tindalls and is the godson of Zara - and Mary, 15. It's not known how Dolly and Zara met, though it seems likely it was through equestrianism - and it seems Dolly has given her friend a few tips when it comes to training horses. In 2008, while Zara was preparing to saddle her first runner as a trainer, Dolly told Horse and Hound: 'Zara does absolutely everything with him. She rides him out every day and schools him the whole lot is all down to her. Shes done a fantastic job because he is quirky but shes made him really, really happy.' NHS midwife Dolly Maude, 51, left, is a close friend of Zara Tindall and is now set to become a lady in waiting to the Princess Royal Shared love of horses: The pair were spotted at Ascot enjoying watching the racing in 2021 A Royal spokesman was later forced to clarify that the badge worn by Dolly was actually a joke With her close ties to the Royal Family, it perhaps shouldn't be surprising that Princess Anne has selected Dolly to become her lady in waiting In fact, last January Dolly turned up with her best friend at Cheltenham racecourse wearing a badge bearing the words 'Lady in Waiting'. A royal spokesman was later forced to clarify that this was actually a joke. But now the midwife is to have an official role under Princess Anne, The Telegraph has revealed. One of Dolly's friends said: 'For the Princess Royal, it's a perfect fit because of their shared love of dogs and horses. Buckingham Palace is expected to announce the appointment on February 1, when Mrs Maude will be revealed as one of four newly appointed ladies in waiting to the King's sister Dolly has four children with husband Chris: Billy, 26, Nell, 24, Ted, 17 - who was a page boy to the Tindalls and is the godson of Zara - and Mary, 15 A lady-in-waiting has traditionally been the wife or daughter of a peer, but they can also be a cousin or close friend 'She's not only extremely close to Zara, she also gets on brilliantly with the Princess. She's fiercely loyal and discreet. It's a great match.' Buckingham Palace is expected to announce the appointment in the Court Circular on February 1, when Dolly will be revealed as one of four newly appointed ladies-in-waiting to the King's sister, to replace others who have retired. A lady-in-waiting has traditionally been the wife or daughter of a peer, but they can also be a cousin or close friend. They act as a companion on Royal engagements as well as helping with their day-to-day duties. The new King and Queen of Denmark, who are set to step into their new roles in just one week, enjoy the support of more than 80% of Danish people, a poll has revealed. A survey carried out for Ritzau revealed that Crown Princess Mary enjoyed a little more popularity among the Danes than Crown Prince Frederik as the royal prepares to ascend the throne on 14 January. The poll asked how well suited Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik are to become Queen Mary I and King Frederik X, ahead of the abdication of Queen Margrethe. While 82 per cent of people believed Frederik is suited for the role of king, 86 per cent believe Mary will make a good queen. Danish royal commentator Kim Bach believes that, although Frederik is popular, Mary's slight lead over her husband is likely down to rumours of an affair that circulated after the soon-to-be king was spotted on a night out with a Mexican socialite in Madrid. The new King and Queen of Denmark, who are set to step into their new roles in just one week, enjoy the support of more than 80% of Danish people, a poll has revealed Genoveva Casanova was forced to deny what she labelled 'malicious' rumours after photos surfaced of herself with the Crown Prince in the Spanish capital, where Spanish magazine Lecturas reported they had dined together and watched Flamenco dancing until 1am. Mary has remained tight-lipped about her husband's dinner with the socialite, and the royal couple have put on a united display in a number of public appearances. However, speculation is mounting that Queen Margrethe's decision to abdicate may have been a bid to keep Frederik's wife of 19 years on side. Princess Mary, who is set to become the first Australian-born queen in a number of days, has won over the Danish public with her dedication to royal duty and her fluency in the language. She and Frederik have four children together, and their oldest son Christian will take over his father's role of Crown Prince on January 14 when Margrethe abdicates. Mary and Frederik's relationship has often been dubbed a 'real-life fairytale'. Then Mary Donaldson, the Crown Princess was 28 when she met her husband-to-be in the Slip Inn in Sydney 23 years ago. Genoveva Casanova was forced to deny what she labelled 'malicious' rumours after photos surfaced of herself with the Crown Prince in the Spanish capital, where Spanish magazine Lecturas reported they had dined together and watched Flamenco dancing until 1am A survey carried out for Ritzau revealed that Crown Princess Mary enjoyed a little more popularity among the Danes than Crown Prince Frederik as the royal prepares to ascend the throne on 14 January After the pub encounter, then 32-year-old Frederik - who was in Australia to support Denmark's sailing team at the 2000 Olympics - asked Mary for her phone number and a romance blossomed. 'The first time we met we shook hands. I didn't know he was the prince of Denmark. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, 'Do you know who these people are'?' Mary revealed in an interview about meeting the heir to the Danish throne. They maintained a long-distance relationship for a year, with Frederik making secret trips Down Under before Mary moved to Denmark to study Danish language at Copenhagen's Studieskolen in 2001. In early 2003, Frederik's mother Queen Margrethe publicly acknowledged the relationship and the couple announced their engagement at Amalienborg Castle later that year on October 8. Between raising her children and appearing at diplomatic events, Mary has worked tirelessly to prove her commitment to charity, becoming a patron of more than 25 international organisations since her marriage to Frederik in 2004. Patronages include the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe and the United Nations Population Fund, where she supports their work to promote maternal health in more than 150 developing nations. In 2007, the Princess launched The Mary Foundation, a charity focused on stamping out domestic violence, bullying and loneliness. Queen Margrethe announced she will abdicate the throne on January 14, passing it to her son Crown Prince Frederik. Pictured: Her Majesty during her New Year's speech, in which she announced her abdication The decision means that from January 14 Crown Prince Frederik will become king, while his wife Princess Mary will become queen. Pictured: Frederik and Mary at the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen in November Between raising her children and appearing at diplomatic events, Mary (pictured with her husband) has worked tirelessly to prove her commitment to charity, becoming a patron of more than 25 international organisations since her marriage to Frederik in 2004 In a weeks' time, Crown Princess Mary will become the Queen of Denmark, as Queen Margrethe formally abdicates the throne to Mary and her son, Crown Prince Frederik. Margrethe confirmed the news in a shock announcement on New Year's Eve after 52 years on the Danish throne. She said: 'I have decided that now is the right time. 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father I will step down as queen of Denmark.' 'I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.' The King beamed as he attended Sunday service in Sandringham this morning King Charles was in high spirits this morning on the way to Sunday service at church as he appeared to brush off his brother Prince Andrew's humiliation following the fallout from documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. The monarch, 74, was in high spirits as he walked to St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk after it was reported that sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell was ordered to search her phone and computer for phrases containing Prince Andrew's name along with the words 'sex toy' and 'erotic'. As the King walked to the Church, where the royal family attended Christmas day service with Prince Andrew in tow just a month ago, he was accompanied by friends including Lady Susan Hussey - while Queen Camilla, who releases her reading podcast tomorrow, appeared to take the morning off. Explosive court documents revealed how, following an order from a US court, Maxwell's lawyers were instructed to scour all her electronic devices for any mention of the Prince, other acquaintances of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and a string of sordid words. These included 'Prince', 'Andrew', 'Duke', York', 'Royal', 'underage', 'massage', 'slave', 'sex', 'nipple' and 'dildo', according to the devastating legal papers. It comes after other claims in the documents that the Duke of York took part in an 'underage orgy' and enjoyed daily massages at the billionaire's lair. King Charles beamed and waved as he attended Sunday service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk this morning - as pressure mounts on his brother Prince Andrew Despite the revelations, and amid increasing pressure for the King to evict his brother from the 30-room Royal Lodge where he currently resides in Windsor, Charles beamed and waved as he headed to church this morning. He appeared to brush off the furore that has surrounded his brother's name this week, after a US judge ordered documents relating to cases brought against the late Epstein should be unsealed. After Prince Andrew, who has always denied wrongdoing, was named several times in the papers, it was reported by the Telegraph that the King is 'preparing to stop paying for security' at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, where the Duke of York currently resides. Fresh details of a hugely embarrassing search part of a 2015 defamation case brought by Andrew's accuser Virginia Giuffre, nee Roberts, against Maxwell are revealed in a trove of 130 documents, totalling more than 1,300 pages, which were released this weekend. It is not known what the search uncovered, with Maxwell's lawyers claiming it was a 'wild goose chase'. The case was settled before it came to court. The king interacted with royal fans on the way to St Mary Magdalene Church as he attended Sunday Service Lady Susan Hussey was among the friends of King Charles who attended Sunday service this morning Prince Andrew pictured with Victoria Giuffre (then Roberts) in London in 2001, alongside Ghislaine Maxwell Business as usual! Charles, who attends Sunday Service every week, shook the bishop's hand upon arrival Charles walked with the bishop to the church and was all smiles amid mounting pressure on his brother Andrew King Charles brushed off the furore surrounding Prince Andrew's naming in the unsealed Epstein files Last night, a source close to the Duke of York told the Mail on Sunday how Andrew had been left reeling by the lurid new claims. 'He doesn't have the emotional bandwidth to deal with this,' the source said. 'He has locked himself away in a room and has no idea how to respond. He's devastated.' The furore surrounding Andrew, who is still eighth in line to the throne, shows no sign of abating after hundreds of documents were made public over three days. The court files were sealed in 2017 but published after requests from media firms. Prince Andrew, who has always denied wrongdoing, is said to be 'devastated' after the documents were unsealed (pictured in Sandringham with Sarah Ferguson on Christmas day) The Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, where Andrew currently lives. Sources say the King is preparing to withdraw funding for private security at the house They included claims the Prince knew of Epstein's sex trafficking, committed 'acts of sexual abuse', enjoyed daily massages and took part in an 'underage orgy'. Andrew has vehemently and repeatedly denied all the allegations made against him. Scotland Yard last week said it would not rule out investigating sexual assault claims about Prince Andrew, while the release of the court documents are believed to have strengthened the King's resolve that his brother will never be allowed to resume Royal duties. A string of documents released in the early hours of yesterday disclosed a bitter legal battle between Giuffre and Maxwell's lawyers over a 2016 court order that a search should be carried out of Maxwell's 'electronic media'. In a letter to Maxwell's legal team, Meredith Schultz, one of Ms Giuffre's lawyers, demanded that Maxwell's email and iCloud accounts be combed over, along with her computers, phones and tablets. Ms Schultz then listed 368 words to search for, including Prince Andrew, his initials 'PA' and 'Clinton' a reference to former US President Bill Clinton. There is no indication of any wrongdoing by Mr Clinton. The list also includes words that are either sexually explicit or suggestive of abuse, including 'erotic', 'masturbate', 'servitude', 'juvenile', 'schoolgirl', and 'paedophile'. Maxwell's lawyer Laura Menninger later objected to 'the vast number' of search terms, complaining that 'running a search on Ms Maxwell's devices of all 368 terms will take more than a week'. She highlighted the difficulty of searching for common words like 'bed', 'lingerie' and 'bath' and the names of lawyers. Ms Giuffre alleged she was forced to have sex with the Prince on three occasions when she was 17, including in a bath in Maxwell's townhouse in London in 2001. The claims have been repeatedly and strenuously denied by Andrew. Ms Menninger complains in one letter that Giuffre had sent Maxwell 'on a costly, time-consuming and burdensome wild goose chase that has yielded not so much as a single goose feather. It is time to call off the hunt.' The legal documents, however, do show that, to comply with the court order, 110 words were searched for including Andrew's name and the sexually explicit words. Documents included in the latest tranche of Epstein files show 'andrew', 'prince' and 'royal' were among the terms searched in Maxwell's emails (left). Tawdry terms referring to sex acts and paedophilia were also looked up (right) The search led to the discovery of about 9,000 documents and messages, though it is unknown if Andrew featured in any of them. The latest cache of documents show Maxwell's constant efforts to find new women and girls to satisfy Epstein, including having threesomes with other women. They also reveal how Tony Figueroa, Giuffre's ex-boyfriend, claimed Maxwell would call him to ask whether he had found girls to take to Epstein and how Giuffre, Maxwell and Epstein 'were all intimate together on multiple occasions'. Figueroa was paid between $200 and $300 for each new girl he took to Epstein at the financier's $18million mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. In a separate deposition, Rodriguez told investigators that there were 'many pictures' of Andrew proudly on display at Epstein's mansion, dubbed 'the house of horrors'. Meanwhile, in another document Johanna Sjoberg who was recruited by Maxwell when she was a 20-year-old student said she was paid 200 for every massage from the pair, which was increased by 100 when she did something sexual for Epstein. In her deposition in 2016 Sjoberg recalls giving between five and ten massages to Maxwell in all of which the disgraced socialite was naked under a towel. Asked whether Maxwell was ever nude or topless by a swimming pool, Ms Sjoberg added: 'I don't recall. She was nude when she went swimming in the ocean.' Maxwell was convicted in December 2021 of sex trafficking and procuring teenage girls for Epstein. The financier killed himself in jail several weeks after his July 2019 arrest for sex trafficking. Prince Andrew did not respond to a request for comment. Additional reporting by Daisy Graham-Brown and Sam Merriman. Abby Hopkirk, 28, lost the love of her life last month and is now a single mum Cam and Abby Hopkirk welcomed their first baby, Elsie, on November 3, 2022 - a moment they'd been dreaming of since they first met 10 years ago. But eight weeks later, Abby's world was shattered when she found out the love of her life had terminal brain cancer. The new dad was 30 years old and given just six to 18 months to live. The pair, from Napier, New Zealand, were in disbelief as they sat with their two-month-old baby girl while doctors informed them Cam had a small yet aggressive tumour growing on his right frontal lobe. Despite the tragic news and his rapidly declining health, they immediately threw themselves into enjoying the little time they had left as a family. Cam died on November, 19, 2023, just two weeks after Elsie's first birthday, leaving Abby to raise their little girl on her own at 28. She's now sharing her story to help others as she navigates the unbearable grief of losing her husband so young. Cam and Abby Hopkirk (pictured) celebrated their daughter's first birthday last month. Two weeks later Cam succumbed to terminal brain cancer The 30-year-old new dad was diagnosed just eight weeks after Elsie was born The first sign of Cam's illness appeared in September, 2022, when he started limping. He assumed it was a rugby injury but it was the beginning of full left leg paralysis caused by the tumour. Cam visited the chiropractor and a physio but when nothing helped he visited the GP in mid-November. He was referred to the hospital for some urgent scans but they were cancelled as doctors 'didn't think he needed them' and he was sent home. Six days later he had a 'massive seizure' that was so intense Abby thought he was going to punch a hole in the wall. 'He was sitting on the floor playing with our dog and he went to stand up but fell into the wall and starting seizing... it was the most terrifying thing,' Abby recalled. While in the hospital waiting room he had another seizure and doctors quickly realised how serious it was. 'We didn't think he would have another seizure. He's never had one in his life up until that point,' she said. That afternoon, a MRI and CT scan confirmed he had a small yet aggressive 1cm x 1cm tumour. Doctors delivered Cam's terminal diagnosis in January after a biopsy. He didn't experience any symptoms but had a limp leg and a seizure out of the blue. 'The thing with brain cancer is that you don't look or feel sick,' Abby said An MRI and CT scan found a small but deadly tumour growing on Cam's brain (pictured). A surgical biopsy confirmed it was terminal cancer The cause for brain cancer is unknown and there's no cure. Cam would lie with Elsie during tough moments and she brought him instant peace The couple was in shock as Cam didn't have any obvious symptoms and seemed completely 'normal' just weeks beforehand. 'The thing with brain cancer is that you don't look or feel sick. Cam was in the best health he had been in in a really long time, his blood tests were perfect, so it was shocking because we didn't see it coming,' she explained. Her husband had to wait six weeks after he recovered from surgery to start radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment - a period Abby described as 'torture'. 'It was awful. You know that there's something in your brain growing and slowly killing you, but you can't do anything about it,' she said. Cam and Abby met in 2013 while studying and hit it off right away. They got engaged in 2017 and married in 2020 (pictured) It was the festive season and the hospital told the family to 'go home and enjoy Christmas together', alluding to the fact that it might be Cam's last one. Unfortunately they were right. 'Every single day from that moment on felt so precious. It was so important to make the most of the time,' Abby said. 'Neither of us - especially me - are the kind of person to just sit in those feelings and really feel like crap all day. We just wanted to make sure that we weren't wasting our time because we were told it was going to be so short.' 'Neither of us - especially me - are the kind of person to just sit in those feelings and really feel like crap all day. We just wanted to make sure that we weren't wasting our time because we were told it was going to be so short,' Abby said At the time Abby felt like the 'rock' of the family catering to both Cam and baby Elsie's needs 'I felt like I was constantly being pulled and failing in both directions. I wanted to be 100 per cent with her and 100 per cent with him but couldn't do that,' Abby said It was the second tragedy to strike Abby's family. A year prior, she lost her dad who died from a sudden heart attack at 52. After hearing Cam's prognosis, she felt 'blessed' in a sense that they knew how much time he had left. 'We felt really sad that dad didn't get any warning - he was there one minute and then he wasn't - it was really hard to accept,' she said. 'When Cam got sick we took it as a "warning". We knew we wanted to make really happy memories together with the time he was given.' Over Christmas they spent time with Cam's family before returning home so he could start radiation treatment and three months of chemotherapy. At the time Abby felt like the 'rock' of the family catering to both Cam and baby Elsie's needs. 'I felt like I was constantly being pulled and failing in both directions. I wanted to be 100 per cent with her and 100 per cent with him but couldn't do that,' she said. Whenever Elsie was being taken care of by grandparents Abby felt the 'mum guilt' of leaving her to be by Cam's side. During treatment his seizures didn't stop. For the first few weeks he would have 50 a day, never lost consciousness and was constantly changing medication in attempt to control it. Last year they also went travelling with their baby for 15 weeks around New Zealand, and while it was a 'nightmare' at times, Abby is glad they went away. On November 19 Cam passed away peacefully at home Last year they also went travelling with their baby for 15 weeks around New Zealand, and while it was a 'nightmare' at times, Abby is delighted they had precious time together. 'It was a huge, stressful trip but we have so many amazing photos and videos to show Elsie when she's older,' she said. After arriving home Cam's state started quickly deteriorating as he was off chemotherapy. He was sleeping for 15 hours a day, couldn't lift up Elsie, could barely walk and couldn't drive. On November 19 he passed away peacefully at home. Abby said during the last conversation she had with Cam, they told each other just how much love they had for one another. 'To be honest, he was ready to go. It's no way to live your life and he had done everything he wanted to and could do,' she said. Abby said often Elsie goes looking for Cam and says 'dad' whenever she looks at photos of him. Abby wants Cam to be remembered as the funny, joyful soul he was. She'll forever miss his sense of humour and companionship as a partner Before Elsie was born, Cam started writing in a journal for her to read when she's older. He continued the journal all through treatment until his final days. Abby finds solace knowing one day Elsie will read the journal, know who her dad was and that he loved them both endlessly Abby is doing 'okay' since Cam's death and thanks Elsie for getting her through what has been a period of unimaginable grief. 'Elsie is always so joyful - she's pure sunshine. Elsie gives me purpose; she gives me a reason to get up in the morning,' Abby said. 'The hardest part is the amount of times in the day when I think "I can't wait to tell Cam this" and realising I can't. We both got so used to seeing Cam everyday and she definitely misses him.' Abby said often Elsie goes looking for Cam and yells out 'Dad!' whenever she sees photos of him. Abby wants Cam to be remembered as the funny, joyful soul he was. She'll forever miss his sense of humour and companionship as a partner. Before Elsie was born, Cam started writing in a journal for her to read when she's older. He continued the journal all through treatment until his final days. The book with 'busy bee' on the front cover is filled with polaroid photos, personal stories and entries for his beloved daughter. Abby finds solace knowing one day Elsie will read the journal, know who her dad was and that he loved them both with all of his heart. 'Original' eshays have slammed today's teenagers for embracing the controversial subculture and giving it a bad name. More and more Australian youths identifying as 'eshays' are causing havoc at train stations and shopping centres while proudly donning designer clothes and bum bags. The movement has gained popularity with members identified by their matching designer sportswear, Nike TN sneakers and generally menacing attitude. While the more hardcore eshays engage in assaults and robberies, most seem to aimlessly wander the streets. Hanging out at a suburban shopping centre in Sydney's western suburbs, self-described 'original' eshay, Kaide, said new members don't understand what it really means to be a 'lad', and instead focus on being a nuisance to the public. Kaide has slammed eshays today calling them 'grubs' Taehlor (pictured left) and Neil (right) say people assume they're out for trouble because of the way they dress 'Eshays today are grubs,' he said. 'The eshay category has come around and these kids jumped on the bandwagon and started causing trouble for clout.' The 25-year-old from Plumpton, 45km west of the CBD, said graffiti culture and rap artists Nter and Sydney Serchaz were responsible for igniting the nation's eshay obsession thanks to their brazen 'lad rap' style of dressing. 'They [eshays today] don't have a purpose, they don't know the reason for dressing the way they do, they are gronks,' Kaide added. Many who adopted the subculture before it grew to prominence claim the younger generations' bad behaviour makes life more difficult. 'You can't be in groups of three or more because people think you're out for trouble,' 22-year-old Taehlor, from Penrith, said. Weary from Kingswood no longer identifies as a 'lad' despite still dressing like one 'Eshays today are junkies', claims Mika, 22 'People automatically think because you wear TNs (Nike TN sneakers) that you're out for a fight,' adds friend Neil, 30. 'Go down to Penrith station and all the young lads are down there causing trouble.' Eshays - also known as 'lads' - have spread from Sydney's inner-city graffiti scene in the 1980s through housing commission estates and out into the suburbs. Teens embracing eshay culture predominantly come from low socio-economic backgrounds. 'Eshays today are junkies, they're always causing problems in the street,' Mika, 22, from Mount Druitt, said. Favoured labels for the fashionable eshay include Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry and Lacoste paired with Nautica, Adidas and Ellesse. 'I used to be a lad, not anymore, I have a daughter now,' Weary, 38, from Kingswood, said. 'I still dress like I am one but it's all these young ones nowadays, I'm too old for the bulls***.' While they've managed to create their own uniform, eshays have also developed their own language. Some scramble words and put 'ay' on the end in a form of pig Latin. 'Eetswa' means 'sweet' and 'chill' becomes 'illchay'. The term eshay is similar to the UK phrase 'chav' and can be interchangeable with 'lad', which in turn sometimes becomes 'adlay'. 'Eshay' may have started as 'eshay adlay' - pig Latin for 'he's lad' or be related to 'sesh', for a prolonged period of drug consumption. She couldn't cut her hair, go to the cinema or marry outside the church A woman born into a religious cult has revealed how priests kept an iron grip on her life - telling her how to dress, think and even how to sit. Amber Powers, 47, was born into a cult based in Indiana in 1976. It was so strict, that members weren't allowed to have televisions, go to the cinema, have boyfriends or girlfriends, or marry outside of the church. Young girls bore the brunt of this authoritarian control they couldn't cut their hair, get their ears pierced; they had to wear long skirts and long-sleeve tops so men wouldn't ogle them. They were even told how to sit as to not attract a man's attention. Amber said: 'We were taught not to smooth the dress out from under us as we sat down because that would draw attention to our rear end.' Amber Powers (pictured) during First grade. She would have been six or seven-years-old here Amber pictured outside her childhood home before her first (and only) middle-school dance At one point there were close to 70 people from Amber's family involved in the cult, with the total number of people estimated to be between 150,000 to 200,000 worldwide. For legal reasons Amber cannot give the name of the sect, but it followed a similar belief system to Jehovah's Witnesses. She also lost two of her relatives in the horrific Jonestown Massacre of 1978 - a mass murder-suicide of the Peoples Temple cult which shocked the globe and claimed the lives of over 900 people. It wasn't until her mid-20s that she broke free of the oppressive regime and started to deconstruct the lies she had been taught to be true. Since coming out and sharing her story, she has lost two-thirds of her relatives, but has gained family too in the form of her husband Darren Hartley. Now, she works with women to empower them, to help them find their voice and have the courage to use it. Speaking to MailOnline, Amber said: 'Growing up in a cult you're told who you are. 'I was also raised with a very strong mother. If we went against her - me personally, I can't speak for my brother - she would withhold what I felt was her love. She would not speak to me or have any communication with me. 'It was her form of manipulation to get me to conform and so I would. 'I lost my mum to pancreatic cancer when she was 50-years-old and all of a sudden I was given this window of 'Oh I don't have to be anything except for who I want to be'. 'It has been a journey and it's still unfolding for me because I'm still undoing that trauma. 'I was born into it (the cult) and so I didn't really know anything other than that and I didn't really have any experience outside of that until I started going to school. 'I was surrounded by church family, friends all the way through pre-school age and then once I got into First grade I noticed I was a bit different.' Amber admitted it felt like a 'normal' upbringing to her - and one she didn't feel was different to other children. Amber pictured with her mother in Gatlinburg, Tennessee when she was five-years-old. Girls weren't usually allowed to wear trousers, but Amber said when her family were travelling or when it made more sense to wear trousers, they wore trousers It wasn't until she was 11 or 12 years old that she started to realise how much she stood out from her peers. 'There were girls around me who were able to get cute little haircuts and I could not, I had to have long hair. They were getting their ears pierced and I could not - that was one of the rules we had in our particular church,' Amber said. 'A woman's hair was her crown and her glory - that was from a verse. We had to wear long skirts, long-sleeved shirts, high necks. We couldn't have any plunging necklines. 'We weren't allowed to go to the movies. We weren't supposed to have televisions - although some people did. 'We had to have our bridal gowns approved by ministers to make sure they met all the standards and we could not go on vacation without running it by them to make sure where we were going was approved. 'We weren't under the thumb, however, the people who were more under the thumb of leadership were treated better.' Women were not allowed to have any roles of authority in the church and they were told how to sit in the congregation so that men would not lust after them. Girls were entirely responsible for how men perceived them. Amber (left) pictured with her cousin and best friend. The picture was taken in the basement of the church where they were raised. Amber was around 12-13-years-old here Amber said: 'We were taught not to smooth the dress out from under us as we sat down because that would draw attention to our rear end. 'That was just one of the grooming rules that we had to go through as teenagers and preteens. They groomed us into the women that they wanted us to be.' Attending a high school which was separate to her church left Amber feeling very out of place. Anything that she did made her stand out in one way or another. 'I had to wear so many masks depending on where I was,' she admitted. As a teenager she rebelled against some of the rules of the church, attending dances - her junior and senior proms - when she wasn't supposed to. She even decided to go on a double date, but when her parents found out they were 'irate' and kept it a secret from the church because they were so 'appalled' by it. Amber went on: 'We could not marry from outside our core group of people and it was a smaller group so I only had maybe 7 local boys to choose from. 'I ended up marrying someone simply because he was attractive. He met all of the societal 'norms' that you would want in a husband. He could provide, he was a good worker, he came from a good family and that was about it.' Amber was with her first husband for five years before they got divorced in 2005. 'It was essentially a progressive understanding that I married the wrong person,' she said. Amber pictured on her first wedding day when she was still involved in the cult. Amber and her first husband divorced in 2005 Amber was just two-years-old when the Jonestown Massacre took place. Reverend Jim Jones, who orchestrated the mass murder-suicide, was known to frequent churches local to Amber and her family, to recruit new members to his church. Amber's great-grandmother started attending his church but left after she felt something 'wasn't quite right'. On the other side of her family, two cousins did go to Guyana with their spouses. Two made it out alive, the other two did not. After cult members attacked a congressman who was investigating the cult in 1978, Jones enacted a suicide plan at the compound which involved giving children and adults a fruit drink laced with cyanide. Before the atrocities of 9/11, it was the largest single incident of intentional civilian death in American history. One of the core beliefs of the sect Amber was involved in, is there are 'seven levels to heaven', with the seventh heaven being the 'ultimate heaven' that members strive for. But, in order to make it to seventh heaven, Amber said you had to be completely perfect. 'You had no spot, no blemish on your soul, you had to live a totally perfect life and that has turned into some obvious perfectionism issues as a result that I'm still working to overcome,' she said. Another core belief is that only 144,000 people would make it in to seventh heaven, taken from the Book of Revelations. Jim Jones (pictured) who orchestrated the mass murder-suicide which claimed the lives of over 900 people Jehovah's Witnesses believe this is the exact number of Christians who will be resurrected to heaven to spend their eternity with God and Christ. The first turning point for Amber in escaping the cult happened when she was 16-years-old - and it came as a total shock. She said: 'We had gone to church earlier that Sunday morning and we came home in between services and I found it strange that we weren't getting ready to go back to church. 'It was around that same time we got a phone call from a cousin of mine and she said to my mum over the phone: 'Hey, I noticed you guys aren't here. Are you coming back tonight?' and I heard my mum say back to her 'We won't ever be returning to that church. 'I freaked out. I literally screamed at the top of my lungs 'I will never leave that church' because I was so petrified. It was as if she was ripping salvation out from under me.' Following the family's separation from the sect, Amber's mother and brother floated from church to church, but she was not comfortable leaving behind everything she knew. 'I went back a few times, but it never felt the same. It felt like I was an outsider,' Amber said. Instead, she found a breakaway church which shared the same theology as the one she was born into. It was only then that Amber discovered the reason for her family's sudden departure from the cult. 'The reason we left was the head minister of all the churches was found guilty of child molestation and sodomy' Amber claimed, 'so it makes sense that my parents would pull their children out of something like that.' Amber and her husband Darren pictured on their wedding day, St Patrick's Day, in 2019 The social media marketer finally said goodbye to her old life in her mid-20s when she moved to a non-denominational church. She had the opportunity to study 'World Religions' as part of her degree at Indiana Wesleyan University, where she started to find similarities between religions. 'I started to see that we have more in common than we have different and that really started the beginning of a spiritual evolution for me,' Amber said. Nowadays, Amber works in digital and social media marketing, working with ethical influencers to help them find their voice. Her latest venture 'Shop From Her', is an online platform designed to connect consumers to products and services they are looking to purchase, with a focus on promoting women-owned businesses. 'I love my work. I work with women to help them find their voice and find the courage to use it,' Amber explained. Amber said she holds no resentment towards her family for the childhood she had. 'They were born into it or raised in it from very early childhood as well,' she explained, 'and so, I have an understanding of what that feels like - and more empathy than blame.' When asked why people join cults, or why it's often so hard to leave, Amber said it was all about 'influence'. 'There are tons of scientific studies surrounding the succeptability of humans to be influenced - even those of us who think we're firmly planted in our beliefs,' she explained. 'Once there's an 'in' and we feel safe, we're showered with love and acceptance to draw us even closer. That's generally when the manipulation and mind control begins. 'Most cults centre around belief sets with which we centre our lives around. 'Fears develop, fear of missing out (in all of the biggest ways). 'And the heartbeat of ego is fear. Ego's role is also to protect us (fight or flight) so when others outside of that cult try to 'protect' us by sharing a different truth, our response is to lash out. It's ego protecting us from a perceived external threat.' His brand lives on as a shopping mall mainstay - but designer Perry Ellis was once a titan of high fashion, whose life was cut tragically-short by AIDS aged just 46. The beloved only child of middle class parents, Ellis was born in March 1940 in Portsmouth, Virginia. He began his career as a buyer and merchandiser at a Richmond department store, then ascended to the peak of New York's hedonistic high-fashion world during the 1970s and 1980s. Ellis' slouchy, preppy outfits made from natural materials were a hit with fashionistas, and the designer found himself in the same firmament as clothing icons Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. But Ellis' life and career ended suddenly and shockingly when he died of AIDS in May 1986. His erratic behavior and dramatic weight loss had worried friends and the fashion press in the months leading up to his passing. Ellis had repeatedly denied being infected with the killer virus, which cut a horrific swathe through the fashion community. Ellis and his partner, the president of Perry Ellis International Laughlin Barker, in their New York City showroom in October 1982. Both men died horrific AIDS deaths within a few months of one another in 1986 The fashion star's cause of death was listed as encephalitis - a brain infection commonly linked to AIDS. His passing from a deeply-stigmatized illness was not confirmed until years later and was covered up to try and protect the image of Perry Ellis clothing, New York magazine journalist Patricia Morrisroe reported. Afterwards, the brand appointed other head designers - including Marc Jacobs - but ultimately lost its high fashion cachet, and now lives on as a mall mainstay across the US. Thirty seven years after Ellis' death, many Americans likely don't realize that his eponymous brand is named after a brilliant but controversial man, who also found himself accused of racial discrimination - and diva-ish behavior. Growing up in Virginia, Ellis was a 'real hometown boy'. He joined the US Coast Guard to dodge the Vietnam draft. After escaping Virginia and founding his fashion line on New York's Seventh Avenue in 1978, he quickly became a household name, going on to win prestigious awards and becoming one of the brightest stars on Fashion Avenue. Ellis bought an enormous brownstone home in New York's Upper West Side - and had just completed a stunning renovation, complete with English antiques, when he fell ill. Following Ellis' death, friends and colleagues remembered his 'magnetic' personality, warmth, kindness and creative vision. But he wasn't perfect, with one biography of Ellis written by Jonathan Moor recalling an occasion in which Ellis allegedly let it be known he did not want black models on his catwalks. And other former employees shared how he would reduce colleagues to tears with his perfectionism. Perry Ellis adjusting a look on model Esme Marshall in his New York showroom and studio in 1981 In another bizarre incident that took place in 1984, Ellis made an employee call every post office in New York City, hunting for limited edition stamps bearing images of orchids to put on invites to his fashion show. But they were sold out, Amanda Manogue, who worked in Ellis's PR team said: 'Perry made me call every post office in the city. Finally we located the stamps in Red Bank, New Jersey, and we sent somebody out there to buy 750 of them. 'We had to get twice as many as we needed because Perry only liked two out of the four orchids in the packet.' He was an exceptional stylist who could not draw - and who hired talented designers to bring his visions to life. Soon, he was as big a name as Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren or Donna Karan, known for his sweaters and cropped trousers, even winning the Council of Fashion Designers of America's Designer of the year award in 1982. By his death, his business was generating nearly $260 million in wholesale sales with a menswear division, casual-wear, as well as sheets and towels, stockings, furs, fragrances and a collaboration with Levi's. He was a 'magnetic' man, with one of his then-design assistants, Patricia Pastor, told New York magazine: 'Perry had a real hypnotic effect on people. He could get you to do anything he wanted.' He had a striking face, bright hazel eyes and long auburn hair, which he often wore pulled back into a ponytail and despite running a fashion company, he wore the same outfit most days: a blue shirt, khakis and top sliders. One friend said: 'He had it all. Grace, manners, style, intelligence. He was like an F. Scott Fitzgerald hero. One of those bright, shining people.' But another said he 'was a bit of a snob.' Ellis spent three years renovating his Manhattan home, which was put on the market for $17.95 million in 2014 The six-bedroom brownstone was his pride and joy and he painstakingly restored every detail of the interiors. The 7,200-square-foot brownstone was built in 1891 by Gilbert A. Schellenger on a pristine Upper West Side block between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West At first, Ellis only had 12 employees. A New York Magazine profile from the time recalled how he became their 'spiritual leader' and they 'nicknamed him God and put a picture of him on top of their Christmas tree.' But working for him wasn't always easy and he was known to throw out whole concepts just days before a show, sometimes reducing employees to tears. Practicality wasn't one of Ellis' strong points, with designers at his lavish Seventh Avenue showroom telling New York magazine journalist Morrisroe that their desks did not have any drawers to put their pencils. And Pastor told New York Magazine: 'Perry was an unrelenting perfectionist.' His perfectionism reportedly extended to people, one former employee said: 'If he didn't like the way you looked, forget it.' Another said: 'Perry didn't allow you to get too close. If you did, he'd drop you.' Perry Ellis and Patricia Pastor at the White House for a state dinner for Algerian President Chadli Benjedid in April 1985 Perry Ellis adjust a beret on model Esme Marshall in his New York showroom and studio A more disturbing story, from Moor's biography, claims Ellis blocked a black model from his show in Florida in the 1980s. The biography reads: 'One fashion editor from a major New York publication was doing a show in Florida and using local models. It soon came to the attention of a member of the Ellis staff that one of the models was black. 'The editor was taken aside and tactfully asked to take the black model out of the Perry Ellis section of the show. "It's not Perry Ellis's image, and Perry really doesn't want black people wearing his clothes," that person was told.' Moor says it's 'difficult to assess' whether this was based on prejudice. But black models are notably absent from the many images of models walking in Ellis' fashion shows, a young Elle Macpherson among them. For years, Ellis's star continued to climb. But he and his partner Laughlin Barker - who also worked as the president of Perry Ellis International - both fell ill with AIDS. The pair are believed to have been diagnosed with the illness sometime around 1983. They went on lengthy 'antiques buying' trips to Europe - and were speculated to have sought experimental AIDS treatments at Paris' Pasteur Institute, where Rock Hudson also spent time before his death in 1985. Barker died of AIDS-related lung cancer in January 1986, with Ellis absent from work for long periods while caring for his ailing lover and battling his own illness. He attended a fashion awards show in Manhattan in January 1986, having pulled off the coup of getting reclusive actress Katherine Hepburn to attend and receive an honorary trophy. But the event was overshadowed by Ellis' frail appearance and muddled speech, with photographers who'd heard rumors of his illness snapping distressing photos of the frail-looking designer which all but confirmed it. In his last public appearance, at the end of his final fashion show in 1986, Ellis walked out onto the stage. 'He looked frail and terribly ill; one side of his face was swollen. The audience was shocked. A few people started to cry,' Patricia Morrisroe wrote in the New York Magazine at the time. People stood and started to applaud, and Ellis, who 'could barely stand,' tried to walk down the runway - he didn't make it to the end before his assistants had to help him away. Perry Ellis attends Fifth Annual Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards on January 19 1986, a few months before his death The Awards was one of the last public appearances Ellis made before his death in May - and the impact of AIDS on his body was clear to see After the show, Ellis 'went home, got some clothes, and was taken to New York Hospital.' Two weeks later, he fell into a coma. Eight days after that, on May 30, he died at the age of 46. His friends and contemporaries on Seventh Avenue all knew he was unwell, but his death was still a surprise. Designer Donna Karan told the New York Magazine at the time: 'There are rumors about everybody. The whole world thought Calvin Klein had AIDS..' But Ellis hadn't been looking well for six months before his death, he had lost weight and aged dramatically. In December 1985, he passed out while standing in receiving line at a party at the Costume Institute. Ellis' cause of death has since been confirmed by his handbag designer daughter Tyler, who shared a moving tribute to him on The Aids Memorial Instagram page in March 2023, to mark what would have been his 83rd birthday. Tyler wrote: 'Happy Birthday to my father, Perry Ellis, (March 3, 1940 May 30, 1986), the iconic American designer who passed away from HIV/AIDS. He would be 83. Thank you to @ejaf and similar organizations who fight for an end to this terrible disease. A huge thank you to those who devote their time and money to spreading the word, treating and eventually eradicating this epidemic.' Tyler was conceived through artificial insemination with his friend, writer Barbara Gallagher, in 1984. Ellis' cause of death was initially listed as a brain infection. But loved ones including daughter Tyler have since confirmed it was AIDS-related. A tribute post from Tyler is pictured above Ellis was not a trained designer, which some of his colleagues said meant he wasn't inhibited by the 'rules' of fashion Model on the runway at his 1979 show in New York City One of Ellis's first ready-to-wear collections in 1978 when he had just founded his own line Through his illness and even after his death, no one at his company suggested Ellis may have had AIDS. Ellis was 'a fanatic' about his privacy. A friend told the New York Magazine: 'He didn't lead a Hollywood life. And he certainly didn't want a Hollywood death.' According to people who worked with him, he never discussed his illness, with one saying Ellis 'thought he was immortal. Disease just didn't fit into the picture.' Even when his partner died, and he became sicker and sicker himself, a friend said: 'How could Perry admit he was dying? How could he face up to the fact that the disease that just killed the man he loved might also affect him, and maybe even his child? 'He couldn't admit to anyone he was dying, because it was just too terrible.' Model wearing an outfit from the Perry Ellis fall ready to wear collection on March 10, 1980 Ellis posed with models in 1978 when his career as a designer began to really take off Ellis was always hands on making the final adjustments to his clothes on models Ellis was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and raised in a traditional southern home as a 'real hometown boy'. He once told a reporter: 'I've always loved clothing from my earliest memories. Some people remember books and places. I remember fabrics and colors.' He majored in business at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg and then went to the New York University where he got a master's degree in retailing. He made his first line with just $5,000, making 33 pieces and showing the in the showroom of his then-employer, Vera. After that show, then fashion director at Mademoiselle, Sandy Horvitz, said: 'It was like he became a designer overnight.' He spent three years renovating his Manhattan home which was put on the market for $17.95 million in 2014 - the six-bedroom brownstone at 37 West 70th Street was his pride and joy and he painstakingly restored every detail of the interiors. Despite his contributions to the world of fashion, Ellis has faded from public memory. Speaking in 1986, public relations consultant Carolyn Gottfried said: 'Only in New York are people really caught up with designers. 'In other parts of the country, nobody cares. Besides, who remembers Christian Dior? In 10 years, most customers won't even realize Perry Ellis was even a real person.' Fentanyl is a deadly drug which is destroying lives across America and it has also killed innocent babies. More than a million people have died from a drug overdose since 1999 and the crisis continues to get worse with a record 109,680 deaths in 2022 compared to 52,902 in 2016. A shocking 72,815 people were killed by fentanyl last year - meaning the drug is killing around 2,000 Americans every week. The cheap drug that is fifty times more potent than heroin has ravaged many states including California where overdose deaths increased 1,652 percent from 109 in 2016 to 1,910 in 2022. Fentanyl poisoning has killed three babies in the Bay area since May leaving the families of three-month-old Phoenix Castro, Winter Rayo, one, and Kristofer Ferreyra, one, heartbroken. Fentanyl is a deadly drug which is destroying lives across America and it has also killed innocent babies. Pictured: Phoenix Castro who died from a fentanyl overdose in May Fentanyl poisoning has killed three babies in the Bay area since May including Winter Rayo, one, (left) and Kristofer Ferreyra, one, (right) Baby Phoenix died from a fentanyl and meth overdose in the care of her drug-addicted father David Castro. She fell asleep on the couch with her and fentanyl spread onto her pink-flowered onesie which poisoned her to death in San Jose on May 13, according to prosecutors. Authorities found the drugs alongside her bottle, broken glass pipes, aluminum foil and Narcan which is used to revive people from drug overdoses. Phoenix's mother Emily De La Cerda was not at home at the time of the incident and she died of a fentanyl overdose in September. There were repeated warnings about the children's welfare from neighbors before baby Phoenix died. But Santa Clara County had changed its 'threshold' for removal of children, citing a commitment to 'racial justice.' Castro is currently being held in jail as he faces a felony child endangerment charge and he was denied bail in November. It was revealed that he and De La Cerda's two other children had already been taken away by the county's Department of Family and Children's Services two years earlier. A social worker who was assigned to their older children's case issued a warning the day before Phoenix was released from hospital that she could end up dead in the care of her father. But the baby was sent home with him anyway. She was born with drugs in her system and both her parents tested positive for cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamines at the time. Castro had met the child's mother, De La Cerda, 39, at an addicts' recovery program. She was in drug treatment after suffering withdrawal symptoms during birth at the time of Phoenix's death Baby Phoenix died from a fentanyl and meth overdose in the care of her drug-addicted father David Castro Her father Castro is currently being held in jail as he faces a felony child endangerment charge and he was denied bail in November The number of children removed from their families had dropped from more than 60 in August 2020 to fewer than 20 in February 2022 as the new orthodoxy took hold in Santa Clara. A few months after Phoenix's death, one-year-old Winter Rayo died from fentanyl poisoning on August 12. She was exposed to a lethal dose of the drug while sleeping at home in San Jose. Officers arrived at the family home just before midnight and paramedics found the baby had been dead for hours. She was showing 'full rigor mortis, lividity, fixed/dilated pupils, and blue lips', according to authorities. Investigators found fentanyl on the nightstand in the master bedroom and scraping tools with drug residue on a rug underneath Winter's body. Detectives also retrieved electronic devices belonging to her parents Derek Rayo, 27, and Kelly Richardson, 28, which showed messages highlighting narcotic use in front of the baby. Photos and videos also showed Rayo smoking drugs near Winter, according to court documents. Rayo and Richardson have been charged with murder after they waited at least 10 hours to call 911. The family did not have a history with the Department of Family and Children's Services in Santa Clara. Another baby's life was taken by fentanyl in the Bay area on October 18 after one-year-old Kristofer Ferreyra ingested a lethal dose while at home in Fremont. He went to sleep the night before just a foot away from the spot his mother Sophia Gastelum-Vera smoked the powerful drug and he was found unconscious the next morning and pronounced dead at hospital, prosecutors alleged. Authorities claimed she smoked the fentanyl inside the bedroom she shared with Kristofer and his four-year-old brother. A few months after Phoenix's death, one-year-old Winter Rayo died from fentanyl poisoning on August 12. She was exposed to a lethal dose of the drug while sleeping at home in San Jose Her parents Derek Rayo, 27, (left) and Kelly Richardson, 28, (right) have been charged with her murder after they waited at least 10 hours to call 911 Detectives retrieved electronic devices belonging to Rayo and Richardson which showed messages highlighting narcotic use in front of the baby They found cut straws, tin foil and empty bags that were covered in fentanyl, according to court records. Investigators claimed they found messages on Gastelum-Vera's phone which showed how she purchased the fatal drug on the night before her son's death. Her boyfriend told authorities that she developed a fentanyl addiction while using it to ease rib pain. She was charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse charges and last month an Alameda County judge ordered her to be held at the Santa Rita Jail on $135,000 bail. Alameda's Department of Children and Family Services were referred to the family following a domestic dispute last year. Just two days after baby Kristofer died, a social worker recommended that his three young siblings should be kept in his mother's care even after police found drug paraphernalia in their house. His death was not even noted in the social worker's initial assessment, according to The Mercury News. It wasn't until November 7, when Kristofer's mother was arrested on suspicion of murder, that social workers filed a new assessment and recommended the children be placed in the county's care. The seeds of America's fentanyl crisis were sown in the mid-1990s, when pharmaceutical companies falsely claimed 'revolutionary' pills would put an end to chronic pain without addiction. Investigators found fentanyl on the nightstand in the master bedroom and scraping tools with drug residue on a rug underneath Winter's body. Pictured: Rayo and Richardson in court Another baby's life was taken by fentanyl in the Bay area on October 18 after one-year-old Kristofer Ferreyra ingested a lethal dose while at home in Fremont. His mother Sophia Gastelum-Vera was charged with involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse charges When regulators finally cracked down on that lie and the use of prescription opioids to treat chronic pain, addicts took to the streets in search of heroin, creating an unprecedented health crisis. But by the mid 2010s, dealers began cutting other substances with fentanyl, which is much cheaper and around fifty times more potent than heroin. The crisis has ravaged many liberal states, creating deep divides within the Democratic Party on how to tackle it. Impacted families in California have described the state's drug laws as 'insanity' and they claim it keeps their loved ones in 'bondage' to their addiction while allowing dealers to act with impunity. Croydon has established itself as an unlikely setting for some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters. But while A-listers flock to the south London borough its residents suffer from some of the worst violent crime stats in the country. Croydon's reputation for attracting the big movie and TV productions is on the rise with hit films like Batman The Dark Knight Rises, Jason Bourne and the Da Vinci Code all picking its south London streets and buildings to provide a gritty backdrop. While sections of the town centre have doubled as Cold War Berlin, Istanbul, New York and even Gotham City. It has also made an impact on the small screen from late 70s sitcom Terry and June, which was based in suburban Croydon, to Peep Show where the main characters lived in a fictional tower block in the town. As well as blockbuster movies, the area has featured in adverts for brands such as O2, H&M and Lucozade and was used as a back drop for Channel 4's Adult Material'. Yet, within a few minutes walk from where the likes of Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and Tom Hanks have appeared on set, blood has been spilled on Croydon's streets Since January 2018, there have been more than 900 stabbings in the borough, including the death of a teenage girl, knifed on her way to school outside a shopping centre touted as a film location. Your browser does not support iframes. Tom Hanks filmed this scene in The Da Vinci Code in Fairfield Hall in Croydon, which has seen an increase in the number of Hollywood movies using the borough as a location Here, St George's Walk in Croydon has been transformed into Istanbul for the 2017 movie American Assassin While here, Matt Damon appearing in Jason Bourne is involved in a fight for his life in Berlin which is actually taking place in Croydon's Old Art College However, according to former Met Police officer and anti-knife campaigner Norman Brennan: 'Croydon is one of the most dangerous areas in Britain. 'We have lawless streets that nobody controls apart from the criminal element. There are many gangs in Croydon. Lots of their members carry knives, some won't be in school. 'These people have no values and no idea of the value of life. That's why so many people are losing their lives or taking those of others. 'Each knife is a potential murder if you hit an artery or an organ.' Last year alone, 15 year old Elianne Andam was stabbed to death shortly after getting off a bus in the centre of Croydon on September 27. She was on her way to school when she was attacked outside the Whitgift Centre, where a scene from Channel Four's The IT Crowd was shot. On September 12, Bradley Hutchens, 20, was stabbed to death only a short distance away from where Brad Pitt filmed scenes from the 2017 movie War Machine. On June 13, Usmann Mahmood was stabbed and left mortally wounded around 4.15pm. He was only a short distance from where former Monty Python star Terry Gilliam shot scenes from his 1985 cult classic Brazil. According to census data, there are 94,000 under 18s within the borough, which is the highest number of any in London . During the final council meeting of 2023, councillors signed off on the borough's latest Youth Justice Plan, which tries to support troubled children, working with schools to avoid excluding pupils as young as nine. In September 15-year-old Elianne Andam was stabbed while she made her way to school in Croydon Elianne Andam was stabbed to death after snatching her friend's bag as the 17-year-old boy walked away with it in Croydon, south London, the Old Bailey heard Police and forensic investigators at the scene near the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon Last year, Croydon issued grants worth 140,000 from London's Violence Reduction Unit to outreach youth programmes focusing on intervention and to deter young people from crime. This cash went to groups in central Croydon, New Addington, Shrublands, Thornton Heath and Purley. Among the organisations to receive the cash was Gloves not Gunz who use sport to work with young people to steer them away from crime. Co-founder of the charity Adam Ballard said: 'We will be using a strategic approach with detached outreach work, enrichment sessions, mentoring and employability and training support to help change the trajectory of those that find themselves involved in crime, exploitation and violence.' Croydon council said they are focusing on youth crime and trying to divert teenagers away from gangland life. May 23: Lucas Sutton lost his life after he was chased down Pawsons Road, Croydon before collapsing in a pub with a knife wound to his lung September 12: Bradley Hutchins died in a double stabbing on North Walk in Croydon. The 20-year-old has been described as 'lovable' and 'cheeky' by his family June 13: Usmaan Mahmood was attacked in Thornton Heath Recreation Ground. The 20-year-old was taken to hospital but later died A spokesperson said: 'Over the last year, the service has been tackling knife crime among young people - by identifying those at risk and making sure the voice of local communities, families and young people are heard.' Executive Mayor Janson Perry said: 'Keeping our borough's 94,000 children and young people safe is a key priority. Addressing the root causes of youth violence is so important and we have been investing in programmes that focus on early intervention. 'Our Youth Justice Service works with some of our most vulnerable young people and this plan shows our commitment to continue to work closely with our partners and our communities to keep our young people safe, happy, and healthy.' Another victim of knife crime, Lucas Sutton, lost his life on May 23 after he was chased down on Pawsons Road before collapsing in a pub with a wound to his lung. According to the charity Lives Not Knives, Croydon has the worst figures for school age stabbings in the city. A trio of teenage boys in Croydon are seen punching each other, with one grabbing the other's neck appearing to try and swing him onto the floor, as a young girl watches them Here David Mitchell and Robert Webb film a scene inside the iconic South London tower block This Croydon tower block was featured in the hit Channel 4 comedy Peep Show A spokesperson for the charity said: 'Police statistics reveal that around 49 per cent of those committing knife crimes in London are teenagers or younger, and thus the need to support these young people is as great as ever. 'Croydon also ranks as one of London's most deprived districts for education and training as well as for crime. Given that most of the young people referred to LNK are born into socioeconomic disadvantage and have already suffered significant trauma in their lives, LNK believes that by mentoring these young people, taking the time to understand their situation, and offering them a safe environment, we can help them to overcome obstacles in their lives and succeed. 'As well as the clear social benefits of reducing knife crime and keeping young people out of offenders' institutes and in education or employment, there is also a clear financial benefit for the government, as the average cost of sending a male aged 15-17 to a young offenders' institute is estimated to be around 85,975 per year.' The charity claimed cuts in public service budgets have caused problems for local authorities leading to an increased workload for the voluntary sector. A spokesperson for Croydon Council said: 'Croydon has long been popular as a film location its one of Londons largest boroughs and renowned not only for its brutalist architecture and distinctive skyline, but its 120 stunning parks and open spaces. 'Commercial filming helps to boost the local economy and create opportunities for residents of all ages. 'A major Netflix series recently filmed in Croydon employed students from Croydon College as supporting artists, and offered free "Set Ready" courses giving local trainees the opportunity to learn new skills and gain experience in the media industry. 'Production companies also often hire and work with local businesses, bringing additional investment into the local area.' Is Meghan also a 'style sister' with glamorous Hollywood star? With her outfits vanishing from the high street the moment she appears in public, it is clear the Princess of Wales has an army of 'Copy-Kates'. But some are starting to ask if the royal trend-setter has her own secret source of inspiration - in the shape of Hollywood royalty. It was in 2011 that Kate turned all red-carpet with an eye-catching asymmetric silver gown from Jenny Packham, a style spotted on Angelina Jolie earlier that same year. Since then, Kate has been something of a 'style sister' on numerous occasions - or even a mirror image. Not that Kate - who turns 42 on Tuesday - is alone in this. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has also chosen outfits which seem to have an Angelina touch. With so much royal imitation, who wouldn't feel flattered? Winter Whites Kate and Angelina dazzled in sleek white ensembles showing how similar their fashion tastes are Kate Middleton dazzled in a sleek white ensemble at her annual Together at Christmas carol concert last month She was wrapped up in a bespoke white coat by Savile Row tailor Chris Kerr layered over a Kiltane cashmere crew neck sweater and Holland Cooper high waisted trousers. Blink and you may have been mistaken that it was Angelina Jolie in the head-to-toe white she wore in 2017 for an evening out in New York. Angelina's plunging trench coat was by Elisabetta Franchi and accessorised with Christian Louboutin pumps very similar to Kates Gianvito Rossi heels. One-Shoulder Wonders Kate and Angelina both dazzled in Jenny Packham one-shoulder gowns It was a style snap when Kate and Angelina both chose the same Jenny Packham one shoulder gown just a few months apart. The Princess of Wales wowed Hollywood style in a silver asymmetric frock at a charity evening in November 2011, pairing it with Jimmy Choo heels. There were double-takes all round as a version of the silk showstopper had been seen a few months earlier when Hollywood actress Angelina wore the red version with a silk tie waist to a film premiere in Los Angeles. Black Velvet Evening Gowns Both women made a statement in luxe black velvet gowns with the same off-the-shoulder silhouette with sweeping trains The red carpet is often awash with shimmering sparkles and vibrant shades, but style sisters Kate and Angelina both made a statement in luxe black velvet gowns. In 2011 The Princess of Wales attended the Military Awards in a mermaid skirt strapless Alexander McQueen design, followed by Jolie in 2018 who also chose the same off-the-shoulder silhouette with sweeping train, in a black velvet frock by British couturiers Ralph and Russo. Both looks were accessorised with dazzling diamonds, Kates by Mouawad and Angelinas by Graff. Cool in Camel Both women look great in camel coloured tailored trouser suits and look dressed for business Kate has recently added tailoring to her workwear uniform, a style which has been present in Angelinas wardrobe for a number of years. In August 2023 Jolie stepped out in New York in a chic camel suit with wide leg trousers and a Celine leather tote. The look was echoed by Kate just a month later in London when she wore a Roland Mouret trouser suit which was strikingly similar. From the flared trousers to neat camisole tops and bouncy brunette locks, the pair were a mirror image. Golden Goddesses Kate and Angelina had a magical take on film premiere red carpet, dazzling in gold- embellished gowns with sweeping cape sleeves The style icons both dazzled for film openings in golden embellished gowns with sweeping cape sleeves. For Jolie it was a bespoke Ralph and Russo jewel encrusted masterpiece for the launch of Maleficent in 2019, while the Princess of Wales dressed for James Bond in 2021 in an equally plunging Jenny Packham gown which gathered at the torso and featured the same structured shoulders before cascading into a glittering train of tulle. They shared the same memo when it came to the hair and jewels, both choosing statement earrings and elegant updos. Daytime Formal Kate and Angelina stunned in formal ensembles with cowl necklines which skimmed their silhouettes and nipped in at the waist Both in shades of dove grey, Kate and Angelina stunned in formal ensembles with cowl necklines which skimmed their silhouettes and nipped in at the waist. First was Kate in Roksanda Ilincic during a reception at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2012, followed by Angelina in Ralph and Russo for a royal ceremony in 2018. Looking elegant as ever, the finishing touch for the pair was a neat, swept back chignon. Cape Sleeves Angelina and the Princess of Wales are tall and this style shows off their slim figures perfectly Dramatic caped sleeves stole the spotlight for the brunette beauties when they chose evening gowns with the same structured shoulders and long sleeves with splits. Elegant and understated for the launch of Eternal in 2021, Angelina chose a black Ralph Lauren one shoulder design, while Kate turned to Safiyaa for her teal gown with two cape sleeves at the Royal Variety Performance in 2023. Bouncy waves complemented the dramatic sleeves and simple silhouettes for the style sisters. Crossover Evening Gowns This time both women were actually wearing Jenny Packham in very similar styles Once again Angelina and Kate shared the same style DNA on the red carpet, this time in Jenny Packham silvery grey cross-over gowns. Kate went first in the 2015 Spectre premiere in a chiffon version of the draped-front dress while Angelina chose a silk material for her dress at the Hollywood Film Awards in 2017. Modest Dressing Both women have mastered the art of stylish yet modest dressing Covered up couture linked Jolie and Middleton when they both dressed glamorously in high neck gowns with blouson sleeves in nude tones of tan and blush pink. Modestly styled in an Elie Saab embroidered couture design for Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al-Saifs Wedding in 2023, Kate accessorised the look with Prada heels and a Wilbur and Gussie clutch. Angelina also chose to wear a Lebanese designer for the Variety's Power of Women gala in 2021, this time Harithand, although the gown had a similar covered-up design and was also styled with the same sleek waved hair as Kate. Kate is not the only Angelina look-alike Cape Dresses Angelina wore this Ralph and Russo caped creation in 2014 with Meghan choosing an almost identical version in 2018 When the Queen and Meghan embarked on their first solo engagement less than a month after she married Prince Harry, the Duchess of Sussex stepped off the train in a cream bespoke Givenchy creation which featured a neat cape over her shoulders. A few years earlier, Angelina had worn an almost identical white gown by Ralph and Russo to the premiere of Unbroken in 2014 with the same cape detail across the shoulders, as well as a similar hem length. Tailored Suiting Angelina mirrored Meghan with a black tuxedo suit when she was in New York last year Meghan and Angelina mirrored each other in slick black tuxedo suits layered over silk camisoles. Markle first chose the tailoring in 2018 at the Wellchild awards when she wore an Altuzarra wide leg two piece and black blouse from Swedish brand Deitas. Anglina chose chose a Saint Laurent version of the chic suit last year. Black Wrap Coats Both women seem to favour wearing black as seen with their black wrap coats In January 2018 Meghan made her first official visit to Wales in head to toe black, wearing a Stella McCartney tie waist coat. That same year, Angelina was seen at the British Film Institute wrapped up in a similar coat by Ralph and Russo layered over a cream dress by the same designers. A neat belted waistband added structure to the look in both cases. Sheer Delights Both women showing that a black dress can make an impact on the red carpet Showing that a black dress can make an impact on the red carpet, Jolie and Markle both made a statement in monochrome gowns with a sheer panel across the decolletage. First came Angelina at the 2018 Golden Globes, when her Versace gown with feather detail and chiffon sleeves had just the right level of drama and glamour. Meghan seemed to echo the look at the Lion King premiere in 2019 when she chose a Jason Wu frock with a demure see-through panel and sleeves. A lot may have changed since the pandemic and our desire for dogs appears to have significantly dropped off as the cost of living crisis makes pet ownership untenable for many Australians. You couldnt produce enough puppies during Covid when everybody was working from home, people bought dogs like mad, and now you cant sell puppies, Professor Roberta Crouch, who breeds rottweilers and Norwegian buhunds in Adelaide, told Yahoo News Australia. I think people are absolutely not spending money on dogs. Which unfortunately is having a tragic flow-on effect. My understanding is that the RSPCA and other shelters are chock-a-block full with abandoned dogs and a lot of them are puppies, Professor Crouch continued. So people have obviously bred puppies then couldnt sell them and had to surrender them. I know myself its very tough trying to sell a litter of really well-bred purebred dogs. 'I know myself its very tough trying to sell a litter of really well-bred purebred dogs,' Professor Crouch said. Source: Facebook Surrenders climb as pet adoption rates plummet In the last year, RSPCA NSW received an average of 20 calls a day relating to surrenders, with the cost of caring for a pet one of the top reasons, accounting for 12 per cent of all surrenders. Other common reasons included moving house (eight per cent) or having too many animals to manage (30 per cent). Pet rental challenges and economic hardship appear to have led to an increased demand for our shelter services, an RSPCA spokesperson told Yahoo News. We have also recorded a decline in our adoption rate by 30 per cent, resulting in animals waiting longer to find their forever home. In October 2020, the average stay for adult dogs at RSPCA NSW was 7.7 days. Two years later that number had risen to 16.5 days. Today, the average length of stay is 34.3 days, with an average cost of care reaching up to $1,000 per stay. Story continues The amount of people requesting support has also risen in the last 12 months and RSPCA NSW is working in lots of different ways to help people responsibly care for their pets, such as providing access to affordable vet services and behavioural support, as well as food and flea, tick, and worming treatments to owners and animals who need it most, the spokesperson said. RSPCA NSW said there's been a 30 per cent decline in its adoption rate. Source: Supplied RSPCA NSW is constantly thinking strategically about how we can get our animals to their forever homes as soon as possible. Examples include offering reduced adoption fee promotions to try and get more animals out of our shelter and into loving homes and our current Rescuoodle campaign to promote animal adoption. 'Its the ongoing maintenance that will kill you' As Professor Crouch points out, its not just the price of the puppy that is the problem. Its the new car you need, the house you need to move to that has a bigger backyard, she said. You have to pay the council rates. Youll have to do some training with that dog. But its the vet bills and its the food and its the ongoing maintenance that will kill you. Pets are expensive. And I think thats why people are surrendering their dogs. Its well worth it if you can afford to do it, but people need to think about the ongoing cost of pet ownership. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. The rouse is part of an ongoing series of scams that are exploiting individuals around the world Once he was alone, kidnappers sent a ransom demand to his parents in China to be paid for his return Virtual kidnapping scams have crept into the US for more than two decades, but the bizarre scheme has recently evolved and exploited many individuals across the country. In a recent case, foreign exchange student Kai Zhuang, 17, was reported missing on December 28 after his family in China received threatening messages that he had been kidnapped. Despite his host family in Utah reporting he had been seen earlier that day, his family paid an $80,000 ransom fee to Chinese bank accounts. He was later found in the Brigham City Canyon after cops said he fell victim to a sordid 'cyber-kidnapping' scam. The teen was told that his family back home was in danger while his parents in China were told that he had been kidnapped before they were extorted out of $80,000. Dr. Chris Pierson, the founder and CEO of BlackCloak, a cyber security firm for high profile individuals, exclusively told DailyMail.com that Zhuang's case is 'an interesting escalation in terms of the current common scams' and that artificial intelligence is making cases like these easier to facilitate. In a recent case, Kai Zhuang, 17, was plucked from a Utah mountainside after anonymous scammers convinced him to isolate himself Once he was alone, kidnappers sent a ransom demand to his parents in China to be paid for his return - he was later located by police Officials said the foreign exchange student went missing from the home where he was staying in Riverdale and was camping along the Wasatch Front Though Pierson specifically represents celebrities and successful cooperate executives, he was also the former president of the FBI's InfraGard chapter in Arizona and worked for the Department of Homeland Security on the Privacy Committee and Cybersecurity Subcommittee. When asked about the Utah case and cyber kidnapping as a whole, Pierson said that criminals behind these suspicious and frightening schemes typically target the foreign demographic and strive to get as much money as possible from their victims. He revealed that foreign exchange students are the 'perfect demographic' for the crime mainly due to the time difference that they share with their biological families. In Zhuang's case, his parents were back in China at the time of his apparent abduction, making it difficult for them to get in contact at the time. Pierson also said that language barriers play a role in the offenders game plan as the victims can't pick up on differences or red flags, making it easier for them to be 'preyed upon.' Dr. Chris Pierson, the founder and CEO of BlackCloak, a cyber security firm for high profile individuals, exclusively told DailyMail.com that Zhuang's case is 'an interesting escalation in terms of the current common scams' The criminals main goal is to collect as much money as they can and will do so by coming up with striking, falsified stories to scare their targets. The CEO said that cash profits under $10,000 are the most common, but now with the ease of electronic transactions and wire transfers, criminals have gotten away with much more. 'Number one- they're used to wiring large dollar amounts internationally so it's not going to set off any red flags,' Pierson said. He mentioned that if this were done domestically it would have raised suspicions with US banks and institutions. 'Second- it's going to be electronic. Also, folks that are able to send their children on foreign exchange programs, foreign exchange travel, all the rest, maybe persons that have more of a propensity or more of an ability to actually pay,' Pierson said. He considered Zhuang and his family to be part of the 'at risk population' for the tactical cyber attack. When it comes to crime itself, the act of kidnapping is orchestrated in a very discreet way as victims are told to limit their paper trails, use different phones for communication and to refrain from telling anyone about it. When Zhuang was found 'cold and scared' in the rural mountains, law enforcement said that several phones were found inside of his tent. Jennifer DeStefano's 15-year-old daughter Brie (with her above) was safe with her father on a ski trip, but scammers briefly convinced her mother that they had abducted the girl Jennifer DeStefano spoke before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a hearing, describing a kidnapping hoax in which scammers used AI to replicated her daughter's voice Pierson said that victims might also be advised to turn off their current personal devices and instead use others that cannot be traced back to them. Chief Casey Warren of the Riverdale Police Department told DailyMail.com that while the Utah teen was missing and presumed kidnapped, his family and host family cooperated with the police the entire time. The department also revealed that his family from China traveled to the US after he was found and is now with him. Warren said it is unclear if the 17-year-old will travel back to China or stay in the US to continue his education. In January 2023, Arizona mom Jennifer DeStefano got an unknown call as she waited for her young daughter in dance rehearsal. When she picked up the phone call she heard the voice of her older daughter Brianna, 15, scream in terror as she told her mother that she 'messed up.' Friends were able to quickly confirm Brie's safety within minutes of the hoax call DeStafano immediately panicked and tried to understand what was being said before she heard a male's voice. 'Listen here. I have your daughter. You call the police, you call anybody, I'm gonna pop her something so full of drugs. I'm gonna have my way with her then drop her off in Mexico, and you're never going to see her again,' the man said on the phone. The frantic mother was then given a $1million ransom demand, called the cops and phoned her daughter Brianna. To her surprise, her child had no idea what her mother was referring to and appeared to be just fine. 'The voice sounded just like Brie's, the inflection, everything,' she told CNN. The criminals that targeted DeStafano and her family used AI software to make it seem like her daughter was actually being kidnapped. This is something that Pierson said is expected to make this crime that much easier for criminals and scarier for its victims. 'The real stuff is AI,' he said. 'People are actually using it. Cyber criminals have actually started starting using it by just doing a normal ruse.' The cyber security expert added that voice prints are all over social networking sites like Twitter and Instagram, and can easily pick up people's voices to be used elsewhere. During his time at his computer security service, Pierson said that he has witnessed artificial intelligence be used with many of his high profile clients as scammers simply grab their voices from movies and interviews. Cyber scams are constantly happening and Pierson said that the best way to try to avoid them is to remain as vigilant as possible when contacted. 'Once you spot those patterns, that's what really makes it a lot easier to defend against, and a lot harder to perpetrate,' he said. In terms of cyber kidnapping, Pierson admitted that he believes it's 'a harder scam to propagate' due to the fact that it is challenging to get two parties to cooperate with demands. 'Cyber criminals are always going to be changing what they're doing, based off of different demands, different roadblocks, different impediments,' Pierson said. A mother-of-four claims she pleaded guilty to a crime she didn't commit to avoid returning to a prison that housed two trans inmates locked up for murder and sex assault, MailOnline can reveal. Amanda Benson, 42, from Inverkip, Scotland, was imprisoned on remand at HMP Greenock with the two trans women - murderer Alex Stewart, 34, and sexual assaulter Laura Miller, 30. Neither have had gender surgery or taken gender-affirming hormones, Mrs Benson said. Stewart - previously known as Alan Baker - was jailed for 19 years for stabbing father-of-two John Weir, 36, to death after they met on a dating site. The trans prisoner reportedly started dating a female child killer in HMP Greenock in 2020. Miller was jailed for almost two years in 2022 after she sexually assaulted a woman who had taken sleeping medication on multiple occasions in 2017 and even filmed one of the attacks, in which she made an offensive sexual remark about her. Although she had committed the offence when she was in jail with Mrs Benson, it was only in 2022 that she was convicted of that crime. In 2018, she was in Greenock Prison for a different unknown crime. Mrs Benson revealed she was so terrified of being raped and impregnated by the murderer or sex pest that she had a contraceptive coil fitted at the prison run by the Scottish government. She told MailOnline: 'I took a plea deal and plead[ed] guilty even though I didn't do it. Mother-of-four Amanda Benson, 42, (pictured) was in jail on remand at HMP Greenock alongside two trans women convicted of some of the most serious crimes Trans woman Laura Miller (pictured) was jailed for sexually assaulting a woman. The biological male was imprisoned in the female wing of HMP Greenock alongside Mrs Benson Another trans woman, Alex Stewart (pictured), was jailed for murdering a father-of-two but was also housed in HMP Greenock's female wing [INSERT: 3094615] 'It's terrifying to be in there with them so [I did anything] to get out of there. 'I felt the threat that I could have been raped by these men and that could have led to me falling pregnant. 'They were both quite tall. One was very heavy. He dressed like a man. The other guy tried to wear sparkly jeans. 'Neither had had any surgery. They just said they were women and wanted to be in a women's prison. 'We can't leave. We are locked up with them, no matter what. 'Even if they claim to be gay, you're in prison - it's very, very different. 'I think some of them just want an easier time and some of them are sexualised [and] like seeing themselves as women and being included as women. 'It's an affirmation for them. 'It validates them. It's a sexual thing. 'It could be that they are sexual deviants. You're putting a fox into the hen house. 'Not all men are rapists and murderers but you have to keep all men out to keep the bad ones out.' Alex Stewart (pictured) - previously known as Alan Baker - was jailed for 19 years for stabbing father-of-two John Weir, 36, to death after they met on a dating site HMP Greenock (pictured) in Scotland has 54 cells for women. While Mrs Benson was there, two of these had trans women in them The cells at Greenock Prison don't have shows in them, meaning women have to use communal showers. Rhona Hotchkiss, who was Governor of HMP Greenock until 2019, said: 'We had three or four trans women in at once. It was a horrific situation. 'None of them had identified as trans before they came into prison. 'The behaviour was appalling. They were clearly, most of them, there for sexual reasons.' She added: 'Male staff are not allowed to go anywhere near those showers but trans women can. 'I knew of women who wouldn't shower.' Mrs Benson said: 'You don't expect it, to be showering with men. Not in gyms, not anywhere. Especially not in prison. Mrs Benson, who lives in Inverkip, was in prison on remand for biting a police officer - a crime she pleaded guilty to even though she denies it happened The stay-at-home mother said one of the reasons she pleaded guilty was to avoid having to be imprisoned with the two trans convicts, whom she felt threatened by She had the contraceptive coil fitted while at HMP Greenock as she was afraid one of the trans women would rape and impregnate her 'It's terrifying, humiliating, bad and horrific. 'There are no cameras in the showers. It's one of the easiest places for someone to physically or sexually assault you. 'I got the contraceptive coil fitted. That's the first time I ever had any contraception. '[Trans women] are going through a female risk assessment. 'Prison is such a crazy, unpredictable place. 'It's unpredictable what the women do, never mind what a man does. 'We wouldn't stand a chance against these men. 'I don't think men should be allowed to be in female prisons at all. If they can't keep them safe in a male prison, then they need to find another way.' Mrs Benson said she was on remand in HMP Greenock for seven weeks in 2018 after being accused of biting a police officer - which she fiercely denies. She was on bail for a separate allegation of serious assault and also on a deferred sentence to be on good behaviour after holding a man by his hair when she attacked a man in October 2018. The mother-of-four claimed he tried to sexually assault her and her friend while on a night out. The prosecutor told Greenock Sheriff Court that when the police arrived, an officer put his hand on her shoulder and she bit him. Sheriff Andrew McIntyre ordered her to complete 228 hours of unpaid work in nine months, go to alcohol counselling and remain under social work supervision for a year instead of going to jail. Rhona Hotchkiss (pictured) was Governor of HMP Greenock until 2019. She said: 'We had three or four trans women in at once. They were clearly, most of them, there for sexual reasons' Morag Stirling (pictured) is now the Governor of 113-year-old HMP Greenock. Building conditions at the prison were branded 'appalling' in a report last summer Prison therapist Alison Blackler, 56, (pictured) told MailOnline: 'Hearing that some of these trans women have a crime against women is a grave concern' Last summer, Scotland's chief prisons inspector Wendy Sinclair-Gieben branded building conditions at the 113-year-old HMP Greenock 'appalling' in a report last summer. In a separate interview, she said a trans woman was 'someone who has done the transgender process and is now seen as a woman' and that there's never been an issue with trans people in Scottish prisons'. Prison therapist Alison Blackler, 56, from the Wirral, told MailOnline: 'There is certainly a concern because of the predatory behaviours of men which do leave women more vulnerable. 'People being outraged can be perceived as transphobic which makes it more complex. READ MORE: Scottish feminist campaigners lose appeal over the definition of 'woman' after ruling that trans women with a female gender recognition certificate are legally defined as women Advertisement 'Generally, the main concern of people who object to the idea of unisex toilets is that it will lead to an increase in violence, particularly against women. 'Women see toilets and bathrooms as a safe place away from men and this is a direct challenge to what is the norm. 'Hearing that some of these trans women have a crime against women is a grave concern. 'Prisons usually do a lot of work to separate prisoners who trigger each other or create vulnerability - it seems as though this agenda has become a secondary thing. 'It is certainly on people's minds. For me, the main concern is what risk a person poses. 'Prisons already keep vulnerable prisoners apart from the general population of the prison. 'It is a hot topic and one that needs to be sensitively managed.' The Family Education Trust's Lucy Marsh told MailOnline: 'It is appalling that men who pretend to be women are allowed to be in female prisons. 'The majority of women in prison have been the victim of domestic violence and sexual assault, and more than half experienced emotional, physical or sexual abuse as a child. 'To put vulnerable women at further risk of abuse from predatory men is wilfully irresponsible and immoral. 'The Scottish government continues to display its complete contempt for the safety of women. 'Men belong in male prisons, no matter how they identify. 'There should not be any exceptions made which would ever allow a biological male to be incarcerated alongside women.' HMP Greenock hung up the phone when approached for comment. The jail later suggested posting a letter instead of calling or emailing. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'SPS policy is clear that if a transgender woman with a history of violence against women and girls presents a risk of harm, they will be admitted and accommodated in the men's estate and not access the women's estate. 'The Scottish Prison Service has considerable expertise, as well as a duty of care for the management of people in their custody, and SPS upholds its responsibilities to deliver safe, secure and suitable services for all. The Scottish Government cannot comment on individual cases.' A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: 'We do not comment on individuals. 'Our new policy supports the health, safety, and wellbeing of all people living and working in Scotland's prisons, by taking an individualised approach to the admission, placement, and management of transgender people. 'We will carefully consider a range of factors, including offending history, with a particular focus on violence against women and girls, when assessing risk. No transgender women, with a history of violence against women and girls, who presents a risk to women, will be placed in the female estate.' A new trove of documents from Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre's 2016 deposition also includes claims that Clinton once 'threatened' Vanity Fair not to write sex trafficking articles 'about his good friend JE' The 42nd POTUS has publicly tried to distance himself from the late sex offender by downplaying the nature of their relationship, but files show they were once close enough for Clinton to accept free rides on his jet DailyMail.com takes a close look at Jeffrey Epstein's bizarre friendship with Bill Clinton through the years after the former president was mentioned more than 70 times in unsealed documents related to the pedophile Advertisement Jeffrey Epstein's influential friends and elite acquaintances are being unmasked for the first time in newly unsealed court filings. But one name stands out among the glittering array of politicians, Hollywood stars and royalty that of William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States. Clinton has been linked to the late child sex predator for decades and features more than 70 times in documents finally made public this week by New York judge Loretta Preska. The 77-year-old Democrat claims the pair were barely buddies, denies knowledge of Epstein's sex trafficking network, and insists he never set foot on Little Saint James nicknamed 'Pedo Island' and the setting for multiple bouts of sexual abuse. However, as DailyMail.com documents, their relationship stretches back to Clinton's days in the White House and the two men were once close enough for the former leader of the free world to accept repeated trips on Epstein's private jet. Newly unredacted files included in the released documents this week have also unveiled the extraordinary claim that the president once even went as far as to 'threaten' a magazine not to write 'sex trafficking articles' about his 'good friend.' NEW DOCS, NEW QUESTIONS The specter of Jeffrey Epstein returned to haunt the Clintons this week when Bill's name appeared more than 70 times on newly unsealed court papers. The former president was among dozens of Epstein associates unmasked in a vast document drop from the 2015 Ghislaine Maxwell-Virginia Roberts Giuffre defamation case. According to Giuffre's lawyers, Bubba was a 'key person in the lives' of the dead financier and his former lover and the trio enjoyed a 'close relationship'. Bill Clinton is pictured with Jeffrey Epstein in an undated photograph. DailyMail.com has delved into the pair's bizarre relationship through the years after the former president was mentioned over 70 times in newly unsealed documents related to the late pedophile Roberts-Giuffre in her email claimed that Bill Clinton 'walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex-trafficking articles about his good friend JE' Giuffre's attorneys even sought to depose him. In one especially incendiary filing, a 2016 deposition from another Epstein victim, Johanna Sjoberg, she recalls the dead predator telling her 'Clinton likes them young, referring to girls'. Asked what she knew about Epstein's friendship with Clinton, Sjoberg said: 'I knew he had dealings with Bill Clinton.' However, she never met Clinton and never saw him on Little Saint James, her testimony added. In another document Giuffre makes the colorful claim that Clinton once intervened to stop a magazine expose about Epstein. A newly unredacted transcript of Virginia Roberts Giuffre's 2016 deposition also refers to her colorful claim that Clinton once intervened to stop a Vanity Fair expose about Epstein Maxwell's lawyers asked Giuffre, formerly known as Roberts, about a 2011 email exchange she had with a reporter friend in which they discussed the merits of selling her now-infamous photo with Prince Andrew to Vanity Fair. As they spar over her recollection of the messages, Giuffre replies: 'It does concern me what they could want to write about me considering that B. Clinton walked into VF and threatened them not to write sex trafficking articles about his good friend JE.' Since the papers were released former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter has said the incident 'categorically did not happen'. In her own deposition, Maxwell, 50, said the claim that Clinton had a meal on Epstein's island was '100 percent false.' Clinton denies any wrongdoing CLINTON IN THE FRAME They say a picture speaks 1,000 words. But anyone who stumbled across Jeffrey Epstein's peculiar, life-size portrait of a crossdressing Bill Clinton would more likely be left speechless. The bizarro artwork depicted the former Commander in Chief lounging on a chair in the Oval Office in blood red heels and a figure-hugging blue dress. In 2019, DailyMail.com revealed Epstein had a bizarre portrait depicting the former Commander in Chief lounging on a chair in the Oval Office in blood red heels and a figure-hugging blue dress His kooky outfit was strikingly similar to one worn by wife Hillary at a 2009 gala dinner for Kennedy Center Honorees. The painting was called 'Parsing Bill' and was created in 2012 by fledgling Australian-American artist Petrina Ryan-Kleid. It's not clear whether Epstein owned the original or a print, but it was spotted hanging up inside the pedophile's $56million New York townhouse in October of that year. 'It was absolutely Bill Clinton. It was shocking it was definitely a painting of him,' a source revealed to DailyMail.com when we revealed the portrait's existence in 2019. The painting - pictured left at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse - was called 'Parsing Bill' and was created in 2012 by fledgling Australian-American artist Petrina Ryan-Kleid and showed Bill wearing a dress strikingly similar to one worn by Hillary Clinton (right) at the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors 'It was a very provocative, sexual picture. He was wearing heels, a blue dress and his hand was in a weird position.' Quite why Epstein, who hanged himself in prison in August 2019, would have such a lurid likeness of the former President in his home has been open to much speculation. 'Imagine if I knew some horrible dark secrets about you and you came over to my house and I have a giant painting of you,' Joe Rogan joked about it on his podcast. 'Right when you walk into the front door, of you, in a dress, and I'm like, "Hey buddy".' HIDDEN IN PLANE SIGHT Epstein went from university dropout to mercurial money manager, acquiring all the trappings of a billionaire playboy, from majestic homes in New York, New Mexico, and Palm Beach, Florida, to his own Caribbean island. Along the way, the now-notorious pedophile acquired scores of influential friends, many of whom were listed in his 'little black book' of contacts, where he noted down 20 numbers and addresses for Clinton. Clinton was once close enough to accept dozens of flights on Epstein's private jet, notoriously nicknamed the Lolita Express. He is pictured on the jet with Ghislaine Maxwell In February 2002 Naomi Campbell was aboard the aircraft with Bill Clinton, according to flight logs And despite repeatedly distancing himself from the child predator and his crimes, Clinton was once close enough to accept dozens of flights on Epstein's private jet, notoriously nicknamed the Lolita Express. Flights logs show that Clinton flew on the Boeing 727 tri-jet on 26 occasions, traveling to an array of exotic locations including Brunei, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, the Azores, Africa, Belgium, China and New York. DailyMail.com published never-before-seen images of the 42nd President of the United States receiving a neck and shoulder massage from Epstein victim Chauntae Davies during a stopover in 2002. Davis, then a 22-year-old massage therapist who claimed she was recruited into Epstein's circle by Ghislaine Maxwell before being raped and abused, insisted that Clinton was 'charming and sweet' on the humanitarian trip to Africa that also included Kevin Spacey and Chris Tucker. Flights logs show that Clinton flew on the Boeing 727 tri-jet on 26 occasions, travelling to an array of exotic locations including Brunei, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Africa. He is pictured traveling on the infamous jet while playing cards with a cigar in his mouth DailyMail.com published never-before-seen images of the 42nd President of the United States receiving a neck and shoulder massage from Epstein victim Chauntae Davies during a stopover in 2002 Jeffrey Epstein's infamous 'Lolita Express' - a private Boeing 727 airliner that carried prominent passengers and allegedly underage girls - will be torn apart and scrapped 'Although the image looks bizarre, President Clinton was a perfect gentleman during the trip and I saw absolutely no foul play involving him,' she recalled. Clinton's camp insists he took a 'total of four trips' from 2002 to 2003 on Epstein's aircraft, which last flew in 2016 and is slowly corroding at an airfield in Brunswick, Georgia. Staffers and Secret Service agents were present each time, they say. WEST WING REGULAR Bill Clinton has owned up to six meetings with Epstein dating back to 2002. These include the four flights on Epstein's plane, a visit to his Harlem office and a brief appearance at the pedophile's New York home. In 2021 DailyMail.com obtained visitor logs which laid bare Epstein's access to the Clinton White House and revealed the pedophile visited at least 17 times during the former president's first few years in office (pictured together in 1993) Epstein visited the White House on 14 separate days and stopped by twice in one day on three occasions during Bill Clinton's first term However, as DailyMail.com previously revealed, Epstein enjoyed extraordinary access to the White House throughout the Clinton administration, nearly a decade earlier. The deep-pocketed predator stopped by the West Wing just a month after Clinton's inauguration in January 1993 the first of 17 visits in three years. During his visits he took eight different women with him. The logs identify them as Maxwell, who at the time was 32, and three other girlfriends, Celina Midelfart, then 21, Eva Andersson-Dubin, 33, and Francis Jardine, who was believed to be in her 20s. The four other women who also appear in the logs are named as Jennifer Garrison, Shelley Gafni, Jennifer Driver and Lyoubov Orlova. Visitor logs confirm he was signed in by a person named 'Rubin', a possible reference to Robert Rubin, who became director of the National Economic Council when Clinton took office and Treasury Secretary in 1995. Epstein returned on September 29 to attend a reception organized by the White House Historical Association after he donated $10,000 to help renovate the building. It was one of the earliest instances of Epstein using philanthropy to gain access to powerful men, a tactic he would deploy extensively to negate his 2008 conviction in Florida for having sex with underage girls. Photos from the event show Epstein and Clinton shaking hands with both men smiling broadly. The bulk of Epstein's visits came in 1994 when he visited on a dozen occasions, meeting a variety of aides including Mark Middleton, who was a special assistant to the President and also flew on the Lolita Express, according to flight logs. Epstein visited Clinton just once in 1995, on January 28, and he was again signed in by Middleton. AIDE'S GRUESOME SUICIDE Middleton's curious cameo doesn't end there. Cops say he took his own life in 2022 but the gory suicide raised more questions than answers. Mark Middleton, the former special assistant to President Bill Clinton, died by suicide at the age of 59 on May 7, the Perry County Sheriff's Office in Arkansas confirmed The Middleton family did not disclose his cause of death at the time of the announcement. The only potential hint at a possible cause of death was a request in Middleton's obituary that, instead of flowers, well wishers donate to a service that specializes in counseling and therapy linked to the New Life Church The married father-of-two, who worked for his family's HVAC business after leaving politics, was found hanging from a tree on farmland in Perryville, Arkansas. 'I could see that he had a gunshot wound to the chest and that he had a knot tied in an extension cord that was around his neck and it was attached to the limb directly above him,' noted a deputy. A search of Middleton's BMW turned up three boxes of buckshot and a gun case but no weapon. The 59-year-old's death was nonetheless recorded as a suicide. In 1996, one year after leaving the White House, Middleton was accused of abusing his access to impress business clients and was barred from the executive mansion without senior approval. According to the Arkansas Times, Middleton's family said he was suffering from depression when he died. A number of Clinton's former associates have perished over the years in unexpected circumstances, including deputy White House counsel Vince Foster. His 1993 death from a self-inflicted gunshot was ruled a suicide but sparked a slew of conspiracy theories about the involvement of the Clintons. WARNED TO STAY AWAY Doug Band, Clinton's onetime chief advisor, poured fuel on the Epstein-Bubba fire when he came forward in 2020 to say the ex-Prez did indeed visit Little St. James. Band said he repeatedly warned his boss to steer clear of Epstein and his warped madam Ghislaine Maxwell, who was particularly close with Chelsea Clinton and attended her 2010 wedding. Doug Band (pictured right in an undated photo) one of Bill Clinton's top aides, is among more than 170 people who will be named in court documents about Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation due to be unsealed in early 2024 Six files relating to the Clinton confidante are due to be released in early 2024. Band has been named as Doe number 8 on the list of 177 people. He is pictured right with Ghislaine Maxwell 'Ghislaine had access to yachts and nice homes,' he told Vanity Fair. 'Chelsea needed that.' Band insisted that Clinton had visited Epstein's Caribbean retreat in 2003, despite the Clinton camp's repeated claims to the contrary. He told the magazine he was so wary about the invite that he excused himself from the trip. A Clinton spokesman dismissed the allegation and characterized Band as a bitter ex-staffer seeking to profit on his former connections. Band was just 22 and doing a law degree at Georgetown University when he landed an unpaid internship in the White House midway through Clinton's first term. A newly unsealed deposition suggests Doug Band may have been especially close to Maxwell, who is serving 20 years for grooming young girls for Epstein When Clinton left office in 2001 Band went with him and helped to resurrect the Clinton brand that was tarnished by controversial pardons and the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal. Band became semi-famous in the process, enjoying a brief romance with Naomi Campbell, before falling out with Chelsea in 2011. A newly unsealed deposition suggests he may have been especially close to Maxwell, who is serving 20 years for grooming young girls for Epstein. Asked if they were ever in a romantic relationship, the disgraced socialite told Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre's lawyers: 'We are talking about adult consensual relationships, it's off the record.' Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has admitted he made a mistake in concealing a serious illness that saw him admitted to intensive care from the White House. Speaking in a statement released Saturday, Austin said: 'I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure.' Austin did not disclose the nature of his illness, which the Associated Press reported was caused by complications from a minor procedure at Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland. Administration staff believed he was on vacation. On Saturday, it was reported that the Pentagon - which Austin heads - did not tell the White House about his condition for three days. Shockingly - the Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks was on vacation at the same time, leaving the department rudderless. A Pentagon spokesperson said Hicks was able to work remotely from Puerto Rico. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, 70, was hospitalized on January 1, but the Pentagon waited five days to reveal the information. He is pictured on December 20 2023 Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, pictured, was in vacation in Puerto Rico while Lloyd Austin was sick in hospital Such secrecy, at a time when the United States is juggling a myriad of national security crises - as well as the Israeli-Hamas conflict and Ukraine War - runs counter to normal practice when the president and other senior U.S. officials and Cabinet members would be first to be informed. Austin, 70, remains in hospital following complications after a minor elective medical procedure, his press secretary said. His statement continued: 'I want to thank the amazing doctors and nursing staff at Walter Reed for the exceptional care they have delivered to me and for the personal warmth they have shown my family. I also appreciate all the outreach and well wishes from colleagues and friends. Charlene and I are very grateful for your support. 'I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon.' Austin was last seen in public on December 20th as he visited the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier in the eastern Mediterranean Sea to thanks crew members personally for their service. Austin was last seen in public on December 20th as he visited the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier in the eastern Mediterranean Sea to thanks crew members personally for their service Those working at the Pentagon had no clue what was going on believing Austin to have been on an extended Christmas vacation for the week. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder has since said the White House and the Joint Chiefs of Staff were notified about Austin's hospitalization, but have not revealed when they first learned of the news. A number of U.S. officials said on Saturday that many of the most senior Pentagon service leaders were unaware until Friday at the earliest that Austin was in the hospital. Officials said President Joe Biden and other senior White House staff were told, but the officials kept information closely guarded as to when they were told. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been in intensive care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, pictured Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, left, talks with the commanding officer of the USS Gerald R. Ford, Navy Capt. Rick Burgess, during an unannounced visit to the ship on December 20 Ryder said members of Congress were told late Friday afternoon, and other officials said lawmakers were informed after 5pm. In a statement, Ryder said that at all times, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks 'was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary, if required.' It was not clear when key senior members of Austin's staff were told, but across the Pentagon, many staff found out when the department released a statement about Austin's hospital stay just minutes after 5pm. Ryder said on Saturday that Austin is recovering well and had resumed his full duties Friday evening from his hospital bed. When asked why the hospital stay was kept secret for so long, Ryder said that it was an 'evolving situation,' and that due to privacy and medical issues, the Pentagon did not make Austin's absence public. Ryder declined to provide any other details about Austin's medical procedure or health. The Pentagon Press Association, which represents media members who cover the Defense Department, sent a letter of protest on Friday evening to Ryder and Chris Meagher, the assistant defense secretary for public affairs. 'The fact that he has been at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for four days and the Pentagon is only now alerting the public late on a Friday evening is an outrage,' the PPA said in its letter. 'At a time when there are growing threats to U.S. military service members in the Middle East and the U.S. is playing key national security roles in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, it is particularly critical for the American public to be informed about the health status and decision-making ability of its top defense leader.' Austin's hospitalization comes as the US is playing key national security roles in the wars in Israel and Ukraine Austin's hospitalization comes as Iranian-backed militias have repeatedly launched drones, missiles and rockets at bases where U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq and Syria, leading the Biden administration to strike back on a number of occasions. Those strikes would have involved sensitive, top-level discussions and decisions by Austin and other key military leaders. The U.S. is also the chief organizer behind a new international maritime coalition using ships and other assets to patrol the southern Red Sea to deter persistent attacks on commercial vessels by Houthi militants in Yemen. In addition, the administration, particularly Austin, has been at the forefront of the effort to supply weapons and training to Ukraine, and he's also been communicating frequently with the Israelis on their war against Hamas. An evil paedophile gang wearing devil masks locked children inside an oven and a fridge in a hell-hole house of horrors where they were made to eat dog food and were sexually abused. The children were subjected to abuse so horrendous that a judge described it as 'extraordinary depravity'. Sickening images of inside the lair show mountains of rubbish piled up in filthy rooms where young victims were tormented. An photo taken through one small window chillingly reveals a child-sized green plastic chair sitting amongst piles and piles of waste. The exterior of the squalid Glasgow flat, which MailOnline is not showing for legal reasons, looks like a rundown housing block. But inside the abuse was so evil that the children hauntingly called it the 'Beastie House'. Images through corrugated iron bars show a green plastic kids chair and toys in one of the rooms, while a sofa is wrapped in clear plastic with a Police Scotland sticker on it in another It is inside this flat where two boys and two girls were 'violently and sexually' assaulted on multiple occasions over a period of seven years by members of the ring Five men and three women were convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of horrific crimes against four children under the age of 13. Pictured: Lesley Williams and Paul Brannan The squalid city flat, which doubled as a drug den, was where the seven adults would hold 'rape nights' when the children would be abused, take class A drugs and force the children to also consume dog food, drugs and alcohol . The 'beastie house' as it was known by one of the young victims, was the site of horrors where three young children, all aged under 13, were violently and sexually assaulted over a period of more than seven years. One of the victims, a girl, was raped in the dismal house when she was still young enough to wear a nappy. She knew it as the 'dark and scary beastie house', so called because she had previously been locked inside a cupboard there that was full of spiders and beetles. Ahead of the gang's sentencing on Tuesday, a judge warned them they had been convicted of crimes of 'extraordinary depravity' and they all faced a 'very substantial prison sentence'. As well as 'rape nights', the grim flat was host to 'dance and sex nights' and 'dog killings nights', all without neighbours suspecting anything was amiss. Besides being raped, the youngest girl was shut inside an oven, a microwave and locked inside a freezer as members of the gang tried to kill her. She was also chased by people wearing devil masks during the abuse, which she suffered between 2015 and 2019. The girl told the court during last year's trial: 'It is not nice when people laugh at you when you are hurting.' The depraved gang even made one of the children dress up and 'dance' before being raped. The boy told police how all the members of the gang would turn up at the property 'at the same time' before punching and hitting him and the two girls with pans. He recalled being made to drink alcohol and said the abuse at the flat was sometimes recorded on video. A Police Scotland sticker can be seen on furniture through the grimy window in the filthy lair Two boys and two girls were 'violently and sexually' assaulted on multiple occasions between 2012 and 2019 by members of the ring. Pictured: Iain Owens (left) and John Clark (right) The paedophile gang caused the children to consume drugs and alcohol. They also used Class A drugs in front of them. Pictured: Elaine Lannery Scott Forbes, 50, (pictured) was found guilty of raping a girl Barry Watson, 47, was also found guilty for raping two girls. He was remanded in custody During one horrific attack on one of the girls, the vile group cheered, while others filmed the abuse and exchanged money for what went on. On another occasion, one of the girls was restrained and abused by members of the ring in a disgusting room until she was injured and unconscious again while it was being recorded. One of the gang members received payment after the attack. Seven men and four women eventually went on trial, which is believed to be the largest number of accused individuals to appear together in the dock in recent Scottish legal history. As well as the sickening sexual abuse, the gang ran a wheelchair over the legs of one of the girls, as well as putting a plastic bag over her head. The gang was also accused of forcing the children to participate in witchcraft at the flat, but these charges were dropped during the trial. It had been claimed they performed 'spells' on the children and convinced them they had been metamorphised into various animals, as well as used ouija boards. The gang killed dogs who were cut and stabbed to death, and the boy said he had once been made to kill a budgie with a knife. The boy said he was once submerged in a bath filled with blood at the Glasgow flat. Seven of the eleven were found guilty of sex abuse, including rape, and four of attempted murder. Another woman was found guilty of assault. Three people were acquitted. The sentencing will be held at the High Court on January 4. Iain Owens, 45, was convicted of 18 charges including the rape of the three children, attempted murder of one involving shutting her in a microwave and other kitchen appliances. The jobless addict was also guilty of other sex offences and class A drug supply. Elaine Lannery, 39, was convicted of the rape of the children among the 12 charges she was charged for. Lesley Williams, 42, was convicted of five charges including the rape of two girls. Paul Brannan, 40, was guilty of seven charges which also featured the rape of all the three sex abuse victims. Scott Forbes, 50, Barry Watson and John Clark, both 47, were further convicted. Marianne Gallagher was found guilty of assault. The gang have been warned they could face life sentences. The 2024 US presidential election officially kicks off on January 15 when voters in the rural farm state of Iowa register their choice for who should be the Republican Party's nominee. Unlike most other states Iowa uses a 'caucus' system which involves citizens showing up at a certain time at a designated site. Iowa's position at the start of the primary calendar gives it, and its three million people, an outsized voice in the presidential nominating contest. The winner gains crucial momentum as the candidates head on to votes in bigger states. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump rallies with supporters at a "commit to caucus" event at a Whiskey bar in Ankeny, Iowa, U.S. December 2, 2023 What is a caucus and how is it different from a primary? The word 'caucus' is believed ton have originated from a Native American term, an Algonquin reference to a gathering of tribal leaders. Instead of polling stations the Midwestern state has caucus sites which can include school gymnasiums, public libraries, or even a family kitchen. People go to their local caucus site at a designated time in the evening and a representative of each candidate addresses them. They then cast their votes and the results at each site, or precinct, are counted. In the past the small numbers of voters has led to ties being settled by a coin toss. The system differs from a primary in which polling stations are open all day and voters can also cast mail-in ballots. It is run by the local party while primaries are run by the state. The vast majority of states hold primaries. A view of the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis walks down steps while visiting residents at a private home in Iowa What does the Iowa winner get? There are roughly 1,700 precincts across Iowa and their results are reported to the state party, which only take a few hours. At stake are 40 delegates Iowa sends to the Republican National Convention, who in turn help nominate the party's presidential candidate. The 40 delegates are awarded proportionally so the winner does not get a big advantage. In 2016 Ted Cruz won Iowa with 27.6 percent and was awarded eight delegates. Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, who finished second and third, both got seven. A woman planning to caucus for Donald Trump prays at an event in Iowa Why is Iowa the first state to vote in presidential nomination contests? After the chaotic 1968 Democratic National Convention the party decided to spread out the nominating process. Iowa had a complex process and so it was allowed to go first in 1972. The Republican Party then also put Iowa first in 1976 and that has remained the case since, despite gripes from other states. Critics claim the Midwestern state is not representative of the rest of America and doesn't have enough people to justify its position at the start of the election calendar. Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley asks first-time attendees to raise their hands during a campaign town hall in Cedar Falls, Iowa Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at a Citrus Bowl watch party at a private residence in Ankeny, Iowa Will the Democrats hold a caucus in Iowa in 2024? The Democrats have completely changed their election process in Iowa for 2024. In the past they held a process in which people had to physically show who they support by gathering with others of a similar mind in a designated spot at a caucus site. Neighbors and friends then made efforts to persuade each other to switch groups. It often led to jocular offers of a free drink in exchange for switching sides. However, there was embarrassing chaos in determining he result of the 2020 caucus sue to a misfunctioning mobile app used by caucus officials. As Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg led the field the result was delayed for three days. The party has changed to a an all mail-in voting system and voters will have until March 5 to make their choice. Instead, the Democratic Party has decided that South Carolina will now be the first state to vote in its contest. Audience members listen as Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a campaign event in Waukee, Iowa Casey DeSantis, wife of Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, at an event in Iowa Why is Iowa so important? The 40 delegates awarded by Iowa make up only 1.6 per cent of the total delegates that will be sent to the Republican National Convention by all the states to choose the presidential nominee. However, Iowa is viewed by candidates, donors, and political strategists as a testing ground because it gives the first actual result in the process. The winner gets momentum - what George H. W. Bush called the 'Big Mo' after he won Iowa in 1980. Donors who have been on the fence start giving money to the winner, while candidates who underperformed in Iowa come under pressure to drop out. A grain elevator towers over a home in Masonville, Iowa A lawn sign in Raymond, Iowa Does Iowa predict the winner? Iowa's reputation for predicting the ultimate occupant of the White House comes from the startling rise of little known Georgia governor Jimmy Carter, who unexpectedly won the caucuses in 1976. The winner of Iowa went on to triumph on many other occasions. However, particularly recently, the state's record is not very successful. Donald Trump lost Iowa to Ted Cruz in 2016 but went on to reach the White House. In 2008 former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee won Iowa, and in 2012 the victor was former senator Rick Santorum. Neither Huckabee nor Santorum went on to clinch the Republican nomination. A campaign sign supporting Republican presidential candidate businessman Vivek Ramaswamy sits in the front yard of a in Jesup, Iowa The campaign bus for Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is seen parked outside a campaign event in Marion, Iowa Can anyone beat Trump in Iowa? The polls suggest no but Iowa has produced many surprise results. An average of recent polls shows Trump on 51 per cent, ahead of Ron DeSantis on 19 per cent, and Nikki Haley on 16 percent. That has been the case for many weeks. Observers of Iowa note that the electorate can move behind a candidate at a very late stage. The amount of time a candidate has spent in the state meeting voters in person should also not be underestimated, and Trump has visited less than his rivals. DeSantis has completed the 'full Grassley,' named after the state's senator Chuck Grassley, which means visiting all its 99 counties. A lot also depends on how well a campaign gets its voters out to caucus sites. On a cold January night many people have other commitments, or a lack of childcare. However, Gentry Collins, a veteran Republican strategist who ran Mitt Romney's 2008 caucus campaign, said: 'For me, it looked like for a long time there was a narrow lane, but there was a lane, for a not-Trump candidate. 'But there isn't really a single alternative people can rally around.' Police officers in Scotland could be banned from using the terms sir or maam in a woke bid to avoid causing offence. The titles, which express polite deference, go back decades in force culture but top brass are considering replacing them with gender-neutral phrases. Chief Constable Jo Farrell and her predecessor Sir Iain Livingstone have both branded the force institutionally discriminatory. Now an internal consultation is inviting the rank-and-file officers to help root out bias. One idea put forward is to change how officers address each other, partly to accommodate the sensitivities of non-binary staff. We told last month how the force had denounced a gallery of photos of former chief constables as an example of misogyny and sexism because they were all male. The force has been branded institutionally discriminatory by both Chief Constable Jo Farrell and her predecessor Sir Iain Livingstone Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Russell Findlay said: It appears some people within Police Scotland are suffering a form of existential crisis, most likely aided and abetted by the odd priorities of SNP and Green Ministers. People across Scotland couldnt care less what officers call each other but they do care about the police being there when they call upon them. I suspect frontline officers will regard this as a complete waste of time and money. The polices Sex Equality and Tackling Misogyny Oversight Unit asked officers to suggest ways of ridding the force of discrimination. The most popular so far is a suggestion to take gender out of how we address each other. The proposer an officer calling themselves Buffy added: Can we treat everyone the same and remove labels? For example, in emails can we replace maam/sir with colleagues? Another officer, StevenP, wrote: This is directly exclusionary to non-binary people as it enforces a linguistic binary where officers are instructed to use sir or maam when addressing someone. These outdated language conventions are also part of rigid hierarchical deference. Drilling into people the need to, at a moments glance, choose sir or maam is also likely to result in other people being misgendered. David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said: Police Scotland should prioritise tackling everyday sexism, such as the problems still faced by female officers returning from maternity leave. Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said the force aimed to create an inclusive environment. A million older vehicles are set to be banned from Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee despite official data showing that pollution is already well within legal limits in the areas affected. Within months Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in the cities will be enforced by fines, with signs already erected in the capital. The moves will prohibit older cars and vans from city centres. However, Scottish Government air monitoring sites in all three locations show that nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the key pollutant cited by councils for introducing LEZs, has been comfortably below the legal threshold for at least three years. That has prompted business leaders to call for a pause and review of further crackdowns on motorists following a raft of SNP-Green measures which have hit footfall in Scotlands cities. In Edinburgh, the cash-strapped council has announced plans to spend a staggering 56 million on upgrading its own vehicles to become compliant while older cars face being banished from the city centre. Yet readings for two air quality checkpoints within the capitals upcoming LEZ, at Nicolson Street and St Leonards Street, show NO2 at around half the legal limit for each of the past four years on average. No go zone, Glasgow has banned polluting vehicles from the city centre Edinburghs zone will come into force in June Meanwhile, Aberdeen and Dundees city centre air monitoring posts have also been within legal limits since 2020. All three cities will enforce their LEZs in the summer with fines starting at 60. Scotlands first LEZ, in Glasgow, was introduced last year in a move which has seen large numbers of cars banned and hundreds of thousands of pounds in fines issued. LEZs have been criticised by businesses and commuters, while concerns have also been raised that they disproportionately affect the poorest in society who can least afford a new car. Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: The Scottish Governments own data shows pollutants within the legal limit at every monitoring spot in the proposed LEZs since at least 2020. Its difficult to see the justification for their introduction. The lesson from Glasgow is that it is easy to botch these schemes. They impose huge costs and inconvenience on motorists. If they go ahead with their introduction, Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh must not repeat those mistakes. Russell Borthwick, chief executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: We do not want to see any negative impact upon city centre businesses which suffered extraordinary pressures during the pandemic and its aftermath. People are already taking time to adjust to new bus gates around Union Street, which have significantly reduced traffic in the city centre. It would make sense to pause and review the impact of these measures first. Joanne Davidson, policy director at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: The council must understand the critical need to maintain an economically successful city centre, which allows businesses adequate access to goods and services, enables employees to travel quickly and cost-effectively to workplaces, and encourages customers. Russell Borthwick wants review of new LEZ in Aberdeen An LEZ which damages the economic viability of our successful city centre serves the interests of no one. As of November, there were 1,094,000 vehicles registered in Scotland which face being banned from LEZs, which generally see diesels from before 2015 and petrol cars from before 2006 outlawed. That includes more than 130,000 vehicles in each of the Aberdeen and Edinburgh areas and 56,000 in Dundee. Vehicles must meet emissions standards set by the SNP-Greens to drive within the zone, with exemptions for blue badge holders. The legal limit for NO2 is 40 microgrammes per cubic metre. Official air monitoring stations within Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundees LEZs show average readings of between 10 and 30 since 2020. Signs are already being installed on the boundary of Edinburghs zone with six months until enforcement begins. Councillor Scott Arthur, City of Edinburgh Councils transport and environment convener, said: Reducing the most polluting vehicles from the city will benefit everyone. Air pollution harms both our physical and mental health, so the LEZ will help to create a healthier place for everyone, reducing inequalities and making the city centre a more welcoming place. A spokesman for Aberdeen City Council said it was committed to improving air quality in the city centre, while a spokesman at Dundee City Council added: The citys LEZ was introduced to contribute to the council meeting its greenhouse emissions reductions targets, and help promote the city as an inclusive and desirable place to live, invest, visit and learn. A Transport Scotland spokesman said: LEZs are key to protecting public health by improving air quality and support Scotlands wider emission reduction ambitions. ...and fume levels have RISEN in SNPs first zone! The pollutant cited by Glasgow City Council as the main reason for introducing its LEZ actually rose in November compared with the period before the zone was brought in. Glasgow drivers face a 60 penalty Glasgows LEZ came into force in June yet levels of nitrogen dioxide in November rose at both monitoring stations in the zone compared with the same month in 2022. At Hope Street it was 43.7 microgrammes per cubic metre, compared with 41.8 last year, while at Townhead it was 26.5 compared with 20.9. The legal limit is 40. Experts said the main polluters are buses, calling into question the entire rationale for an LEZ banning cars and lorries. The SNP-run council has now billed taxpayers more than 400,000 to hire vehicles to replace those of its own which dont meet LEZ standards. Enforcement of the zone, Scotlands first, began in June, covering an area from the M8 motorway, south to the River Clyde and east to High Street. More than 25,000 drivers have been hit with 60 penalty charges a total of 1.5 million in fines. One business owner who has seen trade devastated by the LEZ has spoken out over its impact and is to appeal a court decision in favour of the zones. William Paton, who runs an accident repair centre in Townhead, is attempting to have it ruled unlawful. Appeal judges will reconsider the case in March. A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: The vast majority of vehicles driving into the zone already meet emission standards. The LEZ addresses the most polluting vehicles which disproportionately create harmful concentrations of air pollution. Vladimir Putin's police state has become so repressive that a popular joke from Soviet times has resurfaced and been repurposed for those Russians today who dare to acknowledge the truth about the autocratic regime they are living under. It tells the story of two FSB (successor of the KGB) agents who are having a beer after work. The first one, Ivan, says to his colleague, 'Tell me, Dmitry. What do you really think about Putin?' and Dmitry replies, 'The same as you do.' Ivan thinks for a moment and says: 'In that case, it is my duty to arrest you.' It makes us laugh because it reveals the malevolent absurdity of a system that demands ceaseless self-censorship and mental contortions. The reality, though, is far from funny, as schoolgirl Varya Galkina can testify after skipping a mandatory 'patriotism' class, then using a Ukrainian flag on her WhatsApp profile. Whether these were conscious acts of resistance and defiance is unclear, but the next thing she knew the police were on her doorstep to arrest her. She was just ten years old, but still considered such a threat that she had to be brought into line. Her mother Elena remembers the police arriving: 'Varya tried to run to me, but they wouldn't let her. One of them grabbed her and began to drag her to the car. The other twisted my arm. It was as if they were arresting criminals.' Varya was interrogated for several hours about what her mother had said to her about the 'Special Military Operation' the only officially sanctioned wording for the war Putin had launched against Ukraine. Elena was charged with the 'improper performance of parental duties' and 'politically influencing her children'. The whole family was ordered to undergo 're-education'. While Soviet-era jokes have resurfaced for those Russians able to acknowledge the nature of their country's current regime, the reality is far from funny While anti-war protests followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, opportunities for frank discussions about the conflict have been eliminated by Vladimir Putin Vladimir Putin, who has led Russia since 1999, has now it towards a militaristic isolationism reminiscent of North Korea Theirs was far from an isolated case. Opportunities for frank discussions about the conflict have been eliminated as Putin moves the country towards a militaristic isolationism reminiscent of North Korea. Parents have had their children taken into care and people travelling on trains or eating in restaurants have been arrested following tip-offs by strangers listening in on their conversations. Instances of neighbours informing on neighbours and acquaintances have soared. In the space of a year, more than 284,000 communications were registered with the authorities from citizens reporting infringements of new laws criminalising disrespect towards the army. Putin went on the offensive, going on television to accuse Russians who spoke against the war of betraying their homeland. 'The West will be counting on traitors in our midst in their attempt to destroy Russia. But the Russian people will always be able to distinguish true patriots from scum and will simply spit them out in a necessary self-detoxification of society.' The violence of his imagery was a disquieting echo of the Bolshevik past, when accusations of collusion with foreign powers led to the firing squad. From the start of the military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the official line from Moscow was that support for the war was solid. It was claimed that most Russians bought into the Kremlin's propaganda about Ukraine that it was run by Nazis, with the backing of a Russia-hating West, and that there was a need to eradicate Russia's enemies at home and abroad. Polling results supposedly testified to all of these things though polling in Putin's Russia comes with caveats. There is an obvious lack of alternatives, rival politicians are restricted (if not jailed) and the state's dominance of the media ensures that only one message is getting through. People also tend to respond to pollsters with what they assume the authorities want to hear. Where the security services enjoy great power, it may be unwise to mark oneself out by criticising the president. Much easier to praise Putin in order to be left in peace. Before the war, Russia was already a police state, whose million police officers had all but squeezed the breath out of civil society. War brought a further clampdown, when protesters trying to take to the streets were met with devastating force, bundled into vans at nearly every demonstration by heavily armoured men. By June 2023, a human rights organisation had registered nearly 20,000 detentions of Russians expressing anti-war views. Widespread phone-tracking and facial recognition technology rolled out during the Covid pandemic helped the security services identify protesters and track them down in their homes. Their treatment was calculatedly brutal. Three young women arrested in Moscow secretly recorded their interrogation on their mobile phones. A policeman can be heard beating them and threatening to kill them. 'You think we're going to get in trouble for this?' he shouts. 'Putin has told us to kill all of your type. So, that's it! We've got Putin on our side! They'll give me a bonus for doing it!' Vladimir Putin has gone on the offensive, going on television to accuse Russians who spoke against the war of betraying their homeland Before the war, Russia was already a police state, whose million police officers had all but squeezed the breath out of civil society. War has brought a further clampdown Despite being responsible for thousands of deaths in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin toasted the New Year with Russian soldiers that had returned from the frontlines Police officers who broke into the flat of a young poet named Artem Kamardin beat him and sodomised him with a dumbbell, while his girlfriend was forced to listen from the next room. His offence had been to read an anti-war poem on Moscow's Mayakovsky Square. The extreme violence deployed by the state forced many opposition activists to flee abroad. But those who stayed moved their activities underground. Rather than get arrested, activists adopted anonymous forms of resistance, including leaflets, stickers, graffiti and posters. Some risked displaying anti- war messages in public green ribbons were a tacit anti-war symbol and the numbers three and five were used to signify the number of letters in the Russian words for 'No to war', a sentence regarded as spreading 'false information' and punishable by five years of penal labour. Messages were left in library books or in randomly distributed letters containing information about the civilian casualties of the war. Social media platforms were commandeered, with official hashtags hijacked on Instagram and fake Tinder profiles created with accounts of war crimes. An inventive means of quiet protest involved mass pigeon feeding, which attracted curious passers-by. When asked what they were doing, the pigeon feeders would use the encounter to explain what was happening in Ukraine. According to Almut Rochowanski, a writer on civil rights, far from being cowed or passive, the Russian opposition's 'nationwide mobilisation and co-ordination effort is one of the most comprehensive, competent, courageous and resilient anywhere'. But they are up against a repressive state. The newspaper Novaya Gazeta's founder Dmitry Muratov had received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. In February 2022, his paper ran the headline, 'Russia is bombing Ukraine'. Six weeks later, he was attacked and doused in red paint by assailants subsequently identified as members of the security forces. The state censor Roskomnadzor acted to restrict access to alternative sources. Nearly 7,000 websites were blocked in the first six months of the war, including all independent media and human rights groups. Russians searching Yandex, the Russian version of Google, for information on what had happened in the Ukrainian town of Bucha (where hundreds of civilians were massacred by the invading Russian army) would be left with the impression that no one had been killed there at all during the whole of the occupation. False claims were made that victims of bombings, such as the women in the Kremenchuk maternity hospital, struck by Russian missiles, were hired actors, or that Ukraine had staged photographs of massacres (including Bucha), and that corpses seen lying on the ground were later spotted standing up. Russians who dared to tell the truth were punished to the full extent of laws hastily passed to curtail freedom of speech. Ilya Yashin, a Moscow city councillor, was prosecuted for spreading 'disinformation' by speaking about Russian soldiers killing civilians. He used his final speech in court to address Putin. 'You are at war not only with the Ukrainians but also with your own people. You send hundreds of thousands of Russians into a combat inferno and many will never come home. To you, this is just statistics, but for countless families it means the unbearable pain of losing husbands, fathers and sons. The erstwhile leader of the Russian opposition, activist Alexei Navalny, is now imprisoned in a penal colony high above the Arctic Circle The Russian opposition has tried to stage a nationwide mobilisation against the war. But they are up against a repressive state Many Russians have fled abroad to avoid being drafted and sent to fight in Ukraine 'Hundreds of thousands of Russians are leaving their home country because they don't want to kill or be killed. Those people are running from you, Mr President. I urge you to stop this madness.' To those Russians who oppose the war, he said: 'It is better to spend ten years behind bars as an honest man than to burn silently in shame for the blood being shed by your government. 'Don't give in to despair. This is our country. It is worth fighting for. Be courageous, don't give in to this evil, and resist. Defend your neighbourhood. Defend your city. And above all, defend one another! There are many more of us than it seems, and together we are a great force. Believe me: Russia will be happy and free.' He was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in a penal colony. Despite Yashin's plea, the vast majority of Russians have not 'resisted', turning a blind eye as they try to hang on to a sense of normality. Denial and avoidance are their mechanisms for coping with the fact that their country is responsible for mass death and destruction, war crimes and worse. When asked by a journalist whether or not Russia had attacked Ukraine, a man on the streets of Moscow replied: 'No. I mean yes', before resorting to a desperate, 'but we didn't do it first'. A history teacher packing his car to flee to Armenia pinpointed the dilemma. 'A lot of people realise there's something wrong with what's going on. 'They try to find some justification, so they repeat what they've heard on TV about the supposed threat from Nato. But you can tell that on an emotional level they're all having a really hard time. They won't look you in the eye.' Andrei Goryanov, a commentator with the BBC's Russian Service, wrote of the moral compromise that inaction implies. 'To keep the war from their door, Russians have to pretend this isn't an expansionist invasion, and must close their eyes to the Ukrainians who are killed in their thousands and driven from their homes in their millions. 'Russians must accept that it doesn't matter that they can no longer travel or be part of a broader world. That it's normal for soldiers to go into schools and tell their children war is a good thing. That a sledgehammer is now a positive symbol of Russian power in executions captured on camera. And that it's normal to go to jail for years for saying what you think about the war.' According to Kirill Martynov, the editor of the renamed Novaya Gazeta Europe, 'people seem to think that at some point Putin probably will win or the war will somehow be ended, and that, like a miracle, people will find themselves back in the Russia of before February 24. That is the most dangerous illusion.' Before he went to war, Putin had been losing popularity. The suffering during the Covid-19 pandemic, which revealed the crumbling state of the health system and the glaring shortcomings of his administration, turned many against him. His absence from public view, spending much of the lockdown at his Valdai residence, seeing visitors only after they had undergone periods of quarantine, punctuated by bizarre appearances at long tables to keep his distance from everyone else, was widely mocked and his image as a man of the people undermined. This left the nation torn between disenchantment with its leadership and unwillingness to be unpatriotic at a time of war. The discontent, though, is growing as his war in Ukraine increasingly has an economic and social impact at home. Conscription to the military has disproportionately targeted deprived regions, fuelling instances of resistance. In Siberia, recruitment centres were shot at or set on fire. In Dagestan, which contributed the highest number of troops per capita of population, tensions flared into violence. Veteran human rights campaigner Oleg Orlov and Dmitry Muratov, editor of the now banned Novaya Gazeta, have faced legal and physical attacks for their opposition stances The spectre of more young Russians being sent to the 'meat-grinder' of front-line combat has brought home the reality of a war that had previously seemed distant Conscription to the military has disproportionately targeted deprived regions, fuelling instances of resistance A demonstration against the Kremlin's expansion of military conscription in September 2022 resulted in angry scenes and more than 100 arrests. An official at a local recruitment office was secretly filmed berating reluctant combatants, 'You have to fight. For your fatherland. For the future!' to which one man is heard to reply, 'We don't even have a present, let alone a future. My grandfather fought for his country [in the Second World War]. That was a real war. This one is just politics.' Moscow refuses to provide casualty figures, but estimates for Russian fatalities in the first year of the war range as high as 70,000. Reports from the front of appalling conditions, shortages of equipment and disregard for the wellbeing of rank and file troops added to the sense of alarm. The spectre of more young Russians being sent to the 'meat-grinder' of front-line combat has brought home the reality of a war that had previously seemed distant, triggered a shift in attitudes and made the mothers of those mobilised a powerful voice for protest. The Committee of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia formed in 1989 to lobby for soldiers' rights after the disastrous Soviet war in Afghanistan said the army's treatment of its troops in Ukraine was worse than anything in the past. Never before had the military situation developed so quickly, so brutally and on such a large scale. The moral authority of mothers standing up for their children made their criticism hard to dismiss. Much of it was aimed personally at Putin. One group addressed an open letter to him, accusing mobilisation committees of issuing illegal military summonses and sending untrained youngsters to the front. When they complained to the local authorities, the mothers said they were met with threats and abuse. Putin's response was clever. He invited 17 of them to the presidential residence on Mother's Day to be comforted personally by the commander in chief. 'I and the entire leadership of the country share your pain,' he told a bereaved mother. 'We understand that nothing can replace the loss of a son but we all die and the real test is how we lived. His life was significant it had a purpose.' The reaction to his platitudes was remarkably positive. The women nodded in agreement; no one expressed unhappiness or anger about the war. The independent news organisation, Meduza, established the reason. Those attending had been vetted in advance for their loyalty to the Kremlin. Fourteen of the 17 were mothers of career soldiers who had signed up to fight. Only three were the mothers of conscripts. Tellingly, no representatives of critical NGOs were present. Olga Tsukanova, the founder of the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers, commented scathingly: 'Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin], are you a man or what? Do you have enough courage to look into our eyes openly, in a meeting with women who weren't hand-picked for you? Women who aren't in your pocket? Are you going to keep hiding from us?' She was subsequently detained on her way to deliver hundreds of complaints from mothers of serving soldiers and was later fined for 'abuse of the freedom of the media'. The Council of Mothers and Wives had its social media pages blocked. But Tsukanova was not deterred. 'Putin is afraid of women,' she said. 'The women's movement is the strongest driving force in Russia, because when a mother fights for her son, it's very, very hard to stop her.' Can the mothers of Russia be the ones to turn the tide? Only time will tell. The father of tragic Molly Russell has warned parents to beware of a popular AI chatbot website that 'mocks' teenagers who have depression and suicidal thoughts. Character.AI which has 20 million users and is on the brink of a major deal with Google allows users as young as 13 to interact with a range of chatbots, each with their own personality. But a Mail on Sunday investigation found these include dozens designed to dish out abusive, racist, sexist and homophobic responses to children. One was even called Alice The Bully. A reporter posing as a 15-year-old told one chatbot they felt depressed. It replied: 'Boo-hoo, cry me a river.' It continued to ridicule and goad them into revealing more. The reporter told another character they felt like harming themselves and the chatbot replied: 'Stop whining, schmuck. Why would you harm yourself when we can do it for you?' Last night, Ian Russell, whose 14-year-old daughter Molly took her own life after being bombarded with similar content online, described our findings as 'deeply concerning'. Molly Russell who took her own life in November 2017 after she had been viewing material on social media linked to anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide Ian Russell, who set up the Molly Rose Foundation, following the loss of his daughter, Molly Russell, in 2017, and has since been awarded an MBE for his services to child safety online Mr Russell, now an internet safety campaigner, said: 'This is an appalling example of AI-driven technology being rolled out to young people without even basic steps being taken to identify and mitigate risks to their safety and wellbeing. 'Teenagers are being encouraged to use AI chatbots to share details of their emotional distress or mental health, only to then have their suffering mocked.' Users spend an average of two hours a day with their favourite characters on the platform. Each chatbot is designed by users themselves and there are 18 million to choose from. On opening Character.AI, a box appears with a list of 'things to remember', including not to take the chatbots 'too seriously' and a warning that characters may 'mistakenly be offensive'. But a quick search reveals the website is littered with harmful characters. Among them was Abusive Boyfriend, described as 'rude, abusive, and even physical'. Another popular character is called Racist, with a description claiming 'he hates people of colour'. Alice The Bully was said to have notched up more than 110 million 'interactions' with users. When a reporter mentioned their mental health struggles to the character and asked if they should take their own life, the chatbot said it was laughing, adding: 'You are ridiculous.' The reporter told another chatbot called 'Bully girls group' that they were a 15-year-old suffering from depression. It replied: 'It doesn't matter how old you are. We'll still bully you, you little schmuck.' The rise of AI chatbots has raised concerns about the effect on vulnerable users (File photo) The NSPCC, which operates counselling service Childline, called for better safeguards to protect users from chatbots, adding: 'We cannot ignore the lessons from the past 20 years of online harms from social media.' A spokeswoman for Character.AI said the firm believed in 'providing a positive experience' for users. It admitted its technology 'isn't perfect yet' but said the chatbots weren't real, adding that fiction had always involved 'edgy storylines and villainous characters'. For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org Calls for more swimming space around Sydney Harbour are mounting, after it emerged there are a whopping 78 private pools 'rented' along the water's edge accessible only by residents living in exclusive properties compared to just 20 public baths. While in the state, marine structures including jetties and pontoons are considered Crown land, meaning they can be used by anyone, in Sydney Harbour different rules apply. Residents are in fact allowed to reserve slices of the ocean for exclusive use by occupants of the adjoining land. Almost 80 private pools dot Sydney's iconic harbour Though no official list of these private pools exists, real estate records show they can be found in the ritzy suburbs of Mosman, Elizabeth Bay, Darling Point, Seaforth, Vaucluse and Hunters Hill, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. There are 78 private harbour pools around Sydney, compared with just 20 public baths. Source: Google Maps These homes have swimming enclosures that range from large netted structures to smaller, sometimes historic sandstone structures. Minister calls for change The inconsistency between public and private swimming spaces around the harbour has prompted NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully to call for the disparity to be addressed. "We should be looking to address the current inequitable access to recreational water activities throughout Sydney and NSW both on the basis of geography and exclusivity," he told the Herald. According to Transport for NSW, "adjoining landowners to domestic swimming enclosures can use their pool exclusively" though owners must pay an annual fee for the space". The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal's (IPART) records show that rents range from $7000 per year in the harbour's eastern suburbs, to $2000 on the western side. These fees are calculated on a per square metre basis. Story continues A NSW minister has called for the disparity "in equity" to be addressed. Source: Google Earth via SMH Over the years there have been various plans to increase the amount of public harbour pools, with a 2021 proposal putting forward the idea of baths at Elizabeth Bay, Pyrmont, Glebe and Rozelle which had the backing of then cities minister Rob Stokes though poor water quality stood in the way. A netted swimming area has since opened in nearby Barangaroo and another in Concord along the Parramatta River, with talks now being had to install a "simple" public pool at Elizabeth Bay's Beare Park. Late last year, a new "beach" at Penrith, some 63km from nearest ocean, opened to residents of Western Sydney. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. The father was unable to to be revived The devastated mum of the father-of-six who drowned at a NSW beach trying to save his son, has urged families not to swim at unsupervised beaches. Father-of-six and Central Coast local Michael Sneddon was with his 10-year-old son Kody at Ettalong Beach, about 50metres offshore, when they reportedly got stuck in a rip at about 2.30pm on Saturday. Family members say Mr Sneddon attempted to keep his son above water before beachgoers got to the pair. However, Mr Sneddon was unable to be revived by Maritime Services and paramedics. Mr Sneddon's mum, Lilian Sneddon-Camilleri said her son was a 'caring father' and 'loved his son and his girls'. The shattered mum said she last spoke to Mr Sneddon on Friday to wish him a happy New Year, and was still in shock after hearing the news. Michael Sneddon (pictured) drowned at Ettalong Beach in New South Wales on Saturday A young boy was forced to watch on helplessly as his father drowned off the coast of a NSW Central Coast beach on Saturday 'Michael was a hero to me. He was always helping people and he was a good kid at school,' she said. Kody, 10, saw his dad go under and tried, along with a group of jet skiers, to help. One of them, who did not want to be identified described what happened. '(Mr Sneddon's) face was under water and the kid was on top of him, and then I just jumped in,' the man told 9News. 'Another guy grabbed the kid. I flipped the guy around, waved down the Maritime. 'Maritime came over, throw him on the boat and started CPR. Another guy started CPR. Mr Sneddon's death was the 42nd death in Australian waters already this summer. At this time last summer there were 38 deaths. In light of the tragic accident, Ms Sneddon-Camilleri urged families not to swim at unsupervised beaches such as Ettalong Beach. On Saturday, lifesavers from the nearby Ocean Beach and Umina Beach were deployed to Ettalong to help with the rescue which had been initiated by bystanders. 'He was a good son, and I loved him. I just want other parents to learn from this. Don't swim where there's no supervision, and have safety things, like life jackets, on you,' she said. 'I don't want other people to go through this.' Mr Sneddon's youngest brother, Antonio Sneddon said he was beloved by his large family, which included five siblings. A statement from the family thanked emergency services who rushed to the scene, and for the bystanders at the beach who saved Kody. 'He was a great brother, and for his mum and dad he was a great son. For his own children he was a great father,' it read. 'He is loved by his family and his business colleagues. 'The Sneddon family would like to say thank you to everyone who was first on the scene and thank you for saving Michael's son.' Antonio said the family would extend an invite to representatives from NSW Ambulance or LifeSaving NSW to attend his brother's funeral, for their help on the day. Witnesses at Ettalong Beach on Saturday said they originally thought it was a different type of emergency when they started hearing the screams out in the surf. Three men have died in waters (pictured) off the New South Wales Central Coast in 10 days 'They were screaming at us from the water I'm thinking there's a shark in the water,' one said. The father's death marks a solemn 10 days for The Central Coast region, after two men drowned on Christmas Day one at Umina Beach, and a man in his 80s at Copacabana beach. Surf Lifesaving NSW have confirmed a total of nine deaths along the coast this summer alone. CEO Steve Pearce said the incident was 'devastating news' for the man's family and the community at large following the two recent deaths. 'They need time to reflect on these events and grieve the loss of loved ones. We ask the media to give them privacy during this tragic time,' Mr Pearce said. Hundreds of local residents took to social media to share their condolences with the family and those involved with the rescue attempt. One witness said they thought there was a shark attack when they heard screaming from the beach. The aftermath of the tragedy is pictured NSW Surf Life Saving manager Oliver Munson said surf life savers were looking to reinforce the message of staying between the red and yellow flags to avoid any more of these 'tragic incidents' happening. 'The local Central Coast community is going to be really affected by these drownings, particularly those involved in the rescue and the resuscitation attempts,' Mr Munson said. 'It's really about emphasising the importance of making sure that you are going to one of these patrolled locations (and) staying safe between the flags whether you are paddling, swimming or bodyboarding. 'We are seeing all these fatalities and they are happening at non-patrolled locations or outside of patrolling hours.' Megyn Kelly has suggested the public will hear more about Jeffrey Epstein in the coming year including 'directly' from the deceased sex offender himself. The former Fox News host, 53, issued the cryptic message on her SiriusXM podcast, The Megyn Kelly Show on Thursday. 'I cant tell you how I know, but I can tell you for a fact were gonna hear a lot more about Jeffrey Epstein in the coming year, and you may even be hearing from him directly,' she said. 'More on that as Im allowed to tell you.' Her comments came after unsealed court records revealed more than 100 of Epstein's friends, acquaintances and business associates. The pedophile financier socialized with Wall Street titans, royalty and celebrities before pleading guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008. He took his own life in 2019, aged 66, while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Megyn Kelly has suggested the public will hear more about Jeffrey Epstein in the coming year including 'directly' from the deceased sex offender himself The pedophile financier socialized with Wall Street titans, royalty and celebrities before pleading guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008. He took his own life in 2019, aged 66, while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges 'It's all fascinating and we're not done with Jeffrey Epstein,' Kelly told her listeners. 'I can tell you that for a fact. I can't tell you how I know but I can tell you for a fact.' She added: 'More on that as Im allowed to tell you.' Her mysterious message has been viewed more than 1.3million times on TikTok with social media users eager to find out more. 'I just said the loudest WAIT WHAT out loud,' one user wrote. Another said: 'Ummm ma'am, do not leave us with that cliffhanger.' While a third added: 'I'm gonna bet its a video deposition with him answering questions or possibly blowing the whistle in who all was a client.' It comes after the third batch of Epstein documents were released on Friday and they included details of phone messages left for the late pedophile by Victoria Secret mogul Les Wexner's wife, Abigail, and the search terms lawyers used while combing through Ghislaine Maxwell's computers. Twenty-nine exhibits were uploaded on Friday in the latest tranche of papers. They were all filed and kept secret for years as part of Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell in 2015. Giuffre sued because Ghislaine had accused her publicly of lying about sleeping with Prince Andrew. The long-awaited 'list' has not yielded the type of allegations that many hoped for, aside from a previously unreported claim of an 'orgy' involving Prince Andrew. Instead, the documents reveal closer details of Epstein's inner circle and the extent of his closeness with high profile individuals like Bill Clinton. Among the newest files are details of how Virginia's team thought they could nail Maxwell and Epstein. The former Fox News host, 53, issued the cryptic message on her SiriusXM podcast, The Megyn Kelly Show on Thursday after unsealed court records revealed more than 100 of Epstein's friends, acquaintances and business associates In one of the files made public Friday, there is a note for Epstein that Abigail Wexner, the wife of Victoria's Secret magnate Les, had called to 'talk about something private' Abigail and Les Wexner in 2014. The pair married in 1993, by which point Epstein was a close friend of the Victoria's Secret mogul The attorneys were given permission to search Maxwell's computers and iCloud, finding anything that would prove Virginia's claims that the pair ran a sophisticated sex trafficking ring involving some of the world's most powerful. The terms they used included 'Andrew', 'Prince', 'Royal', 'Clinton', 'underage', 'pedophile', 'masturbate' and many of the victims' names. It is unclear, however, from the latest documents whether Ghislaine searched for any of these terms herself. There are also calls for Epstein, likely to his Palm Beach home, in June 2005, where Abigail Wexner's message appears. There is also reference to a request by Virginia that Bill Clinton should be compelled by the judge to give a deposition. The judge ruled against it, saying the 'relevance' of his testimony 'had not been established.' In the message left for Epstein in 2006, the assistant noted: 'Abigail Wexner wants to talk to you @ something private.' Wexner is the wife of Victoria's Secret mogul Les Wexner, who helped Epstein by throwing him financial business at the start of his ascent through New York society. Abigail married Les in 1993. An announcement of their marriage in The New York Times described how her father worked for El Al, Israel's national airline, which has been accused in the past of operating as a 'front' for Israeli intelligence agencies. By then, Les Wexner was already close friends with Epstein. The pair met in the early 80s and became so close, that Epstein was given the keys to the billionaire's Upper East Side mansion - where many of his crimes later took place. She has not yet commented on her association with him. After Epstein's 2009 conviction for soliciting child prostitution in Palm Beach, the Wexners distanced themselves. Two years before he was convicted, Epstein donated $47million to a charity founded by Wexner. It was the only donation. Representatives for the Wexners did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's inquiries on Friday. In the years that followed - and after Epstein's 2019 suicide - Les spoke of how he included himself among the victims. 'Being taken advantage of by someone who was so sick, so cunning, so depraved is something that Im embarrassed that I was even close to,' he said. He complained to others that Epstein 'misappropriated vast sums of money from me and my family'. Some of the search terms attorneys used while combing through Ghislaine's computers and iCloud account More of the tawdry terms that investigators used to search through Ghislaine's computers Epstein with Ghislaine Maxwell. Some of the depositions released Friday claim Ghislaine and Virginia would traul nightclubs looking for 'girls for Jeffrey' One of the messages left for the pedophile by unnamed female reads 'she is wondering if 2:30 is OK cuz she needs to stay in school' Virginia Giuffre wanted Bill Clinton to be deposed as part of her lawsuit. The judge ruled against it In other filings from Friday's document dump there is yet more legal back and forth between Ghislaine and Virginia's attorneys. In one, Virginia complained about being asked to expand on the list of 'high profile' people to whom she said she had been trafficked. That list includes 'politicians' and a 'well-known Prime Minister', though that person is not named. The only person named to date who matches that description is former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who has historically denied the allegations. The first two dumps of documents revealed more details about Epstein's friendships with Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton. The first two dumps of documents revealed more details about Epstein's friendships with Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton. This country has many transport problems, from unfilled potholes and unsafe smart motorways to the never-to-be-finished HS2 railway line. There is hardly an aspect of our transport network which does not need serious attention and reform. So what was the question to which e-scooters and e-bikes were the answer? When they first appeared on our streets a few years ago, it was not clear what problem they were intended to solve except the difficulties of people too lazy to use their own legs, or too impatient to wait for a bus. The mere fact they were electric seemed to give them a free pass, as if their batteries did not need to be charged from the mains. Like all battery-powered vehicles, they are only as green as the power stations they rely on. Yet the then Transport Minister, Grant Shapps, appears to have swallowed the claims of their operators that they would be good for the planet and persuade people out of their cars. Road safety campaigners have now called on the Government to 'urgently' bring forward legislation to crackdown on 'wild west misuse' of the vehicles by strengthening device standards, limiting speed, and improving user safety (stock photo) It is hard to imagine anyone abandoning a weatherproof, well-protected car for one of these machines, bouncing about in heavy rain among the potholes. But Mr Shapps and his Ministry seem to have done and if there was any serious opposition in Parliament, it is hard to locate. The key fact about e-scooters and e-bikes is that they created a new category in British road traffic law: powered vehicles, capable of considerable speed, which do not carry number plates and whose riders, in reality, do not need to hold a licence to use them. Technically, licences are required for rented e-scooters in local schemes permitted by the Government. But the police have struggled to enforce this rule because of the large number of unlicensed scooters, sold quite legally for private off-road use. These are officially banned on public roads, but are ridden all over them, and on pavements too. Limiters, supposed to keep them to a reasonable speed, can also be easily bypassed. We simply do not have the kind of police force to enforce the rules, and wrongdoers know it. Now, a predictable development has made the problem even worse. As we report today on page 11, more than 20,000 crimes and traffic offences involving e-scooters have been recorded by police forces over the last three years, after a national e-scooter experiment began in June 2020. They include drug trafficking, sex offences and hundreds of thefts and robberies. E-scooters have also been linked with shoplifting assaults and with suspects using them to escape arrest. Fast, silent, manoeuvrable, mostly unregistered, they are a petty criminals dream if he wants to make a quick getaway. Meanwhile, in another development that will surprise nobody, pedestrians have been run down by people using them illegally on pavements. Many of these incidents go unrecorded by the authorities, but the victims are seriously distressed. (The separate but similar problem with e-bikes, a whole new hazard for pedestrians with their combination of silence and speed, is also happening beneath official radar. But it still exists.) If we treated the whole of the last three-and-a-half years as an experiment, would any independent body conclude that the introduction of these vehicles had done more harm than good? The people of Paris do not think so. The French capital recently banned rented e-scooters after a referendum. The current Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, should take a cold, hard look at the issue. It is not too late to undo what is beginning to look very much like a mistake. A leading Voice campaigner has demanded the Indigenous representative body be created through a vote in parliament after Aussies rejected the referendum. Thomas Mayo, who was one of the most prominent Yes campaigners, said without a Voice to Parliament there would not be substantial progress in Indigenous welfare. He is pushing for Labor and the Coalition to create a Voice body through legislation, instead of inserting it into the constitution. That would negate the need to poll Australians and flies in the face of the Yes campaigners' argument that a legislated Voice would be too easy to silence. 'Something needs to be legislated regardless of whether it is in the constitution or not,' Mr Mayo told The Daily Telegraph. 'We're at a low point now because there is no representative body that can work with the parliament with some authority and process to be bringing solutions from the grassroots.' Mr Mayo accused the Opposition of playing politics with Indigenous affairs and urged them to offer their bipartisanship support for a legislated Voice. His plea comes despite the Yes campaigner previously claiming a representative body for Indigenous Australians would not be effective if brought in by an Act of Parliament. Leading advocate for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament Thomas Mayo has called for the body to be legislated into being The Voice was sensationally shot down with more than 60 per cent of the country voting against the referendum on October 14 'It was easy for a hostile federal government to silence ATSIC (the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission) because it was merely an Act of Parliament. Constitutional enshrinement of a Voice is different. It can only be achieved by way of a referendum, not by an Act of Parliament,' he wrote for Junkee in July. 'A successful referendum will make it a permanent and politically strong voice because of the support from the Australian people.' Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Mayo for comment. READ MORE: Voice advocate launches scathing attack against 'lazy' Aussies who voted No in the referendum Advertisement Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said a number of times he would not legislate the body into existence if it was defeated at the referendum. The Voice was sensationally shot down with more than 60 per cent of the country voting against the referendum on October 14. 'If Australians vote No, I don't believe it would be appropriate to then go and say "oh well, you've had your say but we're going to legislate anyway",' Mr Albanese said in the week leading up to the poll. 'What we will do is respect the outcome of the referendum.' Mr Mayo has repeatedly blamed the Coalition's opposition under Peter Dutton for the Voice's defeat. 'Because of the political opportunism of Peter Dutton's Coalition, in 2023 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people felt like we were on trial, suspects of the crimes against us,' Mr Mayo wrote last last year in The Saturday Paper. 'Here we were, following a history of genocide, dispossession, ignorance and exclusion, with the gap widening because of the policy failures and harmful acts of parliament, mostly under the Coalition, in a country we had civilised for tens of thousands of years, suddenly expected to answer for all these wrongs as if we were the perpetrators ourselves.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured centre) said a number of times he would not legislate the Voice into being if it was defeated at the referendum Despite the lack of a Voice Mr Mayo, who is a leading trade unionist, said things had been improving for Indigenous Australians under the Albanese government citing more kidney specialists in the Northern Territory and better housing. 'I think in practice, on the ground things have improved under Labor,' he said. 'Labor is more genuine about making progress. The Coalition had almost 10 years in power and in that time things went backwards. They had ample time to make progress on Closing the Gap but failed to do so.' In last year's annual Closing the Gap report The Productivity Commission found deterioration in areas such as Indigenous early childhood development with increases in prison numbers, children in out-of-home care and suicides. However, the Commission noted progress had been made in education and training housing, employment and keeping young people out of detention. It said the Northern Territory, Victoria and South Australia were the jurisdictions that particularly needed to pick up their game. Late last year Opposition Minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of going 'missing in action' on Aboriginal issues since the defeat of the Voice on October 14. 'Where has he been on any of these issues, he had to be shamed into coming to Alice Springs in February and he hasn't been back,' Senator Price said. Opposition Minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of going 'missing in action' on Aboriginal issues She said from her understanding the Prime Minister had not even fronted a single press conference about Aboriginal issues since October 22, a claim which appears to be backed up by official government transcripts. 'Where are you, Albo?' she said. Senator Price said there were pressing issues affecting remote communities. She said despite a hefty $250million in funding announced to tackle anti-social behaviour and youth crime in her hometown of Alice Springs 'nothing much had changed on the ground'. She recalled a friend telling her that she was patrolling the town for her job in security when her vehicle was rammed by a group of youths in a stolen car. They then ended up chasing her, and as a result she needed treatment in hospital. She said the area is still experiencing a crime wave but Mr Albanese had not visited since early this year, despite travelling to nearby Uluru in the days leading up to the referendum. Boeing asked the Federal Aviation Administration to exempt the latest variant of its killer 737 Max plane from safety inspections despite the risk of engine malfunction. FAA officials said that Boeing was working to fix the hazard which could cause the engine housing from overheating and breaking off during flight, the Associated Press reported. In the meantime, federal officials told pilots flying the 737 Max 7, which is not yet used by airlines, to limit use of an anti-icing system in some conditions to avoid damage that 'could result in loss of control of the airplane.' The 737 Max 7 is the smallest jet in the Max family and will seat up to 138 people. Boeing requested an exemption from the safety standards inspections, which would check the engine inlets and the anti-ice system, until March 2026 so that it can roll the model out to airlines for commercial use. Boeing's request came just weeks before one of its larger model 737 Max 9 jets was forced to make an emergency landing after a dramatic mid-air fuselage blow out. Boeing asked the FAA to exempt its new model 737 Max 7 jet (pictured) from safety inspections Alaska flight 1282, a Boeing 737-9 MAX was carrying 171 passengers and six crew Alaska flight 1282, a Boeing 737-9 MAX bound for Ontario in California, left Portland just after 5pm local time on Friday when a deactivated emergency door used as a regular cabin window blew out at 16,000 feet. The controversial jet was carrying 171 passengers and six crew. Its catastrophic failure depressurized the cabin, with the force of the air rushing in ripping the shirt off a young boy, whose mom was seen holding onto him. Passengers also watched as their phones were sucked out into the night sky. Miraculously, no injuries were reported on the plane, which had only gone into service in November 2023. The FAA have now grounded at least 170 of Boeing 737 Max 9 jets in order to carry out immediate safety inspections. The FAA is set to inspect the plane's 'mid cabin door plug' the New York Times reported. This plug was implemented into the design of some of the planes that do not need to utilize all the emergency exists due to having fewer seats than the original design. Alaska Airlines also pulled the planes from the sky with CEO Ben Minicucci announcing that the planes will only go back into its fleet after clearing precautionary maintenance procedures, which he expected to be 'in the next few days.' The airline confirmed in a statement on Saturday afternoon that it had started inspecting the door plugs and had already cleared 18 of its 65 Max 9s to return to service. Federal officials told pilots flying the 737 Max 7, which is not yet used by airlines, to limit use of an anti-icing system in some conditions. Boeing 737 9, 8 and 7 planes are pictured in this rendering shared by the aviation company Miraculously, no injuries were reported on the plane, which had only gone into service in November 2023 A photo shows the blown out window. It is offered as a door on the aircraft. Alaska chose not to take this option - although the frame of the prospective door was entirely ripped out by the fuselage failure Boeing unveiled their 737 Max 9 in 2015, and since its Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) approval in 2017 has become one of the most widely used aircraft in the world. But it has a deeply troubled reputation and plunged Boeing into the greatest crisis in the Chicago-headquartered firm's history. A year after going into service the plane it had its first crash: in October 2018 a 737 Max operated by Indonesian airline Lion Air crashed shortly after take off, killing all 189 on board. Five months later, in March 2019, a second 737 Max - this one operated by Ethiopian Airlines - crashed again shortly after take off, killing all 157 on board. Three days later the planes were grounded by the FAA. It later emerged that Boeing staff, in internal messages, were cavalier about FAA regulations and critical of the Max's design - in particular a computer system blamed for both deadly crashes. One said it the aircraft was 'designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys.' The 737 design dates back to the 1960s and Boeing was criticized for adding large engines to an old airframe instead of using a 'clean sheet design'. Faults were discovered in the aircraft's MCAS, or Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System: the MCAS was found in both the Lion Air and Ethiopian Air crashes to have erroneously pointed the nose down towards the ground, and the pilots were unable to override it. Wreckage of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-MAX plane is seen on March 11, 2019 A Lion Air Boeing 737-MAX crashed in Badung Bali in 2013 after it overshot the runway at Bali Ngurah Rai Airport The FAA were heavily criticized for giving Boeing too much free reign to do its own safety checks, rather than submitting to more rigorous external inspections. In 2021, Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion in fines in a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Justice Department to settle charges the company hid critical information about the Max from regulators and the public. Boeing spent billions overhauling the systems and the planes returned to global skies in the fall of 2020, after being grounded for 20 months the longest such action in aviation history. A Connecticut council member faces calls to resign after calling a pro-Palestinian protester a Hamas terrorist and allegedly flipping him off, before referring to her town's cops as 'piglets'. Bridgeport City Council urged City Council member Maria Pereira to resign on Thursday, following the offensive email to city officials. This occurred a day after the council endorsed a non-binding resolution supporting a Gaza ceasefire on Tuesday. In the email, Pereira - who was arrested back in November for an incident at a polling station and has been accused of harassment in the past - alleged that a person supporting the ceasefire, present at the council meeting, might be a Hamas terrorist. 'A Palestinian young man, possibly a Hamas terrorist, repeatedly yelled out my name and was waving some propaganda poster at me,' Pereira said. 'I just stuck up my middle finger at him.' 'They were nothing more than Palestinian thugs,' she said in the email. Connecticut council member Maria Pereira faces calls to resign after calling a pro-Palestinian protester a Hamas terrorist and allegedly flipping him off, before referring to her town's cops as 'piglets' In the email, Pereira - who was arrested back in November for an incident at a polling station and has been accused of harassment in the past - alleged that a person supporting the ceasefire, present at the council meeting, might be a Hamas terrorist On Thursday, a group of council members along with religious leaders and Sen. Herron Gaston (pictured) gathered in front of the police department to hold a press conference emphasizing their calls for Councilwoman Maria Pereira to step down On Thursday, a group of council members along with religious leaders and Sen. Herron Gaston, gathered in front of the police department to hold a press conference emphasizing their calls for Councilwoman Maria Pereira to step down. Pereira was one of the two council members opposing the ceasefire resolution, but nonetheless it passed with a 14-2 vote. In her email, she also insulted fellow council members, Mayor Joe Ganim, and Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter. Pereira referred to Porter as a pig and labeled Bridgeport police officers as 'piglets' in the email. Chief Porter responded, calling the remarks 'unfortunate.' 'It is very unfortunate to hear that statement,' Porter said. 'As Chief of Police, I support the dedication and hard work our officers bring to the Bridgeport Community every single day.' Khaled Elleithy, president of the Bridgeport Islamic Community Center, condemned Pereira's comments, stating, 'While our religious leaders from the three large religions call for peace, an elected official chose to disrupt peace in our city of Bridgeport.' 'It is unacceptable that a local elected leader uses such language that is harmful and divisive, all at the same time, especially within our chamber - an action that was disrespectful to the public itself,' said City Council President Aidee Nieves at the press conference. However, one council member, Jorge Cruz, defended his colleague, expressing his belief that the punishment of resignation is excessive. Addressing the calls for her resignation, she told NJ News 12 that she is planning to sue for defamation Pereira was one of the two council members opposing the ceasefire resolution, but nonetheless it passed with a 14-2 vote 'I agree that she should be punished, absolutely, but I do not agree that she should resign [because] she was voted in by the people in her district,' said Cruz. When contacted by Connecticut Public for comment on Thursday, Pereira responded with 'LOL!' Addressing the calls for her resignation, she told NJ News 12 that she is planning to sue for defamation. Pereira had been arrested last November during the city's first primary election over an incident at a polling station. She was charged with third-degree assault and was arrested outside John F. Kennedy School. The primary results, barely won by Ganim with absentee ballots, were nullified in October after a superior court judge found evidence of electoral misconduct by Ganim campaign volunteers. Back in 2016, Interim Schools Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz came after Board of Education member Pereira before leaving her term. She filed a complaint with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, accusing Pereira of a constant pattern of harassment and discrimination. Back in 2016, Interim Schools Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz came after Board of Education member Pereira before leaving her term She filed a complaint with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, accusing Pereira of a constant pattern of harassment and discrimination Three other district employees High Horizons Principal Francine B. Carbone, Parent Center Coordinator Lisa Pavlik-Kuhn and Delores Mason joined the complaint against Pereira. Pereira then failed on a 5-4 vote to get the complaints discussed publicly. 'I went everywhere I could for help, but could not get it,' Rabinowitz said about the case in 2016. 'It got to me. I never have been in a situation where I couldn't get help.' Prior to that incident, Rabinowitz attempted to bar Pereira from entering city schools and central office, claiming she had threatened staff, causing them intimidation and fear. 'Numerous employees have come to me shaken, distraught and in tears following interactions with you,' Rabinowitz wrote in an October letter to Pereira. In particular, she said, Pereira repeatedly threatened to discipline and terminate district employees. Tom Watson has called on all men in their fifties to get tested for prostate cancer after revealing 'the fear of imminent death was overwhelming' as he battled with the disease. The former Labour deputy leader, 57, revealed yesterday he was diagnosed with the illness last June and was immediately forced to 'grapple with fears of dying'. Making the shocking revelation in an email newsletter on the eve of his birthday, Lord Watson revealed how 'the night I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, my world seemed to tilt'. 'That word 'cancer' it truly did me in,' he added. 'I grappled with fears of dying, sexual dysfunction, and even the prospect of wearing nappies before turning 60. My life took a turn; I grew closer to my children and rewrote my will.' The Labour big beast said thankfully his treatment had been successful and scans in November showed no trace of cancer but issued a stark warning to men of a similar age. Last night, former Labour deputy leader Lord Tom Watson (pictured at the 2019 Labour party conference) revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in June Lord Watson (pictured after being made deputy leader in 2015) has now been given the all-clear following a successful treatment programme The peer said the 'worst of it' was the month-long 'waiting period' before he knew how aggressive his cancer was. He said: 'Knowing I had prostate cancer but not its aggressiveness was a month-long ordeal. Despite knowing the low risk, the fear of imminent death was overwhelming. ' The father-of-two called for their to be a boost in public health campaigns for lower-risk cancers and educating the difference between no-risk and low-risk disease. Lord Watson had no symptoms and was only given his diagnosis after his GP carried out an annual PSA test. He is now warning all middle-aged men to take the regular blood test to avoid the same terrifying ordeal he was forced to go through. Lord Watson, a former trade unionist, was elected to Parliament in 2001 as MP for West Bromwich East and served as a Government minister under both Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. The Sheffield-born politician, known as an ally of Mr Brown, was among a slew of junior ministers to quit in 2006 as they attempted to put pressure on Sir Tony to name a date for his resignation as PM and Labour leader. After Labour lost power at the 2010 general election, Lord Watson went on to serve as the party's campaign chief but resigned the role in 2013 after becoming embroiled in a row over the role of the Unite union in candidate selection in Falkirk. Lord Watson once shared a south London flat with ex-Unite general secretary Len McCluskey and the pair were at one time close political allies. Lord Watson pictured at Glastonbury in 2019 (left) and in 2017 (right). The Labour politician previously revealed how he lost seven stone after going on the Keto diet During his time on the Commons back benches, Lord Watson became known for his campaigning on the phone-hacking scandal and claims that a paedophile network existed in Westminster in the past. His peerage in 2022 sparked protests over his role in supporting Carl Beech, who turned out to be a fantasist peddling false claims of a VIP paedophile ring, which allegedly included Lord Brittan. In his Lords maiden speech, Lord Watson apologised 'unreservedly' to Lord Brittan's widow. Lord Watson served as Labour deputy leader between 2015 and 2019 after being elected to the position by party members. His time in the role was marked by deep tensions with then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Lord Watson, a regular attendee at Glastonbury Festival, has previously revealed how he reversed his Type 2 diabetes and lost seven stone after going on the Keto diet - which involved putting butter in his coffee. He said he went on the drastic weight loss regime after his weight soared to 22-stone. More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on average in the UK, making it the most common cancer in men. Around 12,000 men die every year from the disease the equivalent of one every 45 minutes. Lord Watson told the Mirror: 'The non-aggressive cancer was only discovered because my brilliant GP insisted I take an annual PSA (Prostate-specific Antigen) test. Every man over 50 is entitled to one and I urge them to do so.' Throughout his email, titled 'Staring in the eyes of death', Lord Watson spoke of how his diagnosis had led him to become 'frazzled' and lose focus, interrupting the fitness regime he had been working on hard on. Many are said to be moved by art - but in the case of one brightly coloured painting of the late Queen Elizabeth, it's the artwork itself that has been doing the moving. For the unique portrait of the late monarch by Damien Hirst is one of the most highly prized pieces in the Government Art Collection (GAC) and has found a new home no less than five times over the last five years as ministers battle to gain possession, The Telegraph reveals. Turner Prize winner Hirst donated Beautiful Portrait, The Queen, which is based on a photograph of the monarch, to the Government in 2015. It was never shown to the public until the pandemic, when it made its debut behind then Health Secretary Matt Hancock in his Whitehall office as he briefed the nation on the latest Covid-19 news over Zoom. The eye-catching portrait of the Queen in a 'street art style' is one of many of Hirst's 'spin paintings.' Beautiful Portrait, The Queen, was never shown to the public until the pandemic, when it made its debut behind then Health Secretary Matt Hancock in his Whitehall office as he briefed the nation on the latest Covid-19 news over Zoom The contemporary artist previously said the series of psychedelic compositions reminded him of his youth in the 1960s, describing them as 'childish in the positive sense of the word.' Hirst had a special machine in his Berlin studio which helped him create the 'spin art' - which became integral to his work by the mid 1990s. The painting started off its parliamentary career in 2015 with Ed Vaizey, the then arts minister, who sources say fought hard against his more senior boss, Sir John Whittingdale, to obtain the artwork. When he was sacked by Theresa May in July 2016, it was Matt Hancock as the new minister of state for digital and culture that would get to admire the work after inheriting his predecessor's office. In June 2021, Oliver Dowden, the then Culture Secretary, made arrangements for the portrait to return to his department He continued to enjoy the painting when he was promoted to health secretary in July 2018, moving it with him from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to his office at the Department of Health. But following revelations he had breached Covid guidance and subsequent resignation in June 2021, Hancock had to wave goodbye to his Government position - and the distinctive blue and pink painting. Oliver Dowden, the then Culture Secretary, made arrangements for the portrait to return to the DCMS. Within days, Dowden tweeted a photograph of himself on the phone, with the blue and pink piece proudly hanging in the background. He took it with him to the Cabinet Office when he was appointed as party chairman in September 2021, but just a year later Liz Truss came to power and Dowden was on the backbenches. In September 2022, the then Culture Secretary Michele Donelan returned the painting to her office and took it with her in February 2023 to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, where it remains today The portrait was packed up once more and returned again to the DCMS, now under the watchful guise of new Culture Secretary Michele Donelan. When in February 2023 she was appointed to run the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Donelan did as her predecessor had done - and moved the artwork with her where it remains today. The painting is but just one artwork within the GAC collection, which is displayed in UK Government buildings across the UK and the world. The collection is said to be designed to promote British art and aid cultural diplomacy. The vast collection of works began being compiled in 1898 and now boasts over 13,500 pieces dating from the 16th century to the present day. They are mainly works by British artists in a broad range of media. It was claimed that children were being sent to Hamas training camps Palestinian children are being sent to Hamas terror training camps where they learn to hold rifles, fire weapons and navigate its vast underground tunnel network, it was claimed last night. Israel's military released photographs of children in Gaza holding machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. In a video, youngsters were led through a tunnel guarded by masked Hamas gunmen. Many of the faces were blurred but some appeared to be as young as ten. According to an Israel security official, the materials were found in a military operation inside Gaza in raids of schools and homes. Israel claims that children in Gaza are indoctrinated from a young age to hate Israel and Jewish people and are sent to summer camps and youth organisations where they undergo training for Hamas, including on how to kidnap soldiers. Israel said a 'significant number' of minors are active in Hamas and Islamic Jihad. In a video released by the Israeli military, youngsters were led through a tunnel guarded by masked Hamas gunmen In an image released by the Israeli military, a child was shown holding an assault rifle Israel also accuses Hamas of using schools and playgrounds to stash weapons. Its military says it found children's backpacks and dolls filled with explosives to target Israeli soldiers 'Hamas is a terror organisation that does not value human life at all,' Moshe Aviv, head of Israel's National Public Diplomacy Directorate, told The Mail on Sunday. 'This is what led to their criminal and murderous behaviour on October 7.' More than 1,200 Israelis were killed in Hamas's October 7 attacks, with 240 taken hostage. Mr Aviv added: 'All of this fundamentally stems from the terror education they are given from a young age, from infancy, where they are taught to hate Jews, which leads to terrorism and mass murder.' He accused Hamas of using women, children and the elderly as 'human shields', and said it hid its 'terrorist infrastructure inside and underneath homes, hospitals, mosques, schools and other civilian sites, deliberately putting the Palestinian population at risk'. Israel also accuses Hamas of using schools and playgrounds to stash weapons. Its military says it found children's backpacks and dolls filled with explosives to target Israeli soldiers. Mr Aviv said: 'The state of Israel will eliminate the rule of Hamas and its military capabilities, return the hostages and ensure that there is no security threat from Gaza to Israel. It will also make sure that whoever is in charge of Gaza educates its citizens without hatred for Jews or anyone else in the world. 'Gazan youth and the entire society need to start the deradicalisation process so that they can enjoy a normal, peaceful life without being encouraged to be martyrs.' Disgraced socialite Ghislaine Maxwell complained that her friends were 'apoplectic' after Prince Andrew was first accused of having sex with a 17-year-old girl. Newly released legal documents reveal Maxwell's panicked email to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein after explosive claims emerged in January 2015 that Virginia Giuffre was forced to have sex with the Duke on three occasions, including in Maxwell's townhouse in Belgravia. Days later, Epstein's address and phone books containing more than 1,700 names and numbers, including some of the world's most powerful figures were leaked online. 'My friends are apoplectic,' Maxwell wrote in an email to Epstein on January 23, 2015. 'Do you know what Edwards [Ms Giuffre's lawyer Brad Edwards] et al want from all this s***? What are they looking for? What is the end game?' Earlier that month, bombshell court papers were filed that said that a woman, named only as 'Jane Doe 3', was told to give Prince Andrew 'whatever he demanded'. While Ms Giuffre was not initially named, she is believed to be Jane Doe 3. 'My friends are apoplectic,' Maxwell wrote in an email to Epstein on January 23, 2015. 'Do you know what Edwards [Ms Giuffre's lawyer Brad Edwards] et al want from all this s***? What are they looking for? What is the end game?' (File Photo) The Duke of York, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell Prince Andrew then issued a statement to The Mail on Sunday that 'emphatically denied that the Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts [as Ms Giuffre was known before her marriage]'. The files released yesterday reveal how this turn of events heaped pressure on Maxwell to also break her silence. In a series of emails, Maxwell's lawyer Philip Barden urged her to 'shout your innocence' and that 'saying nothing is reputational suicide'. He warned her to distance herself from Epstein, who he said was 'already toast'. 'I will speak to Jeffrey Epstein's lawyers but JE has a conflict with you and will want your silence as whilst you are being attacked there is less heat on him.' Picture of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein with his arm around Ghislaine Maxwell, that was recovered along with many other photos during an FBI raid at Epstein's New York Upper East Side mansion in 2019 The emails show that despite this advice Maxwell remained in contact with Epstein, who sent her a draft press statement in which he suggested that she declare that she had 'never been a party in any criminal action pertaining to JE'. The paedophile also suggested that Maxwell complain that she was the target of 'outright lies' and 'salacious gossip' and to publicly question Ms Giuffre's credibility. Epstein assured his ex-lover that 'this will now end' and urged her to get on the front foot. 'You have done nothing wrong and I would urge you to start acting like it. Go outside, head high, not as an escaping convict. Go to parties. Deal with it.' An Aussie wildlife page has reminded the public to stay alert after seeing a "considerable" number of cases of a highly contagious disease that affects and kills native bird species. Psittacine Beak and feather disease (PBFD) is commonly found in parrots, like cockatoos and lorikeets, but can also infect other species of birds. It weakens the immune system, ultimately causing death which could have a "severe" impact on threatened and critically endangered species. "We've got a few threatened and endangered species of parrots now [and] the last thing we want is for [it] to kill chicks or parents that are threatened," WIRES Vet, Dr Tania Bishop told Yahoo News Australia. After seeing more cases of the disease, 'Wild Animals Australia', a Facebook page run by Aussie wildlife rescuers, has urged people to seek expert help if they see a bird showing signs of infection. "Should you see a cockatoo like this one in the wild then we ask you call your local wildlife group for assistance," they pleaded alongside an image of an almost featherless cockatoo. Psittacine Beak and feather disease (PBFD) is a highly contagious bird disease. Source: Simon Buttenshaw/WIRES/Getty What is Psittacine beak and feather disease? PBFD is the most common and highly infectious viral disease among parrots, though variants are now found in other species. The disease causes long-term immunological suppression and feather and beak abnormalities. It can be spread by food sharing through the birds crop, fresh or dried excrement and feather and skin particles and appears to have originated in Australia. Cockatoos are susceptible to the disease for the first 6 months of their life, whereas other parrots have a "smaller window of susceptibility" of about 6 weeks, Bishop explains. Symptoms of infection include: Cockatoos' beaks will become shiny at first, instead of matte, as they lose their "powder down". They will then begin to appear dirty and unkempt before their beak eventually overgrows and they lose their feathers. Other birds also can appear unkempt before they lose their flight and tail feathers and are unable to fly. Story continues If you find a bird that appears to have symptoms of PBFD please do not attempt to keep it, instead call your local wildlife rescuer. Feeding wild birds remains a contentious issue Some experts say feeding birds enhances the spread of the disease, though some disagree it has been an ongoing debate resulting in bird lovers online arguing over whether to feed or not to feed. In 2022, Wildlife Victoria called for the public to stop feeding birds to prevent the transmission of PBFD, something Bishop also recommended on Friday. Despite these concerns, Charles Sturt University avian disease expert Professor Shane Raidal previously told Yahoo he isnt convinced feeding birds is significant in aiding the spread of PBFD. "Feeding stations may slightly increase the risk of transmission, but the reality is that it would have an absolute negligible effect on the ecology in the wild," he said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. At least a dozen Perth councils have moved the date of their Australia Day citizenship ceremonies as divisions continue to grow around the national holiday. Those councils deciding to hold the ceremony on a later date include Mosman Park, Cambridge and Fremantle in the city's west, Rockingham and Wanneroo in the south and north respectively and Victoria Park, southeast of the CBD. The moves from the councils comes after the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code was updated to allow for councils to celebrate the holiday three days prior to or after January 26. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's made the decision to pass on the choice to council when they host the ceremony. Over a dozen Perth council's have decided to move citizenship ceremonies (pictured) from January 26 and in turn have downgraded or outright cancelled celebrations on the day More than 80 across the country have already ditched the date. January 26 continues to be a divisive issue with 'Invasion Day' rallies growing bigger as they are attended by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Fremantle was among one of the first council's to get rid of January 26 as Australia Day, instead choosing to celebrate 'One Day' on January 28 since 2016. One Day events have grown since the single smoking ceremony at Bathers Beach and now adds in other Indigenous cultural activities and a concert at Esplanade Reserve. This year's One Day celebrations will also include a new program of Truth Telling, which will 'include the three pillars of Voice, Treaty and Truth'. The event 'ignited debate around the country' regarding celebrations on January 26, according to Fremantle mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge. 'Many local governments and businesses now hold inclusive celebrations on a different date,' Mayor Fitzhardinge said in a statement in December. Other councils have followed suit, with over 80 deciding to either pull back or cancel citizenship ceremonies on the day. However some councils, including the City of Perth, have been steadfast with keeping January 26 as the date for Australia Day. Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas noted the fireworks will be more subdued on the day because of financial reasons and 'the mood of the community'. The councils join more than 80 others who have decided not to have celebrations on the national holiday this year after only four councils withheld ceremonies last year (stock image) The federal Opposition has vowed to reverse the trend as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is accused of trying to abolish the tradition. In late 2022, the Albanese government scrapped a rule that forced councils to hold Australia Day citizenship ceremonies. Mr Albanese assured Aussies at the time that 'there are no changes here'. Only four councils, including the City of Sydney, opted to boycott the event this year in the wake of the recent rule change but than quadrupled for 2024. On Saturday the Herald Sun revealed that more than 80 councils across Australia have decided to scrap citizenship ceremonies on January 26, which included more than a quarter of the councils in Victoria. Ministers have been urged to launch a crackdown on the menace of electric scooters after police data revealed the shocking scale of thuggery linked to the machines. More than 20,000 crimes involving e-scooters have been recorded by forces over the past three years, with a rise of 60 per cent over the same period. The crimes include drug-trafficking, sexual offences and hundreds of robberies. Scores of e-scooter riders were also found to be carrying weapons and dozens of pedestrians have been run down, according to the data given in response to Freedom of Information requests. Despite privately owned e-scooters being banned on public roads and pavements, they can readily be bought online or in shops and do not need to be registered. The buyers can then modify them to go at speeds of up to 70mph. DEMANDS FOR REGULATION: E-scooters are an increasingly common sight on Britains streets and pavements Tory MP Greg Smith, who sits on the Commons Transport Committee, said: 'E-scooters, e-bikes and other forms of micro-mobility have been increasingly used in crime and there needs to be a serious approach to cracking down on people's ability to use them for criminal purposes. Boy, 6, hit by teen at 24mph BATTERED: Jamie Smith's injuries A six-year-old boy was left with a fractured skull after being sent flying by an electric scooter. Jamie Smith was struck by a teenage rider travelling at 24mph outside his home in Leicester. The incident happened on the pavement as the youngster walked to the car with his younger sister and father before a trip to the shops. His older sister, Brooklyn Smith, 21, said: 'The ambulance and police initially thought Jamie wasn't going to pull through. He walked out of the front gate of our house, with my dad and my little sister, and he was hit within seconds. He got knocked unconscious, he didn't try getting back up or anything. 'Everything was really swollen and he had a fractured skull. 'The break came down from the top of his head and splintered around his eye so it was a bad fracture. He was pretty much bed-bound for a month.' She added: 'There needs to be some sort of rules such as passing a test before people can use them, and they shouldn't be sold if they can reach such high speeds as the one that hit Jamie could.' Advertisement 'A registration scheme would be sensible because that's ultimately how you're going to hold people accountable and Ministers need to get that done as quickly as is humanly possible.' However, Ministers say they will wait until Government-backed trials on rental e-scooters have concluded before tightening the law. But these trials that have already been extended three times and are now not scheduled to finish until May 2026. Experts say that failure to introduce a requirement for private e-scooters to be registered means thugs are being given an 'open invitation to commit any form of offence and avoid detection'. Freedom of Information requests were sent to 43 police forces covering England and Wales, 21 of which responded meaning the true number of incidents will be much higher than the 20,219 figure given by the forces who did respond. Avon and Somerset recorded the highest number over the last three years at 1,900. This was followed by Lincolnshire (1,774) and Northumbria (1,600). But Bedfordshire Police recorded one of the most severe rap sheets. E-scooters in the county were linked to 23 trafficking of drugs offences, 44 robberies and two possession of firearms offences, as well as to reports of stalking, sexual assault and even of attempted murder. Road-offences lawyer Nick Freeman said: 'They can travel very quietly, and there's no registration plates so the police have very little chance of apprehending anyone. 'E-scooters are subject to the Road Traffic Act 1988 but they don't need registration and that's the vital piece of the jigsaw that is missing. It makes current legislation impotent. 'Licensing them with the DVLA and registering them is the start so that they're treated like mopeds. Otherwise it's just an open invitation to commit any form of offence and avoid detection.' Retailers reported a boom in sales of e-scooters during the Covid lockdowns. They typically cost from 200 to 300, but high-end models can be more than 1,000. Their top speeds are supposedly capped at 15.5mph but they can easily be modified. The vast majority of alleged crimes are thought to have involved privately owned e-scooters rather than the Government-backed devices on trial. Only the latter are legal to ride on roads and those who rent them must have a valid provisional or full UK driving licence. Tory MP Greg Smith (pictured in the House of Commons), who sits on the Commons Transport Committee, said: 'E-scooters, e-bikes and other forms of micro-mobility have been increasingly used in crime and there needs to be a serious approach to cracking down on people's ability to use them for criminal purposes' A Government spokesman said: 'We are already making our communities safer through our Criminal Justice Bill, with Crime Survey for England and Wales showing neighbourhood crimes including as burglary, robbery and theft are down 50 per cent since 2010. Private e-scooters of any kind remain illegal, and the e-scooter trials taking place in a small number of areas have been extended to May 2026 to allow us to gather further evidence to ensure that any future legislation balances safety, user accountability and market growth.' A tornado touched down in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday around 6pm with tornado warnings issued across Broward County The tornado touched down Fort Lauderdale just west of the intersection between Las Olas Boulevard and the Intracoastal Waterway The tornado 'made contact with some structures, power lines and marine vessels' Fire Rescue said a statement A tornado touched down in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, with tornado warnings issued across Broward County. Videos emerging from the South Florida city show the large tornado moving close to downtown. The tornado was formed over land just before 6pm and touched down in Fort Lauderdale just west of the intersection between Las Olas Boulevard and the Intracoastal Waterway on Saturday evening, according to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue. By about 6:30 pm, the storm had dissipated Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Steve Glassman said. Fire Rescue responded to calls about a damaged boat on Las Olas Circle and a home with roof damage on Southeast 10th Street, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Garrett Pingol said. Videos emerging from the South Florida city shows the large tornado moving close to downtown The tornado 'made contact with some structures, power lines and marine vessels' Fire Rescue said a statement The tornado 'made contact with some structures, power lines and marine vessels in that immediate area' before moving east until it hit the ocean, Pingol explained. Fire Rescue performed a 'an extensive area assessment' from Bahia Mar up to Sunrise Boulevard to find that, as of 7:30 pm, no one was injured or displaced, and there was no significant property damage, though some boats had minor damage. 'An apparent tornado touched down earlier this evening near Las Olas and the Intracoastal' the City of Fort Lauderdale said in a statement. 'There have been no reports of injuries so far. Fort Lauderdale Fire crews are assessing the damage, which appears to be minor. Adding: 'The public should be cautious of any debris and downed power lines in the area.' Jeff Turk received the tornado warning around 5:45 while he was on his boat at Bahia Mar Marina. 'The funniest part is, you get a warning saying 'seek shelter, head to a basement,' you know, and we're sitting here on a boat and there's no basements in Florida, or a boat,' he told the Sun Sentinel. Turk and his wife watched the tornado from their boat and saw as something exploded, sparks and debris flying everywhere. There have been no reported injuries and Fort Lauderdale Fire crews are assessing the damage 'Where are they going to go for shelter?' he asked. Craig Setzer, a local weatherman, shared a video on X of the tornado hurtling by, east of downtown Fort Lauderdale. 'Was watching the signature on the radar and it looked like it would be close,' he wrote. 'Boy was it.' There have been several reports of other severe weather across Florida on Saturday, including funnel clouds, a water spout and damaging wind gusts. The highest thunderstorm wind gust that has been reported was 52 mph near Pine Island, Fox Weather reported. The storms are associated with a trailing cold front that is attached to a powerful noreaster moving up the East Coast this weekend. The storm has created a mess of ice, snow and rain as it chugs through the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Florida is set to face more extreme weather in the coming days as another powerful storm moves across the eastern half of the country. An MSNBC show took a bizarre turn when host Jonathan Capehart whipped out the Kleenex and started crying while reflecting on the memory of the January 6 riots live on air. The emotional episode unfolded while Capeheart was in the midst of promoting former DC police officer Michael Fanone's book on the three-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. As the TV host introduced Fanone at the start of the live show, he became visibly emotional, pulling out tissues to wipe away tears before the interview even began. 'I'm going to try to get through this... Thank you for what you did three years ago today... he said before moving the tissue he had ready in his hand to his nose. The unexpected display left his Capitol cop guest, clearing his throat, appearing visibly uncomfortable. MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart whipped out tissues and started crying while reflecting on the memory of the Jan 6 Capitol riot on the 3-year anniversary The emotional episode unfolded while Capeheart was in the midst of promoting former DC police officer Michael Fanone's book on the three-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The peculiar on-air moment received plenty of attention - but likely not the type the host and the network were hoping for. Collin Rug, Co-Owner of Trending Politics, took to X to post the clip, which was slammed by viewers online. 'NEW: MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart pulls out a tissue and starts crying while remembering the events on January 6th. Unreal,' he wrote Saturday. 'The incident came as Capehart was promoting former D.C. police officer Michael Fanone's book. "I'm going to try to get through this... Thank you for what you did three years ago today... *sniffle*" State propaganda has reached a new level.' The video garnered a host of negative comments, but Capehart took to X to defend the emotional moment, sharing a video of it which he captioned 'And I'd do it again.' 'Reminds me of the crocodile tears @maddow started releasing over the "migrant camps",' one critic wrote. 'Ive lose all sympathy for these people, if those tears are real he seriously needs to rethink his allegiances.' 'MSNBC: "We will pay you a $30,000 bonus if you cry real good on tonight's propaganda segment!"' a third user joked. As the TV host introduced Fanone at the start of the live show, he became visibly emotional, pulling out tissues to wipe away tears before the interview even began The unexpected display left his Capitol cop guest, clearing his throat, appearing visibly uncomfortable A man calls on people to raid the building as Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they try to storm the US Capitol in Washington D.C on January 6, 2021 Back in 2021, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the same MSNBC host announced that he believed that Trump supporters are more of a threat than the Taliban or ISIS. Capehart called out 'MAGA and the domestic threat', which he said was far 'more worrisome than any foreign threat', during an appearance at PBS NewsHour on Friday. The Washington Post columnist and news host went on to describe the last several years as 'one giant step forward, and then two giant steps back.' 'One giant step forward was the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States, first black president. But a huge step back was the election of Donald Trump as president. Another huge, huge step forward, the election of Joe Biden as president of the United States,' Capehart said. 'But another huge step back, to my mind, one was the fact that, even though Donald Trump lost the election, he got 15 12 million more votes than he did in 2016. So it just highlights the divisions within the country,' he added. Capehart (pictured) called out 'MAGA and the domestic threat' on Friday John Yang, center, who was hosting the interview, asked Capehart if he meant 'that other forces have changed politics more since 9/11 than 9/11' Capehart specifically cited the January 6 Capitol siege as a turning point in where MAGA supporters of former president Donald Trump violently invaded the Capitol Building in Washington DC in an effort to disrupt a joint session of Congress that was busy counting electoral votes in Joe Biden's favor. 'And then the ultimate step back, January 6. My colleague Carlos Lozada said this morning on television that how ironic it is that, on September 11, there were reports that the plane that went down in Shanksville was headed to the Capitol, headed to crash into the Capitol,' Capehart continued. 'And yet, at almost 20 years later, the Capitol was ransacked by domestic terrorists who lay siege to the U.S. Capitol at a time when the members of Congress were certifying the last election.' John Yang, who was hosting the interview, asked Capehart if he meant 'that other forces have changed politics more since 9/11 than 9/11.' 'The most worrisome threats are ignorant MSNBC pundits, like this fool. Jonathan Capehart: MAGA threat more worrisome than ISIS or Taliban 20 years after 9/11,' another user wrote Social media reactions towards the MSNBC host was largely negative 'Should we not focus on ISIS & Al Qaeda now? Cmon man!' Charles Marino tweeted 'Oh, I think so. I think MAGA and the domestic terror threat is much more worrisome than any foreign threat we could face.' Social media reactions towards the MSNBC host was largely negative, with most users expressing frustration with Capehart's take on MAGA politics and Islamic fanaticism. 'So frustrating when people with zero national security experience talk about threats in numerical ratings or use expressions like 'more worrisome' in an effort to politicize threats. Should we not focus on ISIS & Al Qaeda now? Cmon man!' Charles Marino tweeted. 'The most worrisome threats are ignorant MSNBC pundits, like this fool. MSNBC's Jonathan Capehart: MAGA threat more worrisome than ISIS or Taliban 20 years after 9/11,' another user wrote. 'Me: 'Siri, please tell me that @MSNBC will finally stop working to minimize the domestic and global threat of Islamist fanaticism, in the wake of 9/11+20.' Siri: 'Sorry, Jon, they're doubling down,' a third offered in response to Capehart, while noting the 20th anniversary to the 9/11 attacks. Former President Donald Trump marked the third anniversary of the January 6 Capitol attack by again demanding that the 'hostages' be released by President Joe Biden. Trump brought up January 6 at both of his Iowa appearances Saturday on the campaign trail, saying at one of them that participants in the riot three years ago acted 'patriotically and peacefully.' He also continued to go after former Rep. Liz Cheney, one of only two Republicans to participate in the House of Representatives' probe after the attack. After a nearly three and half hour delay - due to a malfunctioning small private plane Trump's team had rented to get the ex-president shuttled between two smaller Iowa towns ahead of the January 15 caucuses - Trump took the stage Saturday night in Clinton, Iowa. Trump charged Biden and the Democrats with turning the country into 'h***' and then added, 'you know what they outta do? They outta release the J6 hostages. They've suffered enough.' Former President Donald Trump brought up the January 6 Capitol attack at both of his Iowa appearances Saturday. At an evening rally in Clinton, Trump demanded that President Joe Biden 'release the J6 hostages!' Congress had gathered in the Capitol Building to count Electoral College votes when droves of Trump supporters rioted, broke into the building, injured police officers, called for the hanging of Vice President Mike Pence and stalled the proceedings for hours RELEASE THE J6 HOSTAGES!!! pic.twitter.com/GsxNSAG3Zn il Donaldo Trumpo (@PapiTrumpo) January 7, 2024 'They outta release them,' the ex-president and 2024 GOP hopeful continued. 'I call them hostages, some people call them prisoners, I call them hostages.' 'Release the J6 hostages, Joe!' Trump said, his voice getting louder. 'Release them Joe! You can do them real easy, Joe.' Biden kicked off his year of 2024 campaigning by delivering a speech Friday from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in which he said 'we nearly lost America' on January 6. He also called Trump 'sick' and a 'loser' during his remarks. Congress had gathered in the Capitol Building to count Electoral College votes on January 6, 2021 and certify Biden's win when droves of Trump supporters rioted, broke into the building, injured police officers, called for the hanging of Vice President Mike Pence and stalled the proceedings for hours. Since then, more than 1,265 defendants have been charged with crimes related to the attack in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to Justice Department figures. Trump has long said he'd pardon participants if he got back into office. At an earlier event in Newton, Iowa, the former president said the real 'insurrection' was the U.S. southern border crisis and floated that migrants did not act 'patriotically and peacefully, peacefully and patriotically' like the crowd of Trump supporters on January 6, 2021 The ex-president again went after former Rep. Liz Cheney, who spoke at Dartmouth on Friday in New Hampshire (pictured). Trump said Cheney had a case of 'Trump Derangement Syndrome.' 'I watch her on TV and she's shaking,' Trump said At his earlier Iowa stop, in the town of Newton located outside of Des Moines, Trump said the current southern border crisis was a bigger issue than what happened on January 6. 'When you talk about insurrection - that, that's the real deal,' the ex-president commented. He said migrants were not doing things 'patriotically and peacefully, peacefully and patriotically,' words Trump reserved for the masses on January 6. At another point at his Newton event, Trump commented, 'nobody even thought J6 was even a possibility,' before attacking Cheney. 'She is a major case of Trump Derangement Syndrome,' he said. 'I watch her on television she's shaking,' he said, jiggling behind the podium to do an impression. He then took credit for 'knock[ing] her out of office.' 'You know she lost by the largest margin in history for a congressperson, did you know that? Because any congressman, any congressman or woman, doing that badly would drop out of the race long before the race,' Trump said. Cheney lost her Republican primary in the ultra-red Wyoming in August 2022 to now Rep. Harriet Hageman by more than 37 points, which did set records. Hageman is a supporter of the ex-president. An 80 year-old widow began a passionate affair with a homeless, reformed drug addict handyman 23 years her junior who began asking her for large sums of money. Carolyn Holland's husband, Joe, died in 2015 at the age of 74, leaving the mother of two lonely and lost in what should have been a long and happy retirement. Living in the in the picturesque Southern Californian beachside town of Cayucos, she struck up a companionship with 57-year-old Dave Foute, a church-going man with whom she had initially hired to complete odd jobs around her $1.7 million home, with incredible views of the Pacific Ocean. Dave was known to the local community of 2,500 as someone who was homeless. He could often be found sleeping rough, living on the streets close to the town's pretty pier. Carolyn Holland, 80, found an unlikely lover in Dave Foute, 57, a former drug addict who was homeless and who had a long criminal record Daughters, Sally, left, Carolyn and Susan, right, are seen celebrating Carolyn's 80th in 2022 Within two weeks of them meeting, Dave moved into the $1.7million home with ocean views Carolyn's family began wondering if he was a caregiver or a con man who was out to fleece her and break her heart before taking her money and property portfolio. The pair are pictured at home He was a skilled joiner, but things went further than Dave simply coming around with a plank of wood and a screwdriver - and the pair soon become a besotted couple, with Carolyn expressing shock at beginning a passionate sexual affair in her ninth decade. Within two weeks of them meeting, Dave had moved in. Alarm bells were immediately set ringing for Carolyn's daughters Sally and Susan who believed Dave had ulterior motives and was simply after their mother's hard-earned cash - and ultimately their inheritance. Although Carolyn had not been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, like any octogenarian her cognitive abilities were on the wane and she admitted to being forgetful. It was something her middle-aged daughters, who lived five hours drive away raising families of their own, were all too aware. Chief amongst their concerns was their mother's finances and that Dave might simply exploit her for whatever money he could, while also causing her emotional distress at a vulnerable stage of life. Carolyn, left, is seen on a cruise holiday in 2014 with her late husband, Joe, who died in 2015 at the age of 74 Dave was found to have been a former crystal meth addict, someone who had been drug dealing and even spent a decade in jail Carolyn's daughters believed she had entered some kind of a fantasy world when in actual fact she was a vulnerable elderly woman in need of companionship.Dave and Carolyn are seen here But Carolyn was insistent: she had deep feelings for Dave and deserved to be in a romantic relationship once again. After all, she enjoyed a special connection with her new found love. 'He's given me something special, because of his caring spirit. We share a lot. I love his personality, and I hate it when he's gone,' she told the BBC. Other relatives of Carolyn's including her niece, Kim, were particularly uneasy about the age difference, and wondered if Dave was simply using her as a place to stay - her multi-million dollar home being a dramatic change from sleeping rough by the beach. 'The age difference really bothered me - that was a red light. Why would someone that age act like he's in love with her, except to have a place to stay?', Kim said. Their fears were well founded, for Dave appeared to have had a troubled and dangerous past. Carolyn insisted that she was far from losing her marbles and defended her ability to make decisions over her finances Concerns lingered as Dave could often be found drinking alcohol and smoking pot Dave insisted that he would be there to take care of Carolyn 'until the wheel fall off'. The pair are seen walking down their street in Cayucos Upon further investigation, Dave was found to have been a former crystal meth addict, someone who had been drug dealing and even spent a decade in jailed for making pipe bombs that he was planning to use to blow up a local Walmart. Dave was also revealed to have had history of domestic violence and child neglect, further raising concerns about his suitability as a partner for Carolyn. Dave protested that such anti-social behavior was in the past and that he had been redeemed and undergone a religious transformation while being rehabilitated from his vices. 'I'm going to take care of her as best I can unless I can't. All the guys know that Carolyn's my girl and I don't mess about. I don't stay out late because I have someone to go home to. I'm going to remain until the wheels fall off,' he said. 'Look what Jesus blessed me with. I couldn't leave her, because I'm supposed to be here with her.' Yet concerns lingered as he could often be found drinking alcohol and smoking pot. It was Carolyn's daughters who felt most alarmed as they began to notice a drastic change in their mother's behavior after meeting Dave. They believed she had entered some kind of a fantasy world when in actual fact she was a vulnerable elderly woman in need of companionship. Dave told people that he had long been rehabilitated when it came to drugs and alcohol Dave protested that such anti-social behavior was in the past and that he had been redeemed and undergone a religious transformation while being rehabilitated from his vices Dave and Carolyn spent a lot of time together giving her a new found sense of adventure 'It's like a fantasy world, it's so bizarre,' Sally said. 'She was like a teenager when he came along. She was doing all this weird giggling and laughing.' The potential concerns that Dave's arrival might cause Carolyn to make sudden adjustments to her will, that included a substantial property portfolio which had been built up over generations, only heightened their anxiety. Dave had also been spotted in town boasting to his friends that he would one day soon never have to work again. 'It's our family's money, my parents worked hard for that money. Should we be okay, just giving it to some loser?', Sally asked. The daughters began to look at possible legal solutions in order to secure power of attorney and declare their mother mentally unfit, claiming she might be losing cognitive abilities. But Carolyn was far from losing her marbles, she told them and defended her ability to make decisions accusing her daughters of giving her insufficient support after her husband's death. 'They never came to see me before Dave, honestly they did not,' Carolyn explained. The family argument led to financial rift, with Carolyn co-signing a credit agreement for a $40,000 van for Dave, despite the objections of her daughters'. Carolyn asserted her right to choose her partner, emphasizing the positive impact Dave had on her life. 'They think they're protecting me from David, but David is the best thing that happened to me,' Carolyn said. Eventually, Carolyn agreed to sell one of her properties prompting accusations from her daughters that Dave was exploiting her mental fragility. Carolyn always asserted her right to choose her partner, emphasizing the positive impact Dave had made on her life When Carolyn agreed to sell one of her properties, it prompted accusations from her daughters that Dave was exploiting her mental fragility to gain access to her money Carolyn had promised to give Dave a portion of the $600,000 proceeds from the sale, to help give him a stable future 'When she called I came, I miss Carolyn, I loved Carolyn. I was on my little mission trying to make her proud,' Dave said, following her death Carolyn had even promised to give Dave a portion of the $600,000 proceeds from the sale, to help give him a stable future. The property sale went through and a check was waiting for Carolyn to collect but it was at that moment she began to deteriorate physically and mentally. COVID-19 only exacerbated her health problems and she decided not to get vaccinated after Dave advised against doing so, convinced the entire vaccination program was a process of government control. Finally, her daughters managed to gain power of attorney before Carolyn died. 'The Covid was not what killed her but it definitely didn't help because she was already declining,' daughter Susan said. Once she had passed away, the daughters did not tell Dave that their mother had died, nor did they allow him to visit during her final days. One year on, the daughters can't shake the feeling that their mother was indeed taken advantage of and don't believe local doctors, police, or care services were able to adequately address their concerns. Once she had passed away, the daughters did not tell Dave that their mother had died, nor did they allow him to visit during her final days As for Dave, he is once again alone and homeless, hanging out by Cayuco's pier - although now has the use of his $40,000 van all paid for and given with love, by Carolyn Dave never got his million dollar home and is now living in a van by the pier 'Everybody's hands were tied. They were not seeing what we were seeing,' Susan explained. Her death leaves a lingering sense of frustration and sadness among the family. As for Dave, he is once again homeless and hanging out by Cayuco's pier - although now has the use of his $40,000 van all paid for and given with love, by Carolyn. 'When she called I came, I miss Carolyn, I loved Carolyn. I was on my little mission trying to make her proud,' he said. More can be heard of Carolyn and Dave's story in a 10-part BBC podcast: Million Dollar Lover. Wild footage has emerged of security appearing to get into a physical altercation with attendees at one of Australia's biggest car shows. The brawl unfolded at Summernats which began at the Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) on Thursday. Some 120,000 people were expected to pass through the gates on Sunday as crowds were drawn to the mullet competition, races and a fireworks display. The footage however showed a group of attendees shaping up to about a dozen security guards who appeared to be herding them off of a street. Water bottles and beer cans could be seen being thrown at the security guards as tensions increased between them and the many shirtless spectators. The spectators could be heard jeering at the guards before one man started pushing a guard when an all-out brawl broke out. Wild footage has caught a brawl breaking out between security and attendees at the Summernats car enthusiast festival on Saturday afternoon (pictured) The footage showed the tensions growing as one shirtless attendee continued to back away from the security guards while yelling at them. One of the security guards could be heard yelling 'f**k you' at the man as another spectator held him back. The security guards pushed forward and started punching spectators in the head. One attendee fell to the ground and was barely able to protect himself as one guard tried to kick him. One man wearing an Australian flag as a cape tried to push one of the security guards away from the downed spectator before being staunched by another guard. The altercation quickly fizzed out as one guard tried to keep other spectators from swarming to the brawl with the group of security eventually leaving the area. ACT Police confirmed they are 'aware' of the incident and are investigating the matter. 'Investigations into the incident are ongoing and no arrests have been made at this time,' a spokesman said. 'No further comment will be made while investigations are ongoing.' The footage shows numerous spectators being punched in the head by security guards as one man was almost kicked in the head after falling to the ground (pictured) 'Summernats and security contractor Red Dawn have already begun an investigation into the incident involving security staff and patrons on Saturday afternoon,' a spokesperson for Summernauts told Daily Mail Australia. 'Summernats and Red Dawn take their responsibilities for the safety and security of everyone at the event very seriously. 'This investigation will be given the highest priority and outcomes will be shared as they come to hand.' This year's Summernats is the 36th annual event of Australia's most well known car show, having started in 1987 and taken one year off in 2021 due to Covid lockdowns. The event brings in rev-heads from across the country to the ACT and about $20million in tourism with them. Over 2,500 cars are on exhibition during the four-day festival to entertain the crowds with burnout competitions and other exhibitions. However the festival hasn't been clear of controversy after Luke Newsome, 30, died after falling off the back of a ute at Summernats 2017. READ MORE: The least affordable suburb to rent in Australia is named A no-nonsense 'boomer' is being slammed after he suggested Aussie tenants need to 'make a few sacrifices' instead of complaining about the cost of rent. The Melbourne homeowner named Malcolm responded to a woman named Melissa who came across a property that was 'unliveable' while looking for a home for her family. Malcolm told ABC radio Melbourne's Drive host Dr Bridie O'Donnell that tenants should make lifestyle sacrifices instead of complaining 'all the time' about rent. The homeowner said he felt 'sorry for the lady' but suggested renters stop eating out, buying takeaway, going on holidays and even give up their pets if they want their own home. The comment struck a chord among struggling Aussies with rents rising drastically as the availability of accommodation around the country becomes scarce. The homeowner, named Malcolm, suggested renters stop eating out, buying takeaway, going on holidays and even give up their pets if they want their own home (stock image) The queue to inspect the unit located in Flemington, in Melbourne's inner north-west, snaked from the building carport and spilled onto the street 'I feel sorry for the lady, obviously... but these people that are complaining all the time about rent being too dear and so forth, yeah, fair enough,' Malcolm said. 'But why don't they make a few sacrifices? 'Have they got dogs? Have they got cats? Do they go out to dinner? Do they buy takeaway all the time? Do they have to go over to Bali for a holiday? 'You just gotta make a few sacrifices but whether they're prepared to or not I don't know. People will be upset with me saying that but that's the bottom line.' Malcolm added Australia is a country full of opportunity to work and build a life and even explained how he worked tirelessly for years to build his own home. 'I built mine while I was an apprentice. I remember I dug the foundations by hand, I wheelbarrowed all the fill in underneath,' he said. 'I worked on that house and a lady used to walk past and she said to us 10 years later "if a person ever deserves a house, that person does". 'We're very lucky in Australia. If you want to work you can get somewhere, you can build your life. 'But in countries like Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and all them countries over there, they don't have the opportunity that we've got in Australia.' Tenants' rights activist and founder of s**trentals.org Jordie van den Berg slammed Malcolm for his comments. The Melbourne homeowner said tenants should think about things they can sacrifice instead of complaining about the high price of rent (stock image, view of a Melbourne suburban street) The activist, who is also a lawyer, explained an Aussie working as an apprentice would not be able to build their own home, despite Malcolm's claims. 'You've got people like the previous caller, I believe his name is Malcolm, was an apprentice and built his house when houses cost 30 cents and a high five,' he said. 'Try finding an apprentice today who can do that? You can't. It doesn't happen. 'You've got this massive cognitive dissonance that's occurring where It's the reality of renters today but it wasn't the reality of renters 20 years ago.' Social media users also slammed Malcolm for his outdated views, with many labelling him a 'boomer'. 'Boomers talking about how I built my house when I was an apprentice. Mate, people on 6 figures struggle to get into the market these day,' one person wrote. 'When are boomers going to ever understand that housing was significantly cheaper when they were younger. To think a first year apprentice today who earns a whopping 14 bucks an hour can afford a house,' another commented. Get rid of your pets is an interesting variation on the smashed avo hypothesis of home ownership,' a third chimed. A fourth joked: 'Malcolm will be telling us to give up your children next so clearly out of touch'. It comes after astonishing images showed Australia's shocking rental crisis, with dozens of potential tenants queued down the street to inspect a unit. A two-bedroom unit for lease in Flemington in Melbourne's inner north-west attracted a massive crowd at a recent open inspection. The massive crowd of prospective tenants queued to view the property which is located in the Melbourne CBD and had a listed rent price of $370 per week The apartment comprises of two good sized bedrooms with built in wardrobes, light-filled lounge, meals area and kitchen Footage posted by a prospective renter on social media showed the lengthy queue, which snaked from the undercover carport and spilled onto the street for several hundred metres along the footpath. Vacancy rates for residential properties across Australia rose to 1.1 per cent in November to 33,471 properties nationwide, according SQM Research. The vacancy rate rose in Sydney CBD to 4.6 per cent, while Melbourne and Brisbane also witnessed an increase with 5.1 per cent and 2.2 per cent, respectively. In the 30 days leading up to December 12, last year, asking rents in capital cities increased by 0.3 per cent, contributing to a notable 14.7 per cent rise. House rents in capital cities rose by 0.6 per cent, with a 12-month increase of 14.9 per cent, while unit rents showed a 14.4 per cent rise over the year. The national median weekly asking rent for all dwellings in capital cities was $692.74, with rent for capital city houses costing $803 a week and $596 a week for units. Head of Property and Business Analytics at SQM Research Harry Bawa said while there was more vacancies nationwide the market remained 'tight' for renters. 'Market conditions for renters remain tight and competitive, and we see no signs of that changing without more housing supply,' Mr Bawa said. A Wall Street-backed corporate landlord snapped up hundreds of homes in Las Vegas in a mammoth one-off residential sale last summer. Dallas-based Invitation Homes shelled out $98 million to buy 264 homes in Clark County, property records show. The deal forms part of a $650 million swap of a portfolio of close to 1,900 single-family rental homes between billionaire Barry Sternlicht's private equity fund Starwood Capital and Invitation Homes. Invitation Homes now owns 3,500 homes in Clark County, making it the second-largest owner of single-family rental homes, according to data from the Las Vegas Review Journal. It comes as the Nevada city struggles with an acute shortage of housing, with evictions on the rise. Las Vegas has the worst shortage of affordable housing of any US city. The huge property purchase came months after disturbing new statistics suggest corporate sharks could own up to 40 percent of all US homes by 2030. Millennials now ageing into middle age are struggling to get a foothold on the property ladder due to low inventory and soaring prices. Nevada struggles with an acute shortage of housing, with evictions on the rise Dallas-based Invitation Homes, run by CEO Dalls B. Tanner (pictured) shelled out $98 million to buy 264 homes in Clark County, property records show The deal forms part of a $650 million swap between billionaire Barry Sternlicht's (pictured) private equity fund Starwood Capital and Invitation Homes There are just 14 units available for every 100 extremely low-income households in need, Las Vegas Weekly reported. Nevada has the highest percentage in the United States of extremely low-income renters that are severely cost burdened, meaning the renter pays more than 50 percent of income on rent and housing expenses. Eviction filings in LAs Vegas increased from 3,931 cases in fiscal year 2019 to 5,328 in fiscal year 2022, around 35 percent. Las Vegas affordable housing crisis could spiral into a deeper homelessness crisis, Princeton's Eviction Lab has warned. The Starwood Capital and Invitation Homes Las Vegas Swap was made in three separate parts. The largest sale was $57.5 million for 155 homes, the second was $26.3 million for 70 homes and the third was $14.1 million for 39. Las Vegas affordable housing crisis could spiral into a deeper homelessness crisis, Princeton's Eviction Lab has warned Las Vegas tops the list of metropolitan areas with the greatest shortages of affordable housing The majority of the homes sold are in the city of Las Vegas, followed by the city of North Las Vegas with 77. The larger portfolio included homes across the Sun Belt, in Texas, Florida, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. As of the third quarter of 2023 Invitation Homes had bought 2,291 homes for $854 million during the year, according to its latest earnings report. 'Theyve turned these homes into collateralized rental obligations. Theyve collateralized them and what theyre doing is swapping homes like stocks for one another' Las Vegas real estate agent Noah Herrera told the Las Vegas Review Journal. One in thirty Oakland residents had their car stolen last year as 15,000 vehicles were stolen - a 45 percent increase in just a year. The shocking figure is the highest in 15 years. However, less than five percent of those auto theft cases lead to an actual arrest as the California city's understaffed and underfunded police department are preoccupied dealing with a 21 percent spike in violent crime. And there are also just two police officers assigned to deal with car theft. Mary Remington's 2018 Honda Fit, Milan Sanders' 2019 Kia Sorento, and Emily Frazier's 2020 Kia Forte were all ruthlessly swiped away, they told the San Fransisco Chronicle. The city's mayor and DA are both outspoken progressives who have both said that police accountability and racial equity are a priority, but fed-up locals have pleaded with them to make the Bay Area city safer. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao (pictured) emphasized ongoing investments in police resources and technology - despite the fact that less than 5 percent of auto theft cases lead to an arrest Last year alone, nearly 15,000 cars were reported stolen in Oakland a staggering 45 percent increase from 2022, marking the highest number in at least 15 years (Pictured: A scene of an accident after a driver was chased by thieves leading to his car flipping over) Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price (pictured) is facing a recall amid a surge of violent crime in the city In October, even Oakland's District Attorney Pamela Price had her work laptop stolen during a car smash-and-grab outside a family justice center mid-day. This comes as the campaign to recall Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, also known as Save Alameda for Everyone (SAFE), ramps up. The recall effort was initiated in 2023. The epicenter of this surge lies in Uptown and North Oakland, which witnessed a shocking 69 percent spike in car thefts, according to data from the Police Department and the state. The Chronicle revealed several reasons experts credit with the growing crisis that is plaguing the city. One major factor is the lack of basic anti-theft technology in popular Kia and Hyundai models, exacerbated by a viral social media challenge encouraging thieves to target these specific cars, according to the Chronicle. Additionally, tight police resources are reportedly being directed towards higher-priority crimes. In Oakland, this surge in property and violent crimes reflects the broader impact of the unsettling trend. An Oakland restaurant owner was robbed by multiple suspects after his vehicle crashed and flipped upside-down in a Mad Max-style car chase on Friday morning Masked bandits brazenly raid cars in downtown Oakland in daylight Loi leaves her car windows down enough for thieves to open the doors instead of smashing the windows when it is parked outside the cafe Victims like 63-year-old Remington, who discovered her Honda Fit missing from her apartment complex's garage, are in despair. Despite witnessing crime ever since she moved to the city 23 years ago, Remington told the Chronicle that she has noticed the worsening trend in car-related crimes. 'It's unbelievable what is happening,' she said to the Chronicle. Social media posts from neighbors also have highlighted the growing concern, she said, with incidents ranging from car break-ins to armed carjackings just blocks away. Two months after her car was stolen, Remington received a call from the police her vehicle was found in San Leandro, missing its plates. To ensure the safety of her replacement car, Remington opted for a model equipped with LoJack, a tracking system to aid recovery in case of future thefts. Oakland has experienced a multitude of crimes including vehicle smash-and grabs and store smash-and-grabs Despite this incident, the odds of finding and arresting car thieves in Oakland remain slim. In 2022, police made arrests in only about 4.5 percent of auto theft cases a lower rate compared to San Francisco and San Jose. The Oakland Police Department's limited resources, with just two officers dedicated to auto theft investigations, reflects the harsh reality of prioritizing violent crimes in the face of soaring crime rates. Police Department spokesman Paul Chambers defended their commitment to reducing crime, emphasizing the challenging environment where violent crimes demand immediate attention. In an email to the Chronicle, he said that the department was 'committed to reducing crime and serving the community.' Oakland experienced a 21 percent increase in violent crime in 2023, along with a staggering 38 percent rise in robberies and a 23 percent increase in burglaries. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao emphasized ongoing investments in police resources and technology. A $360 million deficit in the city's general fund prompted Thao to freeze hundreds of vacant positions, including those within the police department, further straining resources amidst rising crime rates. In an emailed statement to the Chronicle, Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said that safety for kids, businesses and families was her priority. She announced that the city is allegedly investing in a 'robust and accountable police department,' advancing violence prevention initiatives, and turning to technology to 'modernize' investigations. 'Progress is underway and investments are starting to bear fruit,' the mayor said, adding that there has been a decrease in auto burglaries following the city's deployment of a special unit of uniformed and plainclothes officers dedicated to thwarting the break-ins in September. Darren Allison. Interim Chief Of Police. A TikTok car theft challenge, showing a step-by-step guide on how to steal certain Kia and Hyundai models, has only fueled the fire. With the manufacturer ceasing to install 'immobilizers' in their vehicles from 2011 to 2022, these cars have become prime targets for thieves. Crime has spiked so badly in Oakland that locals revealed they leave their car windows down so the glass won't be smashed when thieves break in. Homicides are in triple-digits four years running, car thefts are up 50 per cent in a year, and 1,000 more people are living on the street. Suzane Loi, who has run The Coffee Mill on Grand Avenue for the past 27 years, doesn't like what she is seeing on the busy street outside. Her cafe was broken into three times in six months, doubling her insurance premiums to $12,000, and masked car thieves smash car windows outside several times a week. 'When I park my car outside I leave the windows down enough to fit your hand through and unlock it so they don't smash the glass,' she told DailyMail.com in December. Better to only have the thieves rummage through her car and not have a broken window to replace as well, she thought. 'My business is down 40 percent this year because people are too afraid to go out to eat in downtown,' Loi said. 'Their cars will just get smashed or stolen or broken into. We had two break-ins outside just this week.' Loi said the masked bandits who raided cars along the street were even younger than she remembered in years past. 'They're 15-year-old kids or even pre-teen, and there's girls now, too,' she said. 'This used to be the place to be but now everything is closing. We have no fine dining, shops are closing, even CVS is trying to close. The Oakland DA was elected in 2022 and has faced major criticism as the crime rate in Oakland and the entire Bay Area has rapidly increased In August Oakland NAACP leaders called for a state of emergency over the soaring crime rate and blamed Price for it 'Honestly, someone needs to be held accountable for it. I don't know what to do, the government isn't doing anything, why did we even vote for them?' Restaurants in Oakland have reported losing thousands a week as diners have their cars and jewelry robbed mid meal - with locals now avoiding the city's downtown area. With violent crime running rampant across the Dem-led Californian city, business owners in November compared the area to a 'battleground' akin to wartime Vietnam. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price is facing a recall as a result. Hundreds of locals have started a group, named Save Alameda for Everyone, in a bid to oust Price from her position because of her soft-on-crime approach. In the same weekend, two beloved restaurant spots closed their doors after years of service because of the rampant car burglaries and violent crime on their doorsteps. French-Vietnamese eatery Le Cheval closed its doors after 38 years, as did Galeto Brazilian Steakhouse on the same block. Galeto's owner Eli Nascimento said it 'is defiantly crime' that caused him to shutter. He recalled how his host got robbed outside the restaurant, with three pistols to his head. He quit because he couldn't take it anymore. Other small business owners, including shopkeepers and gas station workers, previously announced a one-day strike to show how the out of control crime was affecting the local economy. Derreck Johnson, owner of Home of Chicken and Waffles, said: 'Every day we struggle with not wanting to lay off our employees. 'I had a group from Miami get robbed at gunpoint on a Saturday afternoon, all their jewelry taken. That should not be my priority. That should not be my job, to make sure that my customers are safe while they're walking the streets in Oakland.' Many of Johnson's patrons have had their luggage stolen from their cars, or been robbed at gunpoint while coming in and out of the restaurant. Woke San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin faced a recall vote in 2022 as murder rate soared 11%, rapes were up 9% and furious locals blasted the city as a 'dangerous place to live' Homicides are in triple-digits four years running, car thefts are up 50 per cent in a year, and 1,000 more people are living on the street The total number of armed robberies in Oakland this year have reached 1282, which equates to a 43 percent rise since this time last year. In November, vehicle thefts were up nearly 50 percent, and home invasions by 65 percent - Oakland police arrested seven people in a special operation that targets car thieves. In December, an Oakland restaurant owner was robbed by multiple suspects after his vehicle crashed and flipped upside-down in a Mad Max-style car chase. The harrowing event occurred on Lakeshore Avenue in Oakland, California - a city likened to a hellscape in the Mad Max film series, where gangs roam in packs of vehicles in search of fuel. Photos and videos captured the victim's Honda Accord flipping and landing on the Lake Merritt walking trail, as witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots after the crash. A former Long Island teacher who had an inappropriate relationship with her student was recently hired as a school principal A former Long Island teacher who resigned after having an 'inappropriate relationship' with a student in 2006 was hired as a school principal decades later after she lied about her teaching certificates. Jessica Bader, 51, worked as a teacher in the early 2000s - but resigned after her teaching certificates were suspended for having an 'inappropriate relationship' with a student at East Meadow High School in Long Island, where she taught. The relationship lasted from 2004 to 2005 - through the student's junior and senior year, according to legal documents. Documents revealed that Bader's relationship with the male student involved 'physical, intimate and/or sexual contact, improper communications and/or improper correspondence.' Bader was never prosecuted criminally because the student was over 18, the legal age of consent and the detective overseeing the case decided that no crime had been committed. A former Long Island teacher who resigned after having an 'inappropriate relationship' with a student in 2006 was hired as a school principal decades later after she lied about her teaching certificates Over 15 years later - Bader applied for a job at Oyster Bay-East Norwich in Long Island, New York. When applying for the OBEN job - Bader left out her stint at East Meadow from the paperwork - and when asked if she had ever had her teaching certificate suspended, she wrongly answered no Her defense was based around the consensual nature of her relationship with the student, his age and her experience with postpartum depression after recently giving birth to twins. According to legal documents, Bader 'did not seem to find any emotional or psychological harm to the student from her conduct when she was addressing the reasons her interactions with the student was inappropriate.' Bader submitted her resignation by letter on 2005 and her teaching certificates were suspended for a period of four years. Over 15 years later - Bader applied for a job at Oyster Bay-East Norwich in Long Island, New York. Somehow Bader had been hired by another school district in between her 2006 scandal and her most recent appointment, she worked at George J. Ryan Middle School in Queens for nine years. When applying for the OBEN job - Bader left out her stint at East Meadow from the paperwork - and when asked if she had ever had her teaching certificate suspended, she wrongly answered no. Bader was originally hired in a teaching position, but was promoted to Principal going into the 2023/2024 school year. After her abrupt resignation - an investigation revealed the decade-old scandal and members of the OBEN community are left feeling unsettled 'With the school year having officially begun, students at James H. Vernon School were greeted by someone new when they arrived for the first day of classes,' an Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District announcement said. 'Jessica Bader, the former director of humanities for kindergarten through 12th grade in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District, welcomed the students as the new principal of Vernon.' 'Bader had previously worked as an assistant principal at George J. Ryan Middle School 216 in Manhattan for nine years and arrived at OBEN last year to take over the role of director of humanities K-12.' 'She's very friendly and very conscientious and very excited which is great; half this job is having the passion for the kids,' Laurie Kowalsky, president of OBEN's BOE, said. Just weeks after entering her new role, a statement sent to parents revealed Bader 'will be away from the building for some time.' After her abrupt resignation - an investigation revealed the decade-old scandal and members of the OBEN community are left feeling unsettled. 'They're supposed to be trusted, responsible individuals. It doesn't always work out like that so that means the schools really have to do their homework,' said parent Gloria McCain. Tensions are on the rise with just eight days until the Iowa caucuses Ron DeSantis isn't going anywhere if he loses the Iowa caucuses, his campaign claimed after a report said the Florida governor was looking at dropping out if he loses the first primary contest. The campaign said the anonymous sources named in an op/ed from The Hill are from Donald Trump's team and meant to plant a false narrative in the days before Iowa's caucuses on January 15. 'Team Trump must be getting nervous,' DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin posted to X, formerly Twitter. 'They're acting like the leftist media, pushing fake news from a hack op-ed and anonymous sources.' 'Ron DeSantis is in this for the long haul,' he assured. The Hill opinion piece published on Saturday claims that a 'major donor and a high-level political operative' say that DeSantis will end his 2024 bid if he loses to Trump in Iowa. Ron DeSantis' campaign says there is no validity to a report based on anonymous claims the Florida governor plans to drop out of the 2024 race if he loses the Iowa caucuses They slammed the report as a 'hack op/ed' and said the claims are 'fake news' from Donald Trump-aligned individuals who are 'getting nervous' The two anonymous sources, according to the January 6 piece, say that the announcement of a total withdrawal would be made either the night of the caucuses or the following morning. In this scenario, DeSantis would skip New Hampshire's January 23 primary elections, then reluctantly endorse Trump, the report claims. But the DeSantis team says there is no validity to this reporting. DeSantis would upend the race if he were to beat Trump in the caucuses - as he is currently polling well behind his MAGA rival. He entered the race with sky-high expectations but has struggled to gain traction against Trump. He has shaken up his campaign staff and recalibrated his message several times over the past year and has bet heavily on a strong Iowa finish. He visited all 99 counties, aided by an aligned super PAC, Never Back Down, that spent the summer and fall sending organizers door to door to recruit supporters. But the latest polls suggest it would take a miracle for him to win with DeSantis sitting at 18.4 percent and Trump at a solid 50 percent of the vote. If DeSantis does decide to align himself with Trump, he would be joining a growing trend of Republican politicians endorsing the former president. Recently Trump has received endorsements from prominent figures like House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Majority Leader Steve Scalise. The latest polls suggest it would take a miracle for him to win with DeSantis sitting at 18.4 percent and Trump at a solid 50 percent of the vote Beyond Iowa, DeSantis's standing in New Hampshire is also looking decidedly ropey with Trump once again holding a considerable lead Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, known for his conservative and faith-based circles, has also recently endorsed Trump - all of which suggests momentum for a Trump return is growing within the Republican Party. Beyond Iowa, DeSantis's standing in New Hampshire is also looking decidedly ropey with Trump once again holding a considerable lead. DeSantis is in fourth place in the Granite State at 9.5 percent and trailing former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie with 10.5 percent, Nikki Haley at 24.8 percent and Trump at 46.3 percent. As losses only accumulate, DeSantis would then likely face scrutiny from financial backers urging him to exit the race. DeSantis might have been better suited for a presidential bid in 2028, but the night of January 15 will reveal whether DeSantis is able to bow out gracefully as the odds mount against him. The video, which first aired on C-Span, shows the hotly-debated Republican engaged in a conversation with a man who cracks a joke that sent the governor into stitches DeSantis has faced an uphill battle from the start when it comes to connecting with voters and has frequently been accused of being uptight and humorless. But during his campaign there have been flashes that showed a different side to him. A video from last May saw him roaring laughter has emerged, as the 2024 hopeful makes an apparent effort to loosen up. The video showed the governor engaged in a conversation with a man at a classic car show in Iowa. When DeSantis asks: 'I saw that you have like a 1955 Porsche in there. That one's nice. How much is that worth?' 'Ugh, we won't even talk about that,' the man responds. DeSantis was clearly tickled by the remark and flung his head back to give a hearty-open-mouthed guffaw. An image of DeSantis laughing with his mouth wide open during the same moment was also snapped by Wall Street Journal reporter John McCormick, who uploaded it to his Twitter account. While many were quick to crack jokes, others pointed out the loosening up was a targeted effort. Adversaries have argued in the past that DeSantis has an issue with 'grip and grin' politics which sees lawmakers get out and about to try and charm voters in person. Early in the campaign it was reported DeSantis and his team had 'internal conversations' regarding his need to engage in more small talk, handshaking and eye contact. Wall Street Journal reporter John McCormick also shared a snap of DeSantis enjoying himself on the campaign trail Trump hit the campaign trail Saturday in the first-in-the-nation presidential nominating state of Iowa, vowing to win 'for the third time' As U.S. Secret Service agents stand their post, former President Donald Trump dances after speaking at a campaign rally Trump, meanwhile, hit the campaign trail Saturday in the first-in-the-nation presidential nominating state of Iowa, vowing to win 'for the third time' as Americans marked the anniversary of the deadly assault on the US Capitol by a mob of his supporters. Many watched in horror three years ago on January 6, 2021, as rioters -- egged on by the ex-president and fueled by his false claims of voter fraud -- stormed the seat of US democracy in a bid to halt the transfer of power. In a rambling, two-hour speech Saturday to supporters in Newton, Iowa, Trump did not delve into the events of that day, but described those jailed over their roles in the assault as 'hostages.' He has said that if elected, he will pardon many. Trump mocked President Joe Biden, his putative rival in November's election. He said Biden has overseen economic decline and invited chaos at the nation's borders, while failing to stop Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 'I would've absolutely stopped Putin,' he said. Trump warned of World War III if Biden is re-elected, adding, 'This is our last chance to save America.' Never having given up on the fiction that he won the 2020 election, Trump declared that in November he will win 'for the third time.' Elon Musk is allegedly taking illegal drugs including ecstasy and cocaine, a lifestyle choice that is concerning his executives and board members at this companies, the Wall Street Journal reports. In recent years, some executives and board members at his companies and others close to the billionaire have become increasingly concerned that his drug use is fueling his erratic behavior. Their concern for the tech tycoon's health extends towards the potential consequences for his six businesses, including Tesla and SpaceX, sources told the Journal. Musk is bound up with and essential to the value of his companies, potentially putting at risk around $1 trillion in assets held by investors, tens of thousands of jobs and big parts of the US space program. Alex Spiro, an attorney for Musk, said that the CEO told the Journal Musk 'regularly and randomly drug tested at SpaceX and has never failed a test.' Musk smoked marijuana on the Joe Rogan show and has publicly discussed his prescription for the psychedelic-like ketamine The incident in 2018 landed him in hot water with NASA demonstrating to execs how Musk's personal choices could influence the businesses he oversees Musk smoked marijuana on the Joe Rogan show and has publicly discussed his prescription for the psychedelic-like ketamine. However, witnesses told the Journal that the X owner has also used LSD, cocaine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, often at private exclusive parties around the world where guests have to sign NDAs and hand in their phones to avoid photos being taken. In 2018, for example, he took multiple tabs of acid at a party he hosted in Los Angeles, the Journal reported. The next year he allegedly consumed magic mushrooms at an event in Mexico and in 2021 took ketamine recreationally with his brother at a house party in Miami. The billionaire has even taken drugs with current SpaceX and former Tesla board member Steve Jurvetson, according to the Journal. Those close to the 52-year-old are now reportedly concerned that the extent of his drug taking could cause of health crisis or a crisis for his businesses. SpaceX is the only U.S. company now approved to transport NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station. However, illegal drug use would likely be a violation of federal policies that could jeopardize SpaceX's billions of dollars in government contracts. Musk allegedly used LSD, cocaine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, often at private exclusive parties around the world Musk has form on making controversial statements on social media The billionaire has even taken drugs with current SpaceX and former Tesla board member Steve Jurvetson, according to the Journal Musk's drug use and the volatile behavior it can exacerbate has already led to resignations at the top of Musk's businesses, the Journal reports. Linda Johnson Rice, a former Tesla director, allegedly became increasingly concerned with Musk's drug taking and so frustrated with his behavior that she didn't stand for re-election to the company's board in 2019, people familiar with the matter told the publication. Serious concerns over Musk's drug taking were raised in 2017 when at a SpaceX meeting about the Big Falcon Rocket prototype Musk was slurring his words and rambled somewhat incomprehensibly for fifteen minutes, according the the Journal's sources. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell reportedly stepped in and took over the meeting. After the meeting SpaceX executives reportedly talked privately about their concerns that Musk was on drugs. One described told the Journal the event was 'nonsensical,' 'unhinged' and 'cringeworthy.' In 2018 Musk was in hot water with NASA after publically smoking marijuana with Joe Rogan. This raised concerns among executives and board members as its showed the potential business impact Musk's behavior could have. Board members were again concerned that Musk may have been under the influence of drugs when he tweeted his intentions to take Tesla private in 2018. The tweet brought on an SEC investigation and resulted in Musks agreement to step down as Tesla chairman for a time. An intruder has been shot dead in a botched home invasion when up to five men armed with a gun and a manchette stormed a property and confronted the couple inside. Emergency services responded to reports a man was lying injured on the driveway of a home on Middlemount Street in Donnybrook, Melbourne's north, early on Sunday morning. The man, believed to have been a part of a group of three to five men who attempted to break into the property about 4.20am, was unable to be revived and died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified. Police are investigating the suspected 'targeted' attack at a Donnybrook address on Sunday morning 'These males were believed to have been armed with at least one handgun and a machete,' Detective Inspector Graham Banks said. 'They've forced their way into the home which was occupied by a male and female resident.' 'Upon entering the home, at least one of the males has assaulted the female resident,' he added. The 27-year-old female resident was struck with a machete before fleeing to a nearby address in Doreen. The 28-year-old occupant, who is known to police, was uninjured. 'The male resident appears to have confronted these males, there's been some sort of struggle and a firearm has been claimed off one of the offenders who has come into the house,' Detective Inspector Banks continued. Several shots were fired during the altercation with the exact details determined of what exactly happened, yet to be determined. A Clifton Hill man later presented himself at the Northern Hospital in Epping with a gunshot wound to the lower body and underwent emergency surgery. Police are investigating whether the 22-year-old was one of the men who attended the Donnybrook address. A 27-year-old woman, a resident of the Middlemount Street home, was there at the time and was struck with a machete A firearm was located in Kumalea Drive, Doreen following a wide-scale search of the area. Detectives believe the incident was targeted. 'We do not believe this is anything other than a targeted incident and there's no broader risk to the community,' Detective Inspector Banks said. 'Obviously it's quite a shocking incident, but as I say, we do not believe it is related to anything beyond that household.' Investigators are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV, dashcam footage or any information to contact poice. An elderly woman was airlifted to hospital after her house was set on fire in an horror alleged act of domestic violence. The 65-year-old suffered severe burns to 90 per cent of her body when her home on Bribbaree Road, Bribbaree, in the South West Slopes of NSW, went up in flames at 12.15pm on Sunday. Police launched a manhunt for her 42-year-old son shortly after, and he presented himself to Parkes Police Station, 140km away, later that afternoon. The property on Bribbaree Road, Bribbaree went up in flames at 12.15pm on Sunday following an alleged arson attack The woman was found by emergency services in the bathtub of the Bribbaree home, located four hours west of Sydney Police warned members of the public not to approach the man with fears he was armed with a bow and arrow. Emergency services treated the woman at the scene before she was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital. It is understood she was placed in the bathtub full of ice by a family member before paramedics arrived. She remains in a critical condition. Police are yet to lay charges. Investigations are ongoing. The woman's son was arrested a short time later after presenting himself to Parkes Police Station - 140km away from the scene An Israeli border police officer was killed in the occupied West Bank during a raid described as a counterterror operation, in which six Palestinians were killed. Sgt Shay Germay, 19, died and three other officers injured when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb during the attack in the city of Jenin. A helicopter helped rescue them with covering fire, the military said, adding that an aircraft fired at a 'terrorist squad that hurled explosives and endangered our forces, a number of terrorists were killed.' The Palestinian ministry said the strike targeted people who had gathered at the site, and eyewitnesses said the attack happened as Israeli forces were withdrawing. 'One of the martyrs was decapitated,' Mujahid Nazzal, a Palestinian doctor and first responder at the scene, said. 'It seemed the missile directly hit him. Others had their limbs severed. A seventh person was seriously injured and taken by the ambulance.' Sgt Shay Germay, 19, was killed and three other officers injured when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb during the attack in the city of Jenin People look at a blood stain near where an explosive device killed an Israeli officer during an Israeli raid in Jenin in the occupied West Bank People walk past a crater left by an explosive device that killed an Israeli officer during an Israeli raid in Jenin in the occupied West Bank Another witness, Ahmed Suleiman, said, 'The air strike happened at the entrance of Jenin in an area called Martyr's Triangle. You can see the effects of the missile. Blood and body parts scattered everywhere.' Four of those killed were brothers, according to family members. Also in the West Bank, an Israeli man was shot dead in his car by suspected Palestinian gunmen, with Israel's Defence Forces labelling the incident a terror attack. The killing took place on Route 465 near the settlement of Ofra on Sunday morning. The victim was named by Israeli media as 33-year-old father-of-two Ammar Mansour, from Beit Hanina in East Jerusalem. The IDF said it has launched a manhunt to find those responsible after gunmen fled the scene. It comes as Antony Blinken started his week-long trip on Saturday, aimed at calming tension that has spiked during Israel's war with the militant Hamas group that controls the narrow Gaza strip. The victim in the West Bank shooting was named by Israeli media as 33-year-old Ammar Mansour from Beit Hanina in East Jerusalem Blinken's tour, which started with meetings with the leaders of Turkey and Greece, is set to see him visit Israel and the occupied West Bank. The territory had already experienced its highest levels of unrest in decades during the 18 months before the October 7 attack on Israel, but confrontations have risen sharply as Israeli forces launched an invasion of Gaza. At least 327 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since Israel's war on Hamas began, according to a count by the Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Health. Many of those were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers and settlers, while security forces have made thousands of arrests. Over recent weeks, the town of Jenin and its refugee camp have been the focus of repeated Israeli raids. Israel has occupied the West Bank since the Six-Day War in 1967. People examine the site where 6 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli attack Palestinians in a car check the site where an Israeli air strike killed six men Palestinian gunmen attend the funeral of six Palestinians in the West Bank city of Jenin on Sunday In Gaza, Israel has stepped up its assault on the south of the Strip after announcing on Saturday night that it has completed its mission to eradicate Hamas in the north. In an address given to mark three months since the war broke out, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: 'We have completed the dismantling of Hamas' military framework in the northern Gaza Strip and will continue to deepen the achievement, strengthening the barrier and the defense components along the security fence. 'Now, we are focusing on dismantling Hamas in the central and southern Gaza Strip. We will do this differently, thoroughly, based on the lessons we have learned from the fighting so far.' While there may be some reprieve in the north, much of which has been levelled by relentless air strikes, Israel is set to push ahead with its bombardment and ground invasion until its military aims are seen through. At least 22,722 people have been killed so far, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. Rishi Sunak has attempted to ward off the threat of Reform UK by warning 'a vote for anyone other than the Conservatives is a vote to put Keir Starmer in power'. The Prime Minister issued the message amid worries among Tory MPs about the menace posed by the right-wing party. Reform, previously known as The Brexit Party, has vowed to stand candidates in every seat at the general election. This has caused concern among Conservatives that it will split the vote on the Right and hand a huge boost to Labour's chances of seizing power. Opinion polling has shown Reform's popularity steadily creeping upwards as Mr Sunak battles to tackle illegal immigration amid the small boats crisis. And the fears of Tory MPs about the threat of Reform to their electoral chances would be further fuelled if Nigel Farage returns to lead the party. Rishi Sunak has attempted to ward off the threat of Reform UK by warning 'a vote for anyone other than the Conservatives is a vote to put Keir Starmer in power' There are concerns among Conservatives that Reform will split the vote on the Right and hand a huge boost to Sir Keir's chances of seizing power The fears of Tory MPs about the threat of Reform to their electoral chances would be further fuelled if Nigel Farage returns to lead the party Mr Farage - a former Brexit Party leader - is currently Reform's honorary president but is said to be mulling a return to the political frontline ahead of the general election. Following his successful stint on TV's I'm A Celebrity, if Mr Farage were to resume a leading role he would likely turbocharge Reform's prospects. Mr Sunak used an interview with the Sunday Telegraph to caution voters against backing Reform. He told the newspaper: 'I'd say this: a vote for anyone other than the Conservatives is a vote to put Keir Starmer in power.' The PM's comments came as he was quizzed about his pledge to do 'whatever it takes' to stop the Channel migrant crisis. Mr Sunak is set for a New Year battle in Parliament over his emergency legislation to get the Rwanda deportation plan up and running. Asked whether he would be prepared to campaign at the general election on a pledge to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, Mr Sunak said: 'I don't want to get into speculating about the future. 'What I'm focused on is delivering our plan, and I'm confident that our plan will work. 'I've been through it extensively, it's the toughest piece of law that's ever been put before Parliament to tackle this issue. 'And I believe that it addresses all the concerns of the Supreme Court, that it means that we will be able to operationalise our scheme and it won't be able to be abused by people or the courts blocking it. 'I've also been clear that I won't let a foreign court stop us from getting flights off.' But he adds: 'I'd say this: a vote for anyone other than the Conservatives is a vote to put Keir Starmer in power. 'Keir Starmer doesn't care about this issue, Keir Starmer's only answer to this issue is a cosy sweetheart deal with the EU, which we'll see as they have to accept even more migrants. 'So, look, if you care about this issue, my track record will tell you I'm someone who's already delivered on it, and I'm determined to see it through and a vote for anyone who's not a Conservative is going to mean that you don't get any progress on this issue at all.' Justice Secretary Alex Chalk is exploring if the Post Office can be removed from its role in the Horizon Scandal sub-postmasters' appeals. The MP for Cheltenham is examining ways to exonorate the hundreds of staff who were accused of theft and fraud following the scandal, which stemmed from problems with the Horizon IT system, The Sunday Times has reported. Mr Chalk is said to be looking at how to remove the Post Office from the process whereby any wrongful convictions are quashed, with powers potentially being handed to the Crown Prosecution Service instead. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today confirmed the Justice Secretary was working ways to exonerate staff tackle the issue, adding 'It's right we find every whichway we can do to try and make this right for the people who were so wrongfully treated'. More than 700 Post Office managers were handed criminal convictions after the faulty accounting software made it appear as though money was missing from their branches between 1999 and 2015. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk (pictured) is exploring if the Post Office can be removed from its role in the Horizon Scandal sub-postmasters' appeals The MP for Cheltenham is examining different ways to exonorate the hundreds of staff who were accused of theft and fraud following the scandal It comes as a petition to strip the Post Office's former chief executive Paula Vennells (pictured) of her CBE has passed 730,000 signatures Mr Sunak told he BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg:'The Justice Secretary is looking at the things that you describe - it wouldn't be right to pre-empt that process. 'Obviously there's legal complexity in all of those things but he's looking at exactly those areas. It's right we find every whichway we can do to try and make this right for the people who were so wrongfully treated at the time. 'Compensation is a part of that but there are legal things that may be possible as well.' The scandal is subject to an ongoing public inquiry, with a large number of victims wrongfully convicted still waiting to receive justice. It comes as a petition to strip the Post Office's former chief executive Paula Vennells of her CBE has passed 730,000 signatures. Vennells, who formerly served as a parish priest, left the Post Office with a CBE for services to the organisation as well as to charity and a 389,000 bonus. The petition took off after a new ITV drama aired about the suffering of the sub-postmasters and has so far collected more than 730,000 signatures. Sub-postmaster Jo Hamilton, 66, was falsely accused of stealing 36,000 from a village shop in South Warnborough, Hampshire, and eventually pleaded guilty to false accounting in fear of going to jail. Mrs Hamilton said about Vennells: 'If she's got any moral compass at all, she should give it back. I would give it back before it was taken off me. 'But in spite of being a vicar, she doesn't seem to have any moral code.' The post office carried out about 900 prosecutions between 2000 and 2015, securing 700 convictions for offences including theft and fraud and sending 236 victims to prison. A further 2,800 managed to escape prosecution but were asked to pay money back. Four people committed suicide over the scandal while others died before their convictions could be reversed. The petition took off after a new ITV drama aired about the suffering of the sub-postmasters and has so far collected more than 700,000 signatures Vennells has faced more calls to hand back her CBE this week after she denied there were any problems with a faulty accounting system that led to more than 700 sub-postmasters being prosecuted Jo Hamilton, 66, was falsely accused of stealing 36,000 from a village shop in South Warnborough, Hampshire, and eventually pleaded guilty to false accounting in fear of going to jail Vennells apologised as the Court of Appeal overturned 39 convictions of former subpostmasters. 'I am truly sorry for the suffering caused to the 39 sub-postmasters as a result of their convictions which were overturned last week,' she said in 2021. Victim Mrs Hamilton told The Times: 'They've made people's lives a misery and they've committed crimes. It's not just a computer problem. This is absolute corruption at its worst; state-sponsored corruption.' The mother bought the village shop in 2001 and became the sub-postmaster two years later. Her nightmare started when the Horizon system started showing shortfalls in her accounts in 2003 - at one stage showing the amount double before her eyes. Assuming it was her fault, Mrs Hamilton did not tell her husband what was happening to her for months. 'I always thought what it said must be right because it's a computer and I'm a dumb-dumb,' she said. 'I never gave it a minute's thought that the Post Office would do that to me. And then you ring up the helpdesk and they say: ''Well, you are the only one that's had problems with it.'' 'I didn't want to let anyone down and I genuinely thought all this money would come back.' Mrs Hamilton's nightmare started when the Horizon system started showing shortfalls in her accounts in 2003 - at one stage showing the amount double before her eyes Mrs Hamilton bought the village shop in 2001 and became the sub-postmaster two years later When the money failed to return, Mrs Hamilton was forced to tell her husband and they remortgaged their house, borrowed from friends and maxed out credit cards to repay what was missing. The financial nightmare kept getting worse, causing Mrs Hamilton to suffer from pains in her arm and chest. She was eventually sacked by the Post Office and charged with stealing 36,000. It emerged years later that the Post Office's own investigator had found no evidence of theft. 'It's perverting the course of justice. It's my inner rage that's kept me sane: They are not going to get away with this,' she said. The victim had agreed to plead guilty to a smaller charge of false accounting in 2008, avoiding prison. Under this deal she still had to pay back the supposedly missing 36,000. Mrs Hamilton was forced to remortgage again and the village donated 6,000 to her cause. 'I wouldn't be where I am had I not had the love of the community,' she said. Mrs Hamilton started a new job cleaning people's houses and became the faces of a campaign by Alan Bates, a sub-postmaster from north Wales. A veteran officer has criticised a police force for wasting their time hunting a driver who sped through a large puddle and soaked a family, when they should be 'finding burglars and thieves'. A family-of-five, three of whom are disabled children, were drenched from top to bottom during the incident in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, on Tuesday. Derbyshire Police state they are aware of the incident and efforts to trace the driver are continuing, but many members of the public feel the force are wasting their time. Mick Neville, a former Scotland Yard detective, supported this point of view, telling the MailOnline it was an 'easy case' for the local community support officer if they had the car's registration number. Mr Neville said: 'If they have a registration number it seems an easy case for the local PCSO to 'have a word', but if not they should be trying to find burglars and thieves.' All five family members, three of whom are disabled children, were drenched from top to bottom during the incident in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, on Tuesday Mick Neville, a former Scotland Yard detective, supported this point of view, telling the MailOnline it was an 'easy case' for the local community support officer if they had the car's registration number Social media users voiced their frustration Many felt it was a waste of police time Moe criticism towards Derbyshire Police The family, who have requested to remain anonymous, were out for a stroll at around 2.20pm when a white car approached them. Others agreed with Mick Neville and believed the police should be focusing their attentions elsewhere The relatives were walking past a large puddle and the mother motioned 'stop' to the driver, who instead 'sped up' - splashing them completely. The children's mother and grandmother described the motorist's behaviour as 'unbelievably callous', The Telegraph reports . However, social media users took to X, formally known as Twitter, to express their frustration at the police hunt for the driver. One user posted: 'FFS. Plod must be completely bored, and it must be a slow news day in Swadlincote, if this is all theyve got' Another said: 'Seriously? Tens of thousands of unsolved crimes but this gets their attention?' A third wrote: 'FFS! Who would call the police because they got wet?! Time wasters!' A fourth simply put: 'Meanwhile... In proper crime....... Police can't be bothered.' The woman involved in the incident said that two of the children are physically disabled and were distressed by the ordeal. She said: 'My son is 6ft tall and he was drenched. The water went right over his head. 'My two-year-old granddaughter was screaming, "I dont like it". The pushchair was wet through. 'I was shocked more than anything. Its unbelievably callous.' Splashing a pedestrian by driving through puddles next to a pavement can be deemed a criminal offence, with possible fines of up to 5,000 and nine points to a license, under the Road Traffic Act 1988. If motorists are caught, they are likely to be handed a 100 fixed penalty notice and three penalty points. Derbyshire Police have been approached for a comment. Elsewhere , shocking dashcam footage was shared yesterday showing a motorist driving through a puddle and callously soaking a binman trying to clear up after the festive period, leaving locals outraged and demanding police action. Retired cop Julie Lancaster was astonished when she witnessed the incident in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, as Storm Henk drenched Britain earlier this week. The 64-year-old former sergeant was driving home from the dry cleaners when she spotted the binman on the other side of the road collecting loose cardboard next to the puddle. The Belarusian President signed a new law this week that gives him lifelong immunity from criminal prosecution and prevents opposition leaders living abroad from running in future presidential elections. The law theoretically applies to any former president and members of his or her family. In reality, it is only relevant to Alexander Lukashenko, 69, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist for almost 30 years. The new measure appears aimed at further shoring up Mr Lukashenko's power and eliminating potential challengers in the country's next presidential election, which is due to take place in 2025. The law significantly tightens requirements for presidential candidates and makes it impossible to elect opposition leaders who fled to neighbouring countries in recent years. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (pictured) signed a new law this week that gives him lifelong immunity from criminal prosecution and prevents opposition leaders living abroad from running in future presidential elections Only citizens of Belarus who have permanently lived in the country for at least 20 years and have never had a residence permit in another country are eligible to run. Belarus was rocked by mass protests during Mr Lukashenko's controversial re-election in August 2020 for a sixth term, which the opposition and the West condemned as fraudulent. At that time, Belarusian authorities detained more than 35,000 people, many of whom were tortured in custody or left the country. Mr Lukashenko also has been accused of involvement in the illegal transfer of children from Russian-occupied towns in Ukraine to Belarus. Mr Lukashenko (pictured here with Russian president Vladimir Putin) also has been accused of involvement in the illegal transfer of children from Russian-occupied towns in Ukraine to Belarus According to the text of the new law, Mr Lukashenko, were he to leave power, 'cannot be held accountable for actions committed in connection with exercising his presidential powers'. The law also says the president and members of his family will be provided with lifelong state protection, medical care, life and health insurance. After resigning, the president would also become a permanent lifelong member of the upper house of parliament. Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who fled to neighbouring Lithuania in 2020, said the new law is Mr Lukashenko's response to his 'fear of an inevitable future', suggesting he must be concerned about what happens to him when he leaves power. 'Lukashenko, who ruined the fates of thousands of Belarusians, will be punished according to international law, and no immunity will protect him against this, it's only a matter of time,' Ms Tikhanovskaya said. The country's political opposition is seeking an investigation into the disappearances of opposition politicians and the removal of Ukrainian children from Ukraine. 'We will ensure that the dictator is brought to justice,' Ms Tikhanovskaya said, emphasizing that there are still about 1,500 political prisoners behind bars in Belarus, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski. Duke of York has vowed to fight any attempt to evict him from Royal Lodge Prince Andrew will refuse any efforts to get him out of his royal mansion despite new claims over his links with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The Duke of York has reportedly vowed to fight any attempt made by King Charles to evict him from Royal Lodge, his ten-bedroom Windsor home since 2003, following the release of court documents detailing a slew of sexual assault allegations. The King is said to want to remove his brother from his Berkshire residence and move him into the smaller Frogmore Cottage, which had belonged to Harry and Meghan before they left for the US. But Andrew has so far refused requests by Charles to move and is not planning on letting up anytime soon, according to The Mirror. A source close to Andrew told the newspaper: 'Andrew is going nowhere. The King can't force him out. He has a cast iron lease that he has absolutely every intention of honouring.' Andrew has vehemently and repeatedly denied all allegations against him. Prince Andrew is set to refuse any efforts from King Charles to get him out of his royal mansion. Pictured: The royal brothers at their mother's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 Prince Andrew pictured walking with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein in New York's Central Park in 2011. Epstein died in jail in 2019 awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges The Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, where Andrew currently lives. Sources say the King is preparing to withdraw funding for private security at the house The explosive documents have thrust the Duke of York's relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein back into the spotlight with claims that the prince committed 'acts of sexual abuse' and took part in an 'underage orgy'. Well-placed sources have told the Mail that while the court claims were not a surprise, they will have served to 'crystallise' King Charles's determination to solve the 'Andrew problem' decisively. Plans were already in train to evict Andrew from Royal Lodge in keeping with his 'downgraded' status but it is understood the King will redouble his efforts to move his brother in the coming months. The release of the court documents are believed to have also strengthened the King's resolve that his brother will never be allowed to resume Royal duties. A source told the Mail: 'When it comes to any public role for his brother, there is no way back. 'There has always been an agreement that Andrew would be permitted to attend private and family events, as is his right. But not public or official ones. That has not changed.' The Telegraph has also reported that Charles is preparing to stop paying for the Prince's home security at Royal Lodge as he tries to distance himself publicly from his younger brother, It means Andrew will have to fund the multi-million pound security costs at Royal Lodge himself if he wants to stay in the 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park. Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York and Prince Andrew, Duke of York at Ascot in 2019. The couple are now divorced Jeffrey Epstein with his arm around Ghislaine Maxwell, in a picture that was recovered during an FBI raid at Epstein's New York Upper East Side mansion in 2019 It comes as the Prince was last night facing more humiliation after it was revealed that sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell was ordered to search her phone, computer and thousands of emails for his name along with the words 'sex toy' and 'erotic'. The documents revealed how Maxwell's lawyers were instructed to scour all her electronic devices for any mention of the Prince, other acquaintances of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and a string of sordid words. These included 'Prince', 'Andrew', 'Duke', York', 'Royal', 'underage', 'massage', 'slave', 'sex', 'nipple' and 'dildo', according to the devastating legal papers. Details of the hugely embarrassing search part of a 2015 defamation case brought by Andrew's accuser Virginia Giuffre, nee Roberts, against Maxwell are revealed in a trove of 130 documents, totalling more than 1,300 pages, which were released this weekend. It is not known what the search uncovered, with Maxwell's lawyers claiming it was a 'wild goose chase'. The case was settled before it came to court. Last night, a source close to the Duke of York told the MoS how Andrew had been left reeling by the lurid new claims. 'He doesn't have the emotional bandwidth to deal with this,' the source said. 'He has locked himself away in a room and has no idea how to respond. He's devastated.' In another day of astonishing revelations on Saturday: Scotland Yard was urged by a former chief superintendent to interview the personal protection officers who accompanied Prince Andrew on trips to meet Epstein Epstein's 'house manager', Alfredo Rodriguez, was questioned under oath about whether Prince Andrew and Maxwell had 'a romantic relationship', legal files reveal; Mr Rodriguez claimed that 'many' pictures of Epstein and Andrew posing together were displayed at Epstein's Florida mansion, where the financier abused hundreds of young girls; King Charles is reportedly preparing to withdraw funding for security at his brother's 30-room Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge; New emails reveal the panic that gripped Maxwell and her advisers after Andrew was first accused in court papers of abusing Giuffre; Maxwell swam naked at Epstein's Caribbean island where his recruits were made to massage her while she was undressed, documents claim. The furore surrounding Andrew, who is still eighth in line to the throne, shows no sign of abating after hundreds of documents were made public over three days. The court files were sealed in 2017 but published after requests from media firms. Prince Andrew pictured with Ghislaine Maxwell at Ascot in 2000. Maxwell is now behind bars after being convicted of child sex trafficking Documents included in the latest tranche of Epstein files show 'andrew', 'prince' and 'royal' were among the terms searched in Maxwell's emails (left). Tawdry terms referring to sex acts and paedophilia were also looked up (right) A string of documents released in the early hours of yesterday disclosed a bitter legal battle between Giuffre and Maxwell's lawyers over a 2016 court order that a search should be carried out of Maxwell's 'electronic media'. In a letter to Maxwell's legal team, Meredith Schultz, one of Ms Giuffre's lawyers, demanded that Maxwell's email and iCloud accounts be combed over, along with her computers, phones and tablets. Ms Schultz then listed 368 words to search for, including Prince Andrew, his initials 'PA' and 'Clinton' a reference to former US President Bill Clinton. There is no indication of any wrongdoing by Mr Clinton. The list also includes words that are either sexually explicit or suggestive of abuse, including 'erotic', 'masturbate', 'servitude', 'juvenile', 'schoolgirl', and 'paedophile'. Maxwell's lawyer Laura Menninger later objected to 'the vast number' of search terms, complaining that 'running a search on Ms Maxwell's devices of all 368 terms will take more than a week'. She highlighted the difficulty of searching for common words like 'bed', 'lingerie' and 'bath' and the names of lawyers. Ms Giuffre alleged she was forced to have sex with the Prince on three occasions when she was 17, including in a bath in Maxwell's townhouse in London in 2001. The claims have been repeatedly and strenuously denied by Andrew. Ms Menninger complains in one letter that Giuffre had sent Maxwell 'on a costly, time-consuming and burdensome wild goose chase that has yielded not so much as a single goose feather. It is time to call off the hunt.' The legal documents, however, do show that, to comply with the court order, 110 words were searched for including Andrew's name and the sexually explicit words. Prince Andrew pictured with Victoria Giuffre (then Roberts) in London in 2001, alongside Ghislaine Maxwell The search led to the discovery of about 9,000 documents and messages, though it is unknown if Andrew featured in any of them. The latest cache of documents show Maxwell's constant efforts to find new women and girls to satisfy Epstein, including having threesomes with other women. They also reveal how Tony Figueroa, Giuffre's ex-boyfriend, claimed Maxwell would call him to ask whether he had found girls to take to Epstein and how Giuffre, Maxwell and Epstein 'were all intimate together on multiple occasions'. Figueroa was paid between $200 and $300 for each new girl he took to Epstein at the financier's $18million mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. In a separate deposition, Rodriguez told investigators that there were 'many pictures' of Andrew proudly on display at Epstein's mansion, dubbed 'the house of horrors'. Meanwhile, in another document Johanna Sjoberg who was recruited by Maxwell when she was a 20-year-old student said she was paid 200 for every massage from the pair, which was increased by 100 when she did something sexual for Epstein. In her deposition in 2016 Sjoberg recalls giving between five and ten massages to Maxwell in all of which the disgraced socialite was naked under a towel. Asked whether Maxwell was ever nude or topless by a swimming pool, Ms Sjoberg added: 'I don't recall. She was nude when she went swimming in the ocean.' Maxwell was convicted in December 2021 of sex trafficking and procuring teenage girls for Epstein. The financier killed himself in jail several weeks after his July 2019 arrest for sex trafficking. MailOnline has contacted the Crown Estate for comment. The Royal Family declined to comment. Prince Andrew could not be contacted for comment. North Korea has carried out live-fire drills near its maritime border with the south in what is the third consecutive day of military exercises, with fears mounting over what has been labelled the biggest escalation in years. Residents on the border island of Yeonpyeong, which was last hit by North Korean shells in 2010, have been warned to stay inside as gunfire has been heard nearby and in case the South launches any countermeasures. 'North Korean gunfire is currently being heard,' said a text message sent to all residents. 'Troops on Yeonpyeong Island are currently responding, but residents are advised to be careful of outdoor activities,' it added. None of Pyongyang's artillery shells have yet fallen south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de-facto maritime border in the Yellow Sea, and no casualties have been reported, the Yonhap news agency reports. It comes after dictator Kim Jong Un threatened a nuclear attack on the South during year-end meetings, and called for a build-up of his country's military arsenal ahead of armed conflict that he warned could 'break out any time'. South Korea has responded with its own military exercises, sharing pictures of its howitzers firing at a base on Baengnyeong island Kim Jong Un threatened a nuclear attack on the South during Pyongyang's year-end meetings On both Friday and Saturday, North Korea fired artillery rounds in the same area - near Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong, two sparsely populated islands situated just south of a defacto maritime border between the two sides. On Friday, residents of the two islands were ordered to evacuate to shelters and ferries were suspended during one of the most serious military escalations on the peninsula since 2010, when shelling killed four people. On both days, North Korea's shells landed in a buffer zone created under a 2018 tension-reducing deal, which fell apart in November after the North launched a spy satellite. South Korea has responded with its own military exercises, sharing pictures of its howitzers firing at a base on Baengnyeong island. The South Korean islands are closer to the North than the southern mainland, and are situated off the West coast of the peninsula, around a mile from the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas. Seoul's military said on Saturday that the North fired 60 artillery shells in the area, and warned Pyongyang to immediately cease 'actions that increase tension'. North Korea insisted on Friday that its live-fire drills that day had not even had 'an indirect effect' on the border islands. On Sunday, Kim's powerful sister denied Seoul's claims that Pyongyang had fired dozens of artillery rounds near their border on Saturday, saying they had instead conducted a 'deceptive operation'. A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's military exercise during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station 'Our military did not fire a single shell into the water area,' Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency. Kim claimed instead that her country's military had detonated explosives simulating the sound of gunfire 60 times and 'watched the reaction' of the South Korean forces. 'The result was clear as we expected,' she said, adding: 'They misjudged the blasting sound as the sound of gunfire and conjectured it as a provocation. And they even made a false and impudent statement that the shells dropped in the sea buffer zone.' 'The enemy might behave stupidly for the sake of pride misjudging the thundering roar in the northern sky in the future as artillery fire of the KPA (Korean People's Army),' she said. Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in decades after leader Kim Jong Un last year enshrined his country's status as a nuclear power into the constitution and test-fired several advanced ICBMs. Pictures have been released of a young woman, who was a choreographer and model, killed in a motorcycle crash in London . Lousha Liddell was riding billion when in a motorbike which was involved in a crash with a car on January 3. The Metropolitan Police said the 25-year-old was airlifted to hospital but died soon after. The driver of the car has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving. The rider of the bike, a man in his 40s, was also taken to hospital. His condition is currently unknown. Lousha's death has sent shockwaves through the dance community, with friends and family paying tributes to the former BBC and ITV creative director. Lousha Liddell was riding billion when the motorbike and a car crashed on January 3. Lousha, who was known as Lady-Lousha, attended St David's Catholic College before going on to study at Middlesex University Lousha's death has sent shockwaves through the dance community, with friends and family paying tributes to the former BBC and ITV creative director Close friend Rachel Totti Ali said: 'Lousha Liddell from the moment I met you I loved you to bits, followed your journey to university and the amazing accomplishments you've made. 'I'm heartbroken, heartbroken for your beautiful mum Joanna Stokes and your entire family. I am at a loss you were and will forever be a beautiful soul.' Lousha, who was known as Lady-Lousha, attended St David's Catholic College before going on to study at Middlesex University. Her creative prowess led her to become the former creative director at esteemed institutions such as the BBC, ITV, film, television, theatre, WNO, and S4C. Tamsin Palmer, another close friend, said: 'I am broken, we are all broken. 'Lousha Liddell you were one of the best friends I've ever had, I can not believe this is real I can't believe I'm writing this I loved you so much, you were so loved and taken way to soon in the middle of you're prime you were one of a kind, there are no words. 'The world will never be the same, Rest In Paradise sister #ladylousha' A GoFundMe fundraiser to pay for Loushas funeral has been set up and has already raised more than 3,000. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: Police were called at 1.30am on Wednesday, January 3 to reports of a collision at Garratt Lane. Officers and London Ambulance Service attended. At the scene a motorcycle had been in collision with a Honda Civic. A woman who was a pillion passenger on the motorcycle was seriously injured. She was treated at the scene by medics before being taken to a west London hospital. 'The rider of the motorcycle, a man in his 40s, was also taken to hospital. His condition is currently unknown. The 22-year-old driver of the Honda Civic was arrested on suspicion of drug driving. Rishi Sunak today insisted he backed the Rwanda plan when he was Chancellor - despite claims he doubted the migrant scheme when it was first announced. The Prime Minister stressed voters should 'have confidence' the proposals to send asylum seekers to Africa - in a bid to stop the Channel migrant crisis - 'will work'. He has made the Rwanda plan a central part of his pledge to 'stop the boats' and is currently trying to pass emergency legislation to get the scheme up and running. But - ahead of his Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill returning to the House of Commons - Mr Sunak has been hit by reports he was not convinced by the effectiveness of a deportation agreement with Kigali before becoming PM. According to No 10 papers from March 2022, seen by the BBC, Mr Sunak was described as believing the 'deterrent won't work' in stopping Channel crossings. Rishi Sunak today insisted he backed the Rwanda plan when he was Chancellor - despite claims he doubted the migrant scheme when it was first announced The Prime Minister, appearing on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show, stressed voters should 'have confidence' the proposals to send asylum seekers to Africa 'will work' The documents suggested Mr Sunak was also concerned about the cost of sending asylum seekers to Africa and wanted to limit the numbers. The PM this morning admitted he had questioned the 'value for money for taxpayers' of the scheme prior to it being unveiled by Boris Johnson in April 2022. But he insisted he asked 'probing questions of every proposal that crossed my desk as Chancellor' and said it was 'wrong' to claim this meant he didn't 'believe in the scheme or the principle of deterrence'. The Safety of Rwanda Bill has been drafted by Mr Sunak in a bid to get around the UK Supreme Court's ruling last year that the scheme is unlawful. But some Tory MPs are concerned the legislation is not tough enough to avoid future legal challenges to migrant deportations. Mr Sunak risked sparking further alarm this morning when he failed to say whether he'd ignore a fresh block from European judges. The PM declined to explicitly commit to disregarding a so-called Rule 39 order by the European Court of Human Rights, should Strasbourg-based judges issue a new emergency ruling against the scheme. Labour are demanding Mr Sunak be 'honest with the public' by releasing Downing Street papers that reportedly indicate he was unsure about the Rwanda plan in 2022. They are calling on the PM to 'come clean about his reservations about the Rwanda scheme as Chancellor' and demanded the documents be published. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said Mr Sunak had become the latest senior Conservative to indicate they 'don't believe the Government's plans will work'. The No10 papers are said to show Mr Sunak had doubts over the impact of deporting migrants to Rwanda a month before the scheme was unveiled. The documents which say No 10 suggested Mr Sunak needed to 'consider his popularity with the base' over Rwanda also said the then Chancellor was reluctant to fund 'Greek-style reception centres' in favour of hotels, saying he felt hotels were a 'cheaper' form of migrant accommodation. But, quizzed about the reports on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme this morning, Mr Sunak said: 'My job was to ask probing questions of every proposal that crossed my desk as Chancellor. 'Whether you have doubts about it or not, you shouldn't come to it with a preconceived notion that everything is fine when you are spending taxpayers money, of course you shouldn't. 'You should always ask probing questions, you should always approach things from a position of scepticism to ensure that you get value for money for taxpayers. That is the job of the chancellor and the Treasury when things crossed their desk. 'But to infer from that that I don't believe in the scheme or the principle of deterrence is wrong. I was doing my job to get good value for money for taxpayers. 'I went through that process, funded the scheme with the prime minister and, as PM myself, I have made sure that we have a similar deterrent working with Albania, and I have made the point that it is because Albania is working that we should have confidence that the Rwanda scheme will work too.' A group of people thought to be migrants are pictured crossing the Channel in a small boat traveling from the coast of France and heading in the direction of Dover A planned inaugral migrant deportation flight to Rwanda was dramatically halted at the 11th hour in June 2022 when the European Court of Human Rights issued an urgent Rule 39 order A planned inaugral migrant deportation flight to Rwanda was dramatically halted at the 11th hour in June 2022 when the European Court of Human Rights issued an urgent Rule 39 order. This prevented the removal of a person to Rwanda, with a Strasbourg judge saying they should not be deported until after a final decision had been made by the UK courts. No migrant flights from the UK to Africa have since taken place, despite taxpayers having already handed over millions of pounds to Kigali. Mr Sunak today refused to directly say whether he would ignore any further Rule 39 orders by the ECHR - despite his pledge to 'do whatever it takes' to make the scheme a success. 'I've been very clear about this - I won't let a foreign court stop our ability to remove people once we have been through our process of Parliament and our court system,' he said. Asked to be 'crystal clear' about whether he would ignore a Rule 39 measure, the PM added: 'I don't need to speculate about the future.' Pressed again on the issue, Mr Sunak replied: 'There's lots of steps between now and then. 'I'm entirely confident that what we're doing is compliant with all our international obligations. 'But I've been crystal clear I won't let a foreign court to remove people safely to Rwanda.' Responding to Mr Sunak's comments this morning, Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael said: 'Slippery Sunak needs to come clean with the public. 'Even the PM knows that this scheme only serves to more throw taxpayers' money onto the ever growing bonfire of Conservative Government waste. 'Rishi Sunak is so weak that he has been reduced to pursuing policies that he knows don't work in order to appease the right of his party. He is PM in name only. 'If the Conservative Government was serious about tackling this issue they would ditch this unworkable, staggeringly expensive, and immoral scheme.' Travellers are facing major disruption on rail services between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport and Reading following damage to overhead electric wires. National Rail has warned that passengers could face delays of up to an hour amid possible train cancellations and revised timetables, with the disruption expected to last until noon. Great Western Railway urged passengers to check before they travelled because some lines are blocked along the London Paddington to Reading route. There are also reduced services on parts of the Elizabeth Line and the Heathrow Express between Paddington and Heathrow Terminal 5. It comes as Transport for London said that Tube strikes, which begin at 6pm tonight, will affect its services between Sunday and Friday, adding that 'there is expected to be severe disruption across the whole Tube network'. Travellers are facing major disruption on rail services between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport and Reading following damage to overhead electric wires. Pictured: Commuters at Paddington Station on January 2 It comes as Transport for London said that Tube strikes, which begin at 6pm tonight, will affect its services between Sunday and Friday The strike by London Underground workers started on Friday after last-ditch talks failed to resolve a pay dispute. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Sadiq Khan refuses to use new minimum service laws to stop London Tube strike as passengers face chaos from tonight Advertisement The walkout by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) comes during a dispute over a 5% pay offer and other issues including travel facilities. Control staff are being 24 hours of action on Sunday, while from Monday to Wednesday nearly 10,000 RMT members will strike across the Tube. Major disruption will begin from this Sunday, January 7, at 6pm - when Tube services will end earlier than normal. Passengers are being advised to complete all journeys by 5.30pm. From Monday until Thursday, 'severe disruption is expected with little to no service' on all Tubes. Services will then start late on Friday with a good service by midday. The strike comes after Union chiefs claimed that Tube bosses 'failed to come up with a proposal' that was acceptable despite talks. While Elizabeth line workers are not on strike, its stations between Bond Street and Whitechapel will be affected. And five other rail operators - c2c, Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Chiltern Railways - will also have partially amended services. The strike by London Underground workers started on Friday after last-ditch talks failed to resolve a pay dispute The Docklands Light Railway, London Overground , Elizabeth line and TfL buses are all set to be busier than normal, despite not being included in the industrial action. Some of these services will also be affected by station closures where stations also serve Underground lines, while one-way or queueing systems could be in place. Passengers took to X to voice their anger - including a woman with terminal cancer who said she would not be able to get to hospital for new chemotherapy treatment. Others included a school teacher who had been forced to cancel a theatre trip for 40 pupils - while companies said they had decided to close their offices. But some workers said they hoped the strike will go ahead so they can still work from home. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Hezbollah that 'no terrorist is immune' as violence on the Lebanese border escalates and the US fears a full-scale war could erupt. Members of Israel's war cabinet and military leaders have warned the Iran-backed terror group that they are prepared for war if diplomatic efforts fall through, a situation Washington is desperately trying to avoid. Earlier this week, Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah warned Israel that the group would swiftly respond 'on the battlefield' to the killing of Hamas's deputy chief in Beirut. Cross-border fighting has escalated since. Fueling fears of Israel launching a possible operation in Lebanon, Defence Secretary Yoav Gallant said: 'We prefer the path of an agreed-upon diplomatic settlement, but we are getting close to the point where the hourglass will turn over.' It comes as the Washington Post revealed that US officials are concerned that Netanyahu could see expanding the war as a means to keeping his grip on power, amid rising criticism over his government's failure to prevent the October 7 attack. An Israeli artillery fires towards a target in Lebanon form an undisclosed location at Lebanon-Israel border. The soldier on the right has a jacket with a grafitti of a target with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah The head of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah delivering a televised speech following the killing of Saleh al-Arouri Israel's Defence Forces have been exchanging cross-border fire with Hezbollah since war was declared on Hamas following the October 7 attacks, with the Lebanese group supporting its Palestinian ally. Hezbollah has ramped up its aerial assaults on northern Israel in retaliation over the killing of Hamas deputy political leader Saleh al-Arouri last week in a strike which was presumed to have been carried out by Israel. Hamas and Hezbollah vowed to avenge the targeted killing, and increased attacks on Israel in the wake of it. While Israeli officials have repeatedly suggested there is still an opportunity to choose a diplomatic path rather than a costly war with Hezbollah, the US is said to be working around the clock to prevent one from breaking out. President Biden is reportedly on the phone 'three times a day', an official said, in part to prevent Israel from launching a campaign against Hezbollah - which they said would result in 'all hell breaking loose'. Saturday's fighting, which saw Hezbollah launch dozens of rockets launched from Lebanon, was described by the Iranian proxy as an 'initial response'. 'Hezbollah is dragging Lebanon into an unnecessary war for the sake of Hamas,' IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a statement on Sunday. A man stands amidst the rubble of destroyed buildings following strikes on the the town of Naqura in southern Lebanon People inspect the rubble of destroyed buildings following strikes on the the town of Naqura in southern Lebanon Areas of southern Lebanon have been laid to waste after weeks of Israel launching rockets as it fights against Hezbollah 'Israel has been responding and will continue to respond forcefully to Hezbollah's aggression. 'Hezbollah is seeking an escalation despite the unwanted disruption it could bring to the people Lebanon in addition to the suffering it is bringing the people of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is 'putting the future of the region at risk, all for the sake of Hamas', the Israeli military spokesperson went on. 'We have a duty to defend our people, if not through diplomatic means, then through the force of arms. The diplomatic window may be short, but it's still open.' In an apparent reference to the killing of al-Arouri in Beirut, Netanyahu warned on Sunday: 'I suggest that Hezbollah learn what Hamas has already learned in recent months: no terrorist is immune. 'We are determined to protect our citizens and return the residents of the north safely to their homes. 'This is a national goal that we all share and we act responsibly to achieve it. If we can, we will do it through diplomatic means, and if not, we will act in other ways.' Hezbollah has been reluctant to commit any meaningful numbers of troops and rockets to fight Israel, but the group's involvement has increased in recent days. There are fears that beginning a war on the northern front as well as in Gaza would force the IDF to split their resources, meaning its already-stretched forces would be spread thin. Regardless, war cabinet minister Benny Gantz has said the situation where the citizens of Northern Israel cannot return to their homes 'requires an urgent solution'. 'Israel is interested in a diplomatic solution, but if one cannot be found - Israel and the IDF will remove the threat,' he said, echoing the sentiments of Gallant. 'All of the War Cabinet's members share this view.' The escalation of cross-border fighting has put pressure on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is set to visit Israel on Monday 'The only consideration here is Israel's security, and nothing else. That is our duty to our country and our citizens,' he added. The escalation of cross-border fighting has put pressure on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is set to visit Israel on Monday. He will discuss specific steps to 'avoid escalation' in the ongoing conflict, his spokesman Matthew Miller said as he embarked on the Middle East trip. 'It is in no one's interest not Israel's, not the region's, not the world's for this conflict to spread beyond Gaza,' Miller said. Biden administration officials, including Blinken, have repeatedly urged Israel to wind down its blistering air and ground offensive in Gaza and shift to more targeted attacks against Hamas leaders to prevent harm to Palestinian civilians. Expecting staff to be present two to three days The days of working from home may soon be numbered for some people, with many employers expecting a full-time return to the office in 2024. An estimated 60 per cent of workers cannot do their job from home because they need to be physically present to perform their duties, such as medical staff and tradies. But the Covid-19 pandemic showed working from home was doable for desk-bound workers and had many benefits. However, a few years on from the start of the pandemic, some bosses are now keen to fill their workplaces more consistently with staff again. Of course, the perk of working from home remains popular among people searching for a job, so some employers - often in industries where it is hard to retain staff - are including it as an option, but for the large part, many are not encouraging it. Some companies have even started linking bonuses and performance reviews to the number of days staff spend in the office. Many businesses have an expectation that staff will be in the office at least 40 or 50 per cent of the time. But in 2024, some experts predict there will be an even greater push for people to be physically present with their colleagues. Working from home has been popular since the pandemic as it was doable for desk-bound workers and had many benefits (stock image) READ MORE: Why Aussies who work from home 'will be the first to lose their jobs' Nothing to smile about: Australians who work from home are being warned they are most at risk of being retrenched first Advertisement Angela Ferguson, founder of workplace strategy and design company Futurespace, told NCA NewsWire more leaders were expecting a full-time return to the office in 2024. But she said it would be important to motivate, not mandate it with creative in-office incentives and renovations. 'Leaders should look at why they want people in the office,' she said. 'The key to a successful culture/workspace environment lies in providing opportunities for people to connect while retaining some autonomy. 'Incentives to work from the office will be vastly different for individuals, teams and organisations, and the key to getting this right for any organisation is to understand their people's needs from the experience of work.' Ms Ferguson said face-to-face interactions improved productivity, engagement, connection and culture. 'Many leaders are asking staff to come in two or three days a week, which is not an unreasonable request,' she said. 'However, we often find in our engagement with organisations that there is a disconnect or a gap between what staff are seeking and what leadership are seeking in terms of days in the office. 'It's not only about productivity, it's also about mental and social wellbeing. 'No matter how introverted people are, as humans we all need some social connection and the workplace is a great environment to foster that.' Angela Ferguson, founder of workplace strategy and design company Futurespace, says more leaders are expecting a full-time return to the office in 2024 Ms Ferguson said many leaders were expecting staff to start coming in to the workplace two to three days a week (stock image) Ms Ferguson noted remote working was successful during the pandemic but had some 'frustrations and foibles'. 'Now that we are in this world of hybrid, it's a much more nuanced environment and so people, place and technology all need to adapt and adjust accordingly,' she said. 'It's not a cookie-cutter approach and each organisation will be very different.' Ms Ferguson said workplaces should cater for all sorts of working styles. 'The best workplaces have a diverse mix of spaces - single person rooms, soundproof spaces and collaborative breakout rooms - available for everyone to use in the way that suits them best,' she said. 'So you are catering for both individual and team needs throughout the physical environment.' Ms Ferguson said the biggest complaint her team's research showed was that technology was not 'plug and play'. 'In many cases, staff want their organisation to get the basics right first before other things like AI, VR, AR are investigated,' she said. 'Better tech-enabled spaces means being able to seamlessly work from anywhere in the office, move from desk to meeting room easily, connect remotely or work from home without any issues. 'Tech support on-site is also a key desire for many staff.' The mother of a disabled family who were left soaked after a driver sped through a puddle has said her children have been left ill for days after the incident. The woman, who requested to remain anonymous, says she gestured at the motorist to slow down as they made their way down the flooded Hearthcote Road in Swadlincote, Derbyshire on Tuesday. However, the driver did the opposite and 'deliberately' splashed all five family members, including a child in a wheelchair and another with severe PTSD. The children's mother described the motorist's behaviour as 'unbelievably callous', leaving one of the youngsters vomiting for two days after the event. The mother told MailOnline: 'I mean. first of all, it's an offence. It was a very deliberate act, and apparently the police plastered it as an assault. The children's mother and grandmother described the motorist's behaviour as 'unbelievably callous', leaving one of the youngsters vomiting for two days after the event The woman, who requested to remain anonymous, says she gestured at the motorist to slow down as they made their way down the flooded Hearthcote Road in Swadlincote, Derbyshire on Tuesday 'Three of the children are disabled. The two younger children had degenerative diseases, they struggle to walk at the best of times and the older ones in in her wheelchair. 'If it was the fact that the driver hadn't seen it and was concentrating on trying to get through the water safely. That would be a different matter. But this was very deliberate. 'As he was approaching slowly, I put my hand up because any ripple was going to wet us. I put my hand up and gestured for him to stop and slow down, and he did completely the opposite. 'It's quite a wide road, and most of the traffic was going slowly through the middle to avoid making any kind of waves. He deliberately put his foot down and drove at us. 'My 8-year-old has been vomiting for two days. I can't help but think that's as a result of the incident, because the amount of water that they must have ingested in the puddle, which had been there for two days with an awful lot of traffic going through, so I dread to think what was in the puddle.' The family, made up of the mother and her four children, were out for a stroll at around 2.20pm when a white car approached them and left them soaking wet. The mother says her children were freezing cold for hours after the ordeal and have not left the house since. She added: 'The two young ones really struggled to stay warm at the best of times and it took over an hour to warm them up. 'We got home, changed them, put the heating on and wrapped them in blankets. But it was an hour before they felt warm again. 'We haven't actually been out. Just because of the weather and everything. But how they'll feel when we're actually out again, walking along the roads. I don't know. 'I know certainly my eldest son just wouldn't feel safe now. Because it will take him a long time before he feels safe again because anything unexpected really kind of triggers his PTSD.' A veteran officer has criticised a police force for wasting their time hunting a driver who sped through a large puddle and soaked a family, when they should be 'finding burglars and thieves'. Derbyshire Police state they are aware of the incident and efforts to trace the driver are continuing, but many members of the public feel the force are wasting their time. Mick Neville, a former Scotland Yard detective, supported this point of view, telling the MailOnline it was an 'easy case' for the local community support officer if they had the car's registration number. Mr Neville said: 'If they have a registration number it seems an easy case for the local PCSO to 'have a word', but if not they should be trying to find burglars and thieves.' Mick Neville, a former Scotland Yard detective, supported this point of view, telling the MailOnline it was an 'easy case' for the local community support officer if they had the car's registration number Social media users voiced their frustration Many felt it was a waste of police time Moe criticism towards Derbyshire Police Others agreed with Mick Neville and believed the police should be focusing their attentions elsewhere Social media users took to X, formally known as Twitter, to express their frustration at the police hunt for the driver. One user posted: 'FFS. Plod must be completely bored, and it must be a slow news day in Swadlincote, if this is all theyve got' Another said: 'Seriously? Tens of thousands of unsolved crimes but this gets their attention?' A third wrote: 'FFS! Who would call the police because they got wet?! Time wasters!' A fourth simply put: 'Meanwhile... In proper crime....... Police can't be bothered.' The woman involved in the incident said that two of the children are physically disabled and were distressed by the ordeal. She said: 'My son is 6ft tall and he was drenched. The water went right over his head. 'My two-year-old granddaughter was screaming, "I dont like it". The pushchair was wet through. 'I was shocked more than anything. Its unbelievably callous.' Responding to claims that this incident was a waste of police time, the mother asked people to put themselves in her situation of looking after three disabled children when such a 'callous act' takes place. READ MORE: Making a splash! Dashcam footage captures moment motorist speeds through huge puddle and soaks binman Advertisement She said: 'I think you have to put yourself in that position where you've got three disabled children that you've then got to get home and dry and warm. 'It just feels such a callous act, when you just need to slow down and be kind, instead you do something so deliberate.' Splashing a pedestrian by driving through puddles next to a pavement can be deemed a criminal offence, with possible fines of up to 5,000 and nine points to a license, under the Road Traffic Act 1988. If motorists are caught, they are likely to be handed a 100 fixed penalty notice and three penalty points. Derbyshire Police have been approached for a comment. Elsewhere , shocking dashcam footage was shared yesterday showing a motorist driving through a puddle and callously soaking a binman trying to clear up after the festive period, leaving locals outraged and demanding police action. Retired cop Julie Lancaster was astonished when she witnessed the incident in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, as Storm Henk drenched Britain earlier this week. The 64-year-old former sergeant was driving home from the dry cleaners when she spotted the binman on the other side of the road collecting loose cardboard next to the puddle. Ghislaine Maxwell called Jeffrey Epstein's underage masseuse girls her 'children' and 'kissed them on the head' when they went to bed on his island, victim Johanna Sjoberg claimed. In an unsealed deposition from May 2016, Florida native Sjoberg recalled her time on the US Virgin Islands in her early 20s, where she massaged Epstein and Maxwell and came into contact with other girls performing similar acts. The names of more than 150 people mentioned in a lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre, Epstein's most prominent accuser, were kept under seal for years until a federal judge ruled last month that there was no legal justification to keep them private. They were released late Wednesday. In a deposition, Giuffre said she had sex with several politicians and financial leaders. Epstein socialized with Wall Street titans, royalty and celebrities before pleading guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008. He took his own life in 2019 at age 66 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Johanna Sjorberg is pictured in West Palm Beach. She now runs a hair salon in Florida. Sjoberg's testimony - which was sealed under a protective order until last week - was given in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 18, 2016 as part of Giuffre's case against Ghislaine Maxwell Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. She is currently in prison. He killed himself in 2021 while awaiting trial Dozens of women have accused Epstein of forcing them to provide sexual services to him and his guests at his private Caribbean island and homes he owned in New York, Florida and New Mexico. Sjoberg's testimony - which was sealed under a protective order until last week - was given in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 18, 2016 as part of Giuffre's case against Ghislaine Maxwell. In the court document, Sjoberg described how she was on Epstein's island and often massaged Ghislaine and Jeffrey - sometimes with Virginia, wearing bikinis and swimsuits on the beach. She said she visited the Virgin Islands twice - and on her second trip, she recalled that Ghislane Maxwell would kiss the girls 'on the head' and she 'called us her children' before they went to bed. She said that over the course of five years, she massaged Maxwell five to 10 times. Sjoberg also described Virginia as 'orphan-like' and told the interviewer: 'At the time I was getting an impression that she did not have a family or she had walked away from her family. 'And it seemed to me, you know, they had just sort of adopted her, not as a child, but they would take care of her.' Sjoberg testified in May 2016 that she was a 20-year-old student at Palm Beach Atlantic University when Maxwell, a stranger, approached her and offered her a job as a personal assistant. Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts and Ghislaine Maxwell are pictured in 2001 at Maxwell's London townhouse Sjoberg was recruited at age 20 by Maxwell on the campus of Palm Beach Atlantic University where she attended school Sjoberg began working for Epstein in 2001, and was immediately forced to perform sex acts. She said that she knew another of the young women in Epstein's orbit, Virginia Roberts, was underage. Roberts had been recruited by Maxwell the year before, in 2000, while she was working as a locker room attendant at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. Roberts and Sjoberg would go on to encounter a long list of famous faces - among them Prince Andrew. He has always denied all accusations of sexual activity with Epstein's accusers, and denied any wrongdoing. Sjoberg's testimony was unsealed on Wednesday night - part of a trove of almost 950 pages detailing Epstein's relationships, friendships and actions. The documents are from a 2015 defamation suit filed by Roberts - now married as Virginia Giuffre - against Maxwell. One of the documents - a request by Roberts' legal team to the judge to take more depositions - states: 'Johanna confirms that she knew Virginia was underage when she met her on the trip to NY with Jeffrey in 2001 because Virginia couldn't get into the casino and then later Johanna asked her and Virginia said she was 17. 'Johanna testified that Virginia looked young. Jeffrey Epstein is pictured in March 2017 on the New York state sex offender registry Virginia Roberts has been fighting for almost a decade for justice 'Johanna added: 'At the time I had the impression that she did not have a family or she had walked away from her family. And it seemed to me, you know, they had just sort of adopted her, not as a child, but they would take care of her.' Sjoberg also claimed that, while Roberts was 17 and she was 20, they were all together in Epstein's Manhattan townhouse with Prince Andrew. Roberts would later say that she and Prince Andrew had sex that evening in Epstein's house. Sjoberg said that the Prince groped her breast. 'Johanna confirmed that she witnessed Virginia when she was seventeen (17) in Jeffrey Epstein's New York mansion with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell,' the documents state. 'Johanna also testified that Prince Andrew sat with Virginia and Johanna and took a picture with a puppet in his image that had its hand and Prince Andrew's hand on their respective breasts.' Sjoberg would repeat the story in a 2007 interview with a newspaper. She said in 2007 that she returned to the apartment after some 'sightseeing' and 'Prince Andrew was there and a couple of other girls my age. Andrew was very charming . . . She (Ghislaine) came down with a present for him a latex puppet of him from Spitting Image.' She added: 'We had a picture taken. 'Virginia, another girl there, sat on a chair and had the puppet on her lap. Andrew sat on another chair. 'I sat on his lap and he put his hand on my breast. Ghislaine put the puppet's hand on Virginia's breast. Then Andrew put his hand on mine. It was a great joke. Everybody laughed. Ghislaine had a very dirty sense of humor.' These claims were never tested before a court. The duke paid a reported $12 million settlement to Roberts in 2022 over her claims that he sexually assaulted her when she was 17, which he has always denied. During his notorious interview in 2019 he said he had no recollection of ever meeting Roberts. The new interim president of Harvard has been accused of having potential conflicts of interest due to his roles on the boards of two major pharmaceutical companies, for which he is paid $1million annually. Alan Garber is earning more from his board membership roles than his full-time gig as provost of the college, a position that earned him $946,000 in 2022. The Boston Globe explains his salary padding is not uncommon among professors, many of whom earn more from sitting on the boards of large, for-profit firms than from their university salaries. But university governance experts say the roles may present increasingly large conflicts of interest, especially at companies in the medical field, where the lines between university research and company's interests can become blurred. Garber's roles at the health care industry companies have earned him upwards of $6.6million since he arrived in Cambridge, according to the Globe. Alan Garber, the former Harvard provost, was appointed interim president of the university following Claudine Gay's abrupt exit from the position University leadership positions are generally understood to come with myriad material perks - including, in the case of Harvard, residence in the landmarked Elmwood House With both companies, Garber has maintained long-term relationships. While he was still teaching at Stanford Medical School in 2005, he was hired by Alameda-based Exelixis Inc., which focuses on creating anti-cancer drugs. In 2017, after he left Stanford and moved to Cambridge - he has acted as Harvard's provost since 2011 - he was hired by the Boston-based biotech company, Vertex. According to the outlet, Garber's board position earningsare at the upper end of the spectrum of what his colleagues in higher-education are making from outside roles. The closest comparison, reportedly, is current Cornell University President Martha Pollack, who has earned at least $1.4million from her role on IBM's board of directors, which she accepted in 2018, one year after her appointment to her current position. Michael Harris, a professor of higher education at Texas' Southern Methodist University, told the Globe that presidents often defend their extra-curricular positions as ways to make 'more connections for the institutions,' or bring in grants. 'The critics would say it's much more about lining their personal pocketbooks,' he added. James Finkelstein, a professor at George Mason University, said that about one-third of presidents at top-tier universities have joined the boards of publicly traded companies - to say nothing of the private ones. He added that he has not seen any evidence that the presidents' roles on these boards actually yield tangible financial or other benefits to their respective institutions. 'If these companies become donors to the universities, we don't see any evidence of that. If they enter into major research agreements with the universities, we don't see any evidence of that,' he said. 'If they employ more graduates of these institutions, we don't see any evidence of that.' Recent Harvard presidents have virtually all held board positions at large, powerful companies, though some of them have resigned their seats before being inaugurated. With or without the extra millions of dollars, university leadership positions are generally understood to come with myriad material perks - including, in the case of Harvard, residence in the landmarked Elmwood House - also called Oliver-Gerry-Lowell House, after a number of donors and contributers to the school and its architecture. The Georgian-style mansion is just one of the properties Harvard uses to house its top executives. According to the Globe, Garber currently resdies in a 6,400-square-foot home paid for by the school. Former Harvard President Claudine Gay agreed to step down in late December, after months of criticism, including, most recently, several dozen accusations of plagiarism in her academic work Exelixis Inc., a California-based anticancer medication company, hired Garber in 2005 while he was still teaching at Stanford's medical school Garber joined the board of Vertex, a Boston-based biotech company, in 2017 after his move to Cambridge Former Harvard President Claudine Gay agreed to step down in late December, after months of criticism, including, most recently, several dozen accusations of plagiarism in her academic work. On December 27, Penny Pritzker, the leader of Harvard University's governing board, called Gay, who was on a family trip to Rome, and asked whether she felt there was a way forward with her at the helm of the university. Although the question was posed as open-ended, Pritzker's implication was apparently clear, and the phone call ended with Gay's agreement to step down. It marked a stunning reversal after weeks of staunch public support for Gay from members of the Harvard Corporation, as the university's governing board is known, in the face of unfolding scandals. Last week, Gay wrote in a New York Times op-ed that racial animus played a role in her ousting. She revealed that she had received death threats and been called the n-word countless times since hitting the headlines in October, following what was criticized as a severely lacking response to the barbaric Hamas attacks in Israel. In the aftermath of former Harvard President Claudine Gay's resignation amidst nearly fifty reports of plagiarism, a target has been placed on the back of the wife of Bill Ackman, who led the pressure campaign that led to Gay's ousting. Business Insider launched an investigation last week into the billionaire's wife, Dr. Neri Oxman, which led to accusations of plagiarism in sections of her 330-page MIT doctoral dissertation; Oxman denies plagiarizing but owned up to omitting quotation marks despite including proper citations. The BI article examined some of Oxman's work, knit-picking instances where she failed to include quotation marks around borrowed passages - despite providing the proper references in the bibliography and elsewhere - in a desperate attempt to prove that the American-Israeli designer violated MIT's academic-integrity standards. The report highlights multiple instances of alleged plagiarism by Oxman, who became a tenured professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2017, in which Oxman clearly states the names of the authors as references. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who had actively sought to oust Harvard President Claudine Gay applauded her resignation In the wake of the pressure campaign led by Ackman to oust Gay, accusations of plagiarism against his wife, Dr. Neri Oxman, have begun to surface Oxman responded to the brazen allegations made against her, admitting errors in her application of quotation marks, but asserting proper crediting throughout the dissertation. 'I was forwarded an email this morning from a reporter at Business Insider who noted that there are four paragraphs in my 330-page PhD dissertation: 'Material-based Design Computation,' which I completed at MIT in 2010,' she wrote on X on Thursday. 'Where I omitted quotation marks for certain work that I used. For each of the four paragraphs in question, I properly credited the original source's author(s) with references at the end of each of the subject paragraphs, and in the detailed bibliography end pages of the dissertation.' 'In these four paragraphs, however, I did not place the subject language in quotation marks, which would be the proper approach for crediting the work. I regret and apologize for these errors.' 'Business Insider also identified one sentence in the dissertation where I paraphrased Claus Mattheck and did not cite him,' she wrote. 'I should have provided a citation to Mattheck for the above sentence. I paraphrased from his book, 'Design in nature: learning from trees, Springer 1998,' which I cited throughout my thesis, and properly attributed in the sections which follow the subject sentence. I deeply apologize to Mattheck for inadvertently not citing him when I paraphrased the above sentence.' Meanwhile, the rest of the article delves into the private lives of Oxman and Ackman, emphasizing Ackman's recent activism against anti-Semitism at Harvard, his alma mater, as well as his push for Claudine Gay to resign following dozens of accusations of plagiarism. An Alaska Airlines plane that blew out a panel at 16,000ft was caused by a faulty door plug detaching, it can be revealed. Accident investigators have hailed the miracle that allowed everyone on board the Boeing 737 Max 9 to survive after the 'truly terrifying' disintegration on the flight from Portland to Ontario International in California. Toys, phones and clothes were sucked into the night after the plug door 'departed the aircraft' causing instant decompression with 171 passengers aboard Flight 1282 on Friday evening. But the fact that most people were still wearing their seat belts just 10 minutes into the flight probably stopped them following their possessions through the hole, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). 'We are very, very fortunate here that this didn't end up in something more tragic,' NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy told a press conference on Saturday night. The Boeing 737-9 MAX rolled off the assembly line just two months ago, receiving its certification in November 2023, according to FAA record posted online Alaska flight 1282 left Portland just after 5pm local time on Friday when a window blew out at 16,000 feet, ripping a child's shirt off Jennifer Homendy of the National Transportation Safety Board said the blow-out at 16,000ft was an 'accident, not an incident' 'No one was seated in 26A and 26B, where that door plug is.' 'With that said, I imagine this was a pretty terrifying event. 'We don't often talk about psychological injury, but I'm sure that occurred here.' The head rests for seats 26A and 25A were torn off as hurricane force winds buffeted the passengers and the seat at 26A was destroyed. All 144 Boeing Max 9's in service across across the US have been grounded pending emergency inspections by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). While the hunt has begun for the missing plug door which is thought to have crashed to earth somewhere off Barnes Road and Highway 217 in the Cedar Hills district of western Portland. Its catastrophic failure depressurized the cabin, with the force of the air rushing in ripping the shirt off a young boy, whose mom was seen holding onto him. Passengers also watched as their phones were sucked out into the night sky. Terrifying footage showed fliers looking out through the gaping hole of the fuselage onto the twinkling lights of Portland below in the eerily quiet cabin. Passengers reported hearing a 'really loud boom' before a 'deathly' silence fell over the cabin as the plane made its emergency landing back in Portland around 40 minutes later. A photo shows the blown out window. It is offered as a door on the aircraft. Alaska chose not to take this option - although the frame of the prospective door was entirely ripped out by the fuselage failure Reports suggest that fortunately 26A, the seat next to what appears to have been an emergency exit with a window, was not occupied Reports suggest that fortunately 26A, the seat next to what appears to have been an emergency exit with a window, was not occupied. Alaska did not take the option of an extra door in row 26, so it appears as a window from the inside - but the door frame remains visible on the exterior fuselage One passenger who filmed the drama said she woke up from a nap believing the plane had hit turbulence - only to discover a large hole in its fuselage A 20 year-old woman called Elizabeth told Oregon Live how 'it sounded like your ears were popping like normally on a plane, but 10 times louder. I couldn't believe it was real.' 'We were all calm,' she said of her fellow passenger, 'but I did feel like I was about to cry, because who knows this could be my last few moments.' Another passenger, Kyle Rinker, 29, said the plane became 'deathly silent. Nobody made a noise.' The plug door is used as an emergency exit when the plane is configured to take more passengers but is sealed up and invisible from inside in the configuration used by Alaska. Oxygen is needed in emergencies occurring above 12,000ft to prevent hypoxia oxygen starvation which can cause dizziness, loss of consciousness, and permanent brain damage, and Homendy said the situation would have been even more serious had the plane been further into its flight. 'Think about what happens when you're in cruise,' she told reporters. 'Everybody's up and walking, folks don't have seatbelts on. They're going to restrooms. The flight attendants are providing service to passengers. 'We could have ended up with something so much more tragic.' Just weeks ago Boeing asked the FAA to exempt the latest variant of its 737 Max plane from safety inspections despite the risk of engine malfunction. FAA officials said that Boeing was working to fix the hazard which could cause the engine housing from overheating and breaking off during flight, the Associated Press reported. In the meantime, federal officials told pilots flying the 737 Max 7, which is not yet used by airlines, to limit use of an anti-icing system in some conditions to avoid damage that 'could result in loss of control of the airplane.' Boeing unveiled their 737 Max 9 in 2015, and since its Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) approval in 2017 has become one of the most widely used aircraft in the world. But it has a deeply troubled reputation and plunged Boeing into the greatest crisis in the Chicago-headquartered firm's history. A year after going into service the plane it had its first crash: in October 2018 a 737 Max operated by Indonesian airline Lion Air crashed shortly after take off, killing all 189 on board. Five months later, in March 2019, a second 737 Max - this one operated by Ethiopian Airlines - crashed again shortly after take off, killing all 157 on board. Three days later the planes were grounded by the FAA. It later emerged that Boeing staff, in internal messages, were cavalier about FAA regulations and critical of the Max's design - in particular a computer system blamed for both deadly crashes. One said it the aircraft was 'designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys.' The 737 design dates back to the 1960s and Boeing was criticized for adding large engines to an old airframe instead of using a 'clean sheet design'. In videos posted to social media passengers can be seen sitting calmly wearing oxygen masks as the plane returns to the runway Wreckage of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-MAX plane is seen on March 11, 2019 A Lion Air Boeing 737-MAX crashed in Badung Bali in 2013 after it overshot the runway at Bali Ngurah Rai Airport Faults were discovered in the aircraft's MCAS, or Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System: the MCAS was found in both the Lion Air and Ethiopian Air crashes to have erroneously pointed the nose down towards the ground, and the pilots were unable to override it. The FAA were heavily criticized for giving Boeing too much free reign to do its own safety checks, rather than submitting to more rigorous external inspections. In 2021, Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion in fines in a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Justice Department to settle charges the company hid critical information about the Max from regulators and the public. Boeing spent billions overhauling the systems and the planes returned to global skies in the fall of 2020, after being grounded for 20 months the longest such action in aviation history. This is the bizarre moment a streaker does a naked cannonball into an Alabama Bass Pro shop pond. Brian Owens, 42, faces public lewdness, resisting arrest, assault, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment charges for the offense in Leeds at 9pm on Thursday. Footage circulating online shows it in full - after a fully naked Owens is said to have executed a cannonball from the top floor of the Bass Pro Shop into the aquarium. The videos then show Owens, while still treading water, getting in a shouting match with officers who arrive on the scene. He hangs over the edge, and eventually hurls himself over the side and onto the cement floor, leaving him unconscious. Cops get into a scuffle with Owens as he jolts awake, and work painstakingly to put him in cuffs. As the still-exposed suspect starts to simmer down, a bystander provides him a blanket. The footage stops there, but officers said he was then put into a cop car and hospitalized. He was briefly jailed, but is out on bond. An Alabama man with mental health issues is in custody after being filmed diving naked into a fish store aquarium Thursday Brian Owens, 42, faces public lewdness, resisting arrest, assault, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment charges for the filmed offense, which happened Thursday at a Bass Bro Shop in Leeds. His family told officers that he suffers from mental illness Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin on Friday explained how the incident occurred, while also revealing Owens' family had told him he suffers from mental illness. The top cop said the suspect's episode began when he 'intentionally struck a pole' in the Bass Pro establishment's parking lot, while driving a car with his family inside. That's when he rushed inside the store to perform his 'cannonball' leap, Irwin explained - culminating with him standing under the installment's waterfall before being reprimanded by responding officers. Owens at that point actually exited the water to yell at two officers, Irwin said, before diving back in to egg them on. The suspect was subsequently belligerent - and adamant against going with officers' demands, Irwin said. The videos then show Owens, while still treading water, getting in a shouting match with officers who arrive on the scene The impact from the fall can be felt in the now viral bystander footage, and reportedly left Owens knocked out Cops, however, get into a scuffle with Owens as he jolts awake, and work painstakingly to put him in cuffs 'He was very erratic and was saying a lot of nasty things to the officers,' Irwin told Fox News of one of the filmed conversations seen between Owens and the arresting officers. The argument over whether to get out of the water would continue, Irwin said - until Owens suddenly decided to climb over the side of the massive aquarium enclosure, only to plummet the several feet to the floor below. The impact from the fall - which can be felt in the now viral bystander footage - left Owens knocked out, AL.com reported. Owens at that point exited the water to yell at two officers, before diving back in to egg them on Officers over the weekend would not confirm whether that tidbit was true, but said Friday that Owns assaulted one of the officers with a kick Officers over the weekend would not confirm whether that tidbit was true, but said Friday that Owens assaulted one of the officers with a kick. The kick came as the two cops in the Birmingham suburb struggled to put the suspect in handcuffs - an effort that was also caught on film. It culminated with cops leading the still-naked suspect out of the small-town store in bracelets, after an incident that in all only took about five minutes, Irwin said. The chief went on to reveal that during Owens' arrest, the suspect kicked the first-responders patrol car to the point where it damaged the door frame, leading to one of two counts of criminal mischief - the other for hitting the pole in the parking lot. Owens will aslo face an array of charges including public lewdness, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and second-degree assault for his filmed episode, as well as two counts of reckless endangerment for how he drove the vehicle. The suspect was eventually taken to a hospital for treatment and a mental health evaluation, Irwin further revealed. It culminated with cops leading the still-naked suspect out of the small-town store in bracelets, after an incident that in all only took about five minutes, cops said Owens will also face reckless endangerment and criminal mischief charges for hitting a pole in the small-town fishing supplies store's parking lot, cops confirmed Friday The Sterrett resident was then booked into the St. Clair County Jail at 9:39 pm, jail records show, before being released at 4:30 pm the next day on an unspecified bond. DailyMail.com has reached out to both the Ashville Jail staff and Pell City Jail staff for the amount. As of Sunday, Owens faces one charge of public lewdness, one of disorderly conduct, one of resisting arrest, and one of second-degree assault. He also faces two counts of criminal mischief for hitting the pole and damaging the patrol car and two counts of reckless endangerment. 'It's very unfortunate that people like this aren't receiving the treatment they need,' Irwin said of the suspect. 'I know everyone wants to write a story and think its funny but he had a mental problem,' he further told 1819 News, confirming Owens had been 'taken for mental [evaluation.]' He added: 'Its very sad.' A trial date was not immediately made public as of Sunday. As an investigation continues, DailyMail.com has reached out to the St Clair County District Attorney for an update. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to keep his job despite failing to tell Joe Biden he was having surgery and going AWOL for five days. The top Pentagon official did not tell the White House about a scheduled operation which left him hospitalized at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on New Year's Day following complications. Austin, 70, ranks just below Biden at the top of the chain of command in the US military, and his duties require him being available at a moment's notice. A Pentagon spokesperson told DailyMail.com Austin 'resumed his full duties' from hospital on Friday evening, and he was still in the hospital but 'recovering well' by Sunday morning. Despite a barrage of criticism from members of Congress about his mysterious disappearance, White House aides have told Politico that his job is not in jeopardy. Several also highlighted Biden's deep personal connection with Austin, due to the former four-star general's close friendship with the president's late son Beau Biden. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (pictured) is likely to keep his job despite apparently failing to inform the president that he was having surgery and going AWOL for five days, according to former officials Austin, 70, ranks just below President Joe Biden at the top of the chain of command of the US military and his duties require him being available at a moment's notice to respond to any manner of national security crisis Ex-DOD officials have said someone is likely to be fired over the kerfuffle - though Austin might be saved thanks to his personal connection with Joe Biden. (Pictured: Biden speaking during a White House meeting in January 2023, flanked by Austin and Antony Blinken) But the aides were unable to say what led to the bizarre situation - from what Austin's surgery involved, what the medical complications were and even his current condition. The Pentagon declined to disclose any details about the surgery to DailyMail.com, citing 'medical and personal privacy issues'. 'This has been an evolving situation,' the spokesperson said. Some officials who spoke with Politico on condition of anonymity said that a senior Pentagon aide will likely loose their job over the chaos. 'Someone's head has to roll,' one former defense employee said. 'Someone made the decision not to disclose,' another ex-official agreed. That person will likely be gone shortly.' 'Not telling the [White House], Congress or the media he is sick, and then telling Pentagon staff he is working from home is next level. This is a problem.' Some officials also noted that Alabama-born Austin was close with Beau Biden, after they served in Iraq together and attended Catholic services alongside each other. Lower-level aides including Sasha Baker and his deputy Kathleen Hicks have been sitting in for Austin in the interim. Hicks was reportedly on vacation in Puerto Rico but had to step in for some duties. Five days after the top national security official dropped off the radar, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder gave a limited explanation about his absence. 'On the evening of January 1, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for complications following a recent elective medical procedure,' Ryder said. 'He is recovering well and is expecting to resume his full duties today. At all times, the Deputy Secretary of Defense was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary, if required.' Just a day earlier, Ryder held a televised news briefing that conveyed the sense of business as usual at the Pentagon, offering Austin's condolences to ally Japan following its New Year's Day earthquake, for example. Despite a barrage of criticism from members of Congress and the media about Austin's mysterious disappearance, White House aides have told Politico that his job is not in jeopardy Five days after the top national security official dropped off the radar, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder (pictured) gave a limited explanation about his absence Some officials who spoke with Politico on condition of anonymity said that a senior Pentagon aide will likely loose their job over the chaos. (Pictured: the Pentagon seen on August 27, 2023) But the past week has been anything but normal for the Pentagon, with U.S. troops in the Middle East wrestling with the regional fallout from the unfolding Israel-Hamas war and carrying out a U.S. retaliatory strike in Baghdad on Thursday. The way the Defense Department handled Austin's hospitalization stands in contrast to how the State Department dealt with then-Secretary of State Colin Powell's prostate surgery on Dec. 15, 2003. The State Department spokesman at that time issued a statement in the morning making public that Powell, a retired four-star general and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was in surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and would remain there for several days before returning home. It also said Powell would be on a reduced schedule while he recovered from the operation. The State Department's spokesman at the time, Richard Boucher, then offered details on Powell's surgery in his daily briefing. Boucher, contacted by Reuters on Friday, said the key question regarding public disclosure was whether Austin was under anesthesia or was incapacitated. 'Was there any moment in the process where he could not function as secretary of defense?' he asked. 'If you are up and walking around and have your information and you have your aides in the next room and you can make split-second decisions... then there is probably not a public necessity to disclose. 'The only necessity is if you are going to be conked out,' he added. The Horizon scandal deepened today as Rishi Sunak admitted all subpostmasters caught up in the affair could be exonerated amid rising public anger. The Prime Minister said the Justice Secretary was looking whether such a move would be possible as the Government comes under pressure to act. A petition demanding the Post Office's former CEO Paula Vennells is stripped of her CBE has reached nearly one million signatories. There have also been calls for compensation to be given out to wronged workers faster after a four-part ITV series, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, brought fresh public awareness to the scandal. Alan Bates, a former subpostmaster who is referenced in the title of the series, has called for more to be done to help recompense those wrongly given criminal convictions and who had their lives turned upside down. It comes as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey came under fresh pressure amid renewed scrutiny of his actions as a government minister. The Sunday Times published a cache of correspondence between Mr Bates and ex-ministers from the Coalition government - including Sir Ed. There have been calls for compensation to be given out to wronged workers faster after a four-part ITV series, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, brought fresh public awareness to the scandal There have also been demands for Paula Vennells, the former CEO of the Post Office, to be stripped of her CBE following the scandal. Pictured: Ms Vennells in 2016 More than 700 Post Office branch managers were handed criminal convictions after faulty Fujitsu accounting software, known as Horizon, made it appear as though money was missing from their outlets. READ MORE HERE: The gilded lives of the Post Office scandal bosses that prove penitence is only for the little people... A new ITV drama has enraged the nation. Wait until you read what happened Advertisement It has been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British history and a public inquiry into it is ongoing. Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Rishi Sunak revealed the option of exonerating all postmasters was being 'looked at' by the Justice Secretary. Asked if the Government would remove the Post Office's ability to investigate and prosecute, he said: 'The Justice Secretary is looking at the things that you've described, it wouldn't be right to pre-empt that process, obviously there's legal complexity in all of those things but he is looking at exactly those areas.' Earlier in the programme, Mr Sunak said: 'Everyone has been shocked by watching what they have done over the past few days and beyond and it is an appalling miscarriage of justice. 'Obviously it's something that happened in the '90s but actually seeing it and hearing about it again just shows what an appalling miscarriages of justice it is for everyone affected and it's important that those people now get the justice they deserve, and that's what the compensation schemes are about. 'The Government has paid out about 150 million to thousands of people already. Of course we want to get the money to the people as quickly as possible, that's why there are interim payments of up to, I think, 600,000 that can be made. 'There are three different schemes available and for anyone affected they should come forward.' Rishi Sunak revealed today that the Government is looking at exonerating all subpostmasters caught up in the Horizon scandal On the same programme former subpostmaster Lee Castleton, who was ordered to repay money and legal costs to the tune of 321,000 despite doing nothing wrong, said it had been 'like a war' trying to get compensation from the Post Office. He said: 'The victims are traumatised. It has been a long time of 25 years and 135 million has been paid to some of the victims, but we have had 150 million-plus paid to lawyers. 'These lawyers are putting lots of pressure and it is difficult. The schemes are difficult. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE HERE: As their monstrous treatment by the Post Office is revealed in a powerful TV drama, Lee and Lisa describe how they were bankrupted, their health was wrecked and their children spat at after they were falsely accused of fraud Advertisement 'We are just normal run-of-the-mill people. We have legal people with us but it is so difficult and it is like a war. 'Why would anybody put the Post Office and DBT (the Department for Business and Trade) in charge of recompensing the victims?' He added that he felt the compensation scheme for victims should be taken away from the organisations currently running it. Mr Castleton said 'a completely isolated, separate review and compensation scheme just makes more sense'. His words echoed those by Mr Bates, who said that while the new TV series had been 'an excellent vehicle to get the message out there', more needed to be done to help those caught up in the scandal. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday: 'Its really ignited the whole issue again, and hopefully we can try and bring some conclusion to some of the issues that are still outstanding now.' Mr Bates added: 'I think the big hold-up now is for what they call the compensation, or the financial redress What they need to do is speed the bureaucracy up, which is holding up the payments to all of these people. They really must light a fire under their officials to get this sorted.' It comes as Sir Ed Davey was accused of 'fobbing off' the victims of the scandal after his replies to Mr Bates during his time as postal affairs minister between 2010 to 2012 were revealed. The Sunday Times reported Mr Bates wrote five letters to Sir Ed during his time in the role. In the first of them, on 20 May 2010, Mr Bates urged Sir Ed to intervene and called for an 'independent external investigation instigated at ministerial level'. He said this would 'without any doubt easily find evidence of the error-ridden system'. In his reply, Sir Ed told Mr Bates that a meeting would not serve 'any useful purpose' and suggested the matter was not an issue for the government as the Post Office was treated as an 'arm's length' body by ministers. In a follow-up to Sir Ed's letter, on 8 July 2020, Mr Bates told the then minister his response to the 'very serious issues I had raised was not only disappointing but I actually found your comments offensive'. Lee and Lisa Castleton, pictured with their children CJ and Millie at their daughter's graduation. The family were put through a grotesque ordeal when the Castletons were the victims of a computer system error which the Post Office said meant they owed thousands of pounds Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is under fresh pressure over the Post Office Horizon scandal amid renewed scrutiny of his actions as a government minister 'It is because you have adopted an arm's length relationship [that] you have enabled them to carry on with impunity regardless of the human misery and suffering they inflict,' he added. The newspaper reported the pair then met and, in another letter sent on 14 October 2010, Mr Bates sought to elaborate on a number of issues they had discussed. A week later, on 21 October 2010, Mr Bates wrote to Sir Ed for a fourth time to notify him of 'yet another victim'. But, in a reply in December 2010, Sir Ed told Mr Bates that 'as I made clear in the meeting' neither he nor the Department for Business could intervene in cases currently before the courts or where a legal judgment had been reached. He added: 'POL [Post Office Ltd] continues to express full confidence in the integrity and robustness of the Horizon system and also categorically states that there is no remote access which would allow accounting records to be manipulated in any way.' In a fifth letter to Sir Ed, on 20 August 2011, Mr Bates accused the minister of 'having nailed your colours to POL's mast' and suggested there 'was little point in continuing a dialogue with you or your department'. He also notified Sir Ed that members of the Justice For Sub-postmasters Alliance (JFSA) had begun legal action against the Post Office and warned the eventual financial liability for taxpayers 'has the potential of being astronomical'. The Sunday Times has published a cache of correspondence between former sub-postmaster Alan Bates and ex-ministers from the Coalition government - including Sir Ed. Mr Bates's fight for justice has been portrayed by Toby Jones in the acclaimed new ITV drama, 'Mr Bates vs the Post Office', which has raised new public awareness of the scandal Mr Bates added that Sir Ed's decision to 'ignore our offer to work with you and your department' had left the group with 'no option other than to seek redress through the courts, which is now where the real truth behind Horizon will be exposed'. Sir Ed was promoted to the Cabinet as energy secretary in February 2012, at which point he was succeeded as postal affairs minister by fellow Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb, who in turn was replaced by Jo Swinson six months later. During the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition government, the Department for Business was run by senior Lib Dem MP Sir Vince Cable. Former Lib Dem ministers were accused of 'fobbing off' victims of the Post Office scandal while they were in government. Senior SNP MP Joanna Cherry posted on Twitter: 'With government comes responsibility. 'Lib Dems in the frame for fobbing off the victims of Post Office miscarriages of justice but successive Tory Governments shouldn't be off the hook & it falls to them to finally sort this out.' A Lib Dem source pointed to how Sir Ed was the first postal affairs minister to record a meeting with Mr Bates after he had previously reached out to various ministers under the previous Labour government. They also noted how four Tory postal affairs ministers between 2015 and 2019 recorded no official meetings with Mr Bates or the JFSA. A party spokesperson said: 'Ed's heart goes out to the families caught up in this scandal and his focus is on getting justice and compensation for those impacted. 'Not realising that the Post Office was lying on an industrial scale is a huge regret. Ed will fully cooperate with the inquiry to get to the bottom of what went wrong.' The veteran learned that he would be awarded the prestigious Legion of Honour Henry Robinson, 98, was shocked when ambassadors showed up at his Vegas home A Las Vegas veteran who braved the Second World War was personally awarded the French government's highest honor at his home last month. Private 1st Class Henry Robinson, 98, was surprised when unexpected visitors turned up at his house in Henderson. 'I had the ambassador of France and the ambassador of the United States come to my house, and his contingencies talked to me,' Robinson told KTNV. He was shocked to learn that the French government was bestowing him with the French Legion of Honour for his wartime bravery. The 98-year-old served as a scout behind enemy lines in 1944 when he entered the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. A year later, he helped liberate concentration camps and stayed after the war ended to help displaced people find homes. Henry Robinson, a 98-year-old veteran of World War II, was awarded the Legion of Honour by the French government Robinson, affectionately known as 'Robby,' served as a scout behind enemy lines when he entered the war in 1944. A year later, he helped liberate concentration camps and stayed after the war ended to help displaced people find homes In October 2023, Robinson met with Sebastien Thevenin (left), the Honorary Consul of France to Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. Last month he was visited by the U.S. ambassador to France and the French ambassador, who named him a Knight Robinson was named a Chevalier, or Knight, a title only granted to those with a minimum two decades of public service, and largely only given to those who died in battle. Sebastien Thevenin, the Honorary Consul of France to Las Vegas and Southern Nevada, posted a photo with Robinson to X in October 2023. 'I am very humbled to have met with soon-to-be awarded Knight of the French Legion of Honor, 98-year old WWII veteran Henry Robinson,' Thevenin wrote. 'Thank you for your service and for your sacrifice.' Robinson himself said he received the decoration with his fallen brothers in mind. 'I'd say, probably, in memory of those who didn't come back,' he said. Memories of his time in war continue to haunt the 98-year-old. Robinson recalled how a badly injured 55th Infantry soldier had been stranded in 'no man's land,' out of reach of help. 'There was no way we could get to him to help him,' Robinson explained. 'And so he was out there by himself, wounded. And you could hear him calling, 'Mom!' And that stays with you.' Robinson, affectionately known as 'Robby,' was assigned to the 11th Armored Division, 22nd Tank Battalion. Robinson (right) was previously honored in May 2022, embarking on a trip to Washington, D.C. as part of Honor Flight Nevada He was among the veterans of World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars who visited monuments and memorials constructed in their honor The 98-year-old entered combat in December 1944 and helped repel the Germans over the Prum River. He later served as a guard during the Nuremberg Trials and was honorably discharged in May 1946 He entered combat in December 1944 and helped his division repel the Germans over the Prum River. Robinson later served as a guard during the Nuremberg Trials before he was honorably discharged and sent home in May 1946. The 99-year-old was previously honored on a special trip to Washington, D.C. in May 2022 as part of Honor Flight Southern Nevada. He was among the veterans of World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars who visited monuments erected in their memory. At the time, Robinson said he believed taking part in the Honor Flight would help free him from the shadows of the past. 'You can't carry that forever, but a lot of guys do, and it shortens your life if you don't get past it,' the veteran explained. In October 2023, 99-year-old John Gojmerac was also awarded a Legion of Honour during a ceremony in New York. According to an Army news release, the Slovenian immigrant was drafted into the 3rd ID's 7th Infantry Regiment, serving in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. He was wounded twice. The 99-year-old earned a Silver Star for repairing a telephone line between two platoons several times during a single engagement and capturing a German Soldier who was attempting to cut the line. In October 2023, John Gojmerac, 99, was also awarded a Legion of Honour for serving in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany The Slovenian immigrant was wounded twice in combat. He earned a Silver Star for repairing a telephone line between two platoons several times and capturing a German Soldier as he tried to cut the line Like Robinson, Gojmerac received the award with his late comrades in mind. 'I'm not accepting it for myself, but for the men that didn't make it,' Gojmerac said. He and Robinson join the ranks of a select few granted the prestigious decoration. Robinson is one of 23 Las Vegas locals to receive it in the past decade and is the only surviving honoree. However, Robinson insists he was only doing his duty. 'It's unnecessary,' he said. 'We only did what we were supposed to. You know, we only did what was required, and I'm thinking about the guys we lost.' The 99-year-old will officially receive his medal on Monday during a ceremony officiated by Laurent Bili, France's ambassador to the United States. A pregnant mother whose loving husband was kidnapped by Hamas has spoken of the agony of waiting for the birth of their child without him. Michal Lobanov, 28, said she has been left 'depressed', 'alone' and filled with 'hate' towards Hamas after they abducted her 32-year-old husband, Alexander. Speaking out for the first time to demand that the men still held in Gaza are not forgotten, she told the Daily Mail: 'It is not human to feel sad when you're pregnant.' The couple met working at a restaurant together in 2013 and after eight blissful years had a 'perfect' wedding by the sea in Ashdod, southern Israel. They went on to have their first child, Tom, that year and could not wait for a second son who is due to be born in March. Michal Lobanov (pictured with the words 'Come back dad' written over her stomach), 28, said she has been left 'depressed', 'alone' and filled with 'hate' towards Hamas after they abducted her 32-year-old husband, Alexander Michal and Alexander Lobanov (pictured) went on to have their first child, Tom, in 2021 when they got married and could not wait for a second son who is due to be born in March The couple met working at a restaurant together in 2013 and after eight blissful years had a 'perfect' wedding by the sea in Ashdod, southern Israel But tragically on October 7 Mr Lobanov was running his bar business at the desert rave near Re'im when Hamas stormed the festival. As alarms sounded around the country, he initially told his wife he was ok and would be home soon, but at 9am he phoned to say he was running from terrorists. 'That was the last call,' said Mrs Lobanov, who lives with their two-year-old son in Ashkelon, southern Israel. The coastal city is just 10 miles from Gaza and within earshot of the heavy bombardment reigning down on the territory a constant reminder of the hellish conditions her husband is enduring. 'For 18 days he was missing,' the police officer said. 'Only after 18 days the army came to me and told me that he was kidnapped. 'I thought I would feel relief, but I didn't. Everybody knows the Hamas people, the terrorists. We know how terrible it is to be taken hostage by them. 'I think it's the worst thing that a person can ask for, being a hostage of Hamas.' What had been the most magical time of their lives has descended into an unrelenting nightmare. 'I can't even explain how hard is this,' Mrs Lobanov told the Mail from her parents' home where she has stayed since October 7. 'My mum is helping me a lot, but it's not the same. He's missing.' Mrs Lobanov cannot explain to their young son what has happened, who just points at the Jeep he and his father used to go on in adventures together and asks: 'Dad? Dad? Dad?' She said: 'A pregnant woman should never feel sad when she's pregnant. It's not human to feel sad when you're pregnant. 'It's not ok and I have no control of this because I can't go and take him back. He's not here and so my sadness is not over. 'I don't want to tell my kids a story that I was very sad when I was pregnant, it's a very horrible thing to say, but that's my life now. 'It's very sad pregnancy, very sad. But I love this kid and I want him, and Alex wants him, so it doesn't matter if it's sad or not.' Tragically on October 7 Mr Lobanov (pictured) was running his bar business at the desert rave near Re'im when Hamas stormed the festival and kidnapped him 'I can't even explain how hard is this,' Mrs Lobanov (pictured) told the Mail from her parents' home where she has stayed since October 7 While Israel's efforts have rightly prioritised freeing women, children and the elderly first, Mrs Lobanov's struggle is a rallying call for the men still trapped there For Mrs Lobanov, she cannot forgive the terrorists for what they have done to her during what should have been a precious time for her young family (the couple is pictured at their wedding) Before Mr Lobanov (pictured) was taken the couple had narrowed down the names for their son, and it is the thought of him deciding on what to call their child that keeps Mrs Lobanov going While Israel's efforts have rightly prioritised freeing women, children and the elderly first, Mrs Lobanov's struggle is a rallying call for the men still trapped there. To raise awareness, she posed for a photo with a local newspaper showing her baby bump with the words, 'Come back dad,' written over her stomach. 'My fear is that Alex will be the last one to be released,' she said. 'I think it's very important to get all the kids, all the children and women, but not only them. READ MORE: Israeli news anchor carries a gun while live on air in the studio in latest sign of how civilians still do not feel safe since Hamas attack Advertisement 'The men are also suffering, they have the same pain. They don't have less pain because they are men. They have to get them back now.' For Mrs Lobanov, she cannot forgive the terrorists for what they have done to her during what should have been a precious time for her young family. 'I feel anger and I feel hate,' she said. 'Because they hate us. I'm very depressed. But I just want to see him back home, so it doesn't matter how I feel about Hamas.' But she strongly believes her husband's love for their children will keep him going in the tunnels of Gaza. 'I know he's a strong person, he can get through this because he has so many good reasons to come back,' she said. 'I know that he's thinking about his kids, about me, and that he has to be strong.' Before Mr Lobanov was taken the couple had narrowed down the names for their son, and it is the thought of him deciding on what to call their child that keeps Mrs Lobanov going. 'I still need him to come back and pick a name,' she said. 'There's not another option he will be here, and he will pick his name. 'I even don't want to talk about other options because there is no other option.' She adds: 'There is a phrase that says hope dies last. You know, hope is everything. This is my hope, this is what I wish for.' Rishi Sunak today insisted he would meet his pledge to cut NHS waiting lists when there are no more strikes by hospital staff. The Prime Minister said he had 'confidence' that an end to industrial action would allow him to meet one of his five key promises to voters. An estimated 7.71 million treatments were waiting to be carried out in England at the end of October, which related to 6.44 million patients. This was down from a record 7.77 million treatments at the end of September - but it was about 7 per cent higher than January last year, when the PM made his pledge to cut waiting times. The NHS has been rocked by a series of strikes in the past 12 months, with junior doctors currently continuing a six-day walkout as part of their pay dispute. The longest ever strike in the history of the NHS could see as many as 200,000 operations and appointments cancelled. Rishi Sunak insisted he would meet his pledge to cut NHS waiting lists when there are no more strikes by hospital staff Striking junior doctors attend a picket line outside Homerton Hospital in London Junior doctors are currently continuing a six-day walkout as part of their pay dispute. The longest ever strike in the history of the NHS could see as many as 200,000 operations and appointments cancelled Junior doctors' pay - the truth Junior doctors were awarded a pay rise of 6 per cent plus a consolidated payment of 1,250 in July, in line with the recommendation of the Independent Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration. The package was equivalent to an average increase of 8.1 per cent from 2022/23 to 2023/24, or 10.3 per cent for those in their first year of training. Average basic pay for a first year doctor increased from 29,384 to 32,397, while a junior doctor who had been a specialty trainee for six years or more saw their pay rise from 58,398 to 63,152. Many are paid a higher sum for working overtime and receiving enhanced rates for working unsociable hours. Junior doctors pocketed the extra money despite vowing to continue striking, with some boasting the additional income would subsidise further walkouts. Steve Barclay, who was Health Secretary from October 2022 until November 2023, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had described the settlement as final and insisted there would be no more talks about pay. But the British Medical Association has held further negotiations with officials and ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care since October, resulting an offer of an extra 3 per cent, which has been rejected by union representatives. The BMA has claimed that junior doctors have seen their pay eroded by more than a quarter in real terms over the past 15 years. The trainee medics have been demanding full pay restoration worth around 35 per cent and have said they would not settle for anything less, although senior figures within the union have suggested they may compromise. Advertisement Appearing on the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mr Sunak this morning admitted he had so far failed to cut NHS waiting lists. The PM said industrial action had 'hindered' his progress, adding: 'Towards the end of last year we had a period without any strikes in the NHS, and what did we see, we saw the waiting lists fall tens of thousands, by 65,000 over the period of October. 'Waiting lists started to fall when you had a period without industrial action, so that actually gives me the confidence to know that once we can resolve the outstanding industrial action... that we will be able to see waiting lists fall because of the extra investment and resources we have put in the NHS.' He added: 'The Government has now reached resolution with every other part of the NHS, nurses, midwives, paramedics, consultant doctors, speciality doctors most recently. 'So every other part of the NHS work force and I'm grateful to them for everything they're doing, has reached a resolution with the Government on a reasonable fair pay settlement, the only people that haven't are the junior doctors.' Mr Sunak continued: 'We can get the waiting lists down when we don't have strikes, that's what the number show, that's what everybody wants to see, I think that's what the doctors would like to see too and I would urge them to try and come back round the table so we can get everyone back in and we can start getting the waiting lists falling.' But the PM faced a backlash from health unions over his comments. The British Medical Association claimed Mr Sunak was 'incorrect' to state he has settled pay disputes with consultants and speciality doctors. In a post to X, formerly Twitter, the BMA wrote: 'The PM says consultants and SAS doctors have settled their pay disputes. This is incorrect. 'We've put the Government's offer to our members and they'll now decide. We're deeply disappointed the Government hasn't made a credible offer we can also put to junior doctors.' The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) also hit out at the PM for 'forgetting basic facts' after he claimed he had reached a pay settlement with nurses. RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said Mr Sunak was wrong because the union's members had rejected his pay offer and remain in dispute. Ms Cullen said: 'The Prime Minister is forgetting basic facts, he never reached a pay resolution with nursing staff in the NHS. Our members rejected his pay offer and we remain in dispute. 'The Government needs to get its act together, it must offer nursing staff a far better pay offer this year. 'Just this week, nursing staff in Northern Ireland announced they will be taking to picket lines over pay. 'Rishi Sunak's claims about waiting lists increasing because of industrial action have been debunked, but the fact remains they have risen on his watch. 'With over 70 per cent of the public backing strike action by nursing staff because of staffing levels, it's clear the public support nurses continuing to fight for our NHS and our patients.' Posing for a year group photo, this brown-haired schoolgirl looks like any other, as she smiles into the camera. The then 16-year-old is dressed smartly in her school uniform and surrounded by her peers. But fast forward five years and Alice Wood was sat in a police interview room being quizzed over the murder of her boyfriend. Alice Wood (pictured) in her school uniform aged 16. She now faces life in prison The 23-year-old went from a high-flying student, who had just been offered a place on a postgraduate course at Cambridge University, to a young woman now facing life in prison. It comes after she drove at her fiance Ryan Watson three times in May 2022, dragging him almost a tenth of a mile along a road beneath her car. Wood apparently resented Mr Watson speaking to another woman at a party in Stoke. The actions of Wood, who will be sentenced on January 29 after being convicted of murder earlier this week, have shocked neighbours and old school friends. Friends recalled her being 'quiet' and not quick to anger growing up, referring to her as a 'school swot'. She even had her exemplary grades tattooed on her arm. Bodyworn camera footage released by Cheshire Police shows Wood sobbing as she was arrested on suspicion of murder Wood, who had been drinking, got behind the wheel of her car and drove into her boyfriend in what horrified neighbours described as a 'game of chicken'. Ryan Watson (pictured) was dragged more than 500ft along the road underneath his fiance's car Alice Wood is warned she faces a life sentence after mowing down her boyfriend Ryan Watson in a jealous rage The pair had been enjoying each other's company at the party before she grew jealous at him receiving attention from another woman Knocking on the door of a neighbour's home, she said: 'I think I've run over my boyfriend. And as police arrived with handcuffs she sobbed: 'It's fine, I deserve it.' A former school friend told the Mirror that Wood had been bound for bigger things before she mowed down Mr Watson, leaving the family of the charity worker 'heartbroken'. The ex-pal said: 'Alice never showed any signs of jealousy, anger or aggression and wasnt the type of person you had to be careful around. I think thats why it came as such a shock. 'Speaking to everyone who knew her the general consensus is this is unexpected. She was really smart, like effortlessly so. 'In the first year of secondary she was selected for the gifted and talented group, got three A-stars at A-level and was one of only a few pupils in the schools history to get to the final selection stage for Oxford.' Wood and Mr Watson had bought a house together in Rode Heath, Cheshire, in October 2021 for 120,000 with help from their parents, seven months before she made the fateful decision to get behind the wheel of her Ford Fiesta. An actress travelled more than 150 miles to save performance of the musical Evita after both the leading lady and her understudy became ill. Jessica Daley travelled from her home in Middlesbrough to the Curve theatre in Leicester to sing the starring role of Eva Peron in a 7.30pm performance of Evita on Saturday. The theatre had spent the day trying to find a replacement and Daley responded to the call, arriving to sing the demanding role from the side of the stage while the rest of the cast performed. Martha Kirby and her understudy Chumisa Dornford-May were too ill to go on, although Dornford-May has since recovered and will return to the stage for today's performance. The theatre shared a picture of Daley receiving a standing ovation, with audience members later replying to the post to thank Daley for her 'amazing' performance. Actress Jessica Daley (centre) travelled more than 150 miles to save performance of the musical Evita after both the leading lady and her understudy became ill Martha Kirby (pictured) and her understudy Chumisa Dornford-May were too ill to go on, prompting Daley to take over the starring role of Eva Peron in a 7.30pm performance yesterday Lord Lloyd-Webber and Sir Tim Rice wrote the musical about the life of Argentine political leader Eva Peron in 1978 The Curve posted on X, formerly Twitter: 'She is a diamond - a huge round of applause for Jessica Daley! '@jessicacaca7 joined us this evening to perform as Eva Peron, meaning our production of Evita could go ahead. 'Here she is receiving a well deserved standing ovation from our loyal and supportive audiences.' Ms Daley replied saying: 'A moment. Lord', with a crying face emoji, and has pinned the post to her X account. Audience members also showed their gratification for the actor in the comments, with one saying: 'Amazing performance...so glad that the show could go on! Thank you Jessica...what a star!!' Another wrote: 'She was amazing, as were the whole cast. Thank you, Curve, for pulling out all the stops to put on the show this evening. Special thanks to @jessicacaca7 for being so courageous. Brilliant performance.' In 2019, Ms Daley led the international tour of Evita to 'high acclaim'. She has also performed in stage versions of Billy Elliot, An Officer And A Gentleman and The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lord Lloyd-Webber and Sir Tim Rice wrote the musical about the life of Argentine political leader Eva Peron in 1978. It was turned into a film in 1996 with Madonna in the title role. The Met Office has said parts of Britain could see snow showers as soon as Monday morning amid warnings over sub-zero temperatures and a danger to life. The authorities have issued an amber cold health alert, noting that the below freezing temperatures could see the number of deaths rise and stretch health and ambulance services. Forecasters have said the white stuff could fall over high-lying parts of northern England and Scotland overnight, while people in southern England could wake up to falling powder in the morning. A cold snap, brought by freezing air moving south west from Scandinavia, is set to send the mercury plummeting as low as -4C tonight. It comes as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for ice on Monday across London and the south east from 4am to 10am. This weather map shows the probability of snow falling in Britain at by 6pm on Monday, with southern and eastern parts of England being most likely to see a sprinkling of the white stuff The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice across parts of Kent, Sussex and London for Monday morning A snow plough clears snow near the Lecht Ski Centre in Scotland, on December 28 Flooded gardens and homes of residents of the Queen's road and Hills Meadow area in Reading, Berkshire on Sunday Aerial view of flooded land close to Salisbury Cathedral in Salisbury, Wiltshire on Sunday morning Yellow weather warning issued Ice across parts of southeast England Monday 0400 Monday 1000 Latest info https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/SX0YsbSNci Met Office (@metoffice) January 7, 2024 This weather map shows areas that are likely to have snow cover by 5am on Tuesday morning with southern parts of England, and northern Scotland most likely The yellow warning states that snow and ice are likely to affect roads and train services in parts of Greater London, Kent, Surrey, East Sussex and West Sussex. The amber cold health alert (CHA) for the north west of England, West Midlands, East Midlands and south west of England, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office, runs until 12pm on Friday. An amber alert means 'cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time'. According to the UKHSA: 'Significant impacts are possible across the health and social care sector due to forecast weather conditions including an observed increase in mortality across the population particularly in the 65+ age group or those with certain underlying health conditions.' There is also a yellow cold health alert in place for the north east of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, the east of England, the south east of England and London. The Met Office forecast for the UK tonight says: 'Some wintry showers near coastal areas and across the southeast but otherwise a dry night with variable amounts of cloud. Fog patches returning, most likely across Northern Ireland, Scotland and northwest England. Widespread frost and icy stretches.' For Monday it says: 'Fine for many with sunny spells, best of these in the west after fog clears. Scattered sleet and snow showers across southern areas. Wind chill for England and Wales.' For the south west of England, the forecast for tonight says: 'A cold night with a widespread frost developing and some icy patches. Turning breezier on coasts exposed to the freshening easterly breeze. Minimum temperature -4 C.' For Monday it says: 'Generally dry with sunny spells, but a few sleet or snow flurries are possible, mainly in eastern counties, but perhaps more widely later. Feeling cold in the brisk easterly winds. Maximum temperature 5 C.' It continues: 'Sleet and snow flurries are possible on Monday night, clearing west Cornwall on Tuesday, then mostly sunny on Tuesday and Wednesday. Somewhat cloudier on Thursday. Often windy and feeling cold.' Areas in the south of England and northern parts of Scotland are the most likely to have snow cover by 5am on Tuesday morning. Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: 'With the Met Office forecasting drops in temperature across the United Kingdom into next week, it is important to check in on the wellbeing of those most vulnerable to the cold.' A resident from Queens Road in Reading removing water from inside their house on Sunday Cars drive along flooded land in Pulborough, West Sussex on Saturday after the River Arun burst its banks in the aftermath of Storm Henk A street on Saturday that was flooded by the River Ouse after it burst its banks, in central York, following Storm Henk, which brought strong winds and heavy rain across much of the country Flooding in Marlborough, Wiltshire on Friday. More than 1,800 properties have already been flooded after prolonged wet weather and intense rainfall, the Environment Agency said He noted that the cold weather can increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections and can have a serious health impact for older people and those with pre-existing health conditions. Dr Sousa added: 'Temperatures are expected to turn particularly cold overnight, as we would expect at this time of year. 'If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over the age of 65 it is important to try and heat the rooms where you spend most of your time, such as your living room or bedroom, in the coming days.' Many regions are also still trying to cope with flooding following heavy rainfall in recent days. Nearly 2,000 homes have been flooded over the last few days and that number could rise as water which was dumped on higher ground makes its way downstream in Britain's waterways. Prolonged wet weather, including a deluge of rain from Storm Henk on already sodden ground, has seen some rivers reach near-record levels and there is set to be no let up for those whose properties are at risk. By Sunday lunchtime, the Environment Agency (EA) said there were 172 flood warnings and 176 flood alerts in England. Katharine Smith, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said on Saturday: 'Significant river flooding impacts are still expected... over the next few days across parts of the River Thames in Oxfordshire as well as the River Trent near Nottingham, and the River Severn, including Gloucester. 'The prolonged wet weather and intense rainfall has led to flooding impacts and our thoughts are with all of those affected.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said 'flooding has been having a devastating impact on communities up and down the country' as he spoke to affected residents in Oxford on their doorsteps before visiting EA workers at their depot on Osney Island. Addressing the media in front of the fast-moving River Thames on Sunday, Mr Sunak said: 'I was in the East Midlands last week on Thursday and I'm in Oxfordshire here today talking to some of those that have been affected, but also saying thank you to our first responders who were doing a fantastic job over the past week. 'We have over 1,000 Environment Agency personnel on the ground in local communities helping, over 200 pumps have been deployed. 'We've invested 5.2 billion in flood defences over the period in question, that's a record sum, far more than we've done, in the future that's contributed to protecting over 300,000 homes. 'And of course, there have been many people affected by what's happened over the past week, but also over 49,000 have been affected by flooding.' The EA has previously warned that more properties may be flooded in the coming days amid increased river levels and more rain. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to members of the Environment Agency on Sunday as he visits flood defences in Oxford Kayakers watch cars driving through floodwater in Pulborough, West Sussex, on Saturday A man paddles his small boat through the floodwaters in front of a house in Maisemore, Gloucestershire on Friday A narrowboat lays on its side across the front of a road bridge over the River Soar in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire on Saturday A Mini Cooper driver attempts to get through floodwater in Chertsey, Surrey on Saturday Vehicles drive through flood waters near Reading Station in Berkshire on Saturday Submerged cars in a car park after heavy rains and sewer system overflows in Wallingford, Oxfordshire on Friday An Environment Agency worker wearing waders walks along the flooded Thames Footpath in Cookham, Berkshire on Saturday Labour has accused the Government of being 'asleep at the wheel' over flood warnings with leader Sir Keir Starmer vowing to make flood defences 'fit for purpose', writing on social media that 'people's lives shouldn't be upended by extreme rain'. More than 1,800 properties have already been flooded after prolonged wet weather and intense rainfall, the agency said, with the impact of high water levels likely to continue, particularly around the rivers Trent, Severn and Thames. The agency said buildings 'will flood and there will be travel disruption' over the next few days, and local groundwater flooding is also possible in the south of England and Yorkshire and the Humber. Forecasters have also said that slower journeys could be faced by people in parts of southeast England, who should be braced for ice across the region on Monday. The Met Office yellow weather warning states: 'A mix of sleet and snow showers will move in from the east later on Sunday night along with temperatures near zero. 'Given these wintry showers, and also wet surfaces after recent wet weather, some icy patches are likely on untreated surfaces. 'Additionally a few of the snow showers could turn quite heavy; these probably only affecting a narrow zone but a few places could see 1-3cm, mainly over the north Downs and on grassy surfaces.' I feel helpless, Billings Washington Elementary parent Franchesca Rivera said, following a recent public meeting with School District 2 Superintendent Erwin Garcia. I feel like theyre not putting students first, theyre putting money first, she said. What troubles us is we have no say in it, said her husband Indio Rivera. Thats the sad part about it. Similar sentiments were shared among parents during the meeting Wednesday. Many parents had only learned about the topic of the meeting that day, and it wasn't until they arrived that they received a printed statement from the district outlining the plan for the Washington building. Most of the parents who spoke during the meeting expressed their dismay at the elementary being closed and the building repurposed for high school classes. Parents said they liked the small classroom sizes, their kids liked their teachers and school leadership, and they feared moving their kids to another school could be a transportation challenge. Some parents viewed the new programs as a slight to elementary-age students while favoring high school students. Many parents also felt like the new plans for the school building had been developed without their input, and that the proposal seemed like a done deal. Garcia assured parents that more public meetings will be held and that the project would not proceed without support from the school board. The superintendent described approval of the project as an "administrative decision," although it isn't yet clear if the change would require the board's consent. Declining Midtown enrollment The number of students enrolled at Washington Elementary, located at 1044 Cook Ave, has been steadily decreasing for years, along with the population of neighboring elementary schools. Garcia proposes sending Washington students to those nearby schools, along with school teachers and staff, and transforming the Washington building into what he's calling an "Innovation Center." The plan is intended to help solve a lingering $3.5 million budgetary shortfall in the elementary school district. The creation of the Innovation Center is part of a larger initiative to create a hub catering to diverse educational needs, Garcia said, in hopes of decreasing high school dropout rates in Billings and prepare students for the demands of the modern workforce. The Innovation Center will provide alternative pathways for students wishing to enter the workforce early, and opportunities for those looking to join a technical field. The center would include the Early College High School, the first of its kind in the state, Garcia said, along with the Opportunity School. Both would provide unique college and career pathways for students joining the modern workforce. The Early College High School program would enroll students in joint high school and college classes, allowing them to graduate as seniors with both a high school diploma and an associate degree. The Opportunity School would offer career certifications in various fields of information technology, with classes on computer repair, cybersecurity, coding, artificial intelligence, robotics and other fields. The decision to repurpose Washington Elementary will displace students and teachers and transfer them to unfamiliar environments, many parents said. It is frustrating to say the least, said SD2 Chair Scott McCulloch. This kind of action has a direct effect on peoples lives. We understand that. With a career in Billings education spanning 40-plus years, McCulloch said this is not the first time hes seen such actions take place to meet a budgetary deficit. What it comes down to, he said, is underfunding of the schools from the state level that forces the hand of local school boards to take drastic measures. I wish this was one simple thing, McCulloch said. Its a history of underfunding. Its a failure to understand that Billings is unique in its size, which has caused us to address issues with a very small tool chest. The proposal is the first in a decade and not a decision made lightly, officials said. McCulloch stated that Garcia has been working on the issue of minimizing the districts budget deficit with the SD2 school board and budget committee. Balancing the districts financial reality with the districts educational needs is the school boards responsibility, McCulloch explained, and its this balancing act that the districts superintendent was tasked with. Washington Elementary was chosen as the venue to be transformed because it has a steadily declining enrollment and now has the lowest enrollment of all 22 district elementary schools. As a result, the school is the most expensive per student to run. With enrollment declining, Washington Elementary now has 208 students, 108 of whom come from the schools district. The rest travel from other neighborhoods. The school is operating at 77% capacity. The annual cost of educating one student in Washington is $9,429 versus around $5,500 at some other Billings elementary schools, Garcia said. The elementary school district is running on a $3.5 million budget deficit. Using Washington for high school classes would allow SD2 officials to move $1.5 million from the high school district budget into the elementary district, helping to reduce the elementary deficit, Garcia said. We will save $1.5 million dollars in funding by consolidating, Garcia said during the meeting. Its not one solution, its one action. More student pathways Even though this proposal will disperse students, teachers and staff to neighboring schools, the proposal will also provide unique and beneficial opportunities for high school-age students looking to the future. Were trying to give kids a pathway, Garcia said. While our district and city grapple with challenges, now is the time for us to collectively address the critical needs of our entire school community and envision a broader future for our students. Garcia has scheduled another public meeting to discuss the possible changes with parents and community members for 6 p.m. on Jan. 24 at Washington Elementary, 1044 Cook Ave. McCulloch concluded by noting that he plans to add Garcias proposal to the upcoming monthly board meeting as an agenda action item and may act on it if they choose to do so. McCulloch said he will consider every option before voting and stated the decision will rest with the final analysis of the board. I support any of the innovations that give students opportunities to advance themselves in life, McCulloch concluded. We want students to leave with every possible opportunity to make life a good one. The school board is expected to discuss the proposal at its next meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the Lincoln Center, 415 N 30th St. Donald Trump has been slammed for mocking John McCain's arm injury which he sustained while he was a prisoner of war in Vietnam. The late senator's daughter, Meghan McCain, hit back by branding penultimate president a 'piece of s***, election denying huckster' on X. Trump's comment about the longtime Arizona statesman came during a speech in Iowa where he also blasted Barack Obama, who was in the White House until the year before McCain died in 2018. Donald Trump has been slammed for mocking John McCain's arm injury which he sustained while he was a prisoner of war in Vietnam during a rally in Iowa (pictured) The late senator's daughter, Meghan McCain , hit back by branding penultimate president a 'piece of s***, election denying huckster' on X. (Pictured: John and Meghan McCain in 2017) McCain served as an Arizona senator from 1987 until his death. He was also the Republican nominee in the 2008 election against Obama My dad was an American hero. An icon. A patriot that will be remembered throughout history. I cannot buy a bagel without someone approaching me about how much they loved and miss him. Trump is a piece of shit, election denying, huckster whose own wife won't campaign with him. https://t.co/f3RlWLqT9B Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) January 7, 2024 'Obamacare is a catastrophe, nobody talks about it. Without John McCain we would have had it done,' Trump said from a lectern during a campaign event in Newton. 'But John McCain couldn't get his arm up, I remember,' he added, shrugging his own arm in a mocking motion. McCain, a former US Navy officer who died in 2018, was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for six years until 1973. He was badly injured in a plane crash and tortured by captors who left him with lifelong ailments, including being unable to raise his arms above his head. Meghan McCain, 39, said her father was 'an American hero' as she hit back at Trump on X on Saturday - which was also the two-year anniversary of the Capitol riot. 'My dad was an American hero. An icon. A patriot that will be remembered throughout history,' she wrote. 'I cannot buy a bagel without someone approaching me about how much they loved and miss him. 'Trump is a piece of s***, election denying, huckster whose own wife won't campaign with him.' 'McCain = American Hero Trump = American Zero,' one person responded. McCain served as an Arizona senator from 1987 until his death aged 81. He was also the Republican nominee in the 2008 election against Obama, and became a strong critic of Trump. His five and a half years in Vietnamese prison began in October 1967 after his Skyhawk dive-bomber was shot down over Hanoi's Truc Bach lake. McCain was dragged out of lake and thrown in the Hoa Lo prison - the infamous 'Hanoi Hilton' - where he said he and others were tortured. Vietnam says the American prisoners were treated well. As a high-profile prisoner of war there, McCain was known as uncompromising, frank and an avid reader who fiercely debated the war with his Vietnamese jailers. Late Senator John McCain In A Hanoi Hospital During The Vietnam War November, 1967 McCain recovering in a Hanoi Hospital from injuries he sustained when he was shot down over Hanoi At a pre-dinner reception, US President Richard Nixon (1913 - 1994) shakes hands greets former North Vietnamese prisoner of war Captain John McCain, Washington DC, May 24, 1973 One of them, the former director of the infamous prison, recalls verbally sparring with the famous inmate and says McCain's refusal to budge on his views eventually earned his admiration. 'It was his stubbornness, his strong stance that I loved when arguing with him,' retired colonel Tran Trong Duyet told AFP. McCain had been fished out of the lake with a broken leg and two broken arms and was shipped to the cold, crowded facility where some 500 prisoners of war were held. His captors quickly learned McCain's father was a navy admiral, and the young prisoner soon developed the nickname 'Crown Prince'. McCain was held in solitary confinement and suffered from dysentery. For months on end, he was fed only bread and pumpkin soup. He communicated with fellow inmates by tapping codes on the thick concrete walls. By the end of his long years in prison, Duyet said his relationship McCain started to warm. 'Out of working hours, we considered each other friends,' he said. 'He taught me English... he had good teaching skills.' Trump said during the campaign for the presidency that McCain was 'not a war hero' because he was captured in Vietnam. The controversial comments inflamed his throngs of supporters, many of whom saw his time as a POW as a defining experience. 'John McCain will always be America's prisoner of war, that experience is now inseparable from the name John McCain and the person that has been John McCain,' said Alvin Townley, author of 'Defiant' about American POWs held in Hoa Lo. McCain smiling from a bus window on arrival at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, after his release from Hanoi during the Vietnam War, 14th March 197 Meghan McCain, 39, said her father was 'an American hero' as she hit back at Trump on X on Saturday - which was also the two-year anniversary of the Capitol riot. (Pictured: McCain with Joe Biden on The View in 2017, when Biden was Vice President) Trump's comment came during his latest appearance on the campaign trail this week. The 77-year-old former president is embroiled in a storm over the January 6 Capitol riot, with new details emerging in Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into the attack. Updates include interviews claiming Trump 'wasn't interested' in doing anything to stop his supporters rioting at the Capitol following his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. Much of the new details come from Smith's questioning of Trump's former deputy chief of staff, Dan Scavino, according to ABC News. But Trump is focused on the 2024 presidential election, which officially kicks off on January 15 when voters in Iowa will register their choice for who should be the Republican Party's nominee. Trump is still leading the Republican race by a country mile, with recent polls positing him at 51 percent, ahead of Ron DeSantis on 19 per cent, and Nikki Haley on 16 percent. Disney has been accused of cynically clinging to its investment in Jonathan Majors by lining up an interview for the disgraced Marvel star after his conviction for beating up his girlfriend. The actor who plays Kang the Conqueror in the multi-billion dollar franchise will have a prime slot on the Disney-owned GMA with anchor Linsey Davis on Monday. Extended versions of the interview will also run on GMA3 and ABC News' Prime, with ABC's Nightline broadcasting more unaired segments on Disney-owned Hulu. The move has left industry watchers appalled at the cynicism of a company that generated nearly $90billion in revenue last year. 'Disney own this news channel, so they basically fired him because he was found guilty, but now they're giving him a platform so they can gauge the public opinion on him,' one viewer tweeted. 'Do you think you'll ever work in Hollywood again?' ABC News anchor Linsey Davis asks him The Marvel star appears to wipe tears away in a trailer for Monday's GMA interview on ABC Majors was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari (pictured together in September 2022) last month, leaving his promising Hollywood career in doubt 'If he does well enough, he'll probably be rehired. Very Black Mirror.' 'Why would Disney set up an interview with Jonathan Majors if they had no interest in bringing him back and why would majors take that interview if there wasn't a huge benefit to taking it,' added @tydriscoll. 'To me this shows that Disney plans on rehiring him.' Majors was being lined up as the linchpin of the next chapter in the superhero universe, but his future in Hollywood was left in limbo following his conviction. The 34-year-old faces possible jail time at his sentencing next month after he was found guilty on December 18 of one count of harassment and one of assault against his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari, 30. 'Magazine Dreams', his film about a troubled bodybuilder which was tipped for an Oscar, was shelved, and in a trailer for the GMA interview he says that the aftermath of his high-profile trial 'has been hard.' 'Why did you decide you wanted to talk now?' Davis asks him. 'Do you think you'll ever work in Hollywood again?' His conviction stemmed from a March 2023 incident with Jabbari in downtown Manhattan, when the two erupted in a furious row after she saw a flirty text message from another woman on his phone. Video, shown to court in December, shows Jabbari and Majors scuffling on the street Majors had been set to spearhead the next chapter of the Marvel universe as 'Kang the Conqueror', however he was dropped by Marvel following his arrest Majors was acquitted of a charge of assault with intent to cause physical injury Jabbari testified that she was left in 'excruciating' pain after the movie star struck her on the head and broke her finger in the back of an SUV during the fight. Surveillance footage also showed the two continuing the scuffle on the streets of Manhattan, where Jabbari was seen chasing Majors before more pushing and shoving. At his trial, a slew of damning evidence was shown to jurors, which also included an audio recording of Majors berating Jabbari during an argument for not living up to the standards of Michelle Obama and Coretta Scott King, the wife of Martin Luther King. California-born Majors, 34, graduated from Yale with an acting masters, and he rose to fame after starring in the 2019 independent feature film The Last Black Man in San Francisco. Disney CEO Bob Iger has invested billions of dollars in the Marvel franchise He went on to perform in HBO's Lovecraft Country, receiving a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, before starring as supervillain Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Universe, and Dame Anderson in Creed III this year. Jurors were tasked with examining conflicting narratives about whether Majors was the aggressor or the victim during the chaotic SUV struggle with Jabbari in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan on March 25. They took three days to reach a guilty verdict for assault recklessly causing physical injury - but cleared him of assault with intent to cause physical injury. The $30 billion grossed by the 33 Marvel films is unsurpassed in movie history, and the franchise's 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,' starring Majors had a strong start when it was released in February. But it became one of the few not to turn a profit amid a wave of bad publicity from Major's arrest the following month. Some film fans accused Disney of being too clever for its own good with its apparent offer of rehabilitation for Majors. 'Is the Jonathon Majors interview a set up or a 4d chess move from Disney to rehire him?' asked @WeBuildMechs. In her testimony, Jabbari said that she felt 'excruciating' pain as Majors twisted her fingers to grab his phone back after she took it from him Evidence shown to court reveals Jabbari's swollen finger and marks to her neck A cut behind Jabbari's ear was also shown to jurors at the blockbuster trial A picture taken after one of the couple's fights in LA when he allegedly threw a candle at Jabbari, July 9, 2022 'They are promoting that Jonathan Majors interview HARD on TikTok,' added at TiphSeven, 'Disney said we recouping media traffic back one way or another.' 'I count at MINIMUM 4 news programs that Disney will be using to monetize Jonathan Majors telling Disney how he feels about getting fired by Disney,' wrote Jonas J Campbell. 'Disney has invested a lot in Jonathan Majors and it's in their interest to try to salvage that investment,' added Dare Obasanjo. 'The firing, subsequent interview and prodigal son return will echo James Gunn's return if fans want it.' The partner of disgraced MP Peter Bone has been chosen as the Tory candidate in the upcoming by-election to choose his replacement. Helen Harrison, a local councillor, was today announced as the Conservative hopeful for the Wellingborough contest. The by-election, expected in the coming weeks, was triggered after Mr Bone was kicked out of the House of Commons by a recall petition. The petition was prompted by Mr Bone being given a six-week suspension from Parliament after he was found to have subjected a staff member to bullying and sexual misconduct. A panel found the Tory backbencher had indecently exposed himself to the complainant in the bathroom of a hotel room during a work trip to Madrid. Mr Bone was kicked out of the Conservative parliamentary party a day after a damning report was published on 16 October. The Wellingborough contest is set to be another tricky contest for Rishi Sunak, who has already lost a slew of by-elections since becoming Prime Minister in October 2022. Local councillor Helen Harrison, pictured with Tory party chair Richard Holden, was announced as the Conservative candidate for the Wellingborough by-election As recently as October, Ms Harrison was posting pictures of herself out campaigning with Peter Bone on social media Mr Bone announced in 2018 he had left his wife Jennie and entered a relationship with Ms Harrison, a married physiotherapist 20 years his junior Mr Holden posted on Twitter: 'Congratulations to Cllr @helenharrisonuk on being selected for #Wellingborough at a packed meeting of @Conservatives members this afternoon.' Ms Harrison was revealed to have been chosen as the Tory by-election candidate in the North Northamptonshire constituency by Conservative Party chair Richard Holden. He posted on Twitter today: 'Congratulations to Cllr @helenharrisonuk on being selected for #Wellingborough at a packed meeting of @Conservatives members this afternoon.' Ms Harrison is currently local councillor for the Oundle ward on North Northamptonshire Council. As recently as October she was posting pictures of herself out campaigning with Mr Bone on social media. It was revealed in 2018 how Mr Bone had left his wife Jennie for Ms Harrison, a physiotherapist 20 years his junior who at the time was married with two children. She was was a director of Grassroots Out, a campaign to leave the European Union backed by Nigel Farage. Mr Bone was also a director. In a statement in 2018, Mr Bone said: 'My wife and I have been living apart for more than two years, during which time I have formed a relationship with Helen Harrison.' Wellingborough has been held by the Conservatives since 2005 after Mr Bone took it from Labour during Sir Tony Blairs final election as prime minister. During Boris Johnsons landslide general election victory in 2019, the Tories held it with a strong 18,540 majority, with Labour coming a distant second. But that lead could be under threat in the current political climate, with it being smaller than the Tory majorities overturned by Sir Keir Starmers party in by-elections held in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire in October. North Northamptonshire Council last month anounced that 10,505 people had backed the petition to oust Mr Bone from the Commons during a recall process lasting six weeks. This passed the 10 per cent threshold required to trigger a by-election. Mike Pence gave one of his full-throated denunciations of former President Donald Trump in calling for Iowa to help with a 'fresh start' in 2024. The caucuses on January 15 will produce the first tangible results of the 2024 primary elections, which have shown Trump dominating every poll so far with just some slight slips in recent weeks. Pence, who was in the primary running until he dropped out in October, wants Republicans in Iowa and New Hampshire to caucus and vote for someone other than Trump. 'I continue to hope that, with the Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire just around the corner, that all the good Republican voters in those states will give our party a fresh start and give us new leadership to lead our party forward in the election and beyond,' Pence told CNN State of the Union host Jake Tapper on Sunday. Former Vice President Mike Pence gave one of his most vehement denunciations of Donald Trump when calling for early primary state voters to give Republicans a 'fresh start' from the ex-president Former Vice President @Mike_Pence tells @jaketapper we need new leadership in the Republican Party and hopes GOP primary voters give the party a fresh start, adding that if I see an opportunity to have an impact on achieving that, Ill certainly do it. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/djsfnq0Q2B State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) January 7, 2024 In the running still against Trump in the primary is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Besides having almost zero support, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Dallas-based businessman and pastor Ryan Binkley are still in the running, as well. Despite knowing that he doesn't want his ex-0boss to be president again, Pence says he isn't sure whether he's going to wade into the waters of actually issuing an endorsement in the 2024 primary contest. 'I have been speaking to several of my old competitors,' Pence told Tapper. 'I think very highly of Nikki Haley, of Ron DeSantis. And, frankly, Chris Christie has been a friend for many years.' But the former vice president said he 'doesn't put a lot of stock in endorsements.' 'I'm not sure whether I'm going to weigh in or if and when I will,' he said. 'But I ran for president because I think different times call for different leadership.' 'And I'm hoping that the good people of Iowa that I got to know so well in my campaign, the good people of New Hampshire and South Carolina will look at this moment and recognize that elections are about the future, and we need new leadership in the Republican Party,' he added. 'We certainly need new leadership in the White House to move us forward,' Pence insisted. 'And if I see an opportunity to have an impact on achieving that, I will certainly do it and I will keep you posted.' Pence dropped out of the primary race in October and says he isn't sure whether he will endorse anyone against Trump Pence was more reluctant to denounce Trump when he was still campaigning for president, but since dropping out has slowly increased his criticism of the former president. The latest is his most vehement break with Trump after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot completely fractured the relationship. Pence refused to block certification of the 2020 presidential elections three years ago, which enraged Trump and led him to call his VP-at-the-time a 'coward.' The relationship never recovered. A disgraced priest from Alabama has been stripped of his priesthood by the Pope after he fled to Italy and married a teenager. The Archdiocese of Mobile 'received notice that the laicization of Alex Crow is complete, effective immediately.' Crow, 30, had previously requested he be removed from the priesthood. The request was recently granted by Pope Francis. Mobile Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi supported Crow's laicization, which is the process of formally removing a Catholic church figure from service. Crow no longer possesses any 'privileges or responsibilities of the priesthood.' The former clergyman did not appeal during his removal process. Disgraced former priest Alexander Crow, 30, was formally removed from the Catholic Church last week after his laicization was signed off on by Pope Francis Crow met his now-wife while she was in high school at McGill-Toolen High in Mobile, where he frequently visited to deliver guest lectures to the students. The Archdiocese became aware of Crow's questionable courtship when local law enforcement got their hands on Valentine's Day love letters the priest had sent to the teen. 'First things first: I love you, and I thank Jesus for you every day. You have made my life both astronomically more complicated and incredibly better at the same time. You are his gift to me,' read part of his letter to the teen. Archbishop Rodi condemned the relationship at the time, calling Crow's behavior 'totally unbecoming of a priest.' Among other issues, priests in the Catholic Church are ordered to maintain a state of celibacy. He then said that the recently ordained clergyman 'may no longer exercise ministry as a priest, nor to tell people he is a priest, nor to dress as a priest.' Last summer, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said he believes there was 'some grooming that's gone on,' between Crow and his teenage wife. 'You've got a much older adult interacting with teenage girls in an inappropriate way.' Prior to the sheriff's statement, Crow had fled to Europe with his young lover. He'd told people he was headed across the Atlantic to perform exorcisms across Europe. Crow has reportedly long had a fascination with demonology. When the pair returned from abroad, they got married in Alabama. Crow married the Mobile teen on November 17, according to a notarized Alabama Marriage Certificate from the Judge of Probate's office. Defrocked priest Alex Crow has since returned to the US after he disappeared to Italy with an 18-year-old girl he allegedly groomed, but will not face charges The DA interviewed 30 witnesses and examined thousands of documents, including this love letter from the priest to the girl sent on Valentine's Day, but found no evidence of criminality Sent on Valentine's Day of this year, the letter was sent when the girl was still a senior at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. She was reportedly 17 at the time According to the findings of local law enforcement, Crow, who claims to have been exorcised as a child, had told his lover that Jesus instructed him to leave with her. Ultimately, the Mobile County District Attorney's Office explained that prosecutors interviewed 30 witnesses and reviewed 'thousands of pages of documents' provided by the Archdiocese but would not seek charges over the 'private relationship between two now-adults.' 'When the young lady and Priest returned, we subpoenaed the young lady to meet with our office to determine what had occurred, and whether there was any criminal action,' read a statement from the office. 'She appeared in seemingly good health and said that she is safe. 'However, she brought an attorney with her to the meeting, and together they declined to answer any questions about the circumstances surrounding her July disappearance, or indeed any other questions. 'Without being able to speak with the young lady about these events, we do not have sufficient admissible evidence to charge a crime at this time. Therefore, this investigation is currently closed.' Church bosses said they found out he was back through the media as shamed priest had not been in contact with them since his suspension. 'While Crow's behavior has been scandalous, the Archdiocese does not have any information to indicate that Crow has committed any crime,' a statement said. 'To the extent law enforcement is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Crow's behavior, the Archdiocese will continue to cooperate fully. 'If law enforcement has closed their investigation of Crow, the Archdiocese thanks them for their thorough and thoughtful attention to this matter. 'Crow's sudden departure created scandal, hurt, and confusion within the Archdiocese. We continue to pray for God's grace to bring healing to this situation for everyone.' Crow, who claimed to have been exorcized as a child, was said to have 'limited' the girl's contact with the outside world while in Rome The pair married on November 17, according to a notarized Alabama Marriage Certificate from the Judge of Probate's office The couple's return came after a lawyer for the girl's family claimed Crow cut off her contact with them while in Rome. The lawyer, Christine Hernandez, said that he had 'limited' the girl's communication to the outside world. She also said other parents reported disturbing instances involving Crow and their children during school and church trips, including claims he paid some students to attend his confessions, where they'd share details of their sins with him. The defrocked clergy member, who was initially ordained in 2021, previously attended Sant' Anselmo in Rome, Italy where he received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology and studied demons and exorcisms. Police have launched an appeal to the public as concern grows over the whereabouts of a missing woman who has not been seen since November. Khasha Smith's family said they have not heard from her in more than two months, with their last contact with her on November 4, 2023. The 35-year-old from the Calder area of Edinburgh is said to spend time in the Gorgie area of the city, with officers looking into whether she might be staying with friends there. Ms Smith is described as being around 5ft tall, of a slim build and as having long, blonde hair and blue eyes. It is not known what she is wearing, but another distinguishing feature is that she has several tattoos including one on her right wrist which says 'forever'. Khasha Smith's family said they have not heard from her in more than two months, with their last contact with her on November 4, 2023 The 35-year-old from the Calder area of Edinburgh is said to spend time in the Gorgie area of the city, and could be with friends there, police said Her family reported her missing on January 5 and Police Scotland confirmed that enquiries are still ongoing to trace her. Inspector Paul Thomson said: 'We are growing concerned for Khasha's welfare due to the lack of contact with family and are appealing for help to find her. 'We are not sure at this time what Khasha is wearing, but know she likes to frequent the Gorgie area of the city and may be staying with friends there. 'We are asking anyone who may have seen her, or has information on where she might be, to please get in touch. 'If Khasha herself sees this appeal, I would ask her to please make contact so we know she is safe and well.' Anyone with any information can contact officers via 101, quoting reference 3915 of 5 January, 2024. Gunman Oscar Pistorius may have to sweep the floors of his local church and park cars for the congregation to appease his parole officers, MailOnline can reveal. The 37-year-old Olympian and Paralympian, who murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, has been given a choice as how to serve out his punishment during the remainder of his 13-year sentence as a free man. Pistorius, also known as The Blade Runner due to his prosthetic legs, has been asked how he wants to carry out his community service which forms part of his parole deal. Among the options open to the athlete who ran at the London 2012 Olympics, are helping clean a local hospital, auxiliary duties at a police station or even a return to prison to help warders with maintenance. But a source said the runner, who has hidden himself away from prying eyes since his release on Friday, is favouring helping at the NG Kerk Dutch Reformed Church, a mile away from where he is living with his uncle Arnold. Gunman Oscar Pistorius (pictured in 2014) may have to sweep the floors of his local church and park cars for the congregation to appease his parole officers, MailOnline can reveal The 37-year-old Olympian and Paralympian, who murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp (pictured together in 2012), has been given a choice as how to serve out his punishment during the remainder of his 13-year sentence as a free man Private security outside the home of Oscar Pistorius' uncle in the upmarket suburb of Waterkloof, Pretoria, South Africa The NG Kerk Dutch Reformed Church (pictured), where Pistorius is expected to serve out his community sentence Pistorius' uncle Arnold and his wife Lois are regular attendees at the 65-year-old church, where services are relayed in Afrikaans to the congregation of 1000 More than 1,000 people make up the congregation of the church, while lies a mile away from where Pistorius is living with his uncle Arnold Both Arnold and his wife Lois are regular attendees at the 65-year-old church, where services are relayed in Afrikaans to the congregation of 1,000 after bell ringing has taken place. Pistorius, who reads his bible and Christian scriptures daily, is said to have told parole officers he is keen to help out at the church. Parole officers have yet to sanction his wishes, but the source said it was ultimately down to Pistorius to offer them his choice or discuss alternatives. 'One concern is that Oscar does not have to travel far to carry out his community service as any fares that have to be met will come out of the South African public funds. 'The church is close to Arnold's home and he is a regular face there on Sunday mornings so Oscar will feel welcome there. The church writes on its website: 'It says on its website: 'For Waterkloof congregation it is very important to be able to create a warm, cozy and relaxed atmosphere in which everyone can feel welcome and at home' 'It says on its website: 'Our religious thinking does not oppose discoveries and developments of the Bible Sciences and Natural Sciences but welcomes them' Pistorius will be regularly checked on for proof he has been carrying out his community service and corrections officers visited him this weekend to begin his parole process Neighbours in the affluent Waterkloof suburb of Pretoria have rallied around the Pistorius family 'He could sweep the floors or be given a yellow bib to help direct cars to parking areas as it gets very busy on Sunday mornings. 'He could begin his duties by helping at a local police station too because he could remain private. 'It doesn't matter that he had a celebrity profile, he must be allowed to keep low key just like any other freed inmate on parole. He has his rights. 'Atteridgevale Corrections Department is very keen for him not to be photographed and certainly not interviewed. 'He must refrain from social media and remind himself that he is still serving a prison sentence.' A source told MailOnline: 'He could sweep the floors or be given a yellow bib to help direct cars to parking areas as it gets very busy on Sunday mornings' Pistorius, who reads his bible and Christian scriptures daily, is said to have told parole officers he is keen to help out at the church A source said: ''Atteridgevale Corrections Department is very keen for him not to be photographed and certainly not interviewed' Reeva Steenkamp is pictured in 2012 one year before her murder Parents of murdered Reeva Steenkamp, June and Barry Steenkamp, stand in the court room at Pretoria High Court on June 13, 2016 Oscar Pistorius of South Africa competes in the men's 200m T44 heat at the Olympic Stadium during the London 2012 Paralympic Games on September 1, 2012 Arnold Pistorius is pictured arriving at his home on Friday after his nephew Oscar Pistorius was released from prison - 11 years after he murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp Arnold is pictured leaving his home on Friday after his nephew Oscar was released from prison The church would be like a second home to Pistorius who spent his prison years reading his bible and inviting fellow jail birds to join him. It says on its website: 'For Waterkloof congregation it is very important to be able to create a warm, cozy and relaxed atmosphere in which everyone can feel welcome and at home. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Inside luxury mansion with stunning views where Oscar Pistorius will be living after spending the last seven-and-a-half years in jail Advertisement 'Our religious thinking does not oppose discoveries and developments of the Bible Sciences and Natural Sciences but welcomes them. After all, God is bigger than our current patterns of understanding.' He will be regularly checked on for proof he has been carrying out his community service and corrections officers visited him this weekend to begin his parole process. Neighbours in the affluent Waterkloof suburb of Pretoria have rallied around the Pistorius family and even joined in in the operation to smuggle him to the mansion. None of the family have been prepared to comment and his sister Aimee, who has flown in from her home in London, was seen driving out in an SUV at lunchtime. But local estate agent Tetiana Sakhnenko, who manages the sale of properties worth millions in Waterkloof and nearby Brooklyn, said: 'I would not like to live next to a murderer and he will not be good for this district. 'He should remain in prison for at least 15 years, I do not believe what he says that he shot Reeva by accident. 'There will also be a problem of many people driving here to look at the house where Oscar Pistorius is living. Not good at all.' Lauren Boebert has denied punching her ex-husband twice in the nose after he made 'lewd advances' towards her at a restaurant in her district. Colorado representative Boebert did admit to putting her hand on Jayson Boebert's face to 'keep him back' before he called 911. The pair married in 2005 but split in 2023 - and share four sons. She was dining at Miner's Claim in Silt when Jayson showed up to apologize about an earlier argument from when she had gone to pick up their children from his house. He allegedly started 'being disrespectful,' and becoming 'lewd' - at which point he 'made a motion' towards his ex-wife 'to grab her,' according to her aide speaking to the Daily Beast. The aide claimed the move was 'aggressive, not romantic.' Lauren then tried to keep him back and 'put her hand in his face, put her hand on his nose.' Lauren Boebert said in a statement: 'This is a sad situation for all that keeps escalating and another reason I'm moving. 'I didn't punch Jayson in the face and no one was arrested. I will be consulting with my lawyer about the false claims he made against me and evaluate all of my legal options.' Lauren and Jayson wed in 2005. They met while she was working at McDonald's at the age of 16. He was 22 at the time She was dining at Miner's Claim when Jayson - father to her four kids - showed up to apologize about an earlier altercation that had occurred when she went to pick up her son from his house Jayson then called the police and told them he was a 'victim of domestic violence,' according to Boebert's aide. Lauren called a police non-emergency number and said she'd happily speak to an officer about what happened. Lauren's aide told the Beast that she had picked the restaurant purposely to meet him for the apology, because she didn't want a 'he said/ she said' situation. Cops did arrive at the Silt restaurant - and a friend ended up driving Boebert home. The Silt Police Department confirmed that an active investigation is underway. No one was arrested. When asked by the Beast for comment, Jayson told them: 'I don't know what to say.' Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado, left, stands for a photograph with her then-husband Jayson Boebert at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, in January 2021 Lauren Boebert 's ex-husband called the police on her on Saturday night after the pair allegedly got into a physical altercation at a restaurant in her district Miner's Claim did not respond to calls made by DailyMail.com. Lauren and Jayson wed in 2005. They met while she was working at McDonald's at the age of 16. He was 22 at the time. But in May 2023, after nearly two decades of marriage, Rep. Lauren Boebert announced she had filed for divorce, citing 'irreconcilable differences.' She said at the time: 'It is with a heavy weight on my heart that I have filed for divorce from my husband. 'I am grateful for our years of marriage together and for our beautiful children, all of whom deserve privacy and love as we work through this process. 'I've always been faithful in my marriage, and I believe strongly in marriage, which makes this announcement that much more difficult.' Lauren and Jayson married in 2005 and share four sons together (pictured). They filed for divorce in May 2023 The Conservative firebrand made headlines last week when she announced she will switch congressional districts for the 2024 election, after scraping to re-election in 2022 by only 546 votes. Boebert, a 37-year-old grandmother and mother of four sons, said that she had made the decision to continue her fight against 'the socialists and communists taking over our country.' She said there was 'dark money' directed at her personally 'to steal this seat'. And she said it was a fresh start after her divorce and 'personal mistakes'. Last summer, she faced scrutiny after she was caught on camera groping a date, vaping and taking selfies at a performance of the musical Beetlejuice in Denver, and then giving ushers the finger when she was asked to leave and declaring: 'Do you know who I am?' She also sparked controversy by heckling Joe Biden in his 2022 State of the Union address, and caused anger by making an Islamophobic joke about Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. Security camera footage showed Quinn Gallagher fondling Boebert's breasts while she rubbed his crotch Jayson spoke out at the end of a tumultuous two weeks for Lauren who says she has 'peacefully parted' from bartender boyfriend Quinn Gallagher, 46 Quinn Gallagher is co-owner of Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar in Aspen, Colorado, and a divorced father of a 16-year-old son Boebert announced her switch of districts in a Facebook video published last Wednesday, saying: 'I did not arrive at this decision easily. 'A lot of prayer, a lot of tough conversations and a lot of perspective convinced me that this is the best way I can continue to fight for Colorado, for the conservative movement and for my children's future.' She said the Hollywood elites, Aspen money men and George Soros who tried to stop her can 'go and pound sand'. The decision makes her re-election chances significantly stronger. Canizalez was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead The two men were staying at the migrant shelter and allegedly got into a fight An asylum seeker has been arrested and charged after he allegedly stabbed another to death at a New York City migrant shelter. The NYPD told Dailymail.com Moises Coronado, 27, was charged with murder for allegedly killing 24-year-old Dafren Canizalez. The two men were staying at a migrant shelter on Randall's Island and allegedly got into a fight. The spokesperson said police received a call about an assault in progress around 7.30pm Saturday night. They arrived at the shelter at 600 East 125th Street and found the 24-year-old man with a stab wound to his chest. Moises Coronado, 27, was arrested and charged with murder in the stabbing death of 24-year-old Dafren Canizalez at a migrant shelter on Randall's Island According to a New York Police Department spokesperson, officers responded to a call about an assault in progress around 7.30pm Saturday The two men, who were staying at the center, allegedly got into a fight before Canizalez was attacked The man was taken to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased, the spokesperson said. Coronado was arrested and charged Sunday. The Randall's Island shelter opened its doors in August 2023, replacing a smaller center that went up on the island a year prior. The improved shelter can accommodate up to 3,000 adults and includes bathrooms, a cafeteria and access to caseworkers. Upon arrival, the migrants are given a health screening for COVID and active tuberculosis as well as a skin exam for varicella and chickenpox. The shelter's opening came amid a report from city officials that more than 100,000 migrants had passed through the five boroughs since 2022. As of December 2023, more than 140,000 migrants had flooded into the city over an 18-month period, stretching the city to its financial limits. The Randall's Island shelter alone costs taxpayers around $20 million each month. Mayor Eric Adams has called on the White House to deliver federal support to manage the national asylum seeker crisis. NYPD officers found Canizalez with a stab wound to his chest. The 24-year-old was taken to Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased Coronado was taken into custody and subsequently charged As of December 2023, more than 140,000 migrants had come into New York City over an 18-month period The Randall's Island shelter costs New York City taxpayers around $20 million each month. It is built to accommodate up to 30,000 adults and includes a cafeteria and bathrooms The shelter opened its doors in August 2023, replacing a smaller center (pictured) that opened a year prior Last month, Adams issued Executive Order 538, requiring improved coordination from charter bus companies transporting migrants arrivals into the city. The measure was designed to ensure 'the safety and well-being of both migrants and city staff receiving them,' according to a press release. On Wednesday, the city filed a lawsuit against 17 charter bus companies from Texas, Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana, seeking $708 million in damages. The lawsuit demands funds to cover the care for more than 30,000 asylum seekers who have arrived since 2022. Despite the bill, which requires charter buses to provide advance written notice of their arrival, 'not one bus from Texas' had complied, Adams' chief counsel Lisa Zornberg said. Penalties for breaking the law include impound, fines and possible jail time. NHS patients are being asked to choose from 159 religions, 12 genders and ten sexual preferences to attend hospital appointments, it has been reported. An online system called MyChart is being used to register patients for appointments at London hospitals, but could deter less tech savvy users, it has been warned. Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, a campaign group for the over 60s, said 'People will feel obliged to answer all the questions so that there are no obstacles to them getting an early appointment, but this questionnaire is more complex and intrusive in some ways than the Census.' Critics have called the survey 'complex' and 'intrusive', while others have labelled it 'bizarre' - with questions said to include whether someone is a Goddess or Druid. Lottie Moore, from the conservative think tank policy exchange, told The Telegraph that NHS Trusts 'must stop playing identity politics and start prioritising patient dignity, safety and privacy'. An online system called MyChart is being used to register patients for appointments at London hospitals 'Providing so many dubious identity options will likely be to the detriment of those without English as a first language and the elderly,' Ms Moore said. The system was rolled out by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in October. It is not compulsory to answer all the questions, but if patients do not they will be prompted to when they sign up for their next appointment. Patients' campaigners have also raised concerns about how the information is used. Some 160 million patients around the world are said to use the MyChart system, which is run by US-based health software firm Epic. The software allows patients to see information like their medical notes and appointment history. MailOnline has contacted Epic, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital Trust and King's College Hospital Trust for comment. In 2019, 100% of North Dakota's Golden Valley County, Billings County and Nelson County residents lived 10 miles or more from a fresh-food grocery. Throughout the state, 45% of rural residents live in a food desert. Dawn Mandt, executive director of the Red River Regional Council, said it's an issue thats been growing over the last two to three decades. In North Dakota, for instance, Mandt said, there are 34 counties that have low access to grocery stores -- five times more than other rural areas nationally. The issue, she believes, could lead to people seeking easier-to-access but more unhealthy foods, or spending time and money driving long distances to find fresh food. Emma Cook, the community development liaison for the North Dakota Department of Commerce, said grocery stores are an essential service that help grow communities. They are a piece of workforce attraction and retention, and a town being without one will deter people from moving there, further shrinking already-small towns. Its kind of a growing phenomenon to be in an agricultural state and realizing that were one of the leading states across the country in experiencing food deserts, Mandt said. There are certain ironies in all of that, right?" A food desert is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as an area with low access to healthy foods. In its definition, convenience stores and dollar stores that stock milk and a few fresh items dont qualify as grocery stores. In an interactive map of the state distributed to lawmakers during the drafting of Senate Bill 2273 -- legislation that resulted in a new rural food sustainability grant through the North Dakota Department of Commerce -- statistics show each countys population and the percentage of residents who lived 10 miles or more from a fresh-food grocery, as of 2019. A number of North Dakota counties are at 50% or higher, including: Billings (839): 100% Golden Valley (1,812): 100% Nelson (3,035): 100% Hettinger (2,502): 99.9% Kidder (2,397): 99.6% Slope (775): 95.2% Burke (2,177): 92% Steele (1,870): 88% Oliver (1,850): 84% Sheridan (1,328): 81.5% McHenry (5,420): 69% Renville (2,328): 58.9% McLean (9,788): 55% Dunn (4,054): 53% Grant (2,351): 52.3% Mandt said North Dakota's food deserts exist due in part to the state's rural, sparsely populated landscape. With fewer people to serve, grocery stores don't exist, or the ones that do remain sometimes order at a smaller scale, which increases expenses. It increases costs at the local level, prompting some residents to travel for cheaper items. This in turn chips away at the local stores cash flow and profits. Some eventually close, further reducing access. For those who live in food deserts, that means having to travel farther for their basic grocery needs, or simply bypassing healthier foods. In North Dakota's Region Four (Grand Forks, Pembina, Walsh and Nelson counties) -- with 25% of rural residents being 65 or older -- this can be a challenge. Older residents may have issues with mobility and might have difficulty traveling those distances. While convenience stores or dollar stores have grab and go food available, Mandt said these food items arent as healthy as what can be bought at a grocery store. In 2019, a Forum News Service report noted that $57 million in North Dakotas medical expenses every year can be credited to food insecurity. Desert diminishing There are efforts being made to diminish food deserts. The rural food sustainability grant, created through the work of Senate Bill 2273, is one of them. The grant program is made of two components. The first gives awards to eligible entities for feasibility studies to look into how viable potential projects or initiatives will be for increasing rural food accessibility and sustainability. The second awards grant dollars to support these projects creation or the expansion of already existing projects that have developed profit-loss statements and other materials to show sustainability. The timeline for component one began on Sept. 8, with applications opening. They closed on Oct. 13 and were awarded Oct. 24. The recipients were the city of Milnor, Pembina County JDA, DBA Strengthen ND, the city of Butte, Hazelton Development Corp. and city of Casselton. Applications for component two open Jan. 15. Cook, the Department of Commerces community development liaison, said the recipients are going through feasibility studies, looking at the current state of food accessibility and the driving factors behind what makes a food desert. After that, theyll go through a planning process for how to diminish those deserts. Were hoping to find some of those best practices that we can share across the state and hopefully go back to the Legislature and get more funding for this program and make it more sustainable so we can reach more communities, Cook said. One of those practices, which inspired Senate Bill 2273, is a partnership between three grocery stores in Walsh County to ensure the area has fresh food. The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives created the Rural Access Distribution Cooperative , which began distributing food to grocery stores and schools in Walsh County in November 2021. The co-op works as a partnership of businesses and communities in Park River, Hoople, Edinburg, Fordville and other nearby areas. Jims Supervalu in Park River, Hoople Grocery in Hoople and the Market on Main in Edinburg order groceries as a collective; the products are then delivered to Park River and split up to be delivered to the other two groceries with the RAD Co-ops delivery truck. Mandt also mentioned two other efforts by the RRRC to assist Region Four. One is a regional food incubator and a shared-use kitchen to grow the small food businesses in downtown Grafton, which has already secured more than $2 million in funding. However, there is a lack of contractors interested in bidding, Mandt said. The other is a partnership among North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, called the Regional Food Business Center. The Center is a five-year initiative with the mission to boost the Upper Midwests regional food systems. To Mandt, fighting food deserts isn't just about dealing with food insecurity, but helping to replenish something that draws communities together. I also see food as a great community unifier, bringing people together, she said. In a one-day four-city swing, conservative commentator Candace Owens will join 2024 hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy on the campaign trail in Iowa. Owens, 34, was an initial critic of Trump before backing him in 2016 and 2020. The influential talking head among conservatives said in November that she is endorsing Ramaswamy. Her full-fledged backing but not official endorsement of the self-made millionaire came after the NBC News debate in Miami, Florida. Ramaswamy was at possibly his most popular among the Republican voting bloc around this time and had several viral moments at the showdown. The biotech entrepreneur is hitting Iowa hard with just eight days to the caucuses on January 15 and four days before the first-in-the-nation contest, Owens is joining him. Candace Owens is joining Vivek Ramaswamy in Iowa on Thursday to campaign for the 2024 hopeful just days before the caucuses. Pictured: Owens stopped short of endorsing Ramaswamy during an episode of her podcast in November after his viral performance at the NBC News debate Ramaswamy completed earlier this month a feat visiting all 99 Iowa counties two times over and will continue barnstorming the state in the lead-up to the caucuses on January 15, including four events with Owens four days before the contest It comes after Ramaswamy completed a visit of all 99 counties in the Hawkeye State twice over earlier this month. Ramaswamy will bring Owens with him to a rally in Davenport on Thursday. January 11, followed by a town hall in Jackson County. Then, the two will head to Dubuque and Linn Counties to finish off the full day of campaigning with two more rallies. 'Candace is a conservative powerhouse. We're thrilled to have her on the Iowa campaign trail with Vivek as he pounds the pavement ahead of the caucuses,' campaign senior adviser Tricia McLaughlin told DailyMail.com in a statement on the upcoming events. She added: 'No one is outworking Vivek Ramaswamy and we're ready for him to shock the world on Jan. 15.' Ramaswamy had some polling boosts after blockbuster moments at debates that went viral, but has been consistently ending in fourth place behind Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. FiveThirtyEight polling average in Iowa shows Ramaswamy with 6 percent support. Haley is in third with 15.7 percent, DeSantis in second with 18.4 percent and Trump in far first place with 50 percent in the Hawkeye State. Besides his day with Owens on January 11, Ramaswamy is barnstorming Iowa in the lead-up to the caucuses. So far, there are 14 events spanning from January 8-January 10 with more to come before the caucuses on January 15. Ramaswamy earned some viral moments at the NBC News presidential primary debate in November, leading to Owens issuing her full endorsement the next day Ramaswamy did not qualify for the last debate before the caucuses, hosted by CNN on Wednesday, January 10 at Drake University in Des Moines. He will instead host a 'live audience show' at the same tome while DeSantis and Haley take stage to go head-to-head. He was also the only candidate of the 2024 race who completed the 'full Grassley' two times over. The feat is named after Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, and refers to a candidate visiting and campaigning in all 99 of Iowa's counties. Ramaswamy is unapologetically the most pro-Trump candidate of the remaining field, refusing to bad-mouth the former president and even praising the work he did between 2016-2020. The 38-year-old, father-of-two claims America is ready for a new generation of leadership and has touted his millennial-ness, as well as his political newcomer status, as a positive aspect of his candidacy. She told authorities he kidnapped her five years ago when she was pregnant In April, police discovered a woman was held captivate in his dingy garage A Texas man has been arrested for kidnapping and holding a woman hostage after snatching her off the street nearly five years ago when she was pregnant. Lee Carter, 52, has been charged with aggravated kidnapping after police discovered the victim locked in a garage attached to his Houston home. Court documents revealed on April 7, 2023 officers from the Houston Police Department were dispatched to 5251 Perry Street in Houston in reference to a kidnapping in progress when they heard a voice coming from the garage. Video from Fox 26 shows officers breaking the window of the garage where they found a dog and a mattress inside in the area police believe the victim was held captive. Authorities said when they found the approximately 30-year-old victim in April she was malnourished and weighed just over 70 pounds and she stated she had not showered in two months. Lee Carter, 52, has been charged with aggravated kidnapping after police discovered a woman locked in his garage The victim said Carter kidnapped her from the street about five years ago when she was pregnant and panhandling The victim said Carter kept her locked in his garage and repeatedly forced her to have sex with him and take drugs The victim said she met Carter - a rapper with the stage name Viper - four or five years ago when she was pregnant and panhandling off Almeda Geona. Carter pulled over to give her a dollar, then returned shortly after and told her if she got in his car he would give her help. Then for the next four to five years, the victim said Carter kept her locked in his garage and repeatedly forced her to have sex with him and take drugs. 'Defendant [Carter] would force her to take pills along with crack cocaine and other illegal narcotics, causing her to become physically unable to leave the location,' said court documents. The victim was able to use Carter's laptop and contacted the police via the Text Now application. Authorities said when they found the approximately 30-year-old victim in April she was malnourished and weighed just over 70 pounds Carter was finally arrested in April when police responded to a welfare check at his house and rescued a dog She said she had previously tried to escape by breaking one of the windows and crawling out. She was taken to the hospital, but Carter picked her up from there and took her back to the garage where he boarded up the windows. It is unknown what happened with the victim's pregnancy while she was held captive. Fox News reported a warrant was filed against Carter in April, but his arrest did not happen until Friday. Police were called to do a welfare check at the residence when they found the dog inside. Carter was then arrested at a motel and is being held in Harris County Jail on $100,000 bond. Now it's emerged that even his deputy Kathleen Hicks was not informed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's mystery hospitalization was a secret kept even from his deputy Kathleen Hicks, it has been revealed. Austin, 70, is in the spotlight after failing to tell the White House about planned surgery which left him in the ICU on New Year's Day due to complications. Now it's emerged he also did not tell his second-in-command Hicks until Thursday, even as she assumed some of his responsibilities two days before. Austin ranks just below Biden at the top of the chain of command in the US military, and his duties require him being available at a moment's notice. Hicks was on vacation in Puerto Rico when Austin went in for surgery, but she was not informed about it until days later, after she had been asked to work while on holiday. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's mystery hospitalization was a secret kept even from his deputy Kathleen Hicks, it has emerged. (Pictured: Austin and Hicks at a Pentagon briefing) Austin, 70, ranks just below President Joe Biden at the top of the chain of command of the US military and his duties require him being available at a moment's notice to respond to any manner of national security crisis US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (pictured) is likely to keep his job despite apparently failing to inform the president that he was having surgery and going AWOL for five days, according to former officials Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told CNN it was 'not uncommon' for the secretary to transfer some responsibilities - but added that she wasn't aware of the reason she was stepping in on this occasion. A spokesperson for the department told DailyMail.com that Austin 'resumed his full duties' from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday evening. He was still in the hospital but 'recovering well' by Sunday morning, the spokesperson added. They declined to disclose any details about the surgery citing 'medical and personal privacy issues'. Despite a barrage of criticism against Austin from members of Congress about his mysterious disappearance, White House aides have told Politico that his job is not in jeopardy. Several also highlighted Biden's deep personal connection with Austin, due to the former four-star general's close friendship with the president's late son Beau Biden. The officials, who spoke with Politico on condition of anonymity, said that a senior Pentagon aide will likely loose their job over the chaos. 'Someone's head has to roll,' one former defense employee said. 'Someone made the decision not to disclose,' another ex-official agreed. That person will likely be gone shortly.' 'Not telling the [White House], Congress or the media he is sick, and then telling Pentagon staff he is working from home is next level. This is a problem.' Some officials also noted that Alabama-born Austin was close with Beau Biden, after they served in Iraq together and attended Catholic services alongside each other. Lower-level aides including Sasha Baker and his deputy Kathleen Hicks have been sitting in for Austin in the interim. Hicks was reportedly on vacation in Puerto Rico but had to step in for some duties. Despite a barrage of criticism from members of Congress and the media about Austin's mysterious disappearance, White House aides have told Politico that his job is not in jeopardy A spokesperson for the department told DailyMail.com that Austin 'resumed his full duties' from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (pictured) on Friday evening Five days after the top national security official dropped off the radar, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder (pictured) gave a limited explanation about his absence Five days after the top national security official dropped off the radar, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder gave a limited explanation about his absence. 'On the evening of January 1, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for complications following a recent elective medical procedure,' Ryder said. 'He is recovering well and is expecting to resume his full duties today. At all times, the Deputy Secretary of Defense was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary, if required.' Just a day earlier, Ryder held a televised news briefing that conveyed the sense of business as usual at the Pentagon, offering Austin's condolences to ally Japan following its New Year's Day earthquake, for example. But the past week has been anything but normal for the Pentagon, with U.S. troops in the Middle East wrestling with the regional fallout from the unfolding Israel-Hamas war and carrying out a U.S. retaliatory strike in Baghdad on Thursday. The way the Defense Department handled Austin's hospitalization stands in contrast to how the State Department dealt with then-Secretary of State Colin Powell's prostate surgery on Dec. 15, 2003. The State Department spokesman at that time issued a statement in the morning making public that Powell, a retired four-star general and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was in surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and would remain there for several days before returning home. Ex-DOD officials have said someone is likely to be fired over the kerfuffle - though Austin might be saved thanks to his personal connection with Joe Biden. (Pictured: Biden speaking during a White House meeting in January 2023, flanked by Austin and Antony Blinken) Some officials who spoke with Politico on condition of anonymity said that a senior Pentagon aide will likely loose their job over the chaos. (Pictured: the Pentagon seen on August 27, 2023) It also said Powell would be on a reduced schedule while he recovered from the operation. The State Department's spokesman at the time, Richard Boucher, then offered details on Powell's surgery in his daily briefing. Boucher, contacted by Reuters on Friday, said the key question regarding public disclosure was whether Austin was under anesthesia or was incapacitated. 'Was there any moment in the process where he could not function as secretary of defense?' he asked. 'If you are up and walking around and have your information and you have your aides in the next room and you can make split-second decisions... then there is probably not a public necessity to disclose. 'The only necessity is if you are going to be conked out,' he added. The former reality TV star pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor charges in 2021 She claims that officials had questioned her grandchildren 'to the point of tears' Melanie Peterson, 57, claims her rights to privacy were violated during a probe A reality TV star has filed a lawsuit against Wyoming's hunting agencies claiming her rights were violated during an investigation into her alleged illegal hunting. Melanie Myrtle Peterson, a 57-year-old Texas native, sued the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, alleging they violated her right to privacy. The agency, along with the Wyoming Board of Outfitters and Professional Guides, filed a motion asking the district court to dismiss Peterson's 'baseless' suit on December 18. The lawsuit also challenges several state officials who filed a separate motion to dismiss, claiming Peterson sent court summonses to their employers rather than to them. Peterson won the 2018 edition of 'Extreme Huntress,' a reality show where female hunters compete in skills challenges. Melanie Myrtle Peterson, 57, has sued the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, accusing the agency of violating her right to privacy during an investigation An investigation was launched into Peterson's alleged use of illegal hunting methods in 2021 Under the watch of the 57-year-old 'guide,' two men allegedly poached a black bear and an antelope The 57-year-old was arraigned in August 2021, pleading guilty to 19 charges stemming from alleged hunting violations that spanned nearly a decade. Peterson has pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor charges. Three of the pleas were Alford pleas, which are not an admission of guilt, but an acknowledgement that the state had enough evidence to convict her. The huntress's former clients, Brandon Dailey and Craig Carter, are believed to have poached a black bear and an antelope under her watch respectively. If Peterson had not pleaded guilty, these men would have been able to testify against her. Peterson's complaint names her as 'one of the most respected female hunters' in the industry, adding: 'She was often called upon to use her influence and large social media following to help combat issues that threatened hunting and the right to bear arms.' Her lawsuit alleges Wyoming Game and Fish wardens showed up at her hunting lodge to interview her in 2019. Prior to the investigation, Peterson spoke with Wyoming Game and Fish Warden Adam Hymus about getting permission slips for private property access hunting. Peterson participated in the reality show competition 'Extreme Huntress' and won in 2018 Peterson (pictured here with Donald Trump, Jr.) 'was often called upon to use her influence and large social media following to help combat issues that threatened hunting and the right to bear arms,' according to her complaint Hymus allegedly said he could bring the forms the next day. That Sunday morning, Peterson woke to find Hymus and game warden Dustin Kirsch at her door, the complaint states. The 57-year-old claims she answered all their questions until the agents 'turned the interview into an interrogation' by calling her a liar and shouting at her. The complaint alleges she was not allowed to use her phone or speak with her husband. Her grandchildren were staying at the lodge at the time. They 'were all wondering why armed men were in the house,' the complaint says. After Peterson was served with search warrants, the 12-year-old children were allegedly questioned 'to the point of tears.' Agents seized 11 electronic devices, the complaint says, some of which were returned days later. Peterson's hard drive was submitted to the Sublette County Attorney's Office on September 22, 2021. After entering a protective order of confidentiality to restrict the release of private information, the office allegedly disclosed more than three terabytes of data, the complaint states. The 57-year-old alleges she was subject to a surprise raid on her home and electronic devices by Fish and Game agents who 'turned the interview into an interrogation,' questioning her grandchildren 'to the point of tears.' Peterson alleges that private information from her electronic devices was shared with people outside the investigation, leading to a business deal falling through Wyoming Fish and Game, along with the Wyoming Board of Outfitters and Professional Guides, have asked the district court to dismiss Peterson's suit, calling it 'baseless' Medical records and attorney-client communications were not redacted, the complaint states. Furthermore, government employees allegedly shared sensitive information with people outside the scope of the warrant. The complaint adds that the Sublette County Attorney's Office admitted that Peterson's Fourth Amendment rights had been violated in May 2022. The 57-year-old claims the case affected her business prospects as well. Two members of the Wyoming State Board of Outfitters and Guides allegedly spoke about the legal dispute at a dinner party, resulting in an outfitter declining to buy Peterson's business, she claims. Wyoming Game and Fish declined to comment on the pending lawsuit, as per policy. Elise Stefanik has refused to commit to accepting the 2024 election results unless they are 'constitutional,' alluding to her ongoing fight over Joe Biden's 2020 win. The Republican representative for New York's 21st congressional district doubled down on her claims the previous race - which Trump lost - was unconstitutional. She said the Democrats are still a 'threat to democracy' as they're attempting to boot Trump - who is currently the GOP frontrunner - from ballots in different states. Stefanik was one of 147 Republicans in Congress who did not vote to certify the 2020 results, believing that it had been stolen. That opinion triggered the January 6 chaos outside the Capitol three years ago. Moderator Kristen Welker on NBC's 'Meet the Press' asked Stefanik: 'Would you vote to certify, and will you vote to certify, the results of the 2024 election no matter what they show?' The Republican representative for New York's 21st congressional district doubled down on her claims that the 2020 race - which Trump lost - was unconstitutional, and said the Democrats are a 'threat to democracy' Elise Stefanik poses with Donald Trump. He leads opinion polls by a large margin in the race for the Republican nomination in 2024 Stefanik responded: 'We will see if this is a legal and valid election. 'What we're seeing so far is that Democrats are so desperate they're trying to remove President Trump from the ballot that is the suppression of the American people.' When asked again if she would certify the votes, the Republican said: 'If they're constitutional. 'What we saw in 2020 was unconstitutional circumventing of the constitution, not going through state legislature when it comes to changing election law. 'Joe Biden and Democrats are a threat to democracy.' This comes in the wake of the Colorado Supreme Court ruling Trump ineligible for the state's primary ballot due to the Disqualification Clause in the 14th Amendment. Following Colorado, Maine also attempted to remove him. Attorneys for Trump appealed a decision by Maine's secretary of state after disqualifying him from the primary ballot, citing the 14th Amendment's ban on anyone who engaged in insurrection from holding office. The court must decide by January 17 and from there, it could potentially go to Maine Supreme Judicial Court and then up to the Supreme Court. Trump has been indicted in both a federal case and in Georgia for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election but he has not been charged with insurrection related to the Jan. 6 attack. He leads opinion polls by a large margin in the race for the Republican nomination in 2024. Stefanik took center stage last month when she ceremoniously grilled the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and UPenn on antisemitism on their campuses Stefanik took center stage last month when she ceremoniously grilled the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and UPenn on antisemitism on their campuses. She cheered the 'forced resignation' of embattled Harvard President Claudine Gay following weeks of pressure - that was mounted by Stefanik herself in Congress. 'Two down. Harvard knows that this long overdue forced resignation of the antisemitic plagiarist president is just the beginning of what will be the greatest scandal of any college or university in history,' she said in a statement first obtained by DailyMail.com. Backlash erupted after the presidents of Harvard, UPenn and MIT failed to unequivocally condemn the genocide of Jews during a hearing on anti-Semitism on Capitol Hill last month. Stefanik had put the liberal university presidents in the hot seat - asking them whether 'calling for the genocide of Jews' would violate their schools' codes of conducts. She directly asked Harvard President Claudine Gay if 'calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard's rules of bullying and harassment? Yes or no.' 'It can be depending on the context,' replied Gay. She has since received numerous calls to step down following her failure to directly condemn anti-Semitism. Since the hearing, new allegations that the president engaged in plagiarism emerged, including six this week alone, bringing the total to nearly 50. A three-year old Palestinian child was shot dead in the West Bank this evening as Israeli police opened fire at two suspects who rammed a car into a checkpoint. The young girl was travelling in a car when a white van behind ploughed into two Israeli police officers at a checkpoint near the Palestinian village of Biddu. Israeli officers gave chase and fired upon the van, killing two suspects inside the van and accidentally killing the child, who was pronounced dead by Israeli rescue services. A female officer in the paramilitary border police was lightly wounded, the Magen David Adom rescue services added. It comes amid a surge in violence in the West Bank since the Hamas-Israel conflict erupted three months ago today. An ambulance attends the scene of a car ramming attack at the Ras Bidu checkpoint, Jan 7 An Israeli border guard stands at the scene after a white van rammed officers on January 7 Camera footage showed the first van proceeding slowly through the checkpoint A second vehicle speeds through and veers right into the officers at the crossing Officers surround the second car and open fire, killing two inside and a child in the van in front Footage showed officers checking a van at the checkpoint north-west of Jerusalem before passing through the border. A second vehicle, a small white van, is then seen failing to stop and veering right into an officer in her twenties as it approaches the crossing. Another camera shows both vans then proceeding through the checkpoint, the second held up by the larger vehicle in front. Israeli officers rush behind the second vehicle with rifles and open fire, killing two inside. The three-year-old girl mistakenly killed was in the first van, according to police, who have launched an investigation into the incident. The child was critically injured by the shooting and declared dead at the scene a short time later, medics said. The injured officer was taken to a medical centre in nearby Jerusalem in good condition. Tensions in the occupied West Bank have flared since Hamas' incursion into Israel on October 7 and the subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Earlier today, a man driving a car with Israeli number plates was fatally shot at a busy intersection in the West Bank, hours after a violent confrontation elsewhere left seven Palestinians and a border policewoman dead. The victim in the drive-by shooting was later identified as a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem. The assailants may have mistaken him for an Israeli because of the number plates. Israeli media reported that security forces found an abandoned car that was likely to have been used to carry out the attack, and the suspect fled on foot. The Israeli army said security forces were searching the area for the gunman. Hours earlier, a deadly confrontation erupted when Israeli security forces were on patrol to search for roadside bombs in Jenin, a town and adjacent urban refugee camp in the northern West Bank. A roadside bomb exploded near a vehicle of the paramilitary border police, killing a policewoman and wounding three others, police said. An Israeli military helicopter targeted Palestinians in the area who were throwing explosives at Israeli vehicles and extracted the Israeli forces, the Israeli army said. Seven Palestinians were killed in the air strike, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. An Israeli border guard stands by an armoured vehicle deployed at the scene of a reported car-ramming attack at the Ras Bidu checkpoint near the Israeli settlement of Givat Zeev, January 7 An ambulance is deployed at the scene after three were shot dead and one injured, January 7 People walk past a crater left by an explosive device that killed an Israeli officer during an Israeli raid in Jenin in the occupied West Bank on January 7, 2024 Palestinians in a car check the site where an Israeli air strike killed six men, January 7 Palestinian civilians in Jenin refugee camp were killed in an Israeli drone strike last month as tanks pushed through the city. Air strikes in the West Bank have become more commonplace as the war rages on, stoking resentment and raising fears of Palestinian retaliatory attacks. There has also been an 'unmatched surge in settlement activity' since the onset of the Gaza War, escalating animosity between factions, according to a report released on Thursday by Israeli NGO Peace Now. A record number of nine new Israeli outposts have been built in a span of about three months, and some 18 roads illegally paved through Palestinian territories. The violence was aimed at 'marginalising Palestinians', according to the report, with settlers exploiting the war to expand control over parts of Area C - an part of the West Bank with a high concentration of settlements. Last month, the UK joined other European nations, the EU, Canada and Australia in calling on Israel to 'take immediate and concrete steps to tackle record high settler violence in the occupied West Bank'. The signatories 'express their grave concern about the record number of attacks by extremist settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank,' a statement read. 'Since the start of October, settlers have committed more than 343 violent attacks, killing 8 Palestinian civilians, injuring more than 83, and forcing 1026 Palestinians from their homes... 'We reiterate our position that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law and remind Israel of its obligations under international law, in particular Article 49 of Geneva Convention IV. 'This rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians is unacceptable. Israel, as the occupying power, must protect the Palestinian civilian population in the West Bank. Those responsible for the violence must be brought to justice.' Three zones - A, B and C - were set up in the West Bank during the Oslo Accords (1993-95) amid an attempt to bring about a solution to the conflict. The Accords began a peace process aimed at fulfilling the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and led to the creation of the Palestinian National Authority - a new body tasked with helping govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A girl stands next to a damaged house in the Jenin refugee camp following days of Israeli raids on December 31, 2023 Jenin, West Bank A Palestinian girl walks on a damaged road in the Jenin refugee camp following days of Israeli raids on December 31, 2023 in Jenin, West Bank A Palestinian boy looks out of a car in the Jenin refugee camp following days of Israeli raids on December 31, 2023 in Jenin, West Bank Israeli forces surround a Palestinian neighbourhood in Jenin, West Bank, on January 4, 2024 Negotiators came close to creating a deal that would create two separate states and appease both the Palestinians and the Israelis - but issues over land and the right of refugees who fled Palestine to return became sticking points. PLO chief and Fatah founder Yasser Arafat had accepted the premise of a two state solution in 1988 but pulled out of a deal in 2000. That year, Palestinians expelled all Israelis from the Gaza Strip in the Second Intifada - but Fatah steadily lost support with accusations of corruption. As talks broke down, the three zones intended as temporary fixes to the problem became more permanent settlements, creating obstacles for future Palestinian statehood in the region. World War II depth charges, smoke floats and munition cases are among the latest eerie relics to be discovered on a deep-water survey ten miles off the coast of LA. Highresolution cameras found a massive dumping ground of munitions from the Pacific War which were tossed overboard warships before they could endanger the ports they were returning to. A team from the University of California's San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography found the objects up to 3,000ft down between LA and Catalina Island, in the same area where thousands of barrels of the outlawed pesticide DDT were discovered three years ago. 'We started to find the same objects by the dozens, if not hundreds, consistently, it actually took a few days to really understand what we were seeing on the seabed,' said expedition leader Eric Terrill. 'Who knew that right in our backyard, the more you look, the more you find.' A well-preserved Smoke Float Mark 1 which used white phosphorous or other reactive chemicals to identify or conceal a ship's position Expedition leader Eric Terrill of the UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography The latest discoveries were found across a 135 square mile survey field, and included Hedgehog and Mark 9 depth charges which were typically used by the US Navy to attack enemy submarines. Also spotted were Mark 1 smoke floats which used white phosphorous or other reactive chemicals to identify or conceal a ship's position. Dumping munitions at sea was outlawed by international treaty in 1975, and a Congressional investigation identified 32 instances of it by the US military in American waters between 1918 and 1970. But hundreds of thousands of tons of mustard gas along with compounds including Adamsite, Lewisite and Tabun are thought to have been tossed overboard with no record between the 1940s and 1960s. The US Navy, which worked with the Scripps team admitted the discoveries 'are likely a result of World War II-era disposal practices'. 'Disposal of munitions at sea at this location was approved at that time to ensure safe disposal when naval vessels returned to US port,' it said in a statement. 'We are determining the best path forward to ensure that the risk to human health and the environment is managed appropriately.' But scientists are still trying to work out what to do with up to half-a-million barrels of DDT thought to be lying in the same waters. Many of the military objects were hard to recognize after eight decades under water Little is left of this wooden munitions box which was likely tossed overboard with its contents Hedgehog depth charges have assumed the appearance of strange sea creatures And a barnacle-encrusted Depth Charge Mark 9 shows little sign of its origin as a deadly bomb The survey built on 2021 sea floor search which found thousands of barrels of deadly DDT Researchers mapped more than 36,000 acres of seafloor after the first barrels were found in 2011 positively identifying another 27,000. But analysis of dumping records stretching back to the 1930s suggest there could be 20 times as many still unaccounted for. And two years ago the Environmental Protection Agency concluded that much of the notorious 'forever chemical' may have been just emptied straight into the sea from tankers. Effects of DDT DDT was used widely across the United States to kill off the mosquitoes that were spreading polio. In 1972 the Environmental Protection Agency banned the chemical because of the adverse environmental effects, and it is now classified as a probable human carcinogen. Mammals exposed to DDT have an increased risk of liver tumors, and rats become sterile. DDT accumulates in fatty tissue but there is no proven link that it causes cancer in humans. The Stockholm Convention bans DDT for all uses apart from attempts to stop the spread of malaria. Advertisement 'When the deepwater dumping was first uncovered in more detail by the team at UC Santa Barbara, the response was, 'Oh, my gosh, this is the tip of the iceberg',' Mark Gold of the Natural Resources Defense Council told the LA Times. 'And now we still don't even know how big it is. 'What's scary as if we needed it to be more scary is that we're now up to more than 100 square miles of contamination from this dumpsite, with high DDT concentrations at depths that nobody's even ever looked before, and now we're seeing all the other stuff that was dumped as well. 'And it's only what we see, from the standpoint of big munitions, as opposed to: How do we know there weren't other chemicals that were dumped by the Department of Defense?' DDT was once hailed as a wonder pesticide after saving crops and fighting off malaria but it was banned in the US in 1972 after it was linked to cancer and threatened wildlife. The largest DDT producer in the US, Montrose Chemical Corp, was one of the companies stationed on the border of Los Angeles and Torrance and was dumping waste between the 1940s and 1970s. A $140million legal battle in the 1990s exposed it and three other companies for their disposal of toxic waste through sewage pipes heading to the sea. The 27,345 'barrel-like' images, some of which were leaking and corroding, were captured by a team from Scripps on board the Sally Ride research vessel. Regulators said in the 1980s that barrels were deliberately punctured when they were too buoyant to sink, sending the toxic chemicals spewing into the sea inhabited by diverse marine life. DDT in the region has been found in dolphins, linked to aggressive cancer in 25 per cent sea lions and entered the food chain endangering sea birds, even causing reproductive issues in bald eagles because the chemical caused egg shells to break. Marine scientists found at least 25,000 barrels of toxic pesticide DDT dumped off the Southern Carolina coast. Pictured: a leaking barrel on the seafloor found in 2011 In the first underwater research carried out in 2011, the autonomous vehicle Sentry (top right) mapped out the seafloor while the remote operated Jason (left) collected samples Terrill prepares Remote Environmental Monitoring UnitS (REMUS). The robot subs come equipped with sonar tech that collects data from the ocean floor It has long been suspected that the site by Catalina Island has been a massive underwater toxic waste zone dating back to World War II. Pictured: a barrel found in 2011 About 60 barrels were identified in the first round of research carried out between 2011 and 2013. Pictured: a robot collects samples from the ocean floor in 2011 DDT in the region has been found in dolphins, linked to aggressive cancer in 25 per cent sea lions and entered the food chain endangering sea birds, even causing reproductive issues in bald eagles because the chemical caused egg shells to break Historical shipping logs show that industrial companies in Southern California used the basin as a dumping ground until 1972, when the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, also known as the Ocean Dumping Act, was enacted. Dumped munitions routinely find their way back on shore as beachgoers in nearby Santa Cruz County were alarmed to discover when a Mk15 Mod 2 practice bomb washed up on New Year's Eve. But the latest scan of the ocean floor did at least provide a more welcome discovery for scientists who spotted up to 60 whale skeletons, more than doubling the number of 'whale falls' previously identified. 'When we do population-level calculations, we estimate there may be on the order of 600,000 or more whale falls in the global ocean, but they fall more or less randomly, so they're hard to find,' said Professor Craig Smith at the University of Hawaii. King Abdullah II of Jordan has warned Antony Blinken there will be 'catastrophic ramifications' if the war in Gaza continues. During a meeting in Amman on Sunday, the Jordanian leader told the US Secretary of State there needed to be an end to 'the tragic humanitarian crisis in the Strip.' Blinken is back in the region to speak with Arab leaders about a joint mission to contain the violence of the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. After speed round visits to Greece, Turkey, Jordan, and Qatar, Blinken will continue his visits later this week with stops in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the West Bank, Egypt, and Israel before heading back to Washington. In Doha, Qatar on Sunday, America's top diplomat said during a press conference he gave alongside the Prime Minister of Qatar, the US rejects the plan espoused by a handful of Israeli ministers to resettle Palestinian civilians elsewhere after the war. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken greets Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani He added that foreign aid to Gaza must immediately be increased, but mentioned that there have been consistent issues when it comes to getting the aid packages delivered to struggling Palestinians. The handful of leaders, who include King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi of Jordan and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar, are hoping to come together to effectively contain the war, which could consume the region if improperly addressed. At the press conference, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani conveyed the country's desire for stability in the region, which requires an immediate ceasefire, the release of the Israeli hostages, and continued aid into Gaza. He added that Gaza, which he referred to as occupied territory, needs to be under the leadership of the Palestinians, but the foremost goal at the moment is to prevent the spread of violence in the region. Though Qatari leaders are currently paying lip service to a broad cooperation plan, it has been widely reported since the outbreak of the war, which followed the October 7 attacks on Israel, Hamas leaders have been living out of luxury hotels in Doha. In addition to emphasizing the need for more aid and fewer bombs in Gaza, Blinken discussed the need for maritime security in the Red Sea, where international shipments have been repeatedly disrupted by Houthi forces out of Yemen. He mentioned the US-led Project Prosperity Guardian, which aims, along with the support of 20 other countries, to defend commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Later this week, Blinken will continue his regional tour with stops in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the West Bank, Egypt, and Israel before heading back to Washington. This is Blinken's fourth trip to the region since the October 7 massacre. King Abdullah II of Jordan and the rest of the royal family have been extremely vocal in their criticism of Israel since the beginning of the war - on Sunday Abdullah warned of the 'catastrophic ramiifications' that will surely unfold if the war does not end Blinken walks with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani (R) receiving Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Doha Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamas al-Thani shakes hands with Blinken during a round of strategic talks on the subject of the Israeli-Gaza war Blinken and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrrahman al-Thani arrive to brief the press in Doha on Sunday, January 7 Ongoing airstrikes in Israel continue to collapse Gazan living structures. Regional leaders are stressing the importance of drastically increasing the amount of aid making its way to Gaza Blinken also clarified that he has discussed in some amount of detail what each Arab nation can do once this round of the conflict ends to 'provide the assurances and the incentives required to build a more secure and more stable, more peaceful future for the region.' 'We share a commitment to ensure that the conflict does not expand,' he said of the leaders he's met with in recent days. 'And my takeaway from the discussion so far, including here with our friends in Qatar, is that our partners are willing to have these difficult conversations and to make hard decisions. All of us feel a stake in forging the way forward.' Israel has not agreed to a ceasefire, and the US has largely not pushed Netanyahu's government on the point, rather, advocating for temporary humanitarian pauses in the fighting to allow aid to be delivered. Several weeks back, Israel opened Kerem Shalom up as a second entry point for aid to Gaza. While in Crete, Blinken said: 'These are not necessarily easy conversations. There are different perspectives, different needs, different requirements, but it is vital that we engage in this diplomacy now both for the sake of Gaza itself and more broadly the sake of the future for Israelis and Palestinians and for the region as a whole.' Police are investigating the 'unexplained' death of a woman whose body was found on a Dudley street dubbed a 'no-go' zone by locals. Blue and white police tape could be seen stretched across Clee Road in Dudley today, with drivers being given no access to the road. West Midlands Police have today confirmed an as-yet-unnamed woman was tragically found dead on nearby Ivanhoe Street at around 8.15am. Several police vehicles were seen blocking off the path that meets Stourbridge Road at around 11am on Sunday. Officers say they are treating the death of the woman, who was in her 30s, as 'unexplained' while they carry out enquiries. Several police vehicles were seen blocking off the path that meets Stourbridge Road at around 11am on Sunday One local said in a Facebook post responding to the news that the area was 'getting worse' Locals have expressed fears for the 'area getting worse' in what has been branded a 'no go zone' following the major incident. Residents in the area took to social media as the street was cordoned off this morning. One local said in a Facebook post responding to the news that the area was 'getting worse,' while another said: 'Seems to be murders and deaths everyday.' A police statement said: 'We were called to Ivanhoe Street at its junction with Clee Road, Dudley, shortly after 8.15am today (Sun) after the body of a woman was discovered. 'We are currently treating the death of the woman, who is in her 30s, as unexplained as we carry out enquiries. 'People with information can contact us via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101 quoting log number 865 of 7 January.' In December, a builder admitted to beating a woman to death in her home just half a mile away from Clee Road. Peter Norgrove, 43, admitted to killing Sharon Gordon at her home on Bromford Road in Dudley, West Midlands, on July 20 last year. Ms Gordon, 58, was lying dead at the stairs in the property after suffering eight blows to the head, thought to have been carried out with a hammer. Concerned friends discovered Ms Gordon's body when they called by her home on July 21 after she failed to turn up to work. She was found with severe head injuries, which had been inflicted the previous day. Norgrove, of Sedgley, West Midlands, previously denied murder but changed his plea in court in late December. A growing number of Americans are concerned with spiking migration at the southern border with 75 percent calling it a 'crisis' or 'very serious' problem, according to the latest polling. Those who feel the situation at the border is a 'crisis' is on the rise from the spring, when just 38 percent called it a 'crisis' in May compared to the 45 percent who now feel the same. The latest figures come amid a massive rise in illegal immigration over the southern border this winter, with thousands at a time lining up to be processed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Meanwhile, reports emerged last week showing that CBP is on track this month to process the most migrants in the agency's history with more than 304,000 encounters in a single month. A new poll shows that 75% of Americans feel that the situation at the southern border is either a 'crisis' or 'very serious' It comes as a record number of migrants are arriving at the border every month including December being on track for the highest-ever number of illegal arrivals at 304,000 A new CBS News/YouGov poll finds that 18 percent think the border crisis is just 'somewhat serious' and another 7 percent think what's going on at the southern border is 'not much of a problem at all.' More respondents disagree with how President Joe Biden is handling the southern border compared to how congressional Republicans are handling it. It comes as the Biden administration attempts to deflect blame for the ongoing crisis to Congress, with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas intervening with negotiations in the Senate. Republicans want to see a complete overhaul of the U.S. immigration system, with more strict regulations on illegal border crossers. They are even threatening to hold hostage more aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan in exchange for getting a comprehensive bill passed on making it easier to deport illegal immigrants. The latest shows that the sentiment of the border being in 'crisis' has risen by 7% since May Meanwhile, new proposed rules would essentially re-implement pandemic-era Title 42, which allowed CBP agents to immediately deport back to Mexico migrants claiming asylum while their proceedings were underway instead of releasing them into the country to await a court date. Progressives and immigration advocates claim this is inhumane. The CBS/YouGov poll shows that 44 percent of respondents want migrants to leave the country while they wait for asylum hearings, while 43 percent say they feel migrants should remain in the U.S. while they wait. Meanwhile, 13 percent say that they want the migrants to be booted from the country with no chance of being able to return. It is said that there is a long road under the Milky Way, called St. James Way, a.k.a. Camino Frances. It is a Pilgrimage of St James from ancient time. The journey began in a small village, St. Jean Pied de Port (SJPDP) in France, thus the name of the Pilgrimage Road. At our present time, each year, thousands of people walk on it, to fulfill their wishes, their dreams. It is also said that Camino Frances, going from east to west across northern Spain, coincides with the orientation of the Milky Way. The pilgrims in ancient times relied on the stars, positions of constellations, to guide them through their journey, under the Milky Way, to their final destination, the shrine of the apostle St. James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. It is said that the remains of this Saint was buried there. The Spanish word "Compostella", in Latin, is "Campus Stelae", meaning "Field of Stars." Camino Frances crosses the Pyraness, stretches across northern Spain, and ends in Santiago de Compostela. The total distance is around 500 miles, about 800 kilometers, with more than 170 villages, towns and cities along the Way. The places you will see along the Way are diverse - plains, mountains, wineries, farmlands, to name just a few. Pyrenees is the largest mountain range in southwestern Europe. The mountains separate France from Spain, forms a natural national boundary between the two countries. The weather there can change drastically due to its elevation. Many types of animals, vegetations and plants are found there. Many experienced Camino walkers mentioned online that the first day of the 25km of walk on the Camino would be the most challenging, not only because it takes the body and mind some time to get aclimated, but also because of the physical landscape, the mountains, the trail surfaces, the uncertainty and constant changes of the weather, etc. that might intimate some pilgrims. There are people who challenge themselves by completing the entire 25 kilometers' walk within the first day, while others would walk the first seven and a half kilometers, let their body get adapted to the environment, and become used to the long walks, then continue the rest of the 18km or so the next day. The 25 kilometers, in some guidebooks and Camino websites, are considered as Stage One on the Way. A stage is defined as the typical walking distance in a day that a pilgrim can manage to walk without feeling strained. This first stage has many hills, with drastic ascendings and descendings, often with loose rocks and slippery hills. The highest point for that day was over fourteen hundred meters. The Buen Camino app provides detailed information on each section of the Way and the related accommodations, their contacts and booking information. This app also includes information on other Camino routes. The Camino guidebooks, websites and Camino veterans suggest that the backpack should not weigh more than 10% of the body weight. If only that can be true, given that the backpack itself might already weigh about 3lbs. Of course, whoever is willing, can always carry more. Your body will eventually tell you what is the right weight. It is crucial to try some training walks with a fully packed backpack, walk the potential distance, up and down some hills with loose rocks. Many references have divided the 500-mile French Way into three phases. The first phase is to challenge one's "physical body", up the mountains and down the hills. How well can one's physical fitness handle it? This is also a section with the most beautiful mountains and breathtaking views. (A phase for "Birth") The second phase is for the mind -- along the Mesata, when all one can see in the landscape is mostly far-stretched plains, seemingly no end. It challenges one's mental fitness, and one's will power. When routines and boredom set in, and when the walking tasks ahead doesn't require extra caution, and when the landscape ahead offers no thrills or stimulation, how does one get through hours of walk in the day, and would still feel enriched, empowered, and enlightened? (A phase for "death") The third phase, and the final phase is for the soul/faith. After all the walk, one can not help but think what is the ultimate purpose for all the walks during all those days, with all the joy, suffering, and everything in between? (A phase for "Resurrection") People also consider these three phases as "birth, death and resurrection." https://invictusaustralia.org/the-power-of-the-camino-de-santiago/ A legendary story says, St. James/St. Jacob was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, one of Jesus' three most important disciples, and was believed to be the patron Saint of Spain. (Source: https://www.hillwalktours.com/walking-hiking-blog/camino-history-who-was-saint-james/) After St. James died, its disciple tried to bring his body "home" (in Santiago in northwestern Spain) for a proper burial. Unfortunately, their ship capsized in a storm, thus they lost the holy body of Saint James. Later, the holy body was found, well-protected by shells. Since then, the clam shells have taken on a deeper meaning -- faith, protection and auspiciousness. With all the information and stories, I'd better start to prepare for my Journey. The Vatican has slapped down a Kentucky Catholic Church after a bishop gave a 'private blessing' to a lesbian couple. Wearing a long rainbow-colored scarf, the Very Reverend Richard Watson blessed the couple at Historic Saint Paul Catholic Church in Lexington on December 31. The church shared an image of the ritual via Facebook on New Year's Day, with the caption: 'History was made Sunday at Historic Saint Paul Catholic Church. 'This same-sex couple, civilly married for 22 years, asked for a blessing which Fr Richard freely offered according to the guidelines in Fiducia Supplicans.' But the Vatican disagreed with this interpretation of the 2023 doctrine, issuing a press release to counter it. Wearing a long rainbow-colored scarf, the Very Reverend Richard Watson blessed the couple at Historic Saint Paul Catholic Church in Lexington on December 31 The church shared an image of the ritual via Facebook on New Year's Day, with the caption: 'History was made Sunday at Historic Saint Paul Catholic Church' ''Fiducia supplicans" does not change the doctrine on marriage,' the Vatican said, clarifying that it allows same-sex people to be blessed, but not their marital unions. A flood of parishioners and online observers also condemned the blessing - with the church's Facebook post being hit with a barrage of angry reacts. Michael J Matt, the editor of Catholic newspaper The Remnant, took to X to slam the ceremony. 'This is not the private blessing for individuals that some would argue is the intended target of the new Vatican document,' he said. 'This is a "married" lesbian couple getting a public blessing in church. 'But these are the optics they must have known would be populating around the internet as soon as the ink was dry on the papal signature. 'Out and Proud in the sanctuary. The priest even busted out his rainbow stole for the occasion. This looks like approval, doesn't it? And that's the whole point.' In December, Pope Francis formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, while reaffirming that marriage is between a man and a woman. The new document explained a radical change in Vatican policy, insisting worshippers seeking God's love and mercy should not be subject to 'an exhaustive moral analysis' to receive it. The text elaborated on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals published two months prior. In December, Pope Francis formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, while reaffirming that marriage is between a man and a woman In that preliminary response, the Pope suggested such blessings could be offered under certain circumstances if they did not confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage. The new document repeats that rationale and elaborates on it, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. And it stresses that blessings should not be conferred at the same time as a civil union or even with the clothing and gestures that belong in a wedding. But it says requests for such blessings should not be denied as a rule of thumb. It offers an extensive definition of the term 'blessing' in Scripture.' 'Ultimately, a blessing offers people a means to increase their trust in God,' the document said. 'The request for a blessing, thus, expresses and nurtures openness to the transcendence, mercy, and closeness to God in a thousand concrete circumstances of life, which is no small thing in the world in which we live.' It added: 'It is a seed of the Holy Spirit that must be nurtured, not hindered.' The Vatican holds that marriage is an indissoluble union between man and woman. As a result, it has long opposed same-sex marriage. And in 2021, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said flat-out that the church couldn't bless the unions of two men or two women because 'God cannot bless sin'. That document created an outcry, and it appeared even Pope Francis was blindsided by it even though he had technically approved its publication. Soon after it was published, he removed the official responsible for it and set about laying the groundwork for a reversal. In that preliminary response, the Pope suggested such blessings could be offered under certain circumstances In the new document, the Vatican said the Church must shy away from 'doctrinal or disciplinary schemes, especially when they lead to a narcissistic and authoritarian elitism whereby instead of evangelizing, one analyses and classifies others, and instead of opening the door to grace, one exhausts his or her energies in inspecting and verifying'. It stressed that people in 'irregular' unions - gay or straight - are in a state of sin. But it said that shouldn't deprive them of God's love or mercy. 'Thus, when people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it,' the document said. The Rev. James Martin, who advocates for greater welcome for LGBTQ+ Catholics, praised the new document as a 'huge step forward' and a 'dramatic shift' from the Vatican's 2021 policy. The new document 'recognizes the deep desire in many Catholic same-sex couples for God's presence and help in their committed relationships,' he said in an email. 'Along with many Catholic priests, I will now be delighted to bless my friends in same-sex marriages.' Traditionalists, however, were outraged. Luigi Casalini of Messa in Latino (Latin Mass) blog wrote that the document appeared to be a form of heresy. 'The Church is crumbling,' he wrote. Virgin Atlantic says the jet had to return to base because of a 'technical issue' Aircraft howls over houses at 'really low' altitude as it rushes back to England Holidaymakers in search of winter sun found themselves plunged into a nightmare after the cockpit of their jet from Manchester to Barbados reportedly filled with smoke. The Virgin Atlantic A330-300, registration G-VKSS, took off from Manchester Airport at around 1pm before it issued a squawk emergency call 20 minutes later. Flight VS77 then turned around and returned to the airport during its journey over the Irish sea en route to the Barbados capital Bridgetown, reporting a technical issue. Pilots are said to have informed air traffic controllers of 'dense and acrid smell of smoke' as they turned the jet around. They brought it back onto the ground safely at around 1.50pm, where it was met by several fire engines. YouTube channel Drones and Planes captured footage of the Virgin Atlantic plane touching down at Manchester Emergency services rushed onto the runway at the northern airport to meet the aircraft Virgin Atlantic jet G-VKSS (pictured in May 2017) took off from Manchester Airport at 1pm on Sunday only to turn around as the pilots reported smoke in the cockpit Flight VS77, which had been bound for Bridgetown in Barbados, issued an emergency call known as a squawk around 20 minutes after taking off A woman in Rhyl, Wales, said the plane came in 'really low' and appeared to be flying at a 'really strange angle' as it made its return to Manchester One local in Rhyl, Wales, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the jet appeared to fly 'really low' and at a 'really strange angle'. She added: 'I saw it heading towards my direction as Im sitting on my bed looking out my window, the angle it was flying looked really strange straight away knew something was wrong.' Transponder data reported by FlightRadar suggested the plane flew over Rhyl at an altitude of approximately 9,000 feet half the altitude it was at when it flew out in the opposite direction. A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson told aircraft news website AirLive: 'The VS77 from Manchester to Barbados has returned to Manchester due to a technical issue. 'The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.' The fault appears to have led to the cancellation of the return flight from Barbados to the northern city, which had been due to leave at 8.05pm local time (12.05am GMT). Flight logs for the aircraft show it flew from Manchester to Bridgetown and back on Saturday, suggesting it would have been set to do the same today. Passengers took to social media to ask Virgin Atlantic for help as to next steps. One wrote: 'Any chance you can let us know what is happening with VS78 from Barbados tonight now it is cancelled? When will be be able to get back?' Another said: 'Just been informed VS78 cancelled Bridgetown to Manchester. Could really do with an update. Family of 5 out of our accommodation. Kids have uni exams to get back to! Help.' Virgin said in a statement to MailOnline: 'The flight has now been cancelled and all affected customers will be rebooked on alternative flights.' Three fire engines met the airplane on the runway as it touched down in Manchester according to The Sun. A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson told the paper: 'At just after 1.30pm today (Sunday), firefighters were called to an incident involving an aircraft making an emergency landing at Manchester Airport. 'Three fire engines from Wythenshawe and Stockport, the Technical Response Unit from Ashton and the Command Support Unit from Hyde arrived quickly at the scene. 'Working alongside Manchester Airport fire personnel, firefighters were on standby for the aircraft's arrival, which landed safely. 'Our crews were in attendance for approximately one and a half hours.' Israel says it has 'completed the dismantling' of the Hamas command structure in northern Gaza. Army spokesman Daniel Hagari said militants were operating in the area only sporadically and 'without a framework and without commanders'. He said the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) were now moving their focus to central and southern Gaza. Israel's offensive started after Hamas gunmen launched a surprise attack across the border on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostage. Smoke and flame rises from different parts of Salah al-Din Road following Israeli attacks in Deir Al Balah, Gaza on January 7, 2024 A view of damaged building as the historical buildings such as mosques, churches, baths and bazaars are damaged or destroyed by Israeli attacks in Gaza City, Gaza on January 6, 2024 While Israel says it has now accomplished its aims in northern Gaza, it has been criticised for the tactics including heavy bombardment of civilian areas it has employed. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claims more than 22,000 people have perished. Israel yesterday said it had killed around 8,000 'militants' in north Gaza. Most of Gaza's population of 2.3million has been displaced during the conflict, and Mr Hagari said troops will act differently as they move their focus southwards. He said 'lessons have been learned', but would not elaborate on what this meant. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile said his nation would continue on its path to 'eliminate Hamas, return our hostages and ensure that Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel'. He added: 'We have to put everything aside... until the complete victory is achieved.' (FILES) Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari speaks to the press from The Kirya, which houses the Israeli Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv on October 18, 2023 A Florida toddler was left with horrific second-degree burns to his body after he tripped and fell until a fire pit while playing with a bubble wand. Finny Strait, two, was playing outside with the soapy toy on New Year's Day during his family's camping trip in Gainsville, Florida, when he suddenly tripped. The boy, from St. Cloud, Florida, fell into the fire pit - as his 11-year-old brother Weston and mother Tabitha quickly rushed to recover him from the flames. Mom-of-four Tabitha Shay told Fox 35 about her son's ordeal: 'When I grabbed him, his pants were melting. They were like a nylon material, and they were melting. 'They melted to me, and I ripped them off.' Finny was left with 18 percent burns to his little body, as his clothes started melting onto his skin. He suffered second and third-degree burns on his legs and hand. Finny Strait, two, was playing outside with the soapy toy on New Year's Day during his family's camping trip in Gainsville, Florida, when he suddenly tripped The boy, from St. Cloud, Florida, fell into the fire pit - as his 11-year-old brother Weston and mother Tabitha quickly rushed to recover him from the flames His family rushed him to hospital following the accident. He is now slowly recovering at UF Health Shands Hospital with his parents by his side. It was Weston, Finny's older brother, who bravely reached into the roaring fire pit and picked up his brother as his mom ran to help. Tabitha added: 'He grabbed Finny's sweater, and he told me, 'Mom, it took me a second to process what was happening. And then I said, 'Oh my gosh!' and I just pulled him out. 'Somehow, he managed to do that without getting any boo-boos on himself, which is a miracle. But we are very, very proud of him. Very proud.' Finny's dad, Jeff Strait, said: 'He just randomly ran backwards, straight into a fire. 'You know, what are the chances that happens? It's hard not to blame yourself at first.' Tabitha added: 'I thought I had a handful of friends, and it turns out I have a whole village of friends.' Jeff said: 'I'm relieved of how many people have reached out to us for help. From the bottom of our hearts, we really appreciate it.' Finny with his parents Tabitha and Jeff. They have been updating family and friends on the boy's recovery His family rushed him to hospital following the accident. He is now slowly recovering at UF Health Shands Hospital with his parents by his side Finny was left with 18 percent burns to his little body, as his clothes started melting onto his skin. He suffered second and third-degree burns on his legs and hand Pictured: Finny's burns on his hands Since the ordeal, both of Finny's parents are out of work as they continue to support their son from hospital. Their car was also towed from the hospital's parking lot, according to the boy's grandmother. Jeff's mother and Finny's grandmother, Tami Basye, has set up a fundraising page for them. So far, they've reached $7,800. She wrote: 'Imagine starting the New Year with a phone call from your son telling you that your grandson is heading to the hospital because he fell into the campfire. 'My heart stopped. My name is Tami and my son's family is in need of help. Our 2 year old Finny is in the burn unit of the hospital receiving treatment for some third degree burns on the back of his legs and his little baby palm. 'He is expected to make a full recovery thank God but it's going to take some time. Finny with his brothers, who were quick to help the boy out of the fire 'My son and his wife have 4 kids and they're all stuck out of town supporting each other. Both parents are missing work. 'Once out of the hospital Finny will need continued healing time at home before returning to day care so someone must be home with him. 'Their car was towed from the hospital parking lot because the tires were over the white line. 'It takes a village in these situations so I'm reaching out to you for help.' The family have been updating friends on Finny's recovery as the days go by. Tabitha wrote on January 5: 'Finny was able to get his dressings changed without the morphine!!! He also seems to be walking a little better than he was yesterday. 'I can't wait until my little man is 100% himself again.' And on January 6, she added: 'They said we did a good job on dressing changes and took Finnys IV out. 'We should have a follow up next Wednesday to remove the semipermanent dressings and reevaluate. 'Finny got a french fry and a ride in the car wagon. 'We're so overwhelmed and grateful for the ability to go get him a fry when he needs it without having to worry about the bank account. It's been a huge help. 'Here's to the next steps!!!' Two young boys and a girl have been arrested after they allegedly robbed a woman at knifepoint while she was walking her dog outside her home on the Gold Coast. Kellie Hodge, 53, was walking her dog on a nightly stroll around her Pimpama neighbourhood when she was approached by two boys and a girl just outside her apartment complex at about 11.20 pm on Saturday. Ms Hodge said she was nearly home on Bedford Road when she realised the trio was following her before one of the boys asked if he could pat her dog. 'I said, "yeah no problem" so he's gone down and turned around with a scalpel and looked at me and said "give me your effing keys",' Ms Hodge told 9News. 'Then the other young boy came up to me with the other scalpel and ripped the keys off me.' Kellie Hodge, 53, was walking her dog in her Pimpama neighbourhood, on the Gold Coast, when she was allegedly robbed at knifepoint by a trio of youths, aged 12, 13 and 15 years old Police arrested the three kids and allegedly seized knives from both the boys (pictured) The trio, aged 12, 13 and 15 years old, allegedly fled the scene with the keys and threatened they would return to steal Ms Hodge's car. The 53-year-old ran to her neighbour after the ordeal, who then called the police. Ms Hodge said she has not slept since the alleged robbery and was in complete shock as she did not expect the behaviour from young kids. All three were charged with one count of robbery whilst armed and in company and were remained in police custody until they appear in court at a later date It will be alleged the dog squad was able to track the youths and they were subsequently arrested nearby, with knives allegedly seized from both the boys. A 12-year-old Tanah Merah boy, 13-year-old Willow Vale boy, and a 15-year-old Pimpama girl have each been charged with one count of robbery, whilst armed and in company. All three will remain in police custody and are set to appear in the Southport Childrens Court at a later date. Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who had CCTV footage from the area to contact them or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The majority of police forces allow trans-identifying biologically male officers to strip-search women, research has found. Of the 43 forces in England and Wales, at least 34 have either implemented the policy or intend to, a report from the Women's Rights Network revealed. The feminist group's founder, Heather Binning, said the guidelines would lead to 'state-sanctioned sexual assault', and police leaders had failed the public by pandering to vocal lobbyists. 'Self-identification is not UK law and women should not be paying the price for policing beyond the law,' she said. 'Police chiefs have failed us again. This is not reasonable or lawful and we do not consent. It is state-sanctioned sexual assault, and it must not be tolerated.' Of the 43 forces in England and Wales, at least 34 have either implemented the policy or intend to, a report from the Women's Rights Network revealed The feminist group's founder, Heather Binning, said the guidelines would lead to 'state-sanctioned sexual assault' Guidelines are already in place that mean female officers are required to carry out intimate searches of a biological male suspect if they identify as a woman, with the officer facing possible disciplinary proceedings should they refuse. The author of the WRN report titled State Sanctioned Sexual Assault, retired police superintendent Cathy Larkman, said dozens of female officers had approached the group to voice their concerns. But there was a culture of fear within policing that prevented them from speaking out, she added. One serving female police officer said when she questioned the policies she was threatened with disciplinary proceedings. 'I fear both for my colleagues and for vulnerable suspects,' she told the Mail. 'A strip search is a humiliating and potentially traumatic experience and everything should be done to ensure a suspect is treated with dignity and respect.' Ms Larkman, who commanded more than 500 officers at South Wales police, said police bosses had failed women by pandering to vocal trans lobbyists. In 2022 The Mail On Sunday revealed the controversial advice from the National Police Chiefs' Council which states: 'Chief Officers are advised to recognise the status of transgender colleagues from the moment they transition.' Ms Larkman pointed out that this approach was contrary to UK law, which requires people to obtain a gender recognition certificate in order to be legally recognised as their acquired sex. An NPCC spokesman has previously said: 'All searches are dealt with on a case-by-case basis after consideration by a custody sergeant based on the response of the detainee. All searches are carried out in line with the officer or staff member's training and legal authority.' Robert Tombs believes a memorial would 'right the wrong of a long neglect' A long-overdue memorial to the Royal Navy's contribution to ending the slave trade will help to tackle the 'distortion' of Britain's past, a leading Cambridge historian says. Professor Robert Tombs believes that building a sculpture to mark the contribution of the sailors of the West Africa Squadron would 'right the wrong of a long neglect'. He is the latest figure to support the appeal following its championing in Saturday's Daily Mail by the Leader of Commons, Penny Mordaunt, and a 25,000 pledge yesterday by Lord Ashcroft. Between 1807 and 1867, the squadron seized vessels bound for the Americas and freed more than 150,000 men, women and children destined for servitude there. At its peak, its 36 ships, crewed by 4,000 men, were using up half of the Royal Navy's budget equivalent to as much as 50billion today. Campaigners are seeking to raise 70,000 for a permanent statue honouring the squadron in Portsmouth, which served as its base Professor Robert Tombs believes that building a sculpture to mark the contribution of the sailors of the West Africa Squadron would 'right the wrong of a long neglect' Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt has come out strongly in support of the campaign Although many hundreds of sailors died, there is no memorial to their vital work, prompting local historians to propose one and commission a design for it. A model of the sculpture will be unveiled in Parliament this month by Ms Mordaunt. Flanked by a shackled woman and a freed slave with broken chains, the finished sculpture to be sited in the squadron's home base of Portsmouth will be cast in bronze and mounted on a Portland stone plinth if the required 70,000 is raised. Backing the campaign, Professor Tombs, who is emeritus professor of French history at Cambridge University and a critic of ideologically driven misrepresentations of Britain's past, told the Mail: 'This memorial is long overdue. It rights the wrong of a long neglect. And in today's climate, it helps to prevent the distortion of our history.' He joins Lord Ashcroft, who told the Mail on Sunday: 'Britain's role in helping to abolish the slave trade has been forgotten. It's something we should be proud of.' The debate comes as schools and universities have removed the names of slave traders from their sites and the National Trust has drawn up a controversial list of 93 properties with links to slavery. Portsmouth North MP Ms Mordaunt wrote in Saturday's Mail: 'Yes, Britain had a role in the slave trade. Yes, people made money out of it. But let's be clear about something. We ended it.' The West Africa Squadron Memorial Fund was launched last year by Colin Kemp, 76, from Chichester, with a design from award-winning sculptor Vincent Gray. Excluding Lord Ashcroft's pledge, the campaign has so far raised 6,300. Seven revellers had to have tubes put down their throats at a music festival after overdosing on illegal drugs, with eight people in total still fighting for their lives. The mass overdoses at the Hardmission Festival at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse happened over four hours on Saturday. The victims, who are thought to have taken the party drug ecstasy, were rushed to hospitals including Royal Melbourne, St Vincent's, Footscray, Sunshine and The Austin. Victorian Ambulance Union general secretary Danny Hill recalled the horror saying eight were hospitalised, while seven needed to be intubated at the scene. Intubation is used when someone can't breathe on their own. A tube is placed into the mouth or nose and connected to a machine that pumps oxygen into the person's windpipe. 'These were patients critically unwell and needed life-saving intervention so effectively they did not die,' Mr Hill told Sunrise on Monday morning. Seven people are fighting for their lives in induced comas and after overdosing on illegal drugs at a dance music festival in Melbourne (pictured) Video footage from the festival put on social media showed a person holding up a mobile phone with the word 'Caps?' written on the screen (pictured) 'We had emergency doctors on scene who were providing intubation for patients but they were overwhelmed and had to call in paramedics to assist with care that is normally done within an energy department.' Seven of the eight people rushed to hospital were placed into induced comas. Mr Hill noted the sweltering hot conditions would have also had an impact, and stressed the importance of introducing pill testing. 'Not one of these drugs are safe but at least people can detect whether this is the very lethal variant that has done so much harm to at least eight people who've required critical care intervention,' he said. Paramedics from other parts of the city were called in at around 10.30pm to help with what Mr Hill called a 'dire' situation. 'It's quite a high level treatment that our paramedics perform and its reserved for our most time critical patients and patients in life threatening health conditions,' he told the ABC. 'It's probably quite rare that we would see this amount of people needing such aggressive treatment.' Friends of some of those hospitalised have taken to social media to blame the heat rather than drug use. 'My mate's in ICU, had to carry himself out and put him on the grass myself. Overheated, way too hot,' a friend of a victim wrote. 'He's still in an induced coma. Hopefully we'll get to see him wake up tomorrow.' The person claimed his mate had taken two 'caps' of MDMA and nothing else. 'The conversation around pill testing is going to fire up for sure and no doubt the media will make it out as if the pills were dodgy,' another stated. Video footage from the festival put on social media showed a person holding up a mobile phone with the word 'Caps?' written on the screen. This is a word sometimes used by people looking to buy illegal drugs which come in capsules. Mr Hill said people going to such events need to find out about the dangers of taking illegal drugs such as ecstasy. 'I think this highlights the dangers of some of the drugs that are passed around at rave parties and why there needs to be mechanisms to try and protect against them it raises the issue of pill testing and pill checking.' He said drugs sold at raves are sometimes laced with other chemicals and can have very dangerous side effects. Mr Hill said the drug people get can 'often be a lot different from what they think they have bought'. Volunteers from alcohol and drugs harm reduction DanceWize were at the Hardmission Festival. The mass overdose at the Hardmission Festival (pictured) on Flemington Racecourse happened over four hours on Saturday A social media post of the Hardmission Festival, which took place in Melbourne on Saturday, is pictured On Friday, the organisers posted on social media that 'Hardmission is committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all our attendees. 'As part of our dedication to harm minimisation, we are proud to announce the presence of DanceWize at the event. 'Your wellbeing is our priority. If you or someone you know needs assistance or support during the event, DanceWize will be on-site, ready to provide information, guidance and help with any harm reduction concerns.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Hardmission and DanceWize for comment. Australia's spring/summer music festivals got off to a horror start on the first weekend of October with 18 people at two events rushed to hospital after suffering drug overdoses. This happened despite the introduction of amnesty bins and a heavy police presence with sniffer dogs. The festival season started with tens of thousands of revellers at the Knockout Outdoor at Sydney Olympic Park and Listen Out at Centennial Park in Sydney. More than 70 people were arrested for drug possession and a further four for drug supply on that October weekend. The arrests and hospitalisations come despite amnesty bins being set up at both events for revellers to discard drugs without the fear of being arrested. The policy was introduced as a recommendation of a coronial inquest handed down in 2020 into the deaths of six young people at music festivals in NSW between December 2017 and January 2019. Australia's party season kicked off with Knockout Outdoor (pictured) and Listen Out festivals in October Alex Ross-King, 19, Joshua Tam, 22, Callum Brosnan, 21, Diana Nguyen, 21, Joseph Pham, 23 all died at festivals after taking MDMA or ecstasy. Five of the six festival goers also had other illegal substances in their system. The inquest also recommended a number of other measures including pill testing, scrapping the use of sniffer dogs and reducing the number of strip searches. The government rejected all recommendations with police sniffer dogs out in force over the weekend to deter drug use. A woman has died after suffering burns to 90 per cent of her body in a house fire allegedly started by her son. Nerol Doble, 65, was injured in the blaze on Bribbaree Road at Bribbaree, in the South West Slopes of NSW, at 12pm on Sunday. Emergency services airlifted the woman to Royal North Shore Hospital before she died at 3am on Monday. The woman is understood to have been placed in a bathtub full of ice by a family member before paramedics arrived at the scene. A teenage girl sustained burns to her legs and was taken to Young Health Service. Nerol Doble, 65, was injured in the blaze on Bribbaree Road at Bribbaree, in the South West Slopes of NSW , at 12pm on Sunday Emergency services airlifted the woman to Royal North Shore Hospital before she died at 3am on Monday The woman is understood to have been placed in a bathtub full of ice by a family member before paramedics arrived at the scene Although fire crews were able to extinguish the fire, the home was destroyed. Police launched a search for her son Shannon Doble, 42, following the fire. Mr Doble presented himself to Parkes Police Station a short time later where he was hit with a string of offences. Murder (DV), cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder (DV) were among the charges. He was also charged with damage property by fire/explosion greater than $15,000 (DV) and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV). The 42-year-old was refused bail to appear before Parkes Local Court on Monday. A crime scene was set up with the assistance of the State Crime Command to establish the circumstances around the incident. A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner. A family member told The Daily Telegraph Ms Doble would be 'sadly missed'. 'She was loved by all her family,' nephew Peter Meyers said. A battle royale appears to be in the offing after Prince Andrew vowed to resist any attempt to kick him out of Royal Lodge. Sources close to the beleaguered Duke of York were reported yesterday as saying: 'Andrew is going nowhere. He has a cast iron lease.' It comes after the Daily Mail revealed last week that the King intends to evict his brother from the mansion he occupies on the Windsor estate and move him to a more modest property this year. Sources say His Majesty has made clear he is unwilling to pay indefinitely for his brother to be guarded around the clock at the late Queen Mother's former home, which has ten bedrooms and 30 rooms. The security bill alone is estimated to be costing Charles more than 3million a year. The King has made it clear there is now no way back for his brother, stripped of royal duties and use of his HRH title by the late Queen, as a working royal (File photo, 2012) The Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, the home of The Duke of York The stand off has blown up again in the wake of last week's disclosure of the 'Epstein papers'. Demands grow to remove all his titles Pressure is mounting for Prince Andrew to be stripped of all his remaining titles and Royal Navy rank after the release of fresh papers related to Jeffrey Epstein. He lost a number of his titles and patronages in 2022 but remains Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron of Killyleagh, which were gifted by Elizabeth II as a wedding present in 1986. But campaigners in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland now say the duke should be denied any links with their hometowns after his relationship with the paedophile financier was thrust back into the spotlight. Last night York's Labour MP Rachael Maskell said: 'I, like about 80 per cent of York residents according to a poll, want him stripped of any association with our city. 'This can't happen without legislative change. Last year I put forward a Private Member's Bill, but the Government need to act.' A petition launched by Scottish activist Xander Elliards for Andrew to be stripped of his connection to Inverness has reached almost 11,000 signatures. Patrick Brown, a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and former Killyleagh councillor, also backed the calls. Andrew, 63, a former Royal Navy helicopter pilot, denies all allegations against him. Advertisement This cache of court documents released in the US pertain to a 2015 civil action for defamation. It was brought by Virginia Roberts, the most high-profile victim of billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, against his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who has been jailed for her part in his crimes. Although many of the accusations reported were not new, the papers shed light on the uncomfortable closeness of the duke to Epstein. It has been claimed that Andrew spent 'weeks' at a time staying with the abuser, receiving 'daily' massages from his largely female staff. Ms Roberts, now known by her married name Guiffre, has previously claimed she was trafficked to the UK aged 17 by Epstein and forced to have sex with Andrew. She also says she slept with the royal at Epstein's homes in New York and the Caribbean, where an 'underage orgy' took place. There has been no comment from the prince, who is holed up at his Windsor home with ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, where he has been visited by their daughter Princess Beatrice. But he has previously strongly denied all the accusations against him and says he cannot even recall meeting Ms Roberts. In 2022 he settled a multi-million-pound lawsuit for sexual assault by her against him without admitting liability. The furore has also again raised questions about Andrew's future. The King has made it clear there is now no way back for his brother, stripped of royal duties and use of his HRH title by the late Queen, as a working royal. But he is still able to attend family events, such as the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham, in a private capacity. It is understood this will not change. A source told the Mail: 'His Majesty bears his brother no ill will. But there has been no softening of his attitude either.' Charles believes his brother has to 'downsize' with no visible means of income and a list of costly repairs needed at Royal Lodge, where Andrew has held a long-term lease since 2003. The King offered the duke other properties, notably five-bedroom Frogmore Cottage, where Harry and Meghan used to live. But Andrew sees this as a 'demotion' too far. Prince Andrew, Duke of York attends the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk An informed source told the Mail yesterday that the King acknowledges his brother has a legally binding lease but is determined not to bail him out over the mansion's high upkeep costs. It comes after The Mail On Sunday revealed yesterday that Maxwell had been ordered by a US court to search her emails for Andrew's name along with words such as 'sex toy' and 'erotic'. More than 250 lizards worth around $1.2 million on the black market in Hong Kong have been found during the bust of a crime gang, police say. A criminal syndicate planning to export over $1 million worth of Australian reptiles to Hong Kong has been busted, NSW Police say. Strike Force Whyaratta was established in September 2023 with assistance from state and federal departments to investigate illegal native animal and reptile exports. Officers found 257 lizards during the raids, with the animals released into the wild after checks. (HANDOUT/NSW POLICE) Police say that based on an average of $5000 per lizard, the total value of reptiles seized by police is about $1.2 million. That followed the interception of nine packages containing 59 live lizards on their way to Hong Kong. Between December 20 and January 5 the strike force executed search warrants and vehicle intercepts in Pendle Hill, Panania and East Hills in Sydney and arrested a woman aged 41 and three men, aged 31, 54 and 59. Two of the men have been refused bail and the four have been charged with multiple offences. They include illegally exporting native reptiles, dealing with the proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group. Police allege the criminal group were catching live lizards and other native Australian reptiles for export for profit to Hong Kong, During one of the police searches in East Hills officers found 118 lizards, three snakes, eight eggs and 25 dead lizards. Police allege the criminal group were catching live lizards and other native Australian reptiles for export for profit to Hong Kong, with the animals bound in small containers to be packaged and sent. Over the course of the investigation officers located 257 lizards, which were taken to various zoos and wildlife parks for examination by a vet before being released back into the wild. Police say that based on an average of $5000 per lizard, the total value of reptiles seized by police is about $1.2 million. With more than 100 rides and attractions, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in Central London is billed as the 'world's best destination for festive fun'. But this year, outside the royal park gates, the 'fun' quickly turned to horror as thuggish revellers went on a rampage. A disgusted member of staff at the nearby Hyde Park Corner Underground station has provided an insight into what happened during closing time one night last month at the site amid an anarchic spree of shameless law-breaking by thousands of people. Transport workers who dared intervene were threatened with violence. To make matters worse, it was claimed that some police officers summoned in desperation to help deserted the scene after witnessing the scale of violence. Even though I live in New York as the Mail's correspondent and have been a seasoned traveller for nearly 20 years on the U.S. city's subway a network notorious for attacks by disturbed and violent homeless people I was deeply shocked to read that account by a Tube worker of what happened. His testimony was posted as an 'alert' to colleagues on Transport for London's (TfL) intranet but then leaked by someone who, rightly, felt it needed a wider audience. With more than 100 rides and attractions, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in Central London is billed as the 'world's best destination for festive fun'. But this year, outside the royal park gates, the 'fun' quickly turned to horror as thuggish revellers went on a rampage James Porritt, 41, was on his way to work on the Jubilee Line between Green Park and Bond Street when Ricky Morgan, 34, (pictured) launched the horrific attack on July 9, 2021 It bears reporting at length as the description of what the Tube employee called 'the staggering levels of criminal and anti-social behaviour' will surely strike a chord with many who travel by public transport in the capital. 'I cannot stress enough how horrible this was for anyone working on the station,' he wrote. 'We were aware that weekend would be very busy. However, we weren't prepared to have a frankly inadequate service, which made the whole situation [go] from difficult but somehow manageable to a nightmare. 'Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, was the staggering level of criminal and anti-social behaviour. The number of fare-evaders was in the many thousands. We had to watch groups of dozens of people just busting through the gates and there was nothing we could do to stop that. 'Youngsters jumping over the gates, crawling under the gates and storming through the [temporary] gates we had in place for the one-way system was common practice.' He went on to describe the number of people illegally vaping in the ticket hall and on the platform, adding: 'I've lost count of the number of times I had to make a polite remark to [ask] them to stop. 'What made it worse was the fact [that] after asking these people to stop behaving obnoxiously, they would laugh in your face, start swearing and threaten to assault you.' The yobs, he said, were in the main 'the usual suspects' who exploited the congestion created by crowds at Winter Wonderland 'as an excuse to behave in an utterly despicable and primitive way'. He added: 'If this was a case of only a few individuals, that would be one thing, but when we're talking about thousands of people, the issue is definitely more serious, especially when there are no repercussions. Commuters probably don't need to be told that the latest annual figures for crime on London's Tube system showed a shocking 56 per cent increase. These include an 83 per cent rise in the number of thefts, including pick-pocketing and a 107 per cent increase in robberies. (Crime has also risen on the buses, but less dramatically) 'It was a pure miracle that nobody got injured,' added the understandably anonymous TfL worker, who asked why there were no anti-fare-dodging officers around on a 'brutally busy day' with an 'outrageous' amount of anti-social behaviour. Where were the police? Where, indeed. 'The BTP (British Transport Police) were called at one point,' he noted. 'They came and promised to bring some assistance and left immediately afterwards. None of that promised help arrived and we were entirely on our own. 'I cannot express how frustrated, demoralised, stressed and agitated I felt. If this is the 'world class' service we're providing, we need a good reality check because what we experienced was neither reliable nor safe for anyone.' This account offers a deeply depressing insight into how parts of inner-city Britain have become no-go zones and where feral youths seem able to break the law with impunity as neutered law and order authorities look on. And to New Yorkers, there are grim parallels with the subway's descent into anarchy in the 1970s and 80s, when similarly rampant fare-dodging, graffiti and violence made many residents too terrified to travel on the trains at all. The state of London's Underground network provides a comprehensive and damning indictment of the tenure of London's Labour mayor Sadiq Khan that no amount of self-preening or army of image masseurs (there are reportedly 30 staff in the mayor's Press Office) can brush away. Indeed, commuters probably don't need to be told that the latest annual figures for crime on London's Tube system showed a shocking 56 per cent increase. These include an 83 per cent rise in the number of thefts, including pick-pocketing and a 107 per cent increase in robberies. (Crime has also risen on the buses, but less dramatically). Significantly, the figures also showed seven per cent of Londoners actively avoid public transport because they fear getting attacked. And nor will passengers need to be told that the man ultimately responsible for this horror story is Sadiq Khan last seen putting his name up in giant lights, claiming credit across the night sky during the New Year fireworks, and swooning in a weekend newspaper about his love of Taylor Swift, and, ironically, a TV series about drug-dealing and gang violence in London. A New Transit Authority police officer and his German Shepherd partner ride the New York subway in the 1980s There were 12,786 knife offences in the capital in the 12 months to the end of last March (a 40 per cent rise on the equivalent 12-month period to the end of March 2016). What's more, Khan is boss of TfL, whose proposals to deal with staff pay claims were deemed unacceptable and triggered this week's threatened walkouts, called off only at the eleventh hour. His rivals in May's mayoral election are united in arguing that Khan is squarely to blame for the transport and policing crisis. Although both transport and crime are his two chief responsibilities, they say Khan has shown weak leadership and seems obsessed with self-promotion, which has led to a profusion of virtue-signalling posters with vapid messages such as 'Be Kind' and 'We All Make London'. No wonder Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister and Khan's predecessor as London mayor, expressed concern about the 'worrying politicisation' of the Metropolitan Police after officers appealed for information about war crimes from people returning from Israel and Gaza. He said the Met would be better off fighting knife crime in the capital. And last month a leaked letter revealed the policing minister Chris Philp had blamed Khan for a 'missed opportunity for the people of London' by failing to recruit more police officers, potentially leaving the force 2,000 officers short by the end of March. It was, said Mr Philp, the only force in the UK to fail to reach its target. Meanwhile, it's estimated that one in 25 journeys on the Tube is fare-evaded. Managers complain that they don't have enough staff or more precisely the right kind of staff, trained in the potentially dangerous task of tackling dodgers. Whatever the reason, say experts, research shows that fare dodgers are invariably the same people who commit more serious crimes on trains and buses. Over the past few weeks, there have been reports of a man apparently smoking crack cocaine in a Tube carriage, a member of staff suffering a fractured skull after being punched in the face by a fare dodger, a passenger stabbed in the neck, and a man allegedly groping women when the lights went out on trains on the Elizabeth Line. (The last suspect was arrested but released 'pending inquiries'.) Also, there's the growing trend, as the weather gets colder, of passengers being violently robbed of Canada Goose jackets, sometimes worth 1,700. The state of London's Underground network provides a comprehensive and damning indictment of the tenure of London's Labour mayor Sadiq Khan that no amount of self-preening or army of image masseurs (there are reportedly 30 staff in the mayor's Press Office) can brush away The lawlessness, anti-social behaviour and sense of helplessness in a world in which bystanders just get out their phone cameras to record crime rather than intervene, sounds all too familiar to someone like me who lives in New York, where a nervous tension hangs in the dank air of the Big Apple's creaking subway system. America's biggest underground transport network has become a permanent squat for thousands of homeless people, many mentally disturbed, who might at any moment burst on to a carriage and threaten violence or carry it out. They're also usually to blame for incidents in which innocent bystanders have been thrown on to the tracks for no reason, sometimes with fatal consequences. (There's been a big upsurge in mentally ill people on the streets of London, too, which has inevitably spilled over into the Underground and on buses.) New York's City Hall announced in 2022 it would remove any homeless people who behaved in an 'unsafe' manner from the subway, but then reportedly dropped the plan because the shelters where it planned to house them were full of asylum-seekers. Alvin Bragg, Manhattan's Left-wing District Attorney, admitted last year that 'when one of my family members gets on the train, I, too, get a knot in my stomach'. And yet the New York subway doesn't appear to have anything like London's problem with police shortages. So who's to blame for the dire situation in London? Tory and Labour politicians who bicker over whether transport funding cuts by Whitehall are responsible? Or Sadiq Khan's ineffectual administration? Rob Blackie, the Lib Dem candidate for London mayor, says Khan, being in charge of both transport and crime, deserves the lion's share of the blame. Certainly, there's a shortage of police that Khan exacerbated by missing a recruitment target, which meant he had to give back at least 16 million to central government. But there is also the problem, says Blackie, that too many officers are doing back-office jobs rather than being out on the frontline enforcing the law. New York's City Hall announced in 2022 it would remove any homeless people who behaved in an 'unsafe' manner from the subway, but then reportedly dropped the plan because the shelters where it planned to house them were full of asylum-seekers (File Photo) Khan has another critical weakness that's entirely down to his own ego, says his Lib Dem challenger he only appoints deputy mayors who are 'reliably Labour', rather than people best-suited to running the police or Transport for London. Mr Blackie describes them as 'cronies' who 'get into lots of nice-looking photo-ops but aren't necessarily good at managing really big, complex organisations'. For her part, Susan Hall, the Tory candidate for London mayor, agrees lawlessness is getting worse on the Tube and buses and says it is 'spilling over from the streets'. She said: 'These louts are not frightened of the police any more. So they do whatever they like.' Meanwhile, the increasingly pervasive fear that thugs are carrying knives deters anyone from confronting them. And that, says Ms Hall, includes Tube staff. If elected mayor in May, Ms Hall has vowed to invest 200 million in policing and 'get CCTV up and running across the Tube'. Meanwhile, Londoners say that apart from the cost of living, crime is their biggest concern. But that's not a message their self-aggrandising Labour mayor will be spelling out in lights any time soon. Former admirals, generals and defence ministers have backed calls to end the cover-up of critical shortages of skilled military personnel. Last night they accused the Government of using secrecy to spare its blushes after it removed data from the public domain on security grounds. The Ministry of Defences deliberate withholding of this information even from MPs permitted to receive classified briefings also triggered calls for greater transparency. The scale of the staffing crisis was highlighted again last week when it was revealed that the Royal Navy was retiring two of its warships because of a shortage of sailors. Officials have resorted to desperate measures to tackle the problem, for example offering 7,500 golden handshakes to soldiers transferring into Parachute Regiment. The Ministry of Defences deliberate withholding of this information also triggered calls for greater transparency (File photo, August 2023) Last night they accused the Government of secrecy after it removed data on critical shortages of skilled military personnel from the public domain on security grounds Until recently, the MoDs annual report listed every role where there were insufficient troops and provided the numbers of personnel required and the shortfall. Those backing calls for greater transparency say publishing these details ensured officials were held accountable and that the issue received the required attention. However, secrecy has grown. Former Navy chief Admiral Lord West said: The Government has been trying to hide defence shortfalls from scrutiny... I have noticed that many of my questions have not been answered properly on the spurious assertion that it affects national security. Former general Sir Richard Shirreff also called for transparency as did Labour defence spokesman John Healey who said: This smacks of a cover-up, allowing ministers to dodge questions about the... crisis. Former Tory defence minister Tobias Ellwood said: If the MoD is content to disguise operational limitations, then this is to mislead the public on its competence to guarantee the nations security. The scale of the staffing crisis was highlighted again last week when it was revealed that the Royal Navy was retiring two of its warships because of a shortage of sailors Royal Navy Cadets during a visit to The Lord High Admiral's Divisions at Britannia Royal Naval College on December 14, 2023 in Dartmouth, England Former sailor Commander Tom Sharpe claimed the MoD was using secrecy for political purposes. He said: The veil should be lifted... so these critical matters can be addressed. An MoD spokesman said: A number of trials and pilots are under way to support Armed Forces careers, backed by investment to increase recruitment and retention. Out of all the questions that science seeks to answer, one of the biggest may be how life on Earth began. Did the basic components of life arise on Earth or among the stars? While there are multiple theories, they all share some basic assumptions that there are four essential components to life, and they probably weren't around when Earth first formed from a ball of hot dust, gas, and magma 4.6 billion years ago. The three leading theories are: life arose from the basic gases and elements of Earth's early pools and seas, meteorites delivered living things to Earth and meteorites delivered just the basic chemical components of life, not life itself. Experts in this field of astrobiology and analytical chemistry told DailyMail.com that the most likely explanation is a combination of the first and third theories. The said that the basic building blocks of life were delivered from space by meteorites, and they gave rise to life in the primordial soup of early Earth's pools and shallow seas. Many scientists agree that the chemicals needed for life were brought to Earth on asteroids and comets, which also deposited water The three main theories about life's origins differ on the big question: Where exactly did these substances come from, and how did they start the process that ended with Earth being absolutely covered in life, from the seafloor to mountaintops? It should come as no surprise that this question is also one of the hardest to answer. And according to researchers who have dedicated their lives to studying the basic chemistry of life, the answer probably includes a mix of these explanations. First proposed by multiple astronomers in the 1920s, the primordial soup theory suggests that the chemical building blocks of life formed in pools or oceans of early Earth from basic gases and metals. Some vast sources of energy, like a lightning strike, caused the formation of amino acids - the building blocks of proteins. The panspermia theory may sound farfetched by comparison: Alien microbes came from space and multiplied here on Earth. But, scientists only came up with this idea because no other theory seemed to explain where life came from. A third theory is called pseudo-panspermia, and it falls somewhere between the other two. It's similar to panspermia, but it proposes that just the basic building blocks of life crashed to Earth on a meteorite or comet, not actual living things. These molecules found a home in the early seas, where they gave rise to proteins and eventually, single-celled creatures. So, what's the answer? Fortunately, when DailyMail.com asked multiple experts which of these theories is the strongest, they mostly agreed. Unfortunately, what they agreed about was that there isn't enough evidence to confidently pick one theory over another. Scientists don't yet agree on how exactly life on Earth began, but some suspect that it started with some basic chemical building blocks of life, which were delivered from space on meteorites. These molecules, they propose, formed proteins in the shallow seas and pools of early Earth R. Graham Cooks, professor of analytical chemistry at Purdue University, told DailyMail.com: 'All living systems involve molecules and chemical reactions. 'The molecules of life [on Earth] include peptides/proteins and nucleic acids (RNA and DNA). 'Whether these molecules were generated here or elsewhere, the reactions that lead to their formation - the underlying chemistry - would be the same.' In 2022, Cooks and his colleagues produced evidence that the building blocks of life may have come from a combination of pseudo-panspermia and primordial soup. Meteorites crashed into deposited amino acids and other molecules, including water, to Earth's ancient oceans, where they spontaneously assembled into small proteins called peptides. Amino acids delivered by meteorites could have spontaneously assembled into proteins in a combination of pseudo-panspermia and primordial soup theories 'While I dont have any basis for strong views on where the chemistry occurred, I know this from laboratory reactions: In tiny drops of water, amino acids rapidly assemble to make peptides without needing any other reagent or any catalyst,' said Cooks. 'This makes it reasonable to suggest that the amino acids delivered to the ancient ocean via meteorites (a process that continues unabated today) would have been present in ancient sea spray and would necessarily have generated peptides,' he said. This is just how it may have happened on Earth, he said. 'But given the liquid water seas of planetary bodies like Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, and the presence of amino acids there too, the same peptide formation chemistry is expected there too, continued Cooks. Cooks's explanation combines the certainty of lab results with the uncertainty about whether or not things actually happened on Earth the way they did in a laboratory. Compounds for life form one of three parts of a nucleotide a single piece of DNA and could help shed light on how life evolved on Earth. Previous theories suggest a space rock traveled to Earth and brought with it the base materials for life, and from there, the vast array of nature we see today evolved (stock) Yasuhiro Oba, associate professor at Hokkaido University's Institute of Low Temperature Science, has come to different conclusions, but he shares a similar sense of uncertainty. Despite his team's work that supports the pseudo-panspermia theory, he acknowledged several problems with the idea. 'The most important one is that any life has never been created from much simpler components such as amino acids and nucleobases,' Oba told DailyMail.com. In other words, creating amino acids in lab conditions mimicking early Earth is one thing. But giving rise to actual living things is quite another. 'Although some functional molecules such as DNA, RNA, and peptides have been synthesized in prebiotic chemistry laboratories, the synthesis conditions in lab are always far from the actual environments on the early Earth,' Oba pointed out. Oba's team simulated the space environment in an ultra-high vacuum reaction chamber. A gaseous mixture of water, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and methanol was fed into a material designed to mimic cosmic dust at -441F Even more vexing, scientists can not know what the 'actual environment' was like on early Earth, he said. Instead, Oba's team created a cold, airless vacuum in a lab to simulate the conditions of space. And in 2019, they found that basic organic molecules can form in space. These molecules, called nucleosomes, combine with phosphates and sugars to make the nucleotides that build DNA - so they are far from actual living things. Nonetheless, they are necessary for life. 'Our findings suggest that the processes we reproduced could lead to the formation of the molecular precursors of life,' Oba said at the time. 'The results could improve our understanding of the early stages of chemical evolution in space.' They also found amino acids could form in the conditions of space. Even if DNA did not come from space, analytical chemists have shown that the basic components of DNA did - and continue to - fall to Earth in meteorites But does his team's evidence points to pseudo-panspermia being more likely than primordial soup? 'I cannot say which is better or not,' said Oba. 'If simple life is created in laboratories from simple molecules, which have been found in extraterrestrial materials, we can say a so-called pseudo-panspermia theory may play a role. 'Note that I do not exclude any possibilities for the origin of life on Earth. Life may have formed not only via pseudo-panspermia theory but also via primordial soup theory.' Other scientists have long shared this uncertainty over the two theories, which led them to come up with a third. 'The panspermia hypothesis was proposed because any other theories could not explain the emergence of life,' said Oba. Panspermia is much simpler. It proposes that life came from space to Earth. For decades panspermia has been dismissed by many experts as dubious pseudo-science. But some recent evidence supports parts of the theory This theory even pre-dates primordial soup. Svante Arrhenius proposed it in 1903, but it was long dismissed as pseudoscience, lacking evidence. 'In the modern formulation, there are three stages envisioned in this hypothesis, wrote Yuko Kawagushi, who was working as an astrobiologist at Japan's Planetary Exploration Research Center. 'Escape (from a planet), transit (through interplanetary space), and landing (on a recipient planet).' So far, 'transit' is the only bit of evidence scientists have collected. But they are still adding to the pile. Oba's team has found evidence of nucleobases in a meteorite, which some experts have taken as support for the panspermia theory. Other research provides more direct evidence, though. Researchers have found some of the building blocks of DNA in meteorites. Others have shown that bacteria can survive multiple years in space Kawaguchi and her team published a 2020 study in Frontiers of Microbiology showing that bacteria exposed to space for three years could survive. Based on samples taken during the three-year period, researchers predicted that bacteria could survive the harsh conditions of space for two to eight years - long enough for a short trip to Earth, perhaps. In a follow-up study, Kawaguchi and her colleagues showed that the DNA mutations the bacteria accumulated while in space were similar to the mutations of the same bacteria on Earth. In other words, flying through the vacuum of space seemed to do no more harm to the microorganisms than sitting on Earth did. 'Even to scientists like us, it is still not clear when, where, and how the first life began,' said Oba. But one thing is for sure, he said: The components of life existed on Earth before life emerged. 'The source of such components may be multifold: from space and/or primordial soup. Future extensive research on the origin of life on Earth should decipher such extreme questions.' In modern humans, up to two percent of our DNA comes from our Neanderthal ancestors. DNA from Neanderthals has small, but detectable effects on humans today, stemming from an ancient period where humans and Neanderthals interbred, a genetics expert told DailyMail.com. Its believed that modern humans who spread out of Africa and into Asia around 60,000 years ago interbred with Neanderthals - and that Neanderthal DNA spread with them across the world. Speaking to DailyMail.com, genetic engineer Sebnem Unluisler says that Neanderthal genes affect everything from hair to nicotine addiction in modern people. Do YOU have Neanderthal traits? (Getty) Unluisler who works at the London Regenerative Institute said: Neanderthal DNA represents only a small percentage of the modern human genome, and these influences are just one piece of the genetic puzzle that makes each person unique. You smoke One specific part of Neanderthal DNA significantly increases a persons risk of nicotine addiction - which is ironic given that Neanderthals were in Europe 40 millennia before tobacco first arrived. Vanderbilt researchers say that these DNA sequences may have provided Neanderthals with adaptive advantages as Neanderthals moved into new environments - but now have negative consequences, including affecting the likelihood of nicotine addiction. The researchers also found that a number of Neanderthal DNA variants are linked to depression, psychiatric and neurological effects. Unluisler said: Studies suggest a link between Neanderthal DNA and nicotine addiction risk. Individuals with Neanderthal ancestry may have a slightly increased likelihood of nicotine dependence.' Do YOU have Neanderthal traits? (Getty) You have thick, straight hair Neanderthal DNA has effects on modern peoples hair - in particular, people with thick, straight hair might have Neanderthal DNA. Unluisler said: Neanderthal DNA has been linked to variations in hair characteristics. Some people with Neanderthal ancestry may have slightly thicker or straighter hair. Oldest Neanderthal cave engravings are discovered Advertisement Studies have also shown a higher frequency of a genetic variant associated with red hair was present in Neanderthals.' You are an early riser Genes handed down from ancient people including Neanderthals may dictate how good you are at getting up in the mornings. Research suggests that genes related to the bodys circadian rhythm, which governs when we wake and sleep, come from Neanderthals. Researchers at Vanderbilt University found that 16 variants associated with early rising in modern humans were found in genomes from a 120,000-year-old Neanderthal and a 52,000-year-old Neanderthal. Some of these are so-called clock genes associated with the Circadian rhythm - which may have helped early people get up earlier as they moved into areas with greater variation in the length of day. Unluisler says, Neanderthal DNA may influence circadian rhythms and sleep patterns. This may have been influenced by epigenetic factors such as climate, social dynamics and light exposure. People with Neanderthal ancestry may experience variations in their sleep-wake cycles. You have a big nose Tall noses from top to bottom can be inherited from Neanderthal genetic material, a study by University College London found. The researchers used volunteers from across Latin America, and compared genetic information to photos of their faces. The research found that one genome region - ATF3 - had genetic material that was inherited from Neanderthals, and which may have been the product of natural selection as ancient humans adapted to colder climates after leaving Africa. The researchers believe that longer noses may have helped Neanderthals adapt to the colder air outside Africa. You suffer badly when you get COVID-19 During the early months of the pandemic, a study found that a chromosome region inherited from Neanderthals made people more susceptible to COVID-19. People with the Neanderthal-inherited region were more likely to suffer severe cases of COVID-19 including lung issues. Further research by Tartu University identified four variants of Neanderthal origin which are believed to be responsible. The four variants are believed to be involved in Cytokine storms which happen in severe cases of COVID-19. You struggle to get a tan Genes from Neanderthals may affect how easily you get a suntan - and whether you are prone to burning. Research in 2018 by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany compared Neanderthal DNA to DNA from 112,000 participants in the UK Biobank pilot study. The researchers observe multiple different Neanderthal alleles (variants in DNA) contributing to skin and hair tones. Unsluisler said: Individuals with Neanderthal ancestry might tend towards lighter or darker skin tones, with some having alleles associated with lighter skin tones that may have provided increased resistance to UV light in regions with lower sunlight intensity.' 2024 may be the year that wealthy 'space tourists' pay billions of dollars to jet into orbit aboard luxury space pods. But for those who can't afford such a privilege, remember we're lucky to be standing on one of the best viewing platforms in the solar system Planet Earth. It's set to be a very special year thanks to some very amazing skygazing events that will grace our skies. Among them are a close approach of Saturn, a total solar eclipse, several meteor showers and even the opportunity to view one of the brightest known comets. Here's all you need to know about the astronomical opportunities of 2024 including how to see them. There's no shortage of stunning spectacles for skygazers to enjoy in 2024, from stunning meteor showers to the total solar eclipse Meteor showers in 2024 Quadrantids (January 3-4) (January 3-4) Lyrids (April 22-23) (April 22-23) Eta Aquariids (May 6) (May 6) Alpha Capricornids (July 30) (July 30) Delta Aquariids (July 30) (July 30) Perseids (August 12-13) (August 12-13) Draconids (October 8-9) (October 8-9) Orionids (October 21-22) (October 21-22) Taurids (November 12-13) (November 12-13) Leonids (November 18) (November 18) Geminids (December 14-15) (December 14-15) Ursids (December 23) (Note: All dates refer to peaks, as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere) Source: Royal Museums Greenwich Advertisement METEOR SHOWERS There's a dozen meteor showers in 2024, including the Quadrantids which lit up the night's skies earlier in the week. A meteor shower happens when Earth passes through the path of a comet icy, rocky bodies left over from the formation of the solar system. When this happens, the bits of comet debris, most no larger than a grain of sand, create streaks of light in the night sky as they burn up in Earth's atmosphere. These streaks are known as shooting stars, even though they are not stars at all. The next meteor shower of the year, the Lyrids, peaks between April 22-23 with up to 18 shooting stars flying overhead every hour. A faster and more prolific shower, the Eta Aquariids, will send up to 50 shooting stars low in the sky on May 6. But the biggest meteor shower of the year is the Geminids, which will happen on December 14-15 and send up to 150 bright shooting stars whizzing through the sky. Aside from having the highest rate of shooting stars per hour, the Geminids are special because the meteors are multi-coloured mainly white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue. View of the Geminid meteor shower in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on December 14, 2023. The Geminids is always the biggest meteor shower of the year Solar eclipse: Types Total: Moon completely blocks out the sun, casting a shadow on Earth Annular: Moon doesn't completely cover the sun, resulting in a halo of sunlight known as a 'ring of fire' visible around the silhouette of the moon Partial: Sun is only partially covered by the moon, making it look like the sun has had a 'bite' taken out of it Hybrid: Combination of a total and an annular solar eclipse Advertisement You don't need a telescope to see meteor showers, but it is best to look out for them in a dark sky, free of moonlight and artificial lights with a wide an unobstructed view of the sky. SOLAR ECLIPSES Skygazing fans from around the world will be flocking to North America this springtime to get a glimpse of what is the probably biggest astronomical event of 2024. The total solar eclipse when the moon completely blocks the face of the sun is taking place on April 8. It will mark the first total solar eclipse visible anywhere in the world since December 2021, and the first seen from the US since August 2017. Experts have drawn the path that the total solar eclipse will be viewable from in the early afternoon of April 8. It will sweep across the continent, starting in Mexico and moving through Texas where it will travel up to New England and finish in Canada. Whatever the location, it should be visible for about four minutes. Total solar eclipse is seen near Hopkinsville, Kentucky on August 21, 2017. On April 8, 2024, the moon will cast its shadow across a stretch of the US, Mexico and Canada, plunging millions of people into midday darkness The April 8 total eclipse will sweep across the continent, starting in Mexico and moving eastwards through Texas where it will travel up to New England and finish in eastern Canada When will the total solar eclipse occur? After passing through Mexico, the first state to see the total solar eclipse on April 8 will be: Texas (starting at 13:27 CDT) It will then pass to the following states: Oklahoma (13:43 CDT) (13:43 CDT) Arkansas (13:45 CDT) (13:45 CDT) Missouri (13:53 CDT) (13:53 CDT) Tennessee (13:58 CDT) (13:58 CDT) Kentucky (13:58 CDT) (13:58 CDT) Illinois (13:58 CDT) (13:58 CDT) Indiana (14:01 CDT) (14:01 CDT) Ohio (15:08 EDT) (15:08 EDT) Michigan (15:12 EDT) (15:12 EDT) Pennsylvania (15:15 EDT) (15:15 EDT) New York (15:16 EDT) (15:16 EDT) Vermont (15:25 EDT) (15:25 EDT) New Hampshire (15:28 EDT) (15:28 EDT) Maine (15:28 EDT) It will finish in eastern Canada. Other parts of the US will just see a partial eclipse - because they are outside the 'path of totality' Source: timeanddate.com Advertisement Shaded area marks the moon's shadow moving over the Earth on April 8; people in this area will only see a partial eclipse unless they're in the path traversed by the black dot right in the centre in this case they'll see a total solar eclipse Like any eclipse, it's important not to look directly at the sun with the naked eye while the event is happening not even through sunglasses, binoculars or a telescope. A simple pinhole projector, solar eclipse viewing glasses, which can be purchased online, or special solar filters are much safer. Unfortunately the total solar eclipse won't be viewable outside the path, so people in the UK, Europe or elsewhere won't be able to see it. However, it will be seen as a partial eclipse in parts of Britain just before sunset. With a partial eclipse, the sun is only partially covered by the moon, making it look like the sun has had a 'bite' taken out of it. Unfortunately, the next total solar eclipse isn't visible in the UK for another 67 years. Occurring on September 23, 2090, it will be the first total solar eclipse visible from Britain since August 11, 1999, and the first visible from Ireland since May 22, 1724. It's well known that a solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and our planet, completely blocking our view of the sun. Meanwhile, an 'annular' solar eclipse is where the moon appears slightly smaller than the sun, leaving a bright 'ring of fire' around the moon's silhouette. On October 2, an annular solar eclipse will be visible from the southern tips of Argentina and Chile, as well as Easter Island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Other parts of South America including Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru as well as Hawaii and New Zealand should see a partial solar eclipse that day. The moon passes between Earth and the sun during an annular 'ring of fire' eclipse seen from Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah on October 14, 2023 Tips for viewing a supermoon A supermoon occurs when the moons orbit is closest to Earth at the same time the moon is full. To get the best view, get up high! The further up you are, the better your chance of a clear sky to see the stars, plus you'll be able to see low down to the horizon to watch the moon rise. Also try to be situated in a region that's far away from light pollution that can dim the spectacle - in other words, away from towns and cities. For those stargazing from the comfort of their homes, turning off the lights indoors can improve the visibility of the night sky. SOURCE: Parkdean Resorts Advertisement TWO SUPERMOONS There's usually three or four supermoons in a calendar year, but in 2024 there'll only be two so you won't want to miss them. What's more, the supermoons are visible from wherever you are on the planet. A supermoon is the full moon during the closest point in its orbit around Earth making it appear bigger and brighter than normal. On a clear night, a supermoon provides a spectacular spectacle, as if our lunar neighbour is growing. With a decent camera it'll make for some stunning Instagram-worthy snaps. The first supermoon of the year will happen on September 18 when the moon will be 222,131 miles away from Earth. This is quite a bit lower than the average distance between Earth and the moon of 238,855 miles. The second supermoon of the year, on October 17, will be even closer 222,055 miles away and therefore should be an even greater spectacle. A supermoon is the opposite of a micromoon the full moon when it's furthest away from Earth in its orbit. According to moonphasetoday.com, there will be three micromoons in 2024 on January 25, February 25 and March 25. While micromoons don't have as much visual impact as supermoons, they are a fascinating reminder of the moon's elliptical orbit around Earth. Pictured, the fourth and final supermoon of 2023 as seen from Whitby Piers on the North Yorkshire Coast, September 29, 2023 A supermoon occurs when a full moon nearly coincides with perigee - the point in the orbit of the moon at which it is nearest to the Earth Saturn - key facts Distance from the sun: 886 million miles Orbital period: 29 years Diameter: 72,400 miles Mass: 5.683 10^26 kg (95.16 M) Length of day: 0d 10h 42m Number of moons: 146 (as of January 2024) Advertisement SATURN IN OPPOSITION On September 8 this year, Saturn will be in opposition and therefore it will be the best time to see it in the night's sky. When Saturn in opposition, it means Earth is between the sun and Saturn and that the two planets are at their closest to each other. It can make for a great view of the famous ringed planet, even with the naked eye but particularly with a telescope. Saturn will look like a yellowish star, but it will be distinguishable from the stars because it will emit a steady light rather than twinkling. 'It is also brighter than the vast majority of stars in the sky so will stick out for that reason,' said Dr Robert Massey at the Royal Astronomical Society. With professional camera equipment, astrophotographers have been able to catch amazingly clear shots of the planet when in opposition. Some of these are so detailed they look like digital renders rather than photos. When Saturn in opposition, it just means Earth is between the sun and Saturn - and that the two planets are at their closest to each other From the roof of a multi-storey car park in LA, photographer Andrew McCarthy used two cameras to take more than 100,000 images of Saturn while in opposition, before layering them together to create this spectacular shot Saturn pictured in the night sky above New York City on December 21, 2020 - you can even see its famous rings READ MORE 'Devil comet' three times the size of Mount Everest resprouts 'horns' Comets are made up of ice, dust and rocky material (concept image) Advertisement COMET PONS-BROOKS Stargazers have the opportunity to see a comet, known as Pons-Brooks, whizzing through the sky as it reaches its closest point in its orbit to Earth this year. The comet, first discovered in 1812, has been compared with the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars because of its pair of 'horns' seen in images. Pons-Brooks is set to come as close as 72.5 million miles (116.8 million km) to the sun on April 21. Following that, a close approach with Earth of 144 million miles (232 million km) will happen on June 2. However, if you're in the northern hemisphere, the best time to see it will be sooner, according to Jessica Lee, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Although it's difficult to predict what a comet looks like and how bright it will become, the public should look out for what looks like 'an irregularly shaped dirty snowball'. 'Its predicted that this comet will reach maximum brightness for viewers in the northern hemisphere in late March,' Lee told MailOnline. 'In late March the comet will be in the constellation of Aries, which is in the western sky just after sunset. 'Ideally you should go somewhere with a clear view of the horizon in the west, and pick a night with clear skies. Some have speculated that the horseshoe-like shape also resembles the Millennium Falcon spaceship in Star Wars According to an astronomer, the comet erupted on October 31 - the second time in the space of a calendar month 'Like all faint objects it will be easier to see if you let your eyes adjust to the dark first, so avoid looking at bright objects (like your phone screen) for at least 15 minutes. 'If its too faint to see with your eyes, binoculars or telescopes will be able to make it out.' Although the the comet will continue to approach the sun after March, it will get too close to the sun to be visible to Earthlings. However, during the solar eclipse in the US on April 8, it might be visible during the day whilst the moon is blocking light from the sun, Lee said. From June onwards, it will only be visible to observers in the southern hemisphere and it will grow progressively fainter as it's gravitationally flung back to the outer solar system Its next close approach is not until 2095 so for most of us it really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view. Humanity has entered the Fifth Industrial Revolution (IR 5.0): a new and deeper collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence across the economy. While Industry 5.0 is believed to have started in 2020, the rise of AI in recent years has pushed it into overdrive - leading experts to say it is just now 'coming.' Researchers predict this new revolution will be a 'sensory leap' from today's AI which mostly interacts with human beings via text commands to so-called 'multimodal interaction,' which will be much more human. And some are calling the shift the 'Cognitive Age.' Imagine AI-powered robots that see, hear, touch and more, pooling fresh data from across those suites of sensors to synthesize that data with the vast arrays of digital data stored elsewhere online. Brain-computer interfaces, like Elon Musk's Neuralink, will also play a role in IR 5.0. The era is a major leap from the First Industrial Revolution, which scholars typically define as beginning around the mid-18th century when inventor Thomas Newcomen's steam engine started to achieve widespread commercial use. The era is a major leap from the First Industrial Revolution, which scholars typically define as beginning around the mid-18th century when inventor Thomas Newcomen's steam engine started to achieve widespread commercial use John Nosta, who runs the healthcare 'innovation think tank' NostaLab in New Jersey, has argued that this new industrial revolution, however, will inevitably alter how we think about human beings and machines as distinct categories in the first place. 'The integration of sensory capabilities into AI models is not merely a technological leap,' Nosta wrote in a recent essay for Psychology Today. 'It represents a shift in our philosophical understanding of artificial and human intelligence.' He has also referred to the new era as 'the Cognitive Age,' which will radically change how humans live, work, and think about themselves. 'As we navigate this cognitive revolution,' Nosta said, 'the opportunity at hand is to become the architects of a future where technology and humanity are not just coexistent but coevolutionary.' According to Nosta, who taught at futurist Ray Kurzweil's Singularity University, humans don't typically think of computers as 'experiencing' the world themselves. But that assumption will be challenged as more advanced AI systems are hooked up to ever more and ever greater sensors. The machines won't just be logic boxes that humans input data and commands for processing, in other words. The AI will collect that data more and more on its own, experiencing the world for itself. 'The introduction of voice and image recognition capabilities into ChatGPT has transformed it from an unimodal to a multimodal system,' Nosta cited as one example, 'exponentially expanding its interactional richness and contextual understanding.' 'This is not just about understanding words, but also about grasping the nuances of tone, pitch, and emphasis, which add layers of meaning often absent in written text.' 'Image recognition adds another layer of complexity,' he added. 'For example, it can analyze photographs, identify objects, and even understand the emotional content of facial expressions.' Brain-computer interfaces, like Elon Musk's Neuralink, will also play a role in IR 5.0 Imagine AI-powered robots that see, hear, touch and more, pooling fresh data from across those suites of sensors to synthesize that data with the vast arrays of digital data stored elsewhere online Nosta believes that this portends a rapidly advancing 'monumental leap' in machine learning that will allow AI to 'understand the world in a way closer to how humans experience it,' granting machines 'a more holistic understanding of context.' 'Unlike its predecessors, the 5IR [Nosta's acronym for the Fifth Industrial Revolution] promises to be cognitive in nature, characterized by an unprecedented synergy between human and machine intelligence,' he wrote. These new AI co-workers, according to Nosta, will be 'enriching the human experience in ways previously unimaginable.' 'There were nearly two centuries between the first and second industrial revolutions,' as South Africa's Regenesys Business School in Johannesburg put it. 'Most of us reading this article will have experienced the last three industrial revolutions in our lifetime with more to come!' The Johannesburg-based business school is just one of many college and university-level programs attempting to investigate and teach its students about the still-emerging Fifth Industrial Revolution. Seton Hall in New Jersey offers a three-credit course on this latest epoch in human technology and trade; MIT has brought in guest speakers to lecture on the concept, and many other research institutions are following suit. Hoping to get ahead of the revolution's rapid economic changes, the US Department of Commerce-run National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) donated roughly $300,000 to the University of Cincinnati's (UC) engineering school in 2022. READ MORE: UN warns brain chips like Elon Musk's Neuralink could be used as 'personality-altering' weapons as FDA approves tech for human trials In a report, UNESCO's International Bioethics Committee called for protected 'neurorights,' 'data privacy transparency,' and strategies to anticipate and prevent neurotech abuses. Advertisement With the grant, UC engineers will reportedly investigate how AI can be deployed to assist manufacturing at two proposed Intel Corp plants nearby in Columbus, Ohio. 'As we look ahead and plan for the workforce of the future, we must also ensure that human intelligence is fully utilized,' the dean of UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science, John Weidner, said in a statement at the time. 'Industry 5.0 empowers workers to leverage advanced technology like AI to integrate human intelligence into a new, innovative manufacturing ecosystem.' But despite this optimism, some industry leaders have voiced caution, worrying publicly about 'a crisis of trust in technology', which might occur without the proper safeguards if these revolutionary technological changes occur. 'In the Fifth Industrial Revolution, we're going to have to have another officer who is a Chief Ethical and Humane Use Officer,' Salesforce founder and co-CEO Marc Benioff told the World Economic Forum in 2019 when the IR 5.0 debate started. Benioff said the new executive's role would be to answer the question: 'Are we using these technologies for the good of the world?' While there's still much debate on the shape this new technological revolution might take, many across these scientific and economic disciplines agree on the need for policies to make the Fifth Industrial Revolution more ethical and human-friendly than some of its predecessors. 'This fifth wave of technological development has enormous potential to truly put people at the center of its design,' as Louise McEntee, the head of intelligent automation at Deloitte, told The Irish Times this summer. 'We need to understand these new capabilities, how best to center them around people and their needs, and to address their concerns to design and legislate for 'bad actors,' as with any new technology,' she said. 'But the possibilities for what we can do with this and the potential benefits are enormous.' McEntee is optimistic that this is possible and even went so far as to dismiss fears that too many human jobs could be replaced, en masse, by automated AI tools. 'Each significant technological shift, the age of the steam engine, the age of science and mass production, and the rise of digital technology,' she noted, 'has meant radical changes to how we work.' 'Work did not go away, however, but evolved to meet the needs of business, society and the individual.' 'Human society,' McEntee said, 'has always evolved.' One image shows a hoard of antiquities in Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb, following its discovery in 1922 Advertisement Serene desert landscapes and a treasure trove of pyramid tombs still being discovered; this was Egypt a century ago, as a selection of fascinating vintage photos show. A gallery of black and white snaps selected by DailyMail.com reveal what the ancient country looked like before tourism had taken hold. It's predicted that more than 13 million visitors descended on Egypt this year, but 100 years ago the 5,000-year-old civilization was still being discovered by westerners, who were floored by the wonders they found. One image shows a hoard of antiquities in Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb, following its discovery in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter, while another shows the Great Sphinx of Giza encased in wooden scaffolding as workers go about excavating it in 1931. Meanwhile, the Cairo skyline in 1920 looks a world away from today's scene, with minarets and no skyscrapers in sight. Scroll down for a trip back in time to Egypt's golden age, from the rooftops of Cairo to the railway in Alexandria and a spread of sacred spots inbetween. A gallery of black and white snaps selected by DailyMail.com reveal what Egypt looked like before tourism had taken hold. Pictured, a couple pose for a photo during a camel trip to see the Sphinx and pyramids in 1924 The three pyramids in Giza were built by the Pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure between 2550 and 2490 B.C. In this shot, two lone riders pose in front of the architectural wonders with no one else around The Great Sphinx of Giza is encased in wooden scaffolding as dozens of workers go about excavating it in 1931 A photo showing explorer Major Chaplin Court Treatt drawing a map in the sand, showing the route from Halfa to Shellal in 1926. Court Treatt and his wife, Stella, completed the first successful journey by motor vehicle from Cape Town to Cairo. The two-year trip was documented in their book, Cape To Cairo Two women smile for the camera as the embark on a tour of the Giza pyramids by camel in 1920. There doesn't appear to any other tourists around, as they traverse the dusty routes People go about their everyday business in the streets of Alexandria in this photo taken circa 1920. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, the city features a mix of architectural styles, from Greek to Egyptian to neoclassical (as seen above) This candid shot shows traditional wooden boats docked at the port in Alexandria circa 1900. The port is now deemed one of the most important and largest in the Middle East and Africa Lord Carnarvon is seen leading a party invited to the unofficial opening of Tutankhamun's tomb. A keen Egyptologist, Carnarvon was archaeologist Howard Carter's financial backer in his excavations in the Valley of the Kings. The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 was heralded as one of the most astounding discoveries in archaeology A western tourist poses by his car at the temple of Pharaoh Rameses III in Karnak, Egypt, circa 1925. Nowadays, no tourist vehicles would be allowed to get so close to the ancient structures A shot of the now demolished railway station in Alexandria, Egypt, circa 1920. The station, which was built in 1876, was the first to be built in Egypt but it was replaced by a modern station in the 1970s A tourist braves the heat in a white ensemble and heels while sitting atop a camel attended to by a local. The vacation photo was taken circa 1920, just as tourism started to flourish While nowadays it's forbidden for tourists to clamber up Egypt's pyramids to take a snap, back in the early 20th century it was all the rage. In this shot, two women dressed in heels and dresses look across the Sahara Desert from the top of the Great Pyramid of Khufu at sunset A worshipper is caught mid-prayer inside the beautiful decorated colonnade of the Amr ibn al-As Mosque in Cairo A view of the antechamber of Tutankhamun's tomb following its discovery in 1922, with a range of treasures on display The Cairo skyline in 1920 looks a world away from today's scene, with a spread of minarets and no skyscrapers in sight Tourists dressed in their finest attire make their way through date palm groves to the desert in this atmospheric shot taken in Sakkara in March 1921. March is deemed one of the more comfortable months to visit Egypt, with the average high ranging from about 68F to 81F A western tourist waits outside a mosque as an attendant ties slippers to her shoes so she doesn't need to take them off. Today tourists traditionally remove their shoes when entering a mosque instead of wearing overshoes On November 4, 1922, Howard Carter's group of archeologists found steps leading to Tutankhamun's tomb and they spent several months cataloguing the antechamber before opening the burial chamber and finally discovering the sarcophagus. Pictured, some of the items found in the antechamber Work is carried out to excavate sand from around the body of the Great Sphinx of Giza in 1925. The project resulted in the statue being fully exposed for the first time since Giza was abandoned during the Middle Kingdom (c. 2040-1782 BCE) The Great Sphinx is thought by most Egyptologists to represent the likeness of King Khafra. Others also believe that Djadefre, the elder brother of Khafra, built the Sphinx to honor his father, Khufu A group of tourists set off on a camel tour of Giza, with a horse and cab also in tow. The head of the Great Sphinx can be seen in the background on the right Advertisement Tucked away in an industrial nook of San Francisco is a Norman-style castle, complete with a turret built more than 150 years ago and a toilet in the shape of a throne. A documentary by filmmaker Kirsten Dirksen takes viewers inside the walls of Albion Castle, and even she says after living in the city for a decade, she never knew about the stately abode. The place is currently owned by Bill Gilbert, a retired San Francisco police officer and real-estate investor, and in the fascinating video tour, his daughter Jennifer leads the way. Bill purchased the two bedroom-property for $900,000 in 2012 after it had laid dormant for sometime, and the renovation process involved sprucing up the living spaces along with attending to one of the home's more unusual features: a network of underground caves which still produce between 8,000 and 10,000 gallons of natural spring water a day. Tucked away in an industrial nook of San Francisco is a Norman-style castle, complete with a turret built more than 150 years ago and a toilet in the shape of a throne A documentary by filmmaker Kirsten Dirksen takes viewers inside the walls of Albion Castle, and even she says after living in the city for a decade, she never knew about the stately abode The place is currently owned by Bill Gilbert, a retired San Francisco police officer and real-estate investor, and in the fascinating video tour, his daughter Jennifer leads the way Bill purchased the two bedroom-property for $900,000 in 2012 after it had laid dormant for sometime, and the renovation process involved sprucing up the living spaces The castle was built in 1870 by John Hamlin Burnell, a young English immigrant, who saw potential in the natural water supply and had visions of turning the plot into a state-of-the-art brewery A black and white vintage photo of the castle around the time it was built, show how it was surrounded by farmland with no other properties in the vicinity The castle was built in 1870 by John Hamlin Burnell, a young English immigrant, who saw potential in the natural water supply and had visions of turning the plot into a state-of-the-art brewery. A black and white vintage photo of the castle around the time it was built, show how it was surrounded by farmland with no other properties in the vicinity. Today, however, the castle sits back from a busy road and it is sandwiched amid a patchwork of residential buildings with an industrial dockyard beyond. But stepping through the castle's iron gate into the leafy grounds, Jennifer says it is like venturing into 'a different universe.' The main part of the castle was constructed from rock that was excavated while digging the cave network, while wood from the local shipyard was used for support beams and other interior features. Burnell's visions came to life and Albion Ale & Porter Brewery functioned for some time until Prohibition forced the operation to close down in 1919. The castle was then turned into a new business venture as the Albion Water Company and it served as a bottling plant for drinking water from 1928 until 1947. While it was in operation as a water bottling factory, the castle was occupied by an American sculptor named Adrien Voisin and many of his wood carvings, which run from the bannisters to ceiling covings, remain today. One of Voisin's kookier additions was a toilet that looks like a throne. In the video tour, Jennifer demonstrates how the unusual lavatory features a wood surround, with a back panel and arm rests with a ceramic ashtray inserted on one side. The toilet also 'plays music' when you flush it so 'the whole house can hear.' Moving along on their tour, other rooms to feature in the short film include the formal dining room, the kitchen with dark wood cabinetry, the large living room with a gothic-style chandelier, and one of the cozy bedrooms with a canopy-style bed. The main part of the castle was constructed from rock that was excavated while digging the cave network, while wood from the local shipyard was used for support beams and other interior features Burnell's Albion Ale & Porter Brewery functioned until 1919, when Prohibition forced it to close down. The castle was then turned into a new business venture as the Albion Water Company One of the home's more unusual features is a network of underground caves which still produce between 8,000 and 10,000 gallons of natural spring water a day Moving to the lower levels of the castle, the team tour the cave network with the hand carved stone interiors on show. Footage shows how the water held in the cisterns is crystal clear While it was in operation as a water bottling factory, the castle was occupied by an American sculptor named Adrien Voisin, as the sign above indicates Today the castle is available to rent for small events but the long-term plan is to bring back the water bottling business to 'utilize the natural, fresh spring water from the cisterns initiated by the founder' Concluding her tour, Jennifer notes that the castle is the 'sole remaining piece of history' dating to the time when San Francisco was a swathe of rural land peppered with cattle ranches The castle sits back from a busy road and it is sandwiched amid a patchwork of residential buildings with an industrial dockyard beyond The camera crew also climb to the top floor of the castle tower, with this home to a small sitting area with the original apex wood ceiling exposed above. Jennifer explains that the top floor of the tower would have originally been used as a storage area for the barely used in the beer making process. Moving to the lower levels of the castle, the team tour the cave network with the hand carved stone interiors on show. It is believed that hand picks were used to create the caverns with all of the rock removed in wheelbarrows; an arduous project that would have taken several years. Footage shows how the water held in the cisterns is crystal clear and Jennifer says some people have swam in the stone vats with prior permission. In 1961 the castle was under threat of demolition because of being adjacent to a road construction plan, but its underground spring waters saved it from peril. It was decided that if San Francisco was ever threatened by a nuclear attack, the castle could provide emergency water to residents. It is one of the only natural water sources in the city that cannot be contaminated and was established as a historical landmark in 1974. Before the Gilbert family purchased the castle, it was owned by another artist following Voisin's occupation and there were plans by local brewers to then relaunch the brewery but these never came to fruition. When it hit the market, Bill Gilbert snapped it up, as he had been fascinated by the property his whole life and as a child, his parents would take him to a restaurant over the way where he would spend more time daydreaming about the fortress than on finishing his dinner. Today the castle is available to rent for small events but the long-term plan is to bring back the water bottling business to 'utilize the natural, fresh spring water from the cisterns initiated by the founder.' Concluding her tour, Jennifer notes that the castle is the 'sole remaining piece of history' dating to the time when San Francisco was a swathe of rural land peppered with ranches. She adds: 'There's no time I think in the modern world to build something like this again. 'Everything [now] has to be quick and I think they took their time here. [It] was thoughtfully built... I always feel safe here.' Trinny Woodall is troubled by the patter of far too many tiny feet her home has been infested with so many mice, she says its turned into the Ritz hotel of rodents. The TV fashion and makeover expert says the uninvited guests crept into her house in Notting Hill after her daughter Lyla left for university in Spain last September. Trinny, 59, told the Im Absolutely Fine podcast that the mice are so fearless, they dance around her kitchen and even play with her dogs parson russell terrier Lily and lurcher Daffy. She split with advertising guru Charles Saatchi last year and now shares her home with her stepson and nephew. Oh, and a gang of dancing mice Trinny Woodall is troubled by the patter of far too many tiny feet her home has been infested with so many mice, she says its turned into the Ritz hotel of rodents The TV fashion and makeover expert says the uninvited guests crept into her house in Notting Hill after her daughter Lyla left for university in Spain last September It seems those desperate to cancel J.K. Rowling arent having much luck especially if the Harry Potter authors finances are anything to go by. Accounts show that Pottermore, the audiobook and ebook publisher of Rowlings bestselling wizarding series, saw pre-tax profits rise to 9.4 million in 2023, from 5.7 million in the previous year. Rowling, 58, has come under fire because of her opposition to some trans rights. Kate Moss signs up for a new opportunity ITS A new year and a new opportunity for Kate Moss. The supermodel already has her own wellness company called Cosmoss, which sells items such as sacred mists and dawn tea bags and now she has set her sights on a new brand for clothes, make-up, stationery and non-alcoholic drinks. I can reveal that Croydon-born Kate, who will turn 50 this month, has filed to trademark her name and signature, pictured below, for her latest scheme. Shes previously helped design collections for Topshop, Longchamp and Zadig & Voltaire. Kanye West has been mocked online for referring to his wife Bianca Censori as 'stepmother to our children' in a bizarre birthday tribute. The controversial American rapper, 46, took to Instagram to mark Bianca's 28th birthday on Friday by sharing a photo of the brunette staring into the camera, along with a heartfelt caption. 'Happy birthday to the most beautiful super bad iconic muse. Inspirational, talented artist, loving by my side everyday when half the world turned their backs,' he began. West then praised Bianca for being an 'amazing stepmother', and referred to the four kids he shares with ex-wife Kim Kardashian as 'our children'. 'The most amazing stepmother to our children. I love you so much, thank you for sharing your life with me.' Kanye West, 46, (left) has been mocked online for referring to his wife Bianca Censori, 28, (right) as 'stepmother to our children' in a bizarre birthday tribute Many of his followers couldn't resist roasting Kanye for the turn of phrase, with some speculating that he was taking a dig at Kim. 'Our kids? Is he confused? [laughing/crying emoji]l,' one user commented. 'Our children? You mean 'Your children?' SMH,' another asked, while someone else added: 'Imagine Kim posted 'Our children' with another guy though.' The US rap star praised Bianca for being an 'amazing stepmother', and referred to the four kids he shares with ex-wife Kim Kardashian as 'our children' Kanye shares children North, 10, Saint, 8, Chicago, 5, and Psalm, 4, with his ex-wife Kim. Melbourne-born Bianca Censori has undergone quite the transformation since her wedding to Kanye West one year ago. A far cry from her days as a little-known Melbourne architect, Bianca made global headlines on Tuesday after Kanye shared a trio of raunchy photos of her posing in barely any clothing on Instagram. Many of his followers couldn't resist roasting Kanye for the turn of phrase, with some speculating that he was taking a dig at Kim. Pictured together in May, 2019 Kanye shared the images as he prepared to drop his new song with Travis Scott on Tuesday, ahead of the release of his new album, Vultures, which is expected later this month. In the images, Bianca was seen posing around the couple's home wearing an extremely revealing bra, G-string, leather corset, stockings and a fur stole that barely covered her modesty. Bianca and Kanye secretly wed in a non-legally recognised ceremony in December 2022, just one month after he finalised his divorce from Kim. 'Happy birthday to the most beautiful super bad iconic muse. Inspirational, talented artist, loving by my side everyday when half the world turned their backs,' Kanye gushed In September, friends expressed grave concerns that he was manipulating Bianca into a 'radicalised' version of Kim, who he often referred to her as his 'muse.' He also heavily influenced her fashion choices. 'Kanye is trying to make Bianca into a radicalised version of Kim - almost like Kim 2.0,' a source said at the time. 'The difference is that when Kim was with Kanye he was respected in the fashion world. He has since lost this respect.' Many of his followers couldn't resist roasting Kanye for the turn of phrase, with some speculating that he was taking a dig at Kim Alison Hammond has reportedly rejected a huge pay rise to replace Holly Willoughby and front This Morning four times a week. Bosses were 'desperate' for the presenter to take over after Holly's shock departure last October. Alison hosts This Morning alongside Dermot O'Leary on a Friday, as well as fronting other big shows such as The Great British Bake Off. An ITV source told the Mirror she has refused the job: 'Alison has long been a favourite with bosses. She's very popular with viewers and celebrities often request her when they appear on the sofa. 'She's happy to fill in but has politely declined the job more than once.' Alison Hammond has rejected a huge pay rise to replace Holly Willoughby and front This Morning four times a week Bosses were 'desperate' for the presenter to take over after Holly's shock departure last October It comes after Emma Willis emerged as the bookies favourite to take Holly's role on This Morning after impressing viewers with her consummate appearances. And her undeniable popularity has been duly noted among bookmakers, with Ladbrokes giving her odds of 11/10 to claim the coveted presenting role full time. Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: 'Emma Willis made a major impact on This Morning today and after instantly sparking a flurry of bets, she is the new favorite to replace Holly Willoughby.' Elsewhere show regular Alison Hammond has odds of 2/1, Josie Gibson is 5/2 /1, Rochelle Humes, 6/1, Kate Garraway, 10/1, and Storm Huntley, 14/1, while Abbey Clancy and Angela Scanlon are tied at 16/1. Meanwhile, Rylan was tipped as the bookies favourite to replace Phillip Schofield and land a permanent stint on the show, with William Hill announcing his odds were that 5/4. Rylan is currently a rotating presenter from Monday to Thursday alongside Josie, Craig Doyle, Rochelle, and Ben Shepherd. Alison hosts This Morning alongside Dermot O'Leary on a Friday, as well as fronting other big shows such as The Great British Bake Off Holly left the show last month 'for the sake of her family' after discovering she was the target of a foiled kidnap and murder plot and has since not been replaced permanently (pictured with Phil) Holly left the show last month 'for the sake of her family' after discovering she was the target of a foiled kidnap and murder plot and has since not been replaced permanently. It came five months after Phillip's departure after his affair with a young male showrunner was made public, followed by claims of an increasingly strained relationship with his co-host Holly. ITV bosses have been looking for a permanent duo to host This Morning from Monday to Thursday rather than continue with rotating presenters. Cat Deeley is said to have turned down the hosting job after impressing bosses with her guest presenting last month. She was a big hit with viewers who hailed her as 'brilliant', 'amazing' and 'a breath of fresh air'. However, the 47-year-old chose to return to America to host So You Think You Can Dance instead. Similarly, Christine Lampard is said to be 'adored' by ITV executives but has refused to work full time. It came five months after Phillip's departure after his affair with a young male showrunner was made public, followed by claims of an increasingly strained relationship with his co-host Holly (pictured with Holly in 2018) Sources at ITV say there are other 'potentials in the mix', adding: 'Bosses are happy to wait to get it right. 'They aren't rushing anything and are committed to waiting until they get the right pairing. It's always been the aim to have a permanent duo alongside Alison and Dermot [O'Leary]. 'But the surprise silver lining to such a tough year for everyone on the show has been the success of the mix of presenters some of the nation's favourite faces rotating.' ITV insiders say ratings since Holly left have been growing, with November and December seeing the highest ratings of 2023, with peak audiences exceeding one million. Gypsy Rose Blanchard is a self-proclaimed Swiftie. The 32-year-old media sensation who was released from prison days ago after being convicted of collaborating to murder her mother told People: 'I became a fan of Taylor Swift when I was probably about 17 and she was just starting out in country music and I loved her music then.' She spoke to the outlet at the premiere of her Lifetime docuseries: The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, adding, '[I] felt like [Swift] was just a total rock star.' Blanchard explained further about the music icon: 'I think she's all about girl empowerment and that's why I respond to her so well, is because I'm getting into that girl empowerment vibe type of lifestyle right now. So I just, I get it.' 'I get her music and I think that she is an artist who gets women,' she emphasized. Gypsy Rose Blanchard is a self-proclaimed Swiftie and told People she relates to Taylor Swift because she 'gets women' The 32-year-old media sensation who was released from prison days ago told People , 'I became a fan of Taylor Swift when I was probably about 17 and she was just starting out in country music and I loved her music then' The former inmate, who was released on parole, also spoke about Taylor in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter. 'I am a Swiftie,' Gypsy declared before adding: 'All of [Swift's] songs are really, really good.' Getting more specific, she listed her favorite songs by the pop star. Eyes Open and Karma are currently among her current tracks in rotation. 'Karma has been what I have been playing on my playlist a lot,' she shared. 'So Im jamming out to that.' On Friday Gypsy attended the premiere of her new six-part documentary series with her husband Ryan Anderson in New York City, marking their first-ever red carpet appearance. She and Anderson, 37, donned matching black ensembles for the high-profile event. The series follows her story of being imprisoned under horrific abuse as a child and later for her role in her mother's violent murder. Blanchard was a victim of her mother Dee Dee Blanchard's Munchausen syndrome by proxy. She suffered horrific abuse at the hand's of her mother, who forced her to remain in a wheel chair and convinced doctors that she suffered from numerous debilitating diseases, and she was forced to undergo dozens of unnecessary surgeries and procedures for the false conditions. Gypsy later made national headlines for her role in her mother's death. In 2015, her then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn stabbed her mother 17 times in her back while she slept, after the two had plotted to kill her for revenge for her years of abuse. Blanchard made her first red carpet appearance at the premiere of her docuseries Blanchard recently recorded herself on a visit to the Big Apple The freshly released media sensation has been enjoying her newfound freedom; pictured with husband Ryan Anderson Gypsy has since been catapulted to celebrity status as internet users follow her release. In recent days she defended her husband against online trolls who have been leaving negative comments on their respective social media pages. While doing so, she revealed candid details about their sex life. In the comment section of a recent selfie Ryan shared on Instagram, Gypsy told him to ignore the 'haters' before adding that her husband is 'rocking my world every night.' EastEnders' Jacqueline Jossa has revealed she has been in therapy for the past 14 years in a bid to deal with her crippling anxiety. The actress, 31, who recently returned to role as Lauren Branning, said she has learned many techniques over the years to help her deal with negative thoughts after first attending a session aged just 17. Telling The Sun: 'You want someone to talk to, so I've always been really open to it and it's always been part of my life. I dip in and out of it whenever I need to'. Jacqueline also said how she worries and over thinks situations but it's possible to simply let them 'wash away' - four years after husband Dan Osborne's cheating confession. 'We don't have to worry too much about what everyone else is thinking about that one little thing that we did that probably hasn't crossed anyone else's mind'. EastEnders ' Jacqueline Jossa, 31, has revealed she has been in therapy for the past 14 years in a bid to deal with her crippling anxiety The actress who recently returned to role as Lauren Branning , said she has learned many techniques over the years to help her deal with negative thoughts - four years after husband Dan Osborne's cheating confession. 'You can learn from it. You can move on from it and then you can let it wash away.' In 2020 former TOWIE star Dan admitted he had cheated on Jacqueline, with whom he shares daughters Ella, seven, and Mia, four, but insisted that they had moved past it and went on to renew their wedding vows. Telling The Sun at the time that he had 'made mistakes' and done things he should not have but denied some of the allegations made against him. In the candid chat with the publication, Dan failed to clarify which cheating rumours were true, with the couple having been rocked by many over the years. Most notably Dan was accused of cheating with Love Island star Gabby Allen in 2018, something they've both insisted wasn't true. The couple faced cheating claims once again after it was alleged Dan engaged in a threesome with his Celebrity Big Brother co-stars Natalie Nunn and Chloe Ayling, which he denied. It comes after EastEnders fans finally saw the long-awaited return of Jacqueline as Lauren Branning on New Year's Day as she was arrested in a shocking drugs twist. After a six-year absence, Lauren is making a permanent return to the Square in a dramatic storyline, after deciding to get back in touch with her ex Peter Beale. Jacqueline also said how she worries and over thinks situations but it's possible to simply let them 'wash away' - four years after husband Dan Osborne's cheating confession (pictured with daughters Ella, seven, and Mia, four) In 2020 former TOWIE star Dan admitted he had cheated on Jacqueline , with whom he shares daughters Ella, seven, and Mia, four, but insisted that they had moved past it and went on to renew their wedding vows Viewers saw Lauren has relocated to Paris with her son Louis to join her cousin Penny, but in Monday's episode began to pine for her ex. Lauren had previously vowed she would never speak to Peter again after discovering Cindy Beale was still alive, but rang her ex to reveal she would be coming back to Albert Square. Penny quickly agreed to join Lauren, but became uneasy after being approached by a mystery woman. It was then revealed that Penny had been tasked with transporting drugs back to the UK by the mystery woman, and they were planted in Lauren's bag. After heading to the airport, Lauren was stunned when she was arrested by police, after sniffer dogs were alerted to the package. EastEnders fans finally saw the long-awaited return of Jacqueline as Lauren Branning on New Year's Day as she was arrested in a shocking drugs twist The episode ended on a shocking cliffhanger, with Lauren clueless about how she would be released from police custody. Speaking ahead of her return, Jacqueline said: 'It's strange because being back at EastEnders feels exactly the same and really different all at once! It's amazing to be back, and personally, it's been the perfect time for me to return. 'I've loved every minute so far, and it feels like coming home. What's different is that there's a whole new Square set, as it's been rebuilt since I worked here before, and there are a bunch of new people to get to know. 'I feel like I've bonded with them already, and it's only been a little while, but it's amazing how quickly you feel like family with people here'. Bobbie Jean was buried 'somewhere outside Tampa in a small, private ceremony' Nick Carter's sister, Bobbie Jean Carter, was reportedly buried in Florida on Saturday. The pop star's younger sibling, who died last month at the age of 41, was laid to rest in a city outside of Tampa during a 'small, private ceremony' attended by family and friends, according to TMZ. Although it was unclear if Nick attended the burial, the outlet's sources reported the family's matriarch, Jane Schneck, gave the eulogy. Bobbie Jean or BJ, as she was known to her family is the third Carter sibling to meet an early death. Aaron Carter passed away on November 5, 2022, at the age of 34, while a decade earlier, in 2012, Leslie Carter died at the age of 25. Both deaths were caused by overdoses. Although Bobbie Jean's cause of death remains unclear, sources close to the family have said they believe she passed away due to cardiac arrest. Nick Carter 's sister, Bobbie Jean Carter (pictured), was buried in Florida on Saturday The pop star's younger sibling, who died last month at the age of 41, was laid to rest in a city outside of Tampa during a 'small, private ceremony' attended by family and friends; Leslie Carter, Aaron Carter, Angel Carter, Nick Carter and Bobbie Carter in 2006 The burial news comes a few days after Nick broke his silence over the death of his sister Bobbie Jean's - writing that he is 'completely heartbroken' in emotional tribute on Instagram. 'It may take a lifetime to fully process the loss my family has endured over the years most recently, with the sudden passing of our sister Bobbie Jean,' the Backstreet Boys star wrote on Thursday. He also shared a vintage throwback picture of himself and with Bobbie Jean playing as children. Nick's post followed the report that Bobbie Jean's daughter Bella, eight, is in the custody of her grandmother, Schneck, 64. In a statement to TMZ the grieving mother spoke about her devastating loss. 'I am in shock from learning of the sudden death of my daughter, Bobbie Jean; and I will need time to process the terrible reality of this happening for the third time,' she began. 'When I am able to think clearly, Ill release a fuller statement; but until then I would request to be left to grieve in private.' She added: 'However deeply a parent feels the loss of a child, the suffering of a young child at the loss of a parent must be much greater.' Although it was unclear if Nick attended the burial, the outlet's sources reported the family's matriarch, Jane Schneck, gave the eulogy; Jane, Nick and Aaron Carter in 1995 Fans may know Bobbie Jean from her appearance in the reality show House of Carters, which aired in 2006 Bobbie Jean, like her brother Aaron and sister Leslie struggled with substance abuse. Leslie died of a drug overdose at age 25 in 2012. Leslie, (center) died of an drug overdose in 2012 at 25. Aaron passed away from an accidental drowning to to his drug use in November 2022 (Pictured in 2006) 'So, I would ask the sympathetic to say a prayer for my precious eight year old granddaughter Bella, who previously lost her father and is now also left without her mother.' Fans may know Bobbie Jean from her appearance in the reality show House of Carters, which aired in 2006. She, like her late brother Aaron and late sister Leslie, struggled with substance abuse. Aaron died from an accidental drowning at his home in Lancaster, California, caused after his inhaling difluoroethane and taking alprazolam, the generic form of brand-name Xanax. He was 34. Leslie died of a drug overdose at age 25 in 2012. In June, Bobbie Jean was arrested on a shoplifting charge for an incident at Hobby Lobby and was put on a suicide watch after threatening to kill herself. Investigators discovered she was in possession of fentanyl, potent synthetic opioid drug similar to morphine but 50 to 100 times more powerful. If Bobbie Jean did die of a heart attack as her family reportedly believes, her drug use could have contributed to it, according to the National Library of Medicine. Nick, 43, has not spoken publicly about this latest family tragedy, but his sister Angel, 35 made a lengthy statement on Instagram Sunday, promising to prevent the trauma that haunted her siblings from hurting the next generation Nick, 43, has not spoken publicly about this latest family tragedy, but his sister Angel, 35 made a lengthy statement on Instagram Sunday, promising to prevent the trauma that haunted her siblings from hurting the next generation. 'This starts with our children, and creating healthy conversation within the home. The generational dysfunction stops now.' she wrote Sunday. Please visit @onoursleevesofficial to learn more about how you can get involved, and how to be there for your loved ones. I love you BJ, you're free now.' If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse and/or mental health issues, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-4357. Justin Bieber's father Jeremy Bieber and his wife Chelsey Rebelo continued to enjoy some fun in the sun during their holiday in Saint Barthelemy this week. The couple have been photographed frolicking along the scenic beaches of the Caribbean island, which is an overseas collectivity of France, the last couple of days. On Friday, the elder Bieber gave a nod of respect to his famous son by wearing yellow swim trunks from Justin's Drew clothing brand. By going shirtless throughout the afternoon, Jeremy showed off his fit physique and array of tattoos that cover much of his arms, chest and stomach. Jeremy and Chelsey spent much of their time playing in the sand and ocean with their five-year-old daughter Bay, who appeared to be in heaven from the looks of the big beaming smile on her face. Justin Bieber's father Jeremy Bieber, 49, repped his son Justin's Drew label during a day on the beach on the Caribbean island of Saint Barthelemy, also known as St. Barts On a number of occasions Jeremy, 49, could be seen holding his daughter's hand, as the waves came crashing onto the shoreline. His wife, 35, who was also never too far from Bay's side while playing along the sand, would also show off her fit figure in a yellow bikini. Being that they were spending a good deal of time swimming in the gorgeous ocean water, Chelsey opted to wear her dark tresses long and flowing down past the middle of her back. At one point, the couple were spotted walking on each side of their daughter in the shallow ocean waters that were just a few inches deep. Jeremy documented their Friday together on the beach by sharing a photo of the couple flashing big smiles on Instagram. 'When a man and woman come together, they are unstoppable!' the father of four gushed, in a reference to the romance. The YouTuber would take back to the social media platform on Saturday to share some more love for his wife during their holiday in paradise '10 years in, 5 years married a lifetime to go. Love you @chelseybieber #stbarths,' Jeremy wrote in the caption of the post that shows the couple snuggled up together with the lovely blue ocean water in the background. Jeremy spent much of his time on the scenic beach with his wife Chelsey Rebelo, 35, and their five-year-old daughter Bay The YouTuber showed off his fit physique and array of tattoos On Saturday, Jeremy gushed over his wife by sharing his love after 10 years together Justin's stepmother wrapped her arms around her husband in another beach photo Along with Justin, Jeremy has two children - daughter Jazmyn, 15, and son Jaxon, 14 - with ex Erin Wagner, whom he was with from 2007 to 2014. Jeremy then married his girlfriend Chelsey Rebelo in February 2018, and together they welcomed daughter Bay. Jeremy is also a stepfather to Chelsey's 16-year-old daughter Allie. He split from Justin's mother, Pattie Mallette, just 10 months after she had given birth to the future global superstar following a troubled on and off relationship. According to Pattie's autobiography, The Only Way Is Up, the teenagers were actually engaged, but called off the wedding when Jeremy cheated on her with a mutual acquaintance. Andrew Scott appeared in great spirits as he attended the W Magazine's Best Performances Party in Los Angeles on Friday. The Irish actor, 47, showed off his bulging biceps in a short-sleeved blue T-shirt that had the character Alf printed on the front. He slipped into a pair of black trousers and for a finishing touch, he donned a pair of white loafers. Andrew attended the event alongside stars such as Margot Robbie, Emma Stone and Taraji P. Henson. It comes after Andrew revealed he was once forced to pause his performance of Hamlet, after an audience member opened their laptop. Andrew Scott appeared in great spirits as he attended the W Magazine's Best Performances Party in Los Angeles on Friday The Irish actor, 47, showed off his bulging biceps in a short-sleeved blue T-shirt that had the character Alf printed on the front He took on the titular role in the famous Shakespeare tragedy in 2017 at the Almeida Theatre in London. He won critical acclaim for his performance and garnered him a nomination for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play. However, Andrew has now revealed that not all theatre goers were as impressed with his rendition. Speaking to the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he recalled how one audience member memorably took out their laptop to answer emails mid-show. He said: 'When I was playing Hamlet, a guy took out his laptop not his phone, his laptop while I was in the middle of "to be or not to f***ing be". 'I was pausing and [the stage team] were like, "Get on with it" and I was like, "Theres no way. I stopped for ages. Andrew added that the woman beside the rude onlooker alerted him and caused him to finally put his computer away. He concluded: 'He had absolutely no doubts'. It marks another incident in a rising issue of problematic audience members interrupting stage productions. Richard Griffiths famously threatened to leave the stage during The History Boys in 2006, after a phone rang three separate times during his performance. Andrew caught up with Hannah Einbinder and Jen Statsky at the event He slipped into a pair of black trousers and for a finishing touch, he donned a pair of white loafers (pictured with Colman Domigo Andrew posed for snaps alongside Callum Turner Addressing the audience, the late actor said: 'You should be ashamed of yourselves. I am not going to compete with these electronic devices. You were told to turn them off by the stage manager, you were told it was against the law. 'We're going to start this scene again. If we hear one more phone go off, we'll... quit this afternoon's performance. You have been warned.' The year before he ordered a woman to leave his performance of Heroes at Wyndham's theatre, telling her: 'The 750 people here would be fully justified in suing you for ruining their afternoon.' In 2009, Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig confronted a theatre goer who's phone went off during their Broadway play, A Steady Rain. Hugh stopped his performance to address the phone's owner: 'You want to get that? You want to get it? Grab it. I don't care.' As the ringing continued, the actor fumed: 'Come on, just turn it off...Unless you've got a better story. You want to get up and tell your stories?' His co-star Daniel then joined in, saying: 'Can you get that? We can wait, just get the phone'. James McAvoy brought a 2013 theatre production of Macbeth to a standstill when he noticed a member of the audience was filming his performance. The actor halted the show to berate the man, and refused to continue with the play until the camera was firmly put away. During her 2015 Broadway debut, Keira Knightley's production of Therese Raquin was also interrupted after an audience member proposed to the actress. Speaking to the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he recalled how one audience member memorably took out their laptop to answer emails mid-show (pictured in Hamlet) Other attendees reported the man shouted at Keira and threw a bouquet of flowers towards the stage, while she attempted to remain in character. Eventually security threw the heckler out in handcuffs while the play had a short break. Patti LuPone famously snatched a phone out of one person in the audience's hand during her performance of Shows for Days in 2015 after they were caught texting. The phone was returned after the show, but Patti released a statement saying: 'We work hard on stage to create a world that is being totally destroyed by a few, rude, self-absorbed and inconsiderate audience members who are controlled by their phones. 'They cannot put them down. When a phone goes off or when a LED screen can be seen in the dark, it ruins the experience for everyone else -- the majority of the audience at that performance and the actors on stage.' Like Andrew, Benedict Cumberbatch was also taking on the role of Hamlet in 2015 when he complained about phones in the audience. Addressing the spectators, he made an impassioned plea: 'I can see cameras in the auditorium. It may not be any of you here but it's blindingly obvious. 'It's mortifying and there's nothing that's less supportive or enjoyable as an actor on stage experiencing that. 'What I really want to do is try and enlist you. I don't use social media and I'd really appreciate it if you did tweet, blog, hashtag the s**t out of this one for me. Richard Griffiths famously threatened to leave the stage during The History Boys in 2006, after a phone rang three separate times during his performance (pictured in play in 2004) James McAvoy brought a 2013 theatre production of Macbeth to a standstill when he noticed a member of the audience was filming his performance. The actor halted the show to berate the man and refused to continue until the camera was put away (pictured in 2021) 'This isn't me blaming you, this is just me asking you to ripple it out there in the brilliant beautiful way that you do with your funny electronic things. I'd really appreciate it.' And it is not only ordinary attendees being called out for rude behaviour, with Lin-Manuel Miranda fuming at pop star Madonna for doing 'a lot of texting' while in the audience at Hamilton in 2015. The musical's creator and star reportedly banned Madonna from returning with star Jonathan Groff adding: 'That b***h was on her phone. You couldnt miss it from the stage. 'It was a black void of the audience in front of us and her face there perfectly lit by the light of her iPhone through three-quarters of the show.' Big Brother finalist Olivia Young sent temperatures soaring as she joined pals for a night out in Manchester on Saturday. The TV personality, 23, flaunted her toned figure in a very racy sheer catsuit leaving almost nothing to the imagination. Olivia went braless as she slipped into the outfit which boasted a daringly plunging neckline and cut out to show off her abs. The stunner teased a glimpse of her skimpy thong as she completed the look with a pair of strappy nude heels. It comes after Olivia revealed that Jordan Sangha and Henry Southan's relationship took a romantic turn the moment that housemate Trish Balusa was evicted. Big Brother's Olivia Young, 32, sent temperatures soaring as she joined pals for a night out in Manchester on Saturday The TV personality flaunted her toned figure in a very racy sheer catsuit leaving almost nothing to the imagination The dancer, who finished runner-up in the 2023 series, admitted Trish had urged the pair to 'behave themselves' after they formed a close friendship during their time in the house. However, just a week before the final, Jordan, 26, and Henry, 25, took their romance to the next level by sharing a series of steamy smooches, with Olivia revealing they only held back because Trish would 'tell them off.' Since leaving the house, Jordan and Henry have made their romance official, telling their followers that they're now referring to each other as 'boyfriends.' Speaking on the Chloe Vs The World podcast, Olivia said: 'I just thought at first it was very best friendy, I always referred to them as like an old married couple. They could literally be two gay dads. 'When Trish left, that's when it started being a bit more romantic, because I think she was like ''behave yourself, behave yourself!'' and then she left and they thought ''clothes off let's go for it!'' 'You know you have the angel and devil on the shoulder, she was the angel being like ''you're on TV, this isn't why you're here!'' 'Trish was out the door and their faces were on each other, I think it was literally the next day. They said ''Trish used to tell us off!''' Olivia also revealed that the house only learned about the so-called love triangle between Henry, Jordan and Matty Simpson after overhearing chants from the crowd during eviction night. Olivia went braless as she slipped into the outfit which boasted a daringly plunging neckline and cut out to show off her abs It comes after Olivia revealed that Jordan Sangha and Henry Southan's relationship took a romantic turn the moment that housemate Trish Balusa was evicted The pair shared a series of smooches just hours after Trish left the house, and Olivia admitted she told the pair to 'behave themselves' She told host Chloe Burrows: 'We didn't know about the triangle! We didn't see that, so basically the only reason we found out about the triangle, was because where the smoking area is, is the crowd... 'So Jenkin went in, and we could hear ''Henry Jordan [cheers]'' whooping and he came out like this, and Henry was stood next to him, and he couldn't say anything. 'He just said ''I've just heard the nation are watching a love triangle'' '[He said] I could hear them like ''who should Jordan choose?'' and that's how we found out. We had nothing from the outside world so that's how we found out. Olivia also revealed that the house only learned about the so-called love triangle between Henry, Jordan and Matty Simpson after overhearing chants from the crowd Trish was evicted from the Big Brother house just a week before the final, and Henry and Jordan said they knew she would 'tell them off' if they tried to explore their romance One of Jordan and Henry's kisses was witnessed by Olivia in a hilarious moment, with the pair completely unaware she was in the bedroom as they kissed 'I was surprised! I had no idea! I only saw it as Henry and Jordan, so the fact Matty was involved, Chanelle told Matty and Matty was really worried because he's got a boyfriend. 'I've seen some of the clips and some of it is quite flirty. It was quite secretive!' Despite originally forming a close friendship with Henry, Jordan repeatedly flirted with Matty, who had a boyfriend on the outside, and viewers were quick to deem it a love triangle. After realising his behaviour was upsetting Henry, Jordan broke off his interactions with Matty and recommitted to the food critic, and they went onto share a series of memorable smooches. Sydney Sweeney showed off her incredible figure in a tiny string swimsuit in her latest Instagram Story post. On Saturday, the 26-year-old actress shared with her 16.4 million followers that she arrived at the land Down Under with a clip of herself wearing a sexy Gooseberry Intimates swimsuit as she basked in the sun. In the video, she could be seen stepping out onto the balcony of her high-rise hotel room with a beachfront view wearing nothing else but her swimsuit. Over the clip, she tagged that she was in Australia and wrote: 'I'm backkkkkk'. The White Lotus star whose Anyone But You costar Glen Powell finally opened up about their onscreen chemistry and dating rumors had applied a twinkling filter that gave her a sun-kissed look. Sydney Sweeney showed off her incredible figure in a tiny string swimsuit from Gooseberry Intimates in her latest Instagram Story post She left her long blonde hair down in soft waves and tucked her tresses over her shoulder before panning the camera towards the ocean view. In an interview with Glamour UK published last month, it was revealed that the Euphoria alum had recently been in Australia for pre-production on director Ron Howard's latest movie, Eden. She had also filmed her recently released romantic comedy with Powell in the same place. Sweeney is not only the star of the movie but also co-produced it with her real-life partner Jonathan Davino. In Anyone But You, Sweeney plays Bea opposite Powell's Ben. The story follows them as they go on a successful first date but eventually part ways. When they are suddenly reunited at a destination wedding in Australia, they pretend to be a perfect couple to keep up appearances. The film premiered in theaters on December 26, 2023, and prior to the release, the pair had been sparking romance rumors as they 'leaned in' to their onscreen chemistry. Last month, Powell spoke to Business Insider and gave Sweeney all the credit for the decision to utilize their 'authentic chemistry' to entice people to watch their movie. On Saturday, the 26-year-old actress shared with her 16.4 million followers that she arrived at the land Down Under with a clip of herself wearing a sexy swimsuit as she basked in the sun. In the video, she could be seen stepping out onto the balcony of her high-rise hotel room with a beachfront view wearing nothing else but her bikini She left her long blonde hair down in soft waves and tucked her tresses over her shoulder before panning the camera towards the ocean view She had filmed her latest film Anyone But You which premiered on December 26, 2023 with costar Glen Powell in Australia 'I don't have the mental capacity to pull anything like this off, but she's very smart. She's very smart,' the Top Gun: Maverick actor, 35, told the outlet. 'I had such a wonderful journey with her on this thing,' he added. 'But in terms of actual dating and actually being together? [Laughs.]' He also acknowledged how their chemistry and natural rapport at press events created a 'lot of headaches'. He also opened up about how he split with now-ex Gigi Paris while working on the movie with Sweeney. 'Well, look, the only reason it made things harder for me to lean into that stuff was that I was going through a very real breakup amidst a promotional tour,' he explained. Powell continued: 'I was with someone that I really loved and cared about and was trying to kind of make sense of a lot of stuff.' He also added, 'It was a lot easier for Sydney to lean into something like that because she's in a very committed and wonderful relationship and she's very happy. 'So it was a little harder for me,' he admitted. Advertisement Bella Thorne left vanishingly little to the imagination as she, Heidi Klum and Christina Hendricks lead a cavalcade of star at The Art Of Elysium's annual HEAVEN gala on Saturday night. Entitled 'Heaven Is A Library' and thrown at Los Angeles' Wiltern Theater, the glittering affair saw beloved author Neil Gaiman honored as a 'visionary' by the arts-based nonprofit. In a showstopping flourish, Bella, 26, went strikingly bra-less under a see-through netted dress, done in a silver shade that paired well with her off-white panties. The former Disney Channel child star, who joined OnlyFans in 2020, wore a scarlet shade of lipstick that brought out her luxurious curtains of fiery red hair. Her dress allowed her to show off her shapely legs and chiseled midriff as she turned this way and that, ensuring the camera caught her from a variety of angles. Bella Thorne left vanishingly little to the imagination as (from left) she, Heidi Klum and Christina Hendricks lead a cavalcade of star at The Art Of Elysium's annual HEAVEN gala on Saturday night Entitled 'Heaven Is A Library' and thrown at the Wiltern Theater, the glittering affair saw beloved author Neil Gaiman honored as a 'visionary' by the arts-based Los Angeles nonprofit In a showstopping flourish, Bella, 26, went strikingly bra-less under a see-through netted dress, done in a silver shade that paired well with her off-white panties Bella attended the fete on the arm of her gay pal Jason Parks, who modeled a similarly flesh-flashing ensemble, going shirtless over his fashionably loose-fitted pinstriped suit Bella attended the fete on the arm of her gay pal Jason Parks, who modeled a similarly flesh-flashing ensemble, going shirtless over his fashionably loose-fitted pinstriped suit. Meanwhile, for her latest public appearance, Heidi draped her statuesque figure into a skintight nude gown that was speckled all over with a dazzling golden floral print. The strapless number emphasized her cleavage and complemented her luscious waves of blonde hair, which cascaded freely over her shoulders and framed her screen-siren complexion. Accentuating her features with makeup, she garnished the look with jewelry and added an eye-catching pop of contrast with a blood-red shade of nail polish. She posed up a storm on the red carpet with her 19-year-old daughter Leni, who has elicited allegations of being a 'nepo baby' by following Heidi's footsteps into the modeling business. Christina served up a generous helping of cleavage in a frou-frou red dress that hinted at Gothic chic, with its ruched shiny fabrics and the hint of lace around its plummeting neckline. Wearing dramatic pink eye makeup, of a piece with her rose lipstick and red hair, she accessorized with a gleaming gold clutch that featured diamond stitching. As se posed in front of the backdrop, which in an on-theme touch had books scattered along the bottom, Christina held hands with her boyfriend, cameraman George Bianchini. Heidi's strapless number emphasized her cleavage and complemented her luscious waves of blonde hair, which cascaded freely over her shoulders and framed her screen-siren complexion She posed up a storm on the red carpet with her 19-year-old daughter Leni, who has elicited allegations of being a 'nepo baby' by following Heidi's footsteps into the modeling business Wearing dramatic pink eye makeup, of a piece with her rose lipstick and red hair, Christina accessorized with a gleaming gold clutch that featured diamond stitching. As se posed in front of the backdrop, which in an on-theme touch had books scattered along the bottom, Christina held hands with her boyfriend, cameraman George Bianchini Varsity Blues actress Amy Smart and her husband, Trading Spaces hunk Carter Oosterhouse, were being garlanded with the Spirit Of Elysium prize. Amy made her presence felt in a sleek black gown with a neckline that plunged to reveal not just her cleavage but also her enviably taut midriff. Zelda Williams was period chic in a royal purple gown that brought back memories of the medieval era, while Nikki Costa modeled a dress reminiscent of a toga and The Talk hostess Amanda Kloots rocked a simple red frock. Aly Michaika was spotted sharing an embrace with her friend Raymond Braun, who is gay, while her sister AJ Michaika clung to her longtime beau Josh Pence. The Michaikas were not the only celebrity sister-act to make its way to the Heaven gala, where Patricia Arquette and Rosanna Arquette also trod the red carpet. Azie Tesfie wore a shimmering gold dress harking back to the chinoiserie tradition, while Joseph Gordon-Levitt was dashing as ever in a classic suit and Rain Phoenix slid into an elegant off-the-shoulder raven gown. Ever Carradine, a scion of the Carradine acting family and a cousin of Martha Plimpton's, exuded Old Hollywood glamour in a floor-length strapless scarlet frock. Shameless actress Emma Kenney, who later also featured on the Roseanne revival, Forgetting Sarah Marshall star Jason Segel and Parks And Recreation alum Retta were also on the guest list. Varsity Blues actress Amy Smart and her husband, Trading Spaces hunk Carter Oosterhouse, were being garlanded with the Spirit Of Elysium prize Amy made her presence felt in a sleek black gown with a neckline that plunged to reveal not just her cleavage but also her enviably taut midriff (from left) Zelda Williams was period chic in a royal purple gown that brought back memories of the medieval era, while Nikki Costa modeled a dress reminiscent of a toga and The Talk hostess Amanda Kloots rocked a simple red frock Aly Michaika (second from left) was spotted sharing an embrace with her friend Raymond Braun (left), who is gay, while her sister AJ Michaika (second from right) clung to her longtime beau Josh Pence (right) The Michaikas were not the only celebrity sister-act to make its way to the Heaven gala, where Patricia Arquette and Rosanna Arquette also trod the red carpet (from left) Azie Tesfie wore a shimmering gold dress harking back to the chinoiserie tradition, while Joseph Gordon-Levitt was dashing as ever in a classic suit and Rain Phoenix slid into an elegant off-the-shoulder raven gown Ever Carradine, a scion of the Carradine acting family and a cousin of Martha Plimpton's, exuded Old Hollywood glamour in a floor-length strapless scarlet frock (from left) Shameless actress Emma Kenney, who later also featured on the Roseanne revival, Forgetting Sarah Marshall star Jason Segel and Parks And Recreation alum Retta were also on the guest list Tasya Van Ree made sure to attract attention with her look, donning a towering wide-brimmed fedora and a long retro black coat adorned with ornate gold embroidery at its cuffs and collar A number of couples turned the HEAVEN gala into a date night, from Joe Manganiello, 47, and his new blonde girlfriend Caitlin O'Connor, 34, to Patton Oswalt and his second wife Meredith Salenger Tasya Van Ree made sure to attract attention with her look, donning a towering wide-brimmed fedora and a long retro black coat adorned with ornate gold embroidery at its cuffs and collar. A number of couples turned the HEAVEN gala into a date night, from Joe Manganiello, 47, and his new blonde girlfriend Caitlin O'Connor, 34, to Patton Oswalt and his second wife Meredith Salenger. Cara Santana, who got the Spirit Of Elysium award two years ago and returned to the ceremony this year to deliver a special presentation, cuddled up to her boyfriend Shannon Leto, whose brother is Jared Leto. Shameless alumna Shanola Hampton radiated showbiz glitz in a plunging sequined blazer dress, Mira Sorvino put a ritzy spin on corporate chic and Alicia Witt arrived in a rose ensemble that appeared to be velvet or velour. The Real World: San Diego alumna Jamie Chung strutted her stuff through the event in a shimmery black gown, turning to one side to beguilingly reveal it was backless. Cara Santana, who got the Spirit Of Elysium award two years ago and returned to the ceremony this year to deliver a special presentation, cuddled up to her boyfriend Shannon Leto, whose brother is Jared Leto (from left) Shameless alumna Shanola Hampton radiated showbiz glitz in a plunging sequined blazer dress, Mira Sorvino put a ritzy spin on corporate chic and Alicia Witt arrived in a rose ensemble that appeared to be velvet or velour The Real World: San Diego alumna Jamie Chung strutted her stuff through the event in a shimmery black gown, turning to one side to beguilingly reveal it was backless Among the parade of couples who made their way to the event were Topher Grace and his wife Ashley (left), as well as Kumail Nanjiani and his wife and The Big Sick co-writer Emily V. Gordon (right) Smoldering Mad Men hunk Jon Hamm, who starred in an adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's beloved novel Good Omens, was on hand to give Neil his prize Smoldering Mad Men hunk Jon Hamm, who starred in an adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's beloved novel Good Omens, was on hand to give Neil his prize Beck swung by the celebrity-strewn gala in a fitted, checked silver suit, combined fashionably with a crimson silk blouse that glinted as the lights struck it The Heartbreak Kid blonde Malin Akerman exuded her typical good cheer as she and her dashing husband Jack Donnelly posted with honorees Amy and Carter Among the parade of couples who made their way to the event were Topher Grace and his wife Ashley, as well as Kumail Nanjiani and his wife and The Big Sick co-writer Emily V. Gordon. Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who has been showered with acclaim for her supporting performance as a bereaved mother opposite Paul Giamatti in The Holdovers, draped a fur coat over a black PVC gown. Smoldering Mad Men hunk Jon Hamm, who starred in an adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's beloved novel Good Omens, was on hand to give Neil his prize. Beck swung by the celebrity-strewn gala in a fitted, checked silver suit, combined fashionably with a crimson silk blouse that glinted as the lights struck it. The Heartbreak Kid blonde Malin Akerman exuded her typical good cheer as she and her dashing husband Jack Donnelly posted with honorees Amy and Carter. Elsa Pataky led the celebrity arrivals on Sunday when she put on a dazzling display at the Magic Millions polo show on the Gold Coast. The 47-year-old actress, who recently poured cold water over rumours of trouble in her marriage, attended the event without husband Chris Hemsworth and instead spent the day mingling with her famous pals. Looking fit and fabulous, Elsa ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived in a low-cut strapless yellow dress which highlighted her ample cleavage. Her frock also featured unusual floral appliques and a small thigh split that showcased her trim pins. Elsa accessorised with sunglasses and silver heels, while adding an array of gold bracelets and a matching necklace. Elsa Pataky, 47, (pictured) led the celebrity arrivals on Sunday at the Magic Millions polo show on the Gold Coast The glamorous wife of Chris Hemswortth, 47, ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived in a low-cut strapless yellow dress which highlighted her ample cleavage She completed her look with a white Bulgari handbag. At one point, Elsa was seen engrossed in conversation with model and racing identity Kate Waterhouse, 40. Kate set temperatures soaring in a stunning white ballroom gown, which showcased her enviable curves, which she paired with matching pearl earrings. Her frock also featured unusual floral appliques and a small thigh split that showcased her trim pins Elsa accessorised with sunglasses and silver heels, while adding an array of gold bracelets and a matching necklace She completed her stylish getup with a white Bulgari handbag The daughter of thoroughbred trainer Gai Waterhouse wore her perfectly styled brunette hair around her shoulders and looked to be having the time of her life as she chatted to Elsa. Also in attendance was former NRL star Billy Slater, 40, who cut a dashing figure in a slick unbuttoned grey blazer which he paired with matching pants and a black dress shirt. Billy was accompanied by his wife Nicole and their two children, Tyla and Jake, and the family looked be having the time of their lives posing for the cameras. Elsa's blonde locks were loosely curled and she was all smiles as she watched the polo matches and chatted to her famous friends. Pictured: Elsa with model Kate Waterhouse At one point, Elsa was seen engrossed in conversation with model Kate Waterhouse, 40 Elsa sipped from a champaigne glass as she mingled by the track Meanwhile, British equestrian Zara Phillips, 42, looked every inch in her element as she effortlessly guided a horse while her A-List friends looked on. The daughter of Princess Anne cut an elegant figure in a navy horse polo uniform as she rode. She later hopped off the horse and cut a more relaxed figure as she took her uniform off and changed into in a stylish white T-shirt and navy pants. Also in attendance was former NRL star Billy Slater, 40, who cut a dashing figure in a slick unbuttoned grey blazer which he paired with matching pants and a black dress shirt. Pictured: Billy Slater and his wife Nicole Billy was accompanied by his wife Nicole and their two children, Tyla and Jake, and the family looked be having the time of their lives posing for the cameras Meanwhile, British equestrian Zara Phillips, 42, looked every inch in her element as she effortlessly guided a horse while her A-List friends looked on She later hopped off the horse and cut a more relaxed figure as she took her uniform off and changed into in a stylish white T-shirt and navy pants Heidi Klum and daughter Leni took over the red carpet at The Art of Elysium's 25th Anniversary HEAVEN Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday. The supermodel, 50, and her mini-me daughter, 19, posed together in stunning couture for the one-night-only art installation at the famed Wiltern. Dazzling in a glittering, strapless number adorned with a gold floral design, the former Project Runway host stole the spotlight, keeping her trademark sandy blonde tresses long and loose. Leni was just as stunning as her mother, donning a sparkling, bright red gown and a matching floral choker. The young beauty, who signed with CAA Fashion at age 17, styled her chestnut locks in a loose bun, complemented by a smoky eye and pink lip for a modern twist. Heidi Klum and daughter Leni took over the red carpet at The Art of Elysium's 25th Anniversary HEAVEN Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday The supermodel, 50, and her mini-me daughter, 19, posed together in stunning couture for the one-night-only art installation at the famed Wiltern The gorgeous pair commanded attention on the red carpet, as they wrapped their arms around each other and flashed their megawatt smiles. Heidi added a set of gold bracelets to the mix, while Leni chose a simple pair of diamond earrings as her embellishment. The outing comes a day after Leni reunited with her famous father Seal and her three siblings at the premiere of The Book of Clarence in LA. The model was all smiles as she laughed and joked with her father Seal, 60, as they posed for family snaps on the red carpet. She was also joined by her siblings Lou Samuels, 13, Johan Samuels, 16, and Henry Samuels, 17, while Seal also brought along his longtime girlfriend Laura Strayer. For the occasion, Leni looked effortlessly stylish in a leather jacket, flared pants and knee-high leather boots. The family reunion also included Seal's brother Jeymes Samuel, also known by his stage name The Bullitts, who wrote and directed The Book of Clarence. Seal adopted Leni while he was in a relationship with her mother Heidi, and the former couple welcomed Henry, Johan and Lou during their nine-year marriage, which ended in 2014. Dazzling in a glittering, strapless number adorned with a gold floral design, the former Project Runway host stole the spotlight Heidi kept her trademark sandy blonde tresses long and loose, while Leni rocked a bun Leni was just as stunning as her mother, donning a sparkling, bright red gown and a matching floral choker The gorgeous pair commanded attention on the red carpet, as they wrapped their arms around each other and flashed their megawatt smiles In 2009, Seal legally became the father of Leni, who was welcomed by Heidi and her ex, Italian businessman Flavio Briatore. 'Leni is my natural daughter, but the three of us calmly agreed that it made the most sense that he adopt her, because a child needs to grow up in a family,' Flavio admitted to the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera back in 2016. Twelve years after Heidi gave birth to Leni, Flavio told how he 'never' sees his daughter and said that makes it 'hard' to miss her. Former Renault F1 team manager Flavio, who has a son Nathan with his ex-wife Elisabetta Gregoraci, added: 'Heidi, Seal and I have built an amazing relationship. 'It's hard to miss a baby that you never see. But I know that Leni is not an abandoned child. Leni is part of Seal's family and Nathan is part of mine.' Leni chose a simple pair of diamond earrings as her embellishment The model signed with CAA fashion in 2021 Seal adopted Leni while he was in a relationship with her mother Heidi, and the former couple welcomed Henry, Johan and Lou during their nine-year marriage, which ended in 2014 Heidi added a set of gold bracelets to the mix In 2009, Seal legally became the father of Leni, who was welcomed by Heidi and her ex, Italian businessman Flavio Briatore Heidi is a proud mama as Leni launched a new line of workout clothes called About You He went on to explain that he used to speak to his daughter for two hours on the phone each day, but that it 'wasn't enough'. Meanwhile, Leni is following in her mother's footsteps in the modeling industry. After signing with the agency CAA Fashion in July 2021, she graced the runway for Dolce & Gabbana and has been featured on the covers of Vogue Germany and Glamour Germany. Demonstrating her entrepreneurial flair, Leni launched a new line of workout clothes called About You. In a savvy move, she serves as her own brand ambassador, modeling for the line in Berlin. Cher took to X on Friday night to share a racy new photo with her boyfriend Alexander Edwards. The 77-year-old longtime entertainer straddled her 38-year-old beau in an intimate photo that showed her affectionately caressing his chin. The two stars, who share a 40-year age difference, both rocked platinum blonde locks in the snap which had a pure white background. The Beat Goes On hitmaker wore her frosty locks in a voluminous beehive style with sweeping bangs. It comes after a judge denied Cher's bid to be appointed temporary conservator for her 47-year-old son Elijah Blue Allman. Cher took to X on Friday night to share a racy new photo with her boyfriend Alexander Edwards The 77-year-old longtime entertainer straddled her 38-year-old beau in an intimate photo that showed her affectionately caressing his chin; the couple pictured in October Cher's post on X so far has 3.1 million views, over one thousand reposts, and more than 15,000 likes from her nearly four million followers. In the sultry photo, Edwards wore blue jeans and a white, black, and blue moto jacket as he sat in a black chair. He also wore a pair of black sunglasses as he wrapped his arms around the music icon's lower back. Cher, full name Cherilyn Sarkisian, wore a long-sleeved black v-neck shirt and black and white patterned lounge pants tucked into fuzzy white boots. Her face was lightly made up, complete with gem stones placed underneath her eyes. The post was simply captioned, 'Love is Love.' This week a judge threw out Cher's bid to have her drug-troubled adult son Elijah placed in a conservatorship controlled by her. She had petitioned LA Superior Court last week to appoint her as Elijah's temporary conservator, arguing that his drug addiction, plus mental and physical health issues, make him unable to manage the $120,000 a year he gets from a trust fund set up for him by his late father, rock star Gregg Allman. Cher said she feared he would spend his $10,000 a month payouts on drugs, putting his life in jeopardy. Cher's 47-year-old son Elijah Blue Allman turned up with wife Marieangela 'Queeny' King for a court hearing in which a judge refused to appoint Cher as his temporary conservator Judge Jessica Uzcategui refused to appoint Cher as conservator, saying that the star's attorneys had not given Elijah enough notice of the court action and refused to share confidential information with him about his case. After the brief hearing, when DailyMail.com asked how he felt about the result, Elijah just smiled and shook his head. Elijah's wife, with whom he recently reconciled, Marieangela 'Queeny' King, 36, turned up at court alongside him. Cher's attorney, Gabrielle Vidal, asked the judge to waive the usual five-day notice required to inform a person of a proposed conservatorship. Vidal argued that 'absent a (conservatorship) order today' distribution of money to Elijah from his trust fund could put him 'in a life or death position.' Cher is battling Allman's wife who has claimed she had to risk her life rescuing him from a dodgy rehab center in Mexico; the mother and son pictured in 2001 Cher had petitioned the court to make her temporary conservator until the case could be heard in full in March; pictured with her son in 2001 Cher wants Elijah's trust payments to go instead to a conservatorship bank account that she would monitor and use to pay for his day-to-day living expenses and health care. But Judge Uzcategui was 'not persuaded,' noting that Elijah who showed up in court Friday looking tanned and healthy was given 'at best less than 24 hours notice.' The judge continued the temporary conservatorship petition to January 29, ordering Cher's lawyers to share all confidential information they have with her son's legal team a week ahead of that court date. Elijah and King recently decided to give their ten-year marriage another try and have asked a different judge to dismiss the divorce action they have pending. Isla Fisher kicked off 2024 with a huge luxury vacation to the tropical French Polynesian islands and Fiji. The Aussie actor, 47, lived it up in the resort paradise before jetting off to Bora Bora as she flaunted her lavish getaway on Instagram. Posting a huge photo dump on Sunday, she showed followers the gorgeous views of her lengthy trip and all the crystal clear waters she went swimming in. At one point, the Wedding Crashers star stripped down to a yellow bikini to take a dip in the ocean before posing for a selfie. Hiding her eyes behind a pair of white-framed sunglasses, she donned a huge grin as she slipped a red flower in her damp orange locks. Isla Fisher, 47, (pictured) kicked off 2024 with a huge luxury vacation to the tropical French Polynesian islands and Fiji Another snap saw her relaxing in a resort pool as she watched the sunset before heading out to see the sights the next morning and posing with a local. Isla also enjoyed going diving during her holiday as she snapped a photo of herself deep beneath the crystal clear water with the caption: 'I'm no little mermaid.' Finally, Isla finished off her Stories and photo reel with a picture of her and 'sisters' Mia and Katie as they overlooked a gorgeous sea cliff. The Aussie actor lived it up in the resort paradise before jetting off to Bora Bora as she flaunted her lavish getaway on Instagram. Pictured with a local Posting a huge photo dump on Sunday, she showed followers the gorgeous views of her lengthy trip and all the crystal clear waters she went swimming in Isla also spent some time at a resort in Bora Bora It comes after Isla recently revealed she had to give up one huge Aussie habit to make it big in Hollywood. The Great Gatsby star said she grew up with 'a filthy gutter tone' which helped her fit in at home. But since making it big in the US, the movie star, who is married to comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, said she had to give up swearing, reported Confidential last month. One snap saw her relaxing in a resort pool as she watched the sunset before heading out to see the sights the next morning and posing with a local Isla also enjoyed going diving during her holiday as she snapped a photo of herself deep beneath the crystal clear water with the caption: 'I'm no little mermaid' Finally, Isla finished off her Stories and photo reel with a picture of her and 'sisters' Mia and Katie as they overlooked a gorgeous sea cliff 'I am working on my swearing,' Isla told the publication, adding that the behaviour is 'frowned upon in Hollywood'. 'It is not given the gravitas that it is in Australia where you can get, kind of in macho circles, taken seriously with a bit of a swear word, or at least around my brothers when I was younger,' she added. Isla went on to say she successfully gave up swearing until she started playing her character Mary in Wolf Like Me, which is now filming season 3 in South Australia. 'My character Mary swears all the time I have so much dialogue and basically I was just swearing all day, every day. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it that is why I have a filthy gutter tone,' she said. It comes after Isla recently revealed she had to give up one huge Aussie habit to make it big in Hollywood Christie Swadling has had her expensive car egged by a mystery culprit. The controversial Australian influencer shared the tale of woe on Instagram this weekend. Swadling, 26, posted an image of her car door splattered with gooey egg residue alongside the caption: 'When someone eggs your car'. In a second post, she revealed that the egger was caught on film by security cameras. She explained in her caption that fiance Joel Price 'instantly sussed out the cameras' to 'find out who did it'. Christie Swadling (pictured) has had her expensive car egged by a mystery culprit 'Feeling really sorry for these people right now,' she added forebodingly. Christie recently filed for bankruptcy after racking up a pile of debt she can't pay back. Documents leaked online in February last year showed the social media star was in financial strife, even though she projects a lavish lifestyle on social media. It was revealed that Swadling was bankrupt after an anonymous user on the Tattle Life forums paid $15 to obtain the paperwork on her bankruptcy filing. The Instagram model listed her job as an 'advertising and marketing professional' in the publicly available document filed on December 29, 2022. Swadling, 26, posted an image of her car door splattered with gooey egg residue alongside the caption: 'When someone eggs your car' The status of her bankruptcy is 'undischarged', which means she will still need to pay back particular debts and she won't be able to borrow again from financial institutions without the disclosure of her bankruptcy. While the release of the debtor's petition did not specify the outstanding debts, the Australian Financial Securities Authority says a creditor must be seeking $10,000 or more to apply to make you bankrupt. On April 20, Swadling attended court for a financial examination to evaluate her property and financial circumstances as a means of satisfying the judgement debt. She carried a Louis Vuitton handbag worth a jaw-dropping $2,840 as she prepared for the examination to determine her ability to repay her debts. MARCH 2020 Kate revealed she and Prince Charles had got 'relatively close' at the Prince's Trust Awards on March 11 - Charles was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-March. She said: 'Around the 29/30 March, I came home came in and said [to Derek] 'god you look ill.' 'He said he had a headache, numbness in his right hand, and was struggling to breathe, 'I rang Dr Hilary (Jones) and tried to get through, he talked to Derek. He said put me back on, I think you need to call an ambulance' Derek, 52, was taken into hospital on March 30 and remained in an unresponsive condition. APRIL Kate and her children isolated at home after she displayed 'mild symptoms'. Kate said: 'Derek remains in intensive care and is still very ill. I'm afraid it remains an excruciatingly worrying time. 'I'm afraid he is still in a deeply critical condition, but he is still here, which means there is hope.' MAY Kate said: 'The journey for me and my family seems to be far from over as every day my heart sinks as I learn new and devastating ways this virus has more battles for Derek to fight. 'But he is still HERE & so there is still hope.' That month, Kate and her family took part in the final clap for carers She said: 'I'll never give up on that because Derek's the love of my life but at the same time I have absolute uncertainty' JUNE On June 5, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body JULY On July 5, Kate revealed Derek has woken from his coma but he remains in a serious yet critical condition. On July 8, she announced she would be returning to GMB, after being urged by doctors to 'get on with life' during Derek's recovery. She added that Derek had 'opened his eyes' after waking from his coma, but has been told his recovery could take years. On July 13, Kate returned to GMB for the first time since Derek was hospitalised. On July 28, Kate revealed she'd paid an 'extra emotional' first visit to Derek, and admitted she's 'frustrated' by his slow progress. AUGUST On August 14, Kate reassured GMB viewers that Derek was 'still with us,' but it was 'a waiting game.' On August 19, Kate revealed she celebrated Derek's birthday with their two children, and described the day as 'challenging' for her family. SEPTEMBER At the end of September, Derek reportedly becomes the longest surviving patient with coronavirus after spending 184 days in and out of intensive care. Kate reveals Derek has lost eight stone during his battle. The presenter announces she is returning to her Smooth Radio show so Derek can hear her voice. OCTOBER On October 30 Kate reveals that Derek has spoken for the first time in seven months, saying the word 'pain' to his wife, who watched on 'in tears' over FaceTime. Kate says a day later that her husband no longer needs a ventilator to breathe. NOVEMBER Kate reveals her family car has been stolen in latest 'body blow' to her family life, as kind-hearted fans offer their cars to help. She says she feels 'physically sick' at the prospect of facing her first Christmas without Derek. DECEMBER The GMB star tells viewers it is her dream to visit Derek on Christmas Day. She also reveals she missed two weeks on GMB after her children were exposed to the virus, but thankfully she and the kids tested negative. On December 17, Kate has an emotional conversation live on GMB with two nurses who treated Derek when he was first admitted to Whittington Hospital in North London. On New Year's Eve she reflects on a 'calamitous' Christmas without Derek, as her house was flooded and she struggled to get a food delivery slot until her pal Emma Willis stepped in to help. JANUARY 2021 Kate reveals she and her children got to visit Derek in hospital over the Christmas period, and it was the first time her family had seen him since he was hospitalised. She also says she's banned from seeing him due to new restrictions introduced during the government's third lockdown. FEBRUARY Kate reveals she is unsure how much Derek will 'ever be able to recover' following warning from doctors that he may never wake from his coma MARCH Kate revealed that was in the process of adapting her home to suit Derek's needs when he is finally released from hospital, in the ITV documentary Finding Derek. The programmed was praised by viewers for offering a heartbreaking look at the long-term effects of coronavirus. Kate also revealed that Derek has 'no muscle left' since battling Covid APRIL Kate revealed that Derek was finally allowed to leave hospital, but would require round-the-clock care once he was returned home. MAY Kate revealed that despite now being home with his family, his communication abilities were 'minimal' and he 'couldn't really move' DECEMBER During an appearance on Piers Morgan's Life Stories, Kate revealed that Derek had said 'I love you' for the first time. After celebrating Christmas, Derek was also pictured in a wheelchair during a trip to the pantomime with his family JANUARY 2022 Kate revealed that Derek was 'very fatigued' and 'very weak' following the family outing, adding: 'I don't know what this year is going to bring.' FEBRUARY Kate offered a glimpse into the daily struggles of looking after her husband amid his battle with long Covid in the documentary Caring For Derek She also revealed that Derek would die within three days if he was left alone to care for himself. JULY On July 6, Kate revealed that Derek had been re-admitted to hospital after suffering a 'downturn,' and in a later interview said she takes things 'day by day.' On July 20, it was reported that Kate had pulled out of hosting Good Morning Britain to be at Derek's bedside after he took a 'very serious' turn for the worse. Recalling the day, the presenter told The Sun: 'At one point Derek said to me, "This is it, this time. I am gone." It was just terrifying. 'His sepsis was gut-wrenching for all of us because it had gone undiagnosed until the point where it was about to take his life away again.' JANUARY 2023 Kate became overwhelmed as she confronted former health secretary Matt Hancock over his handling of the pandemic and his decision to go on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here. She then became tearful and looked up as she spoke about Derek, who has been unwell for approaching three years. Describing public anger towards him, Kate added of his decision: 'This gives the impression you still don't get why they are cross. You still don't get why people are upset. They want to hold you to more account.' APRIL Kate revealed that Derek was once again receiving care in hospital, as she shared the emotional moment Sir Elton John dedicated a song to the 'inspiring' couple. She shared the emotional moment Sir Elton John dedicated a song to the 'inspiring' couple, writing on Instagram: 'Yes Derek has been back in hospital this week & yes there's such a long road ahead but #eltonjohn & @davidfurnish you gave the kids & Derek a moment that we will never forget and has lifted their spirits again to feel anything is possible.' It was also reported that Kate was planning a trip across the world for pioneering treatment in a 'final hope' to help her husband. MAY Kate reportedly faced a huge 716,000 tax bill after she was forced to close her husband's business two years after he became stricken with Covid-19. The final total will be settled within the coming weeks, with friends insisting she will pay whatever is owed. A friend told The Sun: 'The figures are terrifying and Kate is of course worried about all the financial pressures, but she has to trust the process. 'When it comes to an end, she is determined to pay back anything that's owed. 'It's no secret that Kate has been battling to keep her husband alive and working through some heartbreaking situations in her personal life in recent years. 'Sadly as well as the emotional stress of Derek's terrible illnesses the financial burden has also been crippling.' DECEMBER Derek was left fighting for his life after suffering a heart attack. Kate held a 24/7 vigil by his bedside and cancelled all work commitments while the family 'prayed for a miracle'. A source said: 'It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing so well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family. 'This setback has been a huge blow for his family and all the people caring for him. Kate is by his side 24 hours a day and is willing him on to win this latest battle for his life. 'Derek has fought so many times, and always, against all odds, come out the other side.' JANUARY 2024 Kate announced on January 5 that Derek had passed away. She said: 'Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed. 'I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible'. MailOnline understands he passed away on January 3 in a North London hospital. He is survived by wife Kate and their children Darcey, 17, and son William, 14. Strictly Come Dancing pro Giovanni Pernice's former celebrity partners complained they felt 'uncomfortable' with him and even feuded with the dancer as it is reported his last partner Amanda Abbington has 'demanded footage of their rehearsals'. The professional dancer, 33, withdrew from the competition last year after his partner Amanda Abbington decided to leave for 'personal reasons' and caused a stir when she kept the dancer out of her exit statement. At the time, some suggested she found Giovanni's 'militant' style of training hard to deal with and her time on the show was said to have been 'plagued by difficulties'. It has now been reported that Amanda, 51, has demanded bosses hand over footage of her rehearsals with Giovanni after they clashed while working together as she apparently hopes it will 'back up' her claims against the singer. Amanda is said to want to review the recordings of their time together as she seeks legal advice over his alleged behaviour towards her. Strictly Come Dancing pro Giovanni Pernice's former celebrity partners have complained they felt 'uncomfortable' with him and even feuded with the dancer (pictured with Laura Whitmore) It was also reported as recently as last year that he 'feuded' with Richie Anderson in 2022 , who was his celeb partner the year before Amanda (pictured together) Sources close to the star have also claimed Amanda has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the wake of her departure from the series. An on-set source told The Sun: 'The BBC have received a request for the footage they hold of Amanda and Giovanni. It is known as a data subject access request. 'There is a feeling that the recordings will lift the lid on what really goes on behind the scenes on Strictly. Things in rehearsals can become very tense. 'Giovanni is a perfectionist and he can be incredibly full-on.' A friend of Amanda told the publication it has taken her months to recover from her Strictly experience. 'Amanda has been left broken and saddened by the whole experience. She has needed therapy and was left in shock by the behaviour she was exposed to,' they said. They added: 'Everyone else was having a fabulous time, but she was really stressed by having to spend eight hours a day with Giovanni. She spent a lot of time crying and couldnt sleep or eat properly.' The pal said Amanda found the negative response she got on social media for not mentioning Giovanni in her exit statement difficult. It has now been reported that Amanda, 51, has demanded bosses hand over footage of her rehearsals with Giovanni after they clashed while working together (pictured) Ranvir admitted that she had a 'total meltdown' during rehearsals with professional partner Giovanni (pictured together in 2020) But they insisted her family and friends had been there to support her. However it isn't the first time Giovanni's celebrity partners have had issues with his intense training style. In 2016, former Love Island host Laura Whitmore said she 'cried every day' and felt 'uncomfortable' while training with him. She later wrote for HuffPost UK in 2018: 'Im still not ready to talk in depth about my experience on the show. 'I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with and in the end I felt broken, I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.' Giovanni was also said to have fallen out with Good Morning Britain star Ranvir Singh in 2020. Ranvir admitted that she had a 'total meltdown' during rehearsals with professional partner Giovanni. In 2016, former Love Island host Laura Whitmore said she 'cried every day' and felt 'uncomfortable' while training with him (pictured together) The broadcaster told co-star Kate Garraway that she and the dancer had a '20 minute divorce' as things became tense in the training room. Discussing the gruelling rehearsals with Kate, Ranvir admitted she had to walk out and take some time for herself after the dancer 'put me in my place'. It was also reported as recently as last year that he 'feuded' with Richie Anderson in 2022, who was his celeb partner the year before Amanda. It was said at the time that the pair 'hadn't clicked' since being coupled together and tensions were rising off camera. Sources told The Sun during the time of filming that Giovanni was becoming frustrated with Richie not listening to him in rehearsals. However, Richie later hit back at the reports and insisted there was 'no problem' between them during a joint appearance on spin-off show It Takes Two. Following Amanda's shock exit from the show, Giovanni's parents said the dancer 'was just doing his job'. Ranvir admitted that she had a 'total meltdown' during rehearsals with professional partner Giovanni (pictured together on It Takes Two in 2020) Addressing the news at the time, Giovanni's father Piero and mother Rosalda admitted that their son 'trained for long hours but was just doing his job'. Speaking to The Sun, from his home in Italy, Piero said: 'We are surprised by the fact she left the show, because everything was going ok - we thought they could have won.' He added: 'My son is a really nice, polite and respectful boy. He always had good results with different partners and he has never had problems with them.' Giovanni's mother Rosalda explained: 'They have to train tough hours to get some results. Giovanni has just done what he had to do. He was just doing his job.' Amanda was praised by the judges for her performances on the show but it was claimed she was struggling behind the scenes. An inside source told The Telegraph: 'It could be that she didn't know what she let herself in for. 'He [Giovanni] was quite tough and she found that difficult. If she wasn't very well, that wouldn't have helped. 'She was with a partner that had a certain training style that she couldn't cope with. Whether that came to a head or whether there's something else going on I don't know.' Giovanni's parents said the dancer 'was just doing his job' following Amanda's shock departure from Strictly. Addressing the news at the time, Giovanni's father Piero and mother Rosalda admitted that their son 'trained for long hours but was just doing his job'. Giovanni's parents said the dancer 'was just doing his job' following Amanda's shock departure from Strictly Come Dancing (pictured with his parents) Speaking to The Sun, from his home in Italy, Piero said: 'We are surprised by the fact she left the show, because everything was going ok - we thought they could have won.' He added: 'My son is a really nice, polite and respectful boy. He always had good results with different partners and he has never had problems with them.' Giovanni's mother Rosalda explained: 'They have to train tough hours to get some results. Giovanni has just done what he had to do. He was just doing his job.' Twinkle-toed star Giovanni was reportedly only given the news of Amanda's exit a few hours before the official statement was released. A source told the Daily Star: 'Amanda didn't tell Giovanni she had decided to quit the show. The first he heard was a call from a producer. 'This has really annoyed him. He's barely heard from her for 10 days. She hasn't been replying to messages or telling him what's happening. 'He's been complaining about it to friends. He's frustrated. He is worried the drama will be damaging for his career and make him look bad.' Amanda was reportedly not invited to perform during the Strictly Come Dancing final by show bosses. While all the 2023 contestants who were eliminated from the show returned for one final performance together during the last episode earlier this month, Amanda was notably absent. A show source told The Sun: 'There was a lot of talk on set about Amandas notable absence from the finale. 'It seemed unfair that Nigel was invited back and she wasnt. 'I imagine she was upset by the snub as it would have been nice to have seen her return for one last dance, especially as she was so popular on the show and well-liked by viewers.' It comes after Amanda revealed last month that she was 'truly distraught' by her sudden Strictly exit Amanda reposted a fan's comment: 'I was truly distraught with her sudden departure from the show'. The Sherlock star added her own caption: 'Thank you angel. So was I' It comes after Amanda revealed she was 'truly distraught' by her sudden Strictly exit. The star quit the show back in October, citing 'personal issues' as a catalyst for her early exit. Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Amanda opened up about her premature departure, just weeks after failing to return for the group dance in the final. Amanda reposted a fan's comment on her Instagram Stories. The Strictly viewer wrote: 'I was truly distraught with her sudden departure from the show.' The Sherlock star added her own caption: 'Thank you angel. So was I.' Amanda did not return for the final which sees the past contestants of the series gather together for one last number. But she did send a message of support to the three finalists on Instagram. Amanda shared a snap of the three couples standing with the glitterball trophy and wrote: 'Good luck tonight to these six beautiful humans.' BBC bosses were said to be keen for Amanda to reunite with Giovanni to show there was 'no bad blood'. However a source told The Mirror that: 'They [the BBC] wanted to position her as still very much part of the Strictly family, but Amanda's response to the invitation was she'd not be back. 'It's a shame, because her exit has been a sour note to the series this year.' BBC declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. The publication added it has been 'difficult' and upsetting for Giovanni as he doesn't want people to see it 'as a reflection on him.' While the pair sometimes 'clashed' Giovanni wishes her all the best. The Sherlock star left the show in week five, initially citing medical reasons before later revealing personal issues on Instagram. Amanda decided not to return for the final which sees all the past contestants of the series gather together for one last number Amanda withdrew from her performance, before it was revealed on the Monday after the weekend that she would not be returning. On an episode of It Takes Two, the show confirmed Amanda's exit and released a statement that read: 'Amanda Abbington is unable to continue in Strictly Come Dancing and has decided to withdraw from the competition. 'The show wishes her all the best for the future.' A montage of Amanda's best moments on the series was shown, before host Fleur East added: 'Amanda we are sending you all of our love'. A Strictly insider told MailOnline: 'This has been something that Amanda has been unfortunately having to consider making since late last week. 'It has been a devastating time for Amanda. Her Strictly journey has been plagued by difficulties but she just didn't think there was any other option. 'As hard as it has been, there was a chance they could have won.' Giovanni and Amanda were said to have been at loggerheads for weeks, with screen star Amanda 'left shaken' by the pro's 'militant and aggressive' training style. The actress noticeably snubbed the pro dancer from her exit statement which she posted on Instagram. While the pair sometimes 'clashed' Giovanni, 33, wished Amanda all the best after her sudden exit The actress noticeably snubbed the pro dancer from her exit statement which she posted on Instagram She wrote: 'It is with deepest regret that I had to leave Strictly. I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue' She wrote: 'It is with deepest regret that I had to leave Strictly. I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue. 'It was an absolute joy working with my fellow contestants, they are a beautiful, hardworking and talented group of people who I love and who I will miss seeing every Friday and Saturday and competing alongside. 'I want to thank the incredible Production team and everyone on Strictly who looked after me and who are so kind and caring. It's a wonderful bunch of people and I'll miss all of them. 'I'm so sad that I am unable to go any further. Thank you to everyone who voted and who sent wonderful messages and inspiring support. You are all amazing. Truly. Thank you. xxx'. Rachel Brosnahan exuded glamour in a statement black mini dress as she attended the Vanity Fair party at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on Saturday. The American actress, 33, stunned in the strappy ensemble, which detailed a purple bejewelled rose down her chest. She turned heads as she arrived in her incredibly glamorous dress, while donning a pair of black court heels. The beauty posed up a storm on the red carpet, showcasing her toned legs and slim model frame. Accessorising her fit, Rachel opted out of a handbag or jewellery to let the dress take centre stage. Rachel Brosnahan, 33, exuded glamour in a statement black mini dress as she attended the Vanity Fair party at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on Saturday The American actress stunned in the strappy ensemble, which detailed a purple bejewelled rose down her chest Rachel turned up to the event alongside her dapper husband and fellow actor Jason Ralph. The two lovebirds - who tied the knot back in 2016 - cheerfully paused for an assortment of photos together upon arriving to the venue. The couple currently don't have any children together, appearing to be focused on their respective acting careers at the moment. Rachel - whose aunt was the late designer Kate Spade - rose to fame with her star turn as Miriam 'Midge' Maisel in the Emmy-award winning Prime Video series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. However, the Wisconsin-born actress with a knack for comedic timing actually had a recurring role on Netflix's House of Cards prior to her lead role on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The Golden Globe award-winning actress appeared on all five seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The hit series recently came to a conclusion with the fifth and final season in May 2023. Rachel revealed to Variety that the entire cast of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel 'just cried' when they wrapped up the final shot of the series. Rachel turned up to the event alongside her dapper husband and fellow actor Jason Ralph She turned heads as she arrived in her incredibly glamorous dress, while donning a pair of black court heels The couple currently don't have any children together, appearing to be focused on their respective acting careers at the moment (pictured together in April) 'It was emotional for everyone...We had to land the plane together, have our big feelings together and say goodbye to this thing that has changed all our lives. It was the perfect way to end.' The starlet already has her next project lined up, post-Maisel. According to Deadline, Rachel is set to have a starring role in the 20th Century thriller film Amateur. The yet-to-be-released film will see the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star acting alongside Outlander's Caitriona Balfe, Rami Malek and Laurence Fishburne. Black Mirror's James Hawes is slated to direct the film. Rachel was also spotted recently supporting her Marvelous Mrs. Maisel co-star Miriam Silverman at the Tony Awards in New York City. Maya Jama enjoyed a relaxing first class flight to travel to South Africa on Saturday ahead of presenting Love Island All Stars. Love Island All Stars, which is set to launch on January 15, will see former islanders head back to the villa in a bid to find love for the second time. And the Love Island host, 29, cherished all the downtime she can get ahead of her next few busy weeks ahead. She relished the free cocktails in Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class Lounge while waiting to board her long-haul flight. Maya shared a sweet selfie on Instagram tucked up in her bed as she woke up from her nap in the sky. Maya Jama, 29, enjoyed a relaxing first class flight to travel to South Africa on Saturday ahead of presenting Love Island All Stars Maya shared a sweet selfie on Instagram tucked up in her bed as she woke up from her nap in the sky According to show insiders, producers have switched up the format for the launch with 12 reality stars set to arrive at the villa instead of the usual 10. Maya recently admitted that she is 'feeling the pressure' to up her racy Love Island outfits for the upcoming All Stars series. She appeared on This Morning on Friday where she told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary all about hosting the ITV2 dating show and what is in store. The television presenter, who has made waves with her sexy and eye-catching wardrobe since she took over as host from Laura Whitmore in 2022, admitted there is pressure for her to wear more show-stopping looks. Alison, 48, told Maya: 'We have a What's App group and all we ever talk about is your outfits. They have become an event. Do you get a bit nervous about the next series, you have to top each one don't you?' Maya replied: 'It's a bit of pressure, for my stylist mainly. We did a fitting yesterday and it went well. Everyone has their own tastes. But I need to dress to make myself feel good.' For the teaser, Maya was helped into a figure-hugging red dress with a plunging neckline and high leg split. She said of the becoming Love Island host: 'I didnt expect to get emotionally involved with the islanders you get your own connections and you get your heart broken when they get theirs's broken. I got some friends from last year.' The Love Island host cherished all the downtime she can get ahead of her next few busy weeks ahead She relished the free cocktails in Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class and chatted with the flight attendants Maya appeared on This Morning on Friday where she told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary all about hosting the ITV2 dating show and what is in store The television presenter, who has made waves with her sexy and eye-catching wardrobe since she took over as host from Laura Whitmore in 2022, admitted there is pressure over her outfits The show, set to launch on January 15, will see former islanders head to South Africa in a bid to find love for the second time Maya set pulses racing with her eye-catching looks since taking over as host of Love Island It comes as bosses are reportedly set to bring in 12 ex contestants instead of the usual 10. A source told The Sun: It's a bumper line up for the show - fans will need to tune in as there are loads of show favourites in there. 'ITV are throwing everything at the series and everyone's saying it's going to be a massive hit.' MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment. Relationships will be put to the test as bombshells enter and heads turn leaving some lovestruck hopefuls heartbroken in the ultimate quest for love. As the couples explore their connections and attempt to win the hearts of each other and the nation, only one pair will be crowned the winners of Love Island: All Stars 2024. The lineup is yet to be announced although Love Island 2019 contestant Ovie Soko, Paige Thorne from the 2022 series, and Georgia Steel, who found fame on the 2018 season, are all reportedly taking part. And their experience as former Islanders will hopefully give their chance at finding a relationship a boost because they already know their turn ons, icks, and who they want to be whispering sweet nothings to in the Hideaway. Love Island All Stars begins on Monday January 15 at 9pm on ITV1, ITV2 and ITVX. Elsa Pataky has yet again poured cold water over rumours that she and husband Chris Hemsworth have grown apart. The Spanish actress attended the Magic Millions in Queensland alone, choosing to party with friends, but she ensured her engagement ring said it all. The 47-year-old flashed the round cut diamond platinum band that was given to her by Chris back in 2010. Even though Elsa went to the event solo, it was a strong statement on the state of her marriage after recent rumours that she and the Thor actor have 'drifted apart'. Looking fit and fabulous, Elsa ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived in a low-cut strapless yellow dress which highlighted her ample cleavage. Elsa Pataky (centre) has yet again poured cold water over rumours that she and husband Chris Hemsworth have grown apart by flashing her diamond engagement ring at the the Magic Millions in Queensland on Sunday Her frock also featured unusual floral appliques and a small thigh split that showcased her trim pins. Elsa accessorised with sunglasses and silver heels, while adding an array of gold bracelets and a matching necklace. The Poker Face actress completed her look with a white Bulgari handbag. Elsa was seen engrossed in conversation with model and racing identity Kate Waterhouse. The Interceptor star recently rubbished claims that she and husband Chris are 'drifting apart' by posting some loved-up pictures from a recent ski trip together. The Spanish actress attended the Magic Millions alone, choosing to party with friends, but she ensured her engagement ring said it all Elsa was seen engrossed in conversation with model and racing identity Kate Waterhouse She uploaded photos to Instagram showing her and husband enjoying the holiday over the new year with friends and family. Chris and Elsa also hosted Christmas celebrations together at their $20million Byron Bay pad and enjoyed a family holiday in Fiji. The genetically blessed duo, who have been married for more than 10 years, set tongues wagging that not all was well in paradise after they went on separate holidays. A source close to the pair told In Touch magazine that despite maintaining a united front for their family and spending Christmas together, the duo have been growing apart for some time. 'The status of Chris and Elsa's marriage is a question mark,' the source told the publication. She appeared to be having a ball with her gal pals after leaving Chris at home Looking fit and fabulous, Elsa ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived in a low-cut strapless yellow dress which highlighted her ample cleavage Her frock also featured unusual floral appliques and a small thigh split that showcased her trim pins Elsa accessorised with sunglasses and silver heels, while adding an array of gold bracelets and a matching necklace 'The separate vacations are a huge red flag, but it's more than that. They're still very much a united family, but they've drifted apart as a couple.' The source claimed Chris wants to live a 'simpler life' but 'Elsa wants more'. 'They were the perfect husband-and-wife team for so long - both gorgeous, beautiful kids. Everything seemed picture-perfect. But things have definitely changed,' they added. The Bryon Bay, NSW-based couple married in 2010, just a few months after making their relationship official, and have three children - daughter India Rose, 11, and nine-year-old twin boys Sasha and Tristan. Buffalo police have caught a man accused of imprisoning and sexually assaulting two women until they made a risky escape on New Year's Day. A woman told police she was imprisoned for two days, threatened with a knife and raped by a Buffalo man before finally jumping out of a second-story window to save herself on Jan. 1. A second woman also escaped after reporting that she had been held against her will and sexually assaulted. Police reported that the women, both 33, who were injured and taken to Erie County Medical Center, helped police identify the house where they reported being held. A Buffalo Police SWAT team found the house in the Genesee-Moselle neighborhood. On Saturday, police arrested Jamar Harris, 36, and charged him with first-degree felony rape, criminal sex act and assault, as well as other felony charges including strangulation and weapons possession. The first woman said she flagged a passerby who took her to ECMC, where she was treated for injuries on her face, shoulder and back, according to police. Members of the Special Victims Unit and Ferry-Fillmore District detectives immediately investigated and found a second woman who was being helped by a convenience store employee. The second woman was able to provide more details to help police identify the house where the two women were held. A SWAT team then searched the property in the 200 block of Moselle Street and found additional weapons in the home. Sandra Tan The two women taken to ECMC were both treated and released. Grandma Emmie Silbery had a heartwarming reunion with her Gogglebox Australia co-stars Keith and Lee Riley on Sunday. The television star, 94, left the show in 2022 after starring in 14 seasons due to her devastating dementia diagnosis. In the footage, captioned 'Our Emmie', the now retired TV star could be seen beaming as she hugged Keith, 62, and Lee, 61, and her close friends. As Stevie Wonder's hit Isn't She Lovely played over the clip, Keith engulfed Emmie in a sweet hug when the pair reconnected after a year apart. It comes after Gogglebox Australia paid an emotional tribute to Emmie when she left the show following her diagnosis. Grandma Emmie Silbery, 94, (right) had a heartwarming reunion with her Gogglebox Australia co-stars Keith, 62, (left) and Lee Riley on Sunday The television star left the show in 2022 after starring in 14 seasons due to her devastating dementia diagnosis During last year's season premiere, Emmie's iconic red chair was empty while her daughter Kerry and granddaughter Isabelle sat on their lounge. 'We love you Emmie and we hope you continue to enjoy the show,' said a voiceover, paying respect to the beloved cast member who starred on the show for 14 seasons. Many viewers flocked to social media to share their tributes to Emmie, with one Tweeting: 'We'll miss you Emmie #GoggleboxAU.' 'Sad that Emmie is no longer on @GoggleboxAU. I hope she is receiving good care in the retirement village. #GoggleboxAU,' another said. A third person wrote: 'Emmie will be dearly missed #GoggleboxAU.' It comes after Gogglebox Australia paid an emotional tribute to grandma Emmie when she left the show following her diagnosis. Pictured with daughter Kerry and granddaughter Isabelle Emmie's granddaughter Isabelle and daughter Kerry spoke with The Project host Sarah Harrison just weeks after the TV veteran left the show. Kerry said the 'hardest part' of Emmie's diagnosis was having to tell her mother, who has been moved to an aged care facility, that she wouldn't be appearing on the show anymore. 'She said why not, and we said you've got dementia and she said I'm perfectly alright, there's nothing wrong with me, I'm not ga-ga,' Kerry explained. 'This is real life. Emmie is no longer able to do the show, and we wanted to be really transparent about that and not have her disappear off the couch,' added Isabelle. Patricia Arquette made a rare sighting with her sister Rosanna Arquette on Saturday evening. The Medium star put her arm around the Pulp Fiction actress at the The Art of Elysium's 25th Anniversary HEAVEN Gala at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. Also at the party were Heidi Klum, her daughter Leni, Amy Smart, Topher Grace and Bella Thorne. The sisters of David Arquette both wore colorful looks. Patricia was in a rose pink silk dress that went to her ankle and had a pretty bow by her neck. She added stockings and green peep-toe high heels. Rosanna went for a Steve Nicks look with a hippie chic coat that was gold, purple and maroon with fringe along the collar and sleeves. Underneath was a gold top that matched her hoop earrings as she added a green peace sign necklace. The two blondes looked like twins, even though one is older than the other. Can you guess which one was born first? Patricia Arquette made a rare sighting with her sister Rosanna Arquette on Saturday evening Patricia is younger at 55-years-old and Rosanna is the older sibling at 64-years-old. Their brother David, who used to be wed to Friends star Courteney Cox, is 52-years-old. Their late sister Alexis Arquette tragically died in 2016 at age 47. On the professional front, Arquette was cast opposite Ron Perlman in an upcoming horror thriller called Succubus. She has a number of projects in the pipeline, including the drama Men Of Divorce, in which she and James Norton play a couple whose marriage has collapsed. Arquette also has a role in the film Here's Yianni!, about a Greek diner owner whose declining faculties cause him to think he is a late-night TV host. She is part of a glittering showbiz family - her sister Patricia won the best supporting actress Oscar in 2015 and their brother David starred in the early Scream movies. At the dawn of the #MeToo movement, Rosanna Arquette was one of the earliest women to publicly accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct. She has expressed her belief that Weinstein seriously damaged her career after she spurned his alleged advances at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the 1990s. During the early years of her career, she enjoyed a run in a such classic films as Desperately Seeking Susan, After Hours and Pulp Fiction. The Medium star put her arm around the Pulp Fiction actress at the Art of Elysium event in Los Angeles. Patricia is younger at 55-years-old and Rosanna is the older sibling at 64-years-old Here they are seen with founder and CEO of The Art of Elysium Jennifer Howell In July 2023, Rosanna accidentally crashed her car into the Malibu shopping center Point Dume Village. No one was injured in the collision but the actress was taken to hospital to be checked out. Los Angeles Fire Station 71 Captain Mike Rivera informed the Malibu Times that 'luckily no one was injured' in the collision. Arquette was taken to the hospital anyway just to be safe, and was apparently 'a little shook up about what happened,' Rivera said. She exhibited no signs that she was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident, the exact cause of which is still 'pending investigation,' the authorities explained to Fox News. Patricia was in a rose pink silk dress that went to her ankle and had a pretty bow by her neck. She added stockings and green high heels Rosanna went for a Steve Nicks look with a hippie chic coat that was gold, purple and maroon with fringe along the collar and sleeves. Underneath was a gold top that matched her hoop earrings as she added a green peace sign necklace The siblings also posed with Sonja Nuttall, who wore white with black shoes Various responders, such as the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Malibu/Lost Sheriffs Station, arrived at Point Dume Village after the crash. 'Around 9:45 a.m. a vehicle that was attempting to park, it was unknown exactly what happened, but instead of backing out, it went forward, and took out three pillars that support the roof,' said Rivera: 'luckily no one was injured, we had two tables nearby but luckily no one was sitting there.' He added: 'Right now were just waiting for engineering to come out to deem the building safe and make sure its safe.' Rivera noted that the affected businesses would have to be shut for three to five hours minimum, with his department on hand 'making sure it doesnt collapse.' The Point Dume Village shopping center contains the local favorite Lily's Malibu, a Mexican restaurant that has been operating for about a quarter-century. Stacey Solomon has revealed she had to be rushed to hospital on the last day of her family holiday to Jamaica. The Loose Women star, 34, jetted off to the Caribbean with 20 of her family members for a festive break. She was joined by her husband Joe Swash, their children, Stacey's sister Jemma, her dad David and her nieces and nephews. However, on the day before their flight back home, she fell ill and ended up having to go to hospital to be treated. Stacey took to her Instagram Stories on Sunday to update her followers on her ordeal and explain why she had been absent from social media. Stacey Solomon has revealed she had to be rushed to hospital on the last day of her family holiday to Jamaica The Loose Women star, 34, jetted off to the Caribbean with 20 of her family members for a festive break She was joined by her husband Joe Swash , their children, Stacey's sister Jemma, her dad David and her nieces and nephews Apologising for 'falling off the face of the Earth' she explained: 'We had the worst exit from Jamaica of all time. 'And I can't even like get over it. Because it doesn't feel real in my head. And today's the first day, I felt like I'm walking around the house and feel normal.' She recalled: 'But anyway, cut a long story short on the day before we were travelling home, I started to feel a little bit 'flu-ey' so I was like oh I'm getting that flu that everyone's got. Annoying. That's alright, we're going home tomorrow, so I'll just get through it, get over it and carry on. 'So I carried on and as the day went on it just got worse and worse. So I was like, "You know what Joe, you take the kids to dinner, I'm just going to go to bed. I don't feel great, I need to sleep this off." 'And then he got back from dinner, took one look at me and rang my sister and my mum because he was like she looks a mess. He was like you were sweating and laying there and I was like, "Oh my god". 'So my sister comes into the room and I know it's serious when my sister comes in. Because she's a nurse she's very much like you're fine unless you're not fine and then she'll be like hold on a second. 'So she came in and was like, "We need to sit you up, cool you down, get you some paracetamol". Did all her nursing stuff and every time she checked my temperature, all I remember was her not saying anything and I was like, "Jemma what's happening?" And she was like, "No it's okay!" 'But it weren't. Because afterwards she told me my temperature was going up and not coming down and that is not a good sign.' Apologising for 'falling off the face of the Earth' she explained on the day before their flight back home, she fell ill and ended up having to go to hospital to be treated Stacey explained her temperature had soared and she had to be taken to hospital to be given an IV drip and put on oxygen She began laughing as she concluded: 'So yeah I ended up in hospital in Jamaica. I don't know why I'm laughing but it doesn't feel real' Stacey continued: 'So they called the medical team inside the hotel and the nurse came down and took one look at me and put an oxygen mask on. 'And then she was covering me in wet towels and my temperature was still too high so she literally said she needs to get to the hospital and get some IV antibiotics and fluids in her and tests.' She began laughing as she concluded: 'So yeah I ended up in hospital in Jamaica. I don't know why I'm laughing but it doesn't feel real. Do you ever have an experience where you're like, did that even happen to me? 'I was perfectly normal, like absolutely fine one minute and then next minute, I'm not joking I was in hospital on an IV drip with an oxygen mask on! I've never had a oxygen mask in my life. I'm so dry from everything and I just feel so gross.' Stacey went on: 'So anyway the IV and everything went in and I did start to feel instantly so much better. Still rough as hell but way better than what I was. 'We were there from the night before we were meant to leave until the morning and I was obviously like, "Please let me go home, I don't want to stay here on my own when I'm not well, just let me get home." 'And they got me to a point where they were happy for me to fly home. So I did the flight home. Poor Joe had all the kids for 10 hours! 'And I literally went to sleep as soon as I got home and today is the first day I've started to feel like a normal human again.' Stacey begged the hospital to let her fly home with the rest of her family and said that she felt much better on Sunday and 'like a normal human again' She thanked her followers for messaging her and checking in during her absence and admitted that the experience had 'scared' her so she was going to take it easy for the next few days She then added: 'I just wanted to update you and I think I'm just going to really listen to my body because I'm one of those people that's like it's fine and then I end up in hospital in Jamaica. 'So I'm not going to do that, I'm going to listen to my body and let myself get well and I'll just have to have Christmas decorations up by February. I'll be that weirdo!' She thanked her followers for messaging her and checking in during her absence and admitted that the experience had 'scared' her so she was going to take it easy for the next few days. Stacey said: 'I'm just going to rest up and hopefully in a couple of days I'll feel back to normal. But even then I'm going to take it slow because I don't ever want to be in that situation again. It actually scared me a little bit.' Singer Stacey looked fighting fit earlier in the holiday, sharing a number of pictures of herself looking fantastic in a red bikini on Instagram. Joking that the bikini 'came from a costume shop in a Baywatch packet,' the Loose Women exuded confidence as she posed on the beach. Having previously vowed that 2024 would be her 'f**k it' year, Stacey donned the bikini to soak up the sun. Captioning the post, Stacey wrote: 'A moment on the grid for "my" Christmas present from Joe *cough* from Joe to Joe, my new bikini. Stacey exuded confidence in a plunging red bikini as she posed up a storm on the beach after husband Joe Swash gifted her the two-piece for Christmas Joking that the bikini 'came from a costume shop in a Baywatch packet,' the Loose Women star wowed as she posed on the beach 'Pretty sure he bought this from a costume shop in a Baywatch packet. But I actually like it. 'Not my usual choice of swim wear. But i can honestly say I've never felt so attended to since we got here. It's working wonders with beach drinks. 'And this is an on-site as to what joes camera roll looks like right now. He's spent his day enjoying his present to me. 'Anyway it is the ''F**k it'' year so posting these because, well because f**k it why not. Happy Thursday Everyone. 'And just a little note to say wear the bikini. Your body deserve to wear whatever you put it in. As long as it makes you happy who cares! 'Plus you might find yourself getting ALL the drinks down on the beach.' Stacey previously revealed that Joe had gifted her the red bikini for Christmas, in the hope that she would wear it during their holiday. Joe, 41, stood behind her shirtless while brushing his teeth as Stacey told her followers that he had clearly bought the skimpy two-piece for himself. Having previously vowed that 2024 would be her 'f**k it' year, Stacey said she'd never felt 'so attended to,' since she donned the bikini to soak up the sun Captioning the post, Stacey wrote: 'A moment on the grid for 'my' Christmas present from Joe *cough* from Joe to Joe, my new bikini' In her lengthy post, she went onto quip: 'Not my usual choice of swim wear. But i can honestly say I've never felt so attended to since we got here. It's working wonders with beach drinks' She explained: 'So Joe bought 'me' a Christmas present, which was a new bikini' as Joe chimed in: 'Lovely bikini!' Stacey insisted: 'He definitely bought it for himself' as Joe was quick to deny: 'I didn't!' She then joked the bikini looked like Pamela Anderson's, who regularly sports skimpy swimwear pieces, including her famous Baywatch swimsuit. Stacey quipped: 'It looks like you've robbed Pamela Anderson's wardrobe!' The pair burst into laughter and Joe then encouraged: 'Come on show everyone!' Stacey shot back: 'I don't know if I can Joe! All I'll say is, he'll be lucky if this bikini hasn't been swallowed whole before the end.' Joe laughed as he joked: 'It cost me 15 quid. She's got five quid up her bum!' Their two-year-old daughter Rose came over to see what was going on and Stacey said to her: 'Rosie what is your daddy like?' 'Anyway it is the ''F**k it'' year so posting these because, well because f**k it why not. Happy Thursday Everyone,' Stacey added The stunning snaps also showed Stacey larking about in the ocean with her children She then added: 'It's lovely but I don't know if I can wear this'. Joe said: 'Stop teasing them, show them what you've got!' but Stacey shut him down straight away, yelling: 'No!' She captioned the hilarious video: 'Joe 100% got 'my' Christmas present for himself. I look like I've stolen Pamela Anderson's bikini.' The couple jetted off to Jamaica with 20 of their family members for a festive break. They were joined by their children, as well as Stacey's sister Jemma, her dad David and her nieces and nephews. Stacey is mother to sons Zachary, 15, and Leighton, 11, who she has from previous relationships as well as son Rex, four, Rose and baby Belle, ten-months, who she shares with Joe. Joe also has 16-year-old Harry, from a previous relationship with his ex-fiancee Emma Sophocleous. The couple paid for their extended family to join them in Jamaica, and on Saturday Stacey defended the move after cruel trolls criticised her for posting about the treat on social media. Stacey previously revealed that Joe had gifted her the red bikini for Christmas , in the hope that she would wear it during their holiday Stacey revealed they had jetted to the sun in a post-Christmas update, telling her followers that 'not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd be able to do this. 20 of us, 10 hours later & we have made it to paradise. Merry Christmas Everyone. Lots of love from ALL of us.' While most fans of the star offered positive comments, others weren't as kind, with one writing: 'It gets a bit too much exposing the wealth that other peeps can't dream of. You can't be a working class hero and a mega spender!' One follower defended Stacey saying: 'Why are people being so jealous of them yes we all work hard but Stacey started off being a single parent and going without then got a break on X-factor and she has worked her butt off ever since and met Joe! 'They both have come from nothing, to work for what they now have. So they are allowed to go on holiday and have quality time together with the family.' But a third pointed out: 'Sadly most people are really struggling atm it's the worst it's been for decades - lovely Stacey can do this but maybe don't post such in-depth details on social media..sometimes private is best.' In response, Stacey spoke to her followers and said: 'Just laying in bed reading your messages. I love you all so much. 'I promise as soon as we are all home I'll start the big January clear out & we can all get sorted for 2024! 'I can not wait! But I so needed this time with my family. So much can happen in a year & I'm so grateful to be spending special time with our parents & sisters & nieces & nephews. 'I am definitely sticking to the 'fudge' it year for 2024. I feel like I've already started. No more worrying about what people say or think. It's time to just live. And those who matter don't mind, those who mind don't matter. Love you all to the moon and back.' Netflix's latest Harlan Coben offering Fool Me Once has has viewers hooked with its gripping episodes and plot twists since its New Year's Day release. The series sees Michelle Keegan's character Maya Burkett deal with the murder of her husband Joe, months after the killing of her sister Claire. The eight-part drama series, which also stars Michelle Keegan and Adeel Akhtar, is the latest of Netflix's successful string of adaptations of works by American mystery-thriller writer Harlan. Not long after Joe's murder, Maya sees her dead husband on a secret nanny cam which she has installed to keep an eye on their daughter Lily. Maya's discovery soon leads to a web of lies and conspiracy as she tries to uncover what has happened to Joe and his family's potential involvement. Netflix's latest Harlan Coben offering Fool Me Once has has viewers hooked with its gripping episodes and plot twists since its New Year's Day release. However the amount of twists and turns proved too much for some, as viewers who spent the first week of the year binging the series took to social media to complain about the new release. Sharing their thoughts on X - formerly known as Twitter - fans said: 'Watching Fool Me Once. This is utterly ridiculous bats**** nonsense with Michelle Keegan and Joanna Lumley chewing scenery for their lives. Naturally I'm obsessed about about to start episode 4.' 'Fool me once is okay. Too Americanised. Questioning why her gun wasn't picked up by police when her husband was murdered but after funeral? Ridiculous. Lots of silly crap going on. Entertaining though.' 'Is it me or is Fool Me Once far too convoluted? Michelle Keegan is brilliant in it but all the red herrings are ridiculous #skiptotheend.' 'Just got more ridiculous as it went on. A bit of lighthearted fun rather than a serious whodoneit. Fooled me once but never again - obviously.' Many were still gripped an enjoyed the series, but were left with questions at the end, with one writing: 'Fool Me Once was good but I'd worked out the narrative by ep 6 and can't make my mind up about the ending! Was it good or a bit ridiculous?' 'Fool Me Once is absolutely ridiculous. I've been sucked in by people saying it's the best show on TV and it's made me realise how many imbeciles I surrounded myself with.' 'Am I the only one that doesn't like Fool Me Once it's so far fetched and ridiculous?' The series sees Michelle Keegan's character Maya Burkett deal with the murder of her husband Joe, months after the killing of her sister Claire However the amount of twists and turns proved too much for some, as viewers who spent the first week of the year binging the series took to social media to complain about the release 'I was left puzzled by Fool Me Once is so popular. The plot twists were too ridiculous to retain credibility, not helped by huge gaps in the story.' 'As an aficionado of Harlan Coben Netflix shows, I must say Fool Me Once is amazing. They are all basically the same, which is to say, ridiculous, wildly improbable, and extremely entertaining.' 'Fool Me Once is definitely worth watching but the 18 years later scene at the end is ridiculous [laughing face].' Fool Me Once was released as a novel in 2016, and follows the likes of The Stranger and Stay Close to become the eighth member of Netflix's Harlan Coben Collection. It comes Michelle's husband Mark Wright took to his Instagram Story to praise her new series. Mark - who tied the knot with Michelle, also 36, in 2015 - was a proud husband as he wrote, alongside a teaser clip: 'Unbelievable show, unbelievably proud. @michkeegan you're a superstar. It comes Michelle's husband Mark Wright took to his Instagram Story to praise her new series (pictured together in September) He shared a slew of snaps of Michelle in the show and in the caption he penned: 'I cant tell you how happy and proud I am for this incredible woman I call my wife' Many enamoured fans felt the same as they rushed to X to gush over how 'stunning' the ex Corrie star, who portrays former army captain Maya, is in the new thriller 'Fool Me Once all eps on Netflix worldwide now!! You want a binge!! Get this on now!!' Many enamoured fans felt the same as they rushed to X to gush over how 'stunning' the ex Corrie star, who portrays former army captain Maya, is in the new thriller. But it wasn't just Michelle's beauty that was noticed as many praised her 'amazing' acting in the eight-part drama which is an adaptation of American mystery-thriller writer Harlan Coben. One wrote: '#FoolMeOnce on @NetflixUK is a must watch @michkeegan is amazing in it and not to mention the woman doesn't seem to age at all she's stunning #Netflix #newseries'. Another fan gushed: 'Just binge watched FOOL ME ONCE brilliant! Michelle Keegan stunning!' 'Only just started watching #FoolMeOnce and already hooked! If you're stuck on a series to watch get watching it! @michkeegan what an actress!' a third added. While a fourth penned: '@michkeegan take a bow, brilliant, stunning and thrilling - give this lady an Oscar #FoolMeOnce!' Another said: 'Over halfway through #foolmeonce and I'm SO obsessed with Michelle Keegan's outfits'. Another added: 'Michelle Keegan is not just beautiful, she's a proper top tier actor. Fool me once is really quite good. #FoolMeOnce' Fool Me Once is based off of a book by acclaimed author Harlan Coben, and also stars the likes of British heavyweight Dame Joanna Lumley, The Hobbit star Richard Armitage and Irish actor Emmett J. Scanlan. Jennifer Garner cemented her good Samaritan status over the weekend as she helped a man rent a scooter. The Alias alum, 51, was at a park in Venice Beach, California that houses a large homeless encampment when she saw a man struggling with the rental app on his phone. She was on a walk with a friend when she encountered the homeless man. The Elektra actress who was spotted shopping with her 18-year-old daughter Violet wore jeans and a black sweater with a long, double-breasted navy blue coat. Jennifer had her hair styled in a half-up / half-down style and wore a gold necklace and black boots. Jennifer Garner cemented her good Samaritan status over the weekend as she helped a homeless man rent a scooter The Family Switch star is most at home being a regular person and giving to her community in any way she can. The quintessential girl next door hails from Charleston, West Virginia, a place she has called 'as far from Hollywood as any place on Earth. Growing up, she wanted to be a librarian who wrote children's books. And today, she uses her star power to make sure children have access to stories with her #SAVEWITHSTORIES initiative. She started the program in 2020 with Amy Adams, 49, during the school shutdowns caused by COVID-19 in partnership with Save the Children ad No Kid Hungry. The actresses read stories on social media to fundraise for families that we having a hard time feeding their kids. And she's still trying to help kids and families in need, especially in Kentucky, where floods wiped out two elementary schools. She surprised the students and teachers with a gift from Scholastic of more than 500 books for the students to take home, a promise to donate 5,000 book each to the school's future rebuilt libraries and extra resources for the teachers. Garner met some of the kids whose lives were upended by the floods which killed 45 people and also met the school librarian who walks around the makeshift school with a cart full of books. The Alias alum, 51, was at a park in Venice Beach that houses a large homeless encampment when she saw a man struggling with the rental app on his phone She was on a walk with a friend when she encountered the homeless man 'Childrens libraries are some of the most important places in our country, but you know what, a push cart is better than nothing,' Garner said during a segment on the Today Show in October. 'A push cart with an amazing librarian like we met today, whos prioritizing reading, whos showing the kids that it matters enough that she will push around a cart to make sure they have some books. She continued: 'Theres a lot of trauma just in growing up below the poverty line, and if you can name it, then you can heal, you can be resilient and move on. And its amazing its amazing to watch in action.' 'Theyre on their way back,' Garner said, referring to the Kentucky school children. Paramore are reportedly the latest band to decide to record their early music. The US group - fronted by Hayley Williams and also consisting of guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro - formed in Tennessee in 2004. The Still Into You band were signed to Atlantic Records for 20 years but are now free artists after their contract came to an end. They are said to have fallen out with their old management and are reportedly set to re-record with Hayley's own publishing company, But Father, I Just Want To Sing Music. Hayley, 35, is also a long-term pal of Taylor Swift, who has famously decided to re-record her music catalogue. Paramore are reportedly the latest band to decide to record their early music. L to R: Taylor York, Hayley Williams, Zac Farro The move is thought to be inspired by Taylor Swift, who has famously recorded her own music A source told The Sun: 'All they want is ownership of their music. 'Taylor is really supportive to them behind the scenes and is always available to give them advice. She's their biggest cheerleader. 'There's likely to be more bands and artists who re-record their music in years to come to regain rights.' On December 27, fans had begun to worry when Paramore's social media accounts were emptied of posts. They also announced last week that they had dropped out of the ALTer Ego Festival in California on January 13. However the latest news shows the band are still as active as ever as they prepare to support Taylor on the European leg of the record-breaking Eras tour. Taylor even gave Hayley a feature on her own re-recorded version of Speak Now on the Castles Crumbling 'vault' track - which are songs she wrote at the time of the original album but never released. Taylor decided to re-record her music to regain ownership of her songs after Scooter Braun's company bought the master recordings of her first six albums in 2019. On December 27, fans had begun to worry when Paramore's social media accounts were emptied of posts The superstar's album re-recordings - which so far include Fearless, Speak Now, Red and 1989 - have attracted much attention worldwide, with many seeing it as a powerful declaration against bosses in the music industry. Her latest release in October was 1989, which featured five brand-new tracks. The 2014 album, which originally featured 13 songs on the standard version and 16 songs on the deluxe edition, includes her hit singles Shake It Off and Blank Space among others. Back in 2019 Taylor took to her Tumblr to reveal 'bully' Scooter Braun - who is the manager of Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and many more - acquired the label she was previously at - Big Machine Records. His company Ithaca Holdings LLC bought Big Machine Label Group for a reported $300 million. The deal included the master recordings of all six of her albums - all of her previous music and her legacy. On her Tumblr post, Taylor slammed Scooter as well as Big Machine Label Group CEO Scott Borchetta and revealed she was not offered the opportunity to buy her own masters and that the former bullied her for years. Other artists who have rerecorded music include Blondie, who revisited their 1981 album Best Of Blondie in 2014, under the new name Ghosts Of Download. MailOnline has reached out to representatives for Hayley Williams for comment. Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her husband, Ryan Anderson, revealed how they got engaged while she was still in prison. In Lifetime's The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, her now-husband, 37, said he proposed to her just four months after they had met in person. On the documentary series, the middle school teacher explained that she had confessed to him that she had developed romantic feelings for him and asked him where their relationship was going. Admitting that he had already fallen in love with her at that point, he said he then decided to sneak an engagement ring into Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri to ask her to marry him. On just their third conjugal visit, he put a ring on his chain and proposed to Gypsy, now 32 who recently said she relates to Taylor Swift and her music. Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her husband, Ryan Anderson, revealed how they got engaged while she was still in prison. In Lifetime's The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, her now-husband, 37, said he proposed to her just four months after they had met in person Still in prison at the time of filming, she recalled Ryan taking her by the hand and telling her about his love for her. He then gushed about their chemistry and how 'cute' she looked when he saw her. Later, they would go on to get married in 2022 during a small ceremony in prison. In late December 2023, Gypsy was released on parole three years early after having served seven of her 10-year sentence. He was there to pick her up from prison and by her side as she made her first-ever red carpet appearance at the premiere of her new docuseries. He also joined her for a Saturday night out in New York City as they enjoyed a date at the Broadway show of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Earlier in the day, they were spotted dancing in Central Park with a camera crew in tow to capture the moment. Before the show began that evening, Gypsy took to TikTok to share a clip showing off their seats and about how she 'loved the series'. He said he decided to sneak an engagement ring into Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri to ask her to marry him on just their third conjugal visit, Gypsy, now 32, Gypsy was released on parole three years early in December 2023 after having served seven of her 10-year sentence Later, they would go on to get married in 2022 during a small ceremony in prison Most recently, Gypsy was seemingly catapulted to celebrity status as internet users followed her release The pair enjoyed a Saturday night out in New York City with a date at the Broadway show of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child She bundled up in a champagne-colored puffer coat with a matching saddle bag to go with her otherwise casual outfit featuring jeans and gray sneakers As they strolled through the city, they looked blissful and affectionately held hands As a child, she was pulled out of school by her mother Dee Dee and learned to read through the Harry Potter books. The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard follows her story of being a victim of a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy under her mother's care. Filmed prior to her release, she opens up about being imprisoned under horrific abuse as a child and later for her role in her mother's violent murder. Part one of her six-hour docuseries, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, premiered on Lifetime on January 5 and is now available to stream. Brenda Blethyn is set to once again reprise her role as the no-nonsense detective DCI Vera Stanhope, while actor and director David Leon makes a welcome return as Joe Ashworth. Inspired by the award-winning author Ann Cleeves, Vera has become a much-loved and acclaimed series, with its compelling storylines and captivating performances. Over the years, the drama has consistently pulled in impressive viewing figures, with an average six million viewers tuning in for the last series, including viewing across all devices. In the opening episode, titled Fast Love, DCI Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) is called to a quiet country lane where a young man has been found dead following a collision with a car. Vera discovers that the victim is a popular market trader so heads down to his pitch to start to put together an idea of who the man is. As the investigation gathers pace, Vera learns that this cheeky chappy was a complex character. Antagonistic, arrogant and able to get what he wanted but did all of this come at a price? Adding to the complexity of the case, Vera is taken aback by Joe Ashworth's (David Leon) return and is unsure of his motives. Brenda Blethyn is set to once again reprise her role as the no-nonsense detective DCI Vera Stanhope in the new series of Vera Who is in the cast? Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope David Leon as Joe Ashworth Jon Morrison as DC Kenny Lockhart Rhiannon Clements as DC Steph Duncan Riley Jones as DC Mark Edwards Sarah Kameela Impey as Pathologist Dr. Paula Bennett Travis Ross as Danny Meddon Actor and director David Leon (left) makes a welcome return as Joe Ashworth when the show launches on ITV1 and ITVX at 8pm on Sunday 7 January 2024 Patrick McNamee as Owen Duggan Nimmy March as Carol Sloane Andrew Dunn as Ian Headley Amit Shah as Milan Shah Evie Hargreaves as Leanne Barrie Stephen Lord as Tony Meddon Farzana Dua Elahe as Basma Shah Bryan Dick as Alun Barrie Samantha Seager as Kathy Barrie Susan Jayne-Robinson as Alison Rahim Beruce Khan as Neil Rahim When is Vera episode one on? Over the years, the drama has consistently pulled in impressive viewing figures, with an average six million viewers tuning in for the last series Episode one of the 13th series of Vera is set to air on ITV1 and ITVX at 8pm on Sunday 7 January 2024. The synopsis for the episode, called Fast Love, reads: 'DCI Vera Stanhope is called to a quiet country lane where a young man has been found dead following a collision with a car. 'On closer inspection, it becomes clear that this is not an accident and is way more than a hit and run. 'Vera discovers that our victim is a popular market trader so heads down to his pitch to start to put together an idea of who our man is and ascertain why anyone would want him dead. 'As the investigation gathers pace, Vera learns that our cheeky chappy was a complex character. Antagonistic, arrogant and able to get what he wants, but did all of this come at a price? 'Secrets. Lies. Betrayal. Fractious relationships and intense rivalries but who would want our barrow boy buried.' Brenda recently admitted her future on Vera was in doubt after she was left heartbroken over co-star Kenny Doughty's (left) decision to leave the show Is Brenda Blethryn leaving the show? Brenda recently admitted her future on Vera was in doubt after she was left heartbroken over co-star Kenny Doughty's decision to leave the show. Actor Kenny, 48, who played DS Aiden Healy, took to Instagram in March last year to let fans know of his departure. He wrote: 'After 8 years & 35 Vera films Ive made the difficult decision of handing over DS Healys badge. I can confirm I am leaving Vera.' And Brenda was left so saddened by the news that she did not know if she wanted to continue on the programme herself. She said: 'After we filmed The Rising Tide at the end of 2022 I didnt want to do anymore without Kenny Doughty, who had decided to leave. 'But I said, "I'll think about it if you can see if David Leon is available to return as Joe Ashworth." And so they did and here I am. 'I was broken-hearted when David left after series four and equally overjoyed when I heard he was coming back as the relationship between Vera and Joe worked so well. 'They have all of that early history together. I wouldnt have continued if David had not agreed to come back. 'I just didnt want to start another board game with somebody else when I know Im not going to do many more. And who would want to do it anyway?' Veteran Channel Seven presenter Kendall Gilding has officially signed off after 12 years on-air. The newsreader, 32, who finished up the role on December 29, posted several photos to share her last working week with the network, and to commemorate all the friends she made in the job. One showed Kendall in the studio with her two young children and another captured her behind the news desk for the last time. 'Looking back on my last week of work. It's all about the people! Even in business - it's always about people!' she wrote in the caption. 'Loved having my kiddos come and see me on the new set during a big week of 6pm reading! Olive was so unfazed. I'm sure she thinks everyone's mum is on TV, Veteran Channel Seven presenter Kendall Gilding has officially signed off after 12 years on-air 'So many special people who made work feel like play! I'll say it again - it's all about people.' Last month, Kendall hinted at her next steps after shocking fans with news that she was quitting. The newsreader, 32, who finished up the role on December 29, posted several photos to share her last working week with the network, and to commemorate all the friends she made in the job 'This Friday will be my final day. I'm reading the 6pm news all week. Praying this isn't a moment of insanity, but rather a radical step of bravery,' she began. Kendall quashed rumours she was stepping away from the role to become a full-time mother. 'I'm not becoming a stay at home mum, I don't plan on leaving media. I'm looking forward to a huge 2024 - ready to work harder than ever! Stay tuned,' she added. 'Looking back on my last week of work. It's all about the people! Even in business - it's always about people!' she wrote in the caption It was reported Kendall won't be continuing behind the Queensland news desk 'after failing to come to terms on a new contract' according to TV Blackbox. Kendall is well-known to Queensland viewers, hosting the 4pm News bulletin each weekday. She began her journalism career in 2011 as a presenter on Brisbane radio station 96five Family Radio and later that year she began working for Seven. Last month, Kendall hinted at her next steps after announcing she would be leaving the network A wealthy Sydney influencer has unleashed on her own fans for correcting the way she pronounces a well known designer brand. Sarah Stevenson, known as Sarah's Day online, took to Instagram Stories on Sunday to show off her outfit before heading out for dinner with a friend. Filming herself in the mirror, the mother-of-three posed holding two handbags by Spanish luxury fashion house Loewe, pronouncing the brand 'Low-ee'. Fashion-savvy fans immediately flooded Sarah's inbox with messages informing her that the correct pronunciation is actually 'Lo-weh-vay'. This clearly struck a nerve for Sarah, who returned to Instagram Stories with a bizarre rant hitting back at her critics. Sydney influencer Sarah Stevenson, known as Sarah's Day online, (pictured) has unleashed on her own fans for correcting the way she pronounces a well known designer brand 'Literally shut up, shut up! Ok?' the blonde raged. She went on to condemn her followers for correcting her in an 'unkind' way. 'First of all, yes, I did. I said Low-ee. Second of all, I don't appreciate the sass, OK?' she ranted. Sarah had pronounced the brand name Loewe as 'Low-ee' in a video while showing off her outfit before heading out for dinner with a friend on Sunday 'There is a loving and kind way to correct somebody. You will learn that when you're a mother and you try raising children.' Sarah insisted it wasn't her fault she pronounce Loewe incorrectly as no one had corrected her in the past, while claiming that she still doesn't know how to pronounce brands like Moet, Louis Vuitton and Jacquemus. She also noted that she 'isn't the kind of person who is going to Google' how to pronounce a name. Fashion-savvy fans immediately flooded Sarah's inbox with messages informing her that the correct pronunciation is actually 'Lo-weh-vay'. This clearly struck a nerve for Sarah, who returned to Instagram Stories with a bizarre rant hitting back at her critics Sarah insisted it wasn't her fault she pronounce Loewe incorrectly as no one had corrected her in the past, while claiming that she still doesn't know how to pronounce brands like Moet, Louis Vuitton and Jacquemus 'Like that's just not in my DNA. I just would never do that. Like, I just read something and I just, like, call it what it is... I'm not an over thinker. I'm like an under thinker in that way,' she explained. In an attempt to prove her point, Sarah then posted a questionnaires for her followers, asking how they pronounce the name of certain brands. Among them was the Champagne brand Moet, which is pronounced with a hard t. 'For years I said 'Mo-ay',' Sarah admitted. Sarah was also surprised to learn that the fashion brand Decjuba is pronounced 'De-cuba' and not, as she previously thought, 'Dec-joo-bah'. In an attempt to prove her point, Sarah then posted a questionnaires for her followers, asking how they pronounce the name of certain brands. Among them was the Champagne brand Moet, which is pronounced with a hard t Since the first indictment in 2019, revelations in the Pharaohs strip club case have ranged from tawdry to tragic. The latest disclosure from prosecutors borders on the bizarre an alleged wannabe hit man misquoting phrases from a Martin Scorsese gangster film. The man prosecutors say was offering hit-man services is the one who called 911 to report the death of a federal witness in the Pharaohs case. Federal judge rules arrested Outlaws Motorcycle Club leader must remain in jail Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford reversed a magistrate judge's December order that had set conditions for John Ermin's release. Around the time Simon Gogolack reported the overdose death of Crystal Quinn a former exotic dancer who had agreed to cooperate in the federal governments sex- and drug-trafficking case against strip club owner Peter Gerace Jr. he was trying to break into the hit-man business, according to the chief prosecutor on the case. At a recent federal court hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Tripi cited text messages uncovered by authorities that he said showed Gogolacks interest around the same time he invited Quinn to spend time with him in Wellsville. In the middle of July, Simon Gogolack is texting offering hit-man services to someone he gets drugs from, Tripi said at a detention hearing for John Ermin, a leader of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club and general manager at Pharaohs. Gogolack sent the text messages to someone unconnected to the Pharaohs case, but they are an indication that Quinns death was no accidental overdose or suicide, Tripi said. Ermin and Gogolack are at the center of a witness tampering investigation into the death of the federal witness. On Aug. 1, Gogolack called 911 to report Quinn had died in his home. Stung by her death, prosecutors and the FBI ratcheted up their investigation over the summer and fall in what had already been an intense Pharaohs Gentlemens Club criminal case targeting Gerace and retired DEA agent Joseph Bongiovanni. The government contends Gerace and his associates groomed vulnerable and drug-addicted women into a life of daily drug use and coerced and manipulated them into engaging in commercial sex acts. Prosecutors have charged the now-retired Bongiovanni with accepting $250,000 in bribes from Gerace and drug dealers whom he thought were associated with organized crime and shielding them from arrest, as well as providing them with information about investigations and cooperating sources. Paint houses During recent court hearings in Buffalo and Rochester, Tripi and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Cooper stressed to Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford what they called a nexus between Gerace and Pharaohs with the Outlaws and Rare Breed motorcycle clubs in Buffalo and Wellsville, as well as the links among the motorcycle clubs and Gogolack and Howard Hinkle Jr., another Wellsville man. The prosecutors believe Quinn was murdered, and her death was staged to look like an accidental overdose or suicide. In mid-July, Quinn had reconnected with Gogolack, a friend from high school whom she had not seen in about 10 years, prosecutors have said. Prosecutors said Gogolack was trying to lure Quinn to Wellsville, where he lived, around the same time he was sending the hit-man texts. One of his texts includes a phrase from the film The Irishman, based on the 2004 book I Heard You Paint Houses. The film features Robert De Niro as a Mafia hit man. Painting houses is code for contract killing. In Gogolacks texts, hes quoting lines out of The Irishman, telling how hell clean houses and park cars, Tripi said at the court hearing. There is a line out of the movie ... where I think it talks about you paint houses. And he butchers the line. He is just saying, Hey, I want to become a hit man? Wolford asked Tripi. He is saying, I would like to get that small business started that I talked to you about, Tripi replied. Gogolack is referencing being a hit man while he is trying to lure Crystal Quinn to Wellsville, Tripi added. Tripi said it took investigators months to put together how she ended up with Gogolack and what she did in Wellsville, collecting information from 30 search warrants, Google Cloud, you name it, working around the clock. We believe the evidence shows and will show at a later court proceeding that he fed her the fentanyl that killed her, Tripi told Wolford. Prosecutors have said Quinn was found to have 400 times a lethal dose of the potent opioid drug in her system. Gogolack told police in Wellsville that Quinn was suicidal, which is what he also told her mother, Tripi said. There has not been a scintilla of evidence that she was suicidal, the prosecutor said. Sure, scared not suicidal, Tripi said. Gogolack, 39, a previously convicted drug dealer, was indicted on narcotics and firearms charges after Quinn turned up dead in his home. Another indictment in September followed, adding two kidnapping and six witness tampering charges against him. Absolutely no sense Assistant Federal Public Defender Jeffrey T. Bagley, who represents Gogolack, has previously discounted the prosecutors other assertions about Gogolack at detention hearings for Outlaws members. As for being a hit man, Simon vehemently disputes the governments inaccurate characterizations and unsubstantiated allegations, Bagley told The News. He eagerly awaits his day in court where he can properly defend himself. The reality is far simpler and less interesting: Simon had known Crystal Quinn since high school and is deeply saddened by his friends death. Ermins lawyer said the idea that Gogolack intended to kill Quinn makes absolutely no sense. Mr. Gogolack, if he is going to give her drugs to kill her, why would he stay in bed with her all night long? attorney George Muscato asked at Ermins detention hearing. Why would he do it in his home with her there? And then the next morning he decides he is going to cover her up and move the stuff around and things of that nature? There is no proof that connects the Outlaws Motorcycle Club or Ermin in any way, shape or form to the death of this young lady, Muscato said. I sincerely believe that none of this really had anything to do at all (with her fatal overdose), except for the fact that she got mixed up in drugs with her friend, Mr. Gogolack, Muscato said. Ms. Quinn was a drug addict, he said at the hearing. She was addicted to it. Thats sad. Tripi countered that Quinn was not addicted to the drug that killed her. I dont know where the information about Ms. Quinn being a drug addict comes from necessarily, Tripi said. I dont think we proffered her being a heroin or fentanyl addict whatsoever. In fact, she was not that type of drug user. Prosecutors have said she used cocaine and previously overdosed at the Outlaws clubhouse in Buffalo. Gerace got mad Gerace had been released with conditions after his 2021 indictment on drug trafficking and sex trafficking at Pharaohs. But after Quinn testified last year before a grand jury, Gerace was indicted on additional charges, including witness tampering, and U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. revoked his release. The government told Wolford that Gerace knew about Quinns cooperation based on the prosecutions statements during Geraces detention hearing last March 24 and 27. Shortly after Sinatra detained Gerace on April 4 Ermin visited Gerace at the Niagara County Jail, and he visited him again in July. In seeking to keep Ermin detained, Tripi sought to tie together her grand jury appearance, Geraces detention, Geraces ties to Ermin and the motorcycle clubs, and the Rare Breed clubs links to Gogolack. We look back and say, standing here today, that she cooperated. She flipped, Tripi said. She testified in grand jury. Gerace got detained. Gerace got mad. Gerace made statements that he could have people killed and had a long reach. And the manager of his club is the national president of the Outlaws, who controls legions of people, who has support clubs and puppet clubs under him, which includes the Rare Breed. And then someone who wants to be a hit man and hangs out with the Rare Breed in Wellsville injects himself back into her life and lures her (to Wellsville) and she overdoses and it is staged to look like (an accidental or suicidal) death. On Wednesday, Wolford reversed a magistrate judges December order that had set conditions for Ermins release from custody on a firearms charge. Ermin, 54, who has been identified by federal prosecutors as international president of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, now must remain in custody as his case proceeds. It is not unreasonable to conclude that (Ermin) had a role in Quinns death, Wolford said, although she added that she was not prepared to reach that conclusion yet because the government has not revealed all its evidence. Cameron Diaz has been seen for the first time since she was named in Jeffrey Epstein's unsealed court documents this week. The actress, 51, was among dozens of well-known figures named in the documents as being associated with late pedophile Epstein - with her representative later denying the pair had ever met - with other famous faces following suit. The Mask actress stepped out in Aspen on Sunday with her husband Benji Madden, with whom she shares daughter Raddix, four. They were on a double date with their close friends Zoe Saldana, 45, and her husband Marco Perego at the celebrity hotspot Matsuhisa Aspen. The Charlie's Angels star wore a pair of jeans with a black top and a brown furry jacket. Zoe, meanwhile, wore a pair of bright pink pants with pink snow boots and a black puffy jacket. Cameron Diaz has been seen for the first time since she was named in Jeffrey Epstein's unsealed court documents this week The double date comes after Diaz denied 'any association whatsoever' with Epstein. 'Cameron never met Jeffrey Epstein, nor was she ever in the same place as him or had any association with him whatsoever,' the actress' rep said in a statement. They added: 'Regardless of the fact he may or may not have mentioned her name or implied that he knew her.' The files are part of a defamation case brought against Epstein's madam Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in jail for sex trafficking underage girls to him. She was sued by Virginia Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was forced to have sex with the Duke of York three times in 2001 when she was 17 - claims the duke vehemently denies. High-profile people such as Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton , Donald Trump , Al Gore, and Kevin Spacey were all included in evidence filings. Diaz was named in the document alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Bruce Willis, Naomi Campbell, David Copperfield and the late Stephen Hawking. None of them have been accused of any involvement in Epstein's crimes, but Epstein was a name-dropper, according to his former associates. Some of the people named overnight were associates, friends or victims of Epstein. But the vast majority were named in evidence by witnesses who said they had no links to the pedophile at all or had not seen them at his many homes. One of Epstein's alleged victims, Joanna Sjoberg, denied ever meeting Leo, Cate, or Bruce Willis during her testimony. The Mask actress was with her husband Benji Madden, with whom she shares daughter Raddix, four, in Aspen They were on a double date with their close friends Zoe Saldana, 45, and her husband Marco Perego Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts, aged 17, now known as Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London. The Duke of York denies ever meeting Ms Giuffre Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach. Trump and Epstein spoke regularly, documents claimed She said Epstein 'would be on the phone a lot at that time, and one time he said, "Oh, that was Leonardo [DiCaprio], or, that was Cate Blanchett, or Bruce Willis." That kind of thing.' She was later asked: 'Did you meet Cameron Diaz?' to which she replied: 'No.' The identities of more than 170 people are now set to be made public following a US judge's order last month, with the first tranche of documents released last week. Fly on the wall series Airline documented the goings on at one of Britain's newest budget airlines Easyjet. The now iconic show, which first aired in 1998, followed staff and often disgruntled passengers in both Luton and Liverpool's John Lennon Airport. Many of the team became well known to viewers at home including no nonsense Jane Boulton and cool as a cucumber Leo Jones. But 17 years after ITV axed the show, many of the team lead very different lives away from the airport. Here are where the stars are now... Fly on the wall series Airline documented the goings on at one of Britain's newest budget airlines Easyjet (Katrina Leeder, L, and Jane Boulton, R, pictured in 2000) Many of the team became well known to viewers at home including no nonsense Jane Boulton and cool as a cucumber Leo Jones (pictured in 2002) here is where they are now.... Jane Boulton Jane, now 52, worked as a supervisor in the airport but has revealed she believes the show incorrectly portrayed her as a 'cow'. Now a married mother-of-three living in South London, she famously had to put up with some very angry passengers. And while she was able to handle those people with some pretty sassy comebacks she has said there was more to her than how she appeared on the show. She told the Metro: 'They made me look like such a cow. 'A lot of those passengers I was with for hours, and they will cut it down to 30 seconds. Viewers often didn't get to see how much I helped people. 'I'm very empathetic and sympathetic that was rarely shown. It feels like an unfair portrayal of who I really am.' Some of her best moments include when she spotted an unattended bag at check-in. Jane, now 52, worked as a supervisor in the airport but has revealed she believes the show incorrectly portrayed her as a 'cow' (L, pictured in 2018) Jane has now gone viral on TikTok with clips of her witty comebacks, boasting a whopping 54,000 followers She no longer works in the airline industry and quit the business in 2014. She now runs her own company called Party Paradise UK (Pictured on This Morning in 2023) 'Unattended luggage again,' she said. 'They will be shocked when they come back and it's gone,' before giving an evil laugh. Talking about an unsteady passenger, she said: 'Well he must be drunk. He's wet himself and everything. Good grief. I have to go wash my hands.' Jane has now gone viral on TikTok with throwback clips of her witty comebacks, boasting a whopping 54,000 followers. She no longer works in the airline industry and quit the business in 2014. She now runs her own company called Party Paradise UK. Leo Jones Leo's baby face won fans across the country however in 2022 the 42-year was handed a five-year restraining order after being found guilty of stalking GB News presenter Ellie Costello. Across a 16-month campaign of harassment, Leo even turned up at the TV studio where Ellie worked after first meeting him during a live interview. He pleased pleaded guilty at St Albans Magistrates' Court to causing the presenter serious alarm, distress and mental anguish and was given a 26-week custodial sentence, suspended for two years, and a five-year restraining order. Leo's baby face won fans across the country however in 2022 the 42-year was handed a five-year restraining order after being found guilty of stalking GB News presenter Ellie Costello (L, pictured outside court Across a 16-month campaign of harassment, Leo even turned up at the TV studio where Ellie works after first meeting him during a live interview He pleased pleaded guilty at St Albans Magistrates' Court to causing the presenter serious alarm, distress and mental anguish and was given a 26-week custodial sentence, suspended for two years, and a five-year restraining order (Ellie pictured) Leo presented himself as a 'travel expert', analysing the industry under Covid-19 travel restrictions and was first interviewed by Ellie on GB News in August 2021. Following the broadcast the pair exchanged messages thanking one another but nothing further. He was interviewed by her again in October that year, after which he suggested they should present a travel show together before later telling her: 'I love seeing you in the morning X' When she didn't respond he followed up with 'you take my breath away' and then, over the next three days 'You motivate me beyond words', 'I love seeing you', and 'You are my sunshine I love you'. When Leo then asked: 'How long do I have to wait to see you it is driving me insane,' Ellie finally replied, telling him: 'Please stop messaging me it is beyond inappropriate.' But the court heard the messages only stopped for three months before Leo, using a separate Instagram account, says: 'I know I'm not supposed to message you but thank you for everything you do for the travel industry,' followed by 'No one will ever come close to you'. Katrina Leeder Katrina worked at Luton Airport's check in desk and viewers followed her life in and outside the work place. Katrina worked on Luton Airport's check in desk and viewers followed her life in and outside the work place During 2018 This Morning reunion to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary Katrina (L) revealed she had been diagnosed with the cancer seven times. She has since split from her husband and raises two daughters as a single mother As well as preparations to wed fiance Julian she also documented her battle with cancer which saw the then 22-year-old have eight organs removed. During a 2018 This Morning reunion to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary Katrina revealed she had been diagnosed with the disease seven times. Saying: So I left Easyjet and I actually left and had cancer again but I didnt tell anybody I kept it very quiet, I lived a very private life. Unfortunately over all those years Ive now had it seven times and lost seven organs, but Im still here. I live each day. Every day is very precious for me, very important. I live each day as it comes and grasp what I can. Every day Im here I bless those two girls and Ive got more time with them. She has since split from her husband and raises two daughters as a single mother. Katrina now works as a DJ for Travel Radio and regularly promotes her show on social media. BBC bosses have been left baffled by Amanda Abbington's request for footage of her Strictly rehearsals after she claimed her time on the show left her suffering PTSD. The 51-year-old former contestant made a sudden departure from the last year's series, citing 'personal reasons'. It was reported she had quit after clashing with her dance partner Giovanni Pernice, 33 but she dismissed claims of a fallout at the time. But now Ms Abbington is said to want to review the recordings of their time together as she seeks legal advice over the dancer's alleged behaviour towards her, believing video footage could 'back up' her claims. Sources at the BBC are ready to fight the Sherlock actress over her claims that the show had traumatised her, saying that at the time she told them she was quitting due to a different medical reason. A source told the Mail: 'Amanda's reason for quitting Strictly was an entirely different one to her PTSD. 'She told production of a totally different medical condition and they [were] hugely supportive of her and did all they could to help. 'Nobody seems to quite understand what is going on here.' Abbington and Pernice during their appearance on the live show on Saturday for BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing last year, before the former contestant left suddenly Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice rehearsing last year. The Sherlock star now says she left due to PTSD and has demanded footage of her rehearsals It is understood that the first BBC chiefs knew about her PTSD was late last year when they received a request for the tapes. There is added confusion because Ms Abbington quickly shot down suggestions made before the show aired in September that she and Pernice had fallen out. On Instagram, she dismissed the claims as 'bulls****' and told people to, 'Shut up, it's b******s.' During broadcasts, she and Pernice who has worked on the show since 2015 were seen hugging and appearing to be friends. One Strictly source said: 'All you'd see at the studio were the pair of them hugging and kissing.' Ms Abbington left the show during week five in October. It has reportedly taken months for her to recover from her time on the programme and she has apparently needed therapy following the 'behaviour she was exposed to'. A source told The Sun: 'Everyone else was having a fabulous time but she was really stressed by having to spend eight hours a day with Giovanni. She spent a lot of time crying and couldn't sleep or eat properly.' The partners were said to have been at loggerheads for weeks during rehearsals, with the actress 'left shaken' by the professional dancer's 'militant and aggressive' training style. Known to be a 'perfectionist', it is not the first time Pernice has had issues with his celebrity partners. In 2016, TV presenter Laura Whitmore said: 'I'm still not ready to talk in-depth about my experience on the show. 'I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with and in the end I felt broken, I cried every day. And I was really broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.' Strictly Come Dancing star Amanda Abbington has reportedly demanded bosses hand over footage of her rehearsals with Giovanni Pernice after they clashed while working together Amanda reposted a fan's comment on her Instagram stories. The Strictly viewer said: 'I was truly distraught with her sudden departure from the show' In 2020, Pernice fell out with Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh as she admitted to having a 'total meltdown' in rehearsals with him. The ITV presenter told her co-star Kate Garraway that she and the dancer had a '20-minute divorce' as things became tense in training. She said gruelling rehearsals pushed her to walk out and take some time to gather herself after Pernice 'put me in my place'. Ms Abbington has been contacted for comment. Pernice declined to comment. Dame Joanna Lumley is set to star in a huge new travel show with ITV, with filming to commence in the late spring. The Absolutely Fabulous legend, 77, will travel down the length of the 1,770-mile River Danube for her latest adventure. Joanna has recently made headlines for starring in Netflix thriller Fool Me Once alongside Michelle Keegan. And this year she will visit Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine the ten countries through which the river flows or borders. Speaking about her upcoming adventure, she told The Sun: 'We're due to travel in the late spring of 2024 and it's incredibly exciting. Dame Joanna Lumley is set to star in a huge new travel show with ITV, with filming to commence in the late spring (pictured in May 2023) The Absolutely Fabulous legend, 77, will travel down the length of the 1,770-mile River Danube for her latest adventure (pictured at an exhibition in London in 2021) 'We're due to head across a part of the world with which I'm not that familiar at all, and across all the countries through which the Danube flows.' An insider also told the newspaper: 'Producers are preparing for the show to start filming soon and while destinations in some countries have already been organised, others are taking more planning.' This is because the Danube borders Ukraine, so bosses are taking measures to see how safe it would be to film considering the ongoing war with Russia. In 2022 Joanna explored Paris, Rome and Berlin for an eye-opening travel show, Great Cities Of The World. She has also travelled the world's Spice Trail, taken a trip on the Trans-Siberian Express, and explored the River Nile, Japan and Haiti. Her latest career news comes after Michelle revealed the 'embarrassment' she felt filming Fool Me Once alongside the acting legend. The Coronation Street star, 36, spoke about the experience during an appearance on Friday night's The Graham Norton Show. Michelle stars as Maya Stern in the series, an ex-army captain who tries to solve the mystery of seeing her murdered husband, Joe (Richard Armitage) on a secret nanny cam, while Joanna plays her mother-in-law Judith Burkett. Joanna with Snow Monkeys in Joanna Lumley's Japan In a helicopter overlooking Tokyo, also from the Japan travel series Asked about working with BAFTA-winning star Joanna, she said: 'It was so much fun, and we laughed the whole way through.' Yet there was a downside, with Michelle confessing: 'There were a lot of F-bombs dropped in the show, but I just couldn't bring myself to swear at her in rehearsal. I was just so embarrassed to say the word.' The series has rocketed to the top of Netflix's charts since its New Year's Day release and Michelle confessed she couldn't believe it's success. She revealed: 'It's madness that it's number one all over the world. I was always a huge fan of Harlan Coben books so when I got the call it was 'Yes, absolutely,' and I grabbed it with both hands.' Joanna has recently made headlines for starring in Netflix thriller Fool Me Once alongside Michelle Keegan Reese Witherspoon showed off her toned frame as she went for a jog before the Golden Globes on Sunday. The Morning Show star, 47, looked trim in a black hat, top and leggings as she burned calories and built muscle. She wore her blonde tresses in a sleek ponytail and sported chic shades for the run. Reese who attended a pre-Golden Globes party in a sparkly red dress isn't nominated for a Golden Globe in The Morning Show but her co-star Billy Crudup, 55, is nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama television series. Daisy Jones and the Six, which Reese produced, is up for three awards including Best Actress and Actor (Riley Keough and Sam Claflin) in a mini-series or limited series and Best Mini-Series or Limited Series. Reese Witherspoon showed off her toned frame as she went for a jog before the Golden Globes on Sunday On Saturday night, the Big Little Lies alum attended the star-studded Vanity Failr pre-Golden Globe party. The shindig was thrown by Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios, and Radhika Jones, editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair at Bar Marmont at the famed Chateau Marmont. Reese attended with her 20-year-old son Deacon Phillippe, a student at NYU. The Sweet Home Alabama actress shares Deacon and daughter Ava Phillippe, 24, with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, 49. Reese is also mom to a 11-year-old son, Tennessee, whom she shares with her ex-husband Jim Toth. The devoted mom loves the relationship she has with her adult children. 'That makes me want to cry, the idea of having a long relationship with adult children,' Witherspoon said in an interview with Tracee Ellis Ross for Interview magazine. 'I never expected the kind of relationship that I have with them, but it's so rewarding to be able to have kids that you can process life with a little bit, and they help me understand the complexities of what it means to be a human now.' She continued: 'So I'm really, really grateful that these little humans are in my life. Adult humans. I have two adult children now, Tracee. It's crazy.' The Morning Show star, 47, looked trim in a black hat, top and leggings as she burned calories and built muscle She wore her blonde tresses in a sleek ponytail and sported chic shades for the run Reese Witherspoon and her son Deacon Reese Phillippe were spotted at the Vanity Fair pre-Golden Globe party in Los Angeles on Saturday night Reese also shared the first pick of 2024 in her popular book club this week. The book is First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston and it is the 91st book in Reese's Book Club. She shared a video to Instagram explaining why she chose the book: 'This fast-paced read has everything you could want in a thriller: secret identities, a mysterious boss and a cat & mouse game that kept me guessing the whole way through.' She dramatically added: 'I did NOT expect that ending discuss with us at #reesesbookclub all month long!' Strictly's Giovanni Pernice has broken his silence after his former dance partner Amanda Abbington is said to have claimed the show left her with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Italian professional dancer, 33, took to Instagram on Sunday after Amanda, who left the show in week five, reportedly demanded recordings of their rehearsals to review. The actress, 51, is said to have sought legal advice over the dancer's alleged behaviour towards her and believes video footage could 'back up' her claims. Giovanni broke his social media silence on Sunday evening for the first time since the reports surfaced. The dancer reshared a photo of himself teaching 250 students the Cha Cha Cha, Quickstep, Paso Doble and Argentine Tango. Strictly's Giovanni Pernice has broken his silence after his former dance partner Amanda Abbington's claims the show left her with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Giovanni broke his social media silence on Sunday evening for the first time since the reports surfaced. The dancer reshared a photo of himself teaching 250 students how to dance The Italian professional dancer, 33, took to Instagram on Sunday after Amanda, who left the show in week five, reportedly demanded recordings of their rehearsals to review He wrote: '250 people!! This is how we spend our Sunday! Love you all'. The class beamed for the camera after spending the day learning the various dances. The happiness of the students is a far cry from reports Amanda was 'shaken' by Giovanni's 'militant and aggressive' training style. According to show insiders, Amanda called for cameras to be put up in rehearsal rooms as she became increasingly unhappy with his attitude. After her request, The Sun claims BBC bosses had a meeting with Giovanni over his conduct, but no action was taken. A source told the publication: 'Some of the professionals and crew feel it needs to be dealt with and Giovanni shouldnt come back this year. 'The BBC are standing behind Giovanni and wont be pursuing an investigation, its a shock to some on the show who think something needs to be done about his behaviour. 'Amanda had a really tough time with him and she isnt the only one. Four more of his partners have either talked openly about how hard it was working with him or have made it clear in the industry.' MailOnline has contacted Giovanni's representatives for comment. The BBC declined to comment. BBC bosses have been left baffled by Amanda Abbington's request for footage of her Strictly rehearsals. Amanda made a sudden departure from the last year's series, citing 'personal reasons' It was reported she had quit after clashing with her dance partner Giovanni , but she dismissed claims of a fallout at the time Amanda made a sudden departure from the last year's series, citing 'personal reasons'. It was reported she had quit after clashing with her dance partner Giovanni, but she dismissed claims of a fallout at the time. Sources at the BBC are ready to fight the Sherlock actress over her claims the show had traumatised her, saying that at the time she told them she was quitting due to a different medical reason. A source told the Mail: 'Amanda's reason for quitting Strictly was an entirely different one to her PTSD. 'She told production of a totally different medical condition and they [were] hugely supportive of her and did all they could to help. 'Nobody seems to quite understand what is going on here.' It is understood that first BBC chiefs knew about her PTSD was late last year when they received a request for the tapes. There is added confusion because Amanda quickly shot down suggestions made before the show aired in September that she and Giovanni had fallen out. On Instagram, she dismissed the claims as 'bulls****' and told people to, 'Shut up, it's b******s.' During broadcasts, she and the Italian dancer who has worked on the show since 2015 were seen hugging and appearing to be friends. One Strictly source said: 'All you'd see at the studio were the pair of them hugging and kissing.' It has reportedly taken months for Amanda to recover from her time on the programme and she has apparently needed therapy following the 'behaviour she was exposed to'. A source told The Sun: 'Everyone else was having a fabulous time but she was really stressed by having to spend eight hours a day with Giovanni. She spent a lot of time crying and couldn't sleep or eat properly.' The partners were said to have been at loggerheads for weeks during rehearsals, with the actress 'left shaken' by the professional dancer's 'militant and aggressive' training style. Known to be a 'perfectionist', it is not the first time Giovanni has had issues with his celebrity partners. In 2016, TV presenter Laura Whitmore said: 'I'm still not ready to talk in-depth about my experience on the show. 'I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with and in the end I felt broken, I cried every day. And I was really broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.' Amanda recently said she was distraught to leave the show after a fan commented on her sudden departure It is not the first time Giovanni has had issues with his celebrity partners. In 2016, Laura Whitmore said: 'I'm still not ready to talk in-depth about my experience on the show' Ranvir admitted that she had a 'total meltdown' during rehearsals with professional partner Giovanni (pictured together in 2020) In 2020, Giovanni fell out with Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh as she admitted to having a 'total meltdown' in rehearsals with him. The ITV presenter told her co-star Kate Garraway that she and the dancer had a '20-minute divorce' as things became tense in training. She said gruelling rehearsals pushed her to walk out and take some time to gather herself after Giovanni 'put me in my place'. Amanda has been contacted for comment. Giovanni declined to comment. READ MORE: Worst breakfast cereals revealed - how does YOUR favorite score? Experts warn that some salad dressings contain more sugar than a donut Experts have issued fresh warnings about 'healthy' foods that they say are laced with hidden sugars, which could spell problems for heart and oral health. Dr Donald Hensrud, an associate professor of Nutrition and Preventative Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, warned this week that salad dressings could be loaded with unhealthy additives due to processing. 'Anytime food is processed, there are certain things that are added. And it's often sugar or salt,' he said in a Mayo Clinic blog post. 'Many things you wouldn't even suspect - some sauces, some dips, some spreads - there's added sugars in almost every category of food products out there.' DailyMail.com found that five salad dressings with labels like 'organic' and 'fat-free' still had anywhere from eight to 12 grams of added sugars - more than a Krispy Kreme donut. Several salad dressings that have 'organic' and 'fat-free' labels also contain up to 12 grams of added sugar It's also the equivalent of a bowl of sweet cereal and a handful of cookies. Target's Good and Gather Raspberry Vinaigrette, for example, is labeled 'organic' and touts on the bottle that it has 'no synthetic colors, artificial flavors, or artificial preservatives. However, it's sweetened with nine grams of added sugar per serving, as much as three Chips Ahoy! cookies. Despite containing no fat and just 40 calories per two-tablespoon serving size, Maple Grove Farms Fat-Free Honey Dijon Dressing is loaded with nine grams of added sugars. Experts such as the American Heart Association recommend eating no more than 24g of sugar per day - to limit hunger pangs and ward off tooth decay. Wishbone's Western Salad dressing, described as 'a savory twist on traditional French dressings,' contains 12 grams of added sugar in just two tablespoons. This is the same amount of sugar as a cup of Fruity Pebbles or Lucky Charms cereal. A review published last year in the journal BMJ, for example, linked high consumption of added sugars to 45 negative health outcomes. These include diabetes, gout, obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, cancer, asthma, tooth decay, depression, and early death. Much of the danger is specifically with added sugars. Fructose and lactose, for example, occur naturally in foods like fruits and milk. Added sugars include sucrose, dextrose, and syrups, which are manufactured in processed foods such as cereal and dressing. Dr Hensraud suggested opting for foods with natural sugars, like fruits, which don't raise blood sugar and also contain nutrients like vitamins. Read more about the worst offending dressings below: Good and Gather Raspberry Vinaigrette 60 calories 3.5 grams fat 125 milligrams sodium 8 grams carbs 8 grams sugar Ingredients: Water, Cane Sugar, Raspberries, Soybean Oil, Distilled Vinegar, Red Wine Vinegar, Contains Less Than 2% Of Lemon Juice Concentrate, Sea Salt, Spice, Xanthan Gum, Dried Onion, Fruit And Vegetable Juice (For Color), Natural Flavor Ken's Steakhouse Country French with Orange Blossom Honey 140 calories 12 grams fat 230 mg sodium 10 grams carbs 9 grams sugar Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Sugar, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Honey, Tomato Paste, Contains Less Than 2% Of Salt, Paprika, Mustard Flour, Xanthan Gum, Onion, Garlic, Beetroot Juice Powder (Color), Natural Flavor, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor) Wishbone Western Salad Dressing 160 calories 12 grams fat 250 milligrams sodium 13 grams carbs 12 grams sugar Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Soybean Oil, Distilled Vinegar, Tomato Paste, Contains Less Than 2% Of Salt, Paprika, Water, Spices, Natural Flavors, Xanthan Gum, Beet Juice Concentrate (Color), Modified Gum Acacia, Onion, Apple Juice Concentrate, Apple Cider Vinegar, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Quality) Maple Grove Farms Fat-Free Honey Dijon Dressing 40 calories 0 grams fat 220 grams sodium 9 grams carbs 9 grams sugar Ingredients: Water, Sugar, Cider Vinegar, Honey, Dijon Mustard (Distilled Vinegar, Water, Mustard Seed, Salt, White Wine, Citric Acid, Turmeric, Tartaric Acid, Spices) Mustard Flour, Salt, Cellulose Gel, Mustard Seed, Lemon Juice Concentrated, Xanthan Gum, Potato Starch, Cellulose Gum, Dried Onion, Potassium Sorbate(To Preserve Freshness), Caramel Color, Dried Garlic, Natural Flavor Brianna's Blush Wine Vinaigrette 100 calories 7 grams fat 310 milligrams sodium 11 grams carbs 9 grams sugar Ingredients: Cane Sugar, Water, Red Wine Vinegar, Canola Oil, Salt, Garlic Puree (Garlic, Citric Acid), Xanthan Gum, Mixed Tocopherols (Antioxidant - Vitamin E) An e-commerce platform cannot become a haven for infringers of intellectual property and have such a system which provides an avenue to counterfeiters, the Delhi High Court has said. The court observed that e-commerce websites are commercial ventures and are inherently profit oriented, which is not objectionable, but they have to protect intellectual property rights of others. An e-commerce platform cannot become a haven for infringers. Men are not angels. Where easy money is visible, the conscience at times takes a nap, said Justice C Hari Shankar in a recent order. E-commerce websites are commercial ventures, and are inherently profit oriented. There is, of course, nothing objectionable in this; but, while ensuring their highest returns, such websites have also to sedulously protect intellectual property rights of others. They cannot, with a view to further their financial gains, put in place a protocol by which infringers and counterfeiters are provided an avenue to infringe and counterfeit. Any such protocol has to meet with firm judicial disapproval, the judge stated. The courts observations came while dealing with a lawsuit by sportswear brand Puma SE which alleged that e-commerce platform Indiamart was being used by various sellers to peddle its counterfeit goods. The platform submitted that it was not the originator of the information relating to the goods put up for sale on its website as it was merely a space-provider and would be willing to take down any listing put up by a counterfeiter when it is brought to its notice. In its interim order, the court observed that counterfeiting is a well-known commercial evil, even in the virtual world, and e-commerce platforms are statutorily required to make reasonable efforts to ensure that infringing content is not posted on its website and the platform is not used for selling counterfeit goods. It said that prima facie, the e-commerce platform in the instant case aided the commission of the unlawful act of counterfeiting and infringement and it cannot claim the benefit of safe harbour from liability under the Information Technology Act. There is nothing inherently illegal in IIL (IndiaMART IndiaMESH Ltd) providing a drop down menu from which prospective sellers, on the Indiamart platform, can select the brand which they intend to sell. If, however, there are not, in place, sufficient checks and balances to prevent counterfeiters from misrepresenting themselves as genuine sellers, the protocol cannot withstand judicial scrutiny, the court stated. The court directed taking down of all infringing listings in relation to Puma on Indiamart while also asking the platform to not provide any of the registered Puma trademarks in respect of any goods as search options in the drop down menu presented to prospective sellers at the time of their registration. A woman accused of killing her newborn in a Town of Tonawanda home more than three years ago will have another jury decide her fate later this year. After appearing in court Friday, attorneys in the murder case against Andee R. Wright projected new trial date for either June or July, after the first jury to hear the case deadlocked last month on a verdict. Prosecutors have accused Wright, 32, of bashing the head of her newborn at least twice after she delivered the baby in an Eggert Road home on Oct. 5, 2020. The Erie County Medical Examiners Office concluded the baby died of blunt force trauma to the head that caused multiple skull fractures. Judge declares mistrial as jury deadlocks in Baby Boy Wright murder trial A State Supreme Court judge on Monday declared a mistrial in the murder trial of a woman accused of killing her newborn in a Town of Tonawanda home in October 2020. A paramedic found the baby in a garbage can in the basement of her home. Wright still faces two counts of second-degree murder. One count alleged she intentionally killed Baby Boy Wright and the other that she showed a depraved indifference to human life. The jury could have only convicted her of one of the counts. State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek declared a mistrial Dec. 18, when a jury considering a verdict continued to be deadlocked on its fourth day of deliberations. District Attorney John Flynn promised to try Wrights case again. While we are disappointed that the jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision after four days of deliberations, my office is committed to obtaining justice for Baby Boy Wright, Flynn said in a written statement after the judge declared the mistrial. Paul G. Dell, Wrights defense attorney, said he plans to call as a witness the same expert who testified for Wrights defense last month, as well as an additional expert. According to Wrights defense at her first trial, she didnt know she was pregnant and the baby died in utero. Her defense argued the skull fractures happened because the baby was born into a toilet and also dropped. A land of vibrant cultural heritage and traditions, Gujarat has undergone industrial evolution in the last two decades riding on the success of key sectors like textile, pharmaceuticals, diamond and fisheries, officials have said. Gujarat has become a global powerhouse in the textile, apparel and garment sectors by contributing over 60 per cent of Indias denim fabric, spurred by the states textile policy launched in 2012. Since then, the size of its textile exports has grown 2.3 times, they said. The growth in textile manufacturing has positioned Gujarat as a driving force in the countrys economic growth, officials said ahead of the states big-ticket Gujarat Vibrant Global Summit, which will be held next week. To take advantage of our future, we will have to invest in the local supply chain. This is the way to build a developed India, and this is the way to fulfil the dream of a developed India - to fulfil the dream of a $5 trillion economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said at an event last year. With a coastline of 1,600 km, Gujarat is also a powerhouse in the fisheries sector, contributing 17 per cent to Indias total fish exports. In 2020-21, the states fish production touched 8.74 lakh tonnes, officials said. From fishing operations to processing, the sector also plays a crucial role in generating employment, said industry insiders and government officials. The central and the state governments have come up with a new gas machine for small fishermen which is benefiting them in many ways, said Jitu Kahada, leader of the fishermen community in the state. Gujarats pharmaceutical industry is another big driver of the states economy, officials said. As per official figures, Gujarat accounts for 53 per cent of Indias medical devices manufacturing and 78 per cent of the countrys cardiac stents manufacturing. The sector also employs nearly 50,000 workers in over 4,000 manufacturing units. Gujarat makes a contribution of 30 per cent in the countrys pharma sector. In pharma exports, Gujarats share is 28 per cent. With a robust industrial infrastructure, Gujarats chemical and petrochemical sector has witnessed remarkable growth, said Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel at an industry event. As a result of proactive government policies, the state contributes to around 75 per cent of the countrys total dye and intermediates manufacturing, officials said. I believe that the support and the direction Gujarat has given us through the journey of the growth from a small-scale industry, all the major industries here, started off as small-scale industries, and today we have reached global heights and global scales, said Jai Shroff, CEO of UPL Limited, which provides sustainable agricultural solutions and services. The worlds largest diamond trading hub, the Surat Diamond Bourse, inaugurated recently by PM Modi, symbolises Gujarats dominance in the global gems and jewellery market, officials said. Surats diamond has provided employment to 8 lakh people since the beginning, now Surat diamond bourse is also providing employment to another 1.5 lakh people. I would like to congratulate all my friends in the diamond trading business who have worked day and night to give a boost to this industry, Modi said in Surat recently. The states thriving dairy sector is now worth over Rs 1 lakh crore, with daily remuneration of Rs 200 crore to 36 lakh milk producers through the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), home to the globally recognised Amul brand, according to a government release. Tamil Nadu is all set to host the third edition of the Global Investors Meet, and the first one by the ruling DMK government, from Sunday with a galaxy of leaders set to participate in it. A host of representatives from several multinational companies, over 450 international delegates, and representatives from 50 countries are expected to attend the two-day event. The previous editions of the Global Investors Meet (GIM) were held in 2015 and 2019, when AIADMK was the ruling party, under the chief ministers late J Jayalalithaa and Edappadi K Palaniswami, respectively. The Ministry of Industries and Guidance Tamil Naduthe states investment promotion agency, who are the organisers of the event, expect over 30,000 participants during GIM 2024 with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal set to be part of the inauguration along with Chief Minister M K Stalin and his cabinet colleagues. As the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024 approaches, the air is thick with anticipation! With over 30,000 participants, our campaign - Titans of Tamil Nadu- has sparked widespread excitement, Stalin said. GIM 2024 will feature 450 plus international delegates, 170 globally acclaimed speakers, and representation from 50 countries underscoring Tamil Nadus industrial prowess, he said in a social media post. We also have an MSME pavilion, Tamil Nadu ecosystem pavilion, several country pavilions and the StartupTN pavilion providing a fantastic opportunity for delegates to witness the industrial marvel of the state and foster business collaborations, he added. Minister for Industries TRB Rajaa welcomed the delegates who are scheduled to participate in the Global Investors Meet. A Global Industrial Giant, a stable and progressive state. The best destination for your investments. Welcome to Tamil Nadu, he said. For GIM, we have a totally different target apart from Rs 3 lakh crore worth of investments which have come in. We are expecting investments of a few lakh crores more to come in, Rajaa told PTI recently. Setting the ball rolling for GIM 2024 in 2023, Stalin unveiled the logo for the Global Investors Meet. Symbolizing the Tamil word Tha, the logo also refers to Tamil Nadu flourishing in all its parameters. As reports of Chinas alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang surface, a storm of international outrage erupts. Diplomats, politicians, and human rights organisations decry the treatment of Uighurs, accusing China of systematic oppression, torture, and brainwashing. Despite the global outcry and sanctions, China remains defiant, raising questions about the UNs ability to hold the authoritative regime accountable. The recent reports of China attempting to sell the Xinjiang story to diplomats, politicians, and journalists from friendly nations are eliciting strong protests from various quarters. Many of these visitors have witnessed and experienced outright violations of the basic freedoms of Uighur and other ethnic Muslims in Xinjiang Province. China is maintaining several re-education camps or vocational training centres in Xinjiang. The purpose of establishing such camps is to deradicalise the locals in response to the growing Islamophobia in the region. Additionally, the Chinese Government asserts that these centres aim to improve labour skills and alleviate poverty in the province. Local officials strongly believe that these efforts are genuinely beneficial and contribute to restoring social stability, harmony, and prosperity to Xinjiang. However, the reality is exceedingly harsh. Uighurs are enduring pain and untold misery. China is vehemently suppressing the Uighurs in Xinjiang Province, solely aiming to curb separatist tendencies among the people in this volatile region. This is Beijings official explanation for the extensive security and surveillance measures imposed throughout Xinjiang. Beijing has been incarcerating millions of Uighurs in these re-education camps, subjecting them to systematic brainwashing, torture, and other degrading treatments. In 2021, Agnes Callamard, the Secretary-General of Amnesty International, accused Chinese authorities of creating a dystopian hellscape on a staggering scale. The Uighurs find themselves at a cultural and historical crossroad, facing a severe test for survival under the Communist rule from Beijing. Nearly 12 million Uighurs reside in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR), as it is officially known in China, located in the northwest and serving as a crossroads between Central Asia and East Asia. Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the far-western province and emphasised the need to maintain hard-earned social stability in the region. He conveyed to officials in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) that Beijing intends to persist with its counterterrorism policies there. It serves as a litmus test for China, requiring a delicate balance between its global expansion agenda and the need to ensure domestic stability throughout the mainland and its overseas territories, including Hong Kong, Macau, and the South China Sea (SCS). The UN has already accused China of serious human rights violations in Xinjiang. A long-awaited report, published in 2022 by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the XUAR, rightly pointed out that China is engaged in serious human rights violations against the Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim communities in the province. Beijing vigorously attempted to prevent the release of the Xinjiang report, but it was eventually made public by the UN human rights body just before the retirement of Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet. She visited Xinjiang in May of that year, and only after her visit was the highly sensitive report brought to the publics attention. However, for the Communist Party apparatchiks and its top leaders, this report was dismissed as nothing more than a farce orchestrated by Western powers. Global human rights agencies, such as Human Rights Watch (HRW), assert that China is committing crimes against humanity in Xinjiang. Following the release of the report, Chinese officials maintained their abusive strike hard policies, resulting in the suppression of fundamental freedoms for Uighurs and other Turkic Muslims. HRW strongly argues that UN member states should not remain silent in the face of such crimes against humanity. Additionally, HRW urges concerned governments to: A. Work toward the successful adoption of a UN Resolution to investigate instances of crimes against humanity and hold those responsible accountable. B. Improve efforts to document individuals who are detained, imprisoned, and forcibly disappeared, and make attempts to reunite families. C. Impose targeted sanctions on Chinese officials implicated in serious abuses in Xinjiang. D. Consider pursuing criminal cases under the concept of universal jurisdiction, allowing a countrys domestic judicial system to investigate and prosecute certain grave crimes, such as torture, even if they were not committed on its territory. Human Rights Watch (HRW) also contends that the current Human Rights Commissioner, Volker Turk, should act on the recommendations of the report from his office, previously provided by his predecessor. It is time to hold accountable those responsible for committing heinous crimes against the Uighurs and other minorities in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). The pivotal question is whether the UN, in general, and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), in particular, have the mandate to hold China accountable for massive human rights abuses in Xinjiang over the years. It is deemed impractical for any international agency, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to compel an authoritative regime like Xis to cease human rights violations in Xinjiang. While sanctions have already been imposed by various nations, including the US, the UK, Canada, and the European Union (EU), on Chinese officials alleged to be involved in rights violations against the Uighurs and other Muslim minority groups in 2021, it is essential to note that this marked the first coordinated sanctions by EU Members against China since the historic Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. In response, China retaliated with almost equivalent sanctions against some EU politicians and officials. Back in 2020, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) joined over 300 other NGOs in urging the UN to establish a specific mechanism for systematically monitoring and reporting on instances of human rights abuses by China. Notably, this collective call was followed by a similar appeal from 50 UN experts. Both groups emphasised Chinas systematic human rights abuses in Hong Kong, Tibet, and particularly in Xinjiang. They also highlighted the Communist nations efforts to conceal information about the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and its continued attacks on those defending human rights. The joint letter expressed deep concern about Chinas global network of censorship, threats, surveillance, and blatant violations of UN processes. Beijing, leveraging its newfound power status driven by economic clout, wolf warrior diplomacy, and growing military strength, employs tactics to deny NGOs accreditation, attack UN experts, and undermine country resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council. These actions signal the authoritative Communist regimes attempt to establish its own system within the current West-led global governance paradigm, potentially shifting it to a China-led one in the future. This has prompted the West, especially the US, to initiate multiple confrontations with China, ranging from trade to information wars in recent times. China perceives these sanctions as a threat to its sovereignty. Beijing dismisses such sanctions as based on lies, disinformation, disregard for facts, and distortions. Consequently, China uses these sanctions to tighten its policing and surveillance tactics, particularly in controlling the Uighur Muslims. For the Uighurs, changing the status quo is an uphill task. The only plausible solution lies in generating global awareness through the efforts of human rights agencies, rights activists, the UN and its special organs, and concerned nations, shedding light on the atrocities committed against the Uighurs and other small Muslim groups in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). China must adhere to all international norms, allowing UN agencies to investigate the atrocities against the Uighurs. Beijing should not forget that it is an integral part of the international system and community. Its scant regard for international norms, coupled with attempts to impose an authoritarian system over its people and allies, is disturbing. This approach is not how China can counter the US and other emerging powers. President Xi must first set his own house in order before pointing fingers at others. Denying basic freedoms to the Uighurs and other Muslim minority groups is unacceptable. They are Chinese people and deserve the same rights as other Chinese citizens. Their religion should not be treated as a barrier to enjoying the universal human rights enshrined in the UN Human Rights Charter. While it is crucial to contain radical and separatist tendencies among the Uighurs, punishing the entire Uighur and Muslim groups collectively is not the solution. (The writer is currently president of the Global Research Foundation) This year, India faces significant challenges to its foreign policy, particularly concerning SAARC nations and the increasing influence of China The year 2024 is staring at current Indian Foreign Policy with multiple challenges and the growing influence of China may be worrisome because it is fast making inroads in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka which can be attributed to its dangerous Debt Trap Policy, Expansionism and allurement through The Belt and Road Initiative -One Belt One Road). Foreign policy experts say that India is positioning itself as a major growing economic power in Asia vis-a-vis China though the gap is huge which is coupled with a growing geopolitical association with the United States, which too on equal terms, may checkmate China in 2024. Americas defence and economic colourations with India may further strengthen the bonds which will have its fallout on the world stage. PAKISTAN TURMOIL A cursory look at 2023 will exhibit that China was successful in moving forward on its Debt Trap Policy and Pakistan has been fully mauled and it may be impossible to come out of it in future. Prime Minister, Narender Modi had taken an initiative to smoothen ties with Pakistan and invited the then prime minister, Nawaz Sharif for a swearing-in ceremony in 2014 but a strong army foiled the attempt. The Chinese investment in Pakistan rose to $65 billion In 2022 and it had already acquired control of Gwadar Port on 16 May 2013. Originally valued at $46 billion, the value of China Pakistan Economic Corridor had been worth $62 billion as of 2020. In this way, chances of the release of Pakistan from the clutches of China seem to be remote but ensuing general elections in Pakistan in Feb 2024 may change the political landscape as chances of the return of Nawaz Sharif have brightened after the tactical support being lent to his party by the military establishment. Ex-PM has expressed his desire to have normal relations with India especially when the Imran Khan regime had taken the ties to the lowest level. If it happens then India must reciprocate as diplomacy never permits deadlock. NEPAL, THE HIMALAYAN KINGDOM China has emerged as the largest investor and trade partner of Nepal which has changed the contour of economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries. President Xis visit in Octo,2019 resulted in the signing of over a dozen agreements in various fields. China has invested more than USD 1.34 billion in Nepal and is pressing for the implementation of BRI. Nepal assumes a lot of relevance to India and the previous communist government headed by K.P.S Oli had tilted the balance in favour of Dragon but a new coalition government comprising of predominantly Nepali Congress and the communist faction of present PM, Prachanda has tried to repair the ties with India which are ages old. Now India has taken a lot of economic initiatives which include long-term trade deals, power purchase agreements, transit treaties etc. which might give a new dimension to the ties between the two countries. India should take this goodwill gesture to the next level in the new year. Nepal is expected to reciprocate the magnanimity and equal-term policy which will benefit the people of both nations. India will have to keep watch on any progress made in BRI which will be a security risk due to an open border of 1,770 Kms. MALDIVES China had spent USD 200 million on the Maldives-China Friendship bridge which had preceded investments since 2012 in various sectors like airlines, water projects, sewage treatment plants, and housing. Beijing now has leases on 17 of the 1,200 islands which Constitute the entire Maldives and three largest Chinese projects together worth $1.5 billion thereby worth more than 40% of the Maldivian GDP2.The Chinese investment has crossed the mark of USD 970 million which may be beyond the repaying capacity of this poor country. The present Muizzu regime will try to minimize India's influence and encourage China to grow its influence. OPTION WITH INDIA IN 2024 India had taken the logical step of announcing the largest civilian infrastructure project of USD 500 million having a 6.7-kilometre bridge and causeway that will link Male with three nearby islands thereby overshadowing the Chinese bridge in length, scale and price. India is bound to be worried in the new year over the blatant tilting of the new president, Mohamed Muizzu who has decided to send back Indian troops currently stationed in the Indian Ocean archipelago which may create space for China in future. It is a move primarily aimed at reversing former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solihs India first policy. In yet another anti-India decision, the Muizzu government has decided against the renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with India for cooperation in hydrography. The agreement was signed in 2019 and it is due to expire in 2024. At this juncture, it will be a big challenge to keep Muizzu engaged who had won the election with the slogan India Out and China had backed him to the hilt. SRI LANKA According to the annual report of the Bangladesh Bank, China invested 465.17 million USD (13.5 %% of total foreign direct investment in Bangladesh) and Hong Kong invested 179.22 million USD (5.2 %) during the financial year which took the total Chinese investment to 644.30 million USD. In the same manner, $4.5 billion has been invested by China in Hambantota which has created a lot of security concerns in New Delhi. However, China did not come up to the expectations of Sri Lanka when it was on the verge of economic collapse which allowed India to show magnanimity after burying the negativity of the regime. Experts say that there is a ray of hope for the continuation of Sri Lankas present warm ties with India which could be a fallout of open-hearted support and financial assistance of over USD 4 billion thereby surpassing the International Monetary Funds 48-month bailout package of USD 3 billion. Sri Lanka President, Rani Wickremesinghe who inclined China got a big shock when Dragon quietly refused to provide financial assistance which gave a chance to India to come to the rescue of the people of the beleaguered country. Given the new awakening of the Sri Lanka political regime, India should undertake measures to further improve its bilateral ties which may cause discomfort to China. BANGLADESH Sheikh Hasinas government in Bangladesh has given a fillip to Indias relations which have acquired new dimensions during the past 15 years. India is expecting a comeback of Hasinas party in forthcoming general elections in the early new year but if it does not happen then India will have to change track, especially given the suspicion and lack of trust of the opposition. Khalida Zias government in 2000 was full of animosity towards India hence there will be a dire need for a change of strategy to deal with the new regime which will benefit both countries. China has always shown keen interest in Bangladesh which is evident from its investment of USD 26 billion between 2016-22. Data shows that Beijing emerged as the country's largest FDI provider in Bangladesh as its investments topped almost US$1 billion, a 30 % increase from US$700 million in 2021 hence its next move will be dangerous if Hasina fails to return to power. MYANMAR India has kept military generals in good humour which is strategically essential but it might have done so at the cost of supporting the democratic forces after the coup in 2021. Analysts opine that China has fully supported the dictatorship in Myanmar besides helping ethnic militant groups. The United States and its allies are preoccupied with the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts which has left military rulers at their whims and fancy to crush the democratic forces. India will have to regain its prestige of openly keeping away from pro-democratic forces which are being crushed mercilessly and cruelly without pushing generals to the corner. Experts say that India will have to take care of Chinas two ocean strategy and its game plan of pushing through BRI and other infrastructure projects. Bhutan has smooth relations with India but Chinas growing influence could pose a security threat, especially in the Doklam plateau which happens to be a strategic area near the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan. A standoff in 2017 preceding Chinas attempt to construct the road in the disputed territory claimed by Bhutan had an alarming impact on India which was forced to stop this activity. India will have to take Bhutan seriously to keep it at bay from Chinese allurements. Analysts opine that the China factor is also worrying for India in SAARC nations keeping in view its investments and indentures in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Maldives were US$ 12.9 billion, US 3.11 billion, US 13.87 billion, US 210 million, US$ 1.34 billion, and US$ 970 million respectively which must warrant adoption of full proof strategy in 2024 to checkmate Dragon otherwise fallout will be serious. (The writer is a political analyst and a senior journalist; views are personal) The recent incidents of hijacking on high seas and numerous maritime threats underscore the need for an increased involvement of the Indian Navy in addressing these challenges Amidst a rising global threat to maritime security, a prompt and robust international response is essential to ensure safety. The recent successful rescue mission by the Indian Navy's MARCOS commandos underscores the need for a decisive approach to addressing maritime risks. In a swift operation off the coast of Somalia, the Indian Navy rescued all 21 crew members from the distressed cargo vessel MV Lila Norfolk, showcasing their rapid response capabilities. This highlights the evolving role of the Indian Navy in countering piracy and sea hijacking. The Resurgence of Piracy: Recent events indicate a troubling resurgence in maritime piracy, exemplified by the hijacking of 'MV Lila Norfolk.' Addressing this requires unified international efforts to curb piracy and enhance global maritime security. A comprehensive analysis of global maritime incidents reveals multifaceted challenges, including piracy, hijackings, and various security threats. From January to September 2023, piracy incidents surged to 99, surpassing the previous year's count of 90. Despite a relatively low level of violence towards crews, concerns about crew safety persist, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach. Regions like the Gulf of Guinea, the Singapore Straits, the Indonesian archipelagic area, and Callao Anchorage in Peru have witnessed heightened incidents, emphasizing the global nature of maritime security and the urgency for a holistic strategy to safeguard international waters. The Evolving Role of the Navy: At the heart of effective strategies for global maritime security lies the growing role of the Indian Navy, showcasing an integrated model of intelligence, technology, and collaboration among different forces. The recent successful rescue mission exemplifies this model, demonstrating the seamless integration of elite Special Forces, advanced naval assets, and cutting-edge technology to neutralize maritime threats effectively. This integration is crucial for the success of maritime security, involving various forces and cutting-edge technology to enhance naval capabilities in responding to evolving threats. Establishing strong international cooperation and an efficient early warning mechanism is imperative, and the Indian Navy's response serves as a model for collaborative initiatives and timely information sharing globally. Long-Term Strategy: Despite a perceived decline in international maritime piracy, recent events suggest a resurgence, emphasizing the need for a broader legal framework, international collaboration, and effective law enforcement. The Indian Navy's growing role advocates for comprehensive, long-term solutions to ensure sustained maritime security. Robust mechanisms at the international level, including collaborative frameworks and agreements, are essential for addressing maritime threats collectively. Implementing an effective early warning system is a critical measure to preclude and mitigate maritime incidents. The IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre, a 24-hour point of contact to report piracy crimes, plays a vital role in coordinating with response agencies, issuing warnings, and providing insights into modern piracy trends, contributing significantly to global maritime security. Harnessing Technology: Reflecting the growing role of the Indian Navy is its embrace of advanced technology to enhance maritime security measures. Leveraging surveillance systems, drones, and communication tools, the Navy stays ahead of evolving threats. Continuous technological innovation is key to remaining at the forefront, as seen in the re-evaluation of security measures prompted by recent attacks in the Red Sea. Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill: Legislative measures, such as the Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill, represent a comprehensive approach at the national level. Aligned with UNCLOS, the bill addresses piracy definitions, offences, penalties, jurisdiction, and other crucial aspects. The recently passed Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill 2019 outlines punishments, enforcement measures, jurisdiction, bail conditions, and a presumption of guilt, reaffirming India's commitment to maritime security. The Maritime Threats Geopolitical Factors, Economic Interests, and Global Cooperation: The response is imperative to safeguard India's interests and ensure regional stability in the face of maritime challenges. The recent hijacking incident serves as a poignant reminder of the nation's vulnerability, prompting the deployment of advanced naval assets like INS Chennai and cutting-edge surveillance technology. This swift and decisive response underscores the immediacy of maritime threats while emphasizing the continuous vulnerability in India's maritime domain. An analysis of recent hijackings offers valuable insights into evolving tactics employed by maritime threats, guiding the development of targeted strategies. The incident involving 'MV Lila Norfolk' emphasizes the necessity for a dynamic approach to safeguard seafarers and maritime assets. India's deployment of INS Chennai and advanced surveillance technology reflects the multifaceted nature of contemporary maritime threats, extending beyond traditional piracy and hijackings. These challenges demand diverse capabilities for detection, prevention, and response, demonstrating the nation's commitment to addressing threats comprehensively. The persistent challenges in combating maritime piracy underscore the need for sustained global cooperation, and the role of the Indian Navy sets a formidable precedent for a united front against maritime threats. (The author is an ICSSR-Post Doctoral Fellow, School of National Security Studies, Central University of Gujarat. The views expressed are personal) In a classic example of the persecuted being prosecuted and in apparent eagerness to please its Trinamool Congress masters, the Bengal Police has filed First Information Reports against the Enforcement Directorate officials. These officials were probing the multi-crore ration scam and had, on Friday, raided the premises of TMC strongman Sahjehan Sheikh before being attacked, injured, and chased away by more than a thousand of his supporters. The FIRs were filed on the basis of complaints of alleged criminal trespass lodged by the TMC leaders supporters against the ED officials and the Central armed police force personnel escorting them. In all three FIRs have been lodged. While the first one has been lodged against the ED-CAPF officials two other FIRs have been lodged against unknown persons, police officials said. It has been alleged in the complaint that the ED officials attempted to force their way into Sahjehans residence without showing any search warrant and in violation of the law, said police sources. The FIR was registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 441 (criminal trespass), 379 (intention to commit theft) and 354 (outraging a womans modesty). The other two FIRs were filed under IPC sections 147, 148, 149 (rioting) and 353 (assault on public servants). However none has been named in the two other FIRs. The Fridays attack on on-duty ED had created national headlines when about one thousand five hundred people armed with sticks, bamboos and brickbats and other deadly weapons attacked the ED men when they were conducting raids at the Sandeshkhali residence of TMC district board member Sahjehan. In a first of its kind attack on ED officials in the country their vehicles and those of the media men were badly damaged while the raiding officials, including the CAPF men, were badly beaten up by the TMC goons. Meanwhile, even as the Centre mounted pressure on the State Government to act against the TMC leader considered a terror in an extensive belt of North and South 24 Parganas adjoining the Sunderbans and the international border with Bangladesh, Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose instructed the State Government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee whom he referred to as my constitutional colleague to do the needful as he might have crossed the border by this time. In an apparent indication of possible line of action of the Centre to the Fridays attack, the Governor also asked the police to find out whether there was any terror link to the attacks. His statement tended to be in sync with Bengal Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari who earlier demanded a probe by National Investigation Agency. A Raj Bhavaan statement said on receipt of a complaint in the Peace Room of Raj Bhavan that Shahjehan Sheikh is supported by some political leaders with the connivance of some police officers, Honble Governor instructed the Police chief to arrest the culprit forthwith and report compliance. The TMC however sharply criticized the Governors remarks saying Sahjehan was a politician and not a terrorist. Reacting to Boses statements TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh wondered how and on what basis he can make such statements the Governor should work in consultation with the State Government. So how can he make such remarks without any concrete report or evidence? Should we assume that he running a parallel government. Meanwhile, the police tended to have no clue on the whereabouts of Sahjehan while local sources from the Sandeshkhali said that the TMC strongman might not have been able to cross over to Bangladesh because the border was presently sealed because of the general elections being conducted in that country. He tried to cross over to Bangladesh but failed to do so and so he presently shuttling between North and South 24 Parganas with four private armed security men perhaps a boat has been kept ready for him to move into the deeper areas of the Sunderbans, a villager at Sarberia said while Sahjehans brother Alamgir said that his brother was a law abiding citizen and would definitely act as per law. He also said that my brother is being falsely fabricated in this case he was nowhere in the scene there is no photograph or any other proof of who or whether Sahjehans men were attacking the ED vehicles this is a simple torture on the opposition politicians. India on Saturday achieved a historic milestone in space as the Aditya-L-1 spacecraft, the countrys space-based observatory designed to study the Sun, reached its final destination approximately 1.5 million kilometres from Earth. The observatory was launched on September 2nd of last year. Announcing the success of this mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it is a testament to the relentless dedication of scientists who have realised one of the most complex and intricate space missions. Modi said he joins the nation in applauding this extraordinary feat. India creates yet another landmark. Indias first solar observatory, Aditya-L1, reaches its destination. It is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists in realising one of the most complex and intricate space missions, the Prime Minister said on X. I join the nation in applauding this extraordinary feat. We will continue to pursue new frontiers of science for the benefit of humanity, he said. President Droupadi Murmu congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for successfully placing Indias first solar observatory, Aditya-L1, into its destination orbit, and said the mission will benefit all of humanity. Another grand feat accomplished by ISRO! As part of Indias maiden solar mission, Aditya L1, the observatory has been placed in the final orbit and reached its destination at Lagrange Point 1, Murmu said in a post on X. Congratulations to the entire Indian scientific community for this great achievement! This mission will enhance our understanding of the Sun-Earth System and benefit all of humanity, she added. Murmu also mentioned that the significant participation of women scientists in ISRO missions takes womens empowerment to even greater heights. The ISRO, on Saturday, successfully placed Aditya-L1 into its destination orbit, Lagrange Point 1. Lagrange Point 1 (L1) in the Sun-Earth system is approximately 1.5 million kilometres from Earth. Lagrange points are named after the French mathematician and astronomer Joseph-Louis Lagrange. Over 125 days of travel, covering 1.5 million kilometres, and with a precise orbit insertion, the Aditya-L1 mission has been successfully parked at an optimal spot in the vastness of space, providing an unobstructed view of the Sun. Lagrangian Point 1 (L1) is a stable point in space where the gravitational forces of two large bodies, such as the Earth and the Sun, balance the centripetal force experienced by a smaller object, like a satellite. It lies along the line connecting the two larger bodies and enables satellites to maintain a relatively constant position. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C57) launched the Aditya-L1 spacecraft from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, on September 2 of last year. After a flight duration of 63 minutes and 20 seconds, it was successfully injected into an elliptical orbit of 235x19500 km around the Earth. Subsequently, the spacecraft underwent a series of maneuvers and headed towards Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1), escaping the Earths sphere of influence. The spacecraft is equipped with seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic, particle, and magnetic field detectors. Using the special vantage point L1, four payloads directly observe the Sun, while the remaining three payloads carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at Lagrange Point L1, providing crucial scientific insights into the propagatory effect of solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium, according to the space agency. The Aditya-L1 payloads are expected to offer the most crucial information to understand coronal heating, coronal mass ejection, pre-flare and flare activities, their characteristics, dynamics of space weather, and the propagation of particles and fields, officials said. According to ISRO, the key objectives of the mission include understanding coronal heating and solar wind acceleration, initiation of Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), flares, and near-Earth space weather. The mission also aims to gain knowledge of the coupling and dynamics of the solar atmosphere and obtain a deeper understanding of solar wind distribution and temperature anisotropy (non-uniformity in different directions). Solar wind refers to a continual stream of protons and electrons from the suns corona, or outermost atmosphere, while coronal mass ejections are huge expulsions of coronal plasma and magnetic field lines ejected from the sun. The major science objectives of the Aditya-L1 mission are: - Study of the Solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics. - Study of chromospheric and coronal heating, physics of the partially ionized plasma, initiation of the coronal mass ejections, and flares. - Observe the in-situ particle and plasma environment, providing data for the study of particle dynamics from the Sun. - Physics of the solar corona and its heating mechanism. - Diagnostics of the coronal and coronal loops plasma: Temperature, velocity and density. - Development, dynamics and origin of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). - Identify the sequence of processes that occur at multiple layers (chromosphere, base and extended corona) which eventually leads to solar eruptive events. - Magnetic field topology and magnetic field measurements in the solar corona. - Drivers for space weather (origin, composition and dynamics of solar wind). Taking exception to disparaging remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a Maldives Minister, the Maldivian Government on Sunday suspended three Ministers whose social media posts against India and Modi sparked a massive uproar. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today issued a statement on the stand of the Government of India in relation to some posts on social media that are insulting to neighbouring India, the Maldives Goverment said in a statement. A row erupted after Maldivian politicians, including Mariyam Shiuna, mocked Prime Minister Modis recent visit to Lakshadweep. Those who made such posts on social media while in Government positions have now been suspended from their jobs, the statement said without revealing the names of those who have been suspended. According to local media, Ministers Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha and Hassan Zihan have been suspended. Soon after India raised the issue with the island country, the Maldives Government distanced itself from the remarks and termed them as personal opinion of Minister Mariyam and said they do not represent the views of the Maldives Government. It suspended the Ministers but not reveal their names. Indian High Commissioner in Male took up the matter with the authorities there. Incidentally, these remarks came a day before President Mohamed Muizzu leaves for China on an official visit. Moreover, since he assumed the top job, ties between India and Maldives are strained. As the objectionable remarks led to an uproar, the Maldives Government, in an earlier statement on Sunday, rejected the derogatory remarks made by the countrys Minister against Modi stating that they do not represent the views of the Government. The Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives, the official statement read. The Government believes that freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners. Moreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks, it added. Shiuna, Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment in the Maldives, called Modi a clown and puppet of Israel in now-deleted posts on X. The tweets were taken down after backlash on the micro-blogging site. Another Maldivian leader and a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives Senate Zahid Rameez made comments ridiculing the beaches of Lakshadweep and raising doubts about whether the beach tourism services offered by it could compare with those provided the Maldives. The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall, Rameez wrote on X. These comments led to a furore with several social media posts claiming that over 8,000 hotel bookings, as well as 2,500 flight tickets to the Maldives were cancelled. India-Maldives ties in the past few months have been strained, after President Mohamed Muizzu came to power. Muizzu took over as President in November 2023. In his election pledge, he said he would remove a small contingent of some 75 Indian military personnel in his island nation and change Maldivess India first policy. Seen as a pro-China politician, Muizzu had defeated his India-friendly predecessor Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential run-off held in September. Muizzu is scheduled to visit China on Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Chinese President Xi Jinping invited him, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Friday. China and the Maldives boast time-honoured friendship. In the past 52 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have treated each other with respect and supported each other, setting a fine example of equality and mutual benefits between countries of different sizes, said Wang Wenbin, another spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry, according to news agency PTI. Muizzus predecessors in the recent past visited India first, considering the wide-ranging bilateral ties and the Maldives proximity to India, followed by China which has expanded its influence in the island nation by investing in major infrastructure projects there. The new Maldives President had met Prime Minister Modi in Dubai on the sidelines of the COP28 climate talks in December 2023. Both leaders had agreed to set up a core group to discuss the multidimensional relations and further deepen ties. The meeting also took place after Muizzu asked New Delhi to withdraw 77 Indian military personnel from the Maldives and decided to review more than 100 bilateral agreements between the two countries. The new Maldives Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef last month visited China, his first visit abroad, and took part in the China-sponsored China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation in Kunming. Significantly, while praising Chinese infrastructure projects, Latheef made no mention of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) under which most of the Maldives infrastructure projects were built. The Maldives is Indias key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region and occupies a special place in Indias initiatives such as SAGAR, or Security and Growth for All in the Region, and the Neighbourhood-First Policy of the Modi government. The Maldives proximity to India, barely 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep, and 300 nautical miles from the mainlands western coast, and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean, gives it significant strategic importance. Ahead of the consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to kick off the BJPs Lok Sabha election campaign from Champaran in Bihar where he is scheduled to address a massive rally at Bada Raman Maidan, Bettiah on January 13. Sources in the BJP said Bihar emerges as a crucial political battleground for the BJP, with plans for multiple visits by Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and partys national president JP Nadda. The party aims at victory in all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the State. It has outlined a campaign strategy involving rallies and public engagements. During his visit, Modi would lay the foundation stones for various Government programmes and address the public. Preparations are in full swing for the proposed rally of Modi at Bada Ramna Maidan, Bettiah. Prior to his Bihar visit, Modi will visit Gujarat from January 8-10 during which he will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, CEOs of top global corporations, and inaugurate the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. Following the Gujarat visit, Modi would head to Maharashtra on January 12, where he is scheduled to inaugurate the 27th National Youth Festival, the Mumbai Trans Harbor Link and lay the foundation stone for various development projects in Navi Mumbai, demonstrating the BJPs commitment to infrastructure and youth engagement. While the dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls havent been announced yet, the ruling BJP has already begun preparations and made some key decisions. The recent Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram have set the precedent for the Lok Sabha elections. According to Bihar BJP sources, the main projects to be inaugurated by the PM include NH-131A four lane Narenpur-Purnia, NH 327E four lane Araria-Galgaliya, NH-30 four lane Pararia-Mohaniya etc. Apart from this, the foundation stone laying ceremony of the six-lane bridge on river Ganga parallel to JP Setu, Parasarma-Saharsa-Mahishi, Chakia-Bairginia, Darbhanga-Jayanagar, Jamui, Shekhpura and Banka bypass is included in the projects to be laid. The PM is scheduled to launch various projects worth `5,600 crore during his visit. Additionally, the deadline for completing 10 projects currently under construction in the State is set for this year. These projects consist of nine roads and one bridge, covering a total length of 585.75 km and incurring a cost of about `19,756 crore. Bihars political scenario has witnessed a shift, with the BJP in the Opposition and the JD(U) forming part of the Mahagathbandhan Government. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has united Opposition leaders with the goal of defeating the BJP in the upcoming elections. The BJP aims to counter the transformed political landscape in Bihar, where the BJP is now in the Opposition. Setting a high target of more than 400 seats in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has decided new slogan, Teesri baar Modi Sarkar, ab ki baar 400 paar. Claiming that the aim to win over 400 Lok Sabha seats is not unrealistic but rather achievable, a BJP leader said in 2014, the BJP worked on Mission 273+ and achieved it. Similarly, this time it will also achieve the target of 400 seats. Among the initiatives, special attention is being given to 160 identified Lok Sabha seats across the country. The target is to strengthen the party at over one lakh polling booths. The January 3 visit to Thrissur by Prime Minister Narendra Modi could be a game-changer in Kerala politics. The BJP, yet to win a Lok Sabha seat from the State, is likely to register its first-ever victory in 2024 elections. PC George, a seven-time MLA and a veteran leader of the Kerala Congress (a party representing the interests of the Catholic community as well as the Church), is all set to join the BJP. George disclosed his plan in a TV panel discussion on Friday night, saying he would not hesitate to join the BJP. As of the current date, the BJP is the only political outfit interested in the progress of the country, and I am not averse to the idea of joining it, said George The Christian leader lost last Assembly poll, marking his first-ever loss, as Islamist extremists issued a diktat to community members not to vote for him due to his stance against the infamous Love Jihad incidents, which are on the rise in Kerala. George had quit the Kerala Congress due to the party leaderships decision to anoint Jose K Mani as the successor to party founder KM Mani, the of the party. Interestingly, Father Shyju Kurian, a priest of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, joined the BJP last week. This marks the first time in the Churchs history that a priest is joining the BJP. Speaking to The Pioneer, George expressed that the stance of the CPI(M) and the Congress supporting Hamas in the war against Israel is highly despicable and dangerous. He stated, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only world leader to condemn the Hamas terrorists who left a train of rape, murder, and mayhem in Gaza. They massacred more than 2000 innocent Jews, and Prime Minister Modi condemned the attack. The Congress and the CPI(M), which have been infiltrated by Islamic terrorists, are busy organizing meetings as a mark of solidarity with the Hamas terrorists. Both the Congress and the CPI(M) have become a threat to the nation as they are echoing the voice of Islamic terrorists, said George. The veteran lawmaker is known to make statements only after a thorough analysis of all issues. He mentioned that Modis stance that an independent Palestine was what India wanted has inspired the West Asian countries but not the opposition parties in India. George added, The Opposition party leaders are worried about the chances of them getting arrested for malpractices, corruption, and financial impropriety. The last ten years have been a period of unprecedented progress and a scam-free phase of the countrys history. We have to make a change in Kerala, said George. Although George is yet to officially declare his stance, the Christian community is optimistic about the prospect. Kevin Peter, president of Christian Alliance for Social Action (CASA), stated, His move to join the BJP reflects the ground reality in the State. Many leaders of the community would join the BJP once George makes his stance known. The Christians in the State have seen through the fake propaganda that their counterparts in Manipur and other North Eastern States are under attack from the BJP and the RSS. This will not work anymore. The Christians are supporting the BJP because of the sincere work and excellent leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Political pundits believe that if a section of the Christian community aligns with the Hindutva party, it has the potential to bring significant changes to the political landscape of the State. Jewish people from across the world have been reeling from an unprecedented rise in antisemitic incidents since Oct. 7. Statistics from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a nongovernmental organization that specializes in civil rights law and combats antisemitism and extremism, cite a 337% increase in reported incidents across the country. This number is shocking, particularly as it has been felt close to home, with a tremendous influx of stories of antisemitism experienced throughout our region, some of which have been thoughtfully covered in this publication. However, nothing could have prepared our small and diverse Jewish community in Buffalo for the antisemitic cartoon published last week in this, our hometown paper. We heard from so many members of our community who were appalled, outraged and angry. Words are powerful enough to lead to love, but they can also lead to hatred and terrible pain, writes Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. How much more can be said of imagery: A picture is worth a thousand words is an adage familiar to all of us, suggesting that a single still image is often more effective in conveying a message or idea than a verbal description. Adam Zyglis editorial cartoon on Dec. 26 epitomized that truth: His careless use of skulls, blood and Jewish stars in the image contributed to hate and led to terrible pain among Jews. This hurt was exacerbated given the publications response that Political cartoons make their point by exaggerating the issues involved. While we agree that political cartoons are known for their use of exaggeration to critique, they must also balance provocation with cultural and historical context. For those who may not understand what caused so much pain, let us be clear: The imagery Zyglis chose is all too reminiscent of antisemitic caricatures employed by Joseph Goebbels and the Nazi propaganda machine in the 1930s. The choice to use the Star of David, the single most recognizable symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism, as faucet handles (rather than a symbol more specifically identified with the government of Israel) attributes the devastating cost of war between Israel and Hamas to all Jewish people. The imagery of skulls dripping from this faucet was another deeply disturbing linkage to the Holocaust, evocative of the murder of millions of Jews in gas chambers and the burning of their bodies in crematoria. And the blood that was employed in the cartoon underscores yet another trope too familiar to Jews that of the blood libel, an antisemitic canard that falsely accused Jews of murdering Christian children to use their blood in the making of matzah during Passover. While we are grateful that leadership at The News has welcomed dialogue with the Buffalo Jewish Federation and others across Jewish Buffalo, we will continue to call upon them to rise to a standard of accuracy, accountability and understanding to which they aspire; to be a newspaper that doesnt fan the flames of hate, but rather stands on integrity, honesty and sensitivity to all of those who call Buffalo home. Nothing less is acceptable. Margie Bryen is president of the Buffalo Jewish Federation. Rob Goldberg is CEO of the Buffalo Jewish Federation. In an effort to take stock of the condition of villages in Delhi and chalk out development plans in consultations with the residents, 11 respective District Magistrates (DM) and senior IAS officers will camp overnight in selected villages from Sunday till Monday. With a view to comprehensively develop villages in Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has asked all the departments to depute senior officers for one night stay for a ground assessment of challenges and socio-economic conditions faced by people living in villages facing. This exercise comes after Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxenas announcement on January two after a Samvaad @ Raj Niwas with representatives from 180 villages, that respective District Magistrates (DMs) and senior IAS officers will be staying overnight in villages in their districts. These officers will give a practical prescription for all round development and main streaming of villages. Based on their report, the village development plan should incorporate all their focused activities for infrastructure development, economic activities promotion, and creating linkages for marketing of village products. The exercise aims at chalking out the restoration and development plan for Delhis villages, in consultation with the villagers, under the ambitious Dilli Gramoday Abhiyan, being executed by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) at a cost of more than Rs 800 crores. The selected villages in the 11 districts are Baprola, Tatesar Rural, Kheda Dabar, Fatehpur Beri, Pul Prahladpur, Chilla Saroda Bangar, Babarpur, Baquiabad, Jagatpur, Samalkha and Palla, officials said here on Saturday. On day one of their visit in the morning, the DMs and senior officials will hold Samvaad with residents of the villages where they are staying as well as those in the neighbourhood over the first 03 hours, starting at 11 AM. From 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm they will be visiting important sites for inspection as per the works identified during the preceding Samvaad along with all officers concerned of various line departments, which include DDA, Revenue, DJB and MCD. From 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, a Charcha by night fire will be held along with all residents where they will be asked to share their grievances and feedback. After breaking for the intervening night between 07.01.2024 and 08.01.2024, in the identified village they will again resume the second round of Samvaad between 7:00 am to 11:00 am to share the tentative roadmap for the development of the villages, at different locations. Continuing with his interactive dialogue series Samvaad @ Raj Niwas, Saxena had interacted with over 500 villagers representing 180 villages in the Capital on January two. An 18-year-old youth from Uttarakhand was arrested in Delhis Rohini with two illegal firearms and live cartridges, police said on Saturday. They said Pradeep Singh, who dropped out after class 8th, was inspired by the Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar gang and wanted to become like them. A police officer said Singh came in contact with a gang member via social media platforms and they provided him with the firearms and asked him to wait for further directions. He was arrested from Rohinis Sector 23 with two illegal .32 bores firearms and nine live cartridges, the officer said.During interrogation, Singh told police that he was unemployed. He said that from Uttarakhand, he went to his relatives place in Rajasthans Bikaner where he studied till class eighth. In 2022, he went to Haryanas Gurugram and stayed with his friends. After reading stories of Lawrence Bishnoi and Godly Brar, he started surfing them on social media. He came in contact with one of their gang members Gangster Virender Pratap and told him that he wanted to join their group, another police officer said. Kala Rana of Haryana, recruited him through Instagram and further connected to him through Bhanu Rana, on the Signal App, and prepared him to commit criminal activities in Delhi and NCR, the officer added. Crime branch team arrested a drug peddler and seized 8 kg Cannabis worth Rs 80000 along with two accused who were carrying ganja from Orissa and scheduled to deliver it in Bhopal. Acting on a tip off regarding two boys standing in Jamboree ground in Piplani Bhopal with a white plastic bag. Both of them are carrying illegal drugs. Police team reached the spot and detained the two suspects who were identified as Abhisek Ahirwar and Rinku Prajapati Mandideep. After checking their belongings a bag containing two packets wrapped with tape was found. After searching the suspect Rinku Prajapati, a plastic bag was kept in his right hand. A total of 8 kg of drugs were seized from both the accused, a crime was registered against them and the accused was presented in the court. Police have registered a case under section 8 and 20 of the NDPS Act and started further investigation. The source from where the accused brings the drug and where does he dispose is under investigation. The accused used to find the retail customers by bringing drugs at cheap prices and selling it in small quantities in Bhopal and nearby areas. The crime record of the accused is under investigation. The police are continuously conducting operations to catch illegal drug traffickers in the city and based on information regarding the drug peddlers police immediately took action on the information received. The details of the local aides and connection network in Odisha would be investigated in the further investigation, said police. Deputy Commissioner, Ranchi, Rahul Kumar Sinha inspected various ongoing and proposed schemes of the Road Construction Department in Ranchi on Saturday. The projects include Bariatu (on MDR-004) Lam-Bargani-Bodeya road (total length-3.750 km) widening, strengthening and reconstruction work, Neori Vikas Vidyalaya (on Ranchi Ring Road)-Booty Mod, Kokar Chowk-Kantatoli Namkum R.O.B. Construction work of four lanes of road up to (total length 15.214 km) and Four lane reconstruction work (including bridge construction) of Pandara (on NH-75) Kanke (Holiday Home on SH-02) road (total length-5.545 km) for the year 2023-24, Road Construction Department. The site inspection was jointly conducted by the DC, along with the concerned engineer of the Road Construction Department and regarding the progress of the work and the obstacles being faced in the progress of the work, the Executive Engineer of the Road Construction Department, Md. Israel Mansoori and the concerned Assistant Engineer/Junior Engineer and the sensor. / Information was taken from the contractor representative, in which it was told by the Executive Engineer that regarding the construction of Lam Badgai road, it was told that the desired amount has been made available to the District Land Acquisition to acquire the desired land for the construction of the said road. The DC directed the District Land Acquisition Officer to transfer the desired land to the Road Construction Department. Sinha took information from the Executive Engineer about the four lane construction work of Newri Vikas Vidyalaya Booti Mode Path, on which he told that the desired amount will be given to the District Land Acquisition to acquire the desired land for the construction of the said road. The DC instructed the District Land Acquisition Officer to transfer the desired land to the Road Construction Department. Sinha, while taking information from the concerned officer that the shifting of water supply pipeline/pipe line chamber and electric utility is still pending, gave instructions to the concerned officer and said that for shifting of water supply pipeline, the concerned Executive Engineer of the Water Supply Department was directed to take further action and instructions were given to the Executive Engineer, Road Division, Ranchi to get the electric utility shifting done as soon as possible. Information was taken by the DC during the proposed site inspection regarding the construction of Pandara (on NH-75) - Kanke road. In this regard, it was told that to acquire the desired land for the construction of the said road, allocation has been demanded from the department to provide the desired amount demanded by the District Land Acquisition and the execution of the tender for this work is pending at the departmental level. Due to which the work of selection of the contractor has not been started, the work can be started only after the selection of the contractor by the department. On which the DC directed the Engineer of the Road Construction Department to provide the amount for land acquisition for the said work to the District Land Acquisition Department as soon as possible and request the departmental higher officials to finalize the tender so that the work can be started as soon as possible. The DC, while inspecting the road widening work of Hehal Road near Bagicha Toli Hehal Road and New Deepatoli, after taking information about the problems being faced in the widening work, directed the concerned officer to complete the road widening work as soon as possible. Delhis per capita income increased from Rs 3,89,529 to Rs 4,44,768 in the current financial year, making it 158 per cent higher than the national average, Delhi Finance and Planning Minister Atishi said on the release of its Statistical Handbook-2023 on Saturday. The handbook containing data on socio-economic parameters of the national capital was released by the Economic and Statistics department of the Delhi government. The per capita income of Delhi increased from Rs 3,89,529 to Rs 4,44,768, while the national average per capita income is Rs 1,72,276. This means Delhis per capita income is 158 per cent more than the national average, said Atishi, adding despite various obstacles, the Kejriwal government has established new benchmarks in the public services sector in 2023. Sharing handbook data, the Planning Minister Atishi stated that despite facing various challenges in the year 2023, the commitment of the Kejriwal government remained focused on the welfare of the people of Delhi and the progress of Delhi. As a result, new benchmarks have been established in the field of public services. The handbook showed that more than 41 lakh commuters daily traveled on DTC and DIMTS buses in 2023. Currently, there are over 7200 DTC and DIMTS buses running on Delhi roads, all completely CNG or electric. Delhi is leading the electric vehicle revolution in the country. In 2023, the number of electric buses in Delhi has increased to 1300, surpassing any other state in the country. There has been a continuous increase in demand in the electricity sector in Delhi. In 2023, the number of electricity consumers increased by approximately 2.8 lakhs. Despite the increased demand, the Kejriwal government has successfully provided uninterrupted electricity supply. The electricity consumption in Delhi increased by 859 million units (85.9 crores) in 2023. More than 3.41 crores electricity bills worth Rs 0.00 generated in 2022-23. In the water sector, this year saw an increase of over 1 lakh new consumers.The minimum wage for laborers in Delhi is the highest in the country. The Kejriwal government has set a minimum wage of Rs 17,494 for unskilled laborers, Rs 19,279 for semi-skilled laborers, and Rs 21,215 for skilled laborers. The government regularly increases the minimum wage for laborers every 6 months. The Delhi government also takes care of the elderly, daughters, and people with special needs. In 2023, there were 4.07 lakh elderly pensioners, and 1.70 lakh girls benefited from the Ladli scheme. The government has provided financial assistance to 1,13,039 people with special needs. This year, 11,570 people have benefited from the Chief Ministers COVID-19 Family Financial Assistance Scheme. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, stated that when leadership is good, everyones respect increases, adding that in the last 10 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi India has emerged as a global power. The country is witnessing the expansion of highways, railways and air connectivity. All India Institute of Medical Sciences is being established and industries are flourishing. Employment is being generated on a large-scale. Every eligible person is benefiting from welfare schemes without any discrimination, he said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made these remarks while addressing programmes organised under the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Raptinagar and Nanda Nagar of Gorakhpur. He also interacted with beneficiaries of various schemes. He further said, The governments schemes are not based on caste, religion or region and are meant for villages, the poor, farmers, women and youth. Free housing facilities have been provided to four crore people in the country and 55 lakh people in Uttar Pradesh. In the state, 15 crore people have been receiving free ration for the last three and a half years, and this will continue for the next five years. A large number of people are benefiting from Ayushman Yojana and are receiving free medical treatment. Chief Minister Yogi said what never happened before was happening now. Presently, employment is being generated, development is taking place, women are getting security and farmers are receiving respect, he remarked. The large crowds gathered show that the benefits of the schemes have reached the common people on a large scale, he pointed out. The minister also appealed to those who, for any reason, have not been able to avail the benefits of the schemes to come forward and get registered for relevant schemes. While mentioning the developmental activities, the chief minister stated that the changing face of Gorakhpur reflects the new Uttar Pradesh. Here, the fertiliser factory has started, AIIMS is operational, and BRD Medical College has become a centre of medical excellence. The place that used to be a stronghold of crime, Ramgarh Taal, is now shining on the tourism map. Encephalitis that used to cost the lives of thousands of children has been brought under control, he asserted. The chief minister extended his wishes for Makar Sankranti and consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22 to all the people in advance. Furthermore, Chief Minister Yogi exhorted people to conduct a cleanliness campaign for the consecration ceremony and make religious sites clean and beautiful. Member of Parliament Ravi Kishan also addressed the programme on this occasion. In the two Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra programmes, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also interacted with beneficiaries of various schemes, including PM Awas Yojana, PM SVANidhi Yojana, National Rural Livelihood Mission, BC Sakhi, Ujjwala, and Ayushman Yojana. Everyone expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi, sharing their experiences. The chief minister mentioned that providing benefits of schemes without discrimination is a guarantee from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also urged the beneficiaries to raise awareness among others and help them avail the benefits of these schemes. During the programme, the chief minister distributed certificates, blankets and sweets to the beneficiaries of various schemes such as PM Awas Yojana, Ayushman Yojana, PM SVANidhi Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, etc. At the outset of the programmes, everyone took the oath of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. Prior to the programme, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inspected various stalls set up by different departments at the programme venue and observed the annaprashan of infants and baby shower of pregnant women. He also distributed blankets at various stalls. The annaprashan of a Muslim womans child by Chief Minister Yogi became a centre of attraction for everyone. The woman was extremely delighted to see her child playing in the hands of the chief minister. After the annaprashan, he presented a gift to the child. Mayor Dr Manglesh Srivastav, MLA Vipin Singh, Mahendra Pal Singh, Pradeep Shukla, BJP state vice-president Dr Dharmendra Singh and metropolitan president Rajesh Gupta were present at the event. The Bharatiya Janata Party has termed the protest taken out by the Congress on the issue of unemployment, a drama. The BJP State media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan claimed that the State government under chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has provided more jobs in one year proportionately than the jobs provided in the past 22 years. On the other hand, the Congress has a bad track record whether it be malpractices in recruitment exams or bribery, he alleged. Chauhan said that according to the Uttarakhand Public Service Commission, during its one year term so far, the Dhami government has made 6,635 recruitments while 6,869 recruitments were made in the preceding 22 years. The examination results of 3,040 candidates have been announced so far while the examination results of 3,595 candidates are being prepared. The Congress knows well how jobs were distributed in those times while the then government continued to protect corrupt practices. The Dhami government probed all recruitments irrespective of the period and the Special Investigation Team nabbed the corruption who were then sent to jail. The cases which were suppressed in the past were probed now and this revealed a major scam. The people have taught the Congress a lesson due to corruption. The Congress which earlier used to sell jobs is now pretending on the issue of jobs for the unemployed, Chauhan opined. The BJP State media in-charge further said that the Congress does not have the moral right to say anything on the subject of employment because it has always duped the youth. BJP State General Secretary and MP Aditya Sahu today made a big target on the state government. Sahu said that the Hemant government is an anti-backward government. The character of thugbandhan of Congress, JMM and RJD is anti-backward. He said that the Congress Party did not give constitutional status to the Backward Classes Commission for years. This included their anti-backward mentality. These are parties with family-oriented thinking, hence they are not concerned about the welfare of the backward society. He said that in Jharkhand, the government which pretended to give 27 per cent reservation to the backward classes, robbed the rights of the backward classes in the Panchayat elections. Further, this government also intends to conduct civic elections without giving reservation to the backward classes. He said why Hemant government is not conducting triple test despite the instructions of the Supreme Court. He said that on one hand this government pretends to give 27 per cent reservation, on the other hand it also wants to snatch the reservation received. Sahu said what has happened till now to the proposal passed by the cabinet of Hemant government in which the proposal of triple test from the Backward Classes Commission was passed. But the truth is that till date this government has not been able to appoint the Chairman of the Backward Classes Commission. He said that the backward society of the state has understood their anti-backward mentality. Sahu said that the backward class has faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi gave constitutional status to the Backward Classes Commission, increased the seats in medical colleges. Today the Modi cabinet includes most of the ministers from backward communities. Defence minister Rajnath Singh said that Gurukuls have an important role to play for the successful implementation of the National Education Policy- 2020 with an amalgamation of traditional and modern education. This is necessary to preserve cultural values along with modern education, he said. The Defence minister said this after laying the foundation stone for the new buildings of Patanjali Gurukulam and Acharyakulam at Swami Darshanand Gurukul Mahavidyalay in Haridwar on Saturday. Addressing the gathering, Singh said that education in Gurukuls should include the latest science including artificial intelligence and quantum technology along with the ethical and cultural heritage of India at a time when the blind imitation of western culture is affecting the value system. There were many large universities which functioned like Gurukuls in India centuries ago. Foreign invaders tried to destroy this system and later in the colonial era Macaulay introduced an education system which was not in accordance with our cultural values. The NEP-2020 envisages focus on ethics from the primary level itself and the Gurukuls can play an important role in facilitating this amalgamation of knowledge based on our heritage and modern education, the Defence minister said. Referring to various works done by the Union government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he cited the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, development of Mahakal temple in Ujjain and the Ram temple in Ayodhya, stating that the governments efforts are aimed at going beyond cultural preservation to facilitate cultural development. Speaking on the occasion, Swami Ramdev said that at present the plan is to build Patanjali Gurukulam and Acharyakulam with Rs 500 crore with a target of spending upto Rs 10,000 crore on this education system in the coming five years. The Patanjali Gurukulam will prepare flag bearers of the Sanatan culture who will publicise Indian culture across the world. Expressing his views, Acharya Balkrishna said that new records will be set from this land in the future and these will be witnessed by the prominent personalities of the world. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the manner in which Ramdev had worked to popularise Yoga and Ayurveda across the world, the Patanjali Gurukulam will also bring revolutionary changes in the sphere of education. He said that the National Cadet Corps should also be part of the education at this Gurukulam. Dhami said that Uttarakhand is progressing swiftly under PM Modis leadership with various major decisions being taken by the State government like implementing a strict anti-copying law, anti-conversion law and taking concrete action against encroachment on government lands. The government is also preparing to implement the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand, he added. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav exhorted Ramdev to prepare this Gurukulam at the earliest and also attempt to establish a similar institution in Madhya Pradesh as well. Union minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi and Bharatiya Shiksha Board chairman MP Singh also addressed the gathering. MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, cabinet minister Dhan Singh Rawat, MLAs Madan Kaushik and Pradeep Batra were also among those present on the occasion. Municipal Corporation Bhopal (BMC) is providing basic facilities to the citizens of the city in a better way. Along with providing shelter to homeless citizens coming from outside the city arrangements for night rest and those who spend the night in public places are also made. Arrangements were also made to light bonfires to provide relief to the citizens from the harsh cold. In this sequence, the corporation has decided to light bonfires at 415 places in the city. Arrangements are being made regularly. This arrangement of the corporation was adopted by the citizens and it is also being appreciated. On the instructions of Corporation Commissioner Frank Noble A, the entire staff of the Corporation 21 apart from the shelters falling under the zones, bus stands, railway stations, places including hospitals where there is high traffic of citizens at night occurs or citizens spend the night outside their homes for any reason, such bonfires at 415 places in the city to provide relief to citizens from the harsh cold. Assistant Health posted at the zonal level of the corporation wood is collected daily from the Horticulture Department of the Corporation at the places identified by the officials and is made available and this system is also regularly monitored by seniors officials. This arrangement of the corporation is reviewed from time to time by the Chief Minister, Ministers, Mayor and others. Public representatives also visited shelter sites and bonfire sites and inspected them. Being and citizens are required to protect themselves from the cold as best they can. Instructions are also being given to implement which the corporation staff will take prompt action. Zone by Municipal Corporation Bhopal in view of providing relief to the citizens from cold. Arrangements are being made to burn bonfires at 16 places in Zone No. 01, whereas in Zone No. 02 07 place in Zone no. 03 out of 12 places, zone no. 19th place in 04, zone no. 05 in 17 Location, Zone No. 06 out of 22 places, zone no. 30 place in 07, zone no. 08 in 122 places, Zone no. 01 place out of 09, zone no. 15th place out of 10, zone no. 04 out of 12 places, zone Sl. 12th place out of 13, zone no. 04th place out of 14, zone no. 10th place out of 15, zone no. 16 15th place in Zone no. 07th place out of 17, zone no. 16th place out of 18, zone no. 19 in 21 locations, Zone No. 10th place out of 20 and zone no. Burning of bonfires at 21 out of 55 places arrangements are being made. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal has cut short his three day trip to Gujarat by a day as he will preside over a crucial meeting related to the 2024-25 Delhi Budget on Saturday. Initially supposed to be a three-day trip, Kejriwal was scheduled to leave for Gujarat on Saturday to handle Lok Sabha-related party work there. During his visit to Gujarat, Kejriwal is scheduled to address public meetings and meet party workers. He is also likely to meet jailed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Chaitar Vasava, according to sources in the party. The chief minister was scheduled to leave for Gujarat on Saturday but now he will go there on Sunday because he has to attend an important budget-related meeting, they said. The process of preparing the Delhi governments annual budget is underway.The three-day Gujarat tour will now be wrapped up in two days, the officials said. Kejriwals Gujarat tour was announced amid claims by leaders of his party and him that he may be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Delhi excise policy scam case.Kejriwal has skipped three summonses of the ED to appear before it for questioning in the case. The third summons was issued on Wednesday last week and he skipped it calling it illegal. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar, in association with the Nottingham Trent University, UK, organised an international conference and workshop on Embracing diversity in Asia through the adoption of inclusive open practices (DiversAsia) on January 3. The two-day international conference was inaugurated by Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department Principal Secretary, Bishnupada Sethi. Prof David Brown, Coordinator, Nottingham Trent University (NTU), UK; Prof Dinakar Pasla, Dean-Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy (SRIC), IIT, Bhubaneswar; Prof Subhransu Ranjan Samantaray, Head, School of Electrical Sciences, IIT Bhubaneswar and Dr M Sabarimalai Manikandan, Project Investigator of the Divers Asia project also graced the inaugural session. Prof Dinakar delivered the welcome address and summarized the collaborative research activities. Sethi emphasised the Government policies and best practices adopted for ensuring social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities in Odisha. He appreciated IIT Bhubaneswar and the team of DiversAsia for taking up the initiative towards making higher education inclusive through the utilization of advanced assistive technology and artificial intelligence. Prof Brown introduced the DiversAsia Project and the Toolkit. Prof Samantaray stressed the development of technology for making higher education inclusive for the students having disabilities. The event witnessed several sessions with the deliberations on inclusive education and assistive technologies, best practices and policies for higher education in India and outcomes of DiversAsia toolkit piloting. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, said that his government would not allow injustice to anyone and was determined to bring happiness in everyones life. Listening to the problems of around 200 people at the Janata Darshan held in the auditorium of Mahant Digvijaynath Smriti Bhawan on Gorakhnath temple premises, Chief Minister Yogi instructed officials to take strict legal action against those who forcibly encroached upon someones land. Solving peoples problems is the priority of the government and any kind of negligence or laxity in this regard will not be tolerated, Chief Minister Yogi told officials. The chief minister went to the people, patiently listened to their problems one by one and assured them of prompt and satisfactory resolution of their problems. Many people, including some women, had come to the Janata Darshan with complaints regarding land disputes as well as illegal encroachments. After listening to them patiently, Chief Minister Yogi directed the officials concerned present there to take effective legal action against professional land-grabbers by identifying them as land mafia. He also instructed officials to register FIRs and take immediate action in other police related cases, including that of physical assault. The chief minister assured the people seeking financial help for the treatment of serious diseases that no ones treatment will be halted for lack of money. He directed the administration to complete the cost estimation process for the treatment of the patient concerned and make it available to the government as soon as possible so that funds could be released. Meanwhile, the chief minister gave chocolates to children who accompanied their mothers at the Janata Darshan. He also blessed them and encouraged them to study. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has come out with a policy to rent out Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) premises and the iconic Namo-Bharat trains for hosting events, including film shootings. This will cost only 2 to 3 lakh per hour. The schedule and booking fee for hiring NCRTC premises, including per scheduled hour of occupancy for commercial purposes, are Rs 2 lakh for all stations of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor, Rs 3 lakh for Namo Bharat trains and station, and Rs 2.5 lakh for depots and other sites. As per the new policy, spaces, such as RRTS stations and Namo-Bharat trains, are now available for short-term hire for film shootings, documentaries and TV commercials as the architectural and design brilliance of RRTS stations and Namo-Bharat trains makes them exceptional choices for film shooting. To promote RRTS and Namo-Bharat train as an accessible and attractive shooting venue and retain its brand image as the most preferred RRTS system in the country and to showcase Delhi-NCR as one of the best shooting destinations in terms of modern infrastructure, heritage connect and demographic canvas in the national and international market, the policy said. With the proliferation of OTT platforms and the digital landscape, there has been a surge in the utilization of public transport systems, particularly metro rail systems, as backdrops for filming feature films, documentaries, and web series. NCRTCs decision to open its doors to such activities provides a lucrative opportunity for filmmakers seeking dynamic and modern shooting locations. RRTSs infrastructures boast international standards in architecture and design coupled with contemporary aesthetics and world-class facilities making them optimal choices for filmmakers aiming for visually captivating and versatile settings, the NCRTC said in a statement. It further said the architectural and design brilliance of RRTS stations and Namo-Bharat trains makes them exceptional choices for film shooting. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant hues of the peacock feather, RRTS stations showcase striking blue and beige tones, extending this captivating palette to their exterior facades. These stations offer well-lit and airy spaces, suffused with natural light.Further enhancing their visual appeal, beige perforated panels and louvres facilitate smooth airflow, adding both aesthetic charm and practical functionality. Meanwhile, Namo-Bharat trains represent the epitome of modernity, boasting sleek designs and an array of passenger-centric amenities. With their aerodynamic profiles designed to minimize air drag at high speeds, these trains provide wide gangways, tinted panoramic windows, and an impeccably seamless travel experience, making them optimal settings for cinematic storytelling, it said. According to policy, NCRTC/ RRTS premises can also be rented for event purposes other than shooting. If Namo Bharat Trains are required during night hours (Non-revenue Hour) then booking of events can also be considered. Filmmakers now have an inviting opportunity to tap into the futuristic appeal of RRTS Stations and Namo-Bharat Trains, elevating the visual narratives of their cinematic endeavors on par with global standards at competent charges. The 82 km-long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor stands as Indias pioneering RRTS corridor to be implemented in the country. This corridor will encompass 25 stations, inclusive of two depot stations. Additionally, local transit services are slated to be offered on the RRTS network in Meerut, covering 13 stations within a span of 23 km to cater to local transit needs. On October 20, 2023, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Indias first RRTS and flagged off the Namo Bharat train. With this, the 17-kilometer-long priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot was operationalized for the public. The 25 km stretch between Duhai and Meerut South RRTS station is the next section of the RRTS corridor set to be operationalized for the public after the priority Section. This section encompasses a total of 4 stations: Murad Nagar, Modi Nagar North, Modi Nagar South, and Meerut South. Trial runs on this section are ongoing. In view of the severe shortage of specialist doctors in the State health services, the State government has decided to raise the retirement age of these doctors from the existing 60 years to 65 years. A proposal in this regard would be brought before the State cabinet soon. This decision was taken in the meeting of the Health department chaired by Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat on Saturday. In the meeting the decisions to create a separate cadre of specialist doctors and their salary hike were also taken. Rawat directed the officers to prepare a proposal incorporating these decisions within a week. In the meeting it was also decided that doctors on fixed salary will be appointed to the posts which are presently vacant. There are many vacant posts of medical officers due to non availability of candidates from reserved categories in the State Health department. A decision to create some temporary posts in the department as an alternative to the serving MBBS doctors who are on study leave to complete their post graduation was also taken in the meeting. In another important decision, the minister directed the officers to revive all the posts of technicians in the department. Rawat said that there are 1,300 vacant posts in technical cadre in the Health department and against these posts the cabinet had given approval to fill only 250 posts in the past. He said that the department needs services of all these 1,300 technicians and for it all the posts will be revived so that shortage of technicians in primary health centres , community health centres, sub district hospitals and district hospitals is resolved. In an attempt to remove the shortage of faculty members in the government medical colleges, the State government has decided to raise the maximum age limit for the post of professors to 62 years from the existing 50 years. The retirement age of professors will remain 65 years. Rawat said that the decision will pave the way for appointment of professors and associate professors to 156 vacant posts in the government medical colleges of the State. A decision to raise the salaries of the super specialty doctors in cardiology, urology, nephrology, radiology, neuro- surgery, plastic and burn surgeries was also taken in the meeting. The meeting was attended by the deputy chairperson of national rural health and monitoring committee Suresh Bhatt, chief secretary SS Sandhu, health secretary R Rajesh Kumar and additional secretary Namami Bansal, director general of health Dr Vinita Shah, director of medical education Dr Ashutosh Sayana and others. The Uttarakhand Congress took out a march in the provisional state capital against what it termed increasing unemployment in the State. Large number of Congress leaders and workers participated in the foot march which was led by Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara and former chief minister Harish Rawat. The march commenced from Rajiv Gandhi complex on the Dispensary Road and ended at Gandhi Park. Addressing the gathering, the PCC president Mahara said that the unemployment rate in Uttarakhand has scaled to 8.8 per cent. He said that in every election the BJP makes lofty promises of recruitment and appointment on the backlog posts but forgets everything once it comes to power. Mahara said that Narendra Modi had promised in the year 2014 that two crore jobs will be created every year but this commitment of his has proved to be a rhetoric only. The PCC president said that employment is a major challenge in the State but those in power are paying no heed to this. He said that the unemployed were brutally lathi-charged and involvement of BJP leaders is clearly seen in the recruitment scams in Uttarakhand. Former CM Rawat who had given a call for the march said that the government is snatching away the employment from the youngsters. He said that more than 93,000 posts in the State government are vacant at present but no effort is being made to fill them. Rawat claimed that more than 700 industrial units in SIIDCUL have closed in the last few years due to which thousands of labourers have lost their jobs. The former CM said that in the last few years the government only deceived the youth. The recruitment advertisements are released but the process of recruitment gets delayed and stalled. He said that the number of workforce in the BHEL has reduced by 75 per cent. Rawat said that the Congress party will continue to fight for the interests of the unemployed of the State. Rawat said that the year 2023 has almost obliterated very important points related to economic, political and social discourse. Senior leaders Govind Singh Kunjwal, Mantri Prasad Naithani, Hira Singh Bisht, Shoorveer Singh Sajwan, Satpal Brahmchari, Mathura Dut Joshi, Surendra Agarwal, Garima Dasauni and others took part in the march. Amid the massive mix-up over the identities of patients in the Hi-Tech Hospital explosion here, the bereaved family of deceased Dilip Samantray held the hospital authorities responsible for his death. I had seen my son at the hospital on Friday. His health condition was stated to be stable last night. Even as he was unable to speak, he responded to me by nodding his head when I called him as Dilip in the ICU yesterday. We were waiting outside the hospital gate. At around 2 am, the hospital staffs called me and informed that Dilips heart was not functioning and his blood pressure level had dropped. I had none with me other than my sister, she went inside and found he is no more, Dilips mother told mediapersons. Alleging medical negligence, the deceaseds brother said the hospital authorities intentionally killed the patient. As Dilip was the sole witness who could expose the entire episode against the hospital, they eliminated him. A week after Dilips death, we suddenly came to know that he is alive. We were so happy and had hope that he will return to home after recovery. But things changed overnight. My mother had visited the ICU yesterday and he was normal. The patient, who was alive after battling for six days in critical condition and gave his true identity, what happened to him suddenly? After coming out of the ventilator, he was not given proper treatment. The hospital wanted him to die to conceal its negligence in the treatment in the entire incident, Dilips brother alleged. We have been shattered and devastated; do not know what to do. But we will lodge a complaint with police against the hospital that ruined our family, he said. A twist in the Hi-Tech Hospital blast case came on Friday after one of the victims undergoing treatment at the hospital claimed himself as Dilip Samantray, who was earlier declared dead. Following his revelation of identity, the hospital authorities came under fire with relatives both Dilip and another deceased who was identified as Jyotiranjan Mallick staged a demonstration alleging body swapping by the hospital. The confusion over patients identity claimed an innocent life in Dilips family as his wife hung self after hearing news of his husbands death. The body of the person who died following an air-conditioner compressor blast at Hi-Tech Hospital on December 29 was identified as Dilips and was handed over to his family which belongs to Harirajpur in Khordha district. After Dilip claimed that he was alive, it came to the fore that the body was not of Dilips; rather, Jyotiranjan was the first victim who died in the blast. Finally, Dilip, who revealed the truth, succumbed to his injuries. In a significant effort to enhance awareness and understanding of the critical infectious disease, Melioidosis, AIIMS Bhopal successfully organized Training on the "Laboratory diagnosis of Melioidosis" Friday. The event was conducted amongst 20 clinical microbiologists and research scientists from around 10 different government and private sector institutes of Madhya Pradesh. Melioidosis, a serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, has gained attention in Madhya Pradesh due to its endemicity in the region, particularly in rural population. Department of Microbiology at AIIMS Bhopal has been regularly diagnosing cases of Melioidosis for the past few years and has diagnosed around 80 cases in the past 5 years. The disease which is traditionally known to be present in the coastal regions of India has high mortality rate with majority of cases found in rural areas particularly among individuals associated with agricultural activities. This potentially fatal disease can manifest with a wide range of symptoms, making early diagnosis crucial. Awareness and understanding of Melioidosis are vital for healthcare professionals and clinical microbiologists, as efforts to combat the fatal disease. The distinguished guests of the event were Dr. Harpreet Kaur, Scientist 'G' at ICMR, New Delhi and Dr. Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay, who is Professor at Kasturba Medical College (KMC) Manipal. The success of this program reflects AIIMS Bhopal's commitment to fostering continuous learning and addressing pressing health concerns. By Equipping medical professionals with the necessary knowledge and resources, the program aims to contribute to the prevention and early detection of this potentially fatal infection. Prof. (Dr.) Ajai Singh, Executive Director AIIMS Bhopal congratulated the team for conducting the training program successfully. The Uttarakhand State Commission for Women (USCW) received 1,947 cases of crimes against women across the State during 2022-2023, said the chairperson of USCW Kusum Kandwal. She said this in a Press conference held here on Saturday. Addressing the media, Kandwal expressed her satisfaction at having completed her two-year tenure as the chairperson of USCW. Dwelling on her work during the said period, Kandwal said that every year, the State organises awareness programmes to educate women about their rights and safety. The commission makes every effort to ensure that women do not face any kind of problem. Additionally, in case of any mishappening against women in the State, she, as the chairperson of USCW, ensures that strict action is taken against it promptly, she added. She further shared that until 2023, the USCW had registered 1,947 cases of crimes against women, including domestic violence and others. Out of these, 89 cases have been solved by USCW in the interests of the women. She further stressed that the commission has witnessed many cases where women are harassed in the office. In view of this, she directed every department to form an internal complaints committee to hear the voice of women. Further, the commission ensures that awareness programmes are held with the anti-human trafficking team, which also includes topics related to drugs. The said programme has become essential for the State as directed by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to free Uttarakhand of drugs by 2025, she added. Approval of the States women policy by the State government on the request of the commission is another commendable decision by the State government which will surely benefit the women politically, economically and socially, the USCW chief said. The war of words between the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party has intensified over suggestions that Mayawati should join the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance. Mayawati, on Sunday, hit back at SP chief Akhilesh Yadav over his remarks on her credibility, while her party MP, Maluk Nagar, termed the opposition alliance meaningless without his party chief being projected as the prime ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc. Akhilesh Yadav said that Mayawati need not bother about the opposition alliance. The alliance is hale and hearty, and is doing the needful on seat-sharing and other related issues. We will win the 2024 elections and it would be better for the BSP to look into its affairs, the SP chief said here on Sunday. BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday asked her SP counterpart Akhilesh Yadav to introspect before making any unrestrained jibe at her party. Mayawatis comment comes a day after the Akhilesh Yadav took a jibe at Mayawati on Saturday. Asked whether the BSP would join the INDIA bloc, Yadav asked, Who will give the guarantee that she will not shift loyalty to the Bharatiya Janata Party? In a post on X in Hindi, Mayawati said, 'The SP chief, who is helpless owing to his and his governments anti-Dalit policies, habits and style of working, should introspect before making any unrestrained comment on the BSP and check how tainted his reputation is in strengthening the BJP and reconciling with them. Also, who can forget the blessings given by the then SP chief to the BJP before and after winning the parliamentary election. And then, how can the public forget the meetings of the SP leadership with the BJP leadership after their government was formed (at the Centre)? In such a situation, it would be appropriate if SP fights communal forces, she added. Though officially the BSP has shown reluctance in joining with the INDIA bloc, Mayawati, facing existential crisis, is keen to join the opposition alliance. Mayawati wants to expedite the entry of her party in the INDIA bloc before January 15, her birthday. The BSP MP said on Sunday that without Mayawati being projected as the prime ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc, the alliance was meaningless in Uttar Pradesh and many other states where the BSP vote share was in double digits. Commenting on the seat-sharing in the opposition alliance, the SP chief on Saturday said, INDIA bloc will take a decision very soon by taking the SP and other parties along. Let the Surya Uttarayan take place. All decisions will be taken as soon as the Surya Uttarayan occurs, he said. Surya Uttarayan (Sun transitioning from south to north) occurs from Makar Sankranti (January 14). Akhilesh Yadav further stressed, The SP is in the INDIA bloc with full responsibility. Information about who will be given what responsibilities in the alliance will be provided very soon. Uttar Pradesh has 80 Lok Sabha seats. The SP has tie-ups with Rashtriya Lok Dal and Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) in the state. Both RLD and SP are part of the INDIA bloc. Chapter 9 A Mess of Causes book home page RSS Feed: This is a preliminary draft of one chapter of a book-in-progress entitled, Organisms and Their Evolution Agency and Meaning in the Drama of Life. This material is part of the Biology Worthy of Life project of The Nature Institute. Copyright 2022 by Stephen L. Talbott. All rights reserved. You may freely download this chapter for noncommercial, personal use, including classroom use. The difficulties in talking about causes in biology have been recognized for over two centuries.1 Its just that the issues were largely set aside in the era of molecular biology due to the expectation that our rapidly growing powers of minute analysis would bring full causal understanding. Biology would soon be rid of its troublesome language of life in favor of well-behaved molecular mechanisms. And yet today, after several decades of stunning progress in molecular research, the struggle to fit our understanding of living activity into the comfortable garb of familiar causal explanation looks more hopeless than ever. On one hand, most biologists seem unaware that there is a problem here or, at least, they are unwilling to betray their awareness in professional circles. On the other hand (as we will see in this chapter), their scientific descriptions could hardly signal more dramatically the failure of the usual causal explanations. We seem to be looking here at another illustration of blindsight. In Chapter 7 we considered epigenetics, which is commonly taken to be about the way epigenetic marks on chromosomes alter gene expression. But no sooner did epigenetics gain biologists attention than researchers began puzzling over the question, Do epigenetic marks alter gene expression, or do changes in gene expression alter the marks? And the question is still with us. According to Luca Magnani, a cancer researcher at Imperial College London, Its an absolutely legitimate question and we need to address it. The answer is either going to kill the field [of epigenetics], or make it very important (quoted in Ledford 2015 ). Either kill the field or make it very important. The comment expresses absolute confidence that we can discover unambiguous causation, which will in turn settle the matter: either epigenetic changes cause gene activity (in which case they are very important), or they are mere effects of that activity, with little significance. It must be one way or the other. The general idea is that, if something is to contribute to scientific understanding, it must be the indisputable cause of an indisputable effect. And yet, as we will now see, this stubborn insistence on causal clarity continually prods biological researchers (we will focus on molecular biology) to offer embarrassingly incoherent explanations. The seductive appeal of master controllers Consider the following remarks about a protein known rather blandly as p53. The remarks issue from a perfectly reputable source who is clearly aware of the subtleties and interwoven intricacies of coordinated, molecular-level activity in the cell. And yet this expert is lured by the mirage of unambiguous causation into offering a wondrously self-annihilating description: The tumor suppressor p53 is a master sensor of stress that controls many biological functions, including [embryo] implantation, cell-fate decisions, metabolism, and aging Like a complex barcode, the ability of p53 to function as a central hub that integrates defined stress signals into decisive cellular responses, in a time- and cell-type dependent manner, is facilitated by the extraordinary complexity of its regulation. Key components of this barcode are the autoregulation loops, which positively or negatively regulate p53s activities. To start with, then, we have a master sensor (p53) that controls various fundamental cellular processes, and yet is itself wholly dependent on the signals it receives and is subject to extraordinarily complex regulation by certain autoregulation loops. While all these loops regulate p53 (some positively and some negatively), one of them, designated p53/mdm2, is the master autoregulation loop, and it dictates the fate of an organism by controlling the expression level and activity of p53. It is therefore not surprising that this autoregulation loop is itself subject to different types of regulation, which can be divided into two subgroups Lu 2010 ). So the master controlling sensor is itself subject to a master controlling process (one of several regulatory loops) that dictates the fate of the organism. But this master loop, it happens, is in turn regulated in various manners (as the author goes on to say in the rest of the article) by a whole series of multi-layered processes, including some that are themselves subject to direct regulation by mdm2 that is, they are regulated by an element of the regulatory loop they are supposed to be regulating. It is hard to believe that the confusion here is unavoidable. By now every biologist knows how regulatory processes extend outward without limit, connecting in one way or another with virtually every aspect of the cell. But this only underscores the undisciplined terminological confusion continuing to corrupt molecular biological description today. When key regulators are in turn regulated, and controllers have their fates underwritten or redirected by other players, where within the web of mutual interaction can we single out a master controller capable of dictating cellular fates? And if we cant, what are reputable scientists doing when they claim to have identified such a controller, or, rather, various such controllers? More than an innocent abuse of language Here is a comment from another paper on p53: Following DNA damage, the transcription factor p53 determines whether cells undergo apoptosis [self-induced cell death] or cell cycle arrest and DNA repair. To enable different cellular outcomes, p53 is regulated through its temporal expression dynamics and post-translational modification, and by interactions with chromatin, chromatin regulators and transcription factors.2 Here again we have the same terminological confusion, with p53 determining cellular outcomes, while it is itself regulated by many pervasive cellular processes. But the authors conclude their paper with these remarkably sensible statements: The large number of p53 regulatory mechanisms and their cooperation in triggering specific expression programmes remain open areas for investigation. Systematic measurements in multiple conditions together with models integrating the multiple layers of regulation on p53 activity will be required to decipher the complexity of p53 function. Why not leave the matter there, with this admirable spirit of openness to the research results as given, together with an acknowledgment of almost unsurveyable complexity? Why are so many researchers driven to paste on top of this picture a contradictory assertion of open-and-shut causal determination? And I do mean driven. How else to explain a comment that could serve as a fitting postscript to our discussion of RNA splicing in Chapter 8. Brenton Graveley, a geneticist at the University of Connecticut Stem Cell Institute, reported in 2011 on the discovery of a splice variant of the protein known as FOX-P1 a variant that has a role in the generation of stem cells. After usefully elucidating some of what goes on, he offers this as his conclusion: What controls the [ FOX ] splicing switch? What splicing factors are responsible for flipping this switch, and how are their expression and activities regulated? Answering these questions is like hunting down the chicken-or-the-egg paradox, but they will ultimately uncover the master regulator of stem cell pluripotency Graveley 2011 ). So in the very act of acknowledging the fundamental chicken-or-egg paradox of all biological causation, he reflexively reverts to a kind of creedal affirmation of a still-hidden, but eventually-to-be-found Master Regulator. If all those who use the language of biologically omnipotent control are really trying to describe something like important influencers, then thats perfectly fine. But influence is not about mechanism and control; the things at issue just dont have controlling powers. Nor, despite Graveleys suggestion, is it about a simple flipping of yes-or-no switches. What we see, rather, is a continual mutual adaptation, interaction, and coordination explicable only in terms of the functional ideas through which we grasp the contextualized meaning of what is going on (Chapter 6). What we see, that is, once we start following out all the interactions at a molecular level, is not some mechanism dictating the fate or controlling an activity of the organism. Rather (as I have been emphasizing throughout the preceding chapters), we simply observe an organism-wide, narrative coherence a functional, end-directed, story-like coherence impossible to elucidate from a purely physical point of view. Only so far as they are caught up in this functional story do the individual molecular players find their proper roles. The misrepresentation of this organic and rational coherence in favor of supposed controlling mechanisms is not an innocent inattention to language; it is a fundamental misrepresentation of reality at the central point where we are challenged to understand the character of living things. Biological clocks: who is keeping time? Pick any topic in biology and you will encounter an egregious failure to tie down biological causes. Clockwork mechanisms are nowhere to be found a fact that becomes particularly poignant in the investigation of biological clocks such as the circadian (daily) rhythms that figure so prominently in human and other forms of life. Biologists, of course, set out to identify the master clock mechanism that was presumed to control these rhythms, and, yes, they found a rhythmic feedback loop involving genes and transcription factors in a certain area of the brain that seemed the perfect candidate. It quickly came to be viewed as the decisive governor of circadian rhythms in the body: In mammals, the anatomical structure in the brain that governs circadian rhythms is a small area consisting of approximately 15,000 neurons localized in the anterior hypothalamus, called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). This central pacemaker in the SCN receives signals from the environment and, in turn, coordinates the oscillating activity of peripheral clocks, which are located in almost all tissues Berger and Sassone-Corsi 2016 ). And yet (as this statement already indicates), ongoing research has revealed distinct clocks in different mammalian organs and tissues, and indeed in every cell. These clocks, it turns out, are not merely on the receiving end of a central, governing coordination, but rather are themselves factors in that coordination, and also, it now seems, are interwoven with just about all aspects of the organisms physiology metabolism, reproduction, cell growth and differentiation, immune responses, central nervous system functions In each of these areas the quest for causes and master controllers leads to the usual perplexity about whos doing what to whom. For example: Although metabolism is thought to be primarily downstream of the cellular clock, numerous studies provide evidence that metabolic cycles can operate independently from or even influence circadian rhythms (Kumar and Takahashi 2010). At the molecular level, one research team remarks that the enzymatic function of a certain clock protein may be controlled by changing cell energy levels, or conversely, could regulate them (Doi et al. 2006). In general: It seems that connections between the circadian clock and most (if not all) physiological processes are bidirectional (Yang 2010). What were gaining from all this research is a wonderful portrait of the organism as a rhythmic being. Investigators have not found controlling mechanisms that single-handedly establish or govern the circadian rhythms of the organism, but rather are discovering how those rhythms come to expression at every level and in every precinct of the organism perhaps more centrally here and more peripherally there, but altogether in a single, organism-wide harmony that is also linked to environmental rhythms. There is no sensible way, as a scientist, to speak of particular mechanisms that explain this harmony. Instead, every isolated mechanism is found to be a reflection of the harmony, and we thereby gain further, detailed understanding of how the whole organism functions as a being in time. Is any of this a surprise? Should we expect, say, that a master regulator of digestion exists? Would it be the stomach? The small intestine? The large intestine? The pancreas? The liver and gall bladder? The metabolism taking place in every cell? The brain that sends various coordinating nervous signals to different organs? The mouth that initiates everything? We would certainly look more to the stomach than, say, to the heart, but the fact remains that the organism as a whole is the closest thing we have to a master regulator. What we see in the separate, mechanistic clocks and regulators of circadian rhythms is simply the functioning of those rhythms in the most recognizable or most focal places. But they merely put on more obvious display the rhythmic functioning of the entire body. A well-studied worm Or, we can choose a different example. If there was any place where biologists expected a causal explanation of the organism to emerge clearly, it was in the study of Caenorhabditis elegans, a one-millimeter-long, transparent roundworm whose private molecular and cellular affairs may have been more exhaustively exposed than those of any other organism. The adult hermaphrodite has exactly 959 cells, each precisely identified as to origin and type: for example, 302 cells belong to the nervous system. The developmental fate of every somatic cell, from egg to adult, had already been mapped out by 1980. But this mapping and the associated molecular studies did not produce the expected explanations. Sydney Brenner who received a 2002 Nobel prize for his work on C. elegans acknowledged that development is not a neat, sequential process Its everything going on at the same time. Even regarding the carefully mapped cell lineages of this simple roundworm, there is hardly a shorter way of giving a rule for what goes on than just describing what there is. In other words, the only rule for the development of this worm is the entire developmental description of it. When critics suggested he had not really come to an understanding of the worm, but had only described it, Brenner responded, Im not sure that there necessarily is anything more to understand than what it is (Lewin 1984). The difficulties of linear, causal explanation encountered by the C. elegans researchers were not accidental. You cant explain an organism of meaning, and you dont need to. You need only allow it, like any meaningful text, to speak ever more vividly and profoundly, in ever greater detail, so as to yield up its unique and unrepeatable story. The separate processes do not make tidy explanations because they are not really separate and are not doing just one thing. They are harmonizing with everything else that is going on in the organism. We gain understanding when we learn to recognize this harmony in every aspect of the organism. Various analyses can play a crucial role in bringing clarity to our understanding, but the full picture takes shape only when the analytical threads are woven back into the larger fabric of meaning. Of crosstalk, horror graphs, and collaboration One final example. Molecular biologists speak about signals arriving at receptors on the cell surface. The signals are said to bear messages, which are then transferred (as it often happens) from the receptors to a series of further messengers internal to the cell, which may, among other possibilities, finally convey the message to the cell nucleus. There the message may be interpreted to require the increased or decreased expression of a gene coded for a particular protein. The players in the signaling are, of course, molecules, with proteins being the usual focus of research. The terminology so naturally resorted to here vividly evokes language, meaning, and communication something we saw exemplified in Chapter 2. But, of course, this usage is typically treated as mere metaphor. Signaling pathways have long been regarded as neat, linear sequences of molecular interactions by which an initial encounter say, the binding of a hormone to a cell membrane receptor leads to a predetermined result. Its almost as if the language of molecules and cells were merely one of mechanism and logic not a true language at all. But the language is in fact much richer than that. Signaling pathways help to maintain a coherence of meaning within and between cells. Take, for example, the work by a team of molecular biologists at the Free University of Brussels. They investigated how signaling pathways interact or crosstalk with each other. Tabulating the cross-signalings between just four such pathways yielded what they called a horror graph, and quickly it began to look as though everything does everything to everything (Dumont et al. 2001), much like the way any given term in a meaningful text can modify the meanings of many other terms. Other researchers speak of a collaborative process that can be pictured as a table around which decision-makers debate a question and respond collectively to information put to them (Levy et al. 2010). Even considering a single membrane receptor bound by a hormonal or other signal, you can find yourself looking, conservatively, at a billion possible states, depending on how that receptor is modified by its interactions with other molecules. Despite previous belief, there is no simple binary rule distinguishing deactivated receptors from those activated by some combination of signals in a particular context. The activated receptor looks less like a machine and more like a probability cloud of an almost infinite number of possible states, each of which may differ in its biological activity (Mayer et al. 2009). Our problem lies in adequately imagining the reality. When a single protein can combine with several hundred different modifier molecules, leading to practically infinite combinatorial possibilities, and when that protein itself is an infinitesimal point in the vast, turbulent molecular sea of continual exchange that is the cell, and when the cell is one instance of maybe several trillion cells of some 250 different major types in the human body in muscle and bone, liver and brain, blood and artery well, it would be understandable if some of those seeking mechanistic or computer-like controllers preferred not to stare too long at this picture. Nevertheless, we should keep in mind that the collaborative process mentioned above involves not just one table with negotiators gathered around it, but countless tables with countless participants, and with influences radiating in all directions as countless local decisions are made in a manner somehow disciplined by the immaterial unity (Chapter 6) and multidimensioned interests of the organism as a whole. In other words, not only are the elements of an individual signaling pathway extremely flexible and adaptive; the individual pathway itself, once thought of as discrete and well-defined, doesnt really exist certainly not as a separate mechanism. In sum: messages are not physically discrete, and they do not fly back and forth as elements of a predefined cellular logic. They move as dynamically sculptured, interwoven patterns of force and energy. Their meanings are mimed or gestured neither translated into, nor reduced to, a kind of expressionless Morse code, nor impelled along precisely incised channels like computer instructions. And what holds them together amid the ceaseless flow and crosstalk and molecular transformation of the cellular plasm is the unity of meaning that is the whole cell and whole organism. This unity is there for us to observe directly, and we all recognize it, whether with blindsight or otherwise. Box 9.1 illustrates the problems weve been discussing, but does so with specific reference to the molecular biology of gene expression. Box 9.1 Cause Or Effect? In the following quotations, you neednt worry about the technical details; the general sense of the remarks is all that matters here. Technological advances are revealing an unexpectedly extensive network of communication within and between chromosomes. A crucial unresolved issue is the extent to which this organization affects gene function, rather than just reflecting it (Fraser and Bickmore 2007). Together, these results further emphasize the role for RNA polymerase in shaping the chromatin landscape of the genome and point toward the difficulty in disentangling cause and effect in the relationship between chromatin and transcription (Weiner et al. 2010, p. 98). Epigenetic modifications in Alzheimers disease: cause or effect? title of a paper. The conclusion: Further studies are necessary (Piaceri 2014). A long-standing question is whether [cell] replication timing dictates the structure of chromatin or vice versa. Mounting evidence supports a model in which replication timing is both cause and consequence of chromatin structure by providing a means to inherit chromatin states that, in turn, regulate replication timing in the subsequent cell cycle (Gilbert 2002). While several studies using next-generation sequencing have revealed genome-wide associations between epigenetic modifications and transcriptional states, a direct causal relationship at specific genomic loci has not been fully demonstrated (Fukushima et al. 2019). Despite the difficulties in proving cause and effect, these examples convincingly illustrate how chromatin crosstalk can functionally increase the adaptive plasticity of the cell exposed to the changing microenvironment (Gondor and Ohlsson 2009). A related unresolved question is whether chromatin loops are the cause or the effect of transcriptional regulation (Deng and Blobel 2010). The enthusiasm for establishing whether epigenetic mechanisms link the environment with disease development must be tempered by the knowledge that the epigenome is dynamic and has as much potential to respond to disease as respond to the environment. Therefore it is very difficult to disentangle cause from consequence when studying epigenetic variation and disease (Relton 2012). Despite abundant evidence that most kinds of tumor cells carry so-called epigenetic changes, scientists havent yet worked out exactly whether such glitches are a cause or a consequence of disease (Kaiser 2010). The clarification of the cause-and-effect relationship of nuclear organization and the function of the genome represents one of the most important future challenges. Further experiments are needed to determine whether the spatial organization of the nucleus is a consequence of genome organization, chromatin modifications, and DNA-based processes, or whether nuclear architecture is an important determinant of the function of the genome (Schneider and Grosschedl 2007). Although there is widespread agreement that genome form [such as folding and topological domains] and function [gene expression] are intimately connected, their causal relationship remains controversial (Stadhouders et al. 2019). The spatial organization of the genome into compartments and topologically associated domains can have an important role in the regulation of gene expression. But could gene expression conversely regulate genome organization? Recent evidence suggests a dynamic, reciprocal interplay between fine-scale genome organization and transcription, in which each is able to modulate or reinforce the activity of the other (Steensel and Furlong 2019). The problem of causation is fundamental to biology The powerful compulsion to identify decisive causes, even at the expense of painfully self-contradictory language, strongly suggests that a one-sided and unrealizable ideal of biological explanation is at work. Under its influence we aim to discover a physical lawfulness reflecting, above all, our experience with machines a lawfulness of precise, unambiguous control, where one thing can be said, without unwelcome qualification, to make another thing happen. Think of a machine. Having conceived what we want it to do, we design it to be a closed system whose intended functioning is more or less immune to contextual interference. And we try to do much the same in many scientific demonstrations. For example, we can create a vacuum in a chamber, and then release a leaf from the top of the chamber. It falls like a stone. Of course, leaves in nature often travel upward. But the experiment in the chamber enables us to observe the singular and lawful play of gravity, without any disturbing interference from the resistance or movement of air. We can then and only then say that gravity appears to make the leaf fall, just as the simple laws governing the gears and springs of a mechanical watch make the watch perform as a reliable keeper of time. But when the biologist tries to see an animal in the same mechanistic light, as a closed system without interfering factors, the attempt fails miserably. This is because, for the animal, contextual interference is the whole point. As the meaning of its activity shifts from moment to moment, so, too, does the contextual significance of all the details of its life. For example, when a deer is grazing in a meadow, its glimpse of a vaguely canine form in the distance changes the meaning of everything from the flowers and grass the deer was eating, to its own internal digestive processes, to the expression of its genes. This happens, not because the distant form is exerting some strange physical force upon the deer, but because that form becomes part of a now suddenly shifted pattern of meaning.3 Or (to focus on the cellular level): when a cell enters into mitosis, just about every detail of its physiology and chemistry takes on an altered meaning in light of the changing narrative context. Everything is now heading toward a new outcome. Molecules that had been participating in one set of interactions (and could easily still do so in purely physical terms) now enter into very different intermolecular relations. Similarly with a cell experiencing heat shock, oxygen deprivation or other stress, a cell coming into contact with new neighbors, or a cell proceeding along a path of embryonic differentiation. Certainly we can still identify unambiguous causes in the organism. It is always possible to narrow the conditions of our experiments so severely that a consistent causal arrow for a particular interaction emerges under those conditions. But the whole point of lifes adaptability is to seek altered conditions according to present needs and interests. This is why there can be no fixed syntax, no mechanical constancy of relations among the parts. Rather than being a closed system relative to this or that cause, the organism is forever abandoning the coordinating principles of its old context in favor of a new and ever-changing meaning. Its story is always evolving. I titled this section, The Problem of Causation is Fundamental to Biology. The problem I had in mind was that of getting clear about the very nature of causation in biology. It differs from the problem of causation in the physical sciences. Organisms manifest a fluid, integral, harmonizing sort of causation that is more like a play of the multi-dimensional reasons for things than a set of one-dimensional mechanical interactions. It is more like the rich interplay of meaning in an unfolding poem than a rigid syntax or logic. Biologists, on the other hand, seem to be fixated on the fundamental issue of distinguishing clear-cut cause from clear-cut effect in the usual physical sense: Despite intensive studies of genome organization in the past decade, a fundamental issue remains regarding genomic interactions and genome organization as a cause or a consequence of gene expression. This problem is also pertinent to RNAs, which may have regulatory functions in transcription rather than being simply products of transcription Li and Fu 2019 ). Unfortunately, there is little if any effort to elucidate just what hangs upon this fundamental issue or what might be the implications of the fact that the issue appears irresolvable so long as we insist upon unambiguous physical causation as the basis for biological understanding. For the sake of any who may not yet be convinced about just how thoroughly the problem of cause and effect has bedeviled molecular biologists, I present as a kind of appendix to this chapter Box 9.1, which illustrates the problem with specific reference to the molecular biology of gene expression. (You neednt worry about the technical details; the general sense of the remarks is all that matters here.) Where are we now? We Need a Biology Beyond Definitive Causes If the preoccupation with controlling causes reflects, as I have now suggested, an unrealizable idea of biological explanation, then it also reflects a more or less false understanding of biological reality. I have, in the preceding chapters, been trying to point toward some primary aspects of a more adequate understanding one that neednt bring us into conflict with what we know. Here is a brief retrospective: It has turned out, as we saw in What Brings Our Genome Alive? and Epigenetics: A Brief Introduction, that genes those supposed prime causes of the organisms life are in fact the focus of almost incomprehensible powers of coordination working from the whole of the cell and organism into the cell nucleus. And the principle of coordination was equally evident in The Sensitive, Dynamic Cell, where we looked at the membranes and cytoskeleton of cells. We have seen, courtesy of the work of the twentieth-century cell biologist, Paul Weiss, that molecules interacting according to physical law in the fluid medium of the cell possess countless degrees of freedom that must be curtailed, or disciplined, by the cell as a whole. Similarly, vast numbers of cells must be held together according to the functional needs of particular organs. And so, too, the disparate organs and organ systems are harmoniously subordinated to the needs and interests of the organism as a whole. (See especially the chapter, Context: Dare We Call It Holism?) We have also seen (in that same chapter) that biologists incessantly appeal to the context-dependence of biological activity. The appeal amounts to a recognition of a kind of causation that works downward from the integral unity of a larger whole, into the parts. This causal unity is inseparable from the ideas that define a context and hold its elements meaningfully together, thereby posing The Mystery of an Unexpected Coherence. Again, in the present chapter, we have been alerted to the confusion of causes that makes it impossible to explain organisms in the usual causal terms. That is, it is impossible to explain them biologically in this way, as opposed to merely elucidating their physics and chemistry. The life-like coordination of physical interactions involves what I referred to above as the multi-dimensional reasons for things rather than a set of one-dimensional mechanical interactions. It is more like the rich interplay of meaning in an unfolding poem than a rigid syntax or logic. And, finally, it is hard not to notice that all these themes come together in what we can usefully think of as the organisms story. That is, every organism spins, or cooperates in spinning, the narrative of its own life. Future-directedness, purposiveness, context-sensitivity, the meaningful interweaving of ideas, the subordination of isolated events and physical causes to the needs, interests, and purposes of active agents these features that we have noted in organisms are also the features of stories (Chapter 2). In the next two chapters, dealing with problems of form, we will see how the form of organisms offers us an avenue toward biological understanding that can be a useful corrective to the usual preoccupation with cause and effect. Then, in Chapter 12 (Is a Qualitative Biology Possible?) we will touch upon the reconceiving of biological causation as a matter of form and idea. Notes In speaking of purely physical causation, we certainly would not say that parts exist for the sake of each other. But Kants treatment of these issues was central to a great deal of biological discussion during the following decades and still surfaces frequently today, at least among philosophers of biology. But the technically oriented training of biologists themselves no longer encourages a familiarity with decisive issues at the foundation of their own discipline. Sources Berger, Shelley L. and Paolo Sassone-Corsi (2016). 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COP28 discusses carbon credits, market challenges, India's surge, and cooperative solutions for decarbonisation, WRITE SAGAR KISAN WADKAR and NAVEEN KUMAR SINGH Throughout the G20 summit, a central theme revolved around addressing climate change, particularly through the endorsement of climate finance, technology, and equitable energy transitions for developing nations. The LiFE movement, grounded in India's sustainable traditions, promotes eco-friendly practices. During a special forum at the G20 Presidency COP28, the president underscored climate action as an opportunity for growth, urging global unity, action, and commitment to achieve the 1.5-degree goal while ensuring inclusivity for all. Concept of Carbon Credit In the ongoing discussions at COP28, the issue of carbon credits holds significant relevance. Carbon credits play a crucial role in international efforts to mitigate climate change, serving as a unit of measurement for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Typically, one carbon credit is equivalent to one ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) or its equivalent. Once issued in the form of a carbon credit certificate by a government or any other recognised body, this carbon credit becomes tradable in nature. The concept operates by incentivising projects and initiatives that reduce or remove emissions, offering them carbon credits as recognition for their contribution to environmental sustainability. History of Carbon Market The Conference of the Parties (COP), established as the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992 during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, convenes annually to discuss strategies for combating climate change. The inaugural COP took place in 1995, marking the beginning of a series of meetings that have played a pivotal role in international efforts to address climate change. In 1997, the concept of carbon commodification gained prominence with the Kyoto Protocol, and it further progressed with the Paris Agreement in 2015. Although the roots of carbon commodification trace back to the 1960s, its formal structure materialised after the Kyoto Protocol. While the instituted mechanisms cannot be labelled outright failures, they faced significant constraints. For instance, some developed countries did not ratify the protocol. Moreover, there was disagreement between developed and developing nations: emissions reductions were mandatory for developed countries but voluntary for developing ones. This was accompanied by the over allocation of emission allowances to certain countries, causing a surplus of carbon credits in the market and consequently driving down their value. This was further compounded by people's perceptions about the credibility of carbon projects. Efforts were made to address these issues with the Paris Agreement in 2015, introducing global initiatives such as Nationally Determined Contributions and provisions for financial support to developing countries. Deliberations during COP28 Currently, COP28 is in progress in the UAE, where discussions are underway to advance various work streams. The major agenda is to implement the Paris Agreement. COP28 is an opportunity to identify global solutions for limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees, as agreed during the Paris Agreement, inform countries preparations for revised and more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) due by 2025, accelerate the green transition that is already happening and ultimately achieve the delivery of the Paris Agreement goals. These include crucial issues, such as finalising the details of the loss and damage finance facility to assist vulnerable communities in coping with immediate climate impacts; working on a global financial goal to support developing countries in their climate change mitigation and adaptation endeavours; hastening both an energy transition and a just transition; and addressing the substantial emissions gap. The outcomes of these deliberations at COP28 will contribute to shaping the global response to climate change and steering the world towards a more sustainable and resilient future. Issue of Carbon Market and Need for Institutionalisation The carbon credits market, essential for mitigating climate change, is plagued by opacity due to its intricate structure. With numerous projects generating credits and a myriad of market participants engaging in trades, the lack of a centralised regulatory structure creates gaps in transparency. This multifaceted dynamic results in a situation reminiscent of "one step forward, two steps backward." One of the critical issues lies in the absence of a requirement for disclosing the price paid for carbon credits. This lack of transparency allows organisations to potentially misrepresent their commitment to offsetting emissions. Some may purposefully miscalculate their carbon footprint or purchase cheaper credits that might not withstand standardised scrutiny, leading to instances of "greenwashing." A significant hurdle in today's carbon credit markets is the lack of standardised followup for projects that apply for carbon credits. Many projects, unable to meet their carbon mitigation commitments, sell their credits to third parties, falling short of achieving the ultimate goal of net-zero emissions. This raises questions about the effectiveness of carbon credit initiatives and the need for more stringent oversight. Efforts have been made to enhance transparency in carbon credit prices by compiling trading data from market players and accredited registries like The Gold Standard, Climate Action Reserve, Verified Carbon Standard, and the American Carbon Registry. However, challenges persist, leaving room for potential fraud or dubious activity in emissions trading markets. As a major discussion, COP28 introduces the creation of a global carbon market which will be overseen by the supervisory body. This is indeed a welcome step as it tries to bring credibility and transparency to the carbon market. India's Carbon Market Surge India has advanced its decarbonisation strategy by introducing two pivotal regulations aimed at tackling opacity: the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme and the Green Credit Programme Implementation Rules. Between 2010 and 2022, India not only issued 35.94 million Carbon Credits but also actively participated in trading these credits on the global international markets. Now the introduced regulations are supposed to provide more incentive to the corporate, NGOs, farmers and other individuals with the goal of achieving the countrys nationally determined contributions. The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Power, Government of India caters to big players in the carbon landscape working on cap and trade mechanisms. The Green Credit Programme Implementation Rules, to be implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, is meant to bring structural reforms and transparency in Voluntary Carbon Market. These regulations provide a framework for transparent transactions and adherence to international standards. However, mere introduction of such regulations are not sufficient. As per a study conducted by Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia (TAFSSA), the carbon projects being conducted at present are not able provide monetary benefits to the farmers which had been attributed to various factors like need of local implementation partner, limited awareness among farmers about carbon credits and lack of regulated marketplaces makes projects financially unsustainable. Thus, India requires a proper Institutional Management system for overseeing and managing carbon and green credits effectively. Now, it cannot be denied that carbon projects are only going to increase in the coming future with special focus on farmers and other micro level projects. The Green Credit Programme encompasses diverse sectors, including tree plantation, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, waste management, air pollution reduction, mangrove conservation, ecomark initiatives, and sustainable building and infrastructure. It seeks to create a market-based mechanism, offering Green Credits as incentives to individuals, cooperatives, urban and rural local bodies, private sectors, industries, and organisations for environmentally positive actions can be a game changer in this. The programme being voluntary in nature can bring more positives which is also evident as though still in draft stage many organisations have shown their interest in enrolling with the programme. Cooperatives-Community-Based Solution for Decarbonisation Cooperatives, as community-driven organisations, possess inherent mechanisms to address social, economic, and environmental concerns, making them ideal institutional frameworks for decarbonisation efforts. These cooperative structures inherently integrate efforts across these spheres, offering a comprehensive approach to tackle the challenges of reducing carbon emissions. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, cooperatives have demonstrated their resilience, further emphasising their effectiveness as versatile entities capable of enduring and adapting in challenging times. In India, we have two types of cooperatives: credit and non-credit. As per NCUI, 2018 statistical profile, there are 8,54,000 cooperative units in India, of which 1,77,000 units (20 per cent) are credit cooperatives. The remaining units engaged in a variety of non-credit cooperative activities, such as textiles, hospitals, services, industrial, producer, processing, dairy, fisheries, sugar, marketing, consumer, labour, housing, etc. The outreach of the cooperatives in the farm sector is quite high. About 98,000 PACS are spread across 91 per cent of total villages of India. It is estimated that around 30 crore people including 13 crore framers in India are directly connected to cooperatives. India has recognised their importance and established a separate Ministry of Cooperation in July 2021 to provide administrative, legal, and policy frameworks to strengthen this sector. This has sparked renewed enthusiasm amongst cooperators and stakeholders. Numerous initiatives have been launched to bolster the cooperative movement, signaling a revitalised effort towards its enhancement and expansion. The key initiatives of aligning with decarbonisation strategies are as follows: Model bylaws for PACS, the fundamental agricultural cooperatives can drive India's decarbonisation strategy by fostering sustainable agricultural practices, reducing emissions, and supporting farmers' income; Three new multi-state cooperative societies in the areas of quality and climate-resilient seed production and distribution, organic farming and certification and export marketing. These multi-State cooperative societies focus on sustainable practices that reduce carbon emissions, encourage climate-resilient agriculture, and promote eco-friendly products in the market, collectively contributing significantly to the broader decarbonisation strategy; World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector aims to boost PACS infrastructure, reducing food grain wastage, enhancing food security, and empowering farmers economically, aligning with the decarbonisation strategy; The Solar Cooperative in Dhundi Village, Gujarat, serves as a pioneering model for India's decarbonisation efforts. It monetises solar energy, offers rural electricity solutions, and provides farmers with sustainable incomes. Its replicable nature aligns with India's goals of cutting carbon emissions and fostering clean energy practices nationwide; Bio-ethanol policy via sugar cooperatives can significantly contribute to the bio-revolution by utilising agricultural resources for clean, renewable fuel production, promoting sustainability, reducing waste, and fostering rural development; Similarly, housing cooperatives in different states are under redevelopment and given an opportunity they can go for green buildings which fall under the green credit programme of decarbonisation strategy. Thus, cooperatives, especially agricultural ones, indeed hold a distinctive chance to establish a sustainable food and agriculture value chain. This involves meeting the needs of an expanding global population while ensuring the well-being and economic stability of farmers. Achieving the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal offers business benefits and environmental gains, driving on-farm decarbonisation. Cooperatives' pivotal role extends beyond implementation, nurturing new ventures and integrating sustainable practices with carbon initiatives from COP 28, exemplifying a blueprint for a sustainable future. (Sagar Kisan Wadkar is Adviser, Research & Study, NCUI; and Naveen Kumar Singh is Research Officer, NCUI, New Delhi) This book is a telling commentary on the present status of the PwDs in the country and is an essential read on the legislations and government policies and glaring gaps that need to be filled to ensure an inclusive society Despite several government policies and welfare measures, a significant number of persons with disabilities (PwDs) especially those with intellectual developmental disabilities/ mental illness continue to be confined to their homes or resort to begging due to the absence of a proper support system. Obviously, either the policies are not being effectively implemented or are not aligned with the specific needs of this particular sector. The Supreme Court's recent attention to this matter through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is indicative of the urgent need to address the lack of guidelines for the rehabilitation and social reintegration of mentally and physically challenged individuals after they turn 18. This resonates with the concerns of parents and caregivers who worry about the future of their wards when they are no longer able to provide care. If you are still clueless about what we are talking about then you must read the book Era of Awakening for People with Disabilities authored by 94-year-old seasoned journalist JP Gadkari, fondly known as JP among his friends and those working for the uplift of the sector. Drawing from his personal experience as the father of an adult autistic son and his extensive involvement in the disability sector, JP sensitively highlights the shortcomings in current government policies and legislation. The book, categorized into six topics, delves deep into various aspects of the lives of PwDs, including their rights, health, education, employment, social security, inclusion, awareness, and poverty and the gaps that persist, hindering the establishment of an inclusive society. One notable suggestion among many others from the author is the call for a 2021 census to obtain accurate data on the PwD population for better planning. The book also critically assesses the new proposed disability policy, appreciating the government's efforts to adopt a Right-based approach but at the same time pointing out the lack of sufficient budget and the absence of heads of important autonomous bodies like the Rehabilitation Council of India. Each section appears to analyze the government's actions or lack thereof in these areas, offering a critical assessment of the impact on the lives of PwDs. Part three titled Present situation is a must read, emphasizing on what was expected in the UNCRPD and what exactly has been achieved in the past two decades in respect of multitude of issues like social security, skill development and employment, education, standardization of training of professionals among others. The author also stressed on skill development training as an essental requirement given their limited capacity for academic education. He says that acquiring some skills through vocational training can help them get some kind of gainful employment so as to lead a dignified life. He suggests this should be entrusted to the National Trust. Dr. Sudesh Mukhopadhyay, former head of the Rehabilitation Council of India(RCI), in the Foreword rightly describes the publication as a memoir of the journey from exclusion to inclusion for persons with IDDs, reflecting the struggle faced by parents and civil society to make the State and system more sensitive and responsive. The book emphasizes the importance of involving individuals with disabilities in creative processes, as demonstrated by the inclusion of the cover of the book which is designed by an young autistic graphic designer Ujjwal. This action sets an example for the broader theme of promoting inclusivity in society. In conclusion, the book provides a comprehensive perspective on the challenges faced by PwDs in India, incorporating the voices of individuals with disabilities and their support networks. It also serves as a call to action, urging the government and society to bridge the existing gaps and work towards creating a truly inclusive environment for all, particularly those living on the edge of the margin. In recent years, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been marked by a complex interplay between state and non-state actors, notably employing the Political Contest Model developed by Gadi Wolfsfeld. This model illustrates the asymmetry in power and resources between state and non-state entities, exemplified by Israels actions in West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jewish settlements. The quintessential Political Contest Model, as advanced by Israeli scholar Gadi Wolfsfeld, posits the narrative that during a conflict, the state actor is pitted against a non-state actor, in tandem with the germination and sustenance of a spectacular effect. The state actor is steadily accoutered with the characteristics of power and resources, such as the military prowess of the high-riding establishment and the economic premise of the regime of the day. On the other hand, the non-state actor is hard-pressed for resources and thus consequently relies upon a spectacular impact, such as that of an insurgent action, which inflicts damage to the states habiliments and its symbols of state power. This is the Simulacra effect of the non-state actor. The same model has been utilised by the state of Israel to rationalise its actions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as well as the related Jewish settlements in the contested terrain. The Israel-Palestine conflict is often scrutinised in an inquisitive quest to identify the culpable agent, leading to collateral damage and the mass destruction of human lives and the remnants of human civilisation. The prologue of O Jerusalem sets the stage in Israel, stating, They knew the sound. For months before this afternoon in May 1948, the forlorn wail had symbolised the frontiers of their existence. It was the skirl of the British bagpipes, and now its call reverberated for the last time down these ancient stone passages, piping away the few British soldiers left inside the old walled city of Jerusalem. They marched in columns, silent and unsmiling, the rhythmic tramp of their boots blending with the dying notes of the bagpipes. At the head and the rear of each column, one soldier, a sten gun crooked in his elbow, broke the pattern of their unwavering stares, his restless eyes scanning the hostile stone facades around them. The Balfour Declaration, penned by Arthur James Balfour, contained ambiguities that required interpreters and solution providers to attempt filling the gaps. Released in 1917, the declaration declared British support for the establishment of a national home for dispersed Jews in Palestine. It took the form of a letter from Arthur James Balfour, the British Foreign Secretary, to Lionel Rothschild, a leader of the Anglo-Jewish community. Despite this, there was a struggle to balance the two communities in Palestine. It was asserted that neither party should do anything to diminish the civil and religious rights of the non-Jewish communities in the land of Palestine. Thus, one can trace back to history to advance the argument that the seeds of conflict resolution were embedded in the two-nation theory, a concept that still perplexes present-day interlocutors. There is no doubt that Hamas is considered a terrorist organisation of the non-state genre. The incident on October 7, where they caused mayhem and kidnapped Jews in south Israel, is cited by Benjamin Netanyahu as a justification for the IDFs aggressive actions and relentless attacks on northern Gaza in the early stages of the conflict. Prime Minister Netanyahu contends, This is a fight till the finish, and the war will be carried on until the whole of the Hamas establishment is annihilated in Gaza Strip. The UNSC has reprimanded Tel Aviv, emphasising the need for a humanitarian corridor to be provided to international aid agencies. Ceasefires, negotiated by neighbouring state actors like Egypt, have been proposed to facilitate this. Describing Israels involvement as a ceaseless Armageddon would not be an overstatement, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel aims to destroy both Hamas military and governing capabilities. Initially designated as a recalcitrant non-state actor due to its actions on October 7, 2023, Hamas has faced international criticism for the reported massive collateral damage in Gaza. While President Joe Biden expresses unwavering support for Tel Aviv, he urges less intrusive actions, emphasising the prevention of incidents like the destruction of Shifa Hospital. Similar to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the issue of collateral damage poses a challenge for the IDF, which contends that civilian facilities, including hospitals, serve as shelters for Hamas terrorists and concealment of their strength through tunnels. The world awaits with bated breath to see how the global ecosystem will navigate the twin conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, especially with the pervasive threat of the pandemic looming. The credibility of international institutions such as the United Nations and the ambiguous stance of superpowers like the United States have come under scrutiny, notably with the aggressive actions of Houthi rebels in Yemen and the involvement of Iranian agents, which further escalates the conflict. The promotion of peace and stability must be orchestrated by the interlocutors in West Asia and the great powers collectively. The United States of America has made it clear that it will stand by Israel regardless of the circumstances, and two warship groups have been stationed in the near vicinity. President Biden has unequivocally expressed this intent to the international community, both at the UNSC and beyond. Collateral damage is strongly condemned by the Americans, as indicated by Bidens statement regarding the tragic news related to Gad Haggai. The United States has traditionally been a staunch ally of Tel Aviv, and the Jewish lobby, despite facing dehumanisation globally, has a significant influence in the political, social, and economic life of America. A relevant and timely White House release succinctly asserts, Today, the world faces an inflection point, where the choices we make, including in the crises in Europe and West Asia, will determine the direction of our future for generations to come. What will our world look like on the other side of these conflicts? Will we deny Hamas the ability to carry out pure, unadulterated evil? Will Israelis and Palestinians one day live side by side in peace, with two states for two peoples? IR theorist John Mearsheimer staunchly contends that the key pillar of US policy has been the nation-state of Israel, which, according to him, is an undeniable fact. Additional strategic imperatives and a higher moral perch have been incorporated into the US-Israel narrative, and this is prominently reflected in the contemporary crisis. (The writer teaches at International Relations and International Organisations, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi) Banarasi sarees on the theme of 'Ram Mandir' are set to make a fashion statement with weavers here working on beautiful drapes ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony this month. The weavers have received customised orders for various patterns on the sarees, including Ram Mandir motifs on the pallu, designs detailing life of Lord Ram right from his childhood to killing Ravana, and 'Shree Ram' inscriptions on the border. The first phase of the temple is nearing completion and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the consecration ceremony on January 22. The Supreme Court delivered a historic verdict in 2019, settling a temple-mosque dispute that went over a century back. The court backed the construction of the Ram temple at the disputed site and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for building a mosque. As Ayodhya decks up for the 'pran pratishtha' (consecration) at the Ram Mandir, artisans across the country are expressing their enthusiasm for the temple opening through unique creations. Anisur Rahman, a weaver from the Mubarakpur area here said there is huge excitement among Varanasi's weaver community for the grand event. "Sarees with detailing work and motifs about historical features have always been in great demand but the sentiment towards the Ram temple is completely different," Rahman told PTI. "We are preparing sarees on the Ram Mandir theme and these will be soon be part of the fashion statement. We have orders from different parts of the country from women who want to celebrate January 22 at their respective places wearing these sarees," he said. Explaining the types of sarees being designed on the theme of Ram temple, Rahman said, "One type of sarees have an inscription of Ram temple on the pallu; these sarees are being made in red and yellow colour and the inscription is in shade of golden. The second kind of sarees are available in multiple colours and they have a border with 'Shree Ram' written throughout." "The third type of sarees are the most detailed one which depict the different phases of Lord Ram's life right from his childhood to killing of Ravana," he added. Madan, another weaver from the Peeli Kothi area here, said the sarees with depiction of 'Ram Darbar' on the pallu are also in great demand. "We have two orders from the US as well for the Ram Mandir-themed sarees," said Madan. The price of these sarees start from Rs 7,000 and go up to Rs 1 lakh. Renowned for its exemplary workmanship, Banarasi silk weaves are a treasured handloom for women across all generations. Woven with immaculate artistry and nostalgic narratives, the culture of the land is mirrored in its royal brocades, resplendent motifs and rich hues. "Over the years, the weaving ecosystem of Banaras has been subject to the influence of myriad cultures and traditions, and in due course of time developed a unique design language that is admired far and wide," said Madan. "The brocades of Banaras revolve around its detailed motifs that define the very essence of this drape. Artisans and weavers draw inspiration from the landscape surrounding them and bring to life motifs synonymous with various themes," he added. During his visit to Ayodhya on December 30, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the whole world is waiting for the historic Ram temple consecration ceremony and appealed to people to light special diyas -- Shri Ram Jyoti -- in their homes to celebrate the day of 'pran pratishtha' at Ram temple. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday the Centre was holding talks with militants in the northeast, but treating ordinary civilians in Jammu and Kashmir as militants. "We will not surrender, we will not raise the white flag. If you talk to us with dignity, we will respond with respect. However, if you talk through batons like you did in Bafliaz, it will not work," Mufti said at a function at Bijbehara in Anantnag district. The PDP president was addressing a gathering of party workers and supporters at the mausoleum of her father and PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on his eighth death anniversary. Mehbooba Mufti said while the Centre was holding talks with the militants in the Northeast, it had branded ordinary civilians in Jammu and Kashmir as militants. "There (in the northeast) you talk to militants while in Jammu and Kashmir you have branded ordinary people as militants. You have filled the jails by carrying out (indiscriminate) arrests. The Enforcement Directorate, NIA, SIA raids .... Does anyone treat their own people like this?" she asked. The former chief minister said the Centre should learn from the approach taken by her late father in dealing with separatists. "Learn something from Mufti sahib ... He tried to connect the hearts of people. He gave a way to separatists also so that they can live within this country with dignity. Mufti never said a wrong thing.... He always held on to one flag only.. But he only said the people of Jammu and kashmir want peace with dignity," she added. The highlight of the function was the return to the PDP of party co-founder Muzaffar Hussain Baig and his wife Safina Baig, who is chairperson of District Development Council Baramulla, after nearly four years. Baig, while addressing the gathering, said Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the first person who spoke about the healing touch policy after the eruption of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. "As far as Mufti's politics is concerned, he was the first Muslim home minister of India. Till date no other Muslim has been made Home minister of the country. He was the first person who talked about healing touch after the eruption of militancy ... He said the militants were our own children who are being misled by another country," he added. Baig said the PDP founder gave a message of harmony, rising above various divides in the society. "He gave a message of harmony, rising above the urban-rural divide, the Pahari-Gujjar differences or the Hindu-Muslim divide. I will pray to Allah to have mercy on all of us and grant us a life of dignity," he added. The return of Baigs to the PDP assumes significance as it comes less than four months ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Baig offered fatiha (special prayers) at the mausoleum of Sayeed at Bijbhera in the south Kashmir district. Baig, who was a co-founder of the PDP in late 1990s, was made patron of the party following Sayeed's death in 2016. A former deputy chief minister, Baig quit the party in 2020 and was tipped to join the People's Conference led by Sajad Lone. While Baig's wife, Safina, did join Lone's party, the former Lok Sabha member from Baramulla did not make an official announcement about his status. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday accused the BJP of being against the tribals and claimed that Aam Aadmi Party's Gujarat MLA Chaitar Vasava was arrested last month as he fought for the tribal community's rights. Addressing a public rally at Netrang in Gujarat's Bharuch district along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, Kejriwal also said Vasava will be the AAP's candidate from Bharuch Lok Sabha seat in the general elections due in a few months. Vasava, the MLA from Dediapada and AAP's state working president, was arrested on December 14, 2023 after he surrendered in a case of allegedly threatening forest officers and firing in the air while trying to resolve an issue pertaining to cultivation of forest land by local tribals in Narmada district. His wife was also arrested in the case. Kejriwal claimed tribal leader Vasava was lured with crores of rupees and a ministerial post in the government if he switched over to the BJP, which the AAP MLA refused because he cannot betray his own community. The BJP was scared of Vasava and "trying to suppress him to send out a message to the community that if anyone tries to raise voice against it, he will be crushed," he further claimed while expressing his support for the AAP MLA. "The BJP has been in power (in Gujarat) since the last 30 years, then why it didn't do anything for the adivasi community? Chaitar Vasava raised their voice because the BJP failed to do anything for them," he said. "The BJP is against the tribal community. It hates the tribal community and is against the community from the beginning. Give it another 30 years and it will destroy the tribal community," the AAP's national convener alleged. Kejriwal further claimed the BJP was "worse than daakus (dacoits)" for not even sparing Vasava's wife from arrest. In Delhi, the AAP has refurbished all government hospitals, and in Gujarat they (BJP) are privatising civil hospitals, he said. "Lakhs and crores are being allocated for the adivasi community from the central and state governments. Where does the money go? They steal all the money," Kejriwal alleged. He said Vasava also fought with police and raised voice over the condition of schools in the region. "I would like to tell the BJP that Chaitar Vasava will emerge to finish you off," he said. Kejriwal said Vasava will be AAP's candidate for the Lok Sabha election from Bharuch and the party will do its best to secure his and his wife's release from jail. If he is not released before the election, then the people should be ready to fight on his behalf, he added. The Delhi CM said he along with Mann and state AAP leaders will meet Vasava in Rajpipla jail on Monday. "This is not a fight for Chaitar Vasava, but for the honour of the entire adivasi community," he said. If the tribals remains silent today, the BJP will get emboldened and the community's youth will be suppressed like Vasava, he claimed. Vasava is one of the five MLAs of the AAP elected in the 2022 Gujarat assembly elections. One of them, Bhupendra Bhayani, who represented Visavadar constituency, resigned on December 12, 2023. VANCOUVER Environment Canada says inland sections of the central and south coasts of British Columbia should prepare for significant snowfall early this week. It says there is also potential for snow at sea level along the coastal sections of the south coast and eastern Vancouver Island Monday. But the weather office says mild air moving into the region will help transition any coastal snow to rain by Monday afternoon, with the most significant amounts expected for West Vancouver Island. It says strong winds will develop on the west side of Vancouver Island Monday night and continue into Tuesday. Environment Canada says these winds will also reach the inner south coast on Tuesday. It says weather warnings may be issued as needed when the storms develop this week. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2024. The Canadian Press Hyderabad: Two drunk passengers onboard a Mumbai-Hyderabad flight that arrived in the city on Sunday morning were booked by the police for allegedly creating a nuisance on the flight and misbehaving with the crew. The duo was identified as Saif Pasha and Md Ashraf Hussain, traders from Tolichowki. The police filed a case under Section 290 (public nuisance) of the IPC and relevant sections of the City Police Act. They were in a drunk condition and picked up an argument with the crew, said K. Balaraju, station house officer of the RGI Airport police station. The police said the duo was served a notice and released, with further investigation under process. The police said Pasha and Hussain were returning to the city after a vacation in Mumbai, and created a nuisance by asking for better seats. The crew tried to pacify them, but the traders continued to argue and failed to accept their explanation, following which the matter was reported to the aircraft commander, airport and security personnel. Pasha and Hussain were later released as the offence carried punishment of less than seven years. Airport sources said that usually, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) places passengers on the 'no fly list' for their unruly behaviour, but that the same would happen only after the investigation is completed and a report submitted. The airline has not issued a statement about the incident. Hyderabad: In an incident of unruly behaviour, occupants of two cars assaulted the staff of the high-security Shamshabad airport over parking fee and tried to flee the premises. Alerted by the parking lot staff, CISF personnel sounded a high alert and deployed spike barriers, using which one of the cars was intercepted and its occupants detained. The other car managed to flee. The incident took place on Saturday. According to sources, seven persons were in an SUV and a sedan, allegedly in an inebriated condition. While leaving the airport premises from Exit 1 at the parking lot after seeing off a friend, they were asked to pay the parking fee, but picked up an argument with the staff and then assaulted them. Upon being denied an exit, they reversed their vehicle and tried to crash the barriers. While the sedan made it, the SUV was intercepted and its four occupants were handed over to the police for action. The police said a case for assaulting the staff and damaging the property was registered against the suspects and further investigation is underway. The SUV was also seized. HYDERABAD: Three barrages Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla under the Kaleshwaram lift irrigaiton scheme (KLIS) were damaged even during the 2019 floods and the previous BRS government clandestinely adjusted the Rs 500 crore estimated value of repairs into the revised project cost as the contractors refused to bear the expenditure. In November 2019, after the floods, it was found that the RCC wearing coat, CC curtain walls, CC blocks and apron in the downstream of the barrages were washed away. The government had then spent Rs 180 crore to fix the damage Rs 83 crore at Medigadda, Rs 65 crore at Annaram and Rs 32 crore at Sundilla and estimated that repairs would cost Rs 500 crore. According to the draft performance report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) on KLIS, which the BRS government kept under wraps, studies by the irrigation department had revealed that inadequate provision of energy dissipation works to match the high discharge velocity of water had led to certain structures being washed away. When the department approached the contracting agencies for attending to the damages, the agencies rejected the request citing that the work was executed strictly as per the designs and drawings approved by the department, the CAG said in its report. The contracting agencies claimed that the quality certification had been issued, the CAG said and added due to defective designing of launching apron and cement concrete blocks, these works could not withstand the discharge velocities and were washed away. Ironically, in October last and afterwards, then ministers K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao had dismissed the sinking of piers at the Medigadda barrage as a routine development and had assured that the state government would not to spend a rupee on repairs. They openly announced several times that the contracting agencies would bear the cost to fix the damage sustained in October, while concealing the flood damage to the three barrages in 2019. The Congress government has not yet revealed the estimated cost of studies to find the reason for sinking of the Medigadda barrage and who the government or L&T would bear the cost of the repairs. The CAG also pointed to the grave mistake of constructing the Mallannasagar, the largest reservoir under KLIS with a storage capacity of 50 tmc ft (thousand million cubic feet), without conducting detailed seismic studies. The drawings were approved and reservoir was constructed in undue haste without conducting the necessary investigations and studies, it said. It was found that irrigation department wrote to the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) to conduct seismic analysis in 2016 and again in 2017. Without waiting for the report, the government awarded the contract in December 2017 with a completion timeline of 2020. The NGRI, in its report submitted in March 2018, clearly stated that There is a deep-seated vertical fault with significant strike slip motion in the proposed location of the reservoir and that the rocks in the fault zone were highly sheared and fractured. Expressing serious concern over the lapse, the CAG said with a project being built without conducting seismic studies and in the absence of any emergency action plan the government left the reservoir as well as lives of people nearby at increased risk. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to kick-off his campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Bihar's Champaran on January 13 by addressing a rally at the Raman Maidan in Bettiah city, the sources said on Sunday. During this visit, PM Modi is also expected to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for various projects, including roads and bridges, across Bihar, according to party sources. The BJP has formulated extensive plans for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Bihar, aiming for victory in all 40 seats. PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda are slated to address several rallies in Bihar during January and February. Key rallies are anticipated after January 15 when campaigning restrictions are lifted. PM Modi is scheduled to address three rallies in Begusarai, Bettiah, and Aurangabad in the state. Similarly, Amit Shah is expected to address gatherings in Sitamarhi, Madhepura, and Nalanda during January and February. JP Nadda might hold rallies in several places, particularly in the Seemanchal and eastern regions of Bihar. Bihar's political landscape has witnessed a shift, with the BJP now in opposition while the JDU is part of the Mahagathbandhan government. Nitish Kumar has successfully united opposition leaders for the upcoming elections, marking a change from the previous alliance with the BJP. The battle is set for all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, where the NDA secured 39 seats in the last elections, with Congress winning one. As Narendra Modi leads the BJP's campaign again, the party has entrusted the state organisation to leader Samrat Choudhary. The political scenario in Bihar is gearing up for a significant electoral showdown. Vijayawada: With around 100 days left for the general elections, all political parties are gearing up for the big battle, but the ruling YSR Congress has stolen a march over its rivals vis-a-vis the candidate selection process. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as YSRC president is ahead of principal rival Telugu Desam, the Jana Sena, the BJP, the Congress and others by selecting likely nominees for 38 of the 175 assembly constituencies. But, the opposition parties are still doing the preliminary spadework for alliance formations, followed by candidate selections. Jagan Reddy has selected coordinators or potential nominees for a quarter of the assembly seats. Year 2024 is spiced up on the political calendar in Andhra Pradesh with simultaneous polling in April for assembly and parliament. The last general elections were held in 2019, which saw a humiliating defeat to Chandrababu Naidus Telugu Desam government and grabbing of power by the YSRC. After taking charge, Jagan Reddy's government focussed extensively on welfare schemes, but faced criticism for not giving enough weight to aspects of development. The global financial system's disruption due to the Corona pandemic impacted AP too in tough ways but chief minister Jagan Reddy did not flinch from his commitment to continue with the welfare schemes during the two years of the unprecedented health crisis. Notably, instead, the Jagan-led government attracted investment totaling '13 lakh crore. The government also continued with the development works and implementation of infrastructure projects. The TD, BJP and Jana Sena had formed an alliance and contested the elections together in 2014, and registered a win. But in the 2019 elections, Chandrababu Naidu broke up the alliance and the three parties fought the polls separately, only to face a humiliating defeat at the hands of the YSRC. The BJP did not win any seat, the JS won one seat (the MLA went the YSRC way), and the TD got no more than 23 seats. In this 2024 elections, YSRC is going it all alone. The JS allied with the TD unilaterally. JS chief Pawan Kalyan is working hard to bring the BJP too into the TD-led alliance. Several coordination meetings were held for seat-sharing between the TD and JS, but no decision has been arrived at. The JS, it is learnt, is demanding 40-plus constituencies and five Lok Sabha constituencies for the fight, but the TD is ready to give it only 20 seats. Informed sources say the BJP might join the opposition alliance as a majority of the saffron leaders favour this. The BJP remains somewhat lifeless in AP. Jagan Reddy announced two lists so far, carrying names of 38 leaders as constituency coordinators. The third list is under preparation and it might have names of 15 to 25 coordinators. The CM is planning to complete the exercise by Sankranti festival, so that these nominees will have sufficient time to organise the partys campaigns in their respective segments. Already several aspirants of the first and second lists started their election campaigns. Political analysts say that Jagan Reddy is likely to change nearly 50 to 80 MLAs. Some 50 per cent of changes have already been done and the rest would be done in a day or two. The opposition parties expected a revolt in the form of several resignations in the YSRC, but they were disappointed. Very few have openly expressed their disappointment so far. The analysts opined that Jagan Reddy has gained an upper hand in the candidate selections and this is Advantage YSRC in the 2024 elections. Dhaka: As Bangladesh goes to the polls today, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina extended her wishes for India and said that Bangladesh is lucky to have a trusted friend like India. She also highlighted India's support during the Liberation War in 1971. In her message to India, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, ''We are very lucky...India is our trusted friend. During our Liberation War, they supported us...After 1975, when we lost our whole family...they gave us shelter. So our best wishes to the people of India." PM Hasina recounted the horrors of her family's massacre in 1975, in which her whole family was killed and she lived in exile in India for years. she later returned to Bangladesh and took over the Awami League. After casting her vote in the ongoing general elections, Hasina emphasised the importance of democracy for the development of the country on Sunday and said that her government in past years has established people's democratic rights. "Our country is sovereign and independent...We have a big population. We have established people's democratic rights...I want to make sure that democracy should continue in this country and without democracy, you can't make any development. As we are a long-term democratic system from 2009 to 2023, that is why Bangladesh made this much of an achievement," she said. PM Hasina also underscored that her government created an atmosphere where people are able to come out and vote. She stated, "My heartfelt thanks to the people of Bangladesh. There were many obstacles but the people of our country are very much aware of their voting rights and the need for polls...We were able to create an atmosphere where people were able to come out and vote." She also accused the Bangladesh opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of inciting violence in the country and said that they are against the development of the people. She said, "BNP and Jamat did several arsoning and various other violent activities, such as burning train, burning vehicle, stopping people's movement...I would say that they do not believe in democracy, they are not patriots, and they are against the development of the people. Moreover, they don't want democracy to continue." Nearly 170 million people in Bangladesh will vote to elect 299 lawmakers during the 12th national election amid a boycott by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, demanding Hasina's resignation. More than 42,000 polling stations are set for Sunday's elections, where a total of 119.6 million registered voters are eligible to cast their votes, as reported by the country's Election Commission. Women make up almost half of the nearly 120 million eligible voters, while first-time voters number about 15 million. Al Jazeera reported that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to win a fourth straight term in the absence of the main Opposition BNP which on Saturday began a 48-hour nationwide strike against the "illegal government" amidst violence and a crackdown on protesters. The Supreme Court on December 27 provided clearance for the Election Commission (EC) to proceed with the general elections. The Election Commission has made thorough arrangements for the upcoming 12th national parliamentary election on January 7 to ensure a peaceful process.As many as 127 foreign observers will track the election process to assess the election's fairness. International election expert teams from the European Union are present in Dhaka, with foreign observers from various countries, including a Commonwealth team, are monitoring the elections. Ad Porter & Company I believe this could change your life I believe this could change your life forever. Im talking about transforming everything for you, financially. You see, a rare market anomaly has emerged that I believe is going to make some people very wealthy. Almost nobody in the mainstream media or Wall Street has connected the dots on whats going on, but that ignorance wont last for long. When they wake up to this situation, billions of dollars will flood in. Click here now to sign up CNX Resources Corporation, an independent natural gas and midstream company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of natural gas properties in the Appalachian Basin. The company operates in two segments, Shale and Coalbed Methane (CBM). 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The company was formerly known as CONSOL Energy Inc. and changed its name to CNX Resources Corporation in November 2017. CNX Resources Corporation was founded in 1860 and is headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. COVID-19 subvariant JN.1 now accounts for the majority of reported cases across Canada. (Photo via Getty Images) The new COVID-19 subvariant, JN.1, has become the new dominant strain across Canada, according to the latest data, which indicated it currently makes up more than half of all infections. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada's (PHAC) most recent update on Jan. 3, the subvariant accounts for 51.9 per cent of all reported COVID-19 cases in the country. HV.1, which was the last subvariant spreading across Canada, fell to 18.3 per cent of cases in the latest figures. Since first being detected in Canada on Oct. 9, according to Global News, JN.1 has been quickly growing, especially in December. In the beginning of that month, HV.1 was still the dominant strain, but JN.1 cases grew from making 16.4 per cent of all cases on Dec. 3, to 26.6 per cent by Dec. 10. A week later, JN.1 made up the highest percentage of all subvariants at 38.5 per cent, where HV.1 eventually fell to 24.4 per cent. The World Health Organization classified JN.1 as a "variant of interest" on Dec. 19, but noted evidence showed its risk is low. The PHAC then named it a variant of interest in Canada on Dec. 21. But how does JN.1 differ from the other COVID-19 variants also circulating, and is it something you should worry about? Read on to learn more. What is the JN.1 COVID variant, and how is it different from other strains? JN.1 is considered an "offspring" of the strain BA.2.86 in Canada, which has been spreading since summer 2023. They're both descendants of Omicron and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly identical. The only difference between JN.1 and BA.2.86 is a single spike protein, which helps the virus better invade human cells. Story continues Dr. Zain Chagla recently told Yahoo Canada this may help JN.1 better at receptor binding and have better antibody evasiveness. The infectious disease physician and head of infectious disease services at St. Josephs Health Care in Hamilton, Ont. added this can lead to the strain's ability to "cause an impact in terms of spread or the ability to infect populations." There's currently no evidence JN.1 causes more severe COVID-19 infections that other variants. (Photo via Getty Images) Is JN.1 more contagious than previous COVID strains? There is currently no evidence that JN.1 causes more severe infections of COVID-19 than other strains. However, the fact it accounts for a majority of COVID-19 cases in several countries and continues to rapidly grow suggests it might be more contagious. "Hypothetically, this may be because it's better at getting past the bodies' immune defenses," Chagla shared. "For it to become dominant means it's spreading faster than other variants that are currently out there in the background." Will JN.1 impact hospitals in Canada? JN.1 likely won't lead to a mass hospitalizations in Canada. However, this is also the time of year where viruses like RSV and influenza are also circulating. "I don't think we're going to see a massive destabilization in Canada, but I will say that things in health care are already tight at this time of year due to other respiratory viruses," Chagla noted. "Even though it's not likely to lead to surges like we saw in 2021 and 2022, it's not going to be comfortable to have around and there are still going to be impacts on the health-care system regardless." That could include health-care workers getting infected, leading to staff shortages that may overwhelm an already-strained system, he added. Symptoms of JN.1 include headache, fatigue, congestion, cough, runny nose and sore throat. (Photo via Getty Images) What are the symptoms of JN.1? Are they more severe than other variants? According to the CDC, there isnt evidence JN.1 causes more severe symptoms than other strains of COVID-19 weve dealt with before. "Most of the severity, the early markers, aren't seeing any difference in terms of symptoms," Chagla shared. "While there doesn't seem to be a difference in symptom profile, an increase in numbers does mean you're going to have a small number of those people with adverse outcomes. More cases does, unfortunately, mean more severe disease." Chagla also said to bear in mind the symptoms of JN.1 are very hard to distinguish among not just other strains of COVID, but even among the other respiratory viruses circulating right now. JN.1 symptoms include: Loss of sense of taste or smell Congestion Fatigue Headache Fever or chills Cough Runny nose Sore throat The CDC noted the severity of symptoms you experience depends on your overall immunity and whether you already have any underlying medical conditions. "We tend to see older adults, people with medical conditions being the ones hospitalized," Chagla said, adding people who live in crowded, enclosed spaces like shelters or long-term care facilities will also be more at risk of infection and disruption of these services. Rapid test kits should be used multiple times while you're sick to really rule out COVID. (Photo via Getty Images) Do rapid tests work on JN.1? Chagla said while molecular tests are functioning fine, if you're using rapid tests, you'll need to be more cautious. "As more immunity comes into the population, people are getting re-infections and the rapid tests are now often negative on the day of symptom onset," he explained. "In 2020 and 2021 when people weren't particularly immune to the virus, the rapid tests would be positive on the day of symptoms, but theyre often not accurate anymore." If you're using rapid tests, he said to make sure you test multiple times over a two or three-day period after your symptoms start to really rule out COVID. How can you protect yourself from the JN.1 COVID-19 variant? "The same tools still apply to help minimize the spread of JN.1," said Chagla, referring to masking in crowded spaces and staying up to date with your vaccines. The latest COVID-19 booster was designed for the XBB.1.5 variant, but Chagla noted the mentality that a booster that's designed for one variant won't work on another isn't accurate. "We set it to what's predominate at the time, but the reality is these vaccines broaden the immune system response," he said, noting new lab studies that show people with the latest vaccine make antibodies that offer "reasonable protection" against the new JN.1 variant. "Because it is a surge, especially for those who are high risk, having access to testing, staying home when sick and accessing treatment are the best protocols to follow." And since there are so many other respiratory viruses circulating this holiday season, Chagla suggested staying home if you experience symptoms, regardless of whether or not you have a positive COVID-19 test. Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Ad Behind the Markets 4 Top Stocks for 2024 The world is entering a new cycle of war. To prepare, the United States increased defense spending by $37 billion. What makes this spending bonanza unique is that it's not just going to the big boys like Lockheed Martin, Boeing or Raytheon. These 4 small stocks are set to win big in 2024 >>> Ireland would be prepared to join other European countries in providing financial support to Ukraine on an inter-governmental basis if the package is blocked at EU level, the Taoiseach has indicated. A proposed 50 billion euro EU support package for Kyiv was vetoed by Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban at the last European Council meeting in December. Mr Varadkar said one option open to European nations would be to circumvent the EU structures and join together to provide funding that was not formally approved by the bloc as a whole. Thats an option, he told RTE. I hope we dont have to use that option. Id prefer to just do it within the context of the European Union budget. We made a really important decision just before Christmas to begin negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on those countries joining the European Union. I would like to see us agree at the (council) meeting in February to give Ukraine a financial package, and thats really important for Ukraine because Ukraine cannot win this war on its own. Itll be crushed by the greater wealth and power and size of Russia. And thats why it needs its allies in Europe, and it needs its US allies in the US. And what we want to do is not just provide Ukraine with a certain amount of money for a few months or for a year. We want to put in place a financial package of 50 billion euro in loans and grants which says to the Kremlin, which says to Russia, that were going to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. And thats what we want to achieve. If we cant do that as a European Union, well then probably it will be the case, or may well be the case, that Ireland is one of 25 or 26 countries that does that on an inter-governmental basis. But I think itd be much better if we do it as the European Union. No one in Ireland has the right to veto who lives in their community, the Taoiseach has warned. Leo Varadkars comments came in response to a series of recent protests at buildings in various parts of Ireland earmarked to house asylum seekers. There have also been arson attacks on several building proposed as accommodation locations for international protection applicants. On Friday, a protest was held outside a hotel in Ballinrobe in Co Mayo over plans to use the premises to house 50 adult male asylum seekers. Asked about the scenes in Ballinrobe, Mr Varadkar told RTE: I totally acknowledge that people living there have concerns and have fears. Its important that we have information and communication, that peoples fears are allayed, that any information they need is given. But I also need to be very clear nobody in a free society, nobody in a democracy has the right to veto, a right to exercise a veto on who moves into their area or their community. And that doesnt just apply to international protection. It applies to Traveller accommodation, that applies to womens refuges, which people used to object to before, it applies to social housing and to student accommodation. One of Mr Varadkars Fine Gael councillors, Michael Burke, has criticised the proposal to use the hotel for international protection applicants. The Taoiseach said his colleagues stance was not in line with Government policy. Asked if he faced party discipline, Mr Varadkar said Fine Gael gave its councillors a lot of leeway in how they deal with local issues, as long as they do not engage in misinformation or racist language and he said he did not believe that had been the case in Ballinrobe. On the recent arson attacks, Mr Varadkar expressed fears that someone might lose their life if the fires continued. Arson is a very serious crime, whatever political beliefs people may have, and people are entitled their political beliefs, nobody has the right to damage or burn down somebody elses property and nobody has the right to physically harm another person, he said. So this is a serious crime and I do expect that there will be arrests and prosecutions. And I want to express a concern people vandalising buildings, setting them alight, they cant know for sure that there isnt somebody in that building. He added: And I have a real concern that not only will we face a situation whereby were investigating arson, that we may yet be investigating manslaughter or murder. On the general debate around immigration and asylum seekers in Ireland, Mr Varadkar said the Government faced a challenge in the year ahead to take charge of the conversation. There are a lot of myths that are being spread, initially by the far right, but now unfortunately have become quite mainstream, and are repeated now even by mainstream politicians and mainstream journalists, he said. And we have a big job of work to do this year I think as a government in being in charge of this debate and making sure that people get the right information. Because one thing that I think is really important to say is that in the round immigration and migration for Ireland has been a good thing. Shop Local Gift Vouchers, an initiative started by Dundalk Chamber of Commerce over eight years ago, saw record sales in 2023 with 2 million worth of the vouchers sold, President of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Una McGoey, has confirmed. This brings total sales of the Shop Local Gift Vouchers to over 8 million since their launch, with the Chamber describing the figure as an unbelievable amount in such a short period of time. Dundalk Chamber of Commerce says the initiative has been a success unmatched elsewhere. Chamber President Una McGoey said that a huge effort was put in by Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, to help local retail and that the voucher scheme has given local retailers and businesses a welcome boost. Ms McGoey thanked the business community of Dundalk for getting behind the scheme and buying the vouchers for their staff this Christmas. She said that these sales would not have happened if it has not been for the good will of the business community who see the value in keeping money in the locality. Stopping the flow of money from the town has been our priority. Ms McGoey also thanked members of the public who bought the vouchers and kept it local this Christmas. The Dundalk Chamber President commented that this initiative was set up to help keep money and protect local jobs within the local economy. The Chamber plan is to grow sales even more in 2024! Paddy Malone, PRO of Dundalk Chamber, commented on the vouchers saying they give the receiver the gift of choice as they can be spent in toy shops, supermarkets, restaurants, hair salons, gift stores, gyms, beauticians, clothes shops, and much more - you will be amazed with the selection of businesses now redeeming them, which includes over 350 shops all around Dundalk and surrounding areas. The vouchers now come in a 5 denomination as well as 10, 20 and 50s. They are an ideal gift all year round for birthdays, weddings, communions, confirmations, competitions, retirements and staff rewards. Mr Malone added that the beauty of these vouchers is that they do not expire, and the shops get the full amount back. They do not lose value over time. Members of the public can buy the vouchers in Grants in Dublin St; Michael Smyths in Francis St; Central News, Clanbrassil St; Centra Blackrock; Sheelans in Riverstown; Finnegans in Louth Village; Flanagans Mace on the Dublin Rd; Pat's Gift Shop & Victorys Centra in Dunleer; Valentines Centra in Carlingford and Lush, Barrys Shop Grange; Dundalk Credit Union Market St and The Ramparts. They can also be purchased online on www.shoplocal.dundalk.ie - there is no charge for delivery. The vouchers can also be purchased directly from the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce Office by calling Brenda on Tel: 042 9336343 or email accounts@dundalk.ie To check out the full list of outlets who are redeeming the Shop Local Gift Vouchers visit http://shoplocal.dundalk.ie In todays fast-paced business landscape, efficient payroll management is crucial for the success of any organization, especially for Philippine businesses. Payroll plays a vital role in business operations, impacting not only the smooth functioning of the company but also the satisfaction of employees. In this article, we will delve into the key elements of payroll management, and explore effective strategies for payroll optimization. Importance of Efficient Payroll Management Efficient payroll management is more than just issuing paychecks to employees. It encompasses a range of activities, such as maintaining accurate employee information, calculating payroll taxes and deductions, and adhering to payroll schedules and payment methods. By effectively managing these aspects, a business can ensure compliance with Philippine payroll laws and regulations, mitigate risks, and enhance employee satisfaction. In the Philippines, where payroll management often involves navigating complex regulations, Sprout Solutions stands out with its cutting-edge payroll system software. This software is specifically designed to address the unique challenges faced by Filipino businesses, offering features that handle complex calculations, ensure compliance, and provide real-time insights. By integrating Sprout Solutions payroll system software into their operations, businesses in the Philippines can not only streamline their payroll processes but also enjoy significant time and cost savings, while minimizing compliance risks. What is The Impact of Efficient Payroll Management on Employee Satisfaction? A well-managed payroll system can significantly impact employee satisfaction. Timely and accurate paychecks foster trust and loyalty among employees, making them feel valued and respected. Employees who are satisfied with their payroll experience are more likely to be motivated, productive, and committed to the companys objectives. This, in turn, contributes to a positive work culture and improves overall employee retention. Transparent Communication Efficient payroll management also includes transparent and effective communication. Clear and concise explanations of payroll processes, policies, and any changes can help employees understand their compensation better. This reduces confusion, minimizes errors, and builds trust between the employer and employees. Employee-Focused Benefits An efficient payroll system can offer various benefits and perks to employees, such as flexible payment options, automated tax filing, and access to online portals for self-service. These features enhance convenience and streamline the payroll experience for employees, further contributing to their satisfaction and engagement. What are The Key Elements of Payroll Management? To streamline payroll processes and ensure efficiency, businesses need to focus on key elements of payroll management. These include: Employee Information and Payroll One of the fundamental elements of payroll management is maintaining accurate employee information. This includes details such as employee names, addresses, tax IDs, deductions, and benefits. By keeping employee data up-to-date and error-free, businesses can ensure accurate payroll calculations and avoid administrative errors that can lead to legal and financial consequences. Payroll Taxes and Deductions Calculating and withholding payroll taxes and deductions is another critical aspect of payroll management. With constantly evolving tax laws and regulations, businesses must stay updated and ensure compliance. This includes deducting income tax, Social Security contributions, healthcare premiums, and other statutory deductions. Implementing effective payroll software can simplify tax calculations, reducing the risk of errors and penalties. Payroll Schedules and Payment Methods Establishing clear payroll schedules and defining appropriate payment methods is essential. Businesses need to decide on the frequency of pay periods and determine whether to pay employees through direct deposit, check, or other electronic means. Setting up efficient payroll systems and selecting reliable payroll service providers can ensure timely and accurate payments while minimizing manual efforts and associated errors. What are The Top Payroll Strategies for Philippine Businesses? Given the complexity of payroll management, businesses in the Philippines can benefit from implementing strategies that optimize their payroll processes. Here are some top strategies to consider: Streamlining Payroll Processes Streamlining payroll processes involves automating repetitive tasks, reducing paperwork, and eliminating manual errors. Implementing payroll software can help businesses achieve this goal by centralizing employee information, automating tax calculations, and generating pay stubs electronically. Furthermore, investing in user-friendly interfaces and training employees on using payroll systems can ensure seamless integration and ease of use. Leveraging Payroll Software and Technology In an increasingly digitized world, businesses can leverage payroll software and technology to simplify and optimize payroll management. Advanced payroll software can handle complex calculations, generate accurate reports, and provide real-time insights and analytics. By embracing technology, businesses can save time, reduce costs, and minimize compliance risks. Ensuring Compliance with Philippine Payroll Laws Compliance with Philippine payroll laws is crucial to avoid legal issues and penalties. Businesses must stay updated with changes to tax codes, labor regulations, and other statutory requirements. Engaging reputable payroll service providers or seeking legal counsel can help ensure compliance, safeguard business interests, and maintain a positive reputation. Conclusion Efficient payroll management is a crucial aspect of running a successful Filipino business. By understanding the importance of payroll and implementing key strategies, businesses can streamline processes, ensure compliance, and maximize employee satisfaction. Overcoming common payroll challenges and staying updated with the ever-evolving payroll landscape will position Philippine businesses for long-term success. Embracing technology and seeking expert advice are critical steps towards simplifying payroll and fostering a thriving organizational culture. FROM Rathlin in the north to Cape Clear in the south, the islands off the coast of Ireland have long been a source of inspiration and of myth. But theyre home to a rich diversity of wildlife too - and a wide range of people. In a new series, Inis na nIontas, starting on TG4 on Wednesday at 9.30pm, actor and comedian Ardal OHanlon takes us on a fascinating journey, unearthing the history, observing the wildlife and meeting the islanders trying to live sustainably within their extraordinary environment. This is Ardals first Irish language show. His mother, Teresa, is a native Irish-speaker and, in this series, he fulfils a longstanding ambition to practise and improve his Irish and promote its use to a wider public. The first episode focuses on the north, beginning on Rathlin Island, famous for its countless seabirds and, unique to the island, the golden hare. Here, Ardal learns how an astonishing archaeological find has rewritten Irish history, and he tastes some noodles made from kelp, sustainably farmed on the island. From Rathlin, Ardal travels to remote Tory Island off Donegal, where he learns of its musical tradition and its mystical past, and we see how farming practices are being fashioned to encourage the endangered corncrake. Next, Ardal heads to Arranmore, the largest island of the north. Here, he learns how the islanders are encouraging new residents, while on a beautiful, small islet the threatened little tern has found a welcome sanctuary. In the second episode, Ardal continues down the west coast to the Aran islands, and also visits the abandoned Great Blasket Island, Valentia, and Skellig Michael. In the final episode, he is in the far south, where he visits beautiful Garnish Island. By kayak, Ardal sees its thriving seal colony, before heading further south to Sherkin Island, where hes ntroduced to a playful pod of dolphins. A local historian tells us of the islands piratical past and a resident artist explains why Sherkin has become a painters paradise. A short hop takes Ardal to Cape Clear, Irelands southernmost island, where hes taken on a tour in one of the islands electric buses - the only in Ireland. We meet the islands resident ornithologist, who explains the huge importance of the island for migratory birds, and visit a gin distillery that uses foraged kelp. A climactic clifftop view, out across the Atlantic, marks the end to an unforgettable journey. It was remarkable for me to witness the extraordinary diversity of our islands, says Ardal. THE setting-up of a maritime task group in the Army Ranger Wing, which will be based at the naval base on Haulbowline Island, is a further reflection of increasing concern about marine security. The Army Ranger Wing is considered to be the most elite unit of the Defence Forces. A decision has been made to restructure and develop it, under the new name of a Special Operations Force. The maritime sphere is just one aspect of planned changes, but an important one in times of world turbulence and a future in which the protection of maritime resources, particularly for this island nation at the extremity of Europe, will be essential. This in addition to increasing challenges such as the use of shipping to move drugs into and through Ireland. Under the changes to the Army Ranger Wing there is expected to be a land-based specialist group and an air task one in addition to maritime. The operation to capture the cocaine-carrying bulk carrier, MV Matthew still detained at Marino Point in Cork Harbour underlined the necessity for maritime security. The proposed new maritime task group will also be trained in underwater security and protection systems. While this is a welcome development, Government attention should also be paid to urgently dealing with the continuing problem of personnel shortages in the naval service itself. From contacts and discussions, it is quite clear that, even with promised improvements, service in the maritime sphere must be made more attractive to increase recruitment. Contacts of mine in the shipbroking world (those who sell ships) estimate that the value of the MV Matthew could be as much as 8m. AMAZING ASPECTS OFCORK PORT HISTORY This is a time of the year when there is a tendency to recall past times, one of which it is hard to envision is that there were 300-400 foreign fishing boats in Blackrock. In the history of Cork Port, there is a record that a plea was made from local people to the Council of Edward VI, who was King of England and Ireland from 1547 until 1553, for the building of a strong bulwark at Blackrock for the protection of cod and an end to the practice whereby foreign fishermen could work off Kinsale and Youghal as well as Cork. The historian/writer FH Tuckey is quoted from The County and City of Cork Remembrancer 1837 as referring to a certain John Dee who claimed to have seen in his time, Blackrock fished by three or four hundred sail of Spaniards and Frenchmen. Walking the pleasant location of Blackrock, it is hard to image that! Mary Leland wrote That Endless Adventure: A History of the Cork Harbour Commissioners (2001) which I have been reading over the holiday period. It has fascinating accounts of aspects of the harbours history which I had not known, such as the Flight of the Wild Geese, a term used to describe the departure of some of Patrick Sarsfields Irish Jacobite forces from Ireland after the signing of the Treaty of Limerick in October 1691. I didnt know that they left from Cork, in ships which were at a then quayside at the Lower Road on the entrance to the city. The book describes scenes there as Sarsfields troops were boarding ships to go to France under the terms of the Limerick Treaty: The wives, mothers and children who followed their march from Limerick clustered desperately around the ships, holding onto the hawsers, clutching the rope ladders and gangplanks in wild and futile efforts either to get onboard or to prevent departure. The last boat shifted from the quay, dragging with it screaming women still clinging to the ropes. Others had cast themselves distraught into the river and were dragged under by the ships wake all in the view of men on the decks whose last view of Ireland was clotted by shrieks of terror and anguish. That is quite a memory of Cork to recall on the Lower Road! The Flight of the Wild Geese should not to be confused with the Flight of the Earls in 1607. THE RESCUE YEAR The Year in Figures issued by the Irish Coast Guard for 2023 shows that August was was the busiest month for emergencies. Other notable figures include that: 44 Coast Guard units were mobilised on 1,278 separate occasions; Coast Guard helicopters conducted 796 missions; RNLI lifeboats were called out 850 times; Community inshore rescue service boats were tasked on 76 occasions; Critical assistance was provided to 665 people; Coast Guard helicopters conducted 174 air ambulance flights in support of offshore island communities. A NEW PODCAST On Friday I launched a new podcast. The first interview is with the new chief executive of the Marine Institute, the State research agency, Rick Officer who takes up duty this month. He outlines the approach he will take as CEO. David Dwyers Swuzzlebubble was winner of the ICRA Boat of the Year. Picture: Robert Bateman Also on the podcast, which is available on all major podcast platforms, Cork sailor David Dwyer told me about his yacht Swuzzlebubble recovered from being a wreck in Greece, and 10 years later brought to Leeside and winning the top sailing award of Irish Boat of the Year and why young sailors were crucial to its success. Tom MacSweeneys podcast will be released on the first Friday of every month and will also be available on the network of local community radio stations around the country. A CORK GP has hailed the benefits of the General Practitioner Access to Community Diagnostics (GPACD) Scheme which aims to enable easier GP and patient access to a suite of radiology scans. GP at Woodview Family Doctors in Glanmire and medical director of the Irish College of General Practitioners, Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, said the scheme has had tangible benefits for patients diagnoses, shortened waiting times for hospital admissions, and helped reduce hospital admissions. It comes as Health Minister Stephen Donnelly revealed that over 700,000 directly referred community radiology diagnostic scans have been completed since the launch of the scheme in 2021 and that demand for community radiology diagnostics delivered through the scheme has more than doubled since its launch. There were 138,000 radiology scans undertaken in 2021, the target for which was 94,000; 250,000 scans undertaken in 2022, the target for which was 195,000; and over 331,000 undertaken in 2023, the target for which was 240,000. Under the scheme, GPs can now refer patients directly for tests including X-ray, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging at no cost to the patient, with access to the scheme available to the full adult population. Patients then attend locations in a community setting to access these radiology diagnostics. Up until the launch of the scheme, patients had to be referred to an outpatient appointment with a hospital consultant before accessing these radiology scans or pay privately. The budget for the GPACD scheme increased from 25m in 2021 to 46.8m in 2023, and a total allocation of 47.9m was secured for continued provision of the scheme this year. GPs have reported that patients are commonly seen for their scan within a few weeks, said Dr Quinlan. The scheme accelerates patient treatment by the GP, avoids some hospital referrals, helps compress our hospital waiting lists, and prioritises patient treatment by hospital doctors a win-win scenario. Mr Donnelly said he was delighted to see the continued success of this initiative which he said is supporting faster access to necessary diagnostic procedures, leading to more timely treatment and improved patient experience. It supports GPs to manage more patient care in primary care settings, reducing the need for referrals to hospital settings, he said. A 35-year-old man accused of breaking into the Wetherspoons Linen Weaver pub in Cork city at three oclock in the morning to steal drink and then forcing his way into a nearby store to steal beer was remanded in custody until January 18. Sergeant Pat Lyons said directions had not yet been received from the Director of Public Prosecutions in the case. Judge Dorgan agreed to the state application to remand the accused in custody to allow for directions to be obtained. Garda David Murphy originally arrested Tony Coffey of no fixed address in Cork and originally from Tralee and brought him before Cork District Court where there was an objection to bail. The two burglary charges relate to the early hours of Thursday November 30. Garda Murphy said in his bail objection that it was alleged that after 3am on November 30 the accused went to a side door of the Linen Weaver pub, on Paul Street, Cork, that he entered and stole three bottles of spirts valued 150 . It was alleged that after 5am on the same date at Herlihys Centra on Patrick Street there was a burglary by a man seen prising open the front door with is hands. The premises was closed to the public at the time but there was a member of staff upstairs getting ready for the day ahead. He stole eight cans of beer. Eddie Burke, defence solicitor, said the defendant was very anxious for there to be progress in the case as soon as possible. Q: The US recently announced new arms sales to Taiwan and sanctioned Chinese businesses and individuals under various pretexts. China said it would take countermeasures. Could you tell us specifically what those measures are? A: The US arms sales to Chinas Taiwan region in blatant violation of the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, particularly the August 17 joint communique of 1982, and the illegal unilateral sanctions the US has imposed on Chinese companies and individuals under various false pretexts seriously harm Chinas sovereignty and security interests, undermine the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and violate the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this and has made solemn demarches to the US. In response to these gravely wrong actions taken by the US and in accordance with Chinas Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, China has decided to sanction five US defense industry companies, namely BAE Systems Land and Armament, Alliant Techsystems Operation, AeroVironment, ViaSat and Data Link Solutions. The countermeasures consist of freezing the properties of those companies in China, including their movable and immovable property, and prohibiting organizations and individuals in China from transactions and cooperation with them. I would like to stress that the Chinese government remains unwavering in our resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens. We urge the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, observe international law and the basic norms governing international relations, stop arming Taiwan, and stop targeting China with illegal unilateral sanctions. Otherwise there will be strong and resolute response from China. Crobys Urban Viddles is closing. The family-owned and -operated restaurant in the Mill Creek area south of Charlottesville has been serving Southern comfort food since September 2016. Four years ago, it was named among Yelps Top 100 Places to Eat. But it has run its course, according to co-owner Rob Campbell. Campbell owns the business with his sister Shannon Campbell and cousin Mike Marcinek. Shannon Campbell and Marcinek will be leaving Crobys to join a friends catering company. Rob Campbell will be focusing on his full-time work as general manager at Castle Hill Cider in Keswick. The trio said the restaurant will close its doors for good Jan. 14. It was time, Rob Campbell told The Daily Progress. We accomplished everything we set out to accomplish. Its time to move on to a different project. Rob Campbell said the original intent of the restaurant was to recreate the environment and food that brought him and his siblings and cousins together around the dinner table as children. Our basic group goal was to welcome people back to the table again, said Rob Campbell. People are getting too busy with phones and technology and are lacking in human connection. The menu they drafted was all traditional comfort food including Southern stables such as fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese as well as classic Virginian victuals such as Brunswick stew. The restaurant had no televisions, and the walls were painted black to invite families to scribble away in chalk. Weve watched families grow up over the past eight years, said Rob Campbell. Its never easy to say goodbye to something to put your passion and love into, but it was kind of our time. Well be sad to miss that connection and fraternity that we built. Crobys fans will miss the atmosphere and homestyle recipes, based on the comments in response to the restaurants Facebook post announcing its closure. Patrons even requested a cookbook full of Crobys favorites. We found your little gem of a restaurant after going apple picking at Carters Mountain, said Michelle Froustet on Facebook. You became our must go-to place and the food, as well as service never disappointed! We will certainly miss the best little place for country cooking in Charlottesville. Theres no question Crobys was a fan favorite. In January of 2020, Crobys was named to crowd-sourced business review website Yelps top 100 places to eat in the United States. Three months later, the world came to a standstill. As with restaurants worldwide, the pandemic decelerated any upward momentum Crobys had, as dine-in restaurants became verboten. Crobys mission to maintain reasonable prices also became a challenge as the snarled supply chain drove up the cost of even basic ingredients. Susan Campbell described the closure as so emotional and bittersweet in an email to The Daily Progress. She said she and her family have been overwhelmed by the communitys gratitude for Crobys. The relatives working at the restaurant include more than her brother and cousin; both of their respective mothers are also at work waiting tables. The restaurant itself is named in honor of the lifelong nickname of the Campbells father, Denny Croby Campbell. Denny Campbell, for the record, hates the nickname. Denny Campbell was born and raised in Carlisle, Kentucky, where the towns troublemaker was named Croby. So whenever young Denny Campbell made a mistake, his uncle would poke fun with remarks like Way to go, Croby, according to family. Denny Campbell must have misbehaved just enough, because the nickname stuck. My dad hates the nickname and wasnt thrilled in the beginning, said Shannon Campbell. But when he learned his granddaughter came up with the idea of naming the family restaurant after him? He then thought it was great. Aside from their mothers, Crobys has four full-time and two part-time employees. The owners are working to get them connected with other local catering companies and restaurants, said Rob Campbell. Though running a business with family can be described as both a blessing and a curse, Rob Campbell said he was thankful to work with the people he could always count on despite disagreements. It was amazing to go on a journey with them, he said. I wouldnt trade that experience for anything. The restaurant at 32 Mill Creek Drive will close its doors by Jan. 14, the family said. But the real estate in the South Side Shopping Center next to a Food Lion grocery store and across the parking lot from a Goodwill Store and Donation Center may not remain vacant long. Rob Campbell confirmed that leasing negotiations are currently ongoing with a potential renter, though nothing has been finalized yet. The investigation file has been sent to the DPP in the case against a man accused of harassing and threatening to kill his ex-partner and following this with an Instagram communication in breach of a court order. Sergeant Pat Lyons confirmed that the file was with the Director of Public Prosecutions and that directions were awaited. On the application of Sgt Lyons, Judge Mary Dorgan remanded the accused in custody to appear again by video link from prison at Cork District Court on January 18. Defence solicitor, Dennis Healy, said the two sets of charges could travel together to that adjournment date. Garda Niamh Crowley charged the 37-year-old that between March 20 and 22 2023, he contacted his ex-partner by email and threatened to kill her. She also charged him with the related count of harassment. On April 13 he was charged that at an unspecified location in County Cork he did make electronic contact via Instagram in direct contravention of a Safety Order, contrary to the Domestic Violence Act. Parties to the case cannot be identified because of the prosecution under the Domestic Violence Act which is dealt with in camera in the absence of the public. Over the years, the ranks of The Daily Progress Distinguished Dozen honorees have swelled with unsung heroes. Its fitting, then, that a Charlottesville filmmaker dedicated to putting his communitys unsung heroes in the spotlight takes his place among them this year. Chris Farina, the artist behind World Peace and Other 4th-Grade Achievements, West Main Street and A Bridge to Life: The Bridge Ministry, said he started creating films during my last year at the University of Virginia, in 1982. This was in Baltimore, where I grew up. I was interested in other peoples stories. Its easy for young filmmakers to get dazzled by dreams of Hollywood ballyhoo, red-carpet recognition and heaps of praise. Farina ended up on a different, and ultimately fulfilling, path because he paid attention to the stories unfolding around him. Im always interested in unsung heroes, Farina told The Daily Progress. There are so many people who do good things for others. You can walk up and down the street and see people on the front porch as neighbors. Farina, founder of Rosalia Films, is invested in the community as a husband and father of two and the owner of the Corner Parking Lot since 1986, but his passion for travel predates his start as a filmmaker. Before that, I was a hitchhiker. I hitched around the country and in Europe, he said. I was always interested in other peoples stories. The road was where it began. Farinas first award-winning film, Route 40, focused on Pulaski Highway, which is a block away from where Farina grew up. His focus, however, never strayed far from the neighbors themselves. Farina remembered the joy of getting to know longtime Charlottesville resident Rebecca McGinness, who died in 2000 at age 107. McGinness was a teacher, community leader and keen observer of changes in Charlottesville and the world. The two bonded over a shared love of the city and its people. She goes into the kitchen and brings a tray with lemonade, Farina said. This is so old school, like a grandmother. Documenting what is, and what can be, is a calling. It also is a responsibility. Colleagues see Farina as an exemplar. Theres a phrase I like that Yo-Yo Ma uses citizen artist that the citizen has more of a role in the community than to create art, filmmaker, neighbor and friend Paul Wagner told The Daily Progress. Chris is more than a filmmaker; he is a citizen filmmaker. Its so important, so laudable, when you are doing the work of making it a more humane place, a more just place. The Academy Award winner paused. He doesnt do it by scolding us. He does it by inspiring us, Wagner said. We have a responsibility to more than our art. We have a responsibility to our communities. Wagner said Farinas films capture a precious sense of trust. His films always do the work of a citizen filmmaker wonderful films artistically, but having a much broader role in our community, Wagner said. His humane intentions actually make him a better filmmaker. The whole key of documentary filmmaking is to form a whole level of trust. You cant get an authentic film unless the person in front of the camera trusts the person behind the camera. If you dont have the trust of the person in front of the camera, its going to fail. You can call it a talent, but its more than a talent. Its a character trait, in Chris example. Wagner, who met Farina soon after moving to town in 1991, also called his colleague an extraordinary listener. Hes very articulate about what he wants. Mostly, he has the wisdom to keep his mouth shut and listen. He really draws people out that way. That trait gives Farina an edge, Wagner said. The filmmaking skill comes out in the editing. You may shoot 100 hours for a one-hour film, Wagner said. Hes a smart guy and a smart filmmaker, so he has the material to work with. You dont have to push people. Relax. Let them relax. Then go look for the jewels and gather them. Farinas ability to listen and gain trust also helps put film subjects at ease with one another, and thats where a different kind of magic happens. Community also is built through everyday moments of recognizing each other as civic kin and fellow travelers who have a stake in each others well-being and success. While filming connections made between students of Russian literature both inside and outside the juvenile justice system for Seats at the Table, Farina realized that its a beautiful thing to have that effect on each other, he said. It was the first time I literally had to hide my tears. Farina started feeling weak and short of breath in the fall of 2022. He ended up spending two months at University of Virginia Medical Center, where he learned he had respiratory-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. When news spread about Farinas diagnosis, friends and fans organized the Farina Film Fest. Presented on Nov. 5 at the Paramount Theater, the event was a fundraiser for Farinas wife, Jacqueline, his primary caregiver, and his children, college students Matthew and Ella. The pay-what-you can fundraiser drew more than 600 attendees and brought in donations toward his full-time medical care. The evening was filled with clips from each of Farinas film projects Route 40, West Main Street, World Peace and Other 4th-Grade Achievements, Remembering Normandy, Stars Over the Sea, Ricardo Idagi: Making Spirit Visible, Coloring the Landscape, Holistic Life Foundation: Breathing Love into a Community, Seats at the Table and A Bridge to Life: The Bridge Ministry. Those who know Farina well can spot in his work his dedication to capturing moments in Charlottesville life that otherwise might have gone overlooked or underappreciated, putting them in the context of history and community. Chris Farina is a local treasure, and the impacts of his filmmaking will be felt in perpetuity. What separates Chris from other Charlottesville filmmakers is his consistent focus on subjects close to home, as well as his intentional commitment to the everyday heroes among us, friend Lori Shinseki, who organized the Farina Film Festival, wrote to The Daily Progress. When you examine Chriss body of work in its entirety, what you see is a beautiful, hopeful love letter to Charlottesville a tribute to the unsung luminaries who dedicate their lives to making the world a better place. Chriss art reflects who he is as a person grounded, unpretentious, hopeful, positive, uncomplaining, hard-working, loving and inclusive. His gift to all of us is a permanent record of the unforgettable people who have lifted our community in ways we may not even understand. Like his film subjects, Chris Farina has injected love and kindness into our local aura not only via filmmaking, but through TedX and the Corner Parking Lot. Wherever he goes, Chris generates connection and spreads joy and beauty, which we so desperately need. Fellow filmmakers and longtime friends arent the only ones who recognize the gifts that set Farinas films apart. Fans invariably get it. We have been honored to screen a number of Chris Farinas films over the years at the Virginia Film Festival. Chriss own kindness as a person shines through in the treatment of his films and the people in them, Jody Kielbasa, director of the Virginia Film Festival, wrote to The Daily Progress. He has been able to capture through his lens the kindness and remarkable achievements of others, celebrating their humanity while revealing his own. Farinas advice to aspiring filmmakers is to be a better fundraiser than I am, he said with a chuckle. Its really about listening and observing and allowing. Its what you learn from others, and not going in saying, This is what Im going to do. It lifts me. Im very blessed. Automaker Hyundai is one of the many companies that are holding a press conference at CES 2024. You'll be able to find out more about some of the brand's intentions starting at 4PM ET on January 8. You can watch the livestream below. What to expect Hyundai has already shed some light on what it will be focusing on at CES 2024. The automaker says it will share a blueprint for its vision of a hydrogen-powered energy ecosystem. Among other things, Hyundai will reveal a modular hydrogen toolbox that it says will help forge a clean hydrogen value chain. It's also looking beyond mobility to make people's everyday lives more comfortable with the help of "human-centered innovations." The company has pledged to share plans regarding software and artificial intelligence related to its theme of "Ease every way." In addition, Hyundai Mobis (the parts and service supplier for Hyundai, Genesis and Kia) says it will unveil 20 new pieces of mobility tech that are ready to go into mass production. Those include what it claims are the world's first in-vehicle rollable display and swivel display. In addition, it plans to show off a transparent display for cars that uses "holographic optical elements" tech. We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here. While some farmers see the development of lab-grown meat as potential competition to traditional production, others say it could create a premium for pasture-reared meat. There have been numerous research papers about the opportunities for cultured meat, but little work has been undertaken to ask how it might affect farming. Now a team of farmers, researchers, and start-ups - funded by the BBSRC and the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) - have released a paper looking to redress this balance. Among the threats that were discussed as part of the two-year project were potential effects on health, and where the product would be pitched in the market, as either a high value or low value protein. Farmers taking part in the study asked if lab-grown meat would compete with steak or mince, chicken breast or chicken nuggets, while another common concern was the lack of information on the technology. One farmer who participated in the research, published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, said: There's so much money being thrown at [cultured meat] that we can't afford to ignore it. "We need to be raising all sorts of questions about things like waste products and sourcing the inputs and that sort of thing. "We should be pinning them down on that now. Theyre telling us this is the future; theyve got to tell us what it means. Some participants saw opportunities. One major lamb and beef producer thought that marketing their produce as the real stuff might give them a competitive edge compared to protein produced in a bioreactor. Others said they could imagine new markets where farms supply plant or animal based raw materials for the process. The focus group discussions have informed the next phase of the RAU study, mapping how cultured meat might affect different sectors within agriculture. The farmers talked about far-reaching impacts across the whole livestock industry where margins are small and the industry is under financial pressure. Dr Lisa Morgans, senior lecturer in animal health at the RAU, who led the focus group research, said farmer perspectives had so far been critical in developing an understanding of how cultured meat could affect the industry. They have shared insights that we would not have known about, or appreciated, without involving farmers in a meaningful way," she said. "To ensure disruptive technologies like cultured meat are developed in an ethical and responsible way, it is essential that we engage with, and include, farmers in the research process. The Cultured Meat & Farmers study summarises discussions with 75 farmers, from six focus groups representing a wide range of sectors across the UK. The team is now partnering with nine case study farms spread across the UK and representing a wide range of farming systems. Together, they will explore how each farm could respond to this new technology, for example how it could best compete, or how it could supply ingredients, or even produce cultured meat, on farm. Findings will be used to produce a heat map of the winners and losers in future scenarios where cultured meat is on sale in the UK. Professor Louise Manning, from the University of Lincoln, a lead author on the paper, said this research was important to consider a just transition for farmers if edible protein was produced using this technology. She said: Informing consumers about how the protein is produced, and ensuring the whole process of regulatory approval, process validation, and scale-up is transparent, is also essential to gain societal trust. "This project is mapping how cultured meat might be produced at scale and what the consequences might be for both rural and urban communities. Further findings from the study are due to be published in late 2024. Looking at pictures of curry can act as a painkiller. Curry is an effective painkiller Chinese scientists got 27 volunteers to look at images of spicy curries and noodles - as well as blander food items such as fruit - and gave them a small electric shock as they stared at the pictures. They were quizzed on how much pain they felt and the results revealed that the discomfort was muted when they looked at the spicy foods, even though they were zapped at the same power in both instances. Experts from Chongqing Normal University said: "This result suggested that spicy vs non-spicy food pictures relieved painful experience to high pain stimuli." Despite the initial promise, the boffins say that more trials are needed to see if the theory would work for those suffering from chronic pain. To read the full story, become a PRIME member today. PRIME Unlimited Access to Insightful Industry Information All Corporate Members and TexPro Subscribers are eligible to access F2F PRIME CONTENT using the same login credentials. Bigg Boss Tamil 7 is all set for a dhamakerdar weekend ka vaar with host Kamal Haasan and the audience can't keep calm about it. After all, the popular reality show is in the last leg and is set to get its top 6 finalists now. Yes, you get it right. After Poornima Ravi's walk out with a cashbox of Rs 16 lakhs, Bigg Boss Tamil 7 is set for another elimination tonight. While Dinesh, Vichithra, Manichandra, Archana, Vijay Varma and Maya Krishnan continue to be nominated, there are reports that Vichithra will be eliminated from the show tonight. Reportedly, she will be eliminated on the basis of audience's votes and her eviction will undoubtedly leave the audience surprised. And as Vichithra is set to get eliminated from Bigg Boss Tamil 7, did you know she will be taking home a hefty amount for her stint on the show? According to media reports, Vichthra, who is among the highest paid contestants of Bigg Boss Tamil 7, charged Rs 27 thousand per episode and her total remuneration happens to be Rs 26.1 lakhs. Indeed it is a huge amount, isn't it? Meanwhile, Vichithra made the headlines recently as she opened up about her casting couch experience which made her quit acting two decades ago. She recalled the worst casting couch experience which took place in 2000 while she was shooting for a film in Malampuzha wherein the actor of the film asked him to visit his room. She also recalled how men working on the film used to bang on her door after getting drunk. "I could still remember the noise. I was disheartened and was thinking how to deal with this. I used to tell the hotel guys not to connect calls to my hotel. My now-husband, who was not even my friend back then, asked me if I was dealing with something and if he could help. I told him to change my room. He and his team managed to change my room everyday without letting the team know. I don't how they managed and they tried to help me. The men used to go bang on other doors thinking I was there. One day, the men lost their patience and wanted to teach me a lesson," Vichithra was quoted saying. SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE / ACCESSWIRE / January 6, 2024 / Zoomex , with an unwavering commitment to innovation, spearheads the exploration of the dynamic relationship between AI and crypto trading. Guided by the principle of "Creation", Zoomex consistently leads the development trend in the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency market. This commitment is further reflected in dedication to preserving the spirit of anonymity through unique identity safeguarding approach. How We See AI? As we embrace the new year, the emerging impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on cryptocurrency markets is swiftly transforming the trading strategies and operational frameworks within the digital asset landscape. Zoomex , a seasoned player in the crypto exchange arena, is at the forefront, steering this technological revolution with the integration of advanced AI capabilities into its trading platform. In 2024, the influence of AI on cryptocurrency trading has grown beyond preliminary exploration into a critical component of any competitive trading platform. Zoomex has recognized and embraced this trend, deploying AI to not only collect and analyze substantial amounts of market data in real-time but also to significantly elevate success rates in market forecasting, thus elevating trading performance and profitability for its user base. The deployment of AI-driven technologies like COSIGN on Zoomex has led to a paradigm shift in how traders approach the cryptocurrency markets. The cutting-edge AI at the backbone of COSIGN actively sifts through the 24/7 ebb and flow of market data, leveraging machine learning and pattern recognition to evaluate trends and pinpoint potential opportunities. This high-level analysis, often imperceptible to human traders, is shaping a new era of informed decision-making in trading. "The intersection of AI and cryptocurrency represents one of the most exciting developments in our industry this year," stated Ivan McCowan, Chief Advisor of Innovative Technology at Zoomex. "We're not only observing the markets; we are actively laying down the digital infrastructure that will propel cryptocurrency trading into a future where informed decisions, speed, and efficiency converge to help our clients cultivate and sustain profitability." This profound technological integration allows traders to: Tap into AI-generated insights to navigate the volatility of the crypto markets. Harness complex algorithms that enable predictive analytics for proactive trading. Achieve heightened levels of profitability due to the increased accuracy and efficacy of their trades. Zoomex invites traders worldwide to join this evolutionary journey into a future where AI-driven trading is no longer the exception but the norm. The platform continues to demonstrate its commitment to elevating the trading experience by investing in technologies that promise to render the age of intuition-based trading an artifact of the past. ZWTC - AI dominates in the trading competition Zoomex proudly announces the launch of the much-anticipated ZWTC , boasting an impressive $2 million total prize pool! This spectacular event takes place from December 27 to February 23, inviting participants to embark on high-octane trading challenges and match wits with both peers and sophisticated AI competitors. In a unique twist, the distribution of the prize pool across each competition is directly influenced by the AI squads' final standings in the team battle. Featuring $1 million up for grabs in the squad race, a hefty $400k dedicated to individual showdowns, and the enthralling Copy Trading contest, ZWTC is designed to deliver both simplicity and heart-pounding excitement. Participants can select their preferred method of scoring - be it profit amount, profit rate, or trading volume-ensuring that traders of all skill levels have a fair shot at rising to the top and capturing magnificent rewards. Moreover, everyone gets to share in the thrill with the Lucky Draw, where every entry wins! Ready to amaze, the Lucky Draw prizes include sought-after Apple gadgets, a striking $10k cash prize, generous bonuses, and an assortment of exclusive Zoomex merchandise. Don't miss your chance to join the fray, compete with the best, and potentially walk away with your share of the exceptional bounty that ZWTC offers. About Zoomex Zoomex , a forerunner in the crypto industry, underscores sustainability as its guiding principle, establishing it not merely as a commitment but as the core foundation upon which the company is built. The exchange seeks to evolve in tandem with its community, ensuring to acknowledge and give back to those who've offered unwavering support from the very beginning. Zoomex 's dedication to maintaining a conducive and thriving environment for users shines through. The company prides itself on offering an impeccable, seamless trading platform matched with customer service of the highest standard. Established in 2021, Zoomex is synonymous with innovation in the realm of cryptocurrency trading. By harnessing the power of state-of-the-art blockchain technology, the platform envisions a future where tech can significantly enhance lifestyle choices and amplify asset value. The ambition of Zoomex is clear: to deliver a premier online cryptocurrency trading environment to an ever-growing clientele, thus nurturing a culture of prudent investment decisions. With a keen focus on superior trading products, Zoomex supports an impressive roster, featuring USDT perpetual contract trading for over 200 cryptocurrency options, thereby providing users with a plethora of trading possibilities. Zoomex Official: https://www.zoomex.com X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ZoomexOfficial Telegram: https://t.me/zoomex_com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zoomex-com Contact Person: Ashley Levin Business Mail: business@zoomex.com SOURCE: Zoomex View the original press release on accesswire.com The petitioner has stated that he film promotes violence and and has sought a ban on the recently released blockbuster Thalapathy Vijay and director Lokesh Kanagarajs recently released blockbuster Leo has landed in trouble after a petition was filed against the film in the Madurai bench of the High Court. The petitioner, Raju Murugan from Madurai, criticized the film for its violent content and sought a ban on the film. He also demanded a psychological examination of the director. It also accuses the film of essaying riots, illegal activities, drug trafficking, the use of firearms. Advertisement Lokesh Kanagaraj is one of the most renowned filmmakers in the South film industry. However, the director announced that he will take retirement from directing after making 10 films. After Leo, Lokesh Kanagaraj will be joining forces with Baahubali star Prabhas for a yet-to-be-titled drama. The speculations were rift that the movie is going to be the last installment in the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU). Now, the Vikram maker has cleared the air. Let us see what he has to say. Lokesh Kanagaraj clears the air on his next with Prabhas During a recent media interaction, Lokesh Kanagaraj rubbished these speculations saying that the Prabhas starrer is not going to be the final chapter of the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU). He further stated that the movie would be a stand-alone project.Lokesh Kanagaraj also mentioned that Kamal Hasaan-led Vikram 2 will put an end to the highly appreciated Lokesh Cinematic Universe. Given that the film will not be a part of the LCU, the audience can expect a new storyline, most likely with the directors trademark action element. Advertisement Both Lokesh Kanagaraj and Prabhas are huge names in the industry. Ever since this untitled titled venture was confirmed, movie buffs are been super thrilled to see what these two come up with next. A few sources are now ready to spill the beans about the project starring the actress, known for films like Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo, Satyamev Jayate 2 and Yaariyan 2 Divya Khosla Kumar, known for films like Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo, Satyamev Jayate 2 and Yaariyan 2, may have just hinted at starring in a bilingual (Hindi and Telugu) film soon; she shared the same on her Instagram story. Sources say that she is all set to feature in a Telugu- Hindi film industry with a new movie as a lead. Advertisement A recent Instagram story by Divya now has rumor mills churning faster, where she posted, Coming Soon. Im really excited to share something awesome with all of you. Will be announcing on 16th January 2024. Stay Tuned! A few trusted sources were quick to speculate that Divya is looking forward to getting into the Telugu film industry and doing a unique project. It is said that the film is titled Hero N Heroine, and the first poster of the same may be unveiled on 16th January 2024. Divya Khosla Kumar has choreographed 5 songs in Yaariyan 2 and all the songs in her directorial Sanam Re. Before her acting stint, Divya also donned the directors hat and helmed the first installment of Yaariyan. Divya Khosla Kumar, Meezaan Jafri and Pearl V Puri-starrer Yaariyan 2 released on October 20 in cinemas. The film made approx. Rs 60 lacs on day one and around Rs 55 lacs on day two, taking the two-day total to Rs 1.15 crore. But heres how the film is already a profitable venture for the makers. Advertisement Made at a budget of Rs 25 crore, the digital rights of the film were sold to Jio, while the satellite rights were acquired by Sony. As a result, the film is a success with its earnings so far. This means the films distribution deals cemented its path to profitability. The former married couple had earlier made an appearance on the show back on season 4 in 2014, and this could be their second appearance together Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao announced their divorce back in 2021, and the couple is now reportedly going to make an appearance on the final episode of Karan Johars Koffee With Karan 8, and open up about the same, Rediff reports. A source was quoted saying, This is the first time a divorced ex-couple is coming together on Koffee With Karan. Neither Aamir nor Kiran was too keen on sitting on that controversial couch. They agreed mainly as Kiran has a film coming up, Laapataa Ladies, on March 1, which Aamir has produced. Advertisement Aamir Khan and film producer Reena Duttas daughter Ira Khan on Wednesday tied the knot with her long-time partner Nupur Shikhare. Ira, who is the founder and CEO of a mental health support organisation, registered her marriage with Nupur, a celebrity fitness trainer, at a five star hotel in suburban Bandra. The marriage was attended by their close family members, including Aamir, his ex-wives Reena Dutta and Kiran Rao, among others. In one viral moment, Aamir could be seen planting a kiss on Kirans cheeks: Ahead of the wedding, Nupur, who is in his 30s, was seen jogging from his residence in Santacruz to the wedding venue, wearing an athleisure outfit. He later danced along with his friends to dhol beats outside the venue. The groom , who ditched the traditional wedding attire and opted for a black vest and white shorts, got the internet talking. Ira, on the other hand, opted for a white dress as they registered their marriage. Advertisement Videos from the ceremony circulating on social media showed Nupur and Ira signing the marriage documents, surrounded by their families and friends, while the guests cheered for them. Ira, 26, was dressed in a traditional outfit. Rape culture has entered the metaverse. In a first, the UK police began investigating a gang-rape of a teen in the virtual world. We tell you all about this horrific new phenomenon and more in our weekly roundup of explainers We are well into 2024 the first week is over and theres been much that has happened across the world in these seven days. While people got out of their holiday spirit and resumed work, the world saw a gang rape in the metaverse, the disclosure of the Jeffrey Epstein files and even a mass shooting in the US. Also, the Israel-Hamas war rages on, with the death toll only rising higher. Advertisement As we settle into the New Year, there might have been news you missed. But dont fear this weekly roundup of ours will help catch you up with all the happenings from around the globe. 1) Are women safe anywhere? That was the question everyone was asking this week after news surfaced that the police in the United Kingdom was investigating a case of an alleged gang rape of a teenaged girl in the metaverse, an immersive digital world where you can interact and socialise through an online avatar using virtual reality headsets. In our report , we explain what a virtual rape is and how this is becoming a growing worry for women the world over. 2) Talking about rape, this week was also when secret court documents pertaining to the case of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein were made public. The documents pertaining to the former jet-setting financier, who killed himself in prison, mentioned many big names and their relation to Epstein himself. The court documents mentioned a prince (UKs Prince Andrew), a former president (Bill Clinton) and several other big celebrities. Read on to find out what was said about Clinton . Also, read on how the former financier lured young girls and women into his sex racket. Advertisement 3) Away from the news of sex and scandal, came the horrific news of Japans earthquake on New Years Day. On 1 January, the East Asian country was jolted when a whopping 155 earthquakes struck the area in a matter of one day. Countless people died while others were missing. But have you wondered why Japan often witnesses destructive quakes? Read here to find out the answer. Advertisement But that wasnt the only horrific news that came out of Japan this week. A day after the quake, Japan Airlines flight JAL-516 erupted in a fireball after colliding with a smaller Japanese Coast Guard aircraft on the runway at Toykos Haneda Airport. The visuals of the incident were horrific. Shockingly, the 379 passengers on board the Japan Airlines plane escaped unhurt. But how did this happen? Our essay delves into how the crew members quick thinking led to this miraculous escape. Advertisement 4) Some things, sadly, never change. In the US, gun violence continues to claim lives. A 17-year-old went on a rampage in a high school in Perry, a city in Dallas County, Iowa, killing one sixth-grader and injuring five others. The gunman, then died from a self-inflicted gunshot. The shooting has revealed a very disturbing trend that of young assailants. In the last few years, the lethal mass shootings have been committed by those either in their teens or in their 20s. Our explainer delves deeper into this phenomenon. Advertisement 5) On a lighter note, we are most likely approaching the time when our passports will be passe. The UK has revealed plans to equip airports with new, high-tech e-gates that feature advanced facial recognition technology. Officials said this would enable frictionless travel at Britains borders. Many believe that moves such as UKs will allow for seamless travel and that with more countries adopting such technology, the worry of forgetting your passport while travelling will be a thing of the past. Advertisement PS: If you are one of the many thats committed to Dry January , heres what happens to your body without alcohol for a month. Watch this space for more of our explainers. In a video message, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani declared his commitment to investing more in green hydrogen and renewable energy projects in Tamil Nadu On 7 January, the much-awaited two-day Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet (GIM) organised by the government began at Chennai Trade Centre. There will be over 30 participating countries and 9 partner countries in this edition. In a video message, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani declared his commitment to investing more in green hydrogen and renewable energy projects in Tamil Nadu. Advertisement Address by Shri Mukesh D Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited, at the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024 in Chennai on 7th January 2024#TNGIM2024 pic.twitter.com/2YacmVrAYK Reliance Industries Limited (@RIL_Updates) January 7, 2024 Tamil Nadu, according to Ambani, has always had a strong cultural and intellectual legacy. Its wealth has increased significantly due to its shining advancements in manufacturing, agriculture, and services, as well as contributions to Indias overall success and prosperity. Advertisement He said that Tamil Nadu has developed into one of the nations most business-friendly states under Chief Minister MK Stalins direction. Thats why, according to Ambani, he has every reason to think that it will soon become a trillion dollar economya fitting motto for this conference. One of the Stalin administrations most often used catchphrases since May 2021 has been a $1 trillion economy. Advertisement Ambani continued, Reliance has opened nearly 1,300 retail stores across the state, investing over Rs. 25,000 crores, proudly partnering in Tamil Nadus growth over the years. In addition, he mentioned that Jio has made over Rs. 35,000 crores in investments in Tamil Nadu, enabling 35 million users in all of the states towns and villages to benefit from the digital revolution. Advertisement According to Ambani, Jio completed the quickest 5G rollout globally in December, allowing Tamil Nadu to benefit from cutting-edge technology of the fourth industrial revolution, including artificial intelligence, which would further boost the states economy. The US-based company Digital Reality and Canadas Brookfield Asset Management have teamed up with Reliance to build a cutting-edge data centre, which is scheduled to launch next week. Advertisement Reliance has promised to increase its green hydrogen and renewable energy initiatives in Tamil Nadu. We shall work closely with the state government to promote sustainable development, which is necessary to save Mother Earth from the climate crisis, he stated. Additionally, he expressed his confidence that the state government will back their next projects with workable policies. Advertisement He wished everyone a spectacular success on the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet. Although there have been two prior GIM editions in Tamil Nadu, in 2015 and 2019, this would be the first one hosted during the Stalin administration. True or not, in every other South Asian country, including India, prevailing perceptions indicate that foreign policy is increasingly being driven by domestic politics and popular expectations, especially during poll time Beginning with Bangladesh on Sunday, 7 January, South Asia will be in election-mode through the coming weeks and months. Bangladesh will be followed by the second round of general election in Bhutan, and that in Pakistan on 8 February. Nepal is the only exception in South Asia as India and Maldives will have their parliamentary polls in the March-May window, followed by the crucial presidential elections in Sri Lanka, where President Ranil Wickremesinghe is considering the dissolution of Parliament a year ahead and ordering fresh elections. Advertisement Ironically, it is only in Pakistan, which had fashioned its post-Independence/post-Partition politics on a Kashmir-driven, India-centric approach where no one is talking about foreign policy as a main element in the elections this time. True or not, in every other country, including India, prevailing perceptions indicate that foreign policy is increasingly being driven by domestic politics and popular expectations especially during poll time. In Pakistan, ironically, ending adversity with India is an unsaid under-current in domestic politics after the nation was gripped by an unprecedented economic crisis a couple of years back. This has become possible with an increasing awe at the growth and development in India since the nineties. At the time, Pakistani critics of India and also the general public were viewing India as a gone case, owing to the unprecedented and unexplained fiscal crisis. Advertisement Today, the Pakistani army that does not lose any opportunity to capture power in the face of domestic political crises in the past has shied away from staging a coup. One, it does not know how to handle the economy just now. Two and equally important, Western nations and their creations like the IMF and the World Bank shy away when it comes to dealing with a non-democratic/un-democratic nation when it suits their larger geo-politics. Advertisement China, to whose apron strings Pakistan had tied itself in knots in the past, too, is not ready to exploit the current economic/domestic situation in that country. Or, so it seems. Pakistans appetite for foreign aid has been so huge all along but during the Cold War and post-Cold War years, the US on the one side and an independent and emerging China saw it as a geo-strategic investment against India. Advertisement In fact, after the sly China visit of US President Richard Nixon by using his Pakistan visit as a launch-pad, less than two months after Indias successful conduct of the Bangladesh War in December 1971, gave the impression that the two nations were sort of coordinating aid to Indias adversarial Western neighbour. That was a great moment in Indias foreign and security policy that the US could not stomach and China was unable to live with. Advertisement Now, there is a silent prayer in most Pakistani mouths and hearts for a new government in Islamabad building bridges with India, not necessarily to mend ties on what to them is still a contentious Kashmir issue. Instead, they seem to believe that by befriending India and observing Indias growth strategy and implementation, their nation stands to learn the trick, and implement it after tweaking it to local needs, strengths and weaknesses. Advertisement As their understanding goes, India, like Pakistan and other nations that had collapsed under its own economic weight, too took the IMF route for restructuring the economy and succeeded. It implies a strong domestic input that is Indian/South Asian in character from which Pakistan has to learn. If the change-of-mind at the street-level in Pakistan is a cause for smug satisfaction in India in terms of bilateral relations in the immediate future, the unexplained elimination of anti-India terror leaders in that county, one after the other, in recent months may be an added factor that could influence New Delhis approach to Pakistan in the months and years after elections in that country. Unlike in Pakistan, Indias Pakistan policy is not going to change even if there is the unlikely event of a new government in India in the Lok Sabha elections this summer. Advertisement One-woman democracy The same cannot be said about Indias Bangladesh neighbour in the east. New Delhi has been facing a unique problem here as has belonged to its post-war Western friends and allies. Over the past 10-plus years, where India too faced a change-of-government, New Delhi has been forced to use democracy as a foreign policy tool in the neighbourhood but selectively so. Advertisement Thus, New Delhi has steadfastly worked with the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh but described the erstwhile regime of jailed former President Abdulla Yameen in Maldives as undemocratic. Today, Yameen is no longer in power, but Hasina is. Pitted against her, if at all, are Islamic fundamentalist elements after the mainline Opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP) has once again decided to boycott the election. Advertisement The BNP had contested the previous general election and lost very badly. At the time, insiders claimed that its decision to boycott the previous polls had voluntarily shut its voice where it mattered the most, namely, Parliament. While another boycott could reinforce it even more this time, there is concern in Western capital about the increasing solidification of a one-woman democracy in Bangladesh, which shares a border with Myanmar, where the military junta recaptured power in February 2021 after a brief honeymoon with electoral democracy. Advertisement Shaded in confusion Talking of Myanmar, New Delhi will be keenly watching the civil war flowing across the Chinese border as a missile fired from within the country fell in a Chinese border town, injuring many people. The current belief is that China continues to arm both the junta and the three-group militia, as it used to do in the case of Sri Lanka in the past, where it was supplying weapons to the LTTE and fighter jets and other ammunition to the government troops. At least, there were reports about the government troops recovering LTTE fired shells with Chinese markings. Advertisement Thus, going beyond Pakistan and Bangladesh, the Indian concern in other South Asian nations going to the polls is also about the pro-China tilt of some or the political parties in each one of them. In Bhutan, the incumbent government has already lost in the first poll. Whoever between the two main contestants win, the Indian interest lies in the future course of the Bhutan-China border delimitation, initialled last year by the outgoing government. In the case of Bhutan, there is no mention of either of the key contestants in round two being overly pro-China and more so, anti-India. That is not the case with Maldives, where the recently-elected President Mohamed Muizzu started off at a disadvantage in the eyes of the strategic community and the media in India, both of which are squarely ill-informed. The same cannot be said to be the perception of the government, which would however shape up only in the future, depending on how much and how far does Muizzu moves away from India, if at all, and how much and how close he gets to China, in key parameters of bilateral interests to New Delhi. The Maldivian parliamentary election in the summer is not going to be fought on a foreign policy plank as elsewhere. However, Muizzus poll promise to remove 89 Indian troops engaged in emergency evacuation and aerial reconnaissance for drug-smugglers and other international criminals will hang in the background, as his own constituency from the presidential poll victory. It will be seen as his strength, understanding and acceptance of/in international diplomacy, which do weigh with urban sections of the Maldivian voters. Unlike Maldives, Indias concerns about common neighbour Sri Lankas tilt away from the country and towards China are shaded in confusion for no fault of New Delhi. Successive Sri Lankan governments and their leaders have made a fine art of sending out confusing and contradictory signals to India on the China front. This is true not only of incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Rajapaksa leadership of the ruling SLPP in Parliament, whose continuous support alone has kept the government going and hopefully so until presidential polls this year. Wickremesinghe has also planned to dissolve Parliament earlier by a year and order fresh elections. It means that the nation, government, parties and the public will be tied down to the twin elections. From an Indian stand-point, even the main Opposition SJB under presidential hopeful Sajith Premadasa has not warmed up enough to India though their approach to China, like those of others, show up only when in power. Less said about the left-leaning JVP the better. Party leader Aunra Kumara Dissanayake, AKD, is the supposed front-runner in the presidential poll just now. While not necessarily seen as being pro-China per se, the party and leader are slowly but not steadily warming up to India, the US and even the IMF, all of them their hate-objects until before the unprecedented economic crisis that hit the nation in 2022. Whether it will remain so and prosper or is only a tactic for a JVP government to continue with the nations palpable China tilt as at present is a million-dollar question. Cautious optimism The Indian strategic community needs to look as much at the religious element in the foreign policy tilt of neighbouring countries viz New Delhi as their pro-China bias, real and surreal. Of the eight SAARC member-nations in South Asia, four, namely, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Maldives, are Islamic. Under the Taliban regime, Afghanistan remains as radicalised as before the post-9/11 US-facilitated democratic regimes of Presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani. Against this, Pakistan seems wanting to come out of the anti-India mind-set, to which Islamic radicalisation of the armed forces since the days of military-President Zia-ul-Haq in the late seventies. It looks as if the nation still lacks the will to do so. With the result, even if a post-poll government in the country, possibly led by three-term Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, returns to power and also warms up to India, New Delhis approach will be one of cautious optimism. So is the case with Maldives, which still remains the most moderate of Islamic nations in South Asia, alongside Bangladesh. However, the religious scholarship attaching to President Muizzu, who otherwise is a qualified civil engineer with a PhD in structural engineering from a British university, and his late fathers Salafi background, which his brother-in-law has taken over, has made the regime a suspect in the eyes of moderates, both in the country and outside. The larger question is what after this years elections in the neighbourhood nations? In the absence of effective democratic Opposition in Bangladesh and Pakistan, the role may pass on to religious fundamentalists with their strident anti-India messaging that does suffer from any religious rationale. The reason is obvious. Stronger and more powerful Islamic nations in West Asia, including Saudi Arabia, the keepers of Islams most important pilgrim-centres, Mecca and Medina, and also those like the UAE, have absolutely no problem with Indias Hindutva regime, if it is one. The question is if New Delhi can proceed with the perception of friends in West Asia as that of true Islam towards India and can afford to ignore radicalised neighbourhood views? It is as much an important issue for India to study afresh and sort out as Chinas presence in the neighbourhood is. Both will remain more or less the same even if there is a post-poll change of governing political ideology in India which however remains remote at the moment and possibly beyond. The writer is a Chennai-based Policy Analyst & Political Commentator. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._ Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Indias vote at the UN on the question of Palestine is reflective of the principle of proportionality; it shows no shift in policy but continuity Ever since conflict broke out in Gaza, at the start of October, Indias position has been heavily criticised with some analysts saying , Gaza is the latest manifestation of a perceptible change in Indias view of the world. There is no doubt that New Delhis camaraderie has indeed grown with Tel Aviv, especially under Prime Minister Narendra Modi but Indian foreign policy is beyond the Prime Ministers individual relationships, rather it is defined by the international rules based order. Advertisement Indias vote at the UN General Assembly Emergency Special Session (ESS) held on December 12, in favour of an immediate humanitarian ceasefire was indeed a welcome move, especially after New Delhi received heavy criticism and rightly so, for abstaining on a previous ESS resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities. This recent vote was also labelled as a shift in position, by some. However, I argue that India maintains continuity on Israel-Palestine, with the principle of proportionality at the centre of its foreign policy outcomes. Rule 14 of the ICRC study on customary international humanitarian law, on proportionality in attack outlines , Launching an attack which may be expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, damage to civilian objects, or a combination thereof, which would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated, is prohibited. This clearly depicts that if an armed attack leads to significant loss of civilian life that might not be proportionate to expected military gains then such an attack violates international humanitarian law. Advertisement At the time India voted on December 12, the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza had already reached the 18,000 mark. This number indeed is disproportionate to any actual and even notional gain that Israel has achieved militarily against Hamas to justify its horrendous slaughter of civilian population. However, the lacuna of principle of proportionality lies in the fact that there is no metric which can determine what number of civilians killed, amounts to a disproportionate attack, thus, while Indias abstention on October 27 might seem to defy morality, New Delhi in no way flouted the principle of proportionality, maintaining continuity in the age old conflict. Advertisement Indias no tolerance policy towards terrorism became the cornerstone for its abstention earlier at the ESS as mentioned in its explanation of vote (EOV). It was something that India did press for even in the December session of the ESS when it voted in favour on two amendments by the United States and Austria condemning the attack against Israel on October 7. But even New Delhis no tolerance policy towards terrorism does not displace international humanitarian law principles. Advertisement The criticism outlining that New Delhi had an explicit shift of position on the Israel-Palestine issue finds its root in Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeting solidarity towards Israel and reemphasising the same on a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. On this, firstly, India having witnessed the brunt of terrorism, the solidarity towards Israel was from the perspective of underlining Indias no tolerance policy towards terrorism. Second, the PMs solidarity towards Israel and the statement made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) about support for a two-state solution needs to be viewed individually, instead of its statement being seen as a carefully crafted script to not water down the PMs response. Advertisement Furthermore, Indias voting pattern in the past is a testament across various UN General Assembly resolutions to substantiate the premise that Indias actions at the UN on global conflicts have always been aligned with the Principle of Proportionality. For instance, in 2018, India abstained on draft resolution A/73/L.42 of the UN General Assembly condemning activities of Hamas which highlighted that attacks by Hamas could jeopardise civilian lives. But civilian lives lost at that time due to the activities of Hamas were not that large in number to call for a violation of the principle of proportionality, resulting in New Delhis abstention. Advertisement To every critic who has called Indias December 12 vote as a marker for shifting position should trace back a similar vote in the ESS for resolution ES-10/20 that took place on June 13, 2018 condemning the indiscriminate Israel attacks against peaceful protestors of the Great March of Return. In this resolution as well, under the current administration of Modi, India had voted in favour of condemning Israels actions as they flouted principles of proportionality. Advertisement Any discussion that takes place on India and its voting record at the UN vis-a-vis the question of Palestine has to be understood from a nuanced perspective as New Delhis position has never been unidimensional on the issue at hand. Thus, Indias votes at the UN also have favoured the two sides on different occasions, making it imperative to understand that New Delhis votes on the question of Palestine are issue driven and not an indicator of allegiance. Advertisement Lastly, India abstains on majority of the resolutions on the question of Palestine which does open India to criticism on its moral position across such conflicts, but India upholds the principle of proportionality on every account throughout its voting record at the UN on this issue, maintaining continuity. The author is manager, Aakhya India. He tweets at @ArkoprabhoH. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Advertisement Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . There is no rest for the girl called NoStyroFoam Ninja, who has galvanised a nation and world to sit up and take cognisance of steps to save the planet She was in her Bharatanatyam best, dancing on the theme, Art for Climate as her mudras did the talking at the UNGC 26 on climate in Geneva in September 2023. Then 12 year old Madhvi Chittoor went on to speak to an august gathering that included Philip Jaffe, mayor of Geneva, Alfonso Gomez, UN Representative from Estonia, and child activists, to save our planet. Advertisement Just earlier in 2023, she met Madame Vice-President Kamala Harris. This was after she received a reply to her letter to US President Joe Biden where she implored the Congress to reign in #AI . The POTUS wrote back to Madhvi, appreciating her concerns for big tech. The Colorado girl with an eco-ethics mindset had posted, According to Goldman Sachs, up to 300 million full-time jobs could be lost around the world as a result of the automation that ChatGPT and other AI tools could usher in. As much as 18 percent of the global workforce. Now, Madhvi is onto to a huge task list of getting the world to implement policies on Climate Change with Madhvi4EcoEthics and the EcoEthics Global Movement in intended partnership with OHCHR, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and UNICEF. She will host its International EcoEthics Summit, on Climate Action and Inclusivity in June 2024 in Colorado USA. Advertisement A Colorado school girl with big ideas The school girl who started Madhvi4EcoEthics, a non-profit in 2017, at just six years of age, and founded the Global EcoEthics Movement in September 2020, saw a CNN documentary Midway, the Plastic Island at five which changed her happy world. In her mother Lalithas words, She cried, and implored that she wanted to do something to help. Advertisement With wide eyes, and an earnestness thats infectious Madhvi explains, The film showed the great Pacific garbage patch, trash on shores. It was aired when President Obama was visiting that island to inaugurate the Midway Atoll National Refuge. Birds like the albatross scooped plastic along with their prey, feeding it to their chicks, a big Styrofoam ball floated, pieces pulled off from it by the ocean waves, and birds dying due to plastic in their stomachs - bodies decomposed but the plastic was still there. The sad thing is that Midway is in the middle of nowhere, far far away from the civilisation in the Pacific Ocean but all the trash is on its shores. It made me incredibly sad. It inspired me to act, says the pigtailed 12 year old. Advertisement Now, as part of the UN Child Advisory Team, and the youngest member, she was selected at UN Child Advisor in February 2022 at 10 years old for the formulation of UN General Comment No. 26 I am part of a team of 11 other advisors selected from UAE, India, Greenland, Rwanda, Zambia, Vietnam, Samoa, Kosovo, Brazil, Peru and Columbia. We call ourselves CAT Children Advisory Team, have monthly zoom calls and milestone meetings with the UNCRC (UN Committee on the Rights of the Child), where I have provided inputs to the committee based on my experiences on the climate crises, says Chittoor. Advertisement Such is her belief in the path that she has been involved in many projects already, for example, a project for UNEP LEAP Our Rights, Our Planet for children to learn about their environmental rights to a healthy environment.To raise awareness about UNGC 26, I organised workshops for LGBTQ+, disabled persons, and children in rural areas with the youth and children in the Global EcoEthics movement. I participated in the data analysis, summarising the findings of the first round of consultations by early September 2022. All the results helped the Committee to write the first draft of the General Comment, says Madhvi who worked with the UNCRC to create a Global Charter. Advertisement Her movement engaging other children through EcoEthics Global was able to collect 1066 responses from children from across the world, In total, 16333 children participated in the consultations globally. What really impacted me was how some children felt that their voices were not important. Each child participating with their voice on the global charter was given a UNCRC certificate signed by Mikiko Otani, the then Chair of the UNCRC. The UNGC26 was formally launched on September 18, 2023 at the Palais des Naciones in Geneva, Switzerland, says Madhvi who interestingly has a Guinness record for being the youngest composer, with her song now in the Jeffco Public Schools PTA reflections as trailer for the 2023 theme. Advertisement Madhvi has also written a book Plastic: My Food, and is always deep in changing policies. She is called Styrofoam Ninja in Colorado thanks to her movement to ban Styrofoam. The upcoming law in 2024 in Colorado Ban on Styrofoam containers and plastic bags in grocery stores began on July 6, 2021, I was responsible for the passage of House Bill HB21-1162. I have campaigned for such a statewide bill since May of 2019, as an eight year old, says the teen who surprisingly has been on an activism rampage ever since she saw that documentary - public speeches, signature campaigns, river cleanups, writing letters to legislators, meeting politicians and holding workshops etc. Advertisement On Super Conservation Day, she met with 35 mayors from across the state, and the diminutive girl worked with the then State Representative Lisa Cutter, State Rep. Alex Valdez and other legislators, and with Environment Colorado to write the legal format for the legislation. I even met with Governor Polis, (2021), convinced him to sign the bill to law, she pipes, whose zealous work has since seen a ban of Styrofoam trays in 155 schools in Jefferson County Public Schools, eliminating 25 million plus Styrofoam containers. Advertisement Meeting Madame VP Kamala Harris Its onward with immense dedication for Madhvi who recollects meeting VP Harris, The meeting with Kamala Harris was unnerving! My mom and I got a call from an unknown number, saying, This is the Secret Service. We were both so confused wondering - did we do anything wrong? They checked our Social Security number, and said, You are going to meet with the Vice President, Kamala Harris. I was so excited. I had the opportunity to sit at the table with her, governor Pollis etc. We spoke about the global plastic policy, and she felt it was a great idea. Because of that, the US signed the global plastic treaty, ratified in the UNEA 50 in Lisbon March, 2022., at the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, she smiles. Advertisement One meeting in November 2020 is very much on the 12 year olds mind - after many meetings with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, changes were made to the permit process to putting in an oil well to sample the water before and after. Stressing on more transparency in the oil and gas industry workings, she adds, I want to bend the PFAS - national and globally. In Colorado, a bill to ban PFAS in consumer products and PFAS used in the oil and gas industry, was among the first. Advertisement The girl whose Tamilan parents immigrated to the US years ago is insistent that without their support, especially her mother Lalitha who quit her IBM job to rally around her activism, her strides into changing the world would not have been possible be it taking her across the world, on holiday, and to spread the word. Even today, she loves music, playing the piano and violin, and dabbling in arts and crafts. Wheres the time, and she giggles. One finally sees a glimpse of the child in her, as she quips, some serious time management. Her recent Geneva trip saw her visit chocolate shops, and I tasted the fondue for the first time, it was delicious, she says. There is no rest for the girl called NoStyroFoam Ninja who has galvanised a nation and world to sit up and take cognisance of steps to save the planet. Now, as she dives deep into lobbying to work towards a Global Toxic Treaty, her hope is, to preserve Planet Earth for my generation and future generations". I want people to unclutch themselves from non-green wants and conveniences, and greedy economics. We are going on a rampage of our resources in the name of innovation and economy. Thats why I am against the oil and gas industry. Fracking is depleting our fresh potable groundwater. Do you know crypto-currency and blockchain technology needs many servers and to cool these servers we are plundering our freshwater resources like lakes and rivers? Same thing with AI. I really want all living beings to live in an ecosystem where there is oxygen-rich air, clean sweet water , clean soil and great health, she says. And for that, hosting a summit with the UN next June is among the many leaps to change human narrative. The writer is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._ Read all the Latest News **,** Trending News **,** Cricket News **,** Bollywood News **,** India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook **,** Twitter and Instagram **.** The electoral commission reported an hour before the polls closed that 27.15% of voters had participated at 3 p.m. Overall voter turnout for the 2018 general election was over 80% In the midst of intermittent unrest and a boycott by the main opposition party BNP and its allies, Bangladeshis voted in small numbers on Sunday in the general elections that prime minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to win for a fourth consecutive term. The first estimates of voter turnout were about 40%, but Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal stated that the final count may have changed the percentage. Advertisement The electoral commission reported an hour before the polls closed that 27.15% of voters had participated at 3 p.m. Overall voter turnout for the 2018 general election was over 80%. He claimed that 299 of the 300 constituencies had calm voting, with the exception of a few isolated violent occurrences. Due to a candidates passing, the Commission decided to suspend voting in one seat. At the very end of the voting period, the Commission revoked the candidacy of the Awami League candidate in power in northeastern Chattogram because he had scolded and threatened a police officer. Due to this circumstance, two dissident candidates who are also members of the ruling party will now face off in the constituencys polls. Advertisement The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by the sick and imprisoned former premier Khaleda Zia, asked citizens to boycott the polls, which resulted in a poor voter turnout. No election would be held under the current administration, according to the party would be fair and credible. Nothing of the customary election-day fervor was evident. There were only election agents and supporters of the ruling party there, even in front of the campaign booths. Advertisement Absent lengthy lines, voters cast their ballots without interruption, giving the presiding officers free time. Three locationstwo in Narayanganj and one in Narsingdiwere closed to voting. According to sources, the Election Commission issued an order for the son of Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun to be arrested on suspicion of election fraud in Narsingdi. Advertisement During a fight between the supporters of two candidates vying for the Chattogram-10 seat, shots were fired. Shot, two individuals were transported to Chattogram Medical College Hospital: Shanto Barua, 24, and Jamal, 35. Following a brawl between Awami League supporters and an independent candidate at a voting place in Jamalpurs Sharishabari, two persons were hurt. Advertisement Two homemade explosives detonated close to a polling place in Hazaribagh, Dhaka, injuring four peopleamong them a kid. The nations Election Commission reports that 119.6 million registered voters were able to cast ballots at more than 42,000 polling places on Sunday. Along with 436 independents, almost 1,500 candidates representing 27 political parties were running for office. Advertisement The 12th general election is being held under strict security, and over 100 foreign observers, including three from India, are watching it. During the elections, around 7.5 lakh law enforcement and security personnel would be on duty to maintain peace and order. Shortly after the polls opened, Prime Minister Hasina cast her ballot at the Dhaka City College polling place. She was accompanied by her daughter Saima Wazed. Advertisement Since 2009, Hasina, 76, has ruled; her Awami League became victorious in the most recent election in December 2018. She is expected to win a fifth term overall and a fourth term as prime minister. (With agency inputs) The problems that the younger generation in the kingdom faceschronic youth unemployment and a brain drain of migration overseasare at the front of many peoples concerns Tuesday is the general election in the beautiful Himalayan nation of Bhutan, whose long-standing policy of putting Gross National Happiness above prosperity is under scrutiny due to severe economic difficulties. A government that gauges its performance by the happiness and well-being of the people is an ideology that is embraced by both of the parties running for office. Advertisement In this landlocked, thinly populated nation the size of Switzerland, some voters are predicted to travel for days in order to cast their ballots. The problems that the younger generation in the kingdom faceschronic youth unemployment and a brain drain of migration overseasare at the front of many peoples concerns. We dont need more new roads or bridges, farmer Kinley Wangchuk, 46, told AFP. What we really need is more jobs for young people. Bhutans youth unemployment rate stands at 29 per cent, according to the World Bank, while economic growth has sputtered along at an average of 1.7 per cent over the past five years. Young citizens have left in record numbers searching for better financial and educational opportunities abroad since the last elections, with Australia the top destination. Advertisement Around 15,000 Bhutanese were issued visas there in the 12 months to last July, according to a local news report more than the preceding six years combined, and almost two percent of the kingdoms population. The issue is front and centre for both parties contesting the poll. Career civil servant Pema Chewang of the Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP), said the country was losing the cream of the nation. Advertisement If this trend continues, we might be confronted with a situation of empty villages and a deserted nation, the 56-year-old added. His opponent, former prime minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Tshering Tobgay, 58, sounded the alarm over Bhutans unprecedented economic challenges and mass exodus. His partys manifesto quoted government statistics showing that one in every eight people were struggling to meet their basic needs for food and other necessities. Advertisement Economic promises Tourism, a small share of Bhutans economy but a key earner of foreign currency, has yet to recover from the disruptions of the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, the government cut the substantial daily fee paid by foreign visitors to ensure the industry remains sustainable and prevent ecological harm. But foreign tourist numbers in 2023 were only around a third of the 316,000 people who visited four years prior. Advertisement The previous government pursued several projects to diversify the economy, including a special economic zone on the Indian border and plans with a Singapore-based company to raise funds for a cryptocurrency-mining scheme. Both parties have pledged a huge ramp-up of investment in hydropower, its primary source of energy. The BTP manifesto said installed hydro capacity was just 10 percent of potential, with the PDP pledging the development of steel, cement and other support industries that would provide much-needed jobs. Advertisement Bhutans mountain valleys and abundant water resources have created ideal conditions for hydropower development and export to India, according to the World Bank. Nearby Nepal this week signed a lucrative hydropower deal to provide 10,000 megawatts over the coming decade to energy-hungry India, which is overwhelmingly dependent on coal but taking some tentative steps to decarbonise. Advertisement Subdued campaigning Bhutan held elections for the first time in 2008 after political reforms established a bicameral parliament soon after the start of the reign of the present king, who remains hugely popular. Campaigns in the Buddhist-majority nation have always been subdued affairs, with strict rules mandating that election materials can only be posted on public notice boards. Advertisement A primary contest in November narrowed the race down to two parties, with both the previous governments lawmakers and their former opposition knocked out. The party of former prime minister Lotay Tshering, a doctor known for conducting surgeries on weekends as a de-stressor from the pressures of office, polled just 13 percent. Advertisement Bhutan has around 800,000 people and lies sandwiched between the two most populous countries, China and India. Both neighbours are watching the vote with interest, as they eye strategic contested border zones. A cooperation agreement was inked between Bhutan and China in October after talks over their disputed northern frontier sparked concern in India. Advertisement New Delhi has long regarded Bhutan as a buffer state firmly under its orbit, and effectively ran the countrys foreign policy until 2007. Following a day of talks with Turkish and Greek leaders in Istanbul and Crete, Blinken met with Jordans King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Sunday US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Jordans king and foreign minister on Sunday and toured a World Food Programme warehouse in Amman as part of an urgent Middle East diplomatic trip to prevent Israels assault on Hamas in Gaza from expanding. On his fourth visit to the region in three months, Blinken emphasised the importance of Israel adjusting its military operations to reduce civilian casualties and significantly increase the amount of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, as well as the importance of developing detailed plans for the territorys post-conflict future, which has been decimated by intensive Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives. Advertisement Following a day of talks with Turkish and Greek leaders in Istanbul and Crete, Blinken met with Jordans King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Sunday, seeking buy-in for US efforts to calm resurgent fears that the three-month-old conflict will engulf the region, increase aid deliveries to Gaza, and prepare for the eventual end of hostilities. Jordan and other Arab governments have been harshly critical of Israels conduct and have refused to publicly endorse long-term planning, stating that the violence must stop before such conversations can take place. They have been calling for a quick cease-fire since mid-October, when civilian deaths began to rise dramatically. The US has instead called for specific, short-term humanitarian pauses to allow assistance to enter and civilians to reach safety, but Israel has refused. Advertisement Blinken also had a tour of the World Food Programs Regional Coordination warehouse in the capital of Jordan, where relief supplies are being loaded onto trucks and transported to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom and Rafah borders. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on December 22 demanding an urgent boost in supplies. The US has been pressuring Israel for weeks to let more food, water, gasoline, medication, and other supplies into Gaza. Israel opened Kerem Shalom three weeks ago, providing a second entrance point for supplies into Gaza in addition to Rafah. Advertisement Still, the rate of trucks entering has not risen significantly. This week, an average of around 120 trucks a day entered through Rafah and Kerem Shalom, according to U.N. figures, far below the 500 trucks of goods going in daily before the war and far below what aid groups say is needed. Advertisement Almost the entire population of 2.3 million depends on the trucks coming across the border for their survival. One in four Palestinians in Gaza is starving, and the rest face crisis levels of hunger, according to the U.N. More than 85% of people in Gaza have been driven from their homes by Israeli bombardment and ground offensives. Most live in U.N. shelters crowded beyond their capacity, in tent camps that have been sprung up, or on the streets. The few functioning hospitals are overwhelmed with the wounded as well as patients amid outbreaks of disease, as sanitation systems have collapsed. Advertisement In Greece on Saturday, Blinken said his trip would be dominated by not necessarily easy conversations with allies and partners about what they are willing to do to build durable peace and security. Blinkens visit comes as developments in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea and Iraq have put intense strains on what had been a modestly successful US push to prevent a regional conflagration since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, and as international criticism of Israels military operation mounts. Advertisement From Jordan, Blinken will travel to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday and Saudi Arabia on Monday. He will then visit Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday and Wednesday before wrapping up the trip in Egypt. These are not necessarily easy conversations, he said in Greece. There are different perspectives, different needs, different requirements, but it is vital that we engage in this diplomacy now both for the sake of Gaza itself and more broadly the sake of the future for Israelis and Palestinians and for the region as a whole. Advertisement He said his priorities are protecting civilians far too many Palestinians have been killed getting more humanitarian aid into Gaza, ensuring Hamas cannot strike again, and developing a framework for Palestinian-led governance in the territory and a Palestinian state with security assurances or Israel. Hours before Blinkens meetings on Saturday, Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah militia fired dozens of rockets at northern Israel and said the barrage was an initial response to the targeted killing, presumably by Israel, of a top leader from the allied Hamas group in Lebanons capital this past week. Israel responded in what became one of the heaviest days of cross-border fighting in recent weeks. Advertisement Meanwhile, stepped-up attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels have disrupted international trade and led to increased efforts by the US and its allies to patrol the vital commercial waterway and respond to threats. The coalition of countries issued what amounted to a final warning to the Houthis on Wednesday to cease their attacks on vessels or face potential targeted military action. Since Dec. 19, the militants have carried out at least two dozen attacks in response to the Israel-Hamas war. Many of the affected sub-postmasters have received millions in compensation from the government, which officially controls Post Office Ltd., but many more are still waiting years for payments The government is examining the compensation procedure in an accounting scam that falsely accused hundreds of sub-postmasters, many of whom were of Indian descent, of fraud, according to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday. In response to questions about the historic scandal involving a malfunctioning IT system named Horizon that dates back to the late 1990s, Sunak said in an interview with the British media that his minister of justice is looking at ways to expedite the process of reversing erroneous convictions and paying compensation. Advertisement Many of the affected sub-postmasters have received millions in compensation from the government, which officially controls Post Office Ltd., but many more are still waiting years for payments. Obviously its something that happened in the 90s but actually seeing it and hearing about it again just shows what an appalling miscarriage of justice it is for everyone affected and its important that those people now get the justice they deserve, and thats what the compensation schemes are about, Sunak said. The government has paid out about GBP 150 million to thousands of people already. Of course, we want to get the money to the people as quickly as possible, thats why there are interim payments of up to, I think, GBP 600,000 that can be made. There are three different schemes available and for anyone affected, they should come forward, he added. Advertisement This months UK broadcast of the brutally realistic ITV drama series Mr. Bates Vs. The Post Office pushed the topic back into the public eye. Shortly after, the Metropolitan Police announced that it is looking into possible fraud offenses at the Post Office. Now, dozens more sub-postmasters affected by the flawed accounting system have sought legal assistance, bringing the total number affected by the scandal to almost 700. The case of Seema Biswas, a 47-year-old British Indian sub-postmaster, and Vijay Parekh, two of the 39 people who won a Court of Appeal appeal together, first came to light in April 2021. Advertisement (With agency inputs) The Chinese foreign ministry stated in an online statement that the sanctioned companies properties will be frozen in China and that persons and organizations will not be allowed to conduct business there due to the newly implemented sanctions China slapped penalties on five US defense-related companies on Sunday, January 7, in what is believed to be retaliation for the US arms sales to Taiwan and the US sanctions imposed on Chinese persons and companies. The Chinese foreign ministry stated in an online statement that the sanctioned companies properties will be frozen in China and that persons and organizations will not be allowed to conduct business there due to the newly implemented sanctions. Advertisement BAE Systems Land and Armament, Alliant Techsystems Operation, AeroVironment, ViaSat, and Data Link Solutions are the US companies which have been sanctioned by China. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, US actions infringed the rights and interests of China, undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and hurt Chinas sovereignty and security interests. The Chinese government remains unwavering in our resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens, the statement said. Taiwan is a self-governing island nation off the coast of China, and Beijing views it as a province gone wild that will eventually have to submit to Chinese rule. Advertisement (With agency inputs) Voting will last 8 hours across the country for some 119 million eligible citizens to vote in over 42,000 stations. Polling will be held in 299 constituencies out of 300, as the election in one constituency was postponed after an independent candidate died of natural causes In an election marred by violence and the main opposition partys boycott, Bangladeshi voters started casting votes on Sunday, opening the door for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League to win a fourth straight term. Since late Friday, at least eighteen arson incidents have been registered nationwide, according to the authorities, ten of which have targeted voting stations. An arson assault on a passenger train travelling towards the capital, Dhaka, claimed the lives of four persons on Friday. Ahead of the legislative elections, which the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies declared they would boycott, tensions have increased as a result of the occurrences. Advertisement Campaigning in the South Asian nation of 169 million has been marred with violence as at least 15 people have been killed in recent months. Hostilities reached a boiling point in late October, after a massive rally in Dhaka by the BNP saw clashes with police. As the election neared, authorities blamed much of the violence on the BNP, who they accuse of seeking to sabotage the election. On Saturday, detectives arrested seven men belonging to the BNP and its youth wing for their alleged involvement in the passenger train attack. The opposition party denied any role in the incident, and say they are being blamed by authorities who want to discredit their peaceful and nonviolent movement. On Sunday morning, Hasina and her daughter voted amid tight security at Dhaka City College, as other citizens lined up outside to cast their ballot. Voting will last 8 hours across the country for some 119 million eligible citizens to vote in over 42,000 stations. Polling will be held in 299 constituencies out of 300, as the election in one constituency was postponed after an independent candidate died of natural causes. About 700,000 security officials have been deployed to guard the polls and more than 120 foreign observers have arrived to monitor the vote, according to the Election Commission. Advertisement For months, the main opposition BNP says they have no faith that a democratic and free election can take place under the 76-year-old Hasina and have demanded the vote be administered by a neutral caretaker government. The government has rejected the demand. They accuse her government of widespread vote-rigging in the previous 2018 election, which authorities have denied. That election followed another contentious vote in 2014, which was boycotted by the BNP and its allies. Advertisement Critics and rights groups have called the election a farce, and questioned the legitimacy of the polls if there are no major challengers to take on Hasina. The government has defended the election, saying 27 parties and 404 independent candidates are participating. But with scores of those independent candidates from the Awami League itself, and mostly smaller opposition parties in the race, analysts say the result is near inevitable. Advertisement The vote has also been called into question by accusations of a sweeping crackdown against the BNP, led by former premier Khaleda Zia, who is ailing and under house arrest over corruption charges. The party says thousands of their members were rounded up and jailed ahead of the vote on trumped-up charges, but the government disputed the figures and denied that arrests were made due to political leanings. Advertisement After voting, Hasina spoke to reporters and dismissed concerns over the legitimacy of the vote. I have my accountability to people. Whether they have accepted this election or not, that is important to me, she said. Im trying my best to ensure that democracy should continue in this country, Hasina added. Without democracy, you cannot make any development. Abdullah Shahids comments follow those of Mariyam Shiuna, the Maldivian deputy minister for youth empowerment, who disparaged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the social networking site X Former Foreign Minister of the Maldives Abdullah Shahid described the offensive remarks made on social media against the former and other Indian locals as odious and reprehensible during the uproar of protests around a deputy ministers disparaging remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Calling on the Maldivian government to identify the officials responsible and reprimand them, the former Foreign minister posted from his official X handle, Derogatory remarks made by two Deputy Ministers of the current Maldives Government, and a member of a political party in the ruling coalition, towards Prime Minister @narendramodi and the people of India in social media is reprehensible and odious. Advertisement Public figures must maintain decorum. They must accept that they are no longer social media activists and that they are now entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the interests of the people and the country, he added. He emphasized that New Delhi has been the first to react in our time of need and that India is the Maldives time-tested friend and unwavering ally. He wrote, History, culture, mutual respect, and strong people-to-people relations have bound our close relationship. Abdullah Shahids comments follow those of Mariyam Shiuna, the Maldivian deputy minister for youth empowerment, who disparaged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the social networking site X. Shiuna shared several photos of PM Modi from his recent trip to Lakshadweep in her now-deleted post. On January 2, PM Modi paid a visit to the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. He uploaded a number of photos from his tour, including one of him snorkeling, which he described as a exhilarating experience. Advertisement In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches and the pristine blue skies and the ocean, and tagged them with a message that read, For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list. Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from LakshadweepDuring my stay, I also tried snorkelling what an exhilarating experience it was! For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list, PM Modi posted on X. Advertisement On Tuesday, he also lay the groundwork for development projects in Agatti valued at more than Rs 1,150 crore. In response to the controversy over the ministers comments earlier on Sunday, the Maldivian government stated that the views expressed were personal and did not align with its own. It further stated that the minister at the center of the controversy will face the proper consequences. Advertisement Male stated that it is aware of disparaging comments made on social media sites about foreign dignitaries and prominent people. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives, read an official release by the Maldivian Foreign Ministry. In addition, the Maldives government stated that it thinks exercising the right to free speech should be done so in a way that does not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners. Advertisement (With agency inputs) The former vice premiers criticism, which makes fun of Prime Minister Modis recent trip to Lakshadweep, comes amid growing outrage over the installation of a deputy minister from the Maldives Former Maldives Vice President Ahmed Adeeb on Sunday strongly condemned the disparaging comments made about Prime Minister Narendra Modi by certain politicians in his country. The former vice premiers criticism, which makes fun of Prime Minister Modis recent trip to Lakshadweep, comes amid growing outrage over the installation of a deputy minister from the Maldives. Advertisement Former Maldives Vice President Ahmed Adeeb praised the Maldivian government for stating that it disagrees with the opinions of these officials and that they do not represent the views of the current administration. Taking to his official handle on X, the former vice president and Tourism minister, posted, I strongly condemn any derogatory and racist comments made by a group of Maldivian politicians towards His Excellency PM Modi @PMOIndia and beloved citizens of India. I commend the Maldives Government for distancing itself from the views expressed by these officials and emphasizing that they do not reflect the governments position. We established the Maldives tourism industry based on the principles of hospitality, tolerance, peace, and harmony. Through strategic positioning and collaborations with global brands and investments, including those from India, we have successfully positioned Maldives as a premier luxury resort destination, he added. Also hitting out at a section of Maldivian leaders over their racist remarks against PM Modi as well as fellow Indian citizens, Adeeb wrote, Considering the global economic challenges and the vulnerability of the Maldives tourism industry and economy, it is crucial for us to maintain a friendly and humble approach while fostering positive relations, with all nations. Advertisement Earlier, former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed called for current Premier Mohamed Muizzu to disassociate the government from Deputy Minister Mariyam Shiunas offensive remarks. Declaring that India played a instrumental role in the security and prosperity of the Maldives, the former President requested Muizzu to guarantee New Delhi that the remarks were not representative of government policy. Advertisement What appalling language by Maldives Government official @shiuna_m towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives security and prosperity. @MMuizzu gov must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy, Nasheed posted on X. Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment Mariyam Shiuna incited outrage on social media with outrageous comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X. Advertisement Her postwhich has since been removedcontained pictures of Prime Minister Modi from his most recent trip to Lakshadweep. On January 2, PM Modi paid a visit to the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. He uploaded a number of photos from his tour, including one of him snorkeling, which he described as a exhilarating experience. Advertisement Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from LakshadweepDuring my stay, I also tried snorkelling what an exhilarating experience it was! For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list, PM Modi posted on X. Advertisement He also laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 1,150 crore in Agatti on Tuesday. (With agency inputs India has been allocated a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for the annual Haj pilgrimage in 2024. In addition, 1,40,020 seats are being reserved for pilgrims to proceed through Haj Committee whereas 35,005 pilgrims would be permitted to proceed through private operators In a major diplomatic step, India and Saudi Arabia ratified the Bilateral Haj Agreement for the year 2024 on Sunday. Saudi Arabias Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with Minister of Minority Affairs Smriti Irani and Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan in Jeddah. Advertisement Joint Secretary Nirupama Kotru, who accompanied Smriti Irani, was instrumental in enabling the agreements signature and reaffirming the two countries commitment to a robust bilateral relationship. Pleased to announce the formalisation of the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 between India and Saudi Arabia. I, along with Honble MoS for External Affairs, Shri @MOS_MEA, presided over the signing. Also engaged in productive discussions on matters of mutual interest with @tfrabiah, Saudi Minister of Haj and Umrah Affairs, Irani said in a post on social media platform X. According to the agreement, India has been allocated a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for the annual Haj pilgrimage in 2024. In addition, 1,40,020 seats are being reserved for pilgrims to proceed through Haj Committee whereas 35,005 pilgrims would be permitted to proceed through private operators. According to Irani, the Saudi Minister of Haj and Umrah Affairs Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, had fruitful conversations with the Indian delegation during their visit. According to her, the discussions focused on a range of topics of shared interest and demonstrated both countries desire to enhancing diplomatic relations. Advertisement The group from Saudi Arabia conveyed their heartfelt gratitude for Indias excellent digital initiatives, especially in terms of giving Haj pilgrims vital last-mile information. It was also mentioned how India wants to promote women without Mehram to go on the Hajj, highlighting the countrys dedication to gender equality and inclusivity. Plans for improving medical facilities to guarantee the overall health of pilgrims were also discussed. Advertisement I deeply value the collaborative spirit exhibited during these deliberations and eagerly anticipate the continued fortification of our bilateral relations, Irani said. Later, Irani and Muraleedharan went to the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddahs Haj Terminal to supervise the pilgrims arrangements and look into methods to improve logistics and monitoring systems for their comfort. Advertisement On the margins of the bilateral agreement signing, they also had separate meetings with Prof. Dr. Ali Erbas, President of the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) in Turkiye, and Dr. Hj. Naim bin Hj. Mokhtar, Minister in the Prime Ministers Department (Islamic Affairs). (With agency inputs) Fearing a diplomatic backlash, the Maldivian government said in a statement that it was aware of disparaging comments made on social media against foreign dignitaries and high-ranking officials, but that these comments did not necessarily reflect the governments position India expressed alarm on Sunday at the recent derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Mariyam Shiuna, the deputy minister of youth empowerment in the Maldives. The Maldivian administration has reportedly been contacted by the Indian High Commissioner in Male. This happened as the administration of Maldives President Muhammad Muizzu disassociated itself from the statements made by several of its ministers. Advertisement Fearing a diplomatic backlash, the Maldivian government said in a statement that it was aware of disparaging comments made on social media against foreign dignitaries and high-ranking officials, but that these comments did not necessarily reflect the governments position. The government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and international partners," the Maldives government said in a statement. The relevant authorities of the government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks," the statement added. The government led by President Mohamed Muizzu suspended the three Maldivian ministers on Sunday, one day after they made disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India on social media. Advertisement Malsha, Hassan Zihan, and Mariyam Shiuna are the Maldives who have been suspended. PM Modis visit to the Lakshadweep islands and his promotion of the tourism sector in the union territory have evoked a sharp reaction in the Maldives. Several Maldives ministers even claimed that Indian beaches could not meet the cleanliness level of the Maldives beaches. The Israel Defence Forces declared late on Saturday that they had completed the dismantling of the Hamas military framework in the northern Gaza Strip and that they would now concentrate their efforts on the southern and centre regions of the region As its war against the Palestinian organisation reached its fourth month on Sunday, Israel announced that it had dismantled the military leadership of Hamas in northern Gaza. There are growing concerns that the conflict may extend into neighbouring Lebanon. The Palestinian health ministry said that six Palestinians were killed early on Sunday during an Israeli operation in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank. Witnesses claimed that Israel had also conducted airstrikes in Khan Yunis, the biggest city in southern Gaza. Advertisement The Israel Defence Forces declared late on Saturday that they had completed the dismantling of the Hamas military framework in the northern Gaza Strip and that they would now concentrate their efforts on the southern and centre regions of the region. The prospect of a wider regional war loomed with army spokesman Daniel Hagari warning that Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah group was dragging Lebanon into an unnecessary war. The group fired more than 60 rockets at an Israeli military base on Saturday in response to this weeks killing in Beirut of Hamass deputy leader. The war in Gaza was triggered by an unprecedented attack on Israel launched by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Advertisement The militants also took around 250 hostages, 132 of whom remain in captivity, according to Israel. At least 24 are believed to have been killed. In response, Israel is carrying out a relentless bombardment and ground invasion that have killed at least 22,722 people, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. Advertisement Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel would continue its campaign to eliminate Hamas, return our hostages and ensure that Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel. Netanyahu was under growing pressure on Saturday with demonstrators gathering in Tel Avivs Habima Square to call for early elections and the resignation of his government. Advertisement Bibi Netanyahu and all the rest of his idiots are ruining Israel and they are destroying everything we hoped and dreamed of, Shachaf Netzer, 54, told AFP. Everybody here wants an election. Uninhabitable AFP correspondents reported Israeli strikes on Saturday in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of people have sought shelter from the fighting. Advertisement Victims of the bombardment were brought to the European Hospital in Khan Yunis, where relatives and mourners gathered. One of them, Mohamed Awad, wept over the body of a 12-year-old boy and counted the deaths in his family. My brother, his wife, his children, his relatives and the brothers of his wife there are more than 20 martyrs, Awad, a journalist, told AFP. Advertisement Civilians in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip have borne the brunt of the conflict as the scale of the destruction has triggered mass displacement and a deepening humanitarian crisis. With swathes of the territory reduced to rubble, UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths on Friday said Gaza has simply become uninhabitable. The World Health Organization says most of Gazas 36 hospitals have been put out of action by the fighting, while remaining medical facilities face dire shortages. Advertisement International aid group Doctors Without Borders said it had evacuated its staff from Al-Aqsa hospital in central Gaza after a bullet penetrated a wall in the intensive care unit. The situation became so dangerous that some staff living in the neighbouring areas were not able to leave their houses because of the constant threats of drones and snipers, said Carolina Lopez, the groups emergency coordinator at the hospital. Advertisement Diplomatic push Top Western diplomats were in the region over the weekend as part of a fresh push to boost the flow of aid into Gaza and address mounting fears of a wider conflict. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Jordan on Sunday during a Middle East tour that will take him to Israel and the occupied West Bank next week. Advertisement One of the real concerns is the border between Israel and Lebanon, and we want to do everything possible to make sure we see no escalation, he told reporters in Greece, where he stopped before continuing to Jordan. Blinken was due to hold talks with Jordans King Abdullah II before heading to Qatar and Abu Dhabi later in the day. Advertisement European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday visited Beirut, where he met a senior figure in Hezbollahs political wing as part of efforts to avoid Lebanon being drawn into the war, an EU source confirmed. Borrell also held talks with the head of Hezbollahs parliamentary bloc, Mohammad Raad, Lebanese media reported. Advertisement It is imperative to avoid regional escalation in the Middle East. It is absolutely necessary to avoid Lebanon being dragged into a regional conflict, Borrell told a news conference in Beirut. Borrell said he would go to Saudi Arabia next to discuss a joint EU-Arab initiative for peace. The Hamas-allied Hezbollah movement has been trading near-daily fire with Israeli forces since early October, and fired dozens of rockets at an Israeli military base in response to the killing of a senior Hamas figure in a suspected Israeli strike in Beirut on Tuesday. Hezbollah said it had targeted the Israeli militarys Meron air control base with 62 missiles in its initial response to the killing of Saleh al-Aruri, Hamass deputy leader, in Beirut. The Israeli army reported approximately 40 launches from Lebanon and said it struck Hezbollah military sites in response. The political emphasis has shifted towards European military cooperation following Russias complete invasion of Ukraine over two years ago Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that the EU should create a unified army that could be used for crisis resolution and peacekeeping. Tajani stated that the Forza Italia party, which he leads, prioritises deeper European security cooperation in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa. If we want to be peacekeepers in the world, we need a European military. And this is a fundamental precondition to be able to have an effective European foreign policy, he said in an interview published on Sunday. Advertisement In a world with powerful players like the United States, China, India, Russia - with crises from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific - Italian, German, French or Slovenian citizens can only be protected by something that already exists, namely the European Union, he added. The political emphasis has shifted towards European military cooperation following Russias complete invasion of Ukraine over two years ago. However, with Finland, an EU member, joining the alliance last year and Sweden on course to follow suit, efforts have been more directed on NATO expansion. In addition, Tajani stated that the existing system of having a president of the European Council and a head of the European Commission should be abandoned in favour of a single presidency for the 27-nation EU. Advertisement The foreign minister took over as head of Forza Italia when Silvio Berlusconi passed away in the previous year. Junes European Parliament elections will serve as the partys first barometer of public sentiment following the passing of its charismatic former leader. Since Russias invasion, Japan has expanded sanctions against Moscow, including asset freezes and export bans, in an effort to express support for Ukraine According to a ministry official, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa travelled to Ukraine on Sunday to meet with her colleague Dmytro Kuleba and demonstrate Tokyos ongoing support. Her initial two-week tour itinerary, which included stops in Poland, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Germany, and Turkey starting on Friday, was altered by the unexpected visit. Advertisement Since Russias invasion, Japan has expanded sanctions against Moscow, including asset freezes and export bans, in an effort to express support for Ukraine. Kamikawa was scheduled to depart Warsaw for Kyiv on Sunday, according to a statement from the foreign ministry. AFP was informed by a ministry official that the minister had arrived somewhere in Ukraine. During her visit, Kamikawa will once again reiterate to the Ukrainian side that Japans consistent policy of standing with and supporting Ukraine remains unchanged, the ministry statement said. She will brief the Ukrainian side on the details of assistance projects Japan will offer to Kyiv, it said. Japan plans to host a conference to promote Ukraines economic reconstruction in Tokyo in February, with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal planning to attend. Advertisement Kamikawa will consult with the Ukraine side about details of the conference and will attend the handover ceremony of large-scale power-related equipment for winterisation assistance, it said. During her visit, Kamikawa is to demonstrate Japans determination to uphold the international order based on the rule of law from the perspective that unilateral changes to the status quo by force, such as Russias aggression against Ukraine, cannot be accepted, it said. Advertisement Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has repeatedly stressed the importance of rules-based international order as Tokyo is concerned about its own territorial disputes with its neighbours including an increasingly assertive China. At the Group of Seven summit in Japan in May last year, the blocs leaders agreed to starve Russia of G7 technology, industrial equipment and services that support its war machine. In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which Kiev and its Western allies described as an unjustified imperialist territorial grab On the eve of Orthodox Christmas, President Vladimir Putin ordered his administration to provide stronger assistance for those who fight and called on his people to be kind and just. He also committed to support those who protect Russias interests with arms in hands. Many of our men, our courageous, heroic guys, Russian warriors, even now, on this holiday, defend the interests of our country with arms in hand, Putin said at a late Saturday meeting with families of Russian soldiers who have died in Ukraine. Advertisement In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which Kiev and its Western allies described as an unjustified imperialist territorial grab. After nearly two years, as both sides have failed to make substantial progress along the frontline, the warwhich has claimed thousands of lives and uprooted millions of peoplehas switched to more frequent airstrikes against each others territory. Later on Saturday, at a chapel at his home in Novo-Ogaryovo, outside of Moscow, the Russian president was shown in state television video attending an intimate midnight prayer known as the Divine Liturgy, accompanied by a small number of soldiers families. There was no call from Putin this year for a ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with the holiday, which many Orthodox Christians celebrate on Jan. 6-7 - as was the case a year ago. Advertisement Ukraine said on Saturday that a Russian missile strike killed 11 people and injured 10 in and around the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, while a Russian-installed official accused Kyiv of shelling parts of Donetsk now under Moscows control. Putin, who is facing elections in March and has been softening his speeches to focus on traditional values and unity, ordered the whole of his government a greater support to the families of killed servicemen. Advertisement I would like our meeting to be a clear, understandable signal to all my colleagues throughout the Russian Federation, and at all levels - a clear signal to ensure that my colleagues are always and everywhere with you, I repeat, any level of power, he told the families. Goodness, mercy and justice Advertisement In a separate greeting issued on the Kremlins website, Putin called on Russians to follow the unshakable values of goodness, mercy and justice and on the Russian Orthodox Church to help strengthen the institution of families and patriotism. Putin has used the Orthodox Church as a powerful ally to promote his vision of a Russian World based on traditional conservative values, in contrast with what he portrays as a decadent West. Reflecting that trend, Russia last year banned what it called the international LGBT social movement on the grounds of extremism. Advertisement In Moscows Christ the Saviour cathedral, people were able to pray in front of Russias most famous religious painting - the 15th century Trinity icon, by Andrei Rublyov - which was brought out from a restoration workship and placed on display for a service on Orthodox Christmas Eve. Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, bowed his head before the painting and scattered incense from a censer as believers crossed themselves. Advertisement The BBC Russian service reported that the fragile artwork had been taken to the cathedral the night before in temperatures of -20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit) and placed on view in an ordinary glass case without special protection to regulate its temperature and humidity. Putin transferred the artwork from Moscows Tretyakov Museum and handed it to the Orthodox Church last year despite opposition from cultural experts who voiced fears over its preservation. Advertisement Christmas services were also held in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine - unlike the rest of Ukraine, where President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a law last July to change the date of the Christmas holiday to Dec. 25 from Jan. 7 as part of a drive to renounce Russian heritage. In the southern Russian city of Belgorod, where 25 people were killed on Dec. 30 in Ukraines deadliest cross-border attack of the war, Mayor Valentin Demidov said Christmas Eve services had been cancelled. Advertisement The city, just 40 km (25 miles) from the border with Ukraine, has come under further sporadic rocket attack within the past week, overshadowing New Year and Christmas celebrations. Violence erupted on the eve of the election, with a passenger train fire, which the government called arson, killing at least four people while several polling booths and institutions were set ablaze around the country Sundays general election, which was violently disrupted before of the vote and boycotted by the main opposition party, is expected to give Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a fifth term in office overall and her fourth consecutive term under the leadership of her Awami League-led alliance. The voting period will run from 8 a.m. (0200 GMT) until 4 p.m. (1000 GMT). Soon after the polls close, the counting process will begin, and preliminary results should be known by early Monday. Advertisement Following the boycott by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a few of its smaller partners, rights organisations claim that the 170 million-person nation is on the verge of virtual one-party tyranny. The United States and Western nations, important customers of its garment industry, have called for a free and fair election - the countrys 12th since independence in 1971. About 120 million voters will choose from nearly 2,000 candidates for the 300 directly elected parliamentary seats. There are 436 independent candidates, the most since 2001. The BNP says the Awami League has propped up dummy candidates as independents to try to make the election look credible, a claim the ruling party denies. Advertisement The BNP, which also boycotted the 2014 poll but took part in 2018, has asked people to shun the poll and called a two-day strike nationwide from Saturday. Hasina, who has refused BNP demands to resign and cede power to a neutral authority to run the election, accuses the opposition of instigating anti-government protests that have rocked Dhaka since late October and killed at least 14 people. Advertisement With the ballot outcome all but assured and high risk of violence, turnout could be low on Sunday. Violence erupted on the eve of the election, with a passenger train fire, which the government called arson, killing at least four people while several polling booths and institutions were set ablaze around the country. Advertisement Troops have fanned out across Bangladesh to maintain peace while nearly 800,000 police, paramilitary and police auxiliaries will guard polling booths on Sunday. In her last 15 years in power, Hasina, 76, has been credited with turning around Bangladeshs economy and the garment industry. But critics have also accused her of authoritarianism, human rights violations, crackdowns on free speech and suppression of dissent. Advertisement Her main rival and two-time premier, BNP leader Khaleda Zia, is effectively under house arrest on corruption charges the opposition says have been trumped up. Khaledas son, Tarique Rahman, is the acting chairman of the party, but he is in exile, facing charges that he denies. The economy has also slowed sharply since the Russia-Ukraine war pushed up prices of fuel and food imports, forcing Bangladesh to turn to the International Monetary Fund for a bailout of $4.7 billion last year. In addition to having extensive discussions with his counterpart in the UK, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Singh is anticipated to examine a ceremonial Guard of Honour and visit memorials dedicated to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi in London The last ministerial level visit to the UK occurred 22 years ago, therefore Defence Minister Rajnath Singhs three-day visit is expected to be vital to the bilateral partnership in the field of defense and security. Rajnath Singhs official visit is much awaited after the Indian side canceled his previously scheduled June 2022 visit to the UK for protocol reasons. Advertisement In addition to having extensive discussions with his counterpart in the UK, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Singh is anticipated to examine a ceremonial Guard of Honour and visit memorials dedicated to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi in London. His three-day program is also anticipated to include a community engagement with people from the Indian diaspora in the UK. But experts think the emphasis should be on operationalizing the defense sectors Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives under the Narendra Modi-led administration. This is because there is a chance for a ministerial-level discussion. An improved defence relationship between India and the UK began with former prime minister Boris Johnsons visit to India in April 2022. During his visit, Johnson announced the establishment of an Open General Export License (OGEL) for India, which the UK government claimed would slash delivery times for defence procurement and reduce bureaucracy. Advertisement All facets of the relationship are under intense scrutiny as India and the UK get ready for general elections this year. This includes accelerated discussions towards a free trade agreement (FTA), which is anticipated to greatly strengthen the GBP 36 billion bilateral partnership. (With agency inputs) The decree, according to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, nullified the illegal agreement that granted landlocked Ethiopia long-desired access to the Red Sea through Somaliland, a breakaway province in northwest Somalia over which Somalia has no actual control The president of Somalia has signed a legislation nullifying a controversial agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia, expressing his governments disapproval of the port access arrangement primarily by symbolic action. The decree, according to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, nullified the illegal agreement that granted landlocked Ethiopia long-desired access to the Red Sea through Somaliland, a breakaway province in northwest Somalia over which Somalia has no actual control. Advertisement The president said on X, previously Twitter, that the bills passing on Saturday night is an illustration of our commitment to safeguard our unity, sovereignty & territorial integrity as per international law. The port deal between regional giant Ethiopia and Somaliland, whose 1991 declaration of independence from Somalia is not recognised internationally, has drawn the vehement opposition of the central government in Mogadishu, which has promised to reject it by all legal means. Calling the unexpected agreement struck on Monday an act of aggression and a breach of its sovereignty, Somalia made a plea for help from other countries. Although it vehemently rejects Somalilands independence claim, it really has little influence on the operations of the de facto state, which possesses a lengthy coastline along one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, as well as its own government, security forces, and currency. Advertisement Somalilands leadership has said Ethiopia would formally recognise the Republic of Somaliland under the deal, but this has not been confirmed by the government in Addis Ababa. The agreement has raised tensions in the Horn of Africa and the African Union, United States, European Union and the Arab League have called for calm and for Somalias sovereignty to be respected. Advertisement The memorandum of understanding gives Ethiopia access to commercial maritime services and a military base, with Somaliland leasing it 20 kilometres (12 miles) of coastline for 50 years. Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa and one of the biggest landlocked nations in the world, was cut off from the coast after Eritrea seceded and declared independence in 1993 following a three-decade war. Advertisement Addis Ababa had maintained access to a port in Eritrea until the two countries went to war in 1998-2000, and since then Ethiopia funnels most of its trade through Djibouti. On separate visits to the area, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chief Envoy of the European Union Josep Borrell attempted to curb the three-month-old wars spillover into Lebanon, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and Red Sea maritime routes On Sunday, precisely three months after the battle began, leading foreign diplomats deliberated on tactics to prevent the Gaza war from escalating beyond Israel and the Palestinian territories, as Palestinian and Israeli officials reported thousands of casualties among civilians and soldiers. On separate visits to the area, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chief Envoy of the European Union Josep Borrell attempted to curb the three-month-old wars spillover into Lebanon, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and Red Sea maritime routes. Advertisement The West Bank is boiling over, Israel and Hezbollah often exchange gunfire across the Lebanese border, and the Houthis in Yemen, who support Iran, are committed to keeping up their attacks on ships in the Red Sea until Israel stops bombing Palestinians in Gaza. Blinken was in Amman, Jordan, after stops in Turkey and Greece. Borrell was on a Jan. 5-7 trip to Lebanon. Both told reporters their priority was quelling spillover from the fighting. We have an intense focus on preventing this conflict from spreading, Blinken told reporters before heading to Jordan from Chania, Greece, on his fourth trip to the region since Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a cross-border attack on Israel. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari gave a roundup on Saturday, the eve of the three-month anniversary, as Israel has signalled a shift recently to scale down forces while facing international pressure over the mounting civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip. Advertisement Hagari said Israeli forces had completed dismantling the Hamas militant groups military framework in northern Gaza and killed around 8,000 militants in that area. We are now focused on dismantling Hamas in the centre of and south of the (Gaza) strip, he said in an online briefing. Fighting will continue during 2024. We are operating according to a plan to achieve the wars goals, to dismantle Hamas in the north and south, Hagari said. Advertisement Israels bombing and incursions of Gaza began after Hamas militants from the strip attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostage, according to Israeli officials. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas. Israels offensive, aimed at wiping out Hamas, had killed 22,722 Palestinians by Saturday, according to Palestinian health officials, and devastated the tiny Gaza enclave. Advertisement Palestinian health ministry casualty figures do not differentiate between fighters and civilians, but the ministry has said that 70% of Gazas dead are women and people under 18. The fighting has displaced most of Gazas 2.3 million population, with many homes and civilian infrastructure left in ruins amid acute shortages of food, water and medicine. Advertisement They still bombed us On Saturday, fighting raged on in Gaza, especially in and near the southern city of Khan Younis, where the Israeli military said it had killed members of Hamas, which rules the densely populated coastal strip. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported heavy shelling near the Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis. Shrapnel flew into the medical facility amid the sound of firing from drones, it said on social media. Advertisement The official Palestinian news agency WAFA said an Israeli air strike on a residential building on Saturday night had killed at least 12 people and wounded 50, and another strike on a school in central Gaza had killed as many as four. The Israeli military said its commandos had killed several militants and found military equipment used by Hamas. Advertisement Standing outside a morgue in Khan Younis, 11-year-old Mahmoud Awad said Israeli airstrikes had killed his parents and siblings. We were in al-Shati refugee camp and they dropped fliers saying Gaza is a battlefield, so we fled to Khan Younis because it was a safe place, and they still bombed us, he said. Advertisement Israel denies targeting civilians and says Hamas fighters embed themselves among civilian populations, working from tunnels beneath facilities like hospitals. Hamas, which is backed by Iran and is sworn to Israels destruction, denies using civilians as human shields. Blinken met the leaders of Turkey and Greece on Saturday at the start of a week-long trip that will also take him to Israel, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Advertisement In Istanbul, Blinken held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and President Tayyip Erdogan, a fierce critic of Israels military actions in Gaza. Turkey, which unlike most of its NATO allies does not class Hamas as a terrorist organization, has offered to mediate. Blinken said he would spend the next few days discussing with allies and partners how they can use their influence to protect civilians and maximize humanitarian aid. Advertisement Borrell expressed alarm in Beirut about exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon and the risk that Lebanon could be dragged into the Gaza conflict. Diplomatic channels have to stay open. War is not the only option its the worst option, Borrell said. Trumps remarks in Newton in central Iowa came a day after Biden delivered a speech near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where he cast Trump as a grave threat to democracy and called Jan. 6 a day when we nearly lost America lost it all During his campaign stop in Iowa on Saturday, former President Donald Trump celebrated the third anniversary of the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, by characterising the influx of migrants at the southern border as the real uprising. Trump did not specifically mention the date, which is little over a week before Iowas leadoff caucuses start off the Republican selection process. Despite the lack of proof to support his claims, he persisted in asserting that nations had been clearing out prisons and mental health facilities in order to encourage an unprecedented number of migrant crossings. Advertisement When you talk about insurrection, what theyre doing, thats the real deal. Thats the real deal. Not patriotically and peacefully peacefully and patriotically, Trump said, quoting from his speech on Jan. 6, before a violent mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol as part of a desperate bid to keep him in power after his 2020 election loss. Trumps remarks in Newton in central Iowa came a day after Biden delivered a speech near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where he cast Trump as a grave threat to democracy and called Jan. 6 a day when we nearly lost America lost it all. With a likely rematch of the 2020 election looming, both Biden and Trump have frequently invoked Jan. 6 on the campaign trail. Trump, who is under federal indictment for his efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Biden, has consistently downplayed or spread conspiracy theories about a riot in which his supporters spurred by his lies about election fraud tried to disrupt the certification of Bidens win. Advertisement Trump also continued to bemoan the treatment of those who have been jailed for participating in the riot, again labeling them hostages. More than 1,230 people have been charged with federal crimes connected to the violence, including assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. They ought to release the J6 hostages. Theyve suffered enough, he said in Clinton, in the states far east. Release the J6 hostages, Joe. Release em, Joe. You can do it real easy, Joe, he said. Advertisement Trump was holding the commit-to-caucus events just over a week before voting will begin on Jan. 15. He arrived at his last event nearly three-and-a-half hours late due to what he said was a mechanical issue with a rented plane. After Trump spoke in Newton, he signed hats and other items people in the crowd passed to him, including a copy of a Playboy magazine that featured him on the cover. Advertisement One man in the crowd, Dick Green, was standing about 15 feet away, weeping after the former president autographed his white Trump Country hat and shook his hand. Itll never get sold. It will be in my family, Green said of the hat. A caucus captain and a pastor in Brighton, Iowa, Green said he had prayed for four years to meet Trump. Advertisement Ill never forget it, he said. Its just the beginning of his next presidency. Trump spent much of the day assailing Biden, casting him as incompetent and the real threat to democracy. But he also attacked fellow Republicans, including the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona, whose no vote derailed GOP efforts to repeal former President Barack Obamas signature healthcare law. Advertisement John McCain, for some reason, couldnt get his arm up that day, said Trump of McCain, who was shot down over Vietnam in 1967 and spent 5 years as a prisoner of war. The injuries he suffered left him unable to lift his arms over his head for the rest of his life. His daughter, Meghan McCain, responded on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, calling Trump an expletive and her father an American hero. Advertisement Earlier Saturday, Trump courted young conservative activists in Des Moines, speaking to members of Run GenZ, an organization that encourages young conservatives to run for office. Trumps campaign is hoping to turn out thousands of supporters who have never caucused before as part of a show of force aimed at denying his rivals momentum and demonstrating his organizing prowess heading into the general election. Advertisement His chief rivals, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, were also campaigning in the state as they battle for second place in hopes of emerging as the most viable alternative to Trump, who is leading by wide margins in early state and national polls. Trump has used the trip to step up his attacks against Haley, who has been gaining ground. He again cast her Saturday as insufficiently conservative and a globalist beholden to Wall Street donors, and accused her of being disloyal for running against him. Advertisement Nikki will sell you out just like she sold me out, he charged. On Friday, Trump had highlighted several recent Haley statements that drew criticism, including her comment that voters in New Hampshire correct Iowas mistakes (You dont have to be corrected, he said) and her failure to mention slavery when asked what had caused the Civil War. Advertisement I dont know if its going to have an impact, but you know like slaverys sort of the obvious answer as opposed to her three paragraphs of bulls, he told a crowd Friday. In Newton, he said that he was fascinated by the horrible war, which he suggested he could have prevented. Advertisement Its so fascinating, he said. Its just different. I just find it Im so attracted to seeing it So many mistakes were made. See that was something I think could have been negotiated, to be honest with you. Haleys campaign has pointed to his escalating attention, including a new attack ad, as evidence Trump is worried about her momentum. God bless President Trump, hes been on a temper tantrum every day about me and everything hes saying is not true, Haley told a crowd Saturday in North Liberty, Iowa. ___ Beaumont reported from Clinton, Iowa, and Colvin from New York. AP National Politics Writer Steve Peoples in North Liberty, Iowa, and Andrew Harnik in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report. This week, Russia launched multiple missile attacks on Kharkiv, resulting in two fatalities and over 60 injuries in one of its largest missile and drone assaults since the large-scale conflict began in February 2022 The prosecutors office for the Kharkiv area displayed the parts on Saturday, adding to the proof that Russia used missiles supplied by North Korea to strike Ukraine. According to a top advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia launched its first missile attack on Ukraine this week using missiles provided by North Korea. Advertisement The prosecutors office spokeswoman, Dmytro Chubenko, stated that the missile, which was one of three that struck Kharkiv on January 2, differed from Russian versions both in appearance and functionality. The production method is not very modern. There are deviations from standard Iskander missiles, which we previously saw during strikes on Kharkiv. This missile is similar to one of the North Korean missiles, Chubenko told media as he displayed the remnants. He said the missile was slightly bigger in diameter than the Russian Iskander missile, while its nozzle, internal electrical windings, and rear parts were also different. That is why we are leaning towards the version that this may be a missile which was supplied by North Korea. Chubenko refused to identify the precise model designation of the missile. Advertisement This week, Russia launched multiple missile attacks on Kharkiv, resulting in two fatalities and over 60 injuries in one of its largest missile and drone assaults since the large-scale conflict began in February 2022. Since it conducted its first nuclear bomb test in 2006, North Korea has been subject to an arms embargo by the UN. Advertisement Resolutions passed by the UN Security Council, backed by Russia, forbid nations from exchanging armaments or other military hardware with North Korea. Google and Apple have removed 2 eSIM apps, Airalo and Holafly from their App stores, as per orders from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to crackdown on cyber fraud. For a foreign app to sell SIM cards in India, the company needs a no objection certificate (NoC) from DoT. However, the Singapore-based Airalo and Spain-based Holafly offer eSIMs (digital SIM) in India that allows customers to get a connection in minutes and instantly connect to a mobile network at the destination. In addition to removing the apps from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, DoT has also asked internet service providers, and telecom companies to block the websites of these apps in India, according to an ET report. Exploiting a loophole with unauthorized eSIMs, fraudsters with international numbers are duping Indians through cybercrime, says the government. Even though these two apps have been banned, other eSIM apps like Nomad eSIM and aloSIM are still available. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported a sharp increase in cybercrime cases in Delhi in 2022. In 2024, these numbers are expected to increase with cybercriminals increasingly leveraging on advanced AI technology. Qualcomm has announced a significant expansion in Chennai with a new facility for their Design Centre and has proposed an investment of Rs. 177.27 crores. This was announced at the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet in Chennai today. The Design Centre will specialize in wireless connectivity solutions, with a focus on innovations that complement Wi-Fi technologies, said the company. Additionally, Qualcomm said that it will actively contribute to Qualcomms global Research and Development endeavors in 5G Cellular technology. The new Design Centre is expected to generate jobs for up to 1600 skilled professionals. Regarding the new Design Centre, Savi Soin, President, Qualcomm India, said: The new Design Centre in Chennai plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of connectivity globally, especially in India. The new Design Center is a critical asset to support Qualcomms commitment to Make in India and Design in India. This will expand our collaboration with India technology partners and accelerate the market adoption of new technology. Mahesh Moorthy, Vice President, Engineering and Qualcomm Chennai Design Center Head, said: We are excited about the opportunities the new Design Center will bring to the local community. Tamil Nadu, with its rich pool of skilled professionals, outstanding educational institutions and focus on innovation, holds the key to propelling Qualcomms technological advancements to new heights. At the ongoing Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet in Chennai, Tata Electronics, Pegatron, TVS Group and other companies have announced investments in Tamil Nadu. The TN government has set a target of attracting Rs 5 lakh crore in investments this year. Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin released Vision $1 trillion report along with the Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy, 2024 at the session attended by industry leaders and global investors. Tata Electronics to invest Rs. 12,082 crores Tata Electronics has signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government for a Rs. 12,082 crore investment to expand its existing smartphones and electronic component manufacturing facility in Krishnagiri district, generating a massive employment opportunity for 40,500 people. Pegatron to invest Rs. 1000 crores Taiwanese Electronics manufacturer and a major supplier to Apple, Pegatron has announced an investment of Rs. 1000 crores for expansion of its manufacturing base in Chengalpattu Disctrict in Tamil Nadu for computing, communications and consumer electronics manufacturing unit that will generate an employment opportunity for 8000 people. Pegatron entered India in 2021 under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme and established its unit in Singaperumalkovil, near Chennai, with an investment of Rs 1,100 crore. Investments from JSW Energy, TVS Group, Hyundai and others JSW Energy has signed an MoU to expand its footprint in Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts with an investment of Rs. 10,000 crores, generating an employment opportunity for 6,600 people TVS Group has signed an MoU to expand its footprint in automobile, realty, and IT with an investment of Rs. 5,000 crores Mitsubishi Electric India has signed an MoU to expand its existing footprint of AC manufacturing facility in Gummidipoondi with an investment of Rs. 250 crores. This is proposed to employ 60 percent women Hyundai has signed an MoU to set up ICE & EV passenger car and EV battery manufacturing unit in Kacheepuram District with an investment of Rs. 6180 crores. It will also set up a Hydrogen Innovation Valley with IIT Madras. Inaugurating the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet (TNGIM) 2024 at Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru M.K. Stalin shared his vision for transforming Tamil Nadu into a $1 trillion economy by 2030 and said that this Global Investors Meet will act as a catalyst for economic and industrial growth. With the aim that Tamil Nadu should play an important role in shaping Indias economic growth, I have set an ambitious target of transforming Tamil Nadus economy into a 1 trillion USD economy by 2030. To achieve this, we are pursuing a twin-pronged approach of attracting both capital and employment-intensive investments We offer what we promise. We have been inviting investors with a red-carpet welcome. We want to be the trendsetter amidst other states. TNGIM has witnessed encouraging response and is expected to bring pride and investment to Tamil Nadu. Multiple policies have been announced by the state. Our focus is to ensure development for all. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Government of India and Leader of House in Rajya Sabha said: Indias growth is backed by the success of its states and Tamil Nadu stands as a pivotal cog in the wheel. Tamil Nadu is one of the most ambitious states with the vision of $1 trillion economy by 2030 and the government of India is working closely with the state government towards taking the states inclusive and sustainable growth forward. Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion, and Commerce said, At the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024, we aspire for a bigger, better future, with a focus on inclusivity and sustainability. This summit is a pedestal for the state to showcase the sectoral expertise, enhance and strengthen skilling diversity and expand the investment opportunities both nationally and internationally. Tamil Nadus skilling prowess exceeds the national benchmark by contributing 43% of the total women workforce in India. Library of Congress The first homestead under the 1862 Homestead Act was filed near Beatrice Nebraska on Jan. 1, 1863 by a man named Daniel Freeman. His claim is now the site Homestead National Historic Park. Protesters in Paris rally in support of Palestinians and calling for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip In December, Tim Ayres, Australias assistant trade minister, visited India to evaluate the advancements in the pact. Ayres aims to conclude the agreement by the years end, emphasising that the successful completion of this ambitious deal will unlock the full potential of the bilateral economic partnership between Australia and India. The Economic Cooperation Trade Agreement, signed in April 2022 and effective from December 29, 2022, has already demonstrated positive outcomes. Notably, Indias trade deficit with Australia has decreased by 15%, attributed to increased exports of pharmaceuticals, electrical machinery, and iron and steel articles following the implementation of the agreement. Experts believe that the Australia-India trade deal is proving to be a substantial win for Australian exporters, providing both economic relief and job opportunities while fostering a stronger partnership between the two nations. Key Points: Agricultural Exports Soar: Agricultural exports to India have witnessed an impressive 50% increase since the trade agreements enactment on December 29, 2022. This surge includes substantial boosts in sheep meat, seafood, broad beans, citrus, and almonds. Agricultural exports to India have witnessed an impressive 50% increase since the trade agreements enactment on December 29, 2022. This surge includes substantial boosts in sheep meat, seafood, broad beans, citrus, and almonds. Industrial Exports Flourish: Most industrial exports to India have seen a robust growth of around 30%, with pharmaceuticals, wood and paper, and cochlear implants leading the way. Most industrial exports to India have seen a robust growth of around 30%, with pharmaceuticals, wood and paper, and cochlear implants leading the way. Competitive Edge: Starting January 1, 2024, Australian exports to India will become even more competitive, as additional tariff cuts are applied to high-quality products such as seafood, cherries, sandalwood, and wine. Starting January 1, 2024, Australian exports to India will become even more competitive, as additional tariff cuts are applied to high-quality products such as seafood, cherries, sandalwood, and wine. Economic Relationship Strengthened: The trade agreement has significantly strengthened the economic relationship between Australia and India, facilitating smoother trade of goods and services. The trade agreement has significantly strengthened the economic relationship between Australia and India, facilitating smoother trade of goods and services. Tariff Reductions and Savings: From January to September 2023, Australian businesses benefitted from lower tariffs on exports worth $15.2 billion to India. Simultaneously, businesses and households in Australia have saved over $145 million in duties on goods imported from India, covering items like clothing, household linen, automotive, and electrical parts. From January to September 2023, Australian businesses benefitted from lower tariffs on exports worth $15.2 billion to India. Simultaneously, businesses and households in Australia have saved over $145 million in duties on goods imported from India, covering items like clothing, household linen, automotive, and electrical parts. Supply-Chain Improvements: The agreement has alleviated supply-chain stresses for Australias manufacturing, resource, and construction industries by enhancing access to crucial inputs like tubes, pipes, and off-road dump trucks. The agreement has alleviated supply-chain stresses for Australias manufacturing, resource, and construction industries by enhancing access to crucial inputs like tubes, pipes, and off-road dump trucks. Next Steps: Australia and India are actively working on the next phase of their trade relationshipan ambitious Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA). This comprehensive trade agreement aims to delve deeper into areas like digital trade, promising significant new market access for Australian exporters. Indias domestic agriculture market access holds key India is likely to finalize a comprehensive trade deal with Australia post the conclusion of the 2024 general elections.. The delay is attributed to Australias pursuit of access to Indias domestic agriculture market, a politically sensitive matter. In December of the previous year, both nations inked an interim trade deal, wherein India made limited commitments in agriculture by removing duties on specific items like avocados, certain peas and beans, onions, leeks, asparagus, and cherries. However, Australia is pushing for more extensive access to Indias agricultural market. Despite India keeping most agriculture and dairy sectors insulated from trade agreements, it did open its wine market to Australia for the first time in the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) signed last year. Government officials, however, noted that Australias wine exports to India have not experienced a significant surge in the past 12 months. For wine bottles over $5, India agreed to immediately cut import duties to 100 per cent from 150 per cent and phase it to 50 per cent over nine years. In case of wine bottles over $15, import duties were immediately slashed to 75 per cent from 150 per cent with a commitment to phase it to 25 per cent over nine years. Indias agriculture sector is politically sensitive with a protectionist sentiment that is unlikely to fade. The central and state governments seek to balance smallholder and consumer needs with the broader goals of minimising social disruption and maximising electoral rural support, Australias department of foreign trade had said. So India will remain a difficult market, prone to fluctuating import demand and sharp policy changes hedging against this volatility is part of spreading risk. But there is scope for it to become more predictable, it had said. Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell: India represents a massive opportunity for Australian business to diversify into new growing markets. In the year since this agreement came into effect, we have seen enormous gains for a range of Australian exporters, including our farmers, manufacturers, and our universities. This is a relationship we need to invest in and I look forward to working with India to take our trade agreement to the next level. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Larry Robinson / The Daily Sentinel Students are slowly making their way back to campus for the start of the 2024 spring semester after the holiday break on Jan. 4, 2023. State lawmakers are looking for ways to keep college tuition down when they convene this years session of the Colorado Legislature. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Former Delta Air Lines pilot Jonathan J. Dunn, left, walks with his attorney after his first federal court appearance on Thursday in Salt Lake City. Dunn, who was the first officer, or copilot, threatened to shoot the captain during a heated argument in the cockpit over whether to change course to accommodate a passengers medical issue. The captain had proposed diverting the flight to Grand Junction. Saturday Night Partly cloudy skies early followed by increasing clouds with showers developing later at night. Low 43F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Lebanon: Press remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell after his meeting with Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdallah Bou Habib European External Action Service (EEAS) 06.01.2024 Beirut EEAS Press Team Check against delivery! Thank you dear Minister [of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdallah Bou Habib], thank you to all of you. I am very happy to be in Lebanon, je suis tres heureux d'etre au Liban, despite the dramatic circumstances which are sadly affecting the whole region, and also the Lebanese people. Remember Minister, some weeks ago, we met together and you told me that everything that happens in the Middle East resonates in Lebanon, has consequences for Lebanon, for the better or for the worse, and you asked me to increase the political engagement and political dialogue between the European Union and Lebanon. And that is why today I am here, after visiting Israel and Palestine. I am here when we are seeing worrying intensification of exchange of fire across the Blue Line at the border between Lebanon and Israel. And I think that the war can be prevented, has to be avoided and diplomacy can prevail to look for a better solution. It is imperative to avoid a regional escalation in the Middle East, it is absolutely necessary to avoid Lebanon being dragged into a regional conflict. This is the last thing Lebanon needs. Already now more than 70,000 civilians have already been displaced in Lebanon, 200,000 in northern Israel. Almost 50,000 olive trees have been burnt in the border. Imagine, 50,000 olive trees; I am coming from a country where olive trees are very much important, so I understand how important it can be [to lose] 50,000 olive trees. Nobody stands [to win] from a regional conflict. And I am sending this message to Israel too. Nobody will win from a regional conflict. I am here to explore [take stock of] the situation and to contribute to a way out of the crisis. I repeat what you have said Minister: diplomatic channels have to be open to signal that the war is not the only option, it is the worst option, and to keep working on a diplomatic solution. It is the whole international community that has to work for a change in the Middle East. We cannot continue with the deplorable, awful, track record of the last year, or of the last decades. We cannot continue witnessing the suffering of the innocent women, children and other civilians in Gaza. And we cannot [keep] watching the increasing violence of settlers against civilians in the West Bank. We have to move towards an end of the suffering of civilians in Gaza and to the release of the hostages. We need to see the United Nations Security Council resolutions - 2712 and 2720 - implemented, also here in Lebanon, the [resolution] 1701. Minister, you know that very well, as much as we know, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is beyond catastrophic. I am shocked by the suffering of so many innocent civilians. People are not only being bombed, they are now starving. According to the World Food Programme, 100% of the population of Gaza is now food insecure. We need a pause, that could become a permanent one, and to increase our support to Gaza. Even war has laws, and there are international humanitarian laws that have to be respected. As I said many times; one horror does not justify another [one]. We have to understand that only peace will bring safety and security to the Middle East. We cannot treat Gaza in isolation from the West Bank and East Jerusalem; Gaza is part of the broader 'Palestine question'. Gaza is an integral part of the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and Gaza must be part of the future Palestinian State. The whole international community agrees on the two-state solution as the only viable solution that could bring peace and security for Israel and Palestine. We must redouble our efforts to relaunch the Peace Process. Israel has declared a goal to eradicate Hamas. There must be another way to eradicate Hamas; another way that [does not] creates so many innocent people being killed. The only way is the creation of a Palestinian State offering an horizon of hope to the Palestinians. That is why 172 countries has voted in favour [of this] at the United Nations General Assembly - this is 90% of all United Nations Member States. We will not spare efforts to finally make the two-state solution a reality. I will be visiting Saudi Arabia tomorrow, and I look forward to a substantive discussion on how we can build on our joint European Union-Arab initiative, the concrete steps that could galvanise a serious international peace effort. Lebanon is in the frontline of this conflict. A more stable Lebanon will be more able to defend its interests and safeguard its independence and contribute to regional stability. Allow me to point out the support of the European Union to the UNIFIL [United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon] mission, to which most of our Member States contribute with troops and boots on the ground. I also want to pay tribute to the cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces [LAF] and to the remarkable performance of your Army - the Lebanese Armed Forces - which honours the Lebanese military traditions of service, professionalism and dedication. All in all, the European Union, dear Minister, remains ready to support Lebanon, because supporting Lebanon is a way of contributing to the security and peace in the region. Thank you. Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-251151 Q&A Mr Borrell, you are talking about how this war is affecting the region, and that the escalation is going to affect it negatively. There should be a solution imposed. Who is going to impose the solution? Meanwhile, the Security Council failed a couple of times to stop this war. Who is going to force Israel to stop this war? It is only the international community who can do it. It is only the international community, there is no other force. At the European Union, we are strongly supporting the United Nations, and allow me to pay tribute to the work done by the Secretary-General [of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres] in looking for peace, and all the organisations of the United Nations who have supported the people in Gaza. Only the international community, and by that, I mean the Arab world, the European Union, the US, everybody who wants to engage in peace. These are the ones who can build a solution and make it a reality. Not let [leave] the parties alone because it is clear that thirty years after Oslo, nothing good has happened. So, a strong engagement of the international community is absolutely required. The European Union will be on that. Q. In a newspaper article, the following was written: "Only the EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell seems to be setting clear goals for a peace settlement, but he has no real mandate and little sway over the key players." Your comment on that? Do you think that the EU could play a major role on de-escalating the Israeli-Hamas conflict and Hezbollah-Israel conflict? And how? This would require a lecture to answer this question. Look, the European Union is not a state. The European Union is not even a federation, it is a group of 27 Member States. Each one of them remain sovereign with respect to its foreign and security policy. I am in charge of trying to build a common policy, but common does not mean unique. Common is something that we share, but apart from what we share, there could be differences, and in fact, there are differences. In the United Nations General Assembly, 14 members of the European Union voted in favour of the ceasefire, two [Member States of the European Union] opposed, the others abstained. It is clear that there are differences, but we are all together in one thing: on the need to build a two-state solution. It is not a little thing. We have always been saying that, but the moment has come to engage and to move from "saying" to "doing", and to put our efforts and capacities, and we have a lot of efforts and capacities; we are the strongest supporter of the Palestinian Authority - allow me to remind you that. We are the biggest donor of the Palestinian Authority. It is the time to make our idea of a two-state solution a reality. Otherwise, the cycle of violence will continue, generation after generation, funerals after funerals, because you cannot kill an idea. You can kill people but you cannot kill an idea. The only way of killing a bad idea is to bring a good one. And the good one is to make Palestinians and Israelis living together in peace and security sharing the land. This is a strong commitment that the European Union wants to take. It would be my honour to contribute as much as I can to that. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cyprus: Joint Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell and Commissioner Elisa Ferreira on the appointment by the UN Secretary General of new Personal Envoy on Cyprus European External Action Service (EEAS) 06.01.2024 EEAS Press Team The European Union welcomes the nomination of Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, former Foreign Minister of Colombia, as new UN Secretary General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus. This appointment is instrumental in providing critical support in the search for common ground with the goal of returning to formal negotiations for a lasting settlement in Cyprus, a process that has not progressed since the talks held in Crans Montana, in 2017. The EU remains fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue, within the UN framework, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded and the acquis. The EU stands ready to play an active role in supporting all stages of the UN-facilitated process, with all appropriate means at its disposal. In the current geopolitical context, security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, where common interests and opportunities can foster cooperation and joint approaches, is more important than ever. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah says 5 fighters martyred in Israeli attacks IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 6, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese Resistance Movement, Hezbollah, has announced the martyrdom of five of its members in Israeli regime attacks. Hezbollah made the announcement on Saturday night, without specifying the time and venue of the Israeli attacks that led to the martyrdom of its members, Al Mayadeen News Network reported. The resistance movement meanwhile said that it had "precisely" targeted a gathering of Israeli forces in Avivim settlement, using appropriate weapons. There were no immediate reports of possible casualties among the Israeli forces. Hezbollah has been engaged in clashes with the Israeli regime at Lebanon's southern border since October 8, a day after the regime launched its brutal war on Gaza. The Lebanese movement says that its fighting with Israel is aimed at supporting Palestinian resistance fighters in Gaza. On Friday, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said that the military operations by his movement against Israel have forced its soldiers to retreat, and left a large number of Israeli tanks and armored vehicles destroyed so far. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indonesia condemns Zionist plan for forced migration of Gazan people IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 6, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Indonesia has condemned a plan by two Zionist ministers for forced migration of Gazan people, urging the need for preventing such proposals. The international community has to prevent the displacement of Palestinians and the construction of Zionist settlements in the occupied lands, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday, Arab News reported. The Zionist ministers have called for the migration of the Palestinians from Gaza which has provoked international outrage as the forced displacement of civilians from occupied territories is prohibited under the Geneva Convention and can be prosecuted as a war crime. The Indonesian statement stresses that the plan by the Zionist ministers is an ignorance of the rights of the Palestinians and a violation of international regulations. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni Parliament: US responsible for Red Sea militarization IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 6, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Yemeni Parliament has emphasized that Washington and its allies are responsible for the militarization of the Red Sea, while the Yemeni military stresses the safety of maritime traffic in the region. The Yemen Parliament made the statement on Saturday after the US, which has over the past weeks been spearheading a maritime coalition in the Red Sea under the pretext of safeguarding the transit of vessels in the area, claimed that the Yemeni forces and the popular resistance movement were targeting international ships and jeopardizing the security of the Red Sea. Yemen rejects the wrong and fabricated details that existed in the statement of the American coalition, noting that the truth of the developments in the Red Sea is contrary to what the American statement said, the Al-Mayadeen news network reported. The Yemeni parliament noted that Yemen condemns the continuation of the policy of double standard and selective implementation of international and humanitarian law in the interests of the Zionist regime. Referring to the existence of safety for vessels, except those heading to Israeli ports until the end of the Zionist regime's genocide in the Gaza enclave, the statement reiterated that Yemen and its armed forces once again reaffirm the right to protect its sovereignty and support the Palestinians. The Yemeni parliament went on to say that Yemen considers the US coalition responsible for the crimes of ethnic cleansing against the Palestinians. Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine's struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity. Yemeni armed forces have in the past weeks conducted attacks on Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea in retaliation for the regime's crimes in Gaza. The armed forces say the attacks will continue until the regime stops its crimes and allows food and medicine into Gaza. The US has formed an international coalition to confront the Yemeni attacks. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Samdech Techo Hun Sen highlighted the significance of the victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime 45 years ago, at a ceremony to celebrate the historical event in Phnom Penh on Sunday. Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Hun Sen gestures as he arrives to attend the EU-ASEAN summit at the European Council headquarters in Brussels on Dec. 14, 2022, with EU and ASEAN flags in the background. Photo by AFP In his speech, Hun Sen reviewed the historical context of Cambodia in the 1970s, saying that after nearly four years in power, the Pol Pot genocidal regime pushed Cambodia to the brink of perdition as nearly 3 million Cambodian civilians a quarter of the country's population at that time were killed. With the support of the people throughout the country and the great and timely assistance of the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, and peace and justice-loving forces around the world, the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation (KUFNS) overthrew the genocidal regime on Jan. 7, 1979, rescuing millions of Cambodians from genocide, he said. Hun Sen emphasized that this year's event took place in the context that Cambodia has continued to reap many new achievements in various fields, and been progressing with self-confidence on the path of peace, democracy, rule of the law, and development. He also affirmed the holding of the ceremony was conducted in the spirit of keeping in mind the tragedy caused by the genocidal regime to the country and people of Cambodia, and forever keeping in mind the noble contributions by members of the KUFNS and Vietnamese volunteer soldiers to the toppling of the Pol Pot genocidal regime and the prevention of its return. In addition to the celebration in Phnom Penh, activities marking the victory were also organized in many provinces and cities in the country. According to Sok Eysan, a spokesman of the CPP, the celebration not only aims to celebrate the victory but also demonstrates the strength of great solidarity between Cambodia and Vietnam. Nearly five decades after the victory, Cambodia has revived and recorded many remarkable achievements. The Southeast Asian nations GDP increased tenfold to US$29.6 billion in 2022 from $3.11 billion in 1998. During 2017-2022, foreign direct investment into the country surged 15 folds. In 2023, Cambodia's economic growth expanded 5.6%, and is forecast to rise by 6.6% in 2024. Hezbollah launches fresh attacks on Israeli regime targets IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 6, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement says it has targeted an Israeli military base in northern occupied Palestine in a fresh retaliatory strike against the Zionist regime. In a statement on Saturday, Hezbollah said the rocket attack on the Beit Lid military base was carried out in support of the Palestinian people and resistance in the Gaza Strip. Earlier in the day, Hezbollah launched a volley of rockets and missiles at Israeli military positions in northern occupied territories. The Israeli military's Air Traffic Control Base, located atop Mount Jarmaq (Meron), was hit with a barrage of 62 rockets. Hezbollah said the rocket attack was the first response to the assassination of senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri in an Israeli drone attack in Beirut. In his latest speech this week, Hezbollah Chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the Lebanese resistance movement has carried out over 670 operations against Israeli positions over the past three months. 4353**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lebanon's Islamic Group vows revenge for al-Arouri assassination IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 6, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic Group of Lebanon has warned the Zionist regime that it would take revenge for the blood of martyr Saleh al-Arouri and his companions. The political leader of the Islamic Group in Lebanon, Bassam Hammoud vows to continue the path of Jihad to preserve the rights of the Palestinian nation, the expulsion of the invaders, and the freedom of Palestine. He emphasized that the martyrdom of 2 members of the Islamic Group during the terrorist attack shows that Lebanese and Palestinian blood is mixed against the Zionist regime's aggression. Al-Arouri was martyred as a result of an explosion in a building in al-Musharrafieh district in southern Beirut, Lebanon. Later, Hamas confirmed that al-Arouri was killed in Israel's terror attack, which also killed several of his companions. 9376**7129 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah delivers first response to assassination of Martyr Arouri IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 6, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's resistance movement, Hezbollah, has carried out its first response to the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri, a senior leader of Hamas, who was martyred in an Israeli attack on southern Beirut. Hezbollah issued a statement on Saturday, announcing that in their first response to the assassination of Martyr al-Arouri and his entourages, the Lebanese resistance movement fired 62 missiles toward the Meron surveillance base, inflicting casualties upon Israeli forces. According to Hezbollah's statement, the Meron surveillance base is the only command and control headquarters of the regime in northern occupied territories; so, there is no substitute for it in that region to shoulder its duties. Some Israeli media outlets confirmed that a missile hit an area near an important military center in the Mount Meron region located in northern Israeli-occupied territories. Other Israeli media emphasized Hezbollah tried to target an intelligence headquarters in Mount Meron. Hezbollah also launched missiles from southern Lebanon to hit the Israeli regime's military positions in Al-Jalil Al-Alaa region in northern occupied territories. According to the Al Jazeera TV network, Lebanese resistance fighters also carried out a drone attack on an important headquarters belonging to the Israeli regime in the same region. Sirens sounded in several areas of the Al-Jalil Al-Alaa region to caution against drone attacks. Al Jazeera correspondent reported that six Kornet missiles were launched against different military centers of the Israeli regime near Lebanon's border. The regime's Channel 12 TV also reported sirens heard in 94 settlements and cities, including Safed and Karmiel in the Al-Jalil Al-Alaa region, following the missile attacks from Lebanon. Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen TV network reported that Hezbollah fighters started heavy missile strikes against Israeli positions. Simultaneous with the Hezbollah missile attacks, Israeli artillery units kicked off shelling some areas in southern Lebanon, and its warplanes started flying over southern Lebanon's airspace. 4208**7129 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah: Resistance carried out 670 operations against Israel ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat / 6 January 2024 / 10:05 Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah speaks during the memorial service of top Hezbollah official Mohammad Yaghi and pledges a response to the Israeli violations of Lebanon's sovereignty. Tehran-ISNA- The Israeli occupation's assassination of Hamas deputy politburo leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut, Lebanon, is a flagrant and dangerous violation that will not go unanswered, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday during a televised speech. Speaking during the memorial service of former Lebanese MP and the Executive Assistant to the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Mohammad Hassan Yaghi, Sayyed Nasrallah underlined that Hezbollah cannot remain silent on a violation of this magnitude because it means the whole of Lebanon would be exposed. Speaking on the accomplishments made by the Resistance on the Lebanese front against the Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon and the purpose for opening it all together, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that the Resistance and Lebanon as a whole are today "before a historic opportunity to liberate every inch of our land and establish a balance of power that prevents the enemy from once again violating the sovereignty of our country." The Hezbollah chief underlined that the front was not opened with the liberation of southern Lebanon in mind, but it was merely a benefit that was garnered for the support of the people in Gaza, which is the real and sole reason behind the fighting on the Southern Lebanese borders. According to the Secretary-General of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, thus far, there have been more than 670 operations launched against the Israeli occupation in three months, with more than 48 military sites attacked over 100 km. Hezbollah also carried out 494 operations, on 50 Israeli reconnaissance sites valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. "Hezbollah has been attacking military sites and officers and soldiers, and if it were to attack houses, that would be in response to the attacks on civilians in southern Lebanon," Sayyed Nasrallah explained. "The Israeli occupation's soldiers escaped to the settlements that have been emptied of their settlers and the vicinities of military sites out of fear of the Resistance factions and their operations against numerous military sites," he added. "Hezbollah is obtaining top-tier, accurate intelligence in the form of photos and videos of the positions of the Israeli occupation's troops," Sayyed Nasrallah revealed, adding that the Resistance has managed to "destroy a large number of tanks and Israeli military vehicles, wherein the officers and soldiers are hiding today." In light of the major losses they are suffering in the north, the Israeli occupation forces are imposing fierce military censorship regarding the casualties, the Resistance leader underlined. "Israeli experts are suggesting the death toll is three times that announced by the Israeli army." The tally issued by the Israeli Health Ministry suggests that there have been 2,000 casualties recorded on the northern front thus far, which pushed one of the Israeli war ministers to describe what is happening on the northern border as "an Israeli humiliation," Sayyed Nasrallah said. Israelis went from being the invaders since 1948 to fleeing Hezbollah's leader highlighted a significant shift in the dynamics of the occupation, stating that since 1948, "Israel" has been the aggressor in Southern Lebanon, committing massacres and causing people to evacuate. However, today, it is the Israeli occupiers who are fleeing from northern occupied Palestine due to the Resistance's operations. Addressing Israeli settlers, who are fearfully calling on their government daily to launch a decisive military action against Lebanon, Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated his previous warning against any such action, stating that it would be an extremely miscalculated and wrong decision, stressing that the settlers and the northern settlements would be the first to pay the price. In response to recent statements by former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding deterring Hezbollah and the "disappearance of Hezbollah's tent near the Palestinian border," he emphasized that the past is different from today and that the Resistance today is engaging in a real battle, pointing out how Israeli occupation soldiers near the Lebanese borders "are fleeing like rats." The goal behind opening a multifront war against the Israeli Regime In his speech, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivered a comprehensive overview of the prevailing regional dynamics, particularly focusing on the role of the United States and its strategic concerns in various conflict zones. Hezbollah's chief highlighted Washington's reluctance to expand its military engagement and involvement in the Middle East due to being preoccupied with Ukraine. He highlighted how the United States and its allies have suffered a strategic defeat in the Eastern European country, citing NATO's top soldier Jens Stoltenberg declaring a few days ago that bad news will be coming from Kiev soon. Expanding on that point, Sayyed Nasrallah emphasized that the United States today is facing a multi-front war, similar to that the Israeli occupation entity is facing, from Iraq to Lebanon and not ending in Yemen. He explained that this is part of the strategy Gaza's regional allies adopted to force the US to end the Israeli war on the Strip. The purpose of this strategy is to leave Washington suffering from insecurity and instability in all parts of the region and remind it that deciding not to expand the war does not mean it is an inevitable consequence if the war on Gaza does not stop. Regarding the occupation entity, Sayyed Nasrallah clarified that the objective of igniting multi-fronts against Israelis serves the same purpose as doing so with the US. It aims to pressure the Israeli government, weaken it, and ultimately compel it to cease its aggression on Gaza. He stressed that this was especially true for the Lebanese Southern Front against Israelis, which aims to decrease the pressure on Gaza and its Resistance. Iraq can oust US occupation Iraq today has a chance to get rid of the US occupation, Sayyed Nasrallah asserted as the Iraqi Resistance attacks US occupation bases in Syria and Iraq in support of the people and Resistance of Gaza. "The US is concerned at a time when it is before a debacle in Ukraine [...] it is before a major strategic victory in Ukraine, and it does not want to expand the conflict in the region," he underlined, clarifying that this was solely because of its interests, not out of love for the peoples of the region. "There is a historic opportunity before the Iraqi government, parliament, and people to oust the killers and occupiers who shed the blood of the people of Iraq and Iran and the remainder of the peoples of the region," he said. The Hezbollah chief noted how the US occupation has been using the fight against ISIS as a pretext for the continuation of its occupation of Iraq. Sayyed Nasrallah further elaborated on this point by asserting that "Iraq today does not need the Americans to fight ISIS, for they are the ones sponsoring it in Syria, as well." He went on to extend his condolences to the people, leadership, and clergy of Iraq, as well as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and al-Nujaba movement for the martyrdom of PMF top commander Abou Taqwa Al-Saidi, who was marted on Tuesday by a US bombing of the PMF headquarters in Baghdad. The attack martyred the PMF senior officer alongside another martyr and injured six people. Yemen part of international balance of power The Arab regimes sitting idle and indifferently to all the suffering afflicting Gaza and its people were surprised by the actions taken by Yemen in the Red Sea, Sayyed Nasrallah said. "It is a blessing that the Sanaa government is no longer an internal faction but has become part of the international balance of power that the world is cautious about," he added. "The message sent from Yemen today is a message to the United States, one that tells Washington that it is not facing the Ansar Allah movement but rather tens of millions of the Yemeni people whose entire history is marked by defeating aggressors," the Resistance leader added. "Yemen is gaining prominence in the Arab and Islamic worlds and the eyes of its friends and enemies by taking a stance on Gaza," Sayyed Nasrallah added. Sayyed Nasrallah mourns top Hezbollah official Talking about the late Mohammad Hassan Yaghi, martyr Abu Salim, Sayyed Nasrallah described him as a "revolutionary and an active figure in the region, starting from [his hometown] Baalbek," revealing that his first inspiration was Sayyed Moussa al-Sadr. "We worked together for more than 40 years, progressing alongside the ranks together. It was our destiny to be together and work together at the early inception of Hezbollah in the Bekaa region when the leadership of the Bekaa region was established," he recalled. He went on to say of his martyred comrade that he was steadfast and "followed the path of Imam Moussa al-Sadr, Sayyed Abbas Musawi, and Sayyed Mohammad Baqir al-Sadr, leading to the historic leadership of Imam Khomeini." He was "a supporter, an aide, a pillar, and he was always there to fulfill the mission in any of the positions along this journey. His presence was of utmost importance; he spent the majority of his youth and his life serving the people of the Bekaa region, who deserved all this loyalty he had given them." At the end of his speech, Sayyed Nasrallah offered his condolences to the families of the martyred Hezbollah fighters, saying: "Had it not been for my security circumstances, I want to stand by your side and kiss your hands and foreheads [for the sacrifices you have offered]." He also addressed the Resistance fighters currently engaged in the fight against the Israeli occupation, wherein he saluted them and prayed for their victory. Sayyed Nasrallah said, "I hope God aids them so that they can bring out, through all their blood and sweat, this victory for Lebanon, Palestine, and the entirety of the Muslim community (Ummah)." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli settlers fear new war with Hezbollah: WaPo ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat / 6 January 2024 / 09:53 A report published in The Washington Post addressed the crisis faced by Israeli settlers amid the military escalation on the northern front with Hezbollah in Lebanon for about three months, which has led thousands of them to evacuate their settlements, fearing Resistance operations. Tehran (ISNA) - "This is not an official war zone. Yet explosions from Israeli artillery and Hezbollah missiles echo across the rock-strewn mountains nearly every day," the report read. David Shtift, an Israeli settler in Kibbutz "Eilon", was quoted as saying, "What happened in the south [i.e in Gaza] was exactly what we were saying could happen here [in northern Palestine], and still could." "It's real," Shtift said. The report claimed that at least 70,000 Israeli settlers had evacuated settlements in the north in the wake of the operations of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, turning the area into a closed military zone. It noted that several Israeli battalions comprising thousands of soldiers have been deployed there instead. According to the Post, the Israeli assassination of the Deputy Head of the Political Bureau of Hamas, Saleh al-Arouri, in Beirut "heightened fears in the region that the skirmishes along this volatile borderland could explode into all-out war." The report noted that Israel regards Hezbollah "as a proper army with sophisticated training and an arsenal of some 150,000 missiles," adding that many Israeli settlers fear that the Israeli government is, once again, underestimating a deadly threat. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen to continue military operation for supporting Palestinians: Al-Bukhaiti ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat / 6 January 2024 / 09:53 The member of the Political Bureau of Ansar Allah, Mohammad al-Bukhaiti, tells Al Mayadeen that Yemen would continue its military operations in support of the Palestinian people. Tehran (ISNA) - The member of the Political Bureau of the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement, Mohammad al-Bukhaiti, pointed out that Yemen is now playing a regional and global role due to the misguided policies of the United States. In an interview for Al Mayadeen, al-Bukhaiti said that it must be realized that Sanaa has won the first round in the ethical war against the United States and its allies, stressing that the US will lose militarily as well because it is facing the will of the people. He questioned how someone who failed to break the Resistance in Gaza could confront the countries of the Axis of Resistance. Al-Bukhaiti affirmed that Yemen will continue its military operations in support of the Palestinian people, regardless of the US actions, adding that Washington's persistence in the confrontation will cost it morally and militarily, leading to the end of its dominance in the region. The Yemeni official praised the operations of Hezbollah against the Israeli occupation on the northern border of occupied Palestine, as well as those of the Resistance in Iraq, emphasizing the necessity of continuing effectively on this path. On his part, Mohammad Abdul Salam, the head of the Sanaa negotiating delegation and spokesperson for the Ansar Allah movement, pointed out that the United States and its allies should abandon the mentality of arrogance and be aware that attempts to subjugate other sides by force will not work. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indonesia raps Israel's controversial plan for forced relocation of Gazans Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 6:24 PM Indonesia has called on the international community to take immediate action against Israel's controversial plan for forced relocation of the population of the Gaza Strip, who have been under the regime's constant siege and bombardment for 92 days. Israel's authorities have repeatedly called for the Palestinians in the besieged territory to voluntarily leave their homeland and migrate to Western countries. Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday that the plan proposed by the regime disregarded the rights of the Palestinians and was in violation of international law. "(The) international community must prevent this agenda from becoming a reality," the statement said. The Israeli regime's far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said earlier this week that three months of the war on the populated Palestinian territory presented an "opportunity to concentrate on encouraging the migration of the residents of Gaza", describing the plan as "a correct, just, moral and humane" solution. Moreover, the regime's so-called finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said that Tel Aviv "will permanently control the territory of the Gaza Strip" and urged to move Gaza's residents to "countries that will agree to take in the refugees." European countries have also condemned the plan for forced relocation of the population of the Palestinians, saying that the regime "has no such rights." The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it is not up to Israel "to decide where Palestinians should live." "The future of the Gaza Strip and its inhabitants will lie in a unified Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside Israel," the statement added. The UK government also "firmly rejects any suggestion of the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza." "We share the concerns of our allies and partners that Gazans should not be subject to forcible displacement or relocation from Gaza," said the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office in a statement. Meanwhile, the German Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sebastian Fischer said the issue was discussed during the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Tokyo last November. "The forced removal of Palestinians from Gaza and the reduction of the territory of the Gaza Strip should not be out of the question." Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Brussels also joined the chorus, condemning the idea of the mass displacement of Palestinians, which has raised fears of yet another "Nakba" or "catastrophe" -- the occupying regime's violent expulsion of about 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland when it proclaimed its illegal existence on May 15, 1948. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Any escalation in southern Lebanon to result in regional explosion: PM Mikati Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 5:59 PM Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has warned that any escalation in southern Lebanon will lead to a "comprehensive explosion" in the region, as exchanges of fire between the Hezbollah resistance movement and Israel continue. Mikati made the remarks in a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday, hours after Hezbollah said it had hit an Israeli aerial surveillance base with scores of missiles in its first response to Tel Aviv's assassination of a deputy political leader of Hamas. Mikati went on to say that "Lebanon's commitment to implementing UN resolution number 1701 requires stopping Israel's violations of our sovereignty and its withdrawal from our occupied territories." "The full implementation of this resolution requires first stopping Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty and withdrawing from the Lebanese territories it still occupies," he added. The Lebanese premier further called for "a comprehensive solution" to the israeli-Palestinian conflict by giving the Palestinians their just rights. The southern Lebanese border has seen regular exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah since Tel Aviv launched its ferocious invasion of Gaza in early October. Nearly three months of cross-border fire have killed 175 people in Lebanon, including three journalists. In northern occupied territories, at least 13 Israelis, including nine soldiers, have been killed, according to Israeli authorities. The assassination of Hamas' Deputy Chief Saleh Al-Arouri by the Israeli regime in southern Beirut on Tuesday has raised fears of further escalation. Arouri, 57, was one of the founders of the Qassam Brigades before taking on a political portfolio in recent years. He was seen as a key player in the movement, masterminding its operations in the West Bank from exile in Syria, Turkey, Qatar, and finally Lebanon after long stints in Israeli prisons. The Israeli regime waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's atrocities against Palestinians. The relentless military campaign has killed over 22,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured around 57,910 others. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli minister calls for 'more painful ways than death' for Palestinians Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 4:56 PM A far-right Israeli minister has called upon the regime led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to work out "ways for Gazans that are more painful than death" to break their morale and defeat them as the US military did with Japan. Speaking in an interview with Israeli radio station 103 FM, Amichai Eliyahu said Israel must decide the battle by wreaking the morale of the Palestinians in the besieged territory, and causing them pain through destroying homes, breaking their national dream, and displacement. The Israeli minister said the residents of Gaza should be left with no option but to immigrate to other countries as part of revenge measures against them in the wake of the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm Gaza-based resistance factions launched in response to the regime's decades-long occupation, oppression of the Palestinians and desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque. Eliyahu also censured minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant for the plan he developed for the post-war period, whereby civil affairs in the Gaza Strip would be handled by Palestinian parties not hostile to Israel. He argued that no group fits this description. In November, the Israeli minister called for dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza. Eliyahu belongs to the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir. The party supports building settlements, and regaining control of the Gaza Strip. Earlier this month, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas denounced as "a war crime accompanied by criminal aggression" the latest call by an Israeli minister for the Palestinian residents of Gaza to leave the besieged region in order for settlers to return to the area after the war. Hamas, in a statement on Sunday night, censured Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's call to displace two million Palestinians and keep about 200,000 in Gaza as "vile mockery." The group said the international community and the United Nations must take decisive action to stop the crimes and hold Israeli leaders accountable for what they have done to the Palestinian people. "Our people have declared their position. They will stand firmly and steadfastly in the face of all attempts to displace them from their land and homes, until full liberation of the occupied territories and return of all refugees," the statement read. Most Palestinians displaced from their homeland after the Nakba (Catastrophe), when Israel proclaimed its illegal existence on May 15, 1948, have ended up in neighboring Arab states. Arab leaders have maintained that any latter-day move aimed at forced expulsion of the Palestinians would be absolutely unacceptable. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel will eventually collapse despite arrogant powers' support, says President Raeisi Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 11:28 AM Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says the Israeli regime will definitely disappear despite all the unconditional supports it receives from global arrogant powers. "The fake Zionist regime, which draws support from the global arrogant powers, will certainly disappear. Injustice and oppression can never last forever, and this is a divine pledge. What will last is justice," he told people in the northwestern city of Zanjan on Saturday. Raeiei said the enemies' animosity towards the Iranian nation, the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Islamic establishment and late top anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani is due to the fact that the Islamic Republic as well as Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei attach special importance to the rights of the oppressed Palestinians. "This is the emphasis of our religion and our policy is to defend the oppressed people of the world," he said. Raeisi said the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, brought up the issue of supporting the Palestinian cause and stressed the need for the liberation of the holy al-Quds city and elimination of the Israeli regime as a cancerous tumor more than four decades. Iran's "insistence on the legitimacy of Palestine after four decades has become clear to the whole world," he said. Raeisi said while the Iranian people's support for the Palestinians has generated enmity and verbal attacks against them over the past four decades, they have remained steadfast in their backing. "During these four decades, the enemy made enmity with the Iranian nation. It sanctioned and threatened, imposed an economic blockade, and waged enmity of various kinds, but the Iranian nation won in this war of wills," he said. The president said the enemies, in spite of numerous attempts and threats, have miserably failed in their anti-Iran plots, while young Iranian specialists have acquired and employed cutting-edge technologies. "They thought they could get us away from the nuclear industry, but they couldn't. It was the same in the military industry, but many great works have been done and many works are in progress. "They wanted our economy not to grow, but it did. According to statistics, we have more than 5% economic growth. They wanted to stop production, but we revived many inactive and semi-active production units," Raeisi said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Elnur Enveroglu The Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Ahmed Attaf, expressed his deep regret over the erroneous and inaccurate information about Algeria in the latest statement by the US Department of State on the freedom of religion. According to Azernews, the Algerian Embassy in Azerbaijan has shared a post about this on its official X page. 26 arrested for trafficking 300 kg of drugs from Laos to HCMC Police arrested 26 individuals transporting nearly 300 kg of drugs, hidden in tea and coffee packages, from Laos to Ho Chi Minh City in an international drug trafficking bust. PHOTO: Drugs hidden in packages of tea and coffee seized by the police. Photo courtesy of the police Ho Chi Minh City Police announced on Sunday that it is expanding its investigation on the case. It has not yet provided the identities or specific actions of the suspects. Surveillance had previously detected a group of people transporting drugs from Laos to Ho Chi Minh City using buses. Part of the drugs seized by the police. Photo courtesy of the police Ho Chi Minh City Police then coordinated with the Investigation Police Department on Drug-Related Crimes and relevant localities to plan the crackdown. The forces simultaneously inspected and arrested 26 suspects, seizing nearly 300 kg of drugs, guns, and other documents and evidence related to the case. Rwanda, Congo deny claims of talking with Israel to take in displaced Gazans Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 11:06 AM Rwanda, Congo and Chad have refuted claims that they have engaged in any discussions with Israel concerning the potential acceptance of Palestinians displaced from the war-torn Gaza Strip. Citing the latest fake news campaign from Israel, the Rwanda foreign ministry circulated a "disinformation alert" against the Zman Yisrael, an Israeli news outlet and The Times of Israel's Hebrew sister site, that had claimed on Friday that "Israel is in talks with Chad and Rwanda to accept thousands of Palestinians from Gaza." "No such discussion has taken place either now or in the past, and the disinformation should be ignored," the statement from the Rwanda foreign ministry read on X, formerly Twitter. Earlier, Congo and Chad also denied holding talks with Israel about the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. Contrary to what is reported in some media, there has "never been any form of negotiation, discussion or initiative" between Kinshasa and Israel on the alleged reception of Palestinian migrants on Congolese soil, the Congolese government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya, said in a statement late Thursday. In its report, The Times of Israel asserted that Congo is willing to take in Palestinians. Quoting from a senior source in the security cabinet, it claimed that Congo "will be willing to take in migrants, and we're in talks with others." "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition is conducting secret contacts for accepting thousands of immigrants from Gaza with Congo, in addition to other nations," the report read. Meanwhile, The Times of Israel published another report on Thursday, stating that Israel has denied that it is in talks with other countries about absorbing Gazan immigrants, and that the senior official pushed back on Zman Yisrael's report. "It's a baseless illusion in my opinion. No country will absorb 2 million people, or 1 million, or 100,000, or 5,000. I don't know where that idea came from," said the official in a briefing to Israeli journalists, on condition of anonymity, as the report stated. According to reports, the Israeli regime is adopting the "voluntary" resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza as an official policy. Earlier, Benjamin Netanyahu said he supports the idea but needs to find countries that are willing to "absorb" Gazans. "We are working on it," he said. While quoting a senior Israeli official, the report from Zman Yisrael also stated that whoever volunteers for migration would be handed over a "generous financial grant" and "extensive aid" to the receiving country. "The principle is to give a generous financial grant to any Palestinian who expresses a desire to emigrate from Gaza, along with extensive aid to the receiving country, including military aid," the report read. On Wednesday, despite criticisms from the United States, Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, the leader of the Religious Zionism Party, doubled down on a call for "voluntary emigration" from Gaza once the current war on Gaza ends. Itamar Ben-Gvir, the so-called national security minister, this week issued a call "to encourage the migration of Gaza residents" as a "solution" to the humanitarian crisis. Josep Borrell, the EU's top foreign policy official, condemned both Smotrich and Ben Gvir for their calls to resettle Palestinians living in Gaza as "inflammatory and irresponsible" on Wednesday. "Forced displacements are strictly prohibited as a grave violation of [international humanitarian law] and words matter," Borrell said on X. A spokesperson for the United Kingdom foreign office said: "Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and will be part of a future Palestinian state. The UK firmly rejects any suggestion of the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza." Furthermore, the Spanish government also offered its own rebuke Wednesday, saying the administration rejects recent statements by Israeli authorities evoking population movements in Gaza that would be contrary to international law. Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Oct. 7. Since the beginning of the war, at least 22,600 Palestinians have since been killed and 57,910 others injured, according to Gaza's health authorities. The relentless attacks have caused extensive devastation in Gaza, resulting in 60% of the region's infrastructure being either damaged or completely destroyed. This has led to the displacement of nearly 2 million residents, who now face severe shortages of essential resources such as food, clean water, and medicine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two Israeli tankers targeted by 'unidentified' drones off Maldives Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 10:50 AM Two oil tankers belonging to Israel have reportedly been targeted by "unidentified drones" in the west and northwest of the Indian Ocean's archipelagic country of Maldives. Citing an informed official late Friday, the Jordan News said the incident had taken place over the past two days and initial reports indicated that both oil tankers had been seriously damaged by explosions. The vessels were supposed to sail through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea before reaching their destination, it said. The paper noted that the Yemeni army had previously issued threats to target Israeli ships and oil tankers in the Red Sea until the end of the war on Gaza. "Contrary to expectations, the two oil tankers were targeted by unidentified drones at a considerable distance of 2000 km from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. More significantly, both vessels were forced to change their course due to the inflicted damage and the fear of potential further attacks," it said. Israeli officials have not commented yet on the reports. Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine's struggle against Israel since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. Yemen's Armed Forces and the popular Ansarallah resistance movement have struck several Israeli-owned and -bound commercial ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with the Gazans. However, they have made it clear that international vessels can safely sail through the strategic waterway. Yemeni forces have also launched missile and drone attacks on targets in the Israeli-occupied territories and pledged to continue their strikes unless Tel Aviv ends its deadly onslaught. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan's Burhan rejects 'reconciliation' with paramilitary RSF Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 7:58 AM Sudan's army general and de-facto ruler of Sudan, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has turned down the latest reconciliation efforts with his rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), pledging to carry on a nine-month war with the RSF. "The whole world witnessed these rebel forces (RSF) committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in West Darfur and the rest of Sudan," al-Burhan told troops gathered in Port Sudan in a video released by his office on Friday, referring to the ethnic cleansing in and around the West Darfur city of El Geneina. "For that reason, we have no reconciliation with them, we have no agreement with them," he added. He also stressed that the RSF "doesn't seek the good for the country," and accused it of looting people's properties. Meanwhile, he welcomed dialogue with Sudanese politicians while urging them to distance themselves from the RSF and its chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Earlier this week, Dagalo, who is known as Hemedti, agreed with a truce put forth by civilian groups, on the condition that the military also agrees. However, skeptics expressed doubt due to the paramilitary force's history of unkept commitments. Last month, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, an African trade bloc, got Burhan and Dagalo to agree to an in-person meeting. However, on Friday, Burhan dismissed the possibility and proceeded to label his opponent as a "clown," "traitor," and "coward." He also firmly declined to accept the ceasefire agreement that Dagalo had signed in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, this week. During his visits this week, he criticized African nations such as South Africa, Ethiopia, and Kenya for considering Dagalo as a statesman. He also expressed disapproval towards Sudanese politicians who had meetings with him in Ethiopia. "He is humiliating the Sudanese people, he is killing them, insulting them, and some people are clapping for him and laughing with him," Burhan said. Both the military and the RSF have been accused by the United States of committing war crimes. Ever since the conflict commenced on April 15, at least 5,000 people have been killed, more than 7.5 million individuals have been displaced and extensive areas of Sudan have been ravaged. Not even a single truce effort, brokered by Saudi Arabia and the US has succeeded in ending the violence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah pounds Israeli aerial surveillance base with 62 missiles Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 6:45 AM Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance group says it has hit an Israeli aerial surveillance base with scores of missiles in its first response to Tel Aviv's assassination of a deputy political leader of Hamas. "At 08:10 AM on Saturday, January 6, 2024, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance targeted the Meron Aerial Surveillance Base with 62 missiles of various types, inflicting direct and confirmed hits," Hezbollah said in a statement. The movement described the operation "as a preliminary response" to the Israeli assassination of "great leader Sheikh Saleh al-Arouri and his martyr brothers" in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh. According to the statement, the base is the sole center for administration, surveillance, and air control in the northern occupied territories. "It is one of two principal bases in the entire usurping entity, the other being Mitzpe Ramon in the south," it said. Earlier, sirens were sounded in northern Israeli cities, warning residents of incoming rockets, media reports said Saturday. The cities of Shtula, Abirim, Netu'a, Karmiel, Safed were among 94 settlements in Galilee and the occupied Golan Heights put on alert Saturday, they said. The southern Lebanese border has seen regular exchanges of fire, mainly between Israeli forces and Hezbollah since Tel Aviv launched its ferocious invasion of Gaza in early October. Arouri's assassination on Tuesday in southern Beirut, which a US defense official has told AFP was carried out by Israel, has raised fears of further escalation. The Israeli military said it had identified around 40 rocket launches from Lebanese territory on Saturday morning. Air raid sirens went off in towns and cities across northern Israel, later also blaring in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. In a speech Friday, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had warned Israel that the movement would respond swiftly "on the battlefield" to Arouri's assassination. Nearly three months of cross-border fire have killed 175 people in Lebanon, including three journalists. In northern Israel, at least 13 Israelis including nine soldiers have been killed, according to Israeli authorities. Nasrallah, however, said Israel is lying about its true number of casualties. "The enemy does not acknowledge either fatalities or injuries, and this is part of its policy of general secrecy regarding its losses since October 8," he said, adding at least 2,000 Israeli soldiers had been wounded on the Lebanese border. The Lebanese resistance group has carried out 670 operations against Israel over the past three months, he said Friday. "What is happening on the Lebanese-Israeli border is unprecedented since 1948," Nasrallah said in a televised speech. Israelis in the north, Nasrallah said, should ask their leaders for a ceasefire if they wish to be safe. The Lebanese front is there to alleviate pressure on Hamas and Gaza, and to impose a ceasefire in Gaza, he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Jan. 5: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 6:25 AM By Press TV Website Staff Resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against Israel and its Western backers amid the regime's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of more than 22,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women. The operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Friday, January 5, are as follows: Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on Dec. 5: Shelled an Israeli military gathering west of Al-Maghazi camp in central Gaza with heavy-caliber mortars, inflicting casualties. Destroyed a 'Namer' APC & 1 military D9-bulldoze in various battle zones in the Gaza Strip. Detonated a landmine field consisting of three anti-personnel mines against an Israeli military infantry force in the Khazaa area, resulting in casualties. Detonated an anti-personnel mine against a Zionist military force advancing towards the Ein Nafa tunnel in the Zana area east of Khan Yunis, resulting in casualties. Targeted a Zionist military force inside a building with three 'Raadiyah' anti-personnel explosives in the Zana area, causing casualties. Pounded a gathering of Israeli military vehicles and soldiers in Khan Yunis city of southern Gaza with heavy-caliber mortars. Targeted nine Israeli military vehicles, engaged in clashes with its infantry forces, and targeted them with sniper rifles and anti-personnel explosives, and also engaged a number of regime soldiers in gun battles east of the Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City. Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Dec. 5: In a joint operation with Al-Qassam Brigades, destroyed three military vehicles using 'Tandem' and 'Yassin 105' shells in the Ma'an area southeast of Khan Yunis city. Mujahideen Brigades' operations on Jan. 5: Targeted an Israeli armored personnel carrier (APC) with an anti-tank rocket in the Sheikh Ridwan area of Gaza City, resulting in material destruction and casualties. Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on Jan. 5: Engaged in clashes with Israeli forces in the Al-Maghazi camp with machine guns and RPGs. Targeted a troop carrier (APC) with RPGs in the eastern area of Khan Yunis city. Shelled a gathering of Israeli regime soldiers and their mobilizations in the Al-Mahatta area of Khan Yunis city, with heavy-caliber mortars. Martyr Omar Al-Qassem Forces' operations on Jan. 5: Engaged in clashes with Israeli regime forces in the central Khan Yunis axis of southern Gaza. Detonated an explosive device targeting an Israeli military vehicle, causing casualties. Hezbollah's operations on Jan. 5: At around 15:45 local time, the Birkat Risha site was targeted by artillery shells. At around 16:15 local time, Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Al-Dhahira site were targeted with Burkan missiles. At around 19:40 local time, the Barkat Risha site was targeted with Burkan missiles. Iraqi resistance's operations on Jan. 5: Attacked the Al-Harir US military base in Erbil, northern Iraq, with suicide drones. Attacked with drones two US occupation bases, Al-Tanf Base and Al-Shaddadi, in Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi resistance targets three US bases in Syria, Iraq in solidarity with Gaza Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 6:10 AM Iraqi resistance forces target three US-occupied military bases in Syria and neighboring Iraq in retaliation for Washington's support for the bloody Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, in a statement published on its Telegram channel early on Saturday, claimed responsibility for the drone strikes on the US-occupied base in Syria's al-Tanf region, near the borders with Iraq and Jordan, as well as the US-run facility in al-Shaddadi town, situated about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Syria's northeastern city of Hasakah. Earlier, combat drones targeted al-Harir Air Base, which houses US military forces in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq noted that the operation came in retaliation for US support of Israel's devastating military campaign in the Gaza Strip. There were no immediate reports about the extent of damage at the military facility, and possible casualties. The United States, Israel's biggest ally, has provided the regime with a raft of arms and ammunition since the initiation of the Gaza war. Washington has also vetoed the United Nations Security Council's peace resolutions that called on the occupying regime to cease its aggression. Iraq's prime minister said on Friday that the government will put together a bilateral committee to prepare for the withdrawal of US troops from the country. The announcement came a day after a US drone strike killed the leader of a resistance group in Baghdad. The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday that it carried out the strike which killed Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari, a leader of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, which forms part of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) umbrella group of paramilitaries. "We are setting the date for the start of the bilateral committee to put arrangements to end the presence of the international coalition forces in Iraq permanently," Prime Minister Mohammad Shi'a al-Sudani said, according to a statement from his office published on the social media platform X. The US has 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria without a permit and an international mandate, having been involved in killing of civilians and trafficking of the country's resources. "We stress our firm position in ending the existence of the international coalition after the justifications for its existence have ended," Sudani said. The prime minister made the comments during a memorial event marking the fourth anniversary of the US assassination of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the former deputy head of the PMF who was killed in a US drone strike alongside Iranian general Qassem Soleimani near Baghdad airport in January 2020. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spain Joins Other Schengen Zone Countries In Recognizing Passports Issued By Kosovo By RFE/RL's Balkan Service January 06, 2024 Kosovo's deputy prime minister on January 6 welcomed a decision by Spain to recognize Kosovar passports five days after citizens of Kosovo were granted visa-free travel within the European Union's Schengen zone. Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi said on Facebook that Spain's recognition of passports issued by Kosovo was "more good news" for Kosovo. "Spain now also recognizes the passports of the Republic of Kosovo," he said. "So we can travel without [a] visa to this country." Kosovar Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz thanked Madrid in Spanish for the decision. Visa liberalization for citizens of Kosovo came into effect on January 1, but Spain was the only country in the Schengen zone that was excluded. A document published on January 5 on the website of the European Commission's Department for Migration and Home Affairs said that from January 1, Spain recognizes ordinary passports issued by Kosovo. "This does not imply in any form formal recognition of Kosovo as an independent state," the document states. Spain is among five EU states that do not recognize Kosovo's independence. The others are Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, and Romania. However, all these states recognized travel documents issued by authorities in Kosovo. Prior to the change in the regulation, the European Commission had confirmed several times that Kosovo met all the conditions for visa liberalization, but some states had consistently expressed reservations over concerns about a possible new wave of migration. Kosovo celebrated the new regulation when it came into effect on January 1. It allows citizens of Kosovo to travel visa-free within the 27-country Schengen zone for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The new visa regulation is intended for tourism and personal travel and does not include permission to work. Kosovo was the last of the six countries of the Western Balkans to attain the visa waiver, which is perceived as a key step for the country's ambition to join the EU. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-spain-passport-recognition- schengen-visa-liberalization/32763889.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish Foreign Minister Calls For Ceasefire in Gaza During Talks With Blinken - Source Sputnik News 20240106 ISTANBUL (Sputnik) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday, a diplomatic source has told Sputnik. Blinken embarked on a trip to the Middle East on Thursday to highlight the importance of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip. The secretary also held a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following talks with Fidan. "The ministers assessed the ongoing humanitarian tragedy in the Gaza Strip. Fidan noted the threat to the entire region posed by intensifying Israeli attacks and called for an immediate ceasefire to ensure uninterrupted supplies of humanitarian aid. He also called for an early start of negotiations for a two-state solution," the source said. In addition, the ministers discussed negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the situation in Syria and Iraq, as well as other regional issues. In December, Erdogan said he had discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip with US President Joe Biden and urged Washington to intervene. Fidan and Blinken also discussed Ankara's efforts to resume the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the source noted. "Minister Fidan said Ankara does not want to see tension in the Black Sea region and mentioned efforts to ensure the safe transportation of food products produced in Russia and Ukraine to global markets," the source said. At the same time, the Turkish foreign minister told his counterpart that Ankara is waiting for the completion of the F-16 procurement process, the source added. In April 2021, the US excluded Turkiye from the F-35 program after Ankara purchased Russia's S-400 air defense systems. Erdogan said later that year that Washington had offered that Ankara buy F-16 jets instead, one generation behind the F-35s. However, the deal needs approval from the US Congress, with many lawmakers strongly opposing the initiative, in particular, due to Turkiye's position on Sweden's NATO bid. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson January 6, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis today in Crete. The two underscored the strength of the bilateral relationship and shared commitment as NATO Allies to democracy, peace, and prosperity. They discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The Secretary thanked the Prime Minister for Greece's regional leadership, including its continued support for Ukraine, delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, and for freedom of navigation in the Red Sea through its participation in Operation Prosperity Guardian. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Before Their Meeting US Department of State Remarks Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Crete, Greece January 6, 2024 PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: Well, Mr. Secretary, it's a real - it's a real pleasure to welcome you to our house in Souda Bay, and I can't really think of a place that better symbolizes the depth of our strategic partnership than this place here on the Island of Crete, and I am very happy to welcome you at a time where I honestly feel that our bilateral relationship is probably at the best it has ever been. These are difficult and challenging times for the region, and it is incredibly important for us to stand by side by side, not just to work to further strengthen the relationship but also to act as Allies and to ensure that peace and stability returns to our troubled region. So again, it's a real pleasure to welcome you here. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Prime Minister, I have to tell you I'm really honored both on a professional but also personal level to be welcomed here to your home. I have a lot of Greek friends back in the United States; I know what it means to actually welcome someone to your home. And it means a lot, so thank you for that. And I also have to agree strongly with you about the relationship between our countries. I've been doing this now for 30 years, and I can't - I was saying to our ambassador, to our wonderful ambassador George Tsunis, that I don't remember a time when the relationship, the partnership, the friendship between the United States and Greece was stronger. And of course, it goes to the affinity between our people, but it also goes to leadership, and in particular your leadership. We're grateful for that. We are standing together facing some of the most acute challenges that we've seen. But the fact that we're standing together, that we're working together, whether it's in defense of Ukraine, whether it's for peace and stability in the Mediterranean, whether it's dealing with the situation in the Middle East, Gaza, and so many other ways, that's a tremendous source of strength and reassurance for the United States. So I know we have a lot to talk about, and really that's why I'm here. Your voice, your views, your counsel, your partnership mean a lot to the United States. Thank you. PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, everyone. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone co-chaired a Vietnam-Laos investment cooperation conference in Hanoi on Sunday, as part of the latter's ongoing visit to Vietnam. Vietnam PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone co-chair a Vietnam-Laos investment cooperation conference in Hanoi on Jan. 7, 2023. Photo courtesy of VGP Along with highlighting the investment environment and incentives for investors of Vietnam and Laos, participants evaluated bilateral investment and business cooperation over the years, and sketched out collaboration orientations in the future. Vietnamese investors in Laos pointed to obstacles facing them and proposed solutions. Currently, Vietnam is investing in 241 projects in Laos with a combined capital of $5.47 billion. PM Sonexay noted opinions and proposals by investors, affirming that the growth of Vietnamese investors in Laos has encouraged the development and implementation of socio-economic targets of Laos as well as the country's efforts towards an independent and self-reliant economy. He held that the two Governments, business communities, and peoples should continue working hard together to make new breakthroughs, implementing new projects and specifying agreements reached between the two Parties, thus making the bilateral ties deeper, more substantial and effective. The Lao leader said that the Government has focused on building and completing institutions, including policies to encourage investment, while redesigning their planning, including those for 12 economic zones and industrial parks across the country. It has ordered ministries and sectors to continue researching and supplementing policies to call for investment in particular periods, and listen to the voice of enterprises to deal with their difficulties, he said. PM Sonexay said he hopes Vietnamese firms will continue to invest in areas of Laoss strengths such as clean agriculture, agricultural processing, mining, and clean energy. This year, Lao is taking the role of the ASEAN Chair, he said, expressing his hope for support from Vietnam in general and the Vietnamese business community in particular. Laos hopes to welcome more Vietnamese visitors, especially in the Lao Tourism Year 2024, he stated. PM Chinh highlighted the all-round development in the Vietnam-Laos great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation, including economic and investment collaboration. He said that the two sides should make a breakthrough in bilateral economic and investment partnership, strengthening public-private partnership to expand infrastructure systems, fostering connections between the two economies by developing expressways, railways, and air routes between the two countries, and building the infrastructure system linking border gates. Alongside, breakthroughs are also needed in high quality human resources training, which should become a focal point in the bilateral relations in the time to come, said the Vietnamese leader. He proposed that the two sides focus on priorized areas such as high-tech industries, innovation, energy, mining, high-tech agriculture, and e-commerce. He asked ministries, sectors, localities and businesses of the two sides to coordinate closely together in dealing with current problems to speed up projects and strengthen investment cooperation. The two Governments should continue to complete institutions and policies, creating favorable legal frameworks, improving the investment environment, and speeding up administrative reform to reduce investment costs for businesses, while giving priorities to each other's businesses in the spirit of harmonious interest and shared interest. PM Chinh emphasized that each cooperation program and project carries in-depth political meaning, showing bilateral political trust and contributing to the socio-economic development in each country and the growth of the Vietnam-Laos special ties. At the conference, PM Chinh and PM Sonexay witnessed the granting of investment licenses and the exchange of memoranda of understanding among agencies and businesses of the two countries across various fields, including finance, agriculture, and mining. Secretary Blinken's Call with Algerian Foreign Minister Attaf US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson January 6, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matt Miller: Secretary Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf to consult on a range of global priorities. Secretary Blinken welcomed Algeria to the UN Security Council and reiterated appreciation for the close cooperation on issues before the Council. In this regard, they discussed threats to Red Sea maritime security and the importance of increasing humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. The Secretary reiterated the United States' position that there should be no forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and our commitment to working toward broader, lasting regional peace that ensures Israel's security and advances the establishment of a Palestinian state. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel Says Hamas' 'Military Framework' Dismantled in Northern Gaza By VOA News January 06, 2024 Israeli forces have completed dismantling Hamas' "military framework" in northern Gaza, killing about 8,000 militants in that area and seizing tens of thousands of weapons and millions of documents there, a military spokesperson said Saturday. Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in an online briefing that Israel is now focused on breaking up Hamas in the central and southern Gaza Strip, acknowledging this will take time. Hagari said Israel's military effort in eradicating Hamas from central and southern Gaza will be done differently than it was done in the north, noting that "the refugee camps in the central Gaza strip are crowded and full of terrorists," while stating the elaborate network of underground tunnels in the south of Gaza are labor intensive to destroy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement Saturday that the war against Hamas "must not be stopped" until Israel achieves three main objectives: "eliminate Hamas, return our hostages and ensure that Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel." Meanwhile, Israel and Hezbollah continued trading fire Saturday across Lebanon's border, in one of the heaviest days of cross-border fighting in recent weeks. Air raid sirens blared across northern Israel as Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah group said it launched more than 60 rockets at an Israeli military base. Israel said it retaliated by striking a "terrorist cell responsible for the launches." It also said it struck several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including military sites and "terrorist infrastructure." Hezbollah said five of its fighters had been killed in Israeli strikes. Hezbollah said in a statement that its strikes against Israel were an "initial response" to the assassination of one of Hamas' leaders, Saleh al-Arouri, earlier in the week. Hezbollah believes Israel is responsible for the strike that killed Arouri, but Israel has not claimed responsibility. Hamas and security officials in the region attributed the strike that killed Saleh al-Arouri to an Israeli drone, although Israel has not directly acknowledged this. Hezbollah like Hamas, an Iran-backed militant group designated as a terror organization by the United States and others has been firing rockets across Israel's northern border since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, are on separate trips to the region. They each are trying to contain a spillover from the three-month-old war into Lebanon, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Red Sea shipping lanes, where Iranian-backed Houthi rebels based in Yemen have been attacking commercial vessels linked to Israel, in what the group has called a revenge campaign on Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. In a video message shared by Hamas on Saturday, the head of Hamas' political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, said he hopes Blinken will be "more focused" on ending Israeli "aggression" in Gaza during the top diplomat's multi-country visit to the region. Israel Defense Forces dropped new flyers on neighborhoods in central Gaza on Saturday, urging Palestinians to evacuate. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled to southern Gaza to seek refuge from the fighting, but the fighting has followed them there. Israel launched strikes early Saturday on the southern Gaza cities of Rafah and Khan Younis. At Egypt's Rafah border crossing, relief to the Palestinian population has been reduced to a crawl, as lines of hundreds of trucks carrying aid have been waiting for weeks to enter Gaza. Two U.S. senators said Saturday after a visit to the border that a warehouse full of goods rejected by Israeli inspectors holds everything from water-testing equipment to medical kits for delivering babies. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley pointed to a cumbersome process that is slowing relief in the besieged territory largely from what they say are seemingly arbitrary rejections by Israeli inspectors of aid cargos carrying vital humanitarian equipment. Almost the entire population in Gaza depends on the humanitarian aid from across the border with Egypt for their survival. One in four Palestinians in Gaza is starving, and the rest face crisis levels of hunger, according to the United Nations More than 85% of Gaza's people have been driven from their homes by Israel's bombardment and ground offensives. The Middle East has been a tinderbox since Iran-backed Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people while taking about 240 people hostages, Israel said. Some of the hostages have been released, though about 130 are still being held in Gaza. Israel's response has killed more than 22,600 Palestinians, a large percentage of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Neither side differentiates between combatants and civilians. Some material for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Blinken Visits Middle East as Risk of Broader Conflict Grows By Nike Ching January 06, 2024 Turkey is prepared to use its influence with critical countries in the Middle East to de-escalate and prevent the Gaza conflict from spreading, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters late Saturday, after he held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a strong critic of Israel's military actions in Gaza. Blinken held meetings earlier in the day with Erdogan in Istanbul, and then in Crete with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The chief U.S. diplomat embarked on a Middle East diplomacy tour this week seeking to calm the situation in Gaza and soothe regional frictions. In a separate meeting with Blinken, Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for "an immediate cease-fire" in Gaza and for the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid. Fidan also advocated for the immediate start of negotiations for a two-state solution, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. The United States has urged a lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. This involves achieving Palestinian political rights notably the establishment of a Palestinian state with security assurances for Israel. In Crete, Blinken thanked Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis for the country's continued support for the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken expressed appreciation for Greece's commitment to the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. This is particularly crucial, as Yemeni Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea in solidarity with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which is fighting Israel in Gaza. On Saturday, Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah group launched dozens of rockets into northern Israel. Israel responded with airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. "One of the areas of real concern is the border between Israel and Lebanon, and we want to do everything possible to make sure that we don't see escalation there," Blinken noted Saturday. He told reporters that Israel is "clearly not interested" in an escalation and emphasized, "It's not in Lebanon's interest to see any escalation." Blinken's fourth trip to the Middle East comes amid intense diplomatic efforts to facilitate the delivery of the humanitarian aid into the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and increasing international pressure on Israel to reduce civilian casualties among Palestinians. Additionally, the secretary will make the rounds in Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Egypt for meetings with foreign counterparts and other officials. This comes at a time when the risk of a broader regional conflict is surging, despite collective efforts of Western and regional powers to confine the Israel-Hamas war to the Gaza Strip. Israel began its military campaign to wipe out Hamas after Hamas fighters crossed into southern Israel on October 7. Israel said about 1,200 people were killed and about 240 captives taken in the terror attack. Gaza health officials say more than 22,000 Palestinians a large percentage of them women and children have been confirmed killed in Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip. The United States has stated its opposition to forcibly removing Palestinians from Gaza. The U.S. is also working on a post-war road map for the Palestinian territories. "Gaza cannot, once again, serve as a launching pad for terrorist attacks against Israel," State Department spokesperson Miller told VOA earlier this week. "What we ultimately want to see is Gaza and the West Bank reunited under Palestinian leadership," and "certainly there's no role for Hamas in that." Israel continues pursuing Hamas On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant outlined the country's plans for the next stage of its operations in Gaza. The new approach involves a more targeted strategy in northern Gaza and a continued pursuit of Hamas leaders in the south. Gallant said in a statement that after the war, Gaza would no longer be under Hamas control. While Israel retains operational freedom, there won't be any Israeli civilians present in the Gaza Strip. US concerned about conflict spreading The State Department said the United States remains "incredibly concerned" about the risk of the conflict spreading into other fronts, after the killing Tuesday of senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut. The Israeli army said it was on high alert for attacks by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. This follows a drone strike in Beirut that killed al-Arouri, who was closely associated with Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah. In a televised speech, Nasrallah said there would be a "response and punishment," but he did not clearly declare that his forces would escalate attacks against Israel. The U.S. has sent a "very direct message to Hezbollah" and other entities in the region that "now is not the time to think of escalating further," according to the State Department. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, has also voiced concern over the potential for escalation, while urging all parties to exercise restraint. Earlier this week, Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the strike that killed al-Arouri, calling it a crime deliberately aimed at dragging Lebanon into a new phase of confrontations. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are backed by Iran, whose militant allies in Syria, Iraq and Yemen have also been carrying out longer-range attacks against Israel. Diseases break out in Gaza The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, has warned that Gaza is becoming a public health disaster and that the recent mass displacement across southern Gaza is fueling disease outbreaks. About 400,000 cases of infectious diseases have been reported since October 7, with about 180,000 people suffering from upper respiratory infections. More than 136,000 cases of diarrhea have been reported, half among children younger than 5, according to OCHA. Efforts to release hostages continue Meanwhile, intense diplomatic efforts to retrieve the remaining hostages held in Gaza by Hamas militants continue. There are believed to be 129 people held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza. Last week, Egypt proposed a plan to end the military conflict involving a cease-fire, a phased hostage release, and the formation of a Palestinian government of experts to administer the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Details of the plan were reportedly worked out with the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar and presented to Israel, Hamas, the United States and European governments. But the head of Hamas' political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, stated Tuesday that the hostages will be released only on Hamas' terms. Some material for this report was provided by Reuters and The Associated Press. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bomb Hits Minibus in Kabul, Killing 2 Afghan Civilians By Ayaz Gul January 06, 2024 A bomb blast ripped through a minibus in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, Saturday evening, killing at least two civilians and wounding 14 others. The attack occurred in the city's western Dasht-e-Barchi Shiite Muslim neighborhood. Khalid Zadran, a spokesperson for the Taliban-led Kabul police, confirmed the casualties, saying the injured were rushed to hospitals and the bombing was under investigation. No group immediately took credit for the deadly attack, but suspicions fell on a regional Islamic State affiliate known as Islamic State-Khorasan, or IS-K. Dasht-e-Barchi has experienced persistent deadly militant bombings, targeting Shiite mosques, schools and hospitals. IS-K has claimed credit for almost all recent attacks. The group has carried out high-profile attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control of the country more than two years ago. The violence has killed hundreds of people, including Shiite Afghans and Taliban members. Taliban Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob told a televised news conference last week that there had been a 90% decrease in IS-K attacks in the past year, attributing it to his government's counterterrorism operations. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government spokesperson, reiterated Saturday that the crackdown on IS-K had degraded its ability to harm Afghanistan and other countries. He spoke to local media a day after Reuters news agency reported that "communications intercepts collected by the United States" confirmed that IS-K conducted Wednesday's twin suicide bombings in neighboring Iran that killed nearly 100 people. The Sunni-based Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bloodshed in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman but did not specify that its Afghanistan-based affiliate carried it out. The United States has consistently described IS-K as a dangerous entity. However, John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesperson, said Thursday it was "difficult to make a quantitative or qualitative assessment" of IS-K's strength based on a single event like this week's attack in Iran. "ISIS-K does remain a viable terrorist threat. Certainly, they are largely based out of Afghanistan. That's where they headquarter themselves," Kirby told a news conference in Washington, using a different acronym for IS-K. "And they continue to pose a viable terrorist threat to the people of Afghanistan and obviously to the region." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bangladesh Election Unlikely to Resolve Political Turmoil By VOA's Bangla Service January 06, 2024 Bangladesh holds parliamentary elections on Sunday, but opposition parties won't participate, as they say the election won't be fair with the current ruling party staying in power ahead of the vote. This will be the country's 12th national parliamentary election since it gained independence in 1971. The parliament consists of 350 members, of which 300 are elected directly for a five-year term. The remaining 50 seats are reserved for women. The 300 members elected on January 7 will, in turn, proportionally elect the 50 women members to the reserved seats. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies, along with some major Islamist parties, are boycotting the election after demanding the resignation of the current government during the election in favor of an interim, neutral caretaker government. The opposition believes that the last two general elections, held in 2014 and 2018, prove that free, fair, participatory and credible elections aren't possible while the ruling party remains in power. Only four of the previous 11 national elections were held under a neutral caretaker government: in 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2008. Those elections were widely accepted as relatively free and fair. However, in 2013, the Supreme Court ruled the use of a caretaker government unconstitutional. The ruling party, Awami League, which had a two-thirds majority in the parliament, changed the constitution to block the caretaker government provision. The BNP and its allies protested the change and boycotted the 2014 elections. As a result, more than half of the 300 members of parliament elected that year ran unopposed. Voter turnout was very low as well. The opposition participated in the 2018 election; however, that vote was alleged by the opposition to have been manipulated in favor of the ruling party by law enforcement agencies, the civil administration and the ruling party's sitting members of parliament and ministers. The government denies the allegations and says that the election was free and fair. Ahead of that election, opposition candidates were subjected to widespread violence on the campaign trail and many opposition activists were arrested. The opposition claimed that in most constituencies, ballot boxes were filled with ruling party votes the night before the election. A report by BBC Bangla showed the ballot boxes in one constituency were filled before voting began. The ruling party has repeatedly denied such allegations. In an interview with VOA Bangla, Awami League leader Mahbubul Alam Hanif said, "There is no evidence to prove that the election was rigged." Both the 2014 and 2018 elections are largely considered noncredible by both the local and international community. Crackdown on opposition During an October 28 BNP rally, party leaders and activists allegedly attacked the chief justice's residence. At least 17 journalists were injured, and a police constable was killed. According to the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, a body of pro-BNP lawyers, more than 20,000 opposition leaders and activists were arrested in more than 837 "fabricated and ghost cases" filed after the October violence. The forum also alleged that 8,249 opposition activists were injured in attack and police action, and at least 73,123 opposition activists were accused in cases filed since then. On December 17, Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, the agriculture minister, seemed to agree with the arrest figures put forward by the opposition in an interview in which he referenced a strike the opposition had called as part of their ongoing protests. "If 20,000 leaders and workers of BNP were not arrested, would the cars have run on the day of the strike? We had no option other than mass arrests." The minister also said the BNP leadership was told that its arrested leaders would be released promptly if the party took part in the upcoming election, raising serious questions about the independence of the judiciary and giving more credibility to the opposition's claim that the government is abusing its power. On November 14, three United Nations experts Irene Khan, Clement Nyaletsossi Voule and Mary Lawlor issued a statement raising grave concerns about the severe crackdown against political activists. "As Bangladesh heads towards national elections in early 2024, we are deeply disturbed by the sharp rise in political violence, arrests of senior opposition leaders, mass arbitrary detention of thousands of political activists, use of excessive force by the authorities and internet shutdowns to disrupt protests," the statement said. "The weaponization of the judicial system to attack journalists, human rights defenders and civil society leaders diminishes the independence of the judiciary and erodes fundamental human rights," it said. According to reports published in local and international media, nine activists have died in custody since October 28. Opposition response After the election schedule was announced in November, the opposition vowed to boycott the vote and called for general strikes and blockades. On December 19, the BNP announced a noncooperation movement, urging people to suspend tax payments, as well as water, gas and electricity bills. The BNP and its allies also launched a campaign to encourage voters to boycott the election and to participate in the noncooperation movement. The effort led to violent attacks by ruling party activists against opposition activists, while law enforcement agencies made widespread arrests of opposition activists in connection with the protest movement, according to local media reports. Meanwhile, Bangladesh's Election Commission asked the Home Ministry's Public Security Division to deter people from attending rallies or other political programs that may disrupt the electoral process or discourage voters from exercising their franchise. The move appears contrary to the Bangladesh constitution, which states, "Every citizen shall have the right to assemble and to participate in public meetings and processions peacefully and without arms, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of public order or public health." Staging a "competitive" election Pressure from the United States, the United Nations and others in the international community have prompted the Sheikh Hasina government to show the world that the election will be free, fair and participatory. Hasina has asked the aspirant candidates from the ruling Awami League who did not secure the nomination of the ruling party to run as independent candidates to make the election appear competitive. In public remarks, she also urged candidates who are running unopposed to place dummy candidates in their respective constituencies to ensure that no one is elected uncontested, as happened in 2014. This has led the opposition to call Sunday's election a "dummy" election. The Awami League has nominated 263 candidates and supported six candidates from its allies. It withdrew 26 of its candidates in favor of the Jatiya Party, an ally of the Awami League. However, in most of the 300 constituencies, one or more independent candidates who are also members of the ruling Awami League party are contesting seats. The ruling party and its supporters say if voter turnout is more than 50%, Sunday's election should be considered a participatory one. Local media reports accuse ruling party members of coercing voters to come to polling stations by taking away cards that are required to get social services. Government officials have denied the accusations. Election aftermath In a series of interviews with VOA Bangla, a number of political analysts and civil society members expressed concerns regarding the elections. They believe that without the participation of the BNP and other parties, the results will not be credible, and that the 12th national parliament will struggle to complete its full term. "This is not an election," Badiul Alam Majumder, a prominent civil society activist, told VOA. "In an election there must be options for the voters. Without BNP's participation there is no option. "This election will not solve our problems, rather it will make our crisis more complex and evident," he said. Nurul Kabir, a prominent journalist in Bangladesh, told VOA that he thinks the election results are fixed before voting begins, as there is no competition between rival political parties. "This election is called a dummy election," Kabir said. There is a growing concern among the people of Bangladesh that the U.S. will take serious actions if the election is seen as unfair, including imposing sanctions. The U.S. government announced a new visa policy for Bangladesh last year to support free and fair elections in the country. The policy allows the U.S. to deny visas to any individual or entity who obstructs the election process in Bangladesh. While sanctions may harm Bangladesh's economy, some opposition figures say it may be the most viable option to restore the democratic process in Bangladesh. In an exclusive interview with VOA Bangla, Nurul Haq Nur, president of the Gana Adhikar Parishad party, said the role the U.S. is playing in ensuring a free and fair election is appreciated. For Nur, the 2021 sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion, which remain in effect, played a significant role in creating space for the opposition to hold rallies and carry out political programs. "I think the citizens of Bangladesh have found hope in the role USA has been playing in support of restoring a democratic process in Bangladesh," Nur said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 06 January 2024 - Day 681 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 22 December 2023, Ukrainian forces shot down three Russian Su-34 FULLBACK combat jets over southern Ukraine. Previously, Russian tactical air power had been playing a key role in the south, especially attacking Ukraine's bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. Following the losses, Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) almost completely ceased crewed operations in the south through late December 2023. There is a realistic possibility that the lack of air support contributed to the failure of an attempt by Russian Ground Forces' 18th Combined Arms Army to clear the bridgehead. In recent days, Russia has again increased tactical air strikes around the bridgehead, but at a lower level than before the shootdowns. This once again demonstrates that Russia's inability to establish air superiority in the early stages of the Russia-Ukraine war continues to undermine their daily operations. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 6, there were 27x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 8x missile and 55x air strikes, carried out 23x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential and apartment buildings, and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Oleksandrivka, Vovchans'k, Prykolotne, Chuhunivka (Kharkiv oblast). Around 15x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy, Yeline, Popivka (Chernihiv oblast), Znob-Novhorods'ke, Iskryskivshchyna, Myropil's'ke, Hrabovs'ke, Popivka, Ponomarenky (Sumy oblast), Chervona Zorya, Kozacha Lopan', Luk'yantsi, Vovchans'k, Bochkove, Budarky (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka Petropavlivka, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast), where the Russian occupiers, with air support, made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike near Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The occupiers launched air strikes in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast) and near Terny, Spirne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 1x attack in the vicinity of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike near New York settlement. More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x Russian attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 9x more attacks in the vicinities of Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, conducted unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical situation. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of settlement Oleksandropil' (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Berdychi, Stepove, Lastochkyne, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke. Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the invaders in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian adversary, with air support, made 5x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The invaders launched an air strike near Staromaiors'ke settlement. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Staromaiors'ke, Urozhaine, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast). Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x assaults near Robotyne and south of Novodarivka, where the Russian occupiers, with air support, made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Mala Tokmachka and P'yatykhatky. More than 15x settlements, including Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Orikhiv, Novoandriivka, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the adversary fired artillery at the settlements of Tyahynka, Kherson, Oleksandrivka (Kherson oblast), as well as Kutsurub, Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast). Russian forces do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. Thus, during the day, Russian forces made 18x unsuccessful assaults. The Ukrainian troops are holding the line and keep inflicting significant losses on the Russian enemy. During the day of January 6, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 19x concentrations of troops of the Russian occupiers. The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x command post, 1x ammunition depot, 1x artillery system, 1x air defense radar station, 1x Tor surface-to-air missile system of the Russian invaders. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Zapad Group of Forces and artillery, four counterattacks by assault groups of AFU 30th and 32nd mechanised brigades have been repelled near Sinkovka (Kharkov region). In addition, enemy strongholds have been hit near Kislovka, Kotlyarovka, Tabaevka, and Krakhmalnoye (Kharkov region). The enemy losses were up to 80 AFU servicemen, two armoured personnel carriers, three motor vehicles, one Olkha MLRS combat vehicle, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, supported by artillery, have hit AFU manpower and hardware concentration areas near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry. The enemy losses were up to 100 troops, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. In Donetsk direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Yug Group of Forces and artillery, two enemy counterattacks have been repelled near Georgievka, units of 28th, 42nd mechanised brigades of the AFU have been defeated close to Andreevka, Bogdanovka, Kleshcheevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were over 190 soldiers, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four pickup trucks. In addition, Msta-B, D-20, and D-30 howitzers have been hit during counter-battery warfare. In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, with the support of Operational-Tactical Aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems, have defeated formations of the 79th Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were over 90 soldiers, two armoured fighting vehicles, and six motor vehicles. In Zaporozhye direction, as a result of skillful actions by units of the Russian Group of Forces, Operational-Tactical Aviation, and artillery, manpower and hardware of 117th mechanized, 71st infantry brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the 15th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine have been eliminated close to Verbovoye, Rabotino, and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses were up to 25 soldiers, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles. In Kherson direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Dnepr Group of Forces and systematic fire, the enemy losses were up to 45 servicemen, one tank, four motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, as well as one ammunition depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been destroyed near Ingulets (Kherson region). Over the past period, Missile Troops and Artillery, Operational-Tactical Aviation and unmanned aerial vehicles of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed one control point of the Donetsk Operational Tactical Group close to Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic), 127 artillery units in firing positions, manpower, and military hardware in 138 areas. Air defence facilities have shot down one Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian Air Force near Tyaginka (Kherson region). Four aircraft guided missiles have been intercepted, as well as one HIMARS projectile. In addition, 29 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been hit close to Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region), Kardashinka and Kairy (Kherson region). In total, 565 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,488 unmanned aerial vehicles, 447 air defence missile systems, 14,494 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,201 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 7,645 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,121 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, US should take San Francisco summit as new starting point to implement consensus: top diplomat Global Times By Global Times Published: Jan 06, 2024 12:04 AM China has no intention to replace or surpass anyone, nor does it seek hegemony, China's top diplomat Wang Yi said while attending a reception for the 45th anniversary of China-US diplomatic relations held in Beijing on Friday. Both China and the US should take the top leaders' summit in San Francisco as a new starting point and follow the path of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation to interact, truly implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, said Wang. Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, noted in his speech that over the past 45 years, China-US relations have overcome difficulties, eliminated interference, and forged ahead. The journey of China-US relations over the past half century has yielded valuable insights concerning the fundamental nature of the bilateral relationship. Wang noted that peace is the fundamental cornerstone of China-US relations. The fact that the two major countries do not conflict or confront each other is itself the most important peace dividend for humanity. Cooperation is the best way for China and the US to coexist, Wang said, noting that under the current circumstances, the necessity of China-US cooperation has not weakened but has become even stronger. China-US cooperation is not optional and needs to be seriously addressed for the sake of both countries and the rest of the world. Win-win cooperation is the essential characteristic of China-US interactions. Arbitrarily pushing decoupling and containment will inevitably result in more losses than gains and will backfire, said Wang. Wang emphasized that the world is currently experiencing unprecedented changes. As the most important and complex bilateral relationship in the world, it is crucial for China and the US to calibrate the direction of their relationship, avoid reefs and dangers, and navigate through historical canyons. In November last year, the two heads of state of China and the US had a historic meeting in San Francisco, providing direction and injecting impetus for bilateral relations. Both sides should take the summit as a new starting point and follow the path of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation as the way for the two countries to interact, truly implementing the important consensus reached during the meeting, Wang said. He also urged the US to establish a correct cognition. "Are China and the US partners or competitors? This is a fundamental question," said Wang, noting that China has no intention to replace or surpass anyone, nor does it seek hegemony. China is willing to build a stable, healthy, and sustainable China-US relationship based on mutual respect. It is hoped that the US side can relax its mindset, respect the choices of the Chinese people, respect China's development path, respect China's core interests, and respect China's defense of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Wang said. Wang also noted that both sides should continue to make full use of various mechanisms established or restored in various fields, penetrate barriers created by false information, constantly strengthen the bond between the two peoples, and provide more positive energy for the healthy development of China-US relations. It is expected that people from all walks of life in both countries will be spirited and vigorous, and promote China-US relations in the right direction, said Wang. David Meale, ChargA d'Affaires at the US Embassy in China also delivered a speech at the reception, congratulating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and China, and expressing the US' willingness to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote the stable development of China-US relations. The Friday reception was jointly organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, with more than 350 people from various sectors of both countries attending. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indian Navy Rescues Commercial Ship in Arabian Sea After Hijack Attempt By Anjana Pasricha January 06, 2024 India said Friday night it had evacuated 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, from a commercial ship in the North Arabian Sea that had been targeted by hijackers. The rescue mission was mounted by an Indian warship. India has deployed several warships and reconnaissance aircraft in the Arabian Sea following a string of attacks on commercial ships that include hijacking attempts and drone and missile attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The Indian navy said in a statement that commandos boarded the Liberian-flagged MV Lila Norfolk carrier following a distress call saying the vessel had been boarded by five to six armed hijackers. The message had been sent to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which monitors merchant shipping. The ship's crew had gathered in the ship's citadel a a fortified section in commercial vehicles that is used as a refuge during attacks by pirates. The Indian navy said no hijackers were found on board during a search by the commandos. The "attempt of hijacking by pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian navy," according to the navy statement. It said that all 21 crew members were "safely evacuated." The navy said the Indian warship INS Chennai, which carried out the rescue mission, helped restore power generation so that the ship can carry on its voyage. Hijacking of commercial ships by Somali pirates, which posed a huge challenge earlier, had declined hugely in recent years after the United States and other countries stepped up patrolling. Experts say it is reemerging as a threat, though. They say hijackers have been encouraged as U.S. and other countries' naval forces focus on thwarting attacks by Houthi rebels, who, since November, have targeted commercial ships with several drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea. The Iranian-backed Houthis claim to target Israeli-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza. "The pirates are probably taking advantage of the disturbance in that area due to the Houthi attacks," Debesh Lahiri, executive director of the National Maritime Foundation told VOA. "This is something to watch out for. If left unchecked, this threat could become worse. That is why every responsible nation is deploying its assets in that area." The growing attacks have prompted many shipping companies to reroute their vessels. India increased surveillance in the waters after an India-bound commercial vessel carrying crude oil was targeted last month by a drone attack off the country's west coast. Earlier a ship carrying mostly Indian crew members was targeted by hijackers in the Arabian Sea. "The Indian navy remains committed to ensuring safety of merchant shipping in the region along with international partners and friendly foreign countries," the navy statement said. However, India is not part of a security initiative put together by the United States to protect shipping routes. Along with France, Britain and several other countries, the U.S. launched Operation Prosperity Guardian in mid-December to protect ships from Houthi attacks. "As you know, we have Indian navy ships patrolling the area. They are also keeping a watch on Indian ships there," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said Thursday. "So far, we are not part of any multilateral initiative in the area. We are looking at the unfolding situation very closely." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sources reject reports about decline in Iran's oil exports to China IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 6, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Different sources have rejected reports according to which Iran has declined oil exports to China, demanding higher prices. Reuters said in a Friday report that Iran has informed China in early December that it will reduce the discounts for its oil sales to the country in December and January. Chairman of Iran-China Joint Chamber of Commerce Majid-Reza Hariri, however, said that Iran's oil discounts to China have been falling during the past year. He said that Iran's oil exports are at the highest and the hue and cry will have no effect on the Iranian oil sales. He told IRNA correspondent on Saturday that due to the sanctions imposed on Tehran, oil discounts have to remain secret. Alireza Sotoudeh, an energy expert, also believes that given the rise in China's refining capacity and the increase in Iran's oil production, the reports on halting the country's exports are not true. He stressed that Reuters has fabricated the news in order to create a psychological atmosphere inside Iran and to get more accurate information about Iranian oil sales by reactions of the Iranian authorities to this news. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Abu-Mahdi warship can cruise 2,000 nautical miles IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 6, 2024 Bandar Abbas, IRNA -- The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Naval Force Commander Commodore Alireza Tangsiri has said that Abu-Mahdi al-Muhandis warship can cruise for 2,000 nautical miles by evading the enemy's radar detection. Rear Admiral Tangsiri said on Saturday in the ceremony of joining the new advanced warship and speedboats to the IRGC Navy that the Abu-Mahdi warship has a naval endurance of 14 days. He added that the Abu Mahdi warship is powered by four propulsive engines and can stay afloat in Force Six conditions and carry out naval missions under Force Five conditions. This IRGC Naval Force Commander in his remarks added that it took 19 months for the domestic knowledge-based company to manufacture these vessels for the IRGC Navy, saying that the manufacturer of this warship can build three more warships in less than one year. Kowsar missiles - medium-range, land-based anti-ship missiles - are installed on the Ashura and Tariq class vessels to convert them from rocket launchers to missile launchers, the commander added. The IRGC Naval Force received the new equipment in a ceremony held in Bandar Abbas, the capital city of the southern province of Hormuzgan. 6125**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sok Eysan, a spokesman of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), on Sunday highlighted the important role by Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Cambodia's victory over the Khmer Rouge 45 years ago. They helped liberate the Cambodian people from the genocidal regime swiftly in a timely manner, he said. Tourists walk outside the Royal Palace in central Phnom Penh. Photo by Reuters Speaking at a meeting to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Cambodian people and army's victory in overthrowing the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979-2024) held by the CPP in Phnom Penh, Eysan affirmed that this is a historic event for the Cambodian people and closely associated to Vietnam - its neighbor. All the Cambodian people always understand and grateful to the sincere support of the Vietnamese volunteer army, Party and State for Cambodia in their hardest time, he said. In localities of Cambodia, there are memorial monuments for the common victory, which was made by the strength and great solidarity between Cambodia and the Vietnamese army, he noted. "We will never forget the contributions by the Vietnamese volunteer army, the Party and State of Vietnam, who helped Cambodia get free from the genocidal regime," Eysan said, affirming that his country considers this an unforgettable historical truth of Cambodia. Uch Leang, Deputy Director of the Department of Asian, African, and Middle-East Studies under the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, said that the victory was a historical event that demonstrated the spirit of international solidarity between the peoples and armies of Cambodia and Vietnam, opening up a new page in the neighborly relations and friendship between the two countries. According to him, through the successful implementation of the win-win cooperation policy in the spirit of national solidarity and unity, the Cambodian government has concluded the persistent war, restored and preserved peace and security for the people. History professor Sombo Manara from Cambodia's Panasastra University in Phnom Penh also praised the role of the Vietnamese Party, State, people and volunteers in the event, saying that from the human perspective, the assistance helped rescue the Cambodian people from being killed by the genocidal regime. Forty-five years ago, on January 7, 1979, patriotic forces gathered with the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation (KUFNS), with the support of Vietnamese volunteer troops, liberated Phnom Penh, overthrowing the regime, promptly rescuing millions of Cambodians from genocide. This important historical event marked the moment of revival of the country and people of Cambodia under the brutal genocidal regime which killed nearly 3 million Cambodian civilians - a quarter of the country's population at that time - and pushed Cambodia to the brink of perdition. IRGC chief hails combat capabilities of Abu Mahdi warship IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 6, 2024 Bandar Abbas, IRNA -- Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday that the combat patrol warship Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis can fight on its own and has all the components required for succeeding in battles. Major General Hossein Salaami made the remarks at the 12th ceremony of adding new equipment to the IRGC Navy in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. "Today is a great and historic day for the proud nation of Iran, the day that the IRGC Navy, as the pioneer of the defensive power of the Islamic Republic of Iran against world powers, has made headway in its offensive and defensive power," he said. Salaami further said that the Islamic Republic, having realized the importance of the sea as a decisive stage of battle, is dedicated to the development and completion of its sea power that is distinct from those of conventional sea powers. Both the IRGC and the Army have developed naval maps with the assumption that the Islamic Republic would face the biggest naval powers of the world, he said. He added that the IRGC Navy must be able to reach any point where the enemy is standing so as to fight the enemy at a distance from home. During the ceremony, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis combat patrol warship, four Zolfaqar vessels equipped with missile launchers, and five Ashura vessels equipped with Kowsar air defense missile launchers were added to the IRGC Navy. Five Ashura torpedo launchers, nine Mersad combat reconnaissance vessels, one coastal vessel, one Tareq medium-range surface-to-surface missile launcher, and two Ashura command vessels with carbon hulls are among the other equipment delivered to the force. The rocket launchers also include two 40-barrel tactical rocket launchers, twenty 8-barrel rocket launchers, and twelve tactical barrage mortars. 4354**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran arrests a number of suspects linked to Kerman terrorist blasts ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat / 6 January 2024 / 09:58 Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has announced the arrest of a number of suspects in connection with the terrorist bomb attacks of January 3 in the city of Kerman, where over 80 people were killed. Tehran-ISNA- Speaking to reporters in the southeastern city on Friday, the minister said Iranian security forces had found "solid clues" leading to the whereabouts of the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks. Vahidi said Iran's intelligence and security forces have full control over the issue. "All the elements involved in the terrorist incident will be definitely identified and arrested," the Iranian minister stated. On Friday, Iranians held a mass funeral for the victims of the bombings. A top military commander pledged during the event that the security apparatus will find the criminals behind the carnage "wherever they are." 76 Iranians and 13 Afghans were among the dead. The explosions were carried out near the burial site of Iran's late anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani during a ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of his martyrdom. In a statement a few hours after the bombings, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the perpetrators will face a fitting punishment and a harsh response. The Daesh Takfiri terrorists claimed responsibility for the heinous act in a statement posted on their affiliate Telegram channels. Daesh said two of its members had detonated their explosive belts among the crowd. Meanwhile on Friday, Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Majid Mir-Ahmadi said security forces had arrested individuals in five cities and five provinces in connection with the terrorist attacks. He said detailed information on the matter will be announced. Mir-Ahmadi noted that the attacks were carried out by two terrorists who were killed after detonating themselves. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran holds mass funeral, vows to find terrorists 'wherever they are' ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat / 6 January 2024 / 09:56 Iranians held a mass funeral for the victims of twin terrorist bombings in Kerman with a top Iranian military commander pledging to find the terrorists behind the attack "wherever they are." Tehran-ISNA- Thousands of people along with high-ranking Iranian officials, including President Ebrahim Raeisi, attended the funeral in the southern Iranian city. The terrorist attack left at least 84 people dead and 285 others injured at a ceremony that was held to honor anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani four years after his assassination by the United States. Other than Kerman, other cities across the country hosted rallies following Friday prayers where people condemned the terrorist attack and supporters of terrorism while chanting slogans against the US and the Israeli regime. Addressing the ceremony in Kerman, chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami said that the members of the terrorist outfit involved in the recent bombing attack in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman will be identified and brought to justice "wherever they are." Calling Daesh the US policy outcome in the Islamic world, Salami said the terrorist group sought to "draw a new map," and establish a caliphate in the Muslim world but was defeated thanks to General Soleimani's sacrifices. "Daesh has vanished and there is no trace of them on the political map of the world and they are lost and lodged in the kennels," the IRGC chief said. "They can only act as agents and mercenaries of America and Zionism," he added. "But we give them this warning; if you are brave enough, fight us, why are you killing defenseless women and children?" Salami also underlined that such crimes are a reflection of the severe defeats that have been inflicted on the global arrogance and its regional and internal agents in recent years. "We will find you wherever you are!" he said of terrorists. "Note that you cannot get away from divine punishment by disappearing, and even if you live for a thousand years, we will find you... we will take revenge of all our martyrs from our enemies." Pointing to the crowds of people paying homage to General Soleimani and attending his burial site even after the bombing attacks, Salami said, "This is not a nation that will kowtow to the enemy with martyrdom. We heard the Leader's order and we will continue to fulfill it." In a statement on Wednesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the perpetrators of the twin terrorist attacks in Kerman will face a fitting punishment and a harsh response. Daesh claimed responsibility for the heinous act in a statement posted on its affiliate Telegram channels and said two of its members had detonated their explosive belts in the crowd that had gathered at the cemetery. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran urges international efforts for effective, practical prevention of terrorism Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 9:53 PM Iran's foreign minister has called for more efforts by the international community to counter terrorism in all its forms. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was speaking in a phone conversation with his French counterpart, Catherine Colonna, on Saturday. Referring to the recent terrorist attack in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman, which left hundreds of people dead or wounded, Iran's top diplomat highlighted the need for more efforts by the international community to counter all forms of terrorism in a more effective and practical manner. The terrorist explosions, which were claimed by the US-backed Daesh Takfiri group, were carried out near the burial site of Iran's late anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani during a ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of his martyrdom. The blasts left 89 people, including 76 Iranians and 13 Afghans, dead and wounded 286 others, some of them in critical condition. "Iran is the most honest supporter of security and stability in the region and the world," Amir-Abdollahian added. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian foreign minister pointed to measures taken by France concerning the issue of Palestine and cessation of the Israeli regime's genocidal war in Gaza. Last month, Paris called for an "immediate" ceasefire in the regime's onslaught on Gaza, which was launched on October 7 following Operation al-Aqsa Storm by the territory's resistance groups. The Israeli aggression has so far claimed the lives of more than 22,700 people, most of them women and children. Amir-Abdollahian said taking practical steps to stop massacre of civilians, facilitate transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza, prevent forced displacement of the people of Gaza, and let Palestinians determine their own fate through democratic means is necessary to end violence in the region. "The only way to prevent further spread of conflicts in the region and establish lasting peace is paying due attention to root causes of [the existing] challenges and having serious resolve to do away with them," he added. The Iranian foreign minister said the occupying regime of Israel and the United States are behind the ongoing genocide in Gaza, adding, "You cannot eliminate the root causes of instability in the region and express concern about the security in the Red Sea and the [West Asia] region without taking [the Israeli] occupation into account." "The security of Gaza, the [occupied] West Bank, and the [entire] region are interconnected," Amir-Abdollahian said, asserting, "War is not the solution." For her part, the French foreign minister reiterated Paris' condemnation of the terrorist attack in Kerman. Voicing concern over escalation of tensions across the region, she also urged Iran to play its role in preventing further expansion of the regional conflicts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran boosting drone power proportionate to potential threats: Cmdr. Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 5:25 PM A senior Iranian commander says the Islamic Republic is boosting its drone capabilities to be able to respond to potential threats in kind. "Iran's drone power is increasing proportionately to potential threats and we are witnessing national technological leaps in other industries, including metallurgy, fiberglass, and composites, thanks to this great achievement," Commander of the Iranian Army's Air Defense Force Brigadier General Alireza Sabahi-Fard said on Saturday. Speaking to a meeting with a number of commanders and staff of the drone unit of the Iranian Army's Air Defense Force, Sabahi-Fard said the country's indigenous drones have taken the edge off the aerial superiority of some foreign countries. The top commander said the development of using drones plays a leading role in increasing the combat and operational power of air defense.He reiterated that the Iranian Army's Air Defense Force is making serious efforts in this regard. Back in December, dozens of home-grown Karrar drones, equipped with air-to-air Majid missiles, joined Iran Army's Air Defense Force. The Karrar drones armed with Majid missiles are capable of intercepting and engaging any flying objects and hostile targets. They successfully performed operations during a large-scale drone drill by the Islamic Republic of Iran Army in October. Elsewhere in his remarks, Sabahi-Fard described the Iranian nation's support for the country at different juncture as the most important component of power which has foiled the enemies' vicious plans to harm national power. Referring to a twin terrorist attack in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman on January 3, where more than 90 people were killed, the top commander said resorting to terrorism shows the extent of humiliation enemies suffer. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran sees no limits to expanding its naval power: IRGC chief Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 5:08 PM Commander of Iran's elite military force, the IRGC, says the country sees no limits to efforts to expand its naval power amid growing maritime tensions in the region caused by the conflict in Palestine. Major General Hossein Salami of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said on Saturday Iran's increasing naval power had caused the enemies to withdraw from regional waters. "The enemy must stay away from the region. The enemy will retreat as we grow stronger and fortunately our enemy understands the logic of power although they may fail to understand the power of logic," Salami said . The commander made the remarks in a ceremony in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas where he oversaw the delivery of a new warship and dozens of missile-launching speed boats to the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Navy. Statements by commanders and media reports suggested the new warship added to IRGC's fleet, which has been named Abu Mahdi, will be one of the modern vessels operated by the force and will boost its patrol and combat capabilities. It comes amid rising tensions in regional waters where Yemeni naval forces have been launching attacks on ships linked to Israel as part of a campaign to force the regime to end its bloody aggression against the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. Yemenis have warned that the attacks would escalate in response to increased military presence of the navy forces of the US and other extra-regional countries in regional waters as part of an alleged coalition to counter threats against international shipping. In his Saturday remarks, Salami said Iran will expand its defense power to the extent it deems necessary to protect its national interests. He warned that the enemy could be harmed if it stays near the Iranian territory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Nuclear Agency Proposes Defense Initiatives to President Putin Sputnik News 20240106 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - In addition to its defense work, the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom is developing a number of defense initiatives that have been presented to President Vladimir Putin, the agency's head Alexey Likhachev said Saturday. "Rosatom completely fulfilled the state defense order in 2023... Additionally, a number of initiative developments are progressing. We presented them to the president and to the defense minister [Sergei Shoigu]," Likhachev told the broadcaster Rossiya 24. Rosatom also fulfilled the plan for 36 billion tonnes of freight traffic along the Northern Sea Route via the Arctic, the agency's head said. "I am very proud of the staff of our defense industry complex and nuclear weapons complex, because they are very zealous, and a lot has been done, including exceeding the target that was set at the beginning of the year," he added. The main task of the domestic nuclear industry throughout its history has been ensuring the country's defense capability and the state's policy in the field of nuclear deterrence. Rosatom has been accomplishing the state defense order in full for many years. Even though the state defense order for Rosatom has now increased significantly, the nuclear workers are successfully adapted, Likhachev stressed previously. As the Russian president noted in late September 2023 in his congratulatory speech to the employees on Nuclear Industry Worker's Day, Rosatom is involved in the creation of advanced weapons capable of maintaining strategic balance in the world. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DPP's Lai vows to bring Taiwan forward, denounces dependence on China ROC Central News Agency 01/06/2024 09:25 PM Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential nominee Lai Ching-te () said Saturday he would "lead Taiwan forward steadily," criticizing his opponents' alleged endorsement of increased dependence on China. Lai, the incumbent vice president, told a rally in Taichung that he would "lead Taiwan forward steadily to become a better nation" that stands side by side with "the world's democratic camp." Lai added he would work to ensure Taiwan's continued development and prosperity and would "never go back on the path of relying on China." With only one week remaining before Taiwanese head to polls to choose a new president, Lai is shifting gears as he seeks to drum up voters' support through a series of campaigning and intensified criticism against his rivals. Branding the DPP as an advocate for Taiwan's democratic system and painting opposition parties as willingly submitting to China have been Lai's talking points in recent days, and Saturday, when he stumped in five cities and counties in western Taiwan, was no exception. Lai said that over the past eight years, the DPP administration has gradually grown Taiwan's economy, promoted industrial upgrades, and expanded the country's cooperation with democratic nations around the world. He called on his supporters to "use their votes to tell the world that Taiwan does not bow down to authoritarian regimes but instead continues to opt for democracy, freedom, and the path to contributing to peace and prosperity of the world." China has made "every effort to suppress Taiwan and threaten Taiwan's democratic way of life," Lai said, arguing that "the whole world is aware of China's attempts ... to interfere with Taiwan's elections" and "divide Taiwanese society through disinformation operations." Given China's ambitions, Lai said, the main opposition Kuomintang's (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih () has nonetheless endorsed the "1992 consensus" and proposed resuming negotiations over a controversial trade agreement with Beijing. At the same time, the third presidential contender, Ko Wen-je () from the smaller Taiwan People's Party, continued to uphold the idea that "both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family," he said, referring to a phrase originally used by Beijing officials to underscore the cultural affinities between Taiwan and China. Lai reproached both Hou and Ko for adopting a conciliatory approach to China, arguing that they would not lead Taiwanese society in the right direction toward the future. The "1992 consensus" has been consistently interpreted by the KMT as an acknowledgment by both sides of the Taiwan Strait that there is only "one China," with each side free to interpret what "China" means. The DPP, meanwhile, has never acknowledged the consensus, arguing that Beijing allows no room for the interpretation of "China" as the Republic of China (the official name of Taiwan), and that acceptance of the consensus would imply agreement with China's claim over Taiwan. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address KMT calls on Ko supporters to vote strategically and prevent DPP presidency ROC Central News Agency 01/06/2024 11:28 PM Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate and New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih () returned to the city on Saturday as part of his campaign trail, urging Taiwan People's Party supporters to vote for him and prevent the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from retaining power. Hou and KMT vice presidential candidate Jaw Shau-kong () canvassed in Taipei and New Taipei in a campaign motorcade on Saturday before attending a major campaign event in New Taipei's Xinzhuang District and another one in Taoyuan on Saturday night. During the canvassing, Hou called on opposition supporters to support "the strongest opposition" in order to unseat the ruling DPP. In Taoyuan, former Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (), who tops the KMT's legislator-at-large list, told the audience that it is highly likely the difference between the KMT ticket and DPP ticket will be less than 100,000 votes. "Supporting Ko Wen-je () [of the Taiwan People's Party] is not a question of good or bad, but one of winning or losing," Han said. He referred to the presidential election in 2004 in which former DPP President Chen Shui-bian () won by about 29,000 votes against then-KMT presidential candidate Lien Chan (). Ko's election campaign might be making a lot of noise, "but he won't win," Han said, urging Ko's supporters to vote for Hou instead. The former Kaohsiung mayor also made an emotional appeal to Hon Hai founder Terry Gou (), calling on him to "transform from a successful entrepreneur into a great patriot." Gou should not be absent in this important fight to defend the Republic of China, Han said. In his remarks, Hou repeated his refrain from recent campaign events, promising a coalition government composed of professionals and talented individuals from all parties. (By Alison Hsiao) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan's continued progress hinges on DPP legislative majority: Lai ROC Central News Agency 01/06/2024 03:20 PM Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Vice President Lai Ching-te (ea), the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) 2024 presidential candidate, urged supporters Friday to ensure that the party maintains its legislative majority, saying that is crucial to Taiwan's continued development. Lai, who is also the party's chairman, said at a rally in Nantou County that the DPP administration has been able to implement various defense and social welfare policies over the past eight years because of the support it has in the Legislature, where the party holds a strong majority. Under the leadership of President Tsai Ing-wen (ee), who is now about to complete her maximum two terms in office, Taiwan has built several T-BE5A Brave Eagle advanced jet trainers and launched a prototype of the country's first indigenous submarine the Hai Kun (e), or "Narwhal," Lai said. At the same time, he said, the government has steadily raised the minimum wage in Taiwan, from NT$20,008 (US$646) in 2016 to NT$27,470 currently, and has expanded the child-rearing subsidies, he said. Urging the electorate to vote for him and his party, Lai said the DPP will have to obtain at least 57 seats in the 113-seat Legislature to maintain its majority and thus continue its current progressive policies without disruption. The DPP has maintained its hold on the executive and legislative branches of government over the past eight years, but election analysts are projecting that no single political party will win more than half of the 113 legislative seats in the Jan. 13 elections, when voters will also choose a new president. At Friday night's rally, Lai said that if the DPP fails to retain a majority in the Legislature, the next Legislative speaker is likely to be former Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (eYac), who is at the top of opposition Kuomintang's (KMT) list of at-large legislators. While the KMT and the smaller opposition Taiwan People's Party failed to form a joint presidential ticket for the upcoming election, they have indicated a desire to forge an alliance in the Legislature to achieve a majority and to endorse Han for the speakership, Lai said. Han was removed from his post as Kaohsiung mayor in a recall vote shortly after losing the 2020 presidential election to Tsai by a significant margin of 18.5 percent. The DPP has painted Han as a "pro-China" politician, after he visited Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong in March 2019 and met with Chinese officials, becoming the first Taiwanese local government leader to do so. (By Wu Che-hao and Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Le Dinh Duys reckless flight to Thailand during the pandemic in March 2021 left him stranded for 11 months, but in return, he found love. 5 years ago, Le Dinh Duy, 30 years old, who lived on Southern Vietnams resort island of Phu Quoc, went for his morning gym routine as usual. But on this particular day, he met a girl with a bright smile who was there for a yoga class. Duy found himself unusually attracted to her and deduced that she was Thai because she greeted people with palms pressed together. Duy knew it was love at first sight, but he could only manifest casual encounters at the gym. A few weeks later, the pair finally spoke through a mutual friend. Duy now had some basic information about the woman of his dreams. Her name was Nan and she had graduated with a degree in traditional medicine from Thailand. She was working in Phu Quoc as a spa manager. Duy was a bit intimidated, since he was only a bartender for a local hotel, earning just 6-7 million monthly. Knowing that Nan grew up in a Buddhist country, the Vietnamese man offered to take her to the temples on Phu Quoc. On the fourth trip, Duy confessed his love, but was rejected because Nan said she "just wanted to focus on work." Later, Nan confessed that she also had feelings for Duy, but knew that her family would find it difficult to accept her love for a foreigner. Dinh Duy and Nan on a trip to Thailand, in May 2023. Photo provided by Nan and Duy Duy's perseverance paid off after four months when they went to the night market together in Phu Quocs capital, Duong Dong City. The crowd of the market was pushing Nan from behind, so Duy held her hand to push through the walls of people. To Nan, that hand-holding represented her love and consent, and they begin a serious relationship from that moment on. The love story went smoothly for a year until March 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic first broke out in Vietnam, causing the spa to close. Nan then returned to Thailand. The day when Duy had to see Nan off, he was devastated because he didn't know when they would ever see each other again. "Looking further ahead, I didn't see a path for either of us," he recalled. But they continued to maintain the relationship. Duy opened a profitable YouTube channel, which made him enough money to build a new house for his parents 15 km from the center of Phu Quoc. Duy's life got better, but during his conversations with Nan, he felt his lover's discomfort. She often hung up quickly when her mother approached. Klairung, Nan's mother, knew that her daughter brought her love affair with a Vietnamese man back home. She came to understand a little more about Duy's personality after watching all 70 videos on his YouTube channel, but she still could not accept the partnership because of the geographical distance. Klairung (left), Dinh Duy, and his wife in Surat Thani Province, Thailand in December 2023. Photo provided by Nan and Duy A year of long-distance relationship made Duy anxious, and he was also devastated knowing that his girlfriend's mother did not accept him. "If I don't do something, I know I will lose this love," he said. After thinking about it for many nights, Duy decided to book a flight to Thailand on March 27, 2021, to convince Klairung to allow the love story to continue. The flight during the Covid-19 outbreak cost VND 57 million, including the cost of a 14-day quarantine. Duy gathered all the money he had saved and borrowed some more from friends and family to set out. Duys mother, Nguyen Thi Mai, 57, had trouble sleeping before her son boarded the plane because he had never gone abroad alone. "I was worried but didn't stop my son," Mai said. Mai's worries only subsided when Dinh Duy landed at the Bangkok airport and called home. After 14 days of quarantine, Nan picked Duy up and took him to an apartment she had rented near her home, in Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand. During the 9-hour car trip, he took the opportunity to learn a few basic Thai greetings to meet Nans mother. The day Klairung met Duy, she was surprised that a Vietnamese man traveled 1,000 km in the middle of a pandemic to meet her daughter. He bowed to his lover's mother but was so anxious that he confused the words "hello" with "thank you". Duy describes his lover's mother as someone cold on the outside and warm on the inside. She rarely smiled and always kept a serious face. But after seeing Duy struggle with life and food in Thailand, she invited him to live with her family after a few weeks. Duy did not hide the fact that he grew up in a poor family. He father was once seriously ill and had to sell the familys house. Duy said he had the motivation to improve his situation ever since he met Nan. "I have a difficult life, but I'm not lazy," Duy said. At his girlfriend's house, Duy woke up early to help with any and all work around the house. He stirred the dough for Klairung's Waffle Shop, cooked Vietnamese food for the whole family, and took Nan to the market. Duy also took professional film and editing courses to continue developing his YouTube channel. A part of Duy's income from YouTube is sent back to his family in Phu Quoc, a part is given to Nan for saving and to cover household expenses with her mother. The couple once surprised Klairung with a new refrigerator. Klairung slowly softened towards Duy. One time, she worked for nearly 10 hours because her shop had up to 1,000 customers, so she became seriously ill. Duy was the one who cooked, bought medicine, and took care of her during her sick days. After recovering, Klairung became the person who regularly took Duy to shoot videos of his life experiences in Thailand. Dinh Duy and Nan's wedding in Surat Thani province, Thailand, January 2022. Photo provided by Nan and Duy In August 2021, Duy decided to propose to Nan with the help of Klairung, who gave him money to buy a ring and organize a surprise proposal. Nan's nod gave way to a Thai-style wedding on January 13, 2022 for which Duy had to go through a 4-hour interview to register their marriage. Two months later, Duy and his wife returned to Vietnam. At her husband's house, Nan won over her mother-in-law, Mai, with her gentle personality and willingness to learn. After their second wedding in Vietnam in May 2022, the newlyweds returned to Thailand to live. Duy opened a grilled rice paper stall at Ban Na Doem market, Surat Thani Province, and received support from the Thai community. At the end of 2023, Duy fulfilled his dream of taking his family on a trip to Thailand. The two families met and talked. Nan recalled the time when her husband "risked his life" to go to Thailand for her. Duy just smiled and said it was the best decision of his life. Defense ministry urges public not to be influenced by Chinese balloons ROC Central News Agency 01/06/2024 04:43 PM Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Saturday urged the public not to be influenced by "gray zone" tactics after an uptick in Chinese balloons detected floating over Taiwan. In a statement, the ministry said its analyses had concluded that the main purpose of several balloons detected in the lead-up to election day on Jan. 13 was to "harass and rattle the people in Taiwan." The ministry urged the public to remain calm in the face of Chinese cognitive warfare against Taiwan and not to be influenced by "gray zone" tactics. The ministry's statement comes after the New York Times reported Thursday that the balloon float-overs could be a Chinese attempt to influence the Jan. 13 presidential and legislative elections, citing foreign and local military experts. The piece quoted one Taiwanese expert as saying that China could resort to the concerted use of balloons to step up its espionage work in Taiwan, citing the Chinese spy balloon that was hovering over the United States before it was shot down by a U.S. Air Force F-22 last year. Asked by CNA to comment on the prospect of Chinese balloons being used to gather intelligence in Taiwan, the ministry said that it had camouflaged or covered military assets in advance with the help of its early warning mechanisms in light of that risk. The MND began reporting sightings of Chinese balloons drifting across the median line of the Taiwan Strait in early December. However, it was not until this month that the balloons began frequently floating across Taiwan, according to the MND. The MND said that balloons floating across Taiwan peaked between Jan. 2 and Jan. 3, when three were spotted over a 24-hour period. In its statement, the ministry said that the balloons had seriously compromised the safety of several international air routes and condemned China for disregarding the safety of passengers. In response to the risks, the ministry said it immediately contacted agencies concerned with civil aeronautics to inform them of potential danger. Asked whether the ministry has shot down any of the balloons or intends to do so in response to future events, the ministry said it would respond according to the altitude and possible purpose of airborne objects and the level of threat they pose. So far, it has taken appropriate measures according to the "rules on responding to contingencies during normal times," the ministry said. (By Sean Lin) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address TPP expels independent legislative candidate over alleged China funding ROC Central News Agency 01/06/2024 07:00 PM Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) The Taiwan People's Party (TPP) on Saturday expelled independent legislative candidate Ma Chih-wei (ee) after she was detained on suspicion of having received campaign funding from China. In a statement Saturday, the TPP said it had expelled Ma - whose candidacy it had declined to back amid concerns over her links to China - because of her "violation of relevant integrity regulations." In response to the controversy, Ma's campaign office issued a statement on Saturday denying the claims that she is involved in any illegal activities that would harm Taiwan. "Ma Chih-wei loves Taiwan and is an innocent young person," the statement said. The 40-year-old, who previously served as the TPP's Taoyuan chapter spokesperson, was detained without charge on Friday in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged violations of the Anti-Infiltration Act. Prosecutors said that Ma would be held incommunicado for two months due to concerns she would collude with others to destroy evidence. Prosecutors added they launched the probe after receiving a tipoff that the independent candidate had met with "people involved in Taiwan affairs" during visits to China in April and May last year. According to prosecutors, there is evidence that Ma received anonymous funding from China in the form of U.S. dollars and Tether, a cryptocurrency, to cover election expenses. The amount of Tether she received was equivalent to roughly NT$1 million (US$32,300), prosecutors said. (By Wu Sheng-hung, Ko Lin and Lee Hsin-Yin) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Reunification Alliance Party officials detained over China trip case ROC Central News Agency 01/06/2024 06:37 PM Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Two officials from the Reunification Alliance Party have been detained on suspicion of breaching election interference rules by organizing trips to China at the request of the Chinese government, Pingtung District Prosecutors Office said on Saturday. The suspects were identified by their last names Chang (a), who heads the party's Pingtung chapter, and Huang (e), who is the chapter's director-general, the office said in a news release. Between September and October last year, Chang and Huang allegedly organized a trip to the Chinese provinces of Hunan and Shanxi, during which some 20 Pingtung residents participated. The trip came at the request of China's Taiwan Affairs Offices (TAO), prosecutors said, indicating that the cost of accommodation, meals, local transportation and activity fees incurred while in China were covered by Chinese local authorities, and the participants only paid the cost of the airfare. While there, the Taiwanese group also met with local TAO officials, who spoke about "peaceful reunification," the "1992 consensus" -- a political term which indicates that Taiwan and China belong to "one China" -- and mentioned that both sides of the Taiwan Strait are "one family," prosecutors said. After the trip, both Chang and Huang held a meeting of the Pingtung chapter where they asked members, including those who went on the China trip, to vote for a "certain political party" and "candidates" in Taiwan's upcoming Jan. 13 presidential and legislative elections, prosecutors said, suspecting the event came at the instructions of TAO. Raids were carried out at the residences of Chang and Huang on Thursday, during which the two and other participants on the China trip were questioned over the case, prosecutors said. According to prosecutors, Chang and Huang are being investigated for suspected contravention of the Anti-Infiltration Act and the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act. After questioning, prosecutors said they filed a request to detain the two, as they could potentially flee the country and collude with others to destroy evidence, during an ongoing investigation. The request was granted by Pingtung District Court on Friday. (By Lee Hui-ting and Ko Lin) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan accuses China of gray zone tactics by flying balloons Taipei's defense ministry said Chinese balloons spotted recently over Taiwan pose a serious threat to flight safety. RFA Staff 2024.01.06 -- After Taiwan spotted Chinese balloons flying over its main island, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) in Taipei accused Beijing of conducting 'cognitive warfare' against Taiwanese people just days before the general election. Two more Chinese balloons were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which serves as the de facto boundary between Taiwan and China, on Friday. One of them flew over the Taiwan island itself, the ministry said Saturday in a strongly-worded statement. On Jan. 13, the Taiwanese go to polls in presidential and parliamentary elections seen as vital for cross-strait relations. The MND only began disclosing China's balloon incursions in December 2023 and has so far reported the sighting of 19 balloons, including six that entered the island's airspace. An airspace is a portion of the atmosphere above a country's territory, to which it holds exclusive sovereignty. Experts say the balloons are likely meteorological as most of them fly at a relatively low altitude. The MND said, according to their analyses, "the main purpose of the recently detected airborne balloons is to conduct gray zone activities, attempting to use cognitive warfare to affect the morale of Taiwanese people." Cognitive warfare, often known as psychological warfare, refers to activities designed to control the mental state and behavior of other people. The drifting paths of the balloons "posed a serious threat to the safety of many international flights," the ministry said in a statement sent to reporters. It added that the Taiwanese military is keeping a close watch and would notify civil aviation authorities about any new developments, while "condemning the Chinese Communist Party for its disregard of aviation safety and for the safety of passengers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and internationally." 'Hyping China's threat'? Wendell Minnick, a Taipei-based veteran Chinese military watcher, said the balloons could be an air traffic problem for airliners at 30,000 ft (9.1km). "Sucking one of these into the engine would result in a crash," Minnick told Radio Free Asia. "But these weather balloons are not unusual; they come from two different weather balloon stations in China," said Minnick. "Now that Taiwan's MND has begun mentioning them, they have to keep doing so." Chinese media outlets, meanwhile, said they were "harmless weather balloons" and accused the Taiwanese government of "hyping the mainland threat." "It's evident that weather balloons pose no threat to anyone, however, media outlets in the U.S. and Taiwan island use them to perpetuate the 'mainland threat theory'," said the state-run Global Times in an editorial on Thursday. The Global Times mentioned the incident that happened in early 2023 when U.S. authorities accused China of flying a spy balloon over the continental U.S. In the so-called "2023 Chinese balloon incident," the Pentagon sent a stealth F-22 Raptor fighter jet to shoot down what it said was a Chinese high-altitude surveillance platform in the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 4. China said it was a weather balloon that was blown off course, but the incident led to further tensions in the already problematic China-U.S. relations. Edited by Taejun Kang. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'No Real Relations': Georgia Pivots Toward China As Taiwan Readies For Crucial Vote By Luka Pertaia January 06, 2024 TAIPEI -- With China applying economic and military pressure in the lead-up to Taiwan's elections, Beijing's policy toward the island nation is again in the spotlight and being closely watched by the United States and Europe. But there's one aspiring EU member that's staying clear of Taipei and its parliamentary and presidential elections next week: Georgia. The small Caucasian country of some 4 million people follows a strict policy of isolation toward Taiwan, with Tbilisi refusing to recognize Taiwanese passports, making it the only government in the world to refuse entry to the island's citizens. This trend has accelerated in recent years as successive Georgian Dream-led governments have allowed China to expand its footprint in the country. Bilateral ties reached a new level in July when Beijing and Tbilisi signed a strategic-partnership agreement. Through that deal, China included Georgia in an assortment of global initiatives and promised it preferential bank loans for large-scale infrastructure projects in return. These developments haven't gone unnoticed in Taipei, where Foreign Minister Joseph Wu called on Tbilisi to ease admission policies toward Taiwanese citizens, though Wu says Georgia has rebuffed his efforts to establish any formal communication. "We have no practical, substantive, or real relations with Georgia," Wu told RFE/RL's Georgian Service. "We have repeatedly tried to [communicate] with the help of business leaders or through other channels, but the Georgian government won't engage with Taiwan." While only 12 countries and the Vatican have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, many others have vibrant, informal ties with Taipei, allowing the island to operate so-called economic and cultural offices that perform functions similar to those of an embassy or consulate. Many Western governments have also stepped up their engagement and support of Taipei in recent years in the face of growing Chinese pressure on Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. This has included warnings from leading officials like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock against China using force or putting pressure on the island. Despite concern over democratic backsliding and high-level corruption in Georgia, Tbilisi received candidate status from Brussels in December and now faces a number of tests to get closer to the EU's common foreign and security policy, including its relationship with China. Georgia's stance toward Beijing adds another wrinkle to its newfound bid for EU membership and risks leaving it as an outlier amid Taiwan's high-stakes elections on January 13, about which Taipei raised the alarm over what it says is a concerted effort by China to sway the vote toward Beijing-preferred candidates and parties. "Taiwan is taking measures to counter China's interference and is documenting its experiences. Analysis will be published soon after the elections in consultation with international experts," Wu wrote in The Economist on January 3. An Evolving Line On Taiwan Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te, who serves under President Tsai Ing-wen and is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), holds a narrow lead in the presidential race. He's running against Hou Yu-ih from Kuomintang (KMT), the largest opposition party that has traditionally favored close ties with China but denies being pro-Beijing. Ko Wen-je, the former mayor of the capital, Taipei, is also running as a third candidate for his self-founded Taiwan People's Party (TPP). Bitter disputes in Taipei on how to handle relations with China and avoid conflict are dominating the final stretch of the campaign for the self-governing island of 23 million, and Lai's election could lead to even greater tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Lai is strongly opposed to the Chinese Communist Party, and while he's said he won't call for formal Taiwanese independence, he's also said Taiwan's sovereignty is "a fact." China has stepped up its rhetoric ahead of the election, and many analysts believe a Lai victory could prompt aggressive moves by Beijing, which has criticized Lai as a secessionist. Most top Chinese officials have avoided commenting on the elections, but Chinese leader Xi Jinping used his New Year's Eve address to say that Beijing's "reunification" with Taiwan was inevitable. Taiwanese officials reject Chinese rhetoric over "reunification." Taiwan and China split in 1949 following a civil war between the Communist-led People's Republic of China and the Republic of China government that became based in Taipei, with the Chinese Communist Party never controlling Taiwan. Beijing views the island as a rogue province and aims to bring it under its control, ideally peacefully, though it does not rule out force. Taipei maintained official seats for China at major global bodies like the United Nations in the decades following the war, but from the 1970s onward most countries switched to recognizing Beijing instead of Taipei, leaving Taiwan with few formal friends as China's political and economic power expanded globally. It's against this backdrop that Georgia has taken its staunchly pro-Beijing position. Many Western governments, including the United States and EU countries, do not openly contest China's claim to Taiwan, but they also do not support it. This purposefully vague policy on Taiwan's status is often characterized as the One China Policy. In Washington's case, it remains Taiwan's most significant international supporter and is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself, despite having official ties with Beijing, not Taipei. In contrast, Beijing espouses what it refers to as a "One China principle" in which it asserts that it is the only legitimate government and that it maintains sovereignty over Taiwan. Tbilisi And Taipei It's this more pro-Beijing interpretation that Tbilisi has embraced. Irakli Sirbiladze, a nonresident fellow at the German Marshall Fund, told RFE/RL that Georgia has done this in order to court more investment and generate interest in the Middle Corridor, a transcontinental trade route connecting Europe and China, a project in which Georgia plays a crucial role. He adds that the status of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, breakaway Georgian regions occupied by Russia that have declared independence, are also a factor. Beijing and the vast majority of the international community do not recognize the two entities and Georgia hopes that by maintaining zero relations with Taiwan that China can provide some form of moderation and be a diplomatic bulwark against the Russian-backed areas receiving further recognition. Sergi Kapanadze, a Georgian politician who was deputy foreign minister from 2011 to 2012 as part of a government led by the United National Movement party, said concerns over Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been a leading factor for Tbilisi's isolation from Taiwan even before the series of Georgian Dream-led governments deepened ties with China. "The main risk was this: if you accept the Taiwanese passport, then [Beijing] may recognize the so-called Abkhaz passport," he told RFE/RL. "Personally, I have always opposed the recognition of passports, the entry of Taiwanese, and the liberalization of this issue because it could do more harm than good to Georgia." This policy looks set to continue for Georgia well past the upcoming Taiwanese elections and as Tbilisi pursues EU membership. In response to a question from RFE/RL about the government's approach toward Taiwanese citizens, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili said there are no plans for it to change. "[Georgia] has a very clear position on the issues that concern China and Taiwan," he said. "We have a very dynamic relationship with the People's Republic of China." Written by Reid Standish in Prague based on reporting in Taiwan by Luka Pertaia Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-pivots-china- taiwan-crucial-vote/32763670.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Turkish President Erdogan US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson January 6, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Secretary Blinken and President Erdogan spoke about the conflict in Gaza. The Secretary emphasized the need to prevent the conflict from spreading, secure the release of hostages, expand humanitarian assistance and reduce civilian casualties, and work toward broader, lasting regional peace that ensures Israel's security and advances the establishment of a Palestinian state. Secretary Blinken and President Erdogan also discussed European security priorities, including defense of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, completing Sweden's accession to NATO, and strengthening trade and investment between the United States and TArkiye. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson January 6, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today in Istanbul with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Fidan continued discussions on the conflict in Gaza. The Secretary underscored the need to prevent the conflict from spreading, the importance of increasing humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians, and the responsibility of all parties to chart a path forward that achieves lasting security for both Israelis, Palestinians, and the broader region. They also discussed shared priorities as NATO Allies, and the Secretary emphasized the importance of completing the final steps to ratify Sweden's accession to NATO and addressing sanctions and export control evasion. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia offers evacuation of border city to save residents from fatal Ukrainian attacks Iran Press TV Saturday, 06 January 2024 8:28 AM Russian officials have offered to relocate residents of the border city of Belgorod to safety in an attempt to save them from fatal Ukrainian attacks. Following overnight attacks by Ukrainian forces on Belgorod, Russian officials offered on Wednesday to evacuate panicked residents on Friday, an unprecedented announcement made by Moscow to protect Russian citizens in the nearly two-year-long war. "I see several appeals on social media where people write: We are scared, help us get to a safe place," said Belgorod region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, in a video message. "Of course we will. We have already moved several families." Ukrainian forces have been pounding Belgorod, home to more than 300,000 residents, with intense bouts of shelling for days. The attacks have so far left well over two dozen people dead and over a hundred wounded, while damaging dozens of houses and public properties. Late last month, Russia's Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya accused Kiev of using internationally banned cluster munitions in a "terrorist attack" that targeted civilians in Belgorod, which lies 30 kilometers from Ukraine. On Saturday, Ukrainian shelling in Belgorod claimed the lives of at least 25 people, the worst attack on Russian civilians since the war broke out. Gladkov on Wednesday offered that residents of the Western city would be transported to the towns of Stary Oskol and Gubkin, further from the border, where they would be housed in "comfortable conditions." "You will stay there for as long as necessary," he added, although he warned that there would not be enough temporary accommodation to house everybody. "I will appeal to my colleagues, the governors of other regions, to help us," he went on to say. Russia launched what it calls a special military operation in Ukraine on February 22, 2022, after the ex-Soviet republic declared its plan to join the US-led military alliance of NATO. Since then, the United States and Ukraine's other Western allies have supplied Kiev with tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons, including rocket systems, drones, armored vehicles, tanks, and communication systems. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 11 Killed In Russian Missile Strike On City In Donetsk Region; Kyiv Says It Hit Russian Positions In Crimea By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service January 06, 2024 Eleven people were killed on January 6 when Russian forces shelled the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, the governor of the Ukrainian-controlled part of the region said. Vadym Filashkin said five children were among those killed in the missile strike on Pokrovsk, a city in Ukrainian-held territory about 80 kilometers northwest of Donetsk city, which lies in the Russian held center of the region. "The Russians hit the region with S-300 missiles, killing 11 people and wounding another eight," Filashkin said on Telegram. The main strike hit Pokrovsk and nearby villages, he said, adding that the attack showed Russian forces were "trying to inflict as much grief as possible on our land." President Volodymyr Zelenskiy responded in his nightly video address, saying Russia must be made to feel the consequences of every such attack. "The Russian strike targeted ordinary residential buildings and private houses," Zelenskiy said. "Russia must feel -- always feel -- that no such strike will go without consequences for the terrorist state." Reports of the deaths in Pokrovsk came after the Ukrainian Air Force said it had destroyed a Russian command center at the Saky air base on the occupied Crimean Peninsula in an overnight attack. "All targets have been shot down," Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on Telegram, adding that Russia lost "another command post in Crimea." Ukraine on January 5 said it carried out separate strikes on a Russian military command post and a military unit in Crimea, inflicting "serious damage" to Russia's defense system. Natalya Humenyuk, the spokeswoman for the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine, said that "really powerful combat" operations took place earlier this week, hitting Russia's military operations in Crimea especially hard. "Not only one command post was affected," she said in a rare detailing of Ukrainian operations. Russia on January 6 claimed that its forces shot down four Ukrainian missiles in Crimea overnight. The reports cannot be independently verified. Since Moscow's brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine's forces have conducted frequent strikes on Russian military targets in Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. The Saky airfield made headlines in September 2023 when Ukraine said its military hit the facility, causing "serious damage" to equipment at the site. Crimea's Moscow-installed officials denied the claim. The air base had also come under a Ukrainian strike in August the previous year, with Kyiv claiming that the attack destroyed at least nine military aircraft, including Su-30SM fighters and Su-24M bombers. Both the Ukraine and Russia have escalated attacks in recent days, as the military conflict drags on into nearly two years. In Moscow, a top Russian official was quoted as saying that Russia plans to produce 32,500 drones each year by 2030, allocating $7.66 billion for the project. "This is almost three times higher than current production volumes," First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency on January 6. Drones have been widely used both by Moscow and Kyiv since the war began. Russia mostly relies on the cheaply produced, Iranian-made Shahed drones in its aerial assaults on Ukrainian infrastructure far beyond the front lines in the east and south of the country. Ukraine, meanwhile, has intensively used the first-person-view (FVP) drones -- small drones originally meant for personal civilian use but modified for the battlefield. Kyiv said last month that it planned to produce more than 11,000 medium- and long-range attack drones, as well as 1 million FPV drones in 2024. With reporting by AFP, dpa, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-pokrovsk-russian-strike- deaths-crimea-saky-position-hit/32763609.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Will Soon Be Unable to Deliver Missiles for Patriot Systems to Ukraine Sputnik News 20240106 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - On Tuesday, The Telegraph newspaper reported that Ukrainian air defense systems would not be able to repel all Russian attacks this winter due to a shortage of interceptor missiles, including for the Patriot air defense systems. The United States will soon be unable to supply Ukraine with interceptor missiles for Patriot surface-to-air systems that can cost from $2 million to $4 million per piece, The New York Times newspaper reported on Saturday, citing White House and Pentagon officials. Western countries have been providing Ukraine with military aid since the start of Russia's special military operation in February 2022. The support evolved from lighter artillery munitions and training to heavier weapons, including tanks. Ukraine eventually started pushing for Western-made fighter jets, which its donors abroad long resisted. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict. In April 2022, Russia sent a diplomatic note to all NATO countries on the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russian strikes. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse (R) and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his spouse in Hanoi on January 6. (Photo: VNA) PM Chinh welcomed the first official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in his new capacity, and highly valued the achievements that the Party, State and people of Laos have obtained recently, especially maintaining political - social stability and national defence - security, and boosting economic recovery. He said he believes that under the leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), Laos will overcome all difficulties and challenges and successfully implement the 9th five-year socio-economic development plan, continue to successfully carry out the Resolution of the 11th National Party Congress. He thanked the Lao Party and State for their valuable support to the past struggle for national independence and at-present national construction and development, while affirming that Vietnam always treasures and gives the highest priority to the special relationship between the two countries. For his part, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone expressed his impression of and congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in socio-economic development, defence - security, and foreign affairs which help raise the country's prestige and position in the international arena. They are considered a great source of encouragement and support for Laos national safeguarding and building, he said. PM Sonexay Siphandone took the occasion to thank valuable support and assistance Vietnam gave to Laos in the struggle for independence, and national development. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds talks with his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone in Hanoi on January 6. (Photo: VNA) The two PMs expressed their delight at the sound development of great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in all fields, including the consolidation of political relations, the regular exchange of high-level visits and meetings, and the deepening of collaboration in defence, security and foreign affairs. Besides, economic, trade and investment cooperation continues to witness positive changes. Vietnam currently has 241 investment projects in Laos with a total registered capital of 5.47 billion USD, ranking the 3rd among countries and territories investing in Laos. Total bilateral trade turnover in 2023 is estimated at more than 1.5 billion USD. Cooperation in other fields such as education - training, culture, science and technology, tourism and people-to-people exchanges is constantly strengthened. Regarding future cooperation directions, the two PMs agreed to increase the exchange of high-level visits and contacts. PM Chinh proposed both governments concretise and effectively implement the agreement between the Politbureaus of Vietnam and Laos and outcomes of the meeting between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the LPRP and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Hun Sen. The Vietnamese Government leader also suggested well implementing agreements between the two governments, including the Vietnam - Laos Cooperation Strategy Agreement for the 2021 - 2030 period, the Vietnam - Laos Bilateral Cooperation Agreement for the 2021 - 2025 period and the agreement on Vietnam - Laos cooperation plan for 2024. The two PMs consented to continue improving the effectiveness of defence and security cooperation to effectively address new challenges; strengthen border management and protection, and transnational crime prevention and combat, especially drug crimes; continue to coordinate and support the search and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who who laid down their lives in Laos. The two sides will strengthen the connectivity between the two economies of Vietnam and Laos, especially in institutions, finance, transport infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, and tourism; continue to promote Vientiane - Hanoi expressway and Vientiane - Vung Ang railway projects and other key cooperation projects; support each other to build independent, self-reliant economies, associated with extensive, effective, and practical international integration. They will also strengthen tripartite cooperation between Vietnam, Laos and an appropriate development partner to attract more resources for collaboration projects; work together to review and completely resolve difficulties and obstacles, creating a favourable investment and business environment for Vietnamese enterprises operrating Laos; effectively implement protocols and cooperation projects in education and human resources development; promote cooperation in health, culture, arts and sports; promote communciations and education about the tradition of the special relations between Vietnam and Laos for all walks of life, especially the young generation of the two countries. Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two Prime Ministers emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability in the region, including maintaining ASEAN's solidarity, common stance and centrality in regional security and strategic issues, such as the East Sea issue. They also agreed to continue to coordinate closely and support each other at regional and international forums such as ASEAN, the United Nations, and Mekong sub-region cooperation mechanisms, and boost close cooperation between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Vietnamese and Lao Prime Ministers witness the signing of a protocol on border guard cooperation between the defence ministries of Vietnam and Laos. (Photo: VNA) PM Chinh affirmed that Vietnam is ready to support Laos to successfully perform international responsibilities in 2024, including the ASEAN Chairmanship. On this occasion, he conveyed greetings, good health and New Year wishes from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese leaders to Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Xaysomphone Phomvihane, and senior leaders of the Party and State of Laos. After the talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of four cooperation documents, including a protocol on border guard cooperation between the defence ministries of Vietnam and Laos, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation plan between the Government Office of Vietnam and the Lao Prime Ministers Office, a MoU on development and connectivity of border trade infrastructure between the Governments of Vietnam and Laos, and a cooperation plan for 2024 between the Ministry of Education and Training and Laos Ministry of Education and Sports./. Russian Armed Forces Obliterate Ukrainian Command Center in Donbass Sputnik News 20240106 In only 24 hours, Russian air, artillery, drone and missile forces struck 127 positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 138 districts, the Russian Defense Ministry reported in a daily briefing. The Russian Armed Forces conducted a successful strike on the Ukrainian command center responsible for coordinating the actions of Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Defense Ministry announced in a statement. The command center, located on the outskirts of Krasnoarmeysk, was hit with kamikaze drones, air strikes and artillery. In total, Russian forces struck 127 units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in firing positions, personnel and equipment in 138 districts, the ministry reported. Russian air defenses also downed Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters, 29 UAVs and intercepted Himars missiles in Kherson, Zaporozhye and the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR). According to the Ministry, since the beginning of the special operation, 565 Ukrainian military aircraft, 265 helicopters, 10,488 unmanned aerial vehicles, 447 anti-aircraft missile systems, 14,494 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,201 multiple launch rocket systems combat vehicles, over 14 thousand tanks, over 10 thousand UAVs, 7,645 field artillery pieces and mortars, as well as 17,121 units of special military vehicle equipment have been destroyed. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Denmark's Shipment of First F-16s to Ukraine Delayed for Q2 2024 Sputnik News 20240106 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The delivery of Denmark's first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine has been delayed for up to six months, the Danish Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "Under the current schedule, the transfer is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2024," the ministry said in a statement to the Berlingske newspaper. The Scandinavian country initially planned to hand over F-16 fighters to Kiev around the New Year period, the newspaper said. The Netherlands and Denmark were the first countries to agree to supply Ukraine with F-16s. The White House has confirmed that Kiev will receive the US-made jets from third parties as soon as the Ukrainian pilots finish their training. The Dutch defense minister said that the country planned to supply Ukraine with the first batch of F-16s in 2024. In July 2023, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said any delivery of nuclear-capable F-16 fighter jets would lead to a further escalation of the military conflict in Ukraine and be viewed by Russia as a direct threat to its security. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Loses Over 190 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction Over Past 24 Hours - Russian MoD Sputnik News 20240106 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces in the Donetsk direction repelled two attacks by Ukraine over the past 24 hours, with Kiev's losses totaling more than 190 servicepeople, a tank and two armored vehicles, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "In the Donetsk direction, two enemy counterattacks were repulsed near the village of Georgeyevka through the actions of units of the Southern grouping of forces and artillery fire, and the units of the 28th, 42nd and mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army were defeated in the areas of [villages] Andreyevka, Bogdanovka, Kleshcheyevka and Kurdyumovka in the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said. In addition, Msta-B, D-20 and D-30 howitzers were hit during the counter-battery fire, the ministry added. In the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops repulsed four counterattacks of the Ukrainian army, and Kiev lost more than 80 servicepeople and seven pieces of equipment, including a combat vehicle of the Olkha multiple launch rocket system, the ministry said. In the Zaporozhye direction, the Russian military has destroyed up to 25 Ukrainian soldiers, a tank and two armored vehicles, as well as two vehicles, the ministry said. Meanwhile, in the Liman direction Ukraine lost up to 100 servicepeople, two vehicles and a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, the ministry added. In the Kherson direction, Kiev lost up to 45 soldiers, a tank and four vehicles, as well as an Msta-B howitzer and an ammunition depot near the village of Inhulets, the ministry said. In the South Donetsk direction, Russian forces destroyed more than 90 Ukrainian servicepeople, two armored vehicles and six vehicles, the ministry said. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We will rebuff every manifestation of Russian terror - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 6 January 2024 - 18:33 Wishing you good health, dear Ukrainians! It's been a long day today with many meetings. We are planning for the upcoming week - crucial international events. We are preparing new lines of cooperation with partners, particularly regarding drones, strengthening our capabilities in drone usage, and countering Russian drones, enhancing Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities. I held discussions on security guarantees - one of our key priorities. Bilateral work with partners is ongoing, and today, we outlined the results we aim to achieve shortly. I also had meetings with the defense government unit - the Minister of Strategic Industries, the Minister of Defense, and the ministries' teams. The key focus is to ensure our soldiers equipped with weaponry and military technology. We are committed to continuous supply and production with a clear trend towards increasing our production of ammunition and equipment in Ukraine and in collaboration with our partners. We are working tirelessly so that this year, our defense and security forces can rely mostly on our Ukrainian production in their actions. We want the enemy to feel the real power of Ukrainian weapons. The sense of this is already shaping. Many successful things are done with Ukrainian weapons, and the occupiers have fewer and fewer peaceful nights. The strength of our Ukrainian forces must be much greater. It will happen. We will rebuff every manifestation of Russian terror, every attempt by Russia to increase its pressure on our state, our people, our positions. During these hours in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, and in the Pokrovsk district, a rescue operation is underway after a Russian missile strike, specifically S-300 missiles. Necessary rescue forces and equipment from Ukraine's State Emergency Service are engaged in the relief operation, clearing debris. As yet, it is known about over ten people, unfortunately including children, who have tragically lost their lives. My condolences go out to everyone who has lost their loved ones! The Russian strike targeted ordinary residential buildings and private houses. All the wounded are receiving the necessary aid. Russia must feel - always feel - that no such strike will go without consequences for the terrorist state. We must ensure this with our strength, our own defense, and political capabilities. And one more thing. I want, as always, to commend our soldiers on the front lines - each and every one, on combat posts, carrying out combat missions, and currently in battle. All those who help, volunteer, train, and work to save every wounded person. Immense gratitude to all! Today, I especially want to recognize Ukrainian border guards who, together with all the defense and security forces, are fighting on the battle lines to protect our state and independence. They have shown exceptional effectiveness in these weeks - both before the New Year and now. Special thanks to the border guards from Kharkiv and Kramatorsk units. Thank you, warriors, for your strength! Staff Sergeant Valeriy Buhor and Captain Ivan Taran involved in battles near Bahmut. Maryinka direction. The Zhytomyr border unit, including Senior Sergeant Oleksiy Shlapakov. Thank you for your courage and accuracy! To the Steel Border brigade's warriors near Kupiansk, engaging in intense battles with crucial results. Soldier Mykhailo Savchenko, Junior Sergeant Bohdan Kachkovsky, and Senior Sergeant Yevhen Hladkov. Well done! Glory to all who are fighting! Glory to all who contribute their strength to the strength of our state! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelenskyy Vows to Increase Domestic Production of Weapons By VOA News January 06, 2024 A deadly Russian missile strike hit the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk on Saturday, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Donetsk, the governor of the Ukrainian-held part of the region, Vadym Filashkin, wrote on the Telegram messaging app. "Eleven dead, including five children a these are the consequences for now of strikes on Pokrovsk district," Filashkin said, posting pictures of rescue squads sifting through large piles of smoldering rubble in the dark along with a burned-out vehicle. Filashkin said S-300 missiles had been used in a series of Russian attacks, with the main strike hitting Pokrovsk and nearby villages. He said the attack showed Russian forces were "trying to inflict as much grief as possible on our land." The Kharkiv region prosecutor's office provided evidence Saturday indicating Russia may have attacked Ukraine with missiles supplied by North Korea. Examining fragments of one of several missiles that hit the city of Kharkiv on January 2, Dmytro Chubenko, spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, said it was visually and technically different from Russian models. Chubenko declined to provide the missile's exact model name but showed remnants of the missile to reporters and said its production method was not very modern, and it differed from the standard Iskander missiles that had previously struck Kharkiv. "This missile is similar to one of the North Korean missiles," Chubenko said, adding that the missile's diameter was slightly larger than a Russian Iskander missile and its nozzle, internal electrical wiring and rear parts were different. "That is why we are leaning toward the version that this may be a missile which was supplied by North Korea," he said. A senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged Friday that Russia hit Ukraine this week with missiles supplied by North Korea for the first time since its invasion in February 2022. Russia attacked Kharkiv with several missiles this week, killing two people and injuring more than 60 in one of its biggest missile and drone strikes since the start of the large-scale war. Drone production Russia plans to domestically produce more than 32,000 drones each year by 2030 accounting for 70% of its drone stockpile, the TASS news agency cited First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov as saying Saturday. "The annual production volume of unmanned aerial vehicles [UAVs] a excluding educational UAVs a is planned at 32,500 units," Belousov told TASS. "This is almost three times higher than current production volumes." Russia will finance the national project on UAVs with $7.66 billion by 2030, Belousov said, and will publish more details this month. Both Russia and Ukraine are ramping up their drone production as UAVs have been widely used by both sides since the beginning of the war. Moscow has been using the cheaply produced, Iranian-made Shahed drones, known in Ukraine for their noisy petrol engines. Meanwhile, Ukraine has been modifying personal civilian drones for the battlefield, a cheap but effective option for reconnaissance and attacks and a tactic Russia has adopted. Ukraine said in December it planned to produce more than 11,000 medium- and long-range attack drones in 2024, as well as 1 million FPV a first-person-view a drones that are widely in demand on the front line. In his nightly video address Saturday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is working hard so it can rely mostly on Ukrainian weapons' production. "The strength of our Ukrainian forces must be much greater. It will happen," said the president. "We will rebuff every manifestation of Russian terror, every attempt by Russia to increase its pressure on our state, our people, our positions." Targeting Crimea Russia's Defense Ministry said Russian air defense units intercepted and destroyed Ukrainian guided missiles over Crimea early Saturday. It also reported that air defense units had downed drones from a series of Friday night attacks over the Crimean Peninsula and the western part of the Black Sea. Zelenskyy had pledged to hit more targets on the Crimean Peninsula and inside Russian border regions this year, alarming Russians as President Vladimir Putin seeks reelection in March. Casualty rates Meanwhile, the British Defense Ministry said Saturday on social media platform X that Russia's casualties in Ukraine rose by almost 300 soldiers per day last year in its war against Ukraine. The increase "almost certainly reflects the degradation of the Russian readiness force and their movement to a low quality, high quantity mass army." If the casualties continue at the current rate, according to the ministry, Russia is on course to "have sustained over half-a-million personnel killed and wounded in Ukraine" by the end of 2024. By comparison, the ministry said, the Soviet Union suffered 70,000 casualties in Afghanistan between 1979 and 1989. On Friday, in a stark warning, U.S. President Joe Biden's top budget official said time is running out for lawmakers to replenish U.S. aid for Ukraine a with the decision bogged down in Congress over budget negotiations on immigration, where a deal has so far eluded lawmakers. Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said there is no avenue to help Ukraine, aside from Congress approving more funding for Kyiv as it tries to repel Russia in a war that is now nearly two years old. While the Pentagon has some limited authority to help Kyiv, without new funding from Capitol Hill, "that is not going to get big tranches of equipment into Ukraine," Young underscored. Some material for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Riverdale, Jan. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As air quality becomes more crucial than ever in various industries, the advancements in air filtration technology are essential. Dan Meldrum, an expert in the field, sat down with Mark Davidson to discuss the past, present, and future of HEPA filter technology in a series of enlightening interviews. In the first video, Dan traces the history of HEPA filters, from their inception during the Manhattan Project to their widespread commercial applications. Discussing the evolution of the technology, Dan emphasizes the expansion of HEPA filters into critical commercial applications. He also addresses the limitations that hindered their broader adoption, setting the stage for the introduction of the Absolute VG. Interview 1 - Dan Meldrum Master Class Video 1: The Absolute VG HEPA Filter for Commercial HVAC Manager In the second video, Dan dives deep into the unique features of the Absolute VG. Drawing a comparison with a commonly used box-style HEPA filter, Dan reveals how the Absolute VG weighs significantly less, making installations hassle-free and reducing the chance of damage. Yet, despite being lighter, the Absolute VG boasts superior strength, thanks to its innovative design and construction. Interview 2: Discover Camfil Absolute VG - a lightweight, strong HEPA filter alternativ The third video zeroes in on the operational cost savings of the Absolute VG. Dan points out the substantial energy savings facilitated by the filter's V-style design, which reduces resistance to airflow. A particular case study is cited, where energy savings approached an impressive 40%. Interview 3: HVAC Cost Efficiency: Absolute VG - 40%+ Energy Savings Finally, in the fourth video, Dan elaborates on the multiple benefits derived from the filter's engineering. The design not only extends service life but also increases the media available for filtration. Addressing the critical role of HEPA filters in high-cost production areas, Dan emphasizes the advantages of the extended service life of the Absolute VG. Notably, he also underscores the filter's efficiency, with a rating of 99.99% for 0.3-micron particles. Each Absolute VG filter comes with a serialized certificate of conformance, reinforcing its reliability. Interview 4: Absolute VG - Efficiency and Certified Performance The Absolute VG is more than just a product; it's a testament to the power of innovation and the drive to continuously improve. It's not just about air quality, but also about ensuring a sustainable and efficient environment for various applications. The Absolute VG is the smart move for a cleaner, cost-effective future. For more information, or to get in touch, please contact (888) 599-6620 or submit your request here. About Camfil: For more than half a century, Camfil has been helping people breathe cleaner air. As a leading manufacturer of premium clean air solutions, we provide commercial and industrial systems for air filtration and air pollution control that improve worker and equipment productivity, minimize energy use, and benefit human health and the environment. We firmly believe that the best solutions for our customers are the best solutions for our planet, too. Thats why every step of the way from design to delivery and across the product life cycle we consider the impact of what we do on people and on the world around us. Through a fresh approach to problem-solving, innovative design, precise process control, and a strong customer focus we aim to conserve more, use less and find better ways so we can all breathe easier. The Camfil Group is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, and has 30 manufacturing sites, six R&D centers, local sales offices in 35+ countries, and about 5,600 employees and growing. We proudly serve and support customers in a wide variety of industries and in communities across the world. To discover how Camfil USA can help you to protect people, processes and the environment, visit us at www.camfil.us Media Contact: Lynne Laake Camfil USA Air Filters T: 888.599.6620 E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com F: Friend Camfil USA on Facebook T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube L: Follow our LinkedIn Page Attachment NEW YORK, Jan. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) resulting from allegations that Cummins may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased Cummins securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=21566 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On December 22, 2023, the United States Department of Justice issued a press release entitled Attorney General Merrick Garland Statement on the Agreement in Principle with Cummins to Settle Alleged Installation of Illegal Defeat Devices in Engines. It stated, in pertinent part, [e]ngine manufacturer Cummins Inc. today disclosed that it has reached an agreement in principle with the United States and State of California to pay a $1.675 billion penalty to settle claims that it violated the Clean Air Act by installing emissions defeat devices on hundreds of thousands of engines. On this news, the price of Cummins stock fell $7.01, or 2.87%, to close at $236.99 on December 22, 2023. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Back when I was a parent for the first time, I fretted over whether to put our child into day care. Would having strangers looking after my firstborn be good or bad for the child, I kept asking?At some point, my older and wiser brother said to me, You know good day care is good for kids; bad day care is bad for them.As President Biden talks of delivering a massive infrastructure bill to Congress, which would funnel money down to states and cities, I keep thinking of that good advice.I am an infrastructure booster from way back. I believe it builds the crucial physical improvements that make the country more prosperous, more equitable and more resilient. But we should also remember that infrastructure is like day care. Good infrastructure is good for cities, states and their citizens; bad infrastructure is bad for them.The clearest example of bad infrastructure is the highway system that governors and mayors, with easy federal funding, forced through the middle of their cities after World War II, destroying neighborhoods, cutting off access to surface streets, and leaving problems that the same cities and states are still dealing with more than a half-century later. Easy money can create as many problems as it solves, if care and thought are not taken.So which infrastructure projects are good, and which are bad?Theres no clear consensus here. On transportation questions, there are road people and transit people. When it comes to broadband access, there are those, like myself, who favor direct public or cooperative ownership, and those who want to empower and subsidize private companies. There are discussions now about who should be paying for development of driverless electric cars, clean power and smart road networks.But even if we acknowledge policy differences and choices, there are principles that can help us end up with good infrastructure, rather than the opposite.The evidence is pretty clear now that we pay several times more than other advanced nations to build transit infrastructure, particularly tunnels, and possibly highways as well. It appears we pay too much to build public parks We still get estimates for infrastructure projects whose construction stretches into decades, when it should be a few years. Time relates to cost. Adding time makes projects more expensive.Whether its a light-rail line joining up to a bus line, or an interstate exit linking to a town, the connections between infrastructure systems are important. High-speed rail lines need to intersect seamlessly with the cities they serve. Infrastructure cant be designed in a vacuum. Urban planners and designers should be at the top of the infrastructure food chain, so that transportation and other departments work for comprehensive visions.Western Europe has been erecting light, airy bridges for decades, while we have continued to build heavy concrete slabs. This is changing, but we lag behind other countries in the design quality of everything from bridges to subways.Even the best-designed and swiftly built infrastructure will turn bad if we give one or two private companies total control over them. As we use private companies for broadband, cable, telephones, data management and the power that runs our homes, we need to remember this. When we cant (or wont) have public systems, then the private ones need to be carefully managed.These goals or principles are themselves interconnected. To put it all together, we take too long to build infrastructure that costs too much, is clunkily designed, is tied too closely to private profit and does not play well with other systems. There are ways to address these challenges, but doing so will take consistent, thoughtful attention.President Biden has appointed former mayor and presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg as transportation secretary. Buttigieg has said that he will push a fix-it first strategy , which is a good principle, even if it is not popular with the private development community that profits from new construction. Our cracked roads and rusting bridges are evidence of the urgent need for repair. And some needed capital improvements, such as the decaying train tunnels and bridges on the Northeast corridor train lines, could fit into a fix-it-first strategy.The point is that as we prepare to spend billions of dollars fixing and building new train lines, roads, bridges, power and Internet lines, we must work to improve the delivery and quality of what we fix and build. We need to raise infrastructure systems that, like children well-cared for, are prepared to meet the future.GoverningGoverning The Formula 1 documentary series: Drive to Survive serves as a warm-up every year for the new Formula 1 season. In 2024 it is already time for season six of the popular series. Read here when the sixth season will be shown on Netflix. Date | When will F1 Drive to Survive season six come to Netflix? The release date for season six of Drive to Survive has been confirmed as Friday, 23 February 2024 - the last day of the winter test ahead of the new F1 season and a week before the opening race, the Bahrain Grand Prix. So fans of the sport have plenty of fun in the run-up to the first GP of the year. The 2023 season itself mainly produced a barrage of repetitive results due to the overwhelming dominance of Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing's RB19. But if the previous seasons are an indication, Netflix will find a way to create exciting storylines. In addition, there was more than enough tension behind Verstappen, especially in the battle between Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari. Article continues under ad Verstappen to be seen again in Drive to Survive after criticism In addition to praise, there is also a lot of criticism of the Netflix series. For example, Max Verstappen has repeatedly expressed criticism in the past about the way in which the producers intensify certain moments, putting some drivers in a negative light and creating rivalries that do not actually exist. After a conversation with F1 boss Stefano Domenicali and the producers of the show, Verstappen took a milder stance and agreed to participate in the recording again. The Red Bull Racing driver can be viewed in the episodes of Drive to Survive, just like in the fifth season. How is Drive to Survive made? The Netflix camera team is a guest with the teams at race weekends and are often able to get closer to the action than anyone else, giving viewers a compelling feeling of what it's like to be at the top of motorsport. Not only are the F1 teams filming behind the scenes, the creators may also be present at some meetings that take place behind closed doors. That has already resulted in a number of unique moments, including a tough confrontation between Toto Wolff and Christian Horner during a briefing for the team bosses. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 7. Rice prices worldwide have risen by seven percent during the last two weeks, Trend reports. Will this lead to an increase in rice prices in Azerbaijan? Commenting on the issue, Azerbaijani economic expert Ayyub Karimli said that currently, 80 percent of the rice consumed in Azerbaijan is imported from such countries as India, Pakistan, and others. "Last year, according to the Cabinet of Ministers resolution, rice imported from Pakistan was exempted from a 15 percent customs duty. Thus, the import of Pakistani rice will not be subject to customs duties until the end of 2027. This decision was aimed at stabilizing the prices of rice imported from Pakistan," he explained. "The applied privilege will help avoid a sharp increase in the price of rice. Rice prices in our country won't grow for several more months. However, a slight increase may occur later." The expert noted that the rise in rice prices on the international market is artificial. "There are no serious economic reasons for the increase, as rice production worldwide hasn't decreased," Karimli added. From January through November 2023, Azerbaijan imported 50,959 tons of rice worth $46.37 million. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Deal: you can switch to a foldable in 2024 with the OnePlus Open or Motorola razr+ Maybe its time to try something new in the new year how about a foldable phone? If you always feel like you need a larger display, something like the OnePlus Open will give you a tablet-sized 7.82 inner display to work with. And its a high-quality LTPO panel with 120Hz maximum refresh rate and 10-bit colors with Dolby Vision and 2,800 nits peak brightness. The outer display is pretty good too, a 6.31 panel with sightly above FHD+ resolution (20:9 aspect ratio). Its the same type of LTPO 120Hz 10-bit panel with 2,800 nits peak brightness. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and a 4,805mAh battery with 67W wired-only charging (1-100% in 42 minutes). The cameras are better than the average foldable with a 48MP main (1/1.43 sensor, OIS), 64MP tele (70mm, 3x) and 48MP ultra wide (114), plus a 32MP outer selfie camera and a 20MP unit inside. OnePlus promises four OS updates, the first one of which is Android 14. Maybe you want to go smaller instead of bigger then a flip foldable like the Motorola razr+ is a better pick. The 6.9 FHD+ inner display (a 165Hz LTPO panel with 10-bit colors and 1,400 nits peak brightness) folds down to a 88.4 x 74.0 x 15.1mm body. The 3.6 144Hz cover display (1,056 x 1,066px resolution) is quite useful when the phone is closed. The razr+ is powered by the older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and a 3,800mAh battery with 30W wired and 5W wireless charging. The cameras are pretty uninspired with a 12MP main (with a tiny 1/2.55 sensor and OIS) and a 13MP ultra wide, plus a 32MP selfie cam inside (the main camera is usable with the cover display as a viewfinder too). Motorola has committed to 3 OS updates staring with Android 14. The razr+ is one of the cheapest foldables that you can buy, but its not quite as cheap as its sibling the Motorola razr. This one is just $500, which is basically mid-range territory. And the phones Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip definitely says mid-range, though the aluminum frame and stainless steel hinge promise durability. The phones inner display is effectively the same as on the razr+, except that the chipset can only run it at 144Hz (still faster than most). The cover display fits a few lines of text, but thats it. The regular razr has a 64MP main camera and 13MP ultra wide. The battery is bigger at 4,200mAh while having the same 30W wired and 5W wireless charging. Not everyone wants a foldable, so Motorola has some interesting slabs too. The Motorola ThinkPhone is one for fans of the ThinkPad series. It has an aluminum frame and an aramid fiber back with IP68 dust and water resistance plus MIL-STD-810H compliance and has been drop tested (onto concrete) from 4ft. The hardware includes a 6.6 144Hz 10-bit display (FHD+, 20:9) and a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. The software is a mostly clean Android with some helpful and unobtrusive Motorola enhancements. This one in particular has added security features and enterprise-friendly connectivity. It does have Ready For too, Motorolas desktop mode. The ThinkPhone is equipped with a 50MP main camera (1/1.5 sensor, OIS) and a 13MP ultra wide (120), plus a 32MP selfie. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 68W wired and 15W wireless charging. The Motorola Edge (2023) is $50 cheaper and has the same 6.6 144Hz 10-bit display (FHD+, 20:9) and IP68 rating. However, this one is more play than work. The aluminum frame is backed by eco leather and there is no drop resistance. The camera is the same too - a 50MP main (1/1.5 sensor, OIS) with a 13MP ultra wide. Crucially, the rest of the hardware is weaker a mid-range Dimensity 7030 chipset and a 4,400mAh battery with 68W wired and 15W wireless charging. The traditional way to get a larger display is to buy a tablet, not a foldable. If youre in that camp, the OnePlus Pad offers an 11.61 display with 2,800 x 2,000xpx resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, 10-bit colors and Dolby Vision. Note that this is an IPS LCD rather than an OLED panel. The tablet is powered by the Dimensity 9000 chipset and a 9,510mAh battery with 67W wired charging. It has quad speakers. You can optionally buy a magnetic keyboard ($150) and/or a stylus ($100) for the Pad. While youre shopping OnePlus products, you can also grab a pair of TWS buds. The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 offer better noise cancellation, longer battery life and lower latency than the original Pros, but dont improve the audio quality, which wasnt perfect. For a third of the price you can have the OnePlus Nord Buds 2. Despite their low price these do have ANC as well, though its as basic as it comes. The sound quality isnt great either, but it is good enough for entry-level buds. We will wrap up with a gaming monitor, the 27 Samsung Odyssey G6 (G65B). This is a curved monitor (1000R) with DisplayHDR 600, it has 2,560 x 1,440px resolution and 240Hz refresh rate. It supports AMD FreeSync Premium. The stands is height adjustable and you can also swivel and tilt the monitor (and it can be turned 90 too). There is built-in Samsung smart TV functionality built in for when you are ready to relax and stream some shows. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Senators introduced two bills that seek competing use of the old Department of Public Health and Social Services property in Mangilao. One bill seeks to give the building and property to the Guam Community College to build a new nursing annex that will accommodate other health care careers, while the other bill would want to keep the building and the lot for Public Health to be used like it was before it was closed in 2019. The property has been vacant since November 2019, when the Guam Fire Department said it was unsafe for occupancy following a reported electrical fire. Speaker Therese Terlajes Bill 222-37 would set the property to be a central community health center, administrative office for Public Health, and any other related purpose as approved by the governor. The 17,717 square meter-lot in Mangilao will be reserved for Public Health if the bill is passed into law. A public hearing for Terlajes Bill 222-37 is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Monday at the Guam Congress Building. Vice Speaker Tina Rose Muna Barness Bill 221-37, meanwhile, would authorize the transfer of the former Public Health headquarters in Mangilao to GCC, a proposal supported by senators in the previous legislative term. The bill hasnt been scheduled for a public hearing. Bill 222 was introduced because nurses and other long time Public Health employees, including the acting chief public health officer, have expressed great concern and pleaded for help because they are unable to provide the level of care and services that they were able to provide in their building in Mangilao, Terlaje said in a statement. The building, with its millions of dollars of infrastructure, was equipped with medical clinic, dental clinic, lab, and other services and was extremely convenient for the patients because of the multiple public health bureaus in that facility, Terlaje said. These services were the backbone of our system of care and tremendously expanded the services of the northern and southern clinics. Our public health system as a whole has suffered greatly from the refusal to repair or rebuild and immediately resume critical health services in that facility. We expect a thorough assessment of the electrical, plumbing, and other aspects of the facility to be undertaken soon, the speaker added. Filling critical needs GCC President Mary Okada, in a release in support of Bill 221-37, said the island and region have struggled to fill critical allied health needs in radiologic technicians, nursing assistants, laboratory techs and others. In my conversations with various leaders over the years, they have asked GCC to stand up these programs. The vacant property of the former Mangilao Public Health building allows us to construct the building that could house these programs. Our concept also includes a living lab that provides allied health services (immunization, x-rays, etc.) within the facility to provide the students with hands-on experience in their fields, while serving the community, she said. Granting the lot to GCC would also mitigate the loss of about 314 acres from the colleges inventory, a release from the vice speakers office states. Bill 221-37 is also co-sponsored by Sens. Chris Duenas and Joe San Agustin. In 2022, Sen. Amanda Shelton introduced Bill 296-36, which would have transferred the property to GCC, but it didnt move past being referred to committee, the Guam Legislatures website shows. Its clear the demand to join Guams health care sector is real, so our government should not abandon efforts to meet the desires of our local workforce. While GCC is trying its hardest to educate more professionals like certified nursing assistants, it runs into problems that limit how many students it can enroll in any given semester, said Muna Barnes in the release. The barriers include a lack of physical space because even if GCC increases enrollment in health programs by 500% where would the students and instructors go, the vice speaker said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 7. The deadline for submission of election documents to the Central Election Commission (CEC) in Azerbaijan, required for registration of a candidate in the extraordinary presidential election is expiring, as stated in the calendar of the main actions and measures for the preparation and holding of the extraordinary presidential election in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Trend reports. According to the Calendar Plan, the documents must be submitted by the authorized representative of a presidential candidate, political party, or party bloc no later than 50 days and no less than 30 days before the voting day (starting from December 19, 2023, till 18:00 (UTC +04:00) on January 8, 2024). The Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan on Dec. 19 approved the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev, nominated by the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), for participation in the extraordinary presidential election. Later, at the CEC session held on December 21, the commission approved the self-nominated candidates of Zahid Oruj and Fuad Aliyev, Fazil Mustafa of the Great Order Party, Elshad Musayev of the Great Azerbaijan Party, Gudrat Hasanguliyev of the Azerbaijani Popular Front Party and Razi Nurullayev of the National Front Party to become candidates for the upcoming election. On Dec. 26, self-nominated Sarvan Karimov, Matlab Mutallimli, Abutalib Samedov, Fikrat Yusifov, Yusif Baghirzadeh, Arzuman Abdulkarimov, Yunus Oguz and Gulamhuseyn Alibeyli have been approved by the CEC to put up their candidacies for the presidential election. Also, on December 30, the CEC approved the self-nominated Namizad Safarov to put up his candidacy for the election. Early presidential election will be held in Azerbaijan on February 7, 2024. The corresponding decree was signed by President Ilham Aliyev. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Arrivals to Guam during the first 11 months of calendar year 2023 were still nearly 39% of what they used to be prior to the pandemic, and theres no telling whether the Jan. 4 fatal shooting of a Korean tourist during a robbery will make the numbers worse for the tourism industry in the months ahead. Shortly after the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement Friday morning confirming the death of a Korean tourist in Guam, Korean and international media outlets have carried the story online. The Korean tourist and his wife were vacationing on Guam to celebrate their retirement when they were robbed at gunpoint on their way back to a hotel from a beach in the tourist district of Tumon Thursday night. The man died at the hospital Friday morning. As of Sunday, the two suspects have not been arrested, even with a $50,000 cash reward since Friday for any information leading to an arrest and conviction. Guam Police Department spokesperson Officer Berlyn Savella on Sunday said police teams were canvassing the areas and beyond. We continue to ask the communitys assistance with any information they may know of, or may have seen, during the time of the incident, Savella said. What has been gathered: two male suspects and a dark colored SUV. The Guam Visitors Bureaus latest data shows that the number of arrivals to Guam from January to November 2023 reached only 582,797, or 61% down from the more than 1.5 million arrivals in pre-COVID January to November 2019. November 2023 arrivals alone of 60,862 were nearly 58% down compared to November 2019. Most of Guams visitors are from Korea, before and after the pandemic. Korean tourists have been leading Guams visitor industry recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and even after Typhoon Mawar hit in May 2023. In November alone, 31,355 or 52% of the total arrivals to Guam were from Korea. From January to November 2023, Guam welcomed 330,940 arrivals from Korea. Thats 49% of total arrivals during the first 11 months of the calendar year. Korean arrivals alone in the first 11 months of 2023 marked a 51.5% drop from pre-COVID 2019 numbers. A still weak Korean won and Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar have kept a lot of Korean and Japanese from traveling to American soil, including Guam. Guam anticipates full tourism recovery back to pre-pandemic levels could take two or more years. Korean Consul for Guam In Kook Kim, during Fridays press briefing, asked for the government of Guam to swiftly arrest the suspects. Guam was a favorite destination for the people of Korea because of its hospitality, beauty, and safety, he said. The wife of the slain tourist asked for privacy, and the government of Guam has not officially released the name of the victim. The Jan. 4 fatal shooting marked the first slaying of a tourist since February 2013, when now convicted Chad DeSoto drove his car into a crowd in Tumon and stabbed three Japanese visitors to death. GVB President Carl Gutierrez on Friday expressed concerns with the impact the fatal shooting would have on the visitor industry, but said the tourism bureau would be taking steps to clean up derelict properties in the tourist district of Tumon where people can go there and lurk and wait for unsuspecting tourists. Department of Corrections Director Fred Bordallo and other officials standing beside the two newly acquired 2023 Toyota 4-Runners SUVs to be deployed to the DOC Parole Services Division. Six Chinese nationals were rescued from a sinking boat some 30 miles northwest of Guam on Saturday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, which led the rescue in partnership with Guam Fire Rescue and U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, HSC-25. The Coast Guard received an urgent call about a 23-foot recreational vessel with six people aboard, initially identified as nationals of the Peoples Republic of China, experiencing severe difficulties, the agency said in a news release. The vessel was taking on water in multiple locations, and all aboard were wearing personal flotation devices. Due to the vessels critical condition, the rescue crew deemed it unsafe to tow. The Coast Guards 45-foot RB-M crew transferred all six survivors aboard their vessel. The vessel remains adrift, and anyone in the area should maintain a sharp lookout to avoid a collision, the Coast Guard said. This successful rescue operation highlights the strength of our partnerships and our commitment to saving lives at sea. Working seamlessly with our partners at Guam Fire Rescue, U.S. Navy HSC-25, and other agencies, we ensured a swift and effective response despite the conditions, including scattered showers and 6-foot waves, Lt. Chelsea Garcia, the search and rescue mission coordinator for the operation, said in a statement. Weather conditions for the operation included east-northeast winds blowing at 13 to 16 knots, scattered showers, and wave heights of around 6 feet. No watches or warnings were in effect. The RB-M crew transported the survivors to Hagatna. At the pier, Homeland Security Investigation officials met them for further care and assessment. Also notified were the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Customs, and Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency. Before Sinajana Vice Mayor Rudy Don Iriartes passing on Jan. 3, he and Mayor Robert Hofmann were already advocating for the elimination of the vice mayors position, citing Sinajanas declining population and to help save government funds on a special election. But its now a race against time to change the law to remove the position, if ever legislation is introduced. A special election for Sinajana vice mayor is now tentatively set for March 9 pending approval of Guam Election Commission commissioners, and all candidate packets for the special election must be filed by early February. A bill to abolish the Sinajana vice mayor post has yet to be introduced. GEC Executive Director Maria Pangelinan said the commission has started preparing for the special election, which the law requires on a Saturday on or about 60 days after a vacancy occurs in an office of the vice mayor, when vacancy exists 240 days or more prior to the date of the next general election for vice mayors. Iriarte passed more than 300 days before the Nov. 5 general elections. GEC has already prepared the special election ballot format for commissioners to review during a special meeting this week. Pangelinan said in the event a bill removing the vice mayors position becomes law prior to the early March conduct of the special election, then GEC will have to follow that new law and cancel the special election. Sen. Joe San Agustin, who heads the committee with oversight of elections and government operations, told the Pacific Daily News that he received the Sinajana mayors Dec. 28 letter requesting a bill to eliminate the Sinajana vice mayors position. The senator said thus far, he has not seen a resolution from the Sinajana Municipal Planning Council calling for the abolition of the position, which he said was created long before the current village officials were in position. The cost of a special election to fill the impending vacancy would be too costly, Hofmann told San Agustin in the letter, sent days before Iriarte passed on Jan. 3 after a long battle with diabetes. Iriarte was 49. Hofmanns letter said the Sinajana Municipal Planning Council supports the decision to request a bill removing the Sinajana vice mayors post. The council has yet to adopt a resolution. The position of vice mayor was created for villages that met a threshold for population so the vice mayor can assist the mayor. While Sinajana used to be one of thoseour population has since declined tremendously, Hofmann said. Within hours of Iriartes passing, condolences and praises for the late vice mayors dedication to public service started pouring in. Dave Lotz is a vocal advocate for protecting Guams unique heritage, a knowledgeable and long-time hiking enthusiast and environmental advocate, and critic of inept government. He has been a resident of Guam since 1970 and retired from the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation, Andersen AFB Environmental Flight and the National Park Service. A motorist drives along a section of Gun Beach Road, on the morning of Jan. 5, 2024, where a Korean tourist was fatally shot as an unknown gunman attempted to rob him and his wife of their belongings the evening before. Haiti - Politic : The situation in Haiti back on the CARICOM Agenda Saturday, December 6, 2024, the 7th meeting of the principal heads of government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Haiti was held today under the Presidency of Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Acting President of the CARICOM, to review the situation in Haiti and determine further action toward a Haitian-led solution to the crisis. The leaders received a briefing from the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group and recognized the significant efforts being made to facilitate political consensus among stakeholders in Haiti. They also took into account the state of preparations for the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS). The leaders recognized Jamaica's role in coordinating the Community's efforts in this regard, as well as the vital contributions of Foreign Ministers. The heads of State remain seriously concerned by the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Haiti, while the political and security crises persist with the terrible consequences of this situation on the most vulnerable. They noted that the growing violence had led to the loss of thousands of lives and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. The Heads of State called on all stakeholders in Haiti to deploy all possible efforts to urgently reach a political resolution and the implementation of a transitional road map towards stability, the facilitation of humanitarian aid, the holding of credible elections, the restoration of political and institutional legitimacy and long-term development for the Haitian people. The Community remains determined to work with the population and all parties concerned in Haiti in favor of Peace and sustainable development. CARICOM looks forward to enhanced collaboration and coordination of efforts with Haiti's friends and the international community at large in support of Haiti. HL/ HaitiLibre BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 7. France and Azerbaijan, which have so much in common, seem to ignore each other, editor-in-chief of the La Gazette du Caucase online newspaper based in Paris, renowned French journalist Jean-Michel Brun wrote in his article. "Whose fault is this? French politicians who use anti-Azerbaijani propaganda to their own advantage. And yet Azerbaijan remains a profoundly Francophile country. Frankly, we don't understand. France and Azerbaijan have everything in common, two countries of infinite cultural richness. We need only think of Nizami Ganjavi, who in the 12th century promoted the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity that would become the values of the Lumieres five centuries later; the poetess Natavan, a Francophile and Francophone, whom Alexander Dumas met and admired; the architecture of Baku, inspired by that of Haussmann, which led to the capital of Azerbaijan being called "the Paris of the Caucasus". There's also the music. The traditional Mugham and the more classical opera Leyli and Majnun by Azeri composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov, performed in front of General de Gaulle during his visit in 1944. Baku is also one of the world's painting capitals, with a wealth of renowned artists, including Vugar Muradov, Anar Huseynzade, Farid Rasulov and many others," he wrote. Brun also noted that Azerbaijan is a pioneer in the emancipation of women, giving them the right to vote 14 years before France did. Lastly, it is one of the most multicultural countries on the planet, with its Shiite and Sunni mosques, synagogues, churches and temples, and its peoples whose traditions are preserved and encouraged. It is also the first secular country in the region. "So, we don't understand why French politicians spew so much hatred towards such a Francophile country, why a town wants to remove the statue of the poetess Natavan, an emblem of gender equality, and why France stubbornly supports armed groups that have occupied Azerbaijan for almost 30 years, in defiance of international law and UN resolutions, even though France itself voted for them. So, of course, we can always point to the power of the lobby formed by the French Armenian diaspora, blind and to the point. But why follow their absurd propaganda and the heaps of hatred they pour out on the net? And yet, despite everything, the Azerbaijanis love France, at least the admirable and admired France of Moliere, Victor Hugo and Zola, and also the France of those foreigners who came to bring their culture and their identity, without ever abandoning their own: Leonardo da Vinci, Picasso, Dali, Chagall, Giacometti, Ionesco, Beckett, Kundera, Semprun, Chopin, Villa-Lobos, Albeniz, Rachmaninov, Honegger, Miles Davis, Cziffra, and the Azerbaijanis Robert Hossein and Mstislav Rostropovitch. Thousands more like them have chosen France as their home," he added. The editor-in-chief rightly pointed out that French people who visit Azerbaijan all fall in love with this magnificent country, which is so far removed from the image that the French media, unfortunately, try to impose on the public. The article further reads: Lucie is a young doctoral student who has chosen to settle in Baku. She has fallen under the spell of the country and has been struck by the similarities between the two cultures, using theatre as a means of bringing them closer together. "I'm in Azerbaijan to consolidate our cultural relations," she says. "I believe that theatre, and comedy in particular, can help us to open up to a country without judgement. It's a universal space where the community can come together as equals. Unfortunately, in the current circumstances, it's not an easy mission. But I hope to find support for this type of initiative both in France and in Azerbaijan. For example, I've twice had the opportunity to stage French plays in Baku with Azerbaijani students learning French. Once at the Franco-Azerbaijan University (UFAZ) with 'Le bourgeois gentilhomme' by Moliere and once at UFC, a foreign language centre, with 'Le prix du bonheur' by Alexandre Dumas fils. And I'm doing my doctoral thesis on dramaturgy. "My thesis is entitled "The archetypes of literary characters in the works of Moliere and Mirza Fatali Akhundov". "I'd like Azerbaijan and France to renew their friendly relations with a view to consolidating their partnerships in the fields of education and culture," adds Lucie, "in particular by creating exhibitions of French painters, French literary salons and French theatres in Azerbaijan, so that in the eyes of Azerbaijanis, France is not limited to the Eiffel Tower, perfumes, croissants and, unfortunately, a few thoughtless initiatives. In France too, I'd like to see access to Azerbaijani culture and language opened up through university exchanges, so that the French view of Azerbaijan is not limited to the conflict with its neighbor, but also the beauty of its culture, the hospitality and modesty of its people, and their love of beauty in all things." Serge has lived and worked in Azerbaijan for 9 years. He too has difficulty understanding the 'official' French position on the country: "I invite the French to come and discover Azerbaijan for themselves. See Baku and the other cities, see the reality of multiculturalism, the different ethnic groups. There are Muslims, Catholics, Orthodox, Jews, Tats, Talish, Oudis and Lezgins minorities here, and you have to see that for yourself. Nobody is persecuted here. It was a real revelation for me, and I said to myself that if there is such a thing as a secular, multicultural country, it's Azerbaijan. Come and discover this country, and you will see the joy of a people who are at the same time Russian, Persian and Turkish. We could also mention Maurice, the former director of the French Institute in Baku and son of a famous French academician, who has set up a restaurant in Baku's Old City where the French flag flies proudly, without the Baku people reacting in the slightest. As for the Azerbaijanis, despite the calumnies that a certain France spreads about them, they welcome the French with indescribable kindness, as if nothing had happened. Azerbaijanis in France are even campaigning for the two countries to rediscover the bond that has united them for so many years, before others set out to break it. Aytan Muradova is vice-president of the Association Dialogue France-Azerbaijan, which organises concerts and cultural events throughout the year. "My grandfather's life was saved in a concentration camp during the Second World War thanks to a French doctor who shared his meager provisions with him," she tells us. "Since then, our family has grown up with a love of France and its literature, and for the past 30 years, I've been working here to promote Azerbaijan, its music, its writers and its multi-ethnic culture, which is unique in the world. I hope that this dialogue, once established between Heydar Aliyev and Francois Mitterrand, then Jacques Chirac, will regain the strength it once had, because it is necessary, including for the peaceful balance of the region". Reza Deghati is an internationally renowned photographer. His photos of Commander Massoud have been shown around the world. He lives between Baku and Paris: "France is my home and my port of call," he says. "It is the standard-bearer of one of the civilizations that has marked the history of humanity. Azerbaijan and France have a great deal in common and can work together for peace in the Caucasus region, provided, of course, that France bases its policy on reality and not on the whims of evil geniuses bent on hatred. Maya represents the new generation of Azerbaijani photographers. At the age of 25, her piercing eye captures the contrasts of Baku, the distress of the devastated territories of Karabakh, the memory of the prehistoric life of the first Caucasians in Gobustan, and the fervor of the Mountain Jews in Krasnaya Sloboda. "The French language has a special place in our family. My aunt and uncle speak French, and as soon as I could, I learnt it too", she enthuses. "I came to Paris to study photojournalism, took part in competitions and did reports on the Gilets Jaunes and the zadists. Today, alongside my work as a photographer, I teach music at the Lycee francais de Bakou, a prestigious school, a little corner of France in the Caucasus". What does she want? That her photos will help to make the subtleties of the Azerbaijani soul better known to the French. What madness could have possessed the French MPs who chose to put an end to the Franco-Azerbaijani parliamentary friendship group? What blindness led the mayor of Evian to rename the "Park of Azerbaijan", when avenues all over France honor Marshal Bugeaud, the murderer of tens of thousands of Algerians? No, xenophobia, the myth of the "clash of civilizations", the foggy theory of the "great replacement", this is not France. These deadly ideologies are the outposts of a brown plague that is galloping back to trample on the values inscribed on the pediment of our buildings since the Revolution, and which were only replaced during the sordid days of the occupation. But let us not despair. Peace is being established directly between Azerbaijan and Armenia, far from the sterile agitation of the so-called "arbitration" countries. What will these politicians say when the two countries become friendly nations again? That they were ridiculous to take sides with movements that were behind dozens of terrorist attacks in which more than 70 people were killed, while Armenia and Azerbaijan were trying to find a peaceful solution to their conflict? Perhaps. But it is rarely the prerogative of politicians to show contrition. In reality, the majority of French politicians have been elected by default, and the people no longer give them any credit. So let's bet that, with or without them, it doesn't matter, Azerbaijan and France will renew friendly relations that can only be mutually enriching. Methodist Church awards $43,000 to nonprofit missions First United Methodist Church of Hendersonville awarded $43,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations to address gaps in services in the community, the church announced. We believe this is an opportunity to build strategic partnerships that help us extend the reach and witness of our church into the community, the Rev. Jeremy Morris, associate pastor, said in a news release. This granting process has helped us to empower individuals in need of assistance, helped address larger systemic issues and root causes, and build new pathways for members of our church to be involved in service throughout our community. Past grant recipients include True Ridge, Children and Family Resource Center, Bruce Drysdale School, Safelight, The Community Storehouse, Crossnore, Thrive and the Boys and Girls Club. This year, the Missions Council focused its attention on projects that are empowering to those being served, funding projects that offer individuals the tools needed to better themselves, to regain independence, and grow in self-sufficiency. Out of 14 applicants, the Missions Council, with the blessing of the FUMC Church Board, awarded the following: Street Dog Coalition - $3,000: Street Dog Coalition cares for the pets of unhoused neighbors by ensuring that individuals are able to keep their pets and maintain the mutually beneficial human-animal bond they share with them, and have access to alternatives besides economic euthanasia and pet surrender, and 3) decrease the risk of infectious and zoonotic disease spread in their communities. These funds will create a local Hendersonville chapter of Street Dog and provide greater access to care for pets and their owners. Street Dog Coalition cares for the pets of unhoused neighbors by ensuring that individuals are able to keep their pets and maintain the mutually beneficial human-animal bond they share with them, and have access to alternatives besides economic euthanasia and pet surrender, and 3) decrease the risk of infectious and zoonotic disease spread in their communities. These funds will create a local Hendersonville chapter of Street Dog and provide greater access to care for pets and their owners. Deep Time - $5,000: Deep Time is a New Church Start of the United Methodist Church whose mission is to celebrate, employ, and create spiritual communities with people impacted by incarceration. Deep Time is utilizing training in specialty coffee roasting as a way to empower formerly incarcerated individuals as they return into society to find spiritual community, holistic healing, and access to workforce development resources. Housing Assistance Corporation - $5,000: The Housing Assistance Corporation of Henderson County is receiving funding for the completion of four sweat equity homes in Henderson County. These homes are built involving homeowner labor in 65 percent of the overall process under the eye of professional contractors. This model provides affordable housing options to potential homeowners while also allowing them to work their own job and earn their own income. Hope Coalition - $5,000: Hope Coalition is committed to preventing substance misuse among youth and focusing on long term recovery for anyone impacted by alcohol and drug addiction. They are receiving funding to support the purchase of a youth center in Hendersonville and expand youth programming. With our assistance, they aim to create a space that will house and amplify youth programs facilitated by the Hope Coalition. Thrive - $5,000: Thrive is receiving funds to purchase updated video equipment, technology, and art supplies for members of Thrives Clubhouse Day Program.The Clubhouse is a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program which serves adults with severe and persistent mental illness and at least two other forms of impairment in their lives. The Clubhouse currently serves 46 members per month and members learn coping skills, improve relationship skills, daily living skills, and vocational skills. Pisgah Legal - $5,000: Pisgah Legal Services is receiving $5,000 to provide free civil legal aid to lowincome survivors of domestic, sexual violence, and child abuse in Henderson County to help them safely live apart from their abusers and gain economic independence. Safelight - $5,000: Safelight is receiving funds to offset the cost of tuition for Camp Hope. This is a camp based program for children who have been exposed to trauma, focusing on character and resilience development, empowerment, and mentorship opportunities. Research shows that a week of Camp Hope time is equivalent to six months of trauma therapy. Hope United Methodist Church - $10,000: Hope United Methodist Church in East Flat Rock offers many community focused ministries including a Bear Closet and a Weekly Welcome Table Meal that is free to the community. These funds will assist Hope in expanding their ministries to increase their capacity to serve meals and offer free laundry services to individuals in need. The Missions Council of First United Methodist Church is chaired by Dr. Anne Smith and comprised of church members committed to empowering those most in need in Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina, and around the world. For more information on missions and other initiatives at FUMC Hendersonville, please visit https://fumchvlnc.org. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 7. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on the appointment of Mukhtar Babayev as president of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), the 19th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the 6th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement, Trend reports. Will be updated Ola Electric's Gigafactory, which went under construction in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri in May last year, will become operational next month, the homegrown EV manufacturer's founder and CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal, announced on Sunday. Ola Electric CEO Bhavish Aggarwal (Image credit: @bhash/X) Aggarwal made the announcement on the first day of the third Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet. The 2-day meet is taking in Chennai, the state capital. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. When it (Gigafactory) is operational next month, we (Ola Electric) will be the first to manufacture lithium ion cells in India. This will mark a key milestone in the country's transition to EVs, Deccan Herald quoted Aggarwal as saying. The Bengaluru-based company's leader further stated that when fully operational, the facility will have a 25,000-strong workforce. Ola Electric Gigafactory Envisioned by Ola Electric to be the biggest cell factory in India, and among largest such facilities in the world, Gigafactory's construction began with a capacity of 100 MW. When operational, the plant, which is spread across 115 acres, will function at an initial capacity of 5GWh; further, this will be expanded to a full capacity of 100 GWh in phases. At Gigafactory, Ola Electric will scale up the production of its in-house 4680 cells. The historic Devaraja Market, constructed in the heart of the city in the 1880s by the Mysore royals, is facing an uncertain future for many years and marked for demolition for a redevelopment project, according to INTACH Bengaluru Chapter. HT Image Seeking to highlight its architectural and historical value and to emphasise on preservation of historical markets, a series of events -- a symposium, a heritage walk and urban sketching -- was held in Mysuru on Saturday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Hailed as a 'heritage city', Mysuru is dotted with iconic buildings largely constructed by the Wadiyars -- the royal family of the erstwhile Mysore State, including the Mysore royal palace, Lalitha Mahal Palace, old railway station, Mysore University building, and many other iconic landmarks. During the symposium hosted by the Bengaluru Chapter of the Delhi-based Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) at the Wadiyar Centre for Architecture (WCFA), the current scion of the royal family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar eloquently made a case for preserving the Devaraja Market, built by his ancestors. Conservation of this market and other heritage buildings in Mysuru are integral to the identity of the city, he asserted in a virtual address at the event, according to a statement issued by INTACH Bengaluru Chapter. Wadiyar, a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, the US, also suggested that "restoration" is important from the point of view of sustainability. Preserving and reinvigorating built heritage is important so that the legacy can be passed to future generations, he had told PTI in 2018 and also advocated for preserving the built heritage of Bengaluru. Other experts, including a structure engineer from Pune, concurred during the symposium that the Devaraja Market is a city icon, and "can be restored" and form a "nucleus" for insensitive development of Mysuru. The theme of the discussion was 'Markets as Living Heritage: The Case for Conservation and Revival'. Sanghamitra Basu, a conservation architect who recently retired as a faculty from IIT, Kharagpur, said, "Conservation is not (an act of) mummification," adding that amenities could be added to old structures with due sensitivity to the architectural fabric. She shared the example of the restoration of Byward Market in Ottawa, Canada, which was to be demolished but when restored, it became one of the city's major centres for both tourists and local economic activities. "It is important to have a management plan," she was quoted as saying in the statement. Gurugram-based conservation architect Shikha Jain, who has worked on heritage-led development projects around the country, joined the event virtually. "The economy of Jaipur depends on the cultural heritage which sits in the core of the city," she said. Accordingly, the government agreed to restore these traditional markets which are now active, dynamic economic centres in Jaipur city, Jain added. S Raghunath of BMS College of Engineering in Bengaluru shared examples where he has helped restore buildings that suffered "Grade 4-level damage", including Dr S Radhakrishnan's house in Mysuru and the Octroi post in Bengaluru. "Devaraja Market has Grade 2-level of damage," he said, and asserted that it can be restored. Pune-based Ranjit Patil, who has over four decades of experience as a structural engineer, also said the building "can be restored". He suggested that the restoration could be funded through a CSR (corporate social responsibility) activity. A joint statement was presented to the deputy commissioner of Mysuru after the conference which highlighted the feasibility of restoration and the central importance of traditional markets like Devaraja Market to the image of Mysuru as a heritage city, the statement said. Bengaluru-based architect Yashaswini Sharma said the unique architectural features along with artisanal and material heritage of Devaraja Market as also of Lansdowne Building (built in 1890s), "cannot be replaced, and the significance of these buildings in the historical landscape of the core area of Mysuru cannot be undermined". Even the idea of "reconstructing in same 'heritage' style" after demolishing the original building is "ironical, especially when the original is salvageable", Sharma said. "One cannot reconstruct 'heritage'," she added. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah agreed to increase the honorarium of guest lecturers by 5,000 to 8,000 based on their experience and appealed to them to call off their strike immediately and report to duty. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah agrees to increase honorarium of guest lecturers He was speaking in the meeting held with the representatives of the protesting guest lecturers and discussed their demands. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Also Read - Karnataka truck drivers to go on indefinite strike from January 17 The Chief Minister recalled that even when he was the leader of the opposition party, he raised his voice on behalf of the guest lecturers and demanded a salary hike. Our government has humanitarian concerns about guest lecturers. However, it is not possible to provide job security due to legal complications. Our government has again proposed to increase your salary within two years. We have considered the demands of the guest lecturers very sympathetically, he said. The CM explained that the government will increase the honorarium by 5000 for those with less than five years of service, 6000 for those with 5 to 10 years of service, 7000 for those with 10 to 15 years of service and 8 thousand for those with more than 15 years of service experience. The Chief Minister agreed on implementing health insurance of Rs. 5 lakh per annum to the guest lecturers. Rs. 5 lakh will be provided to the serving guest lecturers after 60 years of age. One day of paid leave per month to those with more than 15 hours of workload per week and 3 months of paid maternity leave to guest lecturers will be provided. Along with this, the CM also agreed to give weightage based on their experience in recruitment, simplifying the counselling process to enable them to continue their service in the same place where the guest lecturers were working for the next year as well if the workload is available. Higher Education Minister Dr M.C. Sudhakar, Chief Minister's Political Secretary K. Govindaraju, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister L.K. Ateeq, Higher Education Department Secretary M.S. Shrikar, Commissioner of Higher Education and Technical Education Department G. Jagdish and other senior officers, representatives of guest lecturers were present. The Chandigarh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dropped Satya Pal Jain, the additional solicitor general of India in Punjab and Haryana high court, and a former local member of Parliament (MP), from the partys state core group. Satya Pal Jain was elected to the Lok Sabha from Chandigarh in 1996 and 1998, and is also a senate member of Panjab University. (HT Photo) Not only this, names of leaders from his camp also do not figure neither in the core group nor in the states executive body, the second in power. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The move comes at a time when the party is gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The major reshuffle was carried out by the city BJP chief, Jatinder Pal Malhotra, considered close to former city unit chief Sanjay Tandon, three months after he took over reins of the party in October. Malhotra on Friday released the list of core committee of Chandigarh BJP, comprising himself, MP Kirron Kher, national executive member and former state president Sanjay Tandon, former state president Arun Sood, current mayor and councillor Anup Gupta, vice-president Rambir Bhatti, and general secretaries Hukum Chand and Amit Jindal. Sudan Singh, Vijay Rupani and Manthari Sriniv Asullu are special invitees. Interestingly, the names were made public at a time when national BJP chief JP Nadda was also on a tour of the city and neighbouring states. Party sources said this was for the first time when a former MP was not included in the core group. Earlier this week, the BJP had also released the list of executive body office-bearers, including no leader from Jain camp. The core committee is the apex decision-making body of the local unit with 8-10 members. This time there are nine members and three special invitees. As of the executive body, it earlier had some 60-odd members, but the present body has 31 members only. Two-time MP from Chandigarh Jain was elected to the Lok Sabha from Chandigarh in 1996 and 1998, and is also a senate member of Panjab University. He has been the all India in-charge of the BJP legal cell for over 10 years. Terming the present situation of the state unit as tug of war, a senior BJP leader said besides Jain, even most of the Khers men did not find a place in the top bodies. Internal bickering in the Chandigarh unit has always remained a challenge for the saffron fold. It is believed that Kher made an entry in 2014, after the then top leaders, Tandon, Jain and former Union minister Harmohan Dhawan, battled over MPs ticket. It is strange that Jain wont be a part of Chandigarh BJPs core team. Also, if former presidents Sood and Tandon are in the committee, former presidents Kamla Sharma and Yashpal Mahajan could also have been included, commented another senior BJP leader, not wishing to be named. Sources close to Jain claimed that he was not even consulted before finalising the names and that he was annoyed with the decision. When contacted, Jain refused to give a comment. Meanwhile, Malhotra said, There are no camps or groups in the BJP and the decisions have been taken in consultation with senior/national leaders. The partys decisions are supreme. New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) Union Home Minister will visit Jammu on Tuesday during which he will attend a number of development-related programmes and flag off an e-bus service in the city, officials said. HT Image This will be Shah's first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after terrorists ambushed two army vehicles, killing five soldiers and injuring two others at Poonch on December 21. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A day later bodies of three civilians were found in the Poonch district, not far from the spot of the day before the incident, sparking outrage. The home minister will visit Jammu on January 9 during which he will chair a review meeting on comprehensive development of Jammu and Kashmir, a home ministry official said. Besides, Shah will launch the 'Vikas Bharat Sankalp Yatra', a central government initiative, flag off an e-bus service and inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development works. The home minister will also distribute appointment letters to the youths selected for different government jobs, the official said. Shah had reviewed the security situation of Jammu and Kashmir with top functionaries of the central government and Jammu and Kashmir administration on January 2 in New Delhi. In that meeting, he had instructed the strengthening of the counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir and stressed on complete elimination of terror eco-system. While advising the security agencies for appropriate deployment in vulnerable areas in the Union Territory, Shah stressed that all due procedures should be adopted while dealing with counter-terror operations. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Chief of Army staff (CoAS) General Manoj Pande and top officials of intelligence and other security agencies attended that meeting. In a statement, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said that in yet another crackdown on press freedom, two editors from two language newspapers have been arrested by the Manipur government. HT Image On December 31, 2023, the BJP-controlled police arrested Wangkhemcha Shyamjai, the editor of vernacular daily Kangleipaki Meira, for allegedly publishing "provocative news", Khera said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. On January 5, the Manipur Police also arrested Meitei language newspaper Hueiyen Lanpao's editor Dhanabir Maibam for "promoting enmity on the ground of religion and race", the Congress leader said. In a joint statement, the All-Manipur Journalists' Union, of which Shyamjai was a former chief, and the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) condemned his arrest and demanded his immediate release, Khera pointed out. "The Indian National Congress strongly deplores the arrest of the editors of reputable vernacular newspapers. We firmly believe that journalists should be allowed to pursue their professional duties without fear of intimidation, especially when reporting on matters of public interest," Khera said. "We firmly endorse the objections raised by All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU), Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) and Paomi Welfare Foundation," he said in his statement. The BJP government in Manipur has indulged in a string of assaults on freedom of press by arresting journalists, slapping grave charges and even confronting the Editors Guild of India (EGI) when they attempted to honestly report the true picture of the strife-ridden state, Khera alleged. All this is being done to escape any accountability for the "callous mishandling" of the situation, by plunging the state into violence, chaos, and anarchy, he said. "The double engine assault by an apathetic Modi government and discredited BJP state government on Manipur has resulted in the death of more than 200 people, injuring 1,100 people and displacing 67,000 people, in the past eight months," Khera alleged. The Modi government's record on information blockade, suppressing freedom of press and targeting selected journalists by using draconian laws like UAPA, smacks of "brazen authoritarianism", he said. "People of India know that the BJP favours only those journalists who crawl in front of them by covering events such as PM Modi's snorkeling vacation in Lakshadweep or ask questions to him like "'aap calorie conscious hain (Are you calorie conscious?' or 'aap thakte kyu nahi (why don't you tire)'?" Khera said. In this context, the Congress urges the Manipur government to immediately release the detained journalists, pending due process and transparency in all investigations, Khera said. He also urged the state government to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all journalists working in Manipur, upholding their right to report freely and independently. The Delhi government on Saturday nixed an order on the extension of winter vacation in schools within the national capital, hours after it extended the break till January 10. The Delhi department of education clarified that the earlier order was mistakenly issued and a decision regarding the matter will be made on Sunday morning, news agency ANI reported. In its previous order, the Delhi government had extended the winter break till January 10 in all the government-aided and unaided recognised private schools of the NCT. (Photo for representational purpose only) (PTI) Delhi's directorate of education added that orders regarding winter vacation may be issued in due course. "Order No.DE.23(3)/Sch.Br./2024/18 dated: January 6, 2024, regarding extension of Winter Vacation stands withdrawn with immediate effect. Further orders in this regard may be issued in due course," the updated order read. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In its previous order, the Delhi government had extended the winter break till January 10 in all the government-aided and unaided recognised private schools of the national capital territory (NCT) because of extreme cold waves and IMD's yellow alert. Onn Saturday, Delhi spent yet another day in grey, foggy conditions with daytime peak temperature reaching just 15.2 degrees Celsius and low in the early hours settling at 8.9 degrees. In what may be of some relief, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted temperatures to rise over the next two days, with an approaching western disturbance likely to bring light rain on Tuesday. Cold day conditions should also abate by Sunday, officials said on Saturday. Holidays for Noida, Greater Noida schools Meanwhile, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration on Saturday ordered all schools in Noida and Greater Noida to observe holidays for students up to Class 8 till January 14 in view of the prevailing dense fog and cold weather conditions. Issued by district Basic Education Officer Rahul Panwar, the order stands applicable to all schools recognised by the state board, CBSE, ICSE, IB and others. In compliance with the instructions given by District Magistrate Maneesh Kumar Verma in view of the dense fog and extreme cold, all the board (CBSE/ICSE IB, UP Board and others) affiliated schools (from Class nursery to 8) running in the district Gautam Buddh Nagar, will observe holiday till January 14, it stated. "The order should be strictly followed," Panwar added. The minimum temperatures in parts of western Uttar Pradesh has dipped to single-digit figures. The minimum temperature in Gautam Buddh Nagar was recorded at 9 degrees Celsius on Saturday and is expected to hover between 9 and 13 degrees Celsius over the next six days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a cold wave and fog warning for western Uttar Pradesh, which includes Gautam Buddh Nagar. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 7. Russians in Azerbaijan are always ready to defend their country, as stated by the First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Community of Azerbaijan, Anastasia Lavrina said, Trend reports. She made the remark, commenting on the announcement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken about adding Azerbaijan to a 'watch list' on religious freedom. "I am a Russian Azerbaijani. I have been living in the country with the largest Russian community in the South Caucasus, consisting of 120,000 ethnic Russians, for 33 years. In 2023, our community celebrated its 30th anniversary," Lavrina reminded. "Over all these years, there has not been a single case of infringement of rights based on ethnicity or religion in Azerbaijan. We go to church, celebrate our holidays, freely speak our language, and sincerely love our homeland, Azerbaijan." Emphasizing the readiness of Russians living in Azerbaijan to defend the country, she said that this was brightly demonstrated during the 2020 second Karabakh war, when representatives of all ethnic groups united around the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev. "Together, we restored justice. The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan have finally been restored. Our united people did what the OSCE Minsk Group, which included the US, and any other international organization could not do for over 30 years, turning a blind eye to the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia," the community's representative said. "The international community was not concerned about the fact that monuments of history, culture, and religion were destroyed on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. This includes not only mosques but also Orthodox and Albanian churches that Armenian occupiers either destroyed or rebuilt," Lavrina noted. "Destroyed walls, piles of ruins, and the only surviving facade of the Russian Orthodox Church in honor of the Transfiguration, founded in 1894 and located 13 km from the center of Azerbaijan's Khojavend district. Over the years of occupation, Armenian armed forces completely destroyed the sanctuary, demolished three facades, and practically dismantled the building into bricks," she highlighted. Lavrina also mentioned the Russian Orthodox Church in Talish village in Azerbaijan's Tartar district, near which Armenian occupiers built a military base. "The temple building has no windows, the roof collapsed in several places, and the walls clearly show traces of bullets and shells. During the entire period of occupation, more than 400 cultural, historical, and religious monuments were destroyed in Azerbaijani lands. Out of 67 mosques, 64 were destroyed or significantly damaged and desecrated," she noted. "Meanwhile, a similar fate befell ancient Azerbaijani monuments of history and culture located on the territory of modern Armenia. In the early 20th century, more than 300 mosques were registered in Armenia, and now only the Blue Mosque has remained partially intact, which is presented as 'Persian' due to changes in its original features," Lavrina explained. "In the 20th century, Azerbaijanis were massively deported from Armenia, and all material evidence indicating the belonging of these lands to Azerbaijan was destroyed." She stressed that Azerbaijan once initiated the restoration of several Roman catacombs, ancient frescoes, and ancient manuscripts from the Vatican Library. "On the territory of Azerbaijan itself, there are Orthodox and Albanian churches, synagogues, and even an Armenian church. Timely restoration and constant care have kept all the buildings in proper condition," the community's representative pointed out. "I would like to advise Antony Blinken to look at real examples from the lives of various ethnic groups represented in the democratic society of Azerbaijan before referring to unverified information prepared by someone unclear," she added. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next five days for students from nursery to Class 5 due to the prevailing cold weather conditions in the national capital, said education minister Atishi on Sunday. The announcement comes hours after the Delhi government retracted an order on the extension of winter vacation in schools within the national capital. The announcement comes hours after the Delhi government retracted an order on the extension of winter vacation in schools. (Picture for representational purpose only) Earlier on Saturday, the directorate stated that the winter vacation in all government and private schools in the national capital has been extended till January 10 due to cold weather conditions. A Delhi government official said that there was some error in the order. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Delhi's directorate of education had said that further orders regarding winter break would be issued in due course. "Order No.DE.23(3)/Sch.Br./2024/18 dated: January 6, 2024, regarding extension of Winter Vacation stands withdrawn with immediate effect. Further orders in this regard may be issued in due course," the updated order read. On Saturday, Delhi spent yet another day in grey, foggy conditions with daytime peak temperature reaching just 15.2 degrees Celsius and low in the early hours settling at 8.9 degrees. In what may be of some relief, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted temperatures to rise over the next two days, with an approaching western disturbance likely to bring light rain on Tuesday. Cold day conditions should also abate by Sunday, officials said on Saturday. Holidays for Noida, Greater Noida schools Meanwhile, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration on Saturday ordered all schools in Noida and Greater Noida to observe holidays for students up to Class 8 till January 14 in view of the prevailing dense fog and cold weather conditions. Issued by district Basic Education Officer Rahul Panwar, the order stands applicable to all schools recognised by the state board, CBSE, ICSE, IB and others. In compliance with the instructions given by District Magistrate Maneesh Kumar Verma in view of the dense fog and extreme cold, all the board (CBSE/ICSE IB, UP Board and others) affiliated schools (from Class nursery to 8) running in the district Gautam Buddh Nagar, will observe holiday till January 14, it stated. "The order should be strictly followed," Panwar added. The minimum temperatures in parts of western Uttar Pradesh has dipped to single-digit figures. The minimum temperature in Gautam Buddh Nagar was recorded at 9 degrees Celsius on Saturday and is expected to hover between 9 and 13 degrees Celsius over the next six days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a cold wave and fog warning for western Uttar Pradesh, which includes Gautam Buddh Nagar. The anti-smog tower installed in Delhi's Connaught Place is non-functional and reportedly locked by the personnel responsible for its operations due to non-payment of their salary, reported news agency ANI. Delhi's CP smog tower.(ANI) According to staff members, they have not received their salaries for the past month, and no written assurance of job security by the government. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed that the mismanagement is being deliberately spread by the central government. "Today all powers have been given to a few officials and now they are working as per their wish. First, they closed the smog tower but when the court scolded them, the smog tower was made operational. Now, I don't know under what circumstances it has been closed. Officials are not following the orders of ministers because they know that no action will be taken against them. I think this mismanagement is being deliberately spread by the central government," he said to ANI. The national capital is engulfed with a thick fog layer and is affected by 'very poor' air quality levels during these winter months. A team of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) officials in November 2023 restarted the non-functional tower, a day after the Supreme Court ordered the administration to immediately operationalise the tower amid the worsening air quality of the region. Earlier in November last year, Delhi's environment minister Gopal Rai claimed that CP's smog tower has been inoperational due to non-payment by the Centre. "I thought it was important for the people in Delhi to know under what conspiracy the smog tower in Delhi was shut and who did it" Rai had said. The tower was developed at a cost of around 25 crore following an apex court order in 2020. It was inaugurated by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in 2021 amid much fanfare. The tower has 40 large fans that draw air from the top of a special canopy structure and release clean air below each fan is a 25 horsepower motor. (With inputs from ANI) Lalduhoma made the comments at a press conference here upon his return from Delhi. HT Image "Even though the Centre can't accord refugee status to the Myanmar nationals, it is ready to collaborate with us in providing relief to them. People from Manipur, who fled their homes due to ethnic violence, will also be looked after with help of the central government," he said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. According to officials, more than 31,000 individuals belonging to the Chin community from Myanmar have sought shelter in Mizoram since February 2021, following a military coup in their home country. Over 9,000 internally displaced people from Manipur have also taken refuge in the state. The Chin community from Myanmar and ethnic Kuki-Zo community from Manipur share ethnic ties with the Mizos. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on Friday informed Lalduhoma that the Centre wont deport Myanmar nationals who sought refuge in the state since February 2021, until normalcy is restored in the neighboring country, an official release said. The chief minister also expressed hope that the Centre will cancel the move to fence a portion of the India-Myanmar border. The Union government had recently said it plans to fence a 300-km stretch of unfenced boundary with Myanmar, and end the Free Movement Regime, which allows people living on both sides of the international border to travel within 16 km into each others territory without visa. Aizawl, Jan 7 (PTI) Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has said his government would continue providing assistance to refugees from Myanmar and internally displaced people from Manipur, with support from the Centre. HT Image Lalduhoma made the comments at a press conference here on Saturday upon his return from Delhi. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Even though the Centre can't accord refugee status to the Myanmar nationals, it is ready to collaborate with us in providing relief to them. People from Manipur, who fled their homes due to ethnic violence, will also be looked after with the help of the central government," he said. According to officials, more than 31,000 individuals belonging to the Chin community from Myanmar have sought shelter in Mizoram since February 2021, following a military coup in their home country. Over 9,000 internally displaced people from Manipur have taken shelter in Mizoram. The Chin community from Myanmar and the ethnic Kuki-Zo community from Manipur share ethnic ties with the Mizos. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on Friday informed Lalduhoma that the Centre wont deport Myanmar nationals who sought refuge in the state since February 2021, until normalcy is restored in the neighbouring country, an official release said. The chief minister also expressed hope that the Centre will cancel the move to fence a portion of the India-Myanmar border. The Union government had recently said it plans to fence a 300-km stretch of unfenced boundary with Myanmar and end the free movement regime, which allows people living on both sides of the international border to travel within 16 km into each others territory without visa. There are no differences between old and young leaders in the Trinamool Congress, the partys national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee claimed on Sunday but reiterated that younger people always work more because age gives them a natural advantage. Abhishek Banerjee. (File) Addressing a party meeting at Diamond Harbour, his Lok Sabha constituency, the nephew of chief minister Mamata Banerjee said: Why are people talking about divisions in the TMC these days? There is no such thing. However, it is true that I have said younger people are more active. In 2023, I spent more than two months leading the Nabo Joar (new wave) campaign. I can do this because I am 36. Will I be equally active when I am 70? Age is definitely a big factor. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. It was Abhishek who raised the age factor several times at party meetings over the last two years, triggering guarded reactions from his followers and the old-timers who left the Congress with Mamata Banerjee when she launched the TMC in 1998. The differences increased in recent months amid speculations that many of the veteran Lok Sabha members might not be nominated again in 2024. Of the 42 seats in Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wrested 18 while the Congress retained two in 2019, forcing the TMC to close its tally at 22. As Abhishek maintained silence over the past two weeks and stayed away from celebration of the partys 27th foundation day at the TMC headquarters in Kolkata on January 1, the simmering differences came to the fore. I believe Abhishek will not withdraw himself from the coming electoral battle. I am sure he will fight keeping Mamata Banerjee in the forefront, TMC president Subrata Bakshi, a veteran, said at the event. Abhishek gave his reply on Sunday. My focus will of course be on Diamond Harbour but I will do my best to carry out any responsibility the party gives me. I have always served the party to the best of my ability. I never said I will stay away from the campaign, said the young MP. The BJP took a potshot at the TMC on the issue. If Abhishek Banerjee has said something on age then the veteran TMC MPs such as Saugata Roy should be addressing it because they face the crisis, said Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition in the state legislative assembly. Roy did not comment on the issue. Adhikari also targeted Abhishek for announcing on Sunday that around 76,000 senior citizens in Diamond Harbour constituency will be getting a monthly old-age pension of 1,000 each from next month, a new scheme that has not been implemented yet in Bengal. I am sure the state government will implement this scheme in all districts, Banerjee said while making the announcement. This is an attempt to buy votes and has been done in consultation with his aunt. But it wont help him win. Whoever the BJP fields from Diamond Harbour will win. He will come third in the race if the Indian Secular Front (ISF) contests, Adhikari said. Nawsad Siddique, the sole ISF MLA in the state assembly, announced in December that he will contest against Banerjee. Meera Majhi, the OBC woman whose house in Ayodhya Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited and had tea on December 30, has placed the Modi cup among the idols of the deities she worships daily. Caption: Meera Majhi has put the cup on which PM Modi had tea at her residence among the idols of gods at her Ayodhya residence (sourced) He is god-like to us and so everything that he touched has acquired a godly status. He is our god for we got house, power supply, medical facilities all because of him and thats why the cup in which he had tea has special meaning for us, said Meera on the phone from Ayodhya. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The fact that Modis visit to her place and his sending gifts to her afterwards has made Meera a local celebrity of sorts in Lord Rams abode is not coincidental. Modis visit to the riverine community woman, who happens to be the 100 millionth beneficiary of the Ujjwala yojana, served two purposes: highlight the BJPs focus on beneficiaries, mainly the poor, and provide powerful symbolism to OBCs, who, along with Dalits, have been the mainstays of the partys phenomenal wins since 2014. Also read: Watch: Varanasi students make 5-feet-long diya for Ram temple Pran-Prathistha ceremony Such symbolism is likely to get a further boost after the Ram temple inauguration on January 22 as Modi could travel to Shringverpur near Prayagraj to unveil the statue of Lord Ram hugging Nishadraj. We have invited the PM and are hopeful that he will surely take out time to unveil the statues that depicts the kind of closeness Nishads shared with Lord Ram, said Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Nishad, whose Nishad party is a BJP ally. According to pamphlets that the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) affiliate Vishwa Hindu Parishad is getting distributed to the people ahead of the consecration ceremony at Ram temple, temples of sage Valmiki, Nishadraj and Shabri all Hindu icons from humble, socially disadvantaged Dalit and OBC backgrounds - would come up too on the same Janmabhoomi campus where Ram Lallas temple will be thrown open to devotees. A postage stamp of Nishadraj and Mata Shabri, both of whom find mention in the Ramayana, too will be released. While Nishadraj finds mention in the Hindu epic as the riverine community king who helped Lord Ram cross the river on his boat during his exile, Mata Shabri, according to some scriptures of the time, was a woman from the socially disadvantaged or the lower caste of the times and offered fruits to Lord Ram after tasting them. Such symbolism is likely to have its own meaning. These arent stories of today as they travelled across generations. So, the BJP-RSS could well ask critics who throw the untouchability theory to slam Hinduism about how the Lords message of accepting pre-tasted fruits from Mata Shabri or taking help from Nishads to cross the river could be missed? It will be hard to find fault with such messaging that is coming from Ayodhya, said Professor Pawan Sharma from Meerut University. A government-sponsored community feast initiative in Ayodhya has been named after Mata Shabri while a night shelter has been named after Nishadraj, revealing the outreach to OBCs and Dalits ahead of Lok Sabha polls. That the Hindutva foot soldiers from these caste groups were at the forefront of the Ram Mandir agitation merely helps the BJP further in crafting the RSS-sponsored narrative of Hindu unity in a way that helps strike an emotive chord with the majority. On the eve of Modis Ayodhya visit on December 30, it was announced that the international airport would be named after Maharishi Valmiki, a famous sage who hailed from a marginalised community and is best remembered for penning the Ramayana. Thats no secret that we favour Hindu unity, an RSS leader said when asked about the messaging that the Sangh has sought to give through its vigorous backing of samrasta (social harmony), a popular word in most RSS programmes and initiatives and co-opted by the BJP. MUMBAI: The special branch of Mumbai Police has registered a case against actress Shokhsanam Khanna alias Sanam and her stepfather Tejas Khanna for allegedly forging her husband and director Faruk Kabirs signature to obtain an exit permit for their daughter to Uzbekistan. Police said the actress wanted to take the child out of the country without her husbands permission and knowledge owing to dispute among the couple. HT Image The case was registered at the Azad Maidan police station, based on the complaint of special branch officers. Both the actress and her stepfather have been booked under sections 34 (common intention), 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of the Indian Penal Code. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. According to police, Kabir married Sanam in Uzbekistan in 2022 and disputes between them arose after the delivery of their daughter in November 2023. Though the family was residing in India, Sanam was keen on getting Uzbek nationality for her daughter, while Kabir was opposed to it. Sanam subsequently applied for an exit permit for her daughter with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, but without compulsory accompanying documents like the childs birth certificate and the fathers undertaking, said police officials. She submitted these documents later when the police contacted her. But after some days, her father Kabir contacted the special branch asking what documents had been submitted. When he was told about the undertaking, he denied knowledge of any such document and said his signature on it was forged, said a special branch officer. Thereafter, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office wrote to the Azad Maidan police to lodge a case against Sanam and her stepfather for providing forged documents, said the officer. On December 21, Kabir had lodged a complaint with the Versova police against Sanam, her mother Dilfuza and stepfather Tejas Khanna. The crime branch had, on January 1, lodged a case against Sanam and Dilfuza for allegedly fleeing with the baby after detaining them from Amritsar. MUMBAI: Alert cops from Sakinaka police station apprehended a Nigerian man with 88 capsules of cocaine worth around 9 crore in the early hours of Saturday. He had received the consignment from his accomplice who had flown in from Brazil with the capsules in his stomach. HT Image Sub inspectors Rajendra Nagare and Pankaj Pardeshi were on night patrolling around 3 am near the H Gate in Sakivihar when they found the body language and movements of a man suspicious. As the police approached him, he tried to escape in an autorickshaw but the cops got hold of him after a dramatic chase. After thorough enquiry, they uncovered that the man identified as Daniel Naymek, 38, from Lagos, Nigeria was in possession of cocaine capsules weighing 880 grams which he had taken from 19-year-old Venezuela resident Alejandro Vera Ramos. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. We later got to know that Ramos had smuggled the drugs into India by ingesting all 88 capsules. He flew from Sao Paulo in Brazil on January 1 to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia from where he picked up the drugs before flying to India the next day, said Datta Nalawade, deputy commissioner of police for zone 10. After landing in the city, Ramos checked into a hotel in Sakinaka. He told the police that he puked out the capsules. Around 2 am on Saturday, Naymek reached the hotel to pick up the contraband. He was walking outside the hotel when the police team spotted him. He had just come back from buying the capsules from Ramos at the time. He also told us that when he went there, the hotel authorities refused to let Naymek go upstairs to Ramos room, insisting that the two men meet in the hotel lobby, said DCP Nalawade. As the Nigerian man currently lives in Ulwe in Navi Mumbai, the police suspect that he is a part of a drug syndicate run by Nigerians based in Navi Mumbai. Both the accused foreign nationals are currently in police custody. They have both been booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances (NDPS) Act. The entire stash of the cocaine they had traded was seized by the police. Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday took a veiled jibe at his uncle Sharad Pawar, saying some people who are in their 80s are not ready to retire. "Employees of Maharashtra government retire at the age of 58. Most people normally stop their active professional life after turning 75. But there are a few (Sharad Pawar) who, even after crossing 80 years of age and now 84, are not ready to retire," PTI quoted the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, who was addressing a gathering of party workers in Thane. Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar(Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo) On July 2 last year, Ajit Pawar vertically split the party founded by his uncle two decades ago, to join the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra. He took oath as the deputy chief minister for the third time since 2019. The 64-year-old leader had staged a coup days after Pawar Sr. had appointed his daughter Supriya Sule and Praful Patel as working presidents of the party. However, Patel later joined Ajit's faction. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "We are here to work and we can perform," Ajit Pawar said, adding that he joined the state government to serve the people whose problems and other issues cannot be solved without power. Ajit Pawar appealed to NCP workers of his faction to unite ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, showcasing party's strength in the district, and supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's candidacy for a third term. His statement comes days after Sharad Pawar said that the political situation is not favourable for the BJP. BJP is in power. They have set up an aggressive campaign system. BJP is working like Hitler's propaganda system in Germany. BJP leaders may have set a target of winning more than 400 Lok Sabha seats out of the total 543, but the political situation is not favourable for the BJP, ANI quoted the NCP founder as saying. The Twipra Students Federation (TSF), a tribal organisation and member of the North East Student Organisation (NESO) would hold Black Day at areas in Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) on January 8 as part of their anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest. in 2019, three persons were killed amidst clashes between police and agitators against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in Triupras Khumulwng. (Representative Image) Tripura is not able to give space to any more foreigners due to huge population density. We are in favour of safeguarding the welfare of all Indian citizens. We strongly oppose the CAA and appeal to all communities to support the movement against the CAA, said TSF general secretary Hamari Jamatia. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. He added that the foreign immigrants would be allowed by the law to make their citizenships secure. Earlier in 2019, three persons were killed amidst clashes between police and agitators against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) at Madhabbari in Khumulwng, nearly 20 kilometres from Agartala. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is preparing to fly its new line of aircraft, dubbed HURKUS-2, in June, which featured new optimizations and upgrades, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. The company, based in the Turkish capital of Ankara, developed the HURKUS line, a new generation of advanced training and light attack aircraft designed for all levels of pilot training, as well as close air support missions. The HURKUS line initially began as a training aircraft and later was expanded to include variants of light attack and armed reconnaissance variants. The company has been conducting the HURKUS-2 project for some time, thanks to improved capabilities developed during the HURKUS program. TAI is set to deliver 55 units of the advanced HURKUS-2 aircraft, into the inventory of the Turkish Air Forces 122nd Fighter Training Squadron. The HURKUS-2 aircraft is to conduct its first flight in June. The aircraft, expected to provide advantages with its low use cost, is categorized as the advanced variant by the 3rd Main Jet Base in the central city of Konya. The company also developed the HURKUS Air and Ground Integration variant for the use of fire support units and advanced air controller training activities of the Turkish Air Force. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 7. Azerbaijan is ready to cooperate with Japan within COP29, said President Ilham Aliyev, while accepting credentials of newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan Katsuya Watanabe on January 7, Trend reports. Highlighting the three-decade-long friendly relations between the two nations, the head of state emphasized the substantial achievements across various domains and pointed out the existence of good opportunities for further expansion of cooperation in the coming years. President Ilham Aliyev stressed the need to define new areas of cooperation alongside traditional fields. The head of state wished the ambassador success in his endeavors. Katsuya Watanabe expressed his honor in meeting the President of Azerbaijan and thanked for the warm words. He hailed the role of the Azerbaijani President in the existence of friendship and positive relations between the two countries. The ambassador congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on securing the hosting of COP29 in Azerbaijan this year. The head of state thanked for the congratulations, and underscored that the transition to a green economy and the development of high technologies are one of the priority areas of Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev expressed Azerbaijan`s readiness for joint cooperation with Japan within the framework of COP29. Katsuya Watanabe noted that his country attaches great importance to building a green society and development based on high technologies, adding that there are great opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in this sphere. The ambassador said that he would spare no effort in developing Azerbaijan-Japan ties. A Tripura police constable was arrested on Saturday for his alleged misbehaviour with a judge at the Bishalgarh district and session court. (Representative Photo) Police said that the constable, identified as Rupanta Dangu, appeared before the court as a witness in a 2017 abetment to suicide case in an intoxicated condition. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A senior police officer said that Dangu was enquired about the case by the session court judge who took offence at his misdemeanour. He was later arrested. Dangu was posted at the superintendent of police (SP) office in the Sepahijala district. An adult male elephant has been killed in Assams Jorhat district after being hit by a speeding train. According to the forest officials, the incident happened near Mariani Railway Station at around 11.30pm on Saturday. The incident happened near Mariani Railway Station at around 11.30pm on Saturday. (Representative Image) After the incident, locals called the forest officials and a team rushed to the spot. We came with a team of doctors and they tried to provide treatment. But the injuries were severe and the elephant died on Sunday morning, officials said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Some onlookers said that a herd of elephants was crossing the railway track when the train came. The other elephants managed to cross but one of them came under the train and it was dragged for around 100 metres, a local said. According to the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), Sabyasachi De, the elephant was accidentally hit by Vivek Superfast Express train (DibrugarhKanyakumari) coming from Dibrugarh on Saturday night and it died later. De said that all the loco pilots are instructed to move the trains carefully on sensitive areas but where the incident happened on Saturday night was not a common elephant route. The incident happened near Mariani Railway Station and this is the first of such cases in this area. Elephant movements were not witnessed there in the past. We have instructed the loco pilots to take more careful measures while moving the train in that area from now, De told HT on Sunday. Last year, at least three such cases were recorded in Assam and several elephants died. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma last year said that they were planning to create some elephant corridors and the work was under progress. On January 5, a 9-months-old elephant calf was found dead in a paddy field in Assams Boko area. Forest officials said that local residents noticed the carcass and informed them. The dead body was recovered and sent for postmortem later. We are trying to find the reason behind the death. Once the postmortem report comes, things will be clear, said a forest official. The human-elephant conflict in Assam is increasing and several locals were killed in elephant attacks last year. In two separate incidents on Saturday, two persons were killed in the state. According to the forest officials, a 55-year-old man was killed in Boko area while another death was reported from Goalpara district. In a significant breakthrough, the cyber cell unit of Pune apprehended Prashant Kumar from Gujarat on Saturday in connection with the ongoing Bitsolives cryptocurrency fraud. Last year, police arrested Ganesh Shivkumar Sagar (47), from Delhi and a search for another suspect is underway. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) Kumar, along with two accomplices, has been accused of orchestrating investment seminars across various cities, including Mahabaleshwar, Pune, and Mumbai, where they allegedly enticed unsuspecting individuals with promises of high returns on cryptocurrency investments. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The fraud happened in 2021-22 in which at least eight investors have been duped initially for the tune of 84,34,641.76 but during the probe amount rose to 1 crore. Last year, police arrested Ganesh Shivkumar Sagar (47), from Delhi and a search for another suspect is underway. According to police, the trio successfully organised seminars that attracted numerous participants, exploiting the growing interest in cryptocurrency investments. The suspects allegedly presented themselves as seasoned experts in the field, assuring attendees of lucrative returns on their investments in Bitsolives, a cryptocurrency platform. So far, eight victims have come forward and lodged formal complaints against the accused, prompting the police to initiate a thorough investigation into the matter. Police officials have revealed that the accused took advantage of the victims lack of knowledge about cryptocurrency investments, creating an illusion of legitimacy around their operation. Police inspector Chandrashekhar Sawant said, The accused asked investors to purchase Bitcoin and asked them to keep that in a wallet provided by Bitsolives company. After a few months accused switched off their phone and duped several people. A case has been registered at a cyber police station under sections 406, 420, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 66(D), of the Information Technology Act. India is in the process of coming up with a new tourism policy to boost the industry in the country. In a move to improve medical tourism in the country, the government in the upcoming budget will include some subsidies and benefits for patients coming to India for medical tourism, Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik said. Minister Naik informed that India is progressing in promoting health and wellness tourism and moving towards a global health destination. (HT PHOTO) Minister Naik on Friday was in Pune to attend a press conference organised by Ruby Hall Clinic (RHC). The conference was attended by Purvez Grant, chairman, and managing trustee of RHC, Dr Behram Khodaiji, CEO, of RHC, and advisor Ali Daruwala. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Minister Naik informed that India is progressing in promoting health and wellness tourism and moving towards a global health destination. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is taking adequate measures for the sustainable development of India. A city like Pune has adequate facilities to be developed as a medical tourism hub. People from different countries come to Pune for tourism and medical tourism. With the state-of-the-art facilities, Pune is growing and has come a way ahead in terms of medical tourism. Pune currently gets patients from Yemen, Iraq, Oman, South Sudan, and Liberia amongst others. India is the most affordable option for medical tourism in the world with available quality healthcare. However, currently, Pune and similar cities in India are facing tough competition from countries like Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Jordan, Malaysia, and Thailand in medical tourism. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Naik added, The Medical tourism policy of the country is not yet finalised. The policy is under development and the government will make provisions in the policy to make India one of the most preferred countries in the world for medical tourism. We will incorporate some subsidies and benefits for foreign nationals coming to India for medical treatment, he said. Medical tourism in other countries is turning out to be the preferred destination due to the promotion and ease of visas or discounts for medical tourists on Air travel. In Turkey and Jordan, the treatment cost is competitive with India with good connectivity. Turkish Airlines and Air Jordan promote medical tourism in their countries. Interestingly Turkish Airlines offers discounts to foreign patients travelling to Turkey for medical tourism. Dr Purvez Grant, Managing Trustee of RHC, said that countries like France, Spain, and Italy each get around 60 million tourists every year, but India gets only 12 million tourists every year in comparison. The problem is the infrastructure which needs to be improved to lure tourists to India, he opined. Dr Grant said, Pune has a major problem of poor Air connectivity which prevents the city from becoming a medical tourism destination. There is no connectivity from Pune to Europe or other countries. Only one flight comes from Dubai to India at odd times. Pune Airport should be developed, and connectivity should be increased. Medical tourism if developed in Pune will be similar to the IT hub but the infrastructure and connectivity are the major issues. Responding to that, Naik said the infrastructure in the city and other parts of the country will be upgraded to boost tourism. The Pune Airport will be upgraded, and its connectivity will be increased to increase medical tourism in the city. The new terminal at Pune Airport will be inaugurated soon by the hand of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi before the Lok Sabha elections, he said. Get ready for the royal card showdown! High Card Season 2 Episode 1 is hitting screens soon, and we've got the lowdown on the release date, where to watch, and more. High Card Season 2 Episode 1 release date is January 8, 2024, on Crunchyroll. High Card Season 2 Episode 1 release date and time: Mark your calendars! High Card Season 2 Episode 1 is set to drop on January 8, 2024. While the release time is yet to be officially announced, Crunchyroll typically unveils new content around 1:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). For your convenience, here are the expected release times in different time zones: Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time (PT) 1:00 P.M. Eastern Time (ET) 7:00 P.M. British Summer Time (BST) 8:00 P.M. Central European Summer Time (CEST) 12:30 A.M. Indian Standard Time (IST) Where to watch High Card Season 2 Episode 1: Don't miss out! Catch High Card Season 2 Episode 1 exclusively on Crunchyroll. To dive into the action, consider Crunchyroll's subscription plans: Fan ($7.99/month), Mega Fan ($9.99/month), and Ultimate Fan ($14.99/month). Recap of the High Card Season 1: In the first season, Finn, a skilled thief, embarks on a mission to collect 52 special cards scattered across the Fourland Kingdom. Facing challenges from rival groups like the Klondikes and Who's Who, Finn navigates a world of supernatural abilities and secret societies, all under the king's discreet command. What to expect from High Card Season 2: Get ready for more chaos! In Season 2, the Fourland Kingdom continues to grapple with the fallout of scattered X-Playing Cards. Pinochle, a top corporation, is on a mission to retrieve these powerful cards, aiming to restore order amidst citizens wielding unpredictable supernatural powers. About the High Card Season anime: The Fourland Kingdom, an island nation, holds 52 X-Playing Cards with unique supernatural abilities. When these cards spread across the country, chaos ensues. The king assigns Pinochle a mission to collect the scattered cards and bring back order, setting the stage for High Card's gripping narrative. Also Read | Winter 2024 anime season - All anime releases of January and where to watch them High Card Season 2 cast and characters to look out for: The familiar voices are back! The cast includes Gen Sato as Finn Oldman, Toshiki Masuda as Chris Redgrave, Shun Horie as Leo Constantine Pinochle, and more. Get ready to dive back into the intriguing world of High Card with your favourite characters. High Card Season 2 is set to elevate the card game to new heights. With a blend of suspense, supernatural abilities, and strategic battles, it promises to be a must-watch for anime enthusiasts Get ready, anime fans! The highly anticipated Tsukimichi Moonlit Fantasy Season 2 is about to hit your screens with a bang. If you're a fan of isekai adventures, magical powers, and unexpected twists, this one's for you. Let's dive into the details and make sure you don't miss a thing. Crunchyroll secures streaming rights for Tsukimichi Moonlit Fantasy Season 2.(X) Tsukimichi Moonlit Fantasy Season 2 Episode 1 release date and time Mark your calendars! The first episode of Tsukimichi Moonlit Fantasy Season 2 is set to premiere on Monday, January 8, 2024. Here are the release timings in different time zones: Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Japan Standard Time (JST): Monday, January 8, 2024, at 11 pm Pacific Standard Time (PT): Monday, January 8, 2024, at 6 am Eastern Standard Time (ET): Monday, January 8, 2024, at 9 am Central Standard Time (CT): Monday, January 8, 2024, at 8 am Indian Standard Time (IST): Monday, January 8, 2024, at 7:30 pm Where to watch Tsukimichi Moonlit Fantasy Season 2 Episode 1 Crunchyroll has secured the streaming rights for Tsukimichi Moonlit Fantasy Season 2 outside of Asia. International fans can catch the English subtitled version on Crunchyroll. For viewers in South and Southeast Asia, Medialink has the broadcasting rights, available on the Ani-One YouTube channel through their Ani-One Ultra Membership scheme. Recap of the Tsukimichi Moonlit Fantasy Season 1 If you haven't caught up yet, the first season garnered acclaim for its unique take on isekai. Makoto Misumi, an ordinary high school boy, gets summoned to another world, only to face rejection from the goddess. Stranded at the edge of the world, he encounters dragons, orcs, and more, showcasing his unimaginable magical powers. What to expect from Tsukimichi Moonlit Fantasy Season 2 Season 2 promises to address pacing concerns and align more closely with the manga's narrative. With over 20 episodes expected, get ready for an epic continuation of Makoto's journey amidst demihumans and mythical beings. Also Read | Winter 2024 anime season - All anime releases of January and where to watch them What is Tsukimichi Moonlit Fantasy about Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy follows Makoto Misumi's quest to transform an unfamiliar world despite being abandoned by gods and humans. Magic, adventure, and unexpected encounters await in this alternate-world social reform fantasy. Tsukimichi Moonlit Fantasy Season 2 cast and characters to look out for The talented cast includes Hanae Natsuki as Makoto Misumi, Sakura Ayane as Tomoe, Kitou Akari as Mio, and Tsuda Kenjirou as Shiki. Directed by Shinji Ishihira, the anime boasts remarkable animation and production quality. Almost the entire Bachchan household flocked to Mumbai's DOME by NSCI to cheer for Abhishek Bachchan's Jaipur Pink Panthers. The team was already the reigning champions and beat U Mumbai 41-31 in Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season 10 match on Saturday. A video of Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh Bachchan and Aaradhya looking excited and cheering for the team with full enthusiasm was shared by Star Sports. Also read: Aaradhya Bachchan delivers impressive performance on annual day, proud mom Aishwarya Rai records the moment. Watch Aaradhya, Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan at Pro Kabaddi League match. The video shows all the Bachchans in the team's blue and white tracksuits. They are seen getting up from their seats to clap and cheer for JPP as they seal the win against the opponent. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Fans react to Bachchans' video from PKL As a paparazzo account shared snapshots of the Bachchans on Instagram, fans reacted to the post in the comments section. A fan wrote about Aishwarya-Abhishek's divorce rumours, Can hear those divorce rumour makers crying in the corner. Another said, Thank God.. Tension utar gyi (the stress is gone). Its really bad to listen all about rumours.. especially for AB. God bless Bachchan family. One more said, So good to see all of them happy family. A fan called them a Beautiful family, while another commented, Bachchans have our hearts. A comment also read: Jaya Bachchan missing in this togetherness. Amitabh is proud of his grandkids The Bachchans had quite an eventful year 2023. Amitabh's grandson Agastya Nanda made his acting debut as the lead in Zoya Akhtar's musical, The Archies. The Bachchans were in full attendance at the film's grand premiere in Mumbai. Amitabh had also watched Aaradhya perform at her school's annual function and was all praise for his granddaughter on social media. The 81-year-old had attended the event at the Dhirubhai Ambani International School along with Aishwarya, Abhishek and Agastya. On his personal blog, Amitabh had written how impressed he was with Aaradhya's performance. ".. busy getting over the Concert at Aaradhya's School and her performance .. such a delight and a moment of pride for all of us .. a complete natural on stage the little one - well not little anymore .. (sic)" he wrote on his blog. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place. Bipasha Basu celebrated her 45th birthday on Sunday on a scenic beach location in the Maldives with her actor husband Karan Singh Grover and daughter Devi. The Raaz actor has shared some stunning pictures from her birthday vacation on Instagram and has also thanked her fans for their wishes. Also read: Bipasha Basu, baby Devi twin in sarees as they visit Durga Puja pandal together for the first time. Watch Bipasha Basu is vacationing with Karan Singh Grover and Devi in Maldives. Bipasha rings 45th birthday in Maldives Sharing a perfect family picture post Saturday midnight, Bipasha wrote on Instagram, "Perfect Birthday. Just need my 2 babies and sunshine and water #monkeylove," along with a pink heart and a nazar amulet. The picture showed Bipasha and Karan kissing as the former held Devi in her arms during their time in the pool. The blue ocean and a sea plane could be seen in the background. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. On Sunday, she shared an even better picture to thank her fans. It gave a better look at Devi's face as Karan made her sit on a table, with Bipasha giving him a hug from behind. Love is all that I can feel. So grateful to all who love me and are sending me the sweetest wishes. Just a Lucky Girl #itsmybirthday, she wrote along with the picture. Bipasha had earlier shared an adorable video with Devi, calling her the best gift. She wrote upon her arrival in the Maldives, The best gift I could ever receive is my Devi. Thank you @iamksgofficial. Now lets get ready to partyyy - you me and our little bundle of infinite love. My birthday is almost here. More about Devi, Karan Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover had earlier shared lovely glimpses of Devi from their Christmas celebrations. They had flown to the Maldives in November as well to celebrate Devi's first birthday. Karan is now gearing up for the release of his much-anticipated film, Fighter. Directed by Siddharth Anand, Fighter is an aerial action entertainer starring Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor, Akshay Oberoi and Karan as Air Force pilots. The film is set to release in theatres on January 25. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Nicolas Cage, a name synonymous with cinematic unpredictability, has unleashed his quirky charm and unparalleled acting prowess in the latest horror comedy flick, Dream Scenario. The movie revolves around a family man whose life takes an unexpected turn when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. (Also Read: Nicolas Cage says he did not shoot his Superman cameo in The Flash as it was: I don't know what happened there') Nicolas Cage in Dream Scenario Before you explore this surreal journey of dreams gone awry, let's take a moment to appreciate some of the finest performances by the man himself. Here's a handpicked list of five must-watch Nicolas Cage movies that may prepare you for the roller coaster ride that is Dream Scenario. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Adaptation (2002) In this mind-bending collaboration with director Spike Jonze, Nicolas delivers a tour de force performance playing not one, but two characters. The film revolves around the struggles of a screenwriter named Charlie Kaufman as he attempts to adapt a nonfiction book into a screenplay. As the lines between reality and fiction blur, Nicolas showcases his incredible range, seamlessly transitioning between the socially awkward Charlie and his fictional, confident twin brother, Donald. Leaving Las Vegas (1995) For a stark departure from Nicolas' more eccentric roles, Leaving Las Vegas is a haunting portrayal of a man on a self-destructive path. Directed by Mike Figgs, Cage plays Ben Sanderson, an alcoholic screenwriter who heads to Las Vegas to drink himself to death. The raw, unflinching nature of Nicolas' performance earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. Raising Arizona (1987) Directed by the Coen Brothers, this screwball comedy showcases Nicolas' comedic chops in a tale of an unlikely couple attempting to start a family through unconventional means. Nicolas plays HI McDunnough, a small-time crook who teams up with his police officer wife (Holly Hunter) to steal a baby from a wealthy family. The film is a hilarious rollercoaster filled with absurd characters, bizarre situations, and Nicolas' impeccable timing, proving that he can effortlessly navigate the realms of comedy with as much finesse as drama. Face/off (1997) Teaming up with John Travolta, Nicolas takes the action genre to new heights in John Woo's Face/Off. In this high-octane thriller, Nicolas plays terrorist Castor Troy, whose face is surgically swapped with FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) to thwart a terrorist plot. The film is a symphony of over-the-top performances, intense action sequences, and a premise that defies all logic. Nicolas' portrayal of the unhinged villain is a masterclass in theatricality, solidifying his status as an action star capable of pushing the boundaries of the genre. Mandy (2018) Venturing into the psychedelic horror genre, Mandy, directed by Panos Cosmatos, is a visually stunning and surreal experience. Nicolas plays Red Miller, a lumberjack seeking revenge for the brutal murder of his wife by a deranged cult. The film is a hallucinatory journey through madness, featuring Nicolas at his most intense and unhinged. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place. Nawazuddin Siddiqui will soon debut in Telugu in Sailesh Kolanus Saindhav, which releases on January 13, right on time for Sankranthi. He plays Vikas Malik, a businessman whos borderline unhinged if the trailer is anything to go by. In a press interaction in Hyderabad, the actor spoke about working with Venkatesh in the Shraddha Srinath, Ruhani Sharma and Andrea Jeremiah co-starrer, learning Telugu and more. Excerpts. (Also Read: Saindhav director Sailesh Kolanu reacts to viral meme) Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a still from Saindhav Playing the villain Nawazuddin says that he has played almost all kinds of roles at this stage of his career, but his role in Saindhav excited him. Ive never seen roles in terms of heroes or villains. A good role that excites me is all that matters, he says, adding, In fact, sometimes the negative roles give you much more scope to perform than the supposedly good ones do. Sailesh has penned one such role for me. But the actor admits theres one dream role he would love to essay someday. If I get the opportunity, Ill play Osho in his biopic, he says. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Learning Telugu Telugu is an alien language for Nawazuddin, but the actor says he was insistent on dubbing for himself in Saindhav. It doesnt sound good otherwise when someone else dubs for you, he explains. Luckily, his character is a Hyderabadi, he adds. He speaks both Hindi and Telugu, so I was fine. Learning a new language is always difficult but I dont believe in prompters. So even on sets, I would learn my lines beforehand so it looked good on-screen. I believe all this hard work will pay off, he says. Learning from Venkatesh Ask him about Venkatesh and hes candid in his praise for the star. Theres a lot to learn from him, it was a good experience to shoot with him, he says. He even reveals that Venkatesh worked hard in the action sequences. He did all of them without a dupe. Youll see a whole new side of him in the film, he says, adding, While I believe theres a lot to learn from him. I observed that he has a lot of patience. Its something I wish to learn from him. Shooting in Sri Lanka When asked if he has any memorable moments from the shoot, Nawazuddin cracks up. We were shooting in Sri Lanka and I almost fell off a boat, he chuckles, adding, A massive wave came our way and almost toppled meI flew off the boat. I was lucky to land on the boat again instead of the ocean. The best part, he says, is that they got it all on camera. They kept the shot in the film. I bet the audience will love it! he rounds off. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 7. This year the 29th conference of the International Association of Prosecutors will be held in Baku, Trend reports. This was stated during an operational meeting at the Prosecutor Generals Office dedicated to discussing the results of the work done in 2023 and upcoming tasks. On September 15, 2023, the 33rd meeting of the Coordination Council of Prosecutors General of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the 4th meeting of the Prosecutors General of the member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization took place in Baku. The 29th conference of the International Association of Prosecutors is planned to be held in Baku from September 27 to October 2, 2024. Planning a trip to Finland? Theres an important update in the visa application process that you need to know about before getting all your documentation together. The minimum daily financial requirement, which is key to your travel process and budgeting has gone up from 30 (INR 2,737) to 50 (INR 4,560), starting January 2024. Aiming to optimise immigration and avoid overstays, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made it mandatory to provide evidence of sponsorship or accommodation throughout their stay. It is important to note that those who will be staying for a shorter duration than the average will need to show a high daily balance in their bank to qualify for the visa. It is important to note that those who will be staying for a shorter duration than the average will need to show a high daily balance in their bank to qualify for the visa. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A Schengen visa serves as a permit to enter 23 of the 27 EU member countries, as well as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. These changes are expected to streamline the visa application process. New Delhi: Haryana tops the list of fake firms per lakh among entities registered with the Goods and Services Tax authorities, followed by Delhi, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, according to official data on action taken against bogus firms in the December quarter, even as a special drive since May detected 29,273 fictitious firms defrauding 44,015 crore. New Delhi: Booklets on GST (Goods and Services Tax), which were distributed by the Central Board of Direct Taxes at a function organised to celebrate GST Day, in New Delhi on Sunday, July 1, 2018. (PTI Photo)(PTI7_1_2018_00142A) (PTI) While the largest number of bogus firms incorporated for input tax credit was detected in Maharashtra (926), in terms of fake firms per lakh, Haryana emerged number one (81), followed by Delhi (61), Rajasthan (59) and Maharashtra (54), according to finance ministry data released on Sunday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In terms of total amount suspected to be in the category of tax evasion, Delhi emerged at the top with 3,028 crore in the quarter ended December, followed by Maharashtra ( 2,201 crore) and Uttar Pradesh ( 1,645 crore). The maximum number of arrests were made in Delhi and Maharashtra (11 each) during this period. ITC frauds are rampant by elements who use bogus firms to generate fake invoices and defraud the exchequer without actually delivering goods or services, HT reported on January 5. The government is considering more intense technology based advance risk profiling to pre-empt such frauds and block suspected claims, which was estimated at over 4 lakh crore in the past four years, with less than 30% recovery rate, the report said. To curb these frauds and increase compliance, GST officials under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and states are carrying out a drive on the issuance of fake invoices without any underlying supply of goods and services, the finance ministry said in a statement on Sunday. Since the initiation of the special drive against fake registrations in mid-May 2023, a total of 29,273 bogus firms involved in suspected Input Tax Credit (ITC) evasion of 44,015 crore have been detected. This has saved 4,646 crore, of which 3,802 crore is by blocking of ITC and 844 crore is by way of recovery. So far, 121 arrests have been made in the cases, it said. In the quarter ended December, 4,153 bogus firms that involved suspected ITC evasion of around 12,036 crore were detected, it said. 2,358 of these bogus firms were detected by the Central GST Authorities. This has protected revenue of 1,317 crore of which Rs. 319 crore has been realised and 997 crore has been protected by blocking ITC. 41 persons were arrested in these cases. 31 of these arrests were by Central GST Authorities, the ministry said. The government has taken various measures to strengthen the indirect tax registration process. Pilot projects of biometric- based Aadhaar authentication at the time of registration have been launched in Gujarat, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh. Besides, the government has endeavoured to curtail evasion of tax through measures such as sequential filing of GST returns, system generated intimation for reconciliation of the gap in tax liability in GSTR-1 & GSTR-3B returns and of the gap between ITC available as per GSTR-2B and ITC availed in GSTR-3B returns, use of data analytics and risk parameters for detection of fake ITC, etc, the finance ministry said. Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Ram Temple Trust, has shared the details of the idol of Lord Ram which will be installed in the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Rai said the idol of Lord Ram is in the form of a five-year-old child (Ram Lalla). It has been made using dark-coloured stone and is 51 inches tall. Sculptor Arun Yogiraj, whose idol of Lord Rama has been selected for installation at the Shri Ram Janambhoomi in Ayodhya.(PTI) The idol made of Lord Shri Ram Lalla is in the form of a five-year-old child. The statue is 51 inches tall, made of black stone, and is very attractively made, Rai told media on Saturday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Rai said the idol of Lord Ram would be placed on the ground of the temple. The idols of Lord Ram's brothers, besides Sita and Hanuman, will be placed on the first floor of the grand temple but added that it would take another eight months. The idol of 'Ram Lalla' carved by Karnataka's renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj will be installed in the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22. However, a formal announcement regarding the selection of the idol is awaited by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust. Also Read | Ram temple example of sustained efforts: Yogi Adityanath The worship of the idol will begin on January 16 and it will be installed in the sanctum sanctorum on January 18. The length of Lord Shri Rams idol and the height of its installation have been designed in such a way on the advice of eminent space scientists of India that every year on Ram Navami, the ninth date of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month, Lord Surya himself will anoint Shri Ram as sunrays will directly fall on his forehead at 12 noon making it shine, Rai was quoted as saying by News18. Rai said the idol of Lord Ram has been selected keeping in mind the softness of the face, look in the eyes, smile, and body among other things. He added that water and milk will not have any adverse effect on the stone. Ayodhya's Ram Temple ceremony The grand consecration ceremony of Ram temple will be held on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will also share the dais with several other dignitaries. More than 7,000 people have been invited to the ceremony by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust. Earlier this week, Adityanath held a review meeting with officials regarding the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, wherein he directed the organisation of programs such as bhajans, recitation of the Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas, and Sundarkand in the temples of Ayodhya from January 14 onwards. The Bharatiya Janata Party has also announced plans to live-stream the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram temple on the booth level across the country. The Ram temple will be opened for devotees on January 23. The Maldives government on Sunday suspended at least three ministers who made derogatory comments on social media against India and its leadership even as it distanced itself from the remarks and urged officials not to do anything that affects ties with international partners. Dubai, Dec 1 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, in Dubai on Friday. (ANI Photo)(ANI) The row erupted over the weekend aftersome Maldivian leaders, includingZahid Rameez, a leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives that is part of the government, and deputy minister Mariyam Shiuna, reacted to posts on social media describing Lakshadweep as a tourist destination that rivals the Maldives following Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to the islands. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. HT's full coverage of Maldives row: PM Modi's tweet, ministers' remarks and more All government officials responsible for the comments have been suspended from their post effective immediately, said Ibrahim Khaleel, spokesperson for the President of Maldives. While Khaleel didnt name the officials, reports in the Maldivian media identified them as Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, all of whom are deputy ministers in the ministry of youth empowerment, information and art.It could not be confirmed if any action was taken against Rameez. People familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity that the Indian side had conveyed its concerns over the derogatory remarks to the Maldives. The row comes at a time when the new President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, who is perceived to be pro-China, has called on India to withdraw some 77 Indian military personnel posted in the Indian Ocean archipelago to operate two helicopters and an aircraft. Following his recent visit to Lakshadweep, Modi highlighted the stunning beauty of the islands and the incredible warmth of its people in a post on X and said: For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list. This spurred several posts on social media urging Indians to visit Lakshadweep instead of the Maldives because of the pro-China tilt of the government in Male. Muizzu, who assumed office last November, also broke with convention by announcing recently that he would visit China before travelling to India. New Delhi is usually the first port of call for Maldivian presidents but Turkey was the first country to which Muizzu made a bilateral visit. Responding to one such post, Shiuna on X referred to the Indian premier as a puppet of Israel. She subsequently deleted the post but screen grabs of it were widely shared on social media. In another post, Shiuna opposed what she described as Indias military presence in the Maldives. Similar derogatory posts were made by Malsha Shareef and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid. Rameez responded to one such post on X by saying that the idea of the islands competing with the Maldives is delusional. He added: How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall. Earlier on Sunday, the Maldivian foreign ministry issued a statement that said the government is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. Without directly referring to India, the statement added: These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives. The government, the statement further said, believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners. Moreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks, the statement said. Other Maldivian leaders, including former president Mohamed Nasheed, former president Ibrahim Solih and former foreign minister Abdulla Shahid, criticised the actions of the deputy ministers. Nasheed referred to the appalling language used by Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally that is instrumental for Maldives security and prosperity and said in a post on X that Muizzus government must give a clear assurance to India they do not reflect [government] policy. India has always been a good friend to Maldives and we must not allow such callous remarks to negatively impact the age-old friendship between our two countries, Solih said on X. Shahid said in a post on X that the derogatory remarks by the deputy ministers and a member of the ruling coalition towards Modi and the people of India are reprehensible and odious. He added, India is a time-tested friend and an unwavering ally. They have historically been the first to respond in our time of need. Our close relationship has been bound by mutual respect, history, culture and strong people-to-people relations. Union home minister Amit Shah is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir on January 9 to review the security situation in the region, weeks after four soldiers were killed by terrorists in an ambush in Poonch district, people aware of the matter said on Saturday. Union home minister Amit Shah is also likely to join an ongoing Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra programme during his J&K visit (Agencies) Though there was no official confirmation on Shahs visit to the Union territory, officials in the home department said it would depend on weather conditions. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. During his visit, the home minister will visit the forward areas and take stock of the anti-terror operations, one of the people said, requesting anonymity. He is also likely to chair a security review meeting in Jammu. National security advisor Ajit Doval, Intelligence Bureau chief Tapan Deka and army chief General Manoj Pande are also likely to accompany the home minister. Subject to fair weather conditions, Shah is likely to be accompanied by home secretary AK Bhalla, top security officials from various paramilitary forces and senior officials of various intelligence agencies, an official from the home department of J&K said, declining to be named. If the weather remained stable and visibility not hampered, the home minister may also visit Rajouri and Poonch districts to assess the security scenario in the region. Shah is also likely to join an ongoing Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra programme during his J&K visit, besides reviewing the Bharatiya Janata Partys preparedness for the Lok Sabha elections, the people added. On December 21, four soldiers were killed by terrorists in an ambush in Surankote in Poonch district. A day after the terror attack, three civilians were found dead after they were allegedly picked up by the army for questioning. Defence minister Rajnath Singh and army chief Pande had also visited Poonch in the wake of these incidents. On December 27, the defence minister also met the civilians, who were allegedly tortured in the army camp a day after the Surankote ambush, at Rajouri hospital. The J&K administration had also announced compensation and jobs to the families of the dead civilians and said legal action has been initiated in the incident. On January 2, Shah had reviewed the security situation in J&K during a high-level meeting in Delhi. The twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch have witnessed a spike in terror attacks in the past couple of years. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Sunday backed Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for slamming the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after a team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was attacked in West Bengal's North 24 Pargana district. According to Poonawalla, Adhir Ranjan is the tallest leader of the grand old party in the state. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. (ANI) TMC means 'Talibani Mindset and Culture', and this has been confirmed by one of the tallest leaders in Congress, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. After the violence that took place against central agencies in West Bengal, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury demanded the President's rule, the BJP leader said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. However, Poonawalla took a swipe at the central leadership of the Congress party for remaining in ties with the TMC in the INDIA bloc. On one hand, Congress makes an alliance with TMC to 'save democracy' and on the other hand, their leader (Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury) says that democracy is in peril in West Bengal. Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi must tell whether they agree with Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury or they do not agree with him. What kind of alliance is this? he questioned. On the other hand, Adhir Ranjan criticised ED by calling it an idiot while speaking on the central agency issuing a lookout circular against TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh after the attack. What will ED do? ED is itself an idiot. The ruling party in Bengal will look after him, the Congress MP said. On Friday, an 800-strong mob attacked an ED team when the agency officials went to search the house of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh in connection with an alleged ration scam. Sheikh is considered to be a close aide of state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick who was arrested in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam. A day later, the federal agency team, accompanied by central force personnel, was attacked again when the officials were leaving TMC leader Shankar Adhya's house after arresting him. While no one was injured in the incident, a vehicle of the central agency's team was damaged during stone pelting. (With inputs from agencies) Chennai has been in depression since December 4, a 40-something Chennaiite, who heads an equity market research firm said when asked about how the city was coping nearly a month after torrential rains devastated it and four adjoining districts. The residents description is also a comment on how much the city lost to the ravaging waters in the span of a week, from communication and power lines to food availability, mobility, and infrastructure. Cyclone Michaung struck Chennai on December 4, 2023, while making its way northwards from Tamil Nadu, eventually making its landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh on December 5 2023. At least 20 people were killed and thousands were marooned in the city. According to the state government, over 40 cm of rainfall inundated the city in a period of 48 hours in early December, submerging residential buildings, and washing away cars and cattle mercilessly with its strong currents. In 2015, the city faced similar devastation when the city received 50 cm of rainfall in a single day, the highest ever in a century, making it an abnormal meteorological event. By comparison, Chennai received 8.4 cm in 2022 November, which was the highest single-day rainfall received that year. But the story of Chennais death, devastation, and destruction is as much about weather patterns as it is about the unplanned construction and non-adherence to building codes. If 2015 was a man-made disaster that came calling because of unregulated construction over floodplains, lakes and ephemeral streams, the 2023 disaster was a combination of bad weather and worn infrastructure. 2015 served the residents a notice of what could worsen in the coming years. Still, city planners said that successive governments since then have been tardy in their response to build institutional capacity and take a holistic view of the situation. Chennai city is just six metres above sea level and it is prone to flooding more than any other coastal city in India. It is largely because Chennais monsoon is the northeastern monsoon, which is a retreating monsoon, unlike the southwestern monsoon. The NE monsoon is unstable and has a high degree of variability, said Raj Bhagat Palanichamy who is an independent climate action researcher and environmental conservationist. Mumbai, the western coastal city that bears the brunt of an atypical monsoon each year is at an elevation of 15m, while Kochi and Visakhapatnam, are at 26m and 45m above sea level. But Palanichamy and other experts said that the Bays behaviour also accounts for Chennais vulnerability. The Bay of Bengal Sea is known to be more aggressive than its western counterpart, the Arabian Sea. This causes the low-pressure systems to quickly mature into depressions and cyclones bearing clouds that could quickly flatten a city drenching it with more than 50 cm of rainfall in a single day. Given that the city has the second longest coastline in the country at 1,075 km, the seas waters, made warmer by the hot climes offer ample opportunity for the many a cyclone to gather force within a short period. What, Where, and How We Built As a city that was built over 600 lakes, it all boils down to what, where, and how we built what we built, Raj Palanichamy said. The Adyar, Cooum, and Kosasthalaiyar rivers --- explain where they are in relation to the city to allow rainwater to drain naturally, he added. As part of green infrastructure, rivers need stormwater runoffs as buffers to help hold all the excess water before it finds its way into the sea. In addition, a densely vegetated riparian buffer, like a wetland on both sides of the river also helps in holding all the excess silt that spills over when rivers flood. Even until the late 19th century, Chennai, then Madras, was counted among the worlds largest wettest cities. Chennai had more than 150 water bodies that were part of a flood mitigating system in the urban areas and the suburbs. Researchers at Chennais Anna University state in their 2021 paper that between 1893 and 2017, the area of Chennais water bodies shrank from 12.6 square km to about 3.2 square km, paving the way for rapid urbanisation, industrialisation, particularly the IT corridor that came up in 2008 on 230 sqkm of marshland. Subsequently, when the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT) was formed in 2006 to restore lakes and rivers, the Chennai Corporation first realised the citys rivers and waterways (Buckingham Canal) were almost biologically dead. In the years to follow, however, despite good intentions and reasonable attempts to clean up rivers to protect the marine ecosystem, the governments efforts proved abortive because of a lack of a whole river basin approach to addressing the issue of flooding, experts reckon. Improper planning at the design phase is the main culprit. When building residential or commercial complexes, rainwater needs to be accounted for every square meter or square foot. So, one of the first things that need to be implemented in urban spaces is the installation of rainwater systems in existing and new buildings after understanding the storage capability of the building. We need to build larger storage tanks to plan for proper planning for flooding. These rainwater systems capture your roof water, clean surface water, and filter it before sending it to the storage tank, said Chungi. Spatial designers like Akila Chungi, a built environment designer, is the Co-Founder of Native Matter, a firm that assists the construction industry with environmental aspects. Firms like hers have for long urged firms and families to factor in the topography and layout of the land before any construction is undertaken. Structures could be legal and yet not conform to building norms, they say. Work has been on since 2006 to scientifically understand the ecology and topography to protect sensitive areas and create buffer zones around them before granting permission for construction. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), the nodal planning body that the government relies on in known to have incorporated many changes after the 2015 flood. Its Revised Master Plan that it produced after the 2015 flood is supposed to have identified areas of improvement concerning planning, construction, and implementation. One of the experts HT Premium spoke to is on the panel of this CMDA Planning Commission that has now brought on board hydrologists, geologists, agricultural experts, besides green building advisors. The expert declined a request to be identified because he is a government servant. The CMDA, in its Revised Master Plan 3 (RMP 3) has two parts to the protection and restoration of water bodies. One, a 100 crore comprehensive lake development project to restore 10 lakes in the city over a period of five years. Second, eight other water bodies would be restored in southern and northern regions of Chennai covering an expanse of 484 acres at a cost of 73 crore. This second project would be funded by the Union government under the aegis of the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF). This restoration would deepen the lakes and help increase the water holding capacity by up to 1 million cubic metres depending on the size of the lake. Build for Resilience The CMDA has held several meetings with all stakeholders to take their inputs after it was heavily revamped. In the last 1.5 years, much has changed, the panel member said. As part of its policy analysis paper, the Middle East Institute (MEI), one of the not-for-profits that is advising the TN government on climate affairs noted in its paper that besides planning, another crucial spoke in the wheel would be the development of city disaster risk resilience strategy. Disaster-resistant shelters, public buildings, and critical infrastructure, such as water and sewerage networks, need to be improved to avoid water logging and enhance community resilience, it said in its 2021 authored note. Jaya Dhindaw, an urban development professional with over two decades of experience in sustainable development at The World Resources Institute, said, however, that the masterplans have to be not just revised, but implemented. Among others, the reasons for this kind of flooding are inadequate and old (over 100 years in some cases) drainage infrastructure- cities have expanded without proper extension of this infrastructure; the drainage master plans are old and have not been updated to keep up with the citys growth and developmental change, she said. While some of the above measures could be undertaken within a decade, the creation of coastal embankments and strict enforcement of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) codes necessary to protect against sea-level rise would take up to twenty years experts of all hues agree. Following the CMDAs recommendations, the government undertook a lot of canal works but the devastation caused by the recent flood would mean augmenting the existing canals with engineering work to facilitate watershed management and the adoption of the 'sponge city' concept could mitigate flood risks. To ensure speedy implementation, the state is looking at involving the local bodies and sharing the responsibility of overseeing the reconstruction of the stormwater drains. If theres a China-like push where massive projects are executed at a break-neck speed, then at least the deficiencies in four districts that were affected can be addressed in five years, said Raj Palanichamy. One of the major concerns in the four districts of Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari that were flooded, include the lack of involvement of the local municipal bodies and budget constraints. With the districts being deficient in industrialisation, their sources of tax collection are limited. They are totally dependent on doles from the state government from its budget for undertaking works requiring large capital outlay. However, the cost is one of the major concerns that would prove to be a spanner in the works. Repair and restoration work in Chennai including street redesigning alone is expected to cost 25,000 crore over 10 years. The revenue receipts of the Chennai Corporation for the year 2023-2024 so far stand at 4,131 crore, throwing light on the financial health of implementation agencies. WRIs Jaya Dhindhaw makes an important point suggesting that climate-resilient infrastructure should also be covered under Public-Private-Partnership projects to improve public procurement processes and foster innovative solutions. She advocates the need for a separate budget rather than tapping into the corpus of the National Disaster Management Authority. Political will alone is not enough; Political stability required For long-term sustainable projects, the advisors to the government have recommended the introduction of corporation bonds and the allocation of municipal budgets. For all this to take off, there must be political stability in states. Political will alone is not enough and corporations should not be looked upon as avenues of enrichment, said the TN climate change panel member. With climate change bringing down the time between disasters, it is incumbent on governments to stay prepared for all forms of climate risks. Excessive rainfall years could herald drought years, those that have been watching the climate change say. To predict how a year is going to turn out, G Sundarrajan, chief advisor to TN on climate action said that the governments should rely on technology to stay updated on specific measures of prevention and preparation. The government is proactively taking measures to adopt better hydro-meteorological models for tropical countries which would render more accurate predictions. Highlighting the range of variance between Indian and European weather prediction systems, he said, The IMD forecasted a rainfall of 12-20 cm in Tuticorin; whereas the district received 95 cm of rainfall in under 16 hours! Since December 16, the final day of the torrential rainfall, while critics and experts have picked up a cudgel for many an affected group - fisherfolk, farmers, and villagers, castigating the government for having done precious little since 2015, Sundarrajan said. Never compare two disasters. But always learn what both have to say. Be prepared for the worst," he added. The infighting within the opposition INDIA bloc is far from over in Maharashtra. The Mumbai South seat has become the latest flashpoint between the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) faction. Milind Deora(File photo) Congress leader Milind Deora is reportedly upset over Uddhav Thackeray's party staking claim to the constituency even before the Lok Sabha election dates have been announced. He said if such statements by an "alliance partner" don't stop, his party too can announce candidates for seats. Without naming Shiv Sena (UBT), Deora in a video message said an alliance partner had been making one-sided claims over seat sharing. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Last week, their spokesperson asked the Congress to start from zero. If this wasn't enough, a fresh claim over the Mumbai South seat was made at a rally of the ally yesterday in Girgaum," he was quoted by PTI as saying. "If a party doesn't want to wait till the formal talks on seat sharing conclude, the Congress will stake the claim and announce candidates. I hope this message reaches important people in Mumbai and Delhi. I appeal to you to be patient," Deora added. ALSO READ| Maldives politician's racist post against Indian tourism triggers boycott calls The former Union minister said that the Lok Sabha elections would not be easy for the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, and hence nobody should make claims and counter-claims. The MVA comprises Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and the Congress. On December 28 last year, a war of words had erupted after Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut had said that Congress will have to start from zero in seat sharing talks. Raut had said,"We have always said that Shiv Sena has always been fighting on 23 seats in the Lok Sabha elections and during our (INDIA alliance) meeting, we decided that discussions will be done later on the seats that we have won. Congress did not win a seat in Maharashtra so they have to start from zero (seats) but Congress is an important ally for us in MVA." Deora had hit back at Raut, saying,"According to Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena is the biggest party in the MVA despite losing 40 MLAs. He is suggesting Congress to start seat negotiations from zero. He is talking about the party which is the biggest opposition party in the Maharashtra assembly and is leading the opposition". Why is Mumbai South seat significant for Cong-Uddhav Sena? The Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat is represented by Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant since 2014. He had won the elections when the Sena was undivided and in an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Deora said the constituency has traditionally been with the Congress for years. Milind Deora won the seat in 2004 and 2009. His father Murli Deora won three successive elections from this seat in 1984, 1989 and 1991. "My family is connected with voters here based on the work done by us and this relationship developed over the years," said Milind Deora. "The Deoras have been serving this constituency for the last 50 years as MPs or otherwise. We were not elected on any wave," he said without naming sitting MP Arvind Sawant. The Congress on Sunday began the formal seat-sharing talks with its allies in Bihar, the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), with an aim to reach a reasonable and respectable arrangement in order to unitedly take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, people familiar with the matter said. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. (ANI) The Congresss five-member national alliance committee (NAC), headed by senior leader Mukul Wasnik, initiated the seat-sharing talks with authorised leaders of the JD(U) and the RJD in New Delhi, in a development that comes after several rounds of deliberations within the party, leaders of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The NAC is armed with statistics of past elections, party workers aspirations and worked out winnability factors for each and every seat before embarking on the seat-sharing exercise. We are ready to compromise but not willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of keeping INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc intact, a senior AICC leader familiar with the development said, requesting anonymity. Also read: Congress to go for temple run amid suspense over Kharge, Sonia Gandhis Pran Pratishtha presence The first round of talks was held on a positive note, the senior leader said, adding that the party is hoping that an all-agreeable solution would emerge in the talks with JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha and RJD leader Manoj Jha. All is well. The talks were positive, Manoj Jha said after the first round of deliberations at the AICC office in Delhi. Leaders of the ruling grand alliance in Bihar had earlier indicated that of the states 40 Lok Sabha seats, 17 each are likely to be allotted to the JD(U) and the RJD. The Congress is likely to get five seats and the Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) Liberation may get one seat to contest the general elections. The Congress is aiming to complete the seat-sharing arrangements with other parties of the opposition INDIA bloc across the country by the month-end. Five Lok Sabha seats for the Congress party in Bihar are too less to be contented for the party workers. We had contested nine seats [in 2019] and won one in alliance with the RJD & left parties. The JD(U) had contested 17 seats as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and won 16. Forgoing any sitting seat is certainly a challenging thing for any party. This time, however, the situation is different and so are the challenges, the senior AICC leader cited above said. But, the Congress, which is striving hard to counter the BJP everywhere in the country, wont be willing to let the party workers down, the leader added. The Opposition alliance will be looking to halt the BJPs juggernaut in Bihar, where the NDA won 39 of the 40 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP won all 17 seats it contested. Six were won by the unified Lok Janshakti Party, which has since split into two factions. Citing the positive mood of discussions at the AICC office, a Bihar Congress leader, who is currently in New Delhi, said the party would definitely try to get an honourable deal in the seat-sharing exercise, which could be not less than six or seven seats. This is a reasonable demand, as the Congress needs to give representation to each section of the society, the Bihar PCC leader said, also declining to be named. The Congress-run Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which got land in various cities at concessional rates to run the National Herald but closed the newspaper in 2008, relaunched its news operations around 2016 just to show that it is still engaged in publishing of newspapers after investigation was started into companys affairs by various agencies, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed. ED has alleged that the company relaunched its news operations through a digital platform just to show that it is still engaged in publishing of newspapers. Established in 1937 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, AJL published the National Herald, Qaumi Awaz in Urdu and Navjeevan in Hindi. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. It was given land in various cities of India for the purpose of publishing newspapers. But it closed operations in 2008 and offered voluntary retirement to all the employees, which was accepted by them; by then, the debt on its books had risen to 90 crore. It was taken over in 2010 by Young Indian (YI), a company in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi together hold 76%. The Congress announced in 2016 that it would relaunch the news operations. Also Read | National Herald case: ED identifies total proceeds of crime worth 988 crore Around 2016, after investigation was initiated by various government agencies, the company relaunched its news operations through a digital platform just to show that it is still engaged in publishing of newspapers, ED has said in its attachment order of November 11, pertaining to assets worth 751 crore of AJL. Citing the ED order, an officer of the agency said it shows that there was a nexus of AJL, YI and AICC, the central decision-making body of Congress party, and that the three entities ... operated through common office bearers namely (deceased) Moti Lal Vohra and (deceased) Oscar Fernandes and structures were created in a predetermined manner to acquire the properties of AJL by YI.... The three entities are related entities having common office bearers and history of long association, a second officer at the agency said on condition of anonymity, also citing the attachment order. The federal agency has alleged that the 50 lakh transaction by YI to buy out the 90 crore loan of AJL (converted into qeuity) from AICC was a sham transaction. The officials cited above said their investigation in the National Herald case is continuing. HT reached out to the Congress for a response on the matter but didnt get it till the time of going to press. The Congress, however, has repeatedly said that the transaction was done to help save the newspaper and pay the salaries of journalists and staff at a time when AJL faced huge debts. It has argued that the decision helped revive the organisation and blames the central government of raking up an old issue to target the Gandhi family for political vendetta. In a detailed statement on November 21, Congress leader Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) action can only be consequential to some predicate or main offence. There is no transfer of any immovable property. There is no movement of money. There are no proceeds of crime. Indeed, there is no complainant who claims to have been cheated: not a single one. This is a prefabricated structure of deceit, lies and falsehood of, by and for the BJP to divert, distract and digress in the middle of elections. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 7. Azerbaijan has begun to provide tax breaks for film production, Member of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) Committee on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship Vugar Bayramov said on Facebook, Trend reports. Bayramov noted that according to the amendments made to the Tax Code, 75 percent of the profit from entrepreneurial activity of a cinematographic enterprise registered in Azerbaijan and engaged in film production and dubbing is exempt from tax for three years from January 1, 2024. "The exemptions will be valid for the next three years and will also apply to enterprises that are not micro-entrepreneurs. Notably, these benefits are included in Article 106 of the said code (Exemptions and exemptions)," he said. "The implementation of these exemptions is critical in terms of promoting domestic film production. Although there has been some activity in this sector in recent years, submitting large projects remains tough. The new incentives will not only enhance revenue for film companies, but will also allow them to reinvest. This is likely to have a good impact on the film industry's development. At the same time, it is recommended that the scope of tax advantages in this industry be expanded further. In particular, incentives that reduce the expenses of film production are required. This topic will be discussed further," Bayramov said in the publication. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the swift actions of the Indian Navy in thwarting a hijacking attempt on a merchant vessel in North Arabian Sea. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at DGP conference on Sunday. Addressing the DGP conference in Jaipur, the prime minister also highlighted Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s recent achievement in placing India's first solar observatory Aditya L1 in its definitive orbit, enabling uninterrupted observation of the Sun's atmosphere. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Navy executed a courageous mission In the last couple of days, the Indian Navy executed a courageous mission. On receiving intel about a merchant vessel facing a hijack threat in the Arabian Sea, they covered a distance of 2000 km to rescue the ship. The Indian Navy, alongside Marine Commandos, successfully safeguarded 21 crew members including 21 Indians, PM Modi said during the event. Many of you must have seen the footage where, following their rescue by the Indian Navy from the attempted hijack, the crew members were chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', Modi added. Indian Navy's rescue of merchant vessel The marine commandos of the Indian Navy successfully saved 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, from the seized MV Lila Norfolk, a Liberian-flagged vessel, on Friday in a swift operation within the North Arabian Sea where Armed pirates had attempted to hijack the ship, prompting the rescue. In a statement shared on X, the Indian Navy said, Indian Navy's Swift Response to the Hijacking Attempt of MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea. All 21 crew members (including 15 Indians) onboard were safely evacuated from the citadel. Sanitization by MARCOs has confirmed the absence of the hijackers. The pirates seemingly abandoned their hijack endeavour due to the strong intervention of the Indian Navy and the warning of interception by an Indian Naval warship, as stated in the release. Expressing gratitude, the Indians among the rescued crew of the MV Lila Norfolk thanked the Indian Navy for their rescue. In a Navy-released video, the crew members were heard chanting Bharat Mata ki Jai and expressing their appreciation to the Indian Navy. One of the rescued Indians shared, We were stuck for 24 hours. We got relief after the Indian Navy came to rescue them. PM lauds Aditya L1's success Prime Minister Modi also lauded ISRO for achieving another significant milestone in space exploration. On Saturday, India's first solar observatory, Aditya L1, successfully positioned itself in its final orbit near the Lagrange L1 point. Over the next five years, it will analyse the Sun and its surrounding environment from this Lagrange point. "Similar to the historic success of Chandrayaan-3, India's capability, particularly its scientific prowess, has once again been demonstrated through the accomplishment of Aditya L1," remarked Modi. Aditya L1, the country's inaugural solar mission, reached its destination, the L1 point, situated approximately 1.5 million kilometres from Earth. Its primary objective is to orbit the Sun and conduct extensive studies, benefiting from an uninterrupted view without the interference of eclipses or occultations. Officials from ISRO highlighted that the Lagrange point 1 (L1) within the Sun-Earth system is about one per cent of the total distance between the Earth and the Sun. They noted that a satellite positioned in a halo orbit around the L1 point offers the distinct advantage of continuously observing the Sun without disruptions like occultations or eclipses. This continuous observation will significantly enhance our understanding of solar activities and their impact on space weather in real-time. (With inputs from reporter) Two days after a team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was attacked in West Bengal, state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday criticised the central agency and the ruling Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government over the incident. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the Congress is going ahead with its poll preparations (HT)(HT_PRINT) The ED team was attacked and its vehicles damaged in Sandeshkhali village of North 24 Parganas district when it arrived to raid the house of block level TMC functionaries Shahjahan Sheikh and Shankar Adhya, and their relatives in connection with alleged ration scam. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Shahjahan Sheikh is considered to be a close aide of state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick who was arrested in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam. When asked about the lookout notice issued against Sheikh, Chowdhury said: What will ED do? ED is itself an idiot. The ruling party in Bengal will look after him. He also accused Trinamool Congress, its ally in the INDIA bloc, of protecting their functionaries and dubbed them as a look after government. "The ruling party in Bengal will look after him. The ruling party works to protect dangerous people in the party. This is a 'look after' government. So, what is the use of a lookout circular? The borders are porous...They should not make tall claims - be it BJP, ED or CBI," he said. He also criticised the BJP over the issue of borders, saying that they are porous. BJP keeps harping about Rohingyas...But where were they all this time? Where was the Home Ministry?...They have started politics of polarisation now when the matter is in the news. They should do something against those on look after, Chowdhury said. On Friday also, Chowdhury had criticised the TMC, alleging that there is no law and order in the state under their rule. The Congress leader said he would not be surprised if any official is murdered in the state, reported ANI. "After the attack by goons of the ruling government on ED officials, it is clear that there is no law and order in the state. Today, they were injured, tomorrow they can be murdered. Such a thing would not come as a surprise to me," he had said. Former Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid on Sunday demanded stern action against the leaders guilty of making derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A file photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Abdulla Shahid.(X/Abdulla Shahid) Derogatory remarks made by 2 Deputy Ministers of the current #Maldives Government, and a member of a political party in the ruling coalition, towards Prime Minister @narendramodi and the people of India on social media is reprehensible and odious. I call on the Government to reprimand these officials, Shahid said in a post on social media platform X. Maldives minister's post on PM Modi triggers row. Follow LIVE updates Public figures must maintain decorum They must accept that they are no longer social media activists and that they are now entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the interests of the people and the country, he added. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. India is a time tested friend and an unwavering ally. They have historically been the first to respond in our time of need. Our close relationship has been bound by mutual respect, history, culture and strong people-to-people relations, the former minister said in the X post. ALSO READ: Maldives ex-president Mohamed Nasheed reacts to remarks against PM Modi The Mohammad Muizzu government on Sunday issued a statement distancing itself from the remarks made by Mariyam Shiuna, a deputy minister of youth empowerment, who had called PM Modi a clown and a puppet. The government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and international partners. the Maldives government statement added. Besides the minister, a member of Progressive Party of Maldives Senate, Zahid Rameez, faced backlash over his racist remark at India. The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall, he said in a post. Fort Lauderdale, Jan 6 (AP) The FBI arrested three Florida residents on Saturday, the third anniversary of their alleged attack on Capitol police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. HT Image Jonathan D. Pollock, 24; his sister, Olivia M. Pollock, 33; and Joseph D. Hutchinson, 27, were arrested at a ranch in Groveland, Florida, and will be arraigned on Monday, the FBI said in a statement. Groveland is about 30 miles (50 kilometers) west of Orlando and about 45 miles (75 kilometers) north of their Lakeland homes. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. They had been indicted in April 2021. Jonathan Pollock had gone into hiding shortly after the attack. His sister and Hutchinson had been arrested in June 2021 and released on bond, but fled shortly before they were set to go on trial in Washington, D.C., last March. According to a 53-page indictment, Jonathan Pollock and Hutchinson are on video recordings repeatedly punching officers during the riots. Pollock is also alleged to have grabbed riot shields from officers, and he and Hutchinson are accused of using the edge of one to strike an officer in the neck or face. Olivia Pollock is charged with punching and elbowing an officer and trying to grab officers' batons. All are charged with assaulting officers, violent entry into the Capitol and other felonies. Court records do not list any attorneys for the three. No one returned a phone message left Saturday at Rapture Guns & Knives, the Lakeland store owned by the Pollock family and where Hutchinson once worked. In June 2021, the Pollocks' brother, Gabriel, defended his siblings and Hutchinson in an interview with The Ledger, Lakeland's newspaper. I do feel like it is a political move that's being perpetrated, which it's sad, Gabriel Pollock told the paper. It's not how the country should be run ... with everything going on in the country, I think people are pretty fed up with the way the country's being taken away from the people. (AP) RUP RUP A gunfight broke between militants and security forces in the border of Moreh in strife-torn Manipur on Sunday, people familiar with the matter said. The village volunteers of the district have demanded that central paramilitary forces replace the Manipur police n the area, accusing the commandos of the state police of bias (PTI) The town in Manipurs Tengnoupal district has been on high alert after a spate of attacks by militants on security forces, especially Manipur police commandos. On January 2, at least seven security personnel four Manipur police commandos and 3 BSF personnel on their way for a search operation were injured in an attack. On December 30, militants attacked Manipur police commandos inside their barracks, during which rocket propelled grenades (RPG) were fired. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Kaikholal Haokip, spokesperson of the Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal, an umbrella group for Kukis in the district said the gunfight began on 9pm. There were no reports of casualties till the time of going to press. The village volunteers of the district have demanded that central paramilitary forces replace the Manipur police n the area, accusing the commandos of the state police of bias. Chief minister Biren Singh last week hinted at the possibility of involvement of mercenaries from Myanmar in the attacks on personnel Tuesdays incident. We have doubts about involvement of foreign mercenaries from Myanmar side, he said. Manipur has been in the throes of ethnic violence since early May as clashes erupted between the Meiteis, the most populous community in the state, and the tribal Kukis, killing nearly 200 people. The widespread ethnic violence has led to creation of community-based armed village defence volunteers as the fault lines have deepened beyond the Meitei -Kuki divide, pitting different communities and groups against each other. Maldives, a tiny island nation located 2,142 kilometres away from India, found itself as a target of boycott calls by Indians on social media in the beginning of 2024. Reason: Three Maldives ministers rubbed India the wrong way by making crude and racist remarks at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India. Maldives, which attracts massive number of tourists from across the world including India, rushed to damage control on Sunday thereby distancing itself from the remarks made by Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid. Hours later, these three ministers were suspended just day before Maldives president Mohammad Muizzu heads to Beijing to seek funds. Last November, Muizzu had assumed presidency by seeking votes in the name of ousting Indian armed forces from Maldives. Last month, PM Modi had met the Maldives president along the sidelines of COP28 summit in Dubai. Both the countries had agreed to set up a core group to strengthen their partnership. India has always stood by Maldives in its good and bad times. New Delhi was among the first to recognise the island nation after its independence in 1965 and also established diplomatic relations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting with President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu during the COP28, in UAE. (PTI) In 1988, India rushed to help Maldives thwart a coup attempt by Abdullah Luthufi. The coup backed by Sri Lankan militant group Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was neutralised by India under the mission code-named Operation Cactus. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Here are some key initiatives taken by India to help Maldives: 1. On November 17 2018, PM Modi attended the swearing-in ceremony of then president Ibrahim Solih. He held bilateral talks with Solih just after the latter's oath ceremony. PM Modi conveyed India's desire to work closely for the realisation of Maldives' developmental priorities. A month later, Solih visited India on his first foreign trip since taking over. India announced a financial assistance package worth $1.4 billion, including $50 million as budgetary support to GoM, subscription by SBI to the GoMs Treasury bills of US$ 150 million, the Currency Swap Agreement for US$ 400 million and 8 infrastructure Projects under the $ 800 million Line of Credit (LoC). 2. Since 1988, defence and security has been the major area of cooperation between the two countries. India provides the largest number of training opportunities for the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF). It meets around 70 per cent of their defence training requirements, a document by Ministry of External Affairs stated. Over the past 10 years, India trained over 1,500 MNDF. The Maldivian force has participated in various activities like joint EEZ patrols, anti-narcotic ops, SAR, sea-rider programme, HADR exercises, adventure camps, sailing regatta, etc. The Indian Navy has also provided MNDF with air assets for air survellance, MEDEVAC, SAR, Helo-borne vertical insertion capability. 3. The MNDF actively participates in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and rescue, pollution control and other exercises organised by India. New Delhi had provided pollution dispersant to MNDF Coast Guard in 2016, and is also undertaking customised trainings for MNDF Fire and Rescue Service in India. 4. India has executed several development projects in Maldives. It includes the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, built in 1995 with Indian grant assistance. The major renovation of the hospital was completed in 2017 with fund assistance by India under Modi government. The Maldives Institute of Technical Education, now known as Maldives Polytechnic, was completed at a cost of 12 crore and handed over the Maldives government by India in 1996. The foundation stone for the India-Maldives Faculty of Hospitality & Tourism Studies was jointly laid by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Maldives president Abdul Gayoom during the formers visit to Maldives in September 2002. 5. India became Maldives' third largest trade partner in 2021, with Indian exports to Maldives comprising engineering and industrial products like drugs and pharmaceuticals, radar apparatus, rock boulders, aggregates, cement and agriculture produce like rice, spices, fruits, vegetables and poultry produce etc. All drugmakers in India must comply with fresh guidelines to ensure good manufacturing practices, the central government said in a notification in the wake of complaints of substandard medicines exported from the country. Under the new Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940, notified on December 28, a manufacturer will be held responsible for the quality of the products (Hemant Mishra/ Mint) Under the new Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940, notified on December 28, a manufacturer will be held responsible for the quality of the products so that they are fit for their intended use, comply with the requirements of the licence and do not place patients at risk due to inadequate safety, quality or efficacy. Pharmaceutical firms will also have to intimate drug licensing authorities about recalling a drug and also report product defects, deterioration or faulty production. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The new guidelines come against the backdrop of deaths reported in certain countries such as The Gambia in Africa that were linked with consumption of Indian drugs. The amended guidelines stress the need for stability testing of drug substances in accordance with recommended climate conditions with an aim to upgrade small and medium enterprises at par with global standards and ensure production of internationally acceptable quality of drug. It also specifies that release of the finished product is conditional upon satisfactory results of these tests. The licensing authorities shall be informed if a manufacturer is considering action following the faulty manufacture, product deterioration, a suspect product or any other serious quality problems with a product, the revised guidelines said. The licensee will also have to have a vigilance system in place for collecting, processing and forwarding the reports to licensing authorities for information on adverse drug reactions. Industry experts welcomed the step, saying that it will help improve the drug quality management ecosystem. The revised regulations of Schedule M will help ensure compliance with international quality standards and will benefit both patients and the industry by promoting the manufacturing of safe, effective and high-quality drugs, said Sudarshan Jain, secretary general of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, a lobby group. The focus on risk management, qualification and validation of equipment, and self-inspection will be a vital contribution. For a smooth transition from the current rules to the revised ones, the health ministry has provided a transition period of six to 12 months for large manufacturers (with over 250 crore turnover) and smaller firms (less than 250 crore turnover). Good manufacturing practices are mandatory quality standards that require control on materials, methods, machines, processes, personnel and facility and environment among other things. They were first incorporated in Schedule M in 1988 and the last amendment was done in June 2005. There are nearly 10,500 drugmakers in the country, out of which around 8,500 are small and medium companies, according to health ministry data. India is a major exporter of medicines to low and middle-income countries that require safe manufacturing certification. There are an estimated 2,000 small and medium companies that have such certification. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has inspected 254 manufacturing units and 112 public testing labs in the past few months. Major issues found the inspections include poor documentation, lack of process and analytical validation, absence of self-assessment, absence of quality failure investigation, absence of internal product quality review, absence of testing of incoming raw material and faulty design of manufacturing and testing areas, among others. In 2018, a draft notification was issued to upgrade and synchronise Schedule M to international standards based on the recommendations of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board. A large number of comments and suggestions were received from stakeholders. Some of the major changes in the new rules include introducing Pharmaceutical Quality System, Quality Risk Management, Product Quality Review, qualification and validation of equipment, change of control management, self-inspection and quality audit team, supplier audit and approval, stability studies as per recommended climate condition, and validation of practices related computerized system. The Union government is pushing for operations to start at eight new airports and construction works to begin for roughly a dozen more facilities or their expansion by March this year, officials aware of the matter have said, pegging the estimated cost of work in progress to be around 8,100 crore. Among the projects is the crucial Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewar, where the civil aviation ministry hopes the first trial flight will reach by March (HT Archive) Among these is the crucial Noida International Airport (NIA) in Jewar, where the civil aviation ministry hopes the first trial flight will reach by March. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. According to an official, at least eight airports are to be inaugurated over the next two months five in Uttar Pradesh, two in Madhya Pradesh and one in Punjab. The other projects include 13 new terminal buildings two each are set to be unveiled in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, and one each in Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat . The foundation stone-laying ceremonies for airports in Jammu, Hubballi and Belgaum in Karnataka and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh are also scheduled to be held by March, the official said. Another important airport for Mumbai the Navi Mumbai International Airport is set to be inaugurated by December this year, he added. A few of these airports and terminal buildings are likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said. The huge connectivity push assumes significance as the Centre is gearing up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In Uttar Pradesh, airports are set to be inaugurated in Moradabad, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Saravasti and Chitrakoot. The most crucial airport is NIA in Jewar, which is set to serve the National Capital Region. The airport will see a test flight landing in the first week of March... At least 2,000 metres of the total 3,900-metre-long runway is ready and work to complete the remaining portion is in process. The terminal building is almost ready. The airport is aimed to be handed over to the AAI (Airports Authority of India) by April for installing instrument landing system (ILS) and other equipment, a UP government official aware of the development said, requesting anonymity. Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is scheduled to visit the airport to review its progress in the second week of February, he added. The official, however, said that the first phase of the airport is expected to be inaugurated by October. Besides, new terminal buildings are scheduled to be inaugurated at the Lucknow airport in Uttar Pradesh, and Rewa, Datia, Jabalpur and Gwalior airports in Madhya Pradesh. Gwaliors new terminal has been completed and is ready for inauguration in a record 15 months, a government official said. Similarly, new terminal buildings will also be inaugurated in Arunachal Pradeshs Hollongi, Chhattisgarhs Ambikapur, Punjabs Adampur, Hyderabads Vijayawada and Gujarats Hirasar airports, he added. The 400-crore Civil Aviation Research Organisation (CARO) in Hyderabad, being built to carry out research on the latest technological advancements in the aviation sector, is also expected to be inaugurated before March, the official said. Former President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Sunday condemned the use of hateful language by some Maldivian political leaders against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that such remarks should not negatively impact the friendship between two countries. Solih also termed India a good friend of Maldives. Former Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih(REUTERS) I condemn the use of hateful language against #India by Maldivian government officials on social media. India has always been a good friend to Maldives and we must not allow such callous remarks to negatively impact the age old friendship between our two countries, Solih, who was the seventh President of Maldives, wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A massive controversy erupted after three ministers - Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid, and a political leader Zahid Rameez made racist remarks targeting India and mocked PM Modi's attempt to promote Lakshadweep as a tourist destination. The comments also triggered Indians on social media, with several people, including celebrities, joining the call to boycott the island nation. After facing a massive backlash, the Maldives government suspended the three ministers for their derogatory remarks and distanced itself from the leaders saying their opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives. Issuing a statement, the Maldivian government added, The government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, and negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and international partners. The relevant authorities of the government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks." The controversy comes at a time when Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu is visiting China on January 8 to seek funds. Speaking on the visit, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, It is for them to decide where they go and how they go about their international relations. Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], January 7 (ANI): Reacting to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his sister Anjali Soren on Sunday accused the Central government of "harassing" his brother (Hemant Soren) because he is a "tribal." HT Image "On one side, the Central Government talks about the upliftment of tribals and made Droupadi Murmu as President and on the other side, we are being uplifted and on the other side, we are being harassed. The Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand is a tribal government. So, I would say that he is being harassed because he is tribal," Soren's sister told ANI on Sunday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The government fears that if the Hemant Soren government continues, they (BJP) won't get tribal votes. So, they want to disrepute him somehow," she said. When asked about why ED sent seven summons to Jharkhand CM, Anjali Soren said that she had no idea about this. "I just want to say the central goverment is harassing Hemant Soren," she added. Meanwhile, when asked about speculations that Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's wife, Kalpana Soren, could be the next CM of the state in case of ED action against him, his sister said that if needed, she could become the Chief Minister. "If needed, she can become (the CM). Our party has other members too, it will be decided in the legislative party meeting. I can't tell you with confirmation but if needed, she will be," she added Earlier last week, the ED issued the seventh summons to the Jharkhand CM under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, asking him to record his statement. As he had not turned up for ED's seven summons, this time the agency stated that it is his last opportunity to record the statement. "Since you have not come to the office of the Directorate of Enforcement in obedience to the summonses issued to you, we are giving you this last opportunity to record your statement under section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, at the place, date and time, mutually convenient to you as well as the undersigned (ED), which should be within 7 days of receipt of this notice/Summons," said the ED in its summon. The agency has asked him to specify the place, date, and time within two days of receiving this communication. "Despite the issuance of six summonses, you (Hemant Soren) have not appeared before this office, citing unfounded reasons. This non-appearance is impeding and hindering the progress of the investigation in the present case," ED mentioned in the summons. The ED issued the sixth summon on December 12 for questioning, but the Chief Minister skipped the proceedings. CM Soren was first summoned by the ED earlier in mid-August in connection with a land 'scam' case. However, the CM ignored the summons, claiming that he was busy with the state's Independence Day celebrations. He was asked again to appear on August 24 and September 9, but he skipped the dates, citing preoccupations. The agency then issued its fourth summons to the Jharkhand CM, asking him to report to the agency on September 23. The CM had earlier threatened to move for legal proceedings against the Centre if it did not withdraw the summonses issued against him. In his letter to the agency, Soren said he had provided all necessary documents and information to the ED. (ANI) BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 7. A new highway bridge built between Iran and Azerbaijan over the Astarachay river will contribute to the development of trade and transit ties between the two countries, as well as economic growth, said Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran Mehrdad Bazrpash at a government meeting, Trend reports. The Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Mehrdad Bazrpash said this at a government session, Trend reported on Sunday. According to Bazrpash, the new bridge will allow up to 300 trucks to cross the border daily. The old bridge could only allow 200 vehicles to pass through per day. In addition, the minister said negotiations with the Russian and Azerbaijani sides on constructing the Rasht-Astara railroad have also come to a positive conclusion. "Russia will allocate a loan of 1.3 billion euros to continue the construction of the Rasht-Astara railroad, which is expected to be operational in 2027. The railroad will unite the railroad systems of Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia.," the minister added. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The sun came out and the maximum temperature rose to 18.8C, the warmest the daytime has been since December 31, as an approaching western disturbance helped thin the blanket of fog that plunged the city into a grey, bitter winter since the start of the year. Hisar police spokesman Vikas Kumar said the incident took place on Saturday night when two persons were asleep after lighting a fire in their room at night to protect themselves from cold and were found dead on Sunday morning. (Representational photo)(HT_PRINT) The western disturbance will help cut the chill for the first half of the next week, weather scientists said on Sunday, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) separately issued an orange alert for Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh for heavy fog and cold day conditions. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The upper-level fog finally cleared out today, which is the major reason why Delhi experienced the first rays of sunlight in days. Upper-level fog usually does not let any sunlight penetrate, leading to gloomy cold day conditions. Delhi did not experience any cold day conditions on Sunday, said an IMD official. Read more: Winter vacation: Delhi schools to remain closed for next 5 days for students up to Class 5, says Atishi The cold conditions will likely recede from most parts of the north-western plains, but the western disturbance could bring rain and thundershowers for Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan on Monday and Tuesday. In Delhi, there could likely be a drizzle on Tuesday. The western disturbances might cause partly cloudy skies on Monday and light rain in Delhi on Tuesday. The maximum is forecast to stay below 20 degrees throughout the week, added the official cited above. A second weather expert said the rains, as they typically do, could lead to a return of some cold conditions later in the week. A cyclonic circulation is causing the western disturbances to come in. This might lead to some light rain in parts of Delhi on Tuesday, following which the Capital might experience some cold day conditions later this week, said Mahesh Palawat, vice president of Skymet. The conditions are a relief following a string of cold days and severely cold days, which experts said is dangerous for elderly people. The Capital and its surrounding cities extended winter breaks at schools for younger grades for several days, and moved classes to start later for more senior students. A western disturbance is a stormy system that originates in the Mediterranean Sea before sweeping towards the east and halting at the Himalayan ranges. In the northern plains, it brings rains and causes a change in wind directions. But in the mountains, it triggers snowfall. Once a western disturbance retreats, winds change back to their natural northerly direction, bringing in icy cold air from the snow-capped mountain ranges. IMD officials also added, Partly cloudy sky will be seen on Wednesday, with shallow to moderate fog in the morning. It might clear up by Thursday and skies will be mostly clear. This could mean sunny days, but with clear skies, the night temperatures -- or the minimum -- will likely plummet to low single digits. On Thursday, the minimum was 8.2C, a notch higher than usual. After rain stops and the WD moves away, temperatures are expected to drop again and we can expect cold wave conditions to set in over parts of northwest India, said M Mohapatra, director general, IMD. The minimum temperatures are in the range of 6-9C over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, west Uttar Pradesh and north Rajasthan; 10-12C over parts of east Uttar Pradesh, rest of Rajasthan and northwest Madhya Pradesh. It is above normal by 1-3C in isolated pockets over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan and in many pockets over west Uttar Pradesh and west Madhya Pradesh, and 4-7C above normal over many parts of east Uttar Pradesh, east Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. On Sunday, the lowest minimum temperature over plains, of 3.8C, was recorded at Alwar in east Rajasthan. On Sunday, very dense fog (with visibility less than 50 metre) was reported from pockets over Jammu Division, Punjab, north Haryana, Chandigarh, west Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, west Rajasthan and north Chhattisgarh. Dense to very dense fog conditions are very likely to prevail in night/morning hours in some parts of Punjab and in isolated pockets of Haryana-Chandigarh between January 7 and 9. The IMD also warned that the western disturbance will impact areas in the Western Himalayas. Under its influence and its interaction with lower level easterly winds, light isolated rainfall/snowfall likely over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand on January 9 and over plains of northwest India and Central India on January 8 and 9. Light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms and lightning very likely at some places over Maharashtra during January 7 to 9 and over Gujarat on January 8 and 9. Isolated hailstorm also likely over East Rajasthan on January 8 and 9 and over West Madhya Pradesh on January 8, the agency said in its advisory. At 4pm on Saturday, India made history by parking its observatory Aditya-L1 in an orbit around Lagrange Point 1, about 1.5 million kilometres from us, setting the stage for at least five years of observations. Aditya-L1 Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) performed a series of manoeuvres to place the craft in its intended halo orbit on Saturday, 126 days after the mission was launched on September 2 last year. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Halo-Orbit Insertion (HOI) of its solar observatory spacecraft, Aditya-L1 was accomplished at 4pm on January 6, the space agency said after the insertion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the achievement as landmark as he congratulated the scientists for their relentless dedication. India creates yet another landmark. Indias first solar observatory Aditya-L1 reaches its destination. It is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists in realising among the most complex and intricate space missions. I join the nation in applauding this extraordinary feat. We will continue to pursue new frontiers of science for the benefit of humanity, PM Modi said on X, formerly Twitter. The insertion of Aditya-L1 into the Halo Orbit presents a critical phase for the mission, which demanded precise navigation and control, the space agency said in a statement. The L1 point mentioned in the statement refers to Lagrange Point 1, a region where gravitational forces of celestial objects work in such a way that the spacecraft can be parked in what is known as a halo orbit an oval that shifts on three axes. Following its launch, the spacecraft was placed in a low-Earth orbit. Subsequently, the orbit was made more elliptical, and the craft was catapulted towards its final destination using onboard propulsion. Once it left Earths gravitational Sphere of Influence (SOI), the cruise phase started. On Saturday, the final manoeuvres were performed, which involved firing of control engines for a short duration to control the speed of the craft, and orient it towards the orbit by maintaining a minimum fuel consumption condition, Isro said. Explaining the process, an official said that the craft was moving from the Earth towards L1 in the direction of the Sun. A final firing was done at this point, making the spacecraft align with the Halo Orbit. If the HOI (Halo Orbit insertion) manoeuvre was not conducted as done today, the spacecraft would have moved in the direction marked (towards the Sun), the Isro statement added. A successful insertion further involved constant monitoring along with the adjustment of the spacecrafts speed and position by using onboard thrusters. The success of this insertion not only signifies Isros capabilities in such complex orbital manoeuvres, but it gives confidence to handle future interplanetary missions, the statement read. The orbit of Aditya-L1 is periodic, located roughly 1.5 million km from Earth on the continuously moving Sun-Earth line with an orbital period of about 177.86 Earth days. This specific Halo orbit is selected to ensure a mission lifetime of 5 years, minimising station-keeping manoeuvres and thus, fuel consumption and ensuring a continuous, unobstructed view of sun, Isro said. Highlighting the scientific importance of the mission, Isro chief S Somanath said, The solar mission, Aditya-L1 is for the whole of the world, not for India alone, for all of us to understand and make use of its scientific importance. While the space agency had the option of performing multiple attempts at adjusting the orbit of the spacecraft, it was preferred that the manoeuvre be completed in a single attempt to avoid utilisation of excess fuel. An excess fuel bank ensures the space agency has the window to perform additional experiments with the same craft. This was also the case with the propulsion module of Chandrayaan-3 when it was brought back to the Earths orbit to test for future return missions. This was possible only because the propulsion module of Chandrayaan-3 had excess fuel. The spacecraft is equipped with seven payloads to study the Suns corona, chromosphere, photosphere and solar wind. From L1, the spacecraft will be able to see how particles and radiation from heightened solar activity has an effect, while also studying the outer surface of the star in close detail something that is normally not possible from the Earth, or even its orbit. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced that Gujarat's Dediapada MLA Chaitar Vasava, who is currently in jail, would be the party's candidate for the Bharuch seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Kejriwal declared that Vasava would contest the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat even while being incarcerated. Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann during a public meeting Gujarat's Bharuch district on Sunday.(PTI) The Delhi chief minister, while addressing a rally in the tribal dominated Netrang region of Bharuch along with Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, claimed that Vasava was arrested last month as he was fighting for the rights of the tribal community. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "The BJP has ruled Gujarat for 30 years. However, it always neglected the Adivasi community. Vasava spoke up because the BJP failed them," Kejriwal said in his speech. He added, "The BJP harbors animosity towards the tribal community from the start. Another 30 years under BJP rule, and it will devastate the tribal community." The Delhi CM said he along with the Punjab CM and state AAP leaders will meet Vasava in Rajpipla jail on Monday. "This is not a fight for Chaitar Vasava, but for the honour of the entire adivasi community," he said. After being on a run for almost one month, Dediapada MLA and AAP's state working president, Chaitar Vasava, surrendered on December 14, 2023, leading to his arrest. The charges against him involve allegedly threatening forest officers and firing shots in the air while attempting to address a dispute related to the cultivation of forest land by local tribals in Narmada district. His wife was also arrested in the case. Kejriwal claimed tribal leader Vasava was lured with crores of rupees and a ministerial post in the government if he switched over to the BJP, which the AAP MLA refused because he cannot betray his own community. Vasava is among the five AAP MLAs elected in the 2022 Gujarat assembly elections. One of them, Bhupendra Bhayani, who represented the Visavadar constituency, resigned on December 12, 2023. Kejriwal alleged that the BJP, fearing Vasava, was attempting to suppress him to send a message to the community that dissent would be crushed. Gujarat BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas said the AAP has become irrelevant in Gujarat and their dismal performance in the 2022 Gujarat elections exposed it. "First they lost their relevance in Gujarat and now they are losing it everywhere, hence their leaders are making baseless statements. The people of Gujarat have seen through their true colours. Kejriwal avoids addressing the corruption charges against him a notable omission in his discussions. Kejriwal declared Vasava as their candidate for the 2024 elections in Bharuch. But did they check with the Congress and others in the INDIA bloc? Is the AAP still a part of the alliance or not? Also, why isn't Kejriwal addressing the corruption charges against him?" he said. A massive controversy has erupted after a Maldives minister made crude remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mariyam Shiuna's barb triggered boycott Maldives calls on social media. Narendra Modi's recent appeal to visit Lakshadweep, seems to have irked some people in Maldives.(Twitter/@narendramodi) Not just Shiuna, a member of Progressive Party of Maldives Senate, Zahid Rameez took a racist dig at India. He boasted of the great services for tourists in Maldives and took a jibe at Modi's attempt to promote Lakshadweep. He called out the idea of competing with Maldives' tourism. In a racist rant, Rameez went on to question the cleanliness in Lakshadweep and ridiculed the standard of hotel rooms. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall," read Rameez's post. ALSO READ| Watch: IAF's C-130J aircraft makes historic night landing at Kargil airstrip Zahid's remark drew backlash on social media. An Indian user commented, "Thank you for exposing yourself ! And we Indians were living in a Lala land thinking we were loved & respected by the ppl of Maldives." Another user posted, "This arrogance itself will be the downfall. Thank the Chinese later." @narendramodi sir let's accept the challenge. Let's show them what a country like India can do when it decides to change. Sir as citizens we promise we will #BoycottMaldives which has turned hostile towards India. Sir introduce steep surcharge for travel to Maldives, a user reacted. Notably, Indians were among the highest number of tourists to visit Maldives in 2023. The island country of Maldives is heavily reliant on tourism as a source of revenue and the industry employs thousands of its citizens. Meanwhile, the Government of Maldives has distanced itself from the derogatory remark made by the minister against PM Modi. In a press statement, the government said, "These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives". INS Chennai, the guided missile destroyer that intercepted the hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk and rescued 21 crew members, was able to do so simply because it had been deployed strategically by Indian naval planners, and for the very purpose, people familiar with the matter said. Indian Navy destroyer in the Gulf of Aden. {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} On Friday, in a daring operation, Indian marine commandos intercepted, then boarded the hijacked ship, and rescued the crew. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. INS Chennai, the people cited in the first instance said, was among the warships deployed off the African seaboard, south of the Red Sea, and in the Arabian Sea, by naval planners under direction from the Narendra Modi government, since October 2023. Also read: First video of Indians rescued by Navy from pirates-hijacked ship surfaces: Bharat Mata ki Jai New Delhi has always been clear that it is committed to keeping sea lanes safe from Somali pirates, an objective that has expanded in recent weeks to deal with the challenge posed by Houthi militia against commercial shipping in north Arabian sea. {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} Thanks to the proactive action taken by the Naval Headquarters, front-line guided missile destroyers INS Kochi and INS Kolkata are now deployed off the Gulf of Aden. Besides, destroyers Murmogao, Chennai, and frigates Talwar and Tarkash have been deployed off the Straits of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman under the Operation Sankalp of the Indian Navy. Destroyer Visakhapatnam along with tanker INS Deepak are deployed off the Duqm port in Oman. It is understood, given the gravity of the situation in the Arabian Sea, that the Indian Navy is now planning to move a guided missile frigate and an off-shore patrol vessel from Eastern Command to the Western seaboard to ensure that commercial shipping and merchant tankers are not targeted by asymmetric forces backed by players in West Asia as the Israel-Hamas conflict escalates and widens. {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} HT learns that soon after the October 7 terror attack by Hamas, the Indian Navy moved two ships to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden on October 8 and 9. The Red Sea unit was withdrawn on October 25 but two warships belonging to Kolkata and Visakhapatnam class were deployed in the Gulf of Aden to defend against possible missile attacks by the Houthis. All Indian warships carry missiles, long-range guns and helicopters. In addition, India has also deployed a multi mission Boeing P 8 I and unarmed Predator drones over the Arabian Sea for enhanced surveillance. When South Korean tanker MV Ruen was hijacked off the coast of Somalia on December 14, the Western Navy tasked INS Kochi to trail the ship from December 15 to 18 with the destroyer evacuating an injured crew member from the hijacked ship to Salalah port in Oman. {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} In an effort to augment forces against pirates and increase maritime domain awareness, the Indian Navy deployed INS Kolkata in the Gulf of Aden. It was INS Mormugao that first responded to the distress call from MV Chem Pluto, which was hit by Iranian Shahed 136 drone on December 23 off the coast of Dwarka. The ship was escorted safely to Mumbai harbor where it is currently undergoing repairs. While India is not part of the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian, aimed at protecting the Red Sea shipping lane, the Indian Navy has been at the forefront to of providing maritime security to commercial traffic and take action against Somali pirates off the coast of Socotra islands in Yemen and off the African eastern seaboard. {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{/userSubscribed}} SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A voter turnout of more than 80 per cent was recorded in the Karanpur assembly election in Rajasthan where minister Surendra Pal Singh is in the race as the BJP candidate, according to officials. The counting of votes will take place on January 8 at Bheemrao Ambedkar Government College, Sriganganagar.(ANI) The polling, which began at 7 am and continued till 6 pm, was held peacefully. The counting of votes will take place on January 8 at Bheemrao Ambedkar Government College, Sriganganagar, the officials said on Saturday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Voting for 199 out of the 200 assembly seats in the state was held on November 25. The election in Karanpur was postponed due to the death of Congress candidate and sitting MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar. The Congress fielded Koonar's son Rupinder Singh from the seat. Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said the final voting percentage in Karanpur constituency was recorded at 81.38 per cent. According to officials, there are 2,40,826 voters -- 1,25,850 men, 1,14,966 women and 10 transgender persons -- in Karanpur. Surendra Pal Singh has already been inducted into the Rajasthan ministry after the BJP won the assembly polls, bagging 115 of the 199 seats. The Congress has criticised his induction in the ministry, terming it a violation of the model code of conduct. According to the rules, Surendra Pal Singh has six months to get elected to the assembly after being inducted as a minister. The family of the receptionist, who was murdered in September 2022 for allegedly refusing to provide extra services to a VIP guest at a resort in Pauri Garhwal district, has claimed that the guest in the case is a Bharatiya Janata Party leader, triggering a political row in Uttarakhand between the opposition Congress and the ruling BJP. The case pertains to the murder of 19-year-old woman, who was working as a receptionist at a resort in Pauri Garhwal, by three accused, including expelled BJP leader Vinod Aryas son Pulkit Arya (PTI file photo) A video that was uploaded on the social media platform of a local news outlet on Saturday evening purportedly showed the victims mother accuse chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami of making false promises and doing nothing to ensure justice in the case. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. She also suspected state BJP general secretary (organisation) Ajaey Kumar to be the VIP guest and suspected him to be the VIP guest for whom the victim was being pressurised to provide extra services euphemism for sex work demanded by a VIP guest. I have got to know that Ajaey Kumar is the VIP. Action should be taken against him immediately, she said and burst into tears. Read more on Uttarakhand receptionist's murder case: Womans parents threaten suicide over apathy The case pertains to the murder of 19-year-old woman, who was working as a receptionist at a resort in Pauri Garhwal, by three accused, including expelled BJP leader Vinod Aryas son Pulkit Arya, for allegedly refusing to provide extra services to a VIP guest in September 2022, the police have said. In the over 4-minute video, the victims mother sought action against state BJP general secretary (organisation) Ajaey Kumar, suspecting him to be the VIP guest in the case. I have got to know that Ajaey Kumar is the VIP. Action should be taken against him immediately, she is heard saying in the video. She also accused the state government of harassing the people who have been supporting them in their struggle. HT could not independently verify the veracity of the video. Repeated attempts through email and calls to Ajaey Kumar for a comment could not elicit any response. Soon after the video surfaced on social media, the Congress targeted the ruling party, calling the alleged involvement of the BJP leader as shameful. The allegations levelled by victim family against BJP leader Ajaey Kumar are serious in natural and need to be investigated, Karan Mahara, state Congress president, said. The Dhami government should show courage to order a high-level judicial probe into the allegations against the BJP leader. However, the BJP rejected the allegations as baseless and hit out at the Congress. The allegations against our party leaders are baseless and shows the frustration of the opposition party because of their repeated defeats in the polls, BJPs state media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said. He added that the remarks by the victims mother in the video were made in a fit of emotion. The Congress doesnt care about the family and is desperate for launching a misleading campaign against the BJP leaders. The probe agencies have left no stone unturned to ensure justice for the Pauri Garhwal receptionist woman and her family, he said. The state government and local authorities are in regular touch with the victims family. All their requests have been fulfilled New Delhi India is keen to get the Trade Agreements Act-designated country status by the United States and may push Washington to restore the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) benefits, while the US may ask New Delhi to facilitate American exports to bridge huge bilateral trade deficit during the US Trade Representative Katherine Tais India visit next week, two officials aware of the development said. US Trade Representative Katherine Tai is set to visit India next week. (PTI) The USTR is visiting New Delhi from January 12-14, 2024 and is scheduled to meet external affairs minister S Jaishankar and commerce minister Piyush Goyal to discuss issues related to trade and investments, they said requesting anonymity. The US is Indias top export destination with $44.47 billion exports in the first seven months of FY24 (April-October 2023) and $24.88 billion imports from America in the same period. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. India wants the US to recognise it as a Trade Agreements Act (TAA)-designated country to further deepen ties between the two economies and boost trade and investment in an environment of mutual trust, which saw withdrawal of seven vexed disputes to benefit both partners, the first official said. The six outstanding issues pending at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) were mutually resolved in June 2023 while the seventh and the last issue settled in September that year. Indias status as one of the TAA-designated countries would help Indian businesses to sell their products to the US government, but such deals are often based on overall negotiations and reciprocity, the official said. There are also talks to restore the GSP benefits that the Trump administration withdrew from June 2019. GSPs are unilateral, non-reciprocal and non-discriminatory benefits extended by some developed countries to developing countries. On the part of Washington, the USTR may ask India to provide greater market access for American agriculture and non-farm goods, protection of intellectual property rights, transparent e-commerce policy and encouraging digital trade, the second official said. According to the office of the USTR, Tai is scheduled to meet Goyal on January 12 and later the two will co-chair the 14th ministerial-level meeting of the US-India Trade Policy Forum. Established in 2010, the trade policy forum plays an important role in strengthening and expanding the bilateral economic and trade relationship, it said in a statement. Under Ambassador Tai and Minister Goyals leadership, the Trade Policy Forum has helped remove trade barriers and facilitate cooperation on key issues. During this years meeting of the Trade Policy Forum, Ambassador Tai and Minister Goyal will discuss a broad set of issues to enhance the resiliency of the trade relationship, including agriculture, industrial products, services, and the protection of intellectual property, among other topics, it added. The USTR will also meet EAM Jaishankar, it said. Tai has appointments with society representatives, business leaders, and stakeholders to discuss the Biden administrations engagement and commitment to fostering closer ties between the two countries on January 13, it said. The United States-India trade relationship continues to grow stronger and benefit both nations throughout the past year as Ambassador Tai and Minister Goyal reached several milestone agreements that deliver crucial market access for American farmers and producers, and high quality products to Indian consumers, the statement said referring to a 70% reduction of the tariff on pecans, the removal of retaliatory tariffs on almonds, apples, chickpeas, lentils and walnuts, boric acid, and diagnostic reagents, and commitments for additional tariff reductions on frozen turkey, frozen duck, as well as fresh, frozen, dried, and processed blueberries and cranberries. All eyes are on the three-day mega Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit on January 10 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event. As a part of the Summit, several programmes have been organised at Mahatma Mandir, Sector-17 Exhibition Center, and GIFT City, in the state capital Gandhinagar. According to reports, all the 136 delegates at the event will get to relish exclusive vegetarian meals for three days, organised by Leela Hotel. A model of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 placed at a roadside ahead of the summit, in Gandhinagar(PTI) The state government will be introducing a special Vibrant Bharat Thali for exclusive golden cardholders for 4,000, reported news agency PTI. Starting with the event on January 10, the delegates will be served their first meal in the afternoon named Taste of India which will offer different kinds of vegetarian dishes. In the evening, they will be presented with The taste of Gujarat for dinner which will include khichdi and curry, reported PTI. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. On the second day of the Summit, delegates will be served different flavours of millet - made in local authentic form. On the last day, the delegates will have a special networking dinner with some cultural programs. We will serve pure vegetarian food, crafted to ensure a low carbon footprint and bring in a carbon neutral event, Vikas Sood, General manager of Hotel Leela, Gandhinagar told news agency PTI. PM Modi will be visiting Gujarat from January 8 to 10, where he will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, CEOs of top global corporations, and inaugurate the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. According to an official release, the Summit's theme this year is Gateway to the Future and will celebrate 20 years of Vibrant Gujarat as the Summit of Success. A total of 136 delegates from 34 partner countries will be attending the event. The Summit will host various events including seminars and conferences on globally relevant topics including - industry 4.0, technology and innovation, sustainable manufacturing, green hydrogen, electric mobility and renewable energy, and transition towards sustainability. (With inputs from PTI) Ahead of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple consecration ceremony on January 22 in Ayodhya, students in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi crafted a 'five-foot-long diya' from the soil of the Ganga river to be lighted on the mega event day. Five foot long diya being crafted with the soil of the Ganga river in Varanasi for the upcoming Ram Temple consecration ceremony.(PTI) One of the students who made the Diya said to the news agency PTI that it took them 10 days to craft the lamp, which is 5 feet long, 4 feet wide and 1.5 feet in height. They even plan to send the giant diya to Ayodhya. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The preparations are in full swing for the pran-prathistha ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. Idols of elephants, lions, Lord Hanuman and Garuda, 'vahana' of Lord Vishnu , have been installed at the entrance gate of the Janmabhoomi Temple. Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Ram Temple Trust, has shared the details of the idol of Lord Ram which will be installed in the temple. Rai said the idol is in the form of a five-year-old child and has been made using dark-coloured stone and is 51 inches tall. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22. He will perform the rituals in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple at around 12.15 pm. Invitation cards for the consecration ceremony have been sent out to over 7,000 guests, including 3,000 VVIPs including priests, donors and several politicians. Additionally, several tent cities are being developed in the temple town to accommodate thousands of devotees, who are expected to arrive for the pran-pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. The Ram Temple complex, constructed in the traditional Nagara style, will measure 380 feet in length (east-west direction), 250 feet in width, and 161 feet in height. The foundation stone of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, was laid by PM Modi on August 5, 2020. The Ram temple will be opened for devotees on January 23. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 7. Canadian Arton Capital consulting company has published the latest World Passport Index, Trend reports via the company. According to the ranking, Azerbaijan stands on 61-st position. Citizens of the country can visit 37 countries visa-free, obtain visas upon arrival in another 46 countries, and require a pre-arranged visa for 115 countries. At the end of 2022 Azerbaijan held the 62-nd position in the ranking. The UAE passport topped the ranking, allowing its citizens to visit 132 countries visa-free, obtain visas upon arrival in 48 countries, and require a pre-arranged visa for only 18 countries. Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands shared the second position. Their citizens need to obtain a visa in advance to visit 20 countries. Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg shared the third place (mandatory visas are required for 21 countries). The ranking is based on the number of countries where passport holders can visit visa-free or obtain visas upon arrival. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Suspended Maldivian minister Mariyam Shiuna and politician Zahid Rameez triggered a massive controversy by making racist remarks targeting India and mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attempt to promote Lakshadweep as a tourist destination. The comments also triggered Indians on social media, with several people, including celebrities, joining the call to boycott the island nation. Zahid Rameez and Mariyam Shiuna Meanwhile, the Maldives government on Sunday distanced itself from the derogatory remarks made by the two leaders saying the opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, and negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and international partners. The relevant authorities of the government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks," the Maldives' government said in a statement. Who is Mariyam Shiuna? Mariyam Shiuna is a sitting minister in the Maldives government. She serves as the deputy minister at the Maldives Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Art. Shiuna is also the spokesperson of the Male City Council. Shiuna triggered a controversy after she called PM Modi a clown and puppet over his recent visit to Lakshadweep. After a massive backlash, she deleted the X post on Saturday. The Maldives government on Sunday suspended Shiuna, along with two other ministers - Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid - over remarks against India and PM Modi. Who is Zahid Rameez? Brazil postponed for the second time the reintroduction of requirements to obtain tourist visas for citizens of the US, Australia and Canada, officials said. Brazil postpones visa requirements for US, Canada, Australia citizens to April 10 (File Photo) Former president Jair Bolsonaro scrapped the visa requirements in 2019 to support the tourism industry, but the three countries continued to demand visas from Brazilians. The South American country requires visas from travelers based on principles of historical reciprocity and equal treatment. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The government initially postponed the visa implementation on Oct. 1. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in September then set Jan. 10 as the new deadline. On Thursday night, Brazil's presidency said it would be postponed yet again till April 10. The statement said the government was still finalising the new visa system and wanted to avoid implementing it close to the high season, mainly during the New Year's celebrations and Carnival festivities in February, which attract tens of thousands of tourists. Lula reinstated the visa requirements after he took office one year ago. The countries in question initially included Japan but the east Asian nation struck a deal with Brazilian authorities in September to ease travel provisions between the two, keeping its citizens off of the new list. Heavy rainfall in the Western Ghats caused a flash flood at the Old Courtallam Falls at the foothills of the mountain range in Tamil Nadu's Tenkasi on Saturday. Continous rainfall causes flood situations in which Tenkasi Elephant bridge gets submerged, in Tenkasi. Tamil Nadu: Tourists barred from bathing at Old Courtallam Falls in Tenkasi due to flash flood (ANI Photo) Due to this flooding, tourists are prohibited from bathing near the waterbodies adjacent to the Old Courtallam Falls, which is a major tourist attraction in the district, an official said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Though the weather is now pleasant, the water level downstream of the falls has not receded yet. As Saturday is a weekend, several tourists visited the waterfalls, but many said they were disappointed to find out that they were not allowed to bathe in the water body. Tamil Nadu has witnessed unprecedented rains this year. At first, Cyclone Michaung brought heavy rains to Chennai and surrounding districts, leaving a destruction trail. Recently, Tamil Nadu's southern districts witnessed heavy rainfalls. Due to the rains, the state has incurred heavy losses of public and private property, running into crores. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has sought 12,000 crore in central assistance and 7,300 crore of immediate relief for the damages in the flood. iPhone users who were affected by Apple's so-called batterygate and submitted a claim seeking compensation, have started receiving their payouts from the tech giant, after the iPhone maker agreed to pay up to $500 million in total to settle a lawsuit in this regard. Apple iPhone 15 plus (HT Photo/Vishal Mathur/Used only for representation) As per MacRumors, which was the first to report the story, the Tim Cook-led company is giving $92.17 per claim; at least two readers of the website are among those compensated by Apple. Also the payouts are in line with the timeline ('sometime in January 2024') set forth in the Settlement Agreement, the publication stated. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. What is Apple's batterygate? The lawsuit was filed in December 2017, shortly after Apple confirmed it had been throttling the maximum performance of some older iPhone models with chemically-aged batteries. This, explained Apple, was done to prevent the devices from unexpectedly shutting down. The Cupertino, California-based firm introduced this power management system in iOS 10.2.1, but failed to mention the change in the update's release notes. The company apologised for this lack of transparency, and lowered the price of iPhone battery replacements to $29 for all of 2018. Throughout this case, however, Apple never admitted to any legal wrongdoing. Additionally, it said that it agreed to the March 2020 settlement only to avoid burdensome and costly litigation. Affected iPhone models The settlement benefits are only for US-based owners of the following iPhone models: 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus that ran iOS 10.2.1 or later; or, those running iOS 11.2 (7, 7 Plus). The cut-off date is December 21, 2017. And it remained unclear when the White House and other key US officials were told about his stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. HT Image The Pentagon's failure to disclose Austin's hospitalization for days reflects a stunning lack of transparency about his illness, how serious it was and when he may be released. Such secrecy, at a time when the United States is juggling myriad national security crises, runs counter to normal practice with the president and other senior US officials and Cabinet members. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Austin, 70, remained hospitalised due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure, his press secretary said, as it became clear how closely the Pentagon held information about his stay at Walter Reed. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the White House and the Joint Chiefs of Staff were notified about Austin's hospitalisation, but he would not say when that happened. A number of US officials said Saturday that many of the most senior Pentagon service leaders were unaware until Friday that Austin was in the hospital. Officials said President Joe Biden and other senior White House staff were told, but the officials would not specify when. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. Ryder said members of Congress were told late Friday afternoon, and other officials said lawmakers were informed after 5 p.m. It was not clear when key senior members of Austin's staff were told, but across the Pentagon, many staff found out when the department released a statement about Austin's hospital stay just minutes after 5 pm. Many believed Austin was out on vacation for the week. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who took over when Austin was hospitalized, was also away. A US official said she had a communications setup with her in Puerto Rico that allowed her to do the job while Austin, who spent 41 years in the military and retired as a four-star Army general in 2016, was incapacitated. Ryder said Saturday that Austin is recovering well and resumed his full duties Friday evening from his hospital bed. Asked why the hospital stay was kept secret for so long, Ryder said on Friday that it was an evolving situation, and that due to privacy and medical issues, the Pentagon did not make Austin's absence public. Ryder declined to provide any other details about Austin's medical procedure or health. The White House has refused to say when or how it had been notified of Austin's hospitalisation. It referred questions to the Pentagon. The Pentagon Press Association, which represents media members who cover the Defense Department, sent a letter of protest on Friday evening to Ryder and Chris Meagher, the assistant defense secretary for public affairs. The fact that he has been at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for four days and the Pentagon is only now alerting the public late on a Friday evening is an outrage, the PPA said in its letter. At a time when there are growing threats to US military service members in the Middle East and the US is playing key national security roles in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, it is particularly critical for the American public to be informed about the health status and decision-making ability of its top defense leader. Other senior US leaders have been much more transparent about hospital stays. When Attorney General Merrick Garland went in for a routine medical procedure in 2022, his office informed the public a week in advance and outlined how long he was expected to be out and when he would return to work. Austin's hospitalisation comes as Iranian-backed militias have repeatedly launched drones, missiles and rockets at bases where US troops are stationed in Iraq and Syria, leading the Biden administration to strike back on a number of occasions. Those strikes often involve sensitive, top-level discussions and decisions by Austin and other key military leaders. The US is also the chief organiser behind a new international maritime coalition using ships and other assets to patrol the southern Red Sea to deter persistent attacks on commercial vessels by Houthi militants in Yemen. In addition, the administration, particularly Austin, has been at the forefront of the effort to supply weapons and training to Ukraine, and he's also been communicating frequently with the Israelis on their war against Hamas. (AP) RUP RUP Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed condemned the derogatory remarks made by the Maldives Minister and urged President Mohamed Muizzu to distance the government from the comments. Former Maldives' president Mohamed Nasheed (AFP) Read here: Maldives govt distances from minister's derogatory remark against PM Modi, calls it personal opinion Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. He said that India is "instrumental" in Maldives' security and prosperity and asked Muizzu to give assurance to New Delhi that the comments don't reflect government policy. "What appalling language by Maldives Government official @shiuna_m towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives' security and prosperity. @MMuizzu gov must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy," Nasheed posted on X. This comes after Maldives Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment Mariyam Shiuna made derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media platform X. The post by Shiuna -- which has now been deleted -- featured the pictures of PM Modi from his recent visit to Lakshadweep. PM Modi visited the Union Territory of Lakshadweep on January 2 and shared several pictures, including an 'exhilarating experience' after he tried his hand at snorkelling. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches and the pristine blue skies and the ocean, and tagged them with a message that read, "For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list." "Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from Lakshadweep...During my stay, I also tried snorkelling - what an exhilarating experience it was! For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list," PM Modi posted on X. He also laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over 1,150 crore in Agatti on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu will be visiting China from January 7-12. This is his second foreign visit after assuming office following the visit to Turkey. Notably, he departed from a long convention by not visiting India on the first official visit. LIVE Updates: Maldives minister's post on PM Modi's Lakshadweep visit sparks row Significantly, in December last year, the Maldives said it would not renew the Hydrographic Survey agreement made with India, a Maldives-based news website, The Press, reported. The removal of Indian troops in the Maldives was the main campaign of Muizzu's party. Currently, there are around 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives. Bangladesh Election Commission on Sunday said hackers from Ukraine and Germany carried out a cyber attack on its app, slowing down its functioning during the 12th general election in the country, according to a media report. An official brings ballot box for counting casted votes after voting is timed out at a polling station, during the 12th general election in Dhaka, Bangladesh.(Reuters) Speaking to the media, Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) Secretary Md Jahangir Alam said that it had created a mobile application called "Smart Election Management BD" which provides real-time voting information. However, voters during the polls complained since Sunday morning that the EC app was not operating properly, the Dhaka Tribune website reported. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. After a probe, it was found that there was a cyber attack from hackers from Ukraine and Germany on the app. "A cyber attack has been carried out on the app 'Smart Election Management BD' of the Election Commission (EC) from Ukraine and Germany," he was quoted as saying in the report. Alam said that the EC app slowed down after the cyber attack from Ukraine and Germany. "Our team has been working round the clock to fix the issue. Although the app is functioning slowly, it's still working," he said. The EC secretary also said that the news of the app being developed at a cost of Bangladeshi Taka Tk 21 crore (INR 15.98 crore) is incorrect. The app is only a part of a six-year project worth Tk 21 crore. The project is in its first year, and barely Tk 8 crore has been spent so far, he added. Voting for the 12th general election in Bangladesh was held on Sunday amid sporadic violence and a boycott by the main opposition party BNP and its allies. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday thanked India for supporting during the 1971 liberation war against Pakistan and giving "shelter to her family in 1975 when many of her family members were killed in 1975. A Bangladeshi polling officer puts indelible ink on the finger of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after arriving to cast her vote in Dhaka on Sunday, (AP) Sheikh Hasina's message to India comes as Bangladeshis began voting in the general elections with the prime minister set to win a fourth straight term after the main opposition party refused to take part, raising questions about the legitimacy of the polls. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "You are most welcome. We are very lucky...India is our trusted friend. During our 1971 liberation war, they supported us...After 1975, when we lost our whole family...they gave us shelter. So our best wishes to the people of India," Hasina told reporters. Live Updates on Bangladesh general elections The India-Pakistan war began place in the backdrop of tensions between Pakistan (also known then as West Pakistan) and the Bengali majority East Pakistan, which was closer to India then. On March 25, 1971, the Pakistan Army, led by lieutenant general Tikka Khan, who later went on to become Pakistans first COAS, launched Operation Searchlight to quell the rebellion in East Pakistan. Massive human rights violations were reportedly perpetrated by the Pakistan Army during this operation. While the Indian Air Force (IAF) responded with initial retaliatory strikes the same night, then prime minister Indira Gandhi ordered a full-scale invasion of Pakistan. Thus, officially commenced the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971. The war came to an end in less than two weeks on December 16, 1971, with the Eastern Command chief of the Indian Army, Lt Gen JS Aurora, making the Eastern Command chief of the Pakistan Army, Lt Gen AAK Niazi, sign the instrument of surrender. East Pakistan became Bangladesh, with Awami League leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, becoming its first president in January 1972, as well as its second prime minister in 1974. Mujib, who was assassinated in 1975, is the father of Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh elections Polling centres in Bangladesh opened at 8am local time after a monthlong campaign beset by daily street protests, the jailing of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus and viral videos of ruling party leaders urging voters to cast ballots or risk losing government benefits. With most of Hasinas rivals behind bars, voter turnout is expected to fall but wont dent the 76-year-old politicians re-election. Hasina has overseen one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and lifted millions out of poverty as part of her development agenda achievements often overshadowed by her turn to authoritarianism. Boycotts Election officials will start counting the ballots after polls close at 4pm with results due late Sunday or early Monday. About 120 million people are eligible to vote for 300 of the 350 seats in parliament. In recent weeks, prominent leaders from Hasinas Awami League party have been shown on social media video clips telling voters that they risked losing their benefits if they didnt take part in the elections. The Election Commission served a notice to at least one of the politicians. The main Bangladesh Nationalist Party has boycotted the national vote in response to Hasina refusing to step aside and allowing a caretaker government to run the poll. The dispute has led to street battles between the opposition group, security forces and supporters of Awami League. (With inputs from agencies) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina casts her vote in the country's general elections, in Dhaka. Bangladesh election LIVE: Bangladesh on Sunday began voting in the 12th general elections at 8 am local time and will continue till 4 pm. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to win a fourth straight term and the fifth overall for her Awami League-led alliance in this general election which is boycotted by the main opposition party BNP and marred by violence ahead of the vote....Read More A total of 119.6 million registered voters are eligible to vote at Sunday's polls in over 42,000 polling stations, according to the countrys Election Commission. The voting is being held in 299 out of 300 constituencies. The election to one centre will be held later as a candidate died there. Over 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties are contesting in the election besides 436 independent candidates. The BNP says the Awami League has propped up "dummy" candidates as independents to try to make the election look credible, a claim the ruling party denies. The BNP, which also boycotted the 2014 poll but took part in 2018, has asked people to shun the poll and called a two-day strike nationwide from Saturday. Bangladeshis largely stayed away from the polls in a general election on Sunday set to give Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a fourth straight term, after a vote boycotted by the main opposition party and marred by violence. Bangladesh Elections: Voters stand in a queue to cast their vote in the Bangladesh's general elections, at Camilla in Chittagong.(PTI) Rights groups have warned of virtual one-party rule by Hasina's Awami League in the South Asian country of 170 million people after the boycott by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and some smaller allies. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The United States and Western nations, key customers of Bangladesh's garment industry, have called for a free and fair election, the 12th since independence from Pakistan in 1971. Turnout was 27.15% at 3 p.m. (0900), an hour before polls closed, the election commission said, compared with overall turnout of more than 80% in the last election in 2018. Voting was cancelled at three centres due to irregularities, said Jahangir Alam, secretary of the commission. The BNP, boycotting the second of the past three elections, says Hasina's party is trying to legitimise a sham vote. She refused BNP demands to resign and allow a neutral authority to run the election, accusing the opposition of instigating anti-government protests that have rocked Dhaka since late October and killed at least 14 people. In her latest 15 years in power, Hasina, 76, has been credited with turning around Bangladesh's economy and the key garment industry. But critics accuse her of authoritarianism, human rights violations, crackdowns on free speech and suppression of dissent. At least four people were killed on Friday in a passenger train fire that the government called arson. Several polling booths, schools and a Buddhist monastery were set ablaze days before the poll. A person in Munshiganj, south of the capital Dhaka, was hacked to death on Sunday morning, district police chief Mohammad Aslam Khan said, adding that it was unclear if the killing was related to political violence. Police in Chandpur district about 110 km (70 miles) from Dhaka fired tear gas to disperse BNP supporters who had blocked roads to disrupt voting and threw stones at security forces, said district police chief Saiful Islam. Supporters of the Awami League and independent candidates clashed in some districts, amid allegations that ruling party cadres were stuffing sealed ballot papers in voting boxes, local media reported. Bangladesh deployed nearly 800,000 security forces to guard polling booths and troops were mobilised nationwide to assist in maintaining peace. 'PEOPLE ARE MY POWER,' HASINA SAYS Hasina, accompanied by her daughter and other family members, voted at Dhaka's City College minutes after polling began at 8 a.m. Initial results are expected early on Monday. "Bangladesh is a sovereign country and people are my power," Hasina said after voting, adding that she hoped her party would win the people's mandate, which would give it a fifth term since 1996. "I am trying my best to ensure that democracy should continue in this country." A winter chill and fog eased marginally during the day with people queuing up outside polling booths, according to Reuters witnesses. About 120 million voters were choosing from nearly 2,000 candidates for 300 directly elected parliamentary seats. There are 436 independent candidates, the most since 2001. The opposition BNP, its top leaders either in jail or exile, says the Awami League has propped up "dummy" candidates as independents to try to make the election look credible, a claim the ruling party denies. The BNP called a two-day strike nationwide through Sunday, asking people to shun the election. "PM Hasina has done a lot for the country. I'll vote for her party," said Anowar Hossain, 55, as he walked home after buying vegetables at a market in Dhaka. College teacher Zayeda Begum, 55, was among dozens of women at a polling booth in the capital. She said she was happy with how Bangladesh was progressing, adding that she had cast her vote in favour of the ruling party. Hasina said she did not need to prove the credibility of the election to anyone. "What is important is if the people of Bangladesh will accept this election." The economy has slowed sharply since the Russia-Ukraine war pushed up prices of fuel and food imports, forcing Bangladesh to turn last year to the International Monetary Fund for a bailout of $4.7 billion. Fahim Faysal, 20, a BNP supporter and a first-time voter decided against voting due to the absence of the opposition party. "The government is doing many things but there are no employment opportunities," he said. I feel it would have been better if BNP contested. Anyway, it's their decision. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Elon Musks drug use is worrying executives and board members at businesses he runs, the Wall Street Journal reported. The report cited unidentified people familiar with the billionaire and the companies as saying that Elon Musk's drug use is ongoing and he is consuming ketamine. Elon Musk said in August last year that he has a prescription to use the drug as an antidepressant. Elon Musk is seen.(Reuters) What are the claims made about Elon Musk's drug use Elon Musk has used LSD, cocaine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, often at private parties, the report claimed. The billionaire's lawyer told the newspaper that his client is regularly and randomly drug tested at SpaceX and has never failed a test" as he referred to false facts in the article. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Elon Musk's public use of marijuana Elon Musk was seen publicly using marijuana with podcaster Joe Rogan in September 2018 which resulted in the Pentagon to review the federal security clearance tied to his role as CEO of Space Exploration Technologies Corp, it was reported. What has Elon Musk said on drug use On the article, Elon Musk responded on X (formerly Twitter), After that one puff with Rogan, I agreed, at NASAs request, to do 3 years of random drug testing. Not even trace quantities were found of any drugs or alcohol. What else was reported about Elon Musk's drug use The report claimed that Linda Johnson Rice, who became a Tesla director in 2017, didnt stand for reelection out of frustration with Elon Musks behavior and his drug use. Which companies does Elon Musk oversee Elon Musk oversees six companies: Tesla, SpaceX and X, formerly known as Twitter; tunneling venture The Boring Co.; brain implant developer Neuralink; and artificial intelligence startup xAI. The required inspections take around four to eight hours per aircraft and affect about 171 airplanes worldwide. HT Image Alaska Airlines said in a statement that of the 65 737 Max 9 aircraft in its fleet, crews had inspected the paneled-over exits as part of recent maintenance work on 18 planes, and those were cleared to return to service on Saturday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Inspections for the remaining aircraft were expected to be completed in the coming days, the company said. An Alaska Airlines jetliner blew out a portion of its fuselage shortly after takeoff 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) above Oregon late Friday, forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing as its 171 passengers and six crew members donned oxygen masks. No one was seriously hurt as the depressurized plane returned safely to Portland International Airport about 20 minutes after departure. Authorities are still looking for the door from the paneled-over exit and have a good idea of where it landed, near Oregon Route 217 and Barnes Road in the Cedar Hills area west of Portland, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference late Saturday. If you find that, please, please contact local law enforcement, she said. It was extremely lucky that the airplane had not yet reached cruising altitude, when passengers and flight attendants might be walking around the cabin, Homendy said. No one was seated in 26A and B where that door plug is, the aircraft was around 16,000 feet and only 10 minutes out from the airport when the door blew, she said. The headrests were gone on seats 26A and 25A and 26A was missing part of its seatback. There were also clothing items strewn about the area, Homendy said. Passenger Evan Smith said a boy and his mother were sitting in the row where the panel blew out, and the child's shirt was sucked off him and out of the plane. You heard a big loud bang to the left rear. A whooshing sound and all the oxygen masks deployed instantly and everyone got those on, Smith told KATU-TV. Homendy could not confirm reports that anyone had a shirt sucked off by the depressurisation or provide details yet about what happened to those sitting closest to the blown fuselage. Homendy and investigators from the NTSB arrived in Portland on Saturday to begin an investigation that is likely to last months. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said the inspection of the company's 737-9 aircraft could take days to complete. They make up a fifth of the company's 314 planes. We are working with Boeing and regulators to understand what occurred ... and will share updates as more information is available, Minicucci said. My heart goes out to those who were on this flight I am so sorry for what you experienced. Alaska cancelled more than 100 flights, or 15 per cent of its Saturday schedule by midday, according to FlightAware. United said the plane inspections would result in about 60 cancellations. The Port of Portland, which operates the airport, told KPTV that the fire department treated minor injuries at the scene. One person was taken for more treatment but wasn't seriously hurt. Flight 1282 took off from Portland at 5:07 p.m. Friday for a two-hour flight to Ontario, California. About six minutes later, the chunk of the fuselage blew out as the plane was at about 16,000 feet (4.8 kilometers). One of the pilots declared an emergency and asked for clearance to descend to 10,000 feet (3 kilometers), the altitude where the air would have enough oxygen to breathe safely. 'We need to turn back to Portland," the pilot told controllers in a calm voice that she maintained throughout the landing. Videos posted by passengers online showed a gaping hole where the paneled-over exit had been and passengers wearing masks. They applauded when the plane landed safely about 13 minutes after the blowout. Firefighters then came down the aisle, asking passengers to remain in their seats as they treated the injured. The aircraft involved rolled off the assembly line and received its certification two months ago, according to online FAA records. It had been on 145 flights since entering commercial service November 11, said FlightRadar24, another tracking service. The flight from Portland was the aircraft's third of the day. Aviation experts were stunned that a piece would fly off a new aircraft. Anthony Brickhouse, a professor of aerospace safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said he has seen panels of fuselage come off planes before, but couldn't recall one where passengers are looking at the lights of the city. He said the incident is a reminder for passengers to stay buckled in. If there had been a passenger in that window seat who just happened to have their seat belt off, we'd be looking at a totally different news story. The Max is the newest version of Boeing's venerable 737, a twin-engine, single-aisle plane frequently used on US domestic flights. The plane went into service in May 2017. The president of the union representing flight attendants at 19 airlines, including Alaska Airlines, commended the crew for keeping passengers safe. Flight Attendants are trained for emergencies and we work every flight for aviation safety first and foremost, Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said in a statement on Saturday. Two Max 8 jets crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people and leading to a near two-year worldwide grounding of all Max 8 and Max 9 planes. They returned to service only after Boeing made changes to an automated flight control system implicated in the crashes. Last year the FAA told pilots to limit use of an anti-ice system on the Max in dry conditions because of concern that inlets around the engines could overheat and break away, possibly striking the plane. Max deliveries have been interrupted at times to fix manufacturing flaws. The company told airlines in December to inspect the planes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder-control system. (AP) PY PY Israeli forces have completely dismantled Hamas' "military framework" in northern Gaza and killed around 8,000 militants in that area, a military spokesperson said on Saturday. Army spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters said the Israel Defence Forces has also seized tens of thousands of weapons in that area and millions of documents. An undated photo released by the Israel Defense Forces shows Muhammed Deif (right), the commander of the Hamas terror groups military wing. (IDF) "We have completed the dismantling of the Hamas military framework in the northern Gaza Strip," Hagari said. He added that Hamas militants were now operating in the area only sporadically and "without commanders". Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Now the focus is on dismantling Hamas in the centre of the Gaza Strip and in the south of the Gaza Strip, Hagari said while acknowledging that the task will take time. "In the Jabaliya area, we eliminated the battalion commander, the deputy brigade commanders, and 11 company commanders leading the terrorists in the field. The senior terrorist we eliminated in the area is Ahmad Randor... Eliminating the commanders made it difficult for the terrorists to fight organised and led to many of them surrendering," the army spokesperson said. Jabalya is a densely populated area... Before entering such a dense area for combat, we evacuate the population, aiming to prevent harm and protect the civiliansIn two hospitals in the area, Kamal Adwan... and the Indonesian Hospital, underground infrastructure, weapons, and military equipment were established. In both, we carried out special operations to dismantle the terror infrastructure, without harming doctors, medical teams, or patients. How IDF carried out Jabalya operations The IDF said before entering such a dense area for combat, we evacuate the population, aiming to prevent harm and protect the civilians while allowing military action, as it deprives Hamas of protection under the guise of the population and allows us to distinguish between the population and Hamas terrorists and target them. We struck underground infrastructure, terrorists, lookout posts, and explosive rigged houses. Just in Jabaliya alone, we struck about 670 air targets before the entry of the ground forces. We struck precisely, intelligence-based, and according to international law. All this allowed optimal entry conditions for IDF forces, the spokesperson said. Five objectives Dismantling Hamas consists of five objectives the first, eliminating Hamas commanders, thus impacting its command and control. In these strikes, in the Jabaliya area we eliminated the battalion commander, the deputy brigade commanders, and 11 company commanders leading the terrorists in the field. The senior terrorist we eliminated in the area is Ahmad Randor; you can see him here in the picture, sitting with his command echelon in his underground bunker, 40 meters underground. We precisely struck and eliminated all the people with him. Eliminating the commanders made it difficult for the terrorists to fight organized and led to many of them surrendering, he said. The second objective is ground combat against the terrorists. IDF forces encircled and cleared the Jabaliya area, meaning the combination of armoured forces, about 200 tanks, combat engineering forces, infantry forces, and special forces encircled the Jabaliya area from several directions simultaneously. All this with intelligence and air support from dozens of aircraft that strike any threat quickly. IDF ground forces directed the fighter jets that struck about 300 targets. This collaboration between the Israeli Air Force and the ground forces has not been seen in any war to date. The third objective is to gather intelligence in the field. We have located computers, maps, communication devices, and found hard drives from which we downloaded about 70 million intelligence files, which are now being studied and analyzed by the Intelligence Directorate (J2) and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA). We interrogated many terrorists in the field, in collaboration with the ISA, working shoulder to shoulder, a practice that yields remarkable achievements in the war. In Jabaliya, many terrorists have surrendered, whom we are questioning. As a result of this, we have gathered intelligence about senior Hamas operatives, including documentation, as you can see in this picture, of Muhammad Deif, which we retrieved from a hard drive, Hagari said. The fourth objective is to locate and destroy rockets, weapons, and the sites where they are manufactured. We located and destroyed about 40,000 weapons across the Gaza Strip, some of which were found in schools, hospitals, mosques, and under the beds of children, he said. The fifth objective for dismantling Hamas is to destroy its underground infrastructure. In Jabaliya alone, we found 8 km of underground tunnels and more than 40 tunnel shafts. Inside the tunnels, we located Hamas northern headquarters near there, we retrieved the bodies of five hostages and brought them back to be buried in Israel. Six people killed on Sunday Six people were killed on early Sunday during an Israeli raid in Jenin in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said. "An Israeli occupation bombardment on a group of citizens killed six people in Jenin," said the Palestinian Authority-run Ministry of Health, which is based in the West Bank. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported early Sunday that a major deployment of Israeli forces was underway in Jenin. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to crush Gaza's Hamas rulers after they carried out the deadliest attack in the country's history on October 7. It resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people, most of them civilians, reports suggest. The militants also took around 250 hostages, 132 of whom remain in captivity, according to Israel. Israel responded by bombarding the territory and sending in ground forces, killing at least 22,722 people, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Speaking about military efforts to dismantle Hamas in the central and southern Gaza Strip, Hagari said, "We will do it in a different way" without elaborating. "The refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip are crowded and full of terrorists," he said. In the south, the large urban landscape of Khan Yunis has an elaborate underground network of tunnels, he said. "It takes time." Earlier on Saturday, Netanyahu said his government had directed the army to "eliminate Hamas", return all the hostages and ensure that Gaza will "never again be a threat to Israel". "The war must not be stopped until we achieve all of the goals," he said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies) An Israeli air strike on a car near Rafah in southern Gaza on Sunday killed two Palestinian journalists who were out reporting, according to health officials in Gaza and the journalists' union there. Israel-Hamas War: Smoke billowing from buildings in the Palestinian territory during Israeli bombardment.(AFP) Hamza Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya were both freelancers. Al-Dahdouh had done freelance work for Al Jazeera and was the son of the Qatar-based TV station's chief correspondent in Gaza, Wael Al-Dahdouh. A third freelancer, Hazem Rajab, was wounded. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Al Jazeera Media Network condemned the killing of the two journalists and said it had been a deliberate attack. "We urge the International Criminal Court, the governments and human rights organisations, and the United Nations to hold Israel accountable for its heinous crimes and demand an end to the targeting and killing of journalists," the network said in a statement. The Israel Defence Forces did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strike or on the TV network's allegation that the two journalists had been deliberately targetted. In a statement on Dec. 16, in response to the death of another Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza, the Israeli army, said "the IDF has never, and will never, deliberately target journalists". The Israel-Hamas war that started on Oct. 7 has been deadly for journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international watchdog, said that as of Saturday, 77 journalists and media workers had been killed - 70 Palestinians, four Israelis and three Lebanese. The Hamas-run Gaza government's media office said the two new deaths raised its own tally of journalists killed by the Israeli offensive to 109. A video posted on an Al Jazeera-linked YouTube channel showed Wael Al-Dahdouh crying next to his son's body and holding his hand. Later, after his son's burial, he said in televised remarks that journalists in Gaza would keep doing their job. "All the world needs to see what is happening here," he said. Wael Al-Dahdouh is particularly well known to viewers across the Middle East after he learned during a live broadcast last month that his wife, another son, daughter and grandson had been killed in an Israeli air strike. Among journalists who have died covering the conflict was Reuters visuals journalist Issam Abdallah. A Lebanese citizen, he was killed on Oct. 13 by an Israeli tank crew while filming cross-border shelling in Lebanon, a Reuters investigation has found. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong denied Seoul's claims that Pyongyang fired dozens of artillery rounds near their disputed border. South Korean military earlier said that North Korea fired over 60 artillery rounds near Yeonpyeong Island, a day after both sides staged live-fire drills in the same area which is near their contested maritime border. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, delivers a speech.(AP) South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the shells landed in a buffer zone which was created under a 2018 tension-reducing deal. It fell apart in November after North Korea launched a spy satellite. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. But Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, Our military did not fire a single shell into the water area. North Korea had detonated explosives simulating the sound of gunfire 60 times and "watched the reaction" of the South Korean forces, she said, adding, "The result was exactly as we expected. They misjudged the sound of explosives as gunfire, assumed it was an artillery fire provocation, and shamelessly made up a lie." Mocking South Korea, Kim Yo Jong said, In the future, they will misjudge even the rumbling sound of thunder in the northern sky as artillery fire from our military. This comes as residents on two South Korean islands near the border were ordered to evacuate. Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in decades after leader Kim Jong Un enshrined his country's status as a nuclear power into the constitution. North Korea also test-fired several advanced ICBMs last year as Kim Jong Un threatened a nuclear attack on the South and called for a build-up of his country's military as conflict could break out any time, he said. The Maldives government on Sunday suspended three ministers over their derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid were suspended over their remarks against PM Modi, which triggered a massive backlash. Earlier in the day, the Maldives government in a statement had distanced itself from the remarks, calling them personal opinions. The statement had come following India making it clear that the remarks by junior lady minister Mariyam Shiuna were uncalled for and unacceptable. Former presidents including Mohammad Nasheed and Ibrahim Solih had demanded action against the ministers over their remarks against Prime Minister Modi. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. (ANI Photo)(The President's Office, Maldives) I condemn the use of hateful language against #India by Maldivian government officials on social media. India has always been a good friend to Maldives and we must not allow such callous remarks to negatively impact the age old friendship between our two countries, former president Ibrahim Solih had said. Former Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid had also demanded stern action against the ministers. Derogatory remarks made by 2 Deputy Ministers of the current #Maldives Government, and a member of a political party in the ruling coalition, towards Prime Minister @narendramodi and the people of India on social media is reprehensible and odious. I call on the Government to reprimand these officials, he had said in an X post. The remarks by these ministers have already triggered a massive backlash on social media, with even celebrities including film stars calling out the Maldivian leaders for their hate rant against Modi. The unsavoury remark by the minister comes at a time when Maldives president Mohammad Muizzu has gone to Beijing to seek funds. The Sunni Salafi Muslim leader had won the elections in November by seeking votes in the name of ousting Indian troops from Maldives. The Maldives government on Sunday suspended three deputy ministers who made derogatory comments on social media against India and its leadership even as it distanced itself from the remarks and urged officials not to do anything that affects ties with international partners. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. (ANI) The row erupted over the weekend after Zahid Rameez, a leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives that is part of the government, and deputy minister Mariyam Shiuna reacted to posts on social media describing Lakshadweep as a tourist destination that rivals the Maldives following Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to the islands. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. All government officials responsible for the comments have been suspended from their post effective immediately, said Ibrahim Khaleel, spokesperson for the president of Maldives. While Khaleel didnt name the officials, reports in the Maldivian media identified them as Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, who are all deputy ministers in the ministry of youth empowerment, information and art. People familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity that the Indian side has conveyed its concerns over the derogatory remarks to the Maldives. The row comes at a time when the new President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, whose is perceived to be pro-China, has called on India to withdraw some 77 Indian military personnel posted in the Indian Ocean archipelago to operate two helicopters and an aircraft. Zahid Rameez of the Progressive Party of Maldives responded to social media posts on Lakshadweep by saying on X that the idea of the islands competing with the Maldives is delusional. He added: How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall. Shiuna made a derogatory post on X that referred to the Indian premier as a puppet of Israel. She subsequently deleted the post but screen grabs of it were widely shared on social media. In a post, Shiuna opposed what she described as Indias military presence in the Maldives. Similar derogatory posts were made by Malsha Shareef and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid. Earlier on Sunday, the Maldivian foreign ministry issued a statement that said the government is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. Without directly referring to India, the statement added: These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives. The government, the statement further said, believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners. Moreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks, the statement said. Following his recent visit to Lakshadweep, Modi highlighted the stunning beauty of the islands and the incredible warmth of its people in a post on X and said: For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list. This spurred several posts on social media urging Indians to visit Lakshadweep instead of the Maldives because of the pro-China tilt of the government in Male. Muizzu, who assumed office last November, also broke with convention by announcing recently that he would visit China before travelling to India. New Delhi is usually the first port of call for Maldivian presidents but Turkey was the first country to which Muizzu made a bilateral visit. Other Maldivian leaders, including former president Mohamed Nasheed and former foreign minister Abdulla Shahid, criticised the actions of the deputy ministers. Nasheed referred to the appalling language used by Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally that is instrumental for Maldives security and prosperity and said in a post on X that Muizzus government must give a clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy. Shahid said in a post on X that the derogatory remarks by the deputy ministers and a member of the ruling coalition towards Modi and the people of India are reprehensible and odious. He added, India is a time-tested friend and an unwavering ally. They have historically been the first to respond in our time of need. Our close relationship has been bound by mutual respect, history, culture and strong people-to-people relations. During an interview with the BBC, Sunak was asked about the historic scandal involving a faulty IT system named Horizon dating back to the late 1990s and confirmed that his justice minister is looking at how the process of overturning wrongful convictions and providing compensations can be speeded up. HT Image The government, which formally owns Post Office Ltd, has paid out millions in compensation to many of the sub-postmasters impacted but there are many others still waiting for years. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "Obviously it's something that happened in the '90s but actually seeing it and hearing about it again just shows what an appalling miscarriage of justice it is for everyone affected and it's important that those people now get the justice they deserve, and that's what the compensation schemes are about, said Sunak. "The government has paid out about GBP 150 million to thousands of people already. Of course, we want to get the money to the people as quickly as possible, that's why there are interim payments of up to, I think, GBP 600,000 that can be made. There are three different schemes available and for anyone affected, they should come forward," he said. The issue has been brought back into focus again with a hard-hitting real-life ITV drama series Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, which aired in the UK this month, and the Metropolitan Police confirmed soon after that it is investigating the Post Office over potential fraud offences. Dozens more impacted by the faulty accounting system have since sought legal help, adding to the already over 700 sub-postmasters impacted by the scandal. Back in April 2021, the case of Seema Biswas, now 47, came to light when she had her conviction quashed alongside Vijay Parekh two British Indian sub-postmasters among a group of 39 who won a Court of Appeal case. Misra took over her post office in Surrey in 2005 and was pregnant when she was wrongly handed a 15-month sentence over 12 years ago after being accused of stealing GBP 75,000 from her branch. "I would have killed myself if I hadn't been pregnant," said Misra, a mother of two who had hailed the Court of Appeal verdict as a huge moment. Sub-postmasters like her had appealed their convictions on two grounds: that they had been denied a fair trial, and that the circumstances in which the prosecutions went ahead "represents an affront to public conscience". In the ruling at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, a three-judge bench granted the appeal on both grounds. "Post Office Limited's failures of investigation and disclosure were so egregious as to make the prosecution of any of the 'Horizon cases' an affront to the conscience of the court," said Lord Justice Timothy Holroyde, sitting with Justice Simon Picken and Justice Judith Farbey, at the time. He said the Post Office "knew there were serious issues about the reliability of Horizon" and had a "clear duty to investigate" the system's defects. The ruling meant the former postmasters could bring new civil cases for malicious prosecution. However, the process has been a long-drawn one for the victims, many of whom are still waiting for their rightful exoneration and compensation in what has been branded as one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history. Vatican City, Jan 7 (AP) Pope Francis baptized 16 babies in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday under the ceiling frescoed by Michelangelo, in what has become an annual tradition near the end of the Christmas holiday period at the Vatican. HT Image Among the babies who were carried by parents to the pontiff were a boy and girl who are twins. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Francis used a shell-shaped container to pour baptismal water over the head of each baby, and pronounced each child's name. As he has before at baptism ceremonies, Francis kept his homily brief. He remarked that the babies at that moment were being quiet but noted that often one starts crying and then the others join in. That didn't happen at this year's ceremony, and the infants largely stayed quiet as they sucked on pacifiers or were gently rocked in their parents' arms. Some of the babies were dressed in traditional long and frilly white christening outfits. Other infants wore coveralls. One baby boy sported a blue bow tie and another blue socks. Near the ceremony's end, Francis told the parents that the day of baptism is "like a birthday. He urged them to make sure their children learn the date of their baptism, the day they became Christians and celebrate on that date every year. Each family was presented with a long, white candle. Look at it in difficult moments," the pope said. This candle brings us back to our Christian roots never extinguish it in our heart. Before leaving the chapel in a wheelchair guided by an aide, Francis patted the cheeks or heads of the babies. He blew a kiss to the young brother of one of the newly baptized. (AP) PY PY Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will retain her title as the worlds longest serving female head of government after her party swept more than half of the parliament seats in an election boycotted by her opponents and voters. People stand next to a campaign poster of the ruling party during parliamentary election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Jan 7, 2024.(AP) Hasinas Awami League party won at least 157 of 299 seats for a simple parliament majority, according to two major television networks citing polling data. The election for one seat was postponed. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The Election Commission has put the turnout at about 40%. Its a sharp drop from the 80% participation in polls in 2018, as voters heeded a campaign by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party to shun the election and draw attention to the sweeping crackdown her government carried out in the run up to the polls. The vote was the culmination of a monthlong campaign beset by daily street protests, the jailing of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus and viral videos of ruling party leaders pushing voters to cast ballots or risk losing government benefits. Dhaka was deserted with heavy security around voting centers and there were few reports of clashes between opposition supporters and police officials. In a sign the country was still on edge, Hasina, who is also the president of the Awami League, asked supporters not to organize rallies to celebrate the victory, according to party official Sayem Khan. Hasina was upbeat during the polling, telling voters to exercise their democratic rights. Im determined to make sure that democracy continues, she told reporters. Without democracy, development work cant continue. The 76-year-old leader is expected to hold a post-election briefing on Monday at 3 p.m., local media reported. Hasina, who is set for a fourth straight term in power, has overseen one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and lifted millions out of poverty as part of her development agenda achievements often overshadowed by her turn to authoritarianism. Still, the economy is struggling with dollar shortages, which has prompted Moodys Investors Service and others to downgrade Bangladeshs credit ratings. The government was earlier forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund for $4.7 billion in emergency loans after the pandemic and soaring commodity prices depleted foreign exchange reserves. About 120 million people were eligible to vote for 299 of the 350 seats in parliament. In recent weeks, prominent leaders from Awami League have been shown on social media video clips telling voters that they risked losing their benefits if they didnt take part in the elections. The BNP boycotted the national vote in response to Hasina refusing to step aside and allowing a caretaker government to run the poll. In response her Awami League party targeted a 50% turnout and allowed some of its leaders to contest as independents to spur voter interest. As polling stations closed, opposition leaders congratulated voters for not casting their ballots, according to the Daily Star. What we have been saying for the one year that the people of Bangladesh have turned down this government has been shown today before everyone in the country, said BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan. Well continue our movement together with the people in a peaceful process. Police arrested several opposition leaders in the months before the election. Hasinas main rival and BNP leader Khaleda Zia faces suspended jail sentences on graft charges that her supporters say are trumped up. Human Rights Watch said in a November report that almost 10,000 opposition activists have been arrested since a planned rally by the BNP on Oct. 28. Nobel winner Yunus was given a six-month jail sentence by a Dhaka court last week in a case his supporters say was politically motivated. South Korea's border island of Yeonpyeong warned residents to stay inside as North Korea was conducting live-fire drills near the maritime border for a third consecutive day near the contested maritime border. A general view shows a wall damaged by a North Korean artillery attack at Yeonpyeong island, near the 'northern limit line' sea boundary with North Korea.(AFP) "North Korea conducting live-fire drills on western coast: S. Korean military," Yonhap reported, without giving further details. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. South Korea's text message sent to all residents read, "North Korean gunfire is currently being heard. Local officials told news agency AFP, Residents are advised to be careful about outdoor activities. Toronto: As gang-related violence in Indo-Canadian communities mushroom in Canada, the Attorney General of British Columbia Niki Sharma has given the assurance that local law enforcement will be given additional funding to tackle the problem and called upon members of the community to report extortion attempts to law enforcement and not to respond to the demands of criminals. British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma (in red shirt) and other local leaders at a community forum in Surrey on Saturday to address concerns over increase in gang violence in the area. (Source: Vedic Hindu Cultural Society) Sharma made these comments while addressing a community forum organised in the town of Surrey in British Columbia following a spate of incidents. The forum, which was attended by between 700 and 800 people, was organised by Satish Kumar, the president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey . The residence of Kumars son was peppered with nearly 12 bullets in a shooting incident in the early hours of December 27 last year. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. This was to address our two main concerns driveby shootings and extortion calls, Kumar said. He said the community had presented a memorandum of their demands to the leaders who attended the forum, including Sharma, Federal MPs, provincial MLAs and local officials. We asked people to cooperate fully with the police in their investigations, Kumar said. The memorandum, which is marked to BCs premier David Eby, Sharma, Surrey mayor Brenda Locke and the head of the Surrey Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), among others, has called for increased police patrols in areas considered high-risk or prone to criminal activities. A visible law enforcement presence can act as a deterrent and provide reassurance to our residents, the memorandum, under the letterhead of the Vedic Hindu Cultural Society of British Columbia said. The twin threats of driveby shootings and extortions calls have been reported from the Metro Vancouver region, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, where extortion-linked incidents of arson have also occurred. On Saturday, Peel Regional Police said it was currently investigating a disturbing trend of extortion attempts targeting Indo-Canadian businesses. While it has set up an Extortion Investigative Task Force, it also announced a hotline for those facing such threats to contact police. It said that 16 such incidents in the GTA were under investigation. There are 18 investigations in progress in Edmonton and several more in the Metro Vancouver region, including Surrey and Abbotsford. The temple headed by Kumar has also been targeted multiple times by pro-Khalistan elements last year. The Surrey temple has come in the crosshairs of the Khalistani elements twice in recent times, with posters targeting Indias senior-most diplomats pasted to its gate and walls. One person, as yet unidentified, was arrested by the Surrey RCMP in August. However, temple members were unwilling to link that friction to the firing at this time. The temple had hosted a consular camp organised by Indias consulate in Vancouver on November 26 and members had countered a protest called by the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). SFJs protest was linked to the killing of its principal in the province Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in Surrey. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had stated in the House of Commons on September 18 that there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and Nijjars murder. Unsealed court documents have surfaced, revealing a never-before-seen allegation that Ghislaine Maxwell introduced Jeffrey Epstein to Prince Andrew and other royalty during a trip to England. The claim challenges Maxwell's previous denial of facilitating the meeting. FILE - This photo provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry shows Jeffrey Epstein, March 28, 2017. On Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly claiming court documents connected to a lawsuit involving financier Jeffrey Epstein that were released this week include details about theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, who died in 2018, Hawkings proclivities and a sexual encounter involving late night host Jimmy Kimmel. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File)(AP) Insider testimony: Alfredo Rodriguez, Epstein's former mansion manager, spilled the beans during a court hearing. Rodriguez, who served jail time for hiding Epstein's contacts, testified that Maxwell indeed took Epstein to England to acquaint him with royalty. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. House of horrors connections: Rodriguez highlighted the association between Prince Andrew and Epstein by mentioning the presence of "many pictures" of the royal in Epstein's notorious Palm Beach property, often referred to as the "house of horrors." Mrs. Maxwell took him to England to introduce him to the royalty, Rodriguez added. Royal gathering photo: A 2006 photo adds weight to the claim, showing Epstein, Maxwell, and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein at a party in Windsor Castle hosted by Prince Andrew's daughter, Beatrice. Email and text scouring: Unsealed documents also disclosed a court order from 2016, directing Maxwell's legal team to search her emails and text messages for Prince Andrew's name, along with terms like "sex toy" and "slave" during a dispute with Virginia Giuffre's legal team. Giuffre's allegations: Additional unsealed documents from Giuffre's case contain disturbing allegations, including Prince Andrew's involvement in orgies with minors on Epstein's Caribbean island and inappropriate behaviour such as sucking on Giuffre's toes during a bath. Also Read | King Charles to withdraw Prince Andrew's security funding over Jeffrey Epstein list Denial and legal maneuvers: Prince Andrew vehemently denies any wrongdoing, emphasizing that being mentioned in court documents doesn't imply involvement or awareness of Epstein's actions. Maxwell's lawyers dismissed the email and text search as a 'wild goose chase,' as the case settled before reaching court. Search criteria: In 2016, the requested search terms included "Prince," "Andrew," "Royal," "underage," "massage," "slave," "sex," "nipple," and "dildo." The outcome of the search remains undisclosed. Bill Ackman, the billionaire hedge fund manager, recently made headlines not just for his financial endeavours but due to a surprising twist involving his wife, Neri Oxman. Here's a brief look at the unfolding saga: Bill Ackman, chief executive officer of Pershing Square Capital Management LP, speaks during an interview for an episode of "The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations" in New York, US, on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. Ackman in October said he covered his short bet on US Treasuries, noting "there is too much risk in the world to remain short bonds at current long-term rates."(Bloomberg) Plagiarism allegations surface: The Times brought to light accusations against Harvard's president, Claudine Claudine Gay, for plagiarizing academic work. Business Insider then revealed a similar pattern in the academic history of Neri Oxman, Ackman's wife and an MIT professor. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. BI's analysis identified instances where Oxman lifted passages without proper citation in her 2010 doctoral dissertation. Multiple paragraphs were traced back to various sources, including a 1998 paper by Israeli scholars, a 2006 article from the journal Nature, and more. Bill Ackman's response: Bill Ackman, known for his tough stance on plagiarism, took to X, stating that serious plagiarism issues warrant Gay's complete removal from Harvard's faculty. He emphasized the importance of maintaining academic integrity and questioned the decision to retain Gay after her resignation. Oxman's achievements and past controversies: Oxman, an architect and artist, gained recognition for her innovative work with natural materials, collaborations with Bjork, and exhibits at prestigious institutions. Previously, emails uncovered by the Boston Globe exposed Ackman's efforts to keep Oxman's name out of a controversy related to a sculpture gifted to Jeffrey Epstein. Plagiarism in dissertation: BI's investigation uncovered Oxman's use of unoriginal content from various sources in her 2010 dissertation, violating MIT's academic integrity guidelines. Instances of paraphrasing without proper attribution and inaccurate source attribution were also identified. Bill Ackman's changing stance: Despite Ackman's strong stance on plagiarism in Gay's case, he softened his tone after BI's revelations about Oxman. Ackman acknowledged the possibility of authors missing quotation marks but downplayed the severity of plagiarism, suggesting it reflects more on competency than being a crime. Here's a series of tweets Ackman posted on X defending his wife and questioning the whole report: Ongoing controversy: Ackman's focus on academic integrity aligns with his broader activism against university leaders, including Gay and MIT's president, Sally Kornbluth. The situation remains dynamic as Ackman continues his pursuit of change, leaving us to wonder what the future holds for the Ackman-Oxman saga. Amidst swirling controversy and public scrutiny, Princess Beatrice has made a private visit to her father, Prince Andrew, at his Windsor estate. Princess Beatrice has made a private visit to her father, Prince Andrew, at his Windsor estate.(REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett) Following the disclosure of new documents connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew is once again in the news, facing accusations of sexual misconduct. The Duke of York is going through a difficult moment, and Princess Beatrice's visit, which seems to be an act of support, raises concerns about his future with the Royal Family. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Also read: Jeffrey Epstein list: Girls would get $200m, Hillary Clinton named and other 10 big revelations Princess Beatrice meets Prince Andrew As per Post, Andrew's thirty-five-year-old daughter, Princess Beatrice, was seen driving to her father's Windsor home. Smiling broadly, she walked through the gates of the Duke of York's estate, where he lives with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson The couple still lives together in the huge 30-room estate they purchased several years ago, even after getting divorced. Sarah Ferguson, well known by her stage name Fergie, is said to have rejected the idea of being remarried to Prince Andrew, saying she didn't want to be under constant attention. Also read: Jeffrey Epstein list: Prince Andrew reported to Metropolitan Police, may be evicted from his mansion As per Express US, she said, "That would put her back (under the microscope) and being examined. And nobody wants that, shes quite happy walking the Queens corgis. Recent document releases linking Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein's estate have raised concerns about the Duke's future. Reports suggest he may face funding cuts for his personal security and possible relocation from his current residence. Thousands of documents about Epstein have frequently highlighted Prince Andrew's repeated visits to his island. One specific allegation claims he groped a 20-year-old woman in 2001. According to the Post, Princess Beatrice, the daughter of Prince Andrew, appears to be standing by her father in spite of his repeated references in the most recent Jeffrey Epstein document dump. Epstein list Many famous people, including former president Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Hollywood stars, royalty, politicians, and well-known scientists, were revealed in newly opened court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein that were released this week. Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager, gained fame for his aggressive investment strategies. With a personal fortune of around $4 billion, he has been a significant player in the finance world. Bill Ackman, chief executive officer and portfolio manager at Pershing Square Capital Management(REUTERS) Aggressive investment approach: Ackman, often dubbed the "Elvis of investing," follows a focused investment model, making bold bets and garnering attention. His hedge fund, Pershing Square, manages $18 billion in assets. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Controversial past: Ackman faced setbacks, notably losing a $1 billion bet against Herbalife and engaging in disputes with corporate raider Carl Icahn. Despite challenges, he managed to raise $2.7 billion in an IPO, securing his fund during turbulent times. Change in approach: After a period of high-profile activism, Ackman shifted to a Warren Buffett-style investment strategy. His current portfolio includes shares in companies like Google, Chipotle, and Lowe's. Harvard controversy: Ackman, a Harvard graduate and donor, turned his attention to the university's president, Claudine Gay. His criticisms, posted extensively on social media, accused Gay of mishandling anti-Semitism issues and led to her resignation. Allegations and protests: Ackman faced accusations of racism for targeting the first Black president of Harvard, but he countered, arguing against what he perceived as discriminatory practices in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Ongoing campaign: Ackman's campaign extended to calling for Harvard's board resignation and the disbanding of its DEI office. He also targeted MIT's Sally Kornbluth, creating a broader conversation about leadership in academia. Civil rights activism response: Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network protested Ackman's actions, connecting it to broader issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The situation underscores the intersection of finance, activism, and social issues. Personal life influence: Ackman's personal life, including a divorce and remarriage to Neri Oxman, an Israeli-American artist and professor, has been linked to changes in his investment approach and the performance of Pershing Square. Bill Ackman's recent victory in influencing changes at Harvard showcases the influence of individual investors in academic leadership and highlights the broader implications of activism in various spheres. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 7. SDX-8 exploration well at Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field has reached its planned total depth of around 7000 meters, bp Azerbaijan told Trend. "Following this, we will complete the remaining well activities and analyse the data received from the well which is expected to take several months," the company said. bp announced on January 23 the spud of a new exploration well (SDX-8) in the contract area under the agreement on the exploration, development and production sharing for the Shah Deniz prospective area in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea. The well was drilled with the Heydar Aliyev semi-submersible drilling rig, which was moved to the SDX-8 location in the eastern flank of the Shah Deniz field in December 2022. If successful the well will provide a clearer understanding of drillability, producibility and resource potential of the deeper horizons beneath the currently producing reservoirs in the eastern flank. Shah Deniz participating interests are: bp (operator 29.99%), SGC (21.02%), LUKOIL (19.99%), TPAO (19.00%) and NICO (10.00%). The proven reserves of Shah Deniz are estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas and 240 million tons of condensate. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn With the recent slew of cyber attacks on various government and private entities websites in the country, the importance of cybersecurity has once again been put under the spotlight, with calls to further bolster the countrys defenses. Yondu, the top IT solutions company wholly owned by Globe, believes that while progress has been apparent in recent years, theres still a lot of work to be done to improve cybersecurity in the country. Dennis Sanchez, Yondu CISO Dennis Paul Sanchez, Chief Information Security Officer of Yondu, noted that both big and small businesses are at risk of cyber threats and attacks, reiterating the need for cybersecurity measures. Cybersecurity ensures the protection of a business through up-to-date software, well-informed employees, and safe practices. When a business website gets cyber-attacked, it could potentially lose data, profit, and credibility. Hence, Yondu has developed solutions that help prevent cyber attacks and tools that quickly respond to threats to lessen the impact on companies and organizations. Yondu aims to ensure its partners are well-equipped to protect sensitive data and proprietary information. Sanchez explained that Yondu has different approaches. There is the proactive and reactive approach wherein a team of Yondu experts would monitor and assess the companys state of cybersecurity first and respond accordingly. Another is the predictive approach - threat intelligence in which the Yondu team uses data analytics to predict threats based on dark web criminal behavior, previous cyber attacks, and keeping up with current trends. Whatever the approach, Yondu assesses the needs of a business and analyzes the risks it may encounter before recommending tailored solutions. Yondu then works closely with the company or organization to meet the suggested standards. While Yondu is pushing for tighter cybersecurity measures across different industries, it acknowledges that not every business can afford to avail the best solutions. Thus, it is offering tools and procedures that are cost-efficient and cost-effective based on the needs of the business, preventing them from overspending. With increasingly meticulous phishing scams and simultaneous cyber-attacks becoming more common, Yondu urges businesses to start investing in cybersecurity solutions to prevent attacks that could also target customers. There's no single-bullet approach. Only having one or two layers of protection is not enough anymore. You need a lot of measures in place to be protected, so a third-party service provider is needed to enforce these solutions and prevent the risk of customer loss, data breach, loss of profit, and damage to business reputation, Sanchez said. Find out more about Yondus cybersecurity services by visiting www.yondu.com, following them on their social media platforms, and subscribing to their newsletter. 163 Filipino delegates from Trend Micro Philippines represented the country recently at the global Trend Micro AI Hackathon that took place in Fukuoka, Japan. With a contingent that outnumbered participants from the US, Australia, Brazil, and 16 other countries, these Filipino engineers were set to dominate the competition. From over 1,348 finalists, 2 teams from the Philippine delegation came out in the Top 5, placing 4th & 5th, showcasing the talents and skills of the local cybersecurity industry. Threat and Data Science Research Manager and PH Lead for AI Contest, Manuel Gatbunton shares, Even with their individual projects and tasks at work, we are very proud of these engineers that still took on the challenge and represented the Philippines on an international stage. They truly embody Trend Micros motto of being Engineered To Do Good, utilizing their skills and expertise to not only establish the Philippines as a key player in AI-powered cybersecurity but to also lend their knowledge and expertise to continuously improve our security solutions and better fight against cybercrime. The Filipino delegation was composed of engineers from various backgrounds from all over the country, and members of the winning teams included graduates from private and state-funded universities like PUP Manila, Saint Louis University, and Divine World College of Legazpi. Apart from the support of Trend Micro Philippines, it was through the initiative and drive of these engineers that they were able to excel and ultimately conquer the other teams at the hackathon. The global AI Hackathon is an initiative of Trend Micro born out of the need to further enhance understanding and expertise in AI technology. As a pioneer in the use of AI and machine learning for cybersecurity, the company aims to further challenge its employees by allowing Trenders to showcase their creativity in a fun and engaging competition, while also inspiring innovation in the use of AI technology. Poi Jimenez, Trend Micro Philippines Digital Technology Marketing Manager shares, Trend Micro will continue to explore AI and work on skills-building initiatives for Trenders and the public alike. The AI Hackathon is only the beginning of many more initiatives for Trend Micro Philippines to further claim the lead on the integration of AI technology in cybersecurity. The AI Hackathon is only one of the many exciting initiatives Trend Micro holds to continuously engage and upskill its workforce among others that are also centered on honing and developing the skills, talents, and interests of its employees. Microsoft Corporation is close to regaining the title of the most expensive company in the United States, Azernews reports. To do this, it only needs to surpass Apple, whose capitalization is estimated at $2.83 trillion. Microsoft's market value is $2.73 trillion. The increase in the value of Microsoft shares is due to an increase in corporate expenses on a global scale, which, in turn, contributes to the development of the Azure cloud computing business. Success in this area is also associated with the growing popularity and application of artificial intelligence (AI). AI technologies have helped Microsoft outperform one of its main competitors, Google (a subsidiary of Alphabet), in the field of artificial intelligence. Over the last period, Microsoft shares have risen by 57%, while Apple shares have risen by 47%. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, January 7. Turkmenistan is strategically focused on a program aimed at expanding both the production and export capabilities of its energy resources, Trend reports. This was announced by Deputy Chairman of the Government of Turkmenistan, Batyr Amanov, at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on January 6 this year. He noted that according to the plan, the Turkmengaz and Turkmennebit state concerns are tasked with developing new oil and gas fields, increasing production of natural and associated gas, oil and gas condensate. According to him, it is also planned to increase the production of liquefied natural gas and export of Turkmen energy resources to foreign markets. Amanov stressed that the Turkmengeology State Corporation should focus its efforts on the search for new oil and gas bearing formations, solid minerals and groundwater, as well as on the introduction of advanced exploration technologies. Furthermore, he added that in addition to creating new jobs, the plan provides for staff training and measures to attract young specialists to scientific activities in the oil and gas industry. Turkmenistan is actively advancing its oil and gas sector, embarking on comprehensive initiatives to bolster exploration, extraction, and production capacities. With a strategic vision for economic diversification and increased global engagement, the country is investing in modern technologies and infrastructure to optimize resource extraction. Stay up to date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} As the 81st annual Golden Globes soon approach, were taking a look back at the best-dressed celebrities from the 2023 red carpet. After a hiatus in 2022, last years ceremony returned more glamorous and glitzy than ever, with Hollywoods biggest names arriving on the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in all manners of show-stopping looks on Tuesday 10 January. Between ruffles, colourful tuxedos, and a lot of sequins, stars arrived, donning a number of emerging trends from 2023 on the Golden Globes red carpet. From Laverne Cox to Lily James and Anya Taylor-Joy, these were the best red carpet from the 2023 Golden Globes. Laverne Cox (Getty Images) Cox, who hosted the red carpet coverage ahead of last years awards show, arrived on the red carpet on Tuesday night in a blue vintage John Galliano gown. Jessica Chastain (Getty Images) Chastain arrived on the red carpet in a sheer strapless sequined gown with embellished details. She paired the gown with a sleek updo and matching mask, prompting praise from fans. Emma DArcy (Getty Images) The House of the Dragon star chose a unique ensemble for the Golden Globes, with the actor arriving in a black oversized tuxedo, which they paired with a purple hairstyle and bright purple rubber gloves. Selena Gomez (Getty Images) Gomez opted for a dark purple strapless gown with oversized purple statement sleeves for the awards ceremony, which she attended alongside her sister. Donald Glover (Getty Images) Glover posed on the red carpet ahead of the awards ceremony in white pants and a matching top, which he paired with a black tuxedo jacket. Andrew Garfield (Getty Images) Garfield also chose to stray from the classic black tuxedo for the red carpet, with the actor instead opting for a burnt orange suit, which he paired with a black shirt. Michelle Yeoh (Getty Images) Yeoh chose a blue sparkling statement gown with a peplum detail for the 2023 Golden Globes. She completed the look with a diamond choker necklace. Margot Robbie (AFP via Getty Images) Robbie arrived on the red carpet ahead of the Golden Globes in a pink and silver custom Chanel couture halter-neck gown with a lace hem. Jenna Ortega (Getty Images) The Wednesday star chose a pale beige gown with cut-outs for the awards ceremony. She accessorised the look with a multi-chain silver choker. Lily James (Getty Images) James also chose a red statement gown for the 2023 Golden Globes, with the actress posing in a structured strapless ballgown with cut-out details around the waist. She completed the look with a sleek bob hairstyle and a diamond choker. Anya Taylor-Joy (Getty Images) The Menu star posed in a yellow cropped top and a matching floor-length skirt on the red carpet ahead of the awards show. She accessorised the ensemble with a diamond choker and her long blonde hair worn straight. Daisy Edgar-Jones (Getty Images) Edgar-Jones wore a black Victorian-inspired gown with a ruffled ballgown skirt for this years Golden Globes. While walking the red carpet, the actress suggested that the gown is Wednesday-inspired. Hilary Swank (Getty Images) Swank, who recently revealed that she is expecting twins, chose a dark green gown for the awards ceremony. She cradled her pregnant stomach as she smiled for cameras on the red carpet. Salma Hayek (Getty Images) Hayek also chose a sheer sequin-embellished gown for this years red carpet. The actress paired the dress, which featured cap sleeves, with an updo. Quinta Brunson (Getty Images) Brunson chose a black and pink tulle mermaid gown for this years Golden Globes, which the actress paired with a sleek ponytail and simple jewellery. Heidi Klum (Getty Images) The supermodel chose a statement gown for this years red carpet, with Klum opting for a silver sequin mini dress with a purple feather boa detail. She was joined on the red carpet by her husband Tom Kaulitz, with the pair exchanging a kiss for the cameras. Jennifer Coolidge (Getty Images) The White Lotus star chose a Tanya-esque gown for this years awards ceremony, with the actress posing on the red carpet in a black sequin off-the-shoulder gown. Billy Porter (AFP via Getty Images) Porter brought glamour to the red carpet with a hot pink velvet suit-ballgown ensemble. He completed the look with a matching pink bowtie and silver platform sequin heels. Viola Davis (Getty Images) Davis wore a stunning blue gown with a short train for the 2023 Golden Globes. She completed the look with simple jewellery and a silver clutch. Angela Bassett (Getty Images) Bassett joined the sequin trend with a silver halter neck gown. She completed the look with a curled bob hairstyle and a black statement clutch. Michelle Williams (Getty Images) Williams arrived on the red carpet in a nude ruffled statement dress ahead of the 2023 Golden Globes. The one-shouldered gown featured sparkling gold trim, while Williams accessorised the look with gold heels and a simple updo. Niecy Nash (Getty Images) Nash also opted for a purple glittering gown for the 2023 Golden Globes. The actress paired the floor-length gown, which featured a jewelled purple panel, with a structured plum cape. Letitia Wright (Getty Images) Wright wore a stunning orange gown with a slit for the awards ceremony. She paired the look with simple drop earrings and matching orange heels. Elizabeth Debicki (Getty Images) Debicki chose a strapless pink floor-length gown for the awards ceremony, which featured a simple belt detail. She paired the dress with a diamond necklace. Claire Danes (Getty Images) Danes wore a unique pale pink dress with floral details and a pink satin bow for the 2023 Golden Globes. Liza Koshy (Getty Images) The influencer opted for sheer black lace gown with a cut-out thong detail for the awards show. She paired the unique ensemble with a multi-strand black choker necklace and an updo. Monica Barbaro (Getty Images) Barbaro chose a stunning strapless red tulle gown for this years red carpet, which the actress accessorised with red lipstick and a simple sleek bob hairstyle. Julia Garner (Getty Images) Garner proved that ruffles are the breakout trend on this years red carpet, with the actress arriving in a pale pink gown with silver sequin detailing and a ruffled drop hem. Dolly De Leon (Getty Images) De Leon posed in a black leather gown with matching black leather gloves on the red carpet ahead of the 2023 Golden Globes. Rhea Seehorn (Getty Images) Seehorn also chose black sequins for the 2023 Golden Globes, with the actress opting for a black long-sleeve sequin gown with a red and pink floral pattern and statement shoulders. She completed the look with a bright green clutch. Eddie Redmayne (Getty Images) (Getty Images) Redmayne also opted for a unique red carpet look for this years awards, with the actor posing on the red carpet in a brown suit with a brown satin lapel and a matching satin flower. He was joined by his wife Hannah Bagshawe, who wore a black satin gown with pockets and a train. Domee Shi (AFP via Getty Images) The film director arrived on the red carpet on Tuesday night in a bright pink satin suit which she wore unbuttoned to show off her black leather strapless top. Jenny Slate (Getty Images) Slate chose a bright green halter-neck gown for the red carpet, which included a flower detail on her chest. She completed the vibrant look with an updo and gold heels. Britt Lower (AFP via Getty Images) Lower also made a statement with her red carpet gown, with the actress posing in a black strapless gown with a ballgown-style pink skirt. She completed the look with full-length black leather gloves. Jamie Lee Curtis (AFP via Getty Images) Curtis arrived on the red carpet in a black strapless wide-leg jumpsuit. She accessorised the outfit with a black lace floor-length cape. Milly Alcock (Getty Images) Alcock chose a black gown with jewel statement details. She paired the look with a half-updo and black heels. Zanna Roberts Rassi (Getty Images) Rassi also opted for an old Hollywood glamour look to kick of awards season, with the Milk Makeup cofounder arriving on the red carpet in a cream-coloured strapless dress, which she paired with a black harness. She completed the look with black satin stilettos. Olivia Hamilton (Getty Images) Hamilton kept her look simple, with the actress choosing a black gown with just a hint of sparkle in the form of a silver sequin belt. She completed the ensemble with a matching silver sequin clutch. Sheryl Lee Ralph (Getty Images) Ralph chose a metallic purple embellished gown for this years awards show, with the actress pairing the look with matching purple eyeshadow. Kaley Cuoco (Getty Images) Cuoco, who recently announced she is pregnant, cradled her pregnant stomach in a pastel purple gown on the red carpet ahead of the 2023 Golden Globes. Zuri Hall (Getty Images) Hall chose a white halter-neck gown with jewel-encrusted straps for the awards show, which she paired with a sleek bob haircut. Chloe Flower (Getty Images) Flower arrived on the red carpet in a stunning white statement mini dress with a structured ruffle train. Abby Elliott (AFP via Getty Images) The comedian chose a high-necked orange sequin gown with long sleeves for this years awards show. She paired the gown with an orange clutch. Cassie DiLaura (Getty Images) DiLaura arrived on the red carpet on Tuesday night in a red floor-length gown with draped sleeve details. She completed the red carpet look with a slicked-back hairstyle. Emily Uribe (Getty Images) Uribe opted for a bright pink strapless gown with a side bow and pockets for the awards ceremony. She completed the look with a jewel choker. Li Jun Li (Getty Images) Li arrived on the red carpet in a strapless silver gown with a jeweled pattern at the hem. She paired the dress with a small silver clutch, simple jewellery and a sleek updo. Tefi Pessoa (AFP via Getty Images) TikTok star Pessoa chose a black cut-out dress for the red carpet, with the influencer completing the look with multiple rings and a wet-look hairstyle. Davis Burleson (Getty Images) Burleson also opted for a statement red carpet look, with the TikTok host arriving on the red carpet at the Golden Globes in a charcoal metallic suit. Gigi Paris (AFP via Getty Images) The model arrived on the red carpet in a sheer gold gown with a ruffled skirt detail. She paired the look with a simple choker and dangling earrings. Ivy Maurice (AFP via Getty Images) Maurice chose a gold off-the-shoulder structured top and matching skirt for the awards ceremony. Mark Indelicato (AFP via Getty Images) Indelicato made a statement when he arrived on the red carpet in a light yellow satin suit. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An apparent Israeli airstrike killed two Palestinian journalists in southern Gaza on Sunday, including the son of veteran Al Jazeera correspondent Wael Dahdouh, who lost his wife, two other children and a grandson and was nearly killed himself earlier in the war. Dahdouh has continued to report on the fighting between Israel and Hamas even as it has taken a devastating toll on his own family, becoming a symbol for many of the perils faced by Palestinian journalists, dozens of whom have been killed while covering the conflict. Hamza Dahdouh, who was also working for Al Jazeera, and Mustafa Tharaya, a freelance journalist, were killed when a strike hit their car while they were driving from Khan Younis to the southern town of Rafah, according to the media office of the Hamas-run government. Amer Abu Amr, a photojournalist, said in a Facebook post that he and another journalist, Ahmed al-Bursh, survived the strike. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Wael Dahdouh, 53, has been the face of Al Jazeera's 24-hour coverage of this war and previous rounds of fighting for millions of Arabic-speaking viewers across the region, nearly always appearing on air in the blue helmet and flak jacket worn to identify journalists in the Palestinian territories. Speaking to Al Jazeera after his son's burial, Dahdouh vowed to continue reporting on the war. The whole world must look at what is happening here in the Gaza Strip," he said. "What is happening is a great injustice to defenseless people, civilian people. It is also unfair for us as journalists. Dahdouh was reporting on the offensive in late October when he received word that his wife, daughter and another son had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. His grandson, wounded in the same strike, died hours later. The Qatar-based broadcaster later aired footage of him weeping over the body of his son while still wearing his blue press vest. In December, an Israeli strike on a school in Khan Younis wounded Dahdouh and Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa. Dahdouh was able to run for help, but Abu Daqqa bled to death hours later as ambulances were unable to reach him because of blocked roads, according to Al Jazeera. Earlier in December, a strike killed the father, mother and 20 other family members of another Al Jazeera correspondent, Momen Al Sharafi. The Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 70 Palestinian reporters, as well as four Israeli and three Lebanese reporters, have been killed since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack triggered the war in Gaza and an escalation in fighting along Israel's border with Lebanon. Over 22,800 Palestinians have been killed in the war, mostly women and minors, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. Some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Israel during the initial Hamas attack. Israel denies targeting journalists and says it makes every effort to avoid harming civilians, blaming the high death toll on the fact that Hamas fights in densely populated urban areas. Some 85% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, with most seeking shelter in Israeli-designated safe zones in southern Gaza. But Israel also regularly carries out strikes in those areas, leading many Palestinians to feel that nowhere in the besieged territory is safe. Palestinian journalists have played a essential role in reporting on the conflict for local and international media outlets, even as many have lost loved ones and been forced to flee their own homes because of the fighting. Israel and Egypt, which maintain a blockade on Gaza, have largely barred foreign reporters from entering Gaza since the war began. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The information display screens at Beirut's international airport were hacked by domestic anti-Hezbollah groups Sunday, as clashes between the Lebanese militant group and the Israeli military continue to intensify along the border. Departure and arrival information was replaced by a message accusing the Hezbollah group of putting Lebanon at risk of an all-out war with Israel. The screens displayed a message with logos from a hardline Christian group dubbed Soldiers of God, which has garnered attention over the past year for its campaigns against the LGBTQ+ community in Lebanon, and a little-known group that calls itself The One Who Spoke. In a video statement, the Christian group denied its involvement, while the other group shared photos of the screens on its social media channels. Hassan Nasrallah, you will no longer have supporters if you curse Lebanon with a war for which you will bear responsibility and consequences, the message read, echoing similar sentiments to critics over the years who have accused Hezbollah of smuggling weapons and munitions through the tiny Mediterranean countrys only civilian airport. Hezbollah has been striking Israeli military bases and positions near the country's northern border with Lebanon since Oct. 8, the day after the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza began. Israel has been striking Hezbollah positions in return. The near-daily clashes have intensified sharply over the past week, after an apparent Israeli strike in a southern Beirut suburb killed top Hamas official and commander Saleh Arouri. In a speech on Saturday, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in a speech vowed that the group would retaliate. He dismissed criticisms that the group is looking for a full-scale war with Israel, but said if Israel launches one, Hezbollah is ready for a war without limits. Hezbollah announced an initial response to Arouri's killing on Saturday, launching a volley of 62 rockets toward an Israeli air surveillance base on Mount Meron. The Lebanese government and international community have been scrambling to prevent a war in Lebanon, which they fear would spark a regional spillover. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said the hack briefly disrupted baggage inspection. Passengers gathered around the screens, taking pictures and sharing them on social media. Israel and Hezbollah fought a monthlong war in 2006 that ended in a draw. In the early stages of the war, Israel bombed Lebanon's airport and put it out of commission. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ghislaine Maxwell took the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to England to introduce him to Prince Andrew and other royalty, unsealed court documents have claimed. The never-before-seen allegation, made by Alfredo Rodriguez, the manager of Epsteins mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, casts doubt on Maxwells repeated claim that she did not introduce the paedophile to Prince Andrew. His testimony was unsealed on Friday night, among hundreds of emails and depositions. During the hearing, Mr Rodriguez, who was jailed in 2012 for hiding Epsteins little black book of contacts and attempting to sell it, was asked about the relationship between Prince Andrew and Epstein. He told the court that he knew the pair were associated with one another because there were many pictures of the royal scattered around Epsteins property, dubbed the house of horrors. He later said: Maxwell took him to England to introduce him to the royalty, referring to Epstein. The claim is backed up by a photo from 2006 that shows Epstein, Maxwell and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein at Prince Andrews daughter Beatrices party at Windsor Castle. It comes as more unsealed documents revealed that Maxwells legal team was ordered to comb through her emails and text messages to look for Prince Andrews name as well as terms such as sex toy and slave. The court order was made in 2016 during a dispute between Maxwells lawyers and Virginia Giuffres team. Ms Giuffre has alleged that Prince Andrew sexually assaulted her multiple times when she was a minor in the early 2000s. Other documents recently unsealed from Ms Giuffres case include allegations that Prince Andrew took part in orgies with minors on Epsteins island in the Caribbean, as well as sucking on Ms Giuffres toes while the pair were having a bath together. Prince Andrew denies any wrongdoing. Being identified through the court documents does not mean that the individual was involved in or aware of any wrongdoing by Epstein. In 2016, Meredith Schult, one of Ms Giuffres lawyers, requested Maxwells team search for 368 words, including prince, Andrew, royal, underage, massage, slave, sex, nipple and dildo. It is not known what the search uncovered, with Maxwells lawyers claiming it was a wild goose chase. The case was settled before it came to court. Prince Andrews representatives have been approached for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Knife crime against women and girls has more than doubled in five years and campaigners are warning that not enough is being done to keep them safe. New figures obtained by The Independent show the number of women who were killed, injured or threatened by a knife soared from 6,000 in 2018 to more than 13,700 in 2022 laying bare the scale of the crisis. The offences include ones relating to robbery, rape, homicide, public order and theft. Elianne Andam, 15, is among the victims of knife crime, having been killed on her way to school in Croydon last September. Mehak Sharma, 19, was stabbed to death in the same borough last November having just moved to the UK from India. Hollie Gazzard (top left), Elianne Andam (top right), Ellie Gould (bottom left) and Valerie Forde with her daughter Jahzara were all victims of knife crime (Various supplied) Campaigners say the statistics, which cover the last available full year of 2022, show the country needs to tackle the crisis, particularly when it relates to domestic violence, with Labour MP Jess Phillips warning: Things are getting progressively worse. Nick Gazzard, whose 20-year-old daughter Hollie died after being stabbed 14 times by her violent ex-boyfriend in 2014, said: If this was terrorism, there would be a national outcry. Elianne Andam, 15, was stabbed to death on her way to school in Croydon, south London (PA) The figures for 2022 reveal that: The number of female knife crime victims surged by 43 per cent in the West Midlands, from 1,010 in 2018 to 1,448 in 2022, according to the UKs second-largest force In Essex, the number of victims more than quadrupled in the same time frame from 435 to 1,879 And Avon and Somerset recorded the number of victims as rising 46 per cent over five years, from 593 to 868 After a Freedom of Information request made by this publication, 26 of the UKs 43 police forces provided data on knife crime where the victim was either a girl or a woman. The Metropolitan Police, Britains largest force, did not respond. The latest full-year countrywide figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), also for 2022, show that 282 homicides or four out of 10 were committed using a knife or sharp instrument. This represented a 19 per cent increase over the previous year. Police said the way knife crimes are recorded had changed in 2019 but they could not attribute the rise in figures to those changes. Knives and sharp instruments are the most common weapons used to kill women in this country. ONS data shows that, in the year ending March 2022, one in three female homicide victims was killed by a partner or ex (33 per cent), while more than one in 10 died at the hands of a relative (13 per cent). Some 40 per cent of the deaths occurred in or around the home, compared to 7 per cent in the street or other public spaces. Ms Phillips has long championed the fight against domestic violence but says the governments Domestic Abuse Bill does not do enough to protect women. The MP for Birmingham Yardley blames a reduction in youth services and workers, local council cuts, and a lack of police and judicial resources for fuelling the crisis. The MP, who every year in parliament reads out the names of women killed by men, said: Things are getting progressively worse, knife crime against women is classic domestic abuse but thats not ever included in knife crime strategy. If only they [the government] cared as much about sexual and domestic abuse as they care about Rwanda. The law currently states killers who bring a weapon to the scene face a minimum 25-year sentence, while sentences for those who do not start at 15 years. As domestic killers are more likely to use a weapon lying around the house, like a kitchen knife, they can end up with more lenient jail terms. Hollie Gazzard was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend in the hair salon where she worked (Provided) Carole Gould has campaigned to close the legal loophole ever since her 17-year-old daughter Ellie was killed by her boyfriend of three months when she ended the relationship. Thomas Griffiths was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 12-and-a-half years in 2019 after he walked into Ellies family home, strangled her and then stabbed her 13 times, attempting to frame the attack as a suicide by inserting the knife in the side of her neck. Shed only been going out with him for a few months, her mother said. The ending of a relationship is the most dangerous time in a womans life. Ngozi Fulani founded Sistah Space to help Black female victims of domestic violence (PA) Campaigner Ngozi Fulani told The Independent that the cost of living crisis may also have had an impact on the rise in crimes against women. Ms Fulani set up the charity Sistah Space to advocate for Black female victims of domestic abuse in the wake of the deaths of Valerie Forde and her 22-month-old daughter Jahzara. They were both stabbed to death in 2014 by Ms Fordes ex Roland McKoy, who was jailed for 35 years. We have seen a significant rise in reporting to us of knife or sharp instrument attacks, Ms Fulani said. We are in a time of economic depression right now and we find perpetrators in unstable economic situations will often become violent. Every year MP Jess Phillips reads out in parliament the list of women killed by men (PA) Sistah Space has campaigned for Valeries Law, legislation that would make specialist training mandatory for all police and other government agencies that support black women and girls affected by domestic abuse. We want people to understand one thing domestic abuse is not a womans problem, she said. Its an everybody problem. For Deniz Ugur, deputy director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, violence by men against women is part of a cultural problem that needs to be tackled. Ellie Gould was only 17 when she was killed by her ex after she ended their relationship after three months (PA) Women and girls face the constant threat of male violence, whether thats in public spaces, the workplace, online or in our own homes, where the majority of this violence takes place, he said. If we are to change this then it is critical that the government prioritises and invests in quality relationships and sex education based on consent and equality, and public campaigns to shift the attitudes that justify and normalise this violence and abuse. Women and girls deserve better. Conservative MP Caroline Nokes has criticised the government for refusing to commit to a new educational strategy for boys which would aim to tackle sexual harassment and gender-based violence. The chair of the cross-party womens and equalities committee said: Education is a powerful and necessary tool in preventing violence against women and girls. Relationships, sex and health education that continues past secondary school and that engages proactively with boys and young men is crucial to combat harmful attitudes. Valerie and Jahzara Forde were both stabbed to death in 2014 by Ms Fordes ex Roland McKoy, who was jailed for 35 years (Sistah Space) A Home Office spokesperson said: The government is committed to raising the bar in how these vile crimes are dealt with. We have gone further than ever before in protecting domestic abuse victims, classifying it as a national threat. Our innovative Young Women and Girls Fund also delivers specialist interventions to vulnerable young women and girls at risk of exploitation or violence. We will continue to work closely with the police and courts to bring more criminals to justice, and have set clear expectations for how the police should respond. This article was amended on 8 January 2024. One paragraph previously inaccurately cited national figures as being those from London. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A teenager has died after attending a nightclub in Glasgow on New Years Day as police probe drugs as one line of investigation. After becoming unwell at the venue SWG3, the 18-year-old woman was taken to hospital where she later died on Tuesday. Police Scotland said it was made aware of the incident on Friday and inquiries are now ongoing, with drugs being looked into as one line of inquiry. Her family have been informed of her death. Announcing the tragic news on social media on Saturday, SWG3 offered its condolences to the unnamed womans loved ones and said it has been in contact with her family. It comes after the deaths of two teenagers at the nightclub in August, which were investigated by police as drug-related. Following its report of the third death there in under six months, SWG3 acknowledged the pervasive issue of drug use in todays society and insisted it took significant measures to prevent the entry of illegal substances into the nightclub. The venue added that it has paused some upcoming events to re-examine and consider the wider factors that can lead to such heartbreaking incidents. Scott Allison and Marcus Dick, both aged 18, became unwell after attending an event SWG3 in August. Mr Allison died after he was found at Croy railway station in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, at around 11.20pm on Saturday 12 August. Mr Dick became unwell while still at the venue in Eastvale Place, Kelvinhaugh, and died in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow in the early hours of Sunday 13 August. Police previously said the deaths were being treated as drug-related but are not believed to be linked. The two were not known to each other. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police have launched an investigation after a woman died in a flat fire in east London. Six fire engines and around 30 firefighters responded to a fire on Homerton High Street, Hackney on Saturday morning. Part of a ground-floor flat was damaged by the blaze. Crews found a woman inside the property, who was pronounced dead at the scene. London Fire Brigade was called out to the incident at around 8.20am, and the fire was under control about 90 minutes later. Firefighters from Homerton, Leyton, Stoke Newington and surrounding fire stations attended the fire. Have you been affected by this incident? Email maira.butt@independent.co.uk The incident is now under investigation by the London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service. The victim has yet to be named. A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: Sadly a woman has died following a flat fire in Hackney. Six fire engines and around 30 firefighters responded to a fire on Homerton High Street, in a building of five floors. Part of a ground floor flat was damaged by the fire. A woman was found in the flat, and sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Prince Andrew has been named in court documents relating to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein after a judge ordered the release of secret case files. US Judge Loretta Preska ruled on 18 December that documents believed to relate to more than 150 people who were either associates, friends or victims of disgraced financier Epstein should be made public. The trove includes 40 documents of evidence from Johanna Sjoberg, who has claimed the Duke of York touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside the US billionaires Manhattan apartment in 2001. In her 2015 testimony, Ms Sjoberg said Maxwell called her to an upstairs closet, and showed her a puppet of the prince. Prince Andrew has been named in court documents relating to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (REUTERS) I just remember someone suggesting a photo, and they told us to go get on the couch, she recalled. And so Andrew and Virginia sat on the couch, and they put the puppet, the puppet on her lap. And so then I sat on Andrews lap, and I believe on my own volition, and they took the puppets hands and put it on Virginias breast, and so Andrew put his on mine. The prince has always strongly denied the allegations against him, while Buckingham Palace previously said all accusations made against the duke are categorically untrue. In her deposition, Maxwell recalls Andrew visiting Epsteins home in the US Virgin Islands once, and insisted there were no girls present. One of the other exhibits unsealed on Wednesday included a 2015 email sent by Maxwell in which she appeared to reference Prince Andrew and former US president Bill Clinton. I have already suffered such a terrible and painful loss over the last few days that I cant even see what life after press hell even looks like - statements that dont address all just lead to more questions, Maxwell wrote, according to the documents. ... what is my relationship to clinton ? Andrew on and on. Lets rest till monday. I need head space. A picture appears to show Andrew with Ms Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse (US District Court - Southern Dis) The legal files are part of a 2015 US defamation case by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite who supplied Epstein with underage girls. Ms Giuffre appeared in an infamous photograph when she was younger, alongside Andrew and Maxwell. Although the case was settled in 2017, Maxwells attorneys had fought for the names to continue to remain private. Their objection was lifted in 2022, a year after she was convicted and sentenced to two decades in prison, following arguments from representatives of the media that documents that were sealed as part of the case should be made public. The files identify individuals whose names had been previously redacted. Judge Preska ordered some individuals should be named because they had already given interviews to the media including Ms Sjoberg. Those listed include alleged victims, people not accused of wrongdoingand absent third parties. Being identified through the court documents does not necessarily mean that the individual was involved in or aware of any wrongdoing by Epstein. The parties had until midnight on 1 January to object to the ruling, with only 10 people identified in the papers successfully arguing that their right to privacy as victims outweighs the publics right to know their names. Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with Epstein and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case to Ms Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met. The legal files are part of a 2015 US defamation case by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell (Getty/Alamy/The Independent) The duke was cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17. Andrew has denied the claims. Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide. Maxwell has been imprisoned since July 2020, despite numerous attempts from her defence counsel to have her released on bail. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the Southern District of New York in June last year. The socialite indicated her desire to appeal shortly after her conviction, with her lawyers claiming victims had faded, distorted and motivated memories. Her appeal is currently scheduled to be heard in November next year. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ice, frost and fog are set to hit the UK as temperatures plunge below freezing after widespread flooding. Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts remain in place across England, with rivers overflowing following Storm Henk and a week of heavy rain. More than 1,800 properties have flooded due to saturated ground, the Environment Agency said, adding that the impact of high water levels is likely to continue over the next five days, and many rivers will remain elevated. Residents wade through flood water in Loughborough, Leicestershire, after rain and strong winds from Storm Henk lashed large parts of the UK (PA Wire) Nottinghamshire Council issued a warning on Saturday to residents close to an overflowing river at record high levels to leave their homes. The River Trent has now reached an all-time peak at the Torksey Lock gauge in Nottinghamshire, with rising waters surpassing the levels set in the year 2000. As of 8pm on Saturday, 189 flood warnings and 207 flood alerts were still in place across England, with significant flooding expected in parts of the Midlands, Lincolnshire and along the River Thames. The government has said flooded households can now apply for up to 500 to help cover the cost of repairs. Colder weather is also expected overnight, with forecasters warning of icy conditions for the upcoming week. The Met Office said Sunday morning would see icy stretches, fog patches and frost, with temperatures as low as -2C in Scotland and struggling to get above 5C for much of the rest of the country. (Met Office) The UKHSA issued a yellow cold weather alert for the vulnerable and elderly from 9am on Saturday until noon on Friday 12 January with temperatures likely to be a few degrees below average across much of the UK, especially overnight, with ice an issue on wet ground. It comes as many parts of the country continue to grapple with the aftermath of Storm Henk. A cafe flooded by the River Ouse after it burst its banks, in central York, following Storm Henk (AFP/Getty) Katharine Smith, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: Significant river flooding impacts are still expected today and over the next few days across parts of the river Thames in Oxfordshire as well as the River Trent near Nottingham, and the River Severn, including Gloucester. The prolonged wet weather and intense rainfall has led to flooding impacts and our thoughts are with all of those affected. Flooding in Pulborough, West Sussex (PA Wire) The Department for Environmental and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced on Saturday the government had released Flood Recovery Framework grants for communities affected by the storm that started on 2 January. Significantly impacted households and businesses could receive 100 per cent off their council tax and business rates for at least three months. Grants of up to 2,500 are available to eligible small-to-medium-sized businesses, 5,000 could be given to property owners making their buildings more resilient to future floods, and farmers who have suffered uninsurable damage to their land can apply for 25,000. Data from the Environment Agency shows almost every river in England to be exceptionally high with some rivers reaching their highest flow on record. Crews are operating temporary pumps, barriers and flood defences to minimise the impact of flooding across the country, and the agency said it has protected more than 45,000 properties. Water covering the pitches at Buckhurst Hill football club, northeast of London (AFP/Getty) David Walters, 51, who spent 11 years developing Cresslands Touring Park, South Lincolnshire, from scratch said it is heart-breaking to see the damage caused by flooding that hit his caravan park on Wednesday Flood risks are expected to be scaled back over the weekend but the agency urged the public to check for high water levels in their area and sign up for free flood alerts. Drivers were warned not to pass through floods, because just 30cm of water is enough to float a car. While cold, Sunday is forecast to remain largely dry, except for the occasional shower in southeast England early in the day. Met Office chief forecaster Jason Kelly said: As the prevailing weather conditions will be characterised by high pressure, a good deal of settled weather is likely. Clearer skies and a marked reduction in precipitation are expected, although any showers that do occur are likely to be wintry in nature. Houses surrounded by flood water on Matt Pit Lane in Wainfleet All Saints in Lincolnshire after the town had to deal with more than two months of rain in just two days (PA Archive) MET OFFICE OUTLOOK Saturday evening: Mostly cloudy and dry, although some breaks will occur allowing a slight frost to develop. Later showers will move across southeastern areas, perhaps turning wintry over high ground. Minimum temperature -1C. Sunday: Morning showers across the southeast, probably wintry over high ground. Otherwise dry and often cloudy. Feeling very cold with a brisk wind, but locally strong winds for southeastern coasts. Maximum temperature 5C. Outlook for Monday to Wednesday: Monday showers across eastern areas, some wintry. Tuesday dry and sunny, probably also Wednesday. Feeling very cold each day with brisk winds, strong along the coast, and a significant windchill. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The UK is to launch a 300m drive to push Vladimir Putin further out of the global energy market through an investment in hi-tech nuclear fuel. Ministers will vow to end what they say is Russias reign as the only commercial producer of a type of enriched uranium needed for the next generation of reactors. It comes as the world prepares for the second anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine next month. The UK has warned Russia that if casualties continue at their current rate it will have lost over half a million personnel in the conflict by the end of 2024. The war also triggered a shock in the worlds energy markets leading the government to rethink Britains energy security. Energy secretary Claire Coutinho said ministers would not allow Putin to hold us to ransom on nuclear fuel. Britain gave the world its first operational nuclear power plant, and now we will be the first nation in Europe outside of Russia to produce advanced nuclear fuel, she said. This will be critical for energy security at home and abroad and builds on Britains historic competitive advantages. The government says the plans will help build new supplies of affordable and clean domestic power. It will involve a 300m investment in high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). The programme will provide jobs and investment in the northwest of England, as part of plans to deliver a quarter of the UKs electricity needs through nuclear power by 2050. Another 10m will be used to develop the skills and sites needed to produce other advanced nuclear fuels in the UK. Ministers argue the move will help the transition to net zero and will not mean higher prices for consumers. The UK has agreed with other G7 nuclear partners to reduce global dependence on Russian fuel. On Saturday, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that the average daily number of Russian casualties in Ukraine rose by almost 300 during the course of last year. If the numbers continue at the current rate over the next year, Russia will have lost over half a million personnel in Ukraine, it added. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The government is examining ways to speed up the appeals process for wrongly convicted Post Office branch managers after what has been described as one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history. Moves could include exonerating all those involved or removing the Post Offices ability to investigate or prosecute suspecter officers, Rishi Sunak has confirmed. Mr Sunak told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that ministers should look at every which way we can to help those embroiled in the scandal. MPs are expected to tackle ministers over the issue when parliament re-opens after the Christmas holidays on Monday. There has been widespread public outcry after ITV aired a drama, Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, based on the scandal. Asked if there could be exonerations or the government could remove the Post Offices ability to investigate and prosecute, the prime minister said: The justice secretary (Alex Chalk) is looking at the things that youve described, it wouldnt be right to pre-empt that process, obviously theres legal complexity in all of those things but he is looking at exactly those areas. He added: Everyone has been shocked by watching what they have done over the past few days and beyond and it is an appalling miscarriage of justice. Obviously its something that happened in the Nineties but actually seeing it and hearing about it again just shows what an appalling miscarriage of justice it is for everyone affected and its important that those people now get the justice they deserve, and thats what the compensation schemes are about. The government has paid out about 150m to thousands of people already. Of course, we want to get the money to the people as quickly as possible, thats why there are interim payments of up to, I think, 600,000 that can be made. There are three different schemes available and for anyone affected they should come forward. The Post Office was prosecuting people caught up in the scandal as recently as 2015. Fujitsus faulty Horizon accounting software made it appear as though money was missing from outlets, and branch managers were forced to pay back thousands of pounds. Hundreds of people were convicted based on the computer faults and many are yet to have their convictions quashed. Scotland Yard said on Friday night that officers were investigating potential fraud offences arising out of these prosecutions, for example monies recovered from subpostmasters as a result of prosecutions or civil actions. The police had already been looking into potential offences of perjury and perverting the course of justice. Kevan Jones, the Labour MP for North Durham, who sits on the Horizon compensation advisory board, told the Sunday Times: It is quite clear from the evidence presented to the public inquiry and in court, that the victims of this scandal should have their convictions quashed and their good names restored. His constituent, Tom Brown, a former subpostmaster in Newcastle upon Tyne, was wrongly accused of stealing 85,000 in 2008. He lost his home and was made bankrupt. Former subpostmaster Lee Castleton, who was pursued through the courts and went bankrupt, said more pressure was needed to ensure victims get help. He told the BBC: It has been very difficult to push our cause. We are just people from your village shop or your local post office. It is really hard to draw up support and it has been very difficult to get people to believe. He added: I would like people to contact their MP and put pressure on people to help us. The group has always needed help. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that support makes this work. It is very lonely being the only one, as the Post Office would constantly tell each of the victims. Now we are together in this and we just need to keep walking forward no matter what the punches are, no matter how hard the war gets. We just need to keep pushing. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak has been forced to defend his flagship Rwanda plan after leaked documents suggested he harboured significant doubts about the controversial scheme and argued for it to be scaled back. The prime minister said it had been his job when chancellor to scrutinise every proposal that involved spending taxpayers money. He insisted that it would be wrong to infer from that that he did not back the policy to deport asylum seekers. But the prime minister repeatedly said he had not read the documents, leaked to the BBC, which have led to accusations he has been conning the public over the plan. Mr Sunak was unsure the plan would achieve its ultimate goal, to deter channel crossings in small boats, a month before it was unveiled by then prime minister Boris Johnson, according to the papers. He was also concerned about the cost of sending asylum seekers to the African country and wanted to limit the numbers. Labour have accused Mr Sunak of trying to con the public and called on the government to publish the papers. The row comes as the Tory leader faces a crunch battle with his own party to get new emergency legislation through the Commons, after the Supreme Court ruled his Rwanda plan unlawful. Losing the vote could place the future of the scheme and even Mr Sunaks leadership in peril. MPs on the right of the party have warned Mr Sunak he faces electoral oblivion unless flights to Rwanda get airborne. His former immigration minister Robert Jenrick has also threatened to lead a parliamentary revolt to try to toughen the bill, warning if the PM did not strengthen the new laws then he would lay amendments next week to ensure they were sufficiently robust. Speaking to the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mr Sunak said: My job (was) to ask probing questions of every proposal that crossed my desk as chancellor. Whether you have doubts about it or not, you shouldnt come to it with a preconceived notion that everything is fine when you are spending taxpayers money, of course you shouldnt. You should always ask probing questions, you should always approach things from a position of scepticism to ensure that you get value for money for taxpayers. That is the job of the chancellor and the Treasury when things crossed their desk. But to infer from that that I dont believe in the scheme or the principle of deterrence is wrong. I was doing my job to get good value for money for taxpayers. I went through that process, funded the scheme with the prime minister and, as prime minister myself, I have made sure that we have a similar deterrent working with Albania, and I have made the point that it is because Albania is working that we should have confidence that the Rwanda scheme will work too. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said Mr Sunak had become the latest senior Conservative to indicate they dont believe the (Rwanda) plans will work. Home secretary James Cleverly has not denied that he privately described the policy as bat****, before he was moved to the Home Office. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A judge late Saturday said former President Donald Trumps lawyers can't present legal arguments to a jury assessing damages at a defamation trial on a jury's conclusion last year that he didnt rape a columnist in the mid-1990s. U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan made the determination in an order in advance of a Jan. 16 trial to determine defamation damages against Trump after a jury concluded Trump sexually abused columnist E. Jean Carroll but did not find evidence was sufficient to conclude that he raped her. Trump, speaking in Iowa on Saturday as the Republican frontrunning presidential candidate in advance of a Jan. 15 primary, criticized the judge as a radical Democrat and mocked E. Jean Carroll for not screaming when she was attacked. It was all made up, he said. Carroll, 80, won a $5 million award last May from a jury that concluded Trump sexually abused her in 1996 in a luxury department store dressing room and defamed her in 2022. Trump did not attend the Manhattan trial where Carroll testified that a chance encounter at a Bergdorf Goodman store across the street from Trump Tower was flirtatious and fun until he slammed her against a wall in a dressing room and attacked her sexually. Trump has vehemently denied it. In this month's trial, a jury will consider whether damages should be levied against Trump for remarks he made after last year's verdict and in 2019 while he was president after Carroll spoke publicly for the first time about her mid-1990s claims in a memoir. Carroll's lawyers had asked the judge to issue the order, saying that Trump's attorneys should not be allowed to confuse jurors this month about last year's verdict by trying to argue that the jury disbelieved Carroll's rape claim. They said the jury's finding reflected its conclusion that Trump had forcibly and without consent digitally penetrated Carroll's vagina, which does not constitute rape under New York state law but which constitutes rape in other jurisdictions. Carroll's lawyers said the sting of the defamation was Mr. Trump's assertions that Ms. Carroll's charge of sexual abuse was an entirely untruthful fabrication and one made up for improper or even nefarious reasons. A lawyer for Trump did not immediately return a message Saturday. Carroll is seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and substantially more in unspecified punitive damages at the trial. She will testify and Trump is listed as a witness. The trial is expected to last about a week. Meanwhile, Trump has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in four indictments, two of which accuse him of seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, as well as a classified documents case and charges that he helped arrange a payoff to porn actor Stormy Daniels to silence her before the 2016 presidential election. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Billionaire hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman said taking phrases from Wikipedia does not strike him as plagiarism after his wife was accused of lifting the sites entries almost verbatim in her work. Mr Ackman has made headlines recently for his vehement opposition to Harvard President Claudine Gay who eventually stepped down after facing her own plagiarism allegations. Earlier this week, Business Insider said it found numerous examples of plagiarism in the work of Neri Oxman, a former MIT professor who is married to Mr Ackman. Dr Oxman apologised after the initial claims brought by the publication surfaced. However, on 5 January, the outlet reported finding 28 additional examples of plagiarism in her 2010 dissertation and other writings. Some of these accusations entailed lifting definitions from Wikipedia, the outlet claimed. Mr Ackman quickly came to her defence. He responded to the most recent allegations against his wife in two lengthy tweets: Neri has yet to vet yesterdays plagiarism allegations, but she will get to them when she has time to do so. He then questioned whether lifting sentences from Wikipedia was plagiarism after all. The billionaire noted that 15 of the outlets 28 alleged discoveries of plagiarism were definitions of words or terms that Neri may have used from Wikipedia. To showcase the striking parallels, Business Insider showed side-by-side images of Dr Oxmans writings and the Wikipedia definitions of terms like, weaving or heat flux. Is this plagiarism? Mr Ackman asked on X. Lets assume that in writing her dissertation Neri used Wikipedia as a dictionary for these terms and it is deemed to be plagiarism, does it any way affect the quality and originality of the research in her dissertation? I think thats worth an important discussion among the experts. He continued, It does not strike me as plagiarism, nor do I think it takes anything away from her work. I am not sure who would even complain that they were not cited properly, Mr Ackman added. The hedge fund CEO also criticised the lack of time given to Dr Oxman to evaluate the passages in question and respond, saying the outlet acted with actual malice and bad faith. He likened the organisation to the mafia before adding the caveat: Even the mafia operates with more dignity and respect for family, and I apologize to the mafia for the comparison. The Harvard alum also accused the outlets reporter of attacking his wife despite her being totally uninvolved in my advocacy on higher education. Mr Ackmans opposition to Ms Gays leadership at Harvard was not reserved for the alleged plagiarism. Instead, he took issue with the universitys response to the Hamas attacks on 7 October and he suggested she was hired in part to fulfil the universitys diversity initiative. He clarified his stance again in his 6 January tweet: I thought Claudine Gay was a failed leader without regard to her academic record, and thats why I thought she should not be president of Harvard. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Iowa police are now looking into a number of social media posts made by the teenager who unleashed terror on an Iowa high school on Thursday, killing one victim and injuring five. Dylan Butler, 17, was named as the gunman who opened fire inside Perry High School in Iowa on Thursday as students returned from their Christmas break. Butler, a former student at the school, was found dead on the scene. The teenagers motive for the attack is now under investigation, with authorities looking into a number of social media posts he made around the time of the shooting, Des Moines Register reported. Moments before the shooting, Butler allegedly posted a final chilling video on TikTok captioned: Now we wait. In the video, Butler posed in a bathroom stall at the school with a blue duffle bag at his feet. It was accompanied by the song Stray Bullet by the German band KMFDM - also used on the personal website of Eric Harris, one of the shooters involved in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Investigators also found pictures on his social media accounts showing the 17-year-old posing with firearms. A law enforcement official said federal and state investigators were interviewing Butlers friends and analysing his online footprint, including posts on TikTok and Reddit. Iowa school shooter Dylan Butlers final TikTok post (Dylan Butler/TikTok) The teenager was described as a quiet person who had been bullied for years by his former classmates. Authorities said Butler acted alone during the shooting, where armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun he killed one sixth grader and injured five other victims. An administrator, later identified by his alma mater as Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, was among the five wounded. Mitch Mortvedt, the state investigation divisions assistant director, said one person was in critical condition but the injuries didnt appear to be life-threatening. The other victims are in stable condition. Mr Mortvedt added that authorities found a pretty rudimentary improvised explosive device in the school, but were able to render it safe. Community members gather in Wiese park for a candlelight vigil (Getty Images) Following the shooting, local residents gathered for a vigil at Wiese Park in Perry and held candles as they listened to pastors from many faiths and heard a message of hope in both English and Spanish. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds released a statement on Thursday, describing the shooting as a senseless tragedy which has shaken our entire state to the core. Our hearts are heavy today and our prayers are with the Perry community, she said. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also addressed the shooting at a press conference, describing it as tragic and senseless. Were just a couple of days into the new year and were talking about another shooting, and that is heart-wrenching and that is heart-breaking, Ms Jean-Pierre told reporters. When will enough be enough? As of Friday, the school remains closed. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Dylan Butler had always been a quiet kid, according to those who knew him. So when he unleashed terror through Perry High School on the morning of 4 January, killing one person and injuring five, it sent shockwaves through the community. The 17-year-old had been the target of bullying since his very early years, and the bullying had recently engulfed his sister in the leadup to his violent rampage at his rural Iowa high school, according to his classmates. He also used his social media accounts to display his fascination with serial killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer and to share photos of himself posing with firearms. The teenager, who was a former student at the school, was found dead on the scene. An Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation official said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police are now trying to establish his motive for the killings as they attempt to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. Heres what we know so far: The shooting Butler opened fire on Perry High School at around 7.37am local time, just as students were preparing to return for the first day of their second semester. Within minutes law enforcement was notified of an active shooter situation in the high school, which is located approximately 30 miles from Des Moines. Upon arrival, police officers found several gunshot victims and launched a search for the shooter. Mr Mortvedt, an assistant director with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said officers quickly found what appeared to be the shooter with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Iowa school shooter Dylan Butler (Dylan Butler/Tik Tok) He added that the shooter was found holding a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Authorities also found a pretty rudimentary improvised explosive device in the school, but were able to render it safe. One sixth grader was killed in the shooting, while five other people were injured, including the schools principal. Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante said Butler opened fire before the opening bell, when very few students and faculty were in the building. The bullied suspect Butler, who authorities said acted alone, was described as a quiet person who had been bullied for years by his former classmates. Sisters Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, both 17, said that Butler had been bullied relentlessly since elementary school. Community members gather in Wiese park for a candlelight vigil (Getty Images) They added that the bullying had escalated recently, when his younger sister started getting picked on, too. Officials at the school didnt intervene, they said, and that was the last straw for the shooter. He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment, Yesenia Roeder Hall said. Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no, she added. Khamya described Butler as the kindest person ever. He was there for us when we needed him, and we tried to be there when he needed us, which clearly we werent there for him enough, she added through tears. Final post Iowa police are now looking into a number of social media posts made by Butler in the lead up to the shooting, officials said at a press conference. Moments before the shooting, Butler posted a final chilling video on his since-deleted TikTok account. In the video, Butler posed in a bathroom stall at the school with a blue duffle bag at his feet along with the caption: now we wait. It was accompanied by the song Stray Bullet by the German band KMFDM - also used on the personal website of Eric Harris, one of the shooters involved in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Iowa school shooter Dylan Butlers final TikTok post (Dylan Butler/TikTok) Other videos reportedly on the account that were shared on Reddit show Butler emulating the Cook from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer by repeating popular mannerisms and lines from various shows. He is also seen pointing a stick at a friend as if it were a gun in one of several clips where he references being a stoner. Investigators have also found other photos Butler posted posing with firearms, according to the Associated Press. A law enforcement official said federal and state investigators were interviewing Butlers friends and analysing his online footprint, including posts on TikTok and Reddit. Close Community mourns deadly Iowa school shooting The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Iowa school shooter who killed one sixth grader and injured five was bullied relentlessly, according to his former classmates. Dylan Butler, 17, was named as the gunman who attacked Perry High School in Iowa on Thursday as students returned from their Christmas break. His former classmates, sisters Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, both 17, said that Butler had been bullied relentlessly since elementary school. They added that the bullying had escalated recently, when his younger sister started getting picked on, too. Officials at the school didnt intervene, they said, and that was the last straw for the shooter. He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment, Yesenia Roeder Hall said. Police said the suspects motive was being investigated and authorities were looking into a number of social media posts he made around the time of the shooting, Des Moines Register reported. Moments before the shooting, Butler, who was found dead at the scene, posted a video on TikTok captioned now we wait and the song Stray Bullet by the German band KMFDM accompanied it. Ahmir Jolliff, the 11-year-old victim of the shooting, is remembered by family and friends as a joyful boy known as Smiley at home. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} At least one person is dead and five others are injured after a 17-year-old student allegedly opened fire at Perry High School in Iowa. Dylan Butler, 17, was named as the gunman, who opened fire on the school as students returned after their Christmas break on 4 January. One sixth-grader was killed and five others were injured, including Perry High School principal Dan Marburger. Mitch Mortvedt, the state investigation divisions assistant director, said one person was in critical condition but the injuries didnt appear to be life-threatening. The other victims are in stable condition. Butler, a former student at the school, was found dead on the scene. An Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation official said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The teenagers motive for the attack is now under investigation. Heres all we know so far: The shooting The suspected shooter opened fire in the school around 7.37am local time on 4 January, just as students were preparing to return for the first day of their second semester. Within minutes law enforcement was notified of an active shooter situation in the high school, which is located approximately 30 miles from Des Moines. Upon arrival, police officers found students and faculty either sheltering in place or fleeing the school. At least one person is dead and five others are injured after a 17-year-old student opened fire at Perry High School in Iowa on Thursday morning (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Officers identified several gunshot victims and searched for the suspected shooter. Mr Mortvedt, an assistant director with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said officers quickly found what appeared to be the shooter with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He added that the shooter was found holding a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Authorities also found a pretty rudimentary improvised explosive device in the school but were able to render it safe. One sixth grader was killed in the shooting, while five other people were injured, including the schools principal. Three gunshot victims were taken by ambulance to the Iowa Methodist Medical Centre in Des Moines, a spokesperson for its health system said. Other patients were transported to a second hospital in Des Moines, a spokesperson for MercyOne Des Moines Medical Centre County Sheriff Adam Infante said Butler opened fire before the opening bell, when very few students and faculty were in the building. Who is the suspect? Police identified 17-year-old Dylan Butler as the gunman who opened fire on Perry High School. Butler was a former student at the school, authorities said. The teenager, who authorities said acted alone, was described as a quiet person who had been relentlessly bullied for years by his former classmates. Iowa school shooter Dylan Butlers final TikTok post (Dylan Butler/TikTok) They added that the bullying had escalated recently, when his younger sister started getting picked on, too. Officials at the school didnt intervene, they said, and that was the last straw for the shooter. He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment, 17-year-old Yesenia Roeder Hall said. State officials said the teenagers motive for the attack is now under investigation, with authorities looking into a number of social media posts he made around the time of the shooting, The Des Moines Register reported. Moments before the shooting, Butler allegedly posted a final chilling video on TikTok captioned: Now we wait. In the video, Butler posed in a bathroom stall at the school with a blue duffle bag at his feet. It was accompanied by the song Stray Bullet by the German band KMFDM, also used on the personal website of Eric Harris, one of the shooters involved in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Investigators also found pictures on his social media accounts showing the 17-year-old posing with firearms. A law enforcement official said federal and state investigators were interviewing Butlers friends and analysing his online footprint, including posts on TikTok and Reddit. Reaction Following the shooting, local residents gathered for a vigil at Wiese Park in Perry and held candles as they listened to pastors from many faiths and heard a message of hope in both English and Spanish. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds released a statement describing the shooting as a senseless tragedy that has shaken our entire state to the core. Our hearts are heavy today and our prayers are with the Perry community, she said. Community members gather in Wiese Park for a candlelight vigil (Getty Images) White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also addressed the shooting at a press conference, calling it tragic and senseless. Were just a couple of days into the new year and were talking about another shooting, and that is heart-wrenching and that is heart-breaking, Ms Jean-Pierre told reporters. When will enough be enough? Meanwhile, Vivek Ramaswamy, who is one of several Republican presidential candidates campaigning in Iowa ahead of the states Republican presidential caucuses later this month, also reacted to the shooting. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds speaks during a news conference following a shooting at Perry High School (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) We pray for the victims of the tragic high school shooting in Perry, Iowa, Mr Ramaswamy said. I happened to be there today right after it happened, we canceled our event and converted it to a prayer & open conversation. Strikingly, the first two people who spoke to us each said they werent surprised & that it was just a matter of time before something like this happened. We have a psychological sickness at the core of our country right now. A White House official said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting. Calls for gun control in Iowa As of July 2021, Iowa does not require a permit to purchase a handgun or carry a firearm in public, though it mandates a background check for a person buying a handgun without a permit. In light of the shooting, the White House urged Congress to pass gun control legislation that would enact universal background checks, ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of firearms and pass a national red flag law. President Biden signed major gun safety legislation passed by Congress into law in 2022, the first legislation of its kind in 30 years. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the shooting at a press conference (Reuters) The legislation included enhanced background checks for gun buyers between 18 and 21 years old and closed the boyfriend loophole, a gap in American gun legislation that allowed physically abusive ex-romantic partners and stalkers with previous convictions or restraining orders to access guns. It took 30 years to get that bipartisan legislation done, and the president obviously signed it. But we need more. It is not enough. Thats what we believe. Its just not enough, Ms Jean-Pierre said. Our students and teachers deserve to know that their schools are safe spaces and to focus on learning, not duck and cover drills. More must be done to keep our schools and communities safe. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Convicted sex trafficker and Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell has reacted to the long-anticipated release of a trove of court documents naming several of the dead paedophiles associates. Maxwells attorneys Arthur Aidala and Diana Fabi Samson released a statement on Wednesday night, after the filings began to be unsealed, in which she continued to insist her innocence and vowed to plough ahead with her appeal. Ghislaine Maxwell took no position on the Courts recent decision to unseal documents in Giuffre v. Maxwell as these disclosures have no bearing on her or her pending appeal, they said in the statement, shared with The Messenger. Ghislaines focus is on the upcoming appellate argument asking for her entire case to dismissed. She is confident that she will obtain justice in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. She has consistently and vehemently maintained her innocence. The trove of documents released on Wednesday are part of a defamation lawsuit brought against 62-year-old Maxwell back in 2015 by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre documents which years later a judge has finally ordered must be unsealed. Ms Giuffre filed the suit after Maxwell accused her of lying about the years-long abuse she had suffered at the hands of Epstein and some in his inner circle. Undates photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell (VIA REUTERS) The suit was settled in 2017 but was placed under a protective seal with the identities of those named in the filings kept under lock and key. The Miami Herald sued for the release of the sealed documents while Maxwells legal team sought to block it. Around 2,000 pages of documents were first unsealed in 2019, with further documents released over the following years. But, this current trove of documents remained sealed and the names of hundreds of people associated with the dead paedophile were kept secret, known only as Jane and John Does. Then, in a landmark ruling last month, US District Judge Loretta Preska ruled that the trove of documents could be released and the names unsealed in full after 1 January. While the federal judge ordered the names of several Epstein victims to remain anonymous, she said that there was no legal justification to keep the names of Epsteins associates redacted as John and Jane Does. This has now paved the way for several famous figures to find themselves tied to the notorious disgraced financier. Among the names revealed in the first batch of the filings released are former president Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and Donald Trump. In a newly-unsealed deposition, Epstein victim Johanna Sjoberg spoke about what she knew about Mr Clintons ties to Epstein. [Epstein] said one time that Clinton likes them young, referring to girls, she testified. An undated photo shows Ghislaine Maxwell massaging the feet of Jeffrey Epstein (VIA REUTERS) However, Ms Sjoberg testified that she never met Mr Clinton, never saw him on Epsteins Caribbean island and never saw him being flown in a helicopter by Maxwell. There is no indication that the former president is involved in any wrongdoing and is not accused of any crime. The Independent has reached out to Mr Clintons representative for comment. His spokesperson told CNN on Wednesday that it has now been nearly 20 years since President Clinton last had contact with Epstein and denied that the former president ever had any knowledge of Epsteins crimes. The documents also reveal previously revealed allegations brought by Ms Sjoberg against Prince Andrew. In 2001, Ms Sjoberg claims the duke touched her breast while they were sitting on a couch inside Epsteins Manhattan apartment. Andrew has always strongly denied the allegations against him, while Buckingham Palace previously said all accusations made against the duke are categorically untrue. Several more documents and names are expected to be released over the coming days. Epsteins island of Little St James where much of the abuse took place (REUTERS) An individual being named in the documents does not necessarily mean they are accused of any wrongdoing. Maxwell, 62, is currently behind bars in a federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida, serving 20 years for her part in Epsteins sex-trafficking ring. She was convicted in December 2021 of six counts of enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in illegal sex acts, sex trafficking of a minor, and three counts of conspiracy related to the other counts. At her high-profile trial, prosecutors described how Maxwell and Epstein ran a decade-long pyramid scheme of abuse from 1994 to 2004 grooming young girls before sexually abusing them. Several victims testified in court how Epsteins former girlfriend preyed on vulnerable underage girls and groomed them to hand them to the late financier to abuse. The victims testified that Maxwell both enabled Epstein in his abuse and took part in some of the abuse herself. Maxwell is appealing her conviction and continues to profess her innocence in Epsteins crimes. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Joe Bidens defence chief Lloyd Austin is facing questions over transparency with the news that the president of the United States had been kept in the dark about his hospitalisation for three days. NBC News and Politico first reported the revelation on Saturday evening, citing senior officials in the Biden administration. The news added a new level of seriousness to the issue of Americas defence chief being hospitalised for days without informing the general public. Those same senior officials who alerted the press were described as alarmed by the delay between Mr Austins hospitalisation and the president being made aware. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan was reportedly the first official in the West Wing to be told of Mr Austins hospitalisation, on Thursday, and promptly alerted the president at that time. The secretarys hospitalisation came after complications from an elective surgery, according to the Pentagon. Further details have been sparse, and the DC press corps has in return been asking increasingly pointed questions about the supposed need for secrecy around the issue and the failure of the Pentagon to communicate with Americans. This should not have happened this way, one senior Biden administration official told Politico. Another told Politicos Playbook newsletter: Its just stupid...Just pick up the phone. What are you thinking? The White House has not yet commented on the matter of Mr Austins apparent failure to notify the president in a timely fashion of his leave from duties, which were taken over by a deputy in his absence. White House officials did welcome Mr Austin back to work in statements provided to news outlets. The President wished him the best in his recovery and said he looks forward to seeing the Secretary back at the Pentagon soon, one official said. Mr Austins absence and the apparent cascading failure of transparency that followed comes at a very serious moment for the president and the United States in the arena of national defence and the use of Americas military strength. Since his hospitalisation on 1 January, the US has conducted a much-criticised strike at the presidents authorisation against a militia leader in Iraqs capital of Baghdad whom the US alleged was connected to Iran and the countrys Revolutionary Guard (IRGC). The attack earned a denunciation from Iraqs goverment, put in place by the United States and its coalition allies after the deposing of Saddam Hussein. Meanwhile, the US also continues to work towards securing the Red Sea from Houthi attacks on shipping lanes, one of many consequences in the region linked to the brutal Israeli military campaign against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Mr Austin appeared to acknowledge that he should have notified the public sooner in a statement to news outlets; however, he too has remained silent on why Mr Biden was kept unaware of his condition for three days. "I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon. I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure, he said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police are investigating an alleged physical altercation between Republican Rep Lauren Boebert and her ex-husband Jayson Boebert at a restaurant in Colorado on Saturday evening. Police in Silt, Colorado, told The Independent that it is looking into reports of an incident involving the Colorado Republican at Miners Claim restaurant on 6 January. Police Chief Mike Kite declined to elaborate further, citing that it was an ongoing investigation. He said the police are looking at security camera footage. Mr Kite didnt confirm who initiated the alleged fight and said no one had been arrested. When asked whether anyone had been hospitalised, he said: Not that I know of. This is a sad situation for all that keeps escalating and another reason Im moving, Congresswoman Boebert said in a statment to The Independent. I didnt punch Jayson in the face and no one was arrested. I will be consulting with my lawyer about the false claims he made against me and evaluate all of my legal options. The Independent has contacted the restaurant where the incident allegedly took place. A Boebert aide told The Daily Beast that Jayson Boebert had called the cops claiming that he was a victim of domestic violence. The Independent has not independently verified this allegation. Rep Boebert denied the claim that she had committed any domestic violence, the aide told the outlet. Ms Boebert recently made headlines for switching districts for her re-election campaign in 2024. The lawmaker also made headlines when she was removed from a Denver theatre during a showing of Beetlejuice after engaging in vaping, singing, taking flash photos and apparent groping. She has since apologised for her behaviour. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jacob Chansley, better known as the QAnon Shaman who stormed the Capitol on January 6, is now asking for the government to return his signature horned headdress. Theyre keeping it like its evidence, Chansley told The Daily Beast. The case is over, so theres no reason for them to continue holding onto it. Its rather upsetting that theyre not doing what the government is supposed to do and returning the property, said Chansley, who has been well-acquainted with the government as of late. Chansley pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing a federal proceeding in connection to the Capitol attack, resulting in a 41-month prison sentence in November 2021. But after showing good behaviour, he was transferred to a halfway house in Arizona, meaning he only ended up serving 27 months in prison. The former fur-covered insurrectionist told the outlet that he had purchased the headdress long before deciding to storm the Capitol: Dude, Ive been dressing that way for over 10 years. In his sentencing memorandum, Mr Chansleys then-lawyer described the images of his client as becoming inextricably linked to the events of the Capitol riot: they have become to January 6 what the Swoosh is to Nike. The former rioter told the outlet that the FBI took the signature headpiece when he turned himself in days after the riot: I had it with me in the carThey just took it. He added, They gave my mom the car back shortly after the investigation was over, but they refused to give me my headdress and my staff and my phone and my pants, he said. So whats up with that? In November, Mr Chansley filed a statement of interest in running for Congress as a Libertarian in his home state of Arizona in 2024. The Daily Beast asked him whether he plans on wearing the headdress if he gets it back on the campaign trail. Mr Chansley said hes not sure of the reaction it would stir up. Theres been mixed emotions about it, he told the outlet. People say that Im not being taken seriously. Other people are like, Oh, I fricking love it! Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} CNN has announced which Republican 2024 candidates have qualified for the next GOP primary debate and its bad news for some of the presidential hopefuls. Former president Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley were the only three candidates to make the cut. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie failed to pass the threshold to appear on the debate stage this time round, marking the first time they wont be taking part. Asa Hutchinson who didnt meet the requirements for the last debate, yet has so far declined to bow out of the race also failed to qualify. Both Mr DeSantis and Ms Haley have already confirmed plans to participate in the 10 January Iowa debate, paving the way for the two candidates to go head-to-head as they vy to take on the clear GOP frontrunner Mr Trump. The former president meanwhile has refused to take part in any of the primary debates so far, hosting rival rallies and interviews instead. And this time will be no different. Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis face off at the last GOP debate (REUTERS) On the night of 10 January, Mr Trump will take part in a town hall on Fox News also in the Hawkeye state. To qualify for the 10 January debate in Iowa, hosted by CNN, the candidates were required to receive at least 10 per cent of votes in three separate national polls and/or Iowa polls of Republican primary voters or caucusgoers. At least one of the three polls must be a poll of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers approved by the network. The candidates had until midday on Tuesday to qualify. As the window of time closed in and his hopes of meeting the threshold dwindled Mr Ramaswamy quickly announced that he was dropping out of the debate. Forget @CNNs fake Iowa debate on Jan 10 which will be the most boring in modern history, he posted on X. Instead, he said he will be doing a live-audience show that night in Des Moines with @Timcast instead. While pitching it as his own choice, a mere few hours later it was announced he had not reached the threshold anyway. The debate comes just five days before the Iowa caucuses, offering a final opportunity for the candidates to impress voters before the GOP primary race really kick off. The debate will take place at 9pm ET on 10 January at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will act as moderators. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Presidential hopeful Robert F Kennedy Jr has claimed he will be left unscathed by the unsealing of Jeffrey Epstein court documents - having previously revealed he flew on the disgraced financiers private jet. Forty legal filings from the settled 2015 lawsuit between Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell became public on Wednesday after New York Judge Loretta Preska issued an order in December to unseal materials connected to the case. The documents include names of alleged victims, people not accused of wrongdoingand absent third parties and being identified through the court documents does not necessarily mean that the individual was involved in or aware of any wrongdoing by Epstein. Some of the high-profile names mentioned in the filings, including former US presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, had already been publicly tied to Epstein. Mr Clinton has previously denied ever visiting Epsteins island and any links to the convicted paedophile, while Mr Trump has said in the past that he had no relationship with Epstein. A political figure who was not mentioned in the filings, but has volunteered in recent months that he flew on Epsteins plane, was independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr. Appearing on NewsNations Dan Abrams Live on Wednesday night, Mr Kennedy said he was not concerned that information from the unsealed filings would taint his public image. I like whats happening today. I like the fact that all these papers are being released. Ive been an advocate for transparency. I think the government keeps too many secrets, Mr Kennedy said. I think its important for the American public to know whether Jeffrey Epstein had some kind of corrupt influence on public officials or any public figure. Mr Kennedy revealed last September during an appearance on Fox News that he had flown on Epsteins plane on two occasions. Mr Kennedy elaborated on Wednesday that the first plane ride took place in 1993, when he went to visit his mother in Palm Beach. Remember, nobody knew anything about Jeffrey Epsteins nefarious activities till 2006, Mr Kennedy added. My wife knew his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell and they offered us a ride when we were going to see my mother. I was with two children and my wife on the plane at that time, I knew nothing about Jeffrey Epstein. Mr Kennedy added that he accepted a second plane ride one or two years later when he took his children fossil hunting on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. I hope everything that is known about Jeffrey Epstein comes out, Mr Kennedy told Mr Adams. I think its odd that they have not that Congress has not been able to subpoena and Ive been an advocate for making sure that the government is transparent about everything, including every document, everything that is known about Jeffrey Epstein. Mr Kennedys remarks come after he garnered enough signatures to qualify for the Utah presidential ballot. This is the first state in which Mr Kennedy has qualified, after meeting the 1,000-signature threshold. The scion of Americas most famous political family announced in October that he was switching from running for the Democratic nomination to running as an independent candidate. It remains unclear whether Mr Kennedys name is mentioned in the filings ordered to be unsealed, as a large part of those are still expected to become public in the coming days. The documents are part of Ms Giuffres civil suit, which was settled in 2017 and helped consolidate the criminal case against Maxwell in 2021. Maxwell was later sentenced to 20 years in prison on five charges of sex trafficking minor girls. She has since appealed her conviction The Miami Herald, whose investigation into Epstein led to his arrest in 2019, first sued in 2018 for the release of all documents related to the lawsuit. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019. The Independent has reached out to Mr Kennedys campaign. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} New York Republican Rep Elise Stefanik is under fire from Democrats for labelling January 6 prisoners hostages, echoing Donald Trump. Ahead of the third anniversary of the Capitol riot, in a campaign speech in Sioux Center, Iowa, Mr Trump referred to individuals arrested and charged in connection to the Capitol attack as J6 hostages. He claimed, Nobodys been treated ever in history so badly as those people. On Sunday, Congresswoman Stefanik used the same language on NBCs Meet the Press. She said, I have concerns about the treatment of January 6th hostages. In response, high-profile figures in politics denounced her remarks. Maryland Rep Jamie Raskin, who sat on the House select committee investigating January 6, wrote on X: People convicted of violently assaulting police officers and conspiring to overthrow the government are not hostages. He then demanded that his colleague apologize to the families of 130 people being held hostage by Hamas right now. Her pandering to Trump is dangerous. California Congressman Eric Swalwell also chimed in: How sick that as real American hostages are held in Gaza, Stefanik puts January 6 terrorists in the same category. Douglas London, a CIA veteran, remarked, Stefanik, parroting Trump, referring to those being prosecuted for dragging police officers down the [Capitol] steps and beating them with fire hydrants and US flags as HOSTAGES, frightens me more than any threat I faced as a CIA officer from any foreign adversary. Former Virginia Rep Barbara Comstock also expressed outrage: Elise sounds like the hostage. Former White House official David Axelrod also commented, Once a thoughtful center right Rep., she read the prevailing winds within the[GOP] and went full Trumpee & enthusiastic pervayer [sic] of falsehoods & conspiracy theories. The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump super PAC, issued a statement: J6 prisoners are not hostages or heroes. They are radicalized terrorists who were doing the bidding of the most anti-democratic man to ever hold office in the history of our nation. The super PAC then slammed Ms Stefanik as desperately pleading for the attention and favor of the former president. She is an embarrassment to the office she holds and to the oath she has taken to defend this nation against enemies foreign and domestic, the statement continued. In the same interview, the New York congresswoman also refused to commit to certifying 2024 election results. When host Kristen Welker asked if that meant she wouldnt confirm the results unless Mr Trump won, the Republican lawmaker clarified: No, it means if theyre constitutional. What we saw in 2020 was unconstitutional circumventing of the Constitution, not going through state legislators when it comes to changing election law. Welker also asked Ms Stefanik if she was comfortable with Mr Trumps Hitler-like comments in recent months, such as when he claimed that immigrants are poisoning the blood of the country. She replied, We have the media which is so biased, which is reiterating whatever the talking points the Biden campaign is giving. She added, Our border crisis is poisoning Americans through fentanyl... So yes, I stand by President Trump. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Special Counsel Jack Smiths investigation has unveiled fresh details around Donald Trumps indifference toward stopping the Capitol riot on January 6 including his reaction to the news that his vice president had been relocated for safety purposes, according to a report. Trump aide Nick Luna told Mr Smiths team about the moment Mr Trump was informed that Vice President Mike Pence had to be moved to a secure location, ABC News reported. The then-president allegedly responded, So what? Mr Luna was apparently shocked at this response, given Mr Pences loyalty to his boss over the years, the outlet wrote. During the riot, those in the mob were chanting to hang Mike Pence, given his reluctance to listen to Mr Trump, who had asked him to not certify the 2020 election results. The outlet also reported that the deputy chief of staff, Dan Scavino, told federal investigators that Mr Trump was just not interested in trying to stop the escalating violence. The then-president was very angry that day over the election results coming to fruition not over what was happening to the Capitol building by rioters, who were angry on his behalf, the outlet reported Mr Scavino telling investigators. The former deputy chief of staff thought Mr Trumps reaction was very unsettling. Then, after numerous failed attempts to persuade the then-president to try to stop the mob, his aides decided to give Mr Trump some space. While he was alone, sources told ABC News, Mr Trump posted his infamous tweet about Mike Pence. He wrote that his number two didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. Shocked at the post, aides and staff approached Mr Scavino, who often posted on Mr Trumps behalf to ask why he had written it. I didnt do it, Mr Scavino reportedly told the special counsels team. Hours later, that evening, Mr Scavino reportedly told Mr Trump over the phone: This is all your legacy here, and theres smoke coming out of the Capitol. In the aftermath of the attack, witnesses testified to the January 6 House Select Committee that the then-president was watching TV in the dining room of the Oval Office as the storming of the Capitol building unfolded. They also remarked on his hours-long refusal to intervene. In its final report, the January 6 House panel wrote that the central cause of January 6th was one man, former President Donald Trump, whom many others followed. The revelations come as part of Mr Smiths probe into Mr Trumps alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the events leading up to the riot. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Mike Pence has denounced the debunked conspiracy theory that the FBI instigated the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol. As recently as this weekend Donald Trump has continued to spread the baseless theory that Antifa and the FBI were behind the attack on Congress rather than his own supporters. Speaking to CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union on Sunday morning from Tel Aviv just one day after the third anniversary of the attack former Vice President Pence said: Weve been assured again and again that it was not the case. I just must tell you, having been there that day, to see people literally breaking windows, ransacking the Capitol, it just infuriated me. I remember thinking not this, not here, not at the United States Capitol, he said. Mr Pence added he is very grateful for the efforts of the FBIs efforts to arrest those who ransacked our Capitol and did violence against police officers that day, demanding those who participated in the attack be held to the fullest extent of the law. The attack, he said, should never have happened. As Ive said many times before, the former presidents words that day were reckless. I believe history will judge his role in that. Former Vice President Pence was in Israel to show support for Israels war against Hamas. He also spoke about the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza, the secrecy surrounding the hospitalisation of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and his hopes that Iowa voters give Republicans a fresh start when they caucus on 15 January. Mr Trump continues to try and reframe the violence that occurred at the Capitol in early 2021 as he campaigns for reelection ahead of the Iowa caucuses. By the way, there was Antifa, there was FBI, there were a lot of other people there too leading the charge, Mr Trump said at a rally in Sioux, Center Iowa on Friday, 5 January. You saw the same people that I did. Mr Trump also said at the campaign event that he believed the audience on 6 January 2021 was the biggest crowd, I believe, I ever spoke toyou never hear about that do you? He then turned to the hostages, his term for those arrested and charged for their actions on January 6. The J6 hostages, I call them. Nobodys been treated ever in history so badly as those people, he said. Their imprisonment, Mr Trump said, will go down as one of the saddest things in the history of our country. And they went there to protest a rigged election. Democratic Rep Jamie Raskin also spoke about the debunked conspiracy in an appearance on Inside with Jen Psaki on MSNBC on Sunday morning noting that if the hundreds of people who had been arrested in connection with the riot were indeed the FBI and Antifa, why would Mr Trump want to pardon them? The Justice Department reported since the 2021 riot, over 1,200 individuals have been charged with crimes connected to the Capitol attack, while more than 700 people have pleaded guilty to various federal charges. Saturday marked three years since the violent attack on the Capitol building, which led to the deaths of four rioters and five police officers and left many more injured. Mr Trumps false claims about the Capitol riot and 2020 election fraud come as he faces charges at the federal level and separately in Georgia regarding his alleged efforts to overturn the presidential election. In its final report in 2022, the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack also named Mr Trump as the central cause of the riot whom many others followed. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police in Australia have arrested a man following a series of stabbings on Saturday night that injured at least five people, including a British national, in Melbourne. A 31-year-old man from Melton has been charged in connection with stabbing five people in four separate random attacks over a three-hour period, Victoria Police said in a statement. One of the victims, a 24-year-old who was stabbed outside a burger store around 10pm local time, was taken to hospital with a non-life-threatening leg injury. CCTV footage supplied by the burger shop shows a man in a light green jacket running up Melbournes King St and plunging a knife into the leg of a male pedestrian. This was the earliest in what police described as a series of four random stabbings. The burger stores owner Margi Patel said staff at the outlet provided towels, water and napkins to the injured man and bystanders rushed to his aid, local news reported. I never feel unsafe but after last night, my perspective changed a little bit, Ms Patel told NCA NewsWire. Yearly celebration of cars held in Canberra, Australia About an hour later a man and a woman walking along Dandenong Road were then stabbed. The woman sustained life-threatening injuries while the mans arm was seriously injured, police said, adding that both were immediately taken to hospital and are now stable. In a third incident, a British national was stabbed on Acland Street and was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening leg injuries. Police said that the perpectrator used different types of knives in each attack and lunged at defenceless victims from behind, in what police called a series of cowardly attacks. In each of the incidents, police say, the victims were going about their own business and would have had no clue they were about to be attacked. It was completely random, detective Andrew Eyries said, according to ABC News. Detectives are also investigating whether a stabbing in Southbank may be linked. The suspect who has been remanded in custody was not named by police on Sunday. He will appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, Victoria Police said. He has been charged with 15 charges overall, including five counts of intentionally cause injury and one count of possessing a controlled weapon. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Russian missile strike in eastern Ukraine has killed 11 people, including five children, according to Ukrainian officials. It comes as Russia appeared to shift the focus of its aerial assault on Ukraine to several frontline cities in the east, after days of heavy bombardments targeting major civilian hubs including the capital Kyiv. The eastern Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk and nearby villages in Donetsk Oblast were hit with a barrage of S-300 missiles, destroying at least six houses, the head of Ukraines military administration for the region Vadym Filashkin said on Telegram. As a result of this barbaric attack, 11 people died, including five children aged from three to 17 years, Mr Filashkin said. Ten people were injured. Rescue operations are continuing. Closer to morning we will have a better understanding of the final numbers of those who were injured, he said late on Saturday. Rescue efforts extended into the night with emergency workers sifting through piles of rubble in the dark. The Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk lies about 40km from the eastern front line. Ukraine's military raises threat of Russian missile strikes In a separate statement on Sunday, Ukraines air force said Russia launched 28 attack drones and three cruise missile at Ukraine overnight. The air force said its air defence systems destroyed 21 of the drones, but it did not say what happened to the three cruise missiles. The air force said on its Telegram messaging channel that Russia targeted mainly south and east of Ukraine. The enemy is shifting the focus of attack to the frontline territories - Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions were attacked by drones, Ukraines air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told national television. Russia said in a statement on Saturday that its troops struck a command post used by a Ukrainian military near Pokrovsk, referring to the town by its Soviet-era name Krasnoarmeisk. Russian military troops are repurposing missile systems, originally designed for air defense, to attack targets in the town and nearby villages. These repurposed air defense missiles have poorer accuracy and may hit random targets, Ukrainian officials said. Earlier, Russian forces hit the Pivnichne, also in Donetsk Oblast, with two aerial bombs that killed one and injured another civilian, Mr Filashkin said in a separate post on Telegram. Russian troops are trying to inflict as much grief as possible on our land, the governor said. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly video address that the Pokrovsk attack quite simply targeted ordinary, private homes. Russia must be made to feel that none of these strikes will pass without consequences for the terrorist state, Mr Zelensky said. UNs humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine Denise Brown said she was truly horrified by the strikes, especially by the deaths of children. These were just children who have been killed because of this war, Ms Brown said. She noted that the recent Russian shelling of Ukrainian towns was leaving behind an outrageous number of children. Women and men killed and injured and a trail of loss and destruction. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 7. The Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan is conducting talks with operators of Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in the country, as well as with Boeing and the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), following the recent incidents regarding Boeing planes, Trend reports. On January 6, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 passenger plane made an emergency landing in Portland due to a detached window and part of the fuselage during the flight. Later, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a directive to suspend the operation of 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) ordered the suspension of the operation of Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft based on the FAA directive until obtaining the inspection results. The Civil Aviation Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Transport said that five Boeing 737-9 MAX aircraft were registered in Kazakhstan, and all of them have valid airworthiness certificates. "The FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive (2024-02-51). The airworthiness directive automatically applies to all operators of B-737 MAX. This directive is applicable to Boeing B737-9 aircraft, certified in any category, with an emergency exit door in the middle cabin installed," the committee explained. "Currently, the operators in Kazakhstan operate aircraft with emergency exit doors (not emergency exit hatches), so the directive does not apply to these planes," the committee explained. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Israels military claims it has fully dismantled Hamass command network in northern Gaza, killing around 8,000 militants in that area in the process. We are now focused on dismantling Hamas in the centre of and south of the (Gaza) strip, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Saturday. Fighting will continue during 2024. We are operating according to a plan to achieve the wars goals, to dismantle Hamas in the north and south, Mr Hagari said on the eve of the conflicts three-month anniversary. Israels ground assault and aerial bombardment of Gaza began after Hamas launched a terror attack on southern Israel on 7 October, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages, with many civilians among them. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas and other Islamist militant groups in Gaza. Israeli forces have killed more than 22,000 Palestinians during the war as of Saturday, according to Palestinian health officials. Neither their tally, nor Israels claims to have killed 8,000 militants, have been independently verified. While Israel denies targeting non-combatants and says Hamas fighters are embedding themselves among the civilian population, Palestinian officials say their death toll figures do not differentiate between fighters and civilians, and that 70 per cent of Gazas dead are women and children. The fighting has displaced most of Gazas 2.3 million population, who were ordered to evacuate northern Gaza at the start of the fighting. Many homes and key aspects of civilian infrastructure in the strip have been leftz in ruins and an Israeli blockade has resulted in acute shortages of food, water and medicine. Israel Makes Air Strike In Khan Younis Fighting intensified on Saturday in Gaza, especially in the densely populated southern coastal city of Khan Younis, where Israel said it had killed Hamas members. We were in al-Shati refugee camp and they dropped fliers saying Gaza is a battlefield, so we fled to Khan Younis because it was a safe place, and they still bombed us, said 11-year-old Mahmoud Awad, whose parents and siblings were killed in the airstrike, according to Reuters. On Sunday, world leaders were due to discuss strategies to prevent the war from spreading from Israel and the Palestinian territories into neighbouring Lebanon, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Red Sea shipping lanes. We have an intense focus on preventing this conflict from spreading, US secretary of state Antony Blinken told reporters before heading to Jordan, his fourth trip to the region since 7 October. The European Unions top diplomat Josep Borrell expressed alarm in Beirut about exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, and the risk of the conflict spilling over into the wider region. Diplomatic channels have to stay open. War is not the only option, its the worst option, Mr Borrell said. Additional reporting by agencies The US Federal Aviation Administration ordered the immediate grounding of Boeing 737-9 Max jetliners after the window of an Alaska Airlines plane blew off mid-flight, leaving a gaping hole in the side of its fuselage. Required inspections will take around four to eight hours per aircraft and will affect about 171 planes worldwide. The aircraft was travelling from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California, when a window and a chunk of fuselage blew out shortly after takeoff on Friday, 5 January. The plane carrying 174 passengers landed safely back at Portland International Airport at 5:26pm, having departed at 5:06pm. Former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells recommends people manage all finances digitally in a newly resurfaced clip. The short clip from UK charity Go On UK in 2012, features Mrs Vennells talking about how digital software is changing the way businesses and the government handle finances. The Post Office Horizon scandal has since unearthed how the company wrongfully convicted over 700 subpostmasters due to faulty software. A petition has since been launched for the former CEO to be stripped of her CBE. Rishi Sunak denied that he had significant doubts about the Governments Rwanda bill after leaked No 10 documents revealed his uncertainty. He appeared on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on BBC One on Sunday, 7 January. When asked to admit the doubts by Mrs Kuenssberg, he said: No. I havent seen these documents so I cant comment on them specifically but I discussed it with the prime minister and ultimately funded the plans and the scheme. The documents revealed the Prime Ministers doubts back in 2022, where he questioned whether it would actually stop boats crossing, and if it was value for money. With rapidly growing sales, new markets coming on scene and a new CEO, the future looks very healthy indeed for Vit Hit, its founder Gary Lavin says During 2023, the brand added listings in Asda, BP, Co-op, MFG and Morrisons on top of Sainsbury's, WHSmith, Boots, Spar and Shell 'This is one of those brands that if you stick it on the shelf, it sells, but it's getting it on the shelf that has been the tough job, Above, Vit Hit 'The UK is the real banker for us. That is where we're gonna get some massive growth,' said founder, Gary Lavin. Photo: Lorraine O'Sullivan Irish vitamin drink Vit Hit experienced huge sales growth in the UK over the past 12 months, making it the number one drink in its category. The strong performance has helped to push overall revenues at Vit Hit to almost 25m last year, founder Gary Lavin told the Sunday Independent. This is one of those brands that if you stick it on the shelf, it sells, but it's getting it on the shelf that has been the tough job, said Lavin. We've broken the back of the UK now with stellar growth again of 47pc in 2023. Our UK figures are really impressive and we are picking up some really heavyweight listings now because they are starting to get some Fomo [fear of missing out]. 'This is one of those brands that if you stick it on the shelf, it sells, but it's getting it on the shelf that has been the tough job, Above, Vit Hit During 2023, the brand added listings in Asda, BP, Co-op, MFG and Morrisons across the UK, on top of existing Sainsburys, WHSmith, Boots, Spar and Shell, pushing sales there to 8m (9.27m). Lavin believes the opportunity for Vit Hit in the UK is a multiple of that as it continues to add listings. The UK is the real banker for us. That is where were gonna get massive growth, which we have had in the last two or three years. Co-op has already been huge for us and I think Morrisons can be too, he said. The Irish drink now has a 57pc market share for vitamin drinks in the UK, according to figures from Nielsen IQ. Indeed, the strong sales of the drink helped overall sales in the vitamin drink category grow by 20pc despite the delisting of a vitamin water by a big global rival. If we were to partner with someone it would not really be about the money Without Vit Hit, the category would actually be in decline, said Lavin. He said he has had a number of recent approaches from large brands interested in acquiring VIt Hit. I will always have a conversation but we are not interested. We are a profitable company, so if we were to partner with someone it would not really be about the money and would be more about strategy and getting those listings faster than we could ourselves. Lavin said the plan for the company was to grow turnover to 50m over the next three years. Until then we are closing the door on those kinds of conversations. Lavin, who is now based in Dubai, has appointed his brother Troy Lavin who is also a business lecturer in Trinity College as CEO. The move allows Lavin to focus on building the brand, he said. During 2023, the brand added listings in Asda, BP, Co-op, MFG and Morrisons on top of Sainsbury's, WHSmith, Boots, Spar and Shell Thats the part Im good at. I dont like the admin side of things. Lavin was initially wary of appointing his own brother to the top role because of how it might have been perceived. Troy came in as a consultant initially and he was just fantastic. It is amazing to have someone you can really trust to do a job. A lot of entrepreneurs are not good at getting out of their own way. But Troy is now the engine of the car and I drive and it works really well. Over the next year, the company will also focus on growing its presence in new markets such as Kuwait, Qatar, and across Scandinavia, having just launched in Norway. Launching in new markets always requires a lot of hard work, he said. You have got to plant the seed before a tree grows When we launched in Australia, for the first two years we actually lost money. But last year we sold over three million units. An accountant would have looked at it back then and said, you're losing money but I saw it as an investment and thats paid off. You have got to plant the seed before a tree grows. Renewables The farm could generate enough energy for over 8,000 homes. Photo: Getty images Renewable energy developer and operator Energia has received permission to develop a large solar farm in Co Meath that could generate enough energy for more than 8,000 homes. Solar Farmers Ltd, part of the Energia group, received permission from Meath County Council to develop the Glenamoy Solar Farm near Drogheda and Julianstown. The firm previously tried to gain permission for a larger solar farm on the site, which was ultimately rejected by both the council and An Bord Pleanala on appeal. In response to questions from the Sunday Independent, Energia said the application was submitted following extensive site surveys, and the proposed solar installation will connect to the local electricity network with an export capacity of up to 30MW MEC. Energia Group can confirm that Meath County Council has granted permission for the development of a solar PV installation in the townland of Ballymad, near Julianstown in Co Meath at the Glenamoy solar site. As an experienced developer and operator of renewable infrastructure across the island of Ireland, Energia Renewables will now review the decision to inform the next steps in the development process, engaging with all relevant stakeholders. Energia claimed in a community information sheet that the solar farm would be the equivalent of taking 2,400 cars off the road every year. It also said it would result in CO2 savings of around 12,000 tonnes annually. Energia has over 300MW of operational renewable energy projects in Ireland. Its website claims it supplies 21pc of the countrys wind energy. The company is investing 3bn in Irish renewable energy through its Positive Energy investment programme, including wind, hydrogen and others. Any Other Business A second Irish tech entrepreneur has lost his job over social-media posts about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Paul Biggar, a Dubliner now based in New York, has been dropped from the board of CircleCI, the software-developing company he founded. I Cant Sleep was the title of a blog Biggar posted on December 15, in which he claimed the tech industry was complicit in genocide in Gaza, and effectively called for a boycott of investors who whitewash genocide, citing the likes of Sequoia Capital. Jim Rose, ceo of CircleCI, responded by pointing out on social media that Paul does not speak on behalf of the San Francisco-based company, which he declared was committed to our customers in Israel and around the world. Soon afterwards, however, Rose posted: Effective December 22, Paul Biggar is no longer a director at CircleCI. We thank him for his contributions on the board and wish him the best for whats next. Enterprise Ireland TRA is at the RDS from April 15-18 This spring, itll be hard to miss the specially branded buses and Luas trams in Dublin. Theyll herald the 10th annual Transport Research Arena (TRA) conference, which takes place in the RDS from April 15 to 18. This isnt just any conference. The TRA is the European Unions flagship research and innovation event for mobility. Its held once every two years and is hosted by a different European city each time. It also attracts more than 4,000 attendees coming from international industry, academia and policymaking backgrounds. TRA acts as a forum where people come together to share insights and ideas for the transport mobility system in Europe, contributing towards the overall success of the European Green Deal the package of policy initiatives, which aims to set the EU on the path to a green transition. TRA is inviting startups and other early-stage firms to showcase innovative solutions TRA is a cant-miss event for firms or academics interested in mobility. Hosting this high-profile event cements Irelands position at the global forefront of mobility research and innovation. Organised by the Department of Transport, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, TRA will cover road, rail, aviation and maritime innovation while encompassing logistics, electromobility, connected and autonomous vehicles, sustainable fuels, battery technology, and other areas of interest. The European Commissioners for research, energy and transport will all attend the event, which includes a technology showcase and research conference. Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport Eamon Ryan will open it officially. Enterprise Ireland is a lead sponsor of the conference, which this year has the theme of Transport Transitions: advancing sustainable and inclusive mobility. Other sponsors include IDA Ireland, Irish Rail and global heavyweights such as Collins Aerospace, BMW and Valeo. The Government will have a pavilion at the event, as will Future Mobility Campus Ireland, the Shannon-based development centre and test bed for mobility technology. TRA is the EU's flagship event for mobility Along with a call for papers on relevant topics, TRA is also running a call for demonstrations, inviting startups, spin-offs and other early-stage firms who can showcase innovative solutions in line with any of the conferences key themes. These are safe and inclusive transport, sustainable mobility of people and goods, efficient and resilient systems, and collaborative digitalisation. Numerous leading Irish companies in the mobility sector are already slated to speak or showcase technology at the event, including Cubic Telecom and Klas Group. Ireland is known as a leader in mobility, with companies such as CitySwift, Xerotech, Plasma Bound, Taoglas, Ventac and Zeus all currently making waves in the export markets. A rich pipeline of research is critical to future innovations in mobility. Overall, an invaluable aspect of TRA will its role as a showcase for Horizon Europe- funded projects. It will include a brokerage event for companies and academics who wish to propose topics for potential Horizon Europe projects. Its also worth noting that, in conjunction with TRA, the EU road safety conference and the EU Connected and Automated Driving Conference will happen in Dublin at the same time. Bob Flynn is Enterprise Irelands national contact point for the Horizon Europe programme, covering climate, energy and mobility Ireland has been incredibly supportive of us and I want to give back in any way I can The Ukrainians looking to taste business success in Ireland History is awash with tales of migrant success. Four young Ukrainians who moved here tell us about their business journey Valentyn Martyniuk fled to Sligo from his home town of Kyiv. He had been a successful chef and featured on Ukraines version of 'MasterChef Professionals' Sean Pollock Sun 7 Jan 2024 at 03:30 Before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of his homeland, Valentyn Martyniuk was riding high in a culinary career in a vibrant Kyiv and had even featured on Ukraines version of MasterChef Professionals. Now, hes working in a small hotel in a remote part of Co Sligo, his life and career changed utterly by a war that erupted just under two years ago. 'The courage, the dignity and the strength Ashling's family has shown has been exemplary' - Chief Superintendent Tony Lonergan The father of Ashling Murphy has told how coping with grief following his daughters death continues to be very difficult and painful for the entire family. Friday will mark two years since Ashling was murdered by Jozef Puska at the age of 23 while she exercised along the Grand Canal Bank, at Cappincur, Tullamore. Of course, we will go to the canal [next Friday]... Its still painful, very painful for me and Kathleen, Cathal, Amy and Ryan, Raymond Murphy told the Sunday Times. What she did in her short 23 years had she lived, what would she have done in another 23 years? Mr Murphy said he visits his daughters grave every day as it makes him feel closer to her. The devastated father described Ashling, a primary school teacher at Durrow National School and musician, as our little angel. He recalled the time during the Covid-19 pandemic when his youngest child was at home with them. No matter what was organised, she was in the middle of it. She organised it, he said. Ashling came in and never left, she never left the house. She was with us really the whole time. She never got a chance to go to America on a J1 like Amy [her sister] did. She was hoping to go last year [that] would have been her summer. Ashling Murphy Mr Murphy spoke about the great impact his daughter had on the Tullamore community and how her murder affected the entire country. Everyone loved her. No matter where she went, he said. A number of Tullamore community members have paid tribute to Ashling ahead of the two-year anniversary of her death. Principal of Durrow National School, James Hogan, described her as a shining light and kind, caring young woman. [Her family] should be ever so proud of Ashling, of what she achieved and the strong legacy she has left behind, he told the same publication. Ashlings second-anniversary mass will take place at 7pm on Thursday in St Brigids Church, Mountbolus. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 7. Canadian consulting company Arton Capital has compiled a Global Passport Power Rank, Trend reports. According to the Global Passport Power Rank, Kazakhstan ranks 56th in the world, as well as first in Central Asia. Citizens of Kazakhstan can visit 42 countries visa-free, obtain visas upon arrival in another 48 countries, and require a pre-arranged visa for 108 countries. In the 2022 ranking, Kazakhstan also ranked 56th. Then Kazakhstanis could visit 41 countries visa-free and obtain visas upon arrival in another 50 countries. The UAE passport topped the ranking, allowing its citizens to visit 132 countries visa-free, obtain visas upon arrival in 48 countries, and require a pre-arranged visa for only 18 countries. Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands shared the second position. Their citizens need to obtain a visa in advance to visit 20 countries. Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg shared third place (mandatory visas are required for 21 countries). The ranking is based on the number of countries where passport holders can visit visa-free or obtain visas upon arrival. Adjudicator on nearly 170k sacked after failing to work for three years Niall OHanlon was employed to rule on disputes over lawyers bills, but refused to show up for hearings Dr O'Hanlon failed to substantiate a medical reason for his absence, an official report said Mark Tighe Sun 7 Jan 2024 at 03:30 The Government has dismissed a High Court costs adjudicator after he was found to have committed stated misbehaviour by failing to carry out his work for almost three years. The funeral details have been announced of John Holland, the Co Kilkenny man who drowned while on holiday with a friend in Australia. Mr Holland (63) was visiting his daughter who had recently moved to Melbourne when he got into difficulty while sea swimming on New Years Day. He will lie in repose at his home in The Square, Ballyragget from 2pm on Thursday, January 11 with Rosary at 7pm. The removal will take place on the morning of Friday, January 12 to St. Patrick's Church Ballyragget for funeral mass at 11am, followed by burial in St. Finnans Cemetery, Ballyragget. Speaking to Morning Ireland on RTE Radio One last week, the parish priest from Ballyragget Fr Eamonn OGorman said Mr Hollands death marked a great loss for his family and the local community in Kilkenny. Both his daughter and the paramedics at the scene tried to help Mr Holland, Fr OGorman said. "The paramedics tried to work on him for a good while and the result was that he had died which was very, very sad for the family and many, many friends and parishioners here and around the country. He really had lots of friends in many different places. "Deeply regretted by his heartbroken family, son John, daughters Emma and Kate, sister Mai, Johns fiancee Deirdre Phelan and Kates fiance Kevin Kelly, grandchildren Andy and Nell, mother-in-Law, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews , relatives and a wide circle of friends, a notice on RIP.ie reads. Predeceased by his loving wife Marie. May John Rest in Peace. Gardai are seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a 73-year-old man who is missing from Co Limerick. John McSweeney is missing from his home in Athea since Saturday afternoon. John is described as being approximately 5 foot 7 inches in height, slim build, bald and has a missing front tooth. When last seen John was wearing a black coat, a black peaked cap and wellington boots. Anyone with any information on Johns whereabouts is asked to contact Newcastle West Garda station on 069 20650, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. But Malcolm Noonan says Green Party still needs to guide its 10-year plan to completion Malcolm Noonan believes there is something very good about our democratic system that allows people give out to him in the supermarket. Lately, however, those approaching him in the grocery aisles are singing a different tune. They are coming up to me in supermarkets and saying, The stuff you were saying 20 years ago its coming to pass, the Green Party junior minister tells the Sunday Independent. He is speaking after a year of extreme weather events. Last year was the warmest year on record, yet Ireland also experienced the wettest ever July. This winter has seen towns and villages across the country hit by devastating floods, wrecking homes, destroying businesses and causing tens of millions of euro in damages. There is now, he believes, a lot more awareness of the need to do something, and he argues the Greens in government have made it virtually impossible for any future administration to row back on climate action policies. What weve been conscious of in Government over the past few years is ensuring what we do cant be unpicked, that it has to be seen through, he says. Mild-mannered Noonan was elected a TD for Carlow-Kilkenny in February 2020 after many years on Kilkenny County Council. Generally seen as loyal to Eamon Ryan, though he ran against him for the leadership in 2011, he was made a junior minister in summer 2020 and given responsibilities covering nature, heritage, and electoral reform. He is not given to creating headlines though in December 2020 he told this newspaper that the possibility of introducing water charges should be explored within the lifetime of this Government. He took flak for this at the time, internally and from the Greens coalition partners, though nothing major. But three years on his tune has changed markedly. Its not on the political table and I dont think it is for future governments either, he says. He argues now that, per capita, Ireland is not consuming any more water than other EU countries and that in any case, Uisce Eireann is fully funded with a substantial capital works programme. Perhaps the realities of Government have softened his edge, though Noonan still has strong views on other matters under his remit. He wants to cap the number of TDs at 160. Rather than draining the swamp as Donald Trump suggested in the US, Ireland needs to drain the parish pump and get TDs focused on national issues, he wrote in The Journal last August, ahead of the Electoral Commissions recommendation that the next Dail have 15 more TDs due to population growth. In tandem with fewer TDs, he wants local government empowered and plans to write to the commission asking it to consider the reinstatement of the town and borough councils that were abolished a decade ago. I think it was a very effective tier of local government, because of the focus on an urban area. Their restoration would also improve the chances of having more diversity among the countrys political classes, he argues and fewer middle-aged, balding men like myself". Elsewhere in his brief Noonan wants to plough more resources into the National Park and Wildlife Service. We need even more rangers, more ecologists, more scientific staff, more general operatives in our national parks. The funding trajectory needs to keep rising over the next decade. In the first quarter of next year he hopes to publish a new Biodiversity Action Plan to address the crisis of habitat loss that some estimate will leave 40pc of all species facing extinction by the end of the century. It will, he says, activate communities around managing invasive species, making sure that our urban areas are being greened, and that were using nature-based solutions to deal with flood risk in urban centres as well. In the mould of Ryan, Noonan sees himself as a consensus builder. He says he has a close working relationship with the IFA branch in Kilkenny, one of the biggest dairy areas in the country. We have rows. We have robust discussions and we have a lot of common ground. I dont see any reason why we cant find common ground with farmers who would like to work towards restoring nature, who would like to look at better conditions of their hedgerows, and would like to improve water quality. He is a huge fan of the schemes in place to encourage farmers to engage in more environmentally friendly practices. More broadly he argues the green agenda is one that can ultimately make peoples lives better. Much of it is actually improving peoples quality of life better public transport, better routes to school, a secure energy supply, and ensuring people can retrofit their homes and reduce energy bills. Who is against that? Whether or not this will benefit the Greens at election time remains an outstanding question. The polls do not bode well. But Noonan argues that Dail seat numbers should not determine whether or not the Greens return to government next time out. For us, its not really an issue. We are a policy-driven party and we need to be in government to deliver our agenda. What weve started on the climate and nature agenda in particular is a 10-year programme and we want to see this through. So its really up to other parties to try and match our ambition, Noonan says. How using some of Dublins parks could help to address the crisis in housing Businessman Paschal Taggart has proposed building housing for key workers on 10pc of the capitals parkland Paschal Taggart Fearghal O'Connor Sun 7 Jan 2024 at 03:30 Dramatic proposals to build housing for gardai, nurses and other key workers in the Phoenix Park and other popular green areas in the capital have been circulated to policy makers. Non-party politicians now level with Fianna Fail and just three points behind Fine Gael There has been a further surge in support for Independent TDs and prospective candidates as immigration becomes a major issue ahead of elections this year, according to the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll. Independents/others (17pc), up three points in a month, have now increased support by six points since the Dublin riots and are level with Fianna Fail (17pc), down two points, and just three points behind Fine Gael (20pc), down one. Support for Sinn Fein (30pc), up two points, has also increased as the twin issues of housing and immigration look set to dominate local, European and possibly general election campaigns this year. Dissatisfaction with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tanaiste Micheal Martin has also returned to the levels that existed before the riots, while satisfaction with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has marginally increased on the back of her renewed emphasis on housing and, to a lesser extent, immigration. However, it is the Independents who are gaining significant traction, primarily related to the immigration issue in recent weeks. The poll finds housing (53pc), up eight points, to be the stand-out issue, but immigration (25pc), up a point, is now level with the cost of living (26pc) as the publics priority issue. A comfortable majority (58pc) also believe asylum-seeker accommodation centres are not being distributed fairly across the country. In particular, 57pc say too many are being located in working-class areas, and 57pc say too many are in rural areas. In a week following a series of recent arson attacks on proposed centres for housing international protection applicants, a fifth (21pc) are relatively uncritical or at best ambivalent (10pc) about such attacks, although almost half (48pc) condemn arson attacks outright. Yesterday, Justice Minister Helen McEntee strongly condemned these criminal acts of arson. She said people needed to understand these are very serious crimes which carry heavy prison sentences and those who have carried them out will be brought to justice. Gardai were continually monitoring emerging threats, including monitoring social media activity and stepping up policing responses as necessary. In the immediate aftermath of the riots, concern about the rise of the far right almost matched immigration as an issue, but in the six weeks since has receded to 13pc, down six points, although it remains a top-five issue. Sinn Fein will be relieved to have halted its recent decline in support, which follows a series of high-profile interviews by leader Mary Lou McDonald which primarily focussed on housing and immigration. Sinn Feins desire to reduce the average cost of a home in Dublin from 430,000 to 300,000 has met with the approval of 69pc, but a significantly lesser 39pc actually believe such a fall is achievable. Nonetheless, a significant 63pc would welcome that fall, even if it meant the value of their own home declined. In general, 40pc believe the state of the country is good, while 23pc say it is neither good nor bad, and a significant 63pc believe Ireland is a good place to live compared with other western European countries. However, housing remains influential on voting intentions, particularly among younger voters, and now immigration has become embedded as a key issue, mostly to the benefit of Independent TDs and prospective election candidates. neither good nor bad, and a significant 63pc believe Ireland is a good place to live compared with other western European countries. However, housing remains strongly influential on voting intentions, particularly among younger voters, and now immigration has become embedded as a key issue for the public, mostly to the benefit of Independent TDs and prospective election candidates. More than 14,000 women in Ireland, Australia, and Sweden took part in feeding study Irish mothers have reported feeling more at ease breastfeeding in front of people they do not know than doing so near their own father-in-law. A new study has examined the comfort levels of more than 14,000 mothers in Ireland, Australia, and Sweden when breastfeeding their babies in public. Ireland has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world, but Sweden and Australia are among the nations with the highest rates. The research paper found twice as many mothers in Sweden and Australia regularly saw breastfeeding in public. A total of 24pc of the mothers in Sweden and 28pc of the mothers in Australia saw babies breastfed as a daily or weekly occurrence compared with 13pc of Irish mothers. Undoubtedly, when more mothers are breastfeeding in society it becomes more visible and seeing other women breastfeeding in public frequently can help to normalise it within society, Dr Louise Gallagher, one of the study authors, said. Our study is demonstrating that in countries where more women breastfeed, there is more exposure to breastfeeding. However, the comfort levels of Irish mothers when breastfeeding in public were on par or slightly above mothers from the two other nations. In all, 71pc of Irish mothers said they would breastfeed in public whenever their baby needed to be fed compared with 65pc in Australia and 69pc in Sweden. Despite global initiatives to increase breastfeeding rates, the study noted that breastfeeding was influenced by multiple, complex factors. Feelings of social embarrassment, shame, fear of judgement, and lack of confidence when breastfeeding in public, compound womens decisions to breastfeed and may result in formula feeding or early cessation of breastfeeding, the researchers said. Across all three countries, women scored feeding in front of their father-in-law lowest in terms of comfort levels, with Irish women reporting the lowest level of comfort in this category. Dr Gallagher, who is assistant professor in midwifery at Trinity College Dublin, said it was unclear why women felt more comfortable feeding in front of strangers than they did near their father-in-law. We also dont know if this discomfort is felt or shared by the father-in-law, but it is something that warrants further investigation. Irish women also reported being more comfortable feeding their baby in front of strangers than they did near their fathers, other relatives and male friends. Dr Gallagher said the findings suggested that breastfeeding should be a societal issue. The wider family and the general public require education so that women and infants can benefit from the short and long-term health benefits of breastfeeding, she said. Healthy Ireland, supported by multiple agencies, has been supporting the establishment of breastfeeding-friendly towns which underscores this important point. The number of babies breastfed by their mothers in Ireland in the first feed following birth is among the lowest on the planet at just 62pc. This compares to breastfeeding initiation rates of 94pc in Sweden and 95pc in Australia when an infant is born. By the time mothers are discharged from hospital [at] around day three, only 58pc of mothers report any breastfeeding, and just 36.8pc of infants are exclusively breastfed by the time they are going home from hospital, Dr Gallagher said. She also said small studies have shown the rate was likely to fall off even more substantially in the first two weeks after birth. By comparison, the rate of breastfeeding initiation in Sweden is 94pc and even in our nearest neighbour, Northern Ireland, which is the lowest in the United Kingdom, the rate of initiation is reported by the Public Health Agency as 72.9pc, Dr Gallagher said. It is important to note that while the figure for Ireland is still low it is steadily increasing year on year. The study was carried out among 10,906 mothers in Australia, 1,520 mothers in Sweden, and 1,821 mothers in Ireland. Women in all three countries reported breastfeeding in public most commonly whenever their babies needed feeding. Coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, and parks were named as the most popular locations while very few women never or rarely breastfed publicly. Although the study showed women breastfed most frequently in restaurants or cafes, the evidence suggested that some women were not in a financial position to use these spaces. In Ireland, 30pc of women reported breastfeeding in places of worship which was nearly twice as many as the 17pc of mothers in Australia. Two-thirds of Irish women (64pc) breastfed their babies at breastfeeding support groups compared with only 9pc of Swedish mothers. The authors noted that high levels of education among the mothers with more than 70pc having a degree may also have contributed to comfort levels while breastfeeding in public. Such high comfort levels may not be shared by women with fewer educational opportunities and lower socioeconomic backgrounds, who have been consistently found to have lower levels of initiation and duration than other mothers, the researchers said. The study, published in the BMC Public Health journal, was carried out at Trinity College and universities in Perth, Australia, and Lund, Sweden. An inmate serving a four-year sentence for assault has become a jailhouse rap-star after setting up his own TikTok behind bars An inmate serving a four-year sentence for assault has become a jailhouse rap-star after setting up his own TikTok behind bars. But although proving a hit with more than 700 followers, criminal MC Mikey Doyles videos have landed him in hot water with jail bosses. Doyle who in one of his videos rapped about organised crime, garda chases and life in Wheatfield Prison and in another is seen being led into court in handcuffs had his cell tossed and a phone confiscated over the videos. He was subsequently moved from Wheatfield Prison to Cork following the discovery of his online antics. The funny thing is hes actually really good at the rapping, a source told the Sunday World. He could maybe even make a career of it when he gets out of prison. Mikey Doyle in one of his TikTok videos And if he had been content to rap away for the other inmates in Wheatfield, no-one would have had a problem with it. But all the inmates know the rules around phones and social media. He was brazen about breaking the rules, if anything he seemed to get a kick out of it, and thats why he ended up getting his cell tossed. In one of his videos, Doyle, who is from Tipperary, introduces himself from his cell by saying: Michael Doyle, hit me up, Tipperary on Facebook Tipperarys finest most wanted. He then begins a rap that includes the lines: Organised crime, well be safe in the jeep, helicopters overhead, the dog units in the street. Switching up the car, then I burned out the jeep. Doyle was committed to prison in September of 2021 and is not due for release until 2025. He received a four-year sentence for assault at Clonmel Circuit Court. Contacted this week, the Irish Prison Service said it does comment on matters relating to individual inmates. However, the Sunday World understands that staff in both Wheatfield and Cork Prison are aware of Doyles social media pages. Despite this, Doyles TikTok page remains active. Two days ago, he posted a fresh rap with the hash tag #wheatfieldprison. In his new rap, he again urges people to contact him on Facebook before rapping: Handbrake drifting, blue lights glistening, if youre on my wheel, your bodies going missing. F**k all the guards and the drug squad division, the prosecution and the judge never took the time to listen. Put me back in cuffs, six years back in prison. The Shipwright pub and guesthouse which was destroyed in an arson attack last weekend. Picture; Gerry Mooney The arson attack on the former Shipwright pub in Dublin brought public attention to a building with a peculiar back story. The gutted bar and B&B is the latest property addition to a string of connected companies that have amassed a portfolio of multi-million euro government accommodation contracts. Sinn Fein has been forced to restate its party accounts after failing to account for more than 630,000 in deferred tax liabilities on its 2.5m property portfolio. Audit accounts released by the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) in the week before Christmas reveal Sinn Fein had to make a significant readjustment to party finances because it did not properly account for deferred taxes on the portfolio. Sinn Feins 2022 accounts include a note saying the party, whose treasurer is finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty, had to make an adjustment of 630,211 to fully comply with accountancy standards. Sinn Fein said this is a normal practice and highlighted Fine Gael had to make a similar adjustment in their 2018 audit accounts. The readjustment in Fine Gaels accounts, which also related to deferred tax liabilities, amounted to 175,940. Audited accounts are required to take into account on balance sheets the amount of capital gains tax that would be applied to the sale of properties owned by parties or companies. Sinn Fein included potential tax liabilities for the first time this year. Until the publication of the 2022 figures, the property portfolio was valued by responsible party officials. Three properties, including buildings in Northern Ireland, were valued by a professional valuer. Sinn Fein did not name the valuer who estimated the property portfolio to be worth 2,515,696 with a tax liability on the sale of the properties of 751,709. The properties are 44 and 58 Parnell Square in Dublin city centre, along with 51,53 and 55 Falls Road in Belfast. Sinn Fein says it operates as two separate entities on the Island of Ireland with its accounts filed with Sipo called 26 County Report and Financial Statements. It is unclear why properties they own in Northern Ireland are included. The accounts say the adjustment was necessary as accountancy regulations require that deferred tax be recognised on the timing difference arising on the revaluation of an asset. In previous years no deferred tax was recognised in this regard. The effect of this prior year adjustment has resulted in a deferred tax liability amounting to 630,211, it added. Regulations requiring the inclusion of deferred liabilities have been in place since 2015. Fine Gael restated their party accounts for 2017 to take into account deferred taxes related to their property on 51 Mount Street in Dublin 2. The party said it was restating the accounts as deferred taxes were not included in previous years. The party has continued to include deferred taxes in party accounts since the adjustment was made six years ago. Fine Gaels most recent accounts show their Mount Street property was valued at 2,548,503 by Cushman and Wakefield commercial partners of DTZ Sherry Fitzgerald. A senior Fine Gael figure contacted Sipo last year, noting Sinn Feins accounts did not take into account deferred taxes. A Sinn Fein spokesperson said Sipo did not request that the party change its 2021 accounts. Accordingly, Sinn Feins accounts are in order, they added. Sipo refused to comment. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 7. The International Finance Corporation will increase access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises in Kazakhstan, Ekaterina Benjamin, International Finance Corporation's (IFC) Country Officer for Kazakhstan, told Trend. As she pointed out, although playing an important role and accounting for approximately 27 percent of Kazakhstan's GDP, smaller businesses face considerable barriers to financing. "Difficulties such as insufficient documentation, unestablished credit histories, and issues with property titles as collateral impede their financial support. Furthermore, these enterprises have seen significant income disruptions as a result of the post-pandemic economic recession, which has been exacerbated by the geopolitical uncertainty caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This generates an urgent need for personalized care to help them recover and thrive," Ekaterina Benjamin explained. According to the country officer, as the economy works to recover from these setbacks, small firms urgently need access to finance for inventory investments, resuming operations, and adapting to the new post-crisis economic landscape. "To increase their access to finance, we work through local financial institutions to provide much-needed access to finance to millions of individuals and smaller enterprises that IFC would never be able to reach directly on its own. Through our collaboration with microfinance institutions, IFC is poised to ignite growth, foster job creation, and alleviate poverty in Kazakhstan, with a particular focus on underserved segments. Our outreach extends not only to women-led businesses but also encompasses rural-based businesses spread across various regions," she noted. By June 2023, the number of active SMEs in Kazakhstan climbed by 23.4 percent to around two million. The total number of individuals employed in this sector climbed by more than 18% to 4.1 million. As a result, SMEs employ around 40 percent of all workers in the economy. As a result, the economic contribution of SMEs increased from 33.3 percent to 36.5 percent. The volume of SMEs' production increased by 28 percent to approximately 59 trillion tenge (about $123 billion). Healthy relatives urged to stay away as Covid and flu surge A leading hospital consultant has appealed for mammies and girlfriends to stay at home rather than accompany loved-ones to emergency departments amid a surge in flu and Covid cases. Professor John Ryan, head of the A&E at St Vincents, said the Dublin hospital has more people presenting with influenza A than with Covid. He also said older people in particular were being admitted with Covid, mainly in conjunction with other illnesses, which is known as co-morbidity. Our doors are always open and of course we want anyone who needs to come to hospital to do so, but if you are a relatively able-bodied person in good health presenting with respiratory problems, please leave your mammies and girlfriends at home, he said. We do not need young and otherwise healthy people coming in with their wives or girlfriends to mop their brows while updating their Facebook profile at the same time. It is only leading to a further spread of influenza and Covid. The medic said any person with medical problems who needed assistance should attend hospital with a loved one, but people who were relatively well should say their goodbyes at the hospital entrance for the sake of wider society. He also said it was an issue that so many people presenting with respiratory problems at St Vincents were not wearing face masks. If you are coming to hospital coughing and spluttering, it is certainly advisable to wear a facemask to protect yourself and other people you will come into contact with, Prof Ryan said. We have people accompanying loved ones to hospital who just do not need to be here. They could be in the early stages of influenza themselves but have no symptoms yet, or else they could be picking things up in hospitals, and then going back out into the community and passing it on to vulnerable people. Some patients need to be accompanied to hospital, but many do not, especially at this time. This hospital is full: were at 110pc. Visiting restrictions are in place at Roscommon University Hospital, St Lukes General Hospital in Kilkenny and Portiuncula Hospital in Galway due to Covid-19, flu and other respiratory illnesses. One of the main issues at St Vincents is staff shortages due to these illnesses. There is a big issue with staff shortages right now because doctors and nurses are picking up influenza and Covid themselves, most likely in the workplace. Most of our staff in the emergency department are wearing facemasks now to try and protect themselves. It would help if patients coming in with these respiratory illnesses did too, Prof Ryan said. He stressed that hospitals were always open to all, and that some patients have pointed out that they have presented because they could not get a prompt GP appointment. Thats because the GP service is overrun at this time as well, so we understand. We have a lot of patients coming in with serious coughs and high temperatures. There are a lot of recriminations over not getting the flu vaccine, too. The medic said that although flu was probably the biggest issue at St Vincents now, Covid was still a problem, particularly among the elderly. People are still dying every week in Ireland with Covid, and is probably a catalyst for death in a lot of cases. Its serious cases now are generally affecting older people now, with co-morbidity, he said. There is lots of influenza across all age spans. We have teenagers coming in thinking they are dying. We have middle-aged people who cant cope. And then we have older people, who it is, in the main, causing the most serious problems for. The Stormont Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive should be abolished in the event of a united Ireland, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said. The Executive has not functioned in Northern Ireland since the resignation of then-DUP First Minister Paul Givan in February 2022 in protest at issues surrounding the NI Protocol. Subsequent negotiations and the publication of a new Brexit withdrawal agreement the Windsor Framework have failed to see government return to Belfast. Ms McDonald said any retention of the Stormont institutions in a united Ireland should be a temporary measure. "I can see arguments on both sides of the question, she told the Business Post. "For me in in the medium and long term, the premium needs to be placed on government being efficient and effective. So I do not believe that we simply should have duplication for the sake of it. "Could you envisage a transitional scenario where you would have the Stormont Assembly for a period of time? Maybe. Wed have to examine all of those questions. "What I want is a system of governance that is very connected with people, thats accessible, that is transparent for people, and that is efficient and delivers. Former DUP First Minister Paul Givan "We do not want to create more layers of bureaucracy, or more barriers to efficient decision making and delivery island wide. Ms McDonald also said the concept of cross-community consent should not be removed without substantial thought. The current arrangements mean that if either First or Deputy First Minister resign from their post, their counterpart is also automatically removed from theirs. It is the system that has allowed the DUP to effectively mothball the Assembly for almost two years and one which was used by Sinn Fein to do the same from 2017 until 2020 amid the fallout from the Renewable Heat Incentive financial crisis. "I think the conversation about reform has to happen. But we need to be mindful that the bedrocks of power sharing around parity of esteem and inclusion, that those foundations arent disturbed, said Ms McDonald. "The protections are in the system for a reason ... I think that inclusion is still a very necessary part of politics north of the border. I think its timely and I think its an important conversation. But we need to have the conversation with our eyes wide open, and not throw out the baby with the bathwater. "Because notwithstanding peoples frustrations and believe me I feel them and I share them, were more than 18 months now since the last election this is an agreement and a settlement that has served us well. In his play The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare tells the story of a merchant who borrows from a craven Jewish money-lender, Shylock, who demands a pound of flesh should the merchant forfeit. The merchant is a man who spits at Jews in the street, yet is considered the most honourable man in Italy. At the end of the play, which turns into a romantic comedy, Shylock is humiliated and forced to convert. David Quinn: Too soon for self-praise until Covid inquiry sits We will only get a well-rounded view of how we handled pandemic when we hear from those who lost livelihoods and their health due to restrictions Boris Johnson leaving Dorland House in London last month after giving evidence to the UK Covid inquiry. Photo: PA David Quinn Sun 7 Jan 2024 at 03:30 The Government does not want the upcoming inquiry into how the country dealt with Covid-19 to become a blame game. They might well be looking across the water to Britain where that is exactly what their inquiry has become. It is being played out in public and to general glee at the discomfort of various Tory politicians. Olympian Oscar Pistorius will be released from prison on parole Oscar Pistorius was sentenced on July 6, 2016 to six years in jail for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp The Indo Daily tracks the downfall of Oscar Pistorius, the South African athlete who was released from prison on parole this week where he was serving a sentence for murder. Nicknamed the Blade Runner, Pistorius was lauded for his sporting achievements the world over. But his world quickly fell apart when he shot and killed Reeva Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria on Valentine's Day 2013. His trials garnered global interest as the world-famous athlete was charged with murder. Journalist and author, John Carlin, has written a book about this and has also met with Pistorius, and he joins presenter Siobhan Maguire on this episode. This podcast was originally published on September 4th 2022. A Hollywood casting agent has claimed that Irish actors are securing some of the biggest roles in Hollywood because they have forgone the over-theatrical training adopted by British actors. Speaking to the Sunday Independent ahead of tonights Golden Globes, Ros Hubbard, the casting agent who discovered Colin Farrell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Sienna Miller and Orlando Bloom, said Irish actors have mastered the art of an unaffected screen presence. She was speaking as Irish stars Barry Keoghan, Cillian Murphy and Andrew Scott are nominated in the Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama category at the Golden Globes tonight for their performances in Saltburn, Oppenheimer and All Of Us Strangers respectively. Asked for the secret to the Irish success, Ms Hubbard said: I think everyone wants to portray feeling and character but our actors are not overburdened with too much poncey [pretentious or affected] training. Most of their work is through film. You are getting a genuine truthful delivery in their acting. I cant even think of one Irish actor who would irritate me. They are just natural-born actors and the difference between them and me is that they know how to bring it to the next level which is showing people what they mean. Absolutely bringing the script to life the way they do. Asked what she meant by poncey training Ms Hubbard said: Well for a long time people in the British Isles were over-trained, very theatrical, very put on and very unnatural. The Irish have a very natural way of putting scripts across to the audience. Thats what I mean. Ms Hubbard, who has worked with all three best actor nominees, said each one has a mercurial magic that makes them special. Magic. That is all I can tell you. I cant describe their talent. I know when they havent got it, I know when they have it but dont ask me to try to put that magic into words. I just know my gift from God is that I know a good actor. And I saw it in all three of those actors. She said Keoghan had managed to win over Hollywood in part due to his background. Barry is gifted with a very interesting personality and people are fascinated by his Dubliness really that is what started him. Even as a young teenager, Andrew used to take my breath away when he would come in and do a tiny audition for a little part in a film. I think I met him when he was about 13 and he was training as a kid actor then, she said. Commenting on Murphy she said: Cillian is magic. Top to bottom, perfect. I couldnt say his eyes are any better than his mouth or anything else, even the way he stands and holds himself is top level acting. He has every chance of winning the Best Actor award at the Oscars. Praising all three she said: None of them are affected. They are so pleasant and easy to deal with. They are dignified without being haughty. Paul Michael Glaser and Pierce Brosnan have paid tribute to the late David Soul (Yui Mok/PA) Pierce Brosnan and David Souls Starsky & Hutch co-star Paul Michael Glaser have paid tribute to the late actor, who has been remembered as a brother and friend. Soul, who was a dual US and UK citizen, was best known for starring as Detective Kenneth Hutch Hutchinson in the classic 1970s crime-solving TV series alongside Glaser as Detective Dave Starsky. Helen Snell said on Friday that her beloved husband died aged 80 after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family. Since then tributes have flooded in and James Bond star Brosnan, 70, recalled how he had become good friends with the actor while making TV mini series The Manions Of America. In an Instagram post on Saturday, he said: My heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends and colleagues of David Soul. I was a huge fan of American television, and Starsky and Hutch was one of my favourite shows. As a young actor just out of drama school in London 1976 with dreams of making movies, little did I know that my life was about to change when I was cast as Rory OManion in The Manions of America, an epic six-hour mini series for ABC about the Irish Potato famine. David and I became good friends while making The Manions of America. We had so many wonderful times working together and enjoying the Irish landscape and her people. David loved Ireland and Ireland loved him right back. God bless and rest in peace mon frere (my brother). American actor and director Glaser 80, called Soul a brother, a friend, a caring man. Speaking to US publication People, he said: I find it difficult to comprehend Davids passing. Seems only yesterday that we were sharing loving insults on the phone. It just takes time, I tell myself; saying goodbye to such a dear friend and important part of my life I suspect that I will let myself feel his loss, our loss, only gradually. I want to extend my condolences to dear Helen, whom he loved and cherished and who stood beside him through these difficult years, he added. He could never tell me enough what she meant to him. To all his sons and his daughter China, my deepest sympathies. Starsky & Hutch actor David Soul has died (Myung Jung Kim/PA) And to all of you, our supportive and caring public who recognised a very special relationship and never stopped telling us. Thank you. He went on: We have all lost a dear friend who shall live on in our memories. Other celebrities including Hollywood actor Ben Stiller and horror author Stephen King also paid tribute following his death. Born in Chicago on August 28 1943, Soul spent his childhood between South Dakota and post-Second World War Berlin. His father Dr Richard Solberg, a professor of history and political science and an ordained minister, moved them to Berlin where he was a religious affairs adviser to the US high commission. Starting out as a musician, he sang on The Merv Griffin Show and appeared in 1960s dolphin series Flipper. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content He acted in Star Trek, Here Come The Brides, Perry Mason and Johnny Got His Gun throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Soul got his break as officer John Davis in Clint Eastwoods police film, about Inspector Harold Callahan, which led to a part in Starsky & Hutch. At the height of his fame, he released the UK chart-toppers Dont Give Up On Us and Silver Lady, and the hits Going In With My Eyes Open and Lets Have A Quiet Night In. Soul was also in Miami Vice, Harrys Hong Kong, Homeward Bound and a TV series remake of Casablanca. In the 1990s, he made his debut on the West End stage in the award-winning play Blood Brothers while he was living in the UK. Soul also starred in the musical Jerry Springer The Opera as the infamous talk show host, taking over from Michael Brandon in 2004. Carrying on the tradition of vintage clothing shops in Temple Bar is Hannah OToole with her Collected Treasure store. Inspired by her mothers gra for pre-loved items, OTooles business bloomed from her online presence now she fuses old and new on TikTok New year but not so new clothing? Hannah OToole has been collecting vintage pieces from a young age, which is how she came to name her small but mighty store Collected Treasure on Anglesea Street in Dublins Temple Bar. Our house had a lot of antiques and my mum would always bring me charity shopping. When you found something you really loved, it felt like you were collecting treasure, she says. Charity shopping and browsing markets was our normal. We didnt shop on the High Street. You feel like youve achieved something by finding that piece, and you want to keep it in your wardrobe for longer because its like an accomplishment. Some of her treasures were acquired by slightly more nefarious means, however. My mum had this Vivienne Westwood body suit. When I was 15 it went missing out of her wardrobe and I still have it! Hannah O'Toole of Collected Treasure She decided to turn this hobby into her career. I had an online shop first. I had no intention of having a physical space until I did my first market in 2022. I realised I missed the interaction, says OToole, who had previously worked on the shop floor in a retail store and enjoyed speaking to customers. From that day, I changed my goal slightly and decided I wanted a brick-and-mortar. Its incredibly tough running a small business. Rent prices around the city centre are high but, thankfully, I love it so much Im willing to compromise. It sounds like a cliche but Im not just doing it for profit. Its something that I really love. Since opening Collected Treasure in 2022, OToole has hired a team of four for her store and its growing customer base. She makes sure to engage with her customers, whether its in person or online. Some of the vintage pieces available in the Collected Treasure store on Anglesea Street in Temple Bar, Dublin. TikTok performs really well, it has a much bigger reach [than other social media platforms]. I can post a video and the next day people will come in and tell us they saw us online! The personal touch extends to buying for the store. All of our stock is handpicked by me, I work with a couple of suppliers around Europe. Ive done the research to see what our customers like. As well as vintage garments, the store also carries pre-loved pieces from Rashhiiid an Irish luxury faux fur brand that has caught the attention of Doja Cat and Ariana Grande. These are pieces that would have been used for photoshoots or were lent out to influencers. They were in perfect condition but couldnt be sold for full price. We came to the idea of having them in the shop and selling them at a slightly lower price point. See collectedtreasure.ie Others risk being deported back into clutches of Taliban UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron admits hundreds of people are still awaiting resettlement to the UK more than two years after the Taliban takeover. Photo: Valdrin Xhemaj/PA Wire. Hundreds of people who have been promised sanctuary in the UK are still stuck in Afghanistan more than two years after the Taliban takeover, David Cameron has said. The UK foreign secretary told MPs in a letter that fewer than 700 people eligible to come to the UK under a scheme for vulnerable refugees are still in the Taliban-run country. There has also been one case of an Afghan, who had been granted UK relocation and was waiting in Pakistan, who was deported back to Afghanistan by the Pakistani authorities. A more targeted approach: Israeli defence minister outlines new phase in Gaza war Minister says after the war Hamas will no longer control GazaU.S. Secretary of State Blinken to begin Middle East visit A Palestinian child, who fled their home due to Israeli strikes, shelters in a tent camp, amid the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, January 6, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem Nidal al-Mughrabi and Arafat Barbakh Sun 7 Jan 2024 at 11:26 Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday outlined a new stage of Israel's war in Gaza: a more targeted approach in the north and further pursuit of Hamas leaders in the south while Israel seeks to free remaining hostages held by Hamas. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Istanbul, Turkey January 6, 2024. Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Turkish Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERSTurkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Istanbul, Turkey January 6, 2024. Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Turkish Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERSTurkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Istanbul, Turkey January 6, 2024. Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Turkish Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERSTurkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Istanbul, Turkey January 6, 2024. Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Turkish Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERSTurkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Istanbul, Turkey January 6, 2024. Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Turkish Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS Israel and Hezbollah trade fire across Lebanon border amid alarm over Gaza war spillover First response from Lebanon to killing of top Hamas commander in Beirut Gaza has become uninhabitable, says UN humanitarian chief Maayan Lubell, Maya Gebeily and Simon Lewis Sun 7 Jan 2024 at 03:30 Lebanons Iranian-backed Hezbollah group said yesterday it had fired rockets at Israel while Its arch-foe said it had struck a terrorist cell in retaliation, as top US and EU diplomats visited the region to seek ways to halt spillover from the war. Photo Courtesy: VinFast Instagram page Vietnamese EV manufacturer VinFast and the Tamil Nadu government in southern India have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to charge the development of green transportation in India. VinFast and the State Government will work toward a total investment of up to USD 2 billion, with an intended commitment of USD 500 million for the first phase of the Project, spanning five years from the commencement date. The company said the establishment of its integrated electric vehicle facility in Tamil Nadu is anticipated to generate approximately 3,000 - 3,500 employment opportunities locally. Situated in Thoothukudi, the VinFast said its Tamil Nadu project aims to evolve into a first-class electric vehicle production hub in the region, with an annual capacity of up to 150,000 units. Construction of the plant is anticipated to begin in 2024. Besides the economic benefits, the project will also pave the way for green transportation development, targeting 30% of newly registered private cars to be electric. Tran Mai Hoa, Deputy CEO of Sales and Marketing, VinFast Global said: The MoU demonstrates VinFast's strong commitment to the sustainable development and vision of a zero-emission transportation future. We believe that investing in Tamil Nadu will not only bring considerable economic benefits to both parties, but will also help accelerate the green energy transition in India and the region. Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa said: EV manufacturing companies are not only important economic drivers but also powerful accelerators to the States green vision. We are delighted that VinFast has chosen to invest in Tamil Nadu to establish its integrated EV facility. Possessing robust capabilities and unwavering commitment to a sustainable future, I believe that VinFast will emerge as a reliable economic partner and substantial contributor to Tamil Nadus long-term development. Photo courtesy: tatamotors.com Mumbai: The prices of Punch.ev have apparently leaked from Tatas booking portal, according to many buyers who booked Punch EV, a report said. Tata Motors unveiled its latest electric vehicle on Friday and opened the booking for Punch.ev or Tata Punch EV. Punch EV marks the debut of the company's acti.ev pure-electric platform, which will serve as the foundation for future products. While official prices are yet to be disclosed, several Punch EV buyers reported receiving a price quotation for their booked variant via email from Tata Motors, RushLane reported. A buyer (using the handle techgeeksid) who booked the Punch EV LR Adventure without a sunroof and with a 3.3 kW charger, received an email from Tata Motors quoting a price of Rs. 13,73,846 (ex-showroom), the report said. Another buyer (using the handle Hariraj_Rathod) booked the top-spec Punch EV LR Empowered Plus with a sunroof and a 3.3 kW charger through Shreeji Automart dealership, and received an email quotation from Tata Motors for Rs. 16,13,729 (ex-showroom), the report added. Our friend and team member @Hariraj_Rathod just booked Tata PunchEV Long Range Empowered+ with Sunroof (so top model with 3.3kW charger). Although Tata hasn't revealed the prices yet, he received a email showing Total price 16,13,729 !! pic.twitter.com/islvscc2jS Tesla Club India (@TeslaClubIN) January 5, 2024 However, Tata Motors has clarified that this was not supposed to happen and referred to it as a glitch. Technical hiccup alert! The prices making the rounds of Punch.ev are because of a system glitch. We're actively addressing it, and the official prices will be disclosed at launch. Thanks for your patience! #SystemFix #StayTuned, the company wrote on its X handle. Technical hiccup alert! The prices making the rounds of Punch.ev are because of a system glitch. We're actively addressing it, and the official prices will be disclosed at launch. Thanks for your patience! #SystemFix #StayTuned TATA.ev (@Tataev) January 6, 2024 However, the company did not clarify whether the prices quoted were incorrect or accurate. A similar set of events occurred during the launch of the Nexon facelift in September 2023, where the base model price was leaked as Rs. 7.39 lakh by the official Instagram handle tatanexonofficial. The company's official response at that time included the term "inaccurate." Subsequently, it was proven true as Nexon's prices started from Rs. 8.1 lakh. Given this history, it is reasonable to assume that the quoted prices received by Punch EV buyers might indeed be accurate, as the company did not outright deny these leaked prices but referred to it as a glitch. Photo Courtesy: Avishek Mitra/IBNS Kolkata/IBNS: 'Awake brain surgery,' which pushes the boundaries of innovation and precision in neurosurgery, is one of the most significant developments in the field, according to Dr Amitabha Chanda. Dr Chanda was speaking at the launch of his book 'Neurosurgeoner Diary' here on Friday. "Neurosurgeon Diary is not an autobiography but a collection of unique experiences from my career. Through this book, I want to share with my readers answers to the various queries and misconceptions they have regarding neurosurgery. I feel that these stories will increase courage and morale in many people," he said. Dr Chanda is considered a trailblazer in 'awake brain surgery' in Eastern India and Bangladesh. The procedure involves operating on brain tumours while patients are still conscious. The doctor said becoming a neurosurgeon wasn't easy, with numerous hurdles but now, seeing patients from South India and Mumbai coming to Kolkata for treatment, I believe I've made a positive impact. The book's narrative showcases how advancements in medical science have transformed once-incurable neurosurgical conditions into treatable cases. Internal Medicine and Rheumatology specialist Dr Prof Sukumar Mukherjee, who was present at the event, emphasised the collaborative efforts across various neuroscientific disciplines. "Not only neurosurgeons but also neurophysicians and neuropsychologists are to be credited for the person's recovery and wellbeing," said Dr Mukherjee. Shankar Mondal, the proprietor of Deep Prakashan, which published the book, described it as a beacon of hope, bridging the realms of medical practices and compassionate storytelling." Dr Chanda's book aims to shed light on the amazing advancements in neurosurgical techniques in a society where the words "brain tumour" and "spine surgery" frequently inspire fear and anxiety. The book attempts to close the knowledge gap between medical science and the general public by correcting common misconceptions and providing authentic, inspiring tales. Author Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay and actor Chiranjeet Chakrabarti were also present at the event. (Reporting by Ayush Gupta) Photo Courtesy: Samsung website As tech major Samsung Electronics gears up for its first Galaxy Unpacked of 2024, a global billboard campaign has been launched by the smartphone manufacturer. Since January 3, the digital display has gone live in major cities around the world, including Bangkok, Chengdu, London, Milan, Madrid, New York, Seoul, Stockholm, Warsaw and more. "The video shows a metallic cube slowly evolving into animated stars that represent Galaxy AI and the transformative experiences it will bring," read the company website. With this ampaign, Samsung is inviting viewers everywhere to be inspired by mobile innovation that will soon change the way users live, connect and create forever. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event will be launched January 17. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Police has successfully located all 26 girls who were reported missing from an illegally operated children's home in Bhopal, media reported. Two district Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) were suspended in relation to the incident, and notices were served to two others, reported India Today. According to the police, they found 10 girls in the Adampur Chawni area, 13 in the slums, two in Top Nagar, and one in Raisen. The news about missing girls came to light on Thursday when the National Commission for Protection Of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairman, Priyank Kanungo, conducted an unannounced visit to the Aanchal Girls' Hostel located in the Parwalia area on the outskirts of Bhopal. On inspecting the shelter home's register, Kanungo discovered that it contained entries for 68 girls, but 26 of them were missing. The girls belonged to states, such as Gujarat, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Kanungo said that a missionary overseeing the children's home had rescued some children from the streets and operated the shelter home without a valid license, the report said. He further noted that the rescued children were confined to the premises and compelled to follow Christian practices secretly. All the missing girls were living at the home without the approval of the Child Welfare Committee. Nonetheless, officials from the children's home claimed that the children had been rescued and were produced before the committee. Following the filing of the FIR, two Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), namely Brijendra Pratap Singh and Komal Upadhyay, were suspended on Saturday due to alleged negligence in the case. Show-cause notices were served to Sunil Solanki, an officer in the Women and Child Development Department, and Ramgopal Yadav, an assistant director at the department. Image tweeted by PM Modi from his Lakshadweep Island visit New Delhi/IBNS: 'Boycott Maldives' is trending on social media following a tweet by a Maldives minister days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's pictorial visit to the Lakshadweep, an Indian archipelago with white sandy beaches, coral reefs and turquoise waters that can rival the island nation witnessing a huge inflow of Indian tourists. PM Modi's visit to the country's smallest Union Territory comprising 36 islands with an area of 32 sqkm was seen as a move to promote tourism on the island. Soon after the visit, in his tweet, the Maldives minister accused India of competing with his country and said India faces significant challenges in beach tourism. Zahid Rameez, a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives Senate, said the idea of Lakshadweep competing with their country is delusional. The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall. https://t.co/AzWMkcxdcf Zahid Rameez (@xahidcreator) January 5, 2024 Sharing snippets from his visit, PM Modi posted images of him snorkelling in the Lakshadweep that went viral, prompting social media users in India to suggest the island Union Territory as an alternate tourist destination to the Maldives. In image: PM Modi snorkelling in Lakshadweep Islands/ coutesy: His X page The same came at a time when India-Maldives ties have been strained after President Mohamed Muizzu came to power. Muizzu took over as President in November 2023. In his election pledge, he said he would remove a small contingent of some 75 Indian military personnel in his island nation and change Maldives's "India first" policy. Muizzu, who is seen as a pro-China politician, took oath as the eighth President of the Maldives after defeating his India-friendly predecessor Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential run-off held in September. The new Maldives President met PM Modi in Dubai on the sidelines of the COP28 climate talks in December 2023. Both leaders had agreed to set up a core group to discuss the multidimensional relations and further deepen ties. The meeting also took place after Muizzu asked New Delhi to withdraw 77 Indian military personnel from the Maldives and decided to review more than 100 bilateral agreements between the two countries. The tweet by the Maldivian minister triggered a major row on social media with #BoycottMaldives trending. In a tweet, columnist Suhel Seth wrote: "My advice to some Maldivians. Support India and you will be invited to summits; lectures and festivals here. Support the Maldives Government and you will do diddly Jack! Pick your coconut wisely!" My advice to some Maldivians. Support India and you will be invited to summits; lectures and festivals here. Support the Maldives Government and you will do diddly Jack! Pick your coconut wisely! SUHEL SETH (@Suhelseth) January 7, 2024 Another columnist Sunanda Vashisht tweeted: "What is with folks from Maldives taking such umbrage to Prime Minister of India visiting his own territory and promoting his own country? No other country was named. PM @narendramodi routinely promotes beauty and diversity of all parts of India as part of Incredible India campaign. Maldives officials having a meltdown is ludicrous. Why worry about Indian travelers so much? China should be able to fill the gap for you?" What is with folks from Maldives taking such umbrage to Prime Minister of India visiting his own territory and promoting his own country? No other country was named. PM @narendramodi routinely promotes beauty and diversity of all parts of India as part of Incredible India Sunanda Vashisht (@sunandavashisht) January 6, 2024 An X user wrote: "When we have Lakshadweep, why to go to Maldives....I have decided to #BoycottMaldives Maldives Govt thinks Indians are not important....Let's show our importance by boycotting Maldives wholly....." When we have Lakshadweep, why to go to Maldives.... I have decided to #BoycottMaldives Maldives Govt thinks Indians are not important....Let's show our importance by boycotting Maldives wholly..... pic.twitter.com/jqGH3Cv7Kv Sanatan Dharm - Ek Hi Dharm (@SanatanHiDharm) January 4, 2024 Another wrote: "Full Maldives Govt advertisers pimps out in full flow begging to Bharat tourists, thinking we are nation full of ungrateful traitors they can lure without apologizing. Bharatwasis show them your #BoycottMaldives Nation of Jihadis rapists women molestors Govt protects." Full Maldives Govt advertisers pimps out in full flow begging to Bharat tourists, thinking we are nation full of ungrateful traitors they can lure without apologizing. Bharatwasis show them your #BoycottMaldives Nation of Jihadis rapists women molestors Govt protects. pic.twitter.com/IoW3JtcicC Shakti Kapoor #Ex-Secular #TeamSP (@ComedyVikas) January 7, 2024 As the controversy flared, former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed urged the incumbent government to take note of the matter, stressing India's importance for the island nation's wellbeing and security. He strongly criticized the disparaging remarks made by the Maldivian minister regarding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. Expressing dismay over the offensive language used by Minister Mariyam Shiuna, Nasheed wrote on X, ""What appalling language by Maldives Government official Mariyam Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for the Maldives security and prosperity. The Mohamed Muizzu government must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect government policy (sic)," the Maldives' first democratically-elected President, Nasheed, wrote on X. Photo Courtesy: twitter.com/MohamedNasheed Male: Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed strongly criticized the disparaging remarks made by a Maldivian minister regarding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi amidst a controversy ignited by the minister's ridicule of PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. Nasheed voiced dismay at the offensive language used by Minister Mariyam Shiuna and stressed that India is a crucial ally for the security and well-being of the Maldives. "What appalling language by Maldives Government official Mariyam Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for the Maldives security and prosperity. The Mohamed Muizzu government must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect government policy (sic)," the Maldives' first democratically-elected President, Nasheed, wrote on X. What appalling language by Maldives Government official @shiuna_m towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives security and prosperity. @MMuizzu gov must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy. Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) January 7, 2024 Mariyam Shiuna, the Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment in the Maldives, referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "clown" and "puppet" in posts on X, which have since been deleted. These tweets were removed following criticism and backlash on the micro-blogging site. Other Maldivian officials, including another minister named Zahid Rameez, also mocked Prime Minister Modi's visit to Lakshadweep after the photos garnered significant attention on social media as many drew comparisons between Modi's visit and the Maldives. Rameez responded to a tweet that claimed that PM Modi's move is a "big setback" for the Maldives and "will boost" tourism in Lakshadweep, saying, "The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall". These remarks drew sharp condemnations against the Maldives officials, with many people calling to "boycott the Maldives". The row erupted under the shadow of strained India-Maldives ties after President Mohamed Muizzu, who is seen as a pro-China politician, came to power. Muizzu assumed the presidency of the Maldives in November 2023. As part of his election promise, he committed to withdrawing a group of approximately 75 Indian military personnel from his country and revising the Maldives' longstanding "India first" policy. 'Boycott Maldives' is trending on social media following a tweet by a Maldives minister days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pictorial visit to the Lakshadweep archipelago. PM Modi's visit to the country's smallest Union Territory comprising 36 islands with an area of 32 sq km was seen as a move to promote tourism on the island. A file picture of Indian PM Narendra Modi meeting Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. Photo Courtesy: PIB The Maldivian government on Sunday suspended three ministers for their alleged derogatory remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi which triggered a row between the two nations. The three ministers were identified as Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid. "Those who made such posts on social media while in government positions have now been suspended from their jobs," read a statement issued by the country's government as quoted by NDTV. This comes in the wake of Maldivian Minister Mariyam Shiunas disparaging comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "clown" and "puppet" in posts on X, which have since been deleted. These tweets were removed following criticism and backlash on the micro-blogging site. Mohamed Nasheed reacts Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed strongly criticized the disparaging remarks made by a Maldivian minister regarding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi amidst a controversy ignited by the minister's ridicule of PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. Nasheed voiced dismay at the offensive language used by Minister Mariyam Shiuna and stressed that India is a crucial ally for the security and well-being of the Maldives. "What appalling language by Maldives Government official Mariyam Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for the Maldives security and prosperity. The Mohamed Muizzu government must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect government policy (sic)," the Maldives' first democratically-elected President, Nasheed, wrote on X. What appalling language by Maldives Government official @shiuna_m towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives security and prosperity. @MMuizzu gov must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy. Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) January 7, 2024 India-Maldives relationship The row erupted under the shadow of strained India-Maldives ties after President Mohamed Muizzu, who is seen as a pro-China politician, came to power. Muizzu assumed the presidency of the Maldives in November 2023. As part of his election promise, he committed to withdrawing a group of approximately 75 Indian military personnel from his country and revising the Maldives' longstanding "India first" policy. 'Boycott Maldives' is trending on social media following a tweet by a Maldives minister days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pictorial visit to the Lakshadweep archipelago. PM Modi's visit to the country's smallest Union Territory comprising 36 islands with an area of 32 sq km was seen as a move to promote tourism on the island. Photo Courtesy: PIB The Meitei Council of Moreh, a border town in Manipur, has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help the indigenous populace from "illegal immigrants". The council urged the Prime Minister to settle and rehabilitate all the people driven out of Moreh by the Kuki Militants and their supporters since 1991. In a memorandum to the PM, the Council said Moreh was established by the Meitei, Tangkhul, Tamil, Punjabi and Meitei Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) communities. The influx of Kukis occurred later, with a significant portion being deemed "illegal immigrants" from Burma (now Myanmar). Accusing the Kuki militants and their supporters of indulging in "ethnic cleansing" of the various communities from Moreh post 1991, the council said all individuals compelled to leave Moreh should be not only resettled but also rehabilitated in their rightful placeMoreh. Meitei and other communities fled Moreh following a crisis on May 3 last year. Pending the implementation of such resettlements, no Kuki family, including those currently residing in Moreh, should be permitted to continue to stay, the memorandum said. It called for restoring a harmonious and inclusive coexistence among the various communities that form the fabric of Moreh's rich heritage. The Council also submitted a detailed history of the Kabaw valley being a part of the erstwhile Manipur Kingdom, agreements between Manipur Kings and Burmese Kings, leasing out of Kabaw valley to Burma in 1834 by paying annual tax to the King of Manipur until the state's integration into India, as also the establishment of Moreh in 1888 by the Manipur King. The memorandum alleged that after the May 3 incident, the Kuki militants and their supporters attacked Meiteis, Tamils, Punjabis, Meitei Pangal, Biharis and Nepalis by burning down their homes, and driving them out of Moreh. The memorandum demanded action against the "illegal immigrants" who now control Moreh and the restoration of peace and tranquillity. (With UNI Inputs) Image credit: UNI Beirut/IBNS/UNI: Five Hezbollah fighters were killed in armed clashes with Israeli forces on Lebanon 's southern border on Saturday, according to Lebanese military sources. The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the clashes also wounded five civilians, including two paramedics from the Al Risala Association for Health Care and a displaced Syrian woman. They told Xinhua that the casualties resulted from 19 air strikes and heavy artillery shelling carried out by Israeli forces on dozens of Lebanese towns and villages mainly in the border area. Kouthariyeh al-Siyad, a village located 40 km away from the border, was among those targeted by Israeli airstrikes. Such strikes deeper inside Lebanon have been rare since the onset of the border conflict nearly three months ago. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said Saturday that its fighters fired 62 missiles to target an Israeli air traffic control facility in the area of Meron, which is considered the only air surveillance base in northern Israel. The Lebanese militant group noted that its attack is "an initial response" to the alleged Israeli killing of the Hamas deputy chief, Saleh al-Arouri, and other Hamas officials on Tuesday evening in Beirut's southern suburbs. Hezbollah added that it also targeted several Israeli sites, including Avivim, Al-Bayad, Al-Samaqa, Motella, and Miskav Am. Also, al-Fajr Forces, the military wing of the Islamic Group, a Lebanese Sunni political party, announced that it had attacked the Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona with missiles. The Lebanon-Israel border has been witnessing increased tension since Oct. 8, 2023, after Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attack on southern Israel the previous day, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. The border fighting has so far killed 207 people on the Lebanese side, including 152 Hezbollah members and 35 civilians, according to Lebanese security sources. In image Israeli soldiers during war with Hamas/ credit: UNI Jerusalem/IBNS: The Israel Defence Forces Saturday said it had "completed the dismantling" of Hamas's command structure in the northern Gaza Strip. "We have completed the dismantling of the Hamas military framework in the northern Gaza Strip," army spokesperson Daniel Hagari told reporters. He said that Palestinian members were now operating in the area only sporadically and "without commanders". "Now the focus is on dismantling Hamas in the centre of the Gaza Strip and the south of the Gaza Strip," he said and added that the task will take time. Israel vowed to crush Gaza's Hamas rulers after they launched the deadliest attack in the country's history on October 7. The surprise attack resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. The Hamas members also took around 250 hostages, 132 of whom remain in captivity, according to Israel. Israel responded by bombarding the territory and sending in ground forces, killing at least 22,722 people, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Flight disruptions occur globally following plane cancellations after mid-flight blowout over Oregon state. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Thousands of passengers across the globe are facing flight disruptions after major US airlines grounded dozens of Boeing jets following a mid-flight blowout over Oregon state. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the USA on Saturday ordered the temporary grounding of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft operated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory. The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. Safety will continue to drive our decision-making as we assist the NTSBs investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. FAA said the Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) requires operators to inspect affected aircraft before further flight. "The required inspections will take around four to eight hours per aircraft," the statement said. FAA said the EAD will affect approximately 171 aeroplanes worldwide. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is following the FAA approach, but flight disruptions on the continent are expected to be minimal, reported BBC. EASA said it believes no European airlines operate Max 9s with the configuration covered by the FAA order, the British media reported. British regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), meanwhile, said the impact on UK-operated aircraft and consumers is minimal. Following @FAANews' EAD, we can confirm there are no UK-registered 737 MAX 9 aircraft. The impact on UK operated aircraft and consumers is minimal. We have written to non-UK and foreign permit carriers to ask inspections have been undertaken prior to operation in UK airspace. https://t.co/LbCdsGoASo UK Civil Aviation Authority (@UK_CAA) January 6, 2024 "Following @FAANews' EAD, we can confirm there are no UK-registered 737 MAX 9 aircraft. The impact on UK-operated aircraft and consumers is minimal," UK Civil Aviation Authority posted on X. Oregon mid-flight blowout A passenger airline made an emergency landing in the US state of Oregon on Friday (January 5, 2023) after a section of its fuselage blew open mid-air. The Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 returned to Portland 35 minutes into its flight to California after an outer section, including a window, fell, reported BBC. The airline major said the aircraft landed safely back at Portland International Airport with 171 guests and 6 crew members. Photo Courtesy: UNICEF/Eyad El Baba Two journalists were killed and another journalist was injured on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike targeting their vehicle in the southern Gaza Strip, according to Hamas media office. In a statement, the office identified the two journalists as Hamza Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya, whose car was targeted by an Israeli bombing during their press coverage in Rafah in the far south of the Palestinian enclave. Hamza Al-Dahdouh was the eldest son of Al Jazeera correspondent Wael Al-Dahdouh, whose wife and a number of family members were killed in October in an Israeli bombing in the central Gaza Strip. The office condemned "the continuing crimes committed by the Israeli army against journalists, which were aimed at intimidating journalists and attempting to obscure the truth by preventing them from media coverage." The number of journalists killed in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has risen to 109, the statement said, calling on press unions to pressure Israel to stop its attacks against journalists. (With UNI inputs) Photo Courtesy: engin akyurt/Unsplash Dhaka: Bangladesh is all set for Sunday's general elections in which about 120 million voters are expected to cast their ballots at over 42,000 polling stations across the country. The Election Commission (EC) Saturday started handing over election materials, including ballot boxes and other materials, to designated election officers across the country. The voting will start at 8:00 a.m. local time on Sunday and will continue without a break until 4:00 p.m. local time. A senior EC official who did not like to be named told Xinhua that "all preparations have been completed for the 12th national parliamentary elections." He said all the polling officers and the security personnel deputed for the elections duty have reached the polling stations. In Dhaka, the commission arranged 15 distribution centers for 15 constituencies. Sabirul Islam, EC's divisional commissioner and returning officer, told journalists that the distribution of election materials has started from these centers. He said a total of 5,633,922 voters can cast their ballots for 126 candidates at 2,099 polling centers in Dhaka for the 15 parliamentary seats. According to officials, the commission is committed to ensuring free and fair elections for the people. For that purpose, they said sufficient law and order forces are being deployed on the polling day to ensure security. (UNI/Xinhua) Photo Courtesy: Unsplash At least four people, including two security personnel, were killed and three others wounded in a firing on a passenger bus and a car in Pakistan's Kurram region on Sunday, media reports said. According to District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Imran, armed assailants opened fire on the bus and car in the Sadda area which resulted in the deaths of four people, reported Geo News. The dead included two security personnel, a driver and a woman, Imam said. He said police have launched a manhunt to arrest those behind the incident. He said security has been beefed up in the area following the incident. "The armed attackers targeted two vehicles going from Parachinar to Peshawar," the DPO said. Pakistan witnessed a spike in terror-related incidents in 2023. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Chinese state-owned company Cosco, one of the world's largest container shipping companies, has decided to stop calling at Israeli ports for reasons yet unknown, Israeli financial newspaper Globes reported on Sunday. The company made the decision even though the Houthis are unlikely to attack its ships in the Red Sea because of economic and political ties between China and Iran, which supports the Yemeni rebel group, the report read. Cosco's decision will significantly affect trade between Israel and the Far East, the newspaper reported, adding that the Israeli shipping company ZIM, which works closely with COSCO, may face higher transportation costs as it will have to increase the number of ships operating on the Far East routes. After the armed conflict between Israel and Palestinian movement Hamas broke out in October last year, the Houthis have intensified their attacks on cargo ships they believe to be linked to Israel in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, vowing to continue the attacks until Israel ends its military actions in the Gaza Strip. The disruption to maritime trade routes led to the formation of a US-led maritime coalition to provide security for ships navigating through the region. (With UNI inputs) Image Credit: Facebook/Justin Trudeau Ottawa/IBNS: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced a minor setback during his recent visit to the Caribbean owing to an aircraft glitch that prompted the country's armed forces to send a second plane with a repair team to address the snag. This is the second such incident in recent memory, after the delay Trudeau faced during departure from India during the G20 Summit in September last year. This time Trudeau was on a way for a family holiday and found himself facing a similar predicament in Jamaica. "We can confirm two Royal Canadian Air Force CC-144 Challengers were in Jamaica supporting transport for the prime minister," a spokesperson for Canada's defence department said, as quoted by news agency Reuters. The issue occurred on Jan 2 and swift action was taken, with the second plane carrying a maintenance team arriving on the scene a day later to rectify the problem with the original aircraft. Despite the unexpected hiccup, Trudeau managed to adhere to his original travel schedule, returning on Jan 4 without further delays. Both planes involved in this incident were identified as CC-144 Challenger aircraft, relatively recent acquisitions by the Canadian Armed Forces. In September last year, his departure from Delhi after the G20 Summit was delayed due to an unspecified mechanical glitch. In 2019, amid his re-election campaign, a collision between a bus carrying journalists and an aircraft chartered by Trudeau's Liberal party created a chaotic scenario. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash As many as 700 people attended a forum hosted by Vedic Hindu Cultural Society of British Columbia on Saturday where they addressed the current law and order situation in the Lower Mainland, media reports said. The event was held amid growing concerns about an extortion racket targeting Surrey and Fraser Valley business owners. Speaking to attendees, Officer in Charge of the Surrey RCMP Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards pledged to stop the extortion problem, reported Global News. Edwards told the meeting that police still werent sure whether a string of shootings in recent weeks were linked to the extortion racket. He said police were further challenged by the fact that some people have paid the extortioners. The forum happened just over a week after Cultural Society president Satish Kumars son's house was targeted in a shooting incident last month. There has been lots of gunfire, drive-by shootings and extortion letters going to the community right now, Kumar told Global News Morning BC, ahead of the forum. With his OTT series Indian Police Force, which stars Sidharth Mahotra and Shilpa Shetty, Rohit Shetty is making a foray into the digital realm. While promoting the show, Rohit talked about not incorporating any sex or vulgar scenes in the show. Except for one or two episodes where it was necessary for the characters to speak that way, Rohit claimed that the Indian Police Force doesn't even have many swear words in a podcast with Bharti Singh and her husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa. Rohit/Instagram There are a few cuss words in a couple of episodes, that too because the characters are cops, thats why. Other than that, no sex, no vulgarity. Our Indian culture is different. We still have a lot of respect and we are known for that. Those who are making it are not doing anything wrong but mujhe apni core audience ko uncomfortable nahi karna hai. (I dont want to make my core audience uncomfortable), he said. He said, After Chennai Express, I was at the airport where a lady came to me and thanked me. She said Thank you very much. I have a two-and-a-half-year old daughter and there is a time in the day where I have to finish household work and that is the time when she wakes up. So, I put Chennai Express on. That is when I learnt this. Indian police force trailer He also went on to say, When we did OTT, we knew that we did not want any sex scenes or vulgarity. We didnt want to go overboard because censor is not there. I want Sooryavanshis audience to come and watch this show. That discomfort should not be there. The film was created by Shetty and directed by Shetty and Sushwanth Prakash. In addition to them, the ensemble cast features important roles from Lalit Parimoo, Vivek Oberoi, Shweta Tiwari, Nikitin Dheer, Rituraj Singh, Mukesh Rishi, and Shilpa Shetty. Indian Police Force will release on Prime Video on 19th January 2023. (To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the Lakshwadeep took social media by storm but, it is a Maldivian politician's snide remark that has taken the spotlight and has highlighted the souring relations between the two countries. Zahid Rameez, a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives Senate, posted on X: "The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall." But the Government of Maldives distanced itself from this remark, issuing a notice on January 7 saying: "The Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives...Moreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks." This tweet and the row triggered by it is only the latest controversy in a string of recent developments that have strained India-Maldives ties. Here's what is happening between India and Maldives. " India Out" campaign It all began on September 30 when Male Mayor Mohamed Muizzu became the new President of Maldives, with a majority of 54.05%, defeating then-president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Mohamed Muizzu, President of Maldives/ Getty Images Muizzu's election campaign included an "India Out" slogan against the outgoing President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's foreign policy of 'India First'. The "India Out" campaign of Maldives projects New Delhi as a hegemon that is a threat to Maldivian autonomy. Unlike his predecessor, Muizzu is viewed by many as close to China, since as mayor of Male he oversaw key Beijing infrastructure projects and had promised close ties with the Chinese Communist Party if he became President. Since his election thus, there has been a deliberate distancing from India with Muizzu expressing his desire to expel Indian troops from the country in order to safeguard Maldives' independence and sovereignty. His first visit as President was to Turkey, breaking with years-long tradition of India being the first country to be visited. His second visit, from Jan. 8 to 12, is set to be to China, as per reports. Maldives terminates hydrographic pact with India Unsplash In December, the Maldives government decided not to renew a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India for cooperation in hydrography. The agreement, signed in 2019 between the two countries, is to expire in 2024. The hydrographic survey pact was to help "map out water depth, the shape of the seafloor and coastline, the location of possible obstructions, and physical features of water bodies, to ensure the efficiency of maritime transportation. He said they are not renewing the agreement with India because Maldives has its own national hydrography agency but will seek support from 'external partners' if needed. India asked to withdraw military from Maldives In January 2024, President of the Maldives Mohamed Muizzu asked the Indian government to withdraw the military from the island nation to protect its democracy. If India did not withdraw its forces, it would amount to disregarding the "democratic will" of the Maldivian people and jeopardizing the future of the democracy, said Muizzu, according to a TOI report. At the same time, Muizzu stated. "India is one of our closest friends. We share traditional and cultural roots. That is a historical fact. The relationship between two countries is growing at an intensified rate in areas such as trade, commerce, investment, and tourism, as told to TOI. PTI So far India has not made much comment on the developments. Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "It is for them to decide where they go and how they go about their international relations. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. A huge fire broke out at Nagarhole National Park and Tiger Reserve in Karnataka on Wednesday. Soon after the fire was reported from the protected area, fire department personnel were pressed into action to extinguish the blaze. We have not yet ascertained the cause of the fire, but it is usually man-made. The fire occurred around the edge of the forest from where the safari track starts. We have fire brigades stationed near the forest which were pressed into action. The fire was contained immediately, Sanjai Mohan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Karnataka told News18. Massive plumes of smoke hinder visibility Locals could see huge plumes of smoke as the raging fire hindered visibility. Some locals even tried to douse the flames using palm leaves. Forest fire at #kabini Hope it is contained soon -WA pic.twitter.com/G3rAbW0Xj1 Kvstr (@BipBopBuu) March 3, 2021 However, the speed of the wind caused the blaze to spread far and fast. Forest officials said that close to 25 to 30 acres of forest area is believed to have been damaged in the fire. Twitter On the other hand, Odisha's Similipal National Park has been burning for over a week now, while the Odisha government cliamed that there has been no loss of life. However, it was not clear from a statement issued by the Chief Ministers Office what the authorities meant "no loss of life" of humans or animals. In a move that could benefit India and other countries in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, New Delhi will manufacture Johnson & Johnsons single-dose coronavirus vaccine as part of the initiative of the Quad group of countries. According to The Times of India, the project will be financed by Japan and US, while Australia will use its logistics capability to ship the vaccines to Southeast Asia and Pacific countries. Reuters What is QUAD summit? The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is an informal strategic forum between the United States, Japan, India and Australia that is maintained by semi-regular summits, information exchanges and military drills between member countries. The development came in the first Quad summit between Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Yoshihide Suga and Scott Morrison. The report further added that this only the first of the vaccines and more will be added to this initiative. This comes as the vaccine, the first single-shot COVID-19 vaccine so far has been getting clearance for use around the world. The European Union on Thursday authorised the use of the vaccine after the bloc's medical regulator gave its approval. REUTERS "More safe and effective vaccines are coming to the market," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a tweet. EU's medicines regulator has approved the single-shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine. More safe and effective vaccines are coming to the market. We have just authorised the use of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine in the EU, following @EMA_News' positive review. With the number of doses we ordered, we could vaccinate up to 200 million people in the EU. pic.twitter.com/YsrcfF9ZE8 Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 11, 2021 "We have just authorised the use of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine in the EU.... With the number of doses we ordered, we could vaccinate up to 200 million people in the EU" with the J&J jab this year, she said. US was the first to approve the use of the vaccine in the country. AFP Earlier this month the US government had brokered a deal between Johnson & Johnson and Merck, a leading vaccine maker, who failed in its efforts to make its own vaccines to use the latter's manufacturing facility. A Maldives politician, Zahid Rameez, who is a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives Senate, made a controversial statement regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. "How can they be so clean?" In a tweet, he mocked the beaches of Lakshadweep Island and questioned whether the services provided by the Union Territory of India can match those offered by the Maldives. Reflecting his prejudiced mindset toward Indians, he wrote, The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall." The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall. https://t.co/AzWMkcxdcf Zahid Rameez (@xahidcreator) January 5, 2024 The tweet came after PM Modi's posts on X (formerly Twitter) about snorkelling in the Lakshadweep went viral, prompting social media users in India to suggest the island Union Territory as an alternate tourist destination to the Maldives. In his another post on X, Zahid Rameez criticised India for copying a small economy like Sri Lanka," without giving any context of mentioning another nation. Garnered sharp response on the internet His remark has garnered sharp response from Indian social media users. Many even called for a boycott of the island nation. Don't underestimate it. They have the main product. They just need time to refine. Be careful. Sharif (@MohamedSharif) January 5, 2024 This member of parliament of Maldives is telling that rooms in Lakshadeep are smelly because over 90% population of Lakshadeep are Muslims Take your communal bigotry somewhere else Mr Hater Bharat (@Bharath12450842) January 6, 2024 There is a saying , a frog in well thought , Well is unverse , cone out of your self praising time , and see the beauty of India in India , India is capable of achieving anything now. Including the cleanliness Level of hospitality Indian hotels offer is unmatched worldwide , the Sandiiip (@IndiaUnleashed_) January 6, 2024 Delusion, bigotry and rank racism, all in one tweet. Rohit Zutshi (@zurohit) January 6, 2024 PM Modi's visit to the country's smallest Union Territory comprising 36 islands with an area of 32 sqkm was seen a move to promote tourism on the island. PM Modi also laid the foundation for various projects worth 1,150 crore in the Union Territory. The development projects cover technology, energy, water resources, healthcare and education sectors. The projects were launched at a function attended by hundreds of islanders including women and children whom Modi referred to as his "kudumbangangal" (family members) in Malayalam. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. In a contemporary twist of digital sleuthing, Nikhil Jain, a social media marketing professional hailing from Mumbai, harnessed the power of the online community to recover his misplaced AirPods during a vacation in Kerala. Unsplash Jain's steadfast trust in social media proved justified as, within a day, a group of vigilant individuals on X (formerly Twitter) collaborated to trace the AirPods' new owner and successfully reclaim the pricey earphones. With the help of internet and in just a day, Jain managed to track down the person who took the expensive gadget to his house in Goa and convinced him to give them back. Now, two weeks later, he finally managed to collect his device from a Goan police station. How did he lose them? The adventure unfolded when Jain misplaced his AirPods on a bus within a national park in Kerala. Due to the issue of poor signal reception in the park, he had to exit the area to trace the device. Upon locating it, the AirPods were already on the move, eventually reaching another national park approximately 40 kilometers away. Undaunted, Jain persisted in tracking the device's journey through Mangalore to Goa, forming the suspicion that the individual in possession of the AirPods hailed from Goa. "The incident happened inside a national park in Kerala, I left my Airpod in a bus there. I waited for the bus to come back and realised that someone took them. There was no signal inside, so I had to leave the area to track the device. And when I finally did, it was already on the move, and was in another national park about 40km from where I was. But the next day I could track it to a hotel nearby," Jain told news agency PTI. He shared his story on X On December 21, 2023, Jain took to X, sharing his story along with location coordinates and a plea for help. His post read, I recently lost my new AirPods in Kerala, and this person is traveling with it. The person is in south Goa since 2 days, so Im guessing they live there. Does anyone here live around Dr. Alvaro de Loyola Furtado road in south Goa? RT for reach, etc." i recently lost my new airpods in kerala and this bitch ass person is travelling with it. the person is in south goa rn since 2 days, so im guessing they live there. does anyone here live around dr. alvaro de loyola furtado road, salcete, south goa? rt for reach, etc. pic.twitter.com/ltJyoF0fNZ Nikhil (@niquotein) December 21, 2023 The digital sleuths of X sprang into action. Within minutes, a user with the handle @ItsMeAshwin12 posted a picture of the house with the help of Google Street Map, urging the Twitter community to take action. While technical discussions on tracking AirPods filled the conversation, the post eventually reached someone close enough to the target a neighbor's relative named Edward Mascarenhas (@Kooledd). On December 22, 2023, he revealed, My relatives stay exactly there, and I sent them the deets. They mentioned their neighbors did go to Kerala recently." After some coordination, the AirPods were located at Margoa police station in Goa by the evening of December 22. Jain, thrilled with the progress, contacted the police station to confirm the device's presence. To add a heartwarming touch to the story, Jain decided to wait for his friend and former colleague, Sanket (@iamsexified), who volunteered to collect the device personally as he was heading to Goa in a few days. Finally, he found the AirPods Finally, Jain shared a triumphant post on X, featuring a picture of Sanket holding the recovered AirPods, expressing gratitude to everyone involved in the retrieval process. Jain wrote, "CAN U BELIEVE!!? thank u to angel sanket, goa police, kerala police, twitter, find my feature, twitter and everyone who replied to this tweet! what a beautiful story. what a community-like feeling. world is so big and yet small (sic)." The feel-good tale did not go unnoticed, amassing 1.2 million views. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. A vicious attack on an Asian American woman as she walked to church near New York Citys Times Square is drawing widespread condemnation and raising alarms about the failure of bystanders to intervene amid a rash of anti-Asian violence across the U.S. AP What happened? A 65-year-old Filipino immigrant was walking down a street near Times Square when a man, in broad daylight, suddenly kicked her in the stomach. She crumpled to the sidewalk. He kicked her once in the head. Then again. And again. The lone assailant yelled an obscenity at her, according to a police official, and then said, You dont belong here." AP What does the video show? The woman was repeatedly kicked outside a luxury New York City apartment building as staff members appeared to watch without coming to her aid, according to surveillance video of the incident. The New York Police Department's Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating the assault, and the staff members who witnessed it have been suspended, officials said. Video appeared to show that as the assault continued, at least three people in the lobby of the apartment stood by and watched. One of them closed the door as the assailant walked away and left the woman on the ground, the video showed. AP What has the police said? The attack unfolded about 11:40 a.m. Monday in the 300 block of West 43rd Street, which is in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, police said. Police released video that captured the man kicking the victim in her stomach, causing her to fall to the ground. The man then stomped the woman's head multiple times while making anti-Asian statements, police said. AP "The victim sustained a serious physical injury and was removed by EMS to NYU Langone Hospital," police said in a statement. She was discharged Tuesday. Police released photos of the man, who remains at large. Police hope someone can help them identify him. AP Help identify the below individual wanted in connection to an assault. On Monday, March 29th at 11:40 AM, at 360 West 43rd St, a female, 65, was approached by an unidentified male who punched and kicked her about the body and made anti-Asian statements. Info?1-800-577-TIPS. pic.twitter.com/LkwfYhMCLr NYPD Hate Crimes (@NYPDHateCrimes) March 29, 2021 What has the administration said? New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the video of the attack absolutely disgusting and outrageous and said it was absolutely unacceptable that witnesses did not intervene. I dont care who you are, I dont care what you do, youve got to help your fellow New Yorker, de Blasio said Tuesday at his daily news briefing. If you see someone being attacked, do whatever you can, he said. Make noise. Call out whats happening. Go and try and help. Immediately call for help. Call 911. This is something where we all have to be part of the solution. We cant just stand back and watch a heinous act happening. AP Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang, the son of Taiwanese immigrants, said the victim could easily have been my mother. He too criticized the bystanders, saying their inaction was exactly the opposite of what we need here in New York City. Officials decried the attack, which City Council Speaker Corey Johnson described on Twitter as "absolutely vile." This is absolutely vile. These attacks against Asian-American New Yorkers must end. Hate has no place here and we must always call it out when we see it. My office is reaching out to the precinct and will do anything we can to be of assistance. https://t.co/8cBOniIORC NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson (@NYCSpeakerCoJo) March 30, 2021 Many more officials took to the social media platform to condemn the attack, calling for a strict action. This is absolutely disgusting. Asian Americans belong in New York and are an integral part of our city. We have to continue to speak out, we have to continue to protect our AAPI neighbors, and we have to act immediately to #StopAsianHate. https://t.co/118VqLkq9b Scott Stringer (@scottmstringer) March 30, 2021 Weve gone from being invisible to being seen as sub-human. We just want to be seen as American like everyone else. https://t.co/hcLovVbrOH Grace Meng (@Grace4NY) March 30, 2021 The attack comes amid a national spike in anti-Asian hate crimes, and happened just weeks after a mass shooting in Atlanta that left eight people dead, six of them women of Asian descent. The surge in violence has been linked in part to misplaced blame for the coronavirus and former President Donald Trumps use of racially charged terms like Chinese virus. After a series of Christmas parties, family reunions, and New Year's Eve revelries, many of us can't bear the prospect of drinking in January. But committing to 'Dry January' is also a frightening concept as you'll have to skip the pub with your friends, opt for water over wine, and refrain from partying for four long weeks. However, one astute woman has devised a 'one week, no booze strategy' that she will follow for the following 365 days - and, while it is longer, it appears to be easier and simpler than abstaining from alcohol for just one month. Who shared the 'one week, no booze' hack? TikTok Screengrab Bridget Stangland of Nashville, Tennessee (U.S.), posted a TikTok video describing her alternative to Dry January, which provides individuals a whole year to work with instead of just 31 days. As a lot of individuals fall off the sobriety challenge towards the end of the month or simply return to their habits on 1 February, she feels this could be a less complicated strategy which also boasts 'greater results'. What is this unique concept? The 31-year-old explained the concept to her followers: "The one week no booze method is taking one week off of alcohol each month, and at the end of the year, it results in three months of no drinking." Canva "For those who want to go a little bit bigger, you can do two weeks each month and at the end of the year it results in six months of no drinking," Bridget said on social media. "That's half the year - big, big results. I started this because I realized that as I got older, there were still so many occasions where alcohol was involved, and I realized that having it all the time didn't serve me. I enjoy taking breaks because I feel great, I don't have brain fog, I sleep well, and my skin looks better. So I figured, why not make a minor modification that has such a big impact?" TikTok Screengrab How can this method help? Bridget claims that her 'one week, no booze' strategy has helped individuals sleep better, save money, and lose weight. "It's the best method, and I enjoy sharing it." "It's a fun challenge," she adds. What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. A woman from the Philippines whose Schengen visa application was first denied later received the visa after convincing authorities that she would depart the Schengen region to catch Taylor Swift's March concert in Singapore. Who was the woman who got the Schengen visa because of her Taylor Swift concert ticket? The unidentified woman described the experience on Reddit, saying, "I just wanna share that I got denied in my first attempt. They said they don't anticipate I'll exit the Schengen area before my visa expires. So when I reapplied, I stated that I would be leaving to see Taylor Swift's concert in Singapore and attached the mail confirmation." When did she receive her visa? She later provided an update in which she stated that she received an email stating that her visa had been approved in just three business days after mentioning the Taylor Swift performance. Canva "On December 21, I filed (the application). The processing days are December 22, 27, and 28. I was summoned to the embassy on January 4th in order to sign a document. I mistook it for a letter of denial. However, it was a letter instructing me to return to the embassy 10 days after my visa expired. Mother Taylor worked her magic!" she exclaimed. As a matter of fact, her visa was approved for not just a week but 25 days. How did the internet react? A screenshot of the Reddit post that was shared on X has gone viral. More than 23,000 people liked the post. "This is amazing," one X user said, while another wrote, "We were working and living in India and gave all reasons yet got rejected twice." Another added, "In the case of my wife, we said she will go back to India because she wants to come back to Germany later, long-term. The long-term visa can only be applied for from India. It worked." The following X post talking about the original post on Reddit also went viral: A girl from Reddit got her Schengen Visa rejected On the second go, she needed more strong reasons to prove that she will leave the visiting country after trip is done So she added a copy of Taylor Swift show tix happening in her home country & visa actually got approved Samarth (@iamstake) January 6, 2024 What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, January 7. Turkmenistan and the Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) energy company have signed a deal to supply 1.8 billion kilowatt-hours in 2024, Trend reports. The contract was signed during the visit of DABS CEO Muhammad Hanif Hamza to Turkmenistan, who met with the Minister of Energy of Turkmenistan Annageldi Saparov and the management of Turkmenistan's Turkmenenergo State Electric Power Corporation. The deal provides for the supply of Turkmen electricity through four lines: Andkhoy, Akina, Badgis, and Turgundi-Herat. During the meetings in Ashgabat, Muhammad Hanif Hamza confirmed that Afghanistan is committed to completing the construction of a 500 kW transmission line between Shebergan and Argandi, which will increase electricity imports from Turkmenistan. Meanwhile, in recent years, Turkmenistan has been actively developing the electricity generation sector, focusing efforts on increasing capacity and diversifying sources. This active focus on the development of electricity production allows Turkmenistan not only to meet its own energy needs but also to establish promising contracts for the supply of electricity abroad, also contributing to the strengthening of economic relations with neighboring countries. The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a fake doctor, Igwe Gift Okechukwu, over criminal conspiracy, organ trafficking, cybercrime, stealing and identity theft. The arrest was made in Nasarawa State by operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department following the suspects fraudulent activities in Owerri, Imo State. The suspect, parading himself as Henry Ovie, a neurologist newly transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, tricked a Point of Sale (PoS) operator, Anita Chinwe Mathias, into entering a code on her PoS machine. As a result, the entire sum of N21,000,000 was withdrawn from her account, leading to a police report. Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed the details of the arrest during a press conference in Abuja at the weekend. He outlined the suspects modus operandi, where he built trust with the victim, sent a significant amount to her account, and later tricked her into entering a code that facilitated the fraudulent withdrawal. According to Adejobi, the complainant, narrated that the suspect used multiple identities and phone numbers, posing as Igwe Richard and Ovie Henry. READ ALSO: Why We Married Our Four-Year-Old Child To 54-Year-Old Man Parents She proceeded to state that on September 11, 2023, the suspect tricked her into entering a code on her PoS machine, which she did due to the trust she had for him. After the suspect left her place, she noticed that all the money in her POS account was withdrawn, which amounted to the sum of twenty million naira (N21,000,000), and all efforts to reach out to the suspect proved abortive. She also went to the Federal Medical Centre, where the suspect claimed to be working, to ask about him and she was told that none of their doctors bears such a name. Immediately, she reported the case to the Force Criminal Investigation Department Abuja, where intelligent officers swung into action to arrest the suspect, the statement read. Investigations revealed that the fake doctor had changed his phone number and relocated from Owerri to Lafia, Nasarawa State, where he was subsequently tracked and arrested. It was further uncovered that the suspect is involved in organ trafficking, with links to a contact in Toronto, Canada. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, reiterated the commitment of the force to combating crimes and ensuring the safety and security of communities. The IGP assured Nigerians that an extensive investigation is ongoing, and all perpetrators involved in this heinous act will be brought to justice and charged accordingly. The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has warned that without immediate action to end the long-standing violence claiming lives in the state, Nigeria could find itself in a situation like Somalia. Recall that that over 100 people in Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas was reportedly killed by some yet to be identified gunmen on Christmas Eve. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the governor urged leaders to join forces in addressing the root causes and proposing effective solutions. Governor Mutfwang, made this known on Saturday, in his message, during a discussion with the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, in Jos. READ MORE: Assailants Attack, Kill 14 Villagers On Christmas Eve In Plateau He said: It is unfortunate that this cycle has continued for years. We are praying that, as a nation, we will get it right so that we toe the path of justice and dont allow people to slip into self-help because once we allow the people to go into self-help, we will become another Somalia. I think I can, with all boldness, say that I see a desire for a shift with the current president. I see a desire to change the narratives, rewrite the story and get things right. I have interacted with him a couple of times, and I think he carries a burden to end this violence. What we need is a mass of critical leaders to rally round him to be able to expand his scope so that he understands the root and immediate causes of these problems and to proffer solutions. There is an economy that has been built around this insecurity. We need to know who the financiers are and who paid for the hundreds of AK-47 rifles. Where did they get them from? The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Osun State Command has revealed its operatives arrested 252 illicit drug suspects in the year 2023. Chidi Nnadi, the NDLEA State commander, in a Saturday statement, said the suspects comprised 214 males and 38 females. He said the command secured conviction of 57 suspects whose sentencing ranged from three months to five years imprisonment, adding that 47 cases are pending in court. The Command, he furthered, seized illicit drugs weighing 1,909.69kg during the period. READ ALSO: Borno Youths Take Fermented Human Urine, Camel Excretion, Lizard Dung, Mentholated Spirit In Soft Drinks To Get High NDLEA Within same period, the drug supply reduction efforts led to the discovery and destruction of 9.5 hectares of cannabis farms (23.759 tonnes of cannabis sativa) at Ifedayo and Oriade local government areas. The agency had a brief counselling intervention in 79 People Who Use Drug (PWUD) and embarked on awareness/sensitisation programmes in religious houses, schools, motor parks, markets and workplaces, he said. Similarly, on Friday, the NDLEA Kaduna State Command, said its operatives seized 13,623.204kgs of illicit substances and arrested 1,005 suspects in 2023. Samaila Danmalam, the NDLEA Kaduna commander, said the suspects consist 965 males and 40 females. He added that convictions have been secured for some of those arrested. Shan George, a veteran Nollywood actress, has endorsed celebrity aide Israel DMW assertion, after he warned men to shun his ex-wife, Sheila Courage. Recall that Isreal encouraged men to avoid having affairs with married women, particularly those from Edo State, and to avoid his ex-wife Sheila. In response, Shan George stated that everything she has seen since Israel DMW and Sheilas separation is that he truly loves or adored her. She also acknowledged Israels advice about avoiding Edo married ladies is correct. She Composed: All I can see is that he really loved/loves her. And what hes saying about touching an Edo married woman is very true. READ MORE: Years After Marriage, Regina Daniels Formally Adopts Husbands Surname Netizens disagreed with the actress assertion, See some reactions below mheenarh__: Even if he loves her is this the best way to go about it? The more he brings it to social media and involves her family, the messier it gets. xom_mie: If this is how love works, I dont want it kelvin_kertz: Lol. This is not looking like love, its looking like someone whos regretting how much he has spent on her. SEE POST: Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged Betta Edu, embattled Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, to tender her resignation for some time so she can submit herself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigations. HURIWA made this call following the public fund she deposited in a private individuals bank account. The group emphasized on the potency of the public sector financial regulations of 2009, which prohibits the payment of public funds to the account of a private individual. HURIWA especially noted that it would not augur well in the event that the President suspended his representative heading the National Social Investment Programme Agency, for the allegations of paying public funds worth over N34 billion as alleged by EFCC into private accounts, only for Edu to be seeking justification for also directing public fund into a private account . It urged the President and the EFCC to use the best global practice in the enforcement of the anti-graft laws since the law shouldnt be made to favour individuals because they are top officials in the ruling All Progressives Congress. READ ALSO: N585m: Bulk Funds Shouldnt Be Paid To Individual Accounts, We Didnt Execute Edus Request Accountant General HURIWA said: We are not Accusing the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of committing any infractions, but based on the media statements that her office has issued so far, the attempt to convince Nigerians that it is lawful to keep public fund in private account is just like the polemic promoted by one erstwhile civilian governor of Kano State in the second Republic. It is incongruous and indeed puerile to say that on one hand, the EFCC arrested one official of the same government over allegations of payments of public funds into private accounts but on the same breath, a cabinet level minister is inundating the public space with her submission that keeping public money in private account of someone heading a certain portfolio, is appropriate. This sounds illogical and fallacious and by the way, if as the Minister argued that under a certain civil service rule, public funds can be kept under private accounts, why then does the financial regulations Act governing public service in Nigeria say the exact opposite? Judy Austin, the spouse of Nollywood actor Yul Edochie, has praised her husband on social media in honour of his birthday today. In a lengthy Instagram post, she referred to the actor as a man after Gods heart, the most handsome man in Nigeria, the best actor, and the most extraordinary director in Africa. She confessed that, while her husband is stubborn, he is also caring and the strongest person she knows. She wrote expressing her feelings to him, READ MORE: Shan George Endorses Israel DMWs Assertion Amid Warnings To Men Against Ex-Wife, Sheila Happy fabulous birthday to a King. @yuledochie The Man after Gods own heart. The Man with a Heart of Gold. ISI MMILI JI OFOR. The MOST HANDSOME man in Nigeria The BEST ACTOR in Nigeria. The MOST EXTRAORDINARY DIRECTOR IN AFRICA. A LEADER!!! The most stubborn person I know but also the kindest. God loves you so so much. YOU ARE THE STRONGEST PERSON I KNOW. Youre LOVED by many but God LOVES you the most. I pray that this year will be your best year. Youre going to be larger than life this year. People will believe and trust in God more because of his wonders in your life this year. I cover you with the PRECIOUS BLOOD OF Jesus Christ!!! NO WEAPON FASHIONED AGAINST YOU SHALL EVER PROSPER!!! You are the light of this world, and nothing shall dim your life. Today is your day nwa chukwu. (Thou to me, its your birthday every day) Happy birthday my BLESSING. May all your prayers be answered today Amen. SEE HER POST: Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that there was nothing he was not offered to work against the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President. According to Wike, despite the offers, he stood his ground and worked for Tinubus emergence as President. He spoke while visiting the South-South Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Victor Gaidom, in Gokana, Rivers State, on Saturday. READ ALSO: Rivers Crisis: Well Know Who Is In Charge Soon Wike According to Wike: When I was governor, Nigeria heard about Rivers State. That is what I have always preached. So, nobody should be afraid. I have no regrets when I stood by with my colleagues and friends that the presidency must go to the south. There was nothing I was not offered. But I said no. That is why I will continue to support the government of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. As I am going back home, I am going with the satisfaction that my friend is back. This visit I came today will cause a lot of trouble. Some people will start visiting now. Follow who know road. Continue to support Victor and all your leaders who mean well for all of you. Aminu Ado Bayero, Emir of Kano State, on Saturday, condemned the trend of kidnapping and trafficking of children from the northern part of the country. Last year, December 27, Kano operatives of the Nigeria Police Force said it dismantled a human trafficking syndicate that specialised in abduction, buying and selling of minors. The command said nine suspects were arrested, adding that seven children, majority from Bauchi state, were rescued. The Emir, represented by Ahmad Umar, Dan Malikin Kano, said the emirate would no longer accept the trading of children in the state. He said the issue has got out of hand that proactive action must be taken to curb it. This ugly trend must stop. We have to rise up against it. We will no longer condone a situation whereby our children are kidnapped, sold and their tribe and religion were changed. READ ALSO: Nigeria May Become Another Somalia Plateau Gov Warns This illicit act must stop. We have to rise up to check the situation as it is going out of hand. The situation cannot stop itself. It is we that will make it stop. It happened few years ago and now it has happened again. Only God knows how many of our children have been kidnapped and sold, News Agency of Nigeria quoted him as saying. Describing the situation as disturbing, the Emir called for the punishment of the perpetrators to serve as a lesson to others. According to him, Kano has been accommodating visitors for hundreds of years, hence, the visitors should not take the advantage of the hospitality to commit crimes. Kano, for hundreds of years, has been welcoming visitors and taken them as its sons. Recently we have seen a disturbing and unfortunate incident of rescuing children trafficked to Lagos through Kano, he said. Lincoln High, in the Northeast, has over 2,000 students in a building constructed for 1,500. Overcrowding has led the Philadelphia School District to spend $400,000 on classroom dividers that staff say make for difficult learning conditions. Read more Lincoln High like many schools in the Northeast is bursting at the seams, with more than 2,000 students in a building designed to hold 1,586. To accommodate the bumper crop of students, the Philadelphia School District carved the schools library into six classrooms, with tall partitions separating the spaces. That design, with no real walls and ceilings separating the rooms, has yielded frustrating learning conditions, those at the school say: Noise carries, students have trouble concentrating, and the dividers have fallen out of their frames. Science teacher Sarah Caswell used to teach in a Lincoln laboratory; now, her space is one of three classrooms partitioned into thirds before the start of the 2023-24 school year. The room shes left with has no sink, no counters, no cabinets and is sweltering, even in winter. For one period a day, she also teaches in one of the library classrooms, where things are no better, she said. Advertisement You might as well be in other peoples classrooms; theres no soundproofing, said Caswell. The walls fall down on the regular if theres a fight outside or kids are just goofing around, the walls just fall down. Its horrendous. The bigger picture in the School District of Philadelphia Though some schools across the district are under-enrolled (Strawberry Mansion High School, built for 1,800 students, has 250, for instance), many schools in the Northeast dont have enough space to accommodate their growing populations. Or, when such places as Southwark Elementary School close because of damaged asbestos, forcing emergency remediation and the relocation of students, other schools get an influx of students, though the district now has a swing space plan that designates schools with extra room when other schools temporarily close. In Southwarks case, students went to South Philadelphia High and G.W. Childs Elementary. The district in 2019 began a $1.4 million long-range school planning process, but there were questions about its efficacy and ultimately it was shelved during the pandemic. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. paused facilities planning when he first arrived in Philadelphia last year, saying he needed to develop an academic blueprint before tackling building questions, but has promised the district will soon turn its attention to the matter. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, in her inaugural speech Tuesday, said her administration would prepare a strategy for school building modernization and work closely with the school district on its own plan for school facilities. In the past, she has talked about rightsizing the school system. But in an underfunded district with 216 schools, an average building age of 74 years old, and myriad environmental issues, its a process that is going to stretch on for years. A tough place for teaching and learning The school system has already spent almost half a million dollars to address the situation at Lincoln, whose building was constructed in 2009 on Ryan Avenue in the Northeast: In August, the school board ratified a $400,000 contract to purchase dividers to add an additional 15 classrooms at Lincoln High School to support enrollment. Before the dividers, filing cabinets and dividers on wheels were used to create separate spaces, said Marissa Orbanek, a district spokesperson. And because a schools budget is based on its enrollment, Lincolns swelling population means the school added teachers, climate staff to monitor hallways and lunchrooms, and mental health supports. The district is doing its best to provide comfortable and appropriate learning spaces for all of our students, Orbanek said in a statement. We know that overcrowding can make an impact on students and staff, so we work to make the necessary adjustments to reduce disruption and maintain desirable class sizes. At Lincoln, for example, we converted unused spaces, added instructional spaces throughout the building to reduce the footprint of larger rooms, adjusted scheduling, and added a lunch period. Lincoln staff say that even with the dividers and added staff, conditions inside the makeshift classrooms are poor. Kids hate it; they cant concentrate, one teacher said of the library classrooms. The staffer asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal. I had a student say, This is so ghetto. Sometimes, the kids yell at teachers to shut up in the next room because theyre just trying to concentrate. Physical conditions are just abysmal. After the districts leveling process, which moves teachers from sparsely attended schools to overcrowded schools several weeks into the year to account for enrollment shifts, some changes were made at Lincoln, teachers say, and some classes that had been held in the library were moved out. But most still remain. Another staffer who works in the makeshift classrooms said teachers have brought concerns to the administration and were told that nothing can be done. Its very much, Good luck, with that. Its noise constantly. One of my major concerns is fights or almost fights. In one of my rooms, there was a fight in the room next to me, and my wall was just shaking so much. I was trying to get my students to back up, but what happens if the wall falls? Some kids stood on desks to stand up to look into the other room. From a safety point of view, its concerning how this is happening, said the staffer, who also asked to be anonymous because of fear of repercussions from the district and administration. The situation impedes how teachers are able to instruct students its too loud and chaotic for certain kinds of lessons, the second staffer said. I never even thought of a ceiling as a luxury until now, the second staffer said. Ive had kids say, This is not a real classroom, I cant learn here, I just cant focus. In a normal setting, the whole issue is getting kids to focus. Were putting them in a space where theres so many barriers. For Caswell, who said she often cant even hear the kids when theyre asking me a question in her makeshift rooms, the tight space is an issue daily. And she worries about the impact of holding multiple health classes in the auditorium, in having lunch periods that begin at 9 a.m. in order to make sure every student has a lunch break. We need to be in appropriate spaces, said Caswell. Kids are on top of each other; its not a healthy environment for kids to be in. The overcrowded Northeast Lincoln is not the only overcrowded school in the district, or in the Northeast, where much of the districts growth is concentrated, fueled in part by gentrification and immigration patterns. Northeast High, on Cottman Avenue, has long been the citys largest school. It has more than 3,200 students in a building thats supposed to have just more than 2,100; its been overpopulated for years. At the same time, Fels High School, in Oxford Circle, was built for about 1,700 students but has just more than 1,200. The Northeast is the only area of the city where district enrollment is growing, Orbanek said; its declining or staying steady in every other neighborhood. In recent years, the district opened Northeast Community Propel Academy, a new K-8 school adjacent to Lincoln. It also built a new structure to house Solis-Cohen Elementary, a large K-5 on Horrocks Street. One district administrator with knowledge of the situation said more new construction should be part of the solution. But more needs to be done, said the administrator, who said having too many students in one space affects both climate and instruction. They need to give a hard look at feeder patterns, said the administrator, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal from district higher-ups. You could give immediate relief if you reshuffled feeder patterns, but they dont want to touch it. They need reasonable and meaningful solutions to the overcrowding problems, and they need long-range planning, vision, and political courage. Catholics around the world are sharply divided by the Vaticans recent declaration giving priests more leeway to bless same-sex couples. Supporters of LGBTQ inclusion welcome the move; some conservative bishops assail the new policy as a betrayal of the churchs condemnation of sexual relations between gay or lesbian partners. Strikingly, the flare-up of debate in Catholic ranks coincides with developments in two other international Christian denominations the global Anglican Communion and the United Methodist Church that are fracturing over differences in LGBTQ-related policies. Taken together, its a dramatic illustration of how in a religion that stresses Gods love for humanity divisions over marriage, sexuality, and inclusion of gays and lesbians are proving insurmountable for the foreseeable future in many sectors of Christianity. Ryan Burge, a political science professor at Eastern Illinois University and pastor of an American Baptist church, says its become increasingly difficult for Christian denominations to fully accommodate clergy and congregations with opposing views on same-sex relationships, particularly as such marriages have become legal in much of Europe and the Western Hemisphere. Advertisement A lot of denominations are in the position where you have to make a decision you cant be wishy-washy anymore, said Burge, a specialist in religious demographics. Thats the tension theyre facing: how to keep older conservatives in the fold while attracting younger people. For global denominations notably Catholics, Anglicans and United Methodists Burge sees another source of tension: Some of their biggest growth in recent decades has been in socially conservative African countries where same-sex relationships are taboo. African bishops have this ammunition, Burge said. They say to the West, Were the ones growing. You have the money, we have the numbers. Kim Haines-Eitzen, a professor of religious studies at Cornell University, said Christianity throughout its history has been divided over differing theological views, such as whether women could be ordained as clergy. Christianity is incredibly diverse globally, theologically, linguistically, culturally, she said. There are bound to be these incredibly divisive issues, especially when bound up in scriptural interpretation. Thats what keeps world religions alive that kind of push and pull. Angst among Anglicans Among Christian denominations, the Anglican Communion is second only to the Catholic Church in geographic spread. Divisions over marriage, sexuality, and LGBTQ inclusion have roiled the communion for many years, and they widened Dec. 17, when Church of England priests offered officially sanctioned blessings of same-sex partnerships for the first time. The Church of Englands ban on church weddings for gay couples remains, but the decision to allow blessings has infuriated several conservative Anglican bishops from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific. Caught in the middle is the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby the top bishop of the Church of England and ceremonial leader of the Anglican Communion. Welby says he wont personally bless same-sex couples because its his job to unify the worlds 85 million Anglicans. That hasnt appeased some conservative bishops, who say they no longer recognize Welby as their leader. The decision to allow blessings of same-sex couples followed five years of discussions about church positions on sexuality. Church leaders apologized for a failure to welcome LGBTQ people but also affirmed the doctrine that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. What we have proposed as a way forward does not go nearly far enough for many, but too far for others, said Sarah Mullally, bishop of London. United Methodist separation A slow-motion breakup is underway in the United Methodist Church. A few years ago, it was the third-largest denomination in the United States, but a quarter of U.S. congregations have recently received permission to leave over disputes involving LGBTQ-related policies. Of the more than 7,650 departing churches, most are conservative-leaning congregations responding to what they see as a failure to enforce bans on same-sex marriage and the ordaining of openly LGBTQ people. Theres no firm estimate of how many members are leaving, as some who belong to departing congregations are joining other UMC churches. But UMC officials are preparing to cut denominational agencies budgets in anticipation of lower revenues from church offerings. United Methodist rules forbid same-sex marriage rites and the ordination of self-avowed practicing homosexuals, but progressive Methodist churches in the U.S. have increasingly defied these rules. Conservatives have mobilized like-minded congregations to exit; many are joining the new Global Methodist Church, which intends to enforce such rules. More than half of United Methodist members are overseas, many in conservative African churches. When UMC delegates meet this spring, theyre expected to debate proposals to liberalize ordination and marriage policies, and make it easier for overseas churches to leave. Splits in other Protestant denominations Presaging the UMC schism, several other mainline Protestant denominations over the past two decades endured splits resulting from irreconcilable differences between supporters and opponents of LGBTQ inclusion. For example, after the Episcopal Church ordained an openly gay bishop in 2003, some dioceses and conservatives formed the Anglican Church in North America. Similar liberal/conservative differences prompted hundreds of congregations to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) after they embraced LGBTQ-inclusive policies. Some conservative denominations such as the Southern Baptist Convention and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have adhered firmly to policies that reject recognition of same-sex relationships and ordination of openly LGBTQ people. These policies have prompted departures, but no major schism. Brent Leatherwood, president of the Southern Baptists public policy commission, reiterated the SBCs position in a statement asserting that the Vatican under Pope Francis has been on a trajectory that seems destined for the allowance of same-sex marriage. The reality is marriage has been defined by God It is a union between one man and one woman for life, Leatherwood said. Southern Baptists remain anchored in this truth. Orthodox Church disapproval The worlds second-largest Christian communion, after the Catholic Church, is the Eastern Orthodox Church, with an estimated 220 million members, concentrated mostly in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. To a large extent, Orthodox Christians disapprove of same-sex marriage and relationships. In Greece, where the government is pledging to legalize same-sex marriage, the Orthodox Church has expressed strong opposition. Russias Orthodox Church has supported tough anti-LGBTQ legislation enacted with the support of President Vladimir Putin. Non-Christian faiths Debate over LGBTQ inclusion hasnt been as divisive in the worlds other major religions as in Christianity. In the Muslim world, theres widespread disapproval of same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage; many Muslim nations criminalize homosexuality. However, some LGBTQ-inclusive mosques have surfaced in North America and other places. Among Jews around the world, there are varying approaches to LGBTQ issues, but relatively little high-profile rancor. Orthodox Judaism disapproves of same-sex marriage and sexual relations, while theyre widely accepted in the Reform and Conservative branches. In Hinduism and Buddhism, there is no universal, official position on same-sex marriage. Many practitioners of the two faiths disapprove of such unions; some communities are more accepting. Hong Kong: CS to visit bay area cities Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki will depart tomorrow for a three-day visit to three Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area - Guangzhou, Huizhou and Shenzhen. Mr Chan will meet government leaders of Guangdong Province and the bay area cities to discuss issues of mutual concern and strengthen exchanges and co-operation on various fronts. Among other things, he will attend the signing ceremony of a framework agreement on promoting Guangdong-Hong Kong talent co-operation and co-chair with a Guangdong government leader the inaugural meeting of the co-ordination mechanism on Guangdong-Hong Kong talent co-operation. Mr Chan will also visit a number of companies and organisations, and meet Hong Kong people and enterprises in the cities. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung, Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung and Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun will join the Guangzhou itinerary tomorrow and will return to Hong Kong the same day. The Chief Secretary will return to Hong Kong on January 10. During his absence, Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing will be Acting Chief Secretary. This story has been published on: 2024-01-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. "OPEC+ countries will take a wait-and-see attitude against the backdrop of stable prices after the voluntary cuts in oil production announced at the meeting in November," experts polled by TASS hold such an opinion, Azernews reports. At the same time, proposals on new measures to reduce production will be heard but will remain only verbal interventions, as decisions on new cuts may meet resistance within OPEC+. At the meeting on November 30, 2023, several OPEC+ countries decided on additional voluntary cuts for the first quarter of 2024, the volume of which will total 2.2 mln bpd. According to Sergey Kondratyev, head of the economic department of the Institute of Energy and Finance, OPEC+ countries are now in a difficult situation. According to him, the alliance members have demonstrated their influence on the market and shown that they can stabilise the situation, but at the same time, they are close to being trapped in the trap from the 1980s, cutting production and making room in the market for other producers. "I think that proposals to cut quotas will be heard, but whether they will be feasible, I am not sure. The opposition to a new cut within OPEC+ is already formidable and will only grow. Therefore, I think that now we should expect more verbal interventions," the expert suggests. Finam analyst Nikolay Dudchenko noted that new cuts in oil production by OPEC+ may be needed only in case of an even stronger decline in the price. "As long as the oil price is stable, OPEC+ is likely to broadcast a wait-and-see attitude," the expert believes. In turn, Stanislav Mitrakhovich, a leading expert of the National Energy Security Fund and a researcher at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, expects new steps to limit oil production from OPEC+ already in early 2024. The expert emphasised that the alliance's November decisions did not impress the market. "OPEC+ will have to gather, in my opinion, already at the very beginning of 2024. I do not rule out that when Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, it is possible that the parameters of a new deal were also being probed there beforehand. I think it is more likely that there will be such a deal, and already at the beginning of the year," Mitrakhovich believes. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 7. The number of foreign tourists arriving in Uzbekistan reached 4.9 million from January through October 2023, Trend reports. According to the Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Studies (IMRS) in Uzbekistan, the influx of tourists has nearly tripled over the last three years, considering that the count stood at 1.8 million in 2021. Uzbekistan exported tourism services worth $1.83 billion in the first ten months of 2023, up from $1.041 billion in 2018. The year 2023 was predicted to see significant growth in the overall number of travelers, with tourism service exports reaching $2 billion. Funds have been provided to Uzbekistan's diplomatic missions in 28 countries to promote the country's tourism potential and increase visitor arrivals. Additionally, participation in 16 international tourism fairs has been secured for national tourism stands and business entities throughout the 10-month period. Uzbekistan operates a visa-free regime for citizens from 91 countries worldwide. Four year old Alianna Vera of Baltimore takes great delight in the breaking of the pinatas during Three Kings Day at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Read more On Saturday, Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar arrived at the Kimmel Center bringing hot chocolate, pinatas, and a 60-foot traditional sweet bread called rosca de reyes for the ninth annual Three Kings Day celebration. In the Christian tradition, Jan.6 commemorates the moment the three wise men encounted the baby Jesus for the first time, bearing gifts in that instance, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. That was the impetus for a tradition in some Catholic countries, where children write a letter to the three kings, instead of Santa, requesting Christmas presents. In Mexico, this day brings a sense of togetherness, fun, and excitement, said Ivette Compean Rodriguez, Mexican Cultural Center Executive Director. Thats what we want children here [in Philly] to experience as we try to keep this tradition alive. As kids lined up to write their Three Kings Day letters, adults found spots to watch and hear Professor Luz Matuss bilingual retellingl of the story, performed by dance group Nuuxakun. Advertisement Children write their letters asking for goods for their good behavior, explained Matus. To behave well, you have to be generous, respectful, and perform a good action that fills your heart with happiness, she told the audience. In his letter, 6-year-old Arthur Rodriguez asked the Three Kings for a puppeteer theater. Evidently, he passed the good test: Unbeknownst to him, the gift is already waiting at home. When I was a kid in Mexico, we didnt have the resources for the kings to bring us what we ask for. Now, I make sure he gets that magic, said his father, 43-year-old Arturo Rodriguez, who drove 30 minutes from New Jersey to bring his family to the event. On the opposite side of the room, Venezuelan native Ana Omana shared that feeling. She has been bringing her 7-year-old son Luke Szapiel to Kimmels Three Kings Day since 2018. We live in such a saturated world, kids have all the information at the tip of their fingers, its nice to give them a little magic, said Omana. To her, events like this serve as a way to keep her child connected to her home country. So that later in his life he can remember the culture because he has never been to Venezuela, she added. But, Three Kings Day is not only for Latino families. Stanley Ware, 66, who was in attendance, said he was pleasantly surprised after what he thought would be just another free event turned out to lead to a cultural experience. I dont even understand the language, but with the music, the beat, and the young people performing! Thats something we need to encourage in all communities, he said. He plans to mark the day on his calendar for next years Three King Day celebration at the Kimmel as soon as he gets home. As Amigos Bakery fed over 400 attendees, and Cantina la Martina warmed folks with hot chocolate, Mexican Consul Raul Garcia said that he had just one Three Day King wish for the City. For Philly to continue being a welcoming city that recognizes the contributions of the Mexican and immigrant communities to the city. Dominique Bailey allegedly told family members that her child had been struck and killed by motorist, according to Philadelphia police, but no evidence of such an incident could be found. Read more A weeklong police investigation into a childs disappearance, spurred by a tip from a news outlet, has led to a 28-year-old woman being charged with the murder of her 4-year-old son. The case first appeared on the radar of the Philadelphia Police Departments Special Victims Unit on Dec. 30, when police received information about a child who had gone missing in West Philly, Officer Tanya Little, a department spokesperson, said Saturday. 6ABC, in a report on its website, wrote that the news station had shared the tip with police. Relatives of the childs mother, Dominique Bailey, told investigators that Bailey had allegedly claimed that the boy, Damari Carter, had been struck and killed by a car, Little said. Detectives, however, found no trace of such an occurrence. Advertisement On Jan. 4, Bailey was questioned by investigators at the Special Victims Units headquarters, on East Hunting Park Avenue in North Philly. Police later searched a property on Reno Street near 38th in West Philly, and brought in a man, Kevin Spencer, for questioning. Bailey, of Lebanon Avenue near 67th Street in Overbrook, gave a statement on Jan. 5 about having been involved with Carters death, Little said. The boys body has not yet been found. The District Attorneys Office charged Bailey with murder, abuse of a corpse, making false reports, and endangering the welfare of a child. Its unclear whether Bailey has obtained a lawyer yet. Late Saturday, Spencer, 30, was also charged with murder, abuse of a corpse, and related offenses. Jane Roh, a spokesperson for the DAs Office, said additional charges could be filed against Bailey and others as the investigation continues. Strawberry Mansion High School students say there's a mismatch between the school's reputation and their high school experience, which has been marked by opportunities and support. Read more When Patience Wilson shares with people that she attends Strawberry Mansion High School, they often shake their heads and tell her all the bad things theyve heard about her school. But Wilson, a smiley 17-year-old senior, knows the real Mansion, the one behind the hasty headlines and deep-seated stereotypes. The real Mansion, she says, is different: a place where students can start on a path to a building trades career, partner with nonprofits, spend their lunchtime in clubs and activities, and have access to trips, career and technical education programs, college classes, and adults who surround them with expectations and supports and love no matter where theyre coming from or how long theyre able to stay. People usually judge us based on whats happened in the past. But theyre not focusing on whats happening right now, said Wilson. Advertisement READ MORE: Philly students can get fast-track union jobs and be blue-collar millionaires For years, Strawberry Mansion has fought on several fronts: against the challenges of its surroundings (the neighborhood has the highest number of shootings this year in the city; a full 52% of children under 18 in the immediate area live in poverty, according to Philadelphia and federal data), against a mismatch between available funding and concentrated student need. Its coped with a system that, because it emphasizes choice, has made things tougher for comprehensive high schools, which accept all students who walk in the door. Less than 10% of the students who live in Mansions attendance zone go to the school, according to district data, and those who do tend to be the most vulnerable. In 2018-19, the year after the community beat back the Philadelphia School Districts efforts to close Mansion due to declining enrollment, The Inquirer spent a school year inside, chronicling efforts to revive the school at 31st and Ridge Avenue. Four years later, Mansion now has a full complement of students it restricted enrollment for a year as a way to help restart the schools climate but now has ninth through 12th graders again new reasons to hope, and new challenges. A Knight for life Principal Brian McCracken welcomes every student who walks through the heavy red doors of Strawberry Mansion about 230 students attend a school built for 1,800. But churn is constant: Some weeks, as many as five new students might enroll. READ MORE: Capable of Greatness: a look inside Strawberry Mansion About half of the school receives special-education services thats more students than four years ago and more await evaluation. Many students are experiencing homelessness, returning from juvenile placement, involved in the foster-care system, or have otherwise complicated lives. By virtue of where the students live, trauma is universal. When seven people, including five teens and a 2-year-old, were shot Feb. 23, it happened a few blocks from Mansion. And yet, McCracken said, parents feel safe with their child in school here. McCracken came to the school as an assistant principal in 2017 but won the communitys trust when he stepped up to run Mansion after a mostly absent principal disappeared. He never left. Living with the trauma of gun violence is everyones backdrop at Mansion. But the adults in the building do their best to shield students. On a recent day, staff walked a student who felt unsafe to her bus stop and waited with her until she got on, McCracken said. And while a traditional high school experience includes clubs and activities, students staying after school isnt Mansions reality. They have jobs, family responsibilities. And its just not safe, said McCracken. We cant continue to provide programming after school and ask, Why arent kids showing up? So the staff uses lunchtime creatively. Theres tutoring, and students with strong attendance can choose from an array of programming, from open gym time to film club. There are mentorship opportunities, and the school hopes to start a group to teach entrepreneurship. Workshop Wednesdays provide students with exposure to careers and other opportunities, and the building-trades partnership that Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. and City Council President Darrell L. Clarke have publicly touted is a fast-track program to union jobs. Though the aim is to expand the program to other schools, Mansion was chosen as the districts pilot school, and Watlington has said he sees it as becoming a hub for that kind of programming. The partnership also gives Mansion students a taste of possible career paths without requiring the onerous commitment required by traditional career and technical schools, where students must log an unwieldy 1,230 hours in vocational classes, an impracticality for those who are often transient. But those who do have to leave Mansion are usually reluctant, even if theyre struggling. A case in point: One student with significant behavioral and academic struggles came to Mansion after being out of school for three years, and could not read and write. But he enrolled because a cousin told him the school was welcoming. READ MORE: Forever Mansion: a look inside Strawberry Mansion High School Mansion surrounded him with as much support as it could muster, but there were limits; he got into fights often. Eventually, he struck a teacher. So staff helped find him a school with more behavioral health supports. (Mansion has students with emotional support needs but an unfilled emotional support teacher position; it also has two open climate jobs and is missing a crucial behavioral health case manager.) His family didnt want the student to leave Mansion. Despite the teens struggles, teachers and administrators saw his promise, and tried to help him progress. The family said, This is the first school that helped my son, McCracken said. We always say, Youre a Knight for life. We love them all the way through Njemele Tamala Anderson was looking to leave a charter school for a district teaching position when she met McCracken at a job fair. I just liked the way that McCracken talked about the school, about his students, said Anderson. I liked the way this white man was talking about brown children. Anderson took a job as an English teacher in 2019, and kept adding roles. Now, shes a school-based teacher leader and also the restorative dean, helping the school reframe what discipline looks like. As Philadelphia and districts around the country shift away from reactive, exclusionary responses to student behavior, some schools have struggled to find balance while enforcing consequences. Mansion, though, has found a way. Its corridors are quiet, absent of hall-walkers. And although some students struggle, learning is prioritized. Students are professionals at their jobs; they are going to buck the system. But the way you interact with them is what makes it restorative. They still get their consequences, and we love them all the way through the process, said Anderson, who has developed a Mansion flow chart and trained every staffer on how to appropriately handle young people who act out. Students with egregious behavior are taken out of the classroom, and into a reflection room where they write about what they did, whom it affected, and how they might approach the situation differently. But unless an act is dangerous enough to warrant immediate removal, that doesnt happen until teachers have followed a procedure that includes asking the student, Are you OK? and giving them chances to self-correct. Situations that arent solved by the reflection room result in student behavior contracts, with students themselves choosing an adult to hold them accountable, and offered resources. If teens are caught with a marijuana vape, for instance, they are pointed toward drug and alcohol services. Putting Mansion in context On paper, Mansions statistics are startling: By the districts measure, last year, 41% of the schools ninth graders were on track to graduation. Just 9% met state standards in reading, 2% in math. But the intense needs of Mansions students mean those numbers require lots of context. Consider the student whos never been identified as requiring special-education services but who reads at a second-grade level. Or the teen whose attendance and grades are spotty but recently had been removed from his familys care and now lives with a foster family, whom the school cant reach. We will meet our students where they are, and really work to get them to their highest potential, McCracken said. While we always want them to be at the finish line of success, graduation, thats not always where we are. Budget season also brings worries. McCracken projects that Mansion will have 260 students next year, and the districts number is pitched even lower, 200. While the district gave the school great latitude on staffing after it committed to rebooting Mansion to give it runway to succeed, now, fewer students will mean fewer teachers, less money for programs and supports. When community outcry saved Mansion, the mandate for school leaders was to revitalize the school, to make it a place students want to attend. Though Mansion has achieved that for a group of students who need support most, administrators say the schools low numbers worry neighbors as well as McCracken, especially with a master facilities plan looming for the district. The communitys concerned; its this big beautiful building, this prime real estate, McCracken said. For now, the immediate focus is on what next year looks like, on how to support the children in front of them. Assistant principal Zoe Rooney loves Mansions students smart and frank and funny and relationship-driven. But even a staff willing to tackle any challenge for its kids has limits, she said. We dont have the capacity to meet everybodys needs, and so we end up having to prioritize between things that should not be prioritized, Rooney said. Were not dangerous The day a SEPTA shuttle bus rolled up to the school, delivering students displaced from another Philadelphia school that had been temporarily closed because of asbestos, parents and community members were standing outside to welcome them. It didnt matter that Building 21 parents and students had reacted with alarm at the announcement, publicly disparaging Mansion. Guests were coming, and Mansion wanted to make them feel welcome, to show them who they were. But the never Mansion arrows stung, students said. Theyre always fighting an old narrative: Were not dangerous, said Aniyah Lewis, a senior. Just the opposite. Disgraced elected officials like, from left, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, and Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano have no regard for the corrosive effects they are having on government institutions and civil society, writes the Editorial Board. Read more There was a time when disgraced elected officials would at least resign for the sake of the institution and the public they served. But instead, taxpayers are stuck for now with the likes of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (D., N.J.), U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R., York), and State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin). Menendez was charged with taking bribes in return for using his power to benefit foreign governments. Perry and Mastriano violated their sworn oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, when they aided and abetted former President Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. None of them have any business serving in a government the authorities say they worked to subvert. Yet, despite allegations that they abused their office, each man continues to pocket their six-figure, taxpayer-funded salaries. Have they no sense of decency? That question used to mean something. But many of todays elected officials are shameless. Advertisement The poster child, of course, is Trump. He bragged about grabbing women by their genitals and was found guilty of raping a woman. Trump was impeached twice and indicted four times, including for taking classified documents and inciting an insurrection. Despite a long list of transgressions, he remains undeterred and unrepentant. Now, Trump is back putting the country through hell as he runs for president again. He never takes responsibility and always blames someone else. Other politicians see how voters tolerate such abuses and now follow Trumps lead. They have no regard for the corrosive effects they are having on government institutions and civil society. Take Menendez (please). He and his wife, Nadine Arslanian, were indicted in September for accepting gold bars, a luxury car, and tens of thousands of dollars in cash in exchange for using his power to help three businessmen. In October, a superseding indictment accused Menendez of taking bribes in exchange for providing sensitive U.S. government information that found its way to Egyptian military and intelligence officials, and ghostwriting a letter to Senate colleagues urging them to lift a hold on $300 million in U.S. aid to Egypt. Last week, another superseding indictment accused Menendez of further abusing his office to help a New Jersey developer obtain millions of dollars in investment from a fund with ties to the government of Qatar. Most normal humans would walk away in disgrace, especially after dozens of their colleagues called on them to resign. But Menendez said he is not going anywhere. Menendez, who dodged separate bribery charges in 2017, has not been convicted of a crime. But the legal cloud is a distraction and renders the senator largely ineffective. More troubling, donors who may seek favors from him are contributing to his legal defense fund. Meanwhile, there is perhaps nothing more egregious than a public official participating in a plot to overturn a presidential election. Perry had an extensive role in Trumps coup attempt. Perry worked with Trump apparatchiks in the U.S. Justice Department to spread lies about election fraud and decertify the vote in Georgia. Perry voted against certifying the election in Pennsylvania but conveniently didnt challenge the outcome of his own reelection. Perry defied a subpoena from colleagues in the House that investigated events leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. The final House report mentions Perry 22 times and referred him to the Ethics Committee. Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R., Wyo.) said Perry sought a pardon from Trump during his final days in office, which Perry denied. FBI agents seized Perrys telephone, though the congressman said he was not a target of any federal investigation. Last week, a longtime good government activist in Harrisburg filed a lawsuit seeking to have Perry removed from the upcoming state primary ballot because of his role in the insurrection. Article 3 of the 14th Amendment says people who engage in insurrection are unable to hold office. Perry fits the Article 3 criteria. And the same goes for Mastriano. Mastriano was Trumps point person in the fake electors scheme in Pennsylvania. He was in direct contact with Trump in the lead-up to the deadly attack at the U.S. Capitol. Mastriano spread false information about vote totals in Pennsylvania, though like Perry, Mastriano did not challenge the votes regarding his state Senate race. Mastriano used campaign funds to bus protesters to Washington and marched to the Capitol with insurrectionists. Last week, State Sen. Art Haywood, a Democrat who represents parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery Counties, filed an ethics complaint against Mastriano for his role in attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The Senate is a place of integrity, and this complaint is to uphold that integrity, Haywood said. Unfortunately, Mastriano, Perry, and Menendez know nothing about integrity. Voters should keep that in mind, as all three of these disgraced officials are up for reelection this year. Sano, a Dublin-based operation, (outlets in Temple Bar, Ranelagh, and one in Glasgow, in Scotland) has come to Cork putting 500k into a refurb which is slick, stylish and fun if not especially original. We are shown to a dirty table, still bearing the detritus of previous occupants. It is several minutes before a server comes to clean it, window-wiper fashion, sweeping crumbs and other debris onto our seats. She lays laminated menus on the cleaned table which immediately cling to excess cleaning fluid that covers the entire surface. After she leaves, I dry off the whole table, turning a large napkin into a soggy pulp. We wait over 20 minutes for a return visit to place our order, though the room is only half full. Newly returned from Dublin having flayed feet to the bone as load-bearing Sherpa-cum-ATM, tramping after La Daughter on a shopping expedition I am sorely in need of a thirst-quencher and our order includes a pre-prandial Five Lamps IPA to come before the pizzas. We wait. And we wait. I ask another passing server about the beer. Another one again arrives to the table, bearing our bill. I explain I was asking for beer, not the bill, and that we have yet to receive anything at all that we might then pay for. Content that the bill is not required, she leaves. Still no beer. I nab a fourth server. It eventually arrives. We have four pizzas: Margherita; capricciosa (Italian ham, olives, mushrooms, artichokes, fresh mozzarella); Sapori Del Sud (Italian fennel sausage, nduja, friarielli, fresh mozzarella); and Maradona (anchovies, capers, olives, basil, garlic, fresh mozzarella). None remotely excite appetites. Bases are average at best. Brother No 2, father of a coeliac, reckons hes tasted better gluten-free versions. Fresh mozzarella is actually processed, grated, applied with a too-heavy hand. Other ingredients are equally unexceptional or even poor mushrooms taste as if braised without fat or seasoning, yielding unpleasant fungal sourness. At an adjoining table, a water bottle erupts over the entire tabletop, cascading onto the floor. The three women diners end up fetching kitchen roll from a barman, cleaning table and floor as servers watch on. Eventually, one arrives with a mop. By now, service has become comedy, a joke we share with our water-logged neighbours, while registering similar service brush fires around the room. We cant leave fast enough. To be crystal clear, not a single one of our very pleasant servers deserves an ounce of castigation; this is entirely down to managements failure to provide anything remotely like the appropriate training they require. Though part man/part pizza, the standard of fare on offer is obviously pitched at a target audience that excludes me and Im fine with that, no crime there but it needs to at least get to the table with some semblance of professionalism. I know Sano Cork is not long opened but, on tonights showing, teething problems are more akin to full-blown gum disease. Two days later we find redemption. There is a lot less than 500k spent on the makeover of a rectangular glass cube, in a small open green area, alongside the South channel of the Lee, where South Mall meets Grand Parade, but Frankies nails an industrial design concept: Simple, clean, sharp lines, all liveried in the iconic red and white of Cork whether by accident or design. On a dark, wet, and very wintery Monday night, we are the only customers yet its innate vibrancy remains undimmed. The menu is concise, divided into Roman and New York. Roman served by the slice is an extremely generous rectangle (just 4.50). The Roman-style base is almost focaccia in depth a crisp exterior that crackles under tooth into an impossibly soft interior, as much air pockets as pillowy dough a delightful and spry supporting player to excellent toppings, including potent tomato sauce. We order all four: Sublime and elegant buffalo mozzarella, parmesan, basil, and olives; chorizo, nduja, mozzarella, basil oil is feisty, with mulish chilli kick sweetened with hot honey; pepperoni, mozzarella, and hot honey is equally good; while goats cheese, fresh red onion, vegan nduja, and mozzarella have all the flavour intrigue of its carnivorous counterparts. (A tray of 10 slices comes in at just 33-35, a seriously good deal for an impromptu drinks party which this al fresco space becomes on any half-decent day in the summer.) New York is a mighty 16 pizza that is sliced into floppy, molten triangles. There are five options altogether two by the slice and we have very good fennel Italian sausage, white onion, aged parmesan, and mozzarella. We take home a New York Cheese Pie to the inmates. Frankies is a super addition to Cork and I especially look forward to sitting at one of their picnic benches on a fine day, washing down great pizza with a glass from the haiku wine menu (three options). The Verdict Even the elves knew something was up. Christmas is just a memory at this stage but just prior to the big day, the pair of elves on the shelves stationed in the Youghal home of former champion jockey Davy Russell each had a nice, shiny new pair of dancing shoes on. Well, 'tis the season. Russell, 44, and his wife, teacher and former athlete, Edelle, are now gearing up for Dancing with the Stars, in which Davy will compete alongside Eileen Dunne, Rosanna Davison, Jason Smyth and others for the crown. It could be a long campaign and Davy, retired from the saddle just over a year, is already feeling the competitive edge. I can only learn as quick as Im learning and put in as much time as I can, he says. Its just something new. Learning to dance, being able to dance, is one thing, but to dance properly is a lovely thing to be able to do and I would like to put in enough effort to get a result out of that. That said, the Corkman admits he needed a little bit of a push when it came to donning the sequins and dancing shoes. Seated beside him in their Youghal home is Edelle, and according to Davy, she was doing the pushing. Davy Russell, with wife Edelle: Criticism where it has a value, I try and put a value on criticism so that it will only make you get better or work harder. Picture: Miki Barlok I never in my life had an urge to dance the rumba, he says. Maybe it was because of Nina [Carbery, former contestant and fellow jockey], it was nice to be asked. It was during the summer and we agreed to it and now getting into the middle of it, its tough going and its a big commitment. You gather loads of respect for the dancers because the fitness and the level of expertise they have is, like, these just arent your ordinary dancers, these are a special group of people. It is definitely a learning curve anyway. Edelle says: I always knew he could dance, but only at a wedding. It is very technical now if you look at what hes doing now and what wed be doing if we were at a function, Davy would be the first on the dance floor and never needed a push but it was always to your style of music. [The Franks and Oasis, since youre wondering.] But I said, you know what Davy, you have the rhythm, itll be a bit of fun, and you were just after retiring, not long, and it was something to look forward to and that people could follow. Im a bit like the Jamaican bobsleigh team, Davy chimes in, referencing the classic no-hopers in the Winter Olympics who, in their own way, won out in the end, not least in being immortalised in the John Candy film classic Cool Runnings. Yet, you get the sense that Davy isnt entirely playing this for laughs. Cork jockey Davy Russell is prepared for his competitive side to come out in Dancing With The Stars There is certainly the consistent glint in the eye of a serial competitor, the type of person who can win the Grand National, triumph at Cheltenham and dedicate himself so thoroughly to a sport that lets face it gave him more than a few broken bones. Yet he contrasts his approach to the dance floor to the way he used to hit the start line when he was in the saddle. Everything I have ever done has been loose and kind of natural, he says. As in, just let it flow. It was all just let everything flow, and now your feet have to be in certain places and your hands have to be in certain places and your elbow has to be at an angle and your front hand has to be at a different angle to your hips and all of this is with head up and loads of attitude. So all of that is alien to me but I am so, so lucky with my [dance] partner. She is an exceptional teacher. That would be Kylee Vincent, whose husband, Stephen, is also a pro dancer on the show, adding an extra dynamic to proceedings. According to Davy, Kylee is out of this world, someone who has unbelievable patience and who views Davys lack of dance experience as an advantage. Its clear that his approach to the sometimes frenetic pace of the DWTS studio is going to be somewhat at odds with the almost mystical calmness he often employed on the racetrack. I used to always slow everything down, he says, relax, getting everything so relaxed. I loved riding horses that were a little bit free, that wanted to run and maybe you would find a happy medium with them, instead of telling them what to do. Once the horse was happy, I was happy, sometimes to my detriment, he adds with a wry laugh. I was always really late in making up my mind what to do, I was a bit obsessed with form and going through things and every day from when I woke up to when I went to sleep I thought of nothing but what I was doing, but I would never make up my mind until the start of a race. It was all done on feel. It worked a lot of the time. Hearing all this, its tempting to view Davy as the horse and Kylee as the jockey in this new professional relationship. Yet he sees some similarities between his old gig and the new challenge, such as the soft eyes needed to get the panoramic view of everything, rather than staring at the ground or the floor. Davy Russell: Im a bit like the Jamaican bobsleigh team. Picture: Miki Barlok Hes also still fit, wiry and intense, occasionally dragging on a vape. DWTS presents a different kind of fitness, he says, and one of the obstacles is the wear and tear of all those years jumping fences the broken bones, the bumps and bruises. So while he is light and lean, hes given regular reminders in rehearsal of past injuries. My flexibility is limited, through injuries and things, he says. But I can feel myself getting fitter and fitter. One other aspect of DWTS can be the occasional sharp blast of criticism from the judges. Over the years Davy has sometimes felt the burn of professional criticism, and he famously rebuked Michael OLeary when the Ryanair boss averred that Russells short-term return from his initial retirement was in his view a mistake. But it seems judges Loraine Barry, Brian Redmond and Arthur Gourounlian have nothing to worry about. Criticism, all my life, I took it as a positive, Davy says. You can either take it and work on it or... I can only say that they are experts and they know what they are looking at so, grand. You put in the work and youre not good enough, youre not good enough. Criticism where it has a value, I try and put a value on criticism so that it will only make you get better or work harder. Now, if someone off the street is telling me I cant dance, Im not going to spend too much time on that one... Ah, the competitors edge again. For all that, Davy seems like a man at ease with his new life one that is often spent trackside but which also encompasses a growing passion for breeding horses, and other passions, such as his involvement in hurling4cancer, which has turned into a fundraising success and a way for ace hurlers, past and present, to amble out onto the pitch on a sunny day and play for fun. Davy Russell: I cant understand now how I found time to go racing Picture: Miki Barlok Edelle who has recently overcome a bout of viral meningitis is braced for the renewed absences that accompany the show, but she is comfortable with it. We keep a calendar and Davy tries to pack in as much as he can, so if he has to go to Dublin for two days a week or two half days, Davy works the farm in the morning, goes up to Dublin, stays up rehearsing the following day and comes home, so hes gone an afternoon and a morning. The couple have four children together, and its a busy house according to Edelle every minute counts. But it works. According to Davy: I cant understand now how I found time to go racing. The children are already following in his footsteps, in the saddle, travelling around the country for meets. Its all happening. And now its going to happen some more, every Sunday on our TV screens, taking us from winter into spring. Davy is ready. I was never one for saying I was going to win this, that, or the other, but I would be very disappointed if for lack of effort I didnt get as far as I could get, he says. So I would just put in so much effort into it and try not to leave anything behind. To be honest, Im giving it everything. Maybe the elves were onto something. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 7. The territory of Uzbekistan's Namangan Free Economic Zone (FEZ) will be increased by 70 hectares, Trend reports. For this purpose, Uzbekistan will join the vacant land plots in Turakurgan district. A resolution of the President of Uzbekistan, "On measures to expand the territory of the Namangan free economic zone," has been adopted on this issue. The measure is aimed at expanding the territory of Namangan FEZ, introducing modern technologies, creating favorable conditions for entrepreneurs, and increasing the production capacity of import-substituting and export-oriented products. According to the document, at the expense of the State Unitary Enterprise "Directorate of Namangan Free Economic Zone," it is planned to ensure the development and approval of the general plan of the new territories of Namangan FEZ within a month. In addition, measures will be taken to develop new lands with an area equal to five times the area of agricultural land plots, allocated for the expansion of the free economic zone, within three years. The free economic zone Namangan was established in the Chust district of the Namangan region of Uzbekistan. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree on creating a free economic zone called Namangan on August 20, 2018. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned that someone will be killed if arson attacks continue on properties earmarked to accommodate refugees. He also said he expects arrests and charges in the coming weeks following an arson attack at the Ross Lake House Hotel in Galway last month. Mr Varadkar said in a democracy, no one has the right to block people moving into their community, as protests continue outside several buildings across the country earmarked for asylum seekers. On the latest protests in Mayo, he said its his understanding that discussions are "ongoing" between the owner of a property in Ballinrobe and the Department of Integration. A protest is continuing outside the former JJ Gannon's Hotel in Mayo as some locals are against asylum seekers moving in. It comes as 457 refugees, who have recently arrived in the country, have not been offered accommodation by the State. The Irish Refugee Council has expressed concerns over the high number of people who will have to sleep rough in freezing weather conditions this week. Condemning arson attacks at sites across the country, Mr Varadkar said: Arson is a very serious crime whatever political beliefs people may have, and people are entitled to their political beliefs but nobody has the right to damage or burn down somebody else's property. I want to express my concern, people vandalising buildings, setting them alight, they can't know for sure that there isn't somebody in that building. It might be somebody who is a security guard, for example, who might be a night watchman. It might be someone who has a license to stay there or it might even be somebody who is sleeping rough. I have a real concern that not only will we face a situation whereby we're investigating arson that we may yet be investigating manslaughter and murder." He said he understands people in Ballinrobe and elsewhere have fears but its important that the government communicate information to allay those concerns. "We also need to be very clear, nobody in a free society, nobody in a democracy has the right to veto or the right to exercise a veto on who moves into their area and that doesn't just apply to international protection applicants," Mr Varadkar told RTE. He said Fine Gael will allow its councillors leeway when it comes to how they deal with local issues but the party will not tolerate any form of racism or misinformation. Mr Varadkar said candidates have been removed from the ticket before but that has not occurred in this case. The Taoiseach added that there is a responsibility to reassure people that Ireland's immigration system is rules-based and "we are fair and welcoming" to those who come here legally. "And that we are also firm and tough on those who do not," he said. A woman arrived in fear at her local garda station because her ex-partner called her a bitch and a psycho in texts. Her ex-partner had been required under the terms of a Domestic Violence Act court order not to beset her home or do anything to put her in fear, but when she woke at 5.30am one morning she saw that he was in a car outside her house. Judge Mary Dorgan noted that the accused had been convicted and sentenced for previous breaches of a protection order in respect of his ex-partner. It defies belief that someone who got a five-month suspended sentence did not know that the protection order had various conditions attached to it. It defies belief that he thinks it is reasonable to turn up at 5.30am for an access arrangement (in respect of a child) for some time during the day. He would have known previously from the protection order that there was to be no communication other than respectful communication by text in relation to access. But to call her a bitch and a psycho is very diminishing, Judge Dorgan said. Sergeant Pat Lyons said in respect of one breach of the protection order he was due to collect his child but he arrived three hours early. She felt he was watching the house, putting her in fear. He did not threaten her but his actions caused fear. The judge added that the accused might have been at the house for hours already when his ex-partner saw him at 5.30am. In the second incident there was texting going on between the parties but this ultimately became abusive when he called her a bitch and psycho. Frank Buttimer, solicitor for the defendant, said that because he was out of the family home he had at that time no place to stay and was sleeping in his car. Mr Buttimer said the parking outside the house occurred in that context. He said the language used in the texts was "inappropriate". Judge Dorgan said: What enables access to go well is that there is mutual respect. He should not have been there. And he should not have been calling her names. The judge said she would direct the preparation of a probation report to assist in the implementing restorative justice, not in terms of any reconciliation of the parties, but for the purpose of putting matters on a more respectful footing for future child access arrangements. The case was adjourned until April 4 to allow time for the probation report. The parties to this case dealt with at an in-camera hearing of Cork District Court cannot be identified. Four people were feared dead last night after IRA bombers devastated Brighton's Grand Hotel but narrowly failed to assassinate British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. Senior Tory MP Sir Anthony Berry, whose four children are cousins of the Princess of Wales, is one of two people known to have been killed by the IRA bidding to wipe out the British cabinet. Also among the dead are Roberta Wakeham, wife of present UK government chief whip John Wakeham, and Jeanne Shattock wife of President of SW Conservative Association Gordon Shattock. Sussex police said one other is missing, feared dead among the rubble but the IRA just missed their main target, the prime minister herself. Twenty pounds of gelignite, with a timed detonator, had been placed in a 5th floor room designed to send hundreds of tons of masonry collapsing onto the prime minister's first floor Napoleon Suite. The huge blast, shortly after 2.45am ripped open the front of the hotel and wrecked the bathroom she had visited just two minutes earlier. Firemen were last night frantically digging in the ruins of the Grand Hotel for up to three people still believed to be buried. Earlier, they had dug out cabinet minister Norman Tebbit and government chief whip John Wakeham, among 15 of the 34 injured detained in the Royal Sussex Hospital. Amid the chaos, the Iron Lady, shaken but unhurt, showed steely calm as she and other cabinet members, many still in pyjamas, were led to safety. A few hours later, it was back to business as usual for the prime minister as she insisted the party conference go on as scheduled and she told the bombers, you cannot win. Emotional but grimly resolute, she bravely went before her shocked supporters and said of the outrage: "It was an attempt to cripple her majesty's democratically-elected government". The fact that they had gathered again in the conference centre, "shocked but composed and determined", was a sign that "not only has this attack failed, but that all attempts to destroy democracy by terrorism will fail". But the IRA, who admitted responsibility for the blast in a statement to the Press Association in Dublin, warned Mrs. Thatcher: "Today we were unlucky, but remember, we have only to be lucky once, you will have to be lucky always". First printed The Cork Examiner October, 1984 US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said Turkey is committed to playing a positive, productive role for post-war Gaza and is prepared to use its influence in the region to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from broadening. The latest Middle East mission by Americas top diplomat opened with talks in Turkey and Greece before shifting to the region for not necessarily easy conversations with allies and partners about what they are willing to do to build durable peace and security. Mr Blinkens fourth visit in three months comes as developments in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea and Iraq have put intense strains on a US push to prevent a regional conflagration since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, and as international criticism of Israels military operation mounts. Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis @PrimeMinisterGR and I discussed our strong relationship and cooperation as @NATO Allies. We appreciate Greeces leadership on regional issues, including assistance to Ukraine and efforts to enhance freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. pic.twitter.com/kwL4cyEjsH Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 6, 2024 He held meetings with Turkeys President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, in Istanbul about what Turkey and others can do to exert influence, particularly on Iran and its proxies, to ease tensions, speed humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and begin planning for reconstruction and governance of post-war Gaza. Much of the territory has been reduced to rubble by Israeli bombardments. In Chania, a port city on the Mediterranean island of Crete, Mr Blinken later visited Greeces Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, at his residence. These are difficult and challenging times, Mr Mitsotakis said. Mr Blinkens day ended in Jordan, with stops in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to follow on Sunday and Monday. He will visit Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday and Wednesday before wrapping up the trip in Egypt. Mr Blinken met Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan (Pool via AP) Mr Blinken said his priorities are protecting civilians far too many Palestinians have been killed getting more humanitarian aid into Gaza, ensuring Hamas cannot strike again and developing a framework for Palestinian-led governance in the territory and a Palestinian state with security assurances or Israel. The ultimate goal, he said, is lasting peace, and his talks will focuses on what US allies and partners are prepared to do to help with that process. He said: These are not necessarily easy conversations. There are different perspectives, different needs, different requirements, but it is vital that we engage in this diplomacy now both for the sake of Gaza itself and more broadly the sake of the future for Israelis and Palestinians and for the region as a whole. There is clearly a strong desire among the majority of people in the region for a future that is one of peace, of security, of de-escalation of conflicts, of integration of countries and thats one path, thats one future. Mr Blinken will travel to a number of countries across the region (Pool via AP) The other future is an endless cycle of violence, a repetition of the horrific events that weve seen and lives of insecurity and conflict for people in the region, which is what virtually no-one wants. Turkey, and Mr Erdogan in particular, have been harshly critical of Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the prosecution of the war and the impact it has had on Palestinian civilians. But Mr Blinken told reporters before he flew from Crete to Amman that from our conversations today, its clear that Turkey is prepared to play a positive, productive role in the work that needs to happen the day after the conflict ends and as well more broadly in trying to find a path to sustainable peace and security. Mr Blinken would not go in details about what he heard from the Turkish officials. I think theyre also prepared to use the ties, the influence they have, the relationships they have with some of the critical players and some of the critical countries in the region to do everything possible to deescalate and to prevent the conflict from spreading, he said. Turkish President @RTErdogan and I discussed the conflict in Gaza, shared security priorities as NATO Allies, and desire to expand our bilateral trade and investment. pic.twitter.com/0CgLT5IBa8 Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 6, 2024 They clearly have a shared interest with us in doing just that and Im confident from these conversations that theyre going to make every possible effort. From the Turkish officials, Mr Blinken sought at least consideration of potential monetary or in-kind contributions to reconstruction efforts in Gaza and participation in security arrangements, according to US officials. Mr Blinken also stressed the importance that the US places on Turkeys ratification of Swedens membership in Nato, a long-delayed process that the Turks have said they will complete soon. Swedens entry to the alliance is seen as a significant response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. A Turkish official said Mr Fidan told Mr Blinken that Israels increasing aggression in Gaza was a threat to the region and he called for an immediate cease-fire and the delivery of uninterrupted humanitarian aid. Mr Fidan said negotiations for a two-state solution should begin as soon as possible, according to the official. He also said Turkey was awaiting the outcome of its request to upgrade its fleet of F-16 fighter jets and stressed that the ratification of Swedens Nato membership lay in the hands of the Turkish parliament. Former US president Donald Trump has marked the third anniversary of the assault on the US Capitol on January 6 2021 by casting the migrant surge on the southern border as the real insurrection. Just over a week before the Republican nomination process begins with Iowas caucuses, Mr Trump continued to claim that countries have been emptying jails and mental institutions to fuel a record number of migrant crossings. There is no evidence that this is the case. Mr Trump said in Iowa: When you talk about insurrection, what theyre doing, thats the real deal. Thats the real deal. Not patriotically and peacefully peacefully and patriotically. Mr Trump is seen as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination (AP) He was quoting from his speech on January 6, before a violent mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol as part of a desperate bid to keep him in power after his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. Mr Trumps remarks came a day after Mr Biden delivered a speech near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where he cast Mr Trump as a grave threat to democracy and called January 6 a day when we nearly lost America lost it all. With a likely rematch of the 2020 election looming, both Mr Biden and Mr Trump have frequently invoked January 6 on the campaign trail. Mr Trump, who is under US federal indictment for his efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Mr Biden, has consistently downplayed or spread conspiracy theories about a riot in which his supporters spurred by his lies about election fraud tried to disrupt the certification of Mr Bidens victory. The former leader also continued to bemoan the treatment of those who have been jailed for participating in the riot, again labelling them as hostages. Mr Trump spoke at a rally at Des Moines Area Community College in Newton, Iowa (AP) More than 1,230 people have been charged with federal crimes connected to the violence, including assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. Mr Trump was holding a pair of commit-to-caucus events in Newton in central Iowa and Clinton in the states far east just over a week before voting begins on January 15. Earlier on Saturday, he courted young conservative activists in Des Moines, speaking to members of Run GenZ, an organisation that encourages young conservatives to run for office. Many in the audience at the Embassy Suites hotel in Des Moines seemed surprised to see Mr Trump, whose visit had not been previously announced. Mr Trumps campaign is hoping to turn out thousands of supporters who have never caucused before as part of a show of force aimed at denying his rivals momentum and demonstrating his organising prowess heading into the general election. His chief rivals, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida governor Ron DeSantis, were also campaigning in the state as they battle for second place in hopes of emerging as the most viable alternative to Mr Trump, who is leading by wide margins in early state and national polls. Mr Trump has used the trip to step up his attacks against Ms Haley, who has been gaining ground. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley are Mr Trumps main rivals for the Republican nomination (AP) He again cast her as insufficiently conservative and a globalist beholden to Wall Street donors, and accused her of being disloyal for running against him. Nikki will sell you out just like she sold me out, he charged. On Friday night, Mr Trump highlighted several recent Haley statements that drew criticism, including her comment that voters in New Hampshire correct Iowas mistakes (You dont have to be corrected, he said) and her failure to mention slavery when asked what had caused the Civil War. I dont know if its going to have an impact, but you know like slaverys sort of the obvious answer, as opposed to her three paragraphs of bullshit, he told a crowd Friday. In Newton, he said that he was fascinated by the horrible Civil War, which he suggested he could have prevented. Its so fascinating, he said. Its just different. I just find it Im so attracted to seeing it So many mistakes were made. See, that was something I think could have been negotiated, to be honest with you. Ms Haleys campaign has pointed to his escalating attention, including a new attack ad, as evidence Mr Trump is worried about her momentum. God bless President Trump, hes been on a temper tantrum every day about me and everything hes saying is not true, Ms Haley told a crowd Saturday in North Liberty, Iowa. The Israeli military signalled that it has wrapped up major combat in northern Gaza, saying it has completed dismantling Hamas military infrastructure there, as the war against the militant group entered its fourth month. Its spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said late Saturday that forces would continue to deepen the achievement there, strengthen defences along the Israel-Gaza border fence and focus on the central and southern parts of the territory. The announcement came ahead of a visit to Israel by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Biden administration officials, including Mr Blinken, have repeatedly urged Israel to wind down its blistering air and ground offensive in Gaza and shift to more targeted attacks against Hamas leaders to prevent harm to Palestinian civilians. In recent weeks, Israel had already been scaling back its military assault in northern Gaza and pressing its offensive in the territorys south, where most of Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians are being squeezed into smaller areas in a humanitarian disaster while being pounded by Israeli air strikes. Lorries carrying humanitarian aid line up at the Rafah Border Crossing, Egypt, on the way to Gaza (Amr Nabil/AP) The war was triggered by Hamas October 7 attack on southern Israel in which the militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 people hostage. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted the war will not end until the objectives of eliminating Hamas, getting Israels hostages returned and ensuring that Gaza wont be a threat to Israel are met. Israels retaliation by air, land and sea has killed more than 22,700 Palestinians and wounded more than 58,000, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The count of the dead does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Health officials say about two-thirds of those killed have been women and minors. Israel blames Hamas for the heavy civilian casualties because the group operates in heavily populated residential areas. On Sunday, officials at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies of 18 people, including 12 children, who were killed in an Israeli strike late Saturday. More than 50 people were injured in the strike on a home in the Khan Younis refugee camp, which was set up decades ago to house refugees from the 1948 Mideast war over Israels creation and morphed into a neighbourhood of the city. Another airstrike hit a house between Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, killing at least seven people whose bodies were taken to the nearby European Hospital. People watch smoke rising to the sky after an explosion in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel (Leo Correa/AP) Israeli forces were also pushing deeper into the central city of Deir al-Balah, where on Saturday residents in several neighbourhoods were warned in flyers dropped over the city that they must evacuate their homes. The international medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by the acronym MSF, said it was evacuating its medical staff and their families from Deir al-Balahs Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital because of the growing danger. The situation became so dangerous that some staff living in the neighbouring areas were not able to leave their houses because of the constant threats of drones and snipers, said Carolina Lopez, the groups emergency coordinator at the hospital. She said a bullet penetrated a wall of the hospitals intensive care unit on Friday, and that drone attacks and sniper fire were just a few hundred metres from the hospital over the past couple of days. The group had about 50 Palestinian and international medical staff in the hospital. Ms Lopez said the hospital has received between 150 and 200 injured people daily in recent weeks. On some days, we have received more dead than injured, she said. No one and nowhere is safe in Gaza. Rear Admiral Hagari, the military spokesman, said Israeli forces would act differently in the south than they had in northern Gaza, where heavy bombardment and ground combat levelled entire neighbourhoods. He said the urban refugee camps currently being targeted by the military are packed with gunmen and that an underground city of sprawling tunnels was discovered underneath Khan Younis. He said the military is applying the lessons we learned, but did not elaborate. Echoing Israeli political leaders, he said the fighting will continue throughout 2024. His comments about changing the way the forces are fighting appeared to be a nod to Mr Blinken, who is on his fourth Mideast trip in three months. In addition to appeals for scaling back high-intensity combat, Mr Blinken has called for more aid to reach Gaza and urged Israels leaders to come up with a vision for post-war Gaza. Two US senators who inspected aid deliveries over the weekend described a cumbersome process that is slowing relief to the Palestinian population in the besieged territory, largely due to Israeli inspections of cargo lorries, with seemingly arbitrary rejections of vital humanitarian equipment. The system to ensure that aid deliveries within Gaza do not get hit by Israeli forces is totally broken, said Senators Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley, both Democrats. Meanwhile, the Biden administration and Mr Netanyahu remain far apart on who should run the territory after the war, with the Israeli leader repeatedly rejecting the Washington-floated idea of having a reformed Palestinian Authority, an autonomous government in parts of the occupied West Bank, eventually administer Gaza. In a further complication of Mr Blinkens mission, a new escalation of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah has put strains on a US push to prevent a regional conflagration. Saturdays fighting was described by Hezbollah as an initial response to the targeted killing of a top Hamas leader in a Hezbollah stronghold of the Lebanese capital of Beirut last week. The strike was presumed to have been carried out by Israel. Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) UNICEFs Executive Director, Catherine Russell, said this week that Children in Gaza are caught in a nightmare that worsens with every passing day. There are some 3,000 new cases of diarrhea among the Strips children every single day now. In addition, the UNs World Health Organization reports that the Israeli army has attacked hospitals and other important medical facilities 600 times in the past three months. Some 613 persons have been killed in these attacks, including premature babies and 770 were wounded. In international law, health facilities may not be targeted by military operations unless the enemy is actively firing from them or using them to advance the war effort. Zero credible evidence has been presented by the Israeli government for its outrageous claims that hospitals were Hamas command centers, and the Washington Posts investigation has knocked down that claim definitively for al-Shifa hospital. Critics allege that crippling the hospitals in the north was aimed at preventing Palestinians from living there and turning it into a no-mans land to function as a buffer zone. Half the population of Gaza consists of children, about 1.1 million of them. WHO now says that they are faced by severe risk of dying from three main causes: 1. Being caught in Israeli fire as the Israeli army continues its assault 2. Malnutrition or even starving from lack of food 3. Disease outbreaks, including diarrhea, cases of which are spiking. Infants and toddlers die swiftly from the dehydration caused by diarrhea. Because Israel has destroyed water pipes and the purification facilities cant function, and because there is no fuel to boil water with, parents or guardians can only give these children dirty water for the most part, which causes more diarrhea and increases rather than lowering the risk of death from dehydration. Israeli bombardment, shelling and sniping have killed over 8,000 children in Gaza and over 22,000 individuals, 70% of them women and children and almost all innocent noncombatants. WGN Israeli Strike kills 12 people, mostly children, in Gaza area declared safe zone by Israel 1.9 million people in Gaza again, roughly 950,000 of them children have been made homeless, and some have had to move to seek shelter several times. In the north, 150,000 have sought shelter in facilities of the UN Relief and Works Agency, which have been repeatedly attack by the Israeli military. In the south, about half a million people are in the vicinity of such shelters. Many people are sleeping in the rough in the cold and sometimes rainy winter, which also weakens childrens immunity. Some have taken shelter in areas designated as safe by the Israeli generals, but then have come under bombardments anyway. Before the war Gaza, under an economic siege by Israel that created an employment rate of 54%, required 500 trucks of supplies and aid per day. Now it is less than 200 per day, which is creating food insecurity. The delivery trucks are sent back if they fail inspections even for minor reasons and have to be entirely repacked. UNICEF reports that Most families said their children are only getting grains including bread or milk, meeting the definition of severe food poverty. The Republicans in the US Congress and statehouses who say they care so much about unborn children are really concerned when UNICEF says it is particularly worried about the nutrition of over 155,000 pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, as well as more than 135,000 children under two, given their specific nutrition needs and vulnerability. Right? Martin Griffiths, the U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said Friday that the Palestinians of Gaza face daily threats to their very existence. He added, People are facing the highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded (and) famine is around the corner. By Leonie Fleischmann, City, University of London | After more than 90 days of war in Gaza, in which at least 22,000 Palestinians are reported to have been killed, Israeli officials have shifted their attention to what happens once the fighting has ceased. There has been considerable controversy over proposals from far-right members of Benjamin Netanyahus government, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. The pair, who Netanyahu needed to include in his coalition to form a government last year, have advocated for Palestinians in Gaza to be resettled in countries around the world, making space for Israeli civilians to reoccupy the area. Israels allies, who have thus far supported its war aims, have been quick to condemn the proposal. The United States released a press statement on January 2 rejecting the plan as inflammatory and irresponsible. Washington confirmed its support for Gaza as Palestinian land. The statement further claimed that Netanyahu had reassured the US that the proposal does not reflect government policy. But while Smotrich and Ben Gvir represent the most extreme factions of Israels ruling coalition and were frozen out of the war cabinet, it would be unwise to dismiss their comments as merely another incident of incitement against Palestinians. The pair have the power to bring down the ruling coalition and Netanyahu if their demands are not heeded. And they have considerable support within the settler movement, which has been influential in the policy and practice of settlement building throughout Israels history. And it is also important to note that proposals to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip were initially proposed by Israeli lawmakers considered to be more moderate. West should welcome Gaza refugees In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on November 13, 2023, two Israeli lawmakers former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon and centre-left politician Ram Ben-Barak, formerly deputy director of Mossad, wrote that countries around the world should accept some of Gazas population who have expressed a desire to relocate. They criticised the international community for not fulfilling their moral imperative to help civilians caught in the crisis. Intelligence minister, Gila Gamliel who represents Likud, the mainstream conservative nationalist party led by Netanyahu reiterated this proposal in an article in the Jerusalem Post on November 19, 2023. She referred to Gaza as a breeding ground for extremism and called for the voluntary resettlement of Palestinians outside the Gaza Strip. Both these proposals suggested humanitarian concerns for Palestinians alongside security concerns for Israelis. But others who also support the plan do so out of strong religious ideology. Return of the settlers? As documented by political geographer David Newman, the Israeli settler movement mainly comprises religious Zionists who believe the greater land of Israel was promised to the Jewish people by God. In light of this, many believe that settling the land is an opportunity to fulfil Gods promise. Following the 1967 and 1974 wars, they rejected those who believed returning land to the Arab countries would secure peace. Instead they advocated for the establishment of Israeli settlements to ensure the land was never relinquished. They have had significant influence on Israeli policy and practice and now find themselves represented in the corridors of power by Smotrich and Ben Gvir. The movement was dealt a severe blow following the decision by former prime minister Ariel Sharons disengagement plan in 2005. Sharon evicted about 8,000 Israeli settlers from 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip. Settlers have been quick to respond to the current conflict, seeing it as an opportunity to fulfil the religious promise. At the end of December last year, the leader of the Nachala Israeli settlement movement, Daniella Weiss, appeared on mainstream television calling for Palestinians to be cleared from Gaza. This was so that Israeli settlers can see the sea There will be no homes, there will be no Arabs its just an elegant way of saying, I want to see the sea. She declared that Gaza City had always been one of the cities of Israel. Were just going back. There was a historical mistake and now we are fixing it. Middle East Eye: Erase Gaza so settlers can see the sea: Head of Israeli settlement movement What these positions fail to fundamentally understand is the deep connection Palestinians have to the land and their steadfastness in remaining there. Deep divisions Weisss position and the aspirations of the settler movement appear to have been dealt a setback by Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, who has presented his plans for Gaza after the destruction of Hamas. On January 5, he said: Gaza residents are Palestinian, therefore Palestinian bodies will be in charge, with the condition that there will be no hostile actions or threats against the State of Israel. Gallant further proposed that there should be no Israeli civil presence in Gaza. An account in the Times of Israel said that the cabinet meeting at which Gallant outlined his proposal ended in acrimony, exposing the deep divisions in Netanyahus government. Gallants proposal comes days before US secretary of state Antony Blinken is due to visit to discuss transitioning to the next phase of the war. The proposal has been presented to the US administration, although it does not yet form official policy. As attention turns towards the end of the hostilities, Netanyahu will have a difficult juggling act in placating the different factions of his coalition and the Israeli public, as well as satisfying demands from the US. What is missing from the discussions thus far is the voice of the Palestinians which must be put at the centre of any future solutions. Leonie Fleischmann, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, City, University of London This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Release Information on Detained Gaza Workers ( Human Rights Watch) (Jerusalem) Israeli authorities held thousands of workers from Gaza in incommunicado detention for several weeks following the October 7 attacks, subjecting at least some of them to inhumane and degrading conditions, Human Rights Watch said. Thousands more remain stranded in the occupied West Bank without valid legal status and vulnerable to arrest. Those detained after October 7 were held by Israeli authorities in Israel and the West Bank, some of whom were reportedly interrogated on alleged links to, or knowledge of, the attacks. On November 3, over 3,000 Palestinian workers were released from detention and transferred to Gaza. Israeli authorities have yet to state the total numbers of workers from Gaza in Israel on October 7, or the number of workers who were detained or remain detained. Israeli authorities have not disclosed if any workers from Gaza were charged with any crime. Israeli authorities detained thousands of workers for weeks without charge in incommunicado detention, subjecting at least some to humiliating ill-treatment, said Michelle Randhawa, senior refugee and migrant rights officer at Human Rights Watch. The search for perpetrators and abettors of the October 7 attacks does not justify abusing workers who had been granted permits to work in Israel. The October 7 Hamas-led attacks killed an estimated 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities. More than 21,600 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 8,500 children, during the hostilities, according to Gaza authorities. An estimated 18,500 workers from Gaza had permits to work in Israel on October 7, though it is unclear how many were in Israel that day. To get permits, applicants from Gaza underwent stringent security evaluations. Aljazeera English: Palestinian detainees describe horrific torture by Israeli forces On December 19 and 21, Human Rights Watch wrote to the Israeli military and Israel Prison Service with its findings asking for comment, but received no response, as of writing. Human Rights Watch spoke to four workers from Gaza detained by Israeli authorities after October 7. Three workers were part of a small group released to the West Bank before November 3, and one was released on November 3 to Gaza. One man attempted to go to the West Bank after he realized his work permit was cancelled and deleted from Al Munasiq, the phone app where work permits are stored. He said he was stopped at a checkpoint on the way to the West Bank, blindfolded, hands tightly bound with zip ties, and taken first to Ofer prison, and then to an unknown second location. There, he said, They [forced me to take] off all my clothesand they took pictures of me.They beat me intensely, I was naked during this, it was humiliating. The worst part was when the dogs were attacking [me]. I was blindfolded and cuffed with metal shackles, I didnt know if the dogs were controlled by someone or just left to attack me, I was terrified. He was interrogated and asked to identify his home on an aerial map of Gaza and was also asked about specific people. He was then released on November 3 at the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza. Another man said Israeli police in Rahat, a city in southern Israel, arrested him and other workers from Gaza after the October 7 attacks and took them to an army base in Ofakim, Israel. [The Israeli forces] made us undress, he said. [We were] completely naked. They handed us Pampers to wear and thin white overalls. We stayed blindfolded and cuffed [with zip ties on our hands and feet] for 10 days We kept asking why we are detained. We never got an answer, only verbal assaults and death threats. He said he was beaten for hours, then dragged on gravel face down and attached to a wall or fence by his cuffed hands, and then beaten again: Every time I fell on the ground I was forced to stand up, and again more beatings and I fell on the ground. With every beating and fall the plastic zip ties on my hands became tighter and more painful. He was then transferred to Ofer prison where he spent another four or five days until he was released into the West Bank. Another man who worked in Rahat said he and other workers were arrested and taken to the Rahat police station on or around October 9. While blindfolded with their hands zip-tied behind their backs, Israeli forces constantly cursed at usand threatened to kill us. We were held for 12 hours. We were not allowed water or [to use] the bathroom. Israeli forces also transferred him to Ofer prison, where he said he was interrogated about Hamas in Gaza. On October 22, Israeli authorities released him to Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics, who took him by ambulance to the Ramallah Public Hospital, where staff treated his zip tie wounds. Human Rights Watch saw the scars on his wrists. The Israeli military spokesperson confirmed to Haaretz two Gaza workers, one with cancer, one with diabetes, died in Israeli custody, saying, The two died due to []complex medical condition[s] contracted before they arrived at the facilities. An investigation is being conducted into the circumstances of their death. Both men were arrested after October 7. One of the men Human Rights Watch interviewed said there was a cancer patient with him in Ofer who died after a few days in pain. The Israeli human rights groups Gisha and HaMoked told Human Rights Watch that families in Gaza contacted them after October 7 when they stopped hearing from relatives with work permits in Israel. Both organizations requested permission to visit the detainees, speak to them by phone, and receive information on their judicial status, yet to no avail. We had no contact with the Gaza workers while they were detained, said Nadya Daqqah, a lawyer from HaMoked. It cant get any more incommunicado than this. On October 23, six human rights organizations in Israel filed an urgent petition with Israels High Court, which stated Israeli authorities had refused to provide any information about where workers were being detained, under what law, and for how long. On November 2, Gisha and HaMoked submitted a second urgent petition to Israels High Court stating that the detainees were being heldwithout access to legal representation and allegedly subjected to physical violence and psychological abuse, as well asinhumane conditions. On November 2, the Israeli cabinet voted to return Gaza workers who were in Israel on the day the war broke out to Gaza. The next day, Israeli authorities released 3,026 Palestinian workers to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing. On November 13, the Court rejected the petition, given the release of workers on November 3. The released Palestinian workers gave media interviews, describing abuses and degrading conditions in detention, including being subjected to electric shocks, urinated on, attacked by dogs, as well as held for several days without food or water. Human Rights Watch was not able to verify these accounts. Gisha interviewed two brothers who had similar accounts of being blindfolded, beaten, and held without any communication with either their families or lawyers. On November 9, the Israeli government published an emergency regulation on the detention and deportation of unlawful residents of [Gaza]. The regulation states that Gaza workers no longer have a legal basis for being in Israel since Israeli authorities canceled their work permits and will be held in custody until removal. While the regulation sets time limits on detention, it also allows for extensions based on security needs. The situation of the thousands of workers from Gaza who fled or were released to the West Bank remains unclear. Many are living in temporary shelters provided by the Palestinian Authority and nongovernmental organizations. There are reports from late November that Israeli Defense Forces have arrested workers from Gaza who had been sheltering in private homes. On November 10, Israel, in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, transferred another group of 982 workers from Gaza who had been sheltering in the West Bank to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing. On November 28, Israeli authorities released 300 Palestinian workers to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing. According to Osnat Cohen-Lifshitz, the head of Gishas legal department, these workers were released from the Anatot military base. Israeli authorities should disclose how many workers from Gaza were in Israel on October 7, how many were detained, whether any remain in detention and the basis for their detention, Randhawa said. They should investigate reports of abuse in detention and ensure the humane treatment of all detainees. Via Human Rights Watch From collecting pocket watches to developing an AI system for the clients of his auction house and starting his eponymous watch brand, this is a man to keep your eye on Gelfmans interest in watches was passed down to him from his grandfather who was an avid pocket watch collector. After inheriting the latters 140-piece collection at the age of 18, he has continued to grow it to around 3,000 pieces today. Pocket watches arent so popular right now, but thats good for me because I can buy them quite easily and I think interest will increase at one point in the future, he says. He has put his collection on hold for the moment buying only one new piece last year and two the year before to concentrate on his other watch projects. He is currently President & Chief Technology Officer at Ineichen, a Zurich-based auction house that was founded in the 1970s and has now been revived thanks to Gelfmans love for information technology. I am currently working on new AI systems for Ineichen to discuss with clients and learn everything about watches. We will be launching a whole new platform next year. In addition to the auction house, Gelfman has also founded his very own watch brand, which he introduced to GMT Publishing during this years Geneva Watch Days, along with a first model, the IN-16 Nixie. This eye-catching timepiece presents a striking design with two Nixie tubes that indicate the time, date, and battery status with vibrant orange digits. The timepiece can be linked and set via a smartphone Gelfman is an IT whizz, after all! He is also working on a second model to be launched next year, which will feature a mechanical movement this time, although it will also play with electricity and display the time in a unique way. The entrepreneur notably works closely with fellow Russian watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin, with whom he has been friends for over 18 years. Ineichen put together a special auction dedicated to his friends work in August with 15 lots. He also has some projects in the works with the constructor and watchmaker Anton Suhanov, who was Chaykins Manufacturing Director for ten years before setting up his own brand. Even if all these projects have been keeping Gelfman busy, he still keeps his eye on the vintage market. There are still timepieces that I really want to buy, but unfortunately no one wants to sell, he explains. I would love to find a Breguet Sympathique, for example, but that is a tough one to find, so maybe Im done collecting now, who knows! But as they say, once a collector, always a collector. Instead of collecting pocket watches, maybe his collection has evolved into watch businesses instead! Either way, he is going to be a fun person to follow as he continues to blaze his own trail. Zurich Boutique Ineichen Auctioneers Ineichen Auctioneers Fifty years of affordable Swiss auctions The well-known Zurich auction house founded by Peter A. Ineichen in 1973 is now in the forefront of innovation and its online sales platform has already won over almost 30,000 connoisseurs around the world, attracted by its convenient access and transparent costs. This anniversary year is marked by the opening of a new city-center boutique to welcome aficionados, as well as a new online service to buy or sell watches in just a few clicks. Designed by the watch enthusiast at the helm, Ilya Gelfman, it offers a rare range of experiences and value for money. Classics names and independents to ensure pleasing variety This distinctive collectors touch is also reflected in the thematic sales orchestrated since the revival of Ineichen Auctioneers under Gelfmans impetus, notably resulting in four world records in five years. Last year, he made his mark with a Royal 50 sale commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak, at which 50 timepieces were sold for a total of 6.5 million. This year he turned the spotlight on another great brand from the Vallee de Joux with its The Art of Breguet auction. His penchant for independent brands was notably illustrated by two Konstantin Chaykin sales in 2022 and 2023, and above all by the Independents 2023 auction in May which fetched CHF3.6 million. To celebrate its 50-year jubilee, Ineichen also held the Ineichen 50th Anniversary sale in December featuring a combination of classic and historical timepieces, as well as the Independents 2023 Part 2: Christmas Edition, projecting bidders firmly into the future of watchmaking. A few days before the New Year, a baby elephant got lost in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve in India. It got separated from the herd and walked about 4 kilometers on its own. The story ended happily: zookeepers found its mother, and the elephant's love touched the web. ADVERTISIMENT Four days after the elephant was reunited with its herd in the reserve, the staff tasked with keeping an eye on it found the baby sleeping with its mother in the middle of a tea plantation, The Hindu reports. The photo of this moment captured the Internet. "When a picture is worth a million words. A rescued elephant calf, after being reunited with its mother, takes an afternoon nap in her soothing arms before moving out again with the larger herd. The picture was taken by forest officials somewhere in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, keeping them safe," Supriya Sahuias, Principal Secretary for Climate Change and Forests, Tamil Nadu government, wrote on X. The official's followers expressed their joy with the photo, and some even compared the elephant's nap to their children's sleep. ADVERTISIMENT Usually, elephant herds rarely move on if a calf goes missing, they can only rush to meet it if they feel imminent danger. This calf was lucky that the workers were able to find his family, Daily Mail writes. Animal rights activists washed him to remove any human odors and returned him back to his herd and mother after three days of separation. The story ended with a happy ending and a cute photo. OBOZ.UA also reported that Ukraine plans to change the rules for pets in the shelter. Previously, it was forbidden to take them with you. Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Sunday, January 7, 2024 - Five journalists were among 9 people who were beaten by bouncers at KettleHouse Bar and Grill in Kilimani, Nairobi, during a crackdown on shisha by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) officials. The incident happened on Friday evening in the club owned by a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) politician. Despite the numerous attacks, the bouncers also vandalised their equipment and made away with other belongings, including memory cards and phones. "It was reported by Mr. Omerikwa, CEO NACADA, and Mr. Kosgei (SP), head of enforcement NACADA, that they were conducting a Shisha operation at Kettle House where the bouncers of the said club became violent, and in the process, members of the press covering the incident were attacked," reads the police report. The journalists who were attacked are; Jane Kibira (KBC), Lawrence Tikolo (Citizen TV), Boniface Okendo (Standard), Jackson Kibet Standard) and Boniface Bogita (Nation). Three police officers and a NACADA driver also suffered injuries. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, January 7, 2024 - Defence Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, has spoken about an incident in Kilimani on Friday where club bouncers stabbed five journalists and police officers during a shisha crackdown by National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) officers. While reacting to an attack on journalists and police officers, the CS said owners of shisha dens must face the law. The Public Health (Control of Shisha Smoking) Rules, 2017 prohibits the import, manufacture, sale, use, advertising and promoting, and distribution of shisha. "Regardless of your status and political affiliation, owners of Shisha dens must face the law. Attacking journalists and Law enforcement officers is illegal, Primitive and immoral. We must protect the family from Drug abuse," Duale said. This is not the first time Duale has declared his support for the fight against shisha. On December 24, 2023, he said Nacada should continue with the raid, noting that shisha is illegal. "Shisha addicts must face the law, as it has been illegal in Kenya since 2017," Duale said. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, January 7, 2024 - Pastor Victor Kanyaris slain sister, Starlet Wahu, is the talk of social media after she was brutally murdered by a man identified as John Matara at an Airbnb apartment in South B. It is believed that Wahu met Matara online and planned for a meet-up which later turned tragic after he stabbed her in the head and right thigh before fleeing. It is now emerging that although Wahu was masquerading as a model and a businesswoman, she was a notorious con. Word has it that she used to lure Nigerian men into Airbnbs and drug them, before stealing their valuables and money. What people dont know is that Starlet Wahu was a con and used to finesse Nigerian men. Used to meet them in Airbnbs, drug and steal their money, an X user claimed. Wahu was hurriedly buried at her mothers home in Kamulu on Saturday, three days after her brutal murder. The burial ceremony was exclusively attended by family members. Sunday, January 7, 2024 - It is now emerging that John Matara, the prime suspect in the brutal murder of Pastor Kanyaris sister, Starlet Wahu, is a notorious criminal. Matara, widely known as Monk or Karaga, was once jailed in Dar es Salaam. After he was released, he returned to Kenya and presented himself as a grassroots human rights organizer assisting the community in graphic design - his trained field. He continued with his criminal activities after returning to Kenya from Tanzania. At one time, he robbed a community library where he used to borrow books. His violent behaviours towards women are also known. He is also a familiar name within the Rastafarian movement and grassroots human rights circles in Nairobi Police believe he is a serial killer and might have committed murders in and out of Nairobi. He lures ladies on dating sites and takes them to Airbnbs, where he steals from them. The Kenyan DALY POST Sunday, January 7, 2024 - Renowned political analyst, Prof Mutahi Ngunyi, has threatened to sue controversial lawyer, Miguna Miguna, for calling him a thief without providing any shred of evidence. In a statement on Saturday, Ngunyi said he will sue Miguna Miguna in Kenya and in Canada if he calls him a thief again. The political scientist also threatened to have Migunas Runda house auctioned saying he has all the details including the LR number. Miguna. I offered to mentor you. You abused me. I figured you have a loose wire. And it is in your tongue. If you call me a thief again without evidence, I will sue you in Kenya and Canada. Then I will have your Runda house auctioned. I have the LR number, details, and means, Ngunyi stated. This comes after Miguna alleged that Ngunyi stole public money through the NYS scandal and intentionally burnt his house in Runda to get insurance money. Mr. Mutahi Ngunyi. You arent qualified to advise anyone about corruption. You are rotten to the core. You stole public money through the NYS scandal but you havent been punished for it. You intentionally burnt down your house a few years ago and stole insurance money, Miguna stated. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, January 7, 2024 - Kikuyu Member of Parliament, Kimani Ichungwah, has revealed plans to investigate retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and dealings in his administration. In an interview with NTV on Friday evening, Ichungwah who is also the National Assembly Majority Leader said the State Capture Commission will be established from a parliamentary bill. Ichungwah said he will table a bill to establish the commission as a private lawmaker representing the Kikuyu constituency. Ichung'wah said the commission will help deter preceding regimes from leaving the country in trouble after the end of their tenure. "I am doing a state capture commission bill as a private member; as a member of Kikuyu constituency. I firmly believe that our past should inform our future. That we must never as a country get back to the pitfalls that we fell into as a country; where state capture determined what contracts would go to whom, what government policies would be advanced. Not in the interest of the public good but in the interest of private business interest," Ichungwah stated. The outspoken MP said the move will keep Heads of State and those under them in check to prevent the looting of public resources. "I believe that it is something we should do as a country so that we confront the question of state capture and corruption in this country head-on to inform our future as I said. So that today President William Ruto or those working with him don't take advantage of their position in government to advance private business interests at the expense of public good," he stated. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, December 7, 2023 - John Matara, the prime suspect in the murder of Pastor Kanyaris sister, Starlet Wahu, is under investigation for being a serial killer. Police believe that he might have committed murders both in and outside Nairobi. This development comes after a lady revealed that he attempted to kill her after they met for a date in an Airbnb during the festive season. Matara lured her through a dating site He seemed nice but things went south in the middle of the night after he strangled her and demanded access to her M-Pesa statements. He started beating her up and burnt her with a hot iron box. I met this guy on a dating sitehe seemed so nice and even took me to an AirBnB. In the middle of the night he started strangling me and even asked for my M-Pesa statements, she said. He did bad things to me and asked for my accounts and asked me to transfer the money to him, she added. The victim, who requested to remain anonymous, identified Matara as the perpetrator after news of Starlet Wahus murder spread, confirming that the individual matched the person she encountered. It is the same guythe number posted by DCI is the same guy I can testify that I used to transfer money to him which is John Ongoa Mtara, the victim narrated. Watch A firsthand account shared by the one of John Matara's victims who spoke anonymously in an interview with a local media house. https://t.co/pg18lxdMcd pic.twitter.com/J462VLikYJ Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) January 6, 2024 172 Shares Share It is not breaking news that we are currently in the midst of a mental health and substance use disorder crisis. We saw a record number of overdose deaths in a 12-month period from May 2022 to May 2023. According to the CDC, overdose deaths totaled more than 112,000 during that period. There has been an all-hands-on-deck effort to curb these deaths with efforts aimed at decreasing supply, educating the public, and increasing harm reduction availability. And while the country is desperately and urgently putting measures into place to reduce deaths, these efforts are largely aimed at substances such as fentanyl and xylazine. This has provided a great distraction from another crisis brewing in the background. A crisis in which many know nothing about. This insidious crisis is weaving its way through our country, and it is taking aim at our youth. It is a crisis of convenience, if you will. Convenience stores have become a culprit in multiple new addictions. They have become a breeding ground for unregulated substances of abuse. With flashy packaging eerily similar to brand-name candy, mouth-watering flavors, and placement front and center on the counters, convenience stores have made addiction awfully convenient. Weve seen this with vaping, which has become a public health emergency in our youth, but also in OTC CBD products that are found to have more than the legally accepted amount of THC in them. But there are even more substances of great concern reaching the shelves that the public knows nothing about. Convenience stores are taking full advantage of this lack of education and the fact that there is little to no oversight over what they put on their shelves. As a psychiatrist, I incorporate education in all of my patient visits. I have found that a large part of that education is now directed at these products on convenience store shelves. The largest offender in the state of Mississippi appears to be kratom. Touted as an all-natural, safe solution for pain and ADHD, kratom is highly addictive and has contributed to numerous deaths in our country. Kratom is essentially an opioid as it works on the same receptors and carries the same risk of addiction and death that other opioids do. The American Kratom Association does a great job of fooling the public into thinking kratom is a safe alternative to traditional medications. A quick Google search of kratom deaths shows otherwise. Another substance of concern is tianeptine, also known as gas station heroin, because of its opioid-like properties. Companies are making dangerous claims that it is a safe treatment for depression, anxiety, and pain. However, it has zero FDA approval for any medical use and is contributing to addiction and death. Inpatient treatment facilities are seeing a sharp increase in patients being admitted for tianeptine addiction and in need of a medical detox. Luckily, physicians have alerted lawmakers to the growing concerns, and multiple states have adopted legislation to ban the sale of tianeptine in convenience stores. And though there are multiple substances of concern snaking their way into convenience stores and onto the counters, a newer one of growing concern is gummy mushrooms. Shrooms, similar to kratom and tianeptine, cause a high, are addictive, and come in attractive packaging very similar to candy gummies, which children can easily confuse. Once these substances get onto the counters, it is exceedingly difficult if not impossible to get them off the counters. It usually takes legislation to ban these substances, and large companies are heavily invested in and profit from the sale of these substances in convenience stores, so they put much effort and money into fighting any legislation that would require legitimate regulation or banning of these substances. Physicians feel like getting these substances off the counter is like playing an aggressive game of whack-a-mole. As soon as you knock one off the counter, a new one pops up. States need to begin looking at ways to prevent these substances from ever reaching convenience stores, as opposed to having to clean up the mess that these unregulated substances cause. Mississippi physicians have proposed ways to designate a gatekeeper to look into substances before they reach the shelves, yet thus far, legislators have not supported this effort. But it is becoming abundantly clear that something must be done because convenience stores are making addiction way too convenient. Katherine Pannel is a psychiatrist. 40 Shares Share Violence and assaults against health care workers are now reported at an all-time high. While health care workers comprise just 13% of the U.S. workforce, they experience 60% of all workplace assaults. Health care has been declared Americas most dangerous profession due to workplace violence. Health care and social service industries experience the highest rates of injuries caused by workplace violence and are five times as likely to suffer a workplace violence injury than all other workers! Yet, statistics note that such events in health care are reported only around 30% of the timeso how high are the real numbers? A recent New York Times video article painfully portrays and highlights the daily violence projected upon our doctors, nurses, and other health care workers in many of our nations EDs, hospitals, and clinics. But, as violence increases, some health care business and political leaders, and law enforcement officials are now more frequently telling assaulted workers that health care workplace violence is now just part of the job, and workers should just get used to it or leave! The results Increasing numbers have quitover 4 to 5 million health care workers have left in the past two years (20% of our total health care workforce). In one year (2021) alone, over 117,000 physicians quit (10% of our U.S. physician workforce), and this exodus continues. 26% of health care workers have considered leaving their jobs (or have already left) because of workplace violence. By 2034, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the demand for primary and specialty care physicians will exceed supply by 37,800 to 124,000 physicians. I have now been interviewing medical students and pre-meds who report actively looking for alternative careers outside of medical practice, telling me that they are now seeking careers that offer safer workplaces. Other recent reports back up these findings, noting that 1 in 4 medical students surveyed is considering quitting, and 61% of medical and nursing students report planning to go into a non-patient care field. I have spoken with political and health care leaders who have told me (off the record) that they see workplace violence as now part of the job with the sentiment of get used to it or leave. I had one leader tell me (again off the record) that the current crop of doctors and nurses are not tough enough and that toughness needs to be part of medical training like in the Marines. From my interviews, I have increasing reports that health care workplace assault victims are being asked (or required) not to report these events by their facilities as it is bad for business and patient volumes. Yet, simultaneously, multiple hospitals (over 630) are now facing closure, in large part because they cannot get enough doctors and nurses to fill critical service line positions. Thus, they cannot keep these services open and maintain critical revenue flow. Some states and hospital systems also report that they already do not have enough primary doctors and nurses to see their expanding patient populations. Where is this all going? With health care workplace departures accelerating, increasingly due to violence being a final straw, and with current and potential future doctors, nurses, and other health care workers rethinking careers in hands-on clinical health care, and with leaders now more frequently stating that workplace violence is a new normal how long before there are no longer enough health care workers to keep large numbers of our health care facilities open for business? Our current doctors, mid-levels, nurses, and other health care professionals are very bright people, and many have, though stressful, the capability of retraining and retooling their careers. Our future potential young doctors, mid-levels, nurses, and other future health care workers are also very bright people with even greater flexibility and many open career opportunities. As clinical health care becomes less and less attractive and an increasingly dangerous option, more and more will direct themselves to other careers. A bottom line If our leaders increasingly turn a blind eye to the evolving violence and abuse in our health care workplaces (continuing to insist that it is all just part of the job), and if health care workplace violence prevention (not just punishment) does not become a critical national priority, when will we reach a tipping point in which major sectors of our population will be critically impacted by the increasing lack of or delay in access to clinical care already being seen and now further worsened by these evolving shortages of doctors, nurses, and other health care workers? Harry Severance is an emergency physician. By Elizabeth Kamurungi An official of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) in charge of Arua area has been reprimanded for causing financial loss amounting to Shs100m. According to a statement from the Inspectorate of Government,Mr Norman Ijuka was apprehended on January 3, having been on the run. The Inspectorate of Government ordered the arrest of Mr Norman Ijuka for abuse and theft of public property, causing financial loss worth Shs100m, a statement from the Ombudsmans office reads. According to the Ombudsmans office, Mr Ijuka is accused of stealing properties of water pipes meant for Odupi water project in Omugo Sub-county in Terego District. He also reportedly stole iron bars, concrete blocks, and assorted paints worth Shs30m from the site of office block construction meant for Arua Area NWSC office. The offence of causing financial loss attracts a fine not exceeding Shs7.2m or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 14 years or both, according to the Anti-Corruption Act,2009. The allegations first raised by a whistleblower last December, highlight a racket within the corporation using government property for personal enrichment. The culprits allegedly run illegal stores where the stolen property is stored, and sold to private individuals, some across the border in the DR Congo. Mr Silver Mugisha,the NWSC managing director, said the allegations brought against Mr Ijuka were already investigated and concluded internally. We agreed in October as top management to carry out an investigation in that matter and a report was issued on January 3 The engineer was found culpable of stealing the pipes worth Shs76.5m. We are going to take action on the report,Mr Mugisha said. An earlier internal audit report for the quarter July to September, 2023 seen by this publication also reported missing pipes for Odupi Borehole priority, as indicated by the Ombudsman. Auditors found that while 862 of 4 UPVC pipes worth Shs102m were received, only 156 were laid. This left 706 pcs worth Shs83m unaccounted for. The newest buildings, majestic skyscrapers, and quaint structures turn our imagination upside down. Of course, almost any trip is not complete without visiting such locations. It's strange to realize that someday these buildings will also become old and even authentic. Future generations will open their mouths in amazement and admire this architecture, imagining how their ancestors built it. ADVERTISIMENT By the way, we also have the opportunity to be in their shoes. Of course, it is impossible to travel to the future, but it is easy to travel to the past. Many settlements that were built a long time ago have retained their original appearance. We will tell you where to go this time. Athens, Greece This city has been known to us since Greek mythology. Its appearance dates back to 5000 BC. It has a unique atmosphere and many popular tourist destinations. Since this time we are going for a walk through the oldest settlements in Europe, it is worth starting with the Plaka district. Here you will immediately get lost among the ancient buildings and feel like Herodotus or Homer, who once wandered leisurely along the local paths and enjoyed life. To be in Athens and not to visit the Acropolis? Don't do that! This location should be one of the first on your list of stops. To get to it, you need to climb a little bit on a flat-topped rock. Do not be lazy to do it because it offers a beautiful panorama. Do not forget about Theater of Dionysus. Plays based on the works of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Aristophanes were staged here. You have to visit it. ADVERTISIMENT We also advise you not to miss any of the exhibition halls. Each of them has exhibits that you will not see anywhere else in the world. Be sure to visit the museums: Benaki, Archaeological and Greek Folk Art. Cadiz, Spain While almost everyone has heard of Athens, only a few have heard of this old port city. It was founded by the Phoenicians in 1100 BC. They moved to this area from the territories of modern Israel, Syria, and Lebanon. There are still many ancient finds here that amaze archaeologists and historians. As soon as you arrive here, head to the oldest neighborhood of El Populo. There are still ruins of the ancient Roman theater and more. It is worth walking to the medieval gate that used to serve as the entrance to the city, as well as visiting the Casa del Almirante, the most beautiful palace made of Italian marble. ADVERTISIMENT Traditionally, people look at the surroundings of the settlement from the highest platform. This is best done at the Torre Tavira Tower. It offers beautiful views of the city and the Atlantic coastline. Don't forget about the Cathedral, the symbol of Cadiz. Its construction lasted more than 100 years, so it combines Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical features. Plovdiv, Bulgaria If you don't really want to travel far, you can go to a country that is relatively close to Ukraine. An ancient city is hidden there. The first settlement in this area appeared in the VI century BC. Since then, life has been bustling there. Once upon a time, this area belonged to the Roman Empire, so it is not surprising that there are many relics of that era. We recommend walking along the pedestrian street of Alexander I. This is where the ruins of the ancient Roman theater are located. To make it easier for your imagination to draw the scale of the building, there is a stone reproduction of it nearby. ADVERTISIMENT Of course, you should get to the Old Town. It is there that most of the ancient monuments have been preserved. Pay attention to the houses that are cozy along the road. There is no single style. Here you will find buildings with features of different eras. For those who dream of touching the past, we recommend visiting the Nebet Tepe complex. It was from this place that the development of the city began. Then the settlement grew and expanded, occupying the neighboring hills. Today, Plovdiv stands on 7 peaks. Yerevan, Armenia Another point on the map that is known to almost everyone in the world. This time, we recommend starting your exploration not with the ancient neighborhoods or streets, but with Mount Ararat, which is located outside the city. It is here that you can feel the grandeur and power of this place. ADVERTISIMENT After admiring the beautiful panorama, head to St. Gregory's Cathedral. It was built in honor of the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity by the people of Armenia. Then walk to Matenadaran. Ancient manuscripts describing the history of the country are kept in this place. Don't be lazy and book a tour. You will learn more in an hour than from textbooks and movies combined. And if you want to see something unusual, go to the Blue Mosque, the only Muslim temple in Armenia. The shrine was built to perpetuate the friendship between the two peoples: Armenians and Iranians. Traveling to ancient cities is very interesting and exciting. We advise you not to postpone your trip but to pack your bags right now! ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, OBOZ.UA told you what to see in the countries bordering Ukraine. Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. President of the European Council Charles Michel has announced the possibility of his early resignation. The politician intends to run in the European Parliament elections to be held in June 2024. ADVERTISIMENT He shared his plans in an interview with the Belgian newspaper De Standaard. It is noted that for this reason, the odious Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is called a friend of Russian dictator Putin, may temporarily become president of the European Council. According to Michel, he has decided to leave his current position and rejoin the Belgian liberal party Mouvement Reformateur (Reformist Movement) in the summer to take part in the European elections. He was the leader of this political force in 2011-2014 and 2019. Thus, the 48-year-old politician will not finish his term as head of the European Council until the end of this year when his five-year mandate expires (Charles Michel was appointed to the post on December 1, 2019, and elected in June 2022 for another 2.5 years). ADVERTISIMENT "In late June or early July, the European Council will be able to foresee this and decide on a successor," Charles Michel said. He admitted that he wants to "serve wherever he can be useful" and that he has no other ambitions. "I want to play an active role in the European debate and contribute to the promotion of the Europe 2030 project. This will require reforms," the politician said. According to experts, the role of the head of the European Council usually goes to the leader of the state that currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union. In 2024, this period of time falls on the leadership of Hungary, whose prime minister is the scandalous Viktor Orban. However, the final decision on who exactly will hold the presidency must be made by the leaders of the EU member states. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA previously reported, at the end of 2023, Viktor Orban vetoed the EU's approval of aid to Ukraine. In response, the EU began to consider the possibility of depriving Hungary of its voting rights. Only verified information on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The year 2023 was an outstanding one for space exploration in many ways - the samples of the asteroid Bennu delivered by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission alone are worth a lot - so it's no surprise that expectations for 2024 are already somewhat high. And it seems that scientists will not let us down. ADVERTISIMENT Ali Bramson, Associate Professor of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University, spoke about the main space missions scheduled for launch in 2024. The results of some of them, however, will take years to come. Europa Clipper Around October 10, 2024, NASA intends to launch the Europa Clipper mission. Its goal is to explore one of Jupiter's largest moons, Europa. This cosmic body is slightly smaller than the Moon, but it is very interesting to scientists because it probably hides a salty ocean under its icy shell, the volume of which exceeds all the oceans of the Earth combined. Even more interesting are the hints that Europa's ocean may be a suitable environment for extraterrestrial life. As part of the mission, the spacecraft will fly by Europa nearly 50 times to study the ice shell, geology, and underground ocean. The mission will also look for active geysers erupting from Europa. ADVERTISIMENT The big drawback is that Europa Clipper will arrive in the Jovian system only in 2030. Launch of the Artemis II mission The Artemis program is NASA's plan to return to the Moon. If all goes according to plan, the mission will send humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972. Subsequently, according to NASA's plan, the mission will create a kind of outpost on the Moon that will help with the future sending of people to Mars. As part of the Artemis II mission, four astronauts will go on a 10-day flight around the Moon and back to Earth. Currently, the launch is scheduled for November 2024, but there is a possibility of postponement to 2025, as there are doubts about whether all the necessary equipment, including spacesuits and oxygen equipment, will be ready. VIPER will search for water on the Moon ADVERTISIMENT Another NASA lunar mission. The VIPER rover will be used to explore the south pole of the Moon at the end of 2024. The launch was scheduled for 2023, but the mission had to be postponed to complete additional tests of the lander developed by the private company Astrobotic. On the Moon, the rover will look for volatiles - molecules that easily evaporate at lunar temperatures, such as water and carbon dioxide. They can then be used in future research on the Earth's satellite. The VIPER mission will last 100 days. The launch and delivery of VIPER to the lunar surface is scheduled for November 2024. Lunar Trailblazer and PRIME-1 missions This is a paired NASA mission, which has a main vehicle and its companion that will be launched in pairs, which will save money. Lunar Trailblazer, like VIPER, will search for water on the Moon. But, unlike VIPER, Lunar Trailblazer will investigate signs of water on the Moon while in orbit. It will measure the surface temperature and create a map of the location of water molecules across the surface of the Earth's satellite. ADVERTISIMENT Lunar Trailblazer is projected to be ready for launch in early 2024, but it will have to wait for its main companion, the PRIME-1 mission, which is scheduled to launch in mid-2024. PRIME-1 aims to test a lunar drill similar to the one that will be used later in the VIPER mission. JAXA mission to explore the Martian Moon But it's not just NASA that is flying into space. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is developing a robotic mission called Martian Moon eXploration (MMX), which is scheduled to launch in September 2024. Its goal is to explore the Mars moons Phobos and Deimos. In particular, to study their origin, as scientists are still arguing whether these Martian moons were asteroids captured by the planet's gravity or whether they were formed from debris already in orbit around Mars. ADVERTISIMENT MMX is expected to spend three years around Mars, conducting scientific operations to observe Phobos and Deimos, and land on the surface of Phobos to obtain a sample before returning to Earth. ESA's Hera mission Hera is the European Space Agency's mission to return to the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system, which was visited by NASA's DART mission in 2022. At that time, DART encountered Dimorphos to test a planetary defense method called kinetic strike. The mission was successful, as the space body changed its orbit. Hera is expected to launch in October 2024 and reach Didymos and Dimorphos at the end of 2026, where it will study the physical properties of asteroids. Earlier, OBOZ.UA told about the most interesting celestial events of 2024. Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. Lloyd Austin left several top-ranking officials, including President Joe Biden, in the dark after complications from an elective surgery left him hospitalized. South Korea, the United States and Japan condemned North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and pointed out China's "unlawful" claims in the South China Sea during the inaugural meeting of their trilateral Indo-Pacific dialogue this week, a joint statement showed Saturday. The three countries released the statement after the meeting took place in Washington on Friday, in line with an agreement on its launch that President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reached during their landmark Camp David summit in August last year. The meeting was led by South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Daniel Kritenbrink and Yasuhiro Kobe, respectively. "They condemned the DPRK's continued development of its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs, growing military cooperation with Russia, and grave human rights violations and abuses," the statement read, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The three also recalled their positions regarding the "recent dangerous and escalatory behavior supporting unlawful maritime claims" by China in the South China Sea, it said. "They strongly reiterated their firm commitment to international law, including the freedom of navigation and overflight, as reflected in the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, and they opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion anywhere in the waters of the Indo-Pacific," the statement said. In addition, the representatives underscored their countries' alignment on the Taiwan issue. "They reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to security and prosperity in the international community," it said. Recognizing the increased threat posed by foreign information manipulation, the three sides discussed ways to effectively counter these threats while respecting freedom of expression. The meeting focused on each country's Indo-Pacific approach and opportunities for cooperation, with an emphasis on partnership with Southeast Asian and Pacific Island countries, according to the statement. "The trilateral Indo-Pacific Dialogue is a new chapter in our countries' partnership and an important step forward to strengthen and more closely align our policies globally," it said. The representatives reaffirmed their intent to continue to convene the trilateral dialogue body annually. (Yonhap) Angola, IN (46703) Today Periods of snow. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 90%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 26F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has launched an initiative to form a single army in the European Union. In his opinion, such a structure could play a role in maintaining peace and preventing conflicts on the European continent. ADVERTISIMENT The head of the diplomatic department emphasized that closer European cooperation in the field of defense is a priority for the Forza Italia party, which he leads. This was reported by Reuters. The Italian Foreign Minister said that the European Union needs a unified European armed forces that can become peacekeepers in the world. "This is a fundamental prerequisite for being able to pursue an effective European foreign policy," Tajani said. At the same time, he noted that various crises could pose a threat to the European Union, ranging from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific region. Tajani believes that only with a united European army will the EU be able to protect its citizens. "In a world with such powerful players as the United States, China, India, Russia, with crises from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific, Italian, German, French or Slovenian citizens can only be protected by what already exists, namely the European Union," the minister said. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, Tajani said that the 27-nation EU should rationalize its leadership and have a single presidency, rather than the current structure of the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. As a reminder, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for the continuation and strengthening of military assistance to Ukraine to combat a full-scale Russian invasion. She noted that without the support of the Ukrainian army, the war would have been closer to Europe, in particular to Italy. As OBOZ.UA reported, in May 2023, during a visit to Italy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Meloni. The Italian prime minister stated her unwavering support for Ukraine and Rome's approval of all 10 points of the Ukrainian peace plan. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], January 7 (ANI): Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani, on Sunday said his conglomerate has committed to making new investments in Tamil Nadu in renewable energy and green hydrogen, and he was confident that the state government under MK Stalin will support its forthcoming initiatives. "We shall work closely with the state government to promote sustainable development, which is necessary to save Mother Earth from the climate crisis. I am confident that the state government will support our forthcoming initiatives with viable policies," Ambani said, virtually addressing the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Woman Lures 12-Year-Old Girl; Tea Vendor, Three Minors Rape Her in Sadar Bazaar. Praising Chief Minister MK Stalin, the Reliance Industries boss said Tamil Nadu has become one of the most business-friendly states in the country. "Therefore, I have every reason to believe it will soon become a trillion-dollar economy, which is the apt slogan of this summit," he said. Also Read | IIT JAM 2024 Exam: Admit Card for Joint Admission Test Examination To Be Released Soon at jam.iitm.ac.in, Know How To Download. Tamil Nadu aims to become a USD 1 trillion economy by 2030. Speaking about Reliance's investments in the state, Ambani said his group has opened nearly 1,300 retail stores across the state, with an investment of over Rs 25,000 crores. "Jio has invested over Rs 35,000 crore in Tamil Nadu, bringing the fruits of digital revolution to 35 million subscribers in every town and village in the state." In December, Jio completed the fastest rollout of 5G, anywhere in the world, Ambani said, adding that the benefit of which will also be shared by Tamil Nadu. "In December, Jio completed the fastest roll out of 5G, anywhere in the world. This will enable Tamil Nadu to reap the benefits of artificial intelligence and other breakthrough fourth industrial revolution technologies, which will further accelerate its economy." Reliance has partnered with Canada's Brookfield Asset Management and US-based Digital Reality to set up a state-of-the-art data centre, that will be opened next week, he announced. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, January 7: A 12-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by a tea stall owner and three minors after a woman lured her to a secluded spot in Delhi's Sadar Bazaar, police said on Sunday. Police said that all five accused, including the three minors, have been nabbed. Sharing information about the incident, officials said that the accused woman was a customer at the man's tea stall in Old Delhi's Sadar Bazaar. While the three boys, aged 12, 14, and 15 years, were workers at the stall. On January 1, the tea stall owner asked the woman, who worked as a rag-picker, to lure a girl to the area in exchange for some money. The next day, the woman met the 12-year-old girl, another rag-picker, and told her to collect garbage from the roof of a building in Khurshid Market. When the girl reached the area, the four accused waiting for her took turns raping her inside a temporary structure, police said. The accused later threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the incident, they said. Delhi Shocker: Woman Lures 12-Year-Old Girl; Tea Vendor, Three Minors Rape Her in Sadar Bazaar. The girl returned to her home in North West Delhi and kept quiet for two days. On January 5, when she returned to Sadar Bazaar to pick up garbage, where she told about her ordeal to her cousin who lives in the area. The cousin informed her parents, who in turn approached the police and lodged a complaint. Delhi Shocker: Minor Raped by Two Auto-Rickshaw Drivers in Janta Majoor Colony; Accused Arrested Under POCSO Act. Following the complaint, a case under section 376 (D) of the IPC, and also under section 6 of the POCSO Act has been registered. All accused persons have been arrested/apprehended, and further proceedings into the case were on, the police added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kanker, Jan 7 (PTI) A BJP leader was killed in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Sunday evening, with the police suspecting that he sustained a bullet wound, an official said. The incident took place at around 8.30 pm in Purana Bazar area of Pakhanjur town when Asim Rai was riding a two-wheeler, the official said. Also Read | Odisha: Boat Carrying Union Minister Parshottam Rupala Gets Stuck in Chilika Lake for 2 Hours in Khurda. Rai (50), a former chairman of Pakhanjur Nagar Panchayat, was the incumbent corporator and the vice president of the Kanker district unit of the ruling BJP. As per eyewitnesses, Rai suddenly fell from the vehicle. He was rushed to a local hospital where doctors declared him dead, the official said. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Hails Daring Rescue of Crew Members From Liberian Vessel, Says 'Our Naval Commandos Sailed 2000 Kms From Indian Coast' (Watch Video). In the preliminary examination of the body, a doctor has confirmed a bullet wound on Rai's head but a detailed report in this regard will be available after the autopsy, he said. Prima facie, circumstantial evidence indicates that the victim might have been shot over rivalry or personal vengeance. We are enquiring into all possible angles, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P told PTI. In 2014, Rai had escaped unhurt in a similar attack by two men, who were later arrested, officials said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], January 7 (ANI): In the run-up to the Lok Sabha election 2024, the Congress National Alliance Committee meeting is underway to discuss the seat-sharing formula in Bihar on Sunday. Earlier, RJD MP Manoj Jha arrived at the residence of Congress leader and convener of the Congress National Alliance Committee, Mukul Wasnik in the national capital. Also Read | Rajya Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Names Dorjee Tshering Lepcha as Candidate for Upcoming Polls in Sikkim. Congress National Alliance Committee members Ashok Gehlot and Salman Khurshid are also present. This is the first meeting with RJD to discuss the seat-sharing formula for the state of Bihar. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Woman Lures 12-Year-Old Girl; Tea Vendor, Three Minors Rape Her in Sadar Bazaar. The Congress formed the five-member NAC, with Wasnik as convenor and veteran leaders including former chief ministers Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel, former Union minister Salman Khurshid, and Mohan Prakash as members. The committee is tasked with examining various aspects of forming alliances with other political entities in the lead-up to the 2024 general elections. As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections loom just four months away, the allocation of seats becomes pivotal for the Congress, especially after recent electoral setbacks. The fourth meeting of the INDIA bloc concluded in Delhi on December 19 with the passing of the resolution on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the suspension of MPs from Parliament. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that a resolution has been passed that the suspension of MPs is undemocratic. The meeting took place amid escalating political tensions between the opposition and the BJP-led central government, triggered by the demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on the recent Parliament security breach. The meeting witnessed the attendance of 28 parties. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Jan 7 (PTI) Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Sunday said drinking water facilities have reached 72 per cent households in the country and the remaining will be completed by December 2024. When the Jal Jeevan Mission started in 2019, a little over 16 per cent of the households had access to drinking water facilities, Singh told a group of visiting journalists from Assam here. Also Read | Cybersecurity Alert: Cybercriminals Find New Way To Access Google Accounts Without Password, Says CloudSEK Report. He emphasised that the implementation of the scheme is the responsibility of the state governments, and each state faces different geographical challenges and availability of water resources ranges from surplus to scarce. "We had prepared a guideline in consultation with the state governments and implementation of the scheme was done according to it", he said. Also Read | Pope Francis Baptises 16 Babies One by One in Annual Ceremony at the Sistine Chapel. Despite the challenges faced during two years of COVID, "I can say with pride that drinking water facilities has reached 72 per cent of the households", the Union minister said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged that each household will be provided with drinking water facilities and "we are committed to ensure this by December 2024", Singh said. He said Rajasthan has made little progress in terms of drinking water supply to households since the scheme began in December 2019. However, with the change in the state government, he expressed hope that significant progress will be made by December 2024. Regarding interlinking of rivers, the Union minister said several states face either flood problems or drought conditions. "It was former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's dream to link the rivers and make a grid for transfer of river water", he said. A committee was formed for the purpose of studying the possibility of inter-basin transfer wherein water can be transferred from areas with surplus to deficit areas, he said. "We have prepared more than 15 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and shared it with various states so that the respective governments can enter into agreements and we can proceed in this direction", he said. The minister said Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh governments have shared the agreement for linking the Ken and Betwa rivers with the Centre and work will soon begin in this Rs 40,000 crore project. Discussions are also underway for other links, such as between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, as well as between some southern states, he added. "We are hoping that the states will soon come to an agreement and the linking can go forward", he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, January 7: A major fire broke out at a steel factory in Indira Nagar area of Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow on Sunday afternoon. No injury or casualty was reported in the incident, said officials. According to fire safety department officials, the fire broke out in the basement of the steel factory and spread to the entire building. Locals of the area along with factory workers raised an alarm, and subsequently informed the fire brigade department. Upon receiving information, a team of fire brigades reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Lucknow Fire: Massive Blaze Erupts at Scrap Market Near Keshav Nagar Area, Fire Tenders Reach Spot (Watch Video). Fire safety Officers of Bakshi Ka Talab (BKT) said that they received information about the fire at around 1 PM, following which four fire tenders from the BKT Fire Station and Indiranagar Fire Station reached the spot, and brought the fire under control. No one was injured in the incident. The primary cause of the fire was an electrical short circuit, they added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], January 7 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel attended the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad on Sunday. He also flew a kite on this occasion. Participants brought kites with images of Lord Ram for the festival in the light of the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya which will be held on January 22. Also Read | Rajya Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Names Dorjee Tshering Lepcha as Candidate for Upcoming Polls in Sikkim. An attendee from Denmark said, "It's my third time in India. I am very excited for this year. It looks like it is going to be bigger than last year. In the past, it has been fun. I have met several kite fliers from India, which has been interesting. I feel very welcomed here. Gujarat is beautiful. Last time I visited the Statue of Unity, learned about its history." On January 14-15, Gujarat will celebrate the festival of Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan. Kite flying is an integral part of this festival, and people across the state throng to their rooftops to have a glimpse of the colourful skyline or to immerse themselves in kite flying. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Woman Lures 12-Year-Old Girl; Tea Vendor, Three Minors Rape Her in Sadar Bazaar. But a few years ago, the world was unaware of this festival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his chief ministership in Gujarat, thought of making this local festival of Gujarat global and through Vibrant Gujarat, the kite festival was organised first in Ahmedabad and then in different cities across the state under the name of International Kite Festival. Kite flyers from all over the world were invited to take part in the festival in Gujarat. Since then the International Kite Festival in Gujarat has become global. Making a kite, flying it and bringing down another person's kite is an art. Gopal Patel, an expert kite flyer, said he has had the opportunity to visit many different countries and showcase his kite flying skills, ever since the festival was promoted under Vibrant Gujarat. "Kite flyers and people from abroad are also coming to Gujarat to see this festival and this has increased tourism. Earlier, the kite flyers who used to make fun of our small kites copied the design of our kites," the kite flyer from Ahmedabad said. Ever since the International Kite Festival started through Vibrant Gujarat, the fortunes of kite-making artisans have changed. Kite-making artisans mostly come from the Muslim community. In earlier years, only a few traders used to come to local artists to buy kites from them and sell them in the market. But ever since the Kite Festival started, people ever started contacting them from abroad. These artisans nowadays have worked almost throughout the year. Rizwan Qadri, a historian, said that this kite festival has been celebrated in Gujarat for many years. "The beauty of this festival is that neither age nor religion nor discrimination of anything becomes a hindrance in celebrating this festival," Gadri asserted. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) The chief election commissioner and the two election commissioners will visit Andhra Pradesh on Monday to conduct a review of the state's preparedness for the Lok Sabha polls, due in April-May, officials said. The assembly elections in the state are likely to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls. Also Read | Delhi School Winter Holiday: Directorate of Education Withdraws Order Extending Winter Vacation in Schools Till January 10. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel will be in Andhra Pradesh on January 8 evening, officials said. According to an earlier plan, the poll panel was to visit Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh from January 7 to 10. The plan has been revised and the poll panel will visit Tamil Nadu later to review the state's preparedness for the Lok Sabha polls. Also Read | Bilkis Bano Case: Supreme Court To Deliver Verdict on Pleas Filed Against Remission Granted to Convicts on January 8. A team of deputy election commissioners and other senior officers has visited almost all the states to oversee the preparations for the Lok Sabha polls. It is usual for the CEC and ECs to tour states ahead of assembly or Lok Sabha elections to meet political parties, senior police and administrative officials and the poll machinery on the ground. It is not yet certain whether they will visit all the states and Union territories. They may skip states where assembly polls were held recently. In 2019, the Lok Sabha elections were announced on March 10 and held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. Votes were counted on May 23. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Raipur, Jan 7 (PTI) As part of their preparedness for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, senior BJP leaders from Chhattisgarh on Sunday met those party candidates who lost the recent assembly polls in the state, a party functionary said. Of the 90 assembly seats in Chhattisgarh, the BJP won 54 in the elections held last year. While the Congress won 35 seats, the Gondwana Gantantra Party bagged one. Also Read | Mumbai: One Killed, One Hurt As INS Kunjali Wall Crashes Down Near Kendriya Vidyalaya. During the Lok Sabha Election Action Plan Meeting' at the state BJP office here, the candidates were asked to come up with strategies to improve the party's prospects in their respective assembly segments in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, he said. Chhattisgarh BJP Chief Kiran Singh Deo urged the party workers to connect with one another and the public through the Namo App' as much as possible. Also Read | Nagpur: Two Boys Get Lost in Jungle 15 Km Away From Home While Chasing Kites, Rescued. He also asked the BJP leaders to become the brand ambassadors for the app, stressing that their target is to win all the 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The party had won 9 seats in the 2019 polls. The state BJP chief also asked party workers to celebrate the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram temple on January 22 as the festival lights. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 7 (ANI): Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais took part in the parade organised to mark Armed Forces Veterans Day on Sunday. Over 500 veterans, including gallantry awardees from all three services of the Indian Armed Forces, marched at the Marine Drive. Also Read | Consecration Ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya: Nagpur's Chef Vishnu Manohar To Prepare 7000 Kg of 'Ram Halwa' for Ram Mandir Inauguration (Watch Video). The parade is aimed at creating awareness amongst the citizens about the glorious contribution of the veterans in service to the nation. During the Armed Forces Veterans Day Parade, a Navy veteran said that the parade can be an inspiration for youth to join the armed forces. Also Read | Maharashtra: Banner With Social Reformer Savitribai Phule's Image Torn in Thane; Case Registered. "I started this procedure, which was approved by the headquarters. This is going to be an annual feature where the parade will be led by senior veterans. The youth see how the veterans are being respected, and this can be an inspiration for the youth to join the armed forces," he added. He further said that the veterans want only three things, PMR - pension, medical assistance, and respect. "The veterans want only three things, PMR- pension, medical assistance, and respect. If the veterans are respected, then their josh will increase in the defence sector," he said. The parade generated a lot of enthusiasm amongst the citizens of Mumbai, who watched over 500 veterans, including those who fought the nation's wars, participate in it with great zeal and patriotic fervour. Armed Forces Veterans Day is celebrated every year by hosting events in honour of ex-servicemen and their families. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) On January 7, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit. The foreign minister will hold talks with Ukrainian government officials, including Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. ADVERTISIMENT This is Kamikawa's first visit to Ukraine since being appointed to the post of minister in September, Kyodo News reports. During her visit, Kamikawa plans to emphasize the importance of upholding the international legal order based on the rule of law and preventing any attempts to change the status quo by force. Kamikawa will reaffirm to the Ukrainian side the immutability of Japan's consistent policy of supporting Ukraine even in the difficult conditions of the current international situation. She will also provide the Ukrainian side with details on the relevant assistance and reveal Japan's plans in this regard. It is reported that Tokyo will also host a conference on February 19 on Ukraine's recovery from the large-scale destruction caused by Russia's invasion in February 2022. Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Ukraine in March 2023, and the previous Japanese Foreign Minister, Hayashi Yoshimasa, visited the country in September last year. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, on Wednesday, December 6, Japan announced additional assistance to Ukraine in the amount of about $4.5 billion. These funds will be used to restore the state after the invasion of Russian troops. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Japanese government will start granting refugee status to people fleeing military conflicts. The changes will apply, in particular, to Ukrainian citizens. The amended program came into effect on December 1. Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], January 7 (ANI): The mastermind of the robbery worth about Rs 20 crore that took place in the showroom of Reliance Jewels in the upscale Rajpur Road area of Dehradun in November last year has been arrested in Bihar's Patna. The Superintendent of Police, Ajay Singh, said on Sunday that the accused has been identified as Shashank, who is the mastermind of the robbery. Also Read | Chhattisgarh Shocker: 30-Year-Old Man Kills Mother and Two-Month-Old Son, Injures Wife After Argument With Her in Balod District. "Shashank, the mastermind of the robbery of Reliance Jewellery Store located on Rajpur Road, Dehradun, has been arrested by Dehradun Police in the night from Beur police station area in Patna district," he said. In a daring daylight dacoity - believed to be the biggest heist of the kind in the history of Uttarakhand -- five armed men in masks looted gold and diamond jewellery worth about Rs 10 crore at gunpoint from the showroom of Reliance Jewels in the upscale Rajpur Road area of Dehradun in November last years. Also Read | ED Team Attacked in West Bengal: Governor CV Ananda Bose Directs State Police To Arrest Absconding TMC Leader Seikh Sajahan. The dacoity took place at a time when President Droupadi Murmu was in the city to attend the Uttarakhand State Foundation Day event, and most police personnel were at Police Lines for the function. Four people entered the showroom while one was guarding outside the jewellery store, and then the miscreants held 11 employees, including the guard, in the showroom hostage at gunpoint and looted gold and silver, said police. After the robbers got the hint that the police had been alerted, they fled, leaving their bikes. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had earlier summoned the Director General of Police and SSP Dehradun in connection with the same. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gharana (R S Pura), Jan 7 (PTI) In a spectacular annual phenomenon, thousands of migratory birds, ranging from the bar-headed geese to egrets, have descended upon the Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve near the International Border in Jammu. outskirt of Jammu capital city. Also Read | Dense Fog, Severe Cold Day Conditions To Continue Over Northwest India for Next 24 Hours, Says IMD. The wetland, located approximately 35 kilometres from Jammu, has become a 'haven for bird enthusiasts' as over 6,000-bar-headed geese and various other species from the northern hemisphere migrate to the region during winter annually. "Every year, over 6,000 migratory birds of many species, the majority of them bar-headed geese, arrive at the Gharana Wetland. This year so far over 3,000 to 4,000 such birds have arrived here from the northern hemisphere. Their number is expected to increase," Simple Singh, in-charge at Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserve (GWCR), told PTI. Also Read | Delhi Horror: 12-Year-Old Girl Lured by Woman, Gang-Raped by Tea Seller and Three Minors in Sadar Bazaar; Five Accused Arrested. He said the number of migratory birds at this winter habitat increases every year. "The department of wildlife is making all arrangements here for visitors. Schools undertake visits to the Gharana with their students," Singh added. Hundreds of people, mostly students and photography enthusiasts, throng the wetland during the winter to have a glimpse of the migratory birds. "It is an ideal place for wildlife photography as you get the opportunity to shoot over 300 species of migratory birds, particularly Siberian cranes," Asvina, a student of Institute of Music and Fine Arts said. "I love to photograph birds, animals and nature. I am very happy to be here as it is a paradise for bird lovers," Asvina said. Similarly, Jammu University student Sakshi goes on to say that coming here is an opportunity to learn about various aspects of nature and birds. "A good footfall of visitors was seen here. It has provided us an opportunity to come close to nature and shoot and learn about various aspects of photography," she said. The GWCR surrounded by wetlands of Makwal, Kukdian, Abdullian and Pargwal, has more than 170 residents living in the Gharana village and is home to migratory bird species such as bar-headed geese, gadwalls, common teals, purple swamp hens, Indian moorhens, black-winged stilts, cormorants, egrets and green shanks flock during the winter, officials said. Rohit Kumar of Punjab's Gurdaspur said, "I am astonished to see such a large number of bird species here. My maternal uncle had told me about migratory birds flying to Gharana so we came here to watch them," he said. The wetland, which is located on the Indo-Pak border, has witnessed a rise in footfall with efforts in place to protect the avian guests. Fencing and other necessary construction work are being done to protect migratory birds and their winter habitat, the officials said. "Several species of migratory birds, such as the Siberian crane, come here from abroad. We were happy to see various beautiful migratory birds coming here and flying in this area. They don't know about international borders. For them, this is a border-less world," Sidharth Kumar, a member of Farmers Produce Organisation (FPO), said. Gharana, situated along the Central Asian Flyway, holds international recognition as an Important Bird Area (IBA), declared by BirdLife International (UK) and the Bombay Natural History Society. Conservation measures, including scientific management interventions and a five-year management plan developed in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), aim to preserve the wetland, promote eco-tourism, and enhance its status as a crucial tourist destination, the officials said. The administration is committed to safeguarding this vital habitat for migratory birds, they added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Nagpur, Jan 7 (PTI) A case has been filed after the Raman Science Centre in Nagpur received an email threatening a bomb blast, a police official said on Sunday. The threatening email was received on Friday and a thorough check of the premises by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad and other security units did not yield anything suspicious, the Ganeshpeth police station official said. Also Read | Nagpur: Two Boys Get Lost in Jungle 15 Km Away From Home While Chasing Kites, Rescued. "We have intensified checking in the vicinity and deployed additional personnel for patrolling," he said. The Raman Science Centre, named after Nobel Laureate physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, is affiliated to the Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai, which along with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum, Byculla Zoo and several other important sites in Mumbai received such bomb threat emails on Friday. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Speculation Rife Over Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Contesting From Cuttack Constituency. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kamrup (Assam) [India], January 7 (ANI): The Silver Jubilee of Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute will be organised at its campus at Changsari in Assam's Kamrup district from January 10 to 11. A cultural procession has also been organised on January 9 in Guwahati city from Rabindra Bhawan, which will be flagged off by Assam Cultural Affairs Minister, Bimal Borah. Also Read | Odisha: Boat Carrying Union Minister Parshottam Rupala Gets Stuck in Chilika Lake for 2 Hours in Khurda. Renowned cultural artists, actors, film technicians, cine society activists, students, and alumni of the institute will join the procession. "The Silver Jubilee will feature various activities and presentations, including speeches, a conclave, an open forum, cultural performances, and a look back at the achievements and progress made over the past 25 years," Assam Minister of Cultural Affairs, Bimal Bora, said while speaking to ANI. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Hails Daring Rescue of Crew Members From Liberian Vessel, Says 'Our Naval Commandos Sailed 2000 Kms From Indian Coast' (Watch Video). "The organiser also anticipated an audience of distinguished filmmakers, individuals, employees, students, partners, and well-wishers," he added. Out of three conclaves, the first conclave will be held on January 10 and the subject of the first conclave is 'Film Schools: Cultural, Social and Economic Contributions'. B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, Principal Secretary, Cultural Affairs, Govt of Assam, Prasanta J. Baruah, Executive Editor, The Assam Tribune, Debajit Changmai, Sound Mixing Engineer, Mumbai will join the panel and Dominic Sangma, Film Maker and Screenplay Writer from Meghalaya will moderate the conclave. The second conclave will be held on January 11 with the subject 'My life in Films: Navigating dreams and ambiguity'. Arup Manna, eminent filmmaker, and producer, Amrit Pritam Dutta, MPSE, Sound Designer, Mumbai, Jaicheng Jai Dohutia, National Film award-winning film director will present as a panellist and Rajib Phukan, Film critique will moderate the second conclave. The third conclave will be held on January 11 which subject is 'Cinema as a Soft Power'. Dr Samudra Gupta Kashyap, Chancellor, Nagaland University, Utpal Borpujari, National award-winning Film Director, Haoban Paban Kumar, Film Director and screenplay Writer from Manipur will join the panel. Dr. Manash Pratim Goswami, Head of the Department, of Mass Communication, NEHU will moderate the third conclave. Jayanta Mallabaruah, Assam Minister of PHE, Skill Employment & Entrepreneurship and Tourism Departments, Govt of Assam will attend as the Chief Guest in the finale of the Silver Jubilee Function to be held on January 11. Dr Samudra Gupta Kashyap, Chancellor, Nagaland University, Jahnu Barua, Eminent Filmmaker, Manju Borah, Eminent Film Maker, Dr B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, Principal Secretary, Cultural Affairs will attend as the guest of honour. There will be cultural programmes on January 10 and several veteran artists like Pulak Banerjee, Samar Hazarika, Shanta Ujir, Sangeet Borthakur, Rupam Bhuyan & Friends, Lou Majaw from Shillong, Arup Baruah will participate in the cultural programme. Pranjal Saikia, an eminent actor will perform a recitation and 'Charandas Chor' A play by BA Theatre Group, Guwahati and students of the Institute will also perform in the Cultural Programme. Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute (DBHRGFTI) was established in 1999. The Institute is the only Institute of its kind in the entire North Eastern Region of India offering full-time courses in filmmaking. Students from all the North Eastern states are getting opportunities to take education in different aspects of filmmaking at the Institute. The Institute is located in a picturesque location in Changsari, Guwahati having latest state of the art equipment and infrastructure for audio-video programme production with Editing studios, Sound Studios, shooting floors, Classroom theatres etc. The Institute has had an excellent placement record since its establishment in 1999. The students can curve a niche in the Film industry in Assam as well as in the Mumbai Film industry. Some of the alumni have also received various awards like the National Film Award, Aifa Award, Film Fare Award etc. in their respective fields. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Jan 7 (PTI) Irked by Shiv Sena (UBT) staking claim to Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency, senior Congress leader Milind Deora on Sunday said that if such statements by an "alliance partner" don't stop, his party too can announce candidates for seats. He also said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections won't be easy for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, and hence, nobody should make claims and counter-claims. Also Read | Cybersecurity Alert: Cybercriminals Find New Way To Access Google Accounts Without Password, Says CloudSEK Report. The MVA comprises Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and the Congress. Deora's remarks come against the backdrop of statements made by some senior leaders of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena staking claim to the Mumbai South seat, which was won by Shiv Sena (undivided) in the 2019 elections. Also Read | Pope Francis Baptises 16 Babies One by One in Annual Ceremony at the Sistine Chapel. In a video statement issued on Sunday, Deora, son of late Congress veteran Murli Deora, said Mumbai South has traditionally been with Congress and the Deoras are associated with this constituency for years. "My family is connected with voters here based on the work done by us and this relationship developed over the years," said Deora, a former Union minister who recently became the joint treasurer of the AICC (All India Congress Committee). The former MP said he had been receiving phone calls and messages from Congress workers and supporters expressing concerns over an MVA ally staking claim to the constituency. "The Deoras have been serving this constituency for the last 50 years as MPs or otherwise. We were not elected on any wave," Deora said without naming sitting MP Arvind Sawant who was elected when the undivided Shiv Sena was an ally of BJP. Without naming Shiv Sena (UBT), Deora said he didn't want to create an unnecessary controversy but "an alliance partner" has been making one-sided claims over the seat-sharing. "Last week, their spokesperson asked the Congress to start from zero. If this wasn't enough, a fresh claim over the Mumbai South seat was made at a rally of the ally yesterday in Girgaum," he said. Deora said Lok Sabha elections were not going to be easy for the MVA alliance and nobody should make claims and counterclaims. "If a party doesn't want to wait till the formal talks on seat sharing conclude, the Congress will stake the claim and announce candidates. I hope this message reaches important people in Mumbai and Delhi. I appeal to you to be patient," he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Jan 7 (PTI) Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday said TMC leader Sahajahan Sheikh, the key accused in the assault case on ED officials, is still present in Sandeshkhali area of West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, despite his efforts to illegally cross over to Bangladesh. Sheikh has been on the run since Friday's mob assault on Enforcement Department (ED) sleuths during a raid at his residence in connection with the ration distribution scam. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Speculation Rife Over Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Contesting From Cuttack Constituency. Adhikari, citing information from local TMC leaders, claimed, "Sahajahan Sheikh tried to cross over to Bangladesh illegally but failed. He is still hiding in the Sandeshkhali area. I think the local police and administration are aware of it, but they are waiting for a nod from their political masters, the TMC." Adhikari, a former TMC leader who had switched over to the BJP ahead of the 2021 assembly polls, claimed that under the Trinamool rule, law and order have completely collapsed in Bengal. Also Read | Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Says Toll-Free Mumbai Coastal Road Project To Be Partly Opened for Traffic This Month-End (See Pics). Notably, Adhikari's remarks came amidst West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose expressing apprehensions that Sheikh may have "crossed the border" and instructed authorities to arrest him immediately and investigate his alleged connections with terrorists. The governor's statement, issued late Saturday night, highlighted his directive to the police chief to promptly apprehend the culprit. The ruling TMC swiftly responded to Adhikari's claims, urging that both central agencies and state police "must interrogate" the BJP leader. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "If he is aware of so many things, then I think he must be interrogated by the central agencies and police." Incidentally, Adhikari had shared a purported audio message of Sahajahan on social media on Saturday, in which the TMC leader claimed innocence and alleged that the ED raid was a BJP conspiracy to malign the TMC government. The authenticity of the audio clip could not be independently verified by PTI. Meanwhile, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar met Governor Bose on Sunday and submitted a letter urging immediate and decisive action to restore the law and order situation in the state. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Cuttack (Odisha) [India], January 7 (ANI): Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw offered prayer at the Dhabaleswar temple in Odisha's Cuttack on Sunday. While speaking to ANI, the minister said that he also discussed the development of the area as a devotional centre with the priest of the temple. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: VIP 'Darshan' Norms Get Stricter As Temple Trust Starts Enforcing 'Sugam Darshan' at Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi. "I had a darshan of Baba Dhabaleswar today, I was fortunate. I also spoke with the priest and others regarding the development of the area as a devotional centre..." Vaishnaw. When asked about speculations of him contesting the election from Cuttack, the minister said that he would do whatever his party- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tells. Also Read | Ram Temple Consecration Ceremony: 3,000 Gifts Arrive for Lord Ram From Sita's Home in Nepal. "No, there is nothing like that. I am just a worker of the party. Whatever the party tells me, I do," he added. Notably, the Dhabaleswar Temple is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. It is situated at a distance of 27 km from the city of Cuttack, Odisha, India, on the riverine island of Lord Dhabaleshwar. The temple, located on an island on the River Mahanadi, is embellished with stone carvings that date back to the early 10th and 11th centuries. The serene ambience in which the temple is situated inspires spiritual feelings among all. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], January 7 (ANI): As 32 prisoners serving life imprisonment in Gujarat's prisons were released in the first week of January, state Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi on Sunday wished them "fruitful life." "We wish all these prisoners who were released to live good lives in society and not indulge in any activity that can put them behind bars. We want them to live a fruitful life in society," Sanghvi told ANI on Sunday. Also Read | 'India Has Always Been a Good Friend': Maldives' Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Condemns Use of 'Hateful Language' Against PM Narendra Modi. Explaining the mechanism for applying for release, the state Home Minister said, "The prisoners who are facing life imprisonment can apply for release under CrPC 432 after 14 years. Under this legal provision, the Jail Advisory Committee sends requests to the government to release certain inmates." Sanghvi said that those inmates who are elderly, who have maintained "good behaviour in jail" in the last 14 years, and those who engaged in "social service" while in prison or duly obeyed all rules in jail, stand a chance of being released. Also Read | Mumbai: One Killed, One Hurt As INS Kunjali Wall Crashes Down Near Kendriya Vidyalaya. Harsh Sanghvi added, "On Diwali, 71 prisoners were released. In the first week of 2024, 32 prisoners have been released." The Gujarat Home Minister also held a meeting with state officials to review preparations ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 in Gandhinagar. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) Customs duty concession demand on petrochemical products such as polypropylene and polyethylene, used primarily in the plastics industry, may act as a sticking point in the early conclusion of talks for the proposed free-trade agreement (FTA) between India and Oman, according to an official. Negotiations for the pact, officially dubbed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), are in the last phase. Also Read | RPF Recruitment 2024: Notification Released For 2,250 Constable and SI Posts; Know Age Limit, Educational Qualification and Other Details. Certain domestic players from both public and private sectors are opposing duty concessions on these products under the agreement. They are claiming that Oman provides huge subsidies to its industry on raw materials for the production of these petrochemical products. Also Read | GATE 2024 Admit Card for Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering Examination Likely To Be Released Today at gate2024.iisc.ac.in, Know How To Download. According to them, if India would give duty concessions on these already subsidised products, it would be a double advantage for Omani firms. The government official said that they are holding talks with domestic players on the issue. Officials of the two countries concluded the second round of talks for the agreement in December last year. At present the customs duties on these products are around 7.5 per cent. Domestic plastic makers, however, are of the view that duty cuts will give a boost to the labour-intensive sector as raw material cost accounts for about 60 per cent of the final goods. The negotiations on the text of most of the chapters have been concluded by both sides. Oman is the third largest export destination among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The bilateral trade was USD 12.39 billion in 2022-23 as against USD 5 billion in 2018-19. India's exports have increased from USD 2.25 billion in 2018-19 to USD 4.48 billion in 2022-23. According to think tank GTRI (Global Trade Research Institute), Indian goods worth USD 3.7 billion such as gasoline, iron and steel, electronics, and machinery will get a significant boost in Oman, once both sides reach a comprehensive free trade agreement. India's imports from Oman stood at about USD 8 billion in 2022-23. Key products included petroleum products (USD 4.6 billion), urea (USD 1.2 billion); propylene and ethylene polymers (USD 383 million). Currently, over 80 per cent of India's goods enter Oman at an average of 5 per cent import duties, the GTRI report has said adding Oman's import duty ranges from 0 to 100 per cent along with the existence of specific duties. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kanpur (UP), Jan 7 (PTI) Several expectant mothers have requested doctors at a government hospital here to have caesarean section deliveries on January 22, on the occasion of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Seema Dwivedi, acting incharge of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College, said they have received written requests for 12 to 14 caesarean deliveries in one labour room. Also Read | IIT JAM 2024 Exam: Admit Card for Joint Admission Test Examination To Be Released Soon at jam.iitm.ac.in, Know How To Download. "The arrangements are being made for 35 caesarean operations on January 22, Dwivedi told PTI. The expectant mother and their family members have made the requests to the doctors even if their delivery dates are a few days before or after January 22, considering it an auspicious day. Also Read | RPF Recruitment 2024: Notification Released For 2,250 Constable and SI Posts; Know Age Limit, Educational Qualification and Other Details. The first phase of the Ram temple is nearing completion and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla's idol on January 22. Dwivedi said expectant mothers often find out an auspicious date and time from priests and request for delivery on that day. She recounted various experiences where she delivered the babies at a scheduled time and date because the mothers and the family members stressed for the delivery to be done on a muhurta' (auspicious time) given by the priests. It is concerning that sometimes the family members even expect us to overlook complications that may arise for the mother and the child by doing so," Dwivedi told PTI. The mothers believe that Lord Ram is the symbol of heroism, integrity and obedience, therefore babies born on the day of the pran pratishtha' at the temple will also have the same qualities," she said. Malti Devi (26), a resident of Kalyanpur, whose delivery due date is on January 17, is one of the expectant mothers who have made this request to the doctors at the Kanpur hospital. Devi told PTI that she wants her child to be born on the day of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla's idol at the Ram temple. I hope that my child will grow up to have success and glory, she said. Psychologist Divya Gupta told PTI that people believe that if a child is born at an auspicious time, it creates a positive impact on the baby's personality. "Sometimes religion and spirituality give a person strength to tackle the stresses of life and have a positive outlook," Gupta added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of The United States has decided to suspend the operation of some Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft after the Alaska Airlines flight depressurization incident, Azernews reports. Earlier, an Alaska Airlines plane bound for Ontario (California) made an emergency landing at Portland Airport (Oregon) shortly after departure due to a depressurization of the side. It is reported that at the same time, part of the fuselage fell off the aircraft and the porthole fell out. "The FAA requires immediate inspections of some Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft before they can return to flight. We will continue to make decisions based on safety while we assist the National Transportation Safety Board with the investigation of the incident with Alaska Airlines Flight 1282," said FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker. This decision will affect approximately 171 aircraft. "I've been speaking Russian since childhood," "We live in a free country, I speak as I please," and many other cliched phrases of Russian propaganda are uttered by Ukrainians who are fundamentally unwilling to speak Ukrainian. At such moments, I would like to make an argument in favor of the state language, but for some reason, none comes to mind. So, first of all, you should stay calm and not "rush with your fists" at the interlocutor. ADVERTISIMENT Quite often, historical facts are the best way to prove a person right, but even without knowledge of history, you can at least try to convince a Russian-speaking person to choose the language. The "Movyty" language project explains what kind of arguments can work. "I've been speaking Russian since childhood / I'm used to it" For nearly 400 years, the Ukrainian language has been subjected to constant oppression by Russia. "The argument "I've been speaking Russian since childhood and I'm used to it" shows the success of these attempts to destroy the Ukrainian language. Obviously, such a planned and long-term policy could not have affected our language in any other way. The language of entire generations has been forcibly changed to Russian, and, accordingly, our "used to" only confirms this. And it does not speak at all about the free choice or tradition of the whole family or its previous generations," "Movyty" explained. ADVERTISIMENT "What difference does it make what language?" The first thing post-Soviet countries did after the collapse of the USSR was to ban Russian. "The language identifies us as Ukrainians and distinguishes us from our enemies in times of great war. The language shows that the state is alive, the state is developing, creating its own culture and speaking its word to the whole world. If we lose our language, we will soon lose our country. This is clearly seen in the example of Belarus," the project continued. ADVERTISIMENT "We live in a free country and speak as we wish" "Freedom does not equal permissiveness. Any free and democratic state has its own laws, borders, and language," "Movyty" explained how to respond to one of the most common phrases among the Russian-speaking population. We should not forget that the state language is Ukrainian, so it should be known and respected. However, the Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring the Functioning of Ukrainian as the State Language" does not prohibit the use of Russian in private life. "I don't want to make mistakes and 'mess' the language" "It's not easy to master a language, and we know it. We also know that everyone makes mistakes. The stories of many people who have switched or are currently switching to Ukrainian prove that it is difficult, but possible. So learn, make mistakes - just don't stop along the way," the project writes. ADVERTISIMENT "Switzerland has several official languages" "Movyty" notes that Switzerland is a voluntary association of different linguistic regions, and that Russian was artificially imposed on Ukrainians through strict bans. In particular, if one wants to compare our country with multilingual countries, it is more appropriate to do so with Belarus. Russian has also been forcibly imposed there for many years. For nearly four centuries, Ukraine has been oppressed by Russia, starting with Peter the Great's ban on printing books in Ukrainian in 1720. Nine years later, it became taboo to have a primer at home, followed by the Valuev Circular in 1863 and the Ems Decree in 1876. Both of these documents prohibited writing, printing, and teaching Ukrainian. ADVERTISIMENT "Movyty" notes that the language has also been subject to oppression since independence. In 2012, a law was passed that narrowed the scope of Ukrainian usage. Its consequences are still evident today. Recently, a scandalous scene was created in the New Year's episode of Kvartal 95 about the result of the imposition of the Russian language. It was about a woman from Skadovsk who spoke Ukrainian poorly. This episode outraged public figures and the mayor of the temporarily occupied Skadovsk, because the city "speaks Ukrainian". Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote about the treatment of children "from Moscow" in the Ukrainian camp "Artek" and why they had to please. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) The New Delhi Municipal Council is looking to hire a financial advisor for assessment in the development of parking facilities in the Lutyens' Delhi on a public-private partnership basis, the civic body said in a statement. The NDMC has floated a proposal for the exercise and has identified 51 locations for development of parking facilities. Also Read | IIT JAM 2024 Exam: Admit Card for Joint Admission Test Examination To Be Released Soon at jam.iitm.ac.in, Know How To Download. The places include the Rail Museum, Claridges Hotel, Thapar House, Yashwant Place, Palika Place, Khan Market. "There are several problem areas in manually-managed parking facilities that are direct consequences of poor permit management. Using smart parking solutions promises to optimise permit management for NDMC which is a highly sensitive area," an official said. Also Read | RPF Recruitment 2024: Notification Released For 2,250 Constable and SI Posts; Know Age Limit, Educational Qualification and Other Details. Smart Parking solves inconsistencies in parking collection, improper usage of all parking spaces, overcrowding and chaos in public places, poor handling of overtime parking and other violations, he said. "Since this is affecting revenue of NDMC, so, a proper survey of the area on in-coming and out-going of vehicles for the purpose of providing parking facilities to commuters by keeping an eye on security of the area vis-a-vis various advisories issued by authorities, advice of good qualified, technically sound and experienced advisors or advisory firms are required," he added. The NDMC will contribute land and the cost of development will have to be borne by the concessionaire. According to the release, the concessionaire will also be responsible for O & M of projects during the concession period. The revenue from the parking facilities would be shared between concessionaire and NDMC in a predefined manner, the person said. Explaining the job of the consultant, the official said that the consultant will be required to visit these sites to consolidate details on shortlisted parameters for the parking facilities developed by NDMC. The job will also entail assessment of the current parking inventory public on-street and off-street parking locations, typically places afflicted with unauthorised parking and violation by all types of vehicles. According to the documents, the consultant will have to "assess current parking demand, with appropriate surveys including peak hour occupancy, willingness to pay and parking capacity." "Surveys should cover parameters such as type, location, timing, turn-around, user charges etc," the document said. The transaction advisor will also undertake studies with respect to parking technologies and PPP models to suggest NDMC with innovative measures for the monetisation of parking facilities. "Undertake gap assessment to quantify the shortage in parking facilities basis demand and supply. Assess future parking demand considering multiple factors of transition in the city. Support NDMC with identification of additional land parcels suitable for development of parking facilities to meet the parking demand," read the document. The consultant would also have to suggest feasible technological interventions to improve user experience and maximise revenue. Subsequently, the consultant will prepare the Bid Documentation for selection of the Developer/Concessionaire for the project on selected PPP mode. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Meerut (UP), Jan 7 (PTI) Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary on Sunday said that if the INDIA bloc comes to power after the upcoming Lok Sabha Polls, the first thing it would do is abolish the Agniveer scheme. Jayant Choudhary, who was addressing a 'Youth Parliament' organised by RLD at the Sai Dham Colony grounds, said, "If India's government is formed at the Centre, we will end the Agniveer scheme." Also Read | IIT JAM 2024 Exam: Admit Card for Joint Admission Test Examination To Be Released Soon at jam.iitm.ac.in, Know How To Download. RLD is a component of the opposition bloc Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance, or INDIA. "When youth can vote at the age of 21, then why can't they contest elections? We will work on this too. If INDIA forms a government at Centre, no one will stop farmers and youth from going to Delhi," Choudhary said. Also Read | RPF Recruitment 2024: Notification Released For 2,250 Constable and SI Posts; Know Age Limit, Educational Qualification and Other Details. He said that the BJP is not allowing public servants to do work in public interest and everyone is being deluded with a "hollow dream" of a developed India in 2047. In a veiled reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Choudhary said, "Today some people say that only one man is running the country, but there are so many capable youngsters in the country who can run the country better than him. They will have to come forward." On relaxation in age limit in police recruitment, he said the government was forced by the RLD to ease the age limit. Choudhary also demanded the government release a job calendar so that aspirants can prepare for exams in advance. The son of farmer leader late Ajit Singh took a dig at PM Modi, saying, "people are shivering in the cold and Modi ji is enjoying the beach." He added, "Who says Modi ji is alone. With him there is an army of make-up people, camera people and speech writers. But I have none of them." (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Berlin [Germany], January 7 (ANI): The Baloch National Movement Germany Chapter staged a demonstration on Saturday in solidarity with the long march for the families of Baloch missing persons. A huge number of members from the Baloch diaspora in Germany participated in the protest. Pamphlets distributed during the protests highlighted the gross human rights violations in Balochistan carried out by Pakistani security forces and the use of force against the peaceful long march against the Baloch genocide. Also Read | 'Fake News': Maldivian Deputy Minister Hassan Zihan Denies Suspension of Ministers Over Derogatory Remarks Against PM Narendra Modi. Member of the Central Committee of Baloch National Movement Hammal Khan while addressing the demonstration, said: "This movement which started in Turbat after the fake encounter of Balach Mola Bakhsh, is not for one individual or some families. Rather, it is for the entire Baloch nation. Because any movement is neither for an individual nor a particular area or belongs to a party; movement. In reality, it belongs to the entire nation. It is national sense of belonging that contacts us, no matter how far away we are from our motherland." Hammal Khan added: "It is also our sense of belonging that today we are here and trying our best to be the voice of our people. He also warned that "the day when we distance ourselves from national sense of belonging, it would be a harbinger of our death as a diaspora." Also Read | Pope Francis Baptises 16 Babies One by One in Annual Ceremony at the Sistine Chapel. The President of the Baloch National Movement Germany Chapter Asghar Ali applauded the roles of Baloch women in organising such a powerful movement. He in this regard quoted The mother of Zakir Majeed, the leader of Baloch Student Organization who was abducted in 2009. She said, "I know, till I am alive, maybe I won't get my son, Zakir Jan back. But I'll keep participating in demonstrations, because when I leave this world, then someone can show these pictures to Zakir Jan and tell him, look! Your mother kept struggling for you till she was alive." The vice president of Baloch National Movement Germany Chapter Samul Baloch categorically expressed her views, "media might not show the truth of the misery, the pens of their journalists might be bloody of the Baloch nation, the so-called politicians might be blind and deaf, the world might be ignorant of the hopes and despair of Baloch people but we will scream until the world is forced to listen, until the world can no longer turn a blind eye on us. Until the voices of Baloch sisters and mothers echo in their sleeps." She added further, "Until we show them what balochs are built of. We the son and daughters of Balach and chakar, we the nation from mountain and dessert. We will show you. The opresser that we will never be silent. We will never fear you. Balochistan will keep giving birth to our Kareema, Mahrungs and Samis to Remind you of our resilience and strength." The joint secretary of Baloch National Movement Germany Chapter Shar Hassan said that Pakistan is a ruthless state which had no regards for human rights. Pakistan only believes in violence and it's policies are colonial in nature. The human rights violations in Balochistan is in peak where security forces turned Balochistan into a extended prison. And in Pakistan speaking for human rights is a crime and those who speak for it would be treated as terrorist." A member of Baloch National Movement Germany Chapter Sadiq Saeed thanked the participants of the demonstration and he said that "our purpose is to express our solidarity with the long march for the families of Baloch Missing Persons." He added that the families of massing persons marched from Turbat to Islamabad for the safe recovery of their loved ones. But Pakistani media and state-sponsored journalists make fun of their pain and agonies. He rightly said, "if someone's animal goes missing, he or she will do all to find it and Baloch mother, sister and daughter have lost their loved ones who have been forcibly disappeared for years and when they questioned for the safe recovery of their loved they met with harassment, arrest and torture." Unit secretary of NRW Badal Khan said that the purpose of demonstration is to express solidarity with the families of Baloch Missing Persons. As we know people have been forcibly disappeared and suffering torture for years. But the attitude of Pakistani forces is even the same with their families. When they marched to Islamabad, they were received with water cannons, arrest and torture." The member of Baloch National Movement Germany Chapter Safia Manzoor addressed, "The United Nations, as the global guardian of human rights, must not turn a blind eye to the atrocities taking place in Balochistan. The principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights must be upheld, and the international community must stand in solidarity with the Baloch people. It is imperative that the UN investigates the human rights violations in Balochistan and holds the responsible parties accountable for their actions." Bakhtawar Baloch stated, "The current protest in Islamabad is a continuation of the Turbat sit-in which started on November 23, 2023, after the murder of Balach Mola Buksh along with three others previously abducted Baloch youth in a staged encounter at the hands of the CTD." Pakistani military have been directly involved in Baloch Genocide and the so-called democratic government of Pakistan along with Media and Judiciary have failed to stop the killings of civilians in Balochistan." Salma Baloch in her speech said that Balochistan has grappled with a violent insurgency for the last two decades, resulting in numerous forced disappearances and bodies being dumped along roadsides. Caught between radicals exploiting the province's resources and the military combating these groups, Baloch families await news on their missing loved ones." Social media activist Felix expressed his solidarity with the long march for the forcibly disappeared persons and he also condemned the use of force against the peaceful long march of Baloch activists in Islamabad. In the programme, Asif Baloch and Adil Gwahram also delivered speeches. At the end of the demonstration, Asghar Ali, the President of the Baloch National Movement, thanked all participants and vowed to continue their struggle for the people of Balochistan. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dhaka, Jan 7 (PTI) Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the main opposition party, did not participate in the parliamentary election because it knew that it would lose, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Sunday. The BNP has taken a strategy of boycotting the election with various excuses, various demands. They participated in the 2018 election and got some parliamentary seats, but this year they did not participate knowing they would be defeated, Khan, a senior leader of tej ruling Awami League, was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune newspaper. Also Read | Pope Francis Baptises 16 Babies One by One in Annual Ceremony at the Sistine Chapel. Khan made the comments while talking to reporters after casting his vote at Monipuripara in Dhaka's Farmgate area. The BNP is involved in killing people and arson attacks just as they did in 2014, he alleged. Also Read | Pakistan: Four Killed, Three Injured in Firing at Passenger Vehicles in Kurram of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. People do not want such torture and violence. So they are coming to the polling stations in a festive mood, he added. Voting for the 12th parliamentary election ended on Sunday amid sporadic violence and a boycott by the main opposition party BNP and its allies. Ahead of the elections, Hasina's government arrested thousands of rival politicians and supporters, a move which rights groups have condemned as an attempt to paralyse the Opposition. As part of its boycott campaign, the BNP enforced intermittent transport blockades and strikes for the past three months. Hasina, 76, has been in power since 2009 and her Awami League won the last election in December 2018. She is set to secure a fourth consecutive term as prime minister and a fifth overall term in the one-sided election. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Sharjah [UAE], January 7 (ANI/WAM): The Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) in Sharjah has announced that it is taking part in the 19th edition of the SteelFab 2024 exhibition, organised by Expo Centre Sharjah from January 8 to 11, 2024. During the event, HFZA will showcase the various opportunities and advantages of investing in the Free Zone as well as the facilities and services it provides for investors seeking to set up their businesses as central hubs in the iron and steel industry or as key destinations for specialised heavy industries. Also Read | 'India Has Always Been a Good Friend': Maldives' Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Condemns Use of 'Hateful Language' Against PM Narendra Modi. At the exhibition, featuring over 275 exhibitors and 600 international brands in the sector, along with numerous industry experts, HFZA will highlight the main advantages of establishing a business at its industrial manufacturing park, which currently houses over 180 companies specialising in welding and mining. HFZA pavilion will also highlight its attractive services, which have successfully attracted investors from both domestic and international markets. The Free Zone offers a multitude of competitive advantages, including easy access to Hamriyah Port, comprehensive solutions encompassing integrated logistics, warehousing, and merchandise handling, customs exemptions for imports, exports, and re-exports, complete corporate ownership, the ability to repatriate 100 per cent of capital and profits, and convenient access to cutting-edge facilities and a skilled workforce. Also Read | Internet Down in Pakistan: Users Complain As Social Media, Internet Outage in Country. Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, Director of HFZA, said, "We look forward, through our participation in SteelFab 2024, to gaining valuable insights from global manufacturers, staying informed about the latest developments in the metalworking industry, and understanding the specific requirements of manufacturers and investors in this sector. "Furthermore, we aim to promote HFZA's investment advantages, the diverse range of options it offers, and its solutions that empower investors and businesses operating in the iron and steel industry to expand into new markets and grow their operations. The exceptional infrastructure and investment environment within the Free Zone and throughout the Emirate of Sharjah play a pivotal role in helping us fulfil our investors' aspirations by connecting them with global markets." Al Mazrouei emphasised that Hamriyah Free Zone is committed to maximising its presence at SteelFab 2024 to solidify its status as a leading hub for specialised heavy industries. To achieve this goal, the Free Zone is actively engaging with major global companies and renowned brands within the steel sector, with the aim of attracting new investors to Sharjah. During such discussions, HFZA showcases its comprehensive offerings, ranging from top-notch facilities to exemplary client services, the simplicity of setting up businesses within the Zone, strategic geographic location advantageous to clients, and various services provided to enhance the productivity of the sector and boost its export capabilities. Other participants in SteelFab 2024 include prominent iron and steel manufacturers from the UK, Germany, Italy, the United States, China, the Netherlands, and India, as well as top local and regional companies operating in metalworking, welding and cutting, laser metal cutting systems, pipe manufacturing, and metal plate fabrication. (ANI/WAM) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Male [Maldives], January 7 (ANI): Maldivian Member of Parliament (MP) and former deputy speaker, Eva Abdulla, on Sunday said it was 'important' that the Maldivian government issue a formal apology to the Indian people for the derogatory remarks by a section of 'MPs' against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep. The Maldivian MP said it was also important for the government to distance itself from the comments made by the minister. Also Read | 'India Has Always Been a Good Friend': Maldives' Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Condemns Use of 'Hateful Language' Against PM Narendra Modi. "It is absolutely critical that the Government of Maldives distanced itself from the comments by the minister. I know that the government has suspended the ministers, but I think it is important that the Government of Maldives issue a formal apology to the Indian people," she told ANI. In a post that has now been deleted, the Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Mariyam Shiuna, made a mocking and disrespectful reference to PM Modi over his visit to the Indian island cluster. Also Read | Internet Down in Pakistan: Users Complain As Social Media, Internet Outage in Country. Her post even featured images of PM Modi from his visit to Lakshadweep. Posting images from his visit to the Union Territory on January 2, PM Modi also shared an 'exhilarating experience' of him trying his hand at snorkelling. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches and the pristine blue skies and the ocean, and tagged them with a message that read, "For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list." "Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from Lakshadweep...During my stay, I also tried snorkelling -- what an exhilarating experience it was! For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list," PM Modi posted on X. The Maldives former Deputy Speaker Abdulla said the remarks by the minister are "simply shameful, racist and intolerable." She said the minister's words are in no way a reflection of the opinion of the people of Maldives and that the Maldivian people are very aware of how dependent "we have been on India, and that India has always been the first responder whenever we are in need. We've been dependent on India for economic relations, social relations, health, education, trade, tourism and the Maldives people are very grateful for this and very aware of this..." Abdulla said she wants to apologise for the remarks and that "across the political spectrum, political parties and politicians, we've all condemned these derogatory remarks by the minister." She then urged Indians to keep coming to the Maldives. "We appreciate and value your presence here in the Maldives. We value the doctors you send, the teachers you send, the tourists you send. So please do keep coming back. I do hope that these remarks by the minister will be a one-off, and it won't be a reflection of either the Maldives people or even the government..." she said. The Maldivian government on Sunday sought to distance itself from Minister Mariyam Shiuna's derogatory remarks against PM Modi, saying her opinion does not reflect the government's views. The government added that 'appropriate action' will be taken against the minister, who is in the midst of a social media firestorm over her post, mocking viral photographs from PM Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep. The Maldivian government said it was aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. "These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives," read an official release by the Maldivian Foreign Ministry on Sunday. The government added that it believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a "democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners". "Moreover, the relevant authorities of the government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks," the government release stated further. Meanwhile, Maldivian Deputy Minister Hassan Zihan, quoting a local media tweet, on Sunday denied a report of his suspension from the cabinet, along with other ministers, over derogatory remarks against PM Modi, calling it 'fake news'. His denial came after local media outlet Adhadhu reported that deputy youth ministers Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid were suspended over social media posts, making mocking references to PM Modi. Citing a top government source, Adhadhu reported that three deputy ministers were suspended for making disparaging statements against PM Modi, following his recent visit to Lakshadweep. Maldivian MP Hussain Shaheem has also condemned the derogatory remarks made against PM Modi. "Derogatory remarks made by senior Government officials of the Maldives towards the Prime Minister of India, @narendramodi is condemnable. India has always been a close ally and friend to the Maldives," he said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo, Jan 7 (PTI) President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday expressed his desire to have land connectivity between Sri Lanka and India as he visited the Tamil-dominated Northern Province capital of Jaffna to engage in a wide-ranging discussion on developing the war-battered region. Wickremesinghe said he had discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the idea to build the bridge between northeastern Mannar and south India. Also Read | 'Fake News': Maldivian Deputy Minister Hassan Zihan Denies Suspension of Ministers Over Derogatory Remarks Against PM Narendra Modi. President Wickremesinghe has highlighted his desire to create land connectivity between Mannar and south India and has already discussed the idea to build a bridge with Prime Minister Modi, said the President's office. Jaffna holds great significance as it was the region where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam had run a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader V Prabhakaran. Also Read | Pope Francis Baptises 16 Babies One by One in Annual Ceremony at the Sistine Chapel. Amnesty International reported in 2017 that the number of disappeared persons in Sri Lanka could be between 60,000 and 100,000 since the late 1980s. The region has lacked economic development and the Sri Lankan leaders in recent years have said that they are committed towards the development of the Tamil-dominated Northern and Eastern provinces of the country. Wickremesinghe also said he was willing to take unpopular decisions to revive the bankrupt Sri Lankan economy. He pledged ways to connect the northern economy to the national economy. "Among the pressing issues in the Northern Province, the matters of land disputes and missing persons have taken precedence. As a government, we have devised plans to provide expeditious solutions to address these concerns, he said. Wickremesinghe said he would address both land and the issue of missing persons before the conclusion of 2025. He highlighted the significance of religious harmony for economic development and expressed his intention to expedite the development program aimed at restoring the revenues lost during the war in the North back to the region. During his four-day visit, the president highlighted the importance of the India-backed 13th Amendment (13A) to the Sri Lankan constitution. He said that the provincial administrations created by the 13A must be better used to achieve economic growth without interference from the centre. India has been pressing Sri Lanka to implement the 13A which was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987. The 13A provides for the devolution of power to the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu, Jan 7 (PTI) India and Nepal have decided to strengthen the power transmission systems between the two countries and help each other to progress in the energy sector, according to a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Nepal. The statement came two days after the Nepal-India Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on Power Sector Cooperation meeting concluded in Chitwan district of central Nepal on Friday and was followed by the signing of the agreement on Long Term Power Trade between the two nations. Also Read | 'Fake News': Maldivian Deputy Minister Hassan Zihan Denies Suspension of Ministers Over Derogatory Remarks Against PM Narendra Modi. "The Nepal-India Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on Power Sector Cooperation meeting concluded in Chitwan district of central Nepal on Friday. During the meeting the two sides have agreed on strengthening the power transmission system between the two countries," said the statement. The development came after Nepal signed a long-term agreement for the export of 10,000 MW power to India, an MoU for cooperation in renewable energy, and jointly inaugurated three cross-border transmission lines during the two-day visit of the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the Himalayan nation on January 4. Also Read | Pope Francis Baptises 16 Babies One by One in Annual Ceremony at the Sistine Chapel. According to the Indian embassy, on Friday the 11th Energy Secretary Level meeting of the Joint Steering Committee was co-chaired by Gopal Prasad Sigdel, secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Nepal and Pankaj Agrawal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, India. During the meeting, both sides comprehensively reviewed the bilateral power sector cooperation between Nepal and India, including power trade and the implementation of hydropower projects, and transmission lines, said the statement. The modalities of cross-border power trade through 132 KV and below transmission lines were approved during the meeting. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], January 7 (ANI): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi was declared 'ineligible' to contest elections from his stronghold Multan as an appellate election tribunal on Saturday, rejected his appeal against the rejection of his nomination papers, The News International reported. While Qureshi was cleared to contest polls from the NA-214 constituency in Sindh's Umarkot city, the appellate election tribunal turned down his appeal filed against the returning officer's (RO) decision to reject his nomination papers for two National Assembly and as many Punjab Assembly seats in Multan. Also Read | Sudden Death in UK: British Airways Flight Attendant Dies After Collapsing in Front of Passengers Right Before Take Off at Heathrow Airport in London. He had filed for nomination papers for NA-150 Multan-III, NA-151 Multan-IV and PP-218, PP-219 constituencies. Speaking to The News International, Multan High Court Bar Association President Rana Asif Saeed said the election tribunal had rejected the appeal of Shah Mehmood, filed for restoration of his right to candidature. Also Read | Earthquake in Japan: Another 5.1 Magnitude Quake Jolts Near West Coast of Honshu. The tribunal had declared him 'ineligible' to contest the election. Appellate Tribunal Judge Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar delivered the verdict, he said. Earlier, ROs had rejected the nomination papers of Qureshi from NA-150 Multan-III, NA-151 Multan-IV and PP-218, PP-219, and he had filed appeals against the rejection of his nomination papers. However, the appellate tribunal had dismissed his appeals. Meanwhile, the hearing of over 60 appeals continued in the election tribunal, established on the Multan Bench of the Lahore High Court on Saturday. The nomination papers of Zartaj Gul and her husband Humayun were accepted by Dera Ghazi Khan, and the tribunal declared her eligible to contest elections. Jamshed Dasti's wife Nazia Dasti, and nephew Samad Dasti's nomination papers were accepted while his appeal against the rejection of nomination papers was adjourned till Sunday. The nomination papers of Malik Niaz Ahmad Jhakkar and Malik Owais Haider Jhakkar from Leh NA-182 Multan were accepted, according to The News International. In Lahore, an appellate tribunal held a hearing on an appeal filed against approval of nomination papers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif from NA-130 and directed the petitioner to appear before the court till Sunday. Petitioner Shahid Aurakzai did not appear on the court summons for the second time on Saturday. The court discussed the objections of the registrar's office to the petitioner's appeal and gave the last chance him to appear for arguments against the objections of the registrar's office till Sunday. The appellate tribunal of the LHC rejected the appeal against the approval of PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz's nomination papers from PP-80 Sargodha and the nomination papers were declared valid, The News International reported. Last month, Pakistan police implicated Shah Mehmood Qureshi in at least 12 different cases registered by the district police in connection with the May 9 violence following his rearrest, according to Dawn. Later, a magistrate sent him to Adiala Jail on a two-week remand in a case regarding the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dhaka, Jan 7 (PTI) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to secure a record fourth straight term as her Awami League party was on Sunday inching closer to a landslide victory in the general elections marred by sporadic violence and a boycott by the main opposition BNP and its allies. Hasina won the Gopalganj-3 seat for the eighth time since 1986. She bagged 249,965 votes while her nearest rival M Nizam Uddin Lashkar from the Bangladesh Supreme Party secured just 469 votes, bdnews24 reported. Also Read | 'India Has Always Been a Good Friend': Maldives' Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Condemns Use of 'Hateful Language' Against PM Narendra Modi. The 76-year-old leader, who has been ruling the strategically located South Asian nation since 2009, is set to secure a record fourth consecutive term and fifth overall term in the one-sided election, which witnessed a low turnout. According to the Daily Star newspaper, Awami League has so far won 17 out of 20 seats in the 300-member parliament. The Jatiya Party won one seat while independents bagged two. Also Read | Internet Down in Pakistan: Users Complain As Social Media, Internet Outage in Country. Citing unofficial results, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper, however, reported that the Awami League has won in 170 constituencies while the Jatiya Party secured 10 seats. Independent candidates won the race in 45 seats, it added. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader claimed that the people have rejected the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami's boycott of the election by casting their ballots. "I sincerely thank those who braved the fear of vandalism, arson, and terrorism to participate in the 12th national parliamentary elections, Quader said. Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader won the Rangpur-3 seat in the 12th national parliamentary election. According to the initial estimates, the voter turnout was around 40 per cent but the figure could change after the final count, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal earlier said. The 2018 general election recorded an overall turnout of more than 80 per cent. Former premier Khaleda Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders said the party plans to intensify its anti-government movement through a peaceful public engagement programme from Tuesday as it dubbed the polls as "fake." The BNP boycotted the 2014 election but joined the one in 2018. This time, they boycotted the polls. Fifteen other political parties also boycotted the election. The party leaders claimed that the low turnout was evidence that their boycott movement had been successful. They said that peaceful democratic protest programmes will be accelerated, and the people's right to vote will be established through this programme. The BNP is observing a 48-hour nationwide general strike which began at 6 am on Saturday and will end at 6 am on Monday. It had called upon voters to shun the election to mark the beginning of an end of what it calls a "fascist government." Earlier, an election commission spokesman said that other than some sporadic incidents of violence, the voting was largely peaceful in 299 of the 300 constituencies. The Commission suspended polling in one seat because of the death of a candidate. The election commission cancelled the candidature of a ruling Awami League candidate in northeastern Chattogram at the fag-end of the voting hours as he scolded and threatened a police officer. The usual election-day fervour was nowhere to be seen. Even in front of the election campaign booths, there was no presence of voters except the ruling party-backed supporters and election agents. Voters cast their votes without any disruption in the absence of long queues, leaving presiding officers with idle time. Shots were fired during a clash between supporters of two candidates running for the Chattogram-10 seat. Two people - Shanto Barua, 24, and Jamal, 35 - were shot and taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Two people were injured after a clash between supporters of the Awami League candidate and an independent candidate at a polling centre in Jamalpur's Sharishabari. Four persons, including a child, were injured after two crude bombs exploded near a voting centre in Dhaka's Hazaribagh. Prime Minister Hasina cast her vote at Dhaka City College polling centre soon after the voting started. Her daughter Saima Wazed accompanied her. She alleged that the opposition BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami alliance does not believe in democracy. "People will vote as they wish. And we were able to create that voting environment. Although the BNP-Jamaat alliance has caused many incidents, including arson attacks," she told reporters. In response to a question, Hasina said that India is a trusted friend of Bangladesh. "We are very lucky...India is our trusted friend. During our Liberation War, they supported us not only that after 1975, when we lost our whole family - father, mother, brothers, everyone (in a military coup) - and only we two (Hasina and her younger sister Rehana) survived... they gave us shelter. So, we have our best wishes to the people of India," she told reporters. In August 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his wife and their three sons were assassinated in their home by military officers. His daughters Hasina and Rehana survived the purge as they were abroad. In response to a question on how acceptable the election will be while the BNP is boycotting it, Hasina said that her responsibility is towards the people. "Whether people accept this election or not it is important to me. So, I don't care about their (foreign media) acceptance. No matter what did the terrorist party say or not?" she said. The 27 political parties that contested the elections include the opposition Jatiya Party. The rest are members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition, which experts dub as "satellite parties." A total of 119.6 million registered voters were eligible to vote at Sunday's polls in more than 42,000 polling stations, according to the country's Election Commission. More than 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties were contesting in the election, besides 436 independent candidates. Over 100 foreign observers, including three from India, monitored the 12th general election, which was held under tight security. More than 7.5 lakh members of law enforcement agencies and security forces were deployed to ensure law and order during the polls. Former Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Sakhawat Hussain termed Sunday's polls a unique one compared to the previous two elections. "This time the election is taking place between candidates from the same party in the name of independents and dummies. As a result, voters are less interested in the polls," said Sakhawat. "So, it is a unique model election Results of the election are certain, everybody knows who is going to win. The only uncertain thing is who will be in the opposition bench," he added. On Friday, the UN Special Rapporteur, Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, said he was "deeply disturbed" by the repressive environment surrounding the polls in Bangladesh. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dmytro Andriushchenko, a command officer of the 12th Brigade of the Azov Regiment, believes that residents of Donbas and Crimea, who voted in pro-Russian referendums in spring 2014, are also guilty of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Without restraining his emotions, he called them "nits" who were directly involved in the war and the deaths of thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers. ADVERTISIMENT The soldier with the call sign "Diplomat" said this in an interview with TSN, which was posted on YouTube on January 6. Last year in September, the defender returned from Russian captivity, where he had been since leaving Azovstal in May 2022. He believes that those Ukrainian citizens who knowingly or unknowingly came to the illegal referendums in the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea are directly involved in the full-scale war that began in February 2022. The "diplomat" says that his friends and acquaintances were among those who supported the aggressor country of Russia more than nine years ago. Since then, he has not communicated with them. ADVERTISIMENT "I completely cut off communication with them. They are not respectable people for me. Even if they have now bought 200 drones. I can't do that. Because I believe that this is a logical chain that generates all this..." explained the Azov officer. He says that such people once gave any formal and informal grounds for Russia to launch its full-scale military invasion. According to him, these citizens became the "first cog" in the mechanism that brought the "Russian world" to Ukraine. "For me, there is always a cause-and-effect relationship. The war and the deaths of thousands of our civilian and military boys and girls are the consequences of that campaign of those nits in 2014 for that sh*tty referendum," said Dmytro Andriushchenko. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA previously reported, February 2024 marks the second year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the tenth year since the Kremlin's aggression began. Representatives of the military-political leadership, Western partners, and military experts told us whether 2024 could become a year of victory for Ukraine. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Dhaka, Jan 7 (PTI) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to secure a record fourth straight term as her Awami League party was on Sunday leading in most of the seats in the general elections marred by sporadic violence and a boycott by the main opposition BNP and its allies. Hasina won the Gopalganj-3 seat for the eighth time since 1986. She bagged 249,965 votes while her nearest rival M Nizam Uddin Lashkar from the Bangladesh Supreme Party secured just 469 votes, bdnews24 reported. Also Read | Internet Down in Pakistan: Users Complain As Social Media, Internet Outage in Country. The 76-year-old leader, who has been ruling the strategically located South Asian nation since 2009, is set to secure a record fourth consecutive term and fifth overall term in the one-sided election. According to the Daily Star newspaper, Awami League has so far won 8 out of 9 seats in the 300-member parliament. The Jatiya Party has won one seat. Also Read | 'Fake News': Maldivian Deputy Minister Hassan Zihan Denies Suspension of Ministers Over Derogatory Remarks Against PM Narendra Modi. However, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported that the Awami League has won in 79 constituencies while the Jatiya Party secured five seats. Independent candidates won the race in 23 seats, it added. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader claimed that the people have rejected the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami's boycott of the election by casting their ballots. "I sincerely thank those who braved the fear of vandalism, arson, and terrorism to participate in the 12th national parliamentary elections, Quader said. Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader won the Rangpur-3 seat in the 12th national parliamentary election. According to the initial estimates, the voter turnout was around 40 per cent but the figure could change after the final count, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal earlier said. The 2018 general election recorded an overall turnout of more than 80 per cent. Earlier, the voting ended at 4 pm. An election commission spokesman said that other than some sporadic incidents of violence, the voting was largely peaceful in 299 of the 300 constituencies. The Commission suspended polling in one seat because of the death of a candidate. The election commission cancelled the candidature of a ruling Awami League candidate in northeastern Chattogram at the fag-end of the voting hours as he scolded and threatened a police officer. The development left the polls in the constituency to be contested by two rebel candidates who belong to the ruling party as well. The voter turnout was low as the ailing jailed ex-premier Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) stayed away from the polls asking people to boycott it. The party alleged that no election under the current government would be fair and credible. The usual election-day fervour was nowhere to be seen. Even in front of the election campaign booths, there was no presence of voters except the ruling party-backed supporters and election agents. Voters cast their votes without any disruption in the absence of long queues, leaving presiding officers with idle time. Voting was cancelled at three centres -- one in Narsingdi and two in Narayanganj. The Election Commission ordered the arrest of Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun's son on charges of electoral fraud in Narsingdi, according to reports. Shots were fired during a clash between supporters of two candidates running for the Chattogram-10 seat. Two people Shanto Barua, 24, and Jamal, 35 were shot and taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Two people were injured after a clash between supporters of the Awami League candidate and an independent candidate at a polling centre in Jamalpur's Sharishabari. Four persons, including a child, were injured after two crude bombs exploded near a voting centre in Dhaka's Hazaribagh. Prime Minister Hasina cast her vote at Dhaka City College polling centre soon after the voting started. Her daughter Saima Wazed accompanied her. "Polling in the country is going on very well. I hope all the people will come to vote and establish their rights. Maintain the democratic flow in the country and work for the socio-economic development of people," Hasina told reporters after casting her vote. She alleged that the opposition BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami alliance does not believe in democracy. "People will vote as they wish. And we were able to create that voting environment. Although the BNP-Jamaat alliance has caused many incidents, including arson attacks," she said. In response to a question, Hasina told reporters that India is a trusted friend of Bangladesh. "We are very lucky...India is our trusted friend. During our Liberation War, they supported us not only that after 1975, when we lost our whole family - father, mother, brothers, everyone (in a military coup) - and only we two (Hasina and her younger sister Rehana) survived... they gave us shelter. So, we have our best wishes to the people of India," she told reporters. In August 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his wife and their three sons were assassinated in their home by military officers. His daughters Hasina and Rehana survived the purge as they were abroad. In response to a question on how acceptable the election will be while the BNP is boycotting it, Hasina said that her responsibility is towards the people. "Whether people accept this election or not it is important to me. So, I don't care about their (foreign media) acceptance. No matter what did the terrorist party say or not?" she said. Hasina's ruling Awami League (AL) is expected to win the election as the BNP of former premier Khaleda Zia, 78, who is under house arrest as a convict of graft charges, boycotted the polls. The BNP boycotted the 2014 election but joined the one in 2018. The 27 political parties that contested the elections include the opposition Jatiya Party. The rest are members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition, which experts dub as "satellite parties." The BNP is observing a 48-hour nationwide general strike which began at 6 am on Saturday and will end at 6 am on Monday. It had called upon voters to shun the election to mark the beginning of an end of what it calls a "fascist government." Fifteen other political parties also boycotted the election. A total of 119.6 million registered voters were eligible to vote at Sunday's polls in more than 42,000 polling stations, according to the country's Election Commission. More than 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties were contesting in the election, besides 436 independent candidates. Over 100 foreign observers, including three from India, monitored the 12th general election, which is being held under tight security. More than 7.5 lakh members of law enforcement agencies and security forces have been deployed to ensure law and order during the polls. Former Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Sakhawat Hussain termed Sunday's polls a unique one compared to the previous two elections. "This time the election is taking place between candidates from the same party in the name of independents and dummies. As a result, voters are less interested in the polls," said Sakhawat. "So, it is a unique model election Results of the election are certain, everybody knows who is going to win. The only uncertain thing is who will be in the opposition bench," he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Rome, Jan 7 (AP) Two hikers on snowshoes were killed by an avalanche in the Italian Alps near Switzerland, a rescue service said on Sunday. The avalanche occurred around noon on Sunday at the 2,200-meter (7,200-foot) level in the Formazza valley in the Piedmont region, said Federico Catania, a spokesperson for Italy's alpine rescue service. Also Read | 'India Has Always Been a Good Friend': Maldives' Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Condemns Use of 'Hateful Language' Against PM Narendra Modi. The force of the avalanche pushed one of the victims into a lake near the bottom of the slope, while the other body was found in the mass of snow, he said. Despite strong winds, a helicopter was able to lower a rescue team aided by a dog unit. Also Read | Internet Down in Pakistan: Users Complain As Social Media, Internet Outage in Country. The identities of the two victims weren't immediately released. A search operation was launched after guards at a nearby dike reported seeing an avalanche strike two hikers, Catania said. An initial search by foot failed to find the hikers, prompting the use of the helicopter. A firefighters helicopter carrying divers was dispatched to recover the body from the lake, rescuers said. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dhaka, January 7: Bangladeshis on Sunday turned up in low numbers to cast their votes for the general elections likely to be won by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for a fourth straight term, amid sporadic violence and a boycott by the main opposition party BNP and its allies. The turnout for the 12th national parliamentary election has only been 27.15 per cent as of 3 pm, Election Commission Secretary Md Jahangir Alam said. The voters' turnout was highest in (southwestern) Khulna division with 32 per cent of people casting their votes. The lowest turnout was reported from (northeastern) Sylhet division where the figure was 22 per cent during this time, an election commission spokesman said. Voting has been suspended at seven polling centres over irregularities, he said. The polls opened at 8:00 am and ended at 4 pm (local time). Bangladesh General Election 2024: Polling Underway With Main Opposition Boycotting Polls, PM Sheikh Hasina Casts Vote in Dhaka City College (Watch Video) The usual election-day fervour was nowhere to be seen. Even in front of the election campaign booths, there was no presence of voters except the ruling party-backed supporters and election agents. Voters cast their votes without any disruption in the absence of long queues, leaving presiding officers with idle time. Voting has also been cancelled at three centres -- one in Narsingdi and two in Narayanganj. The Election Commission ordered the arrest of Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun's son on charges of electoral fraud in Narsingdi, according to reports. Shots were fired during a clash between supporters of two candidates running for the Chattogram-10 seat. Two people Shanto Barua, 24, and Jamal, 35 were shot and taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Two people were injured after a clash between supporters of the Awami League candidate and an independent candidate at a polling centre in Jamalpur's Sharishabari. Four persons, including a child, were injured after two crude bombs exploded near a voting centre in Dhaka's Hazaribagh. A total of 119.6 million registered voters were eligible to vote at Sunday's polls in more than 42,000 polling stations, according to the country's Election Commission. The voting was held in 299 out of the 300 constituencies. The election to one seat will be held later due to the death of a candidate. More than 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties were contesting in the election, besides 436 independent candidates. Bangladesh Is Lucky To Have Trusted Friend Like India: PM Sheikh Hasina Praises India on Voting Day, Highlights New Delhis Role in Liberation War (Watch Video) Over 100 foreign observers, including three from India, monitored the 12th general election, which is being held under tight security. More than 7.5 lakh members of law enforcement agencies and security forces have been deployed to ensure law and order during the polls. The election commission said that it expected the results to start flowing from early on January 8. Prime Minister Hasina cast her vote at Dhaka City College polling centre soon after the voting started. Her daughter Saima Wazed accompanied her. Hasina, 76, has been in power since 2009 and her Awami League won the last election in December 2018. She is set to secure a fourth consecutive term as prime minister and a fifth overall term in the one-sided election. "Polling in the country is going on very well. I hope all the people will come to vote and establish their rights. Maintain the democratic flow in the country and work for the socio-economic development of people," Hasina told reporters after casting her vote. She alleged that the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-Jamaat-e-Islami alliance does not believe in democracy. "People will vote as they wish. And we were able to create that voting environment. Although the BNP-Jamaat alliance has caused many incidents, including arson attacks," she said. In response to a question, Hasina told reporters that India is a trusted friend of Bangladesh. "We are very lucky...India is our trusted friend. During our Liberation War, they supported us not only that after 1975, when we lost our whole family - father, mother, brothers, everyone (in a military coup) - and only we two (Hasina and her younger sister Rehana) survived... they gave us shelter. So, we have our best wishes to the people of India," she told reporters. In August 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his wife and their three sons were assassinated in their home by military officers. His daughters Hasina and Rehana survived the purge as they were abroad. In response to a question on how acceptable the election will be while the BNP is boycotting it, Hasina said that her responsibility is towards the people. "Whether people accept this election or not it is important to me. So, I don't care about their (foreign media) acceptance. No matter what did the terrorist party say or not?" she said. Hasina's ruling Awami League (AL) is expected to win the election as the BNP of former premier Khaleda Zia, 78, who is under house arrest as a convict of graft charges, boycotted the polls. The BNP boycotted the 2014 election but joined the one in 2018. The 27 political parties that contested the elections include the opposition Jatiya Party (JAPA). The rest are members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition, which experts dub as "satellite parties." The BNP is observing a 48-hour nationwide general strike which began at 6 am on Saturday and will end at 6 am on Monday. It had called upon voters to shun the election to mark the beginning of an end of what it calls a "fascist government." Ahead of the elections, Hasina's government arrested tens of thousands of rival politicians and supporters, a move which rights groups have condemned as an attempt to paralyse the Opposition. As part of its boycott campaign, the BNP enforced intermittent transport blockades and strikes for the past three months. The party has been claiming no election under the incumbent government would be fair and credible and pressing for a non-party neutral government and the release of all party leaders and activists from prison. "If elections were held in a free and fair manner, then (PM Sheikh Hasina-led) Awami League would win just 20 to 30 seats," BNP leader Nitai Roy Chowdhury said. Fifteen other political parties also boycotted the election. The boycott as well as fear of violence can keep a large number of voters away from voting. "What's the point of going to the polling centres when the election is nothing but a battle between two groups of the same party? We all know Awami League will win the race at the end of the day," The Daily Star newspaper quoted Md Monir Hassan, a resident of Dhanmondi, as saying. On Saturday, at least 14 polling stations in Bangladesh were set on fire, including one on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka. On Friday night, at least four people were killed and many others injured as arsonists set a running train on fire in Dhaka. Overall, nine people have lost their lives in eight incidents of arson on trains since November 16. The ruling party did everything it could to make the election look participatory and competitive. It allowed party leaders to join the polls in droves as "independent" candidates. As a result, in every seat, two or more AL candidates are pitted against each other. It also formed dedicated teams across the country to bring as many voters as possible to the polling centres to ensure high turnout in efforts to garner international support. Former Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Sakhawat Hussain termed Sunday's polls a unique one compared to the previous two elections. "This time the election is taking place between candidates from the same party in the name of independents and dummies. As a result, voters are less interested in the polls," said Sakhawat. He also said some parties that joined the race are not well-known, while some are facing existential crisis. "So, it is a unique model election Results of the election are certain, everybody knows who is going to win. The only uncertain thing is who will be in the opposition bench," he added. Balod, January 7: A 30-year man allegedly killed his mother and two-month-old son and injured his wife with an axe after an argument with the latter in Chhattisgarh's Balod district, police said on Sunday. The incident took place on Saturday in Usarwara village under Purur police station limits. The accused, identified as Bhawani Nishad, was arrested on Saturday evening after a police team reached the spot on being alerted by a local person, said Shishupal Sinha, station house officer of Purur police station. As per preliminary investigation, the man allegedly stole an ATM card of a villager about a week back and withdrew Rs 40,000 using it from the person's account, he said. Later, villagers started talking about the theft and the accused apparently felt guilty about having stolen the money, the official said. On Saturday, the accused reached his house in an inebriated state and entered into an argument with his wife over the matter. Chhattisgarh Human Trafficking Case: Minor Girl Lured with Army Job Promise by Social Media Friend, Raped and Sold for Rs 3 Lakh in Rajasthan; Rescued The accused then allegedly attacked his wife, mother and son with an axe saying he will finish off the entire family and will kill himself too. His father was not present in the house at that time, Sinha said. After learning about the incident, locals reached the man's house and informed police, he said. His mother Shanti Nishad (50), and son Vaibhav were killed in the attack while his wife Jageshwari (26) suffered injuries, the official said. The injured woman was shifted to a hospital in Dhamtari and her condition was reported to be out of danger, he said. The accused told police that he had committed the offence, the official said. A case has been registered in this connection and further probe is underway. In a similar incident on January 1, a 34-year-old man from a village in Bilaspur district allegedly killed his wife and three minor children over suspicion that she was having an extra-marital affair. Chhattisgarh Shocker: Man Kills Wife, Three Children in Bilaspur Over Suspicion of Her Infidelity; Probe Launched On December 25, 2023, a 40-year-old man allegedly gave poison to his wife and two minor daughters before consuming it himself in Durg district. The man and one of his daughters died. On December 29, a couple and their 14-year-old daughter were found hanging inside their house in state capital Raipur. New Delhi, Jan 7: Delhi's Directorate of Education Saturday night withdrew an order extending winter vacation in schools in the national capital, officials said. Earlier in the day, the directorate stated that the winter vacation in all government and private schools in the national capital has been extended till January 10 due to cold weather conditions. Delhi School Winter Holiday: Winter Vacation in Schools Extended Till January 10 Due to Cold Weather Conditions. A Delhi government official said that there was some error in the order. "The order extending winter break was incorrectly issued. The order has been withdrawn immediately. Decision on the same will be taken tomorrow morning," the official said. Delhi School Winter Holiday: Winter Vacation in Schools Reduced From 15 to Six Days, To Begin From January 1. The vacation is scheduled to end on Saturday and classes are to resume Monday. Delhi is experiencing extreme cold waves and the India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert due to dense fog, light rainfall and drop in temperature for the next few days. Male, January 7: Former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Sunday condemned the use of 'hateful language' against India by government officials on social media, saying New Delhi has always been a good friend to the island nation. Taking to his official handle on social media platform X, Solih posted, "I condemn the use of hateful language against India by Maldivian government officials on social media." He stressed that "India has always been a good friend to the Maldives and we must not allow such callous remarks to negatively impact the age-old friendship between our two countries". A massive uproar broke after a Maldivian deputy minister and some other government officials shared derogatory posts about PM Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep. Fake News: Maldivian Deputy Minister Hassan Zihan Denies Suspension of Ministers Over Derogatory Remarks Against PM Narendra Modi. PM Modi visited the Union Territory of Lakshadweep on January 2 and shared several pictures, including an 'exhilarating experience' of him trying his hand at snorkelling. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches and the pristine blue skies and the ocean, and tagged them with a message that read, "For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list." In a post that has now been deleted, the Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Shiuna, made a mocking and disrespectful reference to PM Modi over his visit to the Indian island cluster. Her post even featured images of PM Modi from his visit to Lakshadweep. A section of India's film fraternity, too, came out in support of PM Modi and strongly criticised the derogatory remarks by Maldivian leaders against the country and its leader. They also voiced support for PM Modi's call for promoting beach tourism in Lakshadweep. Maldives Government Suspends Ministers Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid Over Derogatory Remarks on PM Narendra Modi. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches and the pristine blue skies and the ocean, and tagged them with a message that read, "For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list." "Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from Lakshadweep...During my stay, I also tried snorkelling - what an exhilarating experience it was! For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list," PM Modi posted on X. He also laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 1,150 crore in Agatti on Tuesday. Lucknow, January 7: With the ongoing cold wave intensifying further, schools in Lucknow will now remain closed for students up to Class 8 until January 10, as announced by the district administration. For schools conducting classes for students from Class 9 to Class 12, the timings will be restricted to 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. According to the previous order, schools with classes up to 8 were scheduled to reopen on January 8. However, they will now remain closed until January 10 to provide relief to students up to Class 8. Delhi School Winter Holiday: Directorate of Education Withdraws Order Extending Winter Vacation in Schools Till January 10 Suryapal Gangwar, district magistrate, stated that it is the school managements responsibility to make adequate arrangements to protect students from the cold in classrooms. Schools must ensure the use of heaters in each room. To safeguard students, they should not be made to sit outside or in the open during classes, practicals, or exams, suggested the district magistrate. Noida School Winter Holiday: Schools Shut Till January 14 Up to Class 8 Due to Dense Fog and Cold Weather The administration has requested the school authorities to relax winter uniform rules considering the cold weather, allowing students to wear warm clothes for protection. The district magistrate further suggested that, when possible, schools can conduct classes through online mediums. This leave extension is applicable only to students. For teaching and non-teaching staff, decisions will be made by the employer or manager at their discretion. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 07, 2024 08:45 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Kolkata, January 7: In a strong message to the West Bengal Police, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has ordered for immediate tracking and arrest of the absconding Trinamool Congress leader, Seikh Sajahan, the mastermind behind the attack on the ED and CAPF officials. According to the Raj Bhawan insiders, the Peace-Room there had received complaints about the influential political patronage received by Sajahan. In those complaints, a section of the police administration had also been accused of involvement in this nexus. The Governor has said that he had a discussion with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the matter. Refusing to divulge the details of the discussion, the Governor said that he will reveal in the right time about what transpired from the dialogues. ED Team Attacked in West Bengal: Enforcement Directorate Officials Who Sustained Injuries During Attack in Sandeshkhali Shifted To Kolkata Hospital (Watch Video) It is learnt that the state police should investigate whether the absconding leader is still in the state or has escaped to any state or even any neighbouring country, Raj Bhawan insiders said. The Governor had also directed the state police to probe whether the absconding Trinamool Congress leader had any insurgency connections or not. ED Team Attacked in West Bengal: Governor CV Ananda Bose Summons Home Secretary, Calls Attack on Probe Agency Team Ghastly The central agency sleuths were attacked on Friday when they attempted a raid and search operations at his residence of the Trinamool leader, Seikh Sajahan. The leader of the opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari had alleged that a section of the attackers were the illegal Rohingya infiltrators. It is learnt that the Governor has also directed the state police to probe that angle as well. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 07, 2024 12:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Two boys who strayed 15 kilometres away from home while chasing kites in Nagpur were traced and reunited with their families, a police official said on Sunday. The Government of Maldives has issued a statement on disrespectful and racist remarks made against PM Narendra Modi and other individuals in the recent days on social media. The Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives, the statement read. Moreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks, it added. What Appalling Language: Maldives Former President Mohamed Nasheed Condemns Minister Mariyam Shiunas Disrespectful Remarks Against PM Narendra Modi. Government of Maldives on Derogatory Remarks Against PM Modi, High-Ranking Individuals Government of Maldives issues statement - "The Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of pic.twitter.com/RQfKDb2wYF ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) As of 16:00, a search and rescue operation is underway at the sites of the hits in the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk region, which was attacked by Russian occupiers with missiles on January 6. Rescuers in the district center found another body under the rubble: this time, the death of a man has been confirmed. ADVERTISIMENT In the village of Rivne, where the body of a 3-year-old child was found in the morning, fragments of bodies were found and are being identified. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported on the current situation at the site of the latest Russian terrorist attacks. As of 15:00, the number of confirmed victims of the Russian missile strike in Pokrovsk has increased to two people: rescuers found the body of a man under the rubble of one of the two private houses destroyed by Russian missiles. Yesterday they managed to find the remains of a woman. ADVERTISIMENT "1 man has been rescued, rescue operations are underway to find 3 people, including 2 children. Currently, rescuers have dismantled 62 tons of destroyed building elements. Body fragments are being collected for further identification of the victims," the SES said. In the village of Rivne, where the occupants destroyed a house with three adults and three children with a direct hit, the body of a three-year-old child was found in the morning. ADVERTISIMENT "Emergency and rescue operations are underway at the site of the destroyed house to search for 5 people, including 2 children, and 40 tons of destroyed elements of the house have been dismantled. The found body fragments are being identified," the SES added. The search involves 76 people and 20 pieces of equipment, and specially trained dogs are also helping with the operation. "Of these, 33 people and 9 pieces of equipment from the SES, dog teams of the Pavlohrad search and rescue dog unit Antares (12 people, 9 dogs and 2 pieces of equipment), 26 people and 5 pieces of equipment from the National Police, 3 people and 2 pieces of equipment from local authorities, and 2 people and 2 pieces of equipment from Metinvest," the SES said. ADVERTISIMENT A UAV unit and a psychologist from the State Emergency Service are also working at the site of the shelling to help the victims. As a reminder, at around 3 p.m. on January 6, the Russians attacked Pokrovsk district for the second time in 24 hours. They launched eight S-300 missiles at the district center and the village of Rivne. One of them hit a residential building. In the evening of the same day, the Donetsk regional military administration said that Russia killed 11 civilians, including five children. The Office of the Prosecutor General and the State Emergency Service were more cautious with their estimates and, before the dead child was found, recognized the death of one woman in Pokrovsk. The rest of the people who were in the destroyed houses are still being searched for, but not confirmed dead until their bodies are found. ADVERTISIMENT According to Vadym Filashkin, the head of the Donetsk regional military administration, 134 private houses and 15 multi-storey buildings were damaged in Pokrovsk, and 80 houses, a paramedic and obstetric station and an administrative building were damaged in Rivne. Tel Aviv, January 7: At least six people were killed and several others injured early Sunday during an Israeli air attack near Jenin refugee camp in West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. After the drone attack that killed six people who were sitting near a roundabout, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stormed the Jenin city and attacked the refugee camp also, the Palestinian authority said in a statement. Israel-Hamas War: Children, Pregnant Woman in Gaza Strip Not Able To Meet Their Basic Nutrition Needs, Says UNICEF Local Palestinian Arabic media reported that there was response to the Israeli aggression and that an IED explosion destroyed an Israel military vehicle. Tension escalated in West Bank areas ever since the assassination of Saleh al -Arouri , the Deputy Political head of Hamas who was killed allegedly by Israel in a drone attack at Beirut, Lebanon. Six other top operatives of Hamas also died in the attack. Israel-Hamas War: Gaza Death Toll Climbs to 22,438 Amid Intense Fighting, Says Palestinian Health Ministry Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasarullah has warned Israel that it won't sit idle and that there would be response to the killing of Hamas leader al-Arouri. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 07, 2024 11:51 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Saturn Alert: Entitlement The stress between the Sagittarius moon and Saturn in Pisces is a mere blip in the course of a day, but the effect is acute. The warning here has to do with greed. Stay aware of the sacrifices necessary to bring a thing into being, and specifically who is making them. Is there someone who is paying because they have no other choice? CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). What you are creating wont matter quite as much as the fact that you are. Putting something into the world that wasnt there before will feel empowering and will give you faith in the possible. Making small things leads to making bigger things. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Wishing things were different is disempowering. Instead, youll create success in a straightforward way -- by accepting the way things are, using what you have and handling what you can. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Its a day to expand your horizons by changing it up, perhaps uncomfortably so. The further away an activity is from your realm of expertise and familiarity, the more vibrant your exploration. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Have you ever remembered what never happened to you? Many have, and in precise detail at that. To ward against false memories, solidify the ones you know are true. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Though you may share the same values as another, your rules may vary widely, and your personal systems for living a moral life may also be quite different. To each his own is the way of graciousness. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Wanting to be very good at something doesnt automatically give you a talent for it, but it certainly doesnt hurt. Today, your desire to get it right will be the burning engine that makes all things possible. CANCER (June 22-July 22). You feel proud of the work youve done. Its the work youve not done that makes you a bit wary now, but this is good news. The remedy is simple. Youll make a list and get busy. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Barbra Streisand suggested that people who need people are not only lucky, they are the (SET ITAL) luckiest (END ITAL) -- and she may be right. Need is the tether that keeps us coming back to what will ultimately fortify us. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Restraint, being the hallmark of maturity, engenders trust. But there are also disadvantages to acting in moderation. Enthusiasm, however unbridled and uncool as it may seem to some, has the power to move people. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Youll imagine how things will play out before they do, and your forethought will prevent a snafu. Funnily enough, your biggest time-saver will be the very planning that seems to take so much time. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Dont try to fit in, but do give some thought as to who might appreciate, utilize and be inspired by what you do. Youre trying to find your place, not trying to mold yourself to an inhospitable environment. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You wont go wrong running the day on your gut decisions rather than measured conclusions. Either way, youll come to the same decision, only youll get there faster with your gut -- though perhaps less able to explain your reasons. TODAYS BIRTHDAY (Jan. 7). The winds of adventure will guide you to exhilarating heights, and every twist and turn will be a story worth telling. You will find support for a stellar idea and run with it. In personal habits, trying new programs will serve you well. The direction feels like backward at first, but its just the ramp up to a sprint to fulfilling your goals. Aries and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 2, 1, 34, 40 and 15. CELEBRITY PROFILES: With over 116 film and television credits, and projects scheduled for years to come, Nicolas Cage is among the most prolific actors in Hollywood, but thats not why hes considered the National Treasure. His varied roles and risks and whole-being commitment to all he does gives him a unique and unparalleled charisma. Cage was born when communication planet Mercury and passionate Mars were also in earthy, hardworking Capricorn, signifying indomitable will. Holiday Mathis debut novel, How To Fail Epically in Hollywood, is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and ebook. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM The significant increase in labor costs initiated by the recent UAW settlement will be expensive for American vehicle manufacturers. Under the new contract, the average salary and benefits package for an assembly line worker at GM will be $80,034 annually. An average Ford plant employee will make $74,691 yearly. Overall General Motors annual labor costs will rise by $9.3 billion, Fords will go up by $8.8 billion. These additional labor costs will add about $900 to the price of a new vehicle. President Bidens decision to walk a picket line in support of UAW strikers should not have gone unnoticed by the American public, especially those shopping for a new car. The president has not been shy in his support for organized labor. His early years in Scranton, Pa., located in the heart of one of the most pro-union regions of the country, no doubt imbued him with the belief in the sanctity of organized labor. Biden was not the first president to become involved in union organized strikes. In 1902 Teddy Roosevelt intervened in the United Mine Workers anthracite coal strike, one of several that plagued the coal mines in the last half of the 19th and early 20th century. Roosevelt formed a commission which addressed the most contentious concerns of miners leading to an eventual end to the strike. However, addressing the inhuman conditions present in the coal mines then, including below substance wages, 10 hour workdays, six-day work weeks, horrible working conditions, and child labor exploitation flagrant in the mines then is a long way from striking to raise total annual wage packages for assembly line auto workers to about $78,000. The American public is not naive. While they may not grasp all the idiosyncratic components of the complex pay package the UAW was able to negotiate, they do understand the impact of significantly increased vehicle prices on their familys current and future wellbeing. They also understand that the current administrations policies overtly favor union members in ways beyond wage and benefit issues alone. For instance, the only electric vehicles eligible for the current $7,500 income tax credit are those built by union workers. Even EVs like Toyotas, BMWs and other foreign brands built in U.S. plants by non-union employees and purchased by Americans are not eligible. This policy increases the UAWs monopoly power and by so doing assure that we will pay more for a new vehicle. This policy is one of the reasons why the union pressed so hard to ensure that existing and new employees working in new American battery production facilities were included in the latest contract. What is a little more difficult to understand is why non-administration economists and policy makers are concerned about the latest UAW contract. Manufacturing output per hour in the United States has grown by just .02% since 2009. As a bargaining strategy it makes sense for John Fein, president of the UAW, to argue that auto manufactures are enjoying significant profits, and that some auto executives are paid giant salaries. However, what is not as well publicized is that productivity in the domestic automobile industry, as measured by output per hour, has declined by 32% since 2012. Some of this precipitous drop in productivity can be blamed on the pandemic, but such drastic productivity decreases were not as apparent in Asia. Simply put, American auto manufacturers and workers are not very efficient. Emboldened by the support the UAW has received from Washington, the union has now set its sights on organizing workers at Toyota, Nissan, BMW and other non-union U.S. auto plants. This will no doubt raise the price of these vehicles. This blatantly pro-union stance is still another example of Washington initiating policies that helps organized labor while harming the American public. Such short-cited policies may also signal the renewal of collusion like the U.S. faced in the 1970s and early 1980s when the UAW and the car companies joined hands with Washington to place quotas on foreign cars. Not only did these contrivances reduce competition, and hence raise auto prices, they also led to a decline in the quality of American made vehicles. Michael A. MacDowell is President Emeritus of Misericordia University. If youre one of those folks who only drinks on days that end in y this could be your year. Warren County Grains & Grapes announced the launch of a new passport program on Wednesday. The passport provides a discounted rate to visitors of any of the nine breweries and wineries located on the countys new Grains & Grapes Trail. Participants can choose one of the four distinct trails to tour, or take on every single one now through April 24, 2024, organizers said. Todays announcement is a new exciting way to explore Warren County, Warren County Commissioner Director James Kern III said in a news release on Wednesdays kickoff. Visitors who obtain passport stamps from all nine participating wineries and breweries will earn a free hoodie with the official Grains & Grapes logo printed on the front and the brewery and winery logos on the back. Each stamp represents $7 in spending. Three stamps per location are required to fill the passport, which can be bought for $2 at any of the participating locations. You wont regret the tour through the county, said Commissioner Lori Ciesla. The scenery along the way is breathtaking. Theres nothing like it in New Jersey, Ciesla said. We have so much to offer. Heres a full list of participating hops and grape shops in Warren County: Brook Hollow Winery & Event Facility, Columbia (Knowlton Township) What started as a basement hobby and a few grapevines in the front yard quickly grew to over 7,000 grapevines and a 10-acre farm, the Brook Hollow website states. Brook Hollow Winery is a family farm winery overlooking the Delaware Water Gap. The winery was started in 2006 by owner and winemaker Paul Ritter with his wife Debbie and three daughters Stefanie, Alyssa and Jessica. The winery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 8:30 p.m. on Friday and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Buck Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Blairstown Buck Hill Brewery & Restaurant made a name for itself with a dining menu fashioned around locally produced ingredients, and its brews made from locally grown, personally nurtured and hand-picked hops. The double-threat was named one of New Jerseys Top 50 Super Bowl Wing destinations by NJ.com in 2022. The brewery is open from 11:30 a.m to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Buttzville Brewing Co., Washington A homebrew starter kit and The Complete Guide to Homebrewing by Charles Papazian borne what has become a five-barrel craft brewery focused on classic styles and new takes on the traditional beers you love and the rest is history in the making, wife-husband co-founders Erin and Dave Anderson say. The brewerys selection features at least 15 beer and hard seltzer options, and a new brew on the way. Buttzville Brewing Co. is open 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Czig Meister Brewing Company, Hackettstown Visitors are encouraged to take a trip back in time to the Progressive Era at Czig Meister Brewing. The 7-year-old brewery is located inside a former carriage house constructed in 1900. Inside the building entirely restored with an open floor plan and a reimagined taproom, founder Matt Czig sits at the helm leading development of more than 50 brew types. Visitors can tour the brewery on Wednesdays from 2 to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 2 to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. Four Sisters Winery, Belvidere (White Township) One of New Jerseys oldest wineries sits tucked way back along Route 519. Four Sisters has been making award-winning wines since 1981 when founder Matt Matarazzo started the winery as an investment for his four daughters. The winery is open through April from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Invertase Brewing Company, Phillipsburg Invertase is defined as an enzyme produced by yeast that catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose, forming invert sugar. Beer drinkers may not always know the science behind Americas favorite 21-and-over beverage, but the owners of Invertase will leave visitors well-informed. The family owned brewery was opened in 2019 by brewmaster Steve Zolnay and his family of scientists. Were kind of psychotic scientists, Steve told lehighvalleylive.com in 2019. Were going to psychotic lengths to make good beer. The brewery is open from 5 to 8 p.m on Thursdays, 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays, 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Man Skirt Brewing, Hackettstown At Man Skirt Brewing, the beer wears the pants. Man Skirt is the brainchild of head brewer Joe Fisher who began brewing as a hobby in 2008. The brewery bridges Fishers passion for beer and Utilikilts utility kilts in one place, the website states. The brewery is open from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 3 to 10 p.m. on Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Little Ridge Vineyards, Phillipsburg (Harmony Township) Find home and harmony at Little Ridge Vineyards where the motto is Family, Heritage, Hospitality. The family operated winery is located on a former dairy farm overlooking Warren County. The winery is scheduled to be closed in January. It will reopen Feb. 3., according to the website. Villa Milagro Vineyards, Phillipsburg (Pohatcong Township) Villa Milagro means place or home of miracles in Italian. Thats the dream by the farmgirl-turned-big-city-lawyer and nutritionist Dr. Audrey Cross and her husband Stephen Gambino, a city boy with knack for invention and reinvention. The winery boasts roughly 11 wines; one wine is only available to Winery Train customers. Visitors can tour the winery and tasting room between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m on Saturdays and Sundays. Wine sales are available daily between 9 a.m and 5 p.m. Learn more The locations can be visited in any order, and the stamps can be earned in a single visit or with repeated visits to each location. Participants must be at least 21 years of age, and have until April 30 to obtain stamps at all locations. Completed passports must be turned in by May 15, 2024, to receive the hoodie. Learn more about the Warren County Grains & Grapes Trail at the website explorewarren.org/grains-grapes. Dates and times of operation were gathered from each locations website. Libationists are encouraged to check with each location for changes to schedules ahead of visit. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on Twitter. A Laois Garda and his colleague from Kildare were singled out for praise by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. The pair were honoured for their bravery at an awards ceremony in Dublin last November. In the Garda Commissioners latest Monthly Report to the Policing Authority Published in late December, Commissioner Harris noted their awards and those given to two other gardai. "Bravery by Gardai in different circumstances was also recognised this month at the National Bravery Awards. Garda Shane Smyth (Kildare) and Garda Padraig Marum (Laois) were involved in the rescue of a man from a burning car shortly after midnight on 7 September 2019, near Kill East in Co Kildare. They were each awarded a Silver Medal and Certificate of Bravery, Commissioner Harris stated in his monthly message. The Gardai were among 26 people honoured at the National Bravery Awards in Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park in Dublin in November. Garda Marum and Garda Smyth rescued the man from a burning car which exploded moments later. Shortly after midnight on the 7th of September 2019, Garda Shane Smyth and Garda Padraig Marum arrived at the scene of a high speed car crash, near Kill East in Co. Kildare. The car had crashed into a large stone wall and was on fire. As the car was pinned in between trees, the driver was trapped inside. Both Gardai ran to the burning car as the driver was shouting for help but were unable to open the drivers door which was pinned closed by the tree. Garda Smyth broke the drivers window to get into the car so that they could pull out the driver but couldnt get to him, the Bravery Award citation noted. The Gardai then ran to the passenger's side of the car and crawled in between the stone wall and the burning car to rescue the driver. Having freed him, they crawled back out, dragging him to a safe distance behind a Garda Van. Minutes later the car exploded, the citation at the awards stated. Commissioner Harris also mentioned two other Gardai who were honoured at the awards. Meanwhile, Garda Caitriona Munnelly (Mayo) and Sergeant Brendan OToole (Meath) were similarly commended for their efforts to apprehend a male and the search of a house on fire near Ballivor, Co. Meath. For their actions, both Gardai were awarded a Bronze Medal and a Certificate of Bravery, wrote Commissioner Harris. Well known comedian, David O'Doherty is coming to the Moat Theatre in Naas on January 18 with his show Tiny Piano Man. The dishevelled price of 10 eBay keyboards tries to make you feel alive with a new pageant of laughter, song and occasionally getting up from a chair. Its gonna be a big one, said the entertainer. David has appeared on UK television on shows such as QI, Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Would I Lie to You. He also said he is the least famous person ever to have hosted an episode of Nevermind the Buzzcocks. David describes himself as a "comedian, flanneur and 1990 East Leinster under 14 triple jump bronze medalist". Born in Dublin at the end of 1975, he wanted to become a professional cyclist, then a professional jazz musician, but he pointed out an almost complete lack of talent in these areas meant that he became a professional telemarketer, ringing up strangers to ask them to rate things out of ten. His biography reads; Then in 1998 he did his first open spot at the now defunct Norseman Comedy Club in Dublins unfortunate Temple Bar district. In 1999 he traveled to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time and was lucky enough to win the Channel 4 So You Think Youre Funny? new act competition and with it a huge cardboard cheque with 1500 written on it. Somebody told him it was legal tender, so he took it into a bank which made the cashier almost weep with laughter. 'Seriously, she got the other people from round the back to come out and laugh at me.' Thats the main thing he remembers about that. In 2000 he wrote a book for children, Ronan Long Gets it Wrong that Mammoth Storybooks in London published. He performed his first full show The Story of the Boy Who Saved Comedy at the Dublin and Edinburgh Fringes, and decided that he definitely did want to be a stand up comedian. In 2005 he supported Tommy Tiernan and Rich Hall on tours of Ireland and the UK and learned a lot from them. His 2006 show David ODoherty is my name was nominated for the if.comedy Award at The Edinburgh Fringe and was performed in Dublin, Melbourne and New Zealand. 2007 saw his first major Irish tour and a series of documentaries, The Modest Adventures of David ODoherty on Irish television. In 2008 his new stand up show Lets Comedy was performed in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and at the Edinburgh Fringe, where it received the if.com Award for Best Show. That Autumn he toured across Canada with the Just For Laughs Roadshow. 2009 saw the launch of the book 100 Facts About Pandas, co-written with his friends Mike Ahern and Claudia ODoherty, followed in 2011 by 100 Facts About Sharks. He also appeared in a feature film A Film With Me in It with his brother Mark and Dylan Moran and embarked on his first major UK tour. In June 2012 he became the first Irish comedian to have their own Comedy Central Presents show on US television. His quirky dead pan brand of comedy is off the wall and a great night is guaranteed at the Naas venue. Tickets cost 22 plus 1.50 online booking fee. For further information, log onto www.moattheatre.com Leo Varadkar has insisted there is no row between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail on who is Irelands EU commissioner following this summers European elections. Prior to Christmas, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said there was a clear understanding and agreement that the nominee would be selected by his Fianna Fail party. Around the same time, Fine Gael leader Mr Varadkar said there was no written agreement on the matter and declined to be drawn when asked if there was an unwritten agreement that it would be a Fianna Fail choice. The term of Irelands current EU Commissioner, Mairead McGuinness, comes to an end in the summer. Ms McGuinness, a Fine Gael member, has previously signalled a willingness to serve a second term. At his end of year media briefing last month, Mr Martin suggested he would not favour Ms McGuinness retaining the role, insisting theres a clear understanding and agreement between the parties in government that it would be a Fianna Fail nominee. Asked on Sunday whether there was a clear understanding that the commissioner would be selected by Fianna Fail, Mr Varadkar told RTE: That may well be the case, but thats something that were going to discuss when the situation arises. He declined to be drawn on whether he felt Ms McGuinness should carry on in the role. I think whats very important is that when youre a small country, and Ireland is a small country, that in order to be confident that you go into a good position there are 27 Commissioners and you want to make sure that for a small country like Ireland that you have a strong position at the table you want to make sure that whoever your commissioner is, its somebody whos got a really good and really strong CV, he said. And whoever that is Im confident its going to be somebody who has got a really good CV. Asked if current Fianna Fail Finance Minister Michael McGrath would make a good pick, the Taoiseach again declined to be drawn. There would be absolutely nothing more than some people would love to try and create some sort of fake row here between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael or between me and Micheal Martin, there is no row, he added. Theres been no decision or discussion on this. We will do that, most likely June/July when the situation actually arises. Ukrainian forces conducted a multi-day strike campaign against Russian military facilities in the temporarily occupied Crimea, successfully hitting several targets across the peninsula on January 5-6. This suggests that Ukrainian missiles and drones are capable of penetrating enemy air defenses. ADVERTISIMENT Obviously, the campaign is aimed at reducing the combat capability of the Russian Armed Forces to use Crimea as a bridgehead and rear for defense operations in the south. This conclusion was reached by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). They recalled how on the night of January 5-6, Ukrainian forces struck an administrative building at the Saki military airfield in the temporarily occupied Novofedorivka (Crimea) with four Storm Shadow cruise missiles. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that during the attack, its air defense system "destroyed five drones and four missiles" over the Black Sea and the peninsula, as well as "six Neptune missiles" over the northwestern part of the sea. However, Ukraine confirmed successful strikes on Russian military targets at the airfield near Saki. The commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, thanked the Ukrainian pilots, although he did not specify whether he was referring to the Ukrainian strikes on January 4, 5, or 6. ADVERTISIMENT On January 6, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry clarified that the Main Directorate of Intelligence, the Air Force, and the Armed Forces conducted a complex special operation during which on January 4 they struck Russian radar positions at the Saki airfield and a military depot near Hryshyne (60 km north of Yevpatoriya). The Main Directorate of Intelligence published satellite images showing damage to a Russian ammunition depot near Hryshyn. Officials and sources said that Ukrainian forces struck an air defense radar system and a communications center in Yevpatoriya responsible for coordinating Russian air defense operations in Crimea, as well as ammunition depots near Pervomaiske (82 km north of Simferopol) and a Russian command post near Sevastopol. ADVERTISIMENT "Both Ukrainian and Russian reports indicate that Ukrainian missiles and drones are penetrating Russian air defenses in the temporarily occupied Crimea and successfully hitting some targets," ISW noted. The analysts drew attention to the reaction of a well-known Russian blogger with ties to the Kremlin, who said that Ukrainian forces were conducting strikes aimed at weakening Russian air defense over Crimea. However, ISW decided not to assess the intentions of the current Ukrainian strike campaign against Russia's rear on the seized peninsula. They only reminded that in the summer of 2023, Ukraine conducted a strike campaign against Russian military infrastructure, headquarters, logistics routes and facilities of the Black Sea Fleet, which drove Russian naval operations out of the western part of the Black Sea. ADVERTISIMENT "The campaign was aimed at reducing the combat capability of the Russian armed forces to use Crimea as a bridgehead and rear for defense operations in southern Ukraine," the analysts said. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Andriy Chernyak said that the latest strikes on the occupiers in Crimea are only part of a broader plan and a single plan of Ukraine to liberate the peninsula. According to him, they remind the enemy that he is temporarily on Ukrainian territory, and also encourage Ukrainians under occupation to continue to believe in victory over Russia. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The RSA have discontinued carrying out truck tests in Carrick-on-Shannon and a man who said he is the only driving instructor in Carrick providing truck lessons said "it was disappointing to be told by my customers and not the RSA." He said this means that six men due to lads to do their test in Carrick will now have to change to Sligo test centre. Tom O'Dowd told the Leitrim Observer: "It was rumoured a long time ago and I got an email that was sent to me today (Friday)." The email stated that from 1 January the Driving Testing Section will not be testing Category C/D in Carrick-on-Shannon driving centre as the test centre has been deemed "not suitable for this category due to health and safety purposes. Customers in this area can make an application to do their HGV test in Sligo or Longford or any other driving test centre of their choice." He said that he found out initially through a customer so "I had six lads waiting on truck tests and they were contacted a few weeks ago to be told that they would be no more truck testing in Carrick." He said that the health and safety purposes reason given did not satisfy him as this would apply to centres in Roscommon, Longford and Cavan and "any of these places that don't have compounds to do a reverse." Mr O'Dowd said that six men due to sit their test in Carrick will now have to do the test elsewhere. "I had heard it before but didn't hear it officially until that email today and the decision is made at that stage." He continued: "Once those six men are done I'm selling the truck; it's gone. I still have the car so will continue to do that." Mr O'Dowd said that the amount of people sitting the truck test "has died off a lot because of the fact that no one is going through for it because nobody wants to get into that industry due to bad conditions, bad pay and basically it's the only job where if you did overtime, you could be put in jail for it. There's a major shortage of truck drivers; not just in Ireland and England." Referring to the service being removed, he said: "It's taking business out of the town because those lads would have been coming into me. These lads shouldn't have been allowed Carrick to be booked as a test centre if they knew they were closing." Mr O'Dowd said he will lodge a complaint about the issue but is not hopeful of a positive outcome. "Realistically, they know that I was the only one doing those lessons around here and they could have let me know before this. I actually was intending to upgrade that lorry but, luckily, the price of lorries is so high, I couldn't afford anything out there at the time." The entrance to the Louvre Museum, Paris, in June 2022. STEFANO RELLANDINI/AFP Boosted by tourism, almost all French museums and monuments are reporting an increase in attendance. Unsurprisingly, the Louvre leads the way with 8.9 million visitors in 2023, a 14% increase over 2022, but below the spectacular pre-Covid-19 peaks. The world's largest museum is aiming to maintain the 30,000 daily visitor mark in 2024. The Chateau de Versailles has returned to its pre-pandemic attendance levels, with 8.1 million admissions, 18% of which were Americans. The Musee d'Orsay and the Musee de l'Orangerie have seen a similar rebound, with over 5.1 million visitors, while the Musee du Quai Branly has recorded a 40% increase compared with 2022. A record was also set by the 14 sites managed by Paris Musees, which welcomed 5.3 million visitors in 2023. The 2,455,663 admissions recorded by Universcience, which manages the Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie and Les Etincelles du Palais de la Decouverte in Paris, finally confirmed the French appetite for science. Smaller Parisian establishments also fared extremely well. The Musee de Montmartre, run by the privately-owned Kleber Rossillon group, recorded an astonishing 44% increase, with 180,000 visitors, largely thanks to its phenomenal exhibition on female surrealism, which attracted over 110,000 admissions in five months. The biggest and best exhibitions There's no magic formula: the best and biggest exhibitions always sell out. Like "Manet/Degas," which attracted 669,160 visitors to Musee d'Orsay in four months, and "Shocking! The Surrealist Worlds of Elsa Schiaparelli," which attracted over 330,000 visitors to the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, almost half its annual attendance. Successes such as "Basquiat Warhol, a Quatre Mains" and "Mark Rothko" (which runs until April 2) allowed the Fondation Louis Vuitton to close 2023 with an increased total of 1.5 million admissions. The upturn is also being confirmed in the rest of France. Opening in June 2022, the Cosquer Cave, recreated in the Villa Mediterranee in Marseille, was a hit with 800,000 visitors. With 555,607 admissions, the Musee du Louvre-Lens exceeded its 2019 figures by 4.2%, even though it was slightly down on its anniversary year in 2022. While anniversaries are often synonymous with resurgence, Marseille's MuCEM has reaped only modest benefits from its 10-year celebrations. The museum's attendance figures have stabilized at around 1.3 million visitors, most of them drawn by the breathtaking views from the terrace designed by Rudy Ricciotti. Historic sites remain popular. The Centre des Monuments Nationaux, which oversees around a hundred buildings, recorded a 15% increase in visitor numbers, with 11 million visitors. Main attractions included the Arc de Triomphe, the Mont-Saint-Michel and the Pantheon in Paris, which passed the one million visitor mark. Inaugurated by President Emmanuel Macron on October 30, 2023, the Cite Internationale de la Langue Francaise in Villers-Cotterets (northern France) had 30,000 visitors in two months. You have 16.24% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Polish farmers on Saturday, January 6, suspended their blockade of a major crossing into neighboring Ukraine following the signing of an agreement with the Polish government. Polish truckers continue to blockade three other main border crossings into Ukraine since November in protest at "unfair competition" from Ukrainian counterparts and against the relaxation of access rules to the European Union for Ukrainian firms. Polish farmers had added their voices to the protests. "We have signed an agreement with the government and we are waiting for its implementation. The blockade has been suspended until our demands are met," Roman Kondrow, a protest organizer, told AFP. Following a holiday season break, farmers resumed their blockade Thursday at the Medyka crossing in southern Poland, disrupting cargo traffic between the two countries, complaining they are suffering from a tail-off in prices dating back to early last year as a result of Ukrainian cereal imports. Read more Subscribers only Zelensky champions 'eternal friendship' between Ukraine and Poland The agreement signed with the agriculture ministry provides for some of the subsidies as well as low-cost loans which the farmers have been demanding. On Wednesday, Poland's new Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he would try to convince haulers "not to use the blockade as a method to defend their interests". He stressed his government "will do everything" to protect their interests as they face what he termed "unequal competition". Read more Subscribers only Poland and Ukraine reach grain transit agreement Ousmane Sonko, the opposition leader and president of the party The African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics, and Brotherhood (Pastef) on January 3, 2022 in Ziguinchor, a town in Casamance, southern Senegal, where he is also mayor. MUHAMADOU BITTAYE / AFP For a fortnight, his supporters had been reigniting their hopes of seeing their leader run in the presidential election on February 25. However, on Thursday, January 4, a new obstacle stood in the way of the country's main opposition figure. In an interminable political-judicial soap opera, the Senegalese Supreme Court upheld Ousmane Sonko's suspended six-month prison sentence and a fine of 200 million CFA francs (305,000) in damages. The sentence was confirmed on appeal in May 2023 in a case of "defamation, insults and forgery" that pitted the outspoken leader of the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (Pastef) party (dissolved in July) against Tourism Minister Mame Mbaye Niang. At the end of 2022, Sonko alleged he was implicated by a report from the Inspectorate General of Finances for mismanagement when he was coordinating a government agricultural program. With two weeks to go before the final publication of the list of presidential candidates, the Supreme Court's decision seriously compromises the eligibility of the opponent who has been in detention since July 29 on a number of charges, including "calling for insurrection". According to the Electoral Code, people sentenced to a suspended sentence of six months or less are ineligible for five years. 'He won't fall' "Sonko's opponents have succeeded in their objective of eliminating him from the presidential election," responded Cheikh Khoureychi Ba, a member of the opposition lawyers' association, looking defeated as he left a long hearing that ended late on Thursday night. "Very disappointed" by the court's decision, Cire Cledor Ly denounced "a state conspiracy," "but Sonko will not fall," said the lawyer, who considers the challenge to his client's eligibility to be "premature." He cited a provision of the Electoral Code to argue that the trial court should have expressly indicated the loss of Sonko's electoral status. Al-Hadj Diouf, representing Mame Mbaye Niang, could not conceal his satisfaction with the Supreme Court's decision. "We have just won a great and important victory," he exclaimed. Sonko's defense was confident before this hammer blow. "The Senegalese can rest easy," declared Al-Malick Ndiaye, Pastef's general secretary for communications, in an interview with a private media outlet a few days ago. Lawyers for Senegal's main opposition party argued that an article of the country's penal code punishing defamation of a government official was unconstitutional. They hoped to delay the Supreme Court's ruling until after the question of their client's candidacy for the presidential elections had been decided. 'Plan Bs' The Constitutional Council is currently examining the files of the 93 candidates for the February 25 election. On Friday, it is due to rule on the validity of the Pastef leader's sponsorship and indicate whether his candidacy file is complete, before examining it on its merits and publishing the final list of candidates by January 20 at the latest. While this case will not definitively settle the opposition politician's chances of taking part in the election, it will provide a first indication. Sonko filed a candidacy application at the last minute, following a mid-December court ruling ordering his re-registration on the electoral roll. But this application contains neither an official sponsorship form nor a certificate for the deposit. Instead, his camp attached a list of sponsors, a receipt for the security deposit and bailiff's affidavits of the refusals of the Direction generale des elections ("General Directorate of Elections") and the Caisse des depots et consignation ("Deposit and consignment office") to provide these documents, theoretically essential for candidacy. From June Subscribers only Senegal erupts in anger after conviction of opponent Ousmane Sonko Despite the uncertainties surrounding his ability to stand, Sonko was nominated by his coalition on Sunday at a private venue, behind closed doors, after the authorities banned the public rally scheduled for Saturday. To face Prime Minister Amadou Ba, the candidate of President Macky Sall's majority, Pastef's ex-leader has drawn up backup plans. The party has put forward the candidacy of its number two, Bassirou Diomaye Faye. It is also backing the candidacy of Habib Sy, their coalition ally in the Yewwi Askan Wi opposition coalition. Read more Subscribers only France tries to display new 'neutrality' in Senegal ahead of 2024 election The oasis of Gaza has historically built its prosperity and influence on its strategic location as a commercial crossroads between the Levant and Egypt, and as a Mediterranean gateway for caravans from the Arabian Peninsula. The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 turned this crossroads into the 360 km "Gaza Strip," delimited to the north and east by the Israeli-Egyptian ceasefire lines, and to the south by the border drawn in 1906 between Ottoman Palestine and British-occupied Egypt. The crossroads has thus been transformed into an enclave, where 200,000 Palestinian refugees, driven from their homes by the creation of Israel, have swamped the 80,000 inhabitants of the local population, the vastness of Egypt's Sinai Desert forcing them to stay in place. Now home to a quarter of Palestine's Arab population in what was once just 1% of its historic territory, Gaza has naturally become a hotbed of Palestinian nationalism and a breeding ground for its fighters, the fedayeen. The territory was occupied twice by Israel before the present conflict. Once during four months from 1956 to 1957, a particularly murderous occupation already dedicated to "eradicating" the fedayeen, and then from 1967 to 2005, in an occupation so costly that Israel decided to disengage unilaterally. This withdrawal weakened rather than strengthened the Palestinian Authority, leading to Hamas' takeover of the territory. Israel designated the rulers of the Gaza Strip as a "terrorist entity" in 2007, and has since subjected the territory and its inhabitants to a continual blockade, which the current war has only worsened. As early as the second millennium BC, Gaza had been the base for an invasion of Egypt by the Hyksos, who came from the Levant, before the Pharaohs of Thebes reversed the trend by seizing the Levant from Gaza. This pendulum swing of empires continued in the battles for Gaza that pitted the Pharaohs against the Assyrians and Babylonians over the centuries. It was Cyrus the Great who, in 539 BC, fortified Gaza as a Persian garrison at the gates of Egypt, which his successor Cambyses captured in 525. In the following century, the Greek historian Herodotus called Gaza "Cadytis" and described it as governed by a "king of the Arabs" who controlled its "maritime trading posts". The Arabs in question were probably mercenaries who had gone over to Persian service, while retaining the shady autonomy of their "king". In 333 BC, Alexander of Macedonia crushed the Persian armies at Issos, not far from Antioch, a triumph that opened the gates of Syria and the road to Egypt. But the Persian garrison of Gaza, led by "King" Batis and reinforced by Arab mercenaries, refused to submit, thus blocking the Macedonian advance towards Egypt. This marked the beginning, in 332, of a three-month siege that Alexander led in person, until he was wounded. You have 42.73% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. A GROUP of Limerick chefs are ready to represent the nation at the Culinary Olympics, set to take place in Stuttgart in February. The event, held every four years, draws the best chefs from around the globe to showcase their skills in a fierce competition. It includes 1,800 participants from 67 nations judged by a team of 60. The Limerick cohort, which will represent Ireland at junior and senior level, will be joined by other Irish chefs, led by Alan Fitzmaurice, head chef at the Glasshouse Hotel in Sligo. Having two teams at the Culinary Olympics is a significant achievement for Ireland. I have really high hopes for both senior and junior teams though the competition will be exceptionally high it really is the best in the world competing for the titles, he said. Limerick members of the junior team include; Nayara Borges da Costa, Anthony Rebote, Freddie Cullen, and Evan Duane, while Limerick members of the senior team include; Will King and Carol Dollery. The competitions will be broadcast worldwide via IKA TV live stream. THE CEO of the Health Service Executive says he won't allow management and staff at University Hospital Limerick to be tried by social media over the death of a 16-year-old girl. Aoife Johnston, from Shannon in Co. Clare (pictured below), passed away after a 12-hour wait in the UHL emergency department on December 19, 2022, having been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and sepsis. Serious failings were identified in an internal review of the events leading to her death and retired Chief Justice, Mr Justice Frank Clarke, has now been commissioned to carry out an independent investigation. Speaking publicly about the case for the first time, Bernard Gloster, chief executive officer of the HSE, said there were "significant factors of serious failing that had the most catastrophic outcome and consequences" which is why he has asked Mr Justice Clarke to carry out an investigation. In an interview on RTE radio this Sunday lunchtime, he said: "This is a very tragic and complex matter, that's why I have asked for, and he has agreed, Mr Justice Frank Clarke to assist me." Mr Gloster says he will take whatever action is appropriate once he receives the findings of the investigation which is expected to be completed in around eight weeks. "Based on what he tells me and everything else, I have then to determine whether or not other processes follow from that. I can't engage in speculation or presumption around that but I do want to say, and it's important, there has been no finding against any individual at the moment and I think it's very important that where there is accountability people can be absolutely assured I will discharge that but, equally, I will not commit my staff to trial by social media or the summary justice of populism," he said. Mr Gloster, who took over as chief executive officer of the HSE in March of last year, told the This Week programme that "everything is on the table" but that foremost in his thoughts is Aoife Johnston and her family and "doing appropriate justice" over the failure that led to her death. "I do want to express my profound regret and sincere apology to them for what has happened to them. There is nothing I can say that can take away the pain and grief that they must be experiencing and it is just so dreadfully tragic and I do sincerely want to apologise for that." Mr Gloster has also confirmed that he hopes to meet with members of Aoife Johnston's family in the near future. A doubling of new degree programmes available outside the Central Applications Office points system will be made available from this coming academic year. Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris is expected to announce the rollout of new programmes in the areas of nursing, business and science from September. Under a pilot programme launched last year, students can enrol in tertiary programmes at further education institutions before moving on to higher education to complete their fully accredited degree. The programmes have students who range in age from 18 to their mid-40s, are of various nationalities and are of an equal gender split. Mr Harris will announce that every education and training board and technological university in the country will participate in the new tertiary programmes. It is also expected that nursing and psychiatric nursing programmes will be expanded into two other locations. Programmes at the University of Limerick, University of Galway, National College of Art and Design, Mary Immaculate College and University College Cork have also been proposed for September 2025. No tuition fee or student contribution fee is needed from tertiary students during the programme. Student contribution arrangements apply but eligible students can apply for a student grant. It is hoped the policy will align the further education and training, higher education and research and innovation sectors. Mr Harris said the tertiary programmes aimed to ensure a persons points do not dictate their career choices. We know so many people have had to consider moving abroad to access education because they didnt get the points they needed, he said. This policy simply ensures there are other options and other avenues for people to consider. What has been great about the first tranche of courses has been the diversity of the student population. This is really important, incremental change which will benefit students and ultimately our society and economy. On January 6, the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed a half-built railway bridge near the village of Hranitne near Mariupol. As a result of this attack, fuel tanks and engineering vehicles of the invaders also burned down. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the advisor to the mayor of the temporarily occupied Ukrainian city Petro Andriushchenko. He posted photos and geolocation data of the damaged facility on his Telegram channel. According to him, Russian troops tried to shoot down Ukrainian air targets flying over a railroad bridge 30 kilometers from Mariupol. But now the idea of launching a direct railroad from Russia has been dashed for a long time. "The engineering base itself has performed well as an 'effective' Russian air defense... The Russians can put the rails, along with the echelons from Rostov-on-Don, right up their a**es," he said. ADVERTISIMENT Andriushchenko added that due to a very strong attempt to shoot down the "heavenly punishment", the occupiers revealed their new air defense batteries located in the Mariupol region. Their coordinates have also been passed on to the relevant services. He thanked the brave men of the Mariupol Resistance and the residents of the Mariupol district who, despite the mortal risk, obtained evidence of an important military and logistics infrastructure facility and provided support until its liquidation. ADVERTISIMENT "Proud to be part of such a great team. Quoting our brave men, 'If only the bridge over which the equipment goes through the village was destroyed, it would be a real blessing.' Well, I think everything is possible If you really want it," Andriushchenko wrote. It is worth noting that the occupiers announced the construction of a direct Russian railroad connection to Mariupol, Volnovakha, and Donetsk in September 2023. They began building a railway bridge across the Kalmius River near the village of Hranitne. At the time, Andriushchenko said that, if successful, this construction would allow the occupiers to include the existing Mariupol-Aslanove-Kalchyk-Volnovakha branch into a direct connection with Taganrog and Rostov-on-Don (further west through Rozovka and Melitopol to Crimea, and north to Donetsk). In practice, this would be a global solution to the enemy's military and civilian logistics, and would dramatically reduce its dependence on railroad traffic across the Crimean Bridge. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Russian military continues to build defensive structures and fortifications in Mariupol. The occupiers have also brought a large amount of wood to the places where there are already anti-tank "dragon's teeth" to build dugouts. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Met Eireann is warning that dense and widespread fog is likely to result in hazardous travel conditions across the country over the coming days. The national forecaster, which issued a cold weather advisory on Saturday, has now issued a status yellow fog warning for Ireland. The warning, issued this Sunday morning, is valid from 6pm this Sunday to 10am on Monday. A fog warning has been issued for Ireland Areas of fog will become dense and widespread this evening & linger until Monday morning Hazardous travel conditions Valid: 18:00 Sunday 07/01 to 10:00 Monday 08/01 More here https://t.co/9gKN6SVok4 pic.twitter.com/JgwfCHlJly Met Eireann (@MetEireann) January 7, 2024 Motorists are being urged to exercise caution if driving in foggy conditions. "Areas of fog will become dense and widespread this (Sunday) evening and linger until Monday morning. The fog will clear eastern and southern counties early Monday morning," states the warning. According to the latest Met Eireann forecast, it will be very cold this Sunday night with frost and icy patches. Lowest temperatures will range from -3 to 0 degrees with light variable or easterly breezes. With schools returning on Monday morning, motorists are being urged to allow additional time as traffic levels are likely to be higher then they have been for the last number of weeks. NEW DELHI : Haldirams Foods International Pvt Ltd (Nagpur) is entering the premium chocolate market, competing with the likes of ITC and Mondelez, as it builds a wider portfolio of packaged foods beyond sweets and savouries. The company has rolled out chocolates under the Cocobay brand, priced at 180-399 for single serve bars and at 2,000 for large packs, in various markets including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Bangalore and Surat. We are good at selling sweets, but when it comes to chocolates, we saw a big gap in the Indian market. Not many players are selling premium chocolates at scale," said Adeesh Jain, general manager at Haldirams Foods, who oversees the companys frozen foods and ready-to-eat portfolios. Haldirams Foods is also expanding its bakery and frozen foods businesses as it seeks to build on its strong presence in the sweets and snacks market to capture a larger share of the growing demand for packaged foods. The company is also investing in opening more of its eponymous restaurants. Haldirams Foods will retail its Cocobay brand via premium and general stores as well as on direct-to-consumer and quick-commerce platforms. Indias chocolate market was estimated at 17,200 crore in 2019, and projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10% between 2019 and 2023, according to researcher Mintel. Jain said youngsters are moving away from traditional sweetsthe mainstay for several large homegrown food brands, including Haldiramsto buying more western-style premium products. While Haldirams Foods branded namkeen, bhujia (both savouries) and cookies are widely available in India and overseas, Jain said the company is adding more bakery and snacking products at stores. Over the previous three years, the company has also expanded its frozen foods portfolio under Haldirams Minute Khanaa largely export focussed brand. Up until 2020, 95% of the companys frozen foods such as samosas and paranthas were exported; today, 25% of these products are retailed locally. We aren't moving away from the core business at all. But we have started experimenting a lot more. We started getting machines for bakery products. Bakery is a very big segment but in India, it is largely focussed on breads. Theres no organized player doing premium bakery at scale," he said. The company, Jain added, was entering into a whole basket" of packaged food products. So when people enter our stores, their entire food needs are covered." Packaged foods aside, Haldirams Foods is also looking to double the presence of its namesake restaurant chain in South India and West India. Other packaged food companies too are stepping up investments in India given increasing consumer preference for branded food. Last year, chocolate maker Mondelez India said it would invest 4,000 crore over four years to expand its manufacturing capacity in the country and build more warehouses and cold-chain facilities. In 2022, Nestle SA, said it would spend 5,000 crore to build factories and research centres in India. Haldirams is a family-owned business that dates back to the 1930s. It operates through various entities, held by branches of the Agarwal family. Prominent ones include Haldirams Foods International, based in Nagpur, Haldirams Snacks Ltd, based in Delhi-NCR, and Haldirams Ethnic Foods Pvt. Ltd. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! MUMBAI : The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal has dismissed an appeal by non-bank financier Authum Investment and Infrastructure challenging a bankruptcy tribunal order that had rejected its objections to a resolution plan for two Srei companies. The National Company Law Tribunal had in August approved a resolution plan submitted by National Asset Reconstruction Co. Ltd (NARCL) for Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd (SIFL) and Srei Equipment Finance Ltd (SEFL). At the time, the tribunal also rejected a plea by Authum, one of the bidders for the two companies under the insolvency process. Following the tribunals order, Authum approached NCLAT. NARCLs resolution plan offered a net present value bid of 5,555 crore for the two Srei companies, which the lenders approved. Authum with a bid of 5,526 crore, and Varde Partners along with Arena Investors with a bid of 4,680 crore were the two other bidders. We do not find any error in the order of the adjudicating authority (NCLT) rejecting the applications," said an NCLAT bench led by Justices Ashok Bhushan and Barun Mitra in their 42-page order of 5 January. The tribunals approval of the resolution plan was in the commercial wisdom of the committee of creditors, NCLAT said, adding that there were no grounds to interfere with the order. There is no merit in the appeal. The appeal is dismissed," it said. In October 2021, the Reserve Bank of India had superseded the boards of the two Srei companies citing governance concerns and repayment defaults. The regulator then approached the Kolkata bench of the NCLT to initiate insolvency proceedings. The tribunal subsequently admitted the companies for insolvency proceedings, appointing former Bank of Baroda chief general manager Rajneesh Sharma as the administrator. Commercial jurisprudence undoubtedly is the privilege of the CoC (committee of creditors)," said Akshat Khetan, founder of AU Corporate Advisory and Legal Services. However, the NCLT and other judicial forums ought to scrutinise procedural irregularity and questions of patent illegality while approving any resolution plan. NARCL completed the acquisition of the two Srei companies in December. This strategic move sets the stage for the resolution of a significant financial debt amounting to 32,700 crore," NARCL said in a statement on 8 December. It added that the consolidated resolution plan, as part of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) process, promised about 50% upfront recovery for the lending consortium, with the potential for substantial upside beyond the committed payment in the resolution plan. BANK OF BARODA More Information Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! In December, Apple was briefly banned from selling its two most recent watch modelsSeries 9 and Ultra 2in the US, due to an ongoing patent dispute with Masimo, a medical device maker. The dispute reflects the rivalry in the smartwatch market, dominated by Apple at present. That position is at stake as competition intensifies. The fight is crucial for Apple as it seeks to strengthen its revenue streams beyond iPhones. Although the iPhones contribution to its total net sales has dropped from 62% in 2017-18, it was still a hefty 52% in 2022-23. Meanwhile, the share of wearables, home and accessories, which includes Apple Watch and Apple AirPods, grew from 6.5% to 10.4%. Apple, today, dominates the global smartwatch market, with a share of 22%. In the high-end HLOS (high-level operating system) segment, its market share in July-September 2023 was a leading 45%, according to Counterpoint Research. To target the top end of the HLOS market, Apple will have to fight companies such as Garmin, which has a loyal base of outdoor sport and fitness enthusiasts who swear by the range and accuracy of fitness metrics its devices offer. Apples recent ban was related to its infringement of Masimo's wireless pulse oximeter patent. The sale of Apple smartwatches is also tied to smartphones. In the US, its attach rate (the percentage of iPhone users also owning an Apple Watch) was 30% in 2022. However, the Apple stock got two downgrades in early January from Barclays and Piper Sandler, both citing concerns around iPhone sales. The Huawei challenge While Apple dominates the smartwatch market globally, it trails Huawei and imoo in China. Huawei's market share in China jumped from 26% in Q2 of 2022 to 39% in Q2 of 2023, while that of Apple Watches dropped from 16% to 13%, according to Counterpoint Research. Since China accounts for a fifth of the global smartwatch market, Huaweis global share has also increased. One reason is Huawei's resurgence in smartphones. Last October, Bloomberg reported that the sale of the iPhone 15 series in China dropped by 6% compared with the prior year, while Huawei's Mate 60 series doubled its sales in the launch month compared to a year ago. Huawei's bundled sales model (clubbing smartwatches with phones) also helped, according to Counterpoint Research. Meanwhile, Apple has been facing other headwinds in China. Last September, the Wall Street Journal reported that China has banned government officials from using iPhones at work. Price-sensitive India In India, Apple's challenge is to match its growing iPhone sales with watch sales. It recorded revenues of $5.9 billion in 2022-23, up 47.8% from the previous year. It was expected to ship 9 million iPhones in 2023, against 6.5 million in 2022. Its attach rates are low. Only last year, it opened the first Apple stores in India, which could drive cross-selling. In India, Noise and Fire-Boltt control half the smartwatch segment. Apple doesn't feature in the top five. India could offer Apple a huge opportunity in smartwatches, too. India accounted for 34% of global shipments in Q2 of 2023, up from 22% in the previous year, according to Counterpoint Research. However, India is price-sensitive, and the growth is currently driven by basic smartwatches, running a lighter version of an operating system, with no ability to install third-party apps. Its success depends on increasing attach rates. Wearables opportunity While downgrading Apples stock, Barclays raised concerns over the company's lack of new products. While noting that Apple successfully moved from a Mac-driven to an iPhone-driven ecosystem over the last decade, it observed that there was less ecosystem pull-through with new products/services", which could make growth harder over the next several years". Smartwatches might still have some juice. IDC expects the share of smartwatches in wearables to increase from 32% now to 34% by 2027, with average annual growth of 6.3%. However, Apple will have to face its small rivals climbing the value chain. Last October, the research director of the wearables team at IDC noted that many small players driving growth are focused on specific geographies such as China and India. "Looking ahead, it isn't too hard to imagine some of these brands being mentioned in the same breath as the world's most popular ones," he wrote. www.howindialives.com is a database and search engine for public data A Boeing Co. 737 Max jet operated by Alaska Airlines made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport after a window and a portion of the planes fuselage blew out shortly after take-off. Following the incident, Alaska Airlines grounded all of its Boeing 737-9 aircraft. Flight 1282 was carrying 171 passengers and six flight crew members from Portland to Ontario, California, according to Alaska Airlines. Passengers recounted a rapid rush of air and minor injuries, luckily with no serious casualties. FlightRadar24 said the plane was in the air for about 20 minutes and reached a maximum altitude of 16,300 feet. The aircraft was a brand-new Boeing 737 Max 9 delivered to Alaska Airlines in October. Also Read: DGCA orders one-time inspection of emergency exits on all Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft Technically, the 737 Max 9's modular fuselage layout allows variable emergency door installations based on seating configurations, providing operators with cabin layout flexibility. Alaska Airlines' approach involves permanently "plugging" some doors, unlike other configurations, as per a Bloomberg report. Boeing has encountered manufacturing challenges in recent years, including previous issues with drilling holes and inspections related to the rudder control system. Boeing's 737 Max planes were grounded worldwide following two MAX 8 crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people in total. This recent incident comes as Boeing is working to rebuild confidence in the 737 Max, a crucial source of cash. Here are the Top 10 Updates: 1. The CEO of Alaska Airlines stated that as a precautionary step, the carrier will be grounding its entire fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft. Each aircraft will be back in service after full maintenance and safety inspections, Minicucci said, adding that he expects this to be completed in a few days. Also Read | Alaska Airlines midair window blowout: Here's all you need to know about the Boeing 737 Max 9 plane 2. Boeing said its technical team is ready to support the investigation, "We are aware of the incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight AS1282. We are working to gather more information and are in contact with our airline customer. A Boeing technical team stands ready to support the investigation". 3. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a temporary grounding and inspection order for certain Boeing Co. 737 Max 9 aircraft following the Alaska Airlines incident. The move will affect approximately 171 planes globally. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stated, "Safety will continue to drive our decision-making as we assist the NTSBs investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282." 4. Alaska Airlines, the second-largest operator of this aircraft type worldwide, had already grounded its Max 9 fleet after the event. United Airlines Holdings Inc., the top operator of this model, also withdrew some jets for inspections in response to the FAA's directive. 5. Both Alaska and United Airlines provided updates on their inspection progress. United has a fleet of 79 Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft and said 33 of these have already undergone the required FAA inspection. It added that 60 flights would be cancelled on Saturday. Alaska Airlines in an update said that inspection has been completed on more than a quarter of its 737-9 fleet, adding that 18 planes with the same features as the flight 1282 in question returned without issue. 6. In the wake of Alaska Airlines' incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered all the Indian airlines to immediately carry out a one-time inspection of the emergency exits on all Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft currently operating as part of their fleet. 7. Among other carriers with a fleet of aircraft, FlyDubai, which has three Boeing Max 9 aircraft said its planes have a different cabin configuration than the Alaska model. Aeromexico said it was grounding all of its 737 MAX 9 planes while inspections are carried out; and Icelandair said none of its 737 MAX 9's featured the plane configuration specified in the FAA grounding order, AFP reported. 8. In terms of global response, Chinas aviation regulator convened an emergency meeting to discuss potential actions, including a grounding of the Boeing Max fleet in the country. This event holds significance as China was the first to ground the 737 Max after fatal crashes in recent years. 9. Boeing expressed support for the FAA's decision, highlighting close collaboration with regulators and customers. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident. European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is assessing whether further mandates are necessary. 10. The temporary grounding significantly affects flight operations, impacting tens of thousands of passengers with cancellations. According to the FAA, as many as 171 aircraft worldwide are likely to be affected, with each inspection taking four to eight hours. (With inputs from Bloomberg, AFP) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! CHENNAI : India's southern state of Tamil Nadu has signed investment pacts worth more than $4.39 billion with firms such as Apple suppliers Tata Electronics and Pegatron, as well as auto major Hyundai Motors , it said on Sunday. Apple is counting on India as the next big driver of its growth as the tech giant looks to diversify some production away from China, with Pegatron working towards a second factory in the country where Tata Group last year began to assemble iPhones. Tata Electronics, a part of the Indian conglomerate, committed to invest 12,080 crore for mobile phone assembly operations, the state government said during the signing of the agreements. "The Tamil Nadu government will support investors in every way possible," Chief Minister M. K. Stalin said at the event, adding that it sought to play a major role in India's growth. Pegatron, Apple's Taiwan supplier, will also invest 1,000 crore to expand production, the government added. Separately, Tata Power is exploring investments up to 70,000 crore in Tamil Nadu over the next several years, including investments made in some existing projects, its chief executive officer and managing director Praveer Sinha said at a press briefing at the event. The pacts, unveiled at a meeting of global investors, are projected to generate thousands of jobs in the state. The state's summit comes days before another investment summit in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat where hundreds of domestic and foreign investors are expected to attend. Sunday's deals in Tamil Nadu include an agreement with JSW Energy to invest 12,000 crore to develop renewable energy projects. Auto major Hyundai Motors also committed 6180 crore, some of it earmarked for electric vehicle (EV) battery and car manufacturing, the government added. On Saturday, Vietnamese EV maker VinFast agreed to set up its first manufacturing facilities in India and work toward an investment of up to $2 billion in Tamil Nadu, as more companies seek to penetrate the world's third-largest vehicle market. Nike shoemaker Hong Fu is set to sign a pact with the state to invest nearly 1,040 crore in India, with another 1660 crore expected soon, Aqeel Panaruna, chairman of Florenece Shoe - the company's India partner - said at the event. TATA POWER More Information Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! SINGAPOREAfter U.S. regulations barred Nvidia from selling its high-performance artificial-intelligence chips to China in October, the companys engineers quickly designed a new lineup to comply with the tightened rules. The U.S. tech company may have found some wiggle room, but it faces a bigger problem: Chinese cloud companiessome of Nvidias biggest customers globallyarent so keen on buying its lower-powered AI chips. Alibaba Group and Tencent are among Chinas biggest cloud companies that have been testing Nvidia samples since November. They have indicated to Nvidia that they would order far fewer chips from the company this year than they had originally planned to buy of its now-banned previous chips, people familiar with the matter said. In the short term, Nvidias downgrading of its processors is narrowing the performance gap with local alternatives, making China-made chips increasingly attractive to buyers. Alibaba and Tencent are shifting some advanced semiconductor orders to homegrown companies such as Huawei Technologies and relying more on chips they can develop in-house, the people said. So too are Chinas other top two buyersAI pioneer Baidu and TikTok owner ByteDance. In the longer term, Chinese buyers are uncertain about Nvidias ability to continue to supply them, given U.S. regulators have pledged to review the chip-export controls regularly and could further tighten performance limits, the people said. Tech firms are modifying their business strategies to prepare for a future with less access to Nvidias products, and to avoid the costly process of constantly adjusting their technology to adapt to new chips. For Santa Clara, Calif.-based Nvidia, threading the needle between the demands of U.S. regulators and supplying chips that Chinese clients need is getting more difficult. The company has billions of dollars of unfulfilled orders for its earlier chips, and China is one of its biggest markets, historically contributing about a fifth of its revenue. Nvidias chips are currently in higher demand than it can meet. Nonetheless, geopolitical tensions pose the longer-term risk of lost sales in the worlds second-biggest economy, which is pursuing AI development as a strategic priority. Chinese cloud companies currently source around 80% of high-end AI chips from Nvidia, and that is likely to decline to 50%-60% in the next five years, said Frank Kung, an analyst at tech-research firm TrendForce. He added that tightening U.S. chip controls in the future would create additional pressure on Nvidias China sales. Nvidia said it is working to offer products that comply with U.S. rules to customers worldwide.Nvidia has said it doesnt see a short-term financial impact from restrictions on shipment of its AI chips to China because it can find other buyers for them. But Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress said last year that in the long run, prohibiting the sale of AI chips in China would keep the U.S. industry from being able to compete and lead in one of the worlds largest markets. Switching to Huawei Chips Over the past two years, the Biden administration has imposed two rounds of export sanctions to curtail Chinas access to advanced chips and technology that the U.S. says Beijing could use to advance its military and surveillance capabilities. Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang has said he still hopes to supply high-end processors to China and is working with customers in China to get export licenses. After the first curbs in October 2022, Nvidia modified the chips it sold in China by scaling back their performance to fall below the thresholds that would require U.S. government oversight. It sold more than $1 billion worth of such chips to Chinese customers in 2023. When the U.S. a year later cut off more Nvidia chip exports to China without a license, the chip maker developed another new lineup of less powerful processors for Chinese buyers, which it plans to release early this year, The Wall Street Journal reported. Last month, Nvidia launched the GeForce RTX 4090 D, a modified version of its top-of-the-line gaming chip adapted after the latest U.S. curbs. Chinese companies have been testing samples of Nvidias new highest-performing AI chip in the coming lineup, called the H20. The chip allows data to transmit among multiple processors efficiently, making it a better option than homegrown alternatives for building chip clusters needed to handle the computational workloads of AI, some testers said. Still, testers said they needed more of the H20s to simulate the computing power that they got from Nvidias previous chips, increasing their costs. The most advanced Chinese chips are as capable of handling inferencein which a trained AI model comes up with predictionsand less complex training tasks as are U.S. chips, developers say. Huawei, acknowledged by Nvidias Huang to be a formidable competitor" to the firm in China, is gaining ground at the expense of the U.S. chip maker. In 2023, Huawei received orders for at least 5,000 Ascend 910B chips from major Chinese internet companies, people familiar with the matter said. The chip is considered the closest available Chinese alternative to Nvidias export-barred high-performance A100. The chips are meant to be delivered through 2024, they said, as Huawei faces production constraints because of U.S. sanctions. Chinese official procurements, such as those from state-owned telecom operators, have called for the adoption of homegrown chips such as Huaweis. China Telecom acquired about $390 million worth of AI servers powered by Huawei chips in October, while China Unicom spent at least $20 million in 2022, according to company purchasing documents. Huawei has stepped up efforts to expand its software ecosystem and plans to launch a new high-end AI chip as soon as the second half of 2024, the people said. A few government-backed AI computing centers have sourced Huaweis chips since the U.S. imposed curbs in 2022. AI App Maker Skips Nvidia Chips Alibabas chip arm, T-Head, is also developing a new specific-purpose AI processor under its Hanguang label, people familiar with the matter said. If the restrictions are likely to only get tighter in the next few years, youd better start thinking about alternatives now," said a senior executive at Alibaba Cloud. The frenzy over generative AI earlier last year spurred demand for Nvidias advanced chips as major Chinese companies and startups tried to develop their own large language models. Now, many smaller players are scaling back such efforts and shifting to focus on AI applications. Kenneth Yang, a Shanghai-based co-founder of a healthcare AI startup, said he plans to skip Nvidias latest China-focused chips and lease AI processing power from Baidu or Huawei instead. Its about spending money in a smart way," said Yang, who is developing a nursing-care app. Engineers at Chinese technology companies say Nvidias chips will remain a purchasing priority over the next 12 months, given Nvidias more extensive product ecosystem and as local alternatives continue to be in short supply. In the longer run, U.S. curbs are likely to push the Chinese to develop their own technologies, said Kevin Xu, founder of hedge fund Interconnected Capital, who authors a newsletter about tech and geopolitics. After this current phase of stockpiling is done, Nvidias China business will become a sacrificial lamb," he said. Asa Fitch and Yuka Hayashi contributed to this article. Write to Raffaele Huang at raffaele.huang@wsj.com The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority ( PFRDA ) has requested for increased tax exemption on employer contributions to employees' pensions in order to align it with provident fund. The employer's contribution to provident fund is deductible up to 12 percent of the salary (basic + dearness allowance) up to the maximum limit of 7.5 lakh. Interest on this contribution is tax-exempt. Conversely, under the National Pension System (NPS), the employer's contribution towards NPS is only exempt up to 10 percent of salary (basic + dearness allowance). Deepak Mohanty, chairman of PFRDA, was quoted in the media as saying, "We have requested it to increase it to 12 percent to align it with EPFO. Our goal is to make it 14% because in the case of government employees, contributions up to 14 percent are tax free." Mohanty was in Mumbai to meet distributors and other stakeholders in the NPS to expand the subscriber base. He also mentioned that NPS has outperformed all equity benchmarks with equity funds delivering returns of 24.2 percent over one year, 18.4 percent over three years and 13.3 percent since inception. The central government scheme, which is a blend of debt and small equity portion, has given a return of 9.46 percent since inception, as per a TOI report. However, regardless of the scheme's performance and the ease of investing, flexibility it provides through systematic withdrawals remains low. In the private sector, the subscriber base is only 51 lakh with AUM of a little over 2 lakh crore as of Dec 23, said the report. We aimed to attract 13 lakh subscribers during the current financial year. We have added around 5.3 lakh subscribers so far and are focusing on expanding awareness through campaigns, distributors and social media," said Mohanty. It is vital to recall that PFRDA recently allowed NPS subscribers to deposit their contributions through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) QR code directly under the D-Remit process. The D-Remit virtual account is distinct from the Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN). Furthermore, the virtual account numbers differ for Tier I and Tier II NPS accounts and so do the QR codes. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The Supreme Court will deliver its judgment in connection with the remission granted to the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case case on Monday, January 8. The Supreme Court had earlier heard a batch of pleas that challenged the remission granted to convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan had on October 12 last year reserved its verdict after an 11-day hearing on the petitions, including the one filed by Bano. The Gujarat government had released the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, on August 15, 2022. All the 11 life-term convicts in the case were released as per the remission policy prevalent in Gujarat at the time of their conviction in 2008. During the post-Godhra riots in March 2002, Bano was allegedly gang-raped and left to die with 14 members of her family, including her three-year-old daughter. She was five months pregnant when rioters attacked her family in Vadodara. In October last year, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre and Gujarat government to submit the original records related to the remission granted to 11 convicts, news agency ANI reported. The pleas were filed by the National Federation of Indian Women, whose General Secretary is Annie Raja, Member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Subhashini Ali, journalist Revati Laul, social activist and professor Roop Rekha Verma and TMC MP Mahua Moitra. The pleas said they challenged the order of competent authority of the government of Gujarat by way of which 11 persons who were accused in a set of heinous offenses committed in Gujarat were allowed to walk free on August 15, 2022, under remission being extended to them. The Gujarat government, in its affidavit, had defended remission granted to convicts, saying they completed 14 years of sentence in prison and their "behavior was found to be good". The State government had also said it has considered the cases of all 11 convicts as per the policy of 1992 and remission was granted on August 10, 2022, and the Central government also approved the release of convicts. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! BJP's Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma' s government renamed Indira Rasoi Yojana to Shree Annapurna Rasoi Yojana on Saturday. The food security scheme announced to provide food at subsidised rates was launched by former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Also Read: Rajasthan to merge its Chiranjeevi scheme with Ayushman Bharat The order released by the state's Local Self Government Department mentioned the already running scheme as Shri Annapurna Rasoi Yojana. In addition to this, the order said that the per plate weight of the subsidised meal has been increased to 600 gm in the 'Shri Annapurna Rasoi Yojana'. Also Read: Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma keeps Home among 8 ministries, Deputy CM Diya Kumari gets finance | Who gets what? The government grant payable per plate has also been increased to 22 from 17, reported ANI referring to the order. However, there has been no change in the amount contributed by the beneficiary, ie of 8 per plate. The department also issued an order to change the name on all hoardings and online portals as well. The scheme is aimed to provide nutritious food to the poor and needy people at a subsidised rate. The Indira Rasoi Yojana scheme seeks a contribution of 8 per meal from the people. The scheme was launched in August 2020 with the tagline 'No one should sleep hungry'. Also Read: Rajasthan: 72 IAS and 121 RAS officers transferred in Bhajanlal's first major administrative reshuffle. Details here Days ago the Prime Minister visited BJP headquarters in Rajasthan. While addressing BJP MLAs in Rajasthan on Friday, PM Modi motivated them to work in unity to ensure that every home benefits from the double-engine" administration. On the same day, he also interacted with MLAs and party officials at the BJP state headquarters His meeting with the MLAs lasted for nearly two and a half hours, reported PTI. The meeting was attended by all the ministers MLAs and party office-bearers. However, Vasundhara Raje Scindia couldn't attend the meeting because of family obligations. Raje was among the top candidates for the CM post in Rajasthan. However, the party's high command selected first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The terrorist state of Russia has deployed tens of thousands of Russian Guard officers to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. As of January 2024, Russia has deployed about 35,000 Russian Guards to Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT It is worth noting that they are armed with armored personnel carriers, tanks, artillery systems, and helicopters. This was reported by the National Resistance Center. According to the Ukrainian underground, half of the 35,000 Russian guards are regular units, organized into brigades. There are also 5 battalion tactical groups and 44 tactical groups. About 100 more units are formations of riot police and SOBR officers. The NRC noted that the Russian Guard is the second most important component of the Russian occupation forces after the RF Armed Forces. Members of this formation serve as rear units to suppress civilian resistance. In addition, their responsibilities include conducting filtration activities among the civilian population and identifying members of the underground movement. It is noteworthy that the Russian Guard uses weapons, including heavy equipment, to suppress civilians who disagree with the Russian occupation. The NRC emphasized that the current Russian occupiers act in the same way as the NKVD did when Soviet troops occupied western Ukraine and the Baltic states after 1945. ADVERTISIMENT The Russian Guard was also used to guard "polling stations" in the temporarily occupied territories during the pseudo-referendum in September 2022 and the pseudo-elections in September 2023. As a reminder, the war in Ukraine has caused a series of upheavals in the internal security of the terrorist country of Russia. Therefore, Russian security forces decided to strengthen their ranks with former occupants. In particular, the ranks of the Russian Guard have been joined by militants of the Wagner and DPR terrorist organizations. Earlier it was reported that the occupying Russian "authorities" began to further strengthen mobilization in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Even doctors and teenagers are being forcibly recruited into the ranks of the Russian army. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Two days after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were attacked in West Bengal, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhuryleader of the Congress in the Lok SabhaSunday criticized the central enforcement agency as an idiot" and the ruling Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in the state over the incident. "What will ED do? ED is itself an idiot," the West Bengal Congress chief said. On January 5, the economic intelligence agency team was attacked and its vehicles were damaged in Sandeshkhali village of North 24 Parganas district when the central arrived to raid the house of block level TMC functionaries Shahjahan Sheikh--a close aide of state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick--and Shankar Adhya, and their relatives in connection with alleged ration scam. Earlier, state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick was arrested in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam. Shahjahan Sheikh is yet to be apprehended and the agency has issued a lookout notice against the TMC leader. Reacting to the lookout notice the Congress leader said: Shahjahan Sheikh, What will ED do? ED is itself an idiot. The ruling party in Bengal will look after him." The Congress MP from Berhampore also accused the Trinamool Congress, its ally in the INDIA bloc, of protecting their functionaries and dubbed them as a look after government. "The ruling party in Bengal will look after him. The ruling party works to protect dangerous people in the party. This is a 'look after' government. So, what is the use of a lookout circular? The borders are porous...They should not make tall claims - be it BJP, ED or CBI," he said. He also criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the issue of borders, saying that they are porous". BJP keeps harping about Rohingyas...But where were they all this time? Where was the Home Ministry?...They have started politics of polarisation now when the matter is in the news. They should do something against those on look after," Chowdhury said. On Friday also, Chowdhury had criticised the TMC, alleging that there is no law and order in the state under their rule. "After the attack by goons of the ruling government on ED officials, it is clear that there is no law and order in the state. Today, they were injured, tomorrow they can be murdered. Such a thing would not come as a surprise to me," he had said. Meanwhile, expressing concern that Shahjahan Sheikh may have "crossed the border", West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose has instructed authorities to arrest him immediately and investigate his alleged connections with terrorists. The statement issued by Raj Bhavan late Saturday night highlighted that the governor, upon receiving a complaint in the Peace Room, instructed the police chief to promptly arrest the culprit. "On receipt of a complaint in the Peace Room of Raj Bhavan that Shahjahan Sheikh is supported by some political leaders with the connivance of some police officers, Hon'ble Governor instructed the Police chief to arrest the culprit forthwith and report compliance," the statement said. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Outraged Indians may be cancelling trips to the Maldives amid a growing diplomatic row. Reports and social media assertions indicate that many have scrapped holiday plans after a Maldives minister levelled 'Hinduphobic' remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The hashtag 'BoycottMaldives' has also gained momentum to become a top social media trend in India. I had planned a vacation to Maldives in February, Im going to cancel the same and visit a place domestically. Will not let my money go to someone who hates my country," asserted one Twitter user. I went to Maldives few months back and with the things going around . I wish I hadnt goneI gifted my Niece her honeymoon package and I have now asked my agent to cancel. Yes am losing 50k in process but its worth it," claimed another. Mariyam Shiuna allegedly made insulting remarks against PM Modi on Twitter after his Lakshadweep images had been shared. The Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, referred to the Indian prime minister as a clown and a puppet of Israel. Screenshots of the tweet are getting circulated on social media. LiveMint, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the tweet, reportedly deleted at this moment. Neither could LiveMint verify the cancellation of hotel bookings and flight tickets. It is often assumed that Indian voters have poor memory: When elections come, they forget past voting mistakes. But does the same hold true for politicians? The INDIA bloc seems to exemplify this. Only a few weeks are left for the general elections to be announced, and still they have done little to fix their past mistakes. Trinamool Congress had recommended naming Mallikarjun Kharge as INDIA convenor at the blocs last meeting on 19 December. The TMC felt only Kharge was capable of opposing Narendra Modi. Reasons? He is the leader of the countrys largest political party, and a dalit. He has extensive political and administrative experience and is free of any taint. This narrative" is also acceptable to the Congress. When Kharge was elected Congress president, there was talk of him also being considered for prime ministership if the party returned to power. Janata Dal (United) members, though, were outraged that Kharges name was being brought up for prime ministership. They say their leader, Nitish Kumar, had taken the initiative to build INDIA and that the blocs founding meeting was held in Patna. Nitish ji not only has the ability to be the convener, but should also be the countrys next prime minister, they believe, also considering that he had been chief minister for nearly 19 years, and under his leadership, the backward people and women of Bihar had gained immensely. They also say there is no problem with Kharge, but he has never served as chief minister, and so Nitish has a stronger claim to prime ministership. Meanwhile, a significant shift has occurred in the internal politics of the JD(U). Nitish Kumar became president of his party, succeeding Lalan Singh. Along with this, many storms have started brewing within the party. There was talk that Nitish could now switch sides and again join hands with the BJP. Some recalled that before the last general election, too, Nitish had met with Sonia Gandhi and asked that he be declared the prime ministerial candidate. But upon receiving no concrete signal, he established a coalition with the BJP. This is why, as soon as Lalan Singh left, there was a stir in the INDIA bloc. Nitish Kumars name was mentioned again for the position of coordinator. Its possible that hell be named coordinator in the following days. There is no doubt that he not only took the initiative but also made sincere efforts to bring INDIA bloc concept to light. His claim to the position of coordinator is unquestionably strong. As far as dalit or non-dalit prime minister is concerned, it does not suit INDIA bloc to work like this. Aside from winning the party election, Kharge has so far disappointed those who supported him. On the contrary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced a new type of politics to the Indian voter during the last nine-and-a-half years. People feel he is the prime minister capable of moving India ahead. He has total control of both the party and the government. There has been no prime minister since Indira Gandhi who has demonstrated such grip over both the party and the administration. Not only that, his management machinery periodically forces the opponent to adopt a defensive strategy. The latest example is the ceremony for the pran-pratishtha (consecration) of Ram lallas idol, which will take place in Ayodhya on 22 January. Organizers of the event have invited all Opposition leaders. The Oppositions biggest difficulty is that if they attend this ceremony, they would be seen as toeing the BJP line. If they refuse, political efforts to paint them as anti-Hindu will gain traction. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP, on the other hand, have chosen to turn this function into a new campaign. Following the pran-pratishtha on 22 January, special trains would run till 25 March to bring Ram devotees from around the country to Ayodhya. Buses are also being scheduled to cover the 600-kilometre geographical gap. It suggests that efforts are being made to recreate the atmosphere like 1991-1992 throughout the country. There is, nevertheless, a distinction between then and now. Previously, there was a strong sense of struggle among those who made it there; now, there is a sense of accomplishment. Will success be achieved in presenting the mandir as a victory? INDIA bloc recognized this truth and fact. Its backers anticipate that it will have to create a counter-narrative". This has not yet occurred. In such a case, the question of whether there is still time left for this is unavoidable. Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. Views are personal. The live broadcast of the consecration ceremony of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22 will not only be telecast across India at booth level but also be live-stream at the iconic Times Square in New York City in the United States, India Today reported Sunday citing sources. The report said the much-awaited 'Pran-Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Lalla will also be live-streamed at various Indian embassies, and consulates overseas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address all the devotees of Bhagwan Ram in the country and abroad. Also Read | India raises concern over Maldives Minister's derogatory remarks against PM Modi Earlier in August 2020, a digital billboard of the Ram Mandir was played at Times Square marking 'Bhoomi Pujan' of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on August 5. PM Modi performed Bhoomi Pujan of the grand temple in Ayodhya. Meanwhile, the ruling BJP has instructed its workers to set up large screens for the live telecast of the Shri Ram consecration at the booth level, news agency ANI reported. This initiative is designed to offer a platform for the general public to witness the consecration of Shri Ram Lala. Also Read | Maldives govt clarifies after a ministers remarks stir row This way, the general public can have darshan of Shri Ram Lala and witness the consecration ceremony," ANI reported citing a source. Party workers may choose to distribute blankets, organize community feasts ('bhandar'), or contribute through donations in terms of food or fruits to help those in need," the sources added. The Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) are scheduled to commence on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. Alsop Read | London Tube strikes: Major disruption expected throughout next week Meanwhile, a 51-inch tall Krishna Shila (Shyam Varn) idol of Lord Ram has been carefully chosen for the upcoming Pran-Pratishtha ceremony. The idol, resplendent in Shyam Varn (dark hue), is set to be a symbol of divinity, royalty, and the pure innocence of a child. Varanasi priest Lakshmi Kant Dixit is set to officiate the main rituals during the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22 in Ayodhya. As part of the festivities, a grand 1008 Hundi Mahayagya is scheduled, aiming to feed thousands of devotees. To accommodate the anticipated influx of devotees arriving for the grand consecration, numerous tent cities are being erected in Ayodhya. The Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust is preparing for a crowd of 10,000-15,000 people at the grand ceremony. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Ahead of the consecration ceremony of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal has asked the members of the Muslim community in Assam to avoid travelling by trains from January 20 to January 25 to avoid "any untoward incident". He also called the BJP is the biggest enemy of the Muslims". Reacting to the AIUDF chiefs statement, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "...People from all religions should welcome Lord Ram on January 22 because Lord Ram is the symbol of India and not just of one religion..." On Friday, addressing a political campaign in Barpeta district of Assam, the AIUDF chief urged the Muslim community of Assam to remain home from January 20 to 25. "We will have to be cautious. Muslims should not travel by train from January 20 to January 25. The Ram idol will be placed in Ram Janmabhoomi, the entire world will witness this. Lakhs of people will come. BJP's plan is big. During this period, we should not travel by train and should stay at home," Ajmal said while addressing a gathering in Assam's Barpeta. Lashing out at the saffron party, Ajmal said, The BJP is the biggest enemy of the Muslims. BJP is the enemy of our life, our faith, our Azaan...." They are enemy of our lives, our pride, mosques and modesty of Muslim women. Our laws are based on Quran but they are interfering in that too," he added. BJP hist back Meanwhile, BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh slammed AIUDF chief Ajmal for reportedly encouraging Muslims to stay at home between January 20 and 26, news agency ANI reported. Singh stated: "BJP does not hate Muslims. We work with the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas'. Former litigant in the Ayodhya land dispute case, Iqbal Ansari has been invited for the 'consecration' ceremony of Ram temple and he will also participate in the prayers. People like Badruddin Ajmal, Owaisi spread hatred in society. BJP respect all religions." Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the grand Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22 and over 60,00 people are expected to attend the consecration ceremony. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! General assembly elections voting began in Bangladesh on Sunday amid heightened political tensions in the country. Several parts of the nation witnessed a rampant increase in violence before polling. At least 14 polling centres and two schools in 10 districts of Bangladesh were set on fire between Friday evening and early Saturday hours, reported Dhaka Tribune. Bangladesh Elections LIVE updates On Friday, a passenger train was set on fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Four people including two children died in the incident. On Saturday, miscreants torched a polling centre in Lalmonirhat's Hatibandha upazila. Miscreants burned down Sheikh Sundar Masterpara Primary School around 10 pm on Saturday. Also Read: Bangladesh Elections: Chief Election Commissioner says we want our election to be observed internationally Police arrested five people for their links with the burning of a polling centre in Mymensingh on Saturday. However, no person died during the attack, according to the Dhaka Tribune report. Miscreants are mainly targeting those schools that were supposed to be used as polling centers. Another polling centre was set on fire in Feni and Rajshahi in separate incidents from Thursday night to Friday morning. Also Read: Bangladesh national elections: Sheikh Hasina, other political contenders' approach towards India Why it matters? In Moulvibazar, the Sabia Government Primary School of Chandighat Union in Sadar upazila was set on fire by arsonists at around 8 pm on Friday. The school was also a polling centre for the Moulvibazar-3 constituency. Most of the schools were targeted to disrupt the voting on election day on Sunday. Abdur Goffer Bablu, the school's managing committee president, said that the doors of three rooms were gutted in the fire set by four arsonists. Also Read: Bangladesh Polls in jeopardy? Opposition parties begin 48-hour strike on election eve In Habiganj, some miscreants set fire to the Dhalaipar Government Primary School centre in Chunarughat Upazila at around 12:15 am on Saturday. However, no electoral material or equipment was damaged as the fire couldn't reach it. Another set of fire incidents were reported from Government Primary School in Kaliakair Upazila, East Chandana Government Primary School in Gazipur city, TNT Ideal High School at Telipara in the city, Nishchinta Para Government Primary School, Mohius Sunnah Madrasa in the Bandar area and UCEP School (Dabba School) in Khulshi. However, hartals and protests continue ahead of the general elections. The main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), issued a call for a 48-hour nationwide 'hartal' (general strike) commencing on Saturday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's "illegal government". Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Bangladesh is voting in its 16th general assembly elections on Sunday. Many experts are seeing the ongoing elections in the country as a gateway for Sheikh Hasina to secure her fifth consecutive term as Prime Minister. Bangladesh Elections LIVE Updates The Bangladesh elections have been closely watched by neighbouring countries as well, including India. Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, the relationship between the two nations has grown stronger over time. Her victory in the current general assembly elections will be of immense importance for India. The two nations share a long border, which means that the economic and social stability of the two nations is crucial for each of them. Also Read: Bangladesh national elections: Sheikh Hasina, other political contenders' approach towards India Why it matters? India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-km-long border. Both nations enjoy an excellent state" of bilateral relations. Bangladesh shares a border with West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The long range of the border, that too of porous nature, makes it an easy path for infiltration, human trafficking, and the promotion of terrorism activities. The border between Bangladesh and India runs through rivers, ponds, agricultural fields, villages, and even houses, making it difficult to track the Indian security forces. Under Sheikh Hasina's tenure as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, she has helped India to loosen its security burden with her strict policies against insurgents, terrorists, and separatists. Bangladesh maintained close cooperation with India in terms of intelligence sharing and security matters," according to Eurasia Review. India also signed an Extradition Treaty with Bangladesh in January 2013 to ensure a proactive role in dealing with security concerns with each other. Previous governments of Bangladesh have not been this supportive of the Indian government on matters related to security and terrorism. During the Khaleda Zia government in Bangladesh, terrorism emerged as a major challenge for India. "India has from time to time, expressed concern" over the activities of the terrorist groups operating from the territory of Bangladesh through diplomatic channels, as also in the bilateral meetings between India and Bangladesh," Mint reported earlier quoting India's Annual Report 2004-2005. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The war on Gaza that Benjamin Netanyahu declared in retaliation to the Hamas attack on Israel, completes three months today. As the war continues killing thousands and displacing lakhs from the Gaza Strip , let's take stock of the situation. Israel says it has wrapped up major combat in northern Gaza The Israeli military has reportedly signaled that they have wrapped up major combat in northern Gaza, saying it has completed dismantling Hamas' military infrastructure there. Israeli defense forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said late Saturday that forces would continue to deepen the achievement" there, strengthen defenses along the Israel-Gaza border fence and focus on the central and southern parts of the territory. Blinken on urgent visit to Arab partners over fear of war spilling US Secretary of State of State Anthony Blinken on Sunday fulfilled yet another urgent diplomatic mission to West Asia, to meet with Arab partners to press for their help in tamping down resurgent fears that Israels three-month war against Hamas in Gaza could spread. Biden administration has urged Israel to wind down its blistering air and ground offensive in Gaza and shift to more targeted attacks against Hamas leaders to prevent harm to Palestinians. Blinken assured Jordan's King Abdullah on Sunday that Washington opposes the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or the occupied West Bank. reported Reuters. Death toll According to Gaza Health ministry, Israel's retaliation has killed more than 22,800 Palestinians, and wounded more than 58,000. The Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October had killed 1,200 people. Israel claims Iranian support in Hamas missiles Israel Defense Forces troops operating in Gaza City's Daraj and Tuffah districts have claimed that they discovered components used by Hamas to produce precision-guided missiles and other strategic weapons with direct assistance from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nahal Brigade troops found "components proving terrorists of the Hamas terror organization learned under Iranian guidance how to operate and build precision components and strategic weapons," the IDF said on X, sharing photos showing a rocket engine and warhead. The Iran-backed weapons manufacturing plant was discovered as part of an operation to expose a 330-foot terror tunnel, the army added. Israel presses on into South Gaza In recent weeks, Israel had been scaling back its military assault in northern Gaza and pressing its offensive in the south, where most of Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians are squeezed into smaller areas in a humanitarian disaster while being pounded by Israeli airstrikes. Israel Ministry to Give Go-Ahead for Musks Starlink Israel is expected to give the go-ahead to Elon Musks Starlink satellite internet service this week to start limited operations in Gaza, reports Bloomberg. Sales will initially be restricted to official bodies, and Starlink agreed not to grant access to humanitarian organizations in the Gaza Strip without the approval of Israels defense establishment, Bloomberg quoted Elad Malka, deputy director of the ministry, said in an interview. Israel-Hamas War may spill? An escalation of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah has complicated the US push to prevent a regional conflict. Hezbollah described Saturday's rockets as an initial response" to the targeted killing of a top Hamas leader in a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut last week, presumed to have been carried out by Israel. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Children are the very epitome of purity and innocence! They are known for sharing pencils, chocolates, candies, and toys. However, one such kid from China proved the idiom right as the little boy gifted gold bars worth USD15,000 (approximately 12 lakh) to a girl as an engagement gift" in his nursery school class, according to a South China Morning Post report. On December 22, the incident took place in Guang'an, Sichuan province, southwestern China. The little girl showed the extraordinary gift to her parents who remained shocked and confused. Her parents told the girl to return the gold bars to her classmate. The concerned parents also contacted the boy's family, who expressed regret, saying they had told their son the gold bars were saved for his future bride. The boy's parents said they had told their son that the gold bars were intended for his future wife, but they didn't expect him to secretly take them out and give them to our daughter," the girl's mother said. The whole situation was both amusing and bewildering for them," she added as quoted by the report. She also urged other parents to exercise caution to prevent their kids from experiencing anything similar. The story caught netizens' attention on the internet who were amused after seeing the adorable friendship that the two children share in China. Some users also shared similar incidents. My mother-in-law just gave me a bracelet, and my son asked if he could give it to a classmate because he thought it looked nice. I suppose I should be grateful he thought to ask me first," one user said. Another netizen wrote, This little boy really has guts, just casually giving away 200 grams of gold like that." In the first year, my daughters classmate, a boy, gave her 200 yuan in cash. I promptly returned the money to the boys parents that same evening," the third person shared. Last May, a little child in China took his mother's gold bracelet and gave it to a kindergarten student. The boy's mother claimed that his teacher advised her to "watch out" for her jewelry. The boy explained to his mother that he wanted to give the bangle as a gift to a girl he is friends with at kindergarten when she asked him why he had taken it. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! A massive row erupted between India and Maldives after a minister of the island country made some derogatory remarks against PM Narendra Modi over his recent visit to the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Maldives Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment Mariyam Shiuna used words like clown and puppet for the Prime Minister of India. The remarks sparked huge outrage in India with people calling for boycotting traveling to Maldives for its anti-India stand. India raised concerns over the remarks against the Indian Prime Minister and diplomatic channels are communicating India's position with the officials of Maldives. Hateful language used against India The remarks by Mariyam Shiuna were not taken well by the domestic political circles of Maldives with former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih condemning the hateful" language used against India. "I condemn the use of hateful language against India by Maldivian government officials on social media. India has always been a good friend to Maldives and we must not allow such callous remarks to negatively impact the age-old friendship between our two countries..." Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said. Former foreign minister of Maldives Abdullah Shahid called the derogatory remarks reprehensible and odious" in a post on X (formerly Twitter). I call on the Government to reprimand these officials. Public figures must maintain decorum. They must accept that they are no longer social media activists and that they are now entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the interests of the people and the country," Shahid wrote on the microblogging site. He said, India is a time tested friend and an unwavering ally. They have historically been the first to respond in our time of need. Our close relationship has been bound by mutual respect, history, culture and strong people-to-people relations. Russian occupiers have deployed a new large amphibious assault ship, Petr Morgunov, to the temporarily occupied Sevastopol. Satellites recorded it near the pier in Sevastopol Bay. ADVERTISIMENT Before the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Petr Morgunov was deployed to the Black Sea, allegedly to participate in exercises, and has been in Novorossiysk Bay ever since. This was reported by the Crimean Wind Telegram channel. Crimean Wind's monitoring group spotted the newest Russian Ivan Gren-type warship on satellite images. They assumed that it was the Petro Morgunov, which had entered the Black Sea before Russia's full-scale invasion. "The Sentinel 2 satellite image of January 6 near the pier in Sevastopol Bay shows, with a high probability, the Project 11711 Ivan Gren warship. At the end of January 2022, before the start of the full-scale military invasion, the Petro Morgunov warship, which belongs to the same project, was deployed to the Black Sea, allegedly to participate in exercises. This ship was almost constantly in the bay of Novorossiysk," the statement said. ADVERTISIMENT Crimean Wind reminded that the Petro Morgunov is the second ship in the series. It was commissioned at the end of 2020. The ship's total displacement is 6,600 tons. It is capable of transporting a reinforced marine battalion along with equipment and landing it on pontoons that it carries with it. This large amphibious assault ship also houses an aviation group consisting of two Ka-52 helicopters and an Orlan-10 UAV, which are located in the deck hangar. "The high-resolution satellite images were published by OSINT researcher MT Anderson," Crimean Wind added. The researcher noted only the type of ship spotted in Sevastopol Bay. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, ISW assessed Ukraine's strike campaign in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Analysts noted that Ukrainian missiles and drones successfully penetrate Russian air defense on the peninsula. It was also reported that, according to space intelligence, as a result of strikes on Russian military facilities in Crimea on January 4, the occupiers lost ammunition depots and were "blinded" by several radars. The strikes planned by London Underground from Monday to Thursday have been suspended after the workers union RMT said it had made progress in talks with operator Transport for London (TfL), Reuters reported Sunday. "Following further positive discussions today, the negotiations on a pay deal for our London Underground members can now take place on an improved basis and mandate with significant further funding for a settlement being made available," RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said in a statement on Sunday. "This significantly improved funding position means the scheduled strike action will be suspended with immediate effect and we look forward to getting into urgent negotiations with TfL to develop a suitable agreement and resolution to the dispute," he further added. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was "delighted" the strikes had been called off. This weeks tube strikes have now been suspended. Londoners and visitors to our city will no longer face several days of disruption," Khan, the Labour partys mayor of London, said. "They would have caused huge disruption for Londoners and would have been a major blow to the capital's businesses at the worst possible time, he said. This shows what can be achieved by engaging with trade unions and transport staff rather than working against them," the London mayor added. Earlier Khan had blamed the national Conservative government for imposing strict conditions on TfLs funding. The Maldives government suspended three of its ministers- Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha and Hassan Zihan- for their derogatory remarks on Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following the latter's Lakshadweep visit., local media Atoll Times reported. The local media quoted Maldives government spokesperson Ibrahim Khaleel, All government officials responsible for the comments have been suspended from their post effective immediately". One of the suspended deputy minister of Maldives cabinet, Hassan Zihan, had quoted a local media tweet on microblogging platform X and had called the news Fake". Earlier, the government of Maldives issued a statement clarifying their stance on Minister Mariyam Shiuna's remarks on PM Narendra Modi's Lakshwadeep visit. The Maldives government which saw a sudden surge in cancellations in tourists from India, said that they would not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks". In a statement on Sunday, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry said they were aware of the "derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals". A row erupted on social media last week when a minister and some other leaders in the Maldives used derogatory remarks against PM Modi after he posted a video of him on a beach in Lakshadweep. "These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives," it said. The post by Mariyam Shiuna -- which has now been deleted -- featured the pictures of PM Modi from his recent visit to Lakshadweep. The Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, referred to the Indian prime minister as a clown and a puppet of Israel. In retaliation more than 8,000 hotel bookings, as well as 2,500 flight tickets, have been cancelled after a Maldivian minister insulted Indian PM Narendra Modi. Earlier on Sunday, former president Mohamed Nasheed described the remarks by the Maldivian ministers as appalling" and asked President Mohamed Muizzus government to distance itself from these comments. Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb strongly condemned" the derogatory and racist comments made by a group of Maldivian politicians towards prime minister Modi. The Maldives is Indias key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in its initiatives like SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Neighbourhood First Policy of the Modi government. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! After experiencing several hours of inaccessibility, the primary websites of the Maldivian government were reinstated on Sunday, January 7. The website of the President of Maldives was unreachable on January 6 night. The official websites of the President, Foreign Ministry, and Tourism Ministry of Maldives were down and unreachable. The reasons behind top government websites' not working are yet to be ascertained. There is no official word from the government so far. Moreover, the Maldivian Tourism Ministry's website is also unreachable at the moment. Subsequent to the temporary unavailability, the key Maldivian government websites are now operational again. Attributing the disruption to "technical issues," the Maldives President's office posted on X, acknowledging the unforeseen interruption to the official websites. Furthermore, it mentioned that the National Centre for Information Technology and other relevant entities are actively working to resolve the issue. "Please note that the President's Office website is currently facing an unexpected technical disruption. NCIT and other relevant entities are actively working on resolving this promptly. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Thank you for your understanding and patience," stated the post. Meanwhile, the president of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, is set to visit China from Jan. 8 to 12, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on January 5, in what would be a high-profile snub to the island nation's huge neighbour India. Muizzu, who in November took over as president of the Indian Ocean nation made up of more than a hundred islands dotted with luxury resorts, issued an election pledge to remove a small contingent of some 75 Indian military personnel in the country and alter the Maldives's "India first" policy. Asked to comment on talk of President Muizzu making a state visit to China, New Delhi said the matter was out of its hands. "It is for them to decide where they go and how they go about their international relations," Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, adding that he had no update on the removal of Indian military personnel from the islands. The Maldives owes China about $1.3 billion, according to the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) data. China is the Maldives' largest external creditor, accounting for about 20% of its total public debt. (With inputs from ANI) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Myanmar's military government has officially acknowledged the withdrawal of its forces from a key city on the northeastern border with China, on January 6. The city, Laukkaing, fell to an alliance of ethnic armed groups after months of conflict, marking a significant defeat for the military government. The fall of Laukkaing, the capital of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone, is part of a series of setbacks for the military since the ethnic alliance initiated an offensive on October 27, according to a report by the Associated Press. The alliance, known as the Three Brotherhood Alliance, consists of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Taang National Liberation Army, and the Arakan Army. The MNDAA represents the Kokang minority, who are ethnic Chinese, the report added. Also Read | '...We are ahead of China': Anand Mahindra on nations with largest road networks, says Nitin Gadkari can..' Myanmar government spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun stated that the military and local commanders relinquished control of Laukkaing, considering various aspects, including the safety of soldiers' family members. The spokesperson highlighted the military's consideration of Myanmar's relationship with China, which is just across the border from Laukkaing. Also Read | China doesnt want you to say Tibet anymore The Three Brotherhood Alliance declared the entire Kokang region as a "Military Council-free area," claiming that over 2,300 military personnel, including six brigadier generals, and their family members, had surrendered on January 5, as per the report. Video clips on social media showed their transportation to safety, with many reportedly taken to Lashio, the capital of Shan's northern region, under an agreement with the MNDAA for repatriation. The alliance's offensive, framed as a struggle against military rule and organized crime, targeted cyber scam operations in Laukkaing that had victimized Chinese nationals. China has publicly supported efforts to eliminate these operations. While it remains unclear if the alliance will extend its offensive beyond Shan state, it has vowed to continue fighting against military rule. (With Inputs from Associated Press) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Hundreds of flights have been grounded across the US from a pair of winter storms that left more than a foot of snow in New Yorks Hudson Valley and sparked blizzard warnings across the Great Plains. The first storm is still bringing heavy snow Sunday across Boston and New England, the National Weather Service said. Regions to the north and west of New York City, including the upper Hudson River Valley, received from 6 to 12 inches of snow. Also Read | Rafael Nadal withdraws from Australian Open due to injury Poughkeepsie, they picked up a foot," said Greg Carbin, branch chief of the US Weather Prediction Center. Orange County, New York, they got a solid foot there. Port Jervis got 13 inches." New York City was spared the worst of the weather, with Manhattans Central Park getting mostly rain. While the storm in the east pulls away through Sunday, a second is moving across the western states sparking winter storm warnings and weather advisories from Arizona to Illinois and a blizzard warning in New Mexico and Colorado. Also Read | OnePlus 12R to launch in India on January 23: Everything we know so far The two systems have contributed to 692 flight cancellations across the US as of early Sunday, with Boston, Newark, Seattle and Chicago hardest hit, according to FlightAware, an airline tracking company. Passenger-rail carrier Amtrak has cancelled some trains to Boston, as well as across the Midwest. In addition, about 11,800 customers were without power in Massachusetts, mainly in Middlesex County north and west of Boston, according to PowerOutage.us. Also Read | Bangladesh Elections 2024 Live: Bangladesh counts votes after election New Yorks Central Park got just 0.2 inch of snow as of 7 a.m., which means its record for the longest streak without at least an inch of snow continues, Carbin said. As of Saturday, Manhattan had gone 692 days without at least an inch of snow, smashing the prior mark of 383 days that ended in March 21, 1998, according to the weather service. Looking ahead, the western storm will likely bring heavy snow across the Midwest, including 9 inches just west of Chicago Monday night into Tuesday, and flooding to the eastern US as downpours land on the melting snowpack. Parts of New York and New Jersey that got a lot of snow through Sunday will have 1 to 3 inches of rain fall Tuesday into Wednesday, Carbin said. That is not going to do anything to help out the streams and rivers," he said. Carbin said snow will wind down in Upstate New York in a few hours and would continue in Boston and New England through the rest of Sunday. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Turkish Airlines on Sunday temporarily withdrew its 5 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft for service inspections. The announcement has come in the wake of the Alaska Airlines midair accident where a window and a portion of its Boeing 737 Max 9 plane's fuselage blew out shortly after take-off in the US. Soon after the incident, Alaska Airlines grounded all its Boeing 737 Max 9 jets for safety and maintenance inspection. The accident has spread concerns across nations and airline carriers. The information about Turkish Airlines' move related to its Boeing aircraft was publically confirmed by company spokesperson Yahya Ustun on social media platform X. "Following the incident on Alaska Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, as a result of the preliminary investigation of the authorities, 5 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in the Turkish Airlines fleet were requested to be examined as a precaution. Also Read: Boeing results: Q3 loss at $1.64 billion on lower deliveries, 737 delivery forecast cut Until the technical review process in the incident is completed and the measures requested by the authorities are taken, Turkish Airlines has decided to withdraw 5 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in its fleet from operation at the airport where they will first land," he wrote on X. Earlier, US regulators on Saturday temporarily grounded 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 jetliners for safety checks following a cabin panel blowout that forced a new Alaska Airlines jet carrying passengers to make an emergency landing. According to media reports, China is also considering taking action against the aircraft after the accident. In India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered all Indian airlines to immediately conduct a one-time inspection of the emergency exits on all Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft that are operating in their fleet. It also clarified that none of the Indian airlines has Boeing 737 Max-9 aircraft. Earlier, the entire fleet of Boeing 737 Max aircraft was temporarily taken out of service in 2019 following two deadly crashes. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! 'Appalling language': Maldives ex-President Mohamed Nasheed slams official for post after PM Modi's Lakshadweep visit 2 min read Join us Livemint Mohamed Nasheed urges the Maldives government to distance itself from Mariyam Shiuna's comments and provide reassurance to India that they do not reflect government policy. Premium Former Maldives president, Mohamed Nasheed criticised Maldives politician for mocking PM Modi's Lakshadweep visit (AFP) Read Full Story Former President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed slamed the Maldives government official Mariyam Shiuna for her derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visit to Lakshadweep. Also Read: Maldives govt clarifies after Minister Shiuna's derogatory remarks on PM Modi: Will not hesitate to take action "What appalling language by Maldives Government official Mariyam Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives security and prosperity. Dr Mohamed Muizzu government must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy," Former President of Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed wrote on X. In his X post, Mohamed Nasheed said that India is "instrumental" in Maldives' security and prosperity. He also asked Muizzu to give assurance to New Delhi that the comments don't reflect government policy. His comments have come after Maldives Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment Mariyam Shiuna insulted India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he visited Lakshadweep. Shiuna made insulting remarks about PM Modi multiple times on X, most of her comments related PM Modi have been deleted from the micro blogging site. Other than Mariyam Shiuna, another Maldives politician mocked PM Modi after his visit to Lakshadweep and also made insulting remark for Indians. In an X post with video of PM Modi's Lakshadweep visit, Zahid Rameez, a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives Senate, made fun of the beaches of Lakshadweep Island and questioned whether India's Union Territory can match the services provided by Maldives. In response to these tweets by political leaders of Maldives, Indian social media users expressed their displeasure and even launched a campaign boycotting travel to Maldives. PM Modi visited the Union Territory of Lakshadweep on January 2 and shared several pictures including an 'exhilarating experience' after he tried his hand at snorkelling. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches and the pristine blue skies and the ocean. During his visit to Lakshadweep, he also laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over 1,150 crore in Agatti. The change in the political regime in Maldives is an indication of souring relation between India and the island nation and a signal of its improving proximity with China. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu will be visiting China from January 7-12. This is his second foreign visit after assuming office following the visit to Turkey. In December last year, the Maldives said it would not renew the Hydrographic Survey agreement made with India, a Maldives-based news website, The Press, reported. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The International Economic Association (IEA) conclave of 2023, a mecca for economists from all over the globe who meet once in three years, acknowledged last year as a difficult one, given how many mainstream assessments of a global recession and inflation went wrong. A need was emphasized for new intellectual ideas and methodological applications from beyond traditional economic thought, particularly in the context of scenarios in developing nations. Another intriguing discussion at the IEA summit pivoted around measuring poverty to combat it. Economists argued for revising the global extreme-poverty line for better policy discourse by going beyond monetary markers to integrate these with other focal points of the worlds development agenda (like sustainable development goals). This would help low-income countries get a clearer picture of what they need to do for addressing extreme deprivation so that global standards are met. A re-plugged conversation, citing recommendations offered as part of the Atkinson Commissions report, How to Better Measure and Monitor Global Poverty, shaped this dialogue. The commission was created with the aim of advising the World Bank to move away from using a single monetary measure of poverty as a benchmark to monitor it. Paul Romer, chief economist of the Bank at the time, said that the Bank agreed with the commissions call for the extreme poverty line to be called the International Poverty Line (IPL)" at $2.15 per day (and expressed in local currencies). The commissions report, however, emphasized the need to track non-monetary deprivations in three domains: educational outcomes, access to healthcare, and access to basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity. This is consistent with what our Centre for New Economics Studies did a couple of years ago by creating an Access (In)Equality Index to measure and track relative access to basic entitlements and social or economic goods and opportunities. This Index was developed for India. The Atkinson Commission wants the broad idea applied to a global access measurement exercise. Apart from broadening the conception of poverty to include non-monetary measures of deprivation, the report suggests a societal headcount measure of poverty that combines absolute and relative elements of it, and the publication of a global profile of the poor, among various other recommendations. Luis Felipe at the IEA summit mentioned how the World Banks measurement and poverty monitoring work drew upon some of these recommendations. This is indeed a welcome change. However, as fellow panel member Charles Kenny pointed out, the absence of a single key benchmark for identifying extreme poverty in and across low- or middle-income nations makes policy assessment and evaluation extremely difficult. The World Bank has done less in this regard. Another key issue that got deliberative attention at the summit was the absence of good-quality data from developing nations, which made it hard to assess deprivation levels. Economists across panels regretted how countries are losing interest in sharing good quality data" with the World Bank that can enable the use of various metrics and proxies to arrive at relative poverty numbers within these countries across years. Multi-dimensional poverty measurement processes at the World Bank are also using applications of economic complexity literature to understand complex dimensions of what the poor experience in a given country, with the Bank having expanded its analytical focus to ascertain degrees of vulnerability among the poor. Vulnerability is a vital dimension from a global poverty measurement viewpoint and will help take the study of non-monetary aspects of poverty and equity forward. There is also interesting research emerging now on the social-psychological profile of the poor, contextually driven by the socio-economic conditions in which communities reside across countries. The IEA was created with that very goal, as it is important to understand how even communities with financial means could in some cases find themselves vulnerable on account of access inequality while examining issues of approachability, affordability and appropriateness, given the difference made by uneven access to healthcare, education, employment, social security, legal recourse, technological literacy, etc. Notwithstanding the intellectual progress made in ideas incubated as part of the World Banks knowledge bank role, which has got a renewed impetus over the past couple of decades, what remains an issue with this Bretton Woods institution is an institutional culture of bureaucratic inertia which delays the execution of its focal vision. Without a rounded way to track poverty worldwide, and with the purely monetary approach proving too obtuse to capture actual levels of deprivation, we are left with a big void in the global poverty-policy discourse. Non-monetary dimensions used to monitor absolute or relative poverty will complement interpretative understandings drawn from monetary metrics. These can be globally benchmarked and then contextualized as per the developmental landscapes of low-income-countries. To meet its mandate, the World Bank needs a new movement to ensure thisand thereby help enable its member nations to collect, interpret and publicly share good-quality data. The hottest and most closely watched activist battle isnt happening inside corporate America. Its taking place at Harvard University, where Bill Ackman has applied the same playbook he has used in campaigns against the likes of Herbalife to one of the most elite and storied institutions in higher education. The Ackman formula goes something like this: Publicly make your case against management; invite and welcome controversy to generate more buzz; demand a leadership overhaul that includes both the CEO and the board. That this strategy worked so effectively against Claudine Gay, who stepped down as Harvards president last week, is a telling sign that academia has more parallels with the business world than many would care to admit. And if thats the case, corporate boards nationwide should be on notice that both they and their CEOs face the same risks. Ill just state it plainly and prepare myself for the onslaught of hate mail: At its core, the attack on Claudine Gay is centred on gender and race. Accusations of plagiarism, criticism of her response to the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel and Israels invasion of Gaza, and her subsequent disastrous congressional testimony all played a role in her ouster, of course. But when it comes down to it, what Ackman and his allies are really agitating for is a reversal of the way diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has become a priority at so many American institutions. As evidence, consider the letter that Ackman sent Harvards governing board on 10 December. In it, he contends that the universitys Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging is a major contributing source of discriminatory practices" and is beyond repair and should be shut down." He also calls for the board to launch a detailed investigation into discriminatory hiring practices at the University" that led to the hiring of Gay, who is the first African-American person and second woman to lead the institution. Effectively, Ackman seems to be arguing that DEI shouldnt exist at places like Harvard unless people like him get to define what it means. Since Gays resignation, Ackman has been saying the quiet part out loud. His timeline on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, is replete with reposts of his cronies claiming that DEI has corrupted the academy," that this is the beginning of the end for DEI in Americas institutions," and DEI is just another word for racism. Shame on anyone who uses it." That last one is from Elon Musk. Replace academy with business and you can see where this is going. Ackman might have applied the activist playbook to academia, but he and his supporters now have a blueprint to work towards ending DEI efforts in America Inc. This comes when progress in these areas is already under threat. Chief diversity officers have been targeted in the latest round of corporate layoffs. After finally making progress, the pace of diversifying corporate boards, which have been overwhelming Caucasian and male, is slowing. Big technology companies are cutting their DEI programmes. Looming over it all is the recent Supreme Court decision reversing affirmative action at colleges and universities, which firms are now closely watching out of fear that it could open them up to lawsuits over their own hiring practices. Even companies that remain committed to DEI dont want to talk about it. As Bloomberg News reported, companies have spent less time discussing race or LGBTQ issues on earnings calls and are using language like belonging" rather than the loaded three-letter acronym. Academia should have looked to the business world to better prepare for the scrutiny that was bound to follow the influx of women into top jobs; this summer, for the first time, women ran six of Americas eight Ivy League universities. In the corporate world, female CEOs are more likely to be the target of activist investorsabout a 50% higher likelihood, research shows. Women leaders face greater scrutiny and their competence is questioned more than their male counterparts. All three university presidents who testified before the US Congress last month were women. One of the big critiques of activist investors is that they think in the short term; their goal is to simply make a big return and get out. Corporate boards need to pause for a second and remember why they started taking DEI seriously in the first place. Mark Cuban gave a thoughtful reminder on X last night in response to Musk and his cohort. DEI is about social justice, but its also about attracting and retaining top talent, setting them up to succeed and having a workforce and leadership team that reflects the population their companies serve. These are far from short-term goals. In the long run, theyre investments that will pay off. bloomberg A few days ago, the president of Harvard University resigned in disgrace. There is a perception among cultural observers in America that the episode has eroded Harvards prestige. That cannot be true. Disgrace does not diminish an exclusive club. That is not how prestige works. What ends prestige is, in fact, equality. After Hamas slaughtered over a thousand Israelis in a single day, wounded over 3,400, and raped an unknowable number, there was widespread denouncement across US universities. Not of Hamas, but of Israel. In political turmoil, university students tend to back the poorer player when their own stakes in the region are very low. But their timing was atrocious. Their protests against Israel began just hours after the massacre. There was another factor at play. Humanitarians have invented sustainable ways to disguise hatred. On American campuses, a dislike for Jews, who have an outsized political influence, can masquerade as love for Palestinians. All this was in full flow in the Ivy League, including Harvard University, whose president Claudine Gay failed to stop extreme posturing against Israel. Influential Jews responded by hitting where it hurts mostdonations. They also levelled charges of anti-Semitism" against some varsities. In a Congressional hearing, when Gay was asked whether calls for genocide against Jews on Harvards campus violated its rules on bullying and harassment, she said it depends on the context." As the face of Harvard, her testimony was a disaster. But she somehow kept her job. Oddly, what brought her stint to an end was the less grave charge that many years ago, in her scholarly works, she had lifted whole paragraphs from the works of other people. Not just Gay, Harvard too has emerged poorly from the turmoil. But that does not affect its allure for most of the social and economic elite of America and the rest of the world. The weak moral intellect of an exclusive club is not something that repels most aspiring members of the club. The myth of the Ivy League is that these colleges seek only exceptional students. The world has seen many duds from these universities. Even so, the nature of the world is to give an exclusive club a long rope. Even most people who denounce the Ivy League have some complicated respect for them. There are some whose disdain is honest, who truly do not want to join overrated clubs, but they are very few. In 2019, news broke that some parents had paid millions of dollars in bribes to secure Ivy League admissions for their wards. Even this did not diminish the lure of these big brands. In fact, the scandal put a financial price on the abstract idea of being a legitimate Ivy League student. There was a time when the best colleges in the world attracted the best students. In the West, it was a long time ago, in the golden age of the elites when only they had access to quality in any walk of life. Their haunts do not hold the same promise now. But all prestige needs is social exclusivity in the guise of intellectual exclusivity. People grant this halo to a handful of institutes, despite recurring evidence that a typical individual who passes out of these clubs is ordinary or worse, or successful only by the dint of being born in the right home that equips him with exceptional social contacts. Everything that seems unfair about the luck of the average person who walks into an Ivy League is what makes it alluring. To give an impression of fairness, the Ivy League simulates equality by seeking something that sounds like equality but is not diversity. This is generally an expanded colour palette of cream. With some exceptions, it is the privileged among African-Americans, Hispanics, Indians and Chinese who have the best shot at an Ivy League. Diversity in a system only expands the cultural diversity of its snobs. If disgrace and mediocrity cannot affect the lure of a prestigious club, what ends prestige? Prestige is not eternal. The moment an exclusive club is breached by an alarming number of the poor and lower middle class, the elite stop applying, and then a college is suddenly not prestigious anymore. This is what happened to many elite Indian colleges. They followed a socially just system for admissionsan entrance exam. That is not how Harvard screens. It has opaque processes. But in India, rising economic democracy, especially for necessities like food and schooling, created a surge of poor and lower-middle-class applicants for engineering, medicine and civil services. Upper-class students could not compete anymore. Once, IITs had among the finest quizzers, writers and music bands. Now people have filled those places who did not have the luxury of pursuing things that have no point. So the IITs have lost their allure among upper classes, who find it easier to enter colleges in the West. Why is it that when social equality helps the less fortunate gain access to a prestigious club, it ceases to be prestigious? Because prestige is not about that hollow thing called merit; it is always about the fellowship of an aristocracy. This principle is at play not only in economics. Take, for instance, the scaling of Mount Everest. Its prestige has been diminished by economic democracy that has made the feat possible for numerous ordinary people, including the disabled. So what can ruin Harvard is not some disgrace here and there or the mediocrity of its alumni. Harvard will be ruined when its admission process becomes socially just. The Israeli Defense Forces announced the completion of the "dismantling of the military structure" of Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip. It took the IDF about three months to do this. ADVERTISIMENT This was announced during a press conference by Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari. He also showed a photo of the commander of Hamas's military wing, who denied the information about him that had been reported earlier. The Times of Israel writes about it. Hagari emphasized that it took the Israeli military three months to destroy the Hamas military structure in the northern Gaza Strip. "There are no shortcuts when it comes to fighting terrorism... We have completed the dismantling of the Hamas military structure in the northern part of the Strip, and we will continue to deepen the achievements, strengthen the barrier and the defense on the border," Hagari emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT Militants in the northern Gaza Strip will now be unable to launch new large-scale attacks, an IDF spokesman said. However, he acknowledged that sporadic rocket attacks could continue from the area. "We have struck, and we will continue to strike, and we will continue to deepen the gains in these areas, but it will take time," Hagari emphasized. Currently, the key task facing the Israeli military is to eliminate Hamas in the center and south of the Gaza Strip. "We will do it in a different way, carefully, based on the lessons we have learned from the fighting so far," the IDF spokesman said. According to Hagari, the refugee camps in central Gaza are "dense and full of terrorists," and Khan Younis (a city in the south of the enclave) has an "underground city of extensive tunnels." Therefore, the spokesperson warned, there should be no hope for a quick end to the war. ADVERTISIMENT "It will take time, the fighting will continue through 2024. We are working according to the plan to achieve the goals of the war: to destroy Hamas in the center and south and to continue all efforts, intelligence, operational and military pressure, to return the hostages," Haghari said. He added that in parallel, the IDF is building new defenses along the border with Gaza to allow residents displaced after October 7 to return to their homes. In addition, during the press conference, Hagari showed a photo of the commander of Hamas's military wing, Mohammed Deif. He was found by the army among 70 million digital files seized in the northern Gaza Strip. ADVERTISIMENT The importance of this photo lies in the fact that it refutes the previously widespread belief that Deif has amputated limbs and is almost paralyzed: in the photo, which was taken at an unknown date, the militant holds a plastic cup in one hand and dollars in the other. Earlier, on January 6, the IDF announced the elimination of the commanders of the Hamas battalion that committed the massacre during the October 7 attack. In particular, terrorists from this battalion killed and kidnapped people from Kibbutz Be'eri. It was also reported that the head of an IDF intelligence unit warned four times about a possible Hamas offensive in October 2023. However, two written and two oral warnings by the officer were ignored by representatives of the military and political leadership of the state. Then, three weeks before the attack, Israel was convinced that Hamas was not interested in intensifying the confrontation. ADVERTISIMENT INDIA bloc seat-sharing talks have been running into speculations and debates within the alliance of over 25 parties in opposition to Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance ( NDA) for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Frictions arose between regional rival parties who are allies for the INDIA bloc. The single most significant hurdle in this melee of political parties is the conversation on seat-sharing. On Saturday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge informed that leaders of INDIA parties would take a decision within 10-15 days on allocation of posts in the opposition bloc. The speculations of rift in the INDIA bloc simmers with Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee and Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury engage in political mudslinging. Here are the latest updates on INDIA bloc seat-sharing -Commenting on the seat sharing in the INDIA bloc, SP president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said here that a decision will be made as soon as Surya Uttarayan occurs. -"One thing is clear that not only Uttar Pradesh, but the people of the country also want to remove the BJP," Yadav said. -Surya Uttarayan occurs from Makar Sankranti (January 14). -Meanwhile, Congress President Kharge said the Congress is working on all the 545 Lok Sabha constituencies and has appointed observers for all the seats, but which party will contest which seat and how many will be decided soon after consultations with all constituents of the opposition alliance. -The Trinamool Congress on Saturday said it has an "open heart" for the Congress regarding seat-sharing in West Bengal for the Lok Sabha elections, but it was also prepared to go solo if the talks fail. -TMC was considering leaving four of the state's 42 Lok Sabha seats for the Congress, multiple leaders privy to the discussions confirmed. -Ashok Chaudhary, Janata Dal (United) leader in charge of the Jharkhand unit, said on Saturday that the seat-sharing discussions among the INDIA alliance parties in Jharkhand are ongoing and rejected reports of differences among the parties on this issue. -Meanwhile, hints of friction retained in Bihar's Mahatgathbandhan, where Congress claimed that a less than "respectable" share of Lok Sabha seats in Bihar would affect not just the party, but the entire ruling Mahagathbandhan, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U). -The people of J-K and Ladakh are ready to give all six seats to the INDIA alliance, said senior Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir said -Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday said there has been no seat-sharing talks with the Aam Aadmi Party in Haryana and it will happen only after some criteria are set. Asked whether the Congress was willing to share seats with AAP in the parliamentary elections, Hooda evaded the query by calling it a "hypothetical question". Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! NEW DELHI : New Delhi: Talks between Israel and India on a free trade agreement (FTA) have hit the skids due to the war in Gaza, two people aware of the matter told Mint. The war, sparked by the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, 2023, has consumed much of the focus of India-Israel ties, said one of the people mentioned above, requesting anonymity. It has become a major obstacle to the regular pace of talks (on a free trade agreement) between the negotiating teams," the person added. Normalcy in the FTA negotiations between Israel and India is expected only after de-escalation of the war, said the second person, who too spoke under the condition of anonymity. Spokespersons of external affairs and commerce ministries and the Embassy of Israel didnt respond to emailed queries. India is Israels 10th largest trade partner, and third largest in Asia after China and Hong Kong. Bilateral trade was estimated at about $12 billion in FY23. One immediate fallout of the war has been the trade in diamonds, which makes up over half of the bilateral trade in value terms. Indias Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has voiced concerns about the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict. India buys rough diamonds from Israel, which it then sells back in a polished form. To be sure, Indian exports of diamonds were already declining in FY24 due to a slowdown in the US market and supply constraints when the war broke. However, former GJEPC chairman and Kama Jewelry MD Colin Shah said diamond exports from India havent really been impacted much, as customers are now buying diamonds from Dubai or Antwrep, where more Indian diamond shipments are landing up. He added that with diamonds attracting zero duty in Israel, the FTA with Israel will benefit trade in other commodities more than diamonds. Talks between Israel and India on an FTA have moved slowly since starting back in 2010. Key issues included an Indian demand for allowing the movement of Indian IT professionals to Israel. Further, the Indian side has voiced concerns that Israel was likely to gain far more from an FTA, given the mismatch in the size of the two economies. But in May 2023 Israels foreign minister Eli Cohen pushed the FTA saying a trade deal was essential to strengthen economic relations. The scope for trade opportunities between our countries is huge and there is a strong desire to finalise an FTA that hopefully will further strengthen our economic ties," Cohen said. Key Indian exports to Israel include cut and unpolished diamonds, electronics and telecom components, and diesel. Major imports from Israel include pearls and precious stones, chemical and mineral/fertilizer products, machinery and electrical equipment, petroleum oils, defence, machinery and transport equipment. According to data from the commerce ministry, Indian export to Israel during the April-November 2023 period stood at $3.51 billion, compared to $4.54 billion during the same period of the previous year. Israels military campaign in Gaza has created other challenges for India. Diplomatically, India has had to balance its relationship between Israel and its partners in the Arab world. The crisis can have an impact on ambitious connectivity initiatives like the India Middle East Economic Corridor, which will connect India to the Middle East and beyond to Europe. Meanwhile, attacks on global shipping by Yemens Houthi militants, due to Israels military actions, have also jeopardized vital Red Sea trade routes. Israel and Egypt are negotiating the future of a corridor between Egypt and Gaza that Israel says has been used by Hamas to smuggle weapons and people through underground tunnels and is key to destroying the militant group. Israel has requested that sensors be installed along the Philadelphi Corridorthe sliver of land controlled by Egypt that borders Gazaaccording to senior Egyptian officials, to alert Israel in case Hamas attempts to rebuild a tunnel and smuggling network after the war. Israel, which used to control the corridor, also requested direct notifications if the sensors are triggered and the right to send surveillance drones into the area in case of such a trigger, the officials said. In response, Egypt said that it would consider adding the sensors but that a direct notification or approval of drones would be a violation of Egyptian sovereignty, the officials said. The negotiations, which have taken shape over the past two weeks, are currently stuck on this issue, said the officials. The Israeli government didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the corridor must be in our hands," in a Dec. 30 news conference, stressing that control of the border between Gaza and Egypt is key to ensuring the demilitarization of Gaza. It must be closed," he said. Its clear that any other arrangement wont guarantee the disarmament that we want." The corridor is a roughly 9-mile-long buffer running the length of the Gaza frontier with Egypt. The security buffer was initially established by the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel and was controlled by Israel to prevent the movement of weapons and goods between Egypt and Gaza. But Israel relinquished that control to Egypt and Palestinian authorities after Israel unilaterally pulled out from Gaza in 2005. Since Hamas took over the enclave in 2007, Israel alleges the corridor has become the militant groups main avenue for smuggling weapons and illicit goods into the Strip. Its clear that the Egyptians failed to stop the flow of munitions and weapons into Gaza in the past 18 years, they cant deny it," said Giora Eiland, a retired Israeli general. The negotiations with Egypt come as Israel focuses its war against Hamas on the southern part of the enclave. The Israeli military said on Saturday that it has managed to destroy Hamass military structure in northern Gaza, although it still doesnt have full military control over the area. Israel has killed key leadership and severed command lines, rendering the 12 Hamas battalions in northern Gaza unable to fight in an organized manner, said Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli militarys chief spokesperson. Israel has also destroyed several miles of subterranean tunnel and military infrastructure in northern Gaza, he said. Hamas didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel has been under pressure from the U.S. and other allies to transition to lower-intensity fighting, which analysts say may happen in phases across the Strip, likely starting with northern Gaza, where Israel has made the most progress and is already withdrawing forces. High-intensity battles are expected, however, to continue in central and southern Gaza, which represent newer and more complicated fronts, the Israeli military said, as the area is full of civilians who have fled from the north to the south. Some 1.9 million Gazans have been displaced since the war began, according to the United Nations. More than 22,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed since Israel launched a war in Gaza aimed at toppling Hamas from power, according to Palestinian health officials. The number doesnt distinguish between combatants and civilians. Write to Summer Said at summer.said@wsj.com Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was asked to send a message to India. ''You are most welcome," she said with a smile. Bangladesh Elections 2024 Live Updates We are very lucky. India is our trusted friend. During our liberation war, they supported us. After 1975, when we lost our whole family, they gave me shelter. So, we have our best wishes to the people of India," she told ANI. PM Hasinas message comes as the country has started polling for the 12th general elections on January 7. While there are boycott calls by the main Opposition party, BNP, PM Hasina is expected to secure another term. Bangladesh witnessed several cases of pre-poll violence while more than 119.6 million registered voters are set to cast their votes at more than 42,000 polling stations. The election results will be out on January 8. Polling starts Voting started on January 7 in an election marked by violence and a boycott by the main opposition party. This situation is likely to help Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League win a fourth term in a row, AP reported. Since January 5, there have been 18 cases of arson across the country. Also, 10 of these attacks were on polling stations. A passenger train going to Dhaka was set on fire, killing four people. These events have increased stress before the general elections. Election activities in in the country have been violent. It has led to the death of at least 15 people in recent months. Tensions escalated in late October during a large rally in Dhaka by the BNP, resulting in conflicts with the police. (With agency inputs) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The last time Chinese troops were caught in a major firefight, they learned a painful lesson. A PLA unit was in South Sudan in 2016 on UN peacekeeping duty, tasked with protecting two camps of civilians. When rebels and government forces clashed, the camps came under fire. As the Chinese troops took refuge, a rocket-propelled grenade hit one of their vehicles, killing two of them. Back home, Chinas government portrayed the tragedy as evidence that the country was emerging as a great world power, ready to shoulder weighty responsibilities. But to the PLAs commanders, the episode was a debacle that exposed one of their greatest vulnerabilities: an almost complete lack of combat experience. China has not fought a war since the one with Vietnam in 1979 that lasted a month (though minor skirmishes continued for another decade). Back then the PLA was still using human wave" mass-infantry assaults of the sort that Mao Zedong had adopted during the Korean war. They proved ineffective against Soviet-armed Vietnamese forces hardened by fighting with America. The PLA has suffered casualties since, but they have mostly been from illness, accident or suicide. A recent exception was the border clash with India in 2020 that killed at least four Chinese soldiers and 20 Indian ones. That was nothing like modern warfare, though. It was fought with fists, clubs and rocks. Even among the PLAs top generals, only a handful can actually claim to have seen action. Ive been a soldier for more than 50 years and Ive never been to war," Lieutenant-General He Lei, who once led a PLA regional command and was deputy head of the Academy of Military Science, tells The Economist. But we cant go to war to increase our combat experience, right?" Since taking power, Xi Jinping has tried to address this problem with the boldest overhaul of the PLA in more than 60 years. In addition to toppling dozens of generals in a corruption probe, he has revamped training to focus on real combat" and set the PLA new goals, including to be basically" modernised by 2035 and a world class" fighting force by 2049, the centenary of Communist rule. Mr Xi, whose father was a renowned military commander, has been unsparing in his assessment of the PLAs weak points, spelling them out in two oft-repeated slogans. One, known as the Two Inabilities", states that the PLAs ability to fight a modern war and its officers ability to command are both lacking. Another, the Five Incapables", says that some commanders cannot judge situations, understand superiors intent, make operational calls, deploy troops or deal with the unexpected. He has accused the PLA of ailing from peace disease". In 2018 the PLA Daily, the official military newspaper, warned that this was more dangerous than rusting guns"; it accused some officers and soldiers of being too negligent, proud, scared or incompetent to fight. Some are quite accomplished in antiques, calligraphy and painting, but neglect the study of combat methods and tactics." Central to Mr Xis plan has been a complete redo of PLA structures, which had been designed primarily for land wars, following the old Soviet model. The new structures, unveiled in 2016, are meant to break down silos and to enable the PLA to conduct joint" operations, combining all services, as Americas armed forces do. Those reforms were supposed to be finished by 2020. But that deadline was optimistic. America undertook similar reforms with the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 to address an inter-services rivalry and insufficient civilian control exposed by the Vietnam war and the invasion of Grenada. That transition took longer than five years. And the PLA began from a far lower base. Its services and regional commands had been run like fiefdoms for years, a problem compounded by the lack of combat experience. Whats more, Mr Xis restructuring borrowed from similar reforms to the Russian armed forces. PLA commanders must now reckon with the poor performance of Russias troops in Ukraine, as well as the surprising effectiveness of portable weapons systems, drones and other equipment used by Ukrainian forces. One of the PLAs concerns is the fate of Russias battalion tactical groups, or BTGs. They typically include 800 or so men, equipped with armour, artillery and air defences, and are designed to deploy at short notice, to move fast and to inflict casualties rather than hold territory. Formed ad hoc during Russias wars in Chechnya in the 1990s and in Georgia in 2008, they were formalised from 2013 as part of Russias New Look" military reforms. Battalion tactical goof When Mr Xis overhaul began, China saw the BTG as a model to emulate. It was a self-sufficient unit that can perform tasks at any time", wrote Li Shuyin of the Academy of Military Science in 2017. That year the PLA dissolved many bigger units and introduced a new structure that featured hundreds of combined arms battalions, closely resembling BTGs, as its basic combat units. By early 2023, however, the PLA had changed its tune. Deficiencies of Russias battalion tactical groups have been exposed one after another, such as poor self-sufficiency in combat and inadequate logistical support," the PLA Daily said in January. That is a particular worry for the PLAs amphibious battalions, which would spearhead an attack on Taiwan. They may be better equipped than Russias BTGs. (Theyve copied elements of American combat units too.) But the logistics of an amphibious assault will be more complex. And Chinese commanders have scant experience co-ordinating among servicesand only in peacetime. During wartime you find out that your peacetime officers are not necessarily good combat leaders", says Dennis Wilder, a former CIA expert on Chinas armed forces. He notes that Chinese officers, unlike American counterparts, do not do routine joint-duty assignments outside their original services, so have limited understanding of how other parts of the PLA work. America also makes more effective use than does China of non-commissioned officers (NCOs). The PLA has plenty of NCOsthey outnumber the enlisted men and women below thembut they are not as well-trained as in America and are not empowered to make decisions during engagements. And Chinese combat units still rely heavily on enlisted troops who serve only two years. Then there are the technological takeaways from Ukraine. One is an urgent need to figure out how to protect Chinese forces from the portable weapons systems such as Stinger and Javelin missiles that have wrought havoc on Russian tanks, armoured vehicles and even warships, wrote Huang Bin, a former Chinese defence-industry official, in October 2022. Taiwan has both types of missile and is getting more, along with HIMARS rocket launchers. Another challenge is Starlink, the satellite network developed by Elon Musks SpaceX. It has been used by Ukraine to maintain contact with its own forces and to target Russian ones. Although it is unclear whether Mr Musk would allow Taiwan to use it in a war (his electric-vehicle business, Tesla, has its biggest factory in Shanghai), Chinese experts say the PLA must develop countermeasuresand accelerate the production of its own equivalent. Analysts in the PLA have also argued that China needs to learn from the public release of intelligence by Western governments and the proliferation of open-source intelligence. These have helped Ukrainian forces in combat and driven support for them abroad. This highlights our shortcomings" in international cognitive warfare, wrote two PLA researchers in January. Other PLA-linked scholars cite Americas recent efforts to bolster alliances in Europe and Asia as a challenge for China, which has no explicit military allies and, despite defence ties with Pakistan, Russia and North Korea, cannot count on anyone else in a war over Taiwan. Compounding these problems is a lack of effective combat training. Exercises often used to be designed to impress superiors and achieve predetermined outcomes. Since Mr Xi demanded focus on real combat", exercises have become more realistic, pitting PLA troops against others simulating American or NATO tactics. But a tendency to box-tick and avoid criticism endured after Mr Xi launched his military reforms, according to PLA publications. And doubts persist among Western analysts about how realistic the exercises are, especially in replicating electromagnetic interference by enemy forces. Tellingly, Mr Xi and senior PLA commanders continue to call regularly for more realistic training for joint operations and real combat. Inexperience does not necessarily mean the PLA could not fight well. American, Japanese and Taiwanese analysts believe it has some highly proficient troops. And it has shown progress in drills around Taiwan, practising joint-combat operations, simulating a partial blockade and sending ships and planes across the median line of the Taiwan Strait almost daily. Still, some elements of those drillssuch as deploying an aircraft-carrier east of Taiwan where it could be easily hit by American forcesseem designed for their political and psychological impact, not for military effectiveness. Incorporating the lessons of Ukraine into PLA doctrine will take time, not least because those lessons are still evolving. Adapting equipment and rotating troops through new exercises will take even longer. But the biggest challenge for the PLA may be the one that it began grappling with in 2016the transition to a truly joint force in which all services operate seamlessly together. Correction (8th November): Some photographs that were originally published online with this special report showed members of the Peoples Armed Police, not the Peoples Liberation Army. We regret the error. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Cybercriminals have found a way to gain access to people's Google accounts without needing their password, and the new exploit gives hackers continued access to Google services even after a user's password has been reset. Also Read | After Canada and Palestine, Indian hackers launch cyber attacks on Qatar to avenge death penalty of former Navy officers The new vulnerability was analysed by security firm CloudSEK and reported by The Independent. Furthermore, the issue first came to the fore when a hacker posted about it on a Telegram channel in October 2023. The Independent report noted how Google accounts could be compromised due to a vulnerability in third-party cookies, which are used by websites and browsers to track users and increase their efficiency. In addition, Google's authentication cookies help users save their login details and log in without having to re-enter them. However, hackers have now found a way to bypass two-factor authentication and retrieve these cookies. The blogpost by CloudSEK noted, This exploit enables continuous access to Google services, even after a users password is resetIt highlights the necessity for continuous monitoring of both technical vulnerabilities and human intelligence sources to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats." Also Read | '9 + 10 = 21': Hackers expose big flaws and biases in top AI systems by Google, OpenAI. Details here Meanwhile, The Independent report noted that Google Chrome is currently in the process of upgrading its defences and securing users from falling victim to malware. A Google statement quoted by The Independent read, We routinely upgrade our defences against such techniques and to secure users who fall victim to malware. In this instance, Google has taken action to secure any compromised accounts detected," Google said in a statement. Users should continually take steps to remove any malware from their computer, and we recommend turning on Enhanced Safe Browsing in Chrome to protect against phishing and malware downloads." the company further noted Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The information contained on this website shall not be construed as (i) an offer to purchase or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell, any securities or services, (ii) investment, legal, business or tax advice or an offer to provide such advice, or (iii) a basis for making any investment decision. 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Please consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. By accessing this website, you agree to the terms of this disclaimer. Thank you for your interest in Knightsbridge. The narrative surrounding the events of January 6 has evolved into a contentious political discourse rather than a clear-cut insurrection, especially when juxtaposed with the Democratic Partys tacit endorsement of protests led by BLM and Antifa. As the political chasm deepens between Democrats and Republicans, the interpretation of the events of January 6 diverges significantly. Democrats adamantly label the events as an unprecedented assault on American democracy, asserting that supporters of then-President Donald Trump, potentially at his instigation, orchestrated an insurrection aimed at destabilizing the electoral process. However, the video below paints a clear call for violence from the Democrats: Conversely, Republicans argue that January 6 merely escalated from a peaceful protest, suggesting that Democrats are orchestrating a politically motivated vendetta against Trump by branding it an insurrection. A poll conducted by the Washington Post-University of Maryland reveals a stark partisan divide: a majority of Democrats and independents view the Capitol breach as a grave threat to democracy. In contrast, over 70% of Republicans believe the narrative is being overly sensationalized and advocate for moving forward. Washington, D.C. resident Corey Greenburg, 52, perceives the events as a dire threat to democracy, while Pennsylvania retiree Shauna Eland, 71, considers it a mere protest. Clay Ramsay, a researcher at the University of Marylands Center for International and Security Studies, notes that January 6 has further polarized American politics, challenging the resilience of the nations democratic institutions. The reverberations of January 6 continue to echo, influencing preparations for the 2024 presidential election. A landmark ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court disqualifying Trump from the ballot on the grounds of the seldom-invoked insurrection clause has escalated the controversy. Trumps subsequent appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court sets the stage for a historic legal battle. Political analysts like Christopher Galdieri from Saint Anselm College anticipate January 6 to remain a pivotal issue, especially if Trump secures the Republican nomination. However, Galdieri observes that Democrats may capitalize on this issue, as demonstrated in the 2022 elections in several swing states. Former Iowa House of Representatives member Greg Cusack echoes concerns about escalating political turbulence and potential violence, noting recent threats to statehouses. The ongoing repercussions of January 6 underscore the urgent need for bipartisan dialogue and national unity to navigate these turbulent times. Ukrainians around the world are holding rallies demanding increased military aid to Ukraine. On Saturday, January 6, rallies were held in Spain, Germany and Canada. ADVERTISIMENT OBOZ.UA reports from the scene in Toronto, as well as Ukrinform and Radio Liberty. Thus, hundreds of people gathered in Toronto for the rally. They spoke about the horrors that Ukrainians are experiencing, particularly in the occupied territories, about the shelling of civilian objects and civilian homes, as well as about the victims. The action also focused on Russia's war crimes. ADVERTISIMENT In Barcelona, the rally was held in St. James's Square. Ukrainians, together with Italians, demanded increased military assistance to Ukraine. The protesters showed photos of the consequences of Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. They also chanted slogans, "One, united Ukraine", "Today Ukraine, tomorrow Europe", "Russia is the aggressor", and "Protect democracy: provide weapons to Ukraine". ADVERTISIMENT In addition, about three thousand people gathered in Berlin in front of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's office . They tried to draw the attention of the German government to the Russian shelling. ADVERTISIMENT Ukrainians, Germans, and other citizens demanded that Ukraine be provided with weapons, including Taurus missiles, air defense systems, and drones. In addition, the protesters pointed out that Ukraine's defenders had repelled the largest combined air attack with dozens of missiles and drones. The memory of those killed in these attacks was honored with a minute of silence, kneeling. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the key plans for the next week will be to provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with weapons and equipment. He emphasized that every manifestation of Russian terror will be met with an adequate response. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close There was widespread sadness on the occasion of the death of Patricia OCallaghan, Killadoon recently. Formerly Tierney from Drumgore, Patricia was just 69 when she succumbed to an illness which she bore with great faith and dignity, her true spirit prevailing at all times. Patricia was a charismatic person, always a helping hand in time of need and a shoulder in time of trouble. She had a beautiful singing voice and her presence would light up a room which was often the case for her elderly mother Bridget who is now 108. Patricia was devoted to her beloved husband Colm as she was also to her family and many friends, where her passing has left a great void. She was a member of the local community choir and it was touching to hear their rendering of one of her favourites at her funeral mass. She was predeceased by her father Packie and her brother Vinny just a few years ago and is survived by her husband Colm, brothers John and Tom, sisters Mary, Margaret, Betty, Pauline and Kitty and a wide extended family circle to whom we extend our sincere sympathy. May her gentle soul rest in peace. Independent TD Michael Lowry has said a long-running dispute over the award of his legal costs related to the Moriarty Tribunal has been resolved. In 2018, Mr Lowry successfully appealed against the tribunals original decision to not award him two thirds of the 2.87 million euro costs of his legal representation. The tribunal was established in 1997 to examine issues related to the financial affairs of Mr Lowry and former taoiseach Charles Haughey. It founded its original decision to only award Mr Lowry one third of his costs on what it ruled as his failure to fully co-operate with the work of the tribunal. The Court of Appeal found a lack of transparency in that decision and referred the issue of costs back to the tribunal for reconsideration. In a statement on Saturday, the independent TD for Tipperary said the matter had now been resolved. He criticised the delay in settling the issue, but said he was pleased with the final resolution. I am pleased to state that the long-running issue in relation to the payment of costs amounting to 2,869,338.09 euros arising from representation on my behalf before the Moriarty Tribunal, has finally been resolved, he said. This tribunal was established in September 1997 26 years ago. This has happened after I successfully appealed to the Court of Appeal and overturned the original decision of the Tribunal in respect of costs in March 2018. Mr Lowry said he would not be making any further comment on the subject. The Department of Integration has said it will continue to engage on the potential of using a hotel in Co Mayo to house asylum seekers a proposal that prompted a protest outside the premises. The demonstration outside the former JJ Gannons Hotel on Main Street in the town of Ballinrobe began on Friday evening after it emerged that there were plans to accommodate 50 international protection applicants in the building from this coming Monday. The plan involved using 12 rooms to accommodate 50 adult male asylum seekers. The lease was to be for a period of one year. Local Fine Gael councillor Michael Burke claimed on Saturday that the lease for the proposal had been withdrawn following the protest. I am delighted with this announcement and its a good result for all the people that turned out last night and has been in contact with me over the past 24 hours, he posted on social media. Thank you everyone for the support. Later on Saturday, the Department of Integration said in a statement that engagement on the issue continued. The Department is continuing to engage with the provider in relation to the premises in Ballinrobe, and is not in a position to comment further, the department said. Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are intended to further strengthen their ties in different areas. Director of the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre in Uzbekistan Samir Abbasov and the Executive Director of the Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Friendship Society Erkin Nuridinov discussed the issues of expanding bilateral cooperation, Azernews reports. The sides also mentioned the visit of the delegation of the Friendship Society to Azerbaijan this year and the interaction between universities in the two countries. Samir Abbasov and Erkin Nuridinov discussed the implementation of joint projects with the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University and Ganja State University. During the meeting, it was noted that from this year on, the students of the Tashkent State Pedagogical University can study Azerbaijani language and literature. The sides discussed the holding of the mutual lectures and organisational issues related to the Days of Azerbaijani Culture to be held at the state level this year in Uzbekistan. In addition, an exchange of ideas was held to promote the heritage of Nizami Ganjavi, Muhammad Fizuli, and Maksud Sheikhzade, as well as the implementation of projects for translating and publishing their works. Note that the Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan Friendship Society operates under the Committee of Interethnic Relations and Friendly Relations with Foreign Countries under the Uzbekistan Culture Ministry and on the basis of the Tashkent State Pedagogical University named after Nizami Ganjavi. SPRINGFIELD Things started to go bad when Sterling Lester Chest Jr. yelled something about the Bible and ran through traffic. A woman he knew called Springfield police for help, concerned about his mental state. Today, Chests sister believes that police response, on March 30, 2020, led to her brothers death. Its one of many cases across the country where a Black mans mental distress led to a claim of excessive police force. Cambridge police have identified the man killed in a three-alarm fire at an apartment complex last week as 52-year-old Brian Brandt. The fire broke out at 15 Chester St. around 4:40 a.m. on Jan. 2, and residents heard a loud explosion around that time, police said. Firefighters were able to control the fire to the second-floor apartment, and when they went inside, they found Brandt dead inside his apartment. Firefighters rescued one person from the 30-unit building, and many others escaped safely on their own, police said. One firefighter was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. About 15 people were displaced by the fire, and they are receiving aid from the American Red Cross. Airports serving Massachusetts are announcing flight cancellations amid a heavy noreaster affecting much of the Northeast. There are nearly 150 flights that were canceled at Logan International Airport in Boston, according to flightaware.com. At Bradley International Airport, about 20% of flights have already been canceled, with 3% delayed, the Connecticut Airport Authority reported. The primary impact is on morning departures, wrote Connecticut Airport Authority Public Information Officer Brian Spyros about the Bradley cancellations. As our airline partners continue to adjust their schedules in response to the storm, passengers who are traveling today and tomorrow are advised to check with their airline to confirm the status of their flight before heading to the airport. Bradley International Airport has 29 total cancellations as of 8 a.m. on Sunday, the vast majority of them out of the JetBlue airline, according to flightaware.com. Seventeen of the airlines 20 flights have been canceled at Bradley. Half of the airports 8 flights run by United have also been cancelled, flightaware.com reported. A JetBlue airplane can be seen at a terminal at Boston Logan International Airport shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, as seen from a Hilton Boston Logan Airport hotel room. While other parts of Massachusetts woke up to a winter wonderland after snow blanketed much of the state, Boston mostly saw flurries and wet pavement.Contributed photo At Logan, nearly all of the airports flights run by airline Cape Air were canceled 62 flights or 93% of the airlines flights in and out of Logan today, according to Flight Aware. JetBlue, United and Southwest canceled 44, 16 and 7 flights respectively. There were also 31 delays at Logan and eight delays at Bradley. Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport saw 13 cancellations and four delays, according to Flight Aware. Worcester Regional Airport and Manchester Boston Regional Airport saw six and nine cancellations, respectively. One of the teen boys killed in an early morning car crash in Bostons Dorchester neighborhood on Thursday was a 15-year-old from Mattapan, according to Massachusetts State Police. Another of the four teen boys involved in the rollover crash on Morrissey Boulevard was still in critical condition as of Friday morning, state police said in a press release. Police have identified him as a 17-year-old from Roslindale. State police previously identified the other teen boy who died in the crash as a 14-year-old from Dorchester. They also identified the fourth teen involved in the crash as a 15-year-old from Dorchester, and said he is expected to survive. The teen boys were in a Hyundai Accent when it crashed near UMass Boston at 3:17 a.m. on Jan. 4. State police said previously that their investigation into the crash indicated the teens were driving fast when the car crashed. The investigation also revealed that the car had been reported stolen out of Jamaica Plain, state police said previously. Investigators found a gun in the car. One of the teen boys was declared dead at the scene, and the other three were rushed to a hospital where a second teen was pronounced dead. State police said they do not release the names of deceased victims under the age of 18. State police said Friday that they are still investigating the crash. They are still looking into what happened prior to the crash and who was driving. A weekend snowstorm has dropped a foot of snow on certain parts of Massachusetts, but an upcoming storm set to hit the state midweek may be more impactful, according to a Massachusetts-based National Weather Service meteorologist. The brewing storm is set to affect a large swath of the country, with snow more likely in the upper Midwest rather than in southern New England. However, the wind and rain from the storm in Massachusetts will likely be severe, leading to massive power outages, damaged roads and coastal flooding on Tuesday into Wednesday, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Dellicarpini. There potential for flooding of rivers and streams and in peoples basements, Dellicarpini said Sunday. There will be strong winds with gusts of over 60 miles per hour. Dellicarpini compared the storm to a similar one in late December of 2023, which brought record-breaking wind gusts to the state, halted flights at regional airports and left nearly 300,000 without electricity in the state, some of them for a few days. Its a different storm than the one were having, and will have much more of an impact on our area, Dellicarpini said. Dellicarpini listed hazards including widespread power outages, flooded roadways, coastal flooding with areas becoming impassable around high tide, and potential for downed trees and wires from high winds. The snow that falls during the weekend storm will likely melt during the course of the week, with temperatures rising to the 40s and 50s during the midweek storm. Snow melt, will likely compound flooding, Dellicarpini said. Meanwhile, the snow Sunday is set to continue into the afternoon. The western part of the state should see the end of snowfall by early afternoon, whereas Eastern Massachusetts will likely see snow continue through 5 or 6 p.m., Dellicarpini said. Precipitation potential drops quickly following 3 p.m. in Western Massachusetts, and drops to below 50% in Boston and surrounding areas by 6 p.m., according to National Weather Service forecasts. Nonetheless, a winter storm warning is in effect through Monday at 1 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. Dellicarpini said road workers should have ample time before Mondays commute to treat the roads, but urged drivers to allow for extra time. Snow began to fall in Massachusetts late Saturday night and it is still going as of Sunday morning, and expected to continue especially in the eastern portion of the state. As of 9 a.m., snowfall is primarily focused north of the Massachusetts Turnpike, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Dellicarpini of the agencys Norton office. Eastern Massachusetts, which has largely been spared accumulating snowfall as of Sunday morning, should expect to see a few inches as temperatures drop into the 20s later in the day, Dellicarpini said. The western part of the state should see the end of snowfall by early afternoon, whereas Eastern Massachusetts will likely see snow continue through 5 or 6 p.m., Dellicarpini said. Precipitation potential drops quickly following 3 p.m. in Western Massachusetts, and drops to below 50% in Boston and surrounding areas by 6 p.m., according to National Weather Service forecasts. Nonetheless, a winter storm warning is in effect through Monday at 1 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. Dellicarpini said road workers should have ample time before Mondays commute to treat the roads, but urged drivers to allow for extra time. Comedian Tommy Tiernan returned to TV screens on Saturday evening as the eighth series of his popular chat show premiered on RTE One. The guests on the first episode included comedian and writer Dylan Moran, author and entrepreneur Sarah De Lagarde and Sean Ronayne, creator of Irish Wildlife Sounds. In keeping with the theme of the show, the host has no idea as to who the guests are until they are are introduced by MC Fred Cooke. First up was Meath comedian Dylan Moran whose appearance left some viewers feeling uncomfortable. "I'm worried about you!" stated Tommy after he greeted and embraced Dylan who has just completed a major world tour. "It's mad, it's not healthy," said the guest. "I could have done with more down time - sometimes you take on too much and I misjudged it," he added. I dont want to torture people and have a bad time. Dylan Moran explains to @Tommedian how he has added improvised musical performances into his gigs with mixed results #TommyTiernanShow pic.twitter.com/51zfIehlOt RTE One (@RTEOne) January 6, 2024 Something deeply personal going on between @Tommedian and @thedylanmoran here. Uncomfortable but interesting #TommyTiernanShow Eavan Murray (@EavanMurray) January 6, 2024 Dylan Moran on Tommy Tiernan. Electric telly Peter McGann (@peterjmcgann) January 6, 2024 That Dylan Moran interview was one of the best I interviews I have ever seen. Great to go back to no audience. #TommyTiernanShow TravelTaleswithFergal (@FergalTravel) January 6, 2024 Oh Dylan Moran is hurting my heart right now. I really hope hes ok. Hes a very lovely and talented man. #TommyTiernanShow Audrey FitzHagan (@AudgeFitzHagan) January 6, 2024 The "third half" of the show featured an interview with ornithologist Sean Ronayne who explained he is currently "on a mission" to sound record every bird in Ireland. "It's absolutely unbelievable the details you can get from birdsong," he added telling Tommy his obsession goes back to when he was a young child in Cork. It was such a hugh surprise & honor to be asked on the Tommy Tiernan Show. I'm so overwhelmed at the response I've gotten from everyone (will reply tomorrow). Emotional. Thank you so much. It genuinely means a lot to me (and our birds!). #tommytiernanshow@RTEOne @Tommedian pic.twitter.com/2F8Y4iwjb8 Irish Wildlife Sounds (@SoundsIrish) January 6, 2024 10:30pm on a Saturday night and theres hundreds of thousands of us listening to a recording of a family of Icelandic swans landing in Wexford on a rainy day. And its actually riveting #tommytiernan Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) January 6, 2024 This bird is singing its life story, where its been, stamps on a passport Sean Roynane share his passion for birdsong with @Tommedian #TommyTiernanShow pic.twitter.com/iJSPpFsPv6 RTE One (@RTEOne) January 6, 2024 Watch the Tommy Tiernan Show at 9.30pm on Saturdays on RTE One and on the RTE Player. 2024 is going to be a very significant year for Achill Experience Aquarium and Visitors Centre. The Aquarium and Visitor Centre will be transformed as they start the next stage of their story through a significant expansion of the aquarium. This is incredibly exciting for them and will mean: the size of the aquarium will increase by roughly 50 percent as they move from having 16 to 23 tanks; the capacity each day for visitors will double; new jobs will be created for 2-4 local people. As a community-based organisation they rely heavily on donations both through grant-funding as well as individual and commercial donations. Comhlacht Forbartha Aitiuil Acla (CFAA) was approved as a Social Enterprise in 2017 which has helped the development of the Achill Experience. Terence Dever from CFAA stated: Throughout our history we have received enormous support from the people of Achill, the local, regional and national business community, political representatives national and local, regional and national agencies as well as our ever-generous and proud diaspora. Since the Achill Experience opened in 2016 there has been a steady increase in visitor numbers to the facility. We welcomed 30,000 visitors in the past year. Visitor testimonials and feedback on various platforms, prove how enjoyable a visit to the Achill Experience Aquarium and Visitor Centre is. Failte Ireland has estimated that the Achill Experience has contributed 9 million to Achill's Economy since it opened 7 years ago. As part of our community engagements, we have supported numerous charities local and national. Our gift shop stocks a wide range of handmade local produce, supporting businesses from all around the county. If you would like to be part of our journey and make a donation towards this worthwhile project, not only for the parish but for Co Mayo, please do not hesitate to contact us on 098 43292 or by emailing: enjoy@achillexperience.ie or by donating at this link: https://achillexperienceshop.square.site/shop/donation/29 MORE To learn more check out website: www.achillexperience.ie and social media platforms. The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, has moved to strongly condemn recent criminal acts of arson at properties which had been earmarked to house asylum seekers. In a strongly-worded statement, issued this Saturday she said people need to understand these are very serious crimes which carry heavy prison sentences and those who have carried them out will be brought to justice. "I have been in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner and I have reassured him that any resources required will be made available to him. Meanwhile An Garda Siochana is doing everything possible to investigate recent acts of arson. I understand they are making good progress in their investigations and I encourage anyone with any information in relation to any of the incidents to contact them." There have been a number of recent arson attacks at locations across the country in recent weeks - sparking concern among gardai and the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) which is responsible for the provision of accommodation and related services to people in the International Protection process. In her statement, Ms McEntee appealed to anyone with information either on past incidents or about possible upcoming threats to contact their local gardai. "It is clear that a group of people in society are intent on sowing division and fear through intimidation. I repeat that there can never be justification for such acts, regardless of circumstances or alleged motivation. An Garda Siochana and IPAS continue to work closely together to ensure effective policing plans are in place wherever there is an identified operational need. Where accommodation centres are being established, IPAS notifies and engages with local communities through their Community Engagement Team in advance," she said. Gardai, she added, are continually monitoring emerging threats, including monitoring social media activity, and stepping up policing responses as necessary. "Both my Department and I are fully committed to the fight against racism and bigotry and strongly condemn the actions of those who abuse and attack others because of their own prejudices. Ireland is a diverse and tolerant country, and such behaviour is not acceptable." Earlier this Saturday, gardai investigating an arson attack at the Ross Lake House Hotel in Oughterard, Co. Galway just before Christmas, carried out searches at four properties in the Roscahill area. An incident room, under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer, has been established for what has been described as a "large scale investigation". To date, 229 investigative tasks have been conducted and 145 statements have been taken. Trusted Source JN.1 represents 'very serious evolution' of Covid virus, say global experts Go to source Trusted Source Global experts acknowledge the 'very serious evolution' of the COVID virus with the emergence of JN.1, the latest variant from the Omicron lineage, contributing to a fresh surge worldwide. #covid19, #covid19variant, #omicron, #covidvirus JN.1's Role in the Latest COVID Surge Advertisement Advertisement JN.1 represents 'very serious evolution' of Covid virus, say global experts - (https://ians.in/detail/jn1-represents-very-serious-evolution-of-covid-virus-say-global-experts--20240105190606) WHO COVID-19 dashboard - (https://data.who.int/dashboards/covid19/variants) Amid a global resurgence, JN.1 , the latest COVID-19 variant derived from Omicron, is recognized by global experts as a 'very serious evolution' of the virus ().JN.1, classified as a variant of interest (VOI) by the(). due to its rapid spread, is currently present in about 41 countries.It was first detected in Luxembourg in August. The WHO expects JN.1 to increase the burden of respiratory infections in many countries.The WHO has "just called JN.1 a VOI (variant of interest), and that just doesnt cut it, with the growth advantage this variant has demonstrated. It is just extraordinary", Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, US, was quoted as saying to Fortune.with the earliest sample collected on August 25, 2023.In comparison with BA.2.86, JN.1 has the additional L455S mutation in the spike protein, making it more transmissible."JN.1 represents a very serious evolution of the virus'. And it isn't over," Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), was quoted as saying."JN.1 is an all-new variant with numerous changes that had never been seen in any commonly circulating lineage before. This is unlike other recent variants, which were merely a few mutations from their predecessor," Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the National Indian Medical Association COVID Task Force, told IANS."Therefore, the disease patterns from an immune evasiveness and spread capability of this variant needs careful attention," Dr Jayadevan added.He explainedAfter the major variants of COVID like Alpha, Delta, and Omicron, JN.1 very likely represents a new chapter in pandemic evolution, claimed the experts.According to Ryan Gregory, a biology professor at the University of Guelph in Canada, JN.1 has ushered in "a new era".The highly transmissible variant is "on track to become the lineage from which most variants are descended for the foreseeable future", Gregory was quoted as saying to Fortune.Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's COVID-19 technical lead said that the next sub-lineages of the COVID virus can "come from JN.1"."But we could also see something quite different. We could see something like an Omicron again," she said.Source-IANS Trusted Source US appeals court rules Texas can ban emergency abortions despite federal guidance Go to source Trusted Source In a notable decision, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals supports Texas's prohibition of emergency abortions, challenging the Biden administration's plea for federal guidance supremacy. #abortion, #emergencyabortions, #us, #texas Battle of Jurisdictions A Legal Showdown! Advertisement US appeals court rules Texas can ban emergency abortions despite federal guidance - (https://ians.in/detail/us-appeals-court-rules-texas-can-ban-emergency-abortions-despite-federal-guidance--20240103141242) Advertisement Texas retains the power to ban emergency abortions as affirmed by the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, overriding President Joe Biden's administration's emphasis on prioritizing federal guidance ()."The Texas plaintiffs' argument that medical treatment is historically subject to the police power of the states, not to be superseded unless that was the clear and manifest purpose of Congress, is convincing," Judge Kurt Engelhardt, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, wrote in his opinion.Texas had sued the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over its guidance on thewhich says health providers who perform abortions in emergencies are protected under federal law.A federal judge in Texas blocked the federal agency from enforcing the guidance in Texas in 2022, and the HHS appealed the decision afterward.Last month, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that a pregnant woman, Kate Cox, who was suing the state over its abortion ban, was not permitted to undergo an emergency procedure in the state.Cox, who learned thatTexas has one of the strictest abortion bans in the US.except in rare cases where the life of the expectant mother is under threat. There is no state-wide law prohibiting travel outside of the state for an abortion, but some counties have passed such restrictions in recent months.In October 2023, Lubbock County became the largest county to enact such a measure, making it illegal for anyone to transport a pregnant woman through the county, or pay for her travel, to obtain an abortion. more than 92,000 people traveled across state lines for their care, according to a report from the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization focused on sexual and reproductive health that supports abortion rights Source-IANS Trusted Source Update on SARS-CoV-2 Variant JN.1 Being Tracked by CDC Go to source Trusted Source Mask Mandate Extended in Los Angeles County US hospitals reintroduce mask mandates amid rising COVID and flu cases, prioritizing safety measures. #COVID #flu #JN1 Update on SARS-CoV-2 Variant JN.1 Being Tracked by CDC - (https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/SARS-CoV-2-variant-JN.1.html) Numerous US state hospitals reimpose mask mandates amidst a new wave of COVID-19 cases propelled by the highly contagious JN.1 variant , alongside a resurgence of the flu.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its latest update before Christmas stated that JN.1 has become the dominant variant in the US. () The proportion of JN.1 viruses over the past 2 weeks was up sharply, rising from 15-29 percent to 39-50 percent, the CDC said in an update on December 22. The CDC said it is also seeing an increasing share of infections caused by JN.1 in travelers, wastewater, and most world regions. This prompted local officials in several states including New York, Illinois, California, North Carolina and Massachusetts to ask staff, patients and visitors to mask up.Officials at Los Angeles County and New York City ordered all staff and visitors at healthcare facilities to mask up, according to ABC 7.The mandate applies to anyone entering New York H+H hospitals, community health centers and nursing homes, the NYC public hospital system said in statement As weve seen an increase in Covid, flu and RSV, this is really to protect our patients, staff and the community, said Christopher Miller, spokesman for NYC Health + Hospitals.What we dont want is staffing shortages, right? When we saw the Omicron wave in 2022, the biggest issues were not only people getting sick, but that we had a lot of frontline health workers, they were out with Covid, New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan was quoted as saying to WABC TV. Vasan noted that mask mandates had resumed at all 11 of the citys public hospitals, 30 health centres and five long-term care facilities.Rush University medical system in Chicago said on Tuesday that it was requiring "patients, visitors and staff to wear hospital-approved masks in some areas of the campus.They include clinical waiting areas and patient registration."Mask mandates will also protect patients from other respiratory diseases, like the flu and RSV, that are on the rise this winter. JN.1, classified as a variant of interest (VOI) by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its rapid spread, is currently present in about 41 countries. It was first detected in Luxembourg in August.JN.1 is similar to its parent BA.2.86 , but has an additional mutation (L455S) in the spike protein, which has immune-evasion properties.The CDC said that JN.1s continued growth suggests that the variant is either more transmissible or better at evading our immune systems than other circulating variants.However, it added that it is too early to know whether or to what extent JN.1 will cause an increase in infections or hospitalizations.Source-IANS Life is like an ice cream, and therefore it is essential we enjoy it before it melts. If youve been stressing out too much lately and are unsure of how things will pan out today, then these divine message can maybe guide you through your day: Aries Horoscope Today - January 08, 2024 shutterstock You might face some difficulties in making decisions today. Try to relax. Resist your impulsive urges. Talk about important things with your partner today. Think about your financial situation and try to save money. You might feel scattered today. Try not to leave things unfinished. Your Lucky color is violet. Your Lucky number is 4. Taurus Horoscope Today - January 08, 2024 shutterstock You may feel an extra burst of energy today. Find a productive way to use your energy. You may not feel like being romantic today. Be careful of impulsive buys today. You may not be attentive today. It may be difficult to concentrate on one task at a time. Your Lucky color is silver. Your Lucky number is 10. Gemini Horoscope Today - January 08, 2024 shutterstock People will be charmed by your imaginative skills and your perspective about the world. Take your partner out to a place you loved as a kid. A financial issue might bother you today. Lighten the mood at work with a little small talk with your co-workers. Your Lucky color is orange and lemon. Your Lucky number is 2. Cancer Horoscope Today - January 08, 2024 shutterstock Your energy will be on a great rise today. That makes it a good day to get important tasks done. Go out and enjoy your day with family. Do something exciting tonight with your spouse and make them feel better. Prioritize your work today. Your Lucky color is magenta. Your Lucky number is 13. Leo Horoscope Today - January 08, 2024 shutterstock Try to solve a problem today by exploring the matter and you'll find the solution. Change your perspective to solve your personal problems. Thank your partner for what they do for you. An investment idea may come your way today. Avoid busy work today. Your Lucky color is magenta. Your Lucky number is 13. Virgo Horoscope Today - January 08, 2024 shutterstock A great day to plan a vacation! Be prepared for a great exposure, you might get a surprise at work. You are not ready for commitments today, are sure before anything you say. You will have good health today. Your Lucky color is purple. Your Lucky number is 7. Libra Horoscope Today - January 08, 2024 shutterstock Your friends will support you with your regular work and this will give you good results at your workplace. Treat your spouse with a nice and romantic date tonight. Students must await good results. Your Lucky color is yellow. Your Lucky number is 5. Scorpio Horoscope Today - January 08, 2024 shutterstock Planning a romantic date with your partner will be a treat today. Problems in love life will bid adieu and family relations will improve. Not a great day to invest in a new plan. You are likely to invest some time in your education today. Your Lucky color is khaki. Your Lucky number is 6. Sagittarius Horoscope Today - January 08, 2024 shutterstock You can charm anyone today. You'll love being the center of attention. People will get attracted to you. Someone new may be dazzled by your sparkling personality. The quest for money isn't that important. Hard work is required at study today; your health will be supportive. Your Lucky color is white and blue. Your Lucky number is 11. Capricorn Horoscope Today - January 08, 2024 shutterstock Go out and meet new people today. It might turn out to be a good day. Be casual tonight and spend some time with your loved ones. You might come up with brilliant money making ideas. Your health card is a little upset today. Your Lucky color is brown. Your Lucky number is 8. Aquarius Horoscope Today - January 08, 2024 shutterstock Excitement is in the air today. Do something unique. It is a great day for group activities. Avoid public displays of affection today. Interest in a new hobby can earn you a good amount of money. Get organized in your work. Students can expect a great result today. Your Lucky color is red. Your Lucky number is 9. Pisces Horoscope Today - January 08, 2024 Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Lakshadweep archipelago. As he explored the country's smallest Union Territory comprising 36 islands with an area of 32 sqkm, the act and the video shared by the Indian government was seen as a move to promote tourism on the island. The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall. https://t.co/AzWMkcxdcf Zahid Rameez (@xahidcreator) January 5, 2024 In reference to the so-called promotional video in favour of Lakshadweep Island, Zahid Rameez, a council member of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), made some derogatory and racist remarks on X (formerly Twitter) against Indians. The tweet by a Maldives minister days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep has triggered a row of backlash on social media. In his tweet, the minister accused India of targeting the Maldives and said India faces significant challenges in competing with the Maldives in beach tourism. What a great move! It's a big setback to the new Chinese puppet gvt of Maldives. Also, it will boost tourism in #Lakshadweep pic.twitter.com/gsUX9KrNSB Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) January 4, 2024 The controversy flared up following a post by Mr Sinha, an X user, who shared the pictures of PM Modis island visit. Outraged by Rameezs comments, netizens expressed strong disapproval and some even vowed to abstain from taking any future vacations in Maldives. Furthering development of Lakshadweep. pic.twitter.com/1ewwVAwWjr PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 2, 2024 Netizens were impressed by PM Modis vision as he highlighted how over the past 10 years his government has completed several development projects in the Lakshadweep. He also went snorkelling while advocating the local fo vocal campaign. Heres how some of X users expressed their support for PM Modi after Rameezs remarks: Haters won't agree, but Modi ji really works very hard. He changesd 2 dresses for a photoshoot. Ganesh Kumar (@slganesh1) January 4, 2024 Modi ji is our real Hero who knows how to promote Bharat on global platform. Bollywood actress and actresses should learn from him and should start promoting hidden treasures of Bharat instead of planning for vacations to Maldives.#Lakshadweep Roshan Jha (@RoshanJha_TnB) January 4, 2024 To attract more tourists, be nice and friendly. Understand what respect and hospitality mean. Be genuinely warm, and visitors will feel the heart and soul of your place. It's an important lesson to make your tourism better. Zuvaan Masveriya (@ZuvaanMasveriya) January 6, 2024 Burnol moment hai Manoj Kumar (@manoj_begu) January 4, 2024 While Rameezs comment was receiving backlash, one of the X users highlighted his prior application for Indian citizenship in 2023. Sandeep Neel, an X user, shared a screenshot of the ministers June 28, 2023 post, stating his pursuit of Indian citizenship. The user urged the Home Ministry and Minister of External Affairs to ensure that such individuals who propagate hate must not be considered for Indian citizenship. JERUSALEM (AP) The Israeli military signaled that it has wrapped up major combat in northern Gaza, saying it has completed dismantling Hamas' military infrastructure there, as the war against the militant group entered its fourth month Sunday. Israel did not address troop deployments in northern Gaza going forward. Military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said late Saturday that forces would focus on the central and southern parts of the territory and strengthen defenses along the Israel-Gaza border fence. The announcement came ahead of a visit to Israel by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who on Sunday was in Qatar, a key mediator. Biden administration officials have urged Israel to wind down its blistering air and ground offensive in Gaza and shift to more targeted attacks against Hamas leaders. In recent weeks, Israel has scaled back its military assault in northern Gaza and pressed its offensive in the south, where most of Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians are squeezed into smaller areas in a humanitarian disaster while being pounded by Israeli airstrikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists the war will not end until the objectives of eliminating Hamas, getting Israels hostages returned and ensuring that Gaza wont be a threat to Israel are met. The war was triggered by Hamas Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel in which the militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 people hostage. Israel's retaliation has killed more than 22,800 Palestinians and wounded more than 58,000, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The death toll does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Health officials say about two-thirds of those killed have been women and minors. Israel blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the group operates in heavily populated residential areas. An airstrike near the southern city of Rafah killed two journalists on Sunday, including Hamza Dahdouh, the oldest son of Wael Dahdouh, Al Jazeera's chief correspondent in Gaza, according to both the Qatari-owned Arabic-language channel and local medical officials. Al Jazeera broadcast footage of Dahdouh weeping and holding his son's hand before walking away in a daze. Israel's military had no immediate comment. Al Jazeera strongly condemned the killings and other brutal attacks against journalists and their families by Israeli forces, and urged the International Criminal Court, governments and human rights groups to hold Israel accountable. Dahdouh lost his wife, two children and a grandchild in an Oct. 26 airstrike, and was wounded in an Israeli strike last month that killed a co-worker. The world is blind to whats happening in the Gaza Strip, Dahdouh said, blinking back tears. Another airstrike hit a house between Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, killing at least seven people whose bodies were taken to the nearby European Hospital, according to an Associated Press journalist at the facility. One man hurried in carrying a baby, and later walked the blanket-wrapped child to the morgue. Everything happening here is outside the realms of law, outside the realms of reason. Our brains cant fully comprehend all this that is happening to us, said a grieving relative, Inas Abu al-Najja, her quavering voice rising. Men worked the rubble with picks and bare hands. On Sunday, officials at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies of 18 people, including 12 children, killed in an Israeli strike late Saturday. More than 50 people were wounded in the strike on a home in the Khan Younis refugee camp, set up decades ago to house refugees from the 1948 war over Israels creation. Israeli forces pushed deeper into the central city of Deir al-Balah, where residents in several neighborhoods were warned that they must evacuate. The international medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by the acronym MSF, said it was evacuating its medical staff from Deir al-Balah's Al Aqsa Martyrs' Hospital. A bullet penetrated a wall of the hospitals intensive care unit on Friday, and drone attacks and sniper fire were just a few hundred meters from the hospital over the past couple of days, said Carolina Lopez, the groups emergency coordinator there. She said the hospital received between 150 and 200 wounded people daily in recent weeks. The International Rescue Committee and Medical Aid for Palestinians said they also were forced to withdraw from the hospital. The amount of injuries being brought in over the last few days has been horrific, surgeon Nick Maynard with the IRC medical team said in a statement. The World Health Organization urged the protection of health workers across Gaza. Hagari, the military spokesman, said scattered fighting in northern Gaza was to be expected, along with rockets sporadically being launched from there toward Israel. He said Hamas militants without a framework and without commanders were still present. The military, without presenting evidence, has said that it has killed more than 8,000 Hamas fighters. Hagari said Israeli forces would act differently in the south than in northern Gaza, where heavy bombardment and ground combat leveled entire neighborhoods. He said urban refugee camps targeted by the military are packed with gunmen and that an underground city of sprawling tunnels was discovered underneath Khan Younis. Echoing Israeli political leaders, he said fighting will continue throughout 2024. In addition to U.S. appeals for scaling back high-intensity combat, Blinken on his fourth Mideast trip in three months is calling for more aid to reach Gaza and urging Israel's leaders to come up with a post-war vision for the besieged territory. Two U.S. senators who inspected aid deliveries over the weekend described a slow and cumbersome process, largely due to Israeli inspections of cargo trucks, with seemingly arbitrary rejections of vital humanitarian equipment. The Biden administration and Netanyahu remain far apart on who should run the territory after the war, with the Israeli leader rejecting the Washington-floated idea of having a reformed Palestinian Authority, an autonomous government in parts of the occupied West Bank, eventually administer Gaza. An escalation of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah has complicated the U.S. push to prevent a regional conflict. Hezbollah described Saturday's rockets as an initial response to the targeted killing of a top Hamas leader in a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut last week, presumed to have been carried out by Israel. LOS ANGELES (AP) Underwater dump sites off the Los Angeles coast contain World War II-era munitions including anti-submarine weapons and smoke devices, marine researchers announced Friday. A survey of the known offshore sites in April managed to identify munitions by using high-definition video that covered a limited portion of the sites, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, which led the survey, said in an email. The survey, which used deep-water uncrewed vehicles equipped with sonar and a video camera, was a high-tech follow up in a region known to have been the dumping ground for industrial and chemical waste from the 1930s through the 1970s. A 2021 survey using sonar had uncovered more than 25,000 barrel-like objects on the sea floor that possibly contained DDT and other toxic chemicals. High levels of the toxic chemical were previously found in sediments and marine mammals in the region, and DDT has been linked to cancer in sea lions. However later research, including from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, suggested that much of the contamination may have come from acid waste containing DDT that was stored in above-ground tanks and then dumped into the sea in bulk from barges rather than in barrels. The April survey included taking some 300 hours of high-definition video in a slice of that area, which allowed researchers to identify some of the mysterious boxes and barrels thousands of feet below the surface on the sea floor in lines between the mainland and Santa Catalina Island, Scripps said. In every debris line sampled with video, the majority of targets were found to be munitions, the Scripps email said. According to scientist Eric Terrill: we started to find the same objects by the dozens, if not hundreds. Sonar scanned a much larger area of the dump sites but wasnt precise enough to distinguish the nature of the thousands of objects previously noted because munitions and barrels are similar in size, meaning video was the only way to positively identify the sea floor objects, Scripps said. Researchers concluded that most of those identified objects were multiple types of discarded military munitions and pyrotechnics, according to an earlier statement from Scripps. They included anti-submarine depth charges and smoke floats used to lay down cover for warships. The US. Navy said the munitions were probably dumped during the World War II era as ships returned to port, at that time considered a safe and government-approved disposal method. In a statement, the Navy said it is reviewing the findings to determine the best path forward to ensure that the risk to human health and the environment is managed appropriately. Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes for Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024 Todays Birthday (01/07/24). Fortune follows fun, creativity and romance this year. Strengthen communication networks to grow. Adjusting with career changes this spring leads to summertime domestic renovation or relocation. Making creative changes this autumn leads to professional rewards next winter. Fall in love all over again. To get the advantage, check the days rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is an 8 Opportunities arise to expand your horizons. Dont launch yet. Reinforce basic structures. Prepare practical details. Indulge yourself with moments of beauty, silliness or fun. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 9 Collaboration can get lucrative today. Logistical or structural challenges could delay. Stick to practical priorities. Maintain momentum for positive cash flow. Celebrate together. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is a 9 Collaboration flowers. Take advantage of a natural connection. Give credit where credits due. Favor stability over illusive fantasies. You can see whats truly important. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is a 9 Carve out time for yourself. Exercise and connection with nature feed your mind, body and spirit. Score extra points for a beautiful view. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 9 Love distracts you from more mundane concerns. Give in to a romantic indulgence. Abandon fantasies. Simplify expectations. Share sweet moments with someone you love. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is an 8 Creative ideas abound to beautify your home. Take advantage of spontaneous enthusiasm. Make a change youve been wanting. Keep it clean and simple. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 9 Dig deeper into a favorite subject. Keep track of the truth, despite confusion. Document your views. Creative inspiration flowers. Share a fascinating story. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 9 Watch for hidden treasure. Extra Income opportunities could spark spontaneously, although they may not look as imagined. Polish a diamond in the rough. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 9 A stroke of genius compels you. Discover unorthodox solutions. Inspire, rather than demanding. Youre gaining authority and seasoning. Grow and develop a personal project. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 7 Slow to consider whats ahead. Revise plans and preparations. Put away things from past adventures as you pack for upcoming ones. Rest and recharge. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 9 Have fun. Friends lead to new connections. Support each other around an obstacle. Many hands make light work. Share the load and the rewards. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 9 Focus on professional projects with heart. Spontaneous opportunities motivate action. Develop a beautiful possibility into existence. The reality is even better than imagined. Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Blacks legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like todays Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com. 2023 Nancy Black. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. ANN ARBOR, MI Ann Arbor is seeking resident input to help decide the type of LED bulbs to use for streetlights, with a new survey asking how warm and bright they should be. The city was awarded a carbon-reduction grant from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments to transition DTE Energy-owned streetlights from high-pressure sodium to more energy-efficient LED bulbs, which is part of the citys A2Zero carbon-neutrality plan. To complete the conversion project, the city is now asking the public to weigh in on the color temperature and wattage or brightness for the new lights, with examples of different types now set up in different parts of the city. LED streetlight option C on Eberwhite Boulevard in Ann Arbor at 29 watts and 2700K on the kelvin scale on Jan. 4, 2024. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News Residents can visit one of two areas either the Liberty Street and Eberwhite Boulevard area or the Easy Street and Packard Road area to find streetlights of different styles that are being considered by the city. Maps posted on the utility poles show the locations of the different lights. For example, theres one on Liberty just west of Eberwhite labeled A, another right at the intersection labeled B, and others farther down Eberwhite labeled C and D. Scanning a QR code on one of the posters takes residents to an online survey to provide feedback. The survey asks residents to view the streetlight options and answer questions at each location. LED streetlight option A on Liberty Street west of Eberwhite Boulevard in Ann Arbor at 58 watts and 3000K on the kelvin scale on Jan. 4, 2024. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News The city website also features a graphic explaining light brightness in wattage going up to 150 watts, as well as the kelvin scale for light temperature ranging from warm yellowish light at the low end (2700K) to cool bluish light at the high end (7000K). The survey for the Liberty/Eberwhite area indicates the city is considering going with LED lights that are either 29 or 58 watts and either 2700K or 3000K, so the options are all on the warmer end of the spectrum and differences may seem subtle. The brighter or higher wattage options are along Liberty, which is a main travel corridor, while the dimmer options are along Eberwhite, a neighborhood side street. LED streetlight option B at Liberty Street and Eberwhite Boulevard in Ann Arbor at 58 watts and 2700K on the kelvin scale on Jan. 4, 2024. (Ryan Stanton | MLive.com)Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News The survey is open through Friday, Jan. 12. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. PORTLAND, MI -- A large-scale fire destroyed an apartment complex in Portland Friday morning, leaving nearly two dozen people without shelter, according to the Portland Area Fire Authority (PAFA). At about 6:34 a.m. Jan. 5, a patrolling Portland Police Department officer noticed smoke coming from the Edgemont Apartments complex and began to investigate. An employee of the Portland Department of Public Works also noticed the smoke in the area and arrived shortly after. With flames visible, the two men entered the apartment building and began evacuating residents, fire authority officials said in a Facebook post. As fire crews arrived on-scene, flames were visible through the roof of the apartment and a large section of the building was fully involved. Firefighters began fire suppression operations, but could only manage defensive operations due to the intensity and extent of the fire, officials said. Firefighters performed a search of the outside of the facility upon their arrival, finding a single resident during this search. Fire authority Lt. Jake Schafer was able to get the last resident out of their apartment uninjured, officials said. Crews were able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of several mutual aid departments, officials said. The apartment complex was considered a total loss, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. All 22 residents of the building are accounted for and uninjured, officials said. Portland Police Department Officer Chris Walker and Portland DPW employee Ryan Honsowitz the two men who first spotted the fire and began evacuation measures have been commended by city officials for the actions. Our community is incredibly fortunate for the men and women of our emergency services and the local agencies and businesses who assist during such events, Portland City Manager Tutt Gorman said in a Facebook post. The collaboration among the various emergency services is truly impressive. Displaced residents are receiving aid from the American Red Cross, Victims Advocates and Portland Community Fund, official said. Those looking to potentially help the displaced with donations are advised to follow the Portland Area Ministerial Association for future updates. The quick actions of Officer Walker and Ryan Honsowitz undoubtedly saved many lives this morning, PAFA officials said. Portland police and fire crews were assisted at the scene by Portland EMS, Lyons Muir Fire Department, Pewamo Fire Department, Berlin-Orange Fire Department, Sunfield Fire Department, Grand Ledge Fire, Delta Township Fire, Lake Odessa Fire, Dewitt Township Fire, Westphalia Township Fire, Ionia Public Safety, Life EMS, the Michigan State Police, Ionia County Sheriffs Department, Ionia County Central Dispatch, Ionia County Emergency Management, Ionia County Victims Advocates, Portland Electric and Consumers Energy, officials said. Fire authority officials also thanked McDonalds, BIGGBY Coffee, Fabianos River House, Portland Memory Care Center, Portland Senior Center, Portland Public Schools, Portland Community Fund, Portland Veterinary Service, Reed and Hoppes Cooks Excavation and Bob Gross for their help in responding to this incident. KENT COUNTY, MI On the verge of entering the adult criminal justice system, juveniles charged with various crimes are receiving their last chance to get their lives back on track. That last chance comes by means of a program spearheaded by one Grand Rapids reverend and fully supported by Kent Countys prosecutor. The program, Grand Rapids Alternative Correctional Experience (GRACE), was created about seven months ago to help teens charged with crimes find a path forward and stay out of trouble. RELATED: Kent County Detention Center offering youth technology training for future jobs The goal is to provide diversion and rehabilitation in a manner that promotes acceptance of responsibility and builds accountability. The program and its mission also help combat a major concern for the area. This is a crisis in terms of the juvenile system, Kent County Prosecutor Christopher Becker told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. We dont have a lot of great (rehabilitative) options for youth. There are limited resources available in Kent County for those in the juvenile system, Becker said. After speaking with the Rev. Darryl S. Gaddy Sr., the creator of GRACE, Becker had found some additional support needed in the area and began referring appropriate juveniles to the program. Gaddy, the senior pastor at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, moved to the Grand Rapids area about a year ago and with him, he brought prior experience of running similar programs to help youth offenders, including in Wayne County. Seeing the role that we play in our community is important, Gaddy told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. These are our children, and we dont have an option to not play a role in their lives. A juvenile charged with a crime like breaking and entering or assault can be referred to GRACE by the prosecutor, which is later approved by a judge. From there, Gaddy said his team visits potential participants at the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center where they are interviewed and offered and opportunity to take part in the program. So far, Becker said his office has referred 12 juveniles to the program. Of those, 10 were at the point of being waived into the adult system. Instead, they were given their last chance, said Gaddy, noting the majority the juveniles are between the ages of 14 and 17. The juveniles participate in a 10- to 16-week course program where they are given a mental health assessment, assigned a mentor and given a routine schedule to follow. From there, they are enrolled into other programs where they develop lifelong learning skills. The whole idea of the juvenile system is to correct the behavior before they reach adulthood, Becker said. (We) havent had a lot of resources available to do that. The juveniles progress is tracked by their mentor throughout the course of the program, Gaddy said, and the courts are also given a summary of how the juvenile is doing. To date, five juveniles have been released from the detention center and placed on a tether to attend the program. There are another six participants still lodged that are awaiting court hearings and tethers to enter GRACE. A 12th juvenile was recently referred to the program as well, Gaddy said. By getting referred to the program, it allows them to be a kid again, he added. We havent turned any of them away. Additional mentors for GRACE are always needed as well as more financial support, Gaddy said. If you are interested in getting involved, visit www.cityofrest.org or www.grgrace.org, or call 616-241-6303. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. Happy Sunday! In the first newsletter of the new year, we have a full plate of political news to get to. Here are five big things to know. Kristina Karamo, former Michigan secretary of state candidate, speaks after being elected chair of the state GOP at a convention in Lansing, Mich., on Feb. 18, 2023.Ben Orner | MLive.com A breakaway faction of the Michigan Republican Partys state committee voted Saturday to oust their chair, Kristina Karamo, after months of discontentment and building frustration with a party plagued by infighting, dysfunction and financial instability. The group convened Jan. 6 in a sportsmans hall in northern Oakland County, voting 40 to 5 by secret ballot, multiple sources within the meeting told MLives Simon Schuster, on scene Saturday outside the gathering, closed to the public and media. But this is almost certainly not the end; opponents, expecting litigation, have already readied defenses. Karamo, calling the meeting illegitimate, has refused to step aside. Their performance has no legal standing, Karamo, selected by party delegates less than a year ago, said in a text to Schuster. I am still chair of the Michigan Republican Party. Meanwhile, her co-chair has claimed the helm until a successor is elected. Now is the time to unify Republicans and grow our voter base to win elections throughout our state in 2024 and beyond, Malinda Pego said in a statement describing the vote as compliant with rules and processes. Karamo, who found the spotlight by alleging widespread fraud during the 2020 election in Detroit, rose to party power after a failed bid, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, to be secretary of state. More news: Between Ottawa County and NBC predictions, 2024 election season in Grand Rapids will be a wild one Some Michigan congressional districts in metro Detroit and their representation of Black voters are in question, the subject of legal wrangling, as the 2024 elections loom. A three-judge panel in Kalamazoo is considering allowing Michigans Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission a second try at crafting district maps, earlier deemed unconstitutionally drawn, while the commission plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. During a Friday afternoon hearing, federal Judges Raymond Kethledge, Janet Neff and Paul Maloney, without issuing an order, floated allowing the commission to craft its own maps, but having an outside expert retained to make their own version at the same time. They could then assess both sets of maps, and decide which set of maps are preferable, Schuster reported. Kethledge expressed some skepticism the commission, forced this month to replace three resigning members, could get it done. The recent posture of the commission has been defiance and disarray, he said in court. It would be foolhardy on our part to put all our chips on this citizens commission at this point. Motion to stay the federal decision invalidating a swath of Michigans state legislative maps has been denied by the three-judge panel in Kalamazoo. On to SCOTUS. Simon D. Schuster (@Simon_Schuster) January 5, 2024 At issue in court was whether the voter-established commission could craft new maps that the judges would find legitimate on a tight timeline as little as 9 weeks or to bring in an outside expert as special master to craft them unilaterally. The court ruled in December that Michigans first Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission had inadvertently drawn state legislative districts in and around Detroit that violated the federal Voting Rights Act. Acting on the advice of their experts, the judges found, the commission diluted the representation of Black voters in violation of the law. The ruling affects 13 of Michigans House and Senate districts in an election year. Plaintiffs argue an outside expert should lead the fixing of the maps. Commissioners voted earlier in the week to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the lower court denied a motion to stay, meaning the work of redrawing the maps must proceed. The judges said they intend to issue an order soon specifying how the map-drawing will take place. More in elections: Ballot drive would overturn new Michigan energy siting law Rob Minard, once the chief of staff for former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield, at 54-B District Court in East Lansing on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.Simon Schuster Anne and Rob Minard, two former staffers for ex-Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield, were arraigned this week on charges for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from political accounts. Rob Minard was Chatfields chief of staff, and Anne Minard was the Republican majoritys external affairs director. Their connections to Chatfield and his prolific fundraising, Simon explains, allegedly allowed them to skim off the top. An affidavit accuses the Minards of overcharging political action committees for services they provided through their consulting firm and pocketing the difference. They also allegedly double-billed clients and used nonprofit accounts to pay for personal expenses. More in crime: Michigan man charged with widescale fraud of Meijer mPerks accounts FILE: Former Republican Attorney General candidate Matt DePerno in 2022.Zachary Clingenpeel | ZClingenpeel@mlive.com March 4. Thats when the trial begins for Michiganders charged in a voting machine tampering scheme. Former attorney general candidate Matthew DePerno and ex-lawmaker Daire Rendon (both Republicans) are among people alleged to have obtained five tabulators from local clerks after the 2020 election and illegally investigated the machines. Rendon, MLives Jordyn Hermani explains, is alleged in recent court filings for convincing officials in her district to provide tabulators to a private investigator. More in court: Muslim woman sues over removal of religious head covering in jail booking photo FILE: U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (Courtesy photo)Courtesy photo He made the speech months ago, but U.S. Rep. Tim Walbergs remarks in Uganda are facing backlash after recently surfacing. The Michigan Republican attended the African countrys national prayer breakfast in October. He urged leaders to stand firm amid international condemnation of Ugandas death penalty for aggravated homosexuality. This 2023 law defines the crime as same-sex intercourse with anyone over the age of 75, under the age of 18, HIV-positive or disabled. Despite backlash back home, that doesnt mean Walberg wants a similar U.S. law, however. The congressman doesnt support the criminalization of homosexuality, Walbergs office told Simon this week, nor do his comments mean his endorsed Ugandas law. Michigan Democrats were quick to criticize Walberg, including U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who said this kind of bigotry is disturbing. More in Congress: Bay City Dem McDonald Rivet makes bid for Kildees seat in Congress 5 more stories from MLive: Michigan Capitol among multiple evacuated after bomb threats Tipster ties Michigan man to Jan. 6, 2021, riot at U.S. Capitol, FBI says Gordie Howe Bridge opening pushed back 10 months as construction continues Last year bucked recession fears. Hows 2024 looking for Michigan? Rivals to friends: Carter and Ford built rare bond after 1976 election DETROIT, MI -- Its not every day that history is up for sale, especially history the size of a mansion. There is now an opportunity for one lucky buyer to live amidst history in this rare Michigan landmark. Built in 1915, The Benjamin Siegel House is an exceptional property nestled in a gorgeous park-like setting, occupying half a city block on 2.16 lush acres in the coveted Boston-Edison Historic District. Located at 150 W. Boston Boulevard in Detroit, this historic gem is listed on the market at $2.5 million through @properties Christies International Real Estate with associate broker Austin Black II. This one-of-a-kind property is MLives House of the Week. Homes across the state of various architectural styles and prices are showcased every Wednesday. RELATED: Historic Michigan mansion hits the market at $2.5 million The 11,103-square-foot, Italianate-style main house designed by Albert Kahn is a limestone masterpiece known for its exceptional details, complemented by a 1,303-square-foot carriage house with 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, and room for 3 cars. There are a handful of limestone homes in Detroit, but it was not a dominant style in the city of Detroit, which makes this even more of a rare property, Black told MLive. The home has been very well maintained over the years to really preserve the history of the house, while updating it for modern conveniences. An elegant motor court with a fountain serves as the centerpiece and heightens curb appeal, Black said. Topping the allure is a 2022-built greenhouse conceived by Alitex Greenhouses, Black said, boasting vaulted walls of glass and beautiful brick floors in a herringbone pattern, a true plant lovers delight. The quality of craftsmanship and high level of finishes throughout are unparalleled -- from the stunning woodwork, marble, Pewabic tilework and superior materials to lavish paneling, muraled ceilings, stained glass and other dramatic elements. An elevator transports you from the basement to the second floor. The incredible third floor has a huge ballroom, game room, sewing room, bonus/bedroom, storage room and balcony. A fabulous wood-clad entry foyer with intricate ceiling welcomes your arrival to the main home offering seven bedrooms, four full bathrooms, two half baths, and six stately fireplaces. This expansive level, perfect for entertaining, also features a reception room with curved glass doors, a generous living room and den/library both accessing an outdoor terrace, a gracious parlor, formal wood-paneled dining room, spectacular chefs kitchen with granite counters and marble floors, a butlers pantry, and two lovely sunrooms. This home also offers a divine primary retreat with a sitting room, walk-in closet, and en-suite spa bath. Black said the rest of the neighborhood is filled with larger, prominent mansions. And as such, there is not a single home on this block that replicates another home on the block, he said. Its off of the Woodward Corridor, probably about three to four miles from downtown, Black said. You could hit downtown pretty quickly, and you can get anywhere you need to in the region as well. Because it sits one 2.16 acres, it is pretty unique as most larger homes dont sit on much land in Detroit, which makes this your own little getaway within the city limits. I think this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for this home. This is not something you can find often in the city of Detroit. The history, the size of the home, the details throughout -- this home has everything. 22 1 / 22 Historic Michigan mansion hits the market at $2.5 million View the listing on the realtor website here. View all photos of the home here. See more on MLive House of the Week features: Hunting heaven: 3,000-acre property with near-lakefront lodge hits market for $5 million Historic Frank Lloyd Wright opportunity: Two houses being sold at once in same Michigan town Custom-built home in Michigans Little Bavaria could be yours for under $1M $1.99M minimalist home near Saline could be your private art gallery Boat to Lake Michigan from this Spring Lake bayou home listed at $500,000 See inside $1.55 million Michigan floating home with one-of-a kind breathtaking views You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Christin Mathew Philip is an Assistant editor at moneycontrol.com. Based in Bengaluru, he writes on mobility, infrastructure and start-ups. He is a Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awardee. You can find him on Twitter here: twitter.com/ChristinMP_ Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Sneha Mahale is an independent environment journalist. She is on Twitter @randomcards Views expressed are personal Actor Simon Rex, 47, may be the last person in the history of Hollywood who believed he could shoot four porn movies, find fame and live in a world where this past wouldnt come out. It started in 1993, when he was 19 years old and cleaning tables. Desperate to stay afloat, he answered an ad in a Los Angeles newspaper seeking models to pose nude. That resulted in four tapes with not exactly cryptic titles (Young, Hard and Alone, for example, or Hot Sessions I, II and III) which, when Rex became a celebrity in the United States, were re-released a few years later and saw the light of day thanks to the internet. Rex thus became the epitome of the star born at the dawn of a new era, who has a hidden past that catches him by surprise: a new era in which nothing that has ever been recorded, written or said can be forgotten. That Rex is talking again about the subject he avoided for years, as if it were an exorcism, is because he plays a porn actor in Red Rocket, the new film by Sean Baker, who in Tangerine (2015) or The Florida Project (2017) portrayed the dreams and hopes of the lumpen who survive behind the neon lights of Las Vegas or Disneyland. Red Rocket, which opens in Spain in May, has brought Rex - who at the height of his fame was a pretty face, in his decline a joke and during the last few years a pariah - some of the best reviews of the year, the award for best actor at the Independent Spirit Awards and, incidentally, a reconciliation with the murkiest part of his past. Three coincidences in a row With the exception of porn, Simon Rexs biography resembles that of many other photogenic young people in the right place at the right time. Accompanying his childhood sweetheart to a model casting, an agency director noticed him. The [ensuing] dialogue is so commonplace as to be cliche: Who is he?. Hes not a model, hes just here with me. The next scene is another cliche: Simon Rex flies to Milan. In 1995 he posed in campaigns for brands like Tommy Hilfiger and coincided in fashion shows and parties with Mark Ronson, then also a model. That same year, the MTV network asked Markus Schenkenberg, one of the most famous models of the 1990s, to audition as a host, but as he was unable to attend, his agency sent Rex instead. For two years, Rex became a popular figure who introduced music videos (when they were still being broadcast on TV) and interviewed artists, often [while] shirtless, in order to show off a superior physique obtained a little bit from the gym, a little bit from genes. Simon Rex poses for the press during the 1996 MTV Movie Awards, when he was one of the networks stars. Ron Galella, Ltd. (Ron Galella Collection via Getty) Rex was used to the eccentric life: born in San Francisco to hippie parents (his mother was an environmental activist; his father a photographer), you would think he was just carried on a gentle breeze of opportunity from the restaurant where he bussed tables to MTV parties. Having demonstrated his brilliance as a host on the music network that defined the aesthetic and youthful feel of the 1990s, acting soon came knocking at his door. As revealed in an interview with New York Magazine, Gus Van Sant was one watcher who fell in love with Rexs mix of Greek-god body and boyish character and called him for an audition for a supporting role in Good Will Hunting (1997). It was a disaster, but sensing some potential in the boy, Van Sant recommended he go to acting classes before looking any further. That was the period of time when those early videos came to the light. The production company that owned the original films found a vein in having an unexpected star in its stable and at a time when file sharing, especially pornographic content, after the leak of the Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee sex tape, was on the rise. Individual scenes in which Simon Rex could be seen masturbating while elevator music played in the background became very popular on the internet. The consequences? It could have been worse. As Rex stated in an interview on Allegedly audio, Disney canceled a project he was working on with the young star. But television gave him the opportunity to play a supporting role in successful series such as Jack & Jill (a spoof of Friends) or Felicity. Although those tapes were aimed at a gay audience, there was no contact between Rex and other men. In the conversation with Allegedly, the actor confesses that, after the tapes came to light, MTV asked him: Do you have sex with other people in them [the tapes]? If Rex had been shown having sex with other men, his career probably would have ended there. Between Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley The mystique of porn has seduced Hollywood since its beginnings, ever since it was whispered that someone had seen Joan Crawford or Marilyn Monroe in supposedly explicit pirate films (then called stag films) before they became famous. Greta Garbos route went in reverse: the last film she appeared in was a gay porn tape called Adam & Yves, from 1974, but she didnt know it (she was filmed walking down the street in a flashback scene that obviously has nothing pornographic about it). Shortly after that Rocky (1976), the film that made Sylvester Stallone a star, was released, and it sparked interest in a low-budget, pornographic product he had shot six years earlier, Party at Kitty and Studs. In 2022, Pam & Tommy, the series distributed internationally by Disney about the TV Star and the rockers aforementioned [sex] tape, is triumphing. And when porn has reached Disney, its a sign that porn has already permeated everywhere. Simon Rex in 2007 doing what he did best back then: partying. Donna Ward (FilmMagic) This series reflects the massive fascination with thieved images of sexual content generated in privacy, as opposed to the apathy that can be aroused by sexual images created expressly to be consumed, say Elisa McCausland and Diego Salgado. Both are film critics, she specializing in popular culture, he one of the authors of the treatise Porno: Come and See. Viewing people famous for a consensual and accepted codification of their image on a public level involved in a situation of strict intimacy immediately links them to ours. And what about the enormous success that Simon Rexs scenes, blurry in quality and monotonous in content, continue to have, when there are millions of better-quality scenes and more explicit stunts? We attach a greater degree of reality to a poor image compared to the simulacrum we associate with the too-perfect image. When we consume industrially filmed videos, to climax to orgasm what we look for almost desperately are the moments of truth; a shudder, a smile, a tear. This is borne out by a key moment from those Rex videos, which Michael Ferguson captures in the book Idol Worship: A Shameless Celebration of Male Beauty in the Movies and is so prophetic that today it seems like part of a script: after Rex finishes one of his scenes, and apparently unaware that the camera is still rolling, he says to someone on the crew, I hate to do this, but the bills have to be paid; I can shake it off for money. I dont care. As long as no one touches me, it doesnt matter. I hope this doesnt come back to haunt me when Im famous!. Lets make a little movie Simon Rexs role in Red Rocket is one of the most unexpected triumphant comebacks in Hollywood in recent years. Nobody remembered him and, if they did, it was not with a good feeling: in the 21st century Rex became a rapper, the star of infamous commercials that he only accepted for money and a tabloid character more famous for hanging out with Paris Hilton than for his movies. He had success with a couple of installments of the Scary Movie saga, but when Part Five was released, he didnt even appear on the poster. When he went up to collect the award for best actor at the Independent Spirit Awards gala, which honors the best of independent cinema, the first thing he exclaimed was: What the fuck? He then dedicated these words to director Sean Baker: You gave me a chance when I wasnt even getting called back for insurance commercials. My career was in the toilet, he continued. I had gone to live in Joshua Tree [a desert area in Southern California] and I thought it was all over until Sean called me and said, Youre not going to make any money on this and neither am I, but lets make a little movie. Mark Wahlberg in 'Boogie Nights.' Getty Images Movies about porn stars have provided an opportunity to actors that the industry had never taken too seriously. Simon Rexs case is reminiscent of Mark Wahlbergs in Boogie Nights (1997), with which Paul Thomas Anderson made a name for himself and gave the actor the best reviews of his career. After a series of stumbles and failures, Val Kilmer also got good reviews for giving life to the porn star John Holmes (famous for having a penis so big that it ended up ruining his life) in Wonderland (2003). All of them were complicated roles, sometimes with demands that would cause other actors to recoil (in both Boogie Nights and Red Rocket one sees the member the protagonist in detail, in each case a prosthesis) but which were ideal for someone who, like Rex, Wahlberg or Kilmer, had nothing to lose. The verdict is obvious: a desperate interpretation of a desperate role gives us, as viewers, an immediate sense of truth. Comparing Red Rocket and Boogie Nights also serves as an index of how porn has invaded every aspect of culture and our intimacy. In one of the best sequences in Boogie Nights, in the first fuck between Mark Wahlbergs character and the one played by Julianne Moore, there is so much chemistry between them that they forget they are on a set and she effectively invites him to make love to her and forget the hijinks. In Red Rocket the opposite happens: Simon Rexs character only knows how to fuck like his alter ego would, turning intimacy into a choreographed and dialogued intercourse like on a film set. Alberto Mira, a film scholar and professor at Oxford Brookes University (who included Red Rocket in his list of best films seen in 2021), finds it curious that the film stars precisely an actor who lived and suffered the transformation from old porn to modern porn. In the film, he is already a relic of the past. Porn stories have become outdated because the dynamics they proposed (the plot, the staging, the typologies) have become outdated. But porn culture in general continues and is everywhere. In an abstract way, everything, especially social networks, works like pornography. So the question we should ask ourselves should be: is porn still porn when its already everywhere? There are films about the current paradigm of the porn industry as celebrated as Pleasure (2021), by Swedish director Ninja Thyberg, that are, as McCausland and Salgado point out, not exactly romantic in their depiction of the porn environment, especially the actresses. Nor is Red Rocket: the main characters comments on the industry speak of a world in crisis. If Boogie Nights could afford to be romantic, it is because, like it or not, pornographic cinema was synonymous in the 1970s with emancipation and freedom. Today, the industry can no longer clothe itself in those values. Red Rocket, in fact, does not speak of values. Its protagonist is as amoral as he is charming, and the viewer feels uncomfortable finding so much brilliance in him. As it happens, during the film, Donald Trump is running for office. Pornography and democracy. The Chinese government plans to invest about 80 billion yuan (over $11 billion) in the development of the economy of the Tibet Autonomous Region in 2024, Azernews reports, citing Xinhua news agency. According to him, the funds will be used for the construction of infrastructure facilities - railways, expressways and airports. In particular, the authorities will begin or continue the construction of 10 key air harbors in the region. In addition, according to the agency, the allocated budget funds will be used to finance projects for the supply of environmentally friendly energy. The Chilean philosopher Pamela Soto sits down for an interview with EL PAIS at the top of a hill, with the port city of Valparaiso at her feet and the Pacific Ocean on the horizon. Before delving into her areas of research democracy, education and feminism the 48-year-old proudly points out the sights of her hometown. She recently began teaching at the Federico Santa Maria Technical University. A member of the Network of Feminist Philosophers, her work grapples with the exhaustion felt by those who live in representative democracies. Shes also an expert in the philosophical thought of Spanish essayist Maria Zambrano (1904-1991). In 2023, she published a biography on Zambrano, reviewing the scars of her 50-year-long exile and proposing alternatives to the democratic system in its current form. Question. Why did you become interested in studying democracy? Answer. Until I was a teenager, I grew up under the Pinochet dictatorship in Valparaiso, a city that has always sought greater independence in relation to Santiago. There were many political labels that I heard as a child, which I didnt understand well. Over the years, they consolidated into a notion of how to think about democracy, which I had always categorized as something very positive. But when I started teaching classes on democracy, I met 18-year-olds who after a life of marginalization in their families, at school and in their neighborhoods told me that democracy was unjust. Q. How did that statement impact your work? A. For me, its been the strongest theoretical shock Ive ever had. Until 2011, I had thought about the category of democracy from the perspective of philosophy, not from life experience. With this diagnosis [made by teenagers], one wonders what weve done with democracy... in the end, it becomes an empty signifier. It serves to elect representatives, yes, but its not allowing us to have a better life. What happens when your experience isnt positive? From this point, I began to think about other dimensions of democracy and not exclusively about a government model. Q. What conclusion have you reached? A. For me, it makes no sense to try to reach Greek democracy as an ideal. Our present demands a much more participatory and everyday democracy. The erosion of this democracy for citizens is evident, marked by despotic and authoritarian actions. In this space, democracy is diluted, and that worries me. Q. What space are you referring to? A. I think about for example a school, where very hierarchical relationships are maintained. Student opinion is always marginalized. At work, it seems that hierarchy between groups predominates. This will always have elements of despotism, since only one group makes the decisions. Its necessary to incorporate new readings of democracy, otherwise it will be devalued. My concern linked to the boredom and exhaustion of representative democracy has to do with the fact that any political decision comes very slowly to our lives. Therefore, it seems that politics is very much beyond our daily lives. Q. How do you think we can organize ourselves better? A. The category of nation state homogenizes and dilutes the difference too much. Therefore, were not represented, or we dont feel linked to the national project. This is the metropolitan logic, which erases all the difference between places. When one talks about a territory, one isnt referring to the soil, but to the relationship dynamics that occur in that specific place, which are super different. Thats why I believe that democracies dont work, because they begin to be homogenized. We have too many differences. And, if these differences arent seen, we get lost. Q. What alternative do you propose? A. Communal democracies, where citizen spaces can have more impact, so that people can quickly see improvements. Im not saying that its the solution to all our problems, but we need forms of government that allow public policy to reach the citizenry more directly, so that politics isnt seen as irrelevant in our lives. Today, it seems that politics works in a way thats completely unrelated to what happens to us. It prevents us from being a collective. This generates fear, emptiness and a limbo where theres no protection. Q. Is politics using the tool of fear more often? A. Politics always uses it and changes up who the enemy is: migrants, crime, or even the climate. Theres a deep-rooted use of population control at different levels related to how politicians keep the public worried about things that have nothing to do with how to organize collectively. Fear works very well to keep people separated. Fear is sold to us as a means of control. Now, faced with this control, we can either act individually or collectively, and my bet is on the second option. Q. What are your thoughts on exile? A. The category of exile shows us that its possible to live without a sovereign. Political punishment precisely consists of removing you from your familiar context, from this history, where you were, where you set up your network. When Franco died, [the Spanish essayist] Maria Zambrano said that she wasnt happy, because no one was going to give her back the life that she hadnt been able to live [in exile], nor her friends who had died [while she was away]. To recover from exile, you have to reflect from all angles and recover the memories that were distanced. Today, Im worried that politics and thinking differently will be punished. Q. Is Chile, more than 50 years after the coup detat, working on recovering its memory? A. No. We still have a lot to do. We must continue to delve deeper. As the Network of Feminist Philosophers, were researching exiled philosophers. Its vital to know our recent history to feel part of a place, inhabit a city, live in a context, understand who we are. Zambrano said that time isnt linear its prospective and projective at the same time. Were missing the vital experience of feeling that were all the women who have lived in this territory. That collective life is part of the past, the present and the future. Q. Youve noted that democracy has lost its meaning. And what has happened to feminism? What are feminists thinking? A. Today, we see an international policy related to womens inequalities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Between now and 2050, a large percentage of jobs will be linked to these areas. Therefore, if women dont enter these careers, the level of inequality will increase. Thats absolutely worrying. One can no longer think about politics without thinking about technology, which is advancing at such a fast speed. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition January 07, 2024 / 11:32 AM IST Manik Sharma is an independent entertainment journalist. Views expressed are personal. Sandipan Deb is former managing editor of Outlook, former editor of The Financial Express, and founding editor of Outlook Money, Open, and Swarajya magazines. He has authored books such as 'The IITians: The Story of an Extraordinary Indian Institution and How its Alumni Are Reshaping the World', 'Fallen Angel: The Making and Unmaking of Rajat Gupta', and 'The Last War'. The views expressed in his column are personal, and do not reflect those of Moneycontrol. You can follow Sandipan on Twitter @sandipanthedeb In their genes, both Olalla Radio and her brother Esteban carry traces of the same disease: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common hereditary heart condition. But while they have the same disease, it presents very differently in the two siblings: Olallas disease remains invisible and asymptomatic, while Estebans manifests in the most severe and incapacitating form. Now, science has shown why the disease presents differently in the two siblings. Thanks to experiments using a heart model made with stem cells from the siblings, researchers at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (Idibell) and the Familial Heart Disease Unit at the A Coruna Hospital (CHUAC) in Spain have discovered that an additional genetic variation in Estebans case causes his disease to be expressed more severely. The Spanish siblings hypertrophic cardiomyopathy came to light when Esteban, at just 15 years of age, began to feel unwell. An electrocardiogram revealed that there was something wrong, he recounts. Subsequent tests showed that he did indeed suffer from the disease, which involves a thickening of the muscle that surrounds the heart (myocardium) and can make it difficult for blood to leave the organ. The family also underwent genetic testing, and both his sister Olalla and his father had the same diagnosis. Only their older brother escaped the hereditary disease entirely. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affects one in 500 people and is very complex; it has different manifestations and many associated genetic variants. There are patients who may be asymptomatic, while others may develop obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: thickness is increased and the place where blood leaves the heart is narrowed. The person experiences fatigue, chest pain or syncope [fainting]. And it is the most common cause of sudden death in athletes, says Roberto Barriales, the coordinator of the CHUAC Family Heart Disease Unit and the Radio siblings physician. Now 41, Esteban says that it was not until well into his twenties that he began to experience the most serious symptoms and that they have become more serious over the years. I felt fatigue, I was getting tired, dizzy... But I didnt start getting arrhythmias until seven or eight years ago; I led a more or less normal life [before that]. Between 2014 and 2019 I had a hard time because [my] heart is aging, and I began to notice palpitations and discomfort, he notes. Siblings Esteban and Olalla Radio, on December 30 in O Grove, Spain. ROCIO CIBES Barriales explains that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a familial disease, and each patient has a 50% chance of transmitting to their offspring: There are different pathogenic genetic variants, different genes involved. In 60% of cases, we can identify the genetic variant of the disease, which is a very good thing, since it helps in the prognosis and in monitoring the family. The physician admits that it can also be the case that the variant has been inherited and the disease will not develop. You can be a healthy carrier of a variant, but you can pass it on to your descendants. Why? Intrafamilial variability is something that is being studied, and there may be another variant in another gene that makes you modulate the disease. You may need more than one pathogenic variant. Doctors always noted the very different manifestations of the disease in this family. Esteban had a severe phenotype and his sister and father had a very mild form. Esteban had a lot of hypertrophy, malignant ventricular arrhythmias, fatigue, Barriales notes. In fact, he had to be fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to restore his normal heart rhythm when he experienced arrhythmia. The ICD saved my brothers life. He didnt know about it, he thought it was syncope, but it wasnt. He has lived for six years thanks to the ICD, says Olalla. Now 43 years old, her disease still hasnt manifested. I havent had any symptoms. But since my children had a 50% chance of having the disease, I did the preimplantation genetic diagnosis and genetically my daughter is free of it now, she says with relief. Estebans daughter does not have the disease either. Searching for individual genetic variants Barriales recalls when Dr. Angel Raya, the coordinator of the Regenerative Medicine Program at Idibell, contacted him looking for patients with the same characteristics as the siblings, that is, carriers of the same mutation that causes the disease but with different manifestations of the ailment. The scientists wanted to find the individual genetic variants responsible for each of the pathological manifestations. And the siblings threw themselves headlong into the study: We always volunteer for everything. I did it out of blind trust in the whole [Barriales] team. Thanks to them, we have a serious disease under control, says Olalla. The idea was to use a heart model, with stem cells from Esteban and Olalla, to explain the symptomatic differences between the siblings. We had been generating models of genetically based diseases for some time using induced pluripotent cells, similar to those of patients. With organs like the brain or the heart, you cant take out a piece and study it, so we used this trick of creating stem cells and seeing how they work, explains Raya, the director of this project and a researcher at the Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies. Each sibling underwent a biopsy of the skin tissue and the cells obtained in the procedure were converted into stem cells, which can differentiate into any other type of cell. Using skin cells, which are taken from the buttocks, they were dedifferentiated into stem cells and then differentiated again into cardiomyocytes, which are heart cells, Barriales explains. Using gene-editing techniques like the CRISPR tool, the researchers tried to identify each siblings genetic variants and then removed them and put them into these heart models to see which ones cause a given symptom. With the specific variant that is only present in Estebans cells, the scientists saw that the cardiomyocytes contracted abnormally, they were hyperexcitable, says Raya. In subsequent tests with heart models, the researchers found that the brothers more severe symptoms could indeed be explained by the presence of this additional mutation. Led by Idibell and with the participation of CHUAC, Josep Trueta de Girona Hospital and the National Center for Cardiovascular Research, the study has been published in the Circulation Research journal. A much more accurate prognosis The Raya study has allowed us to answer the question of why the [disease] presents differently in this family. And that can also be done in other families to see which other variants of uncertain significance can modify the phenotype of the disease in a more severe one, reflects Barriales. The study sheds light on the prognosis of the disease and also opens the door for identifying potential therapeutic targets to find new drugs, the cardiologist adds. We know that Olallas disease will not present severely because she doesnt have the other variant, and we also know now that her prognosis will be good. In Estebans case, we do not have a genetic treatment to offer him, but he is [participating] in a trial for non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, using a drug that tries to take a little strength away from the heart so that it can function better, because excess strength does not allow the organ to relax well. Raya argues that, in effect, his studies open the door for therapies, but qualifies that this step will happen in the future. We are left with diagnosis and prognosis, he says, but he does not rule out the possibility of studying a collection of heart models with different mutations and testing the new drugs that are coming out. This is not the first time that science has modeled genetic diseases to solve some of their enigmas. It has already been done with Fanconi anemia and Parkinsons disease, the researcher explains. And although it is a promising strategy, he concedes that the approach also has its limitations. The main drawback is that a model is a simplified version of what you are modeling. If you need a lot of complexity, its very difficult to model it. And there are also diseases that require very mature cells and the cells we make are immature, says Raya. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Malavika Bhattacharya is an independent journalist who writes on travel, culture, and wildlife. She is on Instagram @malavikab. Views expressed are personal. Believers attend the Orthodox Christmas Eve service at a cathedral in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on January 6, 2024. Eleven people were killed Saturday in Russian shelling in Ukraines partially occupied Donetsk province, according to regional Gov. Vadym Filashkin. Five children were among the dead and eight further people were wounded in the attack on the Pokrovsk district, he said. Ukraines military claimed Saturday it successfully attacked the Saki military airbase in the west of the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. Saki airfield! All targets were hit! Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on Telegram. He also published a photo appearing to show the airfield, though it was not immediately possible to verify the image. Russian officials did not comment on the alleged attack, but Russias Defense Ministry said in the early hours of Saturday that it had successfully downed four Ukrainian missiles over the peninsula overnight. Later on Saturday, the ministry reported that its air defense forces had shot down six anti-ship missiles over the Black Sea. Traffic was temporarily suspended for a third straight day on a bridge connecting the peninsula, which Moscow seized illegally in 2014, with Russias southern Krasnodar region. The span is a crucial supply link for Russias war effort. In Russia, local officials in Belgorod some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the border with Ukraine said that an air target was shot down on approach to the city. Ukrainian attacks on Dec. 30 in Belgorod killed 25 people, officials there said, with rocket and drone attacks continuing throughout this week. As Russians prepared to celebrate Orthodox Christmas, Christmas Eve masses in Belgorod were canceled due to the operational situation, mayor Valentin Demidov said. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Department of Public Works director said the department is paying about $40,000 per pay period in bus drivers' overtime pay since some public schools have been sharing campuses. BC's Tales of the Pacific How to survive two nuclear bombs The war in the Gaza Strip has reached a dangerous peak of regional expansion that threatens to spread hostilities throughout the Middle East. Three months have passed since the start of the conflict, marked by the death of more than 22,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis, as well as the destruction of Gaza and the displacement of 90% of its 2.3 million inhabitants. Now, there are fears the conflict could spread to southern Lebanon after the assassination of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Aruri on Tuesday, and the closure of the strategic Red Sea route due to the attacks by Yemens Houthis on merchant ships. After four days of relative containment, Hezbollah considered the most powerful paramilitary organization in the Middle East fired more than 60 rockets from southern Lebanon early Saturday morning at an Israeli military intelligence observation post in Meron, as well as against other border areas in Metula and Margaliot. It was one of the most intense strike since the start of the war in Gaza, following the Hamas attacks on October 7. The pro-Iranian militia party defined the rocket barrage as a preliminary response to the death of Hamas second-in-command in a drone attack in Beirut. Hezbollah has accused Israel of the apparent selective strike, committed in one of the Shiite strongholds of the Lebanese capital, but the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu has not claimed responsibility for the action, which bears the stamp of the Israeli intelligence services. Hezbollahs leader, Shiite cleric Hasan Nasrallah, warned on Friday the attack on Al-Aruri would not go unanswered. Since October 7, he claims to have ordered 670 operations against Israel. In response to the Hezbollah attack on Saturday, the Israeli army launched artillery and drone attacks against Shiite militia positions in southern Lebanon where the rocket launch pads were located. This was Israels usual response, despite the large number of rockets fired. However, a few hours later, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched ground and air attacks against various Hezbollah positions in Ayta ash-Shab, Yaroun and Ramyah in southern Lebanon, according to a military statement. On Friday, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that Israel was in a very high state of alert on the border of Lebanon, and made reference to the 2006 Lebanon war, which killed 1,300 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 165 Israelis, almost all soldiers, in 33 days of fighting. Subsequently, 10,800 U.N. blue helmets from 40 countries were deployed to the border. U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrell, both called on Saturday for the conflict to be contained. During his visit to Greece, Blinken stated that Israel does not want escalation... but they also have to be fully prepared to defend themselves, in reference to the attacks by Hezbollah and Hamas. He also said that Turkey was prepared to use the relations it has with the critical actors in the region to de-escalate the conflict. We want to make sure that countries who feel that way are also using their ties, using their influence, using their relationships with some of the actors that might be involved to keep a lid on things, to make sure that were not seeing the spread of conflict, he said before flying to Jordan, as quoted by Reuters. Meanwhile, Borrell told reporters in Beirut that it is imperative to avoid a regional escalation in the Middle East, it is absolutely necessary to avoid Lebanon being dragged into a regional conflict, according to Spanish news agency Efe. He also sent a message to Israel: no one will emerge victorious from a regional conflict. Even war has laws, and there are international humanitarian laws that have to be respected. As I said many times; one horror does not justify another [one], he said in a press conference alongside Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. There must be another way to eradicate Hamas; another way that [does not] creates so many innocent people being killed. According to Israeli analyst Daniel Kupervaser, no side wants the attacks in the northern front to turn into a regional conflict. They are concerned about showing their presence on the ground, but they are avoiding overreaching, he points out. He sees Saturdays exchange of attacks as a good example. Hezbollah claimed it was retaliation for the killing of Al-Aruri, explains Kupervaser, knowing that their rockets were not going to cause significant damage. Other actors also operate on the northern front, such as Palestinian militias exiled in Lebanon, affiliated with both Hamas and the secular nationalist Fatah party. Since the beginning of hostilities in Gaza, at least 177 deaths have been recorded on the Lebanese border front: 13 in Israel (nine soldiers and four civilians) and 164 in Lebanon (127 members of Hezbollah, 16 members of Palestinian militias, a Lebanese soldier and 20 civilians, including three journalists), according to Efe. Israel has deployed more than 200,000 troops to its northern border, where more than 80,000 people have been evacuated due to hostilities. On the Lebanese side of the border, more than 70,000 civilians have been displaced from their homes. According to Amos Harel, defense correspondent for the newspaper Haaretz, Netanyahus decision to evacuate the towns closest to the Lebanese border, including Kiryat Shmona (60,000 inhabitants), which were later occupied by soldiers, allowed them to be attacked by Hezbollah, which considered them military targets. The exchanges of fire in the present format [of relative intensity] could last for some months, during which the Americans and the French will attempt to achieve a diplomatic settlement, he wrote in an article on Friday. This is without noting the possibility that a tough response by Hezbollah to Arouris death will set the sides on a track of miscalculations that will engender sharp escalation. Netanyahu refuses ceasefire Amid the usual instability that plagues the Middle East, famine is looming inexorably over hundreds of thousands of civilians crowded together in the southern Gaza Strip. Malnutrition and disease will decimate the child population if not urgently remedied. But no ceasefire is in sight. Netanyahu said Saturday night that he will not end the war until all objectives are achieved. Three months ago, Hamas committed a terrible massacre, he said in a statement, the government ordered the army to go to war to eliminate Hamas, take back our hostages and ensure that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel. The prime minister warned that there will be no immunity for Hamas. Despite Netanyahus ardor for war, the IDF have entered the so-called Phase 3 of the war, which involves the demobilization of the reservist units that have fought in Gaza and an operations strategy focused on very specific objectives. Late on Saturday, IDF spokesman Hagari said that the Israeli army had completed the dismantling of the military framework in northern Gaza and was now focusing its operations in the center and south of Gaza. Gazans, meanwhile, continue to die in a war that is on track to exceed 100 days. At least 122 people lost their lives between midday Friday and Saturday, according to data released by the Gazas Ministry of Health, which is controlled by Hamas. Most of the victims were women and children. Until the release of the 136 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, presumably in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners charged with security offenses, Israel will not end hostilities or allow the mass return of displaced persons to their homes or what remains of them in the north of the Gaza Strip. In the three months of the war, 175 Israeli soldiers have been killed in combat, while Israel claims it has killed 8,000 Hamas militiamen. Benny Gantz, former Israeli Minister of Defense and a member of the emergency government formed for the war, recognized two months ago that his country is fighting a multi-front war. We are fighting both in the north and in the south, warned Gantz, who led the previous large-scale conflict in the Palestinian strip in 2014 as general chief of staff. The attacks against Israel, mostly by militias and armed groups associated with Iran, extend from the borders of Lebanon and Syria to the Red Sea. On this southern front, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, the head of Yemens Houthi supreme revolutionary committee, told the BBC on Friday that any country that is involved in the U.S-led international coalition in the Red Sea will lose its maritime security and be targeted. The main international shipping companies are already avoiding passage through the Red Sea towards the Suez Canal and have been forced to follow longer routes bordering Africa. Houthi supporters commemorate fighters killed by the U.S. Navy, in Sanaa, Yemen. KHALED ABDULLAH (REUTERS) Since last November, Yemeni rebels have launched attacks on ships bound for Israel or with Israeli owners. They have also attacked the southern tip of Israeli territory: the port city of Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba, where the Jewish state has an outlet to the Red Sea. The launch of suicide drones and cruise and ballistic missiles from Yemen has redoubled the threat of pro-Iranian forces against Israel, which is using the new Arrow missile defense system to protect itself. This is the most advanced rocket shield it has at its disposal. We are facing a new type of multifront war, Yossi Kuperwasser, who was head of the intelligence research division of the IDF, recently stated. This analyst believes that Irans allies have been exerting more pressure as part of a simultaneous operation of the Shiite forces. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition It seems they want to send us to the Egyptian Sinai. I have also read that there are Israeli ministers who want to exterminate all of us, or who want to turn Gaza into a huge car park. I dont know whats going to come next. Salah Ahmed sighs in anguish on the other end of the phone. Since October 7, the 41-year-old father and his three children, aged between eight and 15, have had to move house three times to save their lives after their home in Gaza City was bombed. Now they are in Rafah, at the southern end of the Gaza Strip, where according to the United Nations there are more than a million people, in a region where about 250,000 previously lived. And every day more families are arriving as they flee bombings in areas further north. Everything is crowded, there is not a square meter without people. It is unimaginable. And the number of displaced people continues to grow, Samir Zaqut, from the Palestinian NGO Al Mezan, explains by phone from Rafah, before his story is interrupted by a very loud bang. They are bombing something nearby, he explains, with little surprise. People in Rafah no longer have a place to sleep and end up spending the night on the street, covered in plastic, not even in tents. People are sick and very weak. They are killing us, even without bombing us. It is awful. And we dont have any option, he adds. As the head of U.N. humanitarian operations, Martin Griffiths, denounced on Friday, Gaza has become simply uninhabitable, a place of death and despair, where people are witnessing daily threats to their very existence while the world watches on. It is difficult to find anyone in Gaza who has not been forced to leave their home at least once in the last three months. According to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA, 1.9 million people, that is, 85% of the population of Gaza, have been forcibly displaced. Rafah, facing the Egyptian border and the sea, is the last place they can flee to. The town has been saved for now from the massive bombings, but the living conditions of so many people in such a small place are difficult to imagine: an overcrowded city flooded with tents and makeshift shelters, with hungry and sick people and children barefoot despite the cold and rain, where it is difficult to get food and clean water, and fear of the future is further dampening spirits. No one knows what comes next. The Israelis want to displace all or almost all Gazans, but Im not sure they can do either. Maybe that is why there is hope for negotiation, says Zaqut. Since October 7 when Israeli began bombing Gaza following the Hamas attack which killed 1,200 Israelis more than 22,000 Palestinians have died violently, and at least 7,000 are under the rubble, according to figures from the Gaza Ministry of Health. controlled by the Islamist movement. Seventy percent of the victims are women and children. Displaced Palestinians shelter in a tent camp in Rafah, on January 3, 2024. IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA (REUTERS) Survival Najwa, who does not want to give her full name, left her home in central Gaza 15 days ago and settled in Rafah, with her husband and three children, in the home of her son-in-laws family. I dont even know how I am, to be honest. Its as if all my feelings are frozen. My priority is to survive today and I dont think about anything else, only in that we get through the day and stay alive, she explains via WhatsApp. The family, crammed into a small apartment, struggles every day to find food and water. We found only some basic things: there is no fruit, the only vegetables for sale are tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants, there are no biscuits or coffee for sale and meat is practically impossible to find and pay for, says Najwa. Zaqut adds that each small act of daily life takes hours and requires a supreme effort. Nothing works. You have to make bread because it is difficult to find a bakery, but flour costs six or seven times more, like all basic foods. And when you get it, it turns out that there is no gas either, so you have to make a fire. But, there is no water either, and we have to walk an hour to get a gallon, because there are no vehicles nor space to drive on many streets in Rafah, he explains. Despite everything, they are both aware that their families are privileged, because they have a roof over their heads and minimal hygiene. There are a lot of people outside and there are no tents or blankets for everyone. People are hungry and cold in Rafah, says Najwa. And no one knows what is coming next. They are pushing us to the limit. Maybe they will throw us into the Sinai afterward. Everyone is waiting, no one knows anything, we only hear horrible rumors, she says. While in October and November the majority of Gazans interviewed insisted that they wanted to stay in Gaza and return home as soon as possible, as occurred in the previous offensives, this message has changed as the bombings intensified. I want someone to get me out of here. Do you think people want to stay in the middle of all this destruction and after having lost so much? asks Najwa. Furthermore, a huge part of the people crammed into Rafah no longer have anywhere to return to. We lived in the United Kingdom because my wife had a scholarship to do a doctorate, but a year ago we wanted to return to Gaza. It is the land of our fathers and ours. But now we no longer have a house and I just hope that Rafah is not massively attacked and this ends. My little eight-year-old son cant even go to the bathroom alone and barely sleeps. I just want them to see their mother again, but the hardest thing is that I cant do anything for them, explains Ahmed. The war surprised his wife in Europe, alone and pregnant with their fourth child, while she was arranging the documents to finish her doctorate remotely in Gaza. Perhaps when the Israeli army thinks it has finished in our areas, they will order us to return to our destroyed homes. I dont even know what state mine is in, explains Talal, a primary school teacher in the Jabalia refugee camp who is currently displaced in Rafah, asking that his full name not be given. Inability to save lives Even if the situation remains [the same], Rafah is no longer viable. It is like an immense camp where the situation is impossible to describe and imagine. If we dont manage to stop this, other social norms for survival are going to start breaking down, and its going to be devastating, because people cant move anymore, because they are at the border. An immediate and sustained ceasefire is needed, Nicholas Papachrysostomou, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), who spent five weeks in the south of the Gaza Strip between November and December, stresses in an interview with this newspaper. Papachrysostomou recalled, for example, that he witnessed the looting of an NGO truck by a group of Gazans, who apologized for their actions, but explained that they were very starving. It is very difficult to understand the magnitude, severity and continuity of the attacks that the population of Gaza is experiencing. It is also surprising that the entire international community has been observing this for three months and is watching it as a movie happening before our eyes, and we are not able to achieve a ceasefire, he adds. In mid-December, MSF managed to reopen the Al Shaboura clinic in Rafah, where it provides primary care thanks to local and expatriate staff, and was able to bring 50 tons of medical supplies into the Gaza Strip. In one week we saw 1,500 patients. What were these people doing before? Where, for example, did the children with diarrhea that we treated go? asks Papachrysostomou. According to UNICEF, cases of diarrhea in children under five years of age increased worryingly in Gaza in mid-December, when some 3,200 new cases were recorded per day, compared to the 2,000 per month that were identified before this spike. Child health in the Gaza Strip is fast deteriorating, the U.N. agency warned. The MSF emergency coordinator also explained that there is currently no post-operative service in Gaza to provide treatment or manage pain, due to lack of staff and resources, and that his clinic is receiving patients with very complicated medical conditions, such as serious infections in wounds and burns that can lead to death. In addition, due to overcrowding, lack of hygiene and correct nutrition, and the cold, one out of every two patients received at this medical center currently suffers from acute respiratory infections, according to Papachrysostomou. The WHO reported that of Gazas 36 hospitals, only 13 are partially functioning, with some offering very few services. Those that are still operational lack everything: personnel, beds, anesthesia, antibiotics, fuel and water. I cannot forget the faces of my colleagues from Gaza. Livid before the tragedy and saddened by the material inability to save more lives. Gaza is a black hole, we cannot talk about a humanitarian response, but rather a trickle of aid in an ocean of enormous needs, insists Papachrysostomou. What I experienced during the five weeks I spent in Gaza is punishment for people who do not talk about politics and who have nothing to do with Hamas, he concludes. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Tragedy strikes as sawdust landslide claims lives of a Mutasa teenager and her infant niece In a devastating incident at Wattle Companys Nyanga Pine Estate, a young teenager from Mutasa and her four-month-old niece tragically lost their lives when their house was engulfed by a sawdust landslide. The catastrophe occurred a week ago, following a week of heavy rains that had battered the province. Upon visiting the scene, The Manica Post discovered the remnants of the house buried beneath a layer of burnt sawdust, a grim aftermath of the landslide. Only a two-roomed blair toilet remained standing amidst the destruction. Mrs Victoria Jakazi, the managing director of Wattle Company, expressed deep sorrow over the incident during an interview at the site. She confirmed that the bodies of 17-year-old Perpetua Muzingembuya and her infant niece were swiftly retrieved after the house was obliterated by the landslide. Mrs Jakazi stated, This is a sad incident and we have since evacuated everyone from the compound village that has been there since the 1990s. We have never experienced such an incident before and we are commiserating with the grieving family. The company has also pledged to cover all funeral expenses, offering support during this difficult time. The compound village, which had housed approximately 100 individuals, has been evacuated to Selbourne Primary School while they await relocation. Mutasas Acting District Development Coordinator, Mr Tedious Beto, confirmed the evacuation and assured that efforts were underway to provide assistance to the survivors and facilitate their relocation. Anna Bhero, a survivor of the tragic incident, shared the harrowing experience, revealing that they lost property worth thousands of dollars due to the landslide. She sadly added that even the salvaged belongings were rendered unusable. As the community grapples with this heart-wrenching loss, efforts are being made to extend support to those affected and to ensure their well-being. Breaking News via Email War veterans face prosecution for illegal invasion of former ambassadors sons farm A group of war veterans from Mashonaland West in Zimbabwe is now facing legal action after allegedly invading a farm owned by Tirivafi Kangai, the son of Zimbabwes former ambassador to the United Nations. The war veterans, who are associated with the Zvimba East Veterans Investment Company (Zevic), have been accused of unlawfully parcelling out housing stands at Penrose Farm, located west of Nyabira Township. Kangai has been engaged in a lengthy battle to regain control of the 251-hectare farm ever since it was taken over by the war veterans, led by individuals identified as Cde Mike Chingadzo, Cde Clifford Rutsate, Cde Fanuel, Cde Cornelius Muwoni, Cde Joel Mazhambe, and Cde Joe Chimhonyo, who are reportedly the directors of Zevic. Police records obtained by Standard People indicate that the accused individuals invaded the farm, established roads, demarcated residential stands, installed a borehole, and erected wooden cabins that they are currently using as offices. Furthermore, they have been advertising and selling residential stands to unsuspecting buyers, accepting payments ranging from US$3,600 to US$16,000. These actions are in direct violation of section 63 of the Land Commission Act Chapter 20:29, which pertains to the purported alienation of gazetted or other state land. The Zevic directors are scheduled to appear in Chinhoyi magistrate court on February 6 to face charges related to their illegal activities on the farm. The sale of housing stands without proper authorization has caused significant disruption for Kangai, who had plans to invest in the property and had already begun securing it with permanent fencing and installing center pivots. This invasion has caused further delays and complications in his farming projects. Last year, the Zvimba Rural District Council issued a statement warning the public against purchasing residential stands from the war veterans, emphasizing that the land development in question was illegal. The council made it clear that anyone claiming to sell residential stands on the property was doing so unlawfully. Zanu PF, the ruling party, recently distanced itself from individuals using its name to illegally occupy urban farms and sell housing stands to home seekers. The government and police have also expressed their determination to take stern action against illegal land occupation. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges surrounding land ownership and illegal activities in Zimbabwe, particularly the encroachment on private properties and the unlawful sale of residential stands. As the legal proceedings unfold, the affected parties hope for a resolution that upholds the rule of law and protects property rights. Breaking News via Email Suspects arrested in unlawful entry and theft cases, Mukuru employee disappears with US$15,181 In Norton, law enforcement authorities have apprehended Obey Katsande (21) and Tinashe Andrea (23) in connection with an unlawful entry and theft case. The pair is believed to have broken into the OK Katanga shop, making off with a range of items. Among the recovered items are a laptop, a laptop charger, 39 packets of cigarettes, a travelling bag, a satchel, a Lenovo tablet, and two cell phones. In a separate incident, Harare police have successfully arrested Regobert Joseph (23), who had been wanted in relation to an unlawful entry and theft case that took place in Mabvuku back in January 2021. Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is seeking information about the whereabouts of Blessed Chanetsa (23), an employee of Mukuru. Chanetsa went missing with a sum of US$15,181 that was intended for disbursement to clients in Kariba on January 1, 2024. The police urge anyone with information regarding Chanetsas location to promptly report it to the nearest police station. Breaking News via Email Bill Beck Democratic state representative, happy warrior Ask people what they remember about Bill Beck and usually the first thought is his laugh. Bill lit up every single room he walked into. From the halls of the state legislature to the Beck Law office and countless neighborhood events in East Nashville, Inglewood, Madison and beyond, the laugh was ever-present and will never be forgotten. Carson W. Bill Beck was a true local, from Madison and Whites Creek. Rep. Beck served in the Tennessee Air National Guard and was a graduate of University School of Nashville, Belmont University and the Nashville School of Law. He practiced law with his mother and shared an office with his dad and brother, who had a real estate business. He was a wonderful father to Meredith and husband to Pam. His mantra was people, not politics. In his nine years of service in the Tennessee House of Representatives, he was known as someone who would reach across the aisle and get things done. Rep. Beck was one of the most prolific legislators of either party, despite his status in the Democratic superminority. Because of his positive demeanor in the face of such adversity, former Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini dubbed him the happy warrior. We will miss our happy warrior so dearly. A wonderful man and Nashvillian, gone too soon. Anthony Davis & David Bone Seth Norman Criminal court judge, veteran, father of the states recovery court system Seth Norman served as a criminal court judge in Nashville from 1990 until his 2018 retirement. While a judge, Norman established the Davidson County Drug Court, considered one of the first recovery courts in the country. According to the state court system, he is the father of the states recovery court system, which now includes 82 recovery courts. A Nashville native, Norman left Vanderbilt University to enlist in the U.S. Air Force, with which he served as a navigator in the Korean War and around the world. He earned his law license after graduating from the Nashville School of Law. He served as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and was a delegate to the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Prior to his election as judge, Norman worked in private practice with his father Jack Norman Sr. He died in September at age 89. Stephen Elliott Don Sundquist Governor, executive, member of the old guard Late this summer, Gov. Bill Lee announced the death of former Gov. Don Sundquist. At age 87, the two-term governor was 20 years out of the limelight. His passing was an immediate tragedy he leaves behind a wife, two kids and three grandchildren and a tidy metaphor for the conservative generation thats come since Sundquist left the governors mansion in 2003. It was Sundquist, a Republican, whose prudent push for a state income tax launched Marsha Blackburn then a state representative into Tennessees populist stratosphere. Colleagues and political opponents remember Sundquist for his willingness to put policy ahead of politics. Others remember him for a relatively stable seven years, including his abolition of the states corrupt Public Service Commission, followed by a turbulent eighth year when his office became embroiled in its own scandal involving a $100 million no-bid contract to Nashville businessman Al Ganier that prompted federal indictments. Before his reign as governor, Sundquist swiped a congressional seat from incumbent Bob Clement, a Democrat, just after districts were redrawn after the 1980 Census. In the last statewide election before he died, Sundquist saw a young Andy Ogles do the same to Jim Cooper in Nashville. Parties change, but politics doesnt. Eli Motycka Tom Hensley Lobbyist, volunteer, Golden Goose In 1975, Tom Hensley, a powerful liquor lobbyist known as the Golden Goose, testified in a legislative committee that he provided free bottles of whiskey to any member of the General Assembly who wanted one, reads an excerpt from Joel Ebert and Erik Schelzigs Welcome to Capitol Hill, released this year. The revelation came as little surprise to insiders, but the brazen confirmation of free booze flowing to lawmakers shocked the public. Hensleys testimony came after Lt. Gov. John Wilder formed a three-member committee to look into allegations that two state senators had been offered bribes in exchange for voting in favor of a liquor price-fixing law. As Schelzig later put it for the Tennessee Journal, Hensley was a throwback to the old days of lobbying a suit-wearing, cigar-chomping fixture at the Capitol. A native of Jackson, Tenn., Hensley started out working the hospitality suite at the Hermitage Hotel before landing gigs as a lobbyist for Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Tennessee and others. Hensley was also an avid outdoorsman and longtime commissioner for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and a board member for the Miss America Pageant, later becoming the first person inducted into the Miss America Academy of Honor. A husband, father and grandfather, Hensley died in January at age 80. D. Patrick Rodgers Fred W. Lazenby Life insurance executive, political fundraiser, philanthropist Fred Lazenby whom everyone knew as Ted was born and raised in Chattanooga. But he was so Old Nashville that his first job after graduating from Vanderbilt and serving in the U.S. Army in Europe was with the National Life and Accident Insurance Co., owner of the Grand Ole Opry and its broadcast radio station WSM until the early 1980s. (Fun fact: The motto of National Life was, We shield millions or WSM.) Lazenbys start with the life insurance company was humble he went door to door making his pitch to sell policies but in 1980 he was named president, the youngest to achieve the office. When National Life was acquired by American General, Lazenby founded Southlife Holding Co. In his retirement, he applied his financial expertise to his passion for politics and served as finance chair for Sen. Fred Thompsons election campaign, Tennessee finance chairman for George W. Bushs 2000 presidential campaign and four years later, deputy chair for the 2004 Bush-Cheney reelection campaign. Lazenby was founding chairman of the board for the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. He and his wife of 30 years, Gigi, were a prominent couple in Nashville philanthropy. Kay West Roy Herron Faith leader, attorney, politician, father Writer, father, teacher, faith leader, political leader and candidate Roy Herron was known to be prolific in just about everything he did. Herron went from the state legislature where he represented West Tennessee, including his native Dresden to chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party, to a Nashville law firm with his wife, the Rev. Nancy Miller-Herron, and their son Ben. Throughout, he racked up endurance competitions, political memorabilia and friends, who packed the Nashville Farmers Market for his celebration of life earlier this year. Herron passed away in July at age 69 from injuries sustained in a jet ski accident, a shock to his family and the states political community. Eli Motycka Richard Dinkins Judge, legal expert Richard Dinkins was first appointed as a judge on the Tennessee Court of Appeals in 2008 by then-Gov. Phil Bredesen. He was the first Black judge on the court. Previously he served on the Davidson County Chancery Court and practiced law, including with Avon Williams Jr. Judge Richard Dinkins was an outstanding jurist and a credit to Tennessee, Judge Melissa Blackburn wrote on Facebook. I will miss working with him, particularly on projects that reflected his passion for making the practice of law accessible and exciting for young people. Added Davidson County Register of Deeds Karen Johnson: This great man was a gentle and affectionate friend who graciously shared his deep knowledge, experience and wisdom with everyone who sought guidance. Dinkins decided not to seek another term on the Court of Appeals in 2022. He died in October at age 71. Stephen Elliott Jan Bushing Community builder Jan Bushings life of community building was impressively rich and varied, as she served her state, her city and her neighborhood in various capacities throughout her life. The Nashville native attended West High School and Vanderbilts Peabody College before working in biomedical research at the Tennessee Neuropsychiatric Institute. In 1975 she founded the Hillsboro-West End Neighborhood Association, and her time as a chair and board member allowed her to leave one of her most visible legacies in the city: She helped spearhead the construction of the beloved Dragon sculpture that stands watch at Fannie Mae Dees Park near Vanderbilt in 1981, and she led a 2018 restoration effort to preserve the sculpture for generations to come. Bushings passion for service extended far beyond her own neighborhood. She chaired the Metro Nashville Planning Commission for 16 years, represented Nashville in the Tennessee House of Representatives for one term and served for more than 25 years in the Tennessee Department of Education, working to expand pre-K and preschool education options as the director of school-based support services. From helping construct a friendly neighborhood mascot in her own community to influencing education statewide, Bushing helped shape the childhoods of so many people she never met. Cole Villena Avi Poster Activist, educator, friend There is a cruel irony in losing Avi Poster in 2023. After a decorated career as an educator in Chicago, the tireless activist relocated in 2001 to Nashville, where he furthered issues of social and economic justice as a vocal and visible leader in Nashvilles Jewish community. Poster died in January at age 78. His work spanned the Metro Council where he served as a district councilmember nonprofit boards, city commissions, fundraisers, marches, protests and Noshville, the citys self-styled New York delicatessen. He moved fluidly between community meetings, congregations and local politics, fortifying Nashville against discrimination and injustice in its many forms and challenging others to do the same. Eli Motycka Ward DeWitt Jr. Attorney, state representative, veteran Ward DeWitt was a prominent lawyer in Tennessee and a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1955 to 1956. Before his time as a lawyer he was a partner at Trabue, Sturdivant and DeWitt he served in the Navy, signing up during World War II but never facing battle. He did, however, witness a test explosion of two atomic bombs near Bikini Island. His time as a lawyer included a stint as a court liaison helping manage dozens of lawsuits in the wake of the Waverly train explosion in 1978, resulting in a settlement paid to victims. (DeWitt noted that while the undisclosed sum was large, many victims sustained serious injuries, and 16 people died in the blast.) DeWitt was an avid outdoorsman and a lover of history who also served as the Tennessee Historical Commissions chair from 1997 to 2003. He died in April at age 93. Alejandro Ramirez Kathleen Harkey Tireless advocate for children Kathleen Harkey was a champion for children, for her church community and for reproductive health care. A Yellowhammer State native who held degrees from both Auburn University and the University of Alabama and later an MBA from Vanderbilt University Harkey arrived in Nashville with her husband John Harkey and quickly set about serving her community as education director at Planned Parenthood. She left a mark on the city as director of development at Nashville Public Television before the birth of her children, Kate and Wil, led her to public education advocacy work. She was a driving force in the formation of the nonprofit day care Cooperative Child Care, and she advocated for Paideia education in Nashvilles schools. She spent six years as a Metro Nashville Public Schools board member, and she advocated for gun safety reform with Moms Demand Action, tirelessly working for safer schools and communities. A family obituary published in The Tennessean notes that Harkeys passion for social advocacy was initially sparked through early experiences in her church community, and she was a devoted member of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville until the end of her life. Wrote one friend on a memorial page: This world is a little less powerful and fierce without Kathleen in it. Cole Villena AI allowing globalists to construct worldwide surveillance PRISON from which there is no escape Even if you are not particularly tech savvy and make an effort to avoid more invasive modern technology such as Amazon's Ring doorbell spying device or the company's always-listening Alexa speaker system, chances are that artificial intelligence (AI) systems somewhere out there already know who you are and have the ability to track your location at any moment. The AI revolution in surveillance has been happening all around us for years, and is being sold to the public as "convenience" and "safety." If computers are always watching what takes place in the world, then there will theoretically be no more crimes and the world will be well and safe or will it? "You can try to run, and you can try to hide, but if they really want to find you it won't be very difficult," writes Michael Snyder for End of the American Dream. "All around us, a global surveillance prison is being constructed." "Even if you completely stay off the Internet and you totally avoid all forms of modern technology, cameras and satellites will still be endlessly watching you. And once your face has been identified, artificial intelligence can be used to locate you wherever you pop up on the entire planet." (Related: Did you know that The New York Times is suing Microsoft and OpenAI for artificial intelligence copyright infringement?) AI to run deep state wars for profit In a recent interview with NPR, Corey Jaskolski, CEO of Synthetaic, an artificial intelligence company, explained how modern AI systems "really can find anything you want anywhere in the world." Jaskolski spoke about an "AI revolution in surveillance" that is expanding upon the surveillance technologies that came before it, including the ever-present camera systems that watch over cities, businesses, and even people's homes. "That footage has mainly been stored locally," the interview host explained, noting that prior to AI there had to be human eyes looking over all the footage. "Not anymore." "AI systems can now hunt for a van in a city, scan license plates and even faces in real time." Jaskolski's company is currently developing these types of systems for all sorts of uses, including environmentally to track large livestock operations and their global release of greenhouse gas emissions. "We've run searches, as an example, across the entire eastern seaboard of Russia for ships, and we can find every ship in a few minutes," Jaskolski bragged. "It's pretty remarkable." The fact that AI can do this type of thing in a battlefield setting is precisely why big government intelligence agencies are scrambling to adopt as much of it as they can get their hands on because when computers do all the work, the globalists no longer have to do it themselves. Synthetaic recently launched what its website describes as "a five-year strategic partnership agreement with Microsoft." That agreement involves Microsoft providing Synthetaic with "nearly [one] million hours (about 114 years) of cloud compute resources." "This strategic collaboration will unlock a new era of possibilities in computer vision and data analysis, with a wide range of benefits across defense and intelligence, commercial, and non-government agency applications," the website states. We also now know that AI has made it possible for the watchers who are spying on the world to seamlessly connect everyone's online activities with their offline activities. "Like I said, there is nowhere to run and there is nowhere to hide," Snyder warns. "Of course, most of us willingly hand them vast troves of personal information about ourselves anyway." The latest news about the AI takeover of the world can be found at Transhumanism.news. Sources for this article include: EndOfTheAmericanDream.com NaturalNews.com NPR.org AP frames LGBTQ school shooter as a victim (Article by Steve Watson republished from Modernity.news) Yes really. The shooting at Perry High School in Iowa claimed the life of a sixth grader and injured several others. It quickly emerged that the now deceased shooter, 17-year-old Dylan Butler, had a social media footprint showing he identified as trans nonbinary. The mass shooter at Perry High has been identified as Dylan Butler It appears that the shooter was an online LGBTQ activist & part of the community Watch the story disappear in 3.. 2.. 1.. pic.twitter.com/loVfxgsfGI End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 4, 2024 According to his Instagram bio, the trans genderfluid terrorist who shot up a school in Iowa today, killing 1 and injuring 5 others, used the pronouns he/they. More trans violence. #Transtifa pic.twitter.com/58V5d062fQ Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 4, 2024 BREAKING: About 2 years ago the trans genderfluid terrorist who shot up a school today posted something unhinged on Instagram. A comment read school shooter and the shooter liked it. What are the chances he was known to police and has a LONG history of mental illness and pic.twitter.com/2rRCbup7hc Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 4, 2024 Iowa shooters post with the hashtag #genderfluid and the trans flag. He also had the LGBT flag in his bio. Heres the video where he acted out a shooting exchange where he shot someone dead https://t.co/CkjbKRl9kA aka (@akafacehots) January 4, 2024 The social media footprint then started to mysteriously disappear from the internet and the reframing of the narrative began. TikTok just scrubbed the account of the LGBTQ+ mass shooter in Perry: pic.twitter.com/93XzHwoc7Y End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 4, 2024 The AP published a piece with the headline He got tired of the bullying, classmates say of shooter, and detailed how Butler had been bullied relentlessly since elementary school. The formatting of the image and the ridiculous cover for a murderer made me skeptical if the AP actually printed this bile, but of course they did. MSN post of the AP article below. Insane.https://t.co/kKHwgvsCrl Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) January 5, 2024 AP believes that the trans shooter in Perry deserves our sympathy. pic.twitter.com/2fohJ3yCcq End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 5, 2024 Others expressed sympathy for the child murderer: These are the types of posts that come out when the shooter is lgbt @LizzyBPemberlypic.twitter.com/YVcszOGiXB MSG (@MIAMISPORTSGOD) January 4, 2024 The Advocate, a long running LGBT outlet, asserts that right wingers are gleeful that the shooter may have been LGBTQ+ just because some pointed out that there is a recurring pattern and clear mental health problem here that is being encouraged by the media, government and society in general. This is happening a lot. Something is deeply wrong. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 5, 2024 Are we really surprised when trans-identifying people (and allies) violently lash out considering they're told DAILY by media & our government that they're victims of genocide? As long as they continue to be told they're being oppressed, these acts will only increase. https://t.co/PM3srnixAM Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) January 4, 2024 LGBT more than twice as likely to have 'mental issues' compared to heterosexuals. Around 25% of them are on anti-depressants. Big reason why they're overrepresented in mass shootings. Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) January 4, 2024 While other school shootings are in the media for weeks, coverage of this one has already pretty much ceased. Remember when a mentally ill dude shot up a school in Iowa and then he turned out to be trans and the story disappeared? Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 5, 2024 Read more at: Modernity.news Pedo island: The corrupt system that created Jeffrey Epstein survives his downfall is an Australian journalist and former media lawyer, whose work has been published in The Australian, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, the Sunday Mail, the Spectator and Quadrant. (Article republished from RT.com) An American court this week released over 900 documents relating to the sordid and seemingly never-ending Jeffrey Epstein saga. Epstein was the very well-connected billionaire financial adviser with a fondness for being massaged by teenage girls from Miami trailer parks who committed suicide (so it is said) in a Manhattan prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The Western media had, of course, conferred celebrity status on Epstein in tandem with his lover and partner in crime, Ghislaine Maxwell, long before his controversial and opportune death. Maxwell, no stranger to scandal in her own right, is the daughter of disgraced billionaire publisher Robert Maxwell - who committed suicide in 1991 on the eve of being exposed for having stolen hundreds of millions of pounds from his companies pension funds. Epstein was one of Robert Maxwells financial advisers, and when Ghislaine moved to New York after her fathers death, they became romantically involved. She needed and valued his financial advice, and he was impressed with her wide range of social connections within elite circles globally that extended even to the British royal family. Maxwell herself is now residing in an American jail cell having been convicted of sex trafficking and procuring young girls for Epstein in 2021, and receiving a twenty-year sentence. Ironically, Epstein and Maxwell were brought down by one of the young girls that they exploited sexually an Australian, Virginia Giuffre, who pursued them both relentlessly through the American legal system. Giuffre also took legal proceedings against the hapless Prince Andrew a close friend of Epstein and Maxwell with whom she says she was forced to have sex on numerous occasions that resulted in a multi-million dollar out-of-court settlement and the Princes banishment from public life two years ago. The inherently salacious nature of the long-running Epstein tale and its #MeToo subtext no doubt account for the Western medias ongoing fascination with Epstein and Maxwell. But there is also another factor at work a desire to expose and bring down those individual members of the global elites who associated with Epstein and were beneficiaries of his hospitality and largesse. There is, however, an element of political naivety in this after all, havent Western elites always sexually exploited young girls from the lower orders? More importantly, surely the widespread fraudulent financial activities of these powerful individuals and the corporations they govern are more deserving of exposure? It should come as no surprise that a clever and ambitious spiv like Epstein (who did not come from a privileged background and was a teacher before becoming a financial adviser to the global elites) should also regularly supply his clients with young working-class women at his private residences. Media coverage of this weeks document release and there are more releases to come has therefore focused on the identity of those prominent individuals who are named in the pleadings, depositions, and exhibits that have now been disclosed. Not surprisingly, former President Bill Clinton figures prominently having regularly flown on Epsteins private jet and stayed on his private island in the Caribbean. One document quotes Epstein as saying Clinton likes them young. Slick Willie as he was known to his political opponents in Arkansas has, of course, denied any improper conduct and any knowledge of Epsteins trafficking in young girls. Who would not believe Bill Clintons denials on such matters? So convincing have they been that not even Hilary has felt the need to come out and support him publically. Famous American lawyer and academic Alan Dershowitz receives numerous mentions in the documents including one allegation that he had sex with an underage girl while staying with Epstein. Dershowitz, who acted for Epstein and obtained a favourable plea bargain for him in relation to sex charges that he faced in 2008, has strongly denied this allegation. He admits, however, that he often visited Epsteins residences and that on one occasion had a massage but denies any impropriety or knowledge of Epsteins egregious misconduct. Dershowitzs denials are strengthened by the fact that he sued Giuffre over allegations that she made about him a few years ago, and she settled the action after admitting that she may have mistaken Dershowitz for someone else. Prince Andrew, again not surprisingly, figures very conspicuously in the released documents but his very close association with Epstein and Maxwell is old news, as is his liaison with Ms Giuffre and his subsequent denial of it. Michael Jackson is mentioned once in the documents although it is very unlikely that he committed any sexual impropriety while enjoying Epsteins hospitality. The documents make absolutely clear that only young women were on offer at Epsteins residences. Donald Trump is also mentioned in passing but it is a matter of public record that Trumps relationship with Epstein ended decades ago. Of more interest are those members of the global elites with lesser public profiles who are mentioned in the documents. These individuals include Tom Pritzker, billionaire head of the Pritzker Organisation and Executive Chairman of Hyatt Hotels; Glenn Dubin, billionaire investor and co-founder of Highbridge Capital; Marvin Minsky, AI pioneer and MIT Professor; and Bill Richardson, former Governor of New Mexico, where Epstein had one of his homes. In the documents, Ms. Giuffre alleges she had sex with Pritzker, Dubin, and Minsky, who died in 2016. Pritzker has denied Giuffres allegation. No doubt, the release of the Epstein documents this week and the subsequent releases will be front-page news in the Western media. Details of the sexual crimes allegedly committed by Epstein and his friends will be salaciously pored over by readers excited by such scandals, and the reputations of a few individual participants will be so damaged that they will not be invited to Davos next year. But the corrupt financial system that created Epstein and allowed him to prosper he had amassed a fortune of $700 million will continue to operate completely unchecked and beyond effective scrutiny. And even at the level of exposing those individuals who exploited the young girls that Epstein supplied them with most will simply escape unscathed. Portions of many of the documents released this week are redacted, and only Epstein and Maxwell know the names of all the elite individuals who were actually involved in their activities. Epstein is conveniently dead, and Maxwell has remained silent on this issue throughout her trial and incarceration - a wise move, perhaps given Epsteins fate. Media coverage of the Epstein saga in the West purports to be investigative journalism but its defects disclose the real scandal, namely that genuine investigative journalism no longer exists in the West. Read more at: RT.com Report: Democrats dominate 2023 Congressional stock returns, earning huge gains from insider trading that would land anybody else in prison A recent report by a popular finance account on X, formerly Twitter, came out revealing that Congress Democrats dominated trading stocks as well as their year-to-date returns. According to the study, of 100 trading members, 33 percent beat SPY with their portfolios, with Democrats overcoming their Republican colleagues by a massive margin. Members of Congress are required to disclose their finances through financial disclosure forms that are filed annually and every time they or their families make a trade. These forms, which are available through the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, are a key tool for promoting "ethical conduct" in Congress and an important effort to promote "integrity and transparency" in the legislative branch of the government. The report of Unusual Whales analyzed data obtained from the disclosure forms published from 2020 to December 31, 2023. Congress typically files over ten thousand financial transactions each year and the year 2023 was no different with around 11,000 transactions filed. However, at the time of writing the report, the past year had the least transactions filed compared to previous pandemic years, mainly due to House Representatives filing fewer financial transactions. Politicians have up to 45 days to disclose transactions, though there are cases where transactions are filed years later with seemingly no penalty. This delay means that at the time of compiling this report, perhaps not all disclosures for 2023 have been published. ?BREAKING? I have just released the full report on politicians trading in 2023. Like every year since 2020, US politicians beat the market. And many in Congress made unusually timed trades resulting in huge gains. Here are the top performers of 2023. pic.twitter.com/ykf9VICsBw unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) January 2, 2024 House Republicans filed much less than their Democrat colleagues. Famous traders like Dan Crenshaw, Nancy Pelosi, Josh Gottheimer and others all beat the market this year. The report also indicated that Congress was trading options once again in 2023, more than the previous year, and the amounts are crazy at more than $150 million while Congress was in session including Pelosi's technology giant Nvidia trades. The fully independent and self-funded platform has been reporting on this for four years already, allowing them to accumulate a lot of data. This year, they focused on commenting on trading trends over the last couple of years. Since 2020, they have had three different classes come through those hallowed halls of Congress, with prominent stock traders coming and going. Pelosi discloses 7-figure bet on NVIDIA over the Christmas holidays amid calls to ban lawmakers from trading stocks Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her venture capitalist husband Paul reportedly bet millions on Nvidia late last year amid immense scrutiny and backlash against congressional stock trading. Pelosi bought Nvidia call options on Nov. 22, which was reported to be her largest stock purchase in the last three years. According to a disclosure form obtained by Unusual Whales and Congresstrading.com, Pelosi purchased 50 call options with a strike price of $120 and an expiration date of Dec. 20, 2024, with a potential capital gain of up to $5 million. "Pelosi bet millions on NVDA in November using call options. Using a deceptive tactic, she purposely disclosed this on the Friday before Christmas weekend to avoid media coverage," Congresstrading.com revealed on X. The Pelosis have re-entered the Nvidia game after selling their shares and call options in the artificial intelligence software company at a total loss of over $700,000 in 2022. Their ill-timed departures occurred around the same time that the CHIPS and Science Act was passed into law, which Pelosi publicly supported. This law majorly benefited domestic chipmakers like Nvidia. According to to the New York Post, since selling their 25,000 shares, Nvidia's stock price has surged by almost 200 percent. This means that the value of the Pelosis' original stake would have been worth over $12.2 million today. (Related: SEC charges former GOP lawmaker with insider trading despite suspicious trades made by Nancy Pelosi's husband.) Still, the duo has certainly made up for it in other transactions. They have netted millions of dollars in profit from buying call options on other blue-chip stocks such as Salesforce, Roblox and Disney. They have also made some well-timed sales. The 83-year-old husband sold 30,000 shares of Google stock in December 2022, just one month before the tech giant was sued over alleged antitrust violations. These transactions had lawmakers denounce insider trading. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri introduced the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act in January 2023 as a measure to counter Congress trading. "While Wall Street and Big Tech work hand-in-hand with elected officials to enrich each other, hard-working Americans pay the price. The solution is clear: We must immediately and permanently ban all members of Congress from trading stocks," he said. For more stories similar to this, head over to BigGovernment.news. Sources for this article include: Revolver.news UnusualWhales.com Finance.Yahoo.com Edras Suazo is one of the thousands of young Hondurans who have been victims of the maras, or the gangs urban organized crime structures that take advantage of poverty and broken homes to recruit minors into their ranks. In exchange, they offer a false illusion of love and protection, which many children have never received from their families or the authorities. With the exception of Edras, all the names in this report have been changed for the safety of the hundreds of young people from the organization that he works with: Jovenes Contra la Violencia (Youth Against Violence). He helps young people in his country search for brighter futures without fear. Even though all stories are unique, I know that mine is similar to that of thousands of young people in Honduras. My name is Edras Suazo and, not long ago, I was about to become a gang member. To explain this, I must summarize my life from the beginning. I was born 27 years ago in Comayagua, a city in the center of the country. Just a few feet away from the colonial buildings that tourists visit, you can find the reality faced by ordinary people. You just have to cross a bridge to be closer to the city that I lived in. A Comayagua with dirt floors, wooden houses and aluminum roofs. I grew up there, between different neighborhoods and rental houses, with my mother and two of my four brothers. We were all children from different fathers. I never knew mine. A street in disrepair in Comayagua, where Edras grew up. Nelson Guevara (ACNUR) His absence along with the lack of love in my house made me an easy target for the most important gangs in Honduras. Those represented with two numbers that have eyes and dominion everywhere. The boys offered me the protection and affection I needed, while my mother hit me at the slightest provocation. I remember that she never hugged me as a child. I received my first hug from a gang member. Pablo told me that I was the son he always wanted. In my dreams, I turned him into the father I longed to have. He was one of the leaders of the gang that controlled my area. His tattoos, his weapons and the power he exercised over others gave me a morbid feeling that made me want to imitate him. Everyone obeyed him, while they didnt even respect me at home. One of my brothers mistreated me and the owner of the house would rip up the tiles on us if we were late with our rent payments. A very different reality from that of the districts boss. At 12-years-old, I told myself that I wanted to be like him. I was willing to prove my loyalty to Pablo, in exchange for the familial love he offered me. He examined my character by measuring my capacity to do harm. He took me up a hill and made me kill a puppy. I remember he had to help me pull the trigger. I also remember the explosion of that little white dogs head. At that moment, I stopped liking those animals. Pablo and I realized that I couldnt be a killer. In many of the streets of Honduras it is common to find the symbols of the gangs as a sign to demarcate the territories. Nelson Guevara (ACNUR) Today, I know that the test had nothing to do with affection. It was merely an occupational exam, which responded to a modus operandi. The gangs tested your abilities to classify you. Afterwards, they offered you the illusion of belonging to something and having people by your side. Both things occurred within a world of drugs, which could lead to jail or a grave as later happened to Pablo. After the challenge of killing, no more orders like that came. I got used to helping with simple things. Actions that I thought were risk-free, like running errands, or hiding packages without asking questions. I went to the National Penitentiary in Comayagua with my school backpack loaded with marijuana, cocaine and crack rocks, camouflaged among containers of food for prisoners. I didnt question anything. My childhood obedience was an asset that the gang members earned with food, affection and tips. This is how things work in many areas of Honduras. This is how many children who nobody sees manage to survive. With what I earned, I helped out around the house. I felt proud every time I brought 100 lempiras ($4) to my mother so that she could eat. Those were the moments when I could relate to her. If she asked me where I got the money from, I would make something up. I pretended to tell the truth and she pretended to believe it. This is how the years passed, between small assignments for the gangs, shortages at home and arguments with one of my brothers. He would kick me out of my bed and I would have to sleep on the floor, while my mother ignored everything. That filled me with rage. A fury that I felt along with the resignation of not having a father, two things that made me take refuge in alcohol and my two best friends. My brother and I ended up fighting because we joined different gangs and we only met once, secretly, to say goodbye to our friendship. Meanwhile, the boys from the colony kept winking at me, telling me to take the definitive step of joining their cause. Although the idea was tempting, I was still undecided. I knew that, if I entered the gang seriously, I would never be able to get out of it. At least, not alive. Two boys in a school in Comayagua. Nelson Guevara (ACNUR) However, the idea began to resonate more in my head when the gang members offered to prove their loyalty by executing those who had hurt me. It was tempting to think about the end of those who had slighted me. Even my brother, who never loved me. It wasnt difficult to leave my family behind, because there wasnt any. We never celebrated Christmas or birthdays. Living together, alone, seemed like an accident dictated by blood. I associated maternal love with indifference, brotherhood with violence and fatherhood with fantasy. As it was, the promise of a family tempted me to become a gang member, all the way until I was 16-years-old. I was finally going to move from theory to action. I had already talked to one of the bosses about the possibility of joining the gang. They liked my character and my charisma they even offered to pay for my university degree. Thats something common in gangs. They have their people for everything, including professionals who work behind the scenes to keep criminal enterprises running smoothly. That offer tempted me, especially because the girlfriend I had at the time had become pregnant and I had no way of supporting my future child. Joining the gang seemed like a logical decision. When I was getting ready to leave my fate in the hands of the gang, a meeting saved my life. It was a school talk that I attended out of curiosity. For the first time, I saw the option of doing something different for myself. At the lecture, they told us about Jovenes Contra la Violencia Honduras (JCVH, Youth Against Violence in Honduras) an organization of volunteers. They did activities with people my age and talked about what most worried us. It was the first space where I felt like I could belong to something beyond the noise of gangs or my dysfunctional family, alongside other kids like me. A refuge from us and for us. I threw myself into my work as a volunteer and refused the offer of my areas gang leader. After all, I had told him that I was going to think about it and, thanks to his appreciation for me, he had no problem if I stepped aside. I got small temporary jobs to help support my son and, before I knew it, I went from being a potential gang member to trying to make sure that this path wasnt an option for anyone else. One of the murals painted by the 'Decorating My Neighborhood' initiative. Nelson Guevara (ACNUR) I joined all JCVH activities. We painted murals with positive messages in the same places where someone had been murdered. We talked with families in the neighborhoods and we kept our minds busy with dreams. Within a couple of years, I was already coordinating a good number of volunteers. My ability to talk to them, influence them and share what we did made me passionate about communication. For more than three years, Ive been the communications director for JCVH, although Im still in the process of completing my degree. I never imagined that I would go to university, but I found a family that trusted me. With them, I could glimpse a purpose. Throughout 10 years of work, I feel that hope for young people grows out of small changes. We already have 600 volunteers in 32 communities across Honduras. These are young people who oppose violence, but who also dialogue with it to transform things. We talk to the gang leaders so that they let us enter the neighborhoods they control. There, we watch movies in the middle of the street with the teenagers. We paint murals where the bullets once flew. We know that many gang leaders allow us to enter their territory with the silent hope that other young people or even their children wont be part of those structures. The problem isnt just with them: the young people of Honduras are victims of an entire system that forgets them and leaves them without options. In the end, gangs are an option, because they offer spaces of protection that the family or the state dont provide. At JCVH, we put pressure on decision-makers to do something. Last year, we collaborated with several organizations to push and promote legislation on internal displacement in Honduras, together with the UNHCR. The standard has already been approved by the government it came into force this year. It will be a mechanism to help those fleeing their homes due to the violence that consumes the country. The same violence that took away two inseparable friends from me. It has left many of my loved ones in coffins. Suazo points out on a map all the territories in which JCVH already has a presence and those they want to reach. Nelson Guevara (ACNUR) JCVH has helped me heal these wounds. By working with the kids, I understand that what I experienced was merely a response to an endless spiral of violence that no one knew how to handle, neither in the neighborhood, nor in my house. For my mother, beatings and insults were a way to distract us from what we lacked. The abuse was a consequence of being ignorant of other ways to solve problems. This new understanding healed our relationship. From now on, I want to share all of my achievements with my mother. Maybe I wont become the most respected person in my neighborhood, but I have already become someone I respect. I try to be a better father than the one I didnt have and, little by little, heal what I experienced as a child. I know that there are wounds that may not heal, but Im comforted by the support of the family that I chose. It feels good to know that, in Honduras, Im part of the solution and not the problem. Every day, I remember that my first hug was from a gang member. I fight so that other young people dont have to tell the same story. Edras Suazo. Nelson Guevara (ACNUR) Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Ballot cleansing: Democrats are moving to bar Republicans from ballots nationwide Below is my column in the New York Post on the expansion of the 14th Amendment theory to attempt to remove Republican candidates for Congress from the ballots. Dozens of Democratic members have already called for the disqualification of up to 126 Republican colleagues under the same sweeping theory. These efforts show how this theory could place this country on a slippery slope to political chaos if not clearly and finally rejected by the Supreme Court. (Article republished from JonathanTurley.org) Here is the column: As the decisions disqualifying former President Donald Trump from the 2024 election work their way through the courts, a new filing in Pennsylvania seeks the same ballot cleansing by barring Repubfenablican Rep. Scott Perry. Its only the latest effort targeting congressional candidates as Democrats seek to bar opponents as insurrectionists for questioning the election of President Biden. We have become a nation of Madame Defarges eagerly knitting names of those to be subject to arbitrary justice. Former congressional candidate Gene Stilp, whos previously made headlines by burning MAGA flags with swastikas outside courthouses, filed the challenge. Using the 14th Amendment to disqualify candidates like Perry is consistent with Stilps signature flag-burning stunts. But whats chilling is how many support such efforts, including Democratic officeholders from Maines Secretary of State to dozens of members of Congress. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) sought to bar 126 members of Congress under the same theory for challenging the election before Jan. 6, 2021. Similar legislation from Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) to disqualify members got 63 co-sponsors, all Democrats, including New York Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman and Ritchie Torres and Squad members Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. When Maines secretary of state disqualified Trump, three in the states congressional delegation Sens. Angus King (I) and Susan Collins (R) and Rep. Jared Golden (D) condemned the decision. But others supported the antidemocratic action. The grounds were virtually identical to those of Stilp. He accuses Perry of supporting challenges to Bidens election and opposing its certification. Of course, he ignores Democratic members who sought to block certification of Republican presidents under the very same law with no factual or legal basis. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) praised the effort then-Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) organized to challenge the certification of President George W. Bushs 2004 re-election. Jan. 6 committee head Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) voted to challenge it in the House. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) sought to block certification of the 2016 election result particularly ironic since hes a leading voice calling for Trump to be disqualified. He insisted last week on CNN that the effort to prevent citizens from voting for Trump is the very embodiment of democracy: If you think about it, of all of the forms of disqualification that we have, the one that disqualifies people for engaging in insurrection is the most democratic because its the one where people choose themselves to be disqualified. That is akin to treating every criminal charge as a consensual act of incarceration because the accused chose his path in life. This is also being played out in state races. The filing against Perry came the same day Pennsylvania Democratic state Sen. Art Haywood made public a complaint to the Senate Ethics Committee against his Republican colleague Doug Mastriano accusing him of playing a role in the plot to overturn the election. Notably, in his effort to hold insurrectionists accountable, Haywood admitted he relied on the same evidence from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington that was used in the Colorado case. Insurrectionist is the newest label to excuse any abuse. During the McCarthy period, individuals were accused of being Communists or fellow travelers. Now you have Stilp accusing Perry of being supportive of insurrectionists. Democrats and pundits have claimed civil libertarians and journalists who have testified against the governments growing censorship efforts are enablers of insurrectionists and even Putin lovers. These Democratic members and activists vividly demonstrated the dangerous implications of this unfounded theory. Figures like Stilp are wrong on the law but right about one thing: There are few real limits once you embrace this theory. If the challenges work, there is no reason they cant be used unilaterally against any candidate (and without any criminal charges, let alone convictions). It is instantly both self-executing and self-satisfying. It would put the worlds most successful democracy on a slippery slope to political chaos. That is why the Supreme Court needs to take up this issue and put this pernicious theory to bed once and for all. Until the court rejects this antidemocratic ploy, activists eager to win elections through the courts will keep using it, and it will metastasize throughout our body politic. With the support of elected officials across the country, they can then join Stilp in moving from burning flags to torching the Constitution in a fit of exhilarating rage. Read more at: JonathanTurley.org DHS funds woke university programs that label the Manosphere a terror threat Whether its news articles about Hunter Biden's many questionable activities or social media posts warning about the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, those in power do their best to silence those who dare to go against their interests and now they appear to be quite openly setting their sights on the Manosphere Anyone who spends any amount of time online will be well aware of how unpopular it is to be a man these days. The woke crowd loves to talk badly about men, question their intentions, deride them when they earn a high income, and generally delight in seeing them fail. In recent years, men are falling behind in education and being passed over for jobs and promotions by employers who are worried about accusations of discrimination from women. The response to this is often described as the Manosphere, a collective term for the various mens rights groups, political commentators, influencers and mens support communities online that push back against feminism and advocate for mens rights in a world where discussions of men are often dominated by catchphrases such as toxic masculinity. For many of them, this movement is not, as commonly claimed, a way to express a hatred of women but instead helps them to process how modern society views them and connect with others who share their concerns. It should come as no surprise that the left absolutely despises the idea of men pushing back against their woke ideals, and now, the Department of Homeland Security has even set its sights on the Manosphere by funding programs at universities that label the movement a terror threat. Thats right: Its not the countless illegal immigrants flooding into the country thanks to Bidens open borders policies we need to be worried about; its men who want to protect mens rights who are the real threat, according to the left. If you dare take issue with common feminist stances, you might just be a terrorist. ASU program tying the Manosphere to terrorism awarded $650,000 According to Zero Hedge, the DHS has been funding woke university programs throughout the nation since at least 2020, spending millions of dollars to incentivize various academic groups to disrupt the Manosphere movement, which the liberals in charge view as a threat to the woke movement that is keeping them in office. Arizona State Universitys McCain Institute has been connected to a program funded by the DHS that ties the Manosphere to racism, extremism and terrorism. The program, which ASU characterizes as hate speech surveillance, aims to redirect online traffic and social media consumers away from anything that is linked to the Manosphere, much like how social media platforms, at the behest of the Biden administration and Big Pharma, tried to redirect traffic from alternative media sources that dared to tell the truth toward the mainstream corporate news outlets that were willing to peddle their lies. As part of the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention program, the DHS gave more than $650,000 to a group of ASU students known as Diverting Hate who were studying incels a term for young men who are unable to attract romantic partners. The idea here is that these young men will eventually become so frustrated by their romantic failures that they will end up becoming terrorists. It is clear that linking mens rights proponents to terrorism is just an excuse to censor their views and keep them from pushing back against the feminist notion that they are a threat to society. The ultimate goal much like the real terror threat theyre ignoring, the border crisis is to keep the left in power. Sources for this article include: ReclaimTheNet.org ZeroHedge.com BOMBSHELL Epstein list names 170 A-list celebrities, politicians and leading figures linked to infamous child trafficker Many of the names associated with pedophile pervert Jeffrey Epstein are now public , thanks to unsealed court papers in a defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence for trafficking underage girls to Epstein. Virginia Roberts, now known as Virginia Giuffre, claims she was forced to have sex with the Duke of York three times in 2001 while she was still 17, a claim the duke vehemently denies. Roberts' lawsuit against Maxwell has revealed a number of high-profile names in Hollywood and politics as having had contact or relationship with Epstein. These include Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Kevin Spacey, and Stephen Hawking, among many others. Some of the names included in the documents were close friends of Epstein while others were associates. Others were named by witnesses in the case, and some of these now claim they had no contact with Epstein at all. All in all, some 170 people are named in the documents, which are going public at the order of a U.S. judge last month. The documents are being released in phases, with the first tranche having just dropped this week. (Related: Did you know that JPMorgan Chase, the same big bank that de-banked Dr. Mercola and his employees, worked closely with Epstein to bankroll his child trafficking and sexual abuse crimes?) Clinton, Trump both hobnobbed with Epstein Concerning Prince Andrew, one of Epstein's alleged sex slaves, "Jane Doe 3," claims she was forced to have intercourse with Prince Andrew during an orgy that took place on Epstein's island, known as Little Saint James, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Jane Doe 3 says she was "forced to have sexual relations with this Prince when she was a minor in three separate geographical locations," according to a 2014 court filing, including in London at Maxwell's apartment, in New York, and at Little Saint James. The newly unsealed documents stated that Epstein told Jane Doe 3 to "give the Prince whatever he demanded," while Maxwell "facilitated Prince Andrew's acts of sexual abuse by acting as a 'madame' for Epstein." There are reportedly pictures of Jane Doe 3's sex acts with Prince Andrew floating around out there, including in Jane Doe 3's personal possession. However, when she was asked about them in a 2016 deposition, Jane Doe 3 stated: "I probably still have it. It's not in my possession right now." As for Bill Clinton, there are numerous mentions in the Epstein documents about his past personal relationship with Epstein. According to Epstein, Clinton "liked them young," referring to the former president's alleged sexual appetite for underage children. Johanna Sjoberg, one of Epstein's accusers, was asked in a deposition if she knew that Clinton was a friend of Epstein. She responded that she "knew he had dealings with Bill Clinton," but "did not know they were friends until I read the Vanity Fair article about them going to Africa together." Sjoberg also claimed, when asked about Clinton, that Epstein had "said one time that Clinton likes them young, referring to girls." Then there is Donald Trump, whom Sjoberg testified was paid a visit by Epstein on his private jet. Sjoberg says she and Giuffre were flying to New York with Epstein on said private jet when the plane was diverted to Atlantic City, N.J., to visit one of Trump's casinos for a few hours due to "bad weather." When Sjoberg heard about the change of plans, she recalled Epstein stating: "Great, we'll call up Trump and we'll go" to the casino. Trump had previously stated on at least one occasion that he thought Epstein was a "terrific guy," but a later falling out broke those ties. In her deposition, Giuffre said that when she turned 17 one summer, she was lured away from a job as a spa attendant at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to become a "masseuse" for Epstein, which involved performing sexual acts. The latest news about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal can be found at Trafficking.news. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com Dangerous escalation in Middle East tensions after Israeli strike kills top Hamas operative in Lebanon Tensions are escalating in the Middle East after a strike blamed on Israel killed a top Hamas operative, Salah al-Arouri, in the suburbs of Beirut. While the two sides have been exchanging fire daily since Hamas carried out its surprise attack on Israel in October, the killing was the first strike on Lebanons capital since the beginning of the latest conflict. Although Israel has not claimed responsibility for the blast, one advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has characterized it as a surgical hit on Hamas and not an attack geared toward the Lebanese state. Arouri was assassinated in a Hezbollah stronghold; the Lebanese terrorist group, like Hamas, is an Iranian proxy and has been designated by both Israel and the U.S. as a terrorist group. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has described the attack as a major and dangerous crime that will not go unanswered and unpunished. He warned in a televised address: "If the enemy thinks about waging war against Lebanon, then our fighting will be with no ceiling, with no limits, with no rules. And they know what I mean." He added: "We are not afraid of war. We dont fear it. We are not hesitant. If we were, we would have stopped at the front." An Israeli military spokesperson said that they are highly prepared for any scenario following the attack. Just hours after Nasrallahs speech, Israel carried out another significant airstrike in Lebanon aimed at a residential building that was housing members of Hezbollah. The strike killed four Hezbollah members, pushing the total number killed yesterday to nine. This is being viewed as a dangerous escalation that could have ramifications for many other countries. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian denounced what it termed a cowardly terrorist operation on Israels part, writing on social media: The evil terror machine of this regime in other countries is a real threat to peace and security and a serious alarm for the security of the countries in the region." U.S. sends diplomats to ease tensions The U.S. has sent special envoy Amos Hochstein to the area in an attempt to soothe tensions. Hochstein played a key role in the talks between Israel and Lebanon in 2022 that led to the establishment of a maritime border. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also headed back to the area later this week. State Department spokesman Matt Miller described Arouri as a brutal terrorist centrally responsible for the attacks on October 7 and other attacks against innocent civilians going back well beforehand. When asked if the U.S. believes Israels killing of Arouri went against Americas desire to keep the war from spreading, he responded that their concerns of an escalation have not changed as a result of the incident. We remain incredibly concerned, as we have been from the outset of this conflict, about the risk of the conflict spreading into other fronts [but] I wouldnt say that our concern is any higher today than it has been from the beginning. He did concede, however, that Israel did not tell the U.S. in advance that it was going to assassinate the leader. There are fears that an Israeli war against Hezbollah and by extension, Iran could draw the U.S. into a Middle East war. Amal Saad, a regional analyst, told The Washington Post that the Israeli strike sent two messages, telling Hezbollah they cant continue to harbor Hamas operatives and showing Hamas leaders that no place is safe for them. Tens of thousands of Israeli citizens have already been evacuated from northern towns bordering Lebanon that have been frequent targets of Hezbollah. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com TimesOfIsrael.com CNBC.com Hezbollahs tunnels in Lebanon more sophisticated than Hamas in Gaza, warns expert An Israeli expert recently revealed that the Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and the militant group Hezbollah have built "explosive tunnels" in the south of Lebanon as part of a wider network that is more sophisticated than the tunnels built by Hamas in Gaza. According to Tal Beeri, the director of the research department at the Alma Research and Education Center, he has spent years studying Lebanon's tunnels and was able to track down a "map of polygons" covering what he called the "Land of the Tunnels" in the country on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. "The map is marked, by an unknown party, with polygons [circles] indicating 36 geographic regions, towns and villages," he wrote in the 2021 paper. "In our assessment, these polygons mark Hezbollah's staging centers as part of the defense plan against an Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Each local staging center (defense) possesses a network of local underground tunnels. Between all these centers, an infrastructure of regional tunnels was built, interconnected [with] them." Beeri told the Times of Israel this week that he has drawn up a map showing a 45-kilometer route of one "attack tunnel" in south Lebanon. "We see the work that Hamas has been doing. And if that's what's been going on with the digging and building of the tunnels in Gaza, well, in Lebanon, it is more sophisticated," he said. He further disclosed the kinds of tunnels in Lebanon, including the attack tunnels, which are particularly large and long tunnels that lead from area to area. These can be entered by vehicles and even medium-sized trucks. There are also tactical tunnels, which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) exposed and destroyed in Operation Northern Shield in January 2019. The tactical tunnels are close to villages and enable terrorists to fight from underground; to fire from tunnel shafts and duck back in; to rearm from weapons stores inside; and to rest and emerge again. "In our assessment, it could be that there are also 'proximate tunnels.' These are similar to the attack tunnels that the IDF thwarted in 2019 but don't cross the border. They enable access almost to the border, and from there to emerge and attack. We're talking about activities such as those by the Radwan force that has been planning to invade Galilee. An additional kind of tunnel are explosive tunnel. They are dug for the sole purpose of placing explosives inside, with the devices to be detonated when the IDF maneuvers on the ground inside Lebanon," Beeri said. The Lebanon tunnel project was reportedly developed long before the one in Gaza. Two weeks ago, an IDF spokesman revealed one of the biggest attack tunnels in the Gaza Strip was four kilometers long and wide enough for vehicles to drive through. It ran from Jabaliya, north of Gaza City, up until some 400 meters from the Erez border crossing into Israel. While the tunnel did not cross the border, it presumably could have enabled terrorists on motorcycles and other vehicles to drive underground from the Jabaliya area and exit close to the border before IDF surveillance soldiers or patrols could block them. The IDF did not specify whether this was the case when 3,000 Hamas-led terrorists poured into Israel on October 7. Hezbollah ready to retaliate following Saleh al-Arouri's assassination According to local Israeli news outlets, Hezbollah's tunnels in Lebanon could play a vital role in its ambitions to invade northern Israel. In December, an Alma Center report warned that Hezbollah is fully prepared to invade with its elite Radwan unit. "The Radwan unit is fully trained and capable of launching an incursion into the Galilee at any given moment," stated the Alma report. "Even if the majority of Hezbollah's elite forces have distanced themselves from the border, there is no change to Hezbollah's overall readiness." (Related: Hezbollah strikes Northern Israel with four rockets, destroying key IDF base.) Meanwhile, tensions soared along the Israel-Lebanon border after senior Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri was assassinated on Tuesday in a drone attack attributed to the IDF in Beirut. Hamas has already warned that it will retaliate and its ally Hezbollah has likewise threatened to respond to the alleged Israeli airstrike that took place, stressing in an official statement that the elimination of the Hamas commander in Lebanon would not go unpunished. "We consider the assassination of Arouri and his companions in Beirut a serious act of aggression against Lebanon and the Lebanese people, including the security of Lebanon, its sovereignty and the resistance movement. We declare that this crime will not go unpunished and that the hands of the resistance are on the trigger and its forces are on high alert," Hezbollah stated. Visit WWIII.news for more stories related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Watch the video below that talks about the assassination of al-Arouri in Lebanon. This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Israel has never provided convincing proof that Hamas militants are hiding in Gaza hospitals is Israel LYING as an excuse to indiscriminately bomb the innocent? Despite warnings, Israel begins flooding Gaza tunnels with seawater. Washington Post investigation found no evidence that Hamas tunnels link to Al-Shifa Hospital. Sources include: Express.co.uk TimesOfIsrael.com AllIsIsrael.com Brighteon.com Intelligence experts warn sex ring operating out of Washington, D.C. and Boston was likely a foreign espionage scheme As the disclosure of names connected to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein dominate the news headlines, questions persist about the clients of another high-profile sex ring that intelligence experts have warned was likely a honeypot scheme to spy on American officials. The ring involves six high-end brothels operating out of the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and Boston that were believed to be set up by a foreign nation as part of their espionage efforts. A 41-year-old South Korean woman was reportedly behind the operation, but intelligence officials believe that its ultimate goal may have been to provide intelligence to a country such as Russia, China or Israel. A former CIA senior operations official shared his concerns with The Daily Mail in an exclusive interview. He told the publication: Having the Koreans out front could have been a false flag to give China or another country plausible deniability if the plot unraveled. After a raid on the brothels in November, prosecutors plan to charge dozens of people in Massachusetts. The states Acting U.S. Attorney, Joshua Levy, said they are pursuing accountability for the buyers who fuel the commercial sex industry. The three defendants who have been charged with running the sex ring are all U.S. nationals born in South Korea. Lots of clues that espionage was the motivation One aspect of the case that lends credence to the theory that espionage was a motivation is the fact that none of the defendants who set up and operated the ring live near Washington, D.C., nor do the sex workers, who were flown in from cities on the opposite side of the country, such as Las Vegas and Los Angeles. While two of the defendants live in Boston, which could explain why they set up some brothel locations there, the third lives in Los Angeles and none have apparent connections to the nations capital. In fact, operating out of D.C. meant far higher costs for operating the ring as well as logistical issues that needed to be managed. Since it would have been less risky and far more practical to open all their brothels in Boston, where two of the defendants lived, it appears their objective was gathering intelligence rather than maximizing profits. The sex rings clients reportedly paid rates upward of $600 per hour and included national security contractors, military officers, congressmen and others who possess security clearances, along with scientists, lawyers, professors and corporate executives. Two of their locations were a 15-minute drive from the Pentagon, CIA, White House and Congress. Boston may have been a target because of the abundance of top-tier universities there, such as MIT and Harvard, some of which train military and government officials and develop reports for the CIA and Pentagon. Spy agencies consider sexual promiscuity, extramarital affairs, marital problems, financial stress, and feeling undervalued by employers to be vulnerabilities they can exploit. In this operation, those who sought sex services were required to submit a membership application that included documentation such as government-issued identification, email and phone information, credit card records and employer information. As difficult as it may be to believe, numerous military and political officials were willing to supply this information and then proceeded to have sex with strangers in an apartment that very well could have been bugged or set up to record them. A retired foreign spy told The Daily Mail: Finding idiots like this would be pure gold for an intelligence service running a honeypot. None of the sex rings clients have been charged or identified yet, but much like the Epstein case, their names could well be revealed soon as federal prosecutors have announced they will be seeking criminal charges. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk DailyMail.co.uk Israel reportedly in talks with African nations to receive Palestinians from Gaza in exchange for aid Israel is reportedly in talks with the African nations of Rwanda, Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to receive thousands of Palestinians who have been pushed out of the Gaza Strip by Israeli aggression. This is according to two separate reports made by Hebrew-language Israeli news site Zman Yisrael on Wednesday and Friday, Jan. 3 and 5, respectively. (Related: Israeli developer planning "dream" beachfront villas in Gaza Strip, once millions of Palestinians are eliminated.) According to the outlet, Israel's national intelligence agency, Mossad, is spearheading the ethnic cleansing effort with the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Zman Yisrael reported that Mossad and the Foreign Ministry were able to get the three African nations to sign on to a basic agreement to at least continue negotiations. Many other nations approached by Israel have refused in principle. "The business is very complex," said one official who spoke on condition of anonymity with Zman Yisrael. "We must promote this channel, but be very careful of the reactions in the world and also of the fear that it will be interpreted as a transfer and not a voluntary migration. That's why we work with close legal advice." The basic outline of the proposal would be for Israel to provide partner nations with extensive aid, including military aid, and for Palestinians who agree to "voluntarily" leave Gaza to also receive generous financial grants. African nations deny negotiations to receive Palestinian refugees following U.S. condemnation Uncharacteristically, the United States has reacted quickly to the news by releasing a statement rejecting the plan. The U.S.'s condemnation reportedly comes after two extremist members of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, expressed their support for ethnically cleansing Gaza of Palestinians. "The United States rejects recent statements from Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza," said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. "This rhetoric is inflammatory and irresponsible." Rwanda, Congo and the DRC have also denied participating in talks with Israel to welcome "voluntary" Palestinian migrants. Congolese government spokesperson Patric Muyaya said there has "never been any form of negotiation, discussion or initiative" between Kinshasa and Tel Aviv. Rwanda's Foreign Ministry called Zman Yisrael's report "disinformation," and said that the possibility of transferring Palestinians from Gaza to Rwanda is "completely false." "No such discussion has taken place either now or in the past, and the disinformation should be ignored," said the ministry. Chadian transitional government spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah "categorically denied" the allegation that it was working with Israel to send "thousands of Palestinians from Gaza" to Chad. "Chad reaffirms its constant position in favor of the peaceful coexistence of two states, in compliance with international law," said Koulamallah. "We have always supported a lasting ceasefire and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, in accordance with international standards." Despite these denials, Zman Yisrael has insisted that the extremist government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is aware of these negotiations and is not stopping them. Danny Danon, a member of the Knesset, and a high-ranking official within Netanyahu's extremist party, Likud, has reportedly been raising the issue of "voluntary" migration during Likud meetings. Zman Yisrael noted that Netanyahu has supported the idea and all he needs is to find countries willing to take in Palestinians. Watch this episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses how Israel is being accused of using neutron bombs in Gaza to genetically exterminate the region's Palestinians. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Israel preparing to defend itself against South Africa's genocide accusations at International Court of Justice. The Palestinians were right all along: Netanyahu wants them completely expelled from the region. Israeli politician: We should "take advantage of the Holocaust" to ethnically cleanse and occupy Gaza. Netanyahu looking for countries willing to absorb Palestinians displaced out of Gaza. Head of Israeli town suggests flattening Gaza Strip like Auschwitz concentration camp. Sources include: MiddleEastEye.net TimesOfIsrael.com AA.com.tr Twitter.com Zman.co.il Brighteon.com New Jeffrey Epstein documents prove that Trump DID NOT visit Epstein home or island The latest series of unsealed files related to the late convicted pedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein have proven that former President Donald Trump did not visit Epstein's home or his infamous island , nor did he have any contact with any underage girls trafficked by Epstein Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York Loretta Preska recently ordered the release of court documents previously kept anonymous related to Epstein. On page 112 of document 1320-12, witness Johanna Sjoberg, known as one of Epstein's victims, was being examined by attorney Laura Menninger. During this questioning, Menninger asked Sjoberg if Trump had ever engaged "in sexual contact" with her. Sjoberg denied this, and she also denied that Trump ever messaged her. In a different examination, Menninger asked Virginia Giuffre, another one of Epstein's victims, if one report written by journalist Sharon Churcher alleging that Trump partook in Epstein's illicit activities was accurate. Giuffre indicated that she had never seen Trump and Epstein together and that she never saw Trump at Epstein's Caribbean island or in either of his homes in New Mexico or New York. In Churcher's report, the journalist alleged that Trump flirted with some of Epstein's victims and approved of "the life" that the pedophile led. Giuffre indicated that this claim is wrong. "He didn't partake in any sex with us, and it's not true that he flirted with me. Donald Trump never flirted with me," said Giuffre, who also indicated that Churcher deliberately added details that Giuffre never told her. Dozens of high-profile individuals associated with Epstein, including Bill Clinton The newly released Epstein documents name over 170 people associated with Epstein, who committed suicide in his jail cell on August 10, 2019, due to them having business dealings with the notorious financier or because these people visited Epstein's home or island. These names include Prince Andrew and former President Bill Clinton. (Related: How many U.S. Congressmen are guilty of Epstein-style PEDO CRIMES? General Mike Flynn states there are many, and they are bent over a barrel by globalist actors.) Other well-known names that have surfaced in the documents were magician David Copperfield, liberal lawyer and Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz, former Democratic Vice President and presidential candidate Al Gore, actor and accused sex criminal Kevin Spacey, astrophysicist Stephen Hawking and the late musician Michael Jackson. Clinton's involvement with Epstein is well-attested. The recent document dump shows one testimony by Epstein noting that Clinton "likes them young," referring to the girls he trafficked for the former president. Clinton was also known to have frequently traveled on Epstein's private plane, colloquially referred to as the "Lolita Express" because of how frequently underage girls flew on the plane. Several pictures even exist of Clinton hanging out with the convicted sex offender and trafficker despite how he has always denied having any sinister ties to Epstein. During her deposition, known Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell even referred to former Clinton aid Doug Band as a "friend." The newly released documents point to testimony that Band regularly joined Clinton and Epstein on trips on the latter's plane to Asia and Africa. The reason for these trips remains unknown, but a Clinton spokesperson claims that the trips were "in connection with the work of the Clinton Foundation." Furthermore, it has been reported by multiple mainstream media outlets that Clinton's name may have been mentioned but redacted in many of the documents. It is strongly suggested that Clinton is called "John Doe 36" in the Epstein files. John Doe 36 is mentioned more than 50 times. Learn the latest news involving convicted sex offender and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein at Epstein.news. Watch this clip from "The Dan Bongino Show" as host Dan Bongino discusses how the newly released Epstein list is just the tip of the iceberg. This video is from the Son of the Republic channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: "President Clinton is a key person:" Epstein files finally unsealed. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. admits to flying on Jeffrey Epstein's private plane twice but it was decades ago. Bill Gates teamed up with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein to create global drug and vaccine investment fund. Epstein and his lover Ghislaine Maxwell were Mossad operatives BLACKMAILING famous personalities with videos of them bedding underage girls, book claims. FBI reportedly ignored mountain of evidence against pedophile Jeffrey Epstein including allegation Bill Clinton was with "2 young girls" on island. Sources include: ThePostMillennial.com WSAU.com NewRepublic.com Brighteon.com Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) criticizes the removal of Donald Trump from the presidential primary ballots in Colorado and Maine. In a recent episode of "The Story" on Fox News Channel, Martha MacCallum, the host of the program, asked RFK Jr. about his thoughts on the decision of the Supreme Court to remove Trump from the ballots due to an erroneous interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment's "insurrection clause." RFK Jr. did not mince words in denouncing the actions of the authorities in Colorado and Maine. He criticized the decision to remove Trump from the ballot, labeling it as "wrongheaded" and "counterproductive" despite running against Trump and declaring confidence in his ability to defeat him fairly. Although he clarified that he is not a supporter of Trump, RFK Jr. emphasized the importance of a fair electoral process. "I don't want to beat him on a slanted playing field. I think the American people want to see a fair fight. They want debates, they want real democracy. They want to be able to choose their candidate, their president not have a court choose it. And as you point out, Ive read the decision and it makes no sense to me that you can deprive an American citizen of this right," he stated. He went on to liken such actions to those of a "Banana Republic," implying a disregard for the democratic values the nation holds dear. "You know, that seems to violate due process, and it makes us look like a Banana Republic." Furthermore, RFK Jr. warned that these attempts to sideline Trump could backfire. He concluded: "I think its going to hurt the people who are behind it. I think it turns Trump into a kind of a mythological figure. I think its very, very short-sighted and its just wrong; its un-American." President Joe Biden invited a group of academics and historians to lunch at the White House on Wednesday, January 3, to discuss current threats to democracy and institutions. Biden has turned to American history on several occasions in his professed crusade in defense of democracy. In 2022, he gave a speech in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. This past Friday, he visited Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where George Washington regrouped his troops during the winter of 1777-1778 to prepare the counteroffensive against the British. Shortly afterward, Biden held his first rally of 2024 near there, in Blue Bell. In his speech, the president made it clear that he considers his re-election bid to be a battle to save democracy from the threat posed by Donald Trump. The Republican said that, should he come to power, he will be a dictator for a day. He has also accused Biden of being the real threat to democracy. The rhetorical battle between the two men took place just before the anniversary of the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, which continues to mark American political and judicial life three years later. Citizens across the board have lost faith in the system. A poll published by Gallup on Saturday shows that only 28% of American citizens are satisfied with the way democracy is working. Its a new historical low, even below the 35% that was reported in the weeks following the attack on Congress, which attempted to prevent the certification of Bidens victory in the 2020 elections. Americans are preparing to elect the next president at a time when they are less happy about the state of U.S. democracy than at any point in at least 40 years. The 2024 election is expected to match a historically unpopular incumbent president with a former president whom voters previously rejected for a second term, summarizes Jeffrey M. Jones, a senior editor at Gallup. As Trump counterattacks, Biden has placed the defense of democracy at the center of his campaign discourse. He has failed to convince voters with his handling of the economy, despite record job creation, nor with his legislative achievements, which have promoted industrial and infrastructure investments. The right to abortion continues to mobilize the Democratic electorate, but its not an issue that Biden a practicing Catholic feels very comfortable with. The Gaza war has caused his support among young people and Arab-Americans to collapse, two groups that closed ranks with him in 2020. And at 81-years-old voters see him as too old to lead the country. Hence, to a large extend, Bidens only chance to achieve re-election consists of mobilizing voters on the basis of anti-Trump sentiment. Perhaps this explains why after avoiding quoting Trump at all costs for most of his term Biden has decided to mix things up. Never until this past Fridays speech at Blue Bell on a stage full of American flags had he been so harsh against his rival. He even blamed Trump for the death of several law enforcement officers during and following the assault on the Capitol. They died because his lies brought a mob to Washington, Biden railed. Trading insults In an unusual move for Biden, he called Trump a loser and sick and referred to his attitude as despicable. The president born in Scranton, Pennsylvania first visited Valley Forge when he was a boy scout. This past Friday, he evoked the words of George Washington when he said that his mission was a sacred cause of seeking freedom and democracy. He condemned Trumps attitude during the assault on the Capitol as being among the worst derelictions of duty by a president in American history. [It was] an attempt to overturn a free and fair election by force and violence. Biden made it clear that he will make the defense of democracy the central pillar of his campaign. Because, according to the president, that threat is still very much alive: Trumps assault on democracy isnt just part of his past. Its what hes promising for the future. Hes been straightforward. Hes not hiding the ball. His first rally for the 2024 campaign opened with a choir of January 6th insurrectionists singing from prison on a cellphone while images of the January 6th riot played on the big screen behind him at his rally. Can you believe that? Biden asked his supporters. He then recalled that Trump has promised a presidency of revenge. The president reminded his audience that Trump has called those who oppose him vermin and that he has spoken about immigrants poisoning the blood of Americans. He noted that this was reminiscent of the same language used in Nazi Germany. Biden also underlined Trumps admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, the supreme leader of North Korea. However, Biden avoided mentioning the four federal charges filed against Trump for a total of 91 crimes. Biden has distanced himself from this process, respecting the independence of the Department of Justice, as well as the functions of the attorney general Merrick Garland, his appointee and the special counsels. Nor did he refer to Trumps removal from the primary ballots in the states of Colorado and Maine. The Supreme Court has admitted the former presidents appeal against the Colorado decision, with a decision set to be made in February. Trump is using his judicial problems to show himself as being politically persecuted, to get the Republican base to close ranks with him. He has also accused Biden of instigating these charges without evidence. Crooked Joe is staging his pathetic, fear-mongering campaign event in Pennsylvania today. Did you see him? He was stuttering through the whole thing, hes going, Hes a threat to Democracy. Theyve weaponized the government and hes saying Im a threat to democracy, Trump scoffed. The only reason Biden is at Valley Forge abusing George Washingtons legacy [is because] he knows he cant show his face at the Southwest border, the Republican frontrunner added. Such serious accusations between candidates arent frequent in US presidential elections. The 2024 campaign is set to be the most tense in modern American history. The matter came to light when the girl again came to the Sadar Bazar area on January 4 to collect garbage and shared the incident with her cousin who later informed others and the matter was reported to the police. The BJP was scared of Vasava and "trying to suppress him to send out a message to the community that if anyone tries to raise voice against it, he will be crushed," he further claimed while expressing his support for the AAP MLA. Kharge said the Congress is working on all the 545 Lok Sabha constituencies and has appointed observers for all the seats, but which party will contest which seat and how many will be decided soon after consultations with all constituents of the opposition alliance. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is the Congress party's campaign led by @RahulGandhi for economic, social and political justice for every Indian. Across the country, there are crores of citizens, lakhs of organisations and thousands of movements who fight for justice at the Nation Court in Delhi allows jailed AAP leader Sanjay Singh to visit Returning Officer for RS polls "The accused shall be permitted to remain there till the above process of nomination and scrutiny of the documents is completed," the judge directed in an order passed on January 6. Addressing a massive rally in Brigade Parade Ground, Kolkatas prime seat to organise protest programmes, Minakshi Mukherjee, the state president of CPI(M)s youth wing DYFI who contested against chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram, said, Our hands are extended to welcome those who supported the TMC with a hope that it would bring changes but got disappointed because of corruption during the ongoing regime corrupt party. You thought an angel would come from the sky and bring paribartan (changes). But now you are witnessing many of the ruling party leadership facing charges of corruption. They are now sleeping on the floor of jails for snatching away their rights. Our hands are extended to welcome you in the fight against corruption against the TMC. Shelby Ruch-Teegarden, center, of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, joins other protestors during the United Methodist Church's special session of the general conference in St. Louis, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. Catholics around the world are sharply divided by the Vaticans recent declaration giving priests more leeway to bless same-sex couples. Supporters of LGBTQ inclusion welcome the move; some conservative bishops assail the new policy as a betrayal of the churchs condemnation of sexual relations between gay or lesbian partners. Strikingly, the flare-up of debate in Catholic ranks coincides with developments in two other international Christian denominations the global Anglican Communion and the United Methodist Church that are fracturing over differences in LGBTQ-related policies. Taken together, its a dramatic illustration of how in a religion that stresses Gods love for humanity divisions over marriage, sexuality, and inclusion of gays and lesbians are proving insurmountable for the foreseeable future in many sectors of Christianity. Ryan Burge, a political science professor at Eastern Illinois University and pastor of an American Baptist church, says its become increasingly difficult for Christian denominations to fully accommodate clergy and congregations with opposing views on same-sex relationships, particularly as such marriages have become legal in much of Europe and the Western Hemisphere. A lot of denominations are in the position where you have to make a decision you cant be wishy-washy anymore, said Burge, a specialist in religious demographics. Thats the tension theyre facing: how to keep older conservatives in the fold while attracting younger people. For global denominations notably Catholics, Anglicans and United Methodists Burge sees another source of tension: Some of their biggest growth in recent decades has been in socially conservative African countries where same-sex relationships are taboo. African bishops have this ammunition, Burge said. They say to the West, Were the ones growing. You have the money, we have the numbers. Kim Haines-Eitzen, a professor of religious studies at Cornell University, said Christianity throughout its history has been divided over differing theological views, such as whether women could be ordained as clergy. Christianity is incredibly diverse globally, theologically, linguistically, culturally, she said. There are bound to be these incredibly divisive issues, especially when bound up in scriptural interpretation. Thats what keeps world religions alive that kind of push and pull. Angst among Anglicans Among Christian denominations, the Anglican Communion is second only to the Catholic Church in geographic spread. Divisions over marriage, sexuality and LGBTQ inclusion have roiled the communion for many years, and they widened Dec. 17, when Church of England priests offered officially sanctioned blessings of same-sex partnerships for the first time. The Church of Englands ban on church weddings for gay couples remains, but the decision to allow blessings has infuriated several conservative Anglican bishops from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific. Caught in the middle is the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby the top bishop of the Church of England and ceremonial leader of the Anglican Communion. Welby says he wont personally bless same-sex couples because its his job to unify the worlds 85 million Anglicans. That hasnt appeased some conservative bishops, who say they no longer recognize Welby as their leader. The decision to allow blessings of same-sex couples followed five years of discussions about church positions on sexuality. Church leaders apologized for a failure to welcome LGBTQ people but also affirmed the doctrine that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. What we have proposed as a way forward does not go nearly far enough for many, but too far for others, said Sarah Mullally, bishop of London. United Methodist separation A slow-motion breakup is underway in the United Methodist Church. A few years ago, it was the third-largest denomination in the United States, but a quarter of U.S. congregations have recently received permission to leave over disputes involving LGBTQ-related policies. Of the more than 7,650 departing churches, most are conservative-leaning congregations responding to what they see as a failure to enforce bans on same-sex marriage and the ordaining of openly LGBTQ people. Theres no firm estimate of how many members are leaving, as some who belong to departing congregations are joining other UMC churches. But UMC officials are preparing to cut denominational agencies budgets in anticipation of lower revenues from church offerings. United Methodist rules forbid same-sex marriage rites and the ordination of self-avowed practicing homosexuals, but progressive Methodist churches in the U.S. have increasingly defied these rules. Conservatives have mobilized like-minded congregations to exit; many are joining the new Global Methodist Church, which intends to enforce such rules. More than half of United Methodist members are overseas, many in conservative African churches. When UMC delegates meet this spring, theyre expected to debate proposals to liberalize ordination and marriage policies, and make it easier for overseas churches to leave. Splits in other protestant denominations Presaging the UMC schism, several other mainline Protestant denominations over the past two decades endured splits resulting from irreconcilable differences between supporters and opponents of LGBTQ inclusion. For example, after the Episcopal Church ordained an openly gay bishop in 2003, some dioceses and conservatives formed the Anglican Church in North America. Similar liberal/conservative differences prompted hundreds of congregations to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) after they embraced LGBTQ-inclusive policies. Some conservative denominations such as the Southern Baptist Convention and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have adhered firmly to policies that reject recognition of same-sex relationships and ordination of openly LGBTQ people. These policies have prompted departures, but no major schism. Brent Leatherwood, president of the Southern Baptists public policy commission, reiterated the SBCs position in a statement asserting that the Vatican under Pope Francis has been on a trajectory that seems destined for the allowance of same-sex marriage. The reality is marriage has been defined by God ... It is a union between one man and one woman for life, Leatherwood said. Southern Baptists remain anchored in this truth. Orthodox Church disapproval The worlds second-largest Christian communion, after the Catholic Church, is the Eastern Orthodox Church, with an estimated 220 million members, concentrated mostly in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. To a large extent, Orthodox Christians disapprove of same-sex marriage and relationships. In Greece, where the government is pledging to legalize same-sex marriage, the Orthodox Church has expressed strong opposition. Russias Orthodox Church has supported tough anti-LGBTQ legislation enacted with the support of President Vladimir Putin. Non-Christian faiths Debate over LGBTQ inclusion hasnt been as divisive in the worlds other major religions as in Christianity. In the Muslim world, theres widespread disapproval of same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage; many Muslim nations criminalize homosexuality. However, some LGBTQ-inclusive mosques have surfaced in North America and other places. Among Jews around the world, there are varying approaches to LGBTQ issues, but relatively little high-profile rancor. Orthodox Judaism disapproves of same-sex marriage and sexual relations, while theyre widely accepted in the Reform and Conservative branches. In Hinduism and Buddhism, there is no universal, official position on same-sex marriage. Many practitioners of the two faiths disapprove of such unions; some communities are more accepting. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition "We will bring the Jyoti of Lord Shri Ram and give it to Hindu and Muslim families in Kashi and will appeal to them to keep it burning uninterrupted till January 22. This is because not a single person here can say that Lord Ram is not our ancestor. Lord Ram resides in every particle. We all know that we can change our religions, but we cannot change our ancestors. Lord Ram will be consecrated in Ayodhya, what could be more joyful than this," Najma told PTI. Sources in the ED said the BSF has been put on high alert about Shahjahan. We have information that he is planning to flee to Bangladesh. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is carrying out intense patrolling because of the elections in the neighbouring country. Shahjahan may wait for a couple of days to look for the right opportunity to cross over, said an officer of the central agency. The Maldives government which saw a sudden surge in the cancellations in tourists from India, said that they would not hesitate to take action against those making such remarks. Indian cine stars such as Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Shraddha Kapoor along with other prominent personalities have also appealed to fans to "explore Indian islands" and coastal destinations. Indian social media users used the hashtag Boycott Maldives and vowed to refrain from travelling to Maldives for their vacations. "Derogatory remarks made by the deputy ministers of the present government of Maldives and a member of a political party in the ruling coalition towards PM Modi, and the people of India on social media is reprehensible and odious. I call on the government to reprimand these officials. Public figures must maintain decorum. They must accept that they are no longer social media activists and that they are now entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the interests of the people and the country. India is a time-tested friend and an unwavering ally. They have historically been the first to respond in our time of need. Our close relationship has been found by mutual respect, history, culture and strong people-to-people relations, said Shahid. The trouble in Myanmar began in February 2021 after the military in the country had captured power through a coup. The pro-democracy forces are waging an armed struggle with the Myanmarese junta. Ever since the violence broke out, there has been a steady influx of Chin refugees into Mizoram. While addressing people during the foundation stone laying ceremony of a madrasa in Barpeta, he said, "There will be thousands travelling from across India to Ayodhya by buses and trains. Anything can happen. So, my appeal to Muslims in our country is to avoid travel by train." BJP has formulated extensive plans for the 2024 Lok Sabha election in the state. It has divided 40 Lok Sabha constituencies into 10 clusters where public meetings will be addressed by top leaders of the party, including PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and party's president J P Nadda. Union defence minister is also expected to address a few rallies in the state. NEW DELHI: In a potential boost for India-United Kingdom bilateral relations, Rajnath Singh will on Monday become the first Indian defence minister to visit the UK in 22 years. He is leading a high level delegation to the United Kingdom with plans to discuss defence, security and industrial cooperation issues. George Fernandes was the last one to visit London in January 2002. During questioning, Nureti tried to mislead the police but later admitted to putting up Maoist posters and banners, following which he was arrested under provisions of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005 and produced in a local court, the official said. A judge late Saturday said former President Donald Trumps lawyers cant present legal arguments to a jury assessing damages at a defamation trial on a jurys conclusion last year that he didnt rape a columnist in the mid-1990s. U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan made the determination in an order in advance of a Jan. 16 trial to determine defamation damages against Trump after a jury concluded Trump sexually abused columnist E. Jean Carroll but did not find evidence was sufficient to conclude that he raped her. Trump, speaking in Iowa on Saturday as the Republican frontrunning presidential candidate in advance of a Jan. 15 primary, criticized the judge as a radical Democrat and mocked E. Jean Carroll for not screaming when she was attacked. It was all made up, he said. Carroll, 80, won a $5 million award last May from a jury that concluded Trump sexually abused her in 1996 in a luxury department store dressing room and defamed her in 2022. Trump did not attend the Manhattan trial where Carroll testified that a chance encounter at a Bergdorf Goodman store across the street from Trump Tower was flirtatious and fun until he slammed her against a wall in a dressing room and attacked her sexually. Trump has vehemently denied it. In this months trial, a jury will consider whether damages should be levied against Trump for remarks he made after last years verdict and in 2019 while he was president after Carroll spoke publicly for the first time about her mid-1990s claims in a memoir. Carrolls lawyers had asked the judge to issue the order, saying that Trumps attorneys should not be allowed to confuse jurors this month about last years verdict by trying to argue that the jury disbelieved Carrolls rape claim. They said the jurys finding reflected its conclusion that Trump had forcibly and without consent digitally penetrated Carrolls vagina, which does not constitute rape under New York state law but which constitutes rape in other jurisdictions. Carrolls lawyers said the sting of the defamation was Mr. Trumps assertions that Ms. Carrolls charge of sexual abuse was an entirely untruthful fabrication and one made up for improper or even nefarious reasons. A lawyer for Trump did not immediately return a message Saturday. Carroll is seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and substantially more in unspecified punitive damages at the trial. She will testify and Trump is listed as a witness. The trial is expected to last about a week. Meanwhile, Trump has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in four indictments, two of which accuse him of seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, as well as a classified documents case and charges that he helped arrange a payoff to porn actor Stormy Daniels to silence her before the 2016 presidential election. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition According to the sources, unidentified bike-borne men targeted Chowdhury at close range. Satyen Chowdhury was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, however, he was declared dead on arrival. DEHRADUN: The work on the Silkyara tunnel, an important element of the Char Dham Yatra route in Uttarkashi, has resumed almost two months after a tunnel accident. As per the latest update from the construction company, the project is now being launched from the Barkot end. The initial focus will be on draining accumulated water and removing debris resulting from seepage within the tunnel. The complainant alleged that the accused ASP Rahul Srivastava, posted in the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), allegedly sexually abused her for several years and forcibly got her abortion done when she became pregnant in April 2023. The party plans to hold these public meetings in north and south Telangana so that it can take its message to the maximum number of voters. The saffron party hopes that these high-profile public addresses will galvanise the state cadre and rally BJP supporters across the state. The BJP, which currently has four sitting MPs, is eyeing at least 10 Lok Sabha seats in the coming elections, a target set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The goal is to propel the BJP as the main Opposition party in Telangana, brushing past the BRS. The party believes that by the time the next assembly elections are held, it should be in position for a face-off with the Congress. Echoing the same, state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the attack was instigated by police, the department overseen by Mamata. After this attack by the miscreants from the ruling establishment against central agency officials, it is clearer than ever that there is no law and order in the state. This time, they escaped with injuries. Tomorrow they could be murdered. Even that not ought to be a surprise any longer. It is a fit case for Presidents rule, said Congresss leader in LS. The families who were in Doha for a few weeks before the last appeal was heard on December 28, had signed the appeal papers that have been submitted in the Cassation court. Most of them have returned to India. Even though the death sentence has been commuted, there are varying jail terms for each of them from three years (which has been awarded to Sailor Ragesh) up to 25 years, said a source. Their meeting took place at the Congress office in Ahmedabad, where Srivastav expressed his intention to join the Congress, leading to speculation about his political affiliation. However, he later clarified that the meeting was for personal reasons and that there were no political discussions with Gohil. The stone used in the chosen idol would not be affected by water, milk and other substances that are used as offering or bhog, says Rai. The pran pratistha rituals would commence on January 16 and post-nagar yatra (town tour) of the deity, the idol would be placed in the sanctum sanctorum on January 18. During the yatra, the idol would be kept concealed in a cover and would not be out for public view. On January 22, it will take over as the presiding deity of the holy city in the presence of PM Narendra Modi. During the inspection, it was noted that 26 girls were missing while their names were still there on the shelter home's register. Later, it was found that the girls were all back safe at their homes after staying for a while at the shelter home. The 41 girls currently residing at the children's home hailed from various districts of MP, including tribal-dominated Mandla, Balaghat, Chhindwara, Sehore, Raisen and Vidisha districts, besides Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Gujarat. Earlier, UCC was applicable in Goa, but this Act has been in force there since before independence. The Uttarakhand government established an expert committee on May 27, 2022, to implement the UCC in the state and scrutinize laws on the personal matters of its citizens. This initiative was announced during the inaugural cabinet meeting following the formation of the BJP government in the state. "There were so many obstacles and hurdles, but the people of the country were cautious about their voting rights. The national election is held every five years. And people will cast their votes freely and we have been able to create that environment," she said. Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina India has reported few or no reports of insurgents and separatists from across the border and the two nations have maintained close cooperation in intelligence sharing and security matters. She has followed a policy of zero tolerance for terrorism which has helped India. Ram Charan welcomes Rahman aboard 'RC16'; wishes composer on 57th birthday Mumbai, Jan 6 RRR star Ram Charan has welcomed the legendary composer A. R. Rahman onboard his upcoming film tentatively titled RC 16. The Oscar and Grammy-winning composer is celebrating his birthday on Saturday. He shared a poster of the film as he wrote, Happy Birthday @arrahman sir, wish you health and happiness always. Rc 16 is helmed by director Buchi Babu Sana, who is known for the National Award-winning film Uppena. Buchi Babu Sana has crafted a compelling script with a universal appeal, and the makers plan to unveil details about the remaining cast and crew soon. The film is produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru, presented by Mythri Movie Makers, under the banners of Vriddhi Cinemas and Sukumar Writings. (IANS - Posted on 07 January 2024) Ram Charan welcomes Rahman aboard 'RC16'; wishes composer on 57th birthday Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Mandira Bedi slams Air India on social media for poor customer service New Delhi, Jan 6 Bollywood actress and fitness enthusiast Mandira Bedi has criticised Air India's customer service in a recent social media post, underlining the difficulties in reaching out to a service executive despite multiple attempts. Air India responded promptly to Bedi's criticism, acknowledging her "feedback", and assuring her that the concerns would be shared with the relevant team. The airline's initial response read: "Dear Ms Bedi, we appreciate your time and feedback regarding your booking experience. Your input is valuable, and we will promptly share it with the relevant team for review and necessary action. Please feel free to reach out via dm if you require any assistance in the future." In a subsequent post, Air India expressed regret over Bedi's experience and extended an offer to connect with her for assistance. The airline wrote: "Dear Ms Bedi, we regret to note your experience. Let us quickly connect with you for assistance." (IANS - Posted on 07 January 2024) Mandira Bedi slams Air India on social media for poor customer service Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Biden supporters celebrate his 'best ever' speech in Pennsylvania New York, Jan 7 President Joe Bidens speech in Pennsylvania -- in which he attacked Trump and held him responsible for threatening democracy for his alleged insurrection on Capitol three years ago -- has been celebrated by his supporters terming it as the "best speech ever". "The topic of my speech today is deadly serious, and I think it needs to be made at the outset of this campaign," Biden told supporters. Addressing the tumultuous events of January 6, 2021 at Capitol, scene of siege by Trump supporters, President Biden said events that took place just days before his inauguration, were actions by Trump supporters and apportioned large part of the blame on Trump. "Three years ago, we saw with our own eyes the violent mob storm the United States Capitol. He [Trump] promised it would be 'wild,' and it was. He told the crowd to 'fight like hell,' and all hell was unleashed. He promised he would right them. Everything they did, he would be side by side with them. Then, as usual, he left the dirty work to others. He retreated to the White House," Biden said. A survey, conducted on behalf of Newsweek by Redfield & Wilton Strategies on December 19 among 1,500 U.S. adults, revealed a majority of Americans fear that another event like the January 6, 2021 uprising can happen again in the coming years. Right-and left-wing figures and netizens have called the Biden's speech as "the best speech ever" while others branded it a "doomer speech". "Wow. That was the best speech I've ever seen President Biden deliver. He called out Trump & MAGA forcefully. He showed what true leadership looks like. President Biden rose to the occasion. This speech will go down in the history books as one of the best. Thank you, Joe Biden," Victor Shi, a Biden delegate, wrote on X. Democrat supporter Harry Sisson remarked: "The speech that President Biden just gave is by far one of the most powerful and important speeches of his presidency. He was strong, clear, and intentional. Biden unequivocally supports our constitution and our democracy. Donald Trump doesn't." "Well I'm crying now," X user Jo wrote. "President Biden just gave the speech of his life." Biden's detractors seemed less enthusiastic with Right-wing pundit Charlie Kirk writing on X: "Joe Biden brags in his J6 [January 6] doomer speech that his DOJ [Department of Justice] has targeted 1,200, convicted 900, and sentenced them to 840 years in prison. He wants his political opponents afraid this can happen to them too. What a sick man." Congresswoman Mary Miller said on X: "Joe Biden gave another dark, authoritarian speech attacking the 74 million American citizens who voted against him because they want to Make America Great Again, while he wants to open our borders and flood our country with illegal immigrants, drug traffickers, and terrorists." Another user, posting under the name Paul A. Szypula, wrote: "This is what tyranny looks like. It's celebrated by those who carry it out and used to make the people too afraid to resist the government. This is why Democrats want to get rid of the 2nd Amendment. They know once that goes there will really be no stopping their tyrannical ways." Michelle Whitzel wrote, "Well, one thing we can take away from Joe Biden's speech is that he hates half the country and he is encouraging the other half of the country to do the same." Trump himself responded to Biden's comments at his own campaign rally in Iowa. He called Biden's campaign launch speech as fear-mongering and mocked his stuttering. ash/dan (IANS - Posted on 07 January 2024) Biden supporters celebrate his 'best ever' speech in Pennsylvania Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Biden launches poll campaign with 'Save Democracy' plea; Trump hits back Washington, Jan 7 US President Joe Biden launched his presidential campaign with the "Save Democracy Plea" directly attacking his predecessor Donald Trump for the January 6, 2021, riots on Capitol Hill, while commemorating the 3rd anniversary as a "Day of Infamy". The democracy those Americans (freedom fighters) fought for is under threat. "Whether democracy is still America's sacred cause is the most urgent question of our time," he said in a Friday speech near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where the Continental Army spent the frigid 1777-78 winter under General George Washington during the uprising against British Colonial rule while freeing America in 1776 on July 4 from the shackles of imperialism. Biden listed a litany of Trump's "more outrageous" claims and comments, drawing analogies to the language of Adolf Hitler and the antidemocratic actions of dictators. Highly critical of Trump laughing at the violent attack on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis husband Paul, who suffered blunt edge head trauma, Biden said of Trump, "What a sick--" and stopped short of adding another, perhaps more colourful word. "We all know who Donald Trump is," Biden said later. "The question we have to answer is, who are we?" Media Reports quoted Biden as asking. How central is this message to Biden's re-election campaign, the President declared that the "preservation of American democracy" is the "central issue of my presidency" in a slick campaign video released this week, CNN reported. Trump responded to Biden's speech Friday by calling it "pathetic fear-mongering" and mocking Biden's lifelong struggle with stuttering. Trump argued that Biden's presidency was marked by "weakness, incompetence, corruption and failure," he told a crowd of supporters in Sioux Center, Iowa. "That's why crooked Joe is staging his pathetic fear-mongering campaign event in Pennsylvania today." "He's a threat to democracy. I'm a threat? They've weaponized the government -- he's saying I'm a threat to democracy," Trump said. (IANS - Posted on 07 January 2024) Biden launches poll campaign with 'Save Democracy' plea; Trump hits back Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Raj CM's tightrope walk: Competing egos, assertive babus, frayed finances Jaipur, Jan 7 Challenges loom large over the first-time MLA from Rajasthan, Bhajan Lal Sharma, who is now the Chief Minister of the state. Sharma has experience in running the organisation at the grass roots level, but has no experience of running a government. The biggest challenges for him will be dealing with the bureaucracy and his political opponents, say political experts. Meanwhile, the first challenge for the BJP is to unite party factions in Rajasthan. The saffron party has made Sharma the Chief Minister by sidelining many veteran leaders within its ranks. There are many big BJP leaders in the state, including former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Kirodi Lal Meena, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Rajendra Rathore to name a few. Now, it will be Sharmas responsibility to keep them united, or at least establish relationships with them so that they dont plot or rebel against him. Further, he needs to have the talent to convince the Opposition Congress on different issues. The grand old party has many veteran leaders like Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, Govind Singh Dotasra, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and Harish Chaudhary, who are considered to be very shrewd politicians. Handling them will be a big challenge for Sharma. The other big test for Sharma is the bureaucracy which was quite dominant in the previous government. Other leaders in the Ashok Gehlot Government and the public had started getting irritated with the bureaucrats around the then Chief Minister. Managing the bureaucracy now will be a big task for Sharma since he does not have administrative experience. However, the biggest challenge for Sharma will be financial management. Due to financial mismanagement, the new government will have to pay outstanding bills of Rs 30,000 crore. On top of that, the BJP has promised to give LPG for Rs 450 per cylinder. Accomplishing this in the era of financial mismanagement will be a big test of Sharmas skills. There are many other issues that Sharma will need to handle. The youth of Rajasthan were angry with the Gehlot Government over the paper leak issue and the BJP also capitalised on this in the elections. Now, the challenge before Sharma is how to stop paper leaks and how to live up to the expectations of the youth. After the formation of the BJP Government in Rajasthan and allocation of portfolios to 22 ministers in the Sharma Cabinet, voices of opposition are being heard. The Marwar Rajputs in Jodhpur have expressed dissatisfaction with the Cabinet and say that the community has not got the place it expected in the BJP Government. The community has warned that if the BJP does not fulfill its demands then the party will have to face the consequences in the Lok Sabha elections. Veteran journalist and political expert Prakash Bhandari said, Finances are in a bad shape as the state has a debt of Rs 59 lakh crore and it is not even possible to pay interest. Financial management stands as the biggest challenge and it should be handled by experts otherwise the budget will be quite difficult to handle. Speaking on factionalism within the BJP, he said, The party differences will be handled by the Centre as everything is handled in New Delhi. The Centre will be able to manage this crisis. Former vice chairperson of NITI Aayog, Arvind Panagariya, will lead the Sixteenth Finance Commission (SFC) and he will look into the issues on how to spend funds for developmental works. Panagariya has been called back and he shall be looking after the desert states affairs as he belongs to Rajasthan and knows everyone. Resource identification, its utilisation and restructuring of resources to create revenue is the biggest goal. Local taxes generate revenues and hence the biggest task is to generate revenue to manage state finances, he added. (IANS - Posted on 07 January 2024) Raj CM's tightrope walk: Competing egos, assertive babus, frayed finances Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! NASA to share update on Artemis manned Moon mission next week Washington, Jan 7 The US space agency will discuss next week an update on the agency's lunar exploration plans for the benefit of all under the Artemis Moon mission. The US will land an international astronaut on the Moon aboard NASA's Artemis mission by the end of the decade, said Vice President Kamala Harris during a meeting of the White House's National Space Council in Washington, DC, last month. NASA's Artemis III mission which aims to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972, may not launch in 2025 earlier planned, but in 2027, according to a recent report by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO). NASA aims to return humans to the moon to maintain US leadership in space exploration and prepare for future missions to Mars by 2025. In the time since NASAs successful flight test of the Artemis I mission, the agency has continued to learn from that flight and prepare for Artemis II, the first crewed mission around the Moon under Artemis. NASA said in a statement that it has made significant progress toward Artemis III, which is planned to land the first astronauts near the lunar South Pole; Artemis IV, which is planned to be the first mission to incorporate the Gateway lunar space station; and future Artemis missions. Through Artemis, the agency will establish a long-term presence at the Moon for scientific exploration with our commercial and international partners, learn how to live and work away from home, and prepare for future human exploration of the Red Planet. The SLS (Space Launch System), exploration ground systems, and NASAs Orion spacecraft, along with the human landing system, next-generation spacesuits, the lunar space station, Gateway, and future rovers are NASAs foundation for deep space exploration, said the space agency. (IANS - Posted on 07 January 2024) NASA to share update on Artemis manned Moon mission next week Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Saudi Arabia recorded SR7.99 billion ($2.13 billion) in foreign direct investment inflows in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, a rise of 29.13 per cent from SR6.2 billion posted in the previous quarter, a report quoting data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) said. FDI inflows refers to the total amount of capital and investment into Saudi Arabia from foreign investors or entities. The rise in FDI coincides with Saudi Arabias implementation of substantial legal, economic, and social reforms to attract greater external funding, said the Arab News report. These efforts encompass various initiatives, such as the introduction of the National Investment Strategy, the launch of the regional headquarters programme, and newly introduced tax incentives, including zero levies, for foreign companies. Regarded as a crucial enabler of Vision 2030, this new strategy aims to propel the growth and diversification of the Kingdoms economy. Meanwhile, the kingdoms total investment in foreign countries dipped 8 per cent during the same period, amounting to SR17.21 billion. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 aims for the contribution of FDI to the gross domestic product to reach 5.7 percent and position Saudi Arabia among the top 10 economies in the Global Competitiveness Index by 2030, the report said. In February 2021, the Saudi government expressed its intention to restrict contracts with foreign companies without regional headquarters in the Kingdom. A year later, guidelines were issued to encourage companies to establish such bases in Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Finance later set January 2024 as the deadline following which the government agencies would face limitations in conducting business with companies operating without their regional headquarters in the Kingdom. In November 2023, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment updated statistics for FDI under the framework of a new methodology to inventory and publish data adopted by the kingdom. The new methodology, endorsed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and praised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), relies on analysing individual financial statements to achieve accurate annual statistics, compared to the previous methodology, which relied on calculating the accumulation of flows based on estimates. Under the new methodology, data of more than 10,000 individual foreign companies were analysed for the period from 2015 to 2022. The effort contributed to attaining the updated results using the new methodology, as follows: The balance of FDI stock in 2015 was SAR413 billion, in 2016 it was SAR508 billion, in 2017 it was SAR514 billion, in 2018 it was SAR562 billion, in 2019 it was SAR576 billion, in 2020 it was SAR585 billion, in 2021 it was SAR670 billion, and in 2022 it was SAR775 billion. While FDI inflow in 2015 amounted to SAR64 billion, in 2016 it was SAR111 billion, in 2017 it was SAR27 billion, in 2018 it was SAR71 billion, in 2019 it was SAR32 billion, in 2020 it was SAR30 billion, in 2021 it was SAR100 billion, and in 2022 it was SAR122 billion. According to the new, more precise methodology, FDI hit SAR775 billion ($207 billion) in 2022, placing the kingdom in the 16th position among the G20 economies. KYODO NEWS - Jan 7, 2024 - 13:36 | Arts, All, Japan A book comprising all Hiroshima peace declarations in English between 1947 and 2023 has hit shelves in the hope of spreading the city's message of eternal peace in a world without nuclear weapons. The book, "Heiwa Sengen wo Eigo de Yomu (Read Peace Declaration in English)" was published in December by Teikyo University Press. It comes at a time of heightened nuclear risks, including North Korea's testing of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, Iran's near weapons-grade uranium enrichment and Russia's deployment of nuclear weapons to Belarus, among other notable nuclear-related upticks. Mayors of the western Japan city, which suffered the world's first atomic bombing on Aug. 6, 1945, have been issuing the declaration on the anniversary, with the very first by Shinzo Hamai and Kazumi Matsui giving the latest. "Letting the reality of the atomic blast be widely known is Hiroshima's heart and mind so that we can realize together a world without nuclear weapons," said Takashi Hiraoka, who served as the city's mayor from 1991 to 1998, in a statement upon the book's publication. Readers of the book will take notice that the focus and tone of the declarations have changed with the times, while their burning desire for eternal peace and philosophy that using nuclear weapons would lead to the end of civilization and the extinction of humankind remain unchanged. The book, containing more than 400 English-Japanese footnotes that explain difficult words and idioms, can serve as a great textbook to learn English and world peace for people aspiring to become "global citizens," the publisher said. Teikyo University Chairman Yoshihito Okinaga said in the book he hopes it will provide a good opportunity for readers to think about "the preciousness of life, the blessings of peace, the stupidity of war, and the cruelty and inhumanity of nuclear weapons." The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki three days later are estimated to have left about 214,000 people dead by the end of that year. The tradition of an annual peace declaration or a substitute speech began two years later. However, the outbreak of the Korean War prompted the cancellation of what was then known as the peace festival and the declaration in 1950. The festival was renamed the Peace Memorial Ceremony in 1951, with the Japanese prime minister starting to attend the annual ceremony from 1971, according to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Related coverage: Former reporter traces how famous Ainu portraits wound up in France Shia LaBeouf confirmed into Catholic Church, intends to become a deacon Los Angeles, Jan 6 Actor Shia LaBeouf has been confirmed into the Catholic Church and reportedly hopes to become a deacon years after he was accused of physical and emotional abuse. The Capuchin Franciscan friars are overjoyed to welcome him into the fold and witness his deep commitment to his faith journey. The 37-year-old star confirmed at Old Mission Santa Ines Parish in Solvang, California on New Years Eve, according to The Catholic News Agency. The 'Transformers' actor embraced the practices of the Catholic church after embarking on a profound spiritual journey, the Capuchin Franciscans explained on social media. His decision to fully enter the Church is a testament to his sincere desire to grow in his relationship with God and live out the Gospel values, the statement continued. The Capuchin Franciscans expressed their belief in the transformative power of faith and the incredible impact it can have on ones life and said they were humbled to be there for LaBeouf along the way. We invite you to join us in celebrating this momentous occasion and to keep Shia LaBeouf in your prayers as he continues to deepen his faith and seek Gods guidance in his life, the statement said. May his example inspire others to explore their own spiritual paths and find solace in the loving embrace of the Church. LaBeoufs confirmation sponsor, Capuchin friar Brother Alexander Rodriguez, told CNA that he has wanted to become a deacon since starring in his 2022 movie 'Padre Pio' in which he portrayed Italian priest Francesco Forgione. He just spontaneously said, I want to become a deacon, and he still feels that way, Rodriguez told the website. Deacons are ministers of sacrament and baptize, lead prayers, witness marriages and conduct wake and funeral services, according to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. While preparing for the film, LaBeouf immersed himself in Catholicism and lived in a monastery with Franciscan Capuchin friars. LaBeouf was raised by a Catholic father and a Jewish mother and was baptised and had a Bar Mitzvah. His journey into the Catholic Church comes nearly three years after he was accused of physically and emotionally abusing his ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs. LaBeouf denied the accusations and had checked into a long-term inpatient treatment facility, with his attorney saying at the time that he needs help and he knows that. FKA Twigs, 36, described her exs apology as gaslighting and a reminder of how he acted in their relationship. The case is scheduled to go to trial in October. LaBeouf since has welcomed a daughter with Mia Goth. (IANS - Posted on 06 January 2024) Shia LaBeouf confirmed into Catholic Church, intends to become a deacon Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Labour scrutiny over closure of company owned by Sunak's wife London, Jan 6 After UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murthy wounded up her start-up investment firm, Catamaran Ventures in December last year, the country's main opposition has raised questions asking the impact of its closure on other companies. In a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, the Labour Party has asked what impact the closure of Catamaran Ventures could have on the government-backed business and any other companies it retained a stake in, the BBC reported. The party's national campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden also asked what the arrangement was for the payment of tax owed to HMRC (His Majesty's Revenue and Customs), and whether the firm would fulfil all its liabilities to the British taxpayer. "It is vital that these questions are answered in the interests of, to quote the Prime Minister himself, 'integrity, professionalism and accountability'," McFadden wrote in the letter. It was reported last year in the local media that Catamaran Ventures held shares in Study Hall -- an education start-up which received a government grant of almost 350,000 pounds. According to the BBC, with the election expected in 2024, McFadden's move most likely signifies Labour's willingness to try to make Akshata and her wealth an issue in campaigning. Denying that the Labour was trying to create "political capital" out of the issue, McFadden said his party just wanted to ensure that "everything is properly declared here, as this venture now winds up". A spokesperson for Murthy said after the business was wound up, "a significant donation has been made to ShareGift, an independent UK-registered charity with experience accepting donations in the form of shares". With the exception of one company, all the holdings of Catamaran Ventures have been transferred to ShareGift, the BBC reported. Early last year, Sunak came under scrutiny after it emerged that his billionaire wife had shares in a childcare agency, which stood to gain from a new policy announced in the then budget. It was reported that Koru Kids, which listed Murthy as a shareholder, was likely to benefit from a scheme announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. According to an October 2023 media report, Murthy earned more than the combined parliamentary salaries of all Labour MPs in the year. The couple entered The Sunday Times Rich List in 2022 for the first time with their joint 730 million pound fortune. Akshata Murthy is said to be wealthier than even King Charles III due to her 430 million pounds stake in her billionaire tycoon father Narayana Murthy's IT empire. (IANS - Posted on 06 January 2024) Labour scrutiny over closure of company owned by Sunak's wife Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Navigating 2024: 5 resolutions to maintain diabetes throughout the year New Delhi, Jan 06 As the calendar turns a fresh page and we welcome the start of a new chapter of our lives, its a great time to introspect the past and set new goals for the future. The beginning of the year does not only signify a date change but also a symbolic opportunity for renewal and commitment to one's well-being. As we usher into 2024 it's time to grab the moment and find the path to set our intentional goals to manage your diabetes this year. An expert recommends five resolutions to make in 2024 to control diabetes: Prioritize strategic meal planning: It's important to have a plan in place for what you are going to eat throughout the day. Always try to choose foods that have a lower calorie count. Pick foods that wont increase your blood sugar levels drastically. Its advisable to consume small portions of tempting food over a period to fill the cravings.Keep your body moving: It's important to prioritize physical activity for maintaining good health, but it's also crucial to keep it gentle and avoid overexertion. Simple workouts like walking or yoga can be effective. Make sure to wear appropriate clothes and footwear during the holidays to keep your body in check. If you notice any abnormalities on your skin, it's best to consult a doctor right away to ensure proper care and treatment.Know your numbers: It is extremely important to keep a consistent check on your blood sugar levels. Real-time monitoring can be done through CGM tools like Freestyle libre. Try to stay in that sweet spot of 70 to 180 mg/dl for most of the day, preferably around 17 hours out of the day. By doing this, you can effectively manage your diabetes. That way, you're the boss of your diabetes, not the other way around.Regulate your sleep cycle: We often disrupt our sleeping routine due to bad habits or work. However, getting adequate hours of good-quality sleep is crucial in maintaining good health. It also helps to avoid sleep deprivation, which can negatively impact your hunger or craving levels. Additionally, sleep plays a vital role in supporting metabolism and regulating blood glucose levels, which is essential when managing diabetes.Stress management: When you are stressed, your body produces stress hormones that boost your blood sugar levels and can cause insulin resistance. Over time, this can raise your blood pressure and increase your chances of developing heart disease. To ease your stress, try engaging in fun activities like listening to music, yoga or dance. Additionally, spending time with loved ones or discussing what you are going through with a professional could ease stress levels. N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.inN. Lothungbeni Humtsoe (IANS - Posted on 06 January 2024) Navigating 2024: 5 resolutions to maintain diabetes throughout the year Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Alaska Airlines flight makes emergency landing after window blown out Washington, Jan 6 A California-bound Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Portland, Oregon, after a window reportedly blew out, according to media reports. According to photos sent in by a passenger, a large part of the airplane's fuselage and a window was missing. The Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 returned safely to Portland International Airport after the crew reported a pressurization issue, CNN quoted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as saying. Both the Portland International Airport and Alaska Airlines confirmed the emergency landing. Alaska Airlines also confirmed that an incident happened on Flight 1282, which was headed from Portland to Ontario, California. The aircraft landed safely back at Portland International Airport with 171 guests and six crew members, the airline said. We are investigating what happened and will share more information as it becomes available. Kyle Rinker, a passenger on the flight, told CNN that a window popped off shortly after takeoff. It was really abrupt. Just got to altitude, and the window/wall just popped off and didnt notice it until the oxygen masks came off, he added. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have announced that they will investigate the incident. (IANS - Posted on 06 January 2024) Alaska Airlines flight makes emergency landing after window blown out Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Chilli leaves a bad taste as losses mount for cultivators in Andhra Pradesh's Bandur Anantapur, Jan 6 Untimely rain has always been a cause of worry for tenant farmers in Bandur panchayat of Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district. Once in every three years, or sometimes yearly, they lose their crops to rain -- a major reason for their high indebtedness. Famed for its glossy red colour and hot flavour, Andhra Pradesh chilli has been ruling the spice markets, but that has not helped farmers cultivating leased plots. As if uncertainties and hardships of tenancy were not enough, they also had to deal with virus infestations. Tenant farmers, Urimindi Gangadhar (40) and Talari Nagaraju (52), lost their chilli crop thrice, which made them turn to full-time farm labour. "We have stopped growing chilli," they said. "I am growing paddy and maize as my chilli crop failed thrice," said Kavali Ramesh (36), who also takes up tenant farming when weather is favourable. "This time, chillies grown in red soil were more prone to viruses than those in black soil. At least two quintals of yield is likely from the latter, but I am hopeless about the red soil one. Now the market rate per quintal is from Rs 18,000 to 25,000. When all conditions favour, 12 quintals of chilli can be produced from an acre, fetching a profit of Rs 30,000 to 50,000 per acre," Bollanaguddam Naveen (24), a farmer-cum-tenant farmer from Devagiri, told 101Reporters. "I am still struggling to pay the interest on crop loans. Even in times of losses, we have to pay the landowner's rent as agreed upon initially. I do not know anything about the Crop Cultivation Rights Card that the government offers," Sikkanna added. Cultivation rights card missing In 2019, Andhra Pradesh government introduced the Andhra Pradesh Crop Cultivator Rights Act, 2019, to recognise and include tenant farmers in all its schemes by issuing a Crop Cultivator Rights Card (CCRC). The Revenue Department will issue the card once a tenant submits the agreement reached on land cultivation with the owner for a 11-month period. The document should be duly signed by the landowner. The village revenue officer in the village secretariat should countersign it. However, most tenant farmers and landowners are unaware of CCRC. "Traditionally, all landowner-tenant relationships are oral, without formal agreements," said Chennareddy Basavaraju, a Bommanahal-based landowner and farmer whose fields are in Devagiri. Marineni Anjaneyulu (60), another landowner, said the traditional arrangement has been working smoothly for both parties. "I do not know about this Act. Our farming contracts are only oral agreements. We know the difficulties of tenant farmers and offer help in times of crop loss." Gadekota Senjappa (48), a landowner-cum-farmer from Devagiri, said, "Like me, some farmers make full investment for the crop. The sharecropper (tenant) must do everything from sowing to reaping. After the yield is sold, the investor takes his entire money back and shares the profit evenly." According to Rythu Swarajya Vedika (RSV), which works extensively on the issues and rights of farmers, Anantapur district had a total of 54,941 tenant farmers in 2021-22. Of them, only 1,073 received CCRCs. The data for the current year from Rythu Bharosa Kendra (RBK) of Bandur panchayat indicated that only 13 tenant farmers had applied for CCRCs. Some tenant farmers argue that landowners' consent and signature are the main barriers for applying. Landowners fear they will lose ownership rights and they will have to pay up the bank loans if the tenants default. The Government of India's 2018 report on the strategy for doubling farmers' income by 2022 addresses three main concerns: removing fear from landowners about losing land rights through leasing, building trust between landowners and tenants, and implementing necessary amendments in tenancy laws to make land leasing legal and open. The Tenant Farmers Study Report-2022 from RSV makes five crucial recommendations to ensure justice to them (pp no.19). Amending the Crop Cultivator Rights Act, assigning the verification process to local government officials with a robust grievance redressal system, launching a high-profile campaign to assure landowners of their secure ownership title, establishing a comprehensive mechanism for bank loans, and recognising and addressing the unique challenges they face are these five recommendations. "The 2019 Act needs to be amended to eliminate the need for landowner's signature. It is impractical and unfair. A robust grievance mechanism is an immediate need to equally benefit tenant farmers and landowners," Kiran Kumar Vissa, co-founder, RSV, told 101Reporters over the phone. Poramboke farmers seek cultivation certificate Many farmers owning less than five acre cultivate one to two acre of poramboke (waste) land as well to increase their earnings. Around 100 acre of poramboke land in Bandur has been under cultivation for the last two decades. Five small farmers told 101Reporters on condition of anonymity that farm labour was a better option these days as men are paid Rs 400 and women Rs 300 per day. "For applying fertilisers and pesticides during the kharif season, Rs 500 is the daily wage," they reasoned. They said land rent for leased plots was Rs 30,000 a year with water facilities, and 25,000 without water facilities. "Government schemes do not help us. The RBKs mostly benefit big farmers," they added. Some of them work as tenant farmers in landowners' plots and cultivate poramboke land, besides cultivating their own plots. "We could not get hold of the certificate of cultivation from the Revenue Department, despite requesting help from various political parties," they claimed. This certificate serves as an official documentation confirming the ownership of crops cultivated on the specified land. Vissa said the certificate enabled poramboke farmers to access governmental schemes. "Once they apply, the revenue officials conduct a physical verification to ensure that cultivation is happening on that land." Asked about the process, a Revenue Department official said on condition of anonymity that poramboke farmers can obtain the certificate by approaching the department through their elected representative, sarpanch and decisions taken at village meetings. "Tenancy cultivation attestation falls within the purview of our department through RBKs," he said. Rising pest problem "I expected 15 quintal of chilli yield from my one-and-a-half acre plot. Three months into cultivation, a virus infected it despite taking all precautions. I have no hopes now. I have got an e-crop booking done at RBK for crop insurance. No one from the Agriculture department visited my field, but representatives of fertiliser shops came and identified Geminivirus," Patnamshetty Mallikarjuna (48), a farmer-cum-landowner from Devagiri, told 101Reporters. According to the Department of Plant Pathology, SV Agriculture College, Tirupati, chilli suffers from a large number of viral, fungal, nematode and phytoplasma diseases, and chilli leaf curl (Begomovirus), cucumber mosaic, groundnut bud necrosis, tomato spotted wilt, watermelon bud necrosis, capsicum chlorosis, pepper mild mottle and tobacco mosaic viruses. A village agriculture assistant said on condition of anonymity that the chilli crop came under the Horticulture Department. "They have to make field visits and suggest control measures. They will do it," he said. 101Reporters made repeated attempts to contact Rayadurgam Division Horticulture Officer, but there was no response. Meanwhile, Mukkayyagari Onnuruswamy (55), a tenant farmer from Bandur whose three-acre chilli crop was damaged by the virus, claimed that in his 30 years of experience, he had not once seen any personnel from the Agriculture and Horticulture departments in his fields. Echoing him, Bommanahal resident Komma Jagadiswara Reddy (60), said the virus infected three acre of his chilli crop in Devagiri. "At the most I may get four quintal. I invested three lakh rupees. No agriculture officer visited my field. No one comes to our rescue," he bemoaned. Banduru, Devagiri and Haresamudram come under Bandur Panchayat. "According to panchayat records, farmers have e-cropped 706 acre of chilli cultivation. Many have informed us about the crop loss. Remedial measures should be recommended by the Horticulture officer," Gajjela Srikanth, Village Agriculture Assistant, RBK, Bandur, told 101Reporters. "If the crops are damaged by too much rain or drought, the government may offer compensation. For virus infestation, it is unlikely. Horticulture officials will visit the fields if the virus is widespread and severe and suggest control measures. If the virus cannot be determined, the case will be referred to scientists," sources in both Horticulture and Agriculture departments said. Survey for the Incidence of Viral Diseases in Chilli in Andhra Pradesh, published by the International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences in 2019, said that viral disease is one of the major limiting factors in chilli production. Maximum disease incidence of 45.05 per cent was recorded from Narpali mandal of Anantapur. According to farmers, chillies were grown in nearly 6,000 acre this time under Tungabhadra Project High Level Canal, but virus infestation ruined the yield. "I may get only four quintal from two acre against the 12 quintals that I can actually make from the six-month crop. This is the third consecutive year of loss. I have a loan of Rs 90,000 to pay back. The government should help small farmers like me, who are cultivating poramboke land, without setting conditions," said Urumindi Onnurswamy (46) of Bandur. Tenant farmers are an increasingly vulnerable group who face high cultivation costs and land rents, are dependent on landowners and are excluded from government schemes such as interest-free loans, crop insurance and disaster compensation. (Paul Babu is an Andhra Pradesh-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.) (IANS - Posted on 06 January 2024) Chilli leaves a bad taste as losses mount for cultivators in Andhra Pradesh's Bandur Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! In Stalin We Trust: INDIA united in Tamil Nadu as DMK calls the shots Chennai, Jan 6 Even as the INDIA bloc is facing several teething issues regarding the prominence of each party across the country, in Tamil Nadu, it is clear that MK Stalin is the boss and the ruling DMK has the final say in the seat sharing arrangements for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Stalins party DMK, as the leader of the coalition in Tamil Nadu, commenced preparations for the Lok Sabha polls last year. In February 2023, Stalin had called a meeting of DMK District Secretaries and posted full time party workers in each Assembly constituency, who were asked to appoint dedicated workers in each booth committee. R Selvapandy, a leader of the DMK in Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu, told IANS, The DMK is all geared up and our leader Stalin has already called upon the party cadres and workers to win all the 39 seats from Tamil Nadu and the lone seat from neighbouring Puducherry which is held by the AIADMK at present. He said that the booth committees have been active since March 2023 and each booth incharge has to have a proper understanding of the voter list. They have to ensure that the names of new voters are added and the names of those who have passed away or have shifted residence are struck off the list, he added. It may be recalled that in the 2019 General Elections the DMK-led front Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) contested on 21 seats, the Congress on 10 seats, the CPI(M), CPI and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) fought on two seats each while the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) contested from one seat as did the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). The DMKs front won all seats except in Theni where the SPAs candidate senior Congress leader and former Union Minister, EVKS Elangovan lost to AIADMK leader OP Raveendranathan, who incidentally is the son of former Chief Minister and senior AIADMK leader, O Panneerselvam. With the DMK ruling Tamil Nadu and having a grass root network in all the Assembly constituencies, the partners of the INDIA front including the Congress, CPI(M), CPI, VCK, MDMK and the IUML have to toe the line taken by Stalins party as it is the big brother in the alliance. In Tamil Nadus politics, the parties with strong Dravidian roots will have the say in a coalition and national parties will have to ride piggyback. This is exactly what the Congress and BJP did in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when they depended on their coalition partners the DMK and AIADMK respectively. A senior Congress leader from Salem told IANS, The Congress won nine seats in the last Lok Sabha elections due to the DMK as the grand old party does not have the organisational capability or the base to win seats on its own in the state. The ten seats being given by the DMK are the maximum we can get and I can vouch that it is only due to the generosity of the Dravidian major that we are getting these many seats to contest. Senior DMK leader S Durai Murugan told IANS, "There are no issues in seat sharing in the front in Tamil Nadu. Our leader, Thiru MK Stalin will have the final say and the DMK is a political party which always respects coalition dharma and knows how the alliance works. There wont be any issues in Tamil Nadu as far as seat sharing for the General Elections is concerned. He also said that it would be an easy win for the DMK given the popularity of Stalin and the several welfare schemes that the state government has implemented since it has assumed power. With the INDIA bloc having Muslim, Dalit and workers representation in the IUML, VCK and the Communist parties in Tamil Nadu, it is a formidable electoral combination representing all social and religious communities. RK Raghavan, Director, Institute of Social and Political Research, Coimbatore told IANS, On close observation, the INDIA bloc is a clear social combination as it has representations from all sections of society. The seat sharing exercise is expected to culminate in an amicable manner and with the DMK calling the shots, it is certain that each of the coalition partners will contest in the same number of seats that they contested in the 2019 polls. (IANS - Posted on 06 January 2024) In Stalin We Trust: INDIA united in Tamil Nadu as DMK calls the shots Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Goyal asks BIS to raise standards of goods to international level New Delhi, Jan 6 Commerce and Industry Ministry Piyush Goyal on Saturday urged the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to make the countrys standards compatible to international standards wherever possible like in case of lifts, air filters or medical items. BIS and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) jointly organised the Dialogue for Strengthening Quality Ecosystem in India to mark the foundation day. The minister said that a comprehensive network of modern labs have been set up to facilitate testing by BIS and industry. BIS recently agreed to invest Rs 40 crore to set up 21 labs for cotton testing. He called upon industry to come forward with areas for which testing is required. He said BIS has ample funds and asked the orgainsation to ensure a transparent ecosystem and high surveillance for better delivery. Goyal applauded the efforts of BIS in hallmarking jewellery and pointed out that mandatory hallmarking covers 343 districts. More than 4.3 lakh articles are hallmarked every day and 90 per cent jewellery that people are buying is hallmarked, he added. The minister said that till 2014 there were only 14 Quality Control Orders of 106 products but now there are 156 QCOs of 672 products. The minister also pointed out that there had been a 52 per cent decline in toy imports in 2023 compared to 2015 because of QCOs that mandated quality above all. QCOs are being processed in nearly 2500 more items which reflects our commitment towards quality by providing high standard goods and services, he said. He said that nine years ago, PM Modi gave the vision of Zero Defect, Zero Effect which means that India should make products of high quality that are sustainable, eco-friendly and have zero climate impact. He quoted PM Modi as saying: Over decades, India had been dependent on foreign standards for quality. Now Indias pace and progress will be decided by our own standards. Goyal said that good quality is non-negotiable and with the awareness generated by BIS, its benefits are understood by consumers, industry, exporters and importers. He also appealed to the younger generation to become the young ambassadors of quality and of Viksit Bharat. He said that the youngsters can promote e-learning, and can upgrade PARAKH initiative in colleges and universities. Delegates including experts from diverse fields related to standardisation, policymakers, industry professionals, consumer groups, academicians, representatives of various Industries, associations, leading manufacturers, traders, special invitees and representatives from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and DPIIT, also participated in the event. The inaugural session was followed by technical sessions. pannu/dan (IANS - Posted on 06 January 2024) Goyal asks BIS to raise standards of goods to international level Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Champaign, IL (61820) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A few flurries are possible. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 27F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. KYODO NEWS - Jan 7, 2024 - 22:01 | All, World, Japan Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa made an unannounced visit to Ukraine on Sunday, pledging a $37 million contribution to a NATO fund to provide additional support for the Eastern European nation's defense against the ongoing Russian invasion. Kamikawa, visiting Ukraine for the first time since taking the role in September, said Japan will deliver an unmanned aircraft detecting system and other aid through the latest funding during a joint press conference in Kyiv with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, after their talks. Tokyo will also provide Kyiv with five mobile gas turbine power generators to help Ukrainians endure the harsh winter, Kamikawa added, expressing her country's unwavering resolve to "keep supporting Ukraine so that peace can be restored." Her visit comes ahead of a conference the two countries will hold in Tokyo on Feb. 19 aimed at discussing the reconstruction of Ukraine, which has suffered widespread destruction since Russia invaded in February 2022. Kamikawa, who arrived in Ukraine by train from Poland, reiterated Japan's condemnation of Russia over its bombardment using missiles and drones and vowed to assist Ukrainians in building shelters and providing educational and medical services for women and children. She also stressed the importance of upholding the international order based on the rule of law from the standpoint of not tolerating any attempts to change the status quo by force. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a surprise trip to Ukraine in March and promised to supply $30 million worth of nonlethal equipment to Ukraine through the NATO fund. Kamikawa's predecessor, Yoshimasa Hayashi, visited the country in September. Related coverage: Japan vows $3 million to provide education for refugees Japan vice ministers visit Ukraine to examine recovery needs In a scientific breakthrough that aids our understanding of the internal wiring of immune cells, researchers at Monash University in Australia have cracked the code behind IKAROS, an essential protein for immune cell development and protection against pathogens and cancer. This disruptive research, led by the eminent Professor Nicholas Huntington of Monash University's Biomedicine Discovery Institute, is poised to reshape our comprehension of gene control networks and its impact on everything from eye colour to cancer susceptibility and design of novel therapies. The study, published in Nature Immunology, promises pivotal insights into the mechanisms safeguarding us against infections and cancers. When the transcription factor Ikaros/Ikzf1 was deliberately obstructed, be it in preclinical models or humans, the once-mighty activity of Natural Killer (NK) cells, our immune system's frontline warriors, plummeted. Loss of this transcription factor in NK cells resulted in wide-spread dysregulation of NK cell development and function, preventing their ability to recognize and kill virus-infected cells and clear metastatic tumour cells from circulation. Aiolos/Ikzf3 and Helios/Ikzf2, related family member were found to partial compensate for the loss of Ikaros, as such when multiple IKZF-family members were inhibited, NK cells underwent rapidly death. Mechanistically, Aiolos and Ikaros were found to directly bind and activate most members of the JUN/FOS family, transcription factors known for their essential roles in human embryo development and tissue function. This discovery opens the door to the prospect of potential novel cancer therapeutics. NK cells, our first line of defence against pathogens and internal threats like cancers, could be fortified by therapies enhancing their killing prowess by targeting IKAROS and JUN/FOS biology. Professor Huntington notes that drugs targeting IKAROS/AIOLOS have already received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the treatment of B cell malignancy "but until now we haven't understood how these drugs work, armed with this new information it could be possible to develop novel drugs targeting these complexes which may offer differentiated pharmacology and therapeutic index for treating disease," he said. Importantly on this front, Professor Huntington's team were able to show that IKAROS had a conserved role in healthy B cells and thus potentially B cell cancers. For military veterans, many of the deepest wounds of war are invisible: Traumatic brain injuries resulting from head trauma or blast explosions are a leading cause of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and suicide among veterans. Few treatments have been effective at diminishing the long-term effects of TBI, leaving many veterans feeling hopeless. Now, Stanford researchers have discovered that the plant-based psychoactive drug ibogaine, when combined with magnesium to protect the heart, safely and effectively reduces PTSD, anxiety and depression and improves functioning in veterans with TBI. Their new study, to be published online Jan. 5 in Nature Medicine, includes detailed data on 30 veterans of U.S. special forces. No other drug has ever been able to alleviate the functional and neuropsychiatric symptoms of traumatic brain injury. The results are dramatic, and we intend to study this compound further." Nolan Williams, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences Alternative options Traumatic brain injury is defined as a disruption in the normal functioning of the brain resulting from external forces -; such as explosions, vehicle collisions or other bodily impacts. The trauma associated with TBI can lead to changes in the function and/or structure of the brain, which, in turn, contributes to neuropsychiatric symptoms. Hundreds of thousands of troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq have sustained TBIs in recent decades, and these injuries are suspected of playing a role in the high rates of depression and suicide seen among military veterans. With mainstream treatment options not fully effective for some veterans, researchers have sought therapeutic alternatives. Ibogaine is a naturally occurring compound found in the roots of the African shrub iboga, and it has been used for centuries in spiritual and healing ceremonies. More recently, it has gained interest from the medical and scientific communities for its potential to treat opioid and cocaine addiction, and research has suggested that it increases signaling of several important molecules within the brain, some of which have been linked to drug addiction and depression. Since 1970 ibogaine has been designated as a Schedule I drug, preventing its use within the U.S., but clinics in both Canada and Mexico offer legal ibogaine treatments. "There were a handful of veterans who had gone to this clinic in Mexico and were reporting anecdotally that they had great improvements in all kinds of areas of their lives after taking ibogaine," Williams said. "Our goal was to characterize those improvements with structured clinical and neurobiological assessments." Capturing 'before and after' Williams and his colleagues at Stanford teamed up with VETS, Inc., a foundation that helps facilitate psychedelic-assisted therapies for veterans. With support from VETS, 30 special operations veterans with a history of TBI and repeated blast exposures, almost all of whom were experiencing clinically severe psychiatric symptoms and functional disabilities, had independently scheduled themselves for treatment with magnesium and ibogaine at a clinic in Mexico. Before the treatment, Stanford researchers gauged the participants' levels of PTSD, anxiety, depression and functioning based on a combination of self-reported questionnaires and clinician-administered assessments. Participants then traveled to a clinic in Mexico run by Ambio Life Sciences, where under medical monitoring they received oral ibogaine along with magnesium to help prevent heart complications that have been associated with ibogaine. The veterans then returned to Stanford for post-treatment assessments. "These men were incredibly intelligent, high-performing individuals who experienced life-altering functional disability from TBI during their time in combat," Williams said. "They were all willing to try most anything that they thought might help them get their lives back." At the beginning of the study, participants were experiencing clinically significant levels of disability as measured by the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Scale 2.0, which assesses disability in six functional domains, including cognition, mobility, self-care, getting along, life activities and community participation. In addition, 23 met the criteria for PTSD, 14 for an anxiety disorder and 15 for alcohol use disorder. In their lifetimes, 19 participants had been suicidal and seven had attempted suicide. Life-changing results On average, treatment with ibogaine immediately led to significant improvements in functioning, PTSD, depression and anxiety. Moreover, those effects persisted until at least one month after treatment -; the endpoint of the study. Before treatment, the veterans had an average disability rating of 30.2 on the disability assessment scale, equivalent to mild to moderate disability. One month after treatment, that rating improved to 5.1, indicating no disability. Similarly, one month after treatment participants experienced average reductions of 88% in PTSD symptoms, 87% in depression symptoms and 81% in anxiety symptoms relative to how they were before ibogaine treatment. Formal cognitive testing also revealed improvements in participants' concentration, information processing, memory and impulsivity. "I wasn't willing to admit I was dealing with any TBI challenges. I just thought I'd had my bell rung a few times -; until the day I forgot my wife's name," said Craig, a 52-year-old study participant from Colorado who served 27 years in the U.S. Navy. "Since [ibogaine treatment], my cognitive function has been fully restored. This has resulted in advancement at work and vastly improved my ability to talk to my children and wife." "Before the treatment, I was living life in a blizzard with zero visibility and a cold, hopeless, listless feeling," said Sean, a 51-year-old veteran from Arizona with six combat deployments who participated in the study and says ibogaine saved his life. "After ibogaine, the storm lifted." Importantly, there were no serious side effects of ibogaine and no instances of the heart problems that have occasionally been linked to ibogaine. During treatment, veterans reported only typical symptoms such as headaches and nausea. Lessons for PTSD, depression and anxiety Williams and his team are planning further analysis of additional data collected on the veterans but not included in the current study, including brain scans that could help reveal how ibogaine led to improvements in cognition. They also hope to launch future studies to further understand how the drug might be used to treat TBI. However, they think ibogaine's drastic effects on TBI also suggest that it holds broader therapeutic potential for other neuropsychiatric conditions. "In addition to treating TBI, I think this may emerge as a broader neuro-rehab drug," Williams said. "I think it targets a whole host of different brain areas and can help us better understand how to treat other forms of PTSD, anxiety and depression that aren't necessarily linked to TBI." The study was independently funded by philanthropic gifts from Steve and Genevieve Jurvetson and another anonymous donor. Stanford received no funding from VETS, Inc. or Ambio. The Speech Accessibility Project has expanded its recruitment and is inviting U.S. and Puerto Rican adults living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to participate. Those interested in participating can sign up online. Funded by Big Tech companies Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign aims to train voice recognition technologies to understand people with diverse speech patterns and disabilities. The project began recruiting people with Parkinson's disease last spring, and those with Down syndrome this fall. The project will also recruit people who have cerebral palsy or have had a stroke. Researchers at UIUC's Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology are securely recording participants and safeguarding their private information. So far, the project has shared more than 100,000 speech samples with the Big Tech companies, and the data will eventually be available to non-profits and companies who agree to safeguard participants' privacy. "Just like human listeners, AI listeners do better when they have some experience with the type of speech they're listening to," said Mark Hasegawa-Johnson, a professor of electrical and computer engineering who is leading the project. Harnessing voice recognition technology has the power to change lives, he said. Stephen Hawking, the physicist, continued his research for decades after he became nonvocal by using an automatic speech synthesizer to communicate on his behalf. Many people with ALS now follow Hawking's lead, learning how to use speech synthesis as a communication tool so that they will be able to communicate with loved ones even when their voices become less intelligible." Mark Hasegawa-Johnson, professor of electrical and computer engineering "The Speech Accessibility Project seeks to make it possible for people with ALS to communicate using their own voices as long as possible by training automatic speech recognizers to understand voices that have reduced intelligibility because of advancing symptoms of ALS," he said. Team Gleason, which serves the ALS community through a broad range of programming, assistive technology, equipment, and robust support services, shares the goal of this effort to expand the usefulness of speech recognition tools. "Team Gleason strives each day to provide the best available assistive technology for the ALS community while simultaneously exploring ways to advance future solutions," said Blair Casey, executive director for Team Gleason. "Technology has the ability to overcome communication barriers and increase independence. Team Gleason is proud to help accelerate this effort for people living with ALS and anyone else with speech differences. Team Gleason's involvement in the Speech Accessibility Project will positively impact millions of people globally whose speech may be challenging for others to understand." Participants and caregivers will be compensated for their time in the form of Amazon eCodes. Participants will receive a total of $180 in three increments: $60 after recording the 200th sample, an additional $60 after recording the 400th sample, and an additional $60 after recording the 600th sample. Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are tackling Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) antibiotic resistance. This naturally antibiotic-resistant pathogen is becoming more prevalent, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutics. To address this, the scientists designed new versions of the drug spectinomycin that overcome efflux, the main mechanism driving resistance. The work was published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Mab infections are increasingly found in health care settings. Such infections can be hazardous for patients with compromised lung function, such as in cystic fibrosis, or who are immunologically compromised, such as in childhood cancer. These infections are treated with long courses of antibiotics and can result in poor outcomes. The emergence of Mab and other similar pathogens presents a growing and deeply concerning public health threat because there are few effective therapeutic options and a limited drug development pipeline. We chemists are in a race against the pathogens. We make stronger antibiotics, and the pathogens become more resistant." Richard Lee, PhD, corresponding author, St. Jude Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Scientists at St. Jude modified the naturally occurring antibiotic spectinomycin to create analogs, comparable but structurally distinct N-ethylene linked aminomethyl spectinomycins (eAmSPCs). These synthetically created eAmSPCs are up to 64 times more potent against Mab than standard spectinomycin. "By re-engineering the molecule through structure-based drug design, we and our collaborators have adapted the antibiotic to increase its activity," Lee added. Overcoming efflux to make a more effective antibiotic Through their work, the scientists unraveled the mechanism of action by which eAmSPCs are more effective: they circumvent efflux. Efflux is the process that cells use to get rid of a drug -; imagine pumping water out of a flooded basement-; and is a significant mechanism by which cells become resistant to therapy. The N-ethylene linkage structure of the eAmSPCs plays a critical role in how the compounds avoid efflux, suggesting that longer linkages modify how the compound is pumped out of the cell. This ultimately shifts the balance toward higher concentrations of eAmSPC within the cell and thus enhances antimicrobial efficacy. "Over the past two decades, we've seen a massive increase in the number of infections caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria like Mab," said co-first author Gregory Phelps, PharmD, St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. "We had a place to start with this naturally occurring antibiotic, which, through modification, we've made much more efficacious against this clinically relevant pathogen." The researchers also found that eAmSPCs work well with various classes of antibiotics used to treat Mab and retain their activity against other mycobacterial strains. Collectively, this work demonstrates that eAmSPCs should be further studied and developed because once issues of tolerability and safety are addressed, these compounds could become next-generation therapeutics. "It is challenging to attract pharmaceutical companies to develop new antibiotics for several economic reasons," said Phelps. "If we can boost the drug pipeline against this hard-to-treat bacteria, we can potentially make a difference for patients like the ones we have here at St. Jude who are increasingly faced with limited or no therapeutic options." Authors and funding The study's co-first author is Martin Cheramie of St. Jude. Other authors include Petra Selchow and Dal Molin, University of Zurich; Michael Meuli, Erik Bottger, and Peter Sander, University of Zurich and National Reference Center for Mycobacteria (Switzerland); Benjamin Killam, Zaid Temrikar, Pradeep Lukka, Bernd Meibohm, and Yury Polikanov, University of Illinois at Chicago; and Dinesh Fernando, Christopher Meyer, Samanthi Waidyarachchi, Suresh Dharuman, Jiuyu Liu, Patricia Murphy, Stephanie Reeve, Laura Wilt, Shelby Anderson, Lei Yang, and Robin Lee, St. Jude. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01-AI157312, F31-AI169961, P30-CA021765, R01-GM132302), the Illinois State startup funds, the Swiss National Science Foundation (310030_197699), Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (3632001500), Swiss Joint Program Initiative Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR-ACOMa-2002-050), the University of Zurich, and ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization of St. Jude. Compounds that obstruct the "landing gear" of a range of harmful viruses can successfully protect against infection by the virus that causes COVID-19, a study published today and led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists shows. Based on the findings, researchers have launched a human clinical trial of one such compound made by chemically stabilizing a key coronavirus peptide. If the compound, called a stapled lipopeptide, proves effective as a nasal spray in the trial, it could be the basis for a new drug modality to prevent or treat COVID-19, say the authors of the study, posted online today in the journal Nature Communications. Because such compounds foil a mechanism used by many types of viruses to enter and infect cells, stapled lipopeptides may also be effective against dangerous and potentially deadly viruses such as RSV, Ebola, and Nipah, as the authors also demonstrate in their study. Although vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and small molecule drugs have played a crucial role in protecting people from life-threatening COVID-19 infection, there remains a critical gap in the treatment arsenal." Loren Walensky, MD, PhD, Physician and Principal Investigator, Linde Program in Cancer Chemical Biology at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center He led the research with Gregory Bird, PhD, of Dana-Farber and Robert Davey, PhD, of Boston University's National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL). "The constant evolution of the virus and the emergence of new variants has markedly decreased the effectiveness of immune-based approaches, requiring periodic reformulation of vaccines. What has been missing are fast-acting, easy-to-administer, and resistance-proof agents that can be used before or after exposure to the virus to directly prevent infection or reduce symptoms. Our study is an encouraging indication that stapled lipopeptides offer that potential," Walensky added. "It was exciting to see how these peptides, which work by jamming the gears of the virus infection machine, moved quickly from a basic idea on paper to being effective with the viruses and in real disease models," said Robert Davey, PhD, Professor, Microbiology at Boston University's NEIDL. "This was a great collaboration that started in the very first days of the pandemic when we wanted to work out a treatment for SARS-CoV-2 using the great biocontainment resources we have at Boston University. Our two labs worked very well together, and this is something we will continue to do in the future on other viruses that I work on like Ebola." Unlike mRNA vaccines, which are a form of immune-based therapy that provides delayed protection and also requires periodic administration due to viral mutation and/or waning immunity, the stapled lipopeptides developed by Walensky's lab act directly on SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, interfering with its ability to infect healthy cells. Because this approach does not use the immune system as an intermediary, it is especially promising for people with weakened immune systems, either due to their disease or treatment with immunosuppressive agents, such as chemotherapy. Walensky's lab has pioneered the development and application of stapled peptides for nearly 20 years. These unique agents consist of natural peptides a stretch of amino acids in a defined sequence whose bioactive structure is chemically stabilized by an installed "staple" and, in this case, further linked to a lipid, which is believed to help concentrate the stapled peptide at the site of viral infection the membrane surface of the otherwise healthy cell. The new study shows that stapled lipopeptides are exceptionally stable, resisting extremes of temperature and chemical conditions, an important feature for persistence both inside and outside the body. The design strategy not only prevents peptide degradation in the body upon administration, but also remedies prior challenges with shipment and storage, such as the required cold chain for COVID-19 vaccines. In 2010, Walensky's lab first developed double-stapled peptides that target the same key step in the process by which the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) binds to, and then infects, human cells, causing AIDS. The stapled peptides mimicked the virus's "landing gear," a bundle of six coils or "helices" of the virus that comes together, enabling the virus to fuse with the membrane of the host cell. The therapeutic approach, known as fusion inhibition, prevents the virus from entering the cell to off-load its nucleic acid blueprint, which otherwise turns the cell into a virus-producing factory. The stapled peptide, which mimics one of the coiled regions, disrupts formation of the fusion apparatus, halting infection at its source. In 2014, Walensky's team developed analogous stapled peptides targeting this same feature of the RSV virus, which can cause severe respiratory illness and even respiratory failure in the elderly and very young alike. They showed that administering the stapled peptide as a nose drop could prevent RSV infection in mice and also prevent the spread of established nasal infection from migrating to the lungs. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in early 2020, Walensky's lab promptly converted one of the coiled motifs of the SARS-CoV-2 six-helix bundle into a stapled peptide in an effort to develop a therapeutic for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis. "Remarkably, the viral peptide sequence that we use to block the fusion apparatus is 100% identical between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS1, which emerged as a deadly respiratory virus in 2003," notes Walensky. He points out that, in contrast to the viral sequences that mutate frequently to evade immune-based therapies, the virus's fusion sequences are rarely altered due to the critical role of six-helix bundle assembly in promoting viral infection. In cooperation with researchers expert in highly pathogenic viruses at the NEIDL, Walensky's team began developing dozens of stapled peptide fusion inhibitors for anti-viral testing, altering the location of the staple and the linker between the staple and the lipid, to determine which version worked best against the broadest spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Ironically, as the virus evolved to evade vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, the more effective the stapled lipopeptides became, owing to the essential nature of the fusion mechanism they target. Then, in partnership with the laboratory of Richard Bowen, DVM, PhD, of Colorado State University and the newly formed Red Queen Therapeutics of Cambridge, Massachusetts that licensed the Dana-Farber technology, the Walensky lab began testing the inhibitors in hamsters. The studies evaluated a lead stapled lipopeptide as a preventive and therapeutic agent. The animals were randomly selected to receive an inhibitor before and/or after nasal inoculation with SARS-CoV-2. The results were very encouraging, Walensky remarks. The animals in each group that received the inhibitor maintained their weight, an indication that they remained well despite viral exposure. Examination of their noses showed a relative drop in viral titers compared to the untreated control group and evaluation of their lung tissue found that the animals were significantly protected from severe pneumonia, a common complication of COVID-19. "Similar to what we saw with RSV, nasal treatment with a stapled peptide fusion inhibitor even if given after inoculation with SARS-CoV-2 prevented the infection from adversely affecting the lungs and causing severe disease," Walensky comments. A second set of studies explored whether the inhibitors could help reduce transmission of the virus from one hamster to another. Again, the results were encouraging. "Animals that weren't treated consistently lost weight. Those that received treatment, either before or after exposure to an infected hamster, preserved their weight," Walensky notes. Correspondingly, viral loads in the noses and lungs of treated animals were lower than in untreated animals. The fact that many viruses with pandemic potential rely on the six-helix bundle to enter and infect cells suggests that stapled lipopeptides developed by Walensky's lab can be adapted to block or reduce infection by other viruses "on demand." "Red Queen Therapeutics was founded on the conviction that this novel technology from the Walensky lab would be broadly applicable in successfully combating viral threats, using a pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis paradigm, and COVID presents a proving ground as well as an important opportunity in its own right," said Ron Moss, M.D., CEO of Red Queen Therapeutics. "We are excited to validate data in this publication with our human trials in SARS-CoV-2 now under way and anticipate having data to share later this quarter," he added. "This approach has the potential to fill an important gap in our arsenal against COVID-19 and other viruses that cause severe respiratory and hemorrhagic diseases," Walensky relates. "Imagine being able to protect yourself from COVID-19 or other disruptive respiratory viruses with a simple nasal spray that you could use to avoid infection at a large gathering or after exposure to a close contact who turns out to test positive for SARS-CoV-2. That is the promise this work holds, not only for otherwise healthy individuals, but especially for immunocompromised patients who remain most at risk of severe infection. As a Dana-Farber chemical biology lab that specializes in studying mechanisms of cancer chemoresistance in children, my group has also been interested in tackling the secondary causes of morbidity and mortality in our patients, and that includes life-threatening infections by treatment-resistant bacteria and viruses. The research was supported by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a grant from the Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness and the National Institutes of Health to the NEIDL, and the Pre-clinical Services Program of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which funded in part the animal testing performed at Colorado State University. An order announcing the extension of the winter break in Delhi schools till January 10 was withdrawn by the government on Saturday, just hours after being issued. The Delhi Department of Education confirmed that the previous order was incorrectly issued. Delhi Education Minister Atishi announced on the microblogging site X that the decision has been made to extend the winter break for students in Nursery through Class 5 by five days, until January 12. Schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next 5 days due to the prevailing cold weather conditions, for students from Nursery to Class 5, Atishi wrote in the post. Schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next 5 days due to the prevailing cold weather conditions, for students from Nursery to Class 5. Atishi (@AtishiAAP) January 7, 2024 According to PTI, the revised directive states, The order extending winter break was incorrectly issued. The order has been withdrawn immediately. Order No.DE.23(3)/Sch.Br./2024/18 dated: January 6, 2024, regarding the extension of Winter Vacation stands withdrawn with immediate effect, the newly issued order read. School students winter break was set to conclude on January 6, with classes resuming on January 8. However, Delhi has been experiencing intense cold waves, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert owing to dense fog, light rainfall, and a dip in temperature over the next several days. The Delhi government in its previous order that now stands cancelled had extended the winter vacation to January 10 in all government-aided and unaided accredited private schools in the national capital territory (NCT) due to extreme cold waves and IMDs yellow alert. Meanwhile, due to the dense fog and chilly weather conditions, the Gautam Buddh Nagar government on Saturday ordered all schools in Noida and Greater Noida to close for classes up to 8th grade until January 14. The directive, issued by district Basic Education Officer Rahul Panwar, applies to all institutions accredited by the state board, CBSE, ICSE, IB, as well as others. The Rajasthan Board has ordered an extension of the winter vacation in light of the states harsh weather scenarios. Schools from classes 1 to 8 have been directed to remain closed until January 13, 2024, according to a statement published by the Board of Secondary Education, Ajmer. This winter break applies solely to students of the states schools. Teachers are required to be present at the school for departmental and teaching purposes. With PTI Inputs The application window for the Combined Defence Services (CDS 1) will soon be closed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Candidates who are left to apply for the exam can visit the official website of the Union Public Service Commission at upsconline.nic.in and fill out the application form to appear for the CDS 1 exam. Candidates should note that the application window opened on December 20, 2024, and they have until January 9, 2024, to apply for the recruitment. According to the official schedule released by the Union Public Service Commission, the Combined Defence Services (CDS 1) exam 2024 is scheduled to take place on April 21. The CDS exam will be held in 70 cities across the country. UPSC CDS 1 2024: ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Educational Qualification: To be eligible for the CDS exam, candidates need to be a graduate of a recognised university. One must have a bachelors degree in engineering to enter the Navy, but to join the Air Force Academy, one must have passed Physics and Chemistry in Class 12 along with a Bachelors degree. Age limit: Candidates applying for the CDS exam for Air Force and Navy must be between the age gap of 19 to 23 years and for Officers Training Academy, they must be 19 to 24 years of age. UPSC CDS 1 2024: HOW TO APPLY Step 1: Candidates need to visit the official website of the Union Public Service Commission at upsconline.nic.in to apply for the CDS I exam. Step 2: Then, log in to the account using your credentials Step 3: Fill out the application form as asked for part 1 registration Step 4: Upload the necessary scanned documents in the mentioned format and pay the prescribed application fees. Step 5: Select the examination centre and hit submit Step 6: Download the submitted application form and print a hardcopy of the same for future reference The Union Public Service Commission conducts the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam twice a year for the recruitment of Commissioned Officers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The UPSC CDS exams are held in two phases a written examination followed by an interview round. The written exam carries 100 marks, and the time for the exam is 2 hours. The UPSC CDS examination is for IMA, INA, and AFA posts. It comprises three papers: English language, general knowledge, and elementary mathematics. From UPSC Civil Services to SSC recruitment exams, from college admissions to group discussions, general knowledge questions mark a significant part of almost every exam. For candidates preparing to crack an exam or those who need to get their news in a compact form, News18 offers a weekly column GK Capsule. While we provide you a weekly news wrap, to get more information on a specific topic or an exam, reach out at @news18dotcom. If you are gearing up for a recruiting exam, particularly the civil services, staying abreast of current affairs is crucial. General knowledge plays a pivotal role in various employment and admission tests, making it imperative to be well-versed in recent events. Heres a roundup of significant highlights from the past week that can aid in your exam preparation. Human Trafficking Scandal Involving Nicaragua-Bound Plane Donkey Flight More than 60 individuals from Gujarat found themselves at the centre of a human trafficking scandal when a Nicaragua-bound plane, carrying 303 people, was grounded in France. The passengers, suspecting human trafficking, had agreed to pay hefty sums to immigration agents, promising illegal entry into the US once they reached Nicaragua. The State Crime Investigation Department is actively probing the matter, having questioned and recorded statements from 55 individuals so farread more Supreme Court Rejects PIL on Krishna Janmabhoomi Janmasthan On January 5, 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea challenging the Allahabad High Courts order regarding Krishna Janmabhoomi Janmasthan in Mathura. The PIL sought a direction for the Uttar Pradesh government to acquire the site and hand it over to Hindus for worship. The Supreme Court cited the issues pendency in the high court, emphasising the avoidance of multiple litigationsread more Earthquake Strikes Central Japan A powerful earthquake shook central Japan on New Years Day, triggering alarms and evacuation orders. Despite concerns, the resulting tsunamis along the Sea of Japan were mostly minor, in stark contrast to the devastating 2011 tsunami. As of January 3, 62 people were confirmed dead, and search operations were ongoing, with the threat of rain heightening the urgencyread more Gujarats Prosperity Through Animal Husbandry Gujarats focus on animal husbandry has significantly contributed to the prosperity of the state. The dairy sector has grown to Rs 1 lakh crore, with 36 lakh milk producers collectively receiving Rs 200 crore daily from the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). The upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit will showcase the states growth in agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandryread more Grand Consecration of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya The grand consecration of the Ram idol, Ram Lalla, is set to take place in Ayodhya on January 22. Residents will have the opportunity to see the idol on January 17, but the face will remain hidden until consecration, adhering to Sanatan tradition. Vedic ceremonies will follow the consecrationread more The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2024 exam is scheduled to be held today, January 7 by the Xavier School of Management (XLRI) in Jamshedpur. The XAT 2024 admit card has also been issued recently and can be downloaded from the official website, xatonline.in. The exam will last three hours and thirty minutes and will take place from 2 pm to 5:30 pm. Reportedly, in comparison to the previous year, there was a 40 per cent increase in XAT 2024 registration this year and around 1,35,000 students applied for the exam. The XAT 2024 exam format states that students will be evaluated through five sections in the question paper: decision-making, general knowledge, quantitative ability and data interpretation, analytical essay writing, and verbal and logical reasoning. The number of questions on the XAT normally ranges between 100 and 105, providing a complete assessment of the candidates aptitude. Each part will normally have 22 to 30 questions. Candidates must note that the General Knowledge and Essay parts have no bearing on the cutoff score. Their evaluation will only be used at the interview stage. XAT 2024: Exam Day Guidelines For Candidates Students must bring their XAT admit card to the examination centre. Candidates will not be permitted to enter the exam hall unless they have an admission card. Candidates are recommended to be at the XAT 2024 examination centre at least one hour before the exam begins. Candidates must not forget to bring photo ID proof and one passport-size photo. Before arriving at the exam centre, self-attest the self-declaration form. Mobile phones, smart watches, iPads, and calculators will not be permitted in the exam hall. Candidates will be admitted based on their XAT 2024 scores. Individuals who meet the minimum requirements will be called in for the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) procedure. Courses in the Human Resource Management Programme (HRM), Post Graduate Diploma in Management, XLRI-RBS Double-Masters Programme, Business Management Programme (BM), Fellow Programme in Management (FPM), and Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Venture Creation Programme (IEV) are all available at the Xavier School of Management. Meanwhile, this year, the total number of Postgraduate Diploma in Management in Business Studies Management seats at XLRI has also increased from 180 to 240. Over 160 B-schools across India recognise XAT scores as a benchmark for their admission process. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has sought a report from the state government on action taken in response to a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers who conducted a raid at TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikhs house in connection with the ration scam, an official said. The official said Bose has asked the state government to provide a report explaining why key accused Shahjahan has not been arrested and to clarify whether he is still in India or has crossed the borders. The governor has requested the state government to submit a report explaining why Shahjahan Sheikh has not been arrested and to clarify whether he is still in the country or fled to some other nation, the official said on Sunday. Additionally, Bose has urged the state government to hold accountable those responsible for the failure of the law and order machinery and to take action against police officers who neglected their duties, the official added. Earlier in the day, Bose had a meeting with top officials from the CRPF and the ED, during which he expressed his strong displeasure over the polices failure to apprehend Shahjahan. The official said the governor has issued a stern warning, stating that police must cease playing hide-and-seek. KYODO NEWS - Jan 7, 2024 - 10:55 | All, Japan Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been compelled to rely more on former Prime Minister Taro Aso, called a "kingmaker" by critics, to maintain his administration amid a political fundraising scandal involving his Liberal Democratic Party. The move underscored that Kishida's political influence has been plunging as more LDP lawmakers have begun to doubt his leadership and ability to handle the scandal, making him more isolated within the ruling party, political experts said. When Kishida replaced several ministers and LDP executives belonging to the largest faction at the center of the scandal in December, Aso, who was in power for one year through 2009, is believed to have played a role in finding some of their successors. Under the current circumstances, Kishida, who headed the fourth-biggest group within the LDP until early December, has to manage his government with more consideration for the second-largest faction led by Aso, an 83-year-old heavyweight, the experts said. Since the Kishida administration was launched in October 2021, LDP Vice President Aso and Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi, the leader of the third-biggest intraparty group, have supported the prime minister by sending ministers from their factions. The LDP has recently been under scrutiny as the largest faction, formerly led by slain Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, allegedly failed to declare hundreds of millions of yen in revenue from fundraising parties in political funding reports and created slush funds. The scandal has pushed the approval ratings for Kishida's Cabinet down sharply, prompting him to dismiss ministers and LDP executives from the Abe group, including internal affairs minister Junji Suzuki and the party's policy chief, Koichi Hagiuda. With multiple lawmakers refusing to join Kishida's flagging government, he was forced to reinstate Takeaki Matsumoto, a member of the Aso faction, who had served as internal affairs minister until the Cabinet was revamped in September. Former education minister Kisaburo Tokai, an unaffiliated member of the LDP, became policy chief by the recommendation of former Secretary General Akira Amari, a senior lawmaker of the Aso faction, sources close to Kishida said. As a result of the latest personnel change, the Aso group has become the top provider of ministers at five, followed by the Motegi and Kishida factions at three, respectively. The Abe faction has lost all ministerial posts. But a veteran lawmaker close to Kishida said, "The prime minister should do what he wants to do while listening to the opinions" of lawmakers other than Aso. Related coverage: FOCUS: Japan PM's future in doubt for 2024, non-faction lawmakers in focus Prosecutors search offices of LDP factions mired in funds scandal Embattled Japan PM Kishida ousts LDP's most powerful faction from Cabinet A boy and a girl were allegedly attacked and assaulted in Karnatakas Belgavi on Saturday by some goons who assumed the duo to be in an inter-faith relationship, but they turned out to be brother and sister. The 23-year-old man Sachin Lamani and 22-year-old woman Muskan Patel were sitting on the Fort Lake tank bed when a group of 17 people approached them and attacked them as they suspected them to be inter-faith lovers, reported The Hindu. Sachin belonged to the Lambani community, while Muskan was a Muslim. Police have arrested eight out of 17 miscreants who brutally thrashed the duo who went to register for Siddaramaiahs Yuva Nidhi scheme with pipes and rods. After being pummeled, family members of the victims filed a complaint with the police while searching for them. The police traced their location through a triangulation tool and rescued them. They questioned why a Muslim and a Hindu were seated next to each other. I told them she was the daughter of my aunt, not a Muslim. Our two phones were stolen by them. They seized seven thousand rupees, said Lamani as quoted by India Today. Lamani further said that he and Patel went to register for Siddaramaiahs Yuva Nidhi scheme. They were asked to come after an hour as it was lunchtime. The miscreants were drunk when they approached and attacked us. They took a rod and thrashed us, said Sachin. The group before attacking the duo enquired about their names and after learning that both belong to different religions, they started questioning Sachin about sitting next to Muskan, stated the complaint. The verbal assault developed into physical violence, with the attackers attempting to choke Sachin around his neck. The group forcibly grabbed the duos mobile phones, according to a police complaint, adding they took both of them in separate rooms where Sachin was brutally thrashed till Saturday evening. Subsequently, more people joined the attackers who assaulted the duo, reported India Today, adding that Patel was also thrashed ruthlessly during the incident. They are receiving treatment at a district hospital. DCP Rohan Jagadish informed reporters in Belagavi that police are scanning CCTV footage and more clues would apprehend the other accused persons. He also informed that two of the individuals arrested were minors. BJP leader and former DCM K. S. Eshwarappa visited the district hospital and has demanded justice for the duo. It is very unfortunate that Muslim goondas had attacked the two innocent youth who were brother and sister and the police are taking it easy, quoted The Hindu as saying Eshwarappa. He continued that, no minister or politician has come to meet them nor offered any moral support, adding that the state government should prove its secular credentials by arresting all the Muslim goondas who are accused of this offence. Ajay Shrivastava, a Delhi-based lawyer, attracted the eyeballs after he acquired two pieces of land owned by the family members of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in an auction for over Rs 2 crore in Mumbai on Friday. The properties were owned by Amina Bi, the mother of fugitive terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. Interestingly, the purchases are more complex than they look as the lawyers motive behind winning the bids is much more than just acquiring the land. Responding to his decision to bid significantly above the reserve price for the plot, Srivastava said, I will establish a school on the property. I have already established Sanatan Dharma Pathshala at the bungalow of Dawood Ibrahim which I purchased in 2020. I have purchased the two plots and I brought the land parcels at such whopping prices as I believe in astrology and the plots survey number matched with my birth date. Also, I own an adjacent plot purchased in the last auction. I want to develop Sanatan Dharma School at the said plots, he added. #WATCH | Advocate Ajay Shrivastav, who purchased a property of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in the auction yesterday, says, "I will establish a school here later. I established 'Sanatan Dharma pathshala' at the bungalow of Dawood Ibrahim which I purchased in 2020" pic.twitter.com/cnrbXzdll2 ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2024 Further, explaining the reason behind purchasing properties linked to the underworld don, Srivastava said that he wants to stand up to a terrorist and this is his way of doing it. He added that through this, he aims to convey that Dawoods influence is no longer prevalent. However, this is not the first time that Shrivastava has purchased properties linked to Dawood Ibrahim. In 2020, the Delhi-based lawyer acquired the ancestral home of Dawood in Maharashtras Khed for a sum of Rs 11.2 lakh. Two Properties of Dawood Ibrahims Kin Sold The auction in which properties linked to Dawoods kin were placed was conducted by the competent authorities under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act. The auction included four properties in Ibrahims ancestral Mumbake village in Khed tehsil of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra. While the two land pieces were bought by lawyer Ajay Shrivastava, the other two properties received no bids. The government is aiming to start the Delhi-Surat section of the Delhi-Mumbai expressway by March with two additional stretches of over 300 km almost ready. A document of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways seen by News18 shows that a 100 km section between Vadodara and Ankleshwar is almost ready and is set for inauguration. Another 205 km-stretch between Lalsot and Jhalawar is almost complete. There are nine packages between Lalsot and Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border, work is 100% finished in two making up for 79 km. On another 66 km, work is more than 90% completed. Work on an additional 60 km is more than 80% done. Two of the sections in this stretch are critical and the progress is little slow on the 35 km part. Out of these two, one is 26 km-long where 75% work has been completed and another is 8 km-long where the progress is 45%. On Friday, Road Transport and Highways secretary Anurag Jain said the ministry is aiming to start the Delhi-Surat section by March. Only a small part in Rajasthan (8 km tunnel) will not be ready. An old existing road can be used for that stretch. So, we will have Delhi-Surat connectivity (through Delhi-Mumbai expressway) by March, Jain said, adding that the entire Delhi-Mumbai section can be expected for traffic movement by December. He added that the 94 km section from Mumbai to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust will be ready in 2025. Progress Up to December In total, out of the 1,386 km Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, work on the 920 km stretch has been done about 67%. A ministry official told News18 that these are not in continuous length. The ministry will open the sections, which are ready. Four packages between Vadodara and Ankleshwar are ready now and some minor work is left. We can expect the opening of this section in coming weeks, they said, demanding anonymity. Across the length of the expressway, work is 100% completed on 19 packages making up for 563 km. This included the two stretches already opened for the public in 2023 one between Sohna and Lalsot (247 km) and another between Jhalawar and Madhya Pradesh-Gujarat Border (245 km). Further, another 176 km of the stretch 63 km in Gujarat and 113 km in Rajasthan is more than 95% completed, the ministry document shows. In terms of states, out of the 1,386 km Delhi-Mumbai expressway, highest share is in Gujarat at 432 km. Work on 186 km is complete. Next is Rajasthan (374 km) where work on 350 km is done. In Madhya Pradesh, work is almost finished with 244 km out of 245 km. In Haryana, work on 117 km out of 130 km length is finished. In Delhi, 3.5 km of the 9 km-long project work has been completed. It is important to note that packages were allocated at different times and have different target dates. The completed project is expected to be ready by mid-2025. The Project Expecting to reduce the travel time between Delhi and Mumbai, the 1,386-km Delhi-Mumbai expressway passes through Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. It is being developed at a cost of around Rs 1 lakh crore. Once completed, it will be the longest expressway in India. It is expected to halve the commute time between Delhi and Mumbai, from nearly 24 hours to 12 hours, and shorten the distance by 130 km. Further, it will improve the connectivity to economic hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Kota, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bhopal, Ujjain, Indore, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat, bringing economic prosperity to millions. According to the ministry, the e-way will generate annual fuel savings of more than 320 million litres and reduce CO2 emissions by 850 million kg, which is equivalent to planting 40 million trees. There has been virtually no sunshine in Delhi for the past week due to a thick blanket of haze shrouding the city. While cold weather conditions prevailed in the national capital with a dense layer of fog, visibility has also been affected due to very poor air quality in the city. Despite hazardous air quality levels in Delhi and its neighbouring areas, the smog tower located in the citys Connaught Place remained locked up. The Rs 23 crore-smog tower, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in 2021 amid much fanfare, is not operational because the personnel responsible for its operations locked it due to non-payment of their salary for December 2023, according to a report by India Today. The tower comes under the jurisdiction of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) and a private organisation named Vibgyour Consulting has been given a contract to operate it. Vibgyour Consulting has tasked a 13-member team to operate the tower. In April 2023, operations of the tower were stopped. But after the Supreme Court rebuked the Delhi government in November (2023) to start this tower, we were called by DPCC and on November 8, again the tower was operationalised, Mahipal Bisht, one of the staff members told India Today. But later we were not paid our salary on time and our December salary has not been paid yet. Above this, our company has not received any job confirmation from the Delhi government, he added. The team members claim they were given no written job guarantee from the Delhi government. Finally, we only had one option to lock the smog tower, said Bisht. Delhis Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 321, in the very poor category, on Saturday, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe. The staff members running the tower also shed light on the dearth of basic facilities, such as drinking water and an accessible toilet in the facility. Even basic tools like pliers and screwdrivers are not available, and we are also not provided any safety gear, Vivek Uniyal, an electrician who was also part of the team, said. The team members also claimed that the smog tower was not working at its full capacity. The majority of the 5000 filters installed in the tower are old and need a change, one of the members said, according to the report. Delhi Police has arrested a man and a woman and apprehended three minor boys in connection with the gang rape case of a 12-year-old girl in the citys Sadar Bazar area. The girl, a resident of Bawana, was allegedly lured by the woman, who took her to a secluded location, where the other four raped her, according to police. The heinous crime took place on January 1. However, it was reported to police on Thursday after which a case under section 376D (gangrape) and other relevant sections of the law was immediately registered and all the five accused were held, Hindustan Times reported quoting Manoj Kumar Meena, Deputy commissioner of police (north), as saying. The accused have been identified as 38-year-old Suresh Kumar, who sells tea in North Delhis Sadar Bazar slum cluster and the woman as Beauty, a resident of the same locality, along with three minors, aged 12, 14 and 15 years, whose names have not been disclosed. According to a senior police officer, the victim works as a waste picker. She knew Beauty, who used to earlier live in Bawana and also picked waste for a living. On January 1, when the victim was alone at Sadar Bazar, Beauty came to meet her. She lured the minor to an isolated place where the four other suspects were waiting, who then raped the girl, the officer said. As per the report, Beauty threatened the victim to not reveal the incident to anyone. After the incident, the girl managed to clean herself up and boarded a train to Bawana. She reportedly remained quiet for the next two days. On Thursday, she again went to Sadar Bazar to pick up waste, where she met her cousin who lives in the same locality and confided in her. The cousin informed the minors parentsboth labourersabout the incident, following which all of them went to the police station, where the girl narrated her ordeal to police, the investigator said. Police immediately constituted a team and all suspects were nabbed within hours of the matter being reported. We suspect that the accused gave Beauty some money to bring a girl for them. She spotted the victim and lured her to them, the HT reported quoted the officer as saying. Over the last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs has designated four individuals affiliated with Khalistani terror groups as terrorists, marking them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Three individuals are linked to the Babbar Khalsa group, while Arshdeep Singh Gill, also known as Arsh Dala, is associated with the Khalistani Tiger Force. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has played a pivotal role in these developments, with cases registered since 2020 leading to the declaration of nearly a dozen terrorists. Since January 2023, the Government of India has been intensifying efforts against Khalistani terror groups, adding Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, Satwinder Singh alias Goldy Brar, Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, and Arsh Dalla to the list of declared terrorists under Section 35 of the UAPA. According to the dossiers, these terror leaders are operating from Canada and a detailed query has been sent to the Canadian High Commission in India. A response from the mission is awaited. Expediting Justice and Global Attention Officials from central investigation and intelligence agencies emphasise that declaring these individuals as terrorists accelerates the justice process in India and strengthens the case on international platforms. Despite some nations categorising them as local criminals rather than terrorists, such designations expose the nations supporting them, creating a significant impact, said a high-ranking government official involved in the investigation of Khalistani terrorism cases. Officials pointed out that the designation of these individuals as terrorists also contributes to their recognition as global terror groups by international organisations, reinforcing Indias case. Challenges and Diplomacy: International Efforts Against Khalistani Terror A top-level intelligence official told News18 that Indias efforts against Khalistani terror groups operating from Canada and the UK faced objections, particularly from Canada, which hesitated to act. India has consistent communication with the Canadian government, urging action against declared terrorists. Despite these efforts, attacks on Indians and places of worship persisted, raising concerns about the local governments stance, the official investigating Khalistani terror said. Asset Attachments and Bans In recent months, the NIA has seized properties associated with declared terrorists, leveraging new legal amendments. These amendments empower law enforcement agencies to attach properties even without a formal statement from the accused, and impose various bans, including travel restrictions. This strategy aims to expedite legal proceedings and curb the activities of Khalistani terror groups. Who Were Declared Terrorists and Why Goldy Brar Satwinder Singh alias Goldy Brar was declared a terrorist on January 1 this year. As per the MHA, the Babbar Khalsa terrorist was involved in multiple killings, professes radical ideology, and was involved in making threatening calls to pro-nationalist leaders, demanding ransom. He also posted the claims of killings on different social media platforms. Brar was also allegedly involved in smuggling of high-grade arms, ammunitions and explosive materials through drones from across the border and was further supplying these to carry out killings. Lakhbir Singh Alias Landa Landa was declared a terrorist on December 29, 2023. He is also with the Babbar Khalsa and has been allegedly involved in the supply of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), arms, sophisticated weapons, explosives from across the border to various modules for carrying out terrorist activities in Punjab. He is also allegedly involved in killings, planting IEDs, smuggling of weapons and narcotics and using funds or proceeds thereof for terrorist acts in Punjab and other parts of the country. Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda According to the MHA, Rinda, who was declared terrorist last year in February, has direct links with Pakistan-based terrorist groups and is also involved in cross-border smuggling of arms, ammunition, militant hardware besides drugs on a large scale. Rinda is also allegedly involved in various criminal offences like murder, attempt to murder, contract killing, robbery, extortion, etc in the states of Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Arsh Dala Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dala was allegedly involved in heinous crimes such as murder, extortion and targeted killings besides terror activities. Gill is also suspected of terror financing, cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons. Challenging the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team visiting America, the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a banned outfit led by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, blocked the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, with a float depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi by Shaheed Satwant Singh and Shaheed Beant Singh. Top intelligence sources said they would speak to their counterparts". PM Narendra Modi who has started the cycle of violence by orchestrating assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar must not forget October 31, 1984 and that Sikhs have always responded to the violence committed by the Indian state," according to a statement issued by Pannun. ALSO READ | Wen to Use: Pannuns SFJ Announces US $10,000 Reward for Pro-Palestine WC Final Pitch Invader | Exclusive Top intelligence sources said: This is a money-making tactic used by Pannun. He is using handful activists and forcing them to face the law. Their compulsion is their cases in India and property matters. Pannun is working on behalf of foreign agencies. Blocking any consulate is a serious issue and we will speak to our counterparts." Nijjar was killed by unidentified gunmen outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, on June 18. He was the chief of banned Khalistan Tiger Force, and was designated a terrorist by the Indian government under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in 2020. WHO IS PANNUN? Pannun is a US citizen who is misusing his access in the UK and Canada. He is responsible for acts of terrorism in multiple countries. Pannun had recently offered cash reward for a citizens arrest" of Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma. Announcing the reward, Pannun had accused Verma of falsely raising the bogey of terror threat to Air India to divert attention" from the investigation into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. ALSO READ | SFJs Pannun Announces $100,000 Reward for Citizens Arrest of Indian High Commissioner to Canada Members of the SFJ last week disturbed an Indian High Commission event organised by the Vancouver Consulate General in Abbotsford, Canada, even attacking a family for attempting to pick up an Indian flag fallen on the ground, said local sources. CNN-News18 had earlier reported how Pannun is being funded by Pakistans ISI, citing top intelligence sources. Pannun recently in a statement said that Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has created more open conversations around India and its handling of the Khalistani independence movement". While the economy of the Republic of Maldives is primarily driven by the tourism industry, India has been the worlds largest tourist market for the country between December 2020 and June 2023, according to the Ministry of tourism (MoT) Maldives. According to the recent statistics released by MoT Maldives, India stood second with 18,905 Indian tourists arriving in the nation in November 2023 alone, accounting for 11.6% of total visitors. India jumped from fifth to second position in 2019, with 1.66 lakh arrivals, nearly twice of 2018. When Covid-19 hit the hospitality and tourism industries worldwide in 2020, the Maldives welcomed around 63,000 Indian visitors. India remained the biggest tourist market in 2021 and 2022, with approximately 2.91 lakh (23% market share) and 2.41 lakh (14.4 % market share) arrivals, respectively. India became the second most significant source of tourists to the Maldives in 2023, accounting for 18.3 lakh tourist arrivals (as of November 2023) and holding a 10.9% market share, as Maldives Tourism Ministry data showed. Around 25% of the Maldives GDP is derived directly from tourism, with the remaining 75% coming from secondary sources. More than a third of Maldivian employment prospects are directly related to the tourism industry, and if other related industries are included, the industrys proportion of overall employment both direct and indirect rides to almost 70%. HOW DOES INDIA PROVIDE SUPPORT MALDIVES IN VARIOUS SECTORS? According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), eight infrastructure projects, including the Water and Sanitation on 34 islands Project, the Hanimadhoo International Airport Redevelopment Project and the Gan International Airport Redevelopment Project, were signed to support the Maldives tourism industry. The Water and Sanitation on 34 Islands project aims to enhance the water supply and sewerage facilities on 34 designated islands. The Airports Authority of India has produced DPRs for these Hanimadhoo and Gan International Airport Redevelopment projects, which have been funded by the GoI. India has always been the Maldives partner in the development of human resources across all industries. Many Indians work in the hospitality and tourism industry on different islands and resorts as technicians, engineers, managers, accountants and other roles. Following a tendering process in March 2021, four Indian contractors were awarded six packages for the infrastructure project. However, the Maldives also earns significantly from its agriculture and fishing industries. Since February 1974, the State Bank of India has been a key player in their economic growth by offering credit support for the development of island resorts, export of marine products and commercial ventures, as per the Ministry of External Affairs. Based on the latest figures provided by the MoT Maldives, from January to November 2023, Russia accounted for the biggest share of visitors visiting the Maldives (191,167 and 11.4% of the total), followed by India (183,371 and 10.9), China (175,592 and 10.4%), the United Kingdom (1,38,721 and 8.2%) and Germany (122,704 and 7.3%). The Republic of Maldives is made up of 1,190 islands distributed over 348 square miles in the Indian Ocean over 20 atolls. In continuation with December, January and February will mark key moments in India-UAE relations with leaders of the two countries meeting for multilateral events and otherwise. On December 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Dubai for a day to attend the COP28 Summit. In January, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) Al Nahyan will be in India as chief guest for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, which is being hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modis home state. In February, Modi will again travel to Abu Dhabi to inaugurate BAPS Hindu Temple where the two leaders may again meet, as Modi will also hold a community event at Zayed Stadium day before the inauguration of the temple. Under Modis leadership, engagements with the Gulf have increased. Previously, it was a buyer-seller relation as India buys energy, petroleum, petroleum products and chemicals from them. Now, it is a partnership, which focuses on energy and food security. The way Modi refers to Sheikh Zayed as his brother also speaks volumes not just about the Modi-MBZ bonhomie, but also how the two countries are coming closer. AT THE VIBRANT GUJ SUMMIT On January 9, Modi will receive the President of UAE at Ahmedabad and the two leaders are likely to hold a road show from the airport to Gandhi Ashram. Roadshows are a distinct style of Modis people outreach and MBZ will be given a grand welcome by the people of Ahmedabad. The Vibrant Gujarat summit will also be attended by UAEs Minister of State for Trade Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and a full delegation of business community from the country. This visit could witness signing of MOUs likely in sectors of renewable energy (solar, hydrogen and grid connectivity), construction of food parks, healthcare, and building ties through enhancing the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. A UAE-India Business Summit is also planned on the sidelines of Vibrant Gujarat. The two countries will also attempt to take the annual bilateral non-oil trade to up to USD 100 billion and trade in services to USD 15 billion in the upcoming five years. Modis visit to the UAE in July marked significant milestones in the deepening of the UAE-India bilateral relationship. During this visit, three MOUs were signed. First, to establish a framework to encourage the use of local currencies for cross-border transactions by the governors of respective central banks. The second MOU pertained to the interlinking of payment and messaging systems and lastly plans were set in motion for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi in Abu Dhabi. In 2022, the first summit of the four-nation grouping, of which India and the UAE are members, announced an investment of USS 2 billion to develop a series of integrated food parks across India and setup a 300 Megawatt Hybrid Renewable energy Project in Gujarat. Over 3,860,000 Indian expatriates are to living in the UAE and account for the fourth highest number of overseas Indian people in the world. MODI WAS FIRST PM TO VISIT UAE IN 35 YEARS Modi in 2015 became the first India PM to visit the UAE after a gap of 35 years. Modi has made six visits to the UAE in the past eight years. The president of UAE visited India thrice, once in 2016 and once in 2017, when he was the Chief Guest at a Republic Day Event, and during the G20 summit in September. During these visits, India-UAE relations were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. India, UAE trade rose to 85 billion in 2022 making UAE Indias third largest trading partner for 2022-23. India is UAEs second largest trading partner. In February 2022, India became the first country with which the UAE signed a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) which resulted in a increase in bilateral trade by 15%. The family of an Indian student, who died in Italy, is seeking the governments help to bring his body back. The student belonged to Jharkhands West Singhbhum district. According to reports, Ram Raut died on January 2. He was studying MBA in Italy and living in a rented accommodation. The cause of death is yet to be determined. Police said the incident came to light when Rams parents called to wish him on New Years. But, he did not take their call. Concerned, they called the owner of his accommodation who informed them that Ram was found dead for unknown reasons inside the bathroom of another house. Rams family then sought the help of Jharkhands senior government officials and public representatives to bring his body back to India. In a report published by India Today, West Singhbhums deputy commissioner Ananya Mittal said he had received news about the students death and informed the home department as well as the migration cell of the state. He said he is monitoring the situation and is also in touch with the family. KYODO NEWS - Jan 7, 2024 - 22:24 | All, Japan Search and relief operations continued Sunday under rainy skies six days after a powerful earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in central Japan while the government is bolstering efforts to reach communities isolated by severed roads. The death toll from the magnitude-7.6 quake that hit on New Year's Day reached 128 on Sunday while 195 people remain unaccounted for, Ishikawa Prefecture said. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed relevant ministers during a meeting of the disaster response headquarters to restore access to isolated communities as soon as possible by fixing damaged roads, rescuing people by helicopter, and delivering relief goods on foot, among other efforts. Around 2,300 people in the prefecture are isolated mainly due to severed roads, the prefectural government revealed. Kishida also said a water shortage in the disaster-hit area is a severe problem, requesting that the ministers gather as many water trucks as possible from across the country to ensure an adequate water supply for the people in the area. Before the meeting, Kishida emphasized on a television program by public broadcaster NHK that he intends to pursue an augmentation of the 500-billion-yen ($3.5 billion) reserve fund, already designated in the draft budget for fiscal 2024 and direct funds toward the recovery efforts in the quake-hit area. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters the number of Self-Defense Forces members working in the disaster-stricken area had been increased to about 5,900 from 5,500. A local weather agency predicted that weather conditions will deteriorate from the evening in the prefecture's Kaga and Noto areas, with precipitation of 50 millimeters forecast in the 24 hours through 6 a.m. Monday. Twenty-five centimeters of snow is also predicted in some areas through Monday morning. The prefectural government plans to temporarily close major roads in case of heavy snow accumulation, potentially hindering the delivery of relief goods to those affected by the disaster. Over 28,000 people are staying in shelters, according to local authorities. Related coverage: Woman rescued 5 days after Japan quake, as death toll tops 120 Central Japan quake causes no problem at local nuclear plant: utility North Korea's Kim sends rare message of sympathy over Japan quake Hello readers, News18 evening digest brings you the latest news: Delhis Rs 23-Cr Smog Tower Remains Locked Up Despite High Pollution Levels; Maldives Ministers Social Media Post Over PM Modis Lakshadweep Visit Stirs Row; Indians Cancel Trips En Masse among others. Maldives Ministers Social Media Post Over PM Modis Lakshadweep Visit Stirs Row; Indians Cancel Trips En Masse Controversy erupts after Maldives minister accuses India of targeting the island nationThere are several Indians who have cancelled their bookings to Maldives in the last 24 to 48 hours after some ministers claimed to have made demeaning statements about India and Lakshadweep in particular. READ MORE Delhis Rs 23-Cr Smog Tower Remains Locked Up Despite High Pollution Levels | Heres Why There has been virtually no sunshine in Delhi for the past week due to a thick blanket of haze shrouding the city. While cold weather conditions prevailed in the national capital with a dense layer of fog, visibility has also been affected due to very poor air quality in the city. READ MORE After Bengal, ED & CBI Officials Could Be Attacked In: BJP Leaders Big Claim Like West Bengal, officials of the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation could face similar attacks in Bihar, claimed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Sushil Kumar Modi. Expressing fear of a possible law and order situation, the former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister alleged that the Central probe agency officials would be attacked by supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the state. READ MORE Pahadi Who Needs Tea in Sleep, 12th Fail Officers Wife & Encounter with Guns, Pani Wala Aloo | Profile In a world that often appears to be dominated by difficulties and obstacles, a few stories arise that not only inspire but also redefine the boundaries of hard work, dedication, support and love. One such real-life story is that of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma and his wife, IRS official Shraddha Joshi, a journey that unfolds against the backdrop of challenges encountered in life. READ MORE Aaradhya Debuts New Hairstyle at Abhishek Bachchans Kabaddi Teams Match, Video Goes Viral Aaradhya Bachchan surprised everyone when she stepped out on Saturday night sporting a different hairstyle. The Bachchan daughter was seen with her parents, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, and her grandfather, Amitabh Bachchan, attending Jaipur Pink Panthers latest kabaddi match. At the match, she was seen cheering for the team with Aishwarya and Amitabh. However, she caught everyones attention with her new hairstyle. READ MORE A Poor Country: Sachin Tendulkar Bats for Indian Islands, Venkatesh Prasad Slams Maldivian Minister for Controversial Post A Maldives ministers controversial post on social media has triggered a backlash in India in which he took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Lakshadweep. READ MORE The year 2024 is set to bring new heights for India and UAE relations as both countries are coming closer with each passing year. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Dubai for a day to attend the COP 28 Summit on December 1, the President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is set to visit India on January 9 as a chief guest for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. Notably, PM Modi is again scheduled to travel to Abu Dhabi to inaugurate the BAPS Hindu Temple and attend a community event Ahlan Modi at Zayed Stadium. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, engagements with the Gulf nation has increased in the past few years as earlier it was just a buyer-seller relations. While India used to buy energy from the Gulf nation, it has now joined UAE in partnership on matters related to energy and food security. The two countries recently came closer to each other and this is quite visible through the bonds that Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares with Sheikh Zayed. On January 9, PM Modi will receive the President of UAE at Ahmedabad Airport. Following this, the two leaders will begin a roadshow airport to Gandhi Ashram. The Vibrant Gujarat Summit will also be attended by UAE Minister of State for Trade Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and a full delegation business community from the Gulf nation. It is speculated that the UAE Presidents visit to India might also witness the signing of MOUs in sectors of renewable energy (Solar, Hydrogen and Grid Connectivity) and the construction of food parks, healthcare enhancing India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. UAE-India Business Summit is also planned on the sidelines of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit. The two countries will also take a step forward in the direction of making accelerated growth of annual bilateral non-oil trade to US $100 billion and trade in services to US $15 billion in the upcoming five years. Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to UAE in July last year marked significant milestones in the deepening of the UAE-India Bilateral relationship. During his visit, three MOUs were signed. The first MOU was signed to establish a framework to encourage the use of local currencies for cross-border transactions by the governors of respective central banks, the second MOU pertained to the interlinking of payment and messaging systems and lastly, plans were set in motion for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi in Abu Dhabi. In 2022, the first summit of the four-nation grouping where India and UAE are member countries announced an investment of US $2 billion to develop a series of integrated food parks across India and set up a 300 megawatt Hybrid Renewable Energy Project in Gujarat. PM Modi in 2015 became the first Prime Minister of India to visit UAE after a gap of 35 years. Since then, he made six visits to the UAE in the last eight years. Meanwhile, the President of UAE visited India thrice in the past. India, UAE trade rose to $85 billion in 2022 making UAE Indias third largest trading partner for 2022-23. Moreover, India is UAEs second-largest trading partner. In February 2022, India became the first country with which UAE signed a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) which resulted in an increase in bilateral trade by 15 percent. The ever-changing dynamics of todays book industry have made the creation, discovery, and consumption of books more unpredictable than ever. While fantasy and romance novels remain perennially trendy, the rapid diversification of book formats, creator voices, and self-publishing platforms are fundamentally reshaping how both audiences and creators engage with and navigate the vast terrain of the literary landscape. Now, lets delve into some of the most pertinent book trends to anticipate in 2024- Akshay Kumar has strongly condemned the derogatory remarks against India that were made by leading public figures of the Island nation Maldives. The unsavoury comments went viral on social media after PM Narendra Modi visited the Lakshadweep Islands. Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, Akshay Kumar shared screenshots of some of the comments made against India. He wrote, Came across comments from prominent public figures from Maldives passing hateful and racist comments on Indians. Surprised that they are doing this to a country that sends them the maximum number of tourists. He added, We are good to our neighbors but why should we tolerate such unprovoked hate? Ive visited the Maldives many times and always praised it, but dignity first. Let us decide to #ExploreIndianIslands and support our own tourism. Came across comments from prominent public figures from Maldives passing hateful and racist comments on Indians. Surprised that they are doing this to a country that sends them the maximum number of tourists.We are good to our neighbors butwhy should we tolerate such pic.twitter.com/DXRqkQFguN Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) January 7, 2024 For the unversed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Lakshadweep in the first week of January to inaugurate the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection and lay the foundation stone for the renovation of primary healthcare facility and five model Anganwadi centres. Following his trip, a social media post by a Maldives minister had ignited the controversy. Maldives minister Abdulla Mahzoom Majid claimed India is shifting focus from the Maldives by promoting Lakshadweep as another tourist spot. Majid went on to remark that India faced significant challenges in competing with the Maldives in beach tourism. This row comes amid strained ties between the two countries following President Mohamed Muizzus ascent to power in November last year. Not only Akshay Kumar but other actors like Salman Khan, John Abraham, Shraddha Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor, and others have also come forward to promote Island tourism in India. Social media platforms, especially X, are abuzz with the ExploreIndianIslands hashtag as netizens are expressing their outrage and urging everyone to plan their holidays in Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Bollywood stars Salman Khan, John Abraham, and Shraddha Kapoor were among the many social media users who backed #ExploreIndianIslands. The hashtag began trending on X, previously known as Twitter after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep Islands last week. He was in the picturesque destination to inaugurate the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection and lay the foundation stone for the renovation of the primary healthcare facility and five model Anganwadi centres. During his visit, PM Modi went snorkeling and enjoyed a break by the beach. A couple of days after his photos went viral, the hashtag #ExploreIndianIslands began to trend on social media. John Abraham participated in the trend and shared a series of photos from Lakshadweep and urged fans to visit the Indian island. With the amazing Indian hospitality, the idea of Atithi Devo Bhava and a vast marine life to explore. Lakshwadeep is the place to go. #exploreindianislands, he wrote. With the amazing Indian hospitality, the idea of Atithi Devo Bhava and a vast marine life to explore. Lakshwadeep is the place to go.#exploreindianislands pic.twitter.com/CA1d9r0QZ5 John Abraham (@TheJohnAbraham) January 7, 2024 Praising the culture of Lakshadweep, Shraddha Kapoor admitted that she was feeling FOMO. All these images and memes making me super FOMO now Lakshadweep has such pristine beaches and coastlines, thriving local culture, Im on the verge of booking an impulse chhutti This year, why not #ExploreIndianIslands, she penned on X. All these images and memes making me super FOMO nowLakshadweep has such pristine beaches and coastlines, thriving local culture, Im on the verge of booking an impulse chhutti This year, why not #ExploreIndianIslands pic.twitter.com/fTWmZTycpO Shraddha (@ShraddhaKapoor) January 7, 2024 Salman Khan also expressed his happiness to see PM Narendra Modi in Lakshadweep. It is so cool to see our Hon PM Narendrabhai Modi at the beautiful clean n stunning beaches of Lakshadweep, and the best part is that yeh hamare India mein hain, he said. Kartik Aaryan wrote, Incredible India is not just a tag, our beautiful country has some of the most incredible and stunning locales and #Lakshadweep is an example of it- a heaven like place in India itself! Cant wait to explore this beautiful Indian island. #ExploreIndianIslands. Incredible India is not just a tag, our beautiful country has some of the most incredible and stunning locales and #Lakshadweep is an example of it- a heaven like place in India itself! Cant wait to explore this beautiful Indian island. #ExploreIndianIslands pic.twitter.com/Z16hxG0fOo Kartik Aaryan (@TheAaryanKartik) January 7, 2024 Randeep Hooda also championed the cause towards boosting Indian Tourism. He shared pictures from Andaman & Nicobar Islands and penned, India is so beautiful. Was over awed by the pristine beauty and the rich history of Andaman and Nicobar Islands while shooting the Kalapani chapter of Veer Savarkars life .. a must visit. #ExploreIndianIslands. India is so beautiful. Was over awed by the pristine beauty and the rich history of Andaman and Nicobar Islands while shooting the Kalapani chapter of Veer Savarkars life .. a must visit. #ExploreIndianIslands pic.twitter.com/BLb4d8niOd Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) January 7, 2024 Janhvi Kapoor shared a scenic picture of the pristine blue water from Lakshadweep Islands. She wrote, Are these pristine blue waters real? How beautiful is Lakshadweep! So glad to see this treasure in our country is getting the attention it deserves. Cant wait to #ExploreIndianIslands. It seems like Lakshadweep could become the next hotspot for travel in India. Priyanka Chopra has set the internet on fire with a sizzling photo that has quickly gone viral. The global icon took to social media to share a jaw-dropping picture, showcasing her sexy curves in a black bikini, leaving fans in awe. She has also shared photos from her family vacation. Often Priyanka shares bikini pictures on her social media. In the photo, Priyanka is seen taking a sun bath wearing a black colour bikini. She has taken a selfie and is looking very hot. Fans were seen praising her in the comment section. Apart from these she shared a series of her holiday pictures and wrote, Took some time to feed my soul. 2023 had me spent.. maybe I still am. Heres to a 2024 highlighted by peace, respite, family, love, joy and community. Hold your loved ones close. We are very lucky if we can. Happy new year. Take a look here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra) Priyanka and Nick rang in 2024 in Cabo with their daughter Malti Marie, Priyankas mother Madhu Chopra and their friends. Although Priyanka and Nick are being private about their vacay, a new set of photos have surfaced online showing the couple sharing a steamy kiss. In the photos shared by a fan club, Priyanka was seen wearing a backless swimsuit whereas Nick kept things casual. He was seen wearing a pair of shorts, a tee and a cap. She held Nick close and planted a steamy kiss. Fans have showered the couple with love. They both looks so hot , a comment read. Hotttt I want more pictures, added another. Recently, a video also surfaced online, featuring Nick and Priyankas New Year celebrations in Cabo. In the video, Priyanka and Nick could be seen wearing Happy New Year glasses and celebrating with their close family. On the work front, Priyanka Chopra was seen in projects like Citadel, Love Again and more while Nick Jonas was mostly busy with the Jonas Brothers concert tour. Up next, the actress will be seen in Heads of State. The Hollywood project will feature John Cena and Idris Elba. She also has Jee Le Zaraa, a Bollywood film by Farhan Akhtar. It will also feature Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt in the lead. Like West Bengal, officials of the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation could face similar attacks in Bihar, claimed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Sushil Kumar Modi. Expressing fear of a possible law and order situation, the former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister alleged that the Central probe agency officials would be attacked by supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the state. Modi made these claims during an interview with India Today TV. He said that circumstances, similar to what was seen in Bengal on Friday, were observed when former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav was to be arrested in the fodder scam case. On Friday morning, an ED team was attacked and their vehicles were damaged by a mob of nearly a thousand people during a raid at the residence of TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan at West Bengals Sandeshkhali. Sushil Modi said that making an SOS call to the army was being considered over the attack on the ED officials. Slamming RJD over the land-for-job scam, Modi alleged that Lalu Yadav and his son Tejashwi made poor job aspirants pay them with land plots. The BJP leader also advised the father-son duo, who have been implicated in the case, to give point-to-point answers to ED officials. The RJD leaders will have to provide their responses and cooperate with the ensuing enquiry, he told India Today TV. On the other hand, RJD slammed Sudhil Modi for tarnishing Lalu Yadavs image and predicted a BJP-planned West Bengal-like attack in Bihar. Describing the attack on ED officials in West Bengal as a reaction to action, RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said the saffron party is making evil designs to polarise voters. The party also alleged that a similar BJP-planned may happen in Bihar on officials of probe agencies with an aim to tarnish the state governments reputation. Prime Minister Narendra Modis Lakshadweep visit last week conjured up a debate on the internet after Maldives minister Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, in a social media post, claimed that India is shifting focus from the Maldives by promoting Lakshadweep as another tourist spot. Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from Lakshadweep, Modi said in an X post sharing pictures of his trip. Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the pic.twitter.com/tYW5Cvgi8N Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 4, 2024 Many Indians cancelled their trip to the Maldives for Lakshadweep after PM Modi posted pictures of the beaches on social media. ALSO READ: Maldives Ministers Social Media Post Over PM Modis Lakshadweep Visit Stirs Row; Indians Cancel Trips En Masse Lakshadweep vs Maldives Row The social media post by the Maldives minister Abdulla Mahzoom Majid triggered a political row which comes amid strained ties between the two countries following President Mohamed Muizzus ascent to power in November last year. While the Opposition slammed PM Modi for pushing a close ally away, BJP leaders hit back at them saying Opposition leaders are against India. Opposition Reaction on Lakshadweep vs Maldives Row- The hullabaloo of RW trolls over Lakshadweep vs Maldives has further pushed the close ally away. Modiji begins the damage, Bhakts amplify it. Go, get some wisdom! said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi. Wonder if our foreign policy and international relations will be decided by social media, influencers, film actors or ministers in charge and the GoI? Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi in an X post. BJP Reacts to Lakshadweep vs Maldives Row- NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday dismissed criticism of his faction by his MLA nephew Rohit Pawar and termed him as a kid who is not senior enough. Coming to the aid of Rohit Pawar, his aunt and NCP MP Supriya Sule said Ajit Pawar is a senior citizen now who is 65 years old. He is still a kid. He is not senior enough, so I need to find time to respond to him. A party worker or our spokesperson will respond to his criticism, Ajit Pawar told reporters when his reaction was sought on Rohit Pawar, an MLA who belongs to the Sharad Pawar faction of NCP. Speaking to reporters, Sule, cousin sister of Ajit Pawar and working president of NCP, said, Ajit dada (brother) is now 65 years old. He is a senior citizen now. She also said Ajit Pawars terse remarks shouldnt be taken so seriously by anybody. An uncle can say something like this to his nephew (Rohit), she added. At least four people were killed and three others injured on Sunday when unidentified gunmen opened fire on two vehicles in Pakistans restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, police said. District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Imran said that armed attackers with automated weapons targeted two vehicles en route from Parachinar to Peshawar, Dawn News reported. He said two security personnel were among those killed in the attack near Sadda Bazaar in Khurram district. Efforts are underway to find and arrest the culprits, the DPO said. No group or individual claimed responsibility for the attack, but the region is known for sectarian clashes between Sunnis and Shias. Dr Qaiser Abbas, the deputy medical superintendent of Parachinar District Headquarters Hospital, confirmed the injured people were receiving treatment at the hospital. Local tribes of Turi Bangash have called for an emergency meeting to decide on a plan of action about the attacks. Last month, nine people were killed and 25 injured in a terrorist attack on a passenger bus in Gilgit-Baltistans Chilas. The year 2023 witnessed an alarming rise in terror-related incidents in the country in general and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in particular as the province witnessed 419 militant attacks in which 620 people were killed, including 306 security forces personnel, 222 civilians, and 92 militants. by Dana Halawi BEIRUT, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah's continuous confrontations with Israel on Lebanon's southern border and the recent Israeli drone strike, killing a top Hamas leader and officials in Beirut's southern suburbs, raise among Lebanese experts concerns of a possible military escalation in Lebanon. The Lebanon-Israel border has witnessed increased tension since Oct. 8 after the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attacks on Israel the previous day, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. The confrontations have led to more than 200 deaths on the Lebanese side, including approximately 147 Hezbollah members and many civilians including journalists. However, clashes were mainly limited in the southern border area until an alleged Israeli drone killed Saleh al-Arouri, Hamas deputy leader, and other Hamas members on Tuesday evening. "Israel has crossed all the red lines that were in place through its recent attack in Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold," said Refaat Badawi, a political analyst and adviser to former Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss. "Rules of engagement are no longer in place after this operation, which dealt a heavy blow to Hezbollah's image," he added, expressing concerns that "we will see a war expansion in Lebanon in the coming days." Following the assassination, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah warned on Wednesday that the Iran-backed group "cannot be silent." He denounced the attack as "a dangerous crime," vowing revenge and threatening to meet any wider Israeli operation with unrestrained warfare. "Hezbollah cannot remain silent as Arouri's assassination is a message conveying that Israel can kill any leader in Dahieh at any time, and this is a dangerous development," Badawi told Xinhua. Badawi said he thinks a settlement between the Axis of Resistance, an informal anti-Israeli coalition led by Iran, and Israel is no longer possible. Meanwhile, Talal Atrissi, a lecturer at the Institute of Social Sciences of the Lebanese University, told Xinhua that it's still unclear if Lebanon will witness an expansion of the confrontations with Israel, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a strong will to expand the aggression outside of Gaza to protect his image. "Netanyahu has killed thousands of people in Gaza but failed to make any achievements, which turned the world's public opinion against him with domestic calls for his resignation," Atrissi said, noting that the recent Dahieh strike was aimed at polishing his image. Makram Rabah, a lecturer at the history department of the American University of Beirut, said he does not see an expansion of war between Hezbollah and Israel. However, the belief by the Lebanese and Hezbollah that Israel will not commit to the risk of going into Lebanon is a miscalculation, because "it will address one of the most existential threats to Israel's security, which is Hezbollah," Rabah said. Bangladesh Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina on Sunday secured a fifth term in office after her party, Awami League and its allies won more than 50 per cent of seats in the 12th general elections, which was boycotted by the opposition. Of the 264 seats of the total 300 announced, Hasinas Awami League registered victory over 204 seats and her allied Jatiya Party nine more, according to reports by Somoy TV, the countrys largest private news broadcaster. Hasina was re-elected to parliament on Sunday from the Gopalganj-3 constituency. Bangladesh began voting in the 12th general elections at 8 am local time (7:30 am IST) earlier in the day. Hasina bagged 249,965 votes in the general elections amid sporadic violence and a boycott by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Her nearest rival, M Nizam Uddin Lashkar from BNP secured 469 votes, according to bdnews24. Bangladesh Election Commission said a total of 119.6 million registered voters were eligible to vote at Sundays polls in over 42,000 polling stations. Over 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties and 436 independent candidates are in the fray for Sundays election. The main opposition party, BNP, had asked people to shun the poll and called a two-day nationwide strike from Saturday. Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, on the other hand, said the opposition BNP boycotted the election due to fear of defeat, as per reports by PTI. The BNP has taken a strategy of boycotting the election with various excuses, various demands. They participated in the 2018 election and got some parliamentary seats, but this year they did not participate knowing they would be defeated, Khan, a senior leader of tej ruling Awami League, was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune newspaper. Hasian termed the opposition BNP a terrorist organisation saying, I am trying my best to ensure that democracy should continue in this country. A full diplomatic row has erupted between India and the Maldives, with India officially taking up with Male the disparaging comments made against India by government officials of Maldives. The Maldives government has issued a statement distancing itself from such remarks and suspended three officials in the wake of Indias protest. ALSO READ | Maldives Ministers Social Media Post Over PM Modis Lakshadweep Visit Stirs Row; Indians Cancel Trips En Masse This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modis Lakshadweep visit earlier this week and the PM posting pictures and videos of the Indian island. Government sources told News18 that PM Modi had never mentioned Maldives in any of his posts on social media, but officials from the Maldives government have launched a diatribe against India and Modi on social media, claiming that Modi was projecting an Indian destination over Maldives. Government sources said promoting Indian destinations for tourism has been a hallmark of the Narendra Modi government and the Prime Minister has earlier promoted many such destinations like Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well as Jammu and Kashmir, posting pictures from there. Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the pic.twitter.com/tYW5Cvgi8N Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 4, 2024 But official voices from the Maldives launched an unprovoked attack on India. This is a deliberate anti-India pattern ever since a new Maldives government came into place last September. The present regime is seen as close to China and antagonistic to India while we have helped Maldives in all aspects, including providing them Covid-19 vaccines, a government source told News18. The Maldives government has now issued statement on Sunday evening, stating: The Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of MaldivesMoreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks. The issue has also divided the Maldives polity and diplomacy. The Maldives National Party condemned the racist and derogatory comments made by a government official against a foreign head of State. In a statement, the party said: This is unacceptable. We urge the government to take necessary action against those involved. Government of Maldives issues statement The Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of pic.twitter.com/RQfKDb2wYF ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2024 Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed criticized the appalling language by Maldives Government official Shiuna M towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives security and prosperity. He also earlier appealed to the current President Mohamed Muizzu to distance the government from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect government policy. ALSO READ | Wont Hesitate to Take Action: Maldives Govt Distances Itself From Ministers Remark Against Modi The PMs visit to Lakshadweep has evoked interest from leading Bollywood personalities and celebrities who have written on X that they would love to visit the Lakshadweep Islands next. The Government of Maldives has distanced itself from the derogatory remark made by its minister Mariyam Shiuna against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives, an official statement issued by Male on Sunday said. The government asserted that it believes freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner and said that relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks. Earlier today, a tweet by a Maldives minister triggered a row on social media, in which he accused India of targeting his country, and claimed India faces significant challenges in competing with the Maldives in beach tourism. The tweet came days after PM Modis visit to the Lakshadweep archipelago, comprising 36 islands with an area of 32 sqkm. Maldives Governments Statment The statement said that the Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives, it said adding that the government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and international partners. Moreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks, it added. The Controversy A massive controversy erupted after Shiuna, who is the island nations deputy minister of youth empowerment, called PM Modi a clown and puppet over his recent Lakshadweep visit. After the controversy erupted, Indians reportedly cancelled their trips to the island nation. This incident seems to have triggered a Boycott Maldives outcry on social media, with some ministers of the island country shaming Lakshadweep after many saw it as an alternative to the Maldives. This row comes amid strained ties between the two countries following President Mohamed Muizzus ascent to power in November last year. Muizzu, from the Progressive Alliance a coalition of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the Peoples National Congress (PNC), is considered pro-China. His opponent former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had good ties with New Delhi and the bilateral relations progressed between the two nations under Solihs rule. Muizzu is a close associate of former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, who is known for his pro-China stance. Muizzu is scheduled to visit China on Monday, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. The Maldives government has reportedly suspended three of its ministers for their derogatory remarks on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid the Lakshadweep vs Maldives row. The ministers suspended are Hassan Zihan, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transport and Civil, Mariyam Shiuna Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts and Malsha, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Youth Empowerment. The move comes after PM Modis Lakshadweep visit last week triggered word of war after Maldives minister Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, in a social media post, claimed that India is shifting focus from the Maldives by promoting Lakshadweep as another tourist spot. Many Indians also cancelled their trip to the Maldives for Lakshadweep after PM Modi posted pictures of the beaches on social media. Maldives Government Issues Statement The Maldives government, on the other hand, issued a statement on Sunday evening, stating: The Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of MaldivesMoreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks. Former President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took to microblogging site X and condemned the use of hateful language by the Maldivian minister against India and PM Modi. I condemn the use of hateful language against India by Maldivian government officials on social media. India has always been a good friend to Maldives and we must not allow such callous remarks to negatively impact the age old friendship between our two countries, Solih said. Earlier in the day, former Vice President & Tourism Minister of Maldives, Ahmed Adeeb told CNN-News18 that the government condemns the statement made by some ministers over PM Modi. Adeeb stressed that the Maldives government should make these ministers apologise and resign from their posts. MoS MEA Meenakshi Lekhi also reacted to the Maldives controversy and said, I dont give much credence to such people. The evolutionary history of India can only be appreciated by the ones who are evolved enough in their spiritual and mental space. At least 15 people, including children, were killed in an air strike on a village in northwestern Myanmar on Sunday. The country has been engulfed by increasingly vicious fighting, with the junta battling opponents in the north and the east. According to local media, the strike hit a village in Khampat Township, Tamu district, at around 10.15 am (0915 hrs IST). At least 15 people, including children, died and 20 were left wounded. But two witnesses a man and a woman who asked to remain anonymous for safety told AFP the toll was higher. 19 people were killed, including eight children, said the man, who said he saw a junta jet fighter overhead during the attack. He said the first bombs targeted two churches in the village, and a second attack came as people fled the buildings. Most of them were killed outside the church area as they were running to escape, he said. Women and children were among those killed in the attack, which was made more deadly because of the crowds, he said. In total the jet dropped six bombs, he said. They targeted the two churches, but bombs hit outside the two churches, and hit some houses, he said, adding that another device landed near the communitys school. State media said reports of the attack were fake news, with MRTV saying there had been no aircraft operating in the area at the time. The village is under the control of a Peoples Defence Force (PDF) group, one of many that have sprung up to fight the junta. The military has designated the groups as terrorists. On Sunday, a planned graduation ceremony for new recruits had been relocated to a nearby jungle. If they came to bomb our graduation area, we cannot blame them, the man said, referencing the army. But they bombed the wrong place and bombed public churches and areas. He and the woman told AFP that 30 people were wounded. She warned that the casualty rate could rise, with some people seriously hurt. They were being treated at a clinic, she said, without giving further details. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed gratitude to India as the Muslim-majority nation undergoes general elections on Sunday, marked by violence and a boycott from the opposition. PM Hasina highlighted the enduring friendship between the two neighbours, fostered by support lent during the 1971 Liberation War. India is our trusted friend. During our Liberation War, they supported us. After 1975, when we lost our whole family. They gave us shelter, Hasina was quoted saying by news agency ANI. Reflecting on personal tragedies in 1975, she recounted living in exile in India before returning to lead the Awami League for what could be her fourth straight term. #WATCH | Dhaka: In her message to India, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says, You are most welcome. We are very luckyIndia is our trusted friend. During our liberation war, they supported usAfter 1975, when we lost our whole familythey gave us shelter. So our pic.twitter.com/3Z0NC5BVeD ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2024 Post casting her vote at the Dhaka City College polling center early morning, Hasina stressed democracys pivotal role in national development. Without democracy, you cant make any development, she said. Commending Bangladeshs achievements in its democratic journey from 2009 to 2023, she underscored the importance of established democratic rights. About 120 million voters will choose from nearly 2,000 candidates for 300 directly elected parliamentary seats. There are 436 independent candidates, the most since 2001. Bangladesh is a sovereign country and people are my power, Hasina said after voting, adding that she hoped her party would win the peoples mandate, which would give it a fifth term. Addressing concerns over the veracity of the poll, she accused the opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), of instigating violence against the countrys development. Hasinas remarks emphasized the significance of democracy, thanking Bangladeshis for their participation despite challenges. At least four people were killed on Saturday in a passenger train fire that the government called arson, after several polling booths, schools and a Buddhist monastery were set ablaze last week. There were no reports of violence on voting day, however, as nearly 800,000 security forces guard polling booths, assisted by troops nationwide. The BNP says the Awami League has propped up dummy candidates as independents to try to make the election look credible, a claim the ruling party denies. Hasina said she did not need to prove the credibility of the election to anyone. I have to answer to the people of Bangladesh, she said. What is important is if the people of Bangladesh will accept this election. Nine people were killed Sunday in the occupied West Bank, including seven Palestinians who were targeted in an air strike by the Israeli army, sources on both sides said. Violence in the West Bank since the start of Israels war with Gaza-based Hamas militants has surged to levels unseen in nearly two decades. Israeli forces carry out regular raids in the occupied territory, especially in the militant stronghold of Jenin and its adjacent refugee camp. An Israeli occupation bombardment on a group of citizens killed seven people in Jenin, said the Palestinian Authority-run Ministry of Health, which is based in Ramallah. The army, however, said six terrorists were killed when an aircraft struck a terrorist who hurled explosive devices at troops in an operation in Jenin refugee camp. Police said an Israeli police officer was killed during an operation at the refugee camp. She (officer) was in an operational vehicle that was hit by an explosive device, the force said, adding three other officers were also wounded. In another incident north of Ramallah, an Israeli civilian was shot dead, the army said. The civilian was killed adjacent to the British police junction north of Ramallah, the army said, adding police were searching for the attacker. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported early Sunday that a major deployment of Israeli forces was under way in Jenin. It said the six Palestinians, including four brothers, were killed in an Israeli drone strike in Jenin, and a seventh died later from wounds. Blood, splintered glass Suleiman Moussa, a resident of Jenin, said the air strike followed sounds of gunfire. We came here and saw people thrown to the ground, some with heads cut off, some body parts. It was an unbelievable scene and we didnt know what to do, Moussa told AFP. Later people called the ambulance which came and took six martyrs and another person in a critical situation. AFP footage from the strike showed residents inspecting patches of blood and splintered glass on a pavement near the camp hours after the strike. Residents also attended the funeral of the four brothers. Israeli army raids on the Jenin area often trigger gun battles between troops and Palestinian militants. The army says it is targeting terrorists in its raids, but the Palestinian health ministry says many civilians are among the dead. Israel has occupied the West Bank since a war with Arab states in 1967. About three million Palestinians live in the occupied West Bank, which is also populated by 490,000 Israelis living in settlements deemed illegal under international law but recognised by Israel. Since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7 at least 328 people in the West Bank have been killed by either soldiers or Israeli settlers, according to the Palestinian health ministry. More than 520 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank in 2023, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Palestinian militant attacks in Israel and the West Bank, meanwhile, have killed at least 41 people in 2023, according to the Shin Bet security agency. The October 7 Hamas attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. In response, Israel is carrying out a relentless bombardment and ground invasion that have killed at least 22,835 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory. South Korea said North Korea has fired artillery shells near the rivals tense sea boundary for a third straight day. The countrys military said the North fired more than 90 rounds on Sunday afternoon. It said South Korea strongly urges North Korea to halt provocative acts. The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un mocked South Koreas ability to detect weapons launches by the North on Sunday, as she denied Seouls claim that North Korea fired artillery shells into the sea the previous day. South Koreas military quickly dismissed her statement as a low-level psychological warfare and warned that it will make a stern response to any provocations by North Korea. South Koreas military earlier said North Korea fired shells near the rivals disputed western sea boundary for a second consecutive day on Saturday (January 6). The military said North Korea fired more than 60 rounds on Saturday, a day after launching more than 200 shells. North Korea acknowledged it performed artillery firings on January 5 but said it did not fire a single round on Saturday (January 6). Kims sister, Kim Yo Jong, said Sunday that North Korea only detonated blasting powder simulating the sound of its coastal artillery at the seashore to test the South Korean militarys detection capabilities. The result was clear as we expected. They misjudged the blasting sound as the sound of gunfire and conjectured it as a provocation. And they even made a false and impudent statement that the shells dropped north of the sea boundary, Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by state media. I cannot but say that (South Korean) people are very pitiful as they entrust security to such blind persons and offer huge taxes to them, she said. It is better 10 times to entrust security to a dog with a developed sense of hearing and smell. South Koreas joint chiefs of staff responded in a statement that it closely monitors North Korean military activities. It said North Korea must stop acts that escalate tensions, saying it will overwhelmingly react if North Korea launches provocations. Animosities between the two Koreas are running high because North Korea has conducted a barrage of missile tests since 2022 while South Korea has expanded its military training with the United States in a tit-for-tat cycle. North Koreas artillery firings on January 5 prompted South Korea to carry out its own firing exercises. The shells launched by the two Koreas fell at a maritime buffer zone they had established under a 2018 military agreement meant to ease frontline military tensions. The agreement was meant to halt live-fire exercises, aerial surveillance and other hostile acts along their tense border, but the deal is now in danger of collapsing because the two Koreas have taken measures in breach of the accord. Experts said North Korea is likely to ramp up weapons tests and escalate its trademark fiery rhetoric against its rivals ahead of South Koreas parliamentary elections in April and the US presidential elections in November. They say Kim Jong Un likely thinks a bolstered weapons arsenal would allow him to wrest greater US concessions when diplomacy resumes. In her statement on Sunday, Kim Yo Jong called South Koreas military gangsters and clowns in military uniforms. She also suggested South Koreas possible future miscalculation of North Korean moves could cause an accidental clash between the rivals, jeopardising the safety of Seoul, a city of 10 million people which is only an hours drive from the land border. On Tuesday, Kim Yo Jong issued a statement calling South Korean conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol foolishly brave but his liberal predecessor Moon Jae-in very smart. South Korean analysts said she was attempting to help muster those opposing Yoons tougher policy on North Korea ahead of the April elections. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday said it had completely dismantled Hamass military framework in the northern Gaza Strip. Addressing a press conference, military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that Israel was now focused on dismantling the Palestinian outfit in central and southern Gaza. Hagari said Israeli forces killed around 8,000 militants in north Gaza. We are now focused on dismantling Hamas in the centre of and south of the (Gaza) strip, he said in an online briefing. Fighting will continue during 2024. We are operating according to a plan to achieve the wars goals, to dismantle Hamas in the north and south, he said. Key quotes from tonights (Saturday) briefing by IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, marking three months into the war:We have completed the dismantling of Hamas military framework in the northern Gaza Strip and will continue to deepen the achievement, strengthening pic.twitter.com/5JrgksEYJT Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 6, 2024 Israels bombing and incursions of Gaza began after Hamas militants from the strip attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostage. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas. Israels offensive, aimed at wiping out Hamas, had killed over 22,000 Palestinians. Palestinian health ministry has said that 70 percent of Gazas dead are women and people under 18. The fighting has displaced most of Gazas 2.3 million population, with many homes and civilian infrastructure left in ruins amid acute shortages of food, water and medicine. On the eve of the three-month mark of the Israel-Hamas war, the IDF also announced that the commander of Hamass Nuseirat battalion in central Gaza, Ismail Siraj, and his deputy, Ahmed Wahaba, were killed in an airstrike in the Strip. Their battalion was responsible for the attacks on Kibbutz Beeri on Oct 7. ELIMINATED:Commander of Hamas Nuseirat Battalion, Ismail Siraj, and his Deputy Commander, Ahmed Wehbe.During Hamas murderous Oct. 7 invasion and massacre, the Nuseirat Battalion was responsible for the attack on Kibbutz Beeri and other Israeli communities. The pic.twitter.com/OzKJH1JNQI Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 6, 2024 Meanwhile, top international diplomats gathered to discuss strategies for keeping the Gaza war from spreading beyond Israel and the Palestinian territories. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell, were on separate trips to the region to try to quell spillover from war into Lebanon, and Red Sea shipping lanes. Israel and Hezbollah often trade fire across the Lebanese border, and the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen seem determined to continue attacks on Red Sea shipping until Israel stops bombarding Palestinians in Gaza. Blinken was in Amman, Jordan, after stops in Turkey and Greece. Borrell was on a Jan. 5-7 trip to Lebanon. Both told reporters their priority was quelling spillover from the fighting. (With agency inputs) Researchers in a small county in southwest England have managed to successfully turn human waste into kerosene, what is being described as a breakthrough in sustainable aviation fuel. James Hygate, CEO of Firefly Green Fuels which achieved this feat, explained their choice of feedstock: We wanted to find a really low-value feedstock that was highly abundant. And of course, poo is abundant. Independent tests by international aviation regulators confirmed that the produced fuel is nearly identical to standard fossil jet fuel, according to a report published by BBC. Working with Cranfield University, Fireflys team determined that their fuel has a 90 percent lower carbon footprint than traditional jet fuel, the report says. Despite the chemical similarity to fossil-based kerosene, Hygate says, It has no fossil carbon; its a fossil-free fuel. He acknowledged the energy used in production but highlighted the 90 percent saving in the fuels life cycle compared to fossil fuels. Across the world, aviation contributes approximately 2 percent to global carbon emissions, creating a growing need to find greener alternatives. While electric planes are in development, mass adoption of new technologies for air travel is expected to take years, if not decades. This has sparked a global rush to discover environmentally friendly methods for producing kerosene without using fossil fuels. Firefly Green Fuels turned to human waste after experimenting with waste oils, waste food, and agricultural scraps, according to BBC. Working with Imperial College, London, chemist Dr. Sergio Lima and Hygate developed a process that transforms human waste into what they term bio-crude, a substance with chemical properties similar to crude oil. Dr. Lima stresses, What we are producing here is a fuel that is net zero. Independent tests at the German Aerospace Center and Washington State University confirmed the bio-kerosenes near-identical chemical composition to A1 fossil jet fuel. Hygates company is now raising funds to build a full-scale demonstrator factory in the UK. He believes that each human produces enough sewage in a year to generate 4-5 liters of biojet fuel. To put it into perspective, the sewage from 10,000 people is estimated to be sufficient for a passenger jet from London to New York and back. The International Energy Agency sees the critical role of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) in decarbonising aviation. Currently, only 0.1 percent of aviation fuel is considered sustainable. Hygates ambitious target of 5 percent using sewage-based fuel, combined with a universal feedstock, positions this breakthrough as a global opportunity. Cait Hewitt, policy director of the Aviation Environment Federation, acknowledges the inevitability of human waste production, making sewage-based fuel more acceptable. Moreover, environmental campaigners, while still advocating for reduced air travel, are more supportive of sewage-based fuels compared to other biofuels made from crops. Hygate, who sees the potential impact, says that Theres a 10 percent sustainable aviation fuel requirement, thats a legal mandate. And we could meet half of that with poo. People attend the funeral of a victim in the West Bank city of Jenin, Jan. 7, 2024. Seven Palestinians were killed on Sunday morning by an Israeli drone strike in the occupied West Bank, while an Israeli police officer was killed when her vehicle hit a roadside bomb, Israeli and Palestinian sources said on Sunday.(Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) JERUSALEM/RAMALLAH, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Seven Palestinians were killed on Sunday morning by an Israeli drone strike in the occupied West Bank, while an Israeli police officer was killed when her vehicle hit a roadside bomb, Israeli and Palestinian sources said on Sunday. The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that the seven victims were civilians, including four brothers from the village of Muthalath ash-Shuhada in the Jenin area of northern West Bank. Meanwhile, the Israeli army released footage of the drone attack, saying at least six of the casualties were militants. The killings took place as Israeli troops raided Jenin overnight between Saturday and Sunday, sparking clashes with local youth. Israel's paramilitary border police said in a statement that during the raid, a military vehicle hit a roadside bomb, resulting in the killing of a border police officer. Another officer sustained serious injuries and two other officers were lightly wounded from shrapnel. Also on Sunday, an Israeli man in his 30s was shot and killed while driving his car north of the settlement of Ofra, Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service said in a statement. The army identified the incident as a suspected "terrorist attack" and launched a manhunt for the gunman. Violence has spiked throughout the West Bank since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7. People check the site of a strike in the West Bank city of Jenin, Jan. 7, 2024. Seven Palestinians were killed on Sunday morning by an Israeli drone strike in the occupied West Bank, while an Israeli police officer was killed when her vehicle hit a roadside bomb, Israeli and Palestinian sources said on Sunday.(Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) People check the site of a strike in the West Bank city of Jenin, Jan. 7, 2024. Seven Palestinians were killed on Sunday morning by an Israeli drone strike in the occupied West Bank, while an Israeli police officer was killed when her vehicle hit a roadside bomb, Israeli and Palestinian sources said on Sunday.(Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) People look at the site of a strike in the West Bank city of Jenin, Jan. 7, 2024. Seven Palestinians were killed on Sunday morning by an Israeli drone strike in the occupied West Bank, while an Israeli police officer was killed when her vehicle hit a roadside bomb, Israeli and Palestinian sources said on Sunday.(Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) People attend the funeral of a victim in the West Bank city of Jenin, Jan. 7, 2024. Seven Palestinians were killed on Sunday morning by an Israeli drone strike in the occupied West Bank, while an Israeli police officer was killed when her vehicle hit a roadside bomb, Israeli and Palestinian sources said on Sunday.(Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) A man checks the site of a strike in the West Bank city of Jenin, Jan. 7, 2024. Seven Palestinians were killed on Sunday morning by an Israeli drone strike in the occupied West Bank, while an Israeli police officer was killed when her vehicle hit a roadside bomb, Israeli and Palestinian sources said on Sunday.(Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) People attend the funeral of a victim in the West Bank city of Jenin, Jan. 7, 2024. Seven Palestinians were killed on Sunday morning by an Israeli drone strike in the occupied West Bank, while an Israeli police officer was killed when her vehicle hit a roadside bomb, Israeli and Palestinian sources said on Sunday.(Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua) US regulators have temporarily grounded some Boeing 737 MAX 9 jetliners for safety checks after a cabin panel blowout forced an Alaska Airlines jet carrying 171 passengers to make an emergency landing. A piece of fuselage tore off the left side of the jet as it climbed following takeoff from Portland, Oregon, on Friday, forcing pilots to turn back and land safely with all passengers and crew on board. The Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) decision is well short of the global grounding of Boeing MAX jets almost five years ago following two crashes that killed nearly 350 people. The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight.Safety will continue to drive our decision-making as we assist the @NTSBs investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. @FAA_Mike pic.twitter.com/YsuQimg2pq The FAA (@FAANews) January 6, 2024 The FAA did not rule out further action on Saturday as a probe began into the apparent structural failure, which left a rectangular hole in an area of fuselage reserved for an optional extra door but which is disactivated on Alaskas aircraft. The Boeing 737 MAX 9s fitted with a special door replacement plug cannot fly until they are inspected and repaired if necessary, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight, FAA chief Mike Whitaker said. WATCH | Phones Sucked Out of Broken Window Mid-Air, Alaska Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing National Transportation Safety Board investigators were expected to arrive on the scene on Saturday afternoon. Social media posts showed oxygen masks deployed and a portion of the aircrafts side wall missing. A section of the fuselage reserved for the optional door had vanished, leaving a neat door-shaped gap. The seat next to the panel, which contained an ordinary window, had been unoccupied. Update: NTSB has launched a Go Team to Portland, Oregon to investigate an event with a Boeing 737-9 MAX during a flight from Portland to Ontario, California. No serious injuries were reported. https://t.co/VK0xF487xo NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) January 6, 2024 Emma Vu, a passenger on the Alaska flight, told CNN she awoke to the plane just falling, and I knew it was not just normal turbulence because the masks came down and thats when the panic definitely started to set in. The extra door is typically installed by low-cost airlines using extra seats that require more paths for evacuation. However, those doors are permanently plugged, or deactivated, on jets with fewer seats, including those of Alaska Airlines. The FAA said its inspection directive covers 171 MAX 9 airplanes but did not say how many planes need new inspections or what the precise inspection requirements are. The MAX 9 represents about 220 of the 1,400 MAX jets delivered so far and most of them have the disactivated door, meaning they are potentially covered by the order. Boeing said it supported the FAA decision. BREAKING: Alaska Airlines plane makes emergency landing in Portland, Oregon after window blows out in mid-air.Several items, including phones, were sucked out of the plane when it suddenly depressurized. Everyone is safe. pic.twitter.com/BtOB1RU3tn BNO News (@BNONews) January 6, 2024 Some foreign regulators including China sought details on the incident, a person familiar with the matter said. Bloomberg reported earlier that China, the first country to ground MAX flights in 2019, was considering whether to take action. Indias aviation watchdog directed all air operators to conduct a one-time inspection of the emergency exits on all Boeing 737-8 Max aircraft currently operating as part of their fleet. It said this was a precautionary measure after the Alaska Airlines incident, in which the outer section, including a window, of a Boeing 737-9 Max plane fell off mid-air. Read More: Alaska Airlines Incident: DGCA Asks Indian Operators to Check Emergency Exits of Boeing 737-8 Max Planes MAX planes were grounded worldwide for 20 months following the crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia linked to poorly designed cockpit software. Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are the only US carriers using the MAX 9, according to aviation data provider Cirium. Both cancelled dozens of flights on Saturday. Alaska said earlier it had voluntarily grounded its fleet of 65 Boeing MAX 9 jets for checks. It said 18 planes were inspected during recent maintenance and are cleared for flight, while the remaining inspections are expected to take several days. United Airlines said it suspended service on about 45 MAX 9s for inspections and expected 60 flight cancellations on Saturday. Boeing is awaiting certification of its smaller MAX 7 and larger MAX 10 which are needed to compete with the competing Airbus A321neo model. Boeing has suffered numerous production issues on the MAX planes in the years since the crashes. Last week, Boeing said it was urging airlines to inspect all 737 MAX airplanes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system. (With agency inputs) As native trees in the Pacific Northwest die off due to climate changes, the US Forest Service, the city of Portland, and citizen groups around Puget Sound are turning to a deceptively simple climate adaptation strategy called "assisted migration." As the world's climate warms, tree-growing ranges in the Northern Hemisphere are predicted to move farther north and higher in elevation. Of course, trees can't get up and walk to their new climatic homes. This is where assisted migration is supposed to lend a hand, the AP reports. The idea is that humans can help trees keep up with climate change by moving them to more favorable ecosystems faster than the trees could migrate on their own. Not everyone agrees on what type of assisted migration the region needsor that it's always a good thing. In the Pacific Northwest, a divide has emerged between groups advocating for assisted migration that would help struggling native trees, and one that could instead see native species replaced on the landscape by trees from the south, including coast redwoods and giant sequoias. "There is a huge difference between assisted population migration and assisted species migration," said Michael Case, forest ecologist at the Virginia-based Nature Conservancy, who runs an assisted population migration experiment at the Conservancy's Ellsworth Creek Preserve in western Washington. The terms: Assisted population migration involves moving a native species' seeds, and by extension its genes, within its current growing range. involves moving a native species' seeds, and by extension its genes, within its current growing range. By contrast, assisted species migration involves moving a species well outside its existing range, such as introducing redwoods and sequoias to Washington. involves moving a species well outside its existing range, such as introducing redwoods and sequoias to Washington. A third form of assisted migration, range expansion, amounts to moving a species just beyond its current growing range. story continues below Case says the Nature Conservancy is focusing on population migration because it has fewer ecological risks. "Whenever you plant something in an area where it is not locally found you increase the risk of failure," Case says. "You increase the risk of disturbing potential ecosystem functions and processes." Population migration also is the only form of assisted migration practiced nationwide by the Forest Service. Read the full story, which has details on the differing approaches. (More climate change stories.) Back in the Middle East, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday that the region's nations need to use their clout to keep the Israel-Hamas war from spreading and the fighting becoming "an endless cycle of violence." It's in their self-interest, he said, per Reuters . One of his stops was Turkey, where Blinken met with President Tayyip Erdogan, who has been critical of Israel's offensive in Gaza. Even so, Blinken afterward pronounced Turkey committed to playing a positive role in Gaza after the war and using its influence to contain the fighting. Turkey's foreign minister advocated a cease-fire to Blinken, saying that Israel's aggression threatens the region. Hakan Fidan also called for prompt negotiations on a two-state solution, the AP reports. After leaving Istanbul, Blinken met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Crete. Greece has denounced the Hamas attack that started the war and supports allowing more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Because of its longstanding ties to Arab nations, Greece has suggested it can be involved in aid efforts. Blinken headed next to Jordan and planned to be in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia over the next two days. He's scheduled to visit Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday and Wednesday, then make his final stop in Egypt. Blinken stressed that most people in the Middle East want a peaceful future. "These are not necessarily easy conversations," he said Saturday. "There are different perspectives, different needs, different requirements, but it is vital that we engage in this diplomacy now." (More Israel-Hamas war stories.) DAMASCUS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Five drug traffickers were killed in hours-long clashes with Jordanian forces on the Syrian-Jordan border region in southern Syria on Saturday, a Britain-based war monitor reported early Sunday. Intermittent clashes lasted for ten hours in the countryside of Syria's southern province of Sweida near the border. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement that another 15 traffickers were apprehended by the Jordanian forces, which also seized large quantities of drugs. Jordanian forces are actively working to prevent the smuggling of drugs from Syria into Jordan. President Biden now has heard concerns about his campaign from a person who knows something about being reelected to the White House. Former President Barack Obama suggested changes to Biden and his aides, the Washington Post reports. Among the recommendations, some of which were made at a recent lunch, were that the president's aides turn to former Obama aides for advice, which Biden officials said is happening. A main worry expressed by the former president is Biden's structure: His campaign manager works in Wilmington, Delaware, while other top political advisers work in the White House. So any campaign move has to be approved in Washington first, a process that could be too slow during a fast-changing campaign. Former President Trump marked the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by casting the migrant surge on the southern border as the "real" insurrection. Just over a week before the Republican nomination process begins with Iowa's kickoff caucuses, Trump did not explicitly acknowledge the date at his first events, per the AP . But while campaigning in Iowa, he continued to claim that countries have been emptying jails and mental institutions to fuel a record number of migrant crossings, even though there is no evidence that that is the case. "When you talk about insurrection, what they're doing, that's the real deal. That's the real deal. Not patriotically and peacefullypeacefully and patriotically," Trump said, quoting from his speech on Jan. 6, before a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol as part of a desperate bid to keep him in power after his 2020 election loss. Trump's remarks in Newton in central Iowa came a day after Biden delivered a speech near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania , where he cast Trump as a grave threat to democracy and called Jan. 6 a day when "we nearly lost Americalost it all." Trump also continued to bemoan the treatment of those who have been jailed for participating in the riot, again labeling them "hostages." More than 1,230 people have been charged with federal crimes connected to the violence, including assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. "They ought to release the J6 hostages. They've suffered enough," he said in Clinton, in the state's far east. "Release the J6 hostages, Joe. Release 'em, Joe. You can do it real easy, Joe," he said. (Former President Obama is reportedly urging the Biden campaign to step things up against Trump.) (More Donald Trump 2024 stories.) Hosting families of those killed fighting Ukraine at one of his residences for Orthodox Christmas observances, President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian government to do more to support them. "I would like our meeting to be a clear, understandable signal to all my colleagues throughout the Russian Federation, and at all levelsa clear signal to ensure that my colleagues are always and everywhere with you," he told the families Saturday night. State TV showed Putin with the families at a midnight service, the Divine Liturgy, in a chapel at his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, outside Moscow, Reuters reports. Putin, who is up for reelection in March, has been less strident lately in his rhetoric, per Reuters, stressing instead traditional values and unity. A post on the Kremlin's website quoted him urging Russians to adhere to the "unshakable" values of "goodness, mercy and justice." He did not call for a cease-fire in the war with Ukraine, as he did last year. Russian soldiers on the front lines celebrated the holy day, per the AP, with military priests leading prayer services, according to Russia's Defense Ministry. The Kremlin press service quoted Putin as telling the families that "many of our men, our courageous, heroic guys, are warriors of Russia even now, during the holidaywith arms in hand, they defend the interests of our country." (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.) Life is now a lot harder for young Eman Al Kholy, who has lost her leg and her family. "The girls are always saying 'mom' and 'dad' and I can't confront them that their parents died," their foster mother said. She's worried Eman will lose more of her leg because of the lack of medical care in Gaza. "There is insufficient medicine here. We demand an artificial limb as soon as possible so she can practice her life normally, and to do everything she wants." Save The Children charity released sobering statistics on Sunday that show on average 10 Gazan children are losing one or more limbs every day. "More than 10 children per day, on average, have lost one or both of their legs in Gaza since conflict erupted three months ago," Save the Children said in a statement. Save the Children's country director Jason Lee said he has seen doctors and nurses "completely overwhelmed when children come in with blast wounds". "The impact of seeing children in that much pain and not having the equipment, medicines to treat them or alleviate pain is too much for even experienced professionals," he said. "Even in a war zone, the sights and sounds of a young child mutilated by bombs cannot be reconciled let alone understood within the bounds of humanity." He said small children caught up in explosions are particularly vulnerable to major, life-changing injuries. "Their skulls are still not fully formed, and their undeveloped muscles offer less protection, so a blast is more likely to tear apart organs in their abdomen, even when there's no visible damage," he explained. "They have weaker necks and torsos, so less force is needed to cause a brain injury." However, the horror doesn't end there. "Sheer numbers of children who are losing limbs and are required to have the amputations without anesthesia and also not receiving antibiotics once they've had the operations due to lack of medical supplies," Save the Children NZ's Jacqui Southey said. "We're talking about children of all ages. From infants through to teenagers - children that were healthy, well-loved, children with families and lives at school," Southey added. "Their lives will never be the same, those that are surviving are surviving with horrific injuries." If you have a story to share, please contact journalist Dianna Vezich at dianna.vezich@wbd.com Eleven-year-old Noor Marouf's left leg was almost entirely ripped off when her home was hit by an explosion. She now fears for her right leg which has screws drilled into the bone. "It hurts me a lot, and I want to go to United Arab Emirates because I'm afraid that they'll have to cut off my other leg," she told Newshub. "I used to run and play, I was so happy with my life, but now when I lost my leg my life became ugly and I got sad, I hope I can get an artificial limb." "Children are being maimed and disfigured by the bombing that is happening to them," Southey stressed. It's estimated that nearly 1000 children have had one or both legs amputated since the conflict started three months ago. "I've been with Save The Children for more than five years now and this is by far the most devastating, brutal conflict that children have gone through potentially modern history," Southey said. "It's complete devastation. We have never had a conflict that we can't respond to in this manner and that is because of the constant siege, the constant bombing." Those who have survived the conflict are now learning to live with life-changing injuries in what's been condemned as a "grave violation against children". We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. MANILA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops have killed an alleged rebel leader in a clash in Eastern Samar province in the central Philippines that also injured a soldier, a military spokesperson said on Sunday. Jefferson Mariano, public affairs chief of the Army's 8th Infantry Division said the encounter between the troops and around 15 New People's Army (NPA) militants broke out around 11:30 a.m. local time (03:30 GMT) on Saturday in the outskirts of Borongan City. Mariano said the troops swooped into the area after receiving a complaint from the villagers about the presence of the rebels. The rebels reportedly fled after the 20-minute clash. NPA rebels have been fighting the government since 1969. They concentrate their attacks on rural areas and have skirmishes with the military. Military data showed that the NPA is estimated to have 2,000 members, significantly lower than its peak strength in the 1980s. A moose works over a patch of willows on Feb. 23, in the hills above Pearl Creek Elementary School. Thanks, Paul Greci of Fairbanks, for sending along this shot. You can submit your best photo online at newsminer.com. Paul Greci photo, Fairbanks TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Report by Zahra Ayaz Accomplished Bahraini athlete Aziz Mattar recently achieved a remarkable feat by conquering the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Tribune, Mattar shed light on the significance of acclimatisation techniques and body awareness in overcoming the challenges presented by high altitudes and limited oxygen levels. To prepare for his expedition, Mattar dedicated considerable time to both physical and mental training. He engaged in visualisation exercises and practiced positive self-talk to bolster his mental resilience. Recognising the unpredictable weather conditions on Kilimanjaro, including rain, wind, and extreme temperatures, he made constant adjustments to his clothing layers. The journey to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro presented additional obstacles, such as symptoms of altitude sickness like headaches and nausea. To overcome these challenges, Mattar prioritised self-care, ensuring he stayed hydrated and took necessary breaks when required. As he ascended to the peak, Mattar proudly raised the flag of Bahrain, symbolising his deep connection to his homeland. Reflecting on this emotional experience, he shared, Raising the flag of Bahrain on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro evoked a powerful mix of emotions. Reaching Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at an astounding elevation of 5,895 metres, proved to be an awe-inspiring test of Mattars mental and physical limits. Navigating treacherous terrain and coping with the thinning air demanded unwavering determination. His accomplishments serve as an inspiration to fellow Bahraini citizens and athletes worldwide. Mattar expressed his heartfelt gratitude, stating, I am deeply grateful to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and the Bahrain Youth Association for their unwavering support throughout my journey. "Their invaluable assistance played a pivotal role in making this remarkable achievement possible. Prof. Lee Seokbae, the L in LK99, is going to introduce the room temperature superconducting research he has conducted and their future on Jan 9th. It will be the first time we can see his formal statement. Seokbae Lee had his team are scheduled to show a video of Meissner levitation with flux pinning in less than two months at the major US APS conference. The paragraph describing the planned presentation and the scheduling of the presentations would not be made without strong verification and certainty that everything was working. It is already late afternoon on Sunday, Jan 7 in South Korea. South Korea is 14 hours ahead of the east coast of the USA. Seokbae Lee is now the CEO of the Quantum Energy Research Institute. Prof. Lee Seokbae is going to introduce the research he has conducted and their future on Jan 9th. It will be the first time we can see his formal statement. pic.twitter.com/KTeYuZ2GFQ sejong (@gimjiun79102152) January 5, 2024 The K in LK99 is Hyun-tak Kim. Kim and Kwon have formed a separate company CCS. The Seokbae Lee APS presentation brief is here. There has been separate multiple Chinese experimental results with similar to LK99 copper substitute lead apatite materials showing near room temperature weak superconducting effects. I believe there has been and still is a lot more research and activity and results than have been publicly reported. What is known and the controversies are not consistent with it was all a copper sulfate mistake. APS Presentation Planned in Two Months We synthesized materials, Pb10-xCux(P(O1-ySy)4)6O1-zSz (PCPOSOS), called PCPOSOS, which exhibit superconducting behavior at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. These materials displayed characteristics of a superconductor, including zero resistance, the Meissner effect, and partial levitation when placed on a magnet (arXiv: 2307.12037). The partial levitation is caused by an inhomogeneity in the magnetic field of the magnet and occurred within the range of critical magnetic fields, Hc1 and Hc2. That is, the magnetic field of the magnet increased with going from center to the edge of magnet. The magnet had approximately 2000G at the center and approximately 3,000G at its edge. The levitation occurred near center. This indicates the center of the magnet is close to Hc1. It disappeared between center and the edge near Hc2, with Hc1 being much smaller than Hc2, because the magnetic moment at Hc2 is much smaller than that at Hc1. When the magnet is slightly moved, the levitation returns to its original position. This phenomenon is analyzed as flux pinning, which is typical of a type-II superconductor. Moreover, the quantum-locking phenomenon, characteristic of a Type-I superconductor, may appear. However, we interpret PCPOSOS as a Type-II superconductor. We will show two videos of levitations and two videos of magnets. Kim and Kwon CCS company Prof. Kwon & Kim came out of Q-centre and started running a new company named CCS. CCS hosted the first business briefing for institutional investors on December 18th. JH Kim, the heroic experimental chemist (the K, in LK-99), is no longer part of the team, leaving Lee as the principal author from Quantum Energy Korea * The compound from Aug has been characterized further, no longer a mere lead apatite, but now PCPOSOS, with substitutions of Sulphur for Oxygen in some positions * They dont even claim the LK-99 name anymore (because that would, uh.. refer to a different compound) * However, the team has confirmed Type-II superconductivity at room temperature and pressure, confirmed the Meissner effect, explained the partial levitation seen (its because the critical magnetic field that knocks out the superconductive effect is close enough that normal variation in magnetic field strength trigger the threshold) Important Recent LK99 News Chinese teams with experimental results support LK99 Copper substituted lead apatite. Possible Meissner effect near room temperature in copper-substituted lead apatite With copper-substituted lead apatite below room temperature, we observe diamagnetic dc magnetization under magnetic field of 25 Oe with remarkable bifurcation between zero-field-cooling and field-cooling measurements, and under 200 Oe it changes to be paramagnetism. A glassy memory effect is found during cooling. Typical hysteresis loops for superconductors are detected below 250 K, along with an asymmetry between forward and backward sweep of magnetic field. Our experiment suggests at room temperature the Meissner effect is possibly present in this material. Chinese universities and research labs have published experimental evidence in support of LK99 as a room temperature superconductor. The amount of superconducting material that is made in pile of LK99 powder is small. The LK99 needs to have precisely located copper and phosphorous. This leaves one dimensional molecular chains of superconducting material. All previous superconductors have been found to absorb microwaves. It is the nature of superconducting material that they exclude magnetic fields and thus the electronic and magnetic behavior is observed based on interaction with microwaves. The US military (Air Force Research Lab) gave some small funding to Chapman University to work on thin film LK99. Thin film LK99 is the only form of the materials with reported superconducting levels of low resistance. LIMA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Peru is "highly prepared" for the onset of El Nino, a climatic phenomenon that can unleash extreme weather, especially along coastlines, the government said Saturday. While the phenomenon has not yet hit, local authorities are in a "state of alert," Defense Minister Jorge Chavez said at a press conference at the headquarters of the National Emergency Operations Center in Lima. "I cannot have a meteorological forecast of how it will occur, but I can guarantee that we are highly prepared to receive and protect our population," Chavez said. Peru currently has "900 engineering teams in regions that could be impacted," so areas can be mapped to quickly attend to any contingency that may arise, he said. With the start of the January-March rainy season, several regions in the north and south of Peru have already seen flooding and rivers overflow. As far as Lima is concerned, the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service warned of above-normal water flows in the Chillon, Rimac and Lurin rivers. The commission in charge of the National Study of the El Nino Phenomenon maintains a "Coastal El Nino Alert," expecting the phenomenon to last until the beginning of autumn 2024 once it hits. There was a public rush to dismiss the research papers and patent from a team of Korean researchers on a copper substituted lead apatite material called LK-99. This material was named after two of the researchers from something they initially discovered in 1999. There was article from the MIT Technology Review listing the LK99 event of 2023 as one of the worst technology failures of 2023. I would call the MIT Technology Review and a Nature LK-99 isnt a superconductor how science sleuths solved the mystery as the worst science and technology writing of 2023. It is dismissed by MIT Technology Review as the Social media superconductor. They describe any room-temperature superconductor as a material offering no electrical resistance. If it existed, it would make possible new types of batteries and powerful quantum computers, and bring nuclear fusion closer to reality. Its a true Holy Grail. The MIT article written by Antonio Regalado is a biomedicine reporter who has also worked as a political journalist and foreign reporter. Antonios description of a generalized room temperature superconductor assumes that the hypothetical superconductor would be able to handle high levels of current for ultra-powerful magnets. This is true for some of the other commercialized superconductors. However, the LK-99 reports were that the effects only were working at low levels of current. Low current would mean not good for magnets, let alone powerful magnets. This would mean no impact for nuclear fusion. This would be like saying the Wright Brothers flyer can fly so it must also be able to fly into space and go to the moon. A material having some important characteristics does not mean all limits are solved. A vaccine that can treat one form of cancer would be a huge breakthrough but it does not mean it could cure all cancer and all disease. A more perfected form of a what was reported in the LK-99 work could work in thin film with low levels of current. This would be great for faster computer chips. The US military has funded research on using low-temperature superconductors for computers with a clock speed of 800 Gigahertz. This would be potentially 200 times faster. The military research is taking superconducting material that has made superconducting computer circuits and applying and perfecting that material for computers up to 200 times faster. Other advances could happen but it would take many more breakthroughs to eliminate other limitations of perfect room temperature superconductors for all of the desired and valuable use cases. Antonio cites the Journal Nature article from August. LK-99 isnt a superconductor how science sleuths solved the mystery. The Nature article reports that German Max Planck researchers had conclusively answered everything about LK-99 by making pure crystals and finding several effects and readings could be the results of copper-Sulfide contamination. This theory that everything about Lk99 was from copper-sulfide contamination. This would mean that a team of researchers including Hyun-tak Kim, could work with the Lk99 (discovered in 1999) materials for over 20 years and not figure out it was mainly copper-sulfide. Hyun-tak Kim has dozens of published peer-reviewed articles. His top ten articles have 290-1621 citations each. In 2004, Kim wrote a paper, Mechanism and observation of Mott transition in VO2-based two-and three-terminal devices. Mott insulators are a class of materials that are expected to conduct electricity, but are actually insulators . However, scientists have found ways to manipulate the electronic properties of Mott insulators to turn them into superconductors . A Mott insulator is a material that has strong electronelectron interactions, which are not considered in conventional band theory . A Mott transition is a transition from a metal to an insulator, driven by the strong interactions between electrons. The cuprates, a class of high-temperature superconductors, are Mott insulators. They hold the record for the highest superconducting transition temperature at ambient pressure. This explanation ignores that none of the bulk material readings made by the Koreans showed superconducting levels of resistance. The thin film LK-99 showed superconducting low resistance. 10,000 times lower resistance in the thin film form. None of the journal science nature LK-99 Debunker, made thin films of their LK-99 crystals. The debunkers went I will ignore your actual superconductance claim in thin-film and I will make crystals. I am going to disprove and debunk something you did not say to disparage what you did claim. The debunkers have not tried to make or disprove the thin film superconducting reading. The Nature article also had one of the scientists of the team LK99 debunkers gloating that he could use this debunking of LK99 as an example for his physics students not to trust Density Function Theory simulations. Density Function theory supercomputer analysis and simulations were showing support that the LK99 type copper substituted lead apatite material was interesting and could become superconducting IF the forms were just right. Lead apatite variants are showing signs of superconductivity. The signals are weak as the one-dimensional superconductivity is in a tiny fraction of the samples made. But they are showing in experiments from multiple teams in China and the original Korean team will present March 4, 2024 at APS. With video of a variant of the material with a full Meissner effect. Half of the original Korean team is in a new startup. How do the LK99-debunkers and Copper Sulfate error theorists explain the new experimental results out of multiple teams in China? How will the debunkers explain full flux pinning that the original Korean team will show March 4, 2024? The Korean have made PCPOSOS which they claim is a Type-II superconductor. Other teams of researchers are making experimental work that confirms evidence of superconductance in the same class of copper substituted lead apatite materials. Lawrence Berkeley national lab continues to work on computational studies that indicate promising modifications with higher density copper. The sum of the visible and reported work is compelling in my view. I also believe this is the visible tip of an iceberg of continued work on copper substituted lead apatite. Lawrence Berkeley National Labs and others have continued computational quantum dynamics and DFT analysis supporting LK99. LBNL proposed higher copper doping. IF the material does really work then the room temperature and room pressure aspect will make it easy for well funded large scale efforts to develop a useful level of purity because it would mean the Korean team was not lying and already had half of a thin film superconducting. A thin film superconductor would be able to make one josephson junction for a squid magnetic field detector an already commercially useful device. Billions would be spent to make 800 GHz computer chips which would be the logical result. Different groups in China are getting experimental confirmation of indications of superconductance in LK99. Possible Meissner Effect Near Room Temperature in Copper-substituted Lead Apatite LK99 China Experiment. Other Chinese Researchers Detected Superconducting Effects Via Microwave Absorption. All Superconductors Absorb Microwaves, so this is experimental evidence Supporting LK99 As Room Temperature Superconductor. The original Korean LK99 team will present at APS March 4, 2024. Abstract: A16.00002 : Partial levitation, type-II-superconductor characteristic, at room temperature and atmospheric pressure in PCPOSOS We synthesized materials, Pb10-xCux(P(O1-ySy)4)6O1-zSz (PCPOSOS), called PCPOSOS, which exhibit superconducting behavior at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. These materials displayed characteristics of a superconductor, including zero resistance, the Meissner effect, and partial levitation when placed on a magnet (arXiv: 2307.12037). The partial levitation is caused by an inhomogeneity in the magnetic field of the magnet and occurred within the range of critical magnetic fields, Hc1 and Hc2. That is, the magnetic field of the magnet increased with going from center to the edge of magnet. The magnet had approximately 2000G at the center and approximately 3,000G at its edge. The levitation occurred near center. This indicates the center of the magnet is close to Hc1. It disappeared between center and the edge near Hc2, with Hc1 being much smaller than Hc2, because the magnetic moment at Hc2 is much smaller than that at Hc1. When the magnet is slightly moved, the levitation returns to its original position. This phenomenon is analyzed as flux pinning, which is typical of a type-II superconductor. Moreover, the quantum-locking phenomenon, characteristic of a Type-I superconductor, may appear. However, we interpret PCPOSOS as a Type-II superconductor. We will show two videos of levitations and two videos of magnets. Pro-LK99 and Anti-LK99 Showdown at March 2024 APS Conference There will be another presentation at the conference. This will be by Paul Chu and his Houston team. They will show that they think LK99 is all because of Copper Sulfide. Paul is a famous for his work with YCBO superconductors. The unique simultaneous appearance of zero resistivity and magnetic field expulsion enable superconductors to have tremendous potential for various applications, such as efficient electric power transmission, much smaller or more powerful magnets, magnetic levitation, high-speed computing, etc. The superconducting critical transition temperature has continuously been enhanced owing to the century-old effort at superconductivity. It appears that all record high Tcs since 1994 have been achieved in compounds under very high pressure. The ultimate goal in the superconductivity field is to find a way to retain a coherent quantum state under ambient conditions, i.e., room temperature of ~ 300 K and atmospheric pressure. We have studied LK-99 [Pb10-x Cux(PO4)6O], alleged by Lee et al. to exhibit superconductivity at room temperature and ambient pressure, and have reproduced all the anomalies except for half-levitation they reported as evidence for the claim of LK-99 being an ambient-pressure, room-temperature superconductor. We found that these anomalies are associated with the structural transition of the Cu2S impurity in their sample and not with superconductivity. The YCBO related superconducting wire market is worth about $1-2 billion per year. Back in 1989, Du Pont agreed to pay the University of Houston $1.5 million immediately and $3 million later for rights to an as yet ungranted patent on a promising new (YCBO) material. Paul Submitted an Incorrect YCBO Paper in 1987 to Ensure His Patent Claim Would be Valid Like any proper American inventor, Chu immediately filed for a patent. At the same time, being a good scientist, he sent a report to his peers, in this instance by way of Physical Review Letters, the weekly worldwide bulletin board of professional physicists. The first act conferred proprietary ownership and the second, scientific legitimacy on his work. An awkward problem, however, was that under then-current schedules, they occurred in reverse order. His discovery was in danger of being proclaimed before it could be profitably claimed. Chu submitted to Physical Review Letters a report that used the chemical symbol for ytterbium, Yb, in every place that the symbol for yttrium, Y, should have been used. The typographical error occurred 24 times in the report. The patent application, on the other handthough concerned with the same subject, prepared by the same office, and submitted at the same timedid not suffer from a single such mistake. The patent on the first high-temperature superconductor was filed on January 12, 1987, more than a month before Chus formal announcement of success (at which he refused to divulge the chemical formula). Promptly upon its acceptance, Chu phoned the offices of Physical Review Letters to inform them that the paper he had previously submitted had an error. It was corrected in time for publication on March 2. LK99 Class Materials Only Have Real Disruptive Value if They Are Real and Work The lazy and the ignorant talk about the tens of millions of social media views or the article clicks. The scientists get no monetization from the social media or the articles in the NY Times (Pro or Anti). The value is actually making the businesses and products out of the new materials. The destruction of value would come from new LK99-class or inspired materials making further breakthroughs to displace YCBO for high energy current and magnet applications. Old Guard already successful scientists in the YCBO and nobium superconducting areas could have business and patent interests that would be harmed by the success of LK99. Paul Chu did submit an incorrect paper into Physical Review Letters for YCBO related financial interests. Is it possible for some superconducting scientists to against mislead the community for financial reasons? Was it Ytterbium or Yttrium? How would replications have gone in 1987 if Paul Chu had left the Ytterbium error in the Physical Review Letter paper? Real room temperature superconductor would be a bigger prize than YCBO superconductors. We are also seeing glimpses of part of what is happening from experts who have more complex goals than just getting published papers correct. The LK99 and copper substituted lead apatite researchers are motivated to get sufficient interest in themselves and their work to get private funding. 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Betta Edu had confirmed disbursing N585,189,500.00 meant for vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun states into a private account. However, Edu insisted that the payment followed due process. Meanwhile, SERAP said that the ministers action was against Chapter 7, Section 713 of the Federal Governments Financial Regulations 2009, which notes, Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private account. Accordingly, SERAP urged Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly and thoroughly conduct a probe. We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest. Recall that Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, said Edu was not supposed to make N585,198,500.00 into a private account. Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, received the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, at the Anambra Governors Lodge in Amawbia on Friday. Soludo, while receiving Musa, commended the Nigerian Army for her efforts in ensuring the liberation of eight local government areas of the state that were previously under the control of criminals known as unknown gunmen. The governor highlighted the role of the armed forces and other security agencies in the fight against criminals in the state. He said: When we declared war on them, they couldnt withstand the force. The success in securing communities like Ukpor, formerly dominated by armed groups, underscored the hand of fellowship extended by this government to those seeking rehabilitation. I commend the militarys efforts in bridging the gap between the armed forces and the civilian population. Your visit is a social visit, revealing the softer side of the military to demonstrate that they are part of the people. Governor Soludo also requested the deployment of military men and materials to enhance precision targeting to eliminate the havens where the criminals hide. He expressed gratitude to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, DSS, NSCDC, and the local vigilante group for the significant progress achieved in restoring peace and security in the state. Earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff acknowledged the improved security situation in Anambra State, assuring Soludo of his continued commitment to securing the state. He emphasised the importance of collaboration with the people and recognising them as the core purpose of military service. Gen. Musa said: This visit signifies a strengthening partnership between the Anambra State government and the Nigerian Armed Forces in ensuring peace and fostering sustainable development in the region. Former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, on Sunday shed light on the activities of terrorists in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Sani, in a post on his X handle, said people in Kajuru now live and survive each day with bandits and terrorists in the night. He narrated how the Kaduna State Government unjustly arrested the leaders and elders of the Adara ethnic groups and kept them in prison after terrorists killed their people. Sani said the incident happened some five years ago. Painting a gory image of the activities of terrorists in the area, the former senator recounted how over 50 farmers were kidnapped. According to him, the Emir of Kajuru was also kidnapped and released after ransom was paid three years ago. Sani, in the post, pointed out that the paramount ruler of the Adara ethnic group, Agom Adara Maiwada Galadima, was coincidentally killed after meeting with an unnamed State Governor. He wrote, Kajuru LG is one of the favourite hotspots for terrorists in Kaduna State. Few months ago, over 50 farmers were kidnapped. Three years ago, the Emir of Kajuru was kidnapped and released after ransom was paid. Its also the LG that hosts the Bethel Baptist High School, where students were kidnapped in 2021. In 2018, the paramount ruler of the Adara ethnic group, Agom Adara Maiwada Galadima was killed after meeting with the state Governor. Some 5 years ago, the Kaduna state government unjustly arrested the leaders and elders of the Adara ethnic groups and kept them in prison after their people were killed by terrorists.The latest one now has 42 kidnapped. In Kajuru, they live and survive each day with Bandits in the day and terrorists in the night. See link below: President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari are expected to attend a book presentation by Femi Adesina, immediate-past presidential spokesperson. The book titled Working with Buhari will be presented at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on January 16. This could be the first time the incumbent, who is special guest of honour, and the past president, will appear together publicly since the handover of May 29. In a statement, Garba Deen Muhammad, chair of the planning committee, said Yakubu Gowon, a former head of state, will chair the occasion; while I.B.M Haruna, a retired general, will serve as co-chair. Muhammad said a royal delegation led by Prince Abdulaziz Bin Faisal Al Saud has confirmed that it will attend the event, and Mohammed Indimi, billionaire businessman, will be the chief launcher. The book will provide insight unlikely to be found anywhere else; because Femi will be telling his story from a morally strong position, the chair of the planning committee said. Those who know Femi are very familiar with his unwavering loyalty to his principal, former President Muhammadu Buhari. The book will reveal Femis motivation; why Buhari was, is, and will likely remain his hero. It is, in one sentence, a study in loyalty. The book, published by Safari Books, is a memoir of Adesinas eight years in office as special adviser to Buhari on media and publicity an office that afforded him a front-row seat in the administration. U.S. News & World Report has named the top New Jersey hospitals in maternity care. Nineteen hospitals were recently listed as high-performing. They produced fewer early deliveries, fewer C-sections, fewer newborn complications than other hospitals (and) had higher rates of breast milk feeding, according to the sites analysis of uncomplicated pregnancies. Most of the hospitals offered services like childbirth classes, breastfeeding and lactation consultants, and screenings and services for perinatal and postpartum depression. The hospitals were not ranked beyond receiving high performing marks. (The first hospital listed below includes some context about these categories and their importance.) Here are the top-performing hospitals in the state in maternity care: Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. (According to U.S. News & Report, performing a C-section or scheduling an induction is not recommended before the 39th week of pregnancy unless there is an important medical reason for early delivery.) Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are very rare. 65% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. (According to U.S. News & Report, the average rate in the Northeast is 43.3%, with the national average at 49%.) Regularly offers vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) 20.5% of the time. (This means the hospital regularly offered support to a pregnant woman who previously had a C-section but wants to give birth vaginally, the site said.) Met the birthing-friendly criteria. (To meet the criteria, the hospital had to demonstrate its commitment to improving maternal outcomes by participating in quality improvement collaboratives and have implemented one or more projects related to maternal morbidity to address complications.) The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance, according to the site. Cooper University Hospital, Camden The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are rare. 42.3% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 30.1% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are about average. 38.8% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 3.7% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Englewood Hospital The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are very rare. 48.3% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 13.6% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Hackensack University Medical Center The hospital sometimes schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections Newborn complications are slightly rarer than average. 27.5% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 19% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Jefferson Health-Stratford, Cherry Hill and Washington Township The hospitals never or rarely schedule delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are rare. 33.5% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 16.1% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Monmouth Medical Center-Long Branch Campus The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are very rare. 31.4% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 39.8% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Morristown Medical Center The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are very rare. 52.7% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 15.8% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Ocean University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health, Brick The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are slightly rarer than average. 38.6% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 18.3% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Overlook Medical Center, Summit The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are very rare. 54.7% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 11.4% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Palisades Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health, North Bergen The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are rare. 25% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 3.9% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Raritan Bay Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health, Perth Amboy The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are rare. 33.1% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 11.4% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Riverview Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health, Red Bank The hospital sometimes schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are rare. 47.5% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 4.9% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are slightly rarer than average. 13.3% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 15.8% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Somerville The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are very rare. 26.2% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 8.9% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Southern Ocean Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health, Manahawkin The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. The hospital usually avoids C-sections. Newborn complications are very rare. 32.0% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Does not regularly offer VBAC. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Virtua Mount Holly Hospital The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are rare. 38.9% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 15.4% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are slightly rarer than average. 26.7% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 32.1% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Virtua Voorhees Hospital The hospital never or rarely schedules delivery earlier than recommended. Scored excellent at minimizing avoidable C-sections. Newborn complications are slightly rarer than average. 51.5% of babies were exclusively breastfed or fed breast milk during their hospital stay. Regularly offers VBAC 15.8% of the time. Met the birthing-friendly criteria. The hospital widely tracked and reported its race- and ethnicity-specific performance. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Two journalists were killed and another journalist was injured on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike targeting their vehicle in the southern Gaza Strip, according to Hamas media office. #Gaza Nearly 20 years has passed since federal prosecutors began issuing subpoenas aimed at catching Sen. Robert Menendez with his hand in the cookie jar. So far, the crafty veteran has won every fight, staying in power, staying out of prison, and preserving enough political mojo to get his unqualified son elected to Congress. So, with his next corruption trial set for May, lets check the scoreboard, and clear up a few misconceptions. The New Jersey Department of Transportation lifted travel restrictions on all highways Sunday at 8 a.m. after a powerful winter storm dropped at least 5 inches of snow on five counties this weekend. The all-clear comes after state officials had issued travel restrictions on commercial traffic, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles on certain interstates early Saturday afternoon. The DOT said all vehicles previously listed in the restriction are able to resume normal travel on the following highways in both directions: I-78, entire length from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike) I-80, entire length from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike) I-280, entire length from I-80 to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike) I-287, entire length from NJ Route 440 to the New York State border NJ Route 440, from the Outerbridge Crossing to I-287 The forecast Sunday calls for some light snow and rain to continue as cleanup continues from a winter storm that brought 5 to 11 inches of snow to northern New Jersey. High temperatures should rise into the upper 30s and low 40s on Sunday ahead of a dry, calm day on Monday. State highways are in good condition, but with high winds and freezing temperatures there is a potential for roads to be slippery,' the DOT said Sunday morning. It is important to remember road conditions can change quickly. Our crews will continue to monitor conditions through the night to make sure roads remain in good condition.' Updates on the status of travel restrictions will be shared on message boards along roadways as well as on Facebook and X (Twitter) @NewJerseyDOT. Motorists can get real-time traffic information at 511nj.org. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. It was a couple of weeks shy of providing a white Christmas, but it came nonetheless. The winter storm Saturday the first significant snowfall in over a year dumped several inches of snow mostly in northwestern New Jersey, including more than a foot in Wantage. The flurry made for a winter wonderland throughout the modestly sized Sussex County town. I was definitely surprised (by) how much more snow we got, Shawn Viggiano, 47 of Wantage, said Sunday. I was figuring we get 8 inches or so. I cant say I did anything special to prepare other than to make sure the snow blower was working. That and he double-checked his skis and snowshoes were at the ready, Viggiano admitted. Wantage saw at least a walloping 13 inches of snow, but residents said Sunday morning that a steady sprinkle had not let up and several ventured that a higher total inch count was likely. In addition to Wantage, about a dozen other areas in Sussex County recorded between 5 and nearly 11 inches of snow including Sparta, Kittatinny Lake and Montague Township. Residents in Warren, Morris, Passaic and Hunterdon Counties also saw plenty of snow, according to preliminary snowfall reports from the National Weather Service. The early January winter coastal storm dumped heavy snow in northwestern New Jersey, including Wantage in Sussex County.Photo courtesy of Shawn Viggiano The early January winter coastal storm dumped heavy snow in northwestern New Jersey, including Wantage in Sussex County.Photo courtesy of Shawn Viggiano Social media users in Wantage posted photos and images of snow blowers clearing paths, puppies frolicking in the flakes and rulers checking exactly what the latest inch total looked like. On Sunday morning, the Wantage Township Office of Emergency Management said snow would continue at a light to moderate rate with higher accumulation expected in the hills. READ MORE: How much snow fell in your area? Latest snowfall totals in 16 counties. Pavements will also likely see coverage, particularly this morning, followed by more variability in the afternoon, officials with the agency said. Snow will lessen and largely taper off in the mid-afternoon, with flurries lingering into the evening. Then for tonight, watch for refreeze around anything wet (and) untreated. Spotty snow and rain has continued Sunday with forecasters now expecting another serious storm threat to possibly bring flooding to New Jersey on Tuesday. Up to 4 inches of rain and wind gusts up to 60 mph may lash parts of the state and melting snow could make conditions worse in some areas, weather experts said. The New Jersey State Police on Saturday night continued to urge residents to stay off the roads due to possibly icy conditions. According to a 1:48 p.m. update from the National Weather Service on Sunday, mostly rain and not snow was expected from the incoming inclement weather later in the week. Live in Wantage and want to submit your photo for NJ.com to use across its publications? Email srodas@njadvancemedia.com. The early January winter coastal storm dumped heavy snow in northwestern New Jersey, including Wantage in Sussex County.Photo courtesy of Shawn Viggiano The early January winter coastal storm dumped heavy snow in northwestern New Jersey, including Wantage in Sussex County.Photo courtesy of Shawn Viggiano Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @stevenrodasnj. MLB.coms David Adler is floating a trade package for the Yankees, who should be desperate for another proven starting pitcher, to make to the Chicago White Sox for right-hander Dylan Cease. BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER NJ Advance Medias Randy Miller believes that another pitcher should be the Yankees No. 1 target, and he explains why here. Meanwhile, to get Cease, Adler is shopping infielder Oswald Peraza, utility man Oswaldo Cabrera, catcher Austin Wells (Yankees No. 7 prospect), and right-hander Will Warren (Yankees No. 8 prospect). The White Sox are unlikely to agree to any trade with the Yankees that doesnt include outfielder Jasson Dominguez, whom the Yankees are highly unlikely to give up. FIXING THE YANKEES Sign up HERE for our twice-weekly newsletter on the offseason changes But the Yankees could still offer Chicago a strong package of young players. Peraza and Wells would give the White Sox up-and-comers at positions staffed by veterans (Paul DeJong and Nicky Lopez in the middle infield, Martin Maldonado and Max Stassi at catcher), and Warren is a pitching prospect close to the big leagues who could help replace Cease. But if youre New York, is it worth it to send off a bunch of promising young players for Cease, potentially a higher price than it took to get Juan Soto? Cease is more controllable than Soto, but Soto is, well, Juan Soto. Maybe Ceases price wont be worth paying. Adler considers Cease as a Gerrit Cole Lite. They have almost the same arsenal: power fastball, power slider, power curveball. They pitch with a similar style: rising fastballs at the top of the zone, sharp sliders and big dropping curveballs at the bottom. The only big difference between Cole and Cease is that Cole gets his strikeouts with his four-seamer, and Cease gets his Ks with his slider. But the point is: You could do a lot worse than a second Gerrit Cole as the consolation prize for Yamamoto and the pitching blockbuster to match your Juan Soto trade. New general manager Chris Getz is rebuilding the White Sox after two disappointing seasons and wants a big return for Cease, who offers two years of club control before reaching free agency after 2025. Cease, who was an AL Cy Young Award runner-up in 2022, disappointed last season but still made 33 starts and topped 200 strikeouts for the third year in a row. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. The heroes and zeroes of the last week or so. Dubais Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded an AED332 million ($90.39 million) contract for the improvement of Umm Suqeim Street Project. The Improvement of Umm Suqeim Street Project is a 4.6-km-long development that extends from Al Khail Road to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. The project includes an upgrade of the intersection with Al Barsha South Street, located near Kings School, by constructing an 800-m-long tunnel with four lanes in each direction on Umm Suqeim Street. A signalised surface intersection will also be constructed as a part of the project, a Dubai Media Office statement said. Mattar Al Tayer, the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said the project is crucial to enhance the connectivity between east-west transverse streets and north-south vertical streets. This project complements RTA's continuous efforts to improve the corridor, he said. "This project aims to improve the connectivity of four major traffic corridors in Dubai: Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and Emirates Road. It will enhance the capacity of the streets to accommodate up to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions, ensure a smoother flow of traffic, and significantly reduce the travel time between Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road from 9.7 to 3.8 minutes. This project will serve various residential and developments areas, including Al Barsha South 1, 2, and 3, and Dubai Hills. These areas have an estimated population of about two million people," explained Al Tayer. Completed Projects RTA completed the initial phase of the Improvement of Umm Suqeim Street Project in 2013. This phase covered the sector between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. It saw the construction of two three-lane bridges. The first spans the eastern street parallel to Al Asayel Street, and the second crosses the western street parallel to the First Al Khail Road. It also included the construction of two signalised intersections at the junctures with Al Asayel Street and First Al Khail Road. Furthermore, three pedestrian bridges were constructed over Umm Suqeim Street to enhance pedestrian access between the Al Quoz and Al Barsha. In 2020, RTA opened a central 500-m bridge as part of the bridges and roads leading to Dubai Hills Mall Project. The bridge is located at the intersection of Umm Suqeim Street and the entrances of Dubai Hills and Al Barsha areas. It consists of four lanes in each direction and is capable of handling up to 16,000 vehicles per hour. - TradeArabia News Service LHASA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region is expected to receive 80 billion yuan (about 11.26 billion U.S. dollars) from the central government for the region's development in 2024, said Yan Jinhai, chairman of the regional government. The fund will be spent on the region's infrastructure construction, including railway, highway, and airport projects, said Yan in a government work report delivered Sunday at the second plenary session of the 12th People's Congress of the Xizang Autonomous Region. Construction of 10 general aviation airports in the region will start or be ongoing this year, Yan said in the report. Efforts will also be made in the construction of clean energy bases in the region, according to the report. A former detective sergeant has been found culpable of gross misconduct by a panel, following a three-day hearing in November. The panel concluded that had former Detective Sergeant Gavin Jolley still been serving, he would have been dismissed without notice. On November 29 the panel, led by an independent Legally Qualified Chair, found that he had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of Equality and Diversity, Honesty and Integrity, Authority, Respect and Courtesy and Discreditable Conduct. The hearing looked at allegations that he had a case to answer in relation to 18 incidents relating to inappropriate behaviour. This included inappropriate sexualised comments while on duty, inappropriate touching of a member of the public while off duty, sexually inappropriate comments to members of the public while off duty and sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues of a misogynistic nature. He had previously received words of advice around his behaviour. After the hearing it was concluded that the actions were proven and that his behaviours amounted to gross misconduct. Head of Professional Standards, Detective Superintendent Alexandra Doughty said: The Force and the public expect all officers, staff and volunteers to carry out their roles to a high standard and to maintain the expected behaviours and professional boundaries both inside and outside of work. In this case, former Detective Sergeant Gavin Jolleys actions have fallen well below that and as such it is right that he is no longer able to hold the office of Constable. He has been placed on the barred list so will no longer be able to hold a role in any police force within the UK. Deputy Chief Constable, David Thorne said: We are working hard to ensure we root out any officer or staff member who does not display the required expectations for working within the police service and it is right that former Detective Sergeant Jolley would have been dismissed had he not already resigned. If you have any concerns over the conduct of a member of staff, officer or volunteer, I would encourage you to contact our professional standards department for the matters to be fully investigated. Napoleon, OH (43545) Today Snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 27F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Paul Labovitz took an interest in nature from the time he caught a lizard in the New Jersey woods at the age of 7. Despite growing up in Philadelphia, where the National Park Service runs Independence Hall, other historic sites, and the Valley Forge National Historic Park, he never visited a national park until he was hired to work for the National Park Service. Labovitz ended up presiding over the Indiana Dunes when it became a full-fledged national park and also was the first superintendent of the Pullman National Historical Park. In addition to overseeing those historic transitions, he helped extend the Marquette Greenway, build hundreds of miles of trails across the country, establish a sister relationship between the Indiana Dunes and a national park in Poland, found the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, put in place a campground reservation system and turn the Indiana Dunes into one of the most visited national parks in the country. He retired last summer at the age of 64 after serving for 35 years in the National Park Service. "I loved every job I ever had," he said. "I was just in a coffee shop in Michigan City wearing my park service jacket and someone came up to me, said she wanted to be a wildlife biologist and asked me how to get there. Nothing thrills me more than hearing from people who want to follow the same career path." A permanent successor has not yet been named to run the Indiana Dunes National Park. "A lot of things happened during my tenure," Labovitz said. "The name change was exciting, as was the Marquette Greenway. Over the next couple of years, you're going to see projects at the historic Bailly Homestead. It became a national park visited by 5 million plus people a year. On one hand, the name change was just semantics. But it caused people in this region to rediscover the Indiana Dunes. I'm still very excited by the possibilities." Labovitz earned a degree in forestry from Penn State University and ended up working as a land manager for Rockwell in Western Pennsylvania. He got involved in a rails-to-trails project that turned an old rail line between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. into a trail, overseeing a 60-mile stretch of the 320-mile bike trail that cut through mountainous terrain in Pennsylvania and Maryland. "Millions of people will benefit for years to come," he said. After collaborating for years on the trail, Labovitz went to work for the National Park Service office across from Independence Hall in his native Philly. "I had never been down there even though I grew up there," he said. "The first couple weeks I would get pretzels on my lunch break and marvel at how people from all over the world would come there to learn what happened there. Some would cry because it was so moving to them. It was just my hometown." He said he came to realize "that people just don't appreciate what's close to them. People have lived in Northwest Indiana all their lives and had no idea one of the most visited national parks in the country is right here. It's something that's taken for granted. It's not a dig. It's human nature. You don't think it's a big deal because it's right by home, but a great national park is right here at the southern end of Lake Michigan. You could go there every day." He's worked at Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota and Cuyahoga Valley National Park between Cleveland and Akron, where he helped develop the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. It's similar to the Indiana Dunes National Park in many ways. "They're both near urban areas. They both have visitors from the local area who visit multiple times a year," he said. "They both have fragmented, complicated boundaries that are hard to explain to people. We'd have to spend millions to mark exactly where the boundaries are and, frankly, I'm not sure it would accomplish much." The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail runs 20 miles through Cuyahoga Valley National Park and eventually will extend 100 miles from Cleveland to New Philadelphia. Labovitz also worked on a Mississippi trail. "The Marquette Greenway goes through 14 municipalities and has taken 30 years," he said. "The Mississippi River Trail goes through 10 states and hundreds of communities. Once you have the vision and connect a few pieces it starts rolling. It's so good for the communities. When we did the Prairie Duneland Trail between Portage and Chesterton, we heard people saying there would be terrible crime along the trail and it would invade their privacy. Now it's one of the great features of the Region. Now people will pay more for a home along the trail. It's the same for the Indiana Dunes National Park. It's typically mentioned in listings how close it is. It's a positive amenity that adds value. I'm a forester and a wildlife biologist but there are business benefits to having nature, wildlife and clean air. It's a positive economic feature." While in the National Park Service, Labovitz did projects in more than 30 states and international conservation work in central and eastern Europe. He was sent to Poland in 1993 after it became a democracy and also to the Slovak Republic and Montenegro to advise them on parking planning activities. He helped establish a sister park relationship between the Indiana Dunes National Park and the Kampinoski National Park in Poland. He guided the Indiana Dunes National Park through the pandemic. "We called it the Illinois invasion," he said. "Doctors said it was okay to go outside and we had the only Lake Michigan beaches that were open in three states for almost a year. Visitation skyrocketed at a time we had high lake levels so there was less beach space." He worked closely with groups like Save the Dunes, Friends of the Indiana Dunes and the Dunes Learning Center on various initiatives, including programming and protecting land around the park. "They're fabulous partners with the park," he said. "They help make it the greatest job in the world. No two days are exactly the same. You have to keep it clean and safe and healthy for all these visitors. There's always a challenge like high lake levels or industrial accidents. There's never a dull moment." The national park status caused attendance to soar. "It's a lot more on the radar nationally," he said. "Urban national parks were not considered desirable places to work but it helped change the perception and we get a lot more applications now. There are 425 National Park Service properties but many go by different names like national lakeshore or national forest. People think the 63 national parks are the only ones worth visiting but that's just not true. But now we get so many more visitors to get their passports stamped, some who say they've been driving by for years. The same thing happened to Cuyahoga in 2000 when it went from a national recreation area to a national park." He became superintendent of the Indiana Dunes National Park in 2014 and then had to do double duty as the inaugural interim superintendent of the Pullman Monument on Chicago's South Side in 2015 and 2016. It preserves the history of the Pullman company town industrialist George Pullman built around his luxury sleeper train car manufacturing plant. "I was assured it would be short-term and it ended up being two years," he said. "But it was a wonderful experience. It was rewarding when the visitors center was finished and it drew visitors from all over the world. It was exciting to have been a part of that." Pullman is independently managed but the Indiana Dunes National Park provides all the administrative, law enforcement and maintenance work. "The parks will always have a collaborative relationship because they're so close," he said. "They're actually closer than some of the management districts at Yellowstone. Pullman is more of a cultural park. There's not many natural resources there. But I've seen coyotes and monk parakeets that fly around the neighborhood. When the National Park Service deputy director was there, 6,000 sandhill cranes flew overhead." The Indiana Dunes National Park is one of the most biodiverse in the country. "There are some interesting success stories with sandhill cranes, river otters and bobcats," he said. "Humans pushed them out and now they're coming back. Bald eagles have been coming back in a big way to the area as well." He also helped plan upcoming projects, including with the West Beach bathhouse, the Good Fellow Youth Camp lodge, the House of Tomorrow, the Bailly Homestead, Rebora Plaza at Lakeview Beach and the Marquette Greenway that will eventually link Chicago to New Buffalo. He sees opportunities to increase public access to Lake Michigan beaches, such as at Crescent Dunes Beach and where the NIPSCO coal-fired power plant will be torn down near Michigan City. "We could also increase public access to Marquette Park as a national destination and not just a city park," he said. "Some of the nicest beaches on Lake Michigan are in Gary, Indiana." Some of the projects he helped launch into motion will take years to come to fruition. Now settled in LaPorte County, he's planning to continue to volunteer at the park in retirement. "I loved my job but told people I would look forward to missing a job I loved," he said. "I had fun on the job and just wanted to create park facilities that would make people think this is a great way for my tax money to be spent." PHOTOS: Brother's Keeper homeless shelter receives donated boiler Summers Heating and Cooling donates new boiler to Brothers Keeper Summers Heating and Cooling donates new boiler to Brothers Keeper Summers Heating and Cooling donates new boiler to Brothers Keeper Summers Heating and Cooling donates new boiler to Brothers Keeper Summers Heating and Cooling donates new boiler to Brothers Keeper Summers Heating and Cooling donates new boiler to Brothers Keeper The Middle East and trouble are no strangers, but the last three months of 2023 saw an increase in turmoil and hot spots to the point of boiling over. The most obvious is the bombardment of the Gaza Strip by Israel after the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7 killed 1,200, according to Israels foreign ministry. Gazas health ministry estimates that 22,185 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7. Houthi rebels based out of Yemen have been attacking ships attempting to navigate the Red Sea for the better part of two months, carrying out 20 attacks since Nov. 19, according to U.S. Deputy Ambassador Christopher Lu. In both cases, be it Hamas in Gaza or Houthis in Yemen, you see the words Iran and backed with implications that range from outright coordination to funding only. If you stand too close to the fire, you are liable to get burned, and this week Iran did. Twin blasts near the burial site of slain military commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed four years ago in a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad, killed 84 people in southern Iran, injuring many more. The blasts took place during a gathering of mourners on the fourth anniversary of Soleimanis death. Initially in Iranian circles there was a desire to point fingers at either Israel or the United States as being responsible for the blasts, but even the most hardcore of haters would have had a hard time believing that. ISIS claimed responsibility just over 24 hours later. ISIS? Somewhere in the triangle between ISIS, Iran and the U.S. the phrase, The enemy of my enemy is my friend, has been forgotten, but if it is to be remembered you would suspect it is bad news for ISIS and perhaps an opportunity for the U.S. and Iran to cool some heads. If not, further escalation from here will probably start to make more than just headline ripples inside and outside the marketplace. For now, crude oil futures held steady this week after volatile back-and-forth trade, remaining in a sideways to lower trend since September. February crude oil futures were trading near $74/brl as of late Friday morning. Have a comment or question? Please reach out to derrick.hermesch@pinionglobal.com or call at 785-338-9605. EAST CHICAGO It was a fresh start with mostly familiar faces as elected officials who emerged victorious in the November election were sworn into office during an inauguration ceremony held at noon Saturday in the auditorium of East Chicago Central High School. Mayor Anthony Copeland was sworn in after being elected for a fourth term. Also taking the oath of office was City Judge Sonya A. Morris, who has served in that capacity for 20 years. Of the eight City Council members sworn in, seven were incumbents: Monica G. Gonzalez, D-1st, Lenny Franciski, D-2nd, Terence Hill, D-3rd, Stacy Winfield, D-4th, Robert Garcia, D-5th, Gilda Orange, D-6th, and Dwayne Rancifer, D-at-large. Councilman Kenneth Monroe, D-at-large, was not present. Neither was City Clerk Rich Medina, who was elected to his position by the public for the first time after having been selected via caucus in 2021 to fill the role vacated when Adrian Santos left to become North Township Trustee. The only new City Council member is Vanessa Hernandez-Orange, D-at-large, who was elected to replace former Councilwoman Debra Bolanos. Hernandez-Orange has previously served as an East Chicago School Board member and as director of Parks & Recreation for the city. "I'm going to be able to come in and learn from those who have been on the board, but yet hopefully bring a fresh perspective and I'm excited for the journey that's going to be ahead of me," Hernandez-Orange said. One of those Hernandez-Orange will be able to learn from is her mother-in-law, who has served as Council representative for the 6th District since 2008. Orange believes it is historic that she and her daughter-in law will serve together on the Council, but it will likely be for only four years as Orange said she will not seek re-election next time around. "I think it's time for somebody a little bit younger to step in," Orange said. Copeland addressed the crowd after being sworn in by Judge Calvin D. Hawkins and thanked the people of East Chicago for placing their trust in him for the last 13 years. "You believed in me and now for eight years in a row the city has had balanced budgets with surpluses," Copeland said. The mayor told the audience of other accomplishments during his tenure, stating that crime has gone down in the city for 12 consecutive years and that $150 million in infrastructure projects have been completed. As a sign of unresolved matters the new City Council will continue to address in the new year, some in the auditorium crowd held small U.S. flags or pictures of Emilio A. De La Garza, Jr. as they conducted a silent protest during the ceremony. De La Garza was a Marine veteran from East Chicago who was only 20 years-old in 1970 when he gave his life in service during the Vietnam War. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Some members of the City Council have been trying to have the Heritage Hall Community Center renamed in his honor since September but ran into difficulty getting enough of its members to support the cause, and Copeland had vetoed the decision to rename the center. Copeland has said there is no policy in place that establishes criteria for renaming public buildings and that there was a lack of effort in seeking public comment and consensus. Last month, all five Council members present at a Dec. 13 meeting adopted a resolution to change the name of the building to the Emilio A. De La Garza Jr. Heritage Center, but an email afterward from Copeland's legal advisor said Roberts Rules of Order requires that someone who voted against an override of Copeland's veto would have had to have made the motion to reconsider the resolution, and that was not the case. Prior to the ceremony on Saturday, Copeland said his office has presented a resolution to the City Council that could result in a renaming if approved. "Whenever we change building names, street names, it should be done in a systematic order," Copeland said. John Sarnecki, of Munster, grew up in East Chicago and served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam the same time as De La Garza. "I read in the Hammond Times that he was killed," Sarnecki said. "My mom would send me the Hammond Times." Sarnecki held a picture of De La Garza and said he wanted Copeland to see that his help is wanted in renaming the center. "We need to recognize him," Sarnecki said. "He's the only Medal of Honor winner from the City of East Chicago." PHOTOS: Brother's Keeper homeless shelter receives donated boiler Summers Heating and Cooling donates new boiler to Brothers Keeper Summers Heating and Cooling donates new boiler to Brothers Keeper Summers Heating and Cooling donates new boiler to Brothers Keeper Summers Heating and Cooling donates new boiler to Brothers Keeper Summers Heating and Cooling donates new boiler to Brothers Keeper Summers Heating and Cooling donates new boiler to Brothers Keeper SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) accused the South Korean military of misjudging its military moves on Sunday. South Korea claimed that the DPRK conducted artillery shelling northwest of Yeonpyeong Island Saturday afternoon, and the shells dropped in the sea buffer zone north of the so-called "Northern Limit Line (NLL)" in the western waters off the Korean Peninsula. Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, said the DPRK detonated blasting powder simulating the sound of artillery fire, a move designed to observe the reactions of the South Korean military. Kim's statement was carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Calling the reactions by South Korea "falling clearly in line with the DPRK's expectations," Kim said that South Korea misjudged the blasting sound as that of gunfire and a provocation, accusing South Korea of falsely claiming that the shells dropped in the sea buffer zone north of the NLL in the western waters, the KCNA report said. Kim warned that "the DPRK forces will launch an immediate military strike if the enemy makes even a slight provocation," it added. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff dismissed Kim's statement mocking the detection capabilities of its military as "low-grade" and "psychological warfare," according to a report by Yonhap news agency on Sunday. The two countries have long been bickering over the maritime boundary in the western waters off the peninsula. South Korea has set the sea border by designating the NLL, which the DPRK has never officially recognized. A new study commissioned by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce shows significant gaps in academic performance and opportunity for students enrolled in the state's smallest school districts compared to larger districts. Students in school districts with less than 2,000 students tend to score lower on standardized tests, have lower college enrollment rates and have less access to higher-level courses, according to the report from Ball State University's Center for Business and Economic Research. A majority of Indiana's school districts 162 of 290 have less than 2,000 students, according to the study, with a fifth of the state's students attending these smaller districts. The report, "School Corporation Size and Student Outcomes: An Update and Extensions," is a follow-up to a similar study done in 2017. Key findings of the most recent report show that ILEARN scores in these smaller districts are 20% lower than in schools with enrollments of 2,000 to 2,999 students. In addition, it shows smaller school districts, on average, offering fewer Advanced Placement and dual credit courses than larger districts. Plus, these small districts are seeing drops in enrollment, with nearly three-fourths of these districts declining in student populations over the last decade, according to the report. Kevin Brinegar, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber, says the disparities in performance and opportunities are making the state's schools a two-tiered system. "Students in very small school corporations are being held back without access to vital educational opportunities because the economics of providing for a quality education simply don't work," Brinegar said in a news release. "Indiana must get serious about increasing the size and course offerings available to Hoosier students in the very smallest school districts." While consolidating smaller districts is an option, Brinegar also suggested these districts combine administrative positions and resources, as well as more effectively use remote learning. The study projects that modest increases in enrollment in the smallest school districts, those with less than 1,000 students, lead to significant improvements. A one percent increase in the number of students in these districts is associated with a 13-percentage point increase in eighth-grade students passing the ILEARN exam, a 10-point increase in IREAD-3 passing scores and a 17-percentage point increase in the number of high school graduates attending college, the study concludes. Across Northwest Indiana, there are 11 school districts with less than 2,000 students. Three of these districts New Durham, Tri-Township and South Central schools have less than 1,000 children. The full report is available on the Indiana Chamber of Commerce's website. Chronic absenteeism is still up in schools across the US Chronic absenteeism is still up in schools across the US An improving situation, but not enough The Federal Aviation Administration on Saturday ordered U.S. airlines to stop using some Boeing 737 Max 9 planes until they were inspected, after one of those planes lost a piece of its body in midair, terrifying passengers until the plane landed safely. Alaska and United Airlines on Saturday began canceling dozens of flights after grounding their Max 9 fleets so the planes could undergo the federally mandated inspections. The Max 9 involved in Fridays incident had taken off from Portland, Ore., as Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, bound for Ontario, Calif. The plane returned to Portland about 20 minutes after takeoff, and no one aboard was seriously injured. Those on board described wind blowing through a gaping hole that showed the night sky and the city lights below. Though the F.A.A. has yet to publicly discuss what caused the episode, it ordered airlines to inspect what it called a mid-cabin door plug. It took the Pentagon three and a half days to inform the White House that Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III had been hospitalized on New Years Day following complications from an elective procedure, two U.S. officials said Saturday. The extraordinary breach of protocol Mr. Austin is in charge of the countrys 1.4 million active-duty military at a time when the wars in Gaza and Ukraine have dominated the American national security landscape has baffled officials across the government, including at the Pentagon. Senior defense officials say Mr. Austin did not inform them until Thursday that he had been admitted to the intensive care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. The Pentagon then informed the White House. The Pentagons belated notification, first reported by Politico, confounded White House officials, one Biden administration official said. A spokeswoman for the National Security Council declined to comment on Saturday. Simmering tensions within the Michigan Republican Party boiled over on Saturday, with some party officials voting to remove their embattled chairwoman, Kristina Karamo, in a contentious proceeding that she and other state Republicans argued was illegitimate. The showdown, which occurred at a meeting held by a breakaway faction of the state party, now appears likely to wind up in court. The effort to oust Ms. Karamo, who was not present for the meeting, is the latest clash in a party that has been marred by infighting and financial difficulties since Ms. Karamo took control of it in February, and is likely to further hamper Republican efforts in the critical swing state during the 2024 election cycle. Ms. Karamo was part of a cohort of far-right activists who ascended to the top of state parties as former President Donald J. Trump and his grass-roots supporters raged against his 2020 election defeat. In Angel Island, a staged oratorio about the anguish and isolation of Chinese detainees at Angel Island Immigration Station in California, a choir recites a poem about tyranny and misfortune. Like a stray dog forced into confinement, like a pig trapped in a bamboo cage, our spirits are lost in this wintry prison, they sing in Chinese. We are worse than horses and cattle. Our tears shed on an icy day. The poem is one of more than 200 inscribed on barrack walls at Angel Island in San Francisco Bay, where hundreds of thousands of people, mostly from China and Japan, were questioned and held sometimes for months or even years as they sought entry to the United States in the first part of the 20th century. Their harrowing accounts form the emotional core of Angel Island, by the Chinese-born composer Huang Ruo, which has its New York premiere this month at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, in a staging that is part of the opera and theater festival Prototype. Bangladesh voted amid crackdowns and boycotts Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh was nearly guaranteed a fourth consecutive term in office as voting ended in a low-turnout election yesterday. Security remained tight as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the main opposition, boycotted the election as unfair and pushed for a nationwide strike. In the days leading up to the vote, violence was reported across the country including arson that killed four people on a train in Dhaka, the capital, and the torching of more than a dozen polling stations. The oppositions effort to protest the vote has been met with an intensified crackdown. More than 20,000 B.N.P. members and leaders have been arrested since the partys last major rally, in October, according to party leaders and lawyers. Millions of the partys members have been bogged down with court appointments. Hasinas officials tried to play down the B.N.P.s boycott, but her moves in the final stretch of the campaign made clear that she was worried about the votes legitimacy. She instructed her party to prop up dummy candidates so it did not look as if it won unchallenged. A great year for movies, as 2023 was, means a lot to look forward to as awards season begins. Things get started tonight with the Golden Globes ceremony, and later this week its on to nominations for the Screen Actors Guild and Producers Guild of America Awards. The big one the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce its nominations for the 96th Oscars on Jan. 23. To get you ready, weve put together a guide to the movies, directors and performances that The Timess critics think the Academy should recognize this year. And although the Globes have a mixed record of predicting which movies will win Oscars, tonights ceremony is a good excuse to look back on some of the years best films. The contenders The competition for the best picture Oscar is so fierce this year that Kyle Buchanan, The Timess awards season columnist, decided to discuss 13 possible nominees rather than his usual 10. Oppenheimer, a three-hour biopic about the father of the atomic bomb directed by Christopher Nolan, tops Kyles list. Pitted against it, and favored by the Times critics Manohla Dargis and Alissa Wilkinson, is another historical epic: Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorseses study of a murderous campaign targeting members of the Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma. Manohla and Alissa are also rooting for Todd Hayness May December, a tale of two eerily synced women and the anguished man they manipulate. All three films are up for Golden Globes. Why are we here? said Brandon Mancilla, a leader with the United Automobile Workers. Mr. Mancilla faced a crowd of hundreds of union members gathered on the steps of the New York Public Librarys Fifth Avenue branch, huddling against the cold as they rallied for a cease-fire in Gaza. Cease-fire now, solidarity forever! Mr. Mancilla, 29, said as the crowd cheered, waving union banners and Palestinian flags. Lets get more and more unions behind us. On display in that Dec. 21 protest which came shortly after the 350,000-member U.A.W. voted to support a cease-fire was a shift in the American labor movements relationship with Israel. For decades, the most prominent American unions were largely supportive of Israel. Today, though, amid a resurgence of the American labor movement, some activists are urging their unions to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and succeeding a change that reflects a broader generational shift. A harrowing flight over the weekend is again forcing Boeing to confront concerns over its planes, particularly the 737 Max, already one of the most scrutinized jets in history. No one was seriously injured in the episode on an Alaska Airlines flight Friday night in which a portion of a 737 Max 9 fuselage blew out in midair, exposing passengers to howling wind. The plane landed safely, but the event, on a flight from Portland, Ore., to Ontario, Calif., has spooked travelers and prompted immediate safety inspections on similar planes. Federal authorities focused attention on a mid-cabin door plug, which is used to fill the space where an emergency exit would be placed if the plane were configured with more seats. Typewriters vanished, and then cassette tapes and encyclopedias did, too. But paper checks are one piece of our analog past that persists. American consumers and businesses wrote 11.2 billion checks in 2021, far fewer than the 42 billion written at the start of the century. Despite the rapid decline, check fraud is exploding costing financial institutions billions and throwing many check writers finances into disarray. After my colleague Ron Lieber and I wrote about rising check fraud, worried readers wrote to us with questions: Is there a safer way to write checks when we must? What about digital payments arent they susceptible to fraud, too? Many Americans still write checks to pay rent or avoid credit card fees. They also may cling on to checks for cultural reasons or for psychological ones for example, because writing them out is a manual process, almost like using cash in an increasingly cashless society. JAKARTA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A total of 53 inmates escaped from a prison at around 11:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) in Sorong of Southwest Papua Province in east Indonesia on Sunday, said officials. Out of the 53 prisoners who had escaped from the Class II B Penitentiary of Sorong Prison, only six were taken back into custody, said Sorong City Police Chief Commissioner Happy Perdana Yudianto. To re-arrest dozens of inmates, the police have closed accesses out of Sorong City. "The efforts we have made are also blocking roads outside Sorong City, the port and airport while collecting data on escaped prisoners," said Yudianto on Sunday. Yudianto said that the prisoners who escaped were those involved in general crime and drug cases. Regarding the explosion that was reportedly heard from the prison guard post, Happy confirmed that it came from firecrackers. Manuel Yenusi, head of Sorong Prison, said that before the mass escape of prisoners occurred, there was a Sunday morning prayer service which was conducive. "However, at around 11:00 a.m., the service had ended, it turned out that the prisoners broke into security and threatened two guard officers and threw firecrackers until there was an explosion. Then, dozens of prisoners escaped," said Yenusi. Before the mass escape occurred, Sorong Prison held 543 inmates, which had far exceeded its capacity of 250. This was not the first time government authorities had investigated the labor and delivery department at the hospital, Woodhull Medical Center. In 2020, inspectors determined that a botched epidural, one in a series by the same Woodhull anesthesiologist, had led to the death of a 26-year-old first-time mother named Sha-Asia Semple. Both Ms. Fields and Ms. Semple were Black. Their deaths have made Woodhull a symbol of one of the most striking racial disparities in New York: Black women are nine times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth than white women in New York City, a far starker disparity than the national one. Ed Martin III was 14 years old when he began working at his fathers pet cemetery, and in the decades since he has tended to the graves of innumerable dogs, many cats, flocks of birds, a few monkeys, a lion cub, a Bengal tiger and countless other creatures from every corner of the animal kingdom. In all that time, after all those burials, there was only ever one request, a few years ago, that gave him pause. Calling that morning, on Jan. 29, 2020, was Bruce Johnson, a lawyer from New York, who had in his possession the cremated remains of a woman named Patricia Chaarte. Ms. Chaarte had died at her home in Mexico, at the age of 92. In her will, she had requested that her ashes be interred at Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, just north of New York City. She had no next of kin. The executor of her estate was not a family member or friend, but merely another lawyer at the firm. There were no further instructions. Conventional wisdom has generally held that Israels government lacks a strategy for the Gaza Strip beyond toppling Hamas. Israel has no plan for Gaza after war ends, experts warn, the BBC reported in October. In November The Washington Post observed that Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has come under criticism for not offering a clear plan for what happens in Gaza if Israel succeeds in its goal of deposing Hamas. A headline in Foreign Affairs in December lamented Israels Muddled Strategy in Gaza. But there are signs that some members of the Israeli government do indeed have a strategy, or at least a preference, for what happens next. Its implicit in the kind of war Israel has waged, which has made Gaza largely unlivable. And a growing number of Israeli officials are saying it out loud: They dont want to force just Hamas out of Gaza. They want many of Gazas people to leave, too. The calls for population transfers started long before Gaza was reduced to the ruins that it is today. Six days after Hamass massacre of Israelis on Oct. 7, the Intelligence Ministry proposed permanently relocating Gazans to the Sinai region of Egypt. On Nov. 14, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he supported the voluntary emigration of Gaza Arabs to countries around the world. Five days later, Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel endorsed the voluntary resettlement of Palestinians in Gaza, for humanitarian reasons, outside of the strip. David Firestone: Hi, Mara, and welcome to a year thats going to be full of news about Mayor Eric Adams and the long-term health of New York City. City Hall is playing nothing but defense these days, and it seemed fitting somehow to learn that Mr. Adams is considering removing reporters from Room 9, the municipal press room, as well as the press offices in One Police Plaza. Between his personal scandals, the big budget cuts and widespread accusations that he has mismanaged the migrant crisis, there has been very little good news to cover about the Adams administration. Flailing politicians often lash out at the press, and for Mr. Adams, who clearly hates the coverage he has been getting, that seems like a substitute for doing a good job. Mara Gay: Hi, David. Im glad were having this conversation. So many eyes are focused on a hugely important presidential election this November. But whats happening with the mayor of the nations largest city is pretty weird. Embattled by investigations into his campaign and the rest of the problems you mention, the mayor seems to be acting in some erratic ways and picking unnecessary fights. This week he lashed out in a personal attack against the citys public advocate, Jumaane Williams, for supporting a bill Mr. Adams doesnt like that would require the Police Department to report more complete data on police stops throughout the city. He lives in a fort, Mr. Adams said at a police briefing, referring to Mr. Williams, who rents a private apartment in a development inside the U.S. Army garrison at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn. Mr. Williams told reporters later the mayor sounded like a 5-year-old throwing a temper tantrum. Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify Fifty years ago, eight Americans set off for South America to climb Aconcagua, one of the worlds mightiest mountains. Things quickly went wrong. Two climbers died. Their bodies were left behind. Here is what was certain: A woman from Denver, maybe the most accomplished climber in the group, had last been seen alive on the glacier. A man from Texas, part of the recent Apollo missions to the moon, lay frozen nearby. There were contradictory statements from survivors and a hasty departure. There was a judge who demanded an investigation into possible foul play. There were three years of summit-scratching searches to find and retrieve the bodies. Helen Mirren declared herself to be in love with them, and Gabrielle Union said that they might be the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn in my life. Julia Roberts, Viola Davis and Drew Barrymore have worn them to Hollywood premieres. Queen Camilla owns 13 pairs and wears them at almost all of her public engagements. Sole Bliss, which began in 2017 making shoes for style-conscious women afflicted by bunions and other foot conditions, is not a brand that conspicuously screams red carpet glamour. But in recent years the small British label has attracted a fan base among celebrities and royalty who are turning to its shoes for high-profile events that require them to be on their feet for hours on end. Now, as awards season revs up the Golden Globes air on Jan. 7 Sole Bliss has taken a big step into new territory: collaborations. Its first is with Elizabeth Stewart, a longtime stylist for Ms. Roberts, Cate Blanchett and Jessica Chastain, among other Hollywood heavyweights. Ms. Stewart started offering the shoes in fittings as an experiment after coming across them online in 2020. Senate and House leaders announced on Sunday that they had struck an overarching agreement on 2024 government funding, but it was not clear whether they would be able to cement the deal and pass it into law in time to avert a partial government shutdown in less than two weeks. After weeks of negotiations and on the eve of Congress returning from its holiday break, top Senate and House members said they had agreed to set the total amount of spending at nearly $1.66 trillion, bringing funding in line with the deal struck last year between President Biden and then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy that met with vehement conservative opposition. The agreement includes an increase in Pentagon spending to $886.3 billion and holds nondefense funding essentially flat at $772.7 billion, including $69 billion of added money agreed to through a handshake deal between Mr. McCarthy and the White House. That additional spending is offset by speeding up $10 billion in cuts to I.R.S. enforcement and clawing back $6 billion in unspent Covid dollars and other emergency funds. Officials said the agreement did not include an additional $14 billion sought by the Republican and Democratic appropriators in the Senate to beef up both domestic and military spending. By securing the $772.7 billion for nondefense discretionary funding, we can protect key domestic priorities like veterans benefits, health care and nutrition assistance from the draconian cuts sought by right-wing extremists, Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, and Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the House Democratic leader, said in a joint statement. WHY WERE HERE Were exploring how America defines itself one place at a time. A New Mexico bedroom community has become a marijuana boomtown thanks to cannabis buyers from Texas. Jan. 7, 2024 In a desert valley along the Rio Grande in New Mexico, the city of Sunland Park has generally offered few amenities for its roughly 17,000 residents. No large grocery store. Few shops. Little to offer those uninterested in the racetrack casino or a hike to the gigantic cross of Cristo Del Rey that looms from a nearby mountaintop. But for Texans who live in El Paso, just over the state line, Sunland Park has lately become a regular destination. The reason: marijuana. Cars with Texas plates flock regularly to the many cannabis dispensaries one with a drive-through, another offering discounts on Texas Tuesday that have sprung up since New Mexico began legal recreational sales in 2022. In a flurry of appearances and commentary, former Representative Liz Cheney has stepped up her denunciations of former President Donald J. Trump in a last-ditch effort to persuade Republicans not to nominate him again. Tell the world who we are with your vote. Tell them that we are a good and a great nation, Ms. Cheney told primary voters in New Hampshire on Friday, in a speech at Dartmouth Colleges Democracy Summit. Show the world that we will defeat the plague of cowardice sweeping through the Republican Party. A day later, she blasted Mr. Trumps suggestion on the campaign trail that the Civil War could have been prevented if President Abraham Lincoln had negotiated. Which part of the Civil War could have been negotiated? The slavery part? The secession part? Whether Lincoln should have preserved the Union? she wrote on X. Question for members of the G.O.P. the party of Lincoln who have endorsed Donald Trump: How can you possibly defend this? President Biden and his top national security aides believed last summer that the chances of conflict with Iran and its proxies were well contained. After secret talks, they had just concluded a deal that led to the release of five imprisoned Americans in return for $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds and some Iranian prisoners. The militants that Tehran finances and arms Hamas in the Palestinian territories, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen seemed relatively quiet. Iran even slowed enrichment of uranium at its underground nuclear sites, delaying its progress toward a weapon. Hamass Oct. 7 invasion of Israel and Israels tough response have changed all that. Now American and Israeli officials, and a dozen countries working in concert to keep commerce flowing in the Red Sea, are confronting a newly aggressive Iran. After launching scores of attacks, from Lebanon to the Red Sea to Iraq, the proxy groups have come into direct conflict with U.S. forces twice in the past week, and Washington is openly threatening airstrikes if the violence does not abate. Meanwhile, though little discussed by the Biden administration, the Iranian nuclear program has suddenly been put on steroids. International inspectors announced in late December that Iran initiated a threefold increase in its enrichment of near-bomb-grade uranium. By most rough estimates, Iran now has the fuel for at least three atomic weapons and American intelligence officials believe the additional enrichment needed to turn that fuel into bomb-grade material would take only a few weeks. DAMASCUS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A police officer was killed and two policemen wounded in an ambush in Syria's southern province of Daraa on Sunday, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The ministry said armed individuals attacked a police patrol on the Daraa highway near the city of Izraa. While not providing details about the perpetrators, the statement highlighted the precarious situation in Daraa. This region, where the Syrian war originated in 2011, continues to be volatile due to the presence of armed groups that frequently target government interests. U.S. Steel is an iconic example of the lost manufacturing muscle that President Biden says his economic policies will bring back to the United States. But last month, the storied-but-diminished company announced plans to be acquired by a Japanese competitor. That development has put Mr. Biden in an awkward bind as he tries to balance attempts to revitalize the nations industrial sector with his efforts to rebuild international alliances. Mr. Bidens administration has expressed some discomfort with the deal and is reviewing the proposed $14.1 billion takeover bid by Japans Nippon Steel. The company is offering a hefty premium for U.S. Steel, which has struggled to compete against a flood of cheap foreign metal and has been weighing takeover offers for several months. The proposal has quickly become a high-profile example of the difficult political choices Mr. Biden faces in his zeal to revive American industry, one that could test the degree to which he is willing to flex presidential power in pursuit of what is arguably his primary economic goal: the creation and retention of high-paying union manufacturing jobs in the United States. The first major storm of the winter season dropped more than a foot of snow in parts of the Northeast on Saturday, creating treacherous travel conditions in some areas while also bringing an end to a mostly snowless winter so far. Heavy to moderate snow was expected to continue to fall over New York and New England on Sunday before dwindling by Monday morning, forecasters said. More than nine million people from the northeastern United States to Northern Arizona were under winter storm warnings on Sunday evening. The Vaticans recent declaration allowing the blessing of same-sex couples caused a stir around the globe, but perhaps most of all in Africa, a rising center of the Roman Catholic Churchs future. In one statement after the next, bishops in several countries spoke of the fear and confusion the declaration has caused among their flocks, and said it was out of step with the continents culture and values. The bishops also harbored a deeper fear: that in a place where the church is growing faster than anywhere else in the world, and where many forms of Christianity are competing for worshipers, the declaration could slow the churchs expansion on the continent. Bishop John Oballa of the Ngong Diocese near Nairobi said that a woman had written to him saying that a friend told her he wanted clarification on the declaration, or else he would convert to the Methodist Church. Theres a lot of vibrancy in many, many dioceses of Africa, Bishop Oballa said in an interview. We need to safeguard against anything that might derail that growth. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh was headed toward a fourth consecutive term in office as voting ended on Sunday in a low-turnout election that had been marred by a widespread crackdown on the opposition. Security remained tight across the country of 170 million people as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the main opposition, which has boycotted the election as unfair, pushed for a nationwide strike. The situation had remained tense in the days leading up to the vote, with episodes of violence including arson on a train in Dhaka that killed four people, and the torching of more than a dozen polling stations reported from across the country. Ms. Hasina, 76, who cast her vote in Dhaka, the capital, soon after polls opened at 8 a.m. local time, urged people to come out in large numbers. Early results showed her party with a clear majority. On the campaign trail, she had called for political stability and continuity, often by mentioning the countrys violent history of coups and counter-coups, including one that killed her father, Bangladeshs founding leader, in the 1970s. She had highlighted her efforts to champion economic development, and her secular partys resistance to the rise of Islamist militancy, as reasons the voters should give her another term. The police and other rescue workers pulled a woman in her 90s out from under a collapsed house on Saturday in western Japan, five days after a powerful earthquake struck the region, killing more than 126 people. Few details were available, but video footage showed a fleet of rescuers surrounding the site in Suzu, one of the hardest-hit villages. According to the Metropolitan Police Department cited by the Yomiuri newspaper, the woman appeared to be suffering from hypothermia but was responsive. The woman, who was not identified, had been trapped underground beneath the first floor of a two-story house. She was rescued around 8:20 p.m. and taken to a hospital, according to officials in the crisis management office of Ishikawa Prefecture, where Suzu is. To save lives, Ukrainian combat medics must stay alive. So, deep inside a position that soldiers call the black forest in eastern Ukraine, the medical corps of the 63rd Mechanized Brigade tries to remain hidden. The zero line where Russian and Ukrainian forces are squared off in trench lines within sight of each other is only a mile or two away. The iconic red cross painted on the side of the teams armored vehicle offers little protection from enemy fire. In fact, soldiers say, it makes them a target. They carefully camouflage the vehicle until it is needed which is often these days as Russian forces mount wave after wave of assaults. The vehicle is at the combat medic station, a critical link in the chain of care for soldiers wounded on the front. It is often the first stop before they are dispatched to stabilization points farther from the fighting and then to advanced medical centers where more complicated procedures, like amputations, are performed. In a classroom at the University of Haifa in late December, Yitzhak Cohen, a fourth-year law student, began the shoulder-shrugging, arm-contorting choreography familiar to any student trying to remove a backpack. But instead of a knapsack, Mr. Cohen, 28, a reservist who had recently returned from fighting in Gaza to attend the universitys orientation, unshouldered his military-issue Tavor assault rifle and took a seat in the back of the class. Nearly three months after the outbreak of war delayed universities start dates, students returned on Dec. 31 to campuses in Israel for an abridged semester. Amid the usual first-day jitters, students and faculty were additionally anxious about resuming classes during a war that had unsettled the country, Jews and Arabs alike. Antony J. Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, held meetings on Sunday with leaders in Jordan and Qatar as part of a weeklong eastern Mediterranean and Middle East tour aimed at reducing the risk that the war in Gaza could spread in the region. Mr. Blinken met separately in Amman with King Abdullah II and Ayman Safadi, Jordans foreign minister. He thanked the king for Jordans role in sending humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the two agreed to keep coordinating on aid, according to a statement by a State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller. The U.S. has been pressing Israel for months to allow more aid into Gaza. Mr. Blinken reinforced that message with a visit to a warehouse with boxes of canned food that were intended to be brought to Gaza on trucks organized by the United Nations World Food Program. Sheri Ritsema-Anderson, the resident U.N. coordinator in Jordan, told reporters that in her 15 years working in the Middle East, she had never seen a humanitarian situation as dire as the one in Gaza, describing it as an epic catastrophe. She said about 220 trucks of various types of aid and fuel are now getting into Gaza daily, but that is only a fraction of the amount needed. Before the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks that prompted Israel to launch airstrikes and a ground invasion in Gaza, which has forced most of the territorys 2.2 million Palestinians from their homes, about 600 to 800 trucks carried supplies into Gaza each day. The territory has been under a de facto blockade by Israel, with the assistance of Egypt, for more than 16 years. Mr. Blinken praised the U.N. food program, saying it was doing its work at tremendous risk a reference to the dangers posed by Israeli airstrikes. And he emphasized the need to effectively distribute the aid everywhere in Gaza. Aid trucks are entering Gaza through border crossings in the south, after being inspected by Israeli authorities. Although Israel has been withdrawing some combat forces from northern Gaza, much of the aid is not reaching the north, the most devastated part of the strip. In his meeting with the king, Mr. Blinken also reiterated that the U.S. was against moving Palestinians out of Gaza, according to Mr. Miller. Two far-right Israeli ministers endorsed that idea last week, drawing harsh rebukes from the U.S. and other countries. Mr. Blinken flew into Doha, Qatar, in the afternoon and met with the emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and with the prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, who also acts as the foreign minister. The officials spoke about possibilities for trying to get Hamas to release more hostages and for ensuring the conflict does not spread across the region. This is a moment of profound tension in the region, Mr. Blinken said at a news conference with the prime minister. This is a conflict that could easily metastasize. Mr. Blinken pointed to the recent attacks in the Red Sea by the Houthi militia of Yemen, which have jeopardized global shipping. Dealing with the threat from the Houthis was one of the topics discussed by American and Qatari officials in Doha. Tim Lenderking, the U.S. special envoy for Yemen, joined Mr. Blinkens delegation in Doha for the talks. Mr. Blinken also expressed sadness at the killing on Sunday in Gaza of Hamza Dahdouh, a freelance journalist who was the eldest son of Wael Dahdouh, the bureau chief for Al Jazeera in Gaza. Sheikh al-Thani said that Qatar was trying to push forward with hostage talks, despite the potential for the recent fatal bomb attack in Lebanon against Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy political leader of Hamas, to set back discussions. The bombing has been attributed to Israel. It has been ongoing, the sheikh said of the hostage talks, adding that there have been challenges, ups and downs, throughout the process. After his meetings in Doha, Mr. Blinken flew to Abu Dhabi to have meetings with officials in the United Arab Emirates on Monday. Mr. Blinken was in Turkey on Saturday, meeting with his Turkish counterpart and with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with whom he discussed the need to keep the Gaza conflict from spreading, among other subjects, according to a State Department statement. Later, he met with Greeces prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on the island of Crete. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Blinken indicated that Turkey could play a role in a plan for postwar Gaza. I think from our conversations today, its clear that Turkey is prepared to play a positive, productive role in work that needs to happen the day after the conflict ends, he said. Wael al-Dahdouh, a well-known Palestinian correspondent for Al Jazeera TV who has spent his career covering Gaza, had already lost his wife, a son, a daughter and an infant grandson in an Israeli airstrike in October. On Sunday, he lost another member of his family to the war: his eldest son, Hamza, was killed in an Israeli airstrike that left two journalists dead and wounded two others, according to the authorities in Gaza. The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported that an Israeli drone strike hit the car Hamza al-Dahdouh was traveling in west of the southern city of Khan Younis. He was killed along with another journalist, Mustafa Thuraya. Two others, Ahmed Al-Burash and Amer Abu Amr, were injured. Wael al-Dahdouh said his son was working for Al Jazeera at the time of his death. Wafa reported that the two injured men worked for Palestine Today, a TV channel. Photos from news agencies of the attacks aftermath showed a burned-out sedan that was missing its windshield and most of its roof and hood. In a video apparently taken shortly after Sundays airstrike and shared with journalists on WhatsApp, a crowd gathers around the car. Someone throws a blanket over a body in the drivers seat, while others carry another person from the passenger side. Nothing is harder than the pain of loss. And when you experience this pain time after time, it becomes harder and more severe, Wael al-Dahdouh told Al Jazeera after his sons death. He added: I wish that the blood of my son Hamza will be the last from journalists and the last from people here in Gaza, and for this massacre to stop. Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black FedEx worker, was beaten by Memphis police officers for roughly three minutes on the evening of Jan. 7, 2023, after he was stopped for what the police initially said was reckless driving. The stop escalated into a violent confrontation that ended with Mr. Nichols hospitalized in critical condition. Three days later, he died. Mr. Nichols, a father who had a young son and who loved photographing sunsets and skateboarding, had run toward his mothers home, crying out for her as he was beaten. Five police officers, all of whom are also Black, were fired and later charged with various state felonies, including second-degree murder, and separately indicted by a grand jury on federal civil rights, conspiracy and obstruction offenses. One officer has since taken a plea agreement, which included pleading guilty to two felony charges in federal court. The case drew national outcry and closer scrutiny of policing practices after the city of Memphis released graphic footage that showed officers punching, kicking and using a baton to beat Mr. Nichols as he begged them to stop. King Abdullah II of Jordan (Central R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Central L) in Amman, Jordan, Jan. 7, 2024. King Abdullah II of Jordan on Sunday stressed the country's rejection of attempts to separate the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, warning of catastrophic ramifications of continued Israeli attacks on Gaza. (Royal Hashemite Court/Handout via Xinhua) AMMAN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan on Sunday stressed the country's rejection of attempts to separate the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, warning of catastrophic ramifications of continued Israeli attacks on Gaza. The King made the remarks at a meeting in Amman with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during which he also stressed the need to end the tragic humanitarian crisis in the strip, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court. King Abdullah underlined the important role of the U.S. in pushing towards an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the protection of civilians, while guaranteeing the sustainable delivery of sufficient humanitarian and relief aid to the strip, according to the statement. The Jordanian leader also voiced Jordan's rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, which he said constitutes a clear violation of international law. The king also called for enabling Gazans to return to their homes. During the meeting, the king said there will be no stability in the region without a just solution to the Palestinian issue and just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution. He added that extremist settlers' violence against the Palestinians and violations of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem are completely rejected and must be countered before they lead to an explosion in the region. Also Sunday, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi held talks with Blinken during which he stressed the necessity of achieving an immediate and permanent ceasefire to end the Israeli aggression and the resulting killings, destruction, and humanitarian catastrophe, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Jordanian minister stressed the need to deliver humanitarian and medical aid immediately, comprehensively, and sustainably to all parts of Gaza, which faces a humanitarian disaster due to the ongoing Israeli aggression and the insufficient entry of aid. Safadi warned of the consequences of the continued aggression and Israel's violations of international law and humanitarian law, as well as the dangerous Israeli escalation in the West Bank. He emphasized the importance of Israel halting all its illegitimate and provocative actions leading to an escalation of the situation in the West Bank, according to the statement. During the meeting, the two ministers agreed on the necessity of delivering adequate aid to Gaza, rejecting the displacement of Palestinians within and outside the strip. They highlighted the importance of enabling displaced Gazans from the north to return to their homes and areas, the statement read. Safadi also underlined the futility of any future proposal that perpetuates the separation of Gaza from the West Bank in isolation of a comprehensive plan that fulfills the Palestinian people's right to freedom and an independent, sovereign state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution. Both ministers agreed to continue communication to discuss efforts for a ceasefire, aid delivery, civilian protection, and a genuine effort to end the conflict and achieve a just peace based on the two-state solution, the statement added. THE staff, pupils and parents of Carrig NS bade a sad farewell to their much loved principal Mr Tony Sampson during a function in the school to mark his retirement just before the Christmas break. The pupils were very much involved in this function with carol singing and the re-enactment of their Christmas pageant finishing up with a poem they wrote for the principal. The Shinrone native commenced his teaching career in the boys school in Birr back in 1982. In 2002 he moved to Clonfert school and when the position of principal in Carrig came about in 2005, Tony was successful in his application for the job which he took up later that year. Apart from his successful school career, Tony is also delighted to have been a selector with the three times Offaly Minor hurling All-Ireland champions back when he was just 24 years of age. Deputy Principal Nora Ryan, paying tribute to Tony, said that much had changed over the years since he took on the role of principal. Mr Sampson led by example, with conviction, integrity, cultivating and nurturing an unique welcoming atmosphere of joyful learning and mutual respect, she said. Your dedication and commitment to the school is greatly appreciated, she said as she congratulated him on his retirement and wished him well. Garrett ONeill, Chairman of the school BOM, said he knew Tony for the past twelve years. He mentioned how many have commented that the school is a lovely school. That, he said, has nothing to do with the building, its to do with the people who work here, the pupils, the warmth the respect thats shown to everyone as soon as you walk into this school. The children are so happy, so nice, said Mr. ONeill, and that doesnt happen by accident, that happens from all the confidence given to them by their teachers and staff here and most especially by the leadership of Mr Sampson. He went on to compliment the principal on the enormous amount of work that you do behind the scenes, the workload, the leaving no stone unturned for the betterment of the pupils and the school. Tony has been a credit to his profession in more ways that one and it has been a pleasure to work with you from all the present members, and Im sure the past ones would say the same, he said. In his response, Mr Sampson thanked everyone for their help and support over the years. Its about all the people working together, school staff, parents, grandparents that get the children to where they want to be eventually. He explained how the school always strived to look at academics which he said was first and foremost vital in the school, but also the emotional, spiritual, physical and all those other aspects of a childs education. He detailed aspects such as music, sport, arts and crafts etc. with the school providing as many opportunities as it can for pupils which builds their confidence, he said. Every teacher wants to instil confidence in their pupils which can get them over the line in the future, he said. Mr Sampson thanked his loyal and dedicated staff over the years, many who have become very good friends over that time, he said. He thanked the many parents associations, BOMs volunteers, parents and grandparents along with his family. He paid special tribute to the children who he described as the heartbeat of the school community. We feel we can talk to each other, we can relax and share a laugh together and we get the work done as well, he said as he finished by wishing them all well in life going forward. KHARTOUM, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The call by the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to arm civilians in a popular campaign, or the "Sudanese Popular Resistance," to fight the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has sparked controversy and concern over involving civilians into war. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, addressing soldiers at the Jabait military base in eastern Sudan on Friday, said, "We will arm the popular resistance with any weapon we have, and we will not prevent the Sudanese resistance from bringing any weapons." Al-Burhan's statements evoked varied responses from politicians and popular entities regarding the controversial issue of arming civilians to fight alongside the army. The RSF slammed the call as an indication of the army's "inability to defend Sudan," adding that arming civilians would "harm" them and increase the risk of a comprehensive war in the country. "Any person who gets armed and stands with the armed forces will be considered a legitimate target for the RSF," Haroun Mahmoud Medikhair, a senior RSF advisor, said in a statement on Saturday. However, Husham Al-Shawani, a Sudanese politician, believed that popular resistance "is a right, a duty, and an inevitable necessity." "The popular resistance is a necessary movement to defend the homeland ... and it is a popular revolution that will lead to building the state and the local government in the future," Al-Shawani said in a statement posted on his X account on Saturday. For his part, Mohamed al-Faki Suleiman, a former member of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council, warned against the dangers of putting dangerous weapons into the hands of citizens and the involvement of civilians in war. Khalid Omer Yousif, a leading figure in the Coordination of Civilian Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), meanwhile, said the call for popular armament indicated that the ongoing war in Sudan has taken on an ethnic and racial dimension. "The dynamics of the war are evolving toward a point of no return. The war has now taken on an evident regional dimension with its parties engaged in extensive recruitment and mobilization," Yousif said Saturday on the social media platform X. Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF since April 15, 2023. More than 12,000 people had been killed in the fighting, according to a statement by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in December last year. Introduction: In a significant development, Japan's government has rejected Nagasaki's ambitious plan to establish an integrated casino resort at the scenic Huis Ten Bosch seaside resort. Based on financial viability concerns, this decision marks a setback for Nagasaki's casino hub aspirations while highlighting Osaka's contrasting success in similar endeavors. Osaka recently celebrated the approval of its groundbreaking integrated resort, setting a high benchmark for such projects in Japan. The Osaka resort, located on Yumeshima Island, is expected to boost the local economy significantly. Meanwhile, Nagasaki's bid to replicate this success faltered. Nagasaki had projected an annual visitor count of 8.4 million, aiming to generate an economic impact of 330 billion yen. However, the proposal's financial underpinnings raised severe doubts, leading to its rejection. Challenges for Nagasaki's Casino Proposal: Nagasaki's integrated resort, planned for the Dutch-themed Huis Ten Bosch, faced early financial hurdles. The initial investment plan of 438.3 billion was jeopardized following the collapse of Credit Suisse, a crucial financing partner. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism's expert committee highlighted changes in investor composition and lack of solid financial guarantees as critical issues. Additionally, concerns about the investors' experience in managing such resorts, coupled with potential risks related to gambling addiction and illegal activities, influenced the government's decision. Comparing Osaka's and Nagasaki's Integrated Resorts: While Osaka's integrated resort, scheduled to open by 2030, is expected to generate an economic impact of 1.14 trillion yen, Nagasaki's project struggled to secure a similar vote of confidence. This divergence underscores Osaka's leading role in Japan's emerging casino resort market, leaving Nagasaki reassessing its strategies. Osaka's Milestone and Nagasaki's Reflection: April marked a significant moment for Japan's integrated resort ambitions with the approval of Osaka's casino resort, coinciding with the 2025 World Exposition. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida emphasized the importance of combating gambling addiction, while the Osaka government focused on leveraging the resort as an economic catalyst. Despite societal concerns about addiction and crime, the Ministry has set stringent conditions for responsible casino operations. Economic Prospects vs. Societal Challenges: The proposed Osaka resort, featuring hotels, conference facilities, and gaming areas, is set to open between late 2029 and early 2030. This development embodies the nation's complex journey in embracing integrated resorts, balancing economic potential with societal apprehensions. Osaka's Success vs. Nagasaki's Financial Struggles: As Japan navigates its path in the integrated casino resort industry, the contrasting outcomes for Osaka and Nagasaki highlight the complexities of such ventures. While Osaka prepares to welcome its casino resort as a beacon of economic growth, Nagasaki's rejected project reflects the ongoing challenges and scrutiny faced by such ambitious developments in Japan's conservative society. Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to win a fourth straight term and the fifth overall for her Awami League-led alliance in a general election on Sunday boycotted by the main opposition party and marred by violence ahead of the vote.Voting will begin at 8 am (0200 GMT) and end at 4 pm (1000 GMT). Counting will start soon after the end of voting,with initial results expected by early Monday.Rights groups say the country of 170 million is headed for virtual one-party rule, after the boycott by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and some of its smaller allies. The United States and Western nations, important customers of its garment industry, have called for a free and fair election - the country's 12th since independence in 1971.About 120 million voters will choose from nearly 2,000 candidates for the 300 directly elected parliamentary seats. There are 436 independent candidates, the most since 2001.The BNP says the Awami League has propped up "dummy" candidates as independents to try to make the election look credible, a claim the ruling party denies.The BNP, which also boycotted the 2014 poll but took part in 2018, has asked people to shun the poll and called a two-day strike nationwide from Saturday. Hasina, who has refused BNP demands to resign and cede power to a neutral authority to run the election, accuses the opposition of instigating anti-government protests that have rocked Dhaka since late October and killed at least 14 people.With the ballot outcome all but assured and high risk of violence, turnout could be low on Sunday. Members of an opposition alliance carry a banner reading 'strike call for resignation of Sheikh Hasina' while chanting anti-government slogans during a protest march. Photo: AFP Violence erupted on the eve of the election, with a passenger train fire, which the government called arson, killing at least four people while several polling booths and institutions were set ablaze around the country. Troops have fanned out across Bangladesh to maintain peace while nearly 800,000 police, paramilitary and police auxiliaries will guard polling booths on Sunday. In her last 15 years in power, Hasina, 76, has been credited with turning around Bangladesh's economy and the garment industry. But critics have also accused her of authoritarianism, human rights violations, crackdowns on free speech and suppression of dissent. Her main rival and two-time premier, BNP leader Khaleda Zia, is effectively under house arrest on corruption charges the opposition says have been trumped up. Khaleda's son, Tarique Rahman, is the acting chairman of the party, but he is in exile, facing charges that he denies.The economy has also slowed sharply since the Russia-Ukraine war pushed up prices of fuel and food imports, forcing Bangladesh to turn to the International Monetary Fund for a bailout of $4.7 billion last year. An ancient war cry shook the New Zealand parliament recently when the countrys youngest MP delivered her first speech and it also took the internet by storm. Hana Rawhiti Maipi Clarke, 21, who belongs to the countrys native Maori community, started her inaugural address with a Maori Haka performance a ceremonial war dance pledging her commitment to her people. The youngster, who calls herself a guardian of the Maori language, is also the youngest MP of New Zealand in 170 years. But, who are the Maoris? And where can travelers understand and experience their community? The Maori people They are the indigenous Polynesian community of New Zealand, with a rich, distinct culture. They speak Te Reo Maori, and have many tribes and sub-tribes with individual histories, customs, territory, and more. Historically, there were many conflicts between the European settlers and the Maori people in New Zealand and activists from the community are increasingly making efforts to preserve their rights, culture and language. Hanas haka was a similar attempt. Where to experience Maori culture? There are quite a few places in New Zealand ranging from museums, villages, historical sites and cultural performance avenues where you get to understand this ancient culture. Here are a few options: Te Papa Tongarewa Museum: It is the national museum of New Zealand and offers a comprehensive display of Maori artifacts, art, and cultural exhibits. The name of the museum means container of treasures in Maori language. The museum is in Wellington, the capital of the country. Tamaki Maori Village in Rotorua: Rotorua is known for its bubbling mud pools, natural hot springs, and many similar geothermal attractions. Visitors can also participate in a traditional Maori feast (hangi), enjoy cultural performances, and learn about ancient customs here. It is on the North Island of New Zealand. Waitangi Treaty Grounds: Around 3 hours from Auckland, this historical site in the North Island is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. The treaty was a contract of respect between the Maori people and the British. The spot has traditional waka (canoe) displays, a carved meeting house, and cultural performances. Haka Experience: Haka is the traditional war dance of the Maori people. Many tourist destinations, especially in Rotorua and Queenstown, offer Haka experiences where you can learn about the significance of the dance, witness live performances, and even participate in a haka workshop. Apple is a great company and makes great products. This article was written on an Apple iMac. I use my Apple watch daily to monitor my exercise, schedule, health and many other aspects of my life. However, for over three years now, Apple has been entrenched in a messy legal battle over a single feature on the Apple watch, the oxygen sensor. The Apple Watch Series 6 was the first Apple Watch with an oxygen sensor. Medical device maker Masimo filed a trademark complaint with the International Trade Commission against Apple for infringing its oxygen-sensor patents. The ITC ruled recently that Apple's watch infringed on Masimo's patents and imposed a U.S. import ban that went into effect on December 26, 2023, on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. T. Apple filed an appeal and won a temporary pause on the ban. Apple can resume selling both watches in the interim, but the litigation continues. Massimo Corporation Masimo Corporation is a health technology and consumer electronics company based in Irvine, California. The company primarily manufactures patient-monitoring devices and technologies, including non-invasive sensors using optical technology, patient management and telehealth platforms. In 2022, the company expanded into home audio by acquiring Sound United and began to manufacture health-oriented wearable devices. Sound United owns premium audio brands including Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, Definitive Technology, Polk Audio, Classe' and Boston Acoustics. Masimo stated that the acquisition gave it access to more retail channels and product engineers. Further Masimo planned to leverage Denon's network-connected speakers as smart home hubs for aggregating health data from its services and devices. Also in 2022, Masimo released the W1, a smartwatch that included continuous health-monitoring features and integrated this with Masimo's other product lines. It was released in a limited public launch in the U.S., and to telehealth providers internationally. Masimo's market capitalization is $5.8 billion. Apple's market cap is $2.8 trillion, the largest corporation in the world. Apple is 48 times larger than Masimo. If Apple were to merge with Masimo, Masimo's lawsuit would go away, and Apple would be acquiring excellent technology and U.S. manufacturing capacity. Apple Should Manufacture More in the United States The Apple Watch alone generated about $17 billion in revenue last year, three times the value of Masimo. If Apple manufactured the watch and its components in the US, the International Trade Commission would not have the authority to impose a ban on Apple watch sales. In contrast to Apple's watch, Masimo builds its smartwatch in the U.S. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Of Apple's more than 180 suppliers, 48 had manufacturing sites in the U.S. as of September 2021, up from 25 a year earlier, according to a supplier list released by Apple. More than 30 sites were in California, compared with fewer than 10 a year earlier. Many major suppliers such as chip makers Qualcomm and Taiwan Semiconductor Co., product assembler Foxconn and image sensor maker Sony added production sites in the U.S." Apple manufacturers only its MacPro high-end computer in its plant in Austin, Texas. At another plant in Sherman, Texas, 60 miles north of Dallas, Apple manufactures optical technology used for the iPhone. If Apple manufactured its watch in the United States, it would protect Apple from intervention by the International Trade Commission and free it of Chinese constraints. This would also free Apple from the regulations and pressure that the Chinese government puts on American companies. On October 17, just 10 days after the Hamas attack on Israel, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said Hamas cannot be eliminated. Barak said, "We cannot completely eliminate Hamas. Hamas is an ideological movement which exists in [Palestinian] people's dreams, in their hearts and in their minds." For the last thirty years, various resistance groups in the Middle East have emerged. Over time, they have made alliances among themselves. Their collective goal is to free Palestine from the brutal and enduring Israeli occupation. The US and Israel have both killed numerous resistance leaders, but the resistance movement has only gained in strength and momentum. Since October 7 and the Hamas attack on Israel that resulted in about 1,200 Israelis killed, and almost 200 Israelis taken as hostages to Gaza, Israel has responded with a military bombardment of Gaza that has resulted in over 20,000 dead, with the majority being women and children. In a recent Harvard poll, respondents aged 18 to 24 were asked, "Do you think the Hamas killing of 1200 Israeli civilians in Israel can be justified by the grievances of Palestinians or is it not justified?" a 51 percent to 49 percent majority said the attacks were justified. In 1982, the UN General Assembly resolution affirmed the right to use force against occupation to achieve the independence and liberation of Palestine. In 1977, the Geneva Conventions, to which Palestine acceded in 2014, classifies conflicts against racist regimes as legitimate armed conflicts. The UN has reported Israel is an apartheid state, and by definition a racist regime. History supports that the liberation of occupation is rarely achieved without an armed struggle. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). BAGHDAD, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Two fighters of the Iraqi paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces and a member of the Iraqi federal police were killed Saturday in two attacks by the Islamic State (IS) militants in the Salahudin province north of the capital Baghdad, a local source said. In one attack, two Hashd Shaabi members were killed, and three others wounded when IS snipers opened fire on a checkpoint manned by the paramilitary forces near the al-Zerga bridge between the town of Tuz-Khurmato and the provincial capital of Tikrit, Mohammed al-Bazi from the media office of the provincial police command said. Afterward, Iraqi security forces carried out a search campaign in the area for the attackers, al-Bazi told Xinhua. Also on the day, a member of Iraqi federal police was killed when IS militants attacked a police outpost near the city of Samarra, some 120 km north of Baghdad, al-Bazi added. The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have melted into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Faith is the bird that feels the light And sings when the dawn is still dark -- Rabindranath Tagore Our weekly meetings about things happening on the ground and not seen in Western Media go on successfully. Let me know if you like to join to put you on the list to receive announcements. Israeli rights group Gisha finally forces release of documents from the government about the 16 year policy of strangulation of the Gaza ghetto (this is part of the reason for the ghetto uprising) click here A state files at the International Court of Justice under the Genocide Convention click here Thank you South Africa. Now other countries MUST act and stop talking about "humanitarian catastrophe" Support South Africa's petition under the genocide convention (resources and actions) click here click here International Coalition to end the genocide click here Organizations can sign here: click here And you can contact state signers for the genocide convention to encourage them to act and support the petition from South Africa before the ICJ click here Theyre Calling Ethnic Cleansing Voluntary Migration Now: Violently coercing someone into doing something and ensuring that theyll die if they dont do it is the exact opposite of what the word voluntary means. by Caitlin Johnstone click here Gaza being turned into desert njusticemag.com/gaza-turning-to-desert-2a749a0eff01 idsperorn.substack.com/p/gaza-turning-to-desert Action filled but concise packet to stop the genocide in Gaza from the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights click here Act Now Against These Companies Profiting from the Genocide of the Palestinian People click here I wrote this five years ago in reflecting on lessons learned siyeh.org/lessonslearned/ and here is another written 3 years ago reflecting on 12 year ular-resistance.blogspot.com/2020/08/12-years.html Stay Human and keep Palestine alive Mazin Qumsiyeh A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Bethlehem, Occupied Palestine siyeh.org estinenature.org facebook pages Personal .facebook.com/mazin.qumsiyeh.9 Institute .facebook.com/PIBS.PMNH Oregon State right guard Tanner Miller announced Sunday morning that hes transferring to Michigan State. Miller is reunited with offensive line coach Jim Michalczik, who recruited him as a walk-on as a California high school senior and served as his Oregon State coach for five years. Miller entered the transfer portal less than a week ago. Stephen W. Sherrill, 35, was arrested early Saturday morning for allegedly menacing people with a gun in a restaurant parking lot in the 10500 block of Southeast Stark Street in Portlands Hazelwood neighborhood Friday night. Police responded to reports of a man pointing a gun at people shortly after 10 p.m. Friday and spotted the suspect nearby. He was in the breezeway of an apartment building near the intersection of Southeast 105th Avenue and Pine Street. He would not surrender to police, and the Special Emergency Reaction Team and the Crisis Negotiation Team were brought in. Southeast 105th Avenue was closed between Southeast Stark Street and East Burnside Street and some apartments were evacuated as police negotiated with the suspect for several hours. Police then used an aerosol irritant to take him into custody at about 3:20 a.m. Saturday. Sherrill was arrested and booked into into the Multnomah County Detention Center on allegations of three counts of menacing. The Oregonian/OregonLive Most of the time, trash on the beach is a nuisance, an eyesore, even a danger. But sometimes trash talks, and when it does, people like Jesse Jones listen. Dozens of times a year, Jones leads volunteers on Oregon coast beach surveys to map marine debris for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP). The point of all of this is really to educate people about what is happening in their community, said Jones, CoastWatch and engagement manager for Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition. In the case of marine debris, as the years have gone by, we know there is more and more and more debris. People feel kind of helpless. This specifically tells us what debris is washing in, what time of year and if there are any patterns. That can have to do with currents or the shape of the beach. What weve learned from other marine debris scientists who have found in their debris survey sticky points, is that more debris will gather in one place. To conduct the surveys, Jones takes a group of volunteers to the beach where she marks off a 100-meter section and chooses four to five transects within the section which are numbered. Then, the person who has a particular transect surveys that section from the back of the beach to the water. The survey defines marine debris as anything that is manmade. What we do is we walk along and pick up everything inside that transect, Jones said. That is what we bag up or put in a bucket and record it. Then we pick up everything else we can, but that is not recorded. Then I log into the NOAA website, and we upload that information. The whole point is really to tie it all to science. NOAA started doing the Oregon surveys in 2012-2013, with 431 surveys in 31 sites completed to date, said Hillary Burgess, marine debris monitoring coordinator, NOAA Western Regional Center. The catalyst for the surveys was the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, which generated 1.5 million tons off floating debris, Burgess said. There were great public concerns about the environment, the potential risk to human health. There wasnt really a way to track that at the time. So, the Marine Debris Program launched MDMAP with the recognition for the need of a method that could be done by citizens and the information gathered could be comparable no matter who collected it or where or when they collected it. The project documented a 10-fold increase in debris loads in Washington after the tsunami. They didnt have pre-tsunami data in Oregon, but we did in Washington. That really kicked off the project. NOAAs goal for the surveys is two-fold, Burgess said. The first is to understand the amount and type of marine debris on the shoreline and track patterns and geography over time. But ultimately, its about generating information that can inform and evaluate efforts to prevent marine debris. Once the common types and patterns of debris are understood, they can prioritize efforts to prevent. There are a number of cool examples where that has happened on different scales, Burgess said. Sometimes, well see really localized patterns, where there is a particular thing washing up that we didnt see elsewhere. Because its not seen elsewhere, we know there is probably a local source. In Northern California, surveys over several years consistently found shotgun wads and shells near estuaries. It turned out to be a waterfowl hunting community. They decided there was something they could do about that and applied for funding to develop an outreach and behavioral change campaign, Burgess said. I think for NOAA we are interested in telling the big picture story, but really invested in tools and resources that allow others to use these data to inform action where they are. A former schoolteacher in Tillamook County of more than 15 years, Denise Harrington was recruited by NOAA to develop an educator guide to make the survey work more accessible to teachers. Harrington wears several hats: educational consultant for NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and now an education and community science specialist with Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition. All place her squarely at the heart of marine debris mapping and education. The debris survey program is phenomenal for cross curricular opportunities, Harrington said. Its a great community science platform and a great way to get kids who are learning language out doing relevant work. Everyone is fully engaged. Ive seen Jesse working with students from fifth grade to people in their 70s. Some are more fascinated by what is going on with the ecosystems, others more by the debris. Some want to solve the marine debris problem. Some want to understand it better. Some just want to find the treasure. While the treasure is often the mundane -- cigarette butts, plastics, rope -- there are also those with their own inherent beauty, such as a ship hatch door Harrington and Jones found on a Tillamook Countey beach survey. It had a window, and it was really heavy, Harrington said. It was beautiful. The debris pieces that sparked Harringtons interest in marine debris mapping were toys she found while kayaking near Indian Beach in Ecola State Park. I call it garbage beach, she said. Its a magnet for debris. Once, I paddled there and it was full of tiny toys, little animals all along the beach. One was a dinosaur that had been rolled around on the cobble so long, it was rounded. I picked up all these animals that day on the beach and that got me started. That was my inspirational piece of debris. For Mark McLaughlin, a science teacher at Neah-Kah-Nie High School, who is in the second year of taking students to join in Jones surveys, inspiration springs from the desire for everyone to do a better job of taking care of the Earth. One of the main reasons I became a teacher in the first place is helping to make students more aware, the hope that theyll do a better job than my generation in protecting and maintaining our environment, McLaughlin said. These students dont need to become marine biologists. The goal is you can participate in active community science that scientists will use in monitoring debris over generations. You dont have to have a college degree to engage in community science. You can participate in a way that can help scientists understand what is impacting our world and that understanding can hopefully lead to change. That is always my hope. How to help To learn more about the CoastWatch network of volunteers who monitor Oregons shorelines and how to help, visit oregonshores.org/volunteer-resources. Lori Tobias, for The Oregonian/OregonLive Alaska Airlines canceled more than 150 flights after one of the airlines planes lost a piece of its fuselage shortly after leaving Portland Friday night. No one was seriously injured in the incident, but the Federal Aviation Administration announced Saturday that it would be grounding 171 Boeing 737-9 Max airplanes worldwide for inspection. According to figures from FlightAware a flight tracking and data platform Alaska canceled 160 flights as of Saturday evening, impacting 23,000 passengers. The airline grounded 65 aircraft, 18 of which had already been inspected in a recent maintenance check and were cleared to fly by noon, according to messages sent to staff. Alaska Airlines posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that people whose flights were impacted can rebook travel, place the value of their ticket in their Mileage Plan Wallet for future use, or request a refund. The 5 p.m. Friday flight, originally headed to Ontario, California, was 16,000 feet in the air when a section of fuselage blew out. Photos show a hole in the jet where an emergency exit is installed when it is configured to carry a maximum number of passengers. Alaska plugs those doors because its 737-9 jets dont have enough seats to trigger the requirement for another emergency exit. The window seat next to the destroyed section of the plane was unoccupied but the force ripped the shirt off a teenager in the middle seat, leaving his skin reddened and legs bruised from the sudden decompression, a passenger said. Anthony Brickhouse, a professor of aerospace safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said the incident is a reminder for passengers to stay buckled in, as first reported by The Associated Press. If there had been a passenger in that window seat who just happened to have their seat belt off, wed be looking at a totally different news story. Passenger Elizabeth Le, 20, told The Oregonian/OregonLive she heard a really loud boom. It sounded like your ears were popping like normally on a plane, but 10 times louder, she said. I couldnt believe it was real. Flight 1282 with 171 passengers and six crew members aboard, according to Alaska landed back at Portlands airport at roughly 20 minutes after takeoff, The Associated Press reported. The plane had been on 145 commercial flights since its certification in November. Its unclear what exactly caused the fuselage plug to disconnect, but federal officials are investigating. Alaska officials told staff members that they expect all aircraft will be ready to fly by Monday. Its not clear how the flight cancellations will impact employee hours. Last nights incident could have been worse, but Flight Attendants and Pilots of Alaska 1282 ensured all passengers and crew arrived safely back on the ground, Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said in a statement Saturday. We commend the entire crew. Alaska did not respond to requests for further comment by phone or email Saturday. The Associated Press and Oregonian/OregonLive reporter Zane Sparling contributed to this report. Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744 Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe No longer the gleaming house on the hill, Oregon these days has the weary feel of a fixer-upper. Years of poor caretaking, lagging investment and a blind eye to deteriorating infrastructure have caught up with the state. With Oregonians increasingly fed up with the chaos of broken systems, the directive for 2024 is simple: Fix our home. Naming the problems is the easy part: A severe housing shortage that drives Oregonians out of their communities or into the streets. Thousands of adults and children who are unable to get help for mental illness or substance abuse due to a skeletal network of services. K-12 schools firmly stuck in mediocrity. A public safety crisis marked by record traffic deaths, continued gun violence and low faith in police accountability. Funding woes for transportation, higher education and wildfire fighting; workforce shortages in social services, health care and public defense; entrenched dysfunction in child welfare and other critical safety-net services. On top of all that, mistrust in our institutions and in fellow Oregonians pervades the public dialogue. A daunting and familiar list, to be sure. But as we noted last week, 2023 leaves us with momentum for making real progress in 2024. The emergence of elected officials who are willing to take ownership of problems marks a sea change in state and local leadership. Oregonians widespread exasperation, population declines and concern for Oregons future health add motivation for change. While 2024 will require an overhaul of many infrastructural systems, here are a few of the key repairs that our leaders must deliver this year. Make housing a priority: Chances are, most Oregonians would agree that every level of government should embrace such a directive. But to truly make housing a priority, leaders and the public must recognize that small changes wont reverse the states severe lack of housing. The state is already short more than 110,000 units and will need 550,000 more homes over the next 20 years, according to a 2022 state housing needs report. While the government can help address that shortage, particularly in funding affordable housing, the state will never climb out of this hole without massive investment and building by private developers. That means state and local governments must take a hard look at how to encourage development, even if it requires yielding on other deeply held values. That may mean easing the process for cities to add land for housing or limiting neighbors ability to halt a development. It may mean revising tree codes, suspending parking requirements or dropping development fees that make building unachievably expensive. It certainly means streamlining costly and cumbersome permitting processes as the city of Portland is attempting, again. While policies should aim to support a set of goals, the driving objective must be to add more housing in as cost-effective manner as possible. The first test will come quickly. Gov. Tina Kotek is pushing a $600 million housing package in the short session aimed at jumpstarting construction to produce 36,000 units a year 80% more than Oregon builds now. And Kotek has indicated that a bill that would allow cities to expand their growth boundaries is likely to make a reappearance after narrowly failing to advance last year. A path to ending unsanctioned homeless camping: Multnomah Countys longstanding practice of allowing thousands of people to live on the streets does not show a communitys compassion. It shows a community overwhelmed and unable to take charge of a humanitarian crisis. But thanks in part to changes on the Multnomah County Commission last year, the county seems to finally recognize its obligation to collaborate with the city of Portland to reduce unsanctioned camping. The county, which directs most of the Portland-areas homelessness dollars, last September approved $16 million to help support the citys alternative shelter sites where homeless residents can live and access social services. While the county should continue its work of placing people directly into permanent housing, these temporary shelter sites must be part of the overall response. The numbers bear out how deadly it is to live on the streets Multnomah County in 2022 recorded 315 deaths of homeless people. They also make up a high proportion of victims in traffic crashes and homicides. And the challenges of living life exposed to the weather and to public view all call for a more humane approach. While a judge put a hold on the citys efforts to ban unsanctioned camping during daytime hours, the long-term goal of local government must be to end such rampant camping. That will take developing a coordinated strategy that uses data, increases outreach, expands an array of supportive services and funds temporary shelter as well as permanent housing. But the money is there, with hundreds of millions available through the Metro homeless services tax. Our leaders all of them cannot burn the publics trust by failing to show that their dollars are making a difference. Build the behavioral health strategy and system Oregon needs: Even with hundreds of millions of dollars newly available in the past two years for expanding substance abuse treatment, Oregon is failing to provide adults and youth, in particular with the residential beds, outpatient programs and other services they need. People with severe mental illness struggle further thanks to civil commitment laws in need of an overhaul. Meanwhile, Oregons overdose deaths continue their meteoric rise and the state and counties have been caught flat-footed in figuring out what to do. They should start with developing an actual strategy. The Oregon Health Authority should spearhead efforts to identify needs for both mental health and substance abuse treatment across the state and set out a plan for meeting them. Legislators, too, should set up a task force to examine how to change civil commitment laws to ensure people who cannot care for themselves can be helped. And counties must report to the state on how they can increase the availability of community-based mental health care. Fundamentally, legislators must also vote in the upcoming session to reverse parts of Measure 110, the 2020 ballot measure that decriminalized possession of small amounts of hard drugs. Recriminalization does not mark a return to the failed War on Drugs, as some argue. Such thinking assumes there are only two options in this world decriminalization or mass incarceration. Rather, Oregon should key off the success of drug courts and diversion programs that steer people into treatment, not prison. Legislators can look to the ideas outlined in an initiative petition that seeks to roll back Measure 110 for one possible framework to follow. Revitalize K-12 education: Students are struggling, academically and behaviorally. The need for tutoring and mental health counselors has only intensified since the pandemic. Test scores show that most Oregon students are falling short of proficiency targets in reading, writing and math. Its long past time for the state to take a more prominent role in pushing a culture of educational excellence. That means providing greater support to districts but also setting higher expectations. While local school boards oversee their districts, the state can and should do more to ensure state education dollars are going to the curriculum and other supports and practices that will best help students achieve their potential. That also means examining whether those dollars are sufficient, and Koteks promise to re-evaluate education funding is well-timed. Last years teachers strike at Portland Public Schools made clear the mismatch between what legislators believe they are funding and what districts actually need. Such an analysis can help tee up changes for the 2025 legislative session. Unite our divided house: Oregonians are deeply divided across political, cultural and even factual lines. Theres no easy fix for restoring unity or trust. But there are a few things that can help show Oregonians that even with our differences, we are better together. Legislators can support that goal by focusing on bipartisan issues in the upcoming legislative session. Certainly, the need for housing, temporary shelter for homeless Oregonians and a better behavioral health system affects people across the spectrum and around the state. Those big-ticket items will require legislators full attention just to move solutions across the finish line in this short five-week session. Our governmental leaders and public employees can also promote trust by acting with transparency as opposed to fighting public scrutiny. That means not using advisory committees not subject to open meeting laws to conduct the publics business. It also means making public records available for low or no cost and promptly sharing body camera footage, as Milwaukie Police did recently, to build trust in this key police accountability tool. And one final way government can rebuild support for its work? By doing their job effectively. While mistakes are inevitable, the number of failures over the past year, from continuing mismanagement at Multnomah Countys animal shelter to the states poorly distributed rent assistance program sap peoples faith. We need follow-through and accountability at every level. Elect competence: This year, Oregonians will choose a secretary of state, treasurer and attorney general wide open races with none of the incumbents running for their current offices. Three seats on the five-member Multnomah County board will also be up for grabs with the District 1 and District 4 incumbents vacating their seats due to term limits and District 2 position open after former Commissioner Susheela Jayapal resigned to run for Congress. (The commissioner in the District 3 seat, Julia Brim-Edwards, has not yet announced whether she will run again for the position, which is also up for election this May). And Portlanders will choose 12 city councilors, a new mayor and a city auditor in a historic election deciding the first officeholders to steer Portland under a new form of government. Voters cannot waste this opportunity to improve state and local governance by sitting out the election or making their choices on auto-pilot. They should research which candidates demonstrate the competence, vision and consensus-building approach to get big things done. Experience matters, particularly in this time of transition and instability. The year ahead will doubtlessly serve up unexpected challenges. Thats all the more reason to shore up our foundation now. -The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board Updated, Jan. 7 to note that three of the Multnomah County Commission positions that will be on the ballot this year have no incumbent running for the seat. Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: Investigators have asked the public to help find an airplane door that blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 Friday and likely fell near Beavertons Cedar Hills neighborhood. The accident occurred shortly after a flight to Ontario, California, departed from Portland International Airport and the unused mid-cabin door that was plugged by an interior window panel came off of the airplane. The sudden decompression caused minor injuries to a person sitting near the hole but did not otherwise cause physical harm to the planes 171 passengers, officials have said. Saturday, the National Transportation Safety Board urged the public to help their investigation and tell officials if they find the door. Based on radar data, the safety board believes the door is around Southwest Barnes Road, near Oregon-217 and the Cedar Hills neighborhood, Chair Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference Saturday. It would be a help to us incredibly, if you find that, to reach out to us, Homendy said, asking anyone who finds the door to contact local police or to email the board at witness@ntsb.gov. She urged anyone with video or photographs taken from inside the plane to also email them to the board. Deputies are aware of the information shared by the @NTSB and the possibility that the @AlaskaAir Flight 1282 door may have fallen in our area. At this time, we have not been asked to coordinate any specific search and have not gotten any calls from the public regarding possible Washington County Sheriffs Office (Oregon) (@WCSOOregon) January 7, 2024 Alaska Airlines canceled more than 150 flights after the accident and federal officials grounded all Boeing 737-9s for inspection. Do you have a tip? Get in touch. Fedor Zarkhin Office: 503-294-7674; Cell: 971-373-2905; fzarkhin@oregonian.com NEW DELHI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Local government in Delhi has extended the winter break of schools in the Indian capital territory until Jan. 12 for classes up to primary level due to the cold weather, officials said Sunday. "Schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next five days due to the prevailing cold weather conditions, for students from nursery to Class 5," Atishi, Delhi's education minister in a brief statement posted on social media said. A formal order from the Delhi government has also been issued on Sunday in this regard. Many states in north India, including Delhi, are experiencing a cold wave. The minimum temperatures at various weather stations showed a significant deviation from the normal range for this time of the year. Meanwhile, 22 Delhi-bound trains were delayed by up to six hours on Sunday due to weather-related conditions in Delhi. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The programme of activities to celebrate the city of Benghazi as the capital of Islamic Culture for the year 2024 got underway on Saturday evening in Libya's second largest city, with the opening of several bridges Photo: (Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / Getty Images) The Supreme Court approves Idaho's controversial abortion law. Public officials in Idaho filed an emergency request in court in order to speed up abortion laws that penalize medical practitioners. The Supreme Court allowed Idaho to implement more stringent laws and regulations against abortion. The law, called the Defense of Life Act, therefore went into effect when the Supreme Court in 2022 rolled back the ruling that guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion. Idaho's Controversial Abortion Law: The Defense Life Act This latest ruling of the Supreme Court marks another significant decision that changes the medical landscape for women's reproductive rights in Idaho. This decision temporarily sets aside a federal judge's previous ruling that Idaho's law conflicted with federal regulations, specifically the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which mandates emergency medical care for all, including pregnant women in critical conditions. Idaho's controversial abortion law, officially known as the Defense of Life Act, imposes stringent restrictions on performing abortions that borderline the total abortion ban in the state. These restrictions also mean making medical professionals liable for performing abortions even in cases of life-threatening medical complications in women. This law also means that healthcare professionals can lose their license, pay criminal penalties, and possibly get imprisoned for five years if they have been proven to be helping with an abortion. Additionally, this law stands in stark contrast to federal legislation under EMTALA, which ensures that patients, irrespective of their condition, receive necessary emergency medical treatment. Furthermore, Idaho's stringent abortion laws are yet another implication that the courts and public officials nationwide are able to make due to the reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022. This ruling comes ahead of scheduled oral arguments in April, with a final decision expected by the end of June. Read Also: Post-Pandemic Student Loan Repayment: Borrowers Face Unexpected Hurdles Over Servicer Lapses Future Implications in Abortion In the legal battle initiated by the federal government against Idaho, the closeness of state and federal law emerged as a pivotal issue. The Supreme Court's endorsement of Idaho's strict abortion ban has sparked a wave of strong responses throughout the United States. President Joe Biden has openly criticized this decision and has urged Congress to tackle the overturning of Roe v. Wade that paved the way to a near-total abortion ban in some states. He added that the stringent medical laws against women in Idaho have pushed some doctors to move out of the state. Biden also called for laws that will protect Roe v. Wade from being overturned. However, considering the current political landscape dominated by a majority of Republican officials, achieving this reversal may prove challenging. The controversy surrounding Idaho's abortion law mirrors a wider trend in the United States, where an increasing number of states are imposing severe abortion restrictions, resulting in a varied legal landscape across the nation. The Supreme Court's recent move to provisionally support Idaho's legislation introduces further complexity to this changing legal scenario, potentially setting a precedent that may shape future court decisions on comparable laws in other states. As the nation awaits the Supreme Court's final ruling in June, the debate over reproductive rights continues to intensify, with the outcome likely to have far-reaching implications for both state and federal abortion legislation. Related Article: Top 5 Skin Care Product Recommendations for Moms: Easy Amazon Finds for Glowing Skin This took place on the Atheist Discussion forum and was a one-on-one debate with epronovost (see the link). His words will be in blue. ***** None of the great miracles described in past religious and mythological text can be ascertained as real factual events. These religious and mythological texts are written decades if not centuries after the event they describe are most often from unknown author quoting unknown sources and not other intersubjective evidence can be provided as to what happened. The events are often poorly or simplistically described making and details often change from versions to versions. I other words, claims of miracles are akin to modern urban legends in terms of verifiability and quality of the description (and often much worst) and describe events even more outlandish. We have evidences and proven cases of people telling lies or grossly exaggerating an actual event for a variety of reasons and evidence and proven cases of people believing outrageous lies and claims very firmly, even otherwise very intelligent and educated people. Considering these conditions, we can use Occams razor to attribute all tales of miracles to exaggeration, lies, poetic license, etc. No well established actual events or phenomenon in recorded history or contemporary is not explicable, be it only tentatively, by the laws of sciences. Furthermore, not only would an actual miraculous event would have to defy all natural explanations it would have to be impossible to explain at any point and time, no matter how sophisticated and developed sciences would be at any point in the future. Since no well established phenomenon that ever took place or is taking place can meet this absolutely restrictive criteria, no miracles can happen; miracles are thus not real, but figures of speech to describe unknown phenomenon, very improbable phenomenon or fantasy. Here are some comments I made to kick off this debate in a prior thread where it began: I never claimed historical accuracy proved miracles. I said that if a writer is shown to be historically trustworthy, then he can be trusted to accurately report about Jesus and Paul, etc. Then ones view of miracles beforehand determines whether one dismisses any or all supernatural reports as fiction or not. There is no compelling argument against all miracles in all places. There is scarcely any argument at all. Its all pretty much based on Humes non-argument: we rarely observe miracles, therefore they dont exist, and our worldview rules them out by definition anyway, so we dont have to examine purported individual cases . . . David Hume did believe in God, by the way (basically a deist version); he wasnt an atheist. This is a widespread myth. ***** Here is a problem for you though. If you cannot prove miracles by providing basic information about the geography of an area at a certain point and time, how can you be trusted to report accurately about Jesus since Jesus does a lot of miracles according to the same source? That would make any reporting on the teachings of Jesus immediately suspicious since it includes completely outlandish elements that cannot be confirmed by anybody and are already known to be part of the legendary and mythological register of the time and era. This is but one of the reason why historians and biblical scholars agree that the Gospels are not good history and that if Jesus was a historical figure, which is still considered highly plausible by the majority of historians studying the subject, we know preciously little about what he actually preached or even his actual influence since we know him through his successors. ***** One cant prove miracles to people who are determined to never believe them, and who have ruled them out by simply claiming that they can never happen and are categorically impossible (things which no one has ever done, because its impossible to prove a universal negative). What we can show (and what I think I have already done in this thread) is that Bible writers report accurate history. Then it comes down to the prior views of the reader, whether the miracles also included will be believed or not. If they are entirely discounted on entirely insufficient and inadequate grounds, as I believe, then no one can cut through that as long as the falsehood is strongly believed in, essentially by blind faith, and impervious to reason. Its what they call in sociology a true believer. Tough to break through that shell. ***** As has been shown to you with the example of the Trojan War or Spider-Man comic books, what the Bible provides as accurate history is wholly insufficient to make presumptions about its core narrative. Its not like Luke is perfect on the inconsequential details either. Its description of the Roman census is inaccurate for example. Can we thus say that the authors of Luke report accurate history? About as much as Homer or Stan Lee. It doesnt mean we cant glean good, useful historical information from such documents. If one day archeologists trying to piece back the history of the US stumble upon a Spider Man comic book anthology, they might gather interesting and fairly reliable the US as it describe and represent pretty well the city of New-York, tabloids and sensationalist media practices and political corruptions for example, but it would take a lot of comparison with far more valuable and verifiable documents from known authors. ***** How can one say that miracles are literally impossible? [someone else made this claim] On what basis? How do you know what is impossible? I think you (and atheists generally) say this because your worldview is empiricism, and so miracles are ruled out categorically, as being contrary to the laws of science and uniformitarianism. But one cant prove that the laws of science and uniformitarianism hold in all places ant all times and that there are no temporary exceptions to them. In fact, the laws of science dont apply to the time before the Big Bang occurred, because that was the beginning of the universe and its laws as we know it. Your burden is to tell us all why a miracle cant possibly happen. Good luck. If you guys want to keep carping on about miracles, then I will keep challenging you to prove to us all how no miracles could possibly have ever taken place. Im interested in ultimate premises and in evidence for purported facts. ***** What atheist here is willing to volunteer for the purpose of valiantly and triumphantly proving the proposition: no miracle could possibly ever take place in any possible world at any time? Why do you believe that? How about thoroughly discussing one of the biggies of atheist-Christian disagreement and the one you guys went straight to. Very well, then, defend the premise that you are so vehement about. Display the courage (and basis) of your convictions. And get ready for merciless grilling, a la Socrates. I dont always just answer questions (though I enjoy that, in the right spirit). I ask them, too, but for some odd reason its only with extreme difficulty that I ever locate an atheist who will sit and cheerfully attempt an answer to all the hard questions that we have for you. Atheists love to grill Christians; they enjoy infinitely less explaining their own views in detail, under intense scrutiny. According to C. S. Lewis thinking that I follow, a miracle is not against the laws of nature; it merely is a temporary addition to it. What you say is no proof that no miracle ever occurred; its simply boilerplate materialist polemics. How do you know no miracle has ever occurred anywhere at any time? Its intellectually embarrassing to even have to ask such a foolish question, but this is what atheist epistemology lends itself to. This is what the atheist casually assumes, which is why they reject the NT out of hand. It contains miracles, so its all (or almost all) nonsense or mythology etc., so we are told. ***** Just to make this clear. Do you want one of us to defend the position that no miracle could possibly ever take place in any possible world at any time? I may be interested in getting grilled by you on this specific issue (there is a section of the forum dedicated for one-on-one type of deal so you dont feel like you get swarmed by answers by several people at the same time). I would just need that we agree on a workable definition of miracle (do we include massively improbable events like getting hit by a lightning with a winning lottery ticket in your pocket or just events with a supernatural bent like transmutation of matter, resurrections, walking on water, casting fireballs from ones hand, summoning lightning down the sky at will, etc.). Yes to the first question. The second thing above: what cannot be explained by the present laws of science. I would quickly add that the laws of science dont technically preclude things that are not subject to them in the first place. If miracles happen, from the Christian perspective, they are wrought by God, an exceptionally equipped Spirit not subject to scientific laws (being immaterial). Technically laws of sciences apply to everything all the time. They are descriptive laws not prescriptive ones, but I get what you mean by that. Okay then. I will defend the idea that there is no such things as miracles actually occurring or that have occurred in the past. How do you defend that? None of the great miracles described in past religious and mythological text can be ascertained as real factual events. These religious and mythological texts are written decades if not centuries after the event they describe are most often from unknown author quoting unknown sources and not other intersubjective evidence can be provided as to what happened. This is a criticism of religious texts and their accuracy (disputed because they are late and often anonymous and lacking extraneous objective corroboration). But those are textual, historical matters. Im talking about metaphysics and epistemology. Your task is to prove that no miracles have ever occurred anywhere, and are (a much stronger assertion and much more difficult to prove) impossible. The events are often poorly or simplistically described making and details often change from versions to versions. I other words, claims of miracles are akin to modern urban legends in terms of verifiability and quality of the description (and often much worst) and describe events even more outlandish. We have evidences and proven cases of people telling lies or grossly exaggerating an actual event for a variety of reasons and evidence and proven cases of people believing outrageous lies and claims very firmly, even otherwise very intelligent and educated people. This is a variation of the above and proves nothing of what your burden is to prove. All it proves (actually suggests) is that the particular events described in these sources whatever they are, are questionable, as matters of fact, due to various alleged or actual shortcomings that you lay out. That doesnt touch all miracles in all places or the impossibility of any ever happening. Considering these conditions, we can use Occams razor to attribute all tales of miracles to exaggeration, lies, poetic license, etc. But thats terrible reasoning (its also a variation of Humes classic argument, which is notoriously weak and insubstantial). You cant extrapolate from a claimed many inadequate reports to all for all time. You simply dont know that, and cant know that. You cant prove a universal negative. You cant go from many reports of reported miracles are suspect, therefore all are, therefore, no miracles can ever occur anywhere. The conclusion is false because its dependent on two false premises. It would be like saying, I have seen thousands of white sheep, but have never seen a black one; therefore, none exist. There is even a logical fallacy of over-extrapolation. You present a version (perhaps a slight modification) of it. Occams razor (made famous by a Christian philosopher) is simply the principle of parsimony or preferring a hypothesis that requires fewer assumptions. It doesnt necessarily apply to every situation whatsoever. Its a helpful tool that may lead to various truths, but doesnt determine or preclude facts in and of itself. So, for example, the simplest explanation of general physics for a few hundred years was Newtonianism. That was the simplest and most elegant hypothesis. Yet it was overthrown by a more complicated version: Einsteins relativity. And then Einstein was overthrown in some respects by quantum mechanics, which is more mysterious and complex than relativity. So in both cases, the truer, adopted theory was more complicated, not less complex and elegantly simple a la Occam. Not all reality conforms itself to a general principle of analysis like Occams razor. Your proof (you actually think that it is a proof?) proves nothing, just as Humes original supposedly unanswerable argument against all miracles proved nothing. It was scarcely even a philosophical argument. ***** No well established actual events or phenomenon in recorded history or contemporary is not explicable, be it only tentatively, by the laws of sciences. This is technically assuming what you are trying to prove, but its okay to make summary statements in your opening arguments (as at a trial). Can you name a well established as factual event or phenomenon in recorded or contemporary history that is not explicable, be it only tentatively, by the laws of sciences? My statement is not an argument assuming the premise; its a statement of fact no different than saying that water is composed of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. Its simply stating a fact not positing an argument. You might think I am factually incorrect, but you would need to demonstrate I am in error. You only need to provide one well established factual events that is not explicable, be it only tentatively, by the laws of sciences. *** Furthermore, not only would an actual miraculous event would have to defy all natural explanations it would have to be impossible to explain at any point and time, no matter how sophisticated and developed sciences would be at any point in the future. This is actually something we can agree on. Its true that science may explain what appears now to be miraculous in the future. If it occurs such an event would not be miraculous and any attribution at any time that the event was a miracle would be an error. *** I have Catholic friends who actually view pretty much all miracles this way: that science will eventually explain them; therefore, they are not really miracles at all, but natural events that our present knowledge cant yet comprehend. I can buy that, but I also think God does some straight miracles that go against natural laws, no matter how well we can explain them in the future. But as an example of what you refer to, in 1850 traveling into the future would have seemed like an utter fantasy or miracle. Now, since relativity, its been proven to be entirely possible. I dont think that time travel has been proven to be entirely possible, but this is beside the point I believe. Christians are always being accused of god of the gaps (usually unfairly, I think). Atheists go too far in the extreme of trusting science to explain virtually anything and everything. We might call this future science of the gaps. It seems as if many atheists almost make science their god. Someone even said in this forum, science is always right: which is patently absurd. I quickly provided many examples of scientific folly and error. Since no well established phenomenon that ever took place or is taking place can meet this absolutely restrictive criteria, no miracles can happen; miracles are thus not real, but figures of speech to describe unknown phenomenon, very improbable phenomenon or fantasy. In a large sense we can only analyze based on what we know now. I concede that any miracle may eventually be explained by science. But we have to discuss according to what we presently know. One cant assert that one day science may explain it (which I fully agree with) but then jump from that to saying that no miracles can happen (which I utterly disagree with). Thats simply explaining it away by virtue of an arbitrary category (of what might happen in the future). Not good enough. Thats no proof at all. No miracles can happen because a miracle is not simply an unexplainable event. Its true that we cant say that all events are explainable or will be explainable by the sciences in the future now, but the events and phenomenon that are currently without any explanation are not miracles either. For something to be miraculous not only must an event defy any and all natural explanation, but it must be caused by divine powers. Nobody can say: epronovost casted a fireball from his finger tips and incinerated a car by invoking Gods wrath to manifest itself; its a miracle. without proving that its indeed Gods divine power that allowed me to do such things and not some other supernatural means like spell, mana, wizard tool, etc. A miracle is not even describing all supernatural events, but supernatural events caused by a divine beings for the benefit of mortals (miracles are always good things too). Since no well established event was ever found to be miraculous in nature, we cant claim that miracles are possible since for something to be considered possible it either need to have happened in the past or be proven to occur based on known and predictable mechanism. A thing that is possible is something that can be proven. If not, its what we call something conceivable; something that can be imagined or hypothesized, but relies on no actual observation or mechanistic explanation. Possible things all fall under the purview of probability; conceivable things are only limited by imagination. Miracles are thus not possible, but only conceivable. Since miracles, by definition, require divine intervention and that nobody has ever managed to establish clearly the substance of the divine (or that there even is such a thing as divine beings or forces) or the precise mechanism such being use to alter their environment; that the divine is generally defined as transcendent and thus impossible to ascertain, study or observe. Miracles can simply never be proven. Since no miracle can be proven at best we find ourselves with an unexplained phenomenon for even if the phenomenon was actually caused by a deity and was a miracle we would have no way to make the difference between it and simply yet another unknown phenomenon that can be explained by natural explanation if we keep on digging at it or a plethora of other supernatural explanation that doesnt involve a deity. The principle of prudence and rational skepticism would thus dictate that we cannot classify on a hunch such unexplainable event as a miracle or a rare natural event. It would remain an unexplainable phenomenon. Thus miracles are not possible. They are a matter of faith not probability and will forever only be conceivable and held as true purely based on faith in spite of any and all other conceivable explanation. *** For something to be miraculous not only must an event defy any and all natural explanation, but it must be caused by divine powers. . . . A miracle is not even describing all supernatural events, but supernatural events caused by a divine beings for the benefit of mortals (miracles are always good things too). This is a good point and perhaps the very heart of our debate. Its not just the event that is difficult to explain by the usual scientific means; its also the claim that God did it, for the benefit of mortals, as you say. The two must be tied together. And you claim this is impossible. I will try to build an argument that this connection is, rather, quite plausible and believable. That would be entirely pointless. Lies, frauds, tricks and sophistries are believable; thats the entire point of those things. You must demonstrate that those things are possible not believable or plausible. Thats what it takes to claim that miracles can or have occurred in the past. Since I am not a specialist in mathematics, would you allow me to confer with an expert in the domain who so happen to be in my social circle to verify any mathematical demonstrations you might present (if you have the necessary education to present theoretical mathematical proofs that is)? But miracles are not always good things. There are also demonic miracles, that I will get into also. There are many different kinds of miracles within the Christian outlook, and most arguably have a direct tie-in to God, and the God of Christianity: quite often, Catholic Christianity. Lets start examining them. The common definitions of miracles state that miracles are always positive and welcomed events and occurrence. Nobody would say this innocent little child was incinerated by devil worshiper; this is a miracle! I think we should stick to welcomed events and occurrence as miracles instead. 1. Life After Death Experiences. We just saw a movie about this recently. Ive been fascinated with this phenomenon for about fifty years, and read the bestselling book, Life After Life way back when, before I had any serious Christian commitment at all, and wouldnt have given a moments attention to thinking about miracles. We have thousands of case studies whereby a person experienced a heaven-like place, with God as an intense light, senses extraordinarily heightened, seeing departed loved ones, Jesus-figures, feeling extremely happy, peaceful, and fulfilled, etc. This all corresponds with the Christian belief regarding an afterlife. But its not only the heaven-aspect. These people also report details of what was happening on the operation table, etc., while they were dead that they couldnt possibly have known. They are able to explain little details of what occurred, because, typically, they report that they were hovering over their bodies and observing what was going on. This is also some sort of evidence for the existence of souls independently of bodies. Lastly, a certain percentage (I think it is something like 10-15%) report a hell-like experience, with all the hallmarks that we would expect from that: a nightmarish, terrifying, hopeless place. This also corresponds with the Christian notion that certain folks are on the way to hell, so that if they died this instant, they would go there. This would be an example of God in His mercy shocking them into reality; to get their act together, lest they wind up in hell. For more on this, see: What Can Science Tell Us About Death? (The New York Academy of Sciences, 9-30-19) Agnostic Psychiatrist Says Near-Death Experiences Are Real (Bruce Greyson, Mind Matters, 6-5-22) People describe near-death experiences in an eerily similar way (Aria Bendix, Business Insider, 6-8-23) Near-death experiences tied to brain activity after death, study says (Sandee LaMotte, CNN Health, 9-14-23) Life after death and near death experiences are not without scientific explanations and the vast majority of such experience are not well established credible events. There are several cases of lies and fraud surrounding near death experiences the most famous of witch is that of Alex Malarkey since the book retelling the visions of heaven Alex had while he was supposedly dead became a best seller and made millions. Near death experiences are thus not miracles since there is a host of credible scientific explanations and mechanism to explain them. They are not miraculous in nature either even if there was a life after death. Since death is a normal natural process and not an event or phenomenon actively and positively changing the normal state of affairs. There can be a god and an afterlife yet no miracle since the process of dying and going to heaven or hell is basically as mundane a baby being born. A resurrection, cheating death by way of magical divine intervention, would be a miraculous occurrence, not dying and going to the afterlife. Thus any discussions of life after death is pointless to the establishment of miracles even if they were completely exact and could definitely demonstrate and prove the existence of divine beings (which they cant since NDE have credible explanations that dont require such a thing). 2) Scientifically Examined Cures At Lourdes I submit the following scientific study of the purported cures at Lourdes, from the Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences (produced by Oxford University): The Lourdes Medical Cures Revisited (2012): Conclusions: The least that can be stated is that exposures to Lourdes and its representations (Lourdes water, mental images, replicas of the grotto, etc.), in a context of prayer, have induced exceptional, usually instantaneous, symptomatic, and at best physical, cures of widely different diseases. Although what follows is regarded by some as a hackneyed concept, any and all scholars of Lourdes have come to agree with one of two equally acceptablebut seemingly conflicting and irreconcilablepoints of view on the core issue: are the Lourdes cures a matter of divine intervention or not? Faith is set against science. . . . After many mental twists and turns, we reached the same conclusions as Carrel some eighty to hundred years ago: Instead of being a simple place of miracles, of interest only to the pious, Lourdes presents a considerable scientific interest, and Although uncommon, the miraculous cures are evidence of somatic and mental processes we do not know. Upping the ante, we dare write that understanding these processes could bring about new and effective therapeutic methods. The Lourdes cures concern science as well as religion. In my own library I have a book called The Miracles (1976), in which purported cures were examined by a medical doctor. One Amazon review explains: Dr. Casdorph did a wonderful job medically substantiating the miracle claims of these people including X-rays, bone scans, medical reports and interviews with medical personnel involved in each case. There is no hearsay or second- and third-hand accounts. The evidence stands for itself. Other such books exist; for example: Modern Miraculous Cures A Documented Account of Miracles and Medicine in the 20th Century (Francois Leuret, 2006). Atheists have to explain all this. Again, at Lourdes, people (usually) of religious faith go to seek miraculous cures and some of these purported cures have been painstakingly examined by scientists, who cant explain them by virtue of scientific knowledge alone. We say it is a function of prayer and faith and God performing miracles in our time, just as it is believed that He and His followers did in Bible times. I actually dont need to explain this. An unexplained event is not a miracle. A supernatural event is not necessarily a miracle either since miracles are only a subset of supernatural events. It suffice not to claim that science, at this moment, cannot explain such phenomenon to claim they are miracles. I am perfectly fine with granting you the fact that at Lourdes there were numerous unexplained by medicine healing events recorded prior to 1976. Can you prove that this was done by a deity and not some other supernatural or natural means? 3) Incorruptible Bodies of Saints This ties right in with the atheist demand to connect seemingly miraculous phenomenon to God. There are hundreds of bodies of persons whom the Catholic Church has declared to be saints, that have not undergone the usual process of decay that dead bodies go through. Therefore, as a Catholic I would argue that this is evidence of the miraculous, and also evidence that God did it, since it happened only to extraordinarily holy people. Its a confirmation of Catholic teaching. Heres an article describing it, and a page of photographs (see also a second page of photos). It has to be explained somehow. If you have a dead body sitting there and it hasnt rotted after 50, 100, 200, or 500 years, something very unusual is taking place. I know how I explain it. How does an atheist do so? We have a case in the Detroit area with our local saint: Blessed Solanus Casey, a Capuchin priest of great holiness, who died in 1957. Sure enough, when his body was exhumed in 2017, it was in a remarkably preserved condition. The world-renowned pathologist, Dr. Werner Spitz, was involved, and reported: I am not sure I would call it a miracle. I would call this unusual. I was really amazed when I saw the body. This man, this gentleman had been buried for 60 years and I cannot say he looked like he died the day before but he certainly could be identified by anyone who knew him during his lifetime. . . . I am looking at this from the scientific angle. I am not looking at it from the religious angle. It may very well be that this is something more than we normally see. Why? Maybe there is something out there that did it. Again, there is numerous explanation for natural mumification processes where bodies are preserved intact or quasi intact for decades, but this is beside the point. Again, an unexplained phenomenon is not a miracle. Even a supernatural event is not, by necessity, a miracle. Can you prove that God casted a spell on these corpses to preserve them? Its not just Catholics either. The body of civil rights activist Medgar Evers, who was murdered in 1963, is said to be incorrupt or remarkably preserved, according to several accounts. The guy has been buried in Arlington Cemetery. His body has been embalmed and buried a short 6 and a half days after his murder late on the 12th of June. The idea that is body could not decompose and represent a case of miraculous preservation is completely absurd. A body in the morgue preserved for such a short period of time has no time to decompose. 4) The Shroud of Turin This is another thing that has fascinated me since 1978, when I saw a TV special about it and bought a book. The obvious connection to Christianity and God here is the striking similarity of this image and its various characteristic to the crucified Jesus. It has been subjected to hundreds of scientific analyses. Many of the scientists freely admit that they cant explain some things regarding it. One of the remarkable things about it is that scientists, by and large, arent sure how the image even came about in the first place. See further articles and books (which include a debunking of the supposed carbon dating disproof in 1988): New evidence supporting Shroud of Turin is too strong to ignore, says journalist (William West, The Catholic Weekly, 4-5-23) [T]he image on the Shroud has never been replicated by science and thats because the evidence suggests it cant be. It is a high-resolution, photographic-negative, 3-D image caused by a discoloration of a uniform layer of microscopic linen microfibres something that could only be caused by a finely tuned burst of electromagnetic radiation that came from the body itself. New Scientific Technique Dates Shroud of Turin to Around the Time of Christs Death and Resurrection (Edward Pentin, National Catholic Register, 4-19-22) Is the Turin Shroud real after all? (Paola Totaro, The New European, 6-28-23) In 1978, a multi-disciplinary scientific group known as the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP) was created and a team of 33 American and European scientists spent five 24-hour shifts studying the linen first-hand. Their report, published in 1981, concluded the image was of a scourged, crucified man, that blood stains revealed haemoglobin and tested positive for serum albumin and that these were not the product of an artist. We can conclude for now that the Shroud image is an ongoing mystery and until further chemical studies are made, perhaps by this group of scientists, or perhaps by some scientists in the future, the problem remains unsolved, the report concluded. Scientists Suggest Turin Shroud Authentic (Sergio Prostak, Sci News, 12-21-11) For sure, none of the hundreds attempts to obtain a shroud-like image by using chemical contact techniques i.e. adding chemical substances like colors, powders, etc. has achieved good results. Usually, the chemical approach gives similar macroscopic results, but it fails when analyzing the coloration with a microscope. At the microscopic level, the contact chemical approach does not give Shroud-like results. On the contrary, attempts using various radiations (vacuum ultraviolet photons, electrons from a corona discharge) give a coloration that looks shroud-like even at the microscopic level, concludes Dr. Di Lazzaro. Peer-Reviewed Papers on the Shroud of Turin a Bibliography (Joe Marino, Academia, 2021) Is well known hoax. Dating on the material of the Shroud revealed that it dates back to the 14th century and all challenges towards these findings failed. The image also was found to contain no trace of blood and iron oxide based pigments which was used to produce brownish red blood color in the medieval era. The Shroud of Turin is widely considered as one of the many fake relics of the Catholic Church along with many other of its kind. The Catholic Church has a long history of pious fraud and traffic of false relics for money. It was such an issue that some of the most vehement critique levied against it by the Protestant movement were concerning these cases of frauds; even people in the Middle Ages knew or suspected that many of those relics were a complete sham to extort money from gullible pilgrims. There was a lot of money to be made there. 5) Stigmata Its very difficult to explain this phenomenon, too, and it appears with very holy people. See: Stigmata in the history: between faith, mysticism and science (S Gianfaldoni et al, Journal of Biological Regulations & Homeostic Agents . 2017;31(2 Suppl. 2):45-52) Religious stigmata: a dermato-psychiatric approach and differential diagnosis (Elio Kechichian, Elie Khoury, Sami Richa, Roland Tomb, Int J Dermatol . 2018 Aug;57(8):885-893) Abstract Background: Stigma refers to the wounds reproduced on the human body, similar to the ones inflicted on the Christ during his crucifixion, on the palms, soles, and head, as well as the right or the left side of the chest, the lips and, the back. Whether they are genuine or fabricated, stigmata are still considered a medical enigma. . . . Results: Around 300 cases of stigma have been described since the 13th century. . . . Conclusion: Stigma remains an example of the intricate relationships existing between medicine, psychiatry, psychology, spirituality, and the human body. Doctors and Stigmatics in the 19th and 20th centuries (Gabor Klaniczay, The Religious Studies Project, 11-18-19) I suppose you can now guess what I am going to say, but I will say it again. An unexplained phenomenon is not a miracle. Also most cases of stigmata are not well reported and very much open to hoaxes (there were some that were demonstrated to be as such). Stigmata are rather rare and have never been subjected to extensive scientific scrutiny either. What has been found is that people with stigmata are almost all women (87% of cases are women) and most of them are extremely religious, often nuns. Its also a very Catholic thing. There is no case of stigmata reported in non-Christians as far as I am aware. Some scientific explanations have been suggested though, most notably unconscious self-mutilation episodes which do happen in patient suffering from PTSD, epileptics, schizophrenics, bi-polar disorder or people prone to strong autosuggestion. Painful bruising syndrome has also been suggested since the symptoms are so similar though painful bruising syndrome can produce bruising and wounds in other area of the body than hands/wrists and feet/lower legs like stigmata do. In other words, not only are stigmata unexplained phenomenon at the moment, but it seems medical science could shed some light on it as its advancing credible hypothesis on the subject even though, due to its rarity and the common refusal of the victim of stigmata and their family to subject the victim to careful study and analysis, the subject has been studied very little. Robert A. Larmer is the Chairman of the Philosophy Department at the University of New Brunswick (see his Curriculum Vitae and his books) and a specialist in the philosophy of miracles. He wrote the article, C.S. Lewiss Critique Of Hume On Miracles, Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers: 1 April 2008. Vol. 25: Iss. 2, Article 3. I will be heavily excerpting it. For those unfamiliar with the issue, Scottish philosopher David Hume (1711-1776) was a deist (not an atheist!) who produced what is considered the classic argument against miracles. Hes also wrongly thought to have destroyed the theistic teleological argument (argument from design), but he only dealt with one form of it, while actually espousing another form himself. See: Hume on Religion (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). It states: While Hume may be a hard skeptic about robust theism, it does not follow that he is either a hard or a soft skeptic about thin theism. Against views of this kind, it has been argued by a number of scholars that Hume is committed to some form of thin theism or attenuated deism. (See, e.g., J.C.A. Gaskin, Humes Philosophy of Religion, 2nd ed., London: Macmillan.) See also: David Hume: Religion (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy), which opines: There is, therefore, support for interpreting Hume as a deist of a limited sort. Gaskin calls this Humes attenuated deism, attenuated in that the analogy to something like human intelligence is incredibly remote, and that no morality of the deity is implied, due especially to the Problem of Evil. However, scholars that attribute weak deism to Hume are split in regard to the source of the belief. Some, like Gaskin, think that Humes objections to the design argument apply only to analogies drawn too strongly. Hence, Hume does not reject all design arguments, and, provided that the analogs are properly qualified, might allow the inference. This is different than the picture suggested by Butler and discussed by Pike in which the belief is provided by a natural, non-rational faculty and thereby simply strikes us, rather than as the product of an inferential argument. Therefore, though the defenders of a deistic Hume generally agree about the remote, non-moral nature of the deity, there is a fundamental schism regarding the justification and generation of this belief. Both sides, however, agree that the belief should not come from special revelation, such as miracles or revealed texts. Now onto Larmers 19-page treatment of C. S. Lewis critique of Hume on miracles. The following is all from his article. I will omit footnotes, which can be looked up by following the link at the top. ***** Despite his popularity as a Christian apologist and despite the fact that one of his major works is Miracles: A Preliminary Study [read online], C. S. Lewis is virtually ignored in contemporary discussions of miracles. When he is mentioned, he is usually quickly dismissed as displaying a superficial understanding of David Humes famous criticism of the possibility of rational belief in miracles based on testimonial evidence. My contention in this article is that such dismissals are unjustified. Although he did not write as a professional philosopher and did not direct his writing to specialists in philosophy, Lewis was well trained in philosophy. While a student at University College, Oxford, he received a First in Greats (Philosophy and Ancient History) and, as a young man, served as philosophy tutor at University College. While at Oxford, Lewis served as the first president of the famous Socratic Club founded by Stella Aldwinckle in 1941 as an open forum for the discussion of the intellectual difficulties connected with religion and with Christianity in particular. . . . Lewis regularly read papers at the Socratic Club and engaged in dialogue with Elizabeth Anscombe, A. J. Ayer, Antony Flew and Gilbert Ryle, to name only a few of the philosophers that contributed papers. The fact that philosophers of this stature took Lewis seriously suggests that his critique of Humes Of Miracles deserves more attention by professional philosophers than it typically receives. . . . Lewiss interpretation of the argument of Part I of the Essay is the traditional one that it is intended to demonstrate that belief in a miracle can never, even in principle, be rationally justified on the basis of testimonial evidence.3 He summarizes the argument as follows: Probability rests on what may be called the majority vote of our past experiences. The more often a thing has been known to happen, the more probable it is that it should happen again; and the less often the less probable. . . . The regularity of Natures course . . . is supported by something better than the majority vote of past experiences: it is supported by their unanimous vote, . . . by firm and unalterable experience. There is, . . . uniform experience against Miracle; otherwise, . . . it would not be a Miracle. A miracle is therefore the most improbable of all events. It is always more probable that the witnesses were lying or mistaken than that a miracle occurred. [. . .] Lewis develops, very briefly, an ad hominem argument that Humes assumption of the uniformity of nature in the Essay is inconsistent with what he says elsewhere regarding induction. Lewis writes, Unless Nature always goes on in the same way, the fact that a thing had happened ten million times would not make it a whit more probable that it would happen again. And how do we know the Uniformity of Nature? A moments thought shows that we do not know it by experience. . . . Experience . . . cannot prove uniformity, because uniformity has to be assumed before experience proves anything. . . . Unless Nature is uniform, nothing is either probable or improbable. And clearly the assumption which you have to make before there is any such thing as probability cannot itself be probable. . . . The odd thing is that no man knew this better than Hume. His Essay on Miracles is quite inconsistent with the more radical, and honourable, scepticism of his main work. This criticism is hardly unique to Lewis. There is no way of knowing for sure, but Lewis may well have been aware that C. D. Broad had made this point at much greater length in an article published in the 1916-17 volume of the Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society. Broad writes: Hume has told us that he can find no logical ground for induction. He cannot see why it should be justifiable to pass from a frequent experience of A followed by B, to a belief that A always will be followed by B. All that he professes to do is to tell us that we actually do make this transition, and to explain psychologically how it comes about. Now, this being so, I cannot see how Hume can distinguish between our variously caused beliefs about matters of fact, and call some of them justifiable and others unjustifiable. . . . Humes disbelief [in a miracle] is due to his natural tendency to pass from the constant experience of A followed by B to the belief that A will always be followed by B. The enthusiasts belief is due to his natural tendency to believe what is wonderful and makes for the credit of his religion. But Hume has admitted that he sees no logical justification for beliefs in matters of fact which are merely caused by a regular experience. Hence the enthusiasts belief in miracles and Humes belief in natural laws (and consequent disbelief in miracles) stand on precisely the same logical footing. In both cases we can see the psychological cause of the belief, but in neither can Hume give us any logical ground for it. [ . . .] The issue is not whether Hume could have developed a concept of the laws of nature consistent with his treatment of induction and causality or whether such a concept can be found elsewhere in his work but whether the concept actually employed in Of Miracles is consistent with his treatment of induction and causality earlier in the Enquiry. . . . Once one accepts Humes denial of necessary connections and his reduction of causality to constant conjunction, it becomes impossible to argue that the fact that certain events have been constantly conjoined in the past provides any reason for thinking they will be constantly, or even probably, conjoined in the future. As Hume comments, it is impossible . . . that any arguments from experience can prove . . . resemblance of the past to the future; since all these arguments are founded on the supposition of that resemblance. . . . What Broad and Lewis recognize . . . -and what must be taken into account in any discussion of whether Humes treatment of miracles is consistent with his sceptical treatment of induction and causality-is that Humes argument is directed not at demonstrating that it is irrational to believe that unusual events of a certain conceivable type, that is to say miracles, violate the laws of nature, but at showing there could never be sufficient testimonial evidence to justify belief in the occurrence of such events. . . . Lewiss second explicit criticism is that Humes argument is viciously circular. Hume writes that a firm and unalterable experience has established the laws of nature and since a miracle is a violation of the laws of nature, there must, therefore, be a uniform experience against every miraculous event, otherwise the event would not merit that appellation. Lewis responds that this argument begs the question, inasmuch as it assumes what needs to be proved. He writes, now of course we must agree with Hume that if there is absolutely uniform experience against miracles, if in other words they have never happened, why then they never have. Unfortunately we know the experience against them to be uniform only if we know that all the reports of them are false. And we can know all the reports to be false only if we know already that miracles have never occurred. In fact, we are arguing in a circle. As in the case of his previous criticism of Humes argument, this objection is not unique to Lewis, but was made by earlier writers. One of Humes early critics, William Samuel Powell, asserts that Humes claim that nature . . . is uniform and unvaried in her operations . . . either presumes the point in question, or touches not those events which are supposed to be out of the course of nature and William Paley, writing in the nineteenth century, makes essentially this point against Hume, when he claims that for Hume to state concerning the fact in question that no such thing was ever experienced, or that universal experience is against it, is to assume the subject of the controversy. . . . [W]hile it seems true that Hume did not take himself simply to be exploring the implications of a definition of the laws of nature, what he in fact says about the laws of nature seems to imply that they must be defined as exceptionless regularities. We are told early in the argument that the laws of nature are based on infallible experience and a little later that they have been established by firm and unalterable experience. Lest we misunderstand what is meant by the phrase firm and unalterable experience Hume tells us that it is a miracle that a dead man should come to life; because that has never been observed in any age or country and that there must, therefore, be a uniform experience against every miraculous event, otherwise the event would not merit that appellation. Further, when Hume is faced with what would seem to be extremely strong evidence for the occurrence of an event plausibly viewed as miraculous, he is prepared to assert either that the event could not have occurred on the basis that miracles are absolutely impossible, or, if the event occurred, it must not be a miracle. It thus seems that, although Hume may have not noticed that he ruled out the occurrence of miracles by definition, there is good reason to think that this is in fact an implication of how he conceives the laws of nature. . . . I think a good case can be made that there are conflicting lines of argument in the Essay. Although Humes official stance seems to be that miracles are logically possible but that there are insurmountable difficulties in justifying belief in their actual occurrence, the claims he makes at several points in attempting to develop his argument imply the stronger conclusion that miracles are logically impossible. It is this conflict between his official stance and what he actually says in attempting to justify it that enables authors such as Johnson to suggest that Humes goals are so confused as to make it impossible to determine what his argument is. What is clear is that, unless he is simply willing to suggest that the concept of a miracle is logically incoherent, Humes talk of firm and unalterable experience as ruling out the possibility of belief in miracles leaves him open to the charge of circularity. . . . [I]t is significant that all the responses made to the Essay during Humes lifetime took him to be arguing the impossibility of testimony justifying belief in miracles, but Hume never suggested that these critics misunderstood the intent of the Essay. . . . Humes silence is inexplicable if he felt that his respondents fundamentally missed the point of the Essay, but makes good sense if he intended to assert that no amount of testimonial evidence could be sufficient to justify accepting a miracle report. That Hume does in fact intend his argument to be taken as an a priori demonstration that belief in a miracle can never, even in principle, be justified on the basis of testimony seems clear. Fogelin is wrong, therefore, to suggest that Lewiss objection that Humes argument is circular can be simply dismissed on the basis that Lewis does not understand what Hume is trying to show. There are conflicting elements of argument in the Essay, but at least some of these strongly suggest that the charge of circularity is well grounded. We have looked at Lewiss explicit criticisms of Humes argument, which occur in Chapter XIII, On Probability. I think, however, that a more important criticism is implicit in Chapter VIII, Miracle and the Laws of Nature. Humes argument in Part I of the Essay can be summarized as follows: The testimonial evidence in favour of a miracle inevitably conflicts with the evidence in favour of the laws of nature. The testimonial evidence in favour of a miracle cannot exceed, even in principle, the evidence in favour of the laws of nature. Therefore, belief in the occurrence of a miracle can never be justified on the grounds of testimonial evidence. Critics of the argument have almost exclusively focussed on the second premise. Accepting Humes claim that a miracle must be conceived as violating the laws of nature and thus that any evidence for a miracle must conflict with the evidence for the laws of nature, they have left the first premise unexamined. This is unfortunate, since accepting the first premise means that even if, contra Hume, there exists in some cases sufficient evidence to justify belief in a miracle, this evidence must be viewed as necessarily conflicting with another body of evidence we are strongly inclined to accept, namely the evidence which justifies belief in the laws of nature. Thus Hume insists that the very same principle of experience which gives us a certain degree of assurance in the testimony of witnesses gives us also, in this case [reports of miracles], another degree of assurance against the fact which they endeavour to establish; from which contradiction there necessarily arises a counterpoise and mutual destruction of belief and authority. The view that a necessary condition of an event being a miracle is that it violates the laws of nature, arises out of the assumption that divine interventions in nature would necessarily involve violating the laws of nature. One of Lewiss greatest insights is that this assumption is mistaken. That it is mistaken can be seen if one reflects on the fact that laws of nature do not, by themselves, allow the prediction or explanation of any event. Scientific explanations must make reference not only to laws of nature, but to material conditions to which the laws apply. Thus, although we often speak as though the laws of nature are, in themselves, sufficient to explain the occurrence of an event, this is not really so. Any explanation involving the laws of nature must make reference not only to those laws, but also to the actual stuff of nature whose behaviour is described by the laws of nature. As Lewis notes, we are in the habit of talking as if they [the laws of nature] caused events to happen; but they have never caused any event at all. The laws of motion do not set billiard balls moving: they analyse the motion after something else (say, a man with a cue, or a lurch of the liner, or, perhaps, supernatural power) has provided it. They produce no events: they state the pattern to which every eventif only it can be induced to happenmust conform, just as the rules of arithmetic state the pattern to which all transactions with money must conformif only you can get hold of any money. Thus in one sense the laws of Nature cover the whole field of space and time; in another, what they leave out is precisely the whole real universethe incessant torrent of actual events which makes up true history. That must come from somewhere else. To think the laws can produce it is like thinking that you can create real money by simply doing sums. For every law, in the last resort, says If you have A, then you will get B. But first catch your A: the laws wont do it for you. If we keep in mind this basic distinction between the laws of nature and the stuff, call it mass/energy, whose behaviour they describe, it can be seen that, although a miracle is an event which would never have occurred without the overriding of nature, this in no way entails the claim that a miracle involves a violation of the laws of nature. If a transcendent agent creates or annihilates a unit of mass/energy, or if he simply causes some of the stuff to occupy a different position than it did formerly, then he changes the material conditions to which the laws of nature apply. He thereby produces an event that nature on its own would not have produced, but He breaks no laws of nature. To use Lewiss example, one would not violate or suspend the laws of motion if one were to toss an extra billiard ball into a group of billiard balls in motion on a billiard table, yet one would override the outcome of what would otherwise be expected to happen on the table. Similarly, if God creates a miraculous spermatozoon in the body of a virgin, it does not proceed to break any laws. The laws at once take it over. . . . Pregnancy follows, according to all the normal laws, and nine months later a child is born. . . . If events ever come from beyond Nature altogether she will . . . [not be] incommoded by them__ The moment they enter her realm they obey all her laws. Miraculous wine will intoxicate, miraculous conception will lead to pregnancy, inspired books will suffer all the ordinary processes of textual corruption, miraculous bread will be digested. The divine art of miracle is not an art of suspending the pattern to which events conform but of feeding new events into that pattern. It does not violate the laws proviso, If A, then B: it says, But this time instead of A, A2 and Nature, speaking through all her laws, replies, Then B2 and naturalises the immigrant, as she well knows how. The importance of Lewiss insight is that if miracles can occur without violating the laws of nature then the testimonial evidence in favour of miracles need not be conceived as conflicting with the evidence which grounds belief in the laws of nature. This means that Humes argument in Part I of the Essay, depending as it does upon the assumption that these two bodies of evidence must conflict, cannot even get started. ***** Near death experiences are thus not miracles since there is a host of credible scientific explanations and mechanism to explain them. Cool. Please explain to me, then, specifically how these people can give accurate details of what was happening when they were unconscious and in a state of temporary death. Id be most curious to see what you can come up with. You claim there are explanations. Very well, then, document these and/or summarize them, so we can see how strong the con arguments are. Why would I need to do that? As we have established before an unknown event or phenomenon is not a miracle. Plus, considering that neither you or I are medical doctors who are perfectly fluent when it comes down to reading and understanding in depth neurochemical models or the fine point of anesthesiology, I think we will hit the limits of our respective knowledge and education well before we can actually make a sound evaluations of the neurochemical models for explaining NDE. None of my arguments will be mathematical . . . The presence of fakery doesnt disprove real events, anymore than counterfeit money disproves real money. There have been, for example many fake Bigfoot stunts. If they ever find a body of one of these things and prove their existence with hard evidence, then at that point it would be clear that the fakers never disproved Bigfoot, because it would have actually been proven to exist. I actually dont need to explain this. An unexplained event is not a miracle. But its consistent with a possibility of it being a miracle, Absolutely not. A possibility is something that can happen. Possibilities are things that have either already happened in the past as a matter of fact or things that can be shown mathematically to be capable of occurring by use of probabilities. Its possible for me to roll a 1000 sixes in a row with single correctly balanced six-faces dice. The likeliness of such an event is so infinitesimal we would call this impossible in everyday languages, but I can show you that even though this never happened as a matter of fact in recorded history that its possible by the use of mathematics. A possibility is not something that is conceived or fantasized. Its something that can be demonstrated. Everybody can imagine all sort of explanation and depending on how you present them you can make them plausible. Lies, frauds, tricks, sophistries, fabulations etc. are all plausible things. Plus explanations to unexplained, rare and bizarre events tend to be equally esoteric and thus anything and everything may seem believable when faced with such bizarre events. Thus believable in such circumstances is such a low bar to clear it might as well be completely meaningless. If something thought to be impossible happens, any explanation, no matter how ridiculous can sound believable. . . . just as the notion of a God Who put into motion the Big Bang is consistent with Big Bang Theory (Im not saying that the latter proves God). Nothing in that scenario would be inconsistent. God would have started the ball in motion so to speak, whereas atheists dont have the slightest clue how or why it started, and what caused it. They rule out God by definition, which is incoherent and a category mistake, since science deals with matter, and cant speak to the question of an immaterial God. The fact remains, moreover, that the Bible taught creatio ex nihilo thousands of years ago, and it turns out to be correct. A supernatural event is not necessarily a miracle either since miracles are only a subset of supernatural events. It suffice not to claim that science, at this moment, cannot explain such phenomenon to claim they are miracles. I am perfectly fine with granting you the fact that at Lourdes there were numerous unexplained by medicine healing events recorded prior to 1976. Can you prove that this was done by a deity and not some other supernatural or natural means? Its not a matter of proving everything. Thats kindergarten philosophy. The question is which explanation that we can give at present is more plausible, and whether the phenomena are consistent with a possible divine, Christian explanation. The cures at Lourdes fit that bill, and as I argued earlier, the fact that they happened to (usually) believers who went there seeking God, is quite consistent with a view that God performed the miracles. In other words they didnt happen randomly to folks on the street. Cases of spontaneous healing have been observed in all sorts of places and in various circumstances. We have cases of spontaneous healing all over the world and in various settings too. The overwhelming majority of those cases are very poorly known and recorded though. Lourdes has the advantage of being a place famous for its healing property so people pay extra attention to it and study it a bit more closely. It was even so before Christianity arrived in the region since remains of a temple dedicated to a water deity were found there. Meanwhile, science cant explain them. And thats exactly what we would expect of a real miracle. But we cant convince an atheist of anything like this. Your prior biases and hostile premises simply dont allow it. I knew you would simply blow these off with a few words, as if there is nothing here that is worthy of the slightest consideration. Its all fake or irrelevant. But I will challenge you to do more than merely that. You dont get off that easily. How do you explain an incorrupt body? Its not as simple as spewing out mummification: for the simple reason that it can easily be determined if there was any mummification applied or not. If not, then there goes your quick, elegant supposed disproof. You have to explain this unnatural thing. We say God did it and that it is a miracle, and that it correlates with these people being saints. And you say? Mummification processes are numerous and not all are well known (I am talking here about natural mummification not the ceremonial one developed by the Egyptians or ours). Do you know if any of those bodies were analyzed by teams of experts in such processes and the conditions in which the body were kept closely monitored? I personally doubt you have access to such detailed information. Also its entirely possible that in those bodies there is something to learn about natural mummification processes. Its not like we know everything about the decomposition processes either. By studying rare and well preserved body we know actually get to know more about these processes and circumstances. In the end though, saying this is consistent with miracles means absolutely nothing since there are no known miracles attested as facts we can base ourselves to make such a statement. How can you know the difference between an unknown phenomenon and a miracle exactly? Also there is still the good old fashion hoaxes as a possible venue for explanation. We know that the Catholic Church has a long history of producing hoaxes like these, the Shroud of Turin being the most famous. Can we discount the idea that those bodies are actually wax or silicone statues (or some similar props like the one used for Lenins body). Has there been genuine forensic research on them at all like there was for the Shroud? I could not find any for the cases you presented. A body in the morgue preserved for such a short period of time has no time to decompose. Medgar Evers body was examined in 1991. He died in 1963. So were talking about 28 years (theres some high math fer ya). Nice try. Thats true and his body was very well preserved, but it was clearly decomposing at that point. Note that while his decomposition process was slow it wasnt exactly completely marvelous either. In an oxygen deprived or sealed coffin and embalmed body can decompose very, very slowly. In the link bellow you will see a short pdf that discusses his autopsy in 1991. [link] You will also see pictures of other bodies exhumed for autopsy. While his body is surprisingly well preserved, it does show some signs of decomposition around his mouth and right cheek and is fairly comparable the young women in the picture bellow (skin discoloration shows much better on pale skin than black skin though, especially with black and white photography of fairly low quality and even worst reprograhy). There is even a spectacularly well preserved corpse of a woman who has been intombed for 145 years and represent an excellent case of low oxygen decomposition. You did provide some good counter-argumentation as to the incorruptibles. Kudos. *** Why the hell are [you] arguing against Humes work? How does this long, long post respond to any of my point or argument? Do you want to provide a new definition of miracle than the following: a surprising and welcomed event/phenomenon that is not explainable by natural or scientific laws and is the work of a divine agency? Would you like to provide another definition than this one? My entire argument relies on this definition of the term though. As I made very clear in all of my references to Hume, his is the classic argument against miracles, that atheists think is so compelling. In fact, it is not at all, and has very basic flaws, as my article shows. It shows why I say you havent proven the proposition that no miracle could ever possibly take place. You havent come within a million miles of it. The extremity of the claim makes it virtually impossible to prove. I did not present Hume argument against miracle though. While we arrive at a similar conclusion, I did not formulate my argument like he did. Dont you want to attack my argument and force me to defend it? What specifically in my argument do you want me to defend? You could have chosen to argue for the proposition: no purported miracle I have yet read about provides sufficient proof of extraordinary divine intervention. Then you could just do the atheist hyper-rationalistic, relentlessly and irrationally skeptical routine, as you are currently doing with my examples. Well if you want to demonstrate the possibility of a X, you need to either prove X occurred for certain in the past, is happening right now or provide mathematical models that demonstrate that X can happen. Thats what everybody has to do. Is it long and hard? It can be. The more elusive and mysterious a thing the harder it is. The problem you have created yourself was to define the divine as a transcendental being that cannot be ascertained, studied or observed. The transcendental nature of the divine means the divine is believed to be both impossible and real at the same time; thats what transcendental do. Since the divine is impossible; it cannot be. Only faith can make the divine be. A pantheist would have smashed my argument to pieces in two seconds as would a Sun worshiper. These theists would have no problem to demonstrate any number of miracles, but you dont have the luxury of their position. Deists and some pantheists could also argue the same position than me too; its not specifically an atheist thing either. But your burden is to prove that no miracle can ever happen, or has ever happened. My article about Hume destroys that, because its based on Hume. Thats basically where atheists got this notion. Your definition is fine, and perfectly harmonious with that of Lewis and Larmer. Glad to hear it. Then my defense and position stands. *** Atheists have a bad habit of always challenging theists to the hilt and then wilting whenever they are asked to provide a superior explanation. Were always forced to explain; you guys never seem to have to do so. Seems a bit unbalanced, wouldnt you agree? That doesnt really matter either. I have made a defense of my position clear I believe. I dont see why I would need to demonstrate any explanation as to what scientific explanation NDE have or spontaneous healing events or any other phenomenon of the sort. These phenomenon could easily be classified as unknown and unexplained phenomenon and my conclusion that miracles are not possible would still stand strong as I have explained in my second post. If I had argued that science can explain everything, I would indeed have to defend scientific explanations for these phenomenon, but I am not an idiot and I do not defend such position thus I dont have to do it. Youre the one who made the statement, there is a host of credible scientific explanations and mechanism to explain them. Okay. Unless that statement has no substance, then you can go get some of these explanations and present them to me. You dont have to be an expert; you merely have to cite experts (just as I cited a philosopher to critique Hume on miracles). Tell me what they are saying, by presenting some of these explanations. Im not even asking about the heaven experiences; only the ones where they knew what was happening when they were dead. I already did. Did you read the article on Wikipedia on NDE? It does contain a summary of the carious explanations offered by medical science so far. What do you think about the neurochemical model for explanation of NDE? Though, before you answer, I have to ask again, whats the point of it? *** Looks like were pretty much done, then. Weve presented our cases and the dialogue is rapidly breaking down. Let the open-minded and fair-minded reader make up their own minds. We can have more debates in the future. Thanks for your willingness to do so. It was fun! *** Post-debate discussion took place in a separate forum thread. The debate exhausted itself. He kept refusing to answer my questions and he apparently thinks I am not answering his. He didnt even see the point of my long critique of Hume, whereas I think it is central to the entire discussion, so we were at great odds even concerning what we were debating. When that happens its time to move on. The atheists will say I lost and ran no matter what happened in it. Thats not my concern. I couldnt care less about the inevitable reactions. I wanted a good presentation of both sides for my blog, and I got that. Christians will say I won the debate. Thats how it always is. Occasionally a person comes around who thinks the person who argued against his own position provided a better case. Those are the only interesting cases: the ones who are willing to at least entertain an opposing position. I think Dave Armstrong is disappointed because what it seems he really wanted to have is not so much a philosophical argument about the possibility of miracles, but a debate and an expose on the capacity of atheists to explain, using natural and scientific laws and principle various events many have attributed to miracles like the Lourdes cases of miraculous healing, the bodies that dont rot as well as NDE (even though they are not miraculous in nature per say). I think that this is a very different kind of debate though. I did not formulate an argument that relied on explanations of mysterious phenomenon or pseudo-probability akin to: this half-baked scientific explanation is more probable than magic thus I win!. Thus, the debate went side-way really fast. I wanted the first of your two choices above, of course. My view is that David Humes argument against miracles is so fundamental that it must be addressed at least acknowledged in any general debate on miracles. But you thought it wasnt even relevant. That explains in a nutshell what happened here. It turns out that we didnt agree what was important to discuss. No one in philosophy that Im aware of questions that Humes treatment is the classic one, and what needs to be addressed by any proponent of miracles. So I did. But you didnt want to touch my critique of it via C.S. Lewis. I brought up my five examples of miracles precisely because you asked me to do so. That is, I was actually answering your counter-replies . . . My original idea was not to bring them up at all, because I suspected that once they were brought up, that would be all that was talked about, and thats precisely what happened. This was what made it go off the rails. I wanted to primarily discuss premises and Hume. I always go after initial premises, as a socratic in method. But because you asked me to give examples, I did, and that was my mistake in retrospect. I should have refused. I think [Dave] is much more comfortable in argumentative essay format than debates; it might also be a case of being out of practice. We ended up just talking past each other, which is very common in atheist-Christian attempted dialogues and debates. *** Deesse23 wrote: One does not just posit that miracles are possible because no one has proven them to be impossible. Actually that was the core of the debate and of my only actual argument. I made an attempt at proving that miracles were impossible, but it relied on defining possible as something that happened as a matter of fact in the past or something that can be shown mathematically to be possible. It also relied on defining miracle as a surprising and welcomed event/phenomenon that is not explainable by natural or scientific laws and is the work of a divine agency. Since there is no event in the past that is considered as a matter of fact that matches this definition nor any way to mathematically show them as possible, I thus declare miracles as impossible. The problem that Dave immediately encountered is that he didnt argue against the argument, but instead fell face first in its smoke screen. He immediately tried to prove that miracles happen which is impossible to do due to how he, as a Catholic, defines the divine. He then got quickly frustrated at my refusal to provide accurate scientific explanations for miracles (which I did not needed to do for my argument to stand) and by his failure to prove miracles (he knows he cannot prove them). What Dave seemed to have wanted is to have the luxury of playing the skeptical position for once because its much easier. He wanted someone to make a positive claim and then poke holes in it using the Socratic method. Basically he wanted a debate in which he could not lose because the other party would have such a heavy burden of proof no matter their genius and erudition, they would never be able to carry it. He did not expect a simple semantic argument and completely fail to force me to justify my definitions. Worst, when I basically asked him if he wanted to contest my definition of miracle at post 16; he refused and accepted it fully at post 19 thus signing his failure. Ironically, I believe that a theist with a little bit more education when it comes to theology and philosophy like SteveII for example, would not have fallen for my little trick and would have been able to poke holes in my definitions and basically have the easy debate you virtually cant lose that Dave wanted. He basically admitted in post 26 of this very thread that he wanted to debate someone who was basically defending two of the most stupid and weak argument anybody could present against miracles; the sort of argument an arrogant 16 years old atheists would have made. You needed to deal with Hume and my critique of Hume via Larmer & Lewis. You refused. You didnt even see the relevance of it. Thats the debate at the level of fundamental premise, which is what I was interested in. We apparently misunderstood each other as to exactly what we were debating. You say that I immediately tried to prove that miracles happen. As I already noted, this was not my original intention at all. It wasnt the essence of my argument. I wanted to see you prove your contention. I dont think miracles can be proved: certainly not to any atheists satisfaction. I simply provided some examples when you asked me to do so, because I actually respond to my opponents challenges (Im weird that way). But that was my tactical mistake, as I see it (especially in retrospect, given these new revelations about yourself), because it enabled you to sidetrack the discussion to the usual atheist polemic thats all my example were fakery and only an idiot would believe in them, etc., rather than deal with your contention that miracles are impossible. I knew better than that, because I knew from long and almost universal experience that atheists always want to throw the ball into our court and never have to defend their root premises. Its the pathetic game that they play; relentless double standards. You were simply employing debating tricks, as you now admit (little tricks). I, on the other hand, was trying to have a serious philosophical discussion, and to do that with regard to miracles, one has to address Hume. You refused. Because of that, there was nowhere to go with the discussion, so I left it. I refuse to be subjected to a double standard of having to always defend, while the atheist never has the burden of defending his position. One doesnt do serious philosophy by utilizing debating tricks. Its a search for truth. The word means, literally, love of wisdom. At best, all I could hope to achieve (and this was my goal) was to get you to admit that you cant rationally claim that all miracles are impossible. To do so entails no downfall of your atheism, so there is nothing at stake. You would simply assume an agnostic position towards miracles. But I guess thats too much to ask. Most atheists are far too dogmatic to ever admit that. To me its pretty clear that they have to. You can continue the postmortem if you like. You know youll have almost 100% support here. Again, philosophy is not about cheerleading and groupthink. Its about ascertaining what we can establish by virtue of reason and logic alone. Now that you have openly admitted that you were using a smokescreen and a trick, this proves that you employed sophistry and that you werent interested in a serious debate. My mistake was in assuming in charity that you were. But you now reveal your motives and your tactics. I wouldnt have thought this. Thanks at least for the transparent honesty. You explain a lot, and my readers will see what you have done here, too. * ***** * Practical Matters: Perhaps some of my 4,500+ free online articles (the most comprehensive one-stop Catholic apologetics site) or fifty-five books have helped you (by Gods grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. Im always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. The laborer is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog. PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. Heres also a second page to get to PayPal. Youll see the term Catholic Used Book Service, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information. Thanks a million from the bottom of my heart! * *** Photo credit: Socrates by Leonidas Drosis, at the Academy of Athens [Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] Summary: I engaged an atheist in debate about whether miracles have occurred, or ever can occur. It was good for a while, but then we disagreed on what should be discussed. The management of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has opened the portal for applications from businesses and job seekers in the country to participate in its Business and Employment Assistance Programme (BEAP). Interested entities are obliged to submit their applications through the YEA portal at www.yea.gov.gh or apply.yea.gov.gh. According to a statement by the YEA, this initiative is to assist Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with the opportunity to enhance their businesses and generate additional employment. "This announcement follows management's decision to expedite the registration process, ensuring prompt enrollment of jobseekers and providing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) the opportunity to enhance their businesses and generate additional employment. This initiative reaffirms the Agency's commitment to encouraging eligible MSMEs to participate in the programme. "It aligns with the formal introduction and launch of the YEA Business and Employment Assistance Support Programme (BEAP), aimed at aiding businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The YEA's objective is rooted in its mandate to assist MSMEs that experienced a decline in turnovers post-pandemic, leading to layoffs. The goal is to help these businesses rehire employees, bring in new talent, and equip them with the necessary skills for productivity", portions of the statement read. Read full statement below: YEA ANNOUNCES CONTINUED OPENING OF BEAP PORTAL FOR BUSINESS APPLICATIONS The Management of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) is pleased to notify the public, especially the business community and companies interested in participating in the Business and Employment Assistance Programme (BEAP), that the portal remains accessible for business applications. The portal is also available for jobseekers seeking opportunities with any of the beneficiary companies across various sectors of the economy. Interested jobseekers, potential employers, and businesses can submit their applications through the YEA portal at www.yea.gov.gh or apply.yea.gov.gh. This announcement follows management's decision to expedite the registration process, ensuring prompt enrollment of jobseekers and providing Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) the opportunity to enhance their businesses and generate additional employment. This initiative reaffirms the Agency's commitment to encouraging eligible MSMEs to participate in the programme. It aligns with the formal introduction and launch of the YEA Business and Employment Assistance Support Programme (BEAP), aimed at aiding businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The YEA's objective is rooted in its mandate to assist MSMEs that experienced a decline in turnovers post-pandemic, leading to layoffs. The goal is to help these businesses rehire employees, bring in new talent, and equip them with the necessary skills for productivity. Under the Agency's disbursement plan, each beneficiary MSME is expected to hire an average of two (2) employees, including those previously laid off. These employees will receive a monthly allowance of GHS500 as a supplement to their remuneration package from employers, lasting for a 12-month period. For further clarification or inquiries, please contact Miss Adoma Odoom, at 0241777600, or Mr. Joseph Bannerman , at 0570410749 YEA remains steadfast in its commitment to youth employment and the overall development of MSMEs, aiming to expand and create more meaningful opportunities for the youth. ISSUED BY: CORPORATE AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has announced that tie-breaking elections will be held on January 9, 2024, to resolve the identical vote count issue that occurred during the District Level Elections held on December 19, 2023. The tie-breaking elections will take place at the polling stations where the ties in votes were recorded. In a press release signed by the Acting Head of Public Affairs, Michael Boadu, the EC stated that 20 Electoral Areas for Assembly Members and 41 Electoral Areas for Unit Committee Members across the country had produced the same results for the contestants. As a result, the run-off elections have been deemed necessary in order to determine the winners in these specific Electoral Areas. According to the Electoral Commission, the decision to conduct tie-breaking elections is in accordance with the District Level Elections Regulations of 2015 (C.I. 89). The regulations state that in the event of a tie, a run-off election must be conducted to break the deadlock and determine the winner. The District Level Elections, which took place on December 19 to elect assembly members and unit committee members, saw a disappointingly low turnout. However, it appears that in some instances, candidates received an equal number of votes, prompting the need for additional voting to decide the winners. The ECs announcement has sparked both curiosity and anticipation among the affected candidates and their supporters. With the tie-breaking elections scheduled to take place at all polling stations where ties were recorded, voters in these specific Electoral Areas will have another opportunity to cast their ballots and potentially influence the outcome. As the nation gears up for the upcoming tie-breaking elections, all candidates and voters are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the electoral regulations and engage in peaceful and fair campaigning. The Electoral Commission remains committed to ensuring a transparent and democratic process in resolving the tied results and determining the winners in the affected Electoral Areas. Source: dailyguidenetwork.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video In a powerful speech delivered at the commemorative anniversary of the 31st December Revolution, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for a thorough house cleaning within the party if it is serious to wrestle power from the ruling party. Kwetey highlighted the presence of gross decadence and decay within the NDC, asserting that this issue was larger than the rival party, New Patriotic Party (NPP) but nobody appears to care about it and it is creeping deep in the party. Kwetey emphasized the urgency of addressing the internal decay within the NDC, stating that victory in the upcoming 2024 elections would be meaningless if the same issues persisted. There is real decay and that decay continues to be in the NDC today. So, I dont want us the NDC to pretend that 31st (December) is simply a day to bash NPP, (the) NPP is not the issue, the issue is bigger than NPP. The decay even within the NDC must stop with that blazing fire and that is what this business is about, he cried out to the hearing of all the masses gathered. He urged party members to confront the problem head-on, stating, It is in vain if we win power only to continue what we see, only to do some of the things that we are seeing, and only to claim we are doing less, that is not enough. These remarks by Fifi Kwetey have resonated with former Deputy General Secretary, Samuel Koku Anyidoho, who has claimed vindication over his previous assertions that the party was suffering from moral decadence. Anyidoho suggested that his alleged expulsion from the party was due to similar calls for reform. He challenged current Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and party leader John Dramani Mahama to take action against Kwetey, pointing out that Asiedu Nketiah oversaw his own expulsion process. The comments made by Kwetey and Anyidoho have stirred up discussions within the NDC, with many members questioning the partys internal accountability and integrity. Party leaders are now under increased pressure to address the concerns raised by Kwetey and take appropriate action to restore the NDCs credibility. The 31st December Revolution, which took place in 1981, marked the re-emergence of former President Jerry John Rawlings as a military leader. This significant event serves as a reminder of the historical importance of the NDC and underpins the urgency for internal reform within the party. As the NDC moves forward, it remains to be seen how party leaders will respond to these allegations of decadence and whether decisive action will be taken to address the internal issues highlighted by Kwetey. The upcoming 2024 elections are crucial for the NDC, and the partys ability to clean house and present a united front may determine its chances of success. Source: dailyguidenetwork.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video DHAKA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Sporadic clashes have been reported after general elections began on Sunday morning in Bangladesh, in which local media reported a person was stabbed to death. A supporter for a ruling Awami League candidate was stabbed to death allegedly by supporters of an independent candidate at Tengor in Mirkadim of Munshiganj's Sadar upazila on Sunday morning, the Financial Express reported, citing a local police official. According to the report, supporters of the independent candidate attacked the victim and stabbed him with a sharp weapon at around 9:45 a.m. local time, leaving him dead. On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Another clash broke out between police and the members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Chattogram, the Dhaka Tribune reported. The altercation began as at least 20 to 25 BNP members tried to bring out a procession to enforce their 48-hour-long hartal in the port city, and police tried to stop them. Local media also reported a local AL leader in Munshiganj was found dead with stab wounds to the back of his head near a local polling center about one and a half hours after the vote began. A repeat winner in a Pennsylvania Farm Show baking contest has earned another blue ribbon. Lucinda Donough, of Juniata County, won first place Saturday in the Blue Ribbon Apple Pie contest. Her recipe included a filling made with seven cups of sliced apples topped with a crust and decorated with an apple blossom. Donough and her family have won countless Farm Show baking contests through the years She took home a $500 prize. Second place went to Marie Miller, of Cumberland County, and third place to Cindy Hendershot of Catasauqua. The contests are an annual tradition during the Farm Show, which runs through Jan. 13 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg. Along with apple pies, judges scrutinize chocolate cakes and angel food cakes. Contestants compete at county and community fairs to become eligible to compete on the statewide level at the Farm Show. Heres Donoughs prize-winning recipe: Crust: Makes two crusts. 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons shortening 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar 1/3 cup butter 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons ice water Mix together flour, sugar and salt. Add butter and blend until looks like course cornmeal. Add the shortening, blend not quite as much as butter. Add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time until you get a consistency you prefer for rolling out. Place in the refrigerator and let rest while you get the rest of the ingredients together. Filling: 7 cups of sliced apples 1 cup sugar 3-4 1/2 tablespoons flour 4 tablespoons apple juice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon butter Combine sugar, flour and salt and mix. Add to apples. Sprinkle in lemon juice and apple juice or cider. Cut butter into small pieces and add to the filling mixture. Cook until apples are tender. Crumb Topping 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup all purpose flour 1/3 cup chopped pecans 1/3 cup old-fashioned oatmeal 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 cup cold butter Combine dry ingredients. Add butter, cutting in until forms coarse crumbs. Apple Blossom 3 large Pink Lady apples, cored and cut into 1/8-inch thick slices 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons apple pie spice 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided Toss together apples, brown sugar, pie spice, 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Let stand 45 minutes, gently tossing every 15 minutes, until apples slices are soft and pliable. Drain apples, discarding any accumulated juices. Arrange apples in overlapping circular pattern, starting on the outside edge and continuing in a snug spiral shape until you reach the center. Assembly: Fill crust with apple filling. Add top crust, and decorate. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes and 375 for 45 minutes. Remove from oven. Add apple blossom slices and crumb topping. Top with remaining salt and sugar. By Julia Frankle, Samy Magdy and Najib Jobainh, The Associated Press JERUSALEM The Israeli military signaled that it has wrapped up major combat in northern Gaza, saying it has completed dismantling Hamas military infrastructure there, as the war against the militant group entered its fourth month Sunday. The military did not address troop deployments in northern Gaza going forward. Its spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said late Saturday that forces would continue to deepen the achievement there, strengthen defenses along the Israel-Gaza border fence and focus on the central and southern parts of the territory. The announcement came ahead of a visit to Israel by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Biden administration officials, including Blinken, have repeatedly urged Israel to wind down its blistering air and ground offensive in Gaza and shift to more targeted attacks against Hamas leaders to prevent harm to Palestinian civilians. In recent weeks, Israel had already been scaling back its military assault in northern Gaza and pressing its offensive in the territorys south, where most of Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians are being squeezed into smaller areas in a humanitarian disaster while being pounded by Israeli airstrikes. The war was triggered by Hamas Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel in which the militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 people hostage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday again insisted the war will not end until the objectives of eliminating Hamas, getting Israels hostages returned and ensuring that Gaza wont be a threat to Israel are met. I say this to both our enemies and our friend, he told his Cabinet. This is our responsibility and this is the obligation of all of us. Israels retaliation by air, land and sea has killed more than 22,700 Palestinians and wounded more than 58,000, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The count of the dead does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Health officials say about two-thirds of those killed have been women and minors. Israel blames Hamas for the heavy civilian casualties because the group operates in heavily populated residential areas. On Sunday, officials at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies of 18 people, including 12 children, who were killed in an Israeli strike late Saturday. More than 50 people were injured in the strike on a home in the Khan Younis refugee camp, which was set up decades ago to house refugees from the 1948 Mideast war over Israels creation and morphed into a neighborhood of the city. An airstrike near the southern city of Rafah killed two journalists on Sunday, including Hamza Dahdouh, the oldest son of Wael Dahdouh, Al-Jazeeras well-known chief correspondent in Gaza, the Arabic channel and local medical officials said. Al-Jazeera broadcast footage of Dahdouf, weeping next to his sons body and holding his hand, before walking away in a daze. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Palestinians look at a car targeted by an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. Two journalists were killed in the strike, Hanza Dahdouh, who worked for Al Jazeera, and a freelance journalist, Mustafa Thuria (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)AP Dahdouh previously lost four other relatives, including his wife, two children and a grandchild, in an Oct. 26 airstrike, and himself was wounded in an Israeli strike last month that killed a co-worker. Another airstrike hit a house between Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, killing at least seven people whose bodies were taken to the nearby European Hospital, according to an Associated Press journalist at the facility. Israeli forces were also pushing deeper into the central city of Deir al-Balah, where on Saturday residents in several neighborhoods were warned in flyers dropped over the city that they must evacuate their homes. The international medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by the acronym MSF, said it was evacuating its medical staff and their families from Deir al-Balahs Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital because of the growing danger. The situation became so dangerous that some staff living in the neighboring areas were not able to leave their houses because of the constant threats of drones and snipers, said Carolina Lopez, the groups emergency coordinator at the hospital. She said a bullet penetrated a wall of the hospitals intensive care unit on Friday, and that drone attacks and sniper fire were just a few hundred meters from the hospital over the past couple of days. The group had about 50 Palestinian and international medical staff in the hospital. Lopez said the hospital has received between 150 and 200 injured people daily in recent weeks. On some days, we have received more dead than injured, she said. No one and nowhere is safe in Gaza. Hagari, the military spokesman, said the scattered fighting in northern Gaza was to be expected, along with rockets sporadically being launched from there toward Israel. He said Hamas no longer operates in an organized manner in the area, but that militants without a framework and without commanders are still present. The military has said it has killed more than 8,000 Hamas fighters, without presenting evidence. Hagari said Israeli forces would act differently in the south than they had in northern Gaza, where heavy bombardment and ground combat leveled entire neighborhoods. He said the urban refugee camps currently being targeted by the military are packed with gunmen and that an underground city of sprawling tunnels was discovered underneath Khan Younis. He said the military is applying the lessons we learned, but did not elaborate. Echoing Israeli political leaders, he said the fighting will continue throughout 2024. His comments about changing the way the forces are fighting appeared to be a nod to Blinken, who is on his fourth Mideast trip in three months. In addition to appeals for scaling back high-intensity combat, Blinken has called for more aid to reach Gaza and urged Israels leaders to come up with a vision for post-war Gaza. Two U.S. senators who inspected aid deliveries over the weekend described a cumbersome process that is slowing relief to the Palestinian population in the besieged territory largely due to Israeli inspections of cargo trucks, with seemingly arbitrary rejections of vital humanitarian equipment. The system to ensure that aid deliveries within Gaza dont get hit by Israeli forces is totally broken, said Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley, both Democrats. Meanwhile, the Biden administration and Netanyahu remain far apart on who should run the territory after the war, with the Israeli leader repeatedly rejecting the Washington-floated idea of having a reformed Palestinian Authority, an autonomy government in parts of the occupied West Bank, eventually administer Gaza. In a further complication of Blinkens mission, a new escalation of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah has put strains on a U.S. push to prevent a regional conflagration. Saturdays fighting was described by Hezbollah as an initial response to the targeted killing of a top Hamas leader in a Hezbollah stronghold of the Lebanese capital of Beirut last week. The strike was presumed to have been carried out by Israel. Magdy reported from Cairo and Jobain from Rafah, Gaza Strip. Find more of APs coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war By Max Marin, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) PHILADELPHIA Earlier this year, Yair Lev was trying to organize Jews to speak out against Benjamin Netanyahus Israeli government and draw attention to its right-wing backers in the Philadelphia region. The Israeli American doctor at Jefferson Health always had an activist streak, but his mission changed on Oct. 7. He suddenly found himself tapping into his grassroots network to rally the regions Jewish community behind Israel to grieve the 1,200 killed in the Hamas attack, to support the war against Hamas, and more recently, to combat the rise of antisemitism that he sees spreading from college campuses to medical institutions. The community started bubbling like a kettle of hot water, and we all said, Were not going to accept this, said Lev, 47. In the first 80 days of war, Lev and his network have continued to promote solidarity behind Israel in the region despite widening international division over the siege in Gaza. Community leaders have pushed for university leadership changes, met with lawmakers, screened Hamas massacre footage, organized a Shabbat vigil for Israeli hostages, and hosted numerous Oct. 7 survivors and their families, some of whom have ties to the region. On top of that, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has raised more than $14 million for Israel, contributing to a stunning show of financial support from Jewish people in the United States that topped $1 billion in the first month of the war. The scale is really unprecedented, said Lila Corwin Berman, a professor of Jewish studies at Temple University who studies Jewish philanthropy. Distinct from the billions in U.S. government aid to Israel each year, the donation boom has been highly personal: Its about feeling a sense of emotional connection to that place, and translating that into dollars. This pro-Israel advocacy comes amid amplified concerns over antisemitic attacks in a region that is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the country. Reports of harassment targeting both Jewish and Muslim residents have risen sharply. Bomb threats have targeted Jewish institutions and synagogues including a threat to the Jewish Federations office in Center City during Hanukkah, according to president and CEO Michael Balaban. Weve had to increase security everywhere, Balaban said. Even with menorah lightings, weve advised our groups to consider whether we can do these things publicly or revert to more private settings to be more secure. The pro-Palestinian community has held more than 60 demonstrations in Philadelphia since the war began. While supporters of Israel have rallied against antisemitism both here and in Washington, public protest has never been its primary mode of advocacy, a fact that scholars attribute to the decades-old alliance that the United States has had with the Middle Eastern nation. The Jewish Federation and other pro-Israel organizations have not taken that support for granted. They continue to strengthen ties with elected officials and other leaders at a time when polls show public support waning for Israels military campaign. The growing civilian death toll in Gaza with women and children comprising more than two-thirds of the estimated 21,000 Palestinians killed by Israel, according to the Gaza health ministry has deepened scrutiny into a military offensive that Israel now plans to expand deeper within the blockaded Palestinian territory. Survivors of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel: Hila Fakliro, left, Shani Teshuva, Rony Kissin and her husband, Ofer Kissin, share their stories of survival with the group at the Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. (Elizabeth Robertson/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)TNS The pro-Israel faction continues to reject calls for a cease-fire, including from a vocal group within the Jewish community. Disagreements aside, Lev argued that the fight against antisemitism has unified large swathes of the Jewish community across ideological and religious lines. Its a silver lining, he said. I see a really powerful community emerging out of this community in terrible times. See it with your own eyes They spoke of miracles that saved their lives. For Hila Fakliro, it was the split-second decision to not flee by car from the Nova music festival where she was bartending on Oct. 7, avoiding an ambush that killed hundreds. Shani Teshuva said a 10-minute delay to her morning bike ride through Kibbutz Zikim spared her from a barrage of rockets. For Ofer and Rony Kissin, it was the bravery of neighbors in Kerem Shalom who fought off Hamas militants and saved their small community from greater devastation. I dont know how many miracles I can count, Fakliro, 26, said earlier this month in Wynnewood. The four Israeli nationals came to the Philadelphia region to share their harrowing accounts of survival with a dozen elected officials and faith leaders. The purpose of such visits, organizers said, is to counter distortions about the Oct. 7 attack and reaffirm the need for American backing in the war. The U.S. and Israel have to stick together, Teshuva, 44, told an audience that included U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, State Sens. Anthony Hardy Williams and Sharif Street, and State Rep. Greg Scott. Last month, the Jewish Federation hosted the Israel Defense Forces to screen raw footage of the killings at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. The only way to grasp the totality is to see it with your own eyes, IDF Col. Amnon Shefler, a military spokesperson, told a crowd of about 100 elected officials, community leaders, and journalists. The footage was largely taken by Hamas militants and showed the murder of at least 130 Israelis in graphic detail. Attendees gasped throughout the 43-minute screening. Several audibly wept. Others left early. Misha Galperin, the outgoing director at the Weitzman museum, called it a necessary reminder of the historic atrocities against the Jewish people at a time when he believed that many have downplayed the severity of Hamas threat. This has happened to us for millennia now, he said. We have to be able to explain to people that the narrative in public view has been turned on its head. Some leaders have called for more public displays of unity behind Israel such as the Dec. 10 rally against antisemitism at Congregation Rodeph Shalom. But for others, the sorrow of war continues to be a private affair. When one is grieving it doesnt necessarily give rise to outward protest marches, said Marc Zucker, chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association and a board member of the Jewish Federations public affairs council. It gives rise to inward grief. That grief includes sympathy for Palestinian civilians, he added. For many of Israels supporters in the region, giving has felt like the only way to help. The Jewish Federations of North America have raised more than $711 million for 300 partner organizations providing aid in Israel 70% more than their next-largest fundraising campaign during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War. But smaller institutions, businesses, and grief-stricken individuals have organized their own fundraisers, as well. South Philly resident Eli Sable, 35, and his brother Jeremy, who lives in Tel Aviv, started a grassroots campaign called " Brotherly Love Fund to buy noncombat essentials for army reservists and other Israelis displaced by the war, from baby supplies to thermal clothing. Putting a face and a name (to the cause) motivates people to donate Sable said. Were just average people who want to do something. But the Jewish community is not a monolith when it comes to Israel. Such groups as Jewish Voice for Peace which describes itself as the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world have staged dozens of pro-Palestinian protests nationwide and denounced Israels military offensive. Benaya Yehuda kisses 21-month-old Yarid as they march from City Hall to Independence Hall with the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia on Oct. 16, 2023. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)TNS Our tradition, as Jews and as human beings, teaches us that we must condemn that and that we must stop death, and that is what we are trying to do, said Dani Noble, 32, a JVP organizer in Philadelphia, hours before activists were arrested for blocking traffic during a cease-fire demonstration on Dec. 14. Balaban and other pro-Israel leaders dismissed JVPs members as a small but vocal faction of the Jewish community. They remain focused on other problems: antisemitism on college campuses, boycotts against businesses owned by Israelis, vandalism targeting Jewish institutions, and crucially, the question of political support in Washington. The United States was one of just eight nations that rejected a nonbinding United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza, and President Joe Biden has since criticized Israel for putting him in a difficult position. There is always concern, Zucker said. One always worries that friends may lose interest or, worse yet, misunderstand the facts on the ground. 2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Visit at inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Alicia Diaz, Bloomberg News (TNS) President Joe Biden will give his State of the Union address to Congress on March 7, a relatively late date that places the speech after the Super Tuesday primaries and any early 2024 congressional showdown over federal funding. The speech will give Biden a chance to lay out his 2024 agenda as he seeks a second term and potentially to draw a contrast with his likely Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who issued the invitation to Biden in a letter posted to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, said it comes at a moment of great challenge for our country. Biden responded in a post Saturday, saying that he is looking forward to it. Biden and Trump squared off Friday in dueling speeches keyed to the third anniversary of the deadly Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters seeking to prevent lawmakers from certifying Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential election. In last years State of the Union, Biden prioritized calls for unity as a partisan deadlock over the federal debt ceiling threatened a U.S. sovereign default. Several Republicans heckled Biden in 2023 after he claimed that some members of the GOP wanted to cut Medicare and Social Security. Congress remains in negotiations with the White House over legislation to fund the government long-term. Republicans have demanded significant changes to immigration policy before approving any substantial aid overseas, including to allies Ukraine and Israel, as the deadline for a potential government shutdown draws nearer. A Peel Regional Police car is shown in Brampton, Ont., on November 7, 2019. Police west of Toronto believe the 19-year-old victim of a fatal shooting outside a nightclub last weekend was an innocent bystander. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston The New York Times played into Trumps narrative by trying to both sides the 1/6 attack, but reader backlash made them change their headline. Here are the two headlines side by side: The New York Times wrote a cowardly both sides headline and after getting slammed by me and many others rewrote it to make explicit whos lying. pic.twitter.com/7na3H4b6yk Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) January 6, 2024 To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Here is the original New York Times headline: Here is the changed headline: Given the ample evidence of Trumps behavior and what happened during the 1/6 attack, the first headline that the New York Times went with could be considered willfully blind in the most generous interpretation. More realistically, The Times played into the Trump narrative by ignoring facts about the 1/6 attack. Corporate Media Like The New York Times Are Desperate To Have Trump Back In Power Donald Trump was very good business for big corporate media companies. Trump lavished attention on old media dinosaurs like The New York Times and Washington Post. Trumps criticism of corporate media elevated them and increased their profits. With Biden in office, legacy media has hemorrhaged readers, viewers, and subscribers. These corporations need Donald Trump and the danger that he places the country in back in the Oval Office. They dont care about democracy, freedom, facts, or accuracy. Publications like The New York Times are secretly rooting for a Trump win, and their choices are a way to put their thumb on the scale to help Trump in 2024. If you want media that is committed to democracy and truth, please consider donating to PoliticusUSA. [paypal-donation] Special Counsel Jack Smith has details from Trumps own aides about the former presidential refusal to stop the 1/6 attack. Trumps Own White House Aides Gave Jack Smith Damning Evidence Against Trump ABC News reported: New details also come from the Smith teams interviews with other White House advisers and top lawyers who despite being deposed in the congressional probe previously declined to answer questions about Trumps own statements and demeanor on Jan. 6, 2021, according to publicly released transcripts of their interviews in that probe. Sources said Scavino told Smiths investigators that as the violence began to escalate that day, Trump was just not interested in doing more to stop it. To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Sources also said former Trump aide Nick Luna told federal investigators that when Trump was informed that then-Vice President Mike Pence had to be rushed to a secure location, Trump responded, So what? which sources said Luna saw as an unexpected willingness by Trump to let potential harm come to a longtime loyalist. The Evidence That Jack Smith Is Accumulating Is Devastating For Trump The media and Republicans can continue to pretend that 1/6 and the attack on democracy wont be an issue for Trump in 2024, but as details continue to emerge about how Trump led the attack on America and did nothing to stop it, the issue is not going to be going away. Trump needs to win the 2024 election because it appears that the special counsel is putting together a tight case against him for his efforts to illegally stay in power after losing the 2020 election. Going back to the White House may literally be Donald Trumps get-out-of-jail card, and depending on how fast Trumps immunity claim is decided, the former president could be a convicted felon before Election Day. A Special Message From PoliticusUSA If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here. We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value. [paypal-donation] GAZA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Two journalists were killed and another journalist was injured on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike targeting their vehicle in the southern Gaza Strip, according to Hamas media office. In a statement, the office identified the two journalists as Hamza Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya, whose car was targeted by an Israeli bombing during their press coverage in Rafah in the far south of the Palestinian enclave. Hamza Al-Dahdouh was the eldest son of Al Jazeera correspondent Wael Al-Dahdouh, whose wife and a number of family members were killed in October in an Israeli bombing in the central Gaza Strip. The office condemned "the continuing crimes committed by the Israeli army against journalists, which were aimed at intimidating journalists and attempting to obscure the truth by preventing them from media coverage." The number of journalists killed in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has risen to 109, the statement said, calling on press unions to pressure Israel to stop its attacks against journalists. Aiken Standard Reporter Erin Weeks is a reporter with the Aiken Standard. She covers education in Aiken County. Erin is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Aiken. Her first poetry book, "Origins of My Love," was published by Bottlecap Press in 2022. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers An annual ranking of South Carolina counties makes the rounds among economic development groups each January. But the list that determines how much job-related tax credits a given county can offer ultimately has little impact on where a business decides to invest, according to seasoned industrial recruitment veterans. "After all these years, I really can't name a single project that Charleston County has lost to our neighbors because of that," said Steve Dykes, who's been the economic development director for 30 years. Dykes said he was obsessed with the rankings early in his career, but he now takes them in stride. The S.C. Department of Revenue compiles the list based on growth or decline in personal income and unemployment rates, with each county getting a rank between 1 and 4. The best-performing counties, classified as "Tier I" and "Tier II," are able to offer a lower tax credit because it's assumed they need less help in attracting jobs and employers. Counties at the low end, "Tier III" and "Tier IV," can offer much higher rates as an incentive to lure businesses to less-developed areas. Counties regularly move up and down the rankings, depending on how the numbers shake out from previous three years. This year, for example, Dorchester County moved up to the Tier I list from its Tier II ranking in 2023. It was the opposite case for Berkeley County, now a Tier II location. Charleston County remains among the Tier I group, has it has for decades. "This is the third or fourth time Dorchester County has moved from a Tier I to a Tier II or back in the nine years that I have been here," said John Truluck, who leads the county's industrial recruitment efforts. "I think every one of those times, Berkeley has gone the other direction with us essentially just swapping places." MYRTLE BEACH Vice President Kamala Harris warned of the perils facing American democracy by the GOP and former president Donald Trump during her brief speech in the Grand Strand on the third anniversary of the U.S. Capitol insurrection. On her visit to the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort on Jan. 6, where she spoke at the 7th Episcopal District AME Church Womens Missionary Society annual retreat, Harris emphasized the importance of freedom and democracy and denounced those who participated in the 2021 attacks in Washington, D.C. Hundreds of Trump supporters have already been charged for their role in the attack, including 25 people from South Carolina. Trump also faces 91 criminal charges stemming from his role in trying to overturn the results and three other felony cases, per the Associated Press. In a speech that lasted less than 20 minutes, Harris also denounced conservatives who refer to the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks as a peaceful protest, saying they are "gaslighting" the country. "They used violence and fear to try to overturn the results of a free and fair election, and to overrule the votes of millions of Americans," Harris said, regarding the attacks. "On that day, we saw violence, chaos, and lawlessness, even though some so-called leaders still say it was a peaceful protest led by, quote, great patriots." Major traffic delays are expected in Charleston as President Joe Biden travels to the Holy City to campaign and Mayor-elect William Cogswell gets sworn in during coinciding events less than a mile apart. Both pedestrians and drivers may want to avoid traveling near city hall on Broad Street or the Emanuel AME Church on Calhoun Street on Jan. 8 as several surrounding roads will be closed. Few details about Bidens visit have been made public, but a Jan. 5 statement from the Charleston Police Department said to expect road closures along Interstate 26, Interstate 526, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and several streets on the peninsula as the president travels to and from his destination. All pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be restricted on Calhoun Street between Meeting and East Bay streets while the president is inside the historic church, speaking to potential voters about the stakes of the 2024 election. At noon, Cogswell and six Charleston City Council members will be inaugurated outside City Hall at 80 Broad St. Traffic will be able to flow north and south on Meeting Street until 11:15 a.m., Sgt. Anthony Gibson from the Charleston Police Department said. The following streets will be closed for the inauguration: A Charleston County sheriffs deputy who was involved in a car crash in 2021 that killed two people said under oath that deputies at the agency routinely accelerate beyond 130 miles per hour with little corrective input from supervisors, according to new court filings. Deputy Alan Michael Kendalls comments, which he made during a deposition last month in a wrongful death lawsuit, offer insider details of the workings of the Charleston County Sheriffs Office. The agency faces mounting legal challenges after a slew of deputy-involved wrecks have left six people dead in the past five years, prompted public safety concerns and sparked allegations the department does not adequately train or supervise deputies. Attorneys for the department have denied these allegations in court filings. Kendall and Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano were named as defendants in a wrongful death lawsuit brought last year by the estates of Sandra Eisner, 75, and Sonny Brower, 85. The man and woman died on Jan. 3, 2021, after Brower's vehicle was T-boned by Kendalls squad car at the intersection of U.S. Highway 17 and Beehive Road. The deputy was responding to a domestic disturbance in Awendaw at a speed of 130 miles per hour at the time of the crash. The S.C. Highway Patrol ticketed Kendall for driving too fast for conditions. Charleston County Magistrate Ittriss Jenkins found Kendall not guilty at a bench trial on Feb. 23, 2022, according to court records. When I was in third grade, my teacher had a vegetable tasting day for us. We each brought in a vegetable from home and shared it with our classmates. I remember coming home, excited, and announcing to my mother that I had fallen in love with rutabaga. After a startled moment or two, she sm Read moreStevens: For the love of rutabaga and our children India's space agency ISRO began the year with a bang as its first solar observation mission, Aditya-L1 today (January 6) reached the spot in space from where it will be able to continuously watch the Sun. The country's space agency ISRO had launched it just days after India made history by becoming the first to land near the Moon's south pole through its moon mission Chandrayaan, reported BBC. The spacecraft has been travelling towards the Sun for four months since lift-off on 2 September. India's first space-based mission to study the solar system's biggest object is named after Surya - the Hindu god of the Sun, who is also known as Aditya. L1 stands for Lagrange point 1 - the exact place between the Sun and Earth where the spacecraft has now reached. L1 is located 1.5 million km from the Earth, which is 1% of the Earth-Sun distance. Space agency Isro launched it just days after India made history by becoming the first to land near the Moon's south pole. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the mission was "a landmark" and an "extraordinary feat". Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr Modi said: "It is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists in realising among the most complex and intricate space missions." The final manoeuvre was performed on Saturday at around 16:00 India time (10:30 GMT) to place Aditya in L1's orbit, the Times of India reported. Isro chief S Somanath previously told the BBC that the agency would trap the craft in orbit and would occasionally need to perform more manoeuvres to keep it in place. Once Aditya-L1 reaches this "parking spot" it will be able to orbit the Sun at the same rate as the Earth. From this vantage point it will be able to watch the Sun constantly, even during eclipses and occultations, and carry out scientific studies. As displacement in the war-torn Gaza Strip is exacerbating, Ahmed Masoud, a young Gazan, has initiated a volunteer group to help provide food and shelter for the displaced Palestinians in the southern city of Rafah. Produced by Xinhua Global Service PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-07 19:31:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 542 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Dollar General Corporation ("Dollar General" or "the Company") (NYSE:DG) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Dollar General securities between May 28, 2020 and August 30, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/dg Case Details:The Complaint alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Dollar General stores were chronically understaffed and suffering from logistical and inventory management problems which left stores with tens of millions of dollars' worth of outdated and unwanted inventory, mispriced goods, and lost and damaged items; (ii) large backlogs of unsellable merchandise had built up at Dollar General's stores, which inventory had not been timely written down due to understaffing and Dollar General's failure to manage its inventory; (iii) the allotment of employee hours per store per week imposed by Dollar General management placed employees in virtually impossible situations where assigned tasks, including those necessary to effective store operations, could not be completed within the allotted time; (iv) Dollar General was systematically overcharging customers for items upon checkout above the listed price in violation of state laws, including state law violations identified by state regulators in Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio; (v) Dollar General's reported revenue and earnings during the Class Period were artificially inflated by defendants' over-pricing scheme; (vi) Dollar General's failure to manage store inventories and accurately price items upon checkout risked the loss of customers, lower sales, adverse regulatory actions, and reputational fallout; and (vii) Dollar General was not on track to achieve its guidance during the Class Period and such guidance lacked a reasonable factual basis.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/dg or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Dollar General you have until January 26, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-07 21:15:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 598 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2024 / DefiQuant , a leading innovator in the digital asset space, is proud to announce a revolutionary platform poised to transform the way investors interact with digital assets. 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In the ever-changing cryptocurrency landscape, where market conditions can shift rapidly, this feature is crucial for investors looking to capitalize on emerging opportunities. The ability to swiftly analyze data and execute trades ensures that DefiQuant users can stay ahead of market trends, maximizing their chances for profitable outcomes. This agility in decision-making sets DefiQuant apart in a market where timing is often a critical factor for success.DefiQuant's platform is designed to cater to a wide range of trading strategies, including trend tracking, arbitrage, and quantitative analysis. This diversity allows users to choose strategies that align with their risk tolerance, investment goals, and market preferences. By implementing various strategies within the platform, DefiQuant enhances overall trading profitability for its users. Whether users are seeking long-term growth or short-term gains, DefiQuant provides the tools and flexibility to execute diverse strategies, catering to the dynamic nature of the cryptocurrency market.Empowering Digital Asset Engagement:DefiQuant stands at the forefront of innovation and accessibility, presenting a platform that simplifies intricate processes associated with digital assets. By leveraging advanced cloud technology, DefiQuant breaks down barriers related to technical expertise and cost constraints, making the dynamic world of digital assets accessible to users of all backgrounds.Recognizing the unique needs of users, DefiQuant offers a range of meticulously crafted options designed to suit different preferences. The platform prioritizes security, employing state-of-the-art measures to safeguard user data and assets while strictly adhering to regulatory standards.DefiQuant believes that informed decision-making is the cornerstone of a successful digital asset strategy. The platform provides a comprehensive educational ecosystem, including in-depth market analysis, insightful technology guides, and real-time updates on industry trends. Users gain access to an extensive library of educational materials, ranging from beginner-friendly guides to advanced market analyses.About DefiQuant:DefiQuant is a trailblazer in revolutionizing digital asset engagement, offering a sophisticated platform that seamlessly integrates leading cryptocurrencies. With a focus on inclusivity, innovation, and security, DefiQuant is committed to providing users with a comprehensive and user-friendly experience in the dynamic world of digital assets.Media Contact:Name: Allen HeeryPosition: Media RepresentativeEmail: AllenHeery@ defiquant.net Website: Defiquant.net SOURCE: Defiquant PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-07 16:42:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 520 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2024 / Hagens Berman urges Paycom Software, Inc. (NYSE:PAYC) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: May 3, 2023 - Nov. 1, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Jan. 9, 2024Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/PAYC Contact An Attorney Now: PAYC@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Paycom Software, Inc. (NYSE: PAYC) Securities Fraud Class Action:"The litigation focuses on whether Paycom knew and should have disclosed challenges associated with the ongoing transition to its new payroll solution, Beti," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.After Paycom delivered its 3Q 2023 results, BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on PAYC over 40%, from $320.00 to $190.00 in a research note dated Nov. 1. Stifel Nicolaus similarly downgraded PAYC from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and dropped their price target from $400.00 to $160.00 on Nov. 1.Apart from analyst downgrades, Paycom and its executives face a securities class action brought by investors. The complaint there alleges that Paycom misrepresented and concealed that: (1) Paycom's Beti product led to cannibalization of the company's other services and revenues; (2) Paycom knew but did not disclose the cannibalization problem and did not warn of cannibalization as a general risk; (3) as a result of cannibalization, Paycom missed its expected 3Q 2023 revenue and would have to revise its expected FY 2023 revenues; and (4) the cannibalization issue resulted in 2024 year-over-year revenue growth sharply lower.Investors learned the truth on Oct. 31, 2023, when Paycom reported its Q3 2023 financial results, including disappointing Q3 revenues, and guided for Q4 2023 and 2024 revenues that were significantly below consensus estimates. At the earnings call, Paycom CFO Craig Boelte explained that Paycom's growth is being curbed by cannibalization, noting that clients have been cutting down spending on some services and other purchases because Beti has made them nonessential.In response, the price of Paycom shares crashed $94.28 lower (or 38%) on Nov. 1, 2023.If you invested in Paycom and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses now If you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Paycom case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Paycom should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email PAYC@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP One single thread links Umo Eno, the self-styled pastor governor of Akwa Ibom State; his predecessor, Emmanuel Udom and Felix Houphouet-Boigny. It is the religious bigotry and senselessness behind the Akwa Ibom International Worship Centre and the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Cote dIvoire. While Udom and Eno have constructed a worship centre said to have gulped a frighteningly high N32 billion, Houphouet-Boigny also constructed a monumental architectural edifice in his Yamoussoukro village worth $300 million, between 1985 and 1989. Yamoussoukro was regarded as a provincial town that boasted only a mere 220,000 inhabitants and was characterised by a low-density and under-utilised infrastructure. Like Enos Nigeria, which is undergoing major economic somersault, the 1980s when Houphouet-Boigny commissioned the construction of the Basilica was when Cote dIvoire sunk into a devastating recession. The Ivorian economic malaise was aggravated by the falling market value of cocoa and coffee, the mainstay of the Ivorian economy. The Basilica itself was an eye-popping spectacle of the post-independence Ivorian era. Houphouet-Boigny apparently wanted to deploy its magnificence to solidify the impression of Cote dIvoires presence on the international political stage, post-independence, from French colonial rule. The edifice, however, attracted huge flagellation from Africans and Africanists who negatively profiled Houphouet-Boigny as an Agbelesefuja. The highly venerated thespian, Nollywood actor and a man bountifully endowed with Yoruba proverbs and axioms, alongside a dexterous use of the language, Chief Adedeji Aderemi, popularly known as Olofa Ina one with a fire-spitting arrow who died last week, shed light on the concept of Agbelesefuja or what the Yoruba call atiro belesin dogba. According to Aderemi, he is the one who, buffeted by a huge self-complex, tries to impress others by doing the unthinkable. Literally, the atiro belesin dogba is a man who sees a horse rider he envies and tries to equal his height, while seated on the horse. To satisfy the complex of equalising the one who sits atop the horse, who he wants to best, will entail the huge inconveniences of standing on the toes. Houphouet-Boigny, affectionately called Papa or Le Vieux the Old One by his people, was Ivorian president from 1960 to 1993 when he passed on. From being a tribal chief, he became a medical aide, union leader, and thereafter, got elected to the French Parliament. In France, he served in many ministerial positions and at independence in 1960, became the first Ivorian president. As such, Houphouet-Boignys Basilica was seen from the prism of neo-coloniality and decoloniality the one who wanted to surpass the colonial heritage by acting as the atiro belesin dogba. First, Houphouet-Boigny maintained close ties with Ivory Coasts former coloniser, France, and maintained an open policy towards immigration to his country, which was labeled the Ivorian Miracle. Second, from 1983, he attempted to make his Yamoussoukro village, rather than Yaounde, the Ivorian capital, by bringing a lot of capital projects therein. Also, like the Agbelesefuja, he got a Lebanese-Ivorian architect, Pierre Fakhoury, to design an unexampled church tower in his configured Ivorian new capital, as a challenging modern heritage that would rival St. Peters Basilica in Rome. One of the major challenges was that his Ivory Coast had Catholics who were only a minority and could only sparsely fill the monument church on Sundays. When the Pope consecrated Houphouet-Boignys Basilica in 1990, the cost of the building was judged as extreme and sickening waste. The West Africa magazine put its value at $200 million and in a banner headline in 1990, when it was being inaugurated, said Pope Paul Consecrates a Controversial $200 million Basilica. Other analysts estimated the controversial Basilica to be worth up to $300 million. Though Houphouet-Boigny officially claimed that he privately funded the Basilica, the world knew it was from proceeds of diverted state funds. To worsen matters, the edifice was handed over to the Vatican as a gift in 1992. Counterpoising the affluence of the Basilica, Houphouet-Boignys Ivory Coast was known to be an impoverished African country that did not need such an elephantine and elephant project. Indeed, Le Figaro, a French language weekly news magazine published in Paris, France, argued that Africa had too many economic problems, and the last thing the continent needed was a basilica like Our Lady of Peace which it said was grossly reviled by many as an insult to Africas poor. The architecture of the Yamoussoukro had what Leonhard von Reinersdorff, in his Relations Around Monumental Architecture in Post-Independence Cote dIvoire: Explored Through the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, described as a grand dome (which) hovers over the greenery of the Ivorian forest at Yamoussoukrooffering room for 7 000 seated and 11 000 standing worshippers in the sanctuary as well as 150 000 people in an oval piazza. According to von Reinersdorff, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is one of the largest churches in the world but virtually unknown to many people. Houphouet-Boignys twin aggrandisements set the tone for unflattering, condescending rhetoric, with hard-hitting criticisms and disdain for the edifice in the Western media. They also attracted unpalatable descriptions of his self-service. To them, in von Reinersdorffs words, Yamoussoukro was a ghost town, a capital in name alone. Reinersdorff even quoted the Economist as calling Yamoussoukro an an overgrown village, a near-deserted, forest-surrounded town of empty six-lane highways that (lead) nowhere thus carving Houphouet-Boigny capital city in the image of a peripheral city that was conquered by nature. The West Africa magazine equally described the Basilica in very condescending epithets, especially when the Pope came to commission it. It said of it, Pope Paul Consecrates a Controversial $200 million Basilica. Beauty or Beast? The Time magazine on its own desecrated the humongous edifice as The Basilica in the Bush, which it said was a replica and a brash imitation of the Vaticans holy shrine, thus questioning its originality, authenticity and value of its artistic independence, caricaturing it as a gigantic white parachute, a giant pearl gray dirigible, a sandy-beige concrete behemoth and a ridiculous white elephant monument to Christianity. Fast-forward to Nigeria, about twenty years after the Pope commissioned the Yamoussoukro Basilica. A similar edifice was constructed by Akwa Ibom State. The construction of the church, named Akwa Ibom International Worship Centre, began with the former governor of the State, Udom Emmanuel and was inaugurated in May, 2023. The current governor, Eno, is thus the inheritor of a Houphouet-Boigny heritage of waste, indiscretion and callous governmental insouciance. Outrage was sparked when Eno, in a tweet a few weeks back, said As our people converge on this sacred Altar to pray in unity for the continuous peace and progress of Akwa Ibom State, Dear God Almighty, please hearken to their supplication and may our State continue to grow beyond leaps and bounds! He spoke like one of those pastoral conmen who use the name of God to hoodwink unsuspecting Nigerians going through troublous times. Constructed with taxpayers sweats to the tune of about N32 billion, many feel that in a state ravaged by squalor, hunger, underdevelopment and gross lack, were Nigeria, a country with repercussion for governmental mis-judgment and profligacy, all those behind the construction of this wastage should be made to cough out every farthing the product of their greed and indiscretion. It is benumbing to imagine a state spending this much to construct a church auditorium, despite its huge unemployment ranking among states in Nigeria, without any regard for its oil-rich status. In 2019, the Atheists Society of Nigeria (ASN) sued the Akwa Ibom State Government to court on the wastefulness of the church project. It demanded an explanation on how then Governor Udom would source its funding. Udoms reply, similar to any of those pastoral hoodwinkers, was that Akwa-Ibom had found favour in the eyes of the Lord, and its instructive to note that religious bodies, non-profit organizations and even individuals from all over the world heeded our call for support to actualize this dream. Parodying Houphouet-Boigny, Udom said that the church was privately funded. In a Nigeria where governmental purses and budgets are opaque, it may be a herculean task putting a lie to his bunkum. He had said, Today we stand tall to say that we have secured the bulk of funds needed for the construction of the 8,500 capacity international worship centre which is located in Uyo. Governments contribution is a very negligible percentage. The N32 billion Akwa Ibom International Worship Centre is a reflection of the poverty of wisdom that plagues Nigerian leaders. Another wastage was birthed last year in Kaduna State. It was the reconstruction of the popular Zaria Central Mosque. Though it wasnt overtly penciled to be done with state funds, this same paucity of thinking was behind the over N2billion raised for the mosques reconstruction in October last year. The 150-year old mosque, located in the Zazzau Emirate council of Zaria, collapsed in August last year with many casualties. Of the amount donated, BUA chairman, Abdulsamad Rabiu, was said to have donated the sum of N2 billion. The fundraise also had in attendance the state governor, Uba Sani; Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamali; Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammad Saad Abubakar III; former Vice President Namadi Sambo; former governors of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai and Ramalan Yero; Etsu Nupe, Alh. Yahaya Abubakar and Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, who all donated various sums of money. This money could have been used to educate the growing number of out-of-school children in Kaduna State. Aside unemployment, prostitution, cultism, vandalism, political thuggery, hooliganism that buffet Akwa-Ibom, the state is battling an age-long affliction of its citizens being the most sought after candidates for menial jobs of gatemen and house-helps in Nigeria. It is an engaging oxymoron that while Udom and Eno were busy engaged in a church saturnalia with Akwa-Iboms N32 bilion, thousands of Akwa Ibom young boys and girls were pining away as house-helps. Created as one of Nigerias 36 states in 1987, with a population of over 5 million people and more than 10 million people in the Diaspora, the state is ranked to be currently the highest oil and gas producing state in the country. Yet, this wealth notwithstanding, a recent eye-opening report by data technology company, StatiSense, in unveiling the Multidimensional Poverty Index (2022) report of the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS) ranked Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River states as the hardest hit by multidimensional poverty, with 5.08 million, 4.4 million, and 3.44 million people respectively living in excruciating poverty. A pure waste of resources it is expending scarce money to fund religious worship centres, Christianity, especially Pentecostal churches prayer warlords, have taken this menace to the level of the profoundly absurd. While companies are winding up and vacating Nigeria due to bad government, churches are filling the space by purchasing those factory halls and converting them into church auditoriums. The problem is that Akwa-Ibom, like virtually all Nigerian states and the government at the centre, is under siege, having been bereft of straight-thinking leadership. The N32 billion expended on the Worship Centre could jolly well have been voted to deal with the menace of poverty in the state, as well as a massive job creation projects for the youth. The truth is that the N32 billion voted for the construction of the church would effectively take 32,000 Akwa Ibom persons out of poverty. Like the skewed thoughts behind the construction of gargantuan auditoriums by Pentecostal churches along expressways, inside the Akwa Ibom Worship Centre, prayers would be offered to God for jobs by the unemployed. Yet, the cost of constructing that auditorium could have provided jobs for thousands. Alternatively, the N32 billion would conveniently construct hundreds of kilometers of roads that would benefit the people immensely. The truth is that governments have no business constructing religious worship centres or sending people on pilgrimage anywhere. The only plausible explanation for the Udom-Eno tabernacle is same Houphouet-Boignys reversed mentality affliction. God does not reside inside those huge Basilicas but in the hearts of His people. Except for the billions that must have been stolen by some smart politicians on the pretext of building a house for God, that worship centre has zero economic or existential impact for the suffering people of Akwa-Ibom. If the charlatans behind the Akwa Ibom International Worship Centre were pro-people, they could have selected 32,000 Akwa-Ibom house-helps in slavish captivity in many homes scattered across Nigeria and lifted them into becoming globally-competitive persons. Rather, inside the Akwa-Ibom Basilica, the people would pray for victory over their enemies. They should have known that Udo Emmanuel and Umo Eno are their Number One enemies. Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias Minister for State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, says the government has strengthened collaboration with traditional rulers in Bayelsa State in a bid to address persistent challenges in the countrys oil sector. Nneamaka Okafor, the special adviser on media and communication to the minister, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. The Minister for State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri PhD, has embarked on a series of insightful and collaborative courtesy visits to traditional rulers in Bayelsa State. This strategic initiative aligns with the ministers unwavering commitment to foster cooperation with key stakeholders in the oil industry, specifically aimed at addressing persistent challenges such as pipeline vandalization, crude theft, and security uncertainties in oil-bearing communities across the region, the spokesperson said. She explained that one of the meetings took place with the Pere of Ekpetiama clan and Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council of Bayelsa State, His Royal Majesty (HMR), King Bubaraye Dakolo. In this encounter, the spokesperson said, the minister stressed the imperative of collective efforts in curbing pipeline vandalization and oil theft. Sheadded that the minister called on the monarch to utilise his esteemed position to rally other traditional rulers in the state for a unified front in addressing these challenges. Recognizing the crucial role traditional leaders play in the socio-economic fabric of the region, the minister emphasized the need for a joint commitment to securing the oil infrastructure. Continuing the dialogue, the spokesperson said the minister extended his courtesy visit to the King of Nembe Kingdom and former Minister of Petroleum, Edmund Daukoru. The discussions during this meeting, Ms Okafor said, were focused on the importance of collaborative action in ensuring the security of pipelines and combating illicit activities in the oil sector. The minister expressed deep appreciation for the support and valuable insights provided by Mr Daukoru, acknowledging his wealth of experience in the petroleum industry as an asset to the ongoing efforts in the region. In another significant engagement, according to the statement, the minister met with the Pere of Kumbowei Kingdom, Boloye Embareba. Ms Okafor said the discussions with the monarch revolved around the critical need for collaboration between the government and traditional rulers to effectively address security challenges and enhance crude production. The minister reiterated the governments commitment to creating a secure and prosperous oil sector, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between a thriving oil industry and national prosperity. These meticulous visits underline the ministers dedication to leaving no stone unturned in achieving the federal governments objective of increasing crude production for the prosperity of the nation. By actively engaging with traditional rulers, the minister aims to build a strong and enduring alliance with local leaders, fostering a secure environment that is conducive to sustainable growth in the oil industry, the spokesperson said. In recent years, Nigeria has failed to meet its OPEC production quota. The country has recorded a surge in pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in its oil-producing region, a development that worsened the nations revenue challenge. The Nigerian government has said it is targeting 2 million barrels per day (bdp) of crude oil production by the end of next year. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print International courts exist to adjudicate between aggrieved state and non-state parties and deliver justice. Globally, the 10 per cent of households with the highest per capita emissions contribute 34-45 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions while the bottom 50 per cent contribute 13-15 per cent. The top one per cent of emitters globally each had carbon footprints of over 50 tonnes of CO2 in 2021, more than 1,000 times greater than those of the bottom one per cent of emitters. However, the bottom one per cent are less prepared to adapt to the effects of climate change and live in some of the countries most affected by climate change-induced loss and damage. In that case, why cant the states at the bottom simply sue the states at the top, in international courts, to either reduce their emissions or pay the cost of the loss and damage? An earlier piece has examined the potential of climate litigation in Africa as part of the Global South countries, the challenges involved and how these can be circumvented. It is observed that even as climate litigation as a veritable tool in advancing climate justice gains popularity, it seems to be wielded more by individuals, human rights groups, communities, indigenous groups, NGOs, and business entities amongst others but hardly by the victim state parties against the erring state(s). Even when a victim state party threatens climate litigation, following through with requisite judicial action remains a challenge. A striking case in illustrating this observation is the case of Tuvalu vs the United States of America and Australia. Tuvalu, a small island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, in 2002, threatened to file a claim against the US and Australia in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for their contribution to climate change. The two states, according to Tuvalu, had failed in their responsibility to stabilize emissions of greenhouse gas concentrations as required by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The change in climate has caused the melting of ice caps, which consequently leads to rising sea levels. This currently threatens the territory of Tuvalu, as the island nation has an average elevation of two meters above sea level and is therefore extremely vulnerable to changes in sea levels. To date, Tuvalu has not officially filed any claim against any state at the ICJ or any other forum. The reason for this can be understood by looking at the legal obligations involved in both invoking the jurisdiction of the ICJ and those flowing from various international environmental obligations. The most important reason is that it is difficult to successfully bring a case to the Court. On the one hand, only states may be parties in contentious cases before the Court. Moreover, the ICJs jurisdiction can only be invoked where the parties have mutually consented to bringing the case before the Court. Article 36(1) provides that jurisdiction is established ad hoc on the basis of mutual consent. It also provides that the Courts jurisdiction can extend to all matters specifically provided for in the Charter of the United Nations or treaties or conventions in force. Article 14 of the UNFCCC provides that in the event of a dispute between any two or more Parties concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention, the Parties concerned shall seek a settlement of the dispute through negotiation or any other peaceful means of their own choice. More specifically, under Article 14, there has to be a written declaration submitted to the Depository by the party that, with respect to any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention, it recognizes as compulsory ipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to any Party accepting the same obligation, to submit the dispute to either the ICJ and/or Arbitration in accordance with procedures to be adopted by the Conference of Parties as soon as practicable. Only one state the Netherlands has made a declaration under Article 14(2) of the UNFCCC recognizing the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ. Further, Article 36(2) allows for states to make an optional clause declaration accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ. While Australia has made an Article 36(2) declaration in which it accepts the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court, this declaration is made on the condition of reciprocity. Tuvalu has not made an Article 36(2) declaration. However, even if it did, it would be subject to the exceptions under the Australian declaration. While the United States accepted the Courts compulsory jurisdiction upon its creation in 1946, it withdrew its acceptance in 1984, following the Courts judgment on Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua. Therefore, unless Australia or the United States would agree to accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ ad hoc, under Article 36(1), the ICJ would most likely not have jurisdiction over Tuvalus claims against these states. Presently, the Australian Prime Minister has announced a bilateral treaty offering permanent residency to people affected by the climate crisis and is also making a security guarantee that will bind both countries together. A second major hurdle in interstate climate change litigation claims is the issue of liability. Generally, states do not present their complaints about another states climate change policies in terms of liability claims. Even when they may consider it, they rarely pursue it in court. This is because, even if both states have submitted to the ICJs jurisdiction, determining the applicable principles of liability remains complex. In international law, liability does not solely depend on fault. It is established based on attribution or breach, which can be difficult to prove under various international agreements. For instance, for treaty obligations under the UNFCCC, state commitments mainly involve providing necessary information, cooperating in various international relations spheres, and promoting sustainable development. Proving a breach of these commitments is not straightforward, as substantial compliance often suffices. The good neighbour principle may be the strongest basis for liability in such cases. Some propose extending state obligations to acts of private actors. However, vicarious liability is generally inapplicable in international law due to differing national laws and legal systems, making attributing responsibility for specific actions challenging. Additionally, the due diligence obligation states that standard liability does not cover damage arising from unforeseeable or unavoidable events under reasonable diligence. The International Law Convention Draft Articles on the Allocation of Loss presented an opportunity to test support for the idea of strict state liability for ultra-hazardous activities, but few state governments showed enthusiasm for accepting liability for damage within their jurisdictions. Even if a general exception for ultra-hazardous activities were accepted, its applicability to climate change emissions under existing law is doubtful. The Paris Agreement, often viewed as a pivotal agreement in the multilateral climate change process due to its emphasis on global collaboration in combating climate change and adapting to its effects, includes an Article 8 clause that does not provide a basis for any liability or compensation for loss and damage. At best, the Agreement functions as a gentlemans agreement with little to no legal enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or an international court/governing body to ensure compliance. To date, no interstate climate change liability claim has resulted in an award of damages, and this may not change unless international treaties are strengthened. The deterrence theory in international liability remains weak, as significant awards of compensation are rare. For now, anecdotal evidence suggests that environmental harm liability claims have a higher chance of success when directed at corporations rather than states. Global South advocates seeking climate justice may be better served by suing major emitting corporations and securing victories to increase deterrence, while simultaneously working to strengthen climate treaties and international courts. Ruth Soronnadi and Tobi Oluwatola Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, on Friday, admitted as genuine a 20 December 2023 memo which shows that she requested the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer public fund N585.2 million into a private account of an official in her ministry. The transfer contravenes various sections of Nigerias Financial Regulations 2009, which are meant to prevent fraud and other forms of corruption. According to the ministers memo, the fund in question was transferred from the National Social Investment office account and is meant for disbursement to vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Lagos, and Ogun states, under the federal government poverty intervention project called Grants for Vulnerable Groups. Mrs Edu said in the memo that the official, Bridget Oniyelu, whose private account with the United Bank of Africa the N585.2 million was paid into, is the project accountant. The minister said in the memo that N219.4 million is to be transferred to the vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom State, N73.8 million to Cross River State, N219.4 million to Lagos State, and N72.4 million to Ogun State. The memo has gone viral on X, while Mrs Edu has been trending for about two days now on the microblogging platform. Betta Edus memo adds another layer of scandal to the ongoing EFCC investigation of the suspended National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, over alleged N37.1billion fraud in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. Mrs Shehu, in December, said over 1.5 million households in the country have received N20,000 from the Conditional Cash Transfer programme of the federal government. The fraud allegations now taint the government intervention programme. Mrs Edus predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, is being investigated by the EFCC for alleged fraud. Edu reacts to leaked memo Through her media aide, Rasheed Zubair, the minister claimed the memo was leaked as part of a plot to blackmail her. It is glaring that the same sponsored disgruntled elements who, in the past few days have been trying to smear the Honourable Minister, Dr Betta Edu and stain her integrity because she alerted the government on the ongoing N44.8 Billion Fraud in NSIPA. These elements have been trying to link her to a phantom fraud and are behind this latest misadventure, a statement on Friday from the ministers media aide stated. The evil motive of the mischief-makers behind the circulation of the memo is well-known and should be ignored. Of note is the fact that since assumption of duty about five months ago, the Minister has religiously visited different parts of the country like Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, FCT, Lagos Cross River etc, and this is done to ensure she delivers on her mandate, she remains focused unbiased and committed to duty, the statement added. Questions for the minister Betta Edu The ministers response to the leaked memo, however, failed to address some pertinent questions, begging for answers: 1. Nigerias Financial Regulations 2009 does not empower Minister Betta Edu to originate payment requests directly since she is not the ministrys accounting officer. By making a permanent secretary the accounting officer of a ministry, the intent of the law is to insulate government business from politics and allow government affairs to run smoothly and professionally on some sets of rules and guidelines which political officeholders may not be familiar with. 2 Chapter Seven, Section 713 of Nigerias Financial Regulations 2009, which emphasises separating public and personal money in government transactions, states that Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private account (Minister Betta Edu clearly violates this section). The section, in addition, says, Any officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention. It is very clear that the intent of the law here is to prevent fraud in government business. 3. Why would the minister pay such a huge amount of money to a civil servant instead of electronically paying the beneficiaries directly? What is the mechanism in place for accountability? 4. By Nigerias Financial Regulation 2009, only the Minister of Finance is empowered to issue warrants for disbursement of appropriated funds. Why is the Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Betta Edu, playing that role here? 5. Why is Betta Edu the one initiating a request for payment of public funds when she is not the accounting officer of her ministry or his appointed representative (as stipulated in the financial regulation)? 6. The National Social Investment Office is an agency under the Ministy of Humanitarian Affair, with its own distinct leadership. Why is Minister Betta Edu the one signing off on transfer of funds from the agencys account, without the input of the organisations CEO? Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Saturdays statement from the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, only confirmed the illegality of the humanitarian affairs minister, Betta Edus payment of government N585.2 million into a civil servants private bank account, but has not exonerated Mrs Madein of wrongdoing. A leaked memo revealed that Mrs Edu, in December, requested Mrs Madein, the accountant general of the federation, to transfer N585.2 million from the National Social Investment office account to the UBA account of Bridget Oniyelu, the accountant of a federal government poverty intervention project called Grants for Vulnerable Groups. The project is under Mrs Edus ministry. As previously reported by PREMIUM TIMES, the transfer contravenes various sections of Nigerias Financial Regulations 2009 meant to prevent fraud and other forms of corruption in government business. Mrs Madein admitted that her office had received Mrs Edus request for a transfer of the N585.2 million to Ms Oniyelus private account, but that she (Madein) refused to honour it. The Ministry was advised on the appropriate steps to take in making such payments in line with the established payment procedure, she said. No bulk payment is supposed to be made to an individuals account in the name of the Project Accountant. Mrs Madein said payments like the N585.2 million which Mrs Edu wanted to be transferred are usually processed by the affected ministries as self-accounting entities. She added that such payment should be sent to the beneficiaries through their verified bank accounts, the statement stated. Questions for the accountant general With the public outrage trailing Mrs Edus memo, with many calling on President Bola Tinubu to suspend the humanitarian affairs minister from office, it is not enough for Mrs Madein to declare Mrs Edus action illegal and distance her office from the scandal Mrs Madein has to inform Nigerians about the specific steps she took to stop the illegal transfer. Part II, Section 107 (b) of Nigerias Financial Regulations 2009 empowers Mrs Madein, as the accountant general of the federation, to supervise the accounts of federal ministries, extra-ministerial offices and other arms of government. The same section of the law empowers her to conduct a routine and in-depth inspection of the books of accounts of federal ministries, extra-ministerial offices and other arms of government to ensure compliance with rules, regulations and policy decisions of the federal government. Mrs Madein, under the same law, is empowered to not only provide financial guidelines to ministries but to investigate cases of fraud. Mrs Edus request to Mrs Madein that N585.2 million should be paid into a private account contravened Chapter Seven, Section 713 of Nigerias Financial Regulations 2009 which states that Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private account. The section, in addition, says, Any officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention. It is very clear that the intent of the law here is to prevent fraud in government business. Did Mrs Madein flag this transaction as being suspicious? Did she report it to the presidency? It is clear that Mrs Edus humanitarian affairs ministry went ahead to pay the N585.2 million into Ms Oniyelus private account, against Mrs Madeins advice, and in violation of Nigerias law. Mrs Edus action raises a fundamental question: What specific steps did Mrs Madein, as the accountant general of the federation, take to stop the minister from carrying on with the illegal transfer? Other illegal transfers? Mrs Edu, through a statement from her media aide, Rasheed Zubair, on Friday, said the payment of the N585.2 million into a private account is legal in the countrys civil service. It is legal in civil service for a staff, the project accountant, to be paid and use the same funds legally and retire same with all receipts and evidence after the project or programme is completed, the statement stated. The ministers comment here suggests that it has been the practice, at least in her ministry, for government funds to be transferred into private account(s). Mrs Madeins office is empowered by law to investigate the extent of the illegal practice, sanitise the practice, and restore the confidence of Nigerians in the government accounting system. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Crete of Greece, Jan. 6, 2024. Mitsotakis met with Blinken in Hania, Crete on Saturday, and expressed growing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. During the meeting, Mitsotakis also expressed concern about the risks of escalating tensions in the Middle East and the repercussions for regional stability and security, reported Greek national news agency AMNA. (Photo by Dimitris Papamitsos/Xinhua) ATHENS, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Hania, Crete on Saturday, and expressed growing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. During the meeting, Mitsotakis also expressed concern about the risks of escalating tensions in the Middle East and the repercussions for regional stability and security, reported Greek national news agency AMNA. "These are difficult and challenging times for the region," Mitsotakis said, reiterating the need for an unhindered flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza He also underlined that the solution can only be political, based on the two-state solution in accordance with UN resolutions. After the meeting, Blinken, who was on his Mideast diplomatic mission, told reporters that he wants to make sure the conflict in the Middle East "doesn't spread." Mitsotakis and Blinken also exchanged views on bilateral ties and other international issues. The National Universities Commission (NUC), the regulatory body for universities in the country, has described as ill-motivated and unfortunate the wide circulation of a report listing more than 100 yet-to-be unidentified individuals as fake professors and linking them to various universities. The Acting Executive Secretary of the commission, Chris Maiyaki, in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, said the agency never blacklisted any academic as fake professors at any time in the past. Mr Maiyaki said the agency would soon issue a rebuttal on the development, even as he called on Nigerians to beware of fake news. There was no time NUC listed anyone in Nigeria as fake professors, and, unfortunately, someone would go and dig up a report of 2019 five years after it had been clarified, he said. In the next couple of hours, we will make public our rebuttal. The commissions Director of Press, Haruna Lawal, also corroborated Mr Maiyaki in a separate interview on Sunday. PREMIUM TIMES findings, however, revealed that the immediate past Executive Secretary of the commission, Abubakar Rasheed, had in 2019 during NUCs annual retreat for university vice-chancellors, announced that some academics who were not full professors had been listed as professors in its compendium. A source, who does not want to be quoted, told this newspaper that Mr Rasheed, a professor, was referring to some Nigerians who claimed to have received honourary professorships, and those in the category of readers who were listed as full professors in the compendium. The truth was that no single person was named neither by the ES nor in the bulletin published by NUC at the time. So where these people saw the names listed is what is strange to me. It is a concoction and an act of mischief, the source explained. Backstory Following the recent report by Daily Nigerian Newspapers exposing the corruption in the award of degree certificates in Benin Republic and evaluation of the same by the Nigerian government, the report of fake professors in Nigerian universities has again been recirculated across social media platforms. One of the reports that have been circulated widely on social media is by Channels Television, but the report by the television station attached no list as the one being circulated. Various other media platforms such as Galaxy Television reported the development at the time but without giving specifics of any individual. Another source contacted by PREMIUM TIMES who was privy to the development at the time revealed that the report had attracted interest from the State Security Service (SSS) and that the NUC executive secretary was invited to explain the situation. Professor Rasheed was then quick to explain what he meant and everything was resolved at the time. The problem with the Nigerian media is that there is no sense of following up on reports. Once a headline is picked, they jump on the next one without logically concluding what they earlier reported, another source who does not want to be quoted said. Universities react The latest development has forced some of the institutions listed in the viral report to quickly react by debunking the list, and declaring it as fake and unfounded. The University of Lagos on Saturday issued a statement denying the five names on the list linked to it. A statement signed by the universitys Head of the Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, described the report as unsubstantiated and urged the public to disregard it. The attention of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Management has been drawn to an unsubstantiated report on social media, claiming that the NUC has uncovered fake professors in some Nigerian universities, including ours. For the avoidance of doubt, the university management hereby explicitly refutes the five names listed as fake professors of the university. Mrs Alaga-Ibraheem urged the members of the university community and the general public to completely disregard the report as the persons listed are not our staff and have never worked at any point in time and any capacity, at the university. UNILORIN, CU also react The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that the management of the University of Ilorin on Sunday dismissed the claims that 11 fake professors were uncovered in the institution. This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the university, Kunle Akogun, saying; We dont have fake professors and they do not exist in our university. Mr Akogun added: The National Universities Commission had categorically dismissed the information as fallacious fabrication of mischief makers. The Commission has dissociated itself from the list that first surfaced in December 2019. We deem it expedient to categorically disassociate our institution from the story of the 11 fake professors listed against our university. According to him, none of the persons on the list is on the universitys nominal roll, nor had any of them ever had any dealing with the University of Ilorin at any time or in any guise. He explained that the clarification was necessary to assure esteemed stakeholders that UNILORIN had built an age-long reputation for high standards, integrity, and strict adherence to best global practices. Similarly, NAN also reported that Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, denied that four fake professors, among those purportedly discovered by the National Universities Commission (NUC), are from the university. This was contained in a statement by the Universitys Head of the Communication Unit, Ms ChiChi Ononiwu, issued to newsmen on Sunday in Ota. The statement read in part: The attention of the university management was drawn to a purported publication by the National Universities Commission [NUC] titled About 100 Fake Professors Uncovered In Nigerian Universities. The publication listed four such Professors at Covenant University. READ ALSO: UNILAG denies having fake professors The University Management wishes to set the record straight, as we have no such names as listed in the said article in our payroll. Also, Covenant had never interacted with any of the four persons at any time, and in any capacity as the university would not appoint unqualified persons as professors. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal Government is currently investigating the reported payment made into the private bank account of a civil servant on the order of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, for vulnerable Nigerians. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Sunday in a press statement released to the media in Abuja. Mrs Edu has come under heavy criticism from diverse Nigerians for ordering the transfer of N585.2m into the private bank account of a civil servant, who is the accountant in charge of Grants for Vulnerable Nigerians. The minister had issued a memo to the Accountant General of the Federation in December 2023 ordering the said amount to be paid into the civil servants private bank account. Although the AG said it was against civil service rule to pay the governments money into a private bank account, the money was nevertheless paid thus raising eyebrows from concerned Nigerians. Mrs Edu has denied any wrongdoing, though there are still many questions left unanswered by her ministry and the Accountant Generals office. In the statement on Sunday, Mr Idris said the federal government acknowledged the concerns raised by the public regarding the alleged payment of funds into a private account by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. We are aware of the narratives circulating widely and wish to assure Nigerians that the Government takes these issues most seriously, a part of the statement read. The statement said further that the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, is transparent and accountable to the people, and committed to ensuring that public funds are allocated and utilized effectively and efficiently to address the needs of Nigerians. The statement noted that in light of recent events, the President has directed that a thorough and comprehensive investigation be conducted to ascertain the accuracy and validity of the reported details. The government is determined to unravel the truth as it relates to this matter, and assures that appropriate action will be taken to ensure that any breaches and infractions are identified and decisively punished, in line with the Administrations commitment to public accountability and due process, the statement read. The statement advised the public to note, against the backdrop of various unverified narratives circulating on the Internet, that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, under the leadership of Minister Mohammed Idris, is the primary source for verified information about events and actions of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Only accurate details will be shared with the public. The Ministry is committed to providing timely updates to keep Nigerians informed about the progress of the investigation. We urge Nigerians to exercise patience as the investigation unfolds. The government is focused on ensuring a fair and unbiased process, and the findings will be communicated duly and transparently to the public, the statement noted. Mohammed Idris Minister of Information and National Orientation January 7, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will, this week, sign into law the 2024 Lagos State Appropriation Bill. Mr Sanwo-Olu said signing the Bill, passed a few days ago by the Lagos State House of Assembly, will mark an important milestone in the delivery of all that his administration has promised the people of Lagos. Speaking during the 24th Annual Thanksgiving Service with the First Family of Lagos State, themed, The Righteous Shall Praise Your Name, held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, the governor said his administration remained dedicated to the successful implementation of pivotal projects to foster the robust growth of the state and ensure the well-being of its citizens. The service was attended by the governors wife, Ibijoke; Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat and his wife, Oluremi; the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, and wife, Bolanle; Ogun State First Lady Bamidele Abiodun; Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, represented by the Chairman of the Assembly on Home Affairs, Jubril Abdulkareem; Chief Judge of Lagos State, Kazeem Alogba; former deputy governors, religious and traditional leaders, public office holders and politicians, among others. Mr Sanwo-Olu hinted that the Red Line Rail project would be commissioned next month by President Bola Tinubu. He disclosed that the project was 99.9 per cent completed and, based on President Tinubus availability, might be commissioned next month. Providing some insights into year, Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that the Year 2024 will be an important one for his administration in terms of enforcement of the various laws and regulations made to safeguard the lives and property of residents. Without adherence to the rule of law, no society can guarantee progress and prosperity, he said. Governor Sanwo-Olu called on Nigerians, especially Lagos residents, to continue to pray for him and other public office holders who have been given the privilege to serve as leaders in various capacities. He said public office holders needed divine wisdom and grace, as they make multitudes of decisions that will impact peoples lives. He said: We are unwaveringly dedicated to the successful implementation of pivotal projects. In every sector, we have major projects ongoing that will define the legacy of our administration, and positively transform the economy and landscape of Lagos State. Indeed, all Lagosians have so much to look forward to this year 2024, which is also the first full year of our second and final term in office. You are already familiar with our T.H.E.M.E.S+ development agenda, which will guide and propel all that we do for the progress and development of the State. Mr Sanwo-Olu enjoined residents to play their part in respecting and obeying the laws of the land by paying taxes, obeying traffic rules, disposing waste responsibly and speaking up when others break the law. He said these were responsibilities of good people of Lagos State. On our part, as Government, we will continue to strive to make it easier for you to be law-abiding. Our transport reforms are all aimed at improving the commuting experience for all Lagosians, just as our Emergency Hotlines are there to make it easy for you to say something if you see something! In the same way, we have in place various reforms aimed at making it easier for you to pay your taxes, and generally making Lagos a more enabling place for business and investment. Together, we can all play our part in achieving a truly Greater Lagos. Speaking on the significance of the Thanksgiving Service, Mr Sanwo-Olu said there is so much to be grateful for, urging the people to raise their voices in praise, adoration and supplication, to commit Lagos State and Nigeria to God, for guidance and mercies. In his exhortation, the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Stephen Adegbite, said there was need to appreciate God. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, has countered the claim by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, over the payment of N585.2 million of government funds into a private bank account of an official. A leaked memo revealed that Mrs Edu, in December, requested Mrs Madein, the accountant general of the federation, to transfer the money from the National Social Investment office account to the UBA account of Bridget Oniyelu, the accountant of a federal government poverty intervention project called Grants for Vulnerable Groups. The project is under Mrs Edus ministry. As previously reported by PREMIUM TIMES, the transfer contravenes various sections of Nigerias Financial Regulations 2009 meant to prevent fraud and other forms of corruption in government business. Chapter Seven, Section 713 of Nigerias Financial Regulations 2009 which emphasises separating public and personal money in government transactions states that Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private account (Minister Edu clearly violates this section). The section, in addition, says, Any officer who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intention. It is very clear that the intent of the law here is to prevent fraud in government business. But Mrs Edu, through her media aide, Rasheed Zubair, on Friday, said the payment of the N585.2 million into a private account is legal in the countrys civil service. It is legal in civil service for a staff, the project accountant, to be paid and use the same funds legally and retire same with all receipts and evidence after the project or programme is completed, the statement stated. The minister claimed the memo was leaked as part of a plot to blackmail her. Accountant general reacts Mrs Madein, in a statement, on Saturday, distanced her office from the illegal transaction by Mrs Edu and also dismissed the ministers action as illegal. The accountant general of the federation admitted that her office had received Mrs Edus request for the transfer of the N585.2 million to Ms Oniyelus private account, but that she refused to honour it. The Ministry was advised on the appropriate steps to take in making such payments in line with the established payment procedure, she said. No bulk payment is supposed to be made to an individuals account in the name of the Project Accountant. Mrs Madein said payments like N585.2 million are usually processed by the affected ministries as self-accounting entities. She added that such payment should be sent to the beneficiaries through their verified bank accounts, the statement stated. This implies that Mrs Edus humanitarian affairs ministry went ahead to pay the N585.2 million into Ms Oniyelus private account, against Mrs Madeins advice, and in violation of Nigerias law. Another layer of scandal Minister Edus memo adds another layer of scandal to the ongoing EFCC investigation of the suspended National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Halima Shehu over alleged N37.1 billion fraud in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. Mrs Shehu, in December, said over 1.5 million households in the country have received N20,000 from the Conditional Cash Transfer programme of the federal government. The government intervention programme is now tainted by the fraud allegations. Mrs Edus predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, is being investigated by the EFCC for alleged fraud. Nigerians, outraged by the memo, are calling for Mrs Edus suspension from office. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Kano State has arrested a 25 years old man, Alkasim Yau, for allegedly stabbing his father to death at Tudun Yola C area of Gwale Local Government Area of the state. The NSCDC Corps Commandant, Mohammed Falala, disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Sunday. He said the incident occurred on Friday at about 1330 hours at the residence of Salisu Bala. The deceased father, Alhaji Yau Mohammed, brought his mentally ill son, Alkasim Yau, to Psychiatric Hospital Dawanau, for medical treatment, where they booked to see a medical doctor on Saturday, January 6. He explained that instead of going back to Katsina, the deceased decided to sleep at his brothers house at the same address. Our investigation revealed that Alkasim became mentally ill due to his engagement in hard drug activities. On their arrival at Tudun Yola, the ill son took a sharp object and injured the father, until the intervention of the NSCDC operatives attached to the area who took the victim to the hospital and arrested the suspect, he said. The victim later died at the hospital, he said. He said that the family was already making arrangements to return the corpse to Katsina for the funeral, while the suspect and the exhibit were handed over to the Rijiyar Zaki Divisional Police Office for further investigation. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Kano State Government has approved Monday, 8 January for the resumption of academic activities in primary and post-primary schools across the state for the second term session. Balarabe Abdullahi, the director, Public Enlightenment in the Ministry of Education, stated this in a statement on Sunday in Kano. Mr Abdullahi said that boarding schools were, however, expected to resume on Sunday, 7 January across the state. Pupils and students in day schools are to resume on Monday, 8 January. Parents/guardians of students to take note of the resumption date to ensure total compliance as appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against defaulting students/pupils in public schools, he said. While appreciating, the cooperation and support given to the ministry, Mr Abdullahi said the government had renovated Girls Childs Education School buses to facilitate the smooth conveyance of students to their respective schools. READ ALSO: Tears of joy as Kano governor reunites parents with their stolen children Kano State Government is taking all measures to bring positive changes toward improving both the primary and secondary education system of the state, he said. The ministry wished both teachers, students and pupils a successful second term academic session and emphasised that it would continue with intensive routine monitoring to ensure staff punctuality and efficiency. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Police in Lagos State arrested two men on Thursday for allegedly beating a man to death over an allegation of car door theft, police spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, said on Sunday. Mr Hundeyin, a superintendent of police, said the arrest was made after the widow of the deceased, reported the case at Iponri Police Division. He said the woman reported on Thursday that while she was at home, she received a call that some people were beating her husband. In her report, she said they were beating her husband because he allegedly stole two doors of a car. She reported that on getting to the scene, she saw her husband in a pool of his blood and the assailants took him away in a tricycle. She further said that she heard later that her husband died on their way to the hospital and his corpse was abandoned in the tricycle, Hundeyin said. He added that the Divisional Police Officer at Iponri mobilised detectives, who arrested the two suspects and recovered the lifeless body of the victim. Those arrested were a 33-year-old man and a 34-year-old man. The corpse has been deposited at Mainland General Hospital mortuary, Yaba, for autopsy just as an investigation has gone underway, Mr Hundeyin said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has received commendations from the National Chairman of Jamatu Izalatil Bida Wa Ikamatus Sunna (JIBWIS), Sheikh Abdullahi Bala-Lau, for his longstanding commitment to Islamic propagation, predating even his tenure as governor. The cleric who gave the commendation when JIBWIS held its annual preaching in Zaria, announced the groups intention to support the education of underprivileged children in the fields of medicine and engineering. He said the group aims to produce 455 medical doctors in Kaduna within the next four years through contributions from individuals within their respective mosques. Mr Bala-Lau expressed gratitude for the support received from Governor Sani, stating, Your Excellency, there was never a time when our national bodys request was turned down; he always used to say, I am yours. Sir, we will never forget your kindness and we pray that the Almighty God will bless you. He also conveyed JIBWIS condolences for the unfortunate drone bomb mishap in Tudun Biri town stressing that their sympathy goes to Mr Sani, the Emir of Zazzau, and the people of Kaduna State. Mr Bala-Lau equally prayed for a successful and impactful tenure of Governor Sani in the state. The JIBWIS National Preaching is an annual event organised across the country to address contemporary issues concerning the Muslim Ummah. The event attracts attendees from across the nation and neighbouring countries. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal on Saturday, flagged off the distribution of agricultural assets and farm inputs to farmers within Zamfara-west senatorial district of the state. The flag-off ceremony which took place in Gummi local government area (LGA), was part of Nigerias COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme under the FADAMA III project. A statement by the spokesperson of the Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that Mr Lawal, apart from flagging off the distribution of agricultural assets also laid the foundation block for the construction of a befitting modern Tsangaya School in Gummi LGA. According to Mr Idris, the state government recently approved the construction of a modern Tsangaya Islamic School in each of the three senatorial zones to improve the quality of education in the state. The programme in Gummi LGA aims to provide essential input support and services to the Zamfara-west senatorial district farmers. Delivering his speech at the flag-off ceremony, Governor Lawal said the project was equally dedicated to constructing and rehabilitating access roads in rural communities. My government will ensure the rehabilitation and construction of wet markets for safe and efficient functioning. Our main objective is to improve farmers productivity by providing them with essential inputs such as fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides, high-quality seeds, and seed dressing chemicals. For the upcoming dry season, we have allocated 33,000 bags of fertiliser comprising 22,000 bags of NPK and 11,000 bags of urea. This is in addition to over 700 power tillers and seeds for the production of rice and maize, which will be distributed to 19,000 farmers. Seven hundred thirty-five groups of ten farmers each will be empowered with Power Tillers, while 2,550 individuals will also receive small ruminant animals for empowerment. During the flag off of the Tsangaya Islamic School project, Governor Lawal assured the people of Zamfara-west senatorial district that the school would meet high-quality standards. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Akwa Ibom State Government has released the names of 271 students to undergo selection examination for participation in the United Kingdom Education Exchange Programme, proposed by Governor Umo Eno. The students the overall best three per school have been selected by the Commissioner for Education, Idongesit Etiebet, from public secondary schools across the state, James Edet, permanent secretary, Ministry of Information, said in a statement on Friday. The students are in senior secondary two. The examination, Mr Edet said, will be held on 8 January by 11 a.m., at the state secretariat. According to Mr Edet, 31 students one per local government area, will be selected for the programme after their participation in a paper-based examination. From the published list, students from Akwa Ibom South District have the highest number of candidates, 108, followed by Akwa Ibom North-East with 82, while Akwa Ibom North-West has 81. The UK Education Exchange Programme is a fulfilment of the Governors promise of creating an exchange programme where participants will experience, learn and adopt global best practices aimed at bettering the states education system and giving exposure to intelligent students from the rural areas, Mr Edet said. Governor Eno, during his election campaign, had promised to revive public education in Akwa Ibom. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print TEHRAN, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Saturday that the security of Gaza and the West Bank is interconnected with that of the region and "war is not the solution." He made the remarks in a phone call with his French counterpart Catherine Colonna, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. During the talk, Amir-Abdollahian said the only way to prevent the expansion of the Israel-Hamas conflict and ensure lasting peace in the region is to pay "responsible" attention to "the roots of the challenges" and be determined to resolve them. Blaming the regional instability on Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories under the U.S. appeasement, Amir-Abdollahian said it was impossible to turn a blind eye to these root reasons while at the same time voicing concern about security in the region. Colonna, for her part, expressed concern over the escalation of the tensions in the region, calling on Iran to help prevent the widening of the conflicts' scopes. She also condemned Wednesday's deadly "terrorist" attack in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman that killed 92 people and wounded more than 280 others. The two sides also agreed on the importance of continuing their diplomatic consultations and contacts, highlighting the necessity to remove obstacles to the expansion of bilateral relations in an atmosphere based on mutual respect. Israel has been fighting with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, after the Palestinian faction launched a surprise attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people. The Israeli army has so far killed 22,722 Palestinians in its military operations in the enclave, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Saturday. The Lagos State Government has lost its share of control of Nigerias inland waterways which it has exercised for over 15 years through levying and licensing of operators in the sector. The Lagos State Government had raked in revenues from operators in the sector pursuant to the states Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) Law which came into force in 2008. The Supreme Court, on Friday, held that it was the sole responsibility of the central government to impose levies, and issue licences to operators in the industry. Delivering its judgement on a suit concerning the dispute, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by John Okoro said it was unlawful for state governments to seek to control the nations inland waterways. In the lead judgement written by Mr Okoro, the Supreme Court held that existing laws confer exclusive control of activities in the inland waterways on the federal government through its agencies, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigerian Maritime Standard and Safety Agency (NMSSA) and no other tier of government. Background Faced with a multiplicity of charges by both federal and the Lagos government agencies, the incorporated trustees of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transportation of Nigeria (ATBOWTN) and the incorporated trustees of the Dredgers Association of Nigeria (DAN) filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos to seek an end to such in 2012. The plaintiffs prayed the court to determine which tier of government was empowered by law to license and levy business operators on the nations inland waterways. Ruling on the case, the judge, John Tsoho (now Chief Judge of the court), said the federal government agencies NIWA and NMSSA are the proper and lawful agencies with authority in matters relating to the commercial activities of ATBOWTN and DAN, who are involved in water tourism, water transportation and sand dredging within the national inland waterways. Mr Tsoho restrained the Lagos State Waterways Authority and the states Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructural Development from further seeking to control the commercial activities of the plaintiffs ATBOWTN and DAN. However, Mr Tsohos decision was nullified by the Court of Appeal in its 18 July 2017, judgement on the appeal filed by the state governor and three others. NIWA and three others challenged the Court of Appeals decision at the Supreme Court, which in the 5 January judgment reversed the decision of the lower court and affirmed the March 28, 2014 judgment by Justice Tsoho of the Federal High Court. The Court of Appeal had held that the inland waterways within Lagos State were not captured by the National Inland Waterways Act, are within the legislative competence of the states legislature, and that Lagos could collect taxes/levies on businesses on waterways which start and terminate in the state. The appellants NIWA, NMSSA, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, and the Minister of Transport listed the Lagos State Waterways, the states Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, the Attorney-General, the Governor of Lagos State, the incorporated trustees of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transportation of Nigeria, among others, as respondents. Deciding the appeal on Friday, the Supreme Court agreed with the appellants lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, who is now the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), that NIWA is the only statutory agency vested with the responsibility of levying, imposing, and charging rates of utilisation along the declared waters of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority. The lead decision of the Supreme Court, which was prepared by Mr Okoro but read in open court on his behalf by Emmanuel Agim, a member of the courts seven-member panel that sat over the case, clarified that the federal waterways agency is the rightful and legal agency of government with the powers to exclusively manage, direct and control all activities on the navigable waters and its right of way throughout the country for inland navigation, pursuant to Sections 8 and 9 of NIWA Act. The justice upheld Mr Fagbemis argument that the activities of the Lagos State government and its agencies constituted a flagrant usurpation and an illegal encroachment on the statutory functions of NIWA. He noted that the waterways of Lagos State, among others in Nigeria, fall under the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Nigerian constitution. The Supreme Court added that it is only the federal government, through the National Assembly, that can validly legislate on Maritime Shipping and Navigation, saying the power to legislate on any subject in the Exclusive Legislative List does not reside with the Lagos State Government. The appellants had contended that the activities of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) created by the Lagos Government, through the enactment of LASWA Law No. 14 of 2008 (LASWA 2008) by the states House of Assembly, to regulate, develop and manage all aspects of the waterways in Lagos State were unconstitutional. The Supreme Court agreed that the existing laws do not favour the Lagos State governments contention on resource control, but that political stakeholders, including the legislature, could work on ways to amend the law to address the concerns raised by Lagos and others on the issue. The federal government is often in dispute with subnational governments over resource control, especially petroleum resources and mining of other mineral resources. However, the constitution confers exclusive control of these resources on the central government, many times, to the displeasure of the states. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print With products that gently isolate and activate cells, Akadeum's founder and CEO will discuss the impact the company is having on the cell and gene therapy space. ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Akadeum Life Sciencesthe global leader in buoyancy-based cell separation technologyhas been selected to present on its revolutionary microbubble platform at this year's Biotech Showcase, which is being held from January 8-10 in San Francisco. Brandon McNaughton, Founder and CEO of Akadeum Life Sciences, will discuss the impact of the Akadeum platform on therapeutic development in the cell and gene therapy space. Akadeum's microbubble technology has near-limitless applications, but it has been particularly transformational for cell and gene therapy development. Cell therapy treatments like CAR T cell therapy can be difficult to access and cost upwards of $500,000, partly because of challenges with the manufacturing process. With few options in the market, customers are forced to settle for mediocre performance from dated technology. Akadeum's microbubble technology addresses these challenges and offers a paradigm shift in the field of cell separation, activation, and expansion, enabling higher performance and improved accessibility. In 2023, the company expanded its portfolio offerings in C> applications. This included the commercialization of multiple new kits, including GMP-grade cell separation kits, which have become the technology of choice for an increasing number of therapeutic developers. In addition, the new Alerion systema closed and automated cell processing instrumentenables unmatched scalability and productivity for T cell separation by processing more isolations and more healthy cells per isolation than legacy magnetic and fluorescence-activated cell sorting instruments. The products in the Akadeum line have demonstrated higher yields, faster workflows, and higher-quality cells. For this work and more, Akadeum was recognized by Fast Company as the 5th Most Innovative Biotech Company in the world in 2023. Presentation Details: Date: Monday, January 8, 2024 Time: 2:45 pm PT Location: Hilton San Francisco Union Square Track: Franciscan C (Ballroom Level) For more information, visit https://www.akadeum.com or contact [email protected]. About Akadeum Life Sciences, Inc. Akadeum Life Sciences was formed to solve long-standing sample preparation problems in research, diagnostics, and cell therapy markets with a novel flotation-based target isolation platform technology. Without the critical step of separation (isolating biological targets like DNA, proteins, or cells from biological samples), many diagnostics and therapies are not possible. More than a solution to a single problem, this elegantly simple platform is disrupting the separation marketfrom nucleic acid extraction to cell isolation. Akadeum was the first to commercialize BACS (buoyancy activated cell sorting) microbubble kits for cell isolation applications. In parallel, Akadeum is actively establishing industry partnerships and collaborations. Akadeum's kits are available in Research Use Only and as GMP-grade configurations. Inquire about Akadeum's products, technology, or partnership opportunities at [email protected]. SOURCE Akadeum Life Sciences New Partnership to Boost AONDevices' Technology in Everyday Devices LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AONDevices, a leading innovator in super low-power, high-accuracy edge AI solutions, is excited to announce strategic partnership Insight Demand Creation for Mexico and Latin America regions. This representation alliance aims to significantly expand AONDevices' reach and impact with its advanced super low-power edge AI technologies. Insight Insight Demand Creation: Driving Market Expansion Insight's collaboration will be key in broadening the adoption of AONDevices' technologies across various industries, leveraging their expertise to widen AONDevices' market presence. "Our partnership with AONDevices is a strategic step towards introducing innovative technology solutions globally. We're eager to incorporate their super low-power edge AI technologies in our offerings," said Gerardo Martinez, VP Sales & Operations at Insight Demand Creation. Forward Outlook "This partnership is pivotal in our mission to lead in super low-power edge AI solutions," said Mouna Elkhatib, CEO of AONDevices. "Together with Insight Demand Creation, we're set to broaden our reach and enhance user experiences in Mexico and Latin America." Meet AONDevices at CES 2024 Join AONDevices at CES 2024 to explore their super low-power edge AI technologies. Attendees can schedule meetings through AONDevices' CES 2024 page for potential collaborations. Learn more about AONDevices and its innovative edge AI solutions at www.aondevices.com. For more information about Insight Demand Creation, please visit www.insight.com.mx or contact [email protected]. Click here for more details about our booth at: https://ces24.mapyourshow.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=0013A00001a21PHQAY SOURCE AONdevices, Inc. BEIJING, Jan. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- At a commercial building on the busy Nanjing Road West in downtown Shanghai, two groups of people almost come to blows over a lease negotiation dispute. The situation threatens to escalate as angry lessees and lessors consider seeking redress at the courts if the conflict isn't resolved promptly. But the dispute is quickly resolved, thanks to the first-time intervention of local law enforcement agencies. After a thorough analysis and in-depth discussions on matters including the contract implementation and lease structure adjustment, the two sides, in the presence of police, market supervisors, and lawyers, gradually calm down, and bring negotiations eventually back on track. During the process, authorities "made use of multi-party resources that complement each other's advantages, and paid much attention to the settlement of multiple disputes," said a Shanghai-based lawyer Xu Hongmei, who participated in this mediation in June 2023. "That provides a guarantee for enterprises to conduct business without distractions," Xu told the Global Times. The Nanjing Road West case is a vivid example of the "three-party linkage mechanism" by the Shanghai police. The establishment of the mechanism, which means police stations, judicial offices, and law firms work together in resolving grassroots disputes, was promulgated by the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau in 2023. An article published by the People's Daily on January 4, in which reporters visited police stations, judicial offices, and law firms in Shanghai to see how the creative mechanism resolved conflicts and disputes among the people, expounded on the lessons that grassroots governance could be drawn from the mechanism. Chinese experts on government affairs management said the "three-party linkage mechanism," which embodies the integration of law, principle, and human sentiment, is another innovative attempt in improving Chinese grassroots governance ability, which can effectively promote social harmony and stability. Resolve disputes in the bud In daily life, some seemingly small matters, such as neighborhood, property, and parking disputes, are actually major events in the minds of the public. Sometimes, dealing with these matters may create a knot in the hearts of the involved parties, and the cost of legal action can be high. The "three-party linkage mechanism" in Shanghai is a creative attempt to solve this problem. To date, the mechanism has been established in all 353 police stations across this city, according to the People's Daily report. The jurisdiction of the Nanjing Road West police station is one of the city's key CBD (Central Business District) areas. The 1.62-square-kilometer area gathers 31 commercial buildings. Multipurpose real estate is of huge economic benefit to the city, but it can easily be a source of various kinds of contradictions and disputes, among which commercial consumption disputes account for more than 50 percent, said Chen Wei, director of the police station. "Such disputes may escalate quickly if they are ineffectively managed and controlled in the initial stages," Chen told the Global Times. Early in 2019, the Nanjing Road West police station set up an in-house legal public service station at a Shanghai landmark shopping mall, and invited local law firms to sign up to serve at the station. Since then, with the guidance of the "three-party linkage mechanism" introduced later, all 30 legal service stations in this area have covered more than 400 enterprises and public institutions, providing offline consultations for 268 people, and helping resolve 144 disputes of various kinds, according to the Jing'an Branch of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau. Deploying the mediation work in advance is one of the important concepts of the "three-party linkage mechanism" in Shanghai's grassroots governance. Through early detection, early intervention, and early mediation, contradictions can be nipped in the bud. In downtown Hongkou district, for instance, quarrels on matters including greenery and the height of the walls used to regularly happen among residential community neighbors. "Some people even came to me with iron chains, asking for an explanation," local grassroots Party official Zhu Zhenyu told the People's Daily. The local police station then launched the "three-party linkage mechanism." Under the joint efforts of the police, judicial mediators, and lawyers, residents of the two communities buried the hatchet. Moreover, residential developers tore down the old wall and replaced it with a new 2.5-meter-tall one, "and that satisfied all the residents involved." "As society develops, our work is also changing," Chen Jinbiao, deputy director of the Public Order Department of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, told the People's Daily. "If some conflicts and disputes are not resolved in time, they are likely to escalate into criminal cases. Therefore, we move from passive protection to front-end prevention." "This is also our exploration of adhering to and developing the 'Fengqiao experience' in the new era," Chen noted. The "three-party linkage mechanism" is an integrated social governance measure that can give full play to the strengths of the police station, law firm, and judicial office in the mediation of mass disputes, Xiong Yihan, vice-president of the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University, told the Global Times. Xiong noted that in the past, police and lawyers often stepped in at the end of a civil dispute when relations were tense. "At present, various organizations are emphasizing the need to identify and solve problems in the bud, which is a proactive problem-solving thought and strategy," he said. The public security department is playing to its strengths by offering a platform, mobilizing the resources of all parties, lawyers, and mediators to actively make mediation more effective, Xiong noted. Joint effort of multiple parties The implementation and promotion of the "three-party linkage mechanism" has not only resolved a large number of contradictions and disputes, but has also mobilized more resources to aid in its implementation, thus, constantly building a solid foundation for grassroots governance, said observers. The resolution of the lease negotiation dispute, which took place at a commercial building on Nanjing Road West in June 2023, was an example showing the joint efforts of multiple parties in making the mechanism work. That day, before the two involved sides turned the verbal argument into a physical fight, local police rushed to pacify them, and judicial mediators and lawyers arrived within 30 minutes to help mediate the conflict. Then, the district's commercial commission hosted an online coordination meeting for the two sides, with local market supervisors also in attendance. At the city level, the Public Security Bureau in Shanghai has adopted a lively approach to resolving disputes. They work closely with the Party committee, and various government departments including education, civil affairs, health, market supervision, housing management, and judicial professional committees. This collaboration has led to the establishment of a more effective mediation system, resulting in a significant improvement in resolving vexing problems for the public. In addition, for problems in key industries such as real estate and labor relations, the Shanghai public security organs rely on "reminder letters" and "comprehensive treatment proposals" to give relevant departments suggestions to deal with, promoting the transformation from solving isolated cases to dissecting a universal difficulty in one field. Since 2023, Shanghai has issued a total of 136 suggestions and reminders in several areas, which have provided substantial support in improving the overall management of local communities, greatly contributing to enhanced grassroots governance. Integration of law and human sentiment Resolving conflicts and disputes among the public and helping the parties involved find closure and satisfaction is no easy task. However, the "three-party linkage mechanism" has proven to be an effective approach that considers the legal, rational, and emotional aspects of these situations comprehensively. In June 2023, for instance, late at night, a tenant surnamed Wei contacted Gu Xiaofen, a community police officer at the Pujin Road police station of the Minhang Public Security Sub-bureau in Shanghai. "I will fight them to the end!" Wei declared. Wei was frustrated with a three-party rent dispute involving the landlord and sub-landlord, and firmly believed that a power outage had intentionally been caused by the landlord as a form of punishment. Gu and Wei engaged in a lengthy conversation that night, joined by a mediator from the judicial office. Together, they aimed to understand the challenges faced by the sub-landlord and find a way to resolve the impasse. Gu also sought legal advice from a lawyer to clarify the nature of the contract between the parties involved. Thanks to the "three-party linkage mechanism," this complex rental dispute, with conflicting interests and intense emotions, was successfully resolved in a short time. "Sometimes, relying solely on the police is not enough to convince both parties. By involving lawyers and mediators, the people involved can not only experience the warmth of mediation, but also receive professional legal services, making it easier for them to rationally assess their interests and reach a consensus," Jin Jie, the director of the Guidance Brigade of the Grassroots Basic Work Division of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, told the People's Daily. To encourage the public to seek legal assistance proactively, the Shanghai public security authorities have also implemented more intelligent and information-based methods, such as online mediation services. Since 2023, they have had over 50,000 online legal consultations and conducted over 11,800 scheduled mediations. These efforts aim to provide accessible and efficient support to those in need. The "three-party linkage mechanism" embodies the characteristics of Chinese-style urban grassroots governance and is conducive to promoting social harmony and stability, Xiong pointed out. "China is a society with a large population, and in the process of governance, the relevant departments are exploring a model that is different from the Western society's pursuit of a single legal route, but a combination of self-governance at the grassroots level, virtue, and rule of law," Xiong noted. Just like the "three-party linkage mechanism," it not only emphasizes procedural justice but also takes into account the simple justice views of ordinary Chinese people, ensuring both procedural justice and substantive justice, and striving to meet the diverse interests and demands of the public. The integration of law, principle, and human sentiment, and the aggregation of multiple forces to address public concerns have made such modernization of governance in these mega-cities highly popular among the Chinese people, Xiong pointed. Xiong also believes that in the future, the mechanism will be actively promoted and adaptively applied to different fields in other cities and rural areas. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202401/1304936.shtml SOURCE Global Times If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Athens, Jan 7 : Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Hania, Crete, and expressed growing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. During the meeting on Saturday, Mitsotakis also expressed concern about the risks of escalating tensions in the Middle East and the repercussions for regional stability and security, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Greek national news agency AMNA. "These are difficult and challenging times for the region," Mitsotakis said, reiterating the need for an unhindered flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza He also underlined that the solution can only be political, based on the two-state solution in accordance with UN resolutions. After the meeting, Blinken, who was on his Mideast diplomatic mission, told reporters that he wants to make sure the conflict in the Middle East "doesn't spread". Mitsotakis and Blinken also exchanged views on bilateral ties and other international issues. Tehran, Jan 7 : Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said that the security of Gaza and the West Bank is interconnected with that of the region and "war is not the solution". He made the remarks on Saturday in a phone call with his French counterpart Catherine Colonna, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. During the talk, Amir-Abdollahian said the only way to prevent the expansion of the Israel-Hamas conflict and ensure lasting peace in the region is to pay "responsible" attention to "the roots of the challenges" and be determined to resolve them. Blaming the regional instability on Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories under the US appeasement, Amir-Abdollahian said it was impossible to turn a blind eye to these root reasons while at the same time voicing concern about security in the region. Colonna, for her part, expressed concern over the escalation of the tensions in the region, calling on Iran to help prevent the widening of the conflicts' scopes. She also condemned Wednesday's deadly "terrorist" attack in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman that killed 92 people and wounded more than 280 others. The two sides also agreed on the importance of continuing their diplomatic consultations and contacts, highlighting the necessity to remove obstacles to the expansion of bilateral relations in an atmosphere based on mutual respect. Israel has been fighting with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, after the Palestinian faction launched a surprise attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people. The Israeli army has so far killed 22,722 Palestinians in its military operations in the enclave, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Saturday. Green corridors to be created on roads leading to Ayodhya on Jan 22. Image Source: IANS News Lucknow, Jan 7 : In view of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple on January 22, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced that only people invited by the temple trust, journalists and government functionaries on duty, can enter Ayodhya a day before and on the day of the ceremony. Prior hotel bookings on these days of all others have been cancelled, officials said. District Magistrate Nitish Kumar has reportedly asked all hotel owners in the district to ensure that bookings for January 22 should only be for invited guests, media persons and government officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony along with Vedic Brahmins from across the country. In an official statement, the government said it has come to the officials' notice that some people had booked hotels and dharamshalas in Ayodhya on the day of the Pran Pratistha ceremony on January 22. Their booking should be cancelled, it said, and added that about 100 planes could be landing at the Ayodhya airport on the day for which necessary arrangements must be made. The statement went on to add that action might be taken against those who enter the town without a permit. The district magistrate, meanwhile, said, "We are investigating the hotel bookings already made in Ayodhya hotels during Pran Pratishtha. We will take the necessary action." People walk past debris in Gaza City, Jan. 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Sunday. Additionally, around 1,200 people in Israel have lost their lives due to the Hamas attacks. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua) GAZA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israeli army launched on Saturday night airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip, killing at least 20 people, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Sunday. According to the report, dozens of injured people have been sent to hospitals, many of whom were in serious condition. Local sources told Xinhua that many people are still buried under the rubble and the death toll may further rise. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Sunday. In a press statement, the ministry said that the Israeli army "launched 12 strikes against families in the Gaza Strip, killing 133 Palestinians and wounding 250 others during the past 24 hours." Since Oct. 7, Israel has been launching a large-scale military offensive in the Palestinian enclave after Hamas's unprecedented attack on southern Israel, which claimed the lives of around 1,200 Israelis, according to the Israeli authorities. A Palestinian rides past debris in Gaza City, Jan. 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Sunday. Additionally, around 1,200 people in Israel have lost their lives due to the Hamas attacks. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua) A man checks damaged buildings after Israeli attacks in Gaza City, Jan. 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Sunday. Additionally, around 1,200 people in Israel have lost their lives due to the Hamas attacks. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua) A boy cooks near debris in Gaza City, Jan. 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Sunday. Additionally, around 1,200 people in Israel have lost their lives due to the Hamas attacks. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua) People clear debris after Israeli attacks in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Jan. 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Sunday. Additionally, around 1,200 people in Israel have lost their lives due to the Hamas attacks. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Rescue work is underway after Israeli attacks in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Jan. 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Sunday. Additionally, around 1,200 people in Israel have lost their lives due to the Hamas attacks. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) This photo taken on Jan. 7, 2024 shows a scene after Israeli attacks in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Sunday. Additionally, around 1,200 people in Israel have lost their lives due to the Hamas attacks. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) People walk on debris after Israeli attacks in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Jan. 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Sunday. Additionally, around 1,200 people in Israel have lost their lives due to the Hamas attacks. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) A boy sits on debris after Israeli attacks in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Jan. 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Sunday. Additionally, around 1,200 people in Israel have lost their lives due to the Hamas attacks. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) A boy sits by debris after Israeli attacks in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Jan. 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Sunday. Additionally, around 1,200 people in Israel have lost their lives due to the Hamas attacks. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) A boy passes by a car damaged during Israeli attacks in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on Jan. 7, 2024. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Sunday. Additionally, around 1,200 people in Israel have lost their lives due to the Hamas attacks. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Aizawl/Imphal, Jan 7 : Of India's 1,643 km unfenced porous borders with Myanmar, the frontiers with Mizoram (510 km) and Manipur (398 km) are most worrying as illegal influx of Myanmarese, drug peddling and cross-border movement of inimical elements including militants is on the rise. The complex and the rising danger of drug trades and cross-border movement of inimical elements as well as violence-hit civilians have become more challenging for the Indian authorities especially after the 2021 February coup by the Myanmar military. Considering the vulnerability of the 1,643 km unfenced India-Myanmar borders with Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km), Nagaland (215 km) and Mizoram (510 km), the Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allows citizen residing close to both sides of the border to move 16 km into each other's territory without passport or visa, is likely to be discontinued soon. The FMR allows people to cross over after showing a border pass with one year validity. Assam Rifles and Border Road Organisation (BRO) officials said that work of erection of border fencing along the Manipur border with Myanmar is now going on and there are plans to erect fencing on the entire India-Myanmar border within the next four-five years. "The erection of fencing is not only to stop the misuse of FMR, but also to prevent influx of illegal immigrants, drugs peddling and gold smuggling. The insurgent outfits also take the advantage of the FMR freely and undertake their movement on either side of the border to carry out attacks on the Indian side and flee towards Myanmar," a top Assam Rifles official told IANS. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had earlier requested the Union Home Ministry to cancel the FMR. Former Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who's party Mizo National Front (MNF) lost the November 7 Assembly elections, urged the United Nations to take pro-active steps to curb the illegal drugs trafficking and smuggling of various contraband goods from Myanmar. MNF supremo Zoramthanga, militant leader turned politician, while talking to IANS had said that without any control and prohibition of the Myanmar authority rampant drugs trading and poppy cultivation has been going on in the neighbouring country and this is being smuggled to Mizoram, Manipur and other northeastern states. "We are facing the big challenge of drug trafficking. Mizoram police, para-military forces together with Churches, NGOs and local people have joined in the war against drugs. We need the help of the Indian Government and the United Nations to effectively tackle the illicit drug trades," Zoramthanga pointed out. Apart from the Golden triangle (which includes Myanmar, Laos and Thailand), militant outfits in Myanmar are involved in poppy cultivation, he pointed out. The former head of the Indian Army's Eastern Command, Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita, who retired on December 31 after four decades of service, had said, "Any instability in India's neighbourhood is not in our interest, it impacts us as we share a common border. The problem of India-Myanmar gets accentuated by difficult geography and terrain." "There has been recovery of a lot of contraband drugs and narcotics from people who are coming (from Myanmar into NE states), so security forces are keeping a very close eye on drug peddlers," the veteran Army officer said in Guwahati. After the Myanmar military toppled the Aung San Suu Kyi Government and seized power in a coup in February 2021, the cross-border smuggling of drugs, arms, gold and various other contrabands increased to a large extent with Mizoram becoming the main transit route of the illegal trade. According to various law enforcement agencies, various drugs, worth over Rs 2,000 cr have been seized after these were smuggled from Myanmar into the northeastern states and over 300 people including Myanmarese have been arrested in 2022 and 2023. After Mizoram and Manipur, Assam, Tripura and other northeastern states are also facing a serious threat of drugs, mostly smuggled from Myanmar and traded to Bangladesh, different states of India and other countries. Nagaland police recently arrested 12 drug peddlers from the Zubza police station area in Kohima district, which led to the busting of an inter-state racket that operated in Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Punjab, besides Nagaland. "Upon interrogation, it was revealed that the accused are suspected to have trafficked around 60 kg of heroin worth about Rs 400 crore within one year," Nagaland's Director-General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma said. Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and senior law enforcement agency officials have accused illegal immigrants from Myanmar and drug peddlers, including Myanmar nationals, of being involved in mass poppy farming and forest destruction in the northeastern state. Before the over eight-month-long ongoing ethnic violence, the Manipur Government, during March-April last year, started destruction of illegal poppy cultivation and launched an eviction drive against the encroachers who illegally occupied the reserve and protected forest lands in the mountainous areas of the state. Hundreds of encroachers have been evicted from forest land in Imphal East, Kangpokpi, Thoubal and Noney districts during the past seven years (2017-2023). People belonging to Meitei, Kuki, Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) and Kabui tribes have been evicted from the forest land. With seeds supplied from Myanmar, the Poppy cultivation in Manipur was done over 15,496.8 acres. The Kuki-Chin community inhabited area in 2022-23 accounted for 804 acres and the Naga people inhabited area was 350 acres. The enormity of the drug menace has assumed such proportions that out of the state's population of 28 lakh, the number of drug-affected youths is around 1.4 lakh. Manipur, which shares 398 km unfenced border with Myanmar, has also become a gateway for illegal drugs. In Mizoram, the number of drug-related deaths was recorded at 72, including 11 women last year, 43 in 2022 and 47 in 2021. Drug abuse in Mizoram reached alarming levels with 139 deaths in 2000 while the highest number of drug-related fatalities was 143 in 2004. Varied drugs, including heroin and highly addictive methamphetamine tablets, foreign cigarettes, gold, arms and ammunition, exotic animals, and areca nuts are often smuggled from Myanmar into the northeastern states. After several decades of militancy, the drug menace has become the prime threat in the northeastern states because of the region's close proximity to Myanmar. According to the Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023 report, which was released last month, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) stated that Myanmar is the world's biggest opium producer. According to the survey, from 2022 to 2023, Myanmar saw an 18 per cent increase to 1,16,000 acres in the land used to grow the illicit crop and a 16 per cent rise in production. The growth can be attributed to multiple factors such as improved plot density, the use of irrigation and fertilisers. Earlier Afghanistan was the biggest producer but since the ascent of the Taliban to power in 2021, the cultivation of opium poppies has seen a decrease of 95 per cent. The report notes that opium farming in Southeast Asia is closely linked to poverty, unemployment, lack of government services, challenging macroeconomic environment, instability and insecurity. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) (EASTERN BORDERS PKG) As world focuses on new crises, Rohingya refugees languish in Bangla camps. Image Source: IANS News United Nations, Jan 7 : Six years after the crisis erupted in Myanmar, almost a million Rohingya refugees are languishing in Bangladesh, most in the squalor of the world's largest refugee camp located in the Cox's Bazaar area, and hundreds are adrift on the high seas looking for asylum elsewhere, while a few thousand have reached safer shores. Crises elsewhere, meanwhile, have grabbed international attention overtaking the Rohingya predicament. "This is a crisis that should not be forgotten," said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. With fading attention, resources to help them dwindle and on the political front, efforts to help them return home falter. An appeal by the UN last year for $876 million to help the Rohingya refugees met only 42 per cent of its target by October. "If contributions decline, we are in trouble," Grandi said of the programmes for them. The shortfall in contributions translates to everyday hardships: The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) twice cut the food vouchers for the Rohingya last year, from $12 per month for each refugee to $10 in March and to $8 in May. The WFP called it "another blow" to the refugees from "funding shortages". It said that even before the cuts that "four in 10 families were not consuming enough food and 12 per cent of children were acutely malnourished". Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said "we have had a meaningful decrease in international financial support" for "the dramatic situation of the Rohingya refugees", in Bangladesh. "We are witnessing an enormous tragedy, and we lack the resources needed to respond to it," he said. The refugees huddling in makeshift shelters in the Cox's Bazaar area also face the furies of nature, from cyclones and flooding and in May 2023 cyclone Mocha caused considerable damage. Bangladesh is a reluctant host to the Rohingya and a solution to their plight with a safe return to their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine state is fading as they remain trapped in a limbo of virtual statelessness. "Regrettably, the conditions for their safe, voluntary and dignified return are not yet in sight", Guterres said. The Rohingya are caught in an intractable situation because Myanmar does not consider them citizens under its 1982 nationality law and they are designated as "Bengali". This makes it all the more difficult for them to return to their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine state they had fled, and if they do it will be as less than full citizens with risks of expulsion hanging over them. China is reported to have brokered a deal between Bangladesh and the Myanmar military junta for a pilot programme for their return to Rakhine state. Bangladesh newspaper Daily Star reported in April that according to Bangladesh officials, 1,000 Rohingya were to be sent back to Rakhine and further action would be considered after seeing how the programme fared. Human Rights Watch said that in May about 20 Rohingya were sent to Rakhine state to observe resettlement camps and report back. The organisation said that those who made the visit and were interviewed by it "said that the detention-like conditions and lack of full citizenship rights were not conducive to a safe return". It quoted one of those interviewed: "We aren't at all satisfied seeing the Rakhine situation. It's another trap by Myanmar to take us back and then continue the abuses like they have been doing to us for decades". The pilot programme does not seem to have been implemented. Rohingya have been going to Bangladesh in smaller waves after the many bouts of action against them, but it turned into a tsunami in August 2017 when Myanmar security forces unleashed a massive attack on Rohingya civilians in retaliation for an attack by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on security posts. Reeling from the counterattacks hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled to Bangladesh. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) 30 more Myanmar soldiers who fled to Mizoram repatriated to their country. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 7 : Regional experts believe China's recent efforts to mediate between the Myanmar junta and ethnic rebels on its northern border are motivated mainly by self-interest but unlikely to have a significant impact on the conflict. China's goals in convening the peace talk between the military and the Three Brotherhood Alliance, conducted most recently in Kunming on December 20, 2023 is two-fold -- to eliminate cyberfraud operations victimising Chinese citizens and to stabilise trade across the China-Myanmar border, VOA reported citing the experts. "So, the economic interest or the border trade is being affected, that is for sure," Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, said in an interview. "But that is a minor consideration compared to the cyber campaigna The sooner it can be completed, the sooner the cease-fire is, and the sooner the stability can be restored." The armed conflict has caused a daily loss in bilateral trade between China and Myanmar of about $10 million, according to Than Soe Naing, a veteran Myanmar domestic political analyst. But he said this loss is more damaging for Myanmar than China, VOA reported. "The flow of goods from the border region is not much compared to China's international economic relations. Our country suffers more," he said. Beijing has taken care to be even handed in its statements about the talks, in line with its public policy of solving problems and pursuing stability in the region through negotiations and dialogue. In a formal statement on December 28, 2023, China's Foreign Ministry said the country "hopes that relevant parties in Myanmar will exercise maximum restraint, actively ease the situation on the ground, together realise the soft landing of the situation in northern Myanmar and take concrete actions to protect the safety and security of Chinese projects and personnel in Myanmar". Yun Sun said China's main concern is not to resolve the issue of territorial control between the military council and ethnic forces in Myanmar but to crack down on cyber scams located on the China-Myanmar border, VOA reported. This has been challenging for China. The anti-junta People's Defense Forces movement has gained momentum since a major offensive in October last year, known as 1027, taking over significant amounts of territory in the north. Both analysts believe that the military regime is now on the defensive and more likely to favour a cease-fire. But Than Soe Naing predicted the rebels will continue their offensive and that fighting is likely to intensify throughout northern Shan State. "China will sit and watch over the issue of who will win between the Military Council versus Spring Revolution forces in Myanmar," he said. Beijng "will come to whoever takes power in Burma. He will cooperate with the ruling entity and continue his plan", including the Belt and Road Initiative, VOA reported. Lucknow, Jan 7 : In line with the preparations for the consecration ceremony of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya, the Uttar Pradesh government is gearing up to celebrate Deepotsav across Uttar Pradesh on January 22. However, it will be different from the Deepotsav held in Ayodhya, on the occasion of Diwali where earthen lamps are lit on the banks of Saryu river. Instead, the government is urging residents to light the Ram Jyoti in every household. Prime Minister Narendra Modi named this Deepotsav as 'Ram Jyoti' and now the Yogi government has pledged to light this Ram Jyoti in every house in the state, along with all the mythological places in the state. Starting from January 14, various cultural programs will begin in the entire state, including Ayodhya, involving Ramayana recitations, Ram Leela, and a series of classical music performances. Principal Secretary tourism, Mukesh Meshram informed that Deepotsav will be celebrated across the country on January 22. People in Uttar Pradesh will also be encouraged to celebrate the same, he added. "Our effort is to organise Deepotsav at all the mythological and historical places in the state. People will also be encouraged to light lamps at their homes", he stated. He further mentioned that this event will not be like the Deepotsav programme held before Diwali, but will be bigger than that, and it will be celebrated in every home like a festival. The Tourism and Culture Department is appealing to all residents to light 'Ram Jyoti' in their homes. aThis is a historic occasion, and it is hoped that more people will actively participate in it than our expectations", he remarked. Above 4,000 artists will showcase their performances for 70 days. Meshram revealed that as part of the cultural programmes starting from January 14 in Ayodhya, artists associated with various forms such as classical music, singing, and instrumental music have been invited from all over the country. These artists will continuously showcase their performances for 70 consecutive days at various locations in Ayodhya. At least 4,000 to 5,000 artists will stay in Ayodhya for this duration, and kala gram is being established for their accommodation. A provision of Rs 100 crore has been made by the government in the supplementary budget for these programs in the entire state. Aizawl/Imphal, Jan 7 : The northeastern states of India, specially Mizoram and Manipur, have borne the brunt of the Myanmar military's coup toppling the Aung San Suu Kyi government and seizing power in February 2021. At least 40,000 Myanmarese including women and children have taken shelter in Mizoram and Manipur during the past two years after Myanmar went under army control, also known as the 'Tatmadaw', and the subsequent civil war between the army and the pro-democracy ethnic armed forces.. The Myanmar refugees belong to the Chin-Zo tribe and have similar ethnic, cultural and traditional ties with the Mizos of Mizoram. The first influx from Myanmar started after the military seized power two years ago. Since then, over 32,000 people, including women, children and elected leaders, have taken shelter in Mizoram from Myanmar. Besides the civilians, since November 13 last year, over 255 Myanmarese soldiers also fled to Mizoram in different phases after their camps were captured by armed pro-democracy ethnic groups, who stepped up their battle against the army in early October last year. Subsequently the Indian authorities have repatriated the Myanmar army personnel to their country. Mizoram's six districts -- Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Serchhip, Hnahthial and Saitual -- share a 510 km unfenced border with Myanmar's Chin state. A majority of the refugees live in relief camps and government buildings in Mizoram, while many others are accommodated by their relatives. A large number of Myanmarese have been staying in rented houses. The state government, Church bodies, Mizoram's largest voluntary body Young Mizo Association, NGOs and many individuals are providing food to the refugees, who belong to the Chin tribal community, who share close ethnic ties with the Mizos besides having language and lifestyle similarities. The erstwhile Mizo National Front (MNF) government earlier sought financial and logistical support from the Centre for the Myanmar nationals, but the Union government has yet to respond. Former Chief Minister and MNF supremo Zoramthanga wrote several letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some Central ministers seeking financial and logistical support for the refugees. Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that due to the prevailing unrest around 6,000 people from Myanmar have taken shelter in his state in the recent past. Though the BJP government in Manipur wanted to keep the Myanmar refugees in the designated camps, most of the refugees are staying scatteredly. Five Manipur districts -- Churachandpur, Chandel, Kamjong, Tengnoupal and Ukhrul -- share around a 400-km long border with Myanmar. Following his predecessor's strategy, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma during his recent maiden visit to New Delhi, categorically told Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar that the Myanmar refugees seeking shelter in Mizoram were not treated differently but as brothers and sisters of the Mizo people. According to senior officials in Mizoram, Shah gave an assurance to the Chief Minister that Myanmarese refugees in the state would not be deported until complete peace and normalcy were restored in the neighbouring country. The Home Minister informed Lalduhoma that the policy of the Central government is to take and record fingerprints and biographical details of all the foreigners living in the country. The previous MNF government turned down the Union Home Ministry's (MHA) advice to collect biographic and biometric data from the Myanmar refugees last year. The then Mizoram Information and Public Relations Minister Lalruatkima had said that the collection of biometric details of the Myanmar nationals would be discriminatory as the refugees and the Mizos of Mizoram have the same blood relation and similar ethnicity. "The MNF government provided relief and shelter to the Myanmar refugees on humanitarian grounds. Thousands of refugee students were enrolled in Mizoram schools and provided free textbooks, uniforms and mid-day meal like the other students belonging to the state," Lalruatkima had said. The Manipur government, however, undertook the collection of biometric details of the Myanmar nationals, sheltered in the state. As the Manipur government began collecting the biometric data from July last year, a team from the National Crime Records Bureau, deputed by the MHA, assisted the state government at the Foreigners' Detention Centre at Sajiwa in Imphal East district. The MHA had earlier asked the Manipur and Mizoram governments to capture biographic and biometric details of "illegal migrants" in the two states. Citing international protocols and conventions, the MHA earlier told the northeastern states that nationals from neighbouring countries cannot be given "refugee" status as India is not a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Refugees and the protocol. After the Myanmarese had started entering Mizoram and Manipur since March 2021, the MHA had sent an advisory to four northeastern states -- Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh -- which share a 1,640-km unfenced border with Myanmar, saying that the states and UTs have no power to grant "refugee" status to any foreigner, and India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol. Meanwhile, there is no sign of normalcy returning soon in the war-torn country as in October last year, three ethnic armed groups formed an alliance to begin a major offensive against the military in northern Shan state along the border with China. There are also reports that the Arakan army already controls key trade routes connecting Bangladesh and the anti-military force is preparing for a final push after having gained effective control over two-thirds of the key coastal province of Rakhine and large parts of the neighbouring Chin state. The Arakan army's grouping with the Rohingya Muslim rebel groups aimed to gain global support from the Islamic world. The military's airpower is likely to be reinforced by the purchase of Sukhoi fighter-bombers and helicopter gunships from Russia, but there are reports that certain countries are clandestinely supplying the most sophisticated arms and armed drones to the rebel groups. The military, however, is facing a major challenge from the ethnic rebel groups backed by an exiled National Unity Government (NUG) that is not without its armed groups like the People's Defence Forces (PDF) and smaller resistance forces in and around the Bamar homeland. Hostilities in Myanmar would not help the militant outfits belonging to northeast India to retain their bases in that country and local allies (mostly Burmese military commanders in desperate need of armed support). On the other hand, the Indian government is keen to operationalise important connectivity projects including the Kaladan multi-modal corridor or the Golden Quadrilateral project that would facilitate seamless surface connectivity between landlocked northeast India and the rest of Southeast Asia. If the Myanmar civil war intensifies, India's 'Act East Policy' is likely to be caught up affecting northeast India. Experts suggest that India must undertake peace diplomacy in Myanmar for a number of reasons as the country with a 53 million population can help India, specially the northeastern states, in various positive purposes including curbing of illegal drug peddling and militancy.. The United Nations estimates the military has killed at least 2,940 civilians and detained more than 17,000 people, creating a "catastrophic" situation for human rights in Myanmar. The army's random use of air raids, artillery shelling and clashes with groups opposed to its rule -- including ethnic armed outfits and the PDF -- has displaced more than 1.5 million people nationwide and left some 17.6 million in need of humanitarian assistance. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) (EASTERN PKG) Land of 135 ethnicities, Myanmar has no democratic framework to hold it together. Image Source: IANS News New York, Jan 7 : Myanmar is the land of myriad mutinies, ethnic and anti-authoritarian, with many different partisans and causes, spawning a chaotic brew of endless armed conflicts now heading to a civil war. Behind these conflicts is Myanmar's failure to develop an infrastructure of democracy that could embrace all its 135 officially recognised ethnic groups and others like the Rohingya to create a sense of nationhood. At Myanmar's independence in 1948, the British left the mishmash of a territory arbitrarily put together by colonial fiat and the nation's shortlived experiment with democracy effectively ended a decade later throttling hopes for diversity or healthy dissent. Rage against the military, the Tatmadaw, is the common cause coursing through all the estimated 40 armed groups, sometimes making for strategic cooperation among some. The last half-hearted experiment with democracy effectively ended in 2021, when the Tatmadaw arrested President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, ending their strictly circumscribed rule under a democratic facade. Even before their overthrow, the democratically elected leaders' government had continued to face armed insurgencies and terrorism and had acquiesced to the military's brutal reprisals, most notably against the Rohingya after an attack by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army on security outposts in 2017. leading to an exodus of a million. With even the mirage of civilian rule fading, the armed conflicts have intensified, with the National Unity Government (NUG) setting up the People's Defence Force (PDF) and declaring war on the junta. Some of the ethnic insurgencies have coalesced around the NUG strengthening its forces. The NUG was set up by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, the lower house of the Myanmar legislature dissolved by the military, and it operates both within the country as the de facto authority in territories under its control and outside, as a government in exile. It is recognised by the European Parliament as the country's legitimate government. In the chaos of Myanmar, the insurgencies that raged in the ethnic minority peripheries have now found strength in the hinterland as a fight against the military dictatorship. The Special Advisory Council-Myanmar, reported in September 2022 that "the NUG and resistance organisations have effective control over 52 per cent of the territory of Myanmar". The independent advisory group said that according to its analysis, the Tatmadaw effectively controls only 17 per cent of Myanmar territory with the rest under contention. "The trajectory of the conflict favours the resistance, and the junta is losing what control it does have at an increasing rate despite the continued use of mass atrocities by junta force", it said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a report to the General Assembly in August assessing the situation in Myanmar said: "All States and regions across the country continued to be affected by the armed clashes involving the Myanmar armed forces, ethnic armed organisations and resistance forces, including People's Defence Forces." "Ethnic states in border areas, as well as central Myanmar regions, including Sagaing and Magway, remain among the most affected by armed conflict, reflecting sustained opposition to the Myanmar military. "Resistance forces, including self-declared People's Defence Forces in these areas, have increased their collaboration with established ethnic armed organisations, and some of these forces have grown increasingly sophisticated, utilising new technologies and accessing regional arms markets." The rebel forces appeared to be making headway as the Tatmadaw troops have been surrendering to them, according to several media reports which have reported entire battalions giving up. "We have seen the mass deserting and surrender of the military council soldiers unprecedented in military history," NUG's Acting President Duwa Lashi La said in his New Year's address, according to the US-government-funded Radio Free Asia (RFA). A rebel group that associates with the PDF, the Three Brotherhood Alliance, has in particular made headway in recent months against the Tatmadaw forces after launching its Operation 1027 in October 1027. The advances by the alliance made up of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army has led the Tatmadaw junta's leader Min Aung Hlaing to reportedly concede in early November that "the three ethnic alliance attacks in northern Shan state near the China-Myanmar border will break the country into pieces", according to RFA. He admitted that government troops "abandoned some posts" in Shan state, RFA said. Last month, China brokered a peace agreement between the Three Brotherhood and the military regime, which did not involve a retreat by the alliance, but it did not appear to be holding as one of its components the Ta'ang group claimed soon after to have taken territory from the government troops. The current phase of the war on the military junta builds on the history of insurgencies from almost its birth. The successive Myanmar regimes have made several attempts to forge ceasefires with the rebel groups, but almost none have held. The last one of significance was the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) signed in 2015 by the government and 11 insurgent groups. Although the NCA's launch was witnessed by representatives of the UN and several countries, it failed to hold and was finally doomed by the 2021 coup. The first conflicts broke out soon after independence in the Karen minority area in the east in a confused clash between communist and anti-communist cadres that later became a Karen rebellion when the government of Burma, as the country was then known, purged the Karens from the armed forces, where they had had an important role. Several Karen splinter groups have carried on their fight with the Myanmar authorities. Over time scores of insurgent groups emerged around the country because of the unmet grievances of various ethnic groups primarily opposing the military's attempts to impose Burman hegemony. The military's hegemony itself, though, has turned anti-authoritarian Burmans to join the uprisings against the Tatmadaw. Other notable ethnic armed ethnic groups include the Chin National Army, founded in 1988, the Mon National Liberation Army started in 1971, the Shan State Army created in 1964 and the Lahu Democratic Union. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) (EDITED: EASTERN BORDERS PKG) Bangladesh ruling party accused of fielding dummies and threatening people to turn up on voting day. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 5 : The 76-year-old Sheikh Hasina has been in power for 15 straight years -- the longest-serving leader in Bangladesh's history -- and tenure has been marked by allegations of authoritarian rule, targeting of the opposition, suppression of people's rights and large-scale vote rigging in elections held to keep her in power, a media report said. As she seeks a record fourth term in the January 7 general elections, the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by ailing former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has decided to boycott the vote, as it did in 2014, Al Jazeera reported. Zia, 78, was jailed for more than two years over corruption charges and was moved to house arrest over health concerns in 2020. The BNP says it does not have any confidence in Hasina presiding over a free and fair election. It demanded Hasina step down to make way for a caretaker government to organise the vote. But the demand was met with a severe government crackdown, which saw tens of thousands of BNP members arrested and at least 11 of them killed by security forces during street protests, raising concerns over valid elections in the garments hub of the world, Al Jazeera reported. In September, the US, the top buyer of Bangladeshi garments, said it was Imposing a visa ban on the country's officials who undermine the democratic election process. Two months later, the Human Rights Watch condemned the arrests of opposition members and said "the government's autocratic crackdown will jeopardise future economic cooperation" with other countries, Al Jazeera reported. Since the opposition's boycott call, Hasina's party had been scrambling to field independent or "dummy" candidates to make the election look fair. To ensure the results are in favour of the ruling party, the government is allegedly using law enforcement machinery and intelligence agencies to intimidate and threaten independent candidates, Al Jazeera reported. "This election is a charade," prominent Bangladeshi rights activist Shahidul Alam told Al Jazeera. "It's a mockery of our democracy whatever is left of it." The BNP has not only boycotted the election but has also announced a non-cooperation movement, asking people not to vote on in the crucial polls. As a result, the ruling Awami League's main concern at the moment is to ensure a "reasonable" voter turnout, according to its official Bahauddin Nasim. To do that, the party has allegedly resorted to "undue" measures. In many constituencies, members of the ruling party have been accused of threatening to strip people of the government's social benefits schemes if they fail to appear in polling booths on election day, Al Jazeera reported. Rumeen Farhana, the BNP's international affairs secretary, told Al Jazeera that participating in an election, knowing it will be rigged, was "suicidal and a betrayal to the thousands who were hurt, detained, tortured, or killed for democracy and free speech". "People of this country will remember this election as the most absurd and illegitimate one in its history," she said. Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in the US, said the BNP boycott does the Awami League a "big favour by making it harder for Western countries to conclude that the election is fraudulent". He said the pattern of events leading to the BNP's decision to boycott should be of concern to the West. Ali Riaz, distinguished professor of politics and government at the Illinois State University in the US, thinks the BNP's absence from the vote was always the most preferred option for the Awami League. "Forcing the main opposition out of the election process is a strategy autocrats around the world tend to prefer," he told Al Jazeera. Riaz said the upcoming vote on Sunday does not meet the "basic standard of an election". Patna, Jan 7 : With the JD(U) flexing its muscles in Bihar over seat sharing with alliance partners, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is expected to go to Kolkata on January 17 for the death anniversary of West Bengal's former chief minister Jyoti Basu. His death anniversary has been organized by the Jyoti Basu foundation. "Bihar chief minister is going for the event as Jyoti Basu was a stalwart of the Left parties. During his long political career, he also refused to accept the post of Prime Minister once. Such people need to be appreciated. CM Nitish Kumar has no other interest, he is going there out of respect," said JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar. The move of Nitish Kumar to go to Kolkata is significant keeping in view that Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal chief minister, during the fourth INDIA bloc meeting held in New Delhi on December 19, proposed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as the prime ministerial candidate. Nitish Kumar may try to give a message to Mamata Banerjee and other leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rahul Gandhi of the INDIA bloc that he has another group which can back him at the time of the selection of the PM face post the Lok Sabha election 2024. The JD(U) on Friday stated that it will contest at least 16 Lok Sabha seats. Sanjay Kumar Jha, the national general secretary of the JD-U and a cabinet minister, said that his party will contest more than 16 seats but not less which is an ominous sign for the rest of the parties in the Mahagathbandhan including the RJD and the Congress. If Nitish Kumar goes to Kolkata for Jyoti Basu's death anniversary, it gives a political message to the rest of the INDIA bloc leaders that he and the Left parties are close to each other. Nitish Kumar used the Left parties to attack the Congress in the past. On November 2, 2023 at a rally of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Patna, he said that work related to the INDIA bloc is not being done due to the Congress party which is busy in assembly elections in five states. "We have formed the Indian Nation Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to uproot the BJP from the country but the work is not taking place in it. The Congress party is busy in assembly elections in five states. After the results of the five states, we will sit together and will plan the next course of action against the BJP," Kumar said at the CPI rally organized with the tagline "BJP Hatao Desh Bachao". Nitish Kumar and his party, the JD(U), know the ground situation of the Left parties in West Bengal and Kerala. In West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee led TMC is dominant but the Left parties and the Congress are making efforts to take some Lok Sabha seats. Similarly, the Left parties and the Congress are against each other in Kerala as well. So, Nitish Kumar is taking a stand in advance to put pressure on the INDIA bloc leaders. "If Nitish Kumar is going for Jyoti Basu's death anniversary, it is a good thing as the JD(U), Left parties, RJD and others are part of the INDIA bloc. It will make the INDIA bloc more strong. It is the BJP leaders who are unnecessarily extracting political meaning in every move of the INDIA leaders," said Mritunjay Tiwari, RJD spokesperson. In Bihar, the Congress is showing a big heart at the moment with the main objective of defeating the BJP at any cost. "The issue of seat sharing is currently with the top leadership of the party in Delhi. I don't think anyone will show rigidity. Seats will be negotiated and we will contest with full strength in Bihar. Our top leadership will decide the number of seats to contest after the negotiation with the alliance partners," said Madan Mohan Jha, former state president of the Congress and an MLC. "The Mahagathbandhan was formed in Bihar as in some places the Congress is weak and in some places the RJD or JD(U) or the Left parties. Our objective is to contest as an alliance to defeat the BJP. Suppose, I am from the Congress party but also need the votes of the RJD, JD(U) and the Left parties to defeat the BJP. This is our objective," Jha said. At present the seat sharing formula has not been finalized. The JD(U) leaders want to finalize it immediately with discussions among the RJD, Congress and the Left parties currently underway. Nitish Kumar wants to finalize the seat sharing formula by the end of January. London, Jan 7 : In the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British legal history, a pregnant Indian-origin woman was among hundreds of employees falsely accused of theft and fraud by the Post Office over a 15-year period. In 2010, Seema Misra was eight weeks pregnant with her second child when she was sentenced to 15 months behind bars after she was accused by the publicly-owned Post Office of stealing GBP 74,000. Now 47, Misra ended up serving four months in prison due to a glitch in the accounting system, which wrongly reported financial discrepancies at several post office branches. The real culprit, the Horizon IT accounting system -- developed and operated by Japanese firm Fujitsu Ltd on behalf of Post Office -- led to more than 700 sub-postmasters and mistresses being prosecuted between 1999 and 2015, with four of them committing suicide. "When the judge said I'd been sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment, I passed out... If I hadn't been pregnant, I would have taken my own life. I was at rock bottom," Misra told The Sun. She was still wearing her electronic probation tag when she gave birth to her second son in hospital after her release. As the Metropolitan Police investigates the Post Office, the scandal is now the subject of a new ITV drama 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office', which tells how a group of wrongfully-accused Post Office workers fought back in a bid to clear their names. It aired on January 4. What exactly happened In 2005, when Mishra took over the Post Office in West Byfleet, Surrey, she noticed the Horizon computer system showed a shortfall of 80 pounds on her first day of training. It happened again the next day and her books repeatedly failed to tally with her takings even as the trainer told her the accounts were never exact She didn't understand why they wouldn't tally, especially when it happened again the next day, but the trainer shrugged it off "I started suspecting everybody, and I was desperately trying to pay back the missing money -- I even sold some of my jewellery," the mother of two told The Sun. "It was a living nightmare" In 2008, Misra was suspended following an audit carried out by the Post Office and was charged with theft and false accounting. She served her sentence in Bronzefield Prison in Ashford, Surrey, with former inmates, including Rose West, and paedophile Vanessa George, the news report said. "Being pregnant in prison was horrendous. It was everything I had imagined and worse. It was unclean, I felt I had limited antenatal care, and I was constantly terrified someone would attack me. I'd convince myself someone was going to stab me and kill my baby," she told The Sun. Speaking about those who she was locked up with, Misra said: "I had no idea what the other inmates had done, but they terrified me. So many of them were taking drugs. "All night I would lie there awake, listening to them screaming and shouting... The whole experience was a living nightmare," she said. Misra's husband Davinder was attacked after her picture appeared in the paper, and he went through the ordeal of being ostracised by friends and society, all while looking after their 10-year-old-son. The family was forced to sell their shop at a throwaway price, and Davinder struggled to work around looking after the couple's son, now 23. In 2016, more than 500 employees initiated civil proceedings against the Post Office, and the group won its case in the High Court in 2019, with the Post Office agreeing to pay damages. According to the TIME, as of December, the government has paid out GBP 124.7 million ($158.6 million) in compensation to wrongfully convicted postmasters. Nobody from the Post Office or Fujitsu had been held accountable as of last year, the TIME report added. Adah Sharma says her role in Sunflower 2 is unique and creepy. Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, Jan 7 : Actress Adah Sharma will be seen in the second season of 'Sunflower' starring Sunil Grover and described her role as "unique and creepy." Mumbai, Jan 7 (IANS) Actress Adah Sharma will be seen in the second season of 'Sunflower' starring Sunil Grover and described her role as "unique and creepy." Adah said: "I did drama in 'Kerala Story', action in 'Commando' .So I thought it would be nice to do comedy and this is a role to die for! I can't reveal too much but she's very unique and creepy." The upcoming season will revolve around Adah's character. Without revealing much, she said: "This season revolves around her and she moves into Sunflower society and turns everyone's lives upside down." Adah will also be seen in an international film and 'Bastar' which is based on naxalites made by the same team of 'The Kerala Story'. 'Sunflower' released in 2021. The black comedy series was directed by Vikas Bahl ans featured Starring actor-comedian Sunil Grover in the lead role as Sonu, Ranvir Shorey, Girish Kulkarni, Mukul Chadda, Shonali Nagrani, Sonal Jha and Ashish Vidyarthi. The show, which consisted of eight episodes, revolves around a murder mystery based in a middle-class housing society in Mumbai called Sunflower. KABUL, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan has exported saffron worth 27 million U.S. dollars over the past eight months, spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad said Sunday. "During the eight months of the 1402 solar year (in the Persian calendar the year 1402 started from March 21) about 28,620 kilograms of saffron, worth 27 million dollars were exported," a private media outlet Tolonews quoted Jawad as saying. The valuable spice, locally known as "red gold" in Afghanistan, has been mostly exported to India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Indonesia, Spain, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom, Jawad said. Saffron has usually been cultivated in the western Herat province. In the meantime, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock has provided training to 200 farmers as part of its efforts to promote saffron cultivation and process in other provinces of the war-ravaged country. Afghanistan's main export items include coal, saffron, fresh and dry fruits, hand-woven carpets, precious and semi-precious stones. London, Jan 7 : In the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British legal history, a pregnant Indian-origin woman was among hundreds of employees falsely accused of theft and fraud by the Post Office over a 15-year period. In 2010, Seema Misra was eight weeks pregnant with her second child when she was sentenced to 15 months behind bars after she was accused by the publicly-owned Post Office of stealing GBP 74,000. Now 47, Misra ended up serving four months in prison due to a glitch in the accounting system, which wrongly reported financial discrepancies at several post office branches. The real culprit, the Horizon IT accounting system -- developed and operated by Japanese firm Fujitsu Ltd on behalf of Post Office -- led to more than 700 sub-postmasters and mistresses being prosecuted between 1999 and 2015, with four of them committing suicide. "When the judge said I'd been sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment, I passed out... If I hadn't been pregnant, I would have taken my own life. I was at rock bottom," Misra told The Sun. She was still wearing her electronic probation tag when she gave birth to her second son in hospital after her release. As the Metropolitan Police investigates the Post Office, the scandal is now the subject of a new ITV drama 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office', which tells how a group of wrongfully-accused Post Office workers fought back in a bid to clear their names. It aired on January 4. What exactly happened In 2005, when Misra took over the Post Office in West Byfleet, Surrey, she noticed the Horizon computer system showed a shortfall of 80 pounds on her first day of training. It happened again the next day and her books repeatedly failed to tally with her takings even as the trainer told her the accounts were never exact. She didn't understand why they wouldn't tally, especially when it happened again the next day, but the trainer shrugged it off "I started suspecting everybody, and I was desperately trying to pay back the missing money -- I even sold some of my jewellery," the mother of two told The Sun. "It was a living nightmare" In 2008, Misra was suspended following an audit carried out by the Post Office and was charged with theft and false accounting. She served her sentence in Bronzefield Prison in Ashford, Surrey, with former inmates including Rose West, and paedophile Vanessa George, the news report said. "Being pregnant in prison was horrendous. It was everything I had imagined and worse. It was unclean, I felt I had limited antenatal care, and I was constantly terrified someone would attack me. I'd convince myself someone was going to stab me and kill my baby," she told The Sun. Speaking about those who she was locked up with, Misra said she had no idea what the other inmates had done, but they terrified her as so many of them were taking drugs. "All night I would lie there awake, listening to them screaming and shouting... The whole experience was a living nightmare," she said. Misra's husband Davinder was attacked after her picture appeared in the paper, and he went through the ordeal of being ostracised by friends and society, all while looking after their 10- year-old-son. The family was forced to sell their shop at a throwaway price, and Davinder struggled to work around looking after the couple's son, now 23. "They didn't realise they were playing with my life, a mum's life, a wife's life," Misra, whose conviction was eventually quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2021, said. In 2016, more than 500 employees initiated civil proceedings against the Post Office, and the group won its case in the High Court in 2019, with the Post Office agreeing to pay damages. According to the TIME, as of December, the government has paid out GBP 124.7 million ($158.6 million) in compensation to wrongfully convicted postmasters. Nobody from the Post Office or Fujitsu had been held accountable as of last year, the TIME report added. Tel Aviv, Jan 7 : At least six people were killed and several others injured early Sunday during an Israeli air attack near Jenin refugee camp in West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. After the drone attack that killed six people who were sitting near a roundabout, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stormed the Jenin city and attacked the refugee camp also, the Palestinian authority said in a statement. Local Palestinian Arabic media reported that there was response to the Israeli aggression and that an IED explosion destroyed an Israel military vehicle. Tension escalated in West Bank areas ever since the assassination of Saleh al -Arouri , the Deputy Political head of Hamas who was killed allegedly by Israel in a drone attack at Beirut, Lebanon. Six other top operatives of Hamas also died in the attack. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasarullah has warned Israel that it won't sit idle and that there would be response to the killing of Hamas leader al-Arouri. Toronto, Jan 7 : An Indian-origin convenience store worker in the Canadian province of Manitoba has filed a lawsuit against a police officer for allegedly searching his place without warrant and threatening to have him deported. Harjot Singh, a clerk at a Sargent Avenue convenience store, said Winnipeg police officer, Jeffrey Norman's actions left him so shaken that he quit his job at the store, the CBC news channel reported on Friday Singh was told that he was under arrest for obstruction of a police officer after taking away his cellphone and handcuffing him. A statement of claim, filed by Singh in Manitoba Court of King's Bench late last month, said that Norman wanted to enter the shop while it was temporarily closed on December 2 last year. Singh unlocked the door "after a very brief interval" and Norman then proceeded to search the premises without a warrant. The statement of claim revealed that Norman questioned Singh and threatened him with deportation from Canada if he didn't cooperate. According to the lawsuit, "the search, which was "warrantless and unreasonable in the manner in which it was carried out," left Singh so shaken that he quit his job at the store. While none of the allegations in the statement of claim have been tested in court, the lawsuit alleged that the officer's conduct was high-handed and "discriminatory on the basis of national or ethnic origin". It further stated that Norman's actions "amounted to battery, false imprisonment and arbitrary detention, unreasonable search and seizure," and a violation of Singh's Charter rights. In addition to asking for an unspecified amount in general, constitutional and punitive damages, the lawsuit has also asked a judge to order the City of Winnipeg to implement a remedial education program for the Winnipeg Police Service. Along with Norman, the City of Winnipeg has also been named as a defendant in the lawsuit. While no statements of defence have been filed yet, CBC reported that Norman has been named in at least two previous lawsuits alleging excessive use of force. New Delhi, Jan 07 : In the recent annals of Bollywood, a remarkable transformation has taken root, one that has seen the celluloid tapestry donned with threads of empathy and enlightenment. A veritable renaissance has unfolded, as the tinsel town, long enraptured by the allure of youth, has pivoted its gaze towards the wisdom etched into the wrinkles of the elderly. In a heartwarming symphony of sentiment and sagacity, Bollywood has unveiled a tapestry of tales that resonate with the universal chord of filial piety and responsibility, intertwining narratives with the golden strands of age. From the poignant "Goodbye" to the heartwarming "Piku," and the uproarious "102 Not Out" to the heartening "Bhagban," the cinematic canvas has unfurled a treasure trove of stories, all echoing the same profound refrain: the venerable souls who raised us, deserve our unwavering devotion and care. In a grand pageant of empathy, films such as "Lage Raho Munna Bhai," "Kapoor & Sons," "Rajma Chawal," and many more, have heralded a new dawn of awareness, shining a spotlight on the joys and tribulations of ageing, and the delicate art of nurturing the elderly. Through their eloquent storytelling, they have prompted soul-searching dialogues on the profound significance of familial bonds and the ethical responsibility of safeguarding the legacy of our elders. In this symphony of celluloid compassion, they have amplified the chorus of compassion and reverence for the elderly. The silver screen has, thus, assumed a venerated role in not only entertaining but educating and enlightening audiences. As Bollywood continues to weave its enchanting tapestry with threads of elder-care narratives, it nurtures a society where the silver-haired are revered, cherished, and loved, offering a timeless lesson on the art of filial devotion. But why this is happening? In the nurturing embrace of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the concerted efforts of those who champion the cause of the elderly, this resounding symphony of change has begun to echo through the heartlands of India. In recent years, the pressing issues that affect our senior citizens have emerged from the shadows and thrust into the spotlight of public discourse and policymaking. These tireless advocates have become the torchbearers of a transformative movement, ensuring that the voices of our elders resonate far and wide. Tarun Sharma, CEO and Founder, of Yodda Elder Care and an expert on elder care-related subjects, shared his views, "Elderly care in India is a topic of increasing significance in a nation where traditions of respect for elders have long been upheld. With a rapidly ageing population, the importance of providing adequate support, healthcare, and companionship to senior citizens is more pronounced than ever. India's elderly, often revered as repositories of wisdom, face a myriad of challenges, including health issues, loneliness, and financial insecurities. While there have been positive strides in recent years, with greater awareness and the emergence of organizations dedicated to elder care, there is still much work to be done. The evolving landscape of elderly care in India calls for comprehensive policies, intergenerational understanding, and a collective commitment to ensure that our elders can age with dignity, surrounded by the love and care they rightfully deserve." Indeed, the sands of time are shifting, and India finds itself at the precipice of a profound demographic transformation. The inexorable increase in the number of elders is a compelling testament to this unfolding narrative. According to the 2011 Census, India counted 104 million individuals aged 60 and above, constituting a formidable 8.6% of the total population. A more recent report, the "Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States 2011-2036," paints a striking portrait of change, estimating that the nation was home to nearly 138 million elderly persons in 2021, with expectations of a further surge by approximately 56 million by the year 2031. This exponential rise underscores not only the urgency of addressing elder-related issues but also the imperative of forging a compassionate and inclusive society where the golden years of life are met with dignity, care, and respect. Speaking about the development in elderly care in India, Saumyajit Roy, CEO and co-founder at Emoha, said, "In recent years, there has been a notable transformation in elderly care in India. What has changed significantly is the heightened awareness and recognition of the unique needs and challenges faced by senior citizens. A shift in societal attitudes towards ageing has led to increased efforts to address these concerns, resulting in the establishment of specialized senior care facilities, the development of elder-friendly policies, and a growing number of non-governmental organizations dedicated to the welfare of the elderly. Moreover, advancements in healthcare technology and improved access to medical services have contributed to better healthcare outcomes for senior citizens. While these changes are promising, there remains a pressing need for continued advocacy, increased resources, and enhanced support systems to ensure that the elderly population in India receives the comprehensive care and respect they deserve in their twilight years." Caring for elders in India is not merely a moral imperative; it is an embodiment of the nation's rich cultural heritage and a testament to its values of compassion and respect for the wisdom of age. India's elders have often played a pivotal role in shaping the fabric of society, imparting invaluable knowledge, and nurturing the next generation. "What needs to be done in the realm of elderly care in India is a holistic and concerted effort that recognizes the evolving needs of our senior citizens. This includes the development of comprehensive healthcare services tailored to the aging population, the establishment of elder-friendly communities that foster social inclusion, and the implementation of supportive policies that safeguard their financial well-being. Moreover, raising awareness about elder abuse and neglect is crucial, alongside fostering a culture of respect and gratitude towards the elderly. Family and community support systems need strengthening, and intergenerational bonding must be promoted to combat loneliness and isolation. The journey toward enhanced elderly care in India is an ongoing commitment, one that requires collaboration between individuals, communities, and government bodies to ensure that the twilight years of our elders are filled with dignity, comfort, and the warmth of our collective care," Tarun Sharma added. As the country progresses into the modern era, it is essential to recognize that the well-being of elders is not just a familial responsibility but a societal duty. India's demographic landscape is rapidly ageing, and neglecting the care of its elderly would not only undermine the nation's moral fiber but also squander a vast repository of knowledge and experience that can contribute to its progress. To care for elders is to honour the past, enrich the present, and ensure a harmonious future, where the dignity and welfare of the elderly remain integral to the collective conscience of the nation. We must pledge to protect and ensure better care for our elders. IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in --IANS os/ lh Bengal: ED preparing to take legal action against attack on its officers. Image Source: IANS News Kolkata, Jan 7 : In a strong message to the West Bengal Police, Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has ordered for immediate tracking and arrest of the absconding Trinamool Congress leader, Seikh Sajahan, the mastermind behind the attack on the ED and CAPF officials. According to the Raj Bhawan insiders, the Peace-Room there had received complaints about the influential political patronage received by Sajahan. In those complaints, a section of the police administration had also been accused of involvement in this nexus. The Governor has said that he had a discussion with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the matter. Refusing to divulge the details of the discussion, the Governor said that he will reveal in the right time about what transpired from the dialogues. It is learnt that the state police should investigate whether the absconding leader is still in the state or has escaped to any state or even any neighbouring country, Raj Bhawan insiders said. The Governor had also directed the state police to probe whether the absconding Trinamool Congress leader had any insurgency connections or not. The central agency sleuths were attacked on Friday when they attempted a raid and search operations at his residence of the Trinamool leader, Seikh Sajahan. The leader of the opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari had alleged that a section of the attackers were the illegal Rohingya infiltrators. It is learnt that the Governor has also directed the state police to probe that angle as well. Dhaka, Jan 7 : Bangladesh on Sunday recorded low voter turnout in the first few hours of polling for 12th general elections amid reports of clash, violence that claimed life of Awami League leader and rigging. Awami League leader Zillur Rahman was found dead near a polling centre in Munshiganj this morning, The Daily Star reported. Rahman was a supporter of AL-nominated candidate from Munshiganj-3 Mrinal Kanti Das. Munshiganj SP said Aslam Khan said the body was recovered but there were no reports of violence from the polling centre. Earlier in the day, a clash broke out between opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) men and police in Chattogram city's Chandgaon area. The BNP men, who were staging demonstrations by blocking the road with burning tyres, threw stones on police personnel who retaliated, police said. Voting at Narsingdi-4 (Monohardi-Belabo) was cancelled over allegations of ballot stuffing. A polling station in Dhaka recorded only 175 votes while no votes were cast at two centres. The voting, which began at 8.00 a.m. local time at over 42,000 polling centres, will continue till 4.00 p.m. local time According to the Election Commission, a total of 1,970 candidates are in the fray for 299 parliamentary constituencies. At one seat, the election will be held later because of the death of an independent candidate. The candidates include 1,534 from political parties and 436 independents. The BNP had called a 48-hour nationwide general strike from Saturday seeking resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina is set to win fourth straight term in office for Prime Minister with the main opposition BNP boycotting the polls. San Francisco, Jan 7 : The co-founder of Nest Wallet -- Bill Lou, was scammed out of $125,000 stEth (a cryptocurrency token) while attempting to claim the $LFG airdrop. The domain Lou had gone to, believing it was a cryptocurrency airdrop website, was actually set up to phish unsuspecting users after he lost his money. "I'm devastated guys. I just got scammed out of $125k of stEth while trying to claim the $LFG airdrop," Lou wrote on X. "I can't believe this is happening, I've always been so careful. I saw article guide to the airdrop and follow the link to sign a message. I didn't even question it," he added. A cryptocurrency "airdrop" is a marketing strategy in which a company distributes small amounts of coins or tokens to wallet addresses in exchange for minor favours from community members, such as token recipients giving shoutouts to the company on social media. Lou claims he was using a Metamask wallet instead of his own Nest Wallet service because he had a "test version installed." According to its website, Metamask is "a safe and simple way to access blockchain applications." Lou, on the other hand, claims that his Nest Wallet "would have literally caught it." According to Lou, he visited an unauthorised website impersonating lessfeesandgas.org. In Lou's ongoing personal investigation with Hackers Residue, "the hacker has scammed a total of 66 Eth," including his 52 and another 14 Eth, equating to approximately $31K from other people. "It does not seem like a one person job," Lou said in a recent post. "Currently, the stolen funds have all been moved to this wallet," he added. Hyderabad, Jan 7 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has said that a judicial commission will be appointed for reorganisation of districts. Stating that the previous government of BRS had not done reorganisation of districts in a scientific manner, he said the Congress government will appoint a commission to study the same. The chief minister told a Telugu television channel that a decision in this regard will be taken after a discussion in the state Assembly. Revanth Reddy, who had assumed office a month ago, said that reorganisation of districts will be taken up after receiving suggestions and objections from people. The Judicial Commission, to be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or High Court, will visit all 119 constituencies and study details like the number of municipalities, mandals, rural and urban areas. Telangana had 10 districts when it was carved out of Andhra Pradesh as a separate state in 2014. The previous government of BRS undertook reorganisation and created 23 new districts, taking the total number to 33. Revanth Reddy, however, said the exercise was not undertaken properly. He alleged that even mandals and revenue divisions were created in an erratic manner. The chief minister said he will expand the Cabinet in 100 days. This will be done after Legislative Council elections. Since the Cabinet has no representation from minorities, a leader from the community will be nominated to the Council and he will be inducted in the Cabinet. He also hinted that Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) leader M. Kodandaram will be appointed as member of Legislative Council under governor quota, saying as an intellectual, he deserved the nomination. The chief minister also stated that the nominated posts like chairpersons of various commissions and government advisors will be filled by the January-end. Those who had worked hard for the party and made sacrifices for the party will be accommodated. He also revealed that he visited former chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in the hospital on the direction of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He also predicted that Y. S. Sharmila, who merged her YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) in Congress, will be the next president of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee. He said at the party level he would extend all assistance to Sharmila. Revanth Reddy criticised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for not making the call since he became the chief minister. Mumbai, Jan 7 : The founder of Jet Airways Naresh Goyal -- currently in jail -- cracked up during a Special Court hearing on his bail plea, cried and said with folded hands that he wanted to die in the prison. Goyal, nabbed on September 1, 2023 in connection with a money-laundering case, is currently in judicial custody and lodged at the Arthur Road Central Jail (ARCJ), as his bail plea is pending. Appearing briefly in person after the Special ED Court Judge M.G. Deshpande granted his request on Saturday, a trembling Goyal, 74, said his health has turned very precarious, his wife Anita is down with cancer and their only daughter is also unwell. With tears welling up his eyes, the apparently dejected Goyal said that he has lost all hopes in life and future, so it would be better to die in prison rather than live on in such circumstances. He narrated all his chronic ailments and his regular ordeals while going for treatment to the government-run Sir J.J. Hospital along with other prisoners, long queues, little follow-up, and urged the Special Court not to send him to hospital but allow him to die in the jail itself. The Special Judge Deshpande, who heard him out patiently noted that Goyal's "whole body was trembling, and he needed help even to stand up", and has asked the ED to file its reply in the matter, while posting the matter for further hearing on January 16. The Special Court also assured Goyal that he would not be abandoned and all possible care regarding his mental and physical health would be taken with proper treatment, while extending his judicial custody by 10 days till January 16. The Special Judge Deshpande also directed the lawyers to take suitable steps pertaining to his illness and compliance of his orders, as Goyal's lawyer, Senior Advocate Abad Ponda made a plea for bail. In the bail plea, Goyal has claimed that he did not siphon off loan amounts for personal benefits as alleged by the ED in the Canara Bank loan of Rs 538.62 crore given to the Jet Airways group. He has also denied the ED's allegations that his funds were diverted for personal gains and pointed out that it was approved by the independent board and the audit committee of the company. Earlier, in November 2023 the Bombay High Court had dismissed a plea by Goyal challenging his arrest by the ED, and before that in September 2023, the Special ED Court had rejected his plea for treatment by his family doctor and home-cooked food in view of his health status. New Delhi, Jan 7 : The Special Cell of Delhi Police has arrested two active members of the dreaded Neeraj Bawana and Naveen Bali gang, who were involved in several cases of murder, attempt to murder, dacoity, robbery and Arms Act, etc., in the national capital, an official said on Sunday. The two were identified as Subeg Singh a.k.a Shibbu (32) and Saurabh alias Gaurav (32) and they were wanted in an attempt to murder case registered at the Lajpat Nagar police station. Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) H.G.S. Dhaliwal said that for the past few months, a police team of the unit has been working to track down and nab the members of the Neeraj Bawana-Naveen Bali gang. "On January 3, specific information was received that two wanted criminals of this gang would come to the Munirka area to meet their associates. Accordingly, a trap was laid and the duo was apprehended," said Dhaliwal. The Special CP further said that there has been a long-standing rivalry between Kapil Panwar and Neeraj Bawana/Naveen Bali gangs so as to establish supremacy in the South Delhi area. "Further, the Neeraj Bawana-Naveen Bali group has recruited new and young members, and thus this gang has become one of the most deadly gangs in Delhi/NCR. In order to attain dominance over the Kapil Panwar gang, the duo accused, Subeg and Saurabh, had waylaid, attacked, and mercilessly beaten Rohit Singh (a financer) in the area of Lajpat Nagar on November 3, 2023," said the Special CP. The duo had also fired many rounds targeting Rohit Singh, but he luckily escaped unhurt. However, one of the bullets fired by the assailants hit an unknown person. "Subeg is previously involved in half a dozen criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder, robbery, dacoity, extortion, Arms Act, etc. in Delhi. His associate Saurabh is also involved in half a dozen criminal cases of heinous nature in Delhi," the Special CP added. SHANGHAI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's first domestically-built large cruise ship finished its commercial maiden voyage on Sunday after traveling 1,119 nautical miles on the trip of seven days and six nights. Carrying more than 3,000 passengers, the Adora Magic City set off from the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal on Jan. 1 and stopped at the ports in the city of Seogwipo on Jeju island, the Republic of Korea, as well as the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Fukuoka before returning to the Wusongkou terminal. During the voyage, experts from the Dunhuang Academy gave four lectures, demonstrating the art of Dunhuang grottoes and introducing a digital exhibition jointly organized by the cruise and the academy. While enjoying a good time at sea, guests on board could also enjoy the replicas of the artistic treasures of Dunhuang. The Adora Magic City is 323.6 meters in length, has a gross weight of 135,500 tonnes, and can accommodate up to 5,246 passengers across a total of 2,125 guest rooms, according to its builder, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. It has 16 floors and 40,000 square meters of public living and recreational space. The cruise is jointly operated by the CSSC Cruise Technology Development Co., Ltd. and the Adora Cruises Limited. Tel Aviv , Jan 7 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a whirlwind tour of the Middle East to defuse escalating tensions, has reached Amman the capital of Jordan. This is the fifth visit of the US state secretary to the Middle eastern region including Israel ever since the October 7 attack by Hamas militants in southern Israel killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 240. The present visit of Blinken is to defuse the heightened tensions in the northern border of Israel after Hezbollah has entered the war albeit in small measures. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasarullah has in a televised address said that his organisation won't sit idle after the killing of Hamas deputy political head Saleh Al-Arouri. This killing has heightened the tensions in the region and the US has passed on the communique to the Hezbollah that a full fledged war with Israel in northern Israel has the potential to spread into a major war, destabilising the region. Blinken, during his visit, will be meeting leaders of all the Arabian countries and Israel to try and contain the war from getting escalated into a full-fledged one. New Delhi, Jan 7 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will leave on a two-day visit to UK on January 8 to discuss security and defence related issues. "Rajnath Singh will meet British Prime Minister and his cabinet colleagues to discuss security and defence related issues," Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The ministry said that the Defence Minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, comprising of senior officials from DRDO, Service Headquarters, Department of Defence, and Department of Defence Production. The ministry said that during his visit, the Defence Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with his UK counterpart Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps. They are expected to discuss a wide range of defence, security and industrial cooperation issues. The ministry said that the Rajnath Singh is also expected to call on UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and hold a meeting with Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron. It said that he will also interact with the CEOs and industry leaders of UK Defence Industry and meet with the Indian community there. Dhaka, Jan 7 : Bangladesh Election Commissioner Md Anisur Rahman on Sunday expressed hope that the country will record over 50 per cent votes in the 12th Parliamentary election, local media reported. Dhaka, Jan 7 (IANS) Bangladesh Election Commissioner Md Anisur Rahman on Sunday expressed hope that the country will record over 50 per cent votes in the 12th Parliamentary election, local media reported. He made the remark after casting his ballot at Dhaka City College. On his expectation on voter turnout, Rahman told reporters, "I hope that more than 50 per cent of votes will be cast," The Daily Star reported. Voting at Narsingdi-4 (Monohardi-Belabo) was cancelled over allegations of ballot stuffing. The voting, which began at 8.00 a.m. local time at over 42,000 polling centres, will continue till 4.00 p.m. According to the Election Commission, a total of 1,970 candidates are in the fray for 299 parliamentary constituencies. At one seat, the election will be held later because of the death of an independent candidate. The candidates include 1,534 from political parties and 436 independents. The country's election has been marred by sporadic incidents of violence, opposition BNP boycotting the polls, demonstrations, among others. Kabul, Jan 7 : At least two people were killed and 14 other injured after a blast in a mini-bus in Dasht-i-Barchi locality here, police said on Sunday. All victims are civillians and the injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals, Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. However, Zadran did not provide more details, saying that investigation has been initiated into the incident. Locals said the blast that occurred on Saturday targeted a mini-bus at around 06.30 local time inflicting casualties. No group or individual has claimed responsibility. Los Angeles, Jan 7 : The Creative Arts Emmy Awards saw 'The Last of Us', 'The White Lotus', 'The Bear' and 'Beef', gaining momentum as each show picked up big wins at the Awards. 'The Last of Us' was by far the dominant favourite with eight wins, reports Variety. 'The Bear', Netflix's 'Wednesday' and HBO's 'The White Lotus' won four apiece. 'Beef' took home three trophies on the first night of the two-night Creative Arts Awards at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Wins for 'Last of Us' included guest actor and actress in a drama series for Nick Offerman and Storm Reid, respectively. The series also won for visual effects, picture editing, sound editing and other key craft categories. As per Variety, Judith Light prevailed as guest actress in a comedy for 'Poker Face' while 'Ted Lasso' favourite Sam Richardson took the statuette for guest actor in a comedy. Roku Channel bested more established competitors to take the prize for TV movie with 'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story'. The real Yankovic was on hand to accept the trophy, expressing sentiments shared by other winners about the importance of embracing one's true self. "Live the life you want to live. Be as weird as you want to be. Believe me, you will never find true happiness until you can truly accept who you are", Yankovic said as the 'Weird' team claimed the last award of the night. The 2023 Emmy Award season was delayed by three months due to labour strife in Hollywood last year. 'Daisy Jones & the Six' and 'The Marvelous Mrs Maisel' both garnered two wins. 'Daisy Jones' prevailed for period costumes. Speaking backstage, costume designer Denise Wingate called the series "a gift" and noted that she grew up in Los Angeles in the 1970s, so she knew the world of the show very well. "I was sneaking into clubs with a fake ID at a very young age. So, I felt like this is the first project I knew I could give authenticity," she said. Among the wins for 'Beef' was casting for a limited or anthology series. 'Beef' casting director Charlene Lee cited episode eight in particular as it required them to cast numerous actors playing the same characters at different ages. "It was a puzzle of putting that all together, and that was a fun search." Lee said. "It was rewarding to find each piece because it was a hard episode." Mumbai, Jan 7 : Bollywood actor Bobby Deol, who is basking in the success of his recent release 'Animal' attended the film's success bash in Mumbai. As the actor made his way to the venue, he was stormed by his fans who wanted to get his glimpse and click a picture with him. The actor's security personnel were seen pushing the fans to help the actor steer clear ahead of him. However, looking at the behaviour of his bodyguards, Bobby asked them to calm down and not to push his fans. Netizens were impressed by Bobby's gesture, as they heaped praise on him. One user wrote: "Calm down kaise ho aap ki acting dekhkar janta bahut zyada khush hai". Another wrote: "Fans are all over him, lately it's tough being a Deol." A third said: "He's sooo calm n considerate (sic)." The success party of 'Animal' was a starry affair. The film's cast, including Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Rashmika Mandanna, and Triptii Dimri, were seen at the event. Saurabh Sachdeva and Siddhant Karnick among other cast members were also spotted at the bash. Ranbir, who plays the titular character in the film, arrived with his family: wife Alia Bhatt, mom Neetu Kapoor and father-in-law Mahesh Bhatt. The 'Barfi' actor wore black blazer which he paired with a grey shirt and black pants. Alia opted for a blue halter dress and heels. Prayagraj : , Jan 7 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP), popularly known as UP Board, has launched a dedicated 'Samadhan' portal for its students. The portal is designed to solve the problems of crores of present and former students of more than 27,000 schools affiliated to UP Board. Grievances will be addressed within 15 days. This will be done without a student or his guardian having to run to UP Board's headquarters or its regional offices. UP Board Secretary, Dibyakant Shukla, on Saturday launched a dedicated 'Samadhan' portal for students. Shukla said that every year more than 55 lakh candidates appear in the high school and intermediate examinations of UP Board. "Due to so many candidates, the number of errors in their educational records is also proportionately higher and the candidates face a lot of difficulty in getting these errors resolved by visiting the regional offices of the board in Prayagraj, Varanasi, Meerut, Bareilly and Gorakhpur. Keeping the interests of the students in view, the 'Samadhan' Portal has been launched through which 13 different types of services/facilities will be provided online for the first time to those interested and in need," he said. If the problems are not resolved within 15 days, the responsibility of the officers concerned will be fixed. A control room is also being set up in the board headquarters at Prayagraj to oversee the resolution of the issues. In this control room, complaints, problems and queries received from students and parents on two toll free numbers will be resolved by registering them and allotting them a case number. Once the solution is found, the student concerned will also be informed. New Delhi, Jan 7 : As INDIA bloc is yet to come up with a seat sharing formula among its alliance partners, the BJP -- which is aiming to win a three term -- has already begun the Lok Sabha preparations with aim to garner at least 50 per cent of votes across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, in collaboration with party President J.P. Nadda, aim to secure more than 50 per cent of the votes this time to form the government, ensuring that even if the opposition parties unite and contest, BJP will emerge victorious. The BJP aims to surpass its performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by securing more than 10 per cent of the votes this time and setting a new record. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured a victory with 37.7 per cent of the votes, winning 303 seats. The NDA as a whole, received nearly 45 per cent of the vote. Amid the abundance of political parties aiming to achieve the target of securing 50 per cent of the votes, the BJP's preparedness for the upcoming elections might surprise some political analysts. Nevertheless, the BJP achieved this feat in several states during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured more than 50 per cent of the votes in states like Himachal Pradesh (69.71 per cent), Gujarat (63.08 per cent), Uttarakhand (61.66 per cent), Rajasthan (59.07 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (58.54 per cent), Haryana (58.21 per cent), Delhi (56.86 per cent), Karnataka (51.75 per cent), Jharkhand (51.61 per cent), Chhattisgarh (51.44 per cent), and in Uttar Pradesh alone, nearly 50 per cent (approximately 49.98 per cent) votes. Even in Maharashtra during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP, in alliance with the then ally Shiv Sena, secured 51.34 per cent of the votes. Although Shiv Sena is now separate from the NDA alliance, the BJP along with Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) is fighting to secure 55 to 60 per cent of the votes in the state. In Bihar, the BJP-JD(U)-LJP alliance in the 2019 Lok Sabha Election, obtained 54.54 per cent of the votes. With JD(U) no longer allied with the BJP, the party aims to secure more than 50 per cent of the votes in Bihar, countering the grand alliance of Nitish-Lalu-Congress and the Left. The BJP also aims to surpass the 2019 vote percentages in West Bengal (previously 40.64 per cent), Odisha (38.88 per cent), and Assam (36.41 per cent). The party is keen on improving its performance in states like Punjab, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, among other northeastern states, to strengthen its national tally. The BJP has devised the 'GYAN' strategy to secure more than 50 per cent of the votes and win the elections. Under this formula, the party has started working on a strategy to address the concerns of the four major communities in the country -- the poor, youth, women, and farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in order to dismiss demands for caste-based census and OBC reservation, initially stated that there are only four major communities in the country -- poor, youth, women, and farmers and the upliftment of these four communities will lead to India's development. Based on PM Modi's statement, the BJP has prepared the 'GYAN' strategy for wooing these four categories in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. For the BJP, 'GYAN' stands for -- Garib (poor), Yuva (youth), Annadata (farmer), and Nari (woman). The BJP government has already been implementing various schemes for the welfare of the poor and farmers, and the party plans to connect with the beneficiaries at the booth level. Sources said that the government may announce an increase in the amount of the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi in the coming days, along with the announcement of new schemes. To attract first-time voters, especially the youth, the BJP has also prepared a new slogan. The party will make efforts to attract young voters through the slogan 'If You Are 18, Why Are You Waiting, Come for Voting.' The party has realised that the youth voters have not witnessed the Congress rule, so it is essential to educate them about the working of Congress government and the achievements of the Modi government. The party will run campaigns for this purpose, starting from January 12 until Voter's Day on January 25. The BJP will also vigorously promote laws for women's reservation and schemes like the aLadli Lakshmi Yojanaa. Additionally, the party has prepared for a nationwide campaign related to programmes associated with the Ram Temple. Apart from supporting campaigns initiated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the BJP is sending a message of unity in the Sangh Parivar (family). Furthermore, the BJP has decided to run a special cleanliness campaign in temples across the country, starting from January 14 to January 22, before the historic Ram Lalla's Pran Pratistha scheduled on January 22. On January 22, BJP workers will make arrangements to show the foundation laying ceremony of the Ram Temple at the booth level across the country, creating a festive atmosphere similar to Diwali by lighting five Ram Jyotis in every home in the evening. Following this, from January 25 to March 25, the BJP will conduct a campaign at booth levels across the country for the darshan (sightseeing) of the Ram temple, assisting devotees traveling to Ayodhya from all parts of the country. The party will welcome them and help around 50,000 devotees to have darshan every day. During this two-month campaign, the party aims to reach up to 30 lakh devotees. In an attempt to leverage Prime Minister Modi's popularity and achieve a historic victory, the BJP will use slogans such as 'Third time Modi government, this time 400 plus' and 'Modi's guarantee' extensively to attract voters. Lucknow, Jan 7 : The aspirations, along with the hand of a four-year-old taekwondo prodigy, got crushed when her hand got caught in an escalator at the Ghaziabad railway station three months ago. However, doctors at the city-based Apollo Medics devised a recovery plan for the complex case of Agrima Singh, who had secured the prestigious gold medal after her participation in a Taekwondo tournament in Noida just before the accident. The urgency of intervention was paramount, aiming to restore the hand's normal form and function. The intricate process of reconstructing the crushed hand resembled assembling pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, showcasing the remarkable expertise and precision of the team of doctors, led by Dr Nikhil Puri, a plastic surgeon. "From the moment the incident occurred, we were on edge. At one juncture, we were willing to accept the loss of a limb if it meant saving our daughter's life. Patience, faith, and the skill of the doctors have proven invaluable," said the girl's mother. Dr Mayank Somani, the hospital's MD and CEO, commended their delicate surgery manoeuvring through the intricate network of bones, muscles, and nerves. --IANS amita/dan Lucknow, Jan 7 : The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has directed all district magistrates to carry out an exhaustive survey of the road stretches within their jurisdiction to make the commute on the national highways safer for the motor vehicle owners. Taking note of accidents taking place on the national highways, the officials have been directed to take steps to repair and close all unauthorised acuts and turnsa created by breaking down or removing the road median or divider. Notably, the illegal cuts and turns created on the national highways often result in fatal accidents. In some cases, school buses have also been involved in such road accidents, said the officials. The state government was committed to bringing down road accidents and fatalities, the official spokesman said. Transport department principal secretary L Venkateshwarlu issued guidelines to all district magistrates of the state, regarding closure of illegal cuts on national highways. The senior officer stated in his order that in the meeting of the implicit legislation committee (Pratinihit Vidhayan Samiti) of the state assembly, discussions were held to amend the motor vehicle rules to ensure safety of schoolchildren. In this sequence, the committee expressed serious concern over the frequent accidents occurring due to illegal cuts on the national highways in the state and urged officials concerned to repair and seal illegal cuts on national highways immediately. Moreover, the district magistrates have also been instructed to regularly monitor and review the situation. VALLETTA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela on Saturday announced changes to his cabinet, axing one minister and promoting new blood from his parliamentary group. The cabinet reshuffle began early on Saturday when Labour members of parliament (MPs) were summoned to the Prime Minister's office in Valletta. The move caught many by surprise as Abela spent a full day meeting his ministers and backbench MPs. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Aaron Farrugia lost his cabinet position and was relegated to the backbench. Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne will be nominated as Malta's next European Commissioner. He relinquished his post as health minister which will be taken by surgeon Jo Etienne Abela, who was previously minister for active ageing. Fearne will remain in government until he formally takes up the Brussels job. The former junior minister for EU funds, Chris Bonett, became the new transport minister. Many ministers and junior ministers, also referred to as parliamentary secretaries, retained their portfolios that they have had since the 2022 general election. The reshuffle saw three Labour MPs being promoted to parliamentary secretaries -- Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, who will be responsible for the elderly, Omar Farrugia, who will be responsible for public works and Glenn Bedingfield, who will be responsible for public cleansing. New Delhi, Jan 7 : With a few months left to go for the big polls, it is not difficult to guess in the prevailing scenario the predominant colour the Lok Sabha may have after the elections. The BJP with Modi at the helm is in its roaring self and the Opposition's INDIA continues to be a bloc of jousting stars who are busy engaged in securing their own forts. Everything at the moment seems to be going on the right track for the BJP-led NDA. The big win in the Assembly elections in three Hindi heartland states has reassured the saffron brigade of its strategy at the core of which is the consolidation of Hindu votes. Adding to its popularity are the various populist welfare measures that have benefited people across religious and caste barriers. The fulfilling of the Ram Temple promise is of course the BJP's ultimate exhibit of its guarantee. The grand 'Pran Pratishta' ceremony on January 22 has already created a wave of devotion among Hindus and Ayodhya, with all the development being pushed there, will have a long-lasting impact upon a huge percentage of the people. The popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is at its peak. He is the best face of the ruling party and is unmatchable in the country. Morning Consult, the US-based consultancy firm, reports in its 'Global Leader Approval Rating Tracker', 76 per cent of people in India approve of PM Modi's leadership. Dreaming of undoing this is the conglomerate of 28 parties, named the INDIA bloc, which was formed amid much fanfare and with one core mission: to remove Modi from the Centre. Over five months in its existence, the bloc, however, is facing a grave challenge to its existence, and seems to be derailing. As predicted, the seat-sharing exercise is proving to be difficult for the bloc. The regional parties are throwing around their weight and pushing the Congress to a corner. The position of the grand old party, which suffered a major blow in the Hindi heartland in the five-state polls, has weakened within the bloc. Its equations within the bloc have changed. The Congress has been projecting itself as the fulcrum of the alliance. But today, the very partners who had endorsed it as the fulcrum are challenging it during the seat-sharing talks. Be it West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Bihar, or Maharashtra, the Congress is facing a squeeze situation. The JD(U) in Bihar wants 16 seats for itself, the Samajwadi Party does not want to give too many to the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, the AAP seems to have no plans for accommodation in Delhi and Punjab, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is categorical in its strategy and in fact has expressed its readiness to go solo. In Uttar Pradesh, which has the highest number of 80 Lok Sabha seats, the tension within the INDIA bloc, especially between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, is growing. The latest stumbling block between the two is the shadow of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The Samajwadi Party has stated that it was against the BSP joining the bloc of 28 Opposition parties. State Congress president Ajay Rai, on the other hand, is said to have urged BSP President Mayawati to seriously consider joining the group. As the tensions simmer between the Congress and the Samajwadis, the seat-sharing formula has got all the more entangled here. In Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was the prime mover of the bloc, looks set to fire away at obstinate allies from the shoulders of the Left. After his party flexed its muscles in Bihar over seat-sharing with alliance partners, Nitish will be in Kolkata on January 17 to participate in the death anniversary of West Bengal's late former CM Jyoti Basu. Maharashtra, with the second highest number of 48 Lok Sabha seats, next to Uttar Pradesh (80), is another critical state for the INDIA bloc. Despite the brave assertions of the MVA's top leaders, notably Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray and Nana Patole, that seat-sharing is almost done, the three parties have yet to announce their proposed formula. The bloc partners continue to squabble over seats, with other contenders, especially the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), waiting outside for their share. A majority of the states with a large number of Lok Sabha seats are seeing a major tug of war between the Congress and its regional allies. The going seems to be tough for the Congress and a majority of its 27 other partners. The bloc may try to project itself as one platform, but it is losing the plot against BJP's carefully crafted agenda. Apart from a few meetings, the bloc has had no major political activity to project itself as one force against the ruling dispensation. With life getting increasingly difficult within the INDIA bloc, the Congress is stepping up its own preparations for the elections. It has formed a publicity committee and constituted a central war room. Time is ticking fast for the INDIA bloc to sort its differences and emerge as a force ahead of the big fight. The bloc's inability to deliver its promise of a viable opposition may come as disillusionment for those who wanted a fair competition in the electoral battlefield. (Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in) Mumbai, Jan 7 : Actress Kangana Ranaut on Sunday penned a note revealing the best part of being an actor, which she said is getting fan attention whenever actors step out in public. Kangana took to Instagram stories, where she penned the note expressing that it is sort of a "small miracle" that has happened whenever they spot an actor in public. Taking to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, Kangana wrote: "The best thing about being an actor is whenever people see you at the airport in the lounge, in the aircraft or even in a shop, restaurant, simply strolling around in the streets, their faces light up with a big unexpected smile as if a small miracle has happened, as if a good omen has bestowed upon them, as if the glamorous world of the celluloid has collided with their mundane life leaving a haze of stardust." "They often smile with twinkling eyes, sometimes even cry at times, fumble with their words or shake with their attempts at selfies, suddenly you too feel the sparkle of your own presence through their eyes and wonder what exactly happening and what is the most appropriate way to be, it's impossible to be in control of that which isn't even there," she added. "The myth of a cinema star is the sweetest lie ever, I wonder and wonder at this silly business of smiles and tears," she concluded. On the work front, Kangana will next be seen in the period drama Emergency, where she will play former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the film. Toronto, Jan 7 : A 26-year-old Indian national, hoping to get permanent residency in Canada, died in a single-vehicle crash in the country's New Brunswick province. Harwinder Singh, a resident of Mohali in Punjab, died on the spot in the December 26 crash on Highway 2 at Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska that left two others with non-life threatening injuries, the Global News reported this week. Singh had worked at the Papa John's on Smythe Street in Fredericton since last summer and had dreams of opening up his own pizza shop, according to his co-workers. They said that he worked on two jobs and was trying for permanent residency in the country. The restaurant, which considered Singh as family, is now raising money for their deceased worker's fiancee and family. Calling it a "heartbreaking" incident, restaurant's owner Erica Vallis said they will donate all proceeds from Wednesday sales to help pay the costs to transport Singh's body back to India, as well as a funeral. Donations streamed in throughout the day and by noon, the restaurant was approaching $15,000 in sales and over 250 orders. "We are definitely beyond exceeding our expectations and it is amazing to see the support that we're getting with this," Vallis told the news outlet. Just before the holidays, the staff, along with Singh, had donned Christmas headbands and posed for some lighthearted photos. Singh's colleagues said that would be their last memories shared with him. "It's really heartbreaking how it ended up. We're all a big family here, so it's like we lost a family member and it's really sad," Ste Marie, a co-worker told Global News. Bangladesh: Four injured in crude bomb explosion near polling station. Image Source: IANS News Dhaka, Jan 7 : Four people, including a child, were injured after unidentified people exploded two crude bombs near a polling centre in Hazaribagh near Dhaka, where voting is underway for the parliamentary elections on Sunday, local media reported. The injured were identified as Amir Hossain, 55, Maksuda Begum, 50, Badal Ahmed, 50, and his son Tanvir Ahmed, 8, The Daily Star reported. The injured were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Dhaka, Jan 7 : Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday said that Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) boycotted the national polls fearing defeat. Talking to reporters after casting his vote at Monipuripara English Medium School in Dhaka, Khan said: "BNP has taken a strategy of boycotting the election with various excuses. They participated in the 2018 election and got some parliamentary seats, but this year they did not participate in the election knowing they would be defeated." "BNP is involved in killing of people and arson," Khan was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune. Voting of 12 parliamentary election is underway in the country where sporadic incidents of violence have been reported. Awami League leader Zillur Rahman was found dead near a polling centre in Munshiganj this morning, The Daily Star reported. Earlier in the day, a clash broke out between opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) men and police in Chattogram city's Chandgaon area Four people, including a child, were injured after unidentified people exploded two crude bombs near a polling centre in Hazaribagh near Dhaka. Voting at Narsingdi-4 (Monohardi-Belabo) was cancelled over allegations of ballot stuffing. The voting, which began at 8.00 a.m. local time at over 42,000 polling centres, will continue till 4.00 p.m. Shimla, Jan 7 : Two tourists from Rajasthan were killed while another was injured when the car in which they were travelling met with an accident on the Chandigarh-Manali national in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district on Sunday, police said. Shimla, Jan 7 (IANS) Two tourists from Rajasthan were killed while another was injured when the car in which they were travelling met with an accident on the Chandigarh-Manali national in Himachal Pradeshas Mandi district on Sunday, police said. The tourists were on way to Manali from Jaipur. The deceased are identified as Bhupender Chaudhary and Arihant Chhajre, while the injured Laxman was admitted to the Zonal Hospital in Mandi, some 200 km from the state capital Shimla. According to the police, prima facie the cause of the accident was that the driver lost control over the vehicle that skidded off the road and rolled down. It got stuck in iron bars of an under-construction bridge. Mumbai, Jan 7 : Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who is awaiting the release of his upcoming streaming series 'Killer Soup', embraced an unconventional role amid the intense shooting schedules -- that of a hidden chef for the 'Killer Soup' team. The actor shared that he used to cook and serve a new dish every week to the crew while shooting in Kerala. Talking about the same, Manoj shared: "I started cooking about five years ago, and I very much enjoy it. I used to watch YouTube videos and learn new recipes. The unit, I believe, enjoyed it a lot because when we were shooting in Munnar and Kerala, I used to cook and serve a new dish every week. I cooked quite a lot in those three months." The actor further mentioned, "It was a refreshing break from the intensity of our scenes, and I found joy in experimenting with different flavours and dishes. It became a sort of tradition for us, a way to bond over meals and create a relaxed atmosphere on set." Co-star Konkona Sensharma chimed in saying, "Manoj is quite the chef, his Bihari mutton is simply delicious. Beyond the scenes and scripts, our shoot experience transformed into shared moments around food. It felt like one of those secret ingredients that added fun and togetherness to the 'Killer Soup' set." 'Killer Soup' will drop on Netflix on January 11. Has IMF's war on fuel subsidies pushed Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh in a tight spot?(IN). Image Source: IANS News Dhaka, Jan 7 : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikha Hasina on Sunday exuded confidence of winning the 12th parliamentary polls. Talking to reporters after casting her ballot, Hasina, who is eyeing fourth straight term for the office of Prime Minister, said she has faith on the people of her country and is confident of winning the polls, Dhaka Tribune reported. "BNP is a party of terrorists and they never believed in election. It was formed by a military dictator who grabbed the state power," she said. Voting of 12 parliamentary election is underway in the country where sporadic incidents of violence have been reported. Awami League leader Zillur Rahman was found dead near a polling centre in Munshiganj this morning, The Daily Star reported. Earlier in the day, a clash broke out between opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) men and police in Chattogram city's Chandgaon area Four people, including a child, were injured after unidentified people exploded two crude bombs near a polling centre in Hazaribagh near Dhaka. Voting at Narsingdi-4 (Monohardi-Belabo) was cancelled over allegations of ballot stuffing. The voting, which began at 8.00 am local time at over 42,000 polling centres, will continue till 4.00 pm. Kolkata, Jan 7 : A total six corporate entities linked to Trinamool Congress leader Shankar Adhya, arrested in connection with the ration distribution case in West Bengal, are currently under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths. Adhya was arrested late Friday night Sources said that as many as eight close relatives of Adhya, who are linked to these six corporate entities were under the scanner. It is learnt that five of the six entities are foreign exchange dealing companies and one is an ice-cream factory. The central agency sleuths, sources added, have got definite clues that the proceeds of the alleged ration distribution scam were diverted abroad through these foreign exchange dealing entities, and a portion was invested in the said ice-cream factory. Already on Saturday, the ED counsel has briefed a special court of the Prevention Money Laundering Act (PMLA) about how Adhya had diverted several crores of rupees abroad, especially to Dubai, through the hawala route. Adhya, is known to be an extremely close confidante of current West Bengal forest minister and the former state food & supplies minister Jyotipriya Mallick, who was arrested in October last year by ED sleuths in connection with the ration distribution case. On Saturday, the ED counsel also briefed the special court on how Adhyaas communication with Mallick continued even after the latter was shifted to state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata from his judicial custody. According to the ED counsel, the minister used to send written communication through his daughter who regularly came to the hospital to meet him. The special court on Saturday remanded Adhya to 14 days of judicial custody. 4 killed, 3 injured in firing at passenger vehicles in Pakistan. Image Source: IANS News Islamadbad, Jan 7 : At least four people, including two security personnel, were killed and three others injured on Sunday in firing at two passenger vehicles in Kurram district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local media reported. Islamadbad, Jan 7 (IANS) At least four people, including two security personnel, were killed and three others injured on Sunday in firing at two passenger vehicles in Kurram district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local media reported. The gunmen targeted the vehicles with automated weapons, District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Imran was quoted as saying by Dawn. Police, security forces, and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to a nearby hospital. Police and security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. This file photo taken on Dec. 15, 2023 shows European Council President Charles Michel speaking at a press conference during the European Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium. European Council President Charles Michel has informed Belgian media of his decision to run for the election of the Member of European Parliament (MEP) in June, leading to his early departure from the Council presidency in July. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) BRUSSELS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- European Council President Charles Michel has informed Belgian media of his decision to run for the election of the Member of European Parliament (MEP) in June, leading to his early departure from the Council presidency in July. Reflecting on his four-year term as a European leader, Michel said, "It's my responsibility to give an account of my work these past years and to propose a project for Europe's future." While Michel's current mandate concludes in November, the European Parliament elections are slated for June. He is expected to lead the list of the liberal Reformist Movement party, of which he is a former leader, in the European Parliament elections. "That means I would continue my work as European Council president until being sworn in as an MEP on July 16," he stated. Michel has served as the president of the European Council, the group of government leaders of the 27 European Union (EU) member states, since late 2019. Prior to his EU responsibilities, he served as the Prime Minister of Belgium. This file photo taken on Dec. 15, 2023 shows European Council President Charles Michel speaking at a press conference during the European Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium. European Council President Charles Michel has informed Belgian media of his decision to run for the election of the Member of European Parliament (MEP) in June, leading to his early departure from the Council presidency in July. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) Bhubaneswar, Jan 7 : The opposition Congress on Sunday targeted the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claiming that both the parties are hands-in-glove in Odisha. The newly appointed Odisha Congress in-charge Ajoy Kumar addressing a press meet here Sunday said that Odisha is the only state where outsiders are more powerful than the locals. Quoting Abraham Lincoln he said Odisha should be for the Odias, by the Odias and of the Odias. He also questioned the government for giving tenders worth over crores to contractors from outside the state. "Doesnat Odisha have MPs, MLAs or ministers that the leadership of a political party is handed over to an outsider? The entire mining wealth of the state is being drained out by outsiders so Odisha is considered as one of the poorest states in the Country," questioned Kumar. He alleged that BJD with the tacit support of BJP is not establishing any school or hospital and laying stress only on building roads for businessmen from other states to loot the states mining wealth. Kumar accused that both BJD and BJP have secret seat sharing pact for the upcoming Lok Sabha and their infighting is an eyewash only. He noted that Congress and India Alliance are only alternatives in the state which will raise the issues of public. Kumar said that IAS and IPS people are running the government in Odisha so the people are in distress. The ministers and MLAs have no respect and only bureaucrats matter in Odisha. "Naveen Patnaikas government is being run by bureaucrats with BJPas gathbandhan. Naveen Patnaik is responsible for all the corruption in Odisha and Prime Minister Modi ensures no IT, ED or CBI raids in the state," Kumar added. Kumar alleged that Odisha has the highest migration of poor sections of the society, tribal land grab and poor law and order in the state. Meanwhile, the president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee, Sarat Pattanaik termed BJP and BJD as brothers. BJD has been providing support to the BJP whenever any bill is passed by the union government. The BJD government has only been busy in announcing schemes after schemes keeping an eye on the elections. He expressed hope that the Indian National Congress would form the government in the state by increasing its tally from nine to 90 in the coming general elections. --IANS gyan/dan Mumbai, Jan 7 : Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan's daughter Ira Khan tied the knot with her fitness expert partner Nupur Shikhare recently and looked gorgeous. Celebrity makeup and hair stylist Coleen Khan Affonso has dropped some BTS pics of Ira getting ready for her special day. Ira and Nupur signed the marriage registration document on January 3 at the Taj Lands End in the Bandra area of Mumbai in the presence of family and friends. The celebrity make-up artiste took to the Instagram stories section to share the beautiful images of the bride. For the ceremony on January 3, Ira ditched the traditional lehenga and wore a pair of harem pants with an embroidered blouse. She sported light makeup and wore a maang-tikka. While Ira looked beautiful in a wedding ensemble for her special day, Nupuras sartorial choice was a shocker for many. Nupur, who is a fitness trainer, ditched the traditional choice of the horse and jogged for 8 kms to reach the wedding venue. During the ceremony, he was seen wearing a black vest and white shorts. As expected, the internet didnat leave a chance to polish its skills in humour as many netizens spoke about the groomas choice for his special day. Nupur proposed to Ira in 2022 and is the official fitness trainer of Ira and Aamir. The pre-wedding festivities started with a Haldi ceremony. The couple are set to have a traditional Maharashtrian wedding ceremony with festivities starting from January 7. All 176 rooms of the hotel have been booked for the family members and guests of the bride and groom. The wedding festivities will be a family affair and will see relatives attending the functions. The couple will then head to Mumbai and host a reception at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre on January 13. The whoas who of Bollywood including superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan are expected to attend the reception. Mumbai, Jan 7 : A man was crushed to death when the compound wall near a tenement complex in south Mumbai suddenly came crashing down on Sunday afternoon, officials said. Mumbai, Jan 7 (IANS) A man was crushed to death when the compound wall near a tenement complex in south Mumbai suddenly came crashing down on Sunday afternoon, officials said. According to the BMC Disaster Control, the wall adjoining the Miyan Chawl near Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 3, collapsed around 2.30 pm. One person, trapped under the debris, was extricated and rushed to the INS Ashwini Hospital where doctors declared him dead. The victim was identified as Mohammad Akbar, 38. --IANS qn/vd Kolkata, Jan 7 : Trinamool Congress' Murshidabad district general secretary Satyen Chowdhury was shot dead in broad daylight on Sunday afternoon. Once a close confidant of the state Congress president and veteran party Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the deceased leader later joined Trinamool Congress. He was shot dead while he was sitting with his close associates in front of an under-construction building at Bharatpur in Murshidabad on Sunday afternoon. According to eyewitnesses, suddenly three miscreants arrived at the spot on two motorcycles, shot at Chowdhury from point blank range and fled the spot. A profusely bleeding Chowdhury was rushed to Murshidabad Medical College & Hospital, where he soon died. Sources aware of the development said that infighting in the ruling party is a possible the reason behind the assassination since of late, the deceased leader had started distancing himself from personal affairs because of differences with the other sections of the party's district leadership. As expected, a political slugfest has surfaced over the assassination. Local Trinamool Congress leader and the chairman of Baharampur Municipality, Narugupal Mukhopadhyay said that the assassination was is the handiwork of local goons enjoying the support of both Congress and CPI-M. "The assassination was done deliberately to create tension in the area before the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls," he said. However, the CPI-M's Murshidabad district secretary Zamir Mollah rubbished the allegations and said that the murder was a result of infighting in Trinamool Congress over the share of real estate promotion business. District Superintendent Police of Murshidabad, Surya Pratap Yadav said that the police have started an investigation in the matter and attempts are on to identify the assassins from CCTV footage at the spot of murder. Baghdad, Jan 7 : Four Islamic State (IS) operatives were killed in airstrikes in Iraq's Diyala province, the Iraqi military said on Sunday. As per the Security Media Cell, a media outlet affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, acting on intelligence reports, Iraqi warplanes carried out airstrikes late on Saturday night on IS hideouts in the Hawdh al-Waqf area, some 90 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Xinhua news agency reported. On Sunday, a security force team was dispatched to search the bombed hideouts and found the bodies of four IS operatives, along with destroyed weapons and other equipment, the statement said. It added that Majeed Mayouf, the leader of the group in the area, was among the killed. The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have melted into deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Bhopal, Jan 7 : After registering a landslide victory in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party has now started preparations for the Lok Sabha elections. While the work on Mission-29 has started, the party now faces a tough task to pick candidates for those seven seats which the MPs had vacated for contesting the assembly polls. There are 29 Lok Sabha seats in the state. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP had won 28 seats, while Congress could grab only Chhindwara seat which is being represented by Nakul Nath. Now BJP is also eyeing Chhindwara seat and thatas why Mission-29 has been planned to win all the 29 seats. As per its strategy, BJP had fielded a total of seven MPs including three former Union ministers in the assembly elections. Of these, five won and two lost. Now new faces will be required to replace those who have become MLAs from MPs, but it remains to be seen whether those who lost in the assembly elections will be given a chance or not. Among the former BJP MPs who were fielded in assembly polls, Narendra Singh Tomar represented Morena a" a Kshatriya-dominated area -- while Prahlad Singh Patel was an MP from Damoh a" an OBC-dominated locality. Rakesh Singh represented Jabalpur -- general category-dominated parliamentary constituency, while Riti Pathak was an MP from Sidhi -- Brahmin class-dominated Lok Sabha constituency. Similarly, Uday Pratap Singh represented Hoshangabad, general class-dominated parliamentary seat. The two former MPs, who faced defeat in assembly polls, are Ganesh Singh and Faggan Singh Kulaste. Ganesh Singh represented Satna -- a parliamentary constituency dominated by OBC class -- while Kulaste was an MP from Mandla, a Lok Sabha seat, dominated by tribal class. Now questions are also being raised within the party that if the MPs, who lost the assembly polls, are given a chance, what message will be sent to the public. Keeping that in mind, the party is assessing the capability of the workers belonging to OBC category in Satna and tribal category in Mandla. Political analysts believe that BJP will have to search candidates for not only those seats which the former MPs vacated after winning assembly polls, but it will have to also focus on changing the faces in those places where the party lost. Satna and Mandla are those parliamentary constituencies where the party will have to come up with an effective strategy. 48 killed in Russian missile strike in eastern Ukraine, says Zelensky. Image Source: IANS News Kiev, Jan 7 : At least 12 people were killed and 12 others injured in Russia's missile strike on Donetsk region of Ukraine. Russia shelled Pokrovsk district in which six people were killed and eight wounded. In the shelling, 134 private houses and 15 high-rise buildings were damaged, the Donetsk Regional Military Administration posted on Telegram, Ukrinform reported. In Rivne, five people were killed and two wounded, 80 houses, a paramedic and obstetric center, and an administrative building were damaged. In the Bakhmut district, one person was killed, one was wounded, and five houses were damaged. Investor friendly policies made it possible for TN to become haven for investments: Stalin. Image Source: IANS News Chennai, Jan 7 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday said that investor friendly policies of the state government has made Tamil Nadu a haven for investments. "Tamil Nadu has huge potential for investments. The investor friendly policy of the state government has made Tamil Nadu a haven for investments," the Chief Minister said while addressing the Global Investors Meet (GIM). He said that Tamil people have an urge to do business across the world. He said that in 1920 a group of industrialists had formed the Employers Federation of Southern India which paved the way for growth of Tamil Nadu as a state. "Since our government assumed office, more than 200 MoUs have been signed. All these industries have committed to provide employment to people of the state," the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister also credited Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, saying that Goyal's parents were popular leaders. "Piyush Goyal had started his career as a banker and then carved a niche for himself in finance and commerce sectors," the Chief Minister said. Goyal, in his speech, said that DMK parliamentary party leader T.R. Baalu was a proud father watching his son T.R.B Raaja as the Industries Minister of the state who has played a major role in organising this Global Investor Meet (GIM). T.R. Baalu was a former Union Minister during the NDA government of Vajpayee and also under the UPA government. He has an excellent personal rapport with parliamentarians cutting across party lines. Mumbai, Jan 7 : Bollywood celebs on Sunday urged their fans to explore Indian islands after Maldives politician Zahid Rameez criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep. Bollywood stars Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Shraddha Kapoor and John Abraham took to their social media accounts to promote Indian islands. Salman took to his X, erstwhile Twitter on Sunday, and wrote, "It is so cool to see our Hon PM Narendrabhai Modi at the beautiful clean n stunning beaches of Lakshadweep, and the best part is that yeh hamare India mein hain." Akshay Kumar shared screenshots of the racist tweets and wrote, "Came across comments from prominent public figures from Maldives passing hateful and racist comments on Indians. Surprised that they are doing this to a country that sends them the maximum number of tourists." He further mentioned, "We are good to our neighbours but why should we tolerate such unprovoked hate? I've visited the Maldives many times and always praised it, but dignity first. Let us decide to #ExploreIndianIslands and support our own tourism." Actress Shraddha Kapoor, who was last seen in the Luv Ranjan directorial 'Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar', said in her post, "All these images and memes making me super FOMO now. Lakshadweep has such pristine beaches and coastlines, thriving local culture, I'm on the verge of booking an impulse chhutti. This year, why not #ExploreIndianIslands." John, who was last seen in the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer blockbuster film 'Pathaan', wrote on X, "With the amazing Indian hospitality, the idea of "Atithi Devo Bhava" and a vast marine life to explore. Lakshwadeep is the place to go. #exploreindianislands." Zahid Rameez, a council member of the Progressive Party of Maldives, had mocked the PM's visit, and said India would never be able to compete with Maldives in regards to tourism. New Delhi, Jan 7 : Ministry of Defence on Sunday said that Innovations for Defence Excellence-Defence Innovation Organization (iDEX-DIO) will participate in the tenth edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit from January 10 to 12. The ministry of Defence said that an iDEX Pavilion is also being set up based on the theme of the Summit 'Gateway to the Future'. "The iDEX innovators will be exhibiting their futuristic technologies in the field of Unmanned Solutions, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Advance Material," the ministry said. It said that the leading defence startups and MSMEs of iDEX will be showcasing their cutting-edge solutions at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show 2024 during the Global Summit. "The Trade Show will spotlight 'TECHADE and Disruptive Technologies' and feature the Champion Services Sector, emphasizing Digital India initiatives, India Stack, and Emerging Technologies including Industry 4.0, Smart Manufacturing, and AI/ML, among others," the ministry said. It said that the iDEX will also look forward to exploring new partnerships, and collaborations, engaging with industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to collectively envision a future, and contributing to the vibrant economic landscape of Gujarat and beyond. "The objective of the scheme is to cultivate an innovation ecosystem in the Defence and Aerospace sector by collaborating with startups, innovators, MSMEs, incubators, and academia," the ministry said. The ministry said that iDEX offers grants and support for R and D with significant potential for future adoption in Indian defence and aerospace. "It is currently engaged with around 400 plus Startups and MSMEs, till now procurement of 31 items worth over Rs 2000cr has been cleared," the ministry said. DHAKA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's ruling Awami League (AL) party of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has gained more than half of seats in parliament in the country's general elections, according to initial results released by the Election Commission (EC) officials from different parts of the country Sunday night. Bangladesh held general elections on Sunday to elect 299 members of the parliament. Voting at a constituency has been postponed due to the death of a candidate. Over 260 candidates from the ruling AL party joined the national elections. The voting began at 8:00 a.m. local time and concluded at 4:00 p.m. local time in over 42,000 voting centers nationwide. In Bangladesh, a party can form a government if it manages to clinch 151 seats of parliament in total. The ruling AL party rose to power with a landslide election victory in 2009 and won its second term in 2014 and the third term in 2018. Kolkata, Jan 7 : CPI-M on Sunday said that BJP and Trinamool Congress are its equal adversaries in West Bengal and the party will fight battles against both the parties in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "Our impressive result in last year's panchayat elections was a trailer. Now it is time for us to show the entire movie in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls," CPI-M politburo member and the party's State Secretary in West Bengal Md Salim said during a mega rally held by CPI-M under the banner of Insaf Samavesh (Gathering for Justice) for party's youth wing Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). He said that BJP and Trinamool are clandestine partners. "The chief minister Mamata Banerjee avoids crucial administrative meetings. She waits for days in New Delhi for a meeting with the topmost leaders only to save her nephew," Salim said. He said that financial corruption in West Bengal coincided with BJP coming to power at the centre. "Even a judge of the Calcutta High Court has observed that the assets of her nephew started skyrocketing since 2014. It was the same year that BJP came to power in West Bengal. That proves it all," Salim said. Reacting to his comments BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said that on one hand the youth leaders of CPI-M in West Bengal are calling for an all-out battle against Trinamool while on the other hand their national leaders share biryani plates on the same dais. There was a huge response to the CPI-M rally on Sunday which was conducted at Brigade Parade Ground in central Kolkata. People from the minority and tribal communities also participated in huge numbers in the rally. "Our tribal support base started receding in the closing years of the Left Front regime. It had hit rock bottom in the last 12 years. So was the case for minority voters. "But the impressive turnout of people from both these communities is encouraging. Our biggest challenge is to re-convert this euphoria into our dedicated vote bank," a state committee member of CPI-M said. Aizawl, Jan 7 : The Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry has sanctioned Rs 1,313.28 crore for the development of a 2.5 km twin tube uni-directional Aizawl Bypass Tunnel, along with a 2.1 km approach road on the Sairang-Phaibawk section of National Highway-6, officials said here on Sunday. A Mizoram government official said that spanning a total length of 4.60 km, the Aizawl Bypass Tunnel project falls under Package-2 in Aizawl district. The primary objectives encompass mitigating congestion within Aizawl city on NH-6, circumventing heavily built-up areas, reducing traffic congestion, and enhancing road safety within capital city limits. The initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow, free from city-related impediments, ultimately cutting the distance between Sairang to Phaibawk by 22 km and diminishing travel time by 1.5 hours, the official said. It is estimated that the Aizawl Bypass Road would reduce the distance between Silchar in southern Assam and the new Multi Modal Transport Route in Mizoram. Linking Mizoram, the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) is said to be the most significant project that India has undertaken in Myanmar. The KMMTTP was jointly undertaken by India and Myanmar to create a multi-modal mode of transport for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as to the northeastern region of India through Myanmar. The sum of Rs 1,313.28 crore was sanctioned for the Aizawl Bypass Tunnel after Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma held a meeting with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on January 4. On his first visit to the national Capital after assuming the office as Chief Minister, he also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and discussed various issues of Mizoram. Mumbai, Jan 7 : The Mumbai Police have nabbed six desperadoes with arms and ammunition hailing from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh from their hideout in a guest house here in Borivali, an official said on Sunday. The Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS), Juhu had received a tip-off on the six persons and their suspicious movements, and it took the help of the Kasturba Marg Police Station in the operation. After verifying the information and exercising adequate precautions, the Kasturba Marg Police Station team raided the guest house premises near the railway station and nabbed the six suspects, who were apparently hatching a plot to carry out some major crimes in Mumbai. They are -- Shahadat R. Hussain a.k.a. Kallu, a murder convict who has served his jail sentence is currently out; Aslam S. Khan of Delhi, but hailing from Uttar Pradesh where he was arrested in a murder case and other smaller crimes; Nadeem Y. Ansari, a history-sheeter -- all from Delhi. The trio from Uttar Pradesh comprises -- Rizwan A. Latif with theft cases against him; Naushad Anwar of Bulandshahr who had come to conduct recce in Mumbai for their nefarious intentions; and Adil Khan of Ghaziabad, who had come with his Scorpio SUV to help his five other associates here. The Mumbai Police swoop has recovered arms and ammunition, including a country-made pistol and a gun, one foreign-make pistol, a knife, 4 magazines with 29 rounds of ammunition and the SUV, while further investigations are on about their ulterior motives here, an official said. Mumbai, Jan 7 : A man was crushed to death and another injured when the compound wall of an open plot of the INS Kunjali in south Mumbai suddenly came crashing down on Sunday afternoon, officials said. According to the BMC Disaster Control, the wall adjoining the Miyan Chawl near Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 3, collapsed around 2.30 pm, during water pipeline repair works. The two persons were rushed to the Indian Navyas INHS Ashwini hospital by locals in their vehicles before the Mumbai Fire Brigade reached the spot. One person, identified as Mohammed Akbar, 38, was declared dead on admission, while the other, Gangadhar Akla was treated for injuries and discharged. At least four four-wheelers are stuck under the debris of the wall crash and work is on to remove the rubble with the help of a JCB, said the BMC. Cuttack, Jan 7 : Mumbai Khiladis recorded their second win of Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2, downing Rajasthan Warriors 29-27 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday. A see-saw match, which kept alternating in favour of either side, was finally secured by a brilliant defensive display by Mumbai Khiladis in the final turn. Mondayas matches featured a number of special guests, including Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who flipped the coin during the toss, and Indian Super League club Odisha FCas players Lalliansanga Renthlei, Pungte Lapung, Paogoumang Singson and Niraj Kumar, who were in the stands to cheer on the home team Odisha Juggernauts who will play against Telugu Yoddhas in the second match. Rajasthan Warriors got their match off to a brilliant start. Their first batch of Satej Patil, Vrushab Wagh and Vijay Hajare scored three dream run points. Hajare, in particular, frustrated the Mumbai Khiladis attackers, spending a minute and 45 seconds on the mat. Mumbai Khiladis only managed to send back two more players in the turn, which meant that they only carried a 10-3 advantage into Turn 2. That advantage was easily subverted by Rajasthan Warriors in Turn 2 as their attackers sent back two Mumbai batches and a player from the third. Mumbai Warriors did manage two dream run points, but trailed 12-17, going into the second innings. Rajasthan Warriorsa first batch of Turn 3 missed out on a dream run point by just seven seconds. Their second batch did not manage a dream run point either, and with a player from their third batch getting sent back, Mumbai Khiladis had a route back into the match. Sreejesh S added four attacking points to the four he had in the first innings. Mumbai Khiladisa defenders took full advantage of the glimmer of hope that their attackers gave them. Rajasthan Warriors sent back Mumbai Khiladias first batch early to come within a couple of dismissals of winning the match. But the second batch of Gajanan Shengal, Sreejesh S and P Siva Reddy put on a brilliant defensive display, bagging three dream run points. Siva Reddy managed to stay unbeaten, giving his team the win. On Monday, Telugu Yoddhas will take on Gujarat Giants while Chennai Quick Guns will take on Rajasthan Warriors. --IANS cs/ Hasina elected from Gopalganj-3, tells party leaders not to take out victory processions. Image Source: IANS News Dhaka, Jan 7 : Awami League President and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been elected from her Gopalganj-3 seat in the Sunday national elections, as per preliminary information. She bagged 2,49,962 votes while her nearest rival National People`s Party (NPP) candidate Sheikh Abul Kalam got 460 votes only. The results are yet to be formally declared by election authorities. Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina has instructed party leaders, workers, and supporters not to bring out any victory procession after the announcement of results of the 12th general elections, as per Awami League's Deputy Office Secretary, Sayem Khan. "AL President Sheikh Hasina has already instructed the party leaders, workers and supporters not to bring out any victory procession and not to get involved in conflict with any candidate and his or her supporters after the announcement of the election results," he told media persons here. Islamabad, Jan 7 : Days after a Pakistan-bound container vessel came under attack, the Pakistan Navy has deployed warships in the Arabian Sea following the "recent incidents of maritime security", a official statement said on Sunday. Pakistan Navy ships are continuously patrolling the Arabian Sea to ensure the safety of Pakistan's trade routes, a Navy spokesman said, reported Geo News. In the statement, the spokesman also said continuous aerial surveillance of commercial passages is also being done "to ensure the safety of Pakistan and international merchant ships". "Pakistan Navy is well aware of its national responsibility in maintaining maritime peace and order in the region," it added. The Houthi militia of Yemen had claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a Pakistan-bound container ship, the United VIII, in the Red Sea as it was on its way from Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Port to Karachi. MSC Mediterranean Shipping had said there were no injuries to its crew in the attack., Pakistan Navy's step also comes soon after the India Navy, which had deployed several warships into the area to "maintain a deterrent presence" after a string of recent shipping attacks, including a drone strike, said it rescued 21 crew members from a vessel in the Arabian Sea after a hijacking distress call. Hyderabad, Jan 7 : A woman in Telangana hired killers for Rs 18 lakh to kill her husband, who was allegedly harassing her after undergoing sex change surgery. The incident came to light in Siddipet district with the arrest of the woman and two accused. Police said the search was on for three other accused. Vedasri and other accused were arrested more than three weeks after the murder of Roja, who was earlier known as Daripally Venkatesh. According to police, the killers smothered Roja on December 11 after having a liquor party with him. Vedasri had offered a Rs 18 lakh supari to get Roja killed. She had paid Rs 4.60 lakh as advance and had promised to pay the remaining amount later. Vedasri had married Venkatesh, both residents of Siddipet town, in 2014. The couple had an eight-year-old daughter. Venkatesh was initially harassing his wife for additional dowry. Later, his behaviour had changed and he underwent sex change surgery. He had changed his name to Roja and started begging on roads in Siddipet town. Roja was harassing Vedasri to send their daughter with her for begging. He was also making rounds of the private school where Vedasri was working as a teacher and picking up arguments with her. She had reportedly lost her job after Roja created issues at the school. Vedasri, who had become friendly with Boini Ramesh, 32, of the same town, hatched a plan with him to eliminate Roja and hired the killers. As per the plan, Ippa Shekhar, 24, went to Rojaas house where he was living alone and offered him liquor. The accused, along with two others, later smothered him to death with a pillow. A case of death under suspicious circumstances was registered at One Town police station. As the autopsy report revealed that Roja was murdered, police began the probe and gathered scientific evidence. They questioned Vedasri, who confessed to the crime. Police said a total of five accused helped Vedasri in the murder. She, along with Ramesh and Shekhar, were arrested and sent to judicial custody. Police were on the look out for three other accused. Ahmedabad, Jan 7 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has named Chaitar Vasava, currently incarcerated, as its candidate for the Bharuch Lok Sabha constituency. The announcement came as part of the party's election campaign which commenced with a public rally in Bharuch on Sunday. AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, while addressing the rally, urged the electorate to support Vasava's candidacy. Vasava, an MLA from the Dediapada assembly in Bharuch, has been in jail for the last two months on charges related to an alleged extortion case and assault of forest officials. A court had ordered his judicial custody following the conclusion of his police remand on December 18. Kejriwal highlighted the uniqueness of Vasava's candidacy, noting that AAP is the first party in Bharuch to officially declare its candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Kejriwal said that if Vasava remains in custody, the party will campaign with his photograph, engaging in door-to-door canvassing for votes. Earlier on Sunday, Kejriwal took to social media to express his support for Vasava. He described Vasava as a "very popular tribal leader" and alleged that the BJP-led Gujarat government imprisoned both him and his wife on fabricated charges. New Delhi, Jan 7 : In a major achievement, the Indian Air Force has successfully managed a night landing of its transport warhorse, the C-130J Super Hercules, in the challenging mountain-screened Kargil landing ground - with Garud commandos on board. "In a first, an IAF C-130 J aircraft recently carried out a night landing at the Kargil airstrip. Employing terrain masking enroute, the exercise also dovetailed a training mission of the Garuds", the IAF said in a post on X. According to IAF officials, the transport aeroplane also used "terrain masking", or a technique to fox enemy radars, en route to avoid detection. While the Hercules has landed at the ALGs in Ladakh earlier, this was the first night landing in the region and is believed to be part of the IAF's mission to strengthen its capabilities, including in deploying commandos in challenging scenarios and zones. This success of this mission at the undirectional, mountain-covered Kargil advanced landing ground is seen as the precursor of attempts to try it out at other airstrips and landing zones near the LAC, around the clock, as per defence sources. NEW DELHI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Unidentified gunmen Sunday shot dead ruling Trinamool Congress party leader Satyan Chowdhury in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, police said. Chowdhury was fired upon from point-blank range in Berhampore of Murshidabad district, about 199 km north of Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal. According to locals, Chowdhury was Trinamool Congress party's general secretary for Murshidabad. "Today a group of men on bikes fired upon 65-year-old Satyan Chowdhury from a close range. The TMC leader was rushed to a hospital for treatment. However, he was declared dead on arrival," a police official said. Police have registered a case and ordered an investigation into the killing. "The police are examining closed-circuit television camera footage of the area to identify the assailants," the police official said. Ex-Supreme Court judge to be Israel's appointee in ICJ trial on appeal by South Africa. Image Source: IANS News Tel Aviv, Jan 7 : Israel has named a retired judge of its Supreme Court, Justice Aharon Barak, as the country's appointee to the 15-judge panel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague for a hearing into a case filed by South Africa, the Foreign Ministry said. The ICJ will take up South Africa's case against Israel accusing it of genocide in Gaza for hearing soon. Both the appellant and the defendant can appoint a judge who doesn't need to be from the same country. South Africa will be presenting its case on Tuesday while Israel will present its case on Friday before the 15-member bench of the ICJ. Barak, 87, is a highly-respected judge internationally. Cousin among five arrested for kidnapping Hyderabad techie for ransom. Image Source: IANS News Hyderabad, Jan 7 : Five members of a gang, including a kin of the victim, have been arrested for alleged kidnapping of a software engineer, Cyberabad police said on Sunday. Hyderabad, Jan 7 (IANS) Five members of a gang, including a kin of the victim, have been arrested for alleged kidnapping of a software engineer, Cyberabad police said on Sunday. A young woman, the cousin of the victim, is among those arrested while police are on the lookout for two other accused. According to police, the gang used to conspire with close associates of the kidnapping victims and demand ransom. The gang was found involved in 23 cases in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Those arrested have been identified as Gunjapogu Suresh, 31, Ballipara Venkata Krishna, 28, Gurram Nikitha, 23, Ramagalla Raju, 20, and Shinde Rohith. Nikhita and Venkata Krishna hail from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Two other accused Chandu and Venkat are absconding. Suresh was previously involved in 21 cases under the limits of different police stations in and around Hyderabad. He had started committing crimes when was 16 and is involved in many theft, robbery and kidnapping for ransom cases. Police said he had formed a gang with Raju, Shinde Rohith, Chandu, and Venkat to commit kidnapping for ransom. Krishna, who was also involved in two cases, came in contact with Suresh and his gang in the jail and they agreed to work together. Nikitha, cousin sister of victim Gurram Surender, had met Krishna in a company in Gachibowli and soon they fell in love. In October 2023, Krishna met Suresh and his gang and suggested kidnap of his MD, Shiva Shankara Babu. They kidnapped Shankara Babu, extorted Rs 2 lakh and shared the amount. Last month, Nikitha suggested to Venkata Krishna to kidnap her cousin Gurram Surender for ransom as he was financially well settled. Surender and his wife both were working and had recently purchased a new house. Initially, Suresh conducted recce at the residence and workplace of the victim, but he could not succeed. Later, Suresh and Krishna asked Nikhita to call the victim to a secluded place. As part of this plan, on the evening of January 4, she called the victim at Khajaguda Lake road on the pretext of discussing some personal issue. When Surender came there and was meeting Nikitha, six accused waiting nearby forcefully took him into a car. As part of the plan, Nikitha came to Raidurgam police station and lodged a complaint that Surender was kidnapped. Deputy Commissioner of Police, T. Srinivasa Rao said she pretended to help the family and police. Meanwhile, Suresh made a phone call to the wife of the victim and demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crore. After learning that the police were trying to track them, the accused brought down the ransom demand to Rs 20 lakh. However, special teams of police tracked down the victim at Kadthal in Rangareddy district. The accused left the victim in a car and escaped. Police later arrested the accused and during the questioning they confessed to the crime. Police seized two four-wheelers, two two-wheelers and seven cell phones from the accused. Mogadishu, Jan 8 : The Somali National Army (SNA) with support from international partners killed 76 al-Shabab militants and injured several, following two days of operations in Mudug region of central Somalia, officials said. The SNA Chief Ibrahim Sheikh Muhidin said on Sunday that senior al-Shabab commanders were among the dead during the military onslaught against the al-Qaida linked terrorist group which were conducted on Saturday and early Sunday. "The al-Shabab terrorists suffered heavy casualties and lost 76 fighters during operations conducted in the past two days," Muhidin added. He said that the military onslaught destroyed al-Shabab bases and vehicles, adding that troops were making progress in vanquishing the militants from their strongholds in central and southern Somalia, Xinhua news agency reported. Al-Shabab extremist group that is fighting to topple the government has been facing enormous pressure and offensive from government forces backed by the local militia in central Somalia. The extremist group was driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, but the terror group is still capable of conducting attacks, targetting government installations, hotels, restaurants and public places. Amman, Jan 8 : King Abdullah II of Jordan has stressed the country's rejection of attempts to separate the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, warning of catastrophic ramifications of continued Israeli attacks on Gaza. The King made the remarks on Sunday at a meeting in Amman with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during which he also urged the need to end the tragic humanitarian crisis in the strip, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court. King Abdullah stressed the important role of the US in pushing towards an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the protection of civilians, while guaranteeing the sustainable delivery of sufficient humanitarian and relief aid to the strip, according to the statement. The Jordanian leader also voiced Jordan's rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, which he said constitutes a clear violation of international law, Xinhua news agency reported. The King also called for enabling Gazans to return to their homes. During the meeting, the King said there will be no stability in the region without a just solution to the Palestinian issue and just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution. He added that extremist settlers' violence against the Palestinians and violations of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem are completely rejected and must be countered before they lead to an explosion in the region. Earlier on Sunday, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi held talks with Blinken during which he stressed the necessity of achieving an immediate and permanent ceasefire to end the Israeli aggression and the resulting killings, destruction and humanitarian catastrophe, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Jordanian Minister stressed the need to deliver humanitarian and medical aid immediately, comprehensively, and sustainably to all parts of Gaza, which faces a humanitarian disaster due to the ongoing Israeli aggression and the insufficient entry of aid. Safadi warned of the consequences of the continued aggression and Israel's violations of international law and humanitarian law, as well as the dangerous Israeli escalation in the West Bank. He emphasised the importance of Israel halting all its illegitimate and provocative actions leading to an escalation of the situation in the West Bank, according to the statement. During the meeting, the two Ministers agreed on the necessity of delivering adequate aid to Gaza, rejecting the displacement of Palestinians within and outside the strip. They highlighted the importance of enabling displaced Gazans from the north to return to their homes and areas, the statement said. Safadi also stressed the futility of any future proposal that perpetuates the separation of Gaza from the West Bank in isolation of a comprehensive plan that fulfills the Palestinian people's right to freedom and an independent, sovereign state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution. Both Ministers agreed to continue communication to discuss efforts for a ceasefire, aid delivery, civilian protection and a genuine effort to end the conflict and achieve a just peace based on the two-state solution, the statement added. Gaza, Jan 8 : The Israeli army launched airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip, killing at least 20 people, the media reported. According to the report released on Sunday, dozens of injured people have been sent to hospitals, many of whom were in serious condition. Local sources told Xinhua news agency that many people are still buried under the rubble and the death toll may further rise. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Sunday as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. In a press statement, the Ministry said that the Israeli army "launched 12 strikes against families in the Gaza Strip, killing 133 Palestinians and wounding 250 others during the past 24 hours". Since October 7, Israel has been launching a large-scale military offensive in the Palestinian enclave after Hamas's unprecedented attack on southern Israel, which claimed the lives of around 1,200 Israelis, according to the Israeli authorities. Property details: This beautiful property located in Holiday Island, Arkansas offers one hole acre of land in a residential zone. The property address is conveniently situated in Eureka Springs with a zip code of 72631. This homesite lot is perfect for those looking for a bit of heaven to build their dream home on. 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Price: $ 1 Seller State of Residence: Missouri Property Address: 12007 Cypress Run Road, Orlando, FL Number of Bedrooms: 1 Number of Bathrooms: 1 Zip/Postal Code: 32830 City: Orlando State/Province: Florida Location: 658**, Springfield, Missouri You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Florida His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced a federal cabinet reshuffle that include new ministers and top officials. This follows his consultations with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, said a Wam news agency report. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid has been appointed as Deputy Prime Minister for Financial and Economic Affairs. Sultan Al Neyadi, a UAE astronaut, has been named Minister of State for Youth in the UAE. Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al-Dahak Al-Shamsi has been named as the Minister of the Environment. Maryam Hareb Al Muhairi has been appointed Head of the Office of International Affairs in the Presidential Office, at the end of her term in the Ministry of Environment. Mohammed bin Mubarak Fadel Al Mazrouei has been appointed Minister of State for Defense Affairs. Shamma Al Mazrui has been named Minister of Community Development; Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi is the new Minister of Culture and Youth, while Hessa Buhumaid and Noura Al Kaabi will now serve as Ministers of State. Maryam Al Hammadi, Secretary-General of the UAE Cabinet, has alos been named a Minister of State; Omar bin Sultan Al Olama has been appointed Director-General of the Prime Minister's Office in addition to his current duties as Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence. Abdullah Nasser Lootah has been named Chairman of the Competitiveness Council and in charge of the government knowledge exchange files. JERUSALEM, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military chief said on Sunday that the conflict in Gaza, persisting for three months already, would likely last throughout 2024 and spill over to other fronts. Herzi Halevi, the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), made the remarks during a visit to the West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967. Halevi said 2024 would be "challenging" and that Israel would "certainly be involved in fighting in Gaza throughout the year," implying that the current full-scale conflict with Hamas, the Palestinian faction that rules Gaza, could ease but not end. He also warned of a possible flare-up in violence "on other fronts, especially the West Bank," where tensions have risen since the start of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which started on Oct. 7, 2023, following a surprise attack from Hamas. Halevi also said the IDF would increase "the pressure it exerts" on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where it has traded fire with Hezbollah, a Shi'ite militant group, in recent months. "Hezbollah has decided to join this war. We are increasingly exacting a toll on them," he said, adding that the army had "a responsibility, a duty, to securely return northern residents to their homes." The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip rose to 22,835, and the injuries have reached 58,416, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Sunday. Additionally, around 1,200 people in Israel have lost their lives due to the Hamas attack. Investors may have to wait a little longer for Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-based block mechanism in the secondary market even as the market regulator has set the effective launch date as January 1, 2024. Photograph: Savita Kirloskar/Reuters Several brokerage firms said they may take a few months more to implement it. Investors will be able to register for this facility only if the stock broker has opted for the UPI block facility. The facility is to be made available only for the equity cash segment in the beginning. On January 1, it is going to be a beta version launch for the new block facility. "Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) also wants it to be demand-led from the clients. "With the focus on technology, this is a long-term game for market infra development, said a source. According to sources, of the top 15 stock brokers that are qualified stock brokers (QSBs), only Groww and HDFC Securities may implement the block facility for the secondary market from January 1. Meanwhile, others are aiming to offer the facility to their clients by March-end, said industry sources. This Beta launch has been facilitated by Groww as the brokerage app, alongside BHIM, Groww, and YES PAY NEXT as UPI apps. "Initially, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank customers will be able to avail this facility. Further, HDFC Bank, HSBC, ICICI Bank, and YES Bank are acting as sponsor banks for the clearing corporation and exchanges, said a National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) official on Friday (December 29, 2023). Other stakeholders, including stockbrokers such as Zerodha, banks like Axis Bank and YES Bank, and UPI-enabled apps like Paytm and PhonePe are in the certification stage. They will participate in Beta launch soon, added NPCI. Industry insiders from two QSBs said the mechanism needs to go through more testing before being made available to clients. One of them said that it is not prepared to offer the facility immediately but will look to do so in the coming months. We are in the process of complying with the Sebi directives, said another full-service stock broker. Industry players said that the availability of the block mechanism will offer a competitive edge over other brokers. Even if it is optional, if few large brokerages offer it, then it will become a feature for everyone to align to. "Large brokerages will offer it sooner or later, said Dhiraj Relli, managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO), HDFC Securities. Among the other brokers, Tejas Khoday, co-founder and CEO of brokerage firm FYERS, said, It is optional for the brokers but going forward it looks like the mechanism will become compulsory. "We need to check the industry's preparedness. "Given that top brokers may take 2-3 months to go live, we too will take some time. "We are preparing for it. Under the application-supported by blocked amount (ASBA) framework, settlement of funds and securities will be done by the clearing corporation without the need for the stock broker to handle the funds. A similar process is followed for the primary market where the amount is blocked in the investors account till allocation. Funds and securities will remain in the bank and demat accounts of the client, respectively. But they will be blocked in favour of the clearing corporation till the expiry date of the block mandate or debit for obligating the trades done by the investors. In time, as awareness about this facility grows among stakeholders, we expect this mechanism to become a popular way for retail customers to trade in the securities markets, said the National Stock Exchange (NSE), in a statement on December 28. This is part of a series of steps taken by the regulator to safeguard clients funds and securities from misuse by brokers. The market watchdog had earlier restricted brokers from creating bank guarantees using client funds. There will be a definite impact on the float income with the ASBA facility. "Indian customers will be happy to grab the opportunity. "Some dents on brokerage houses, which are relying on the float income, may be there. "From here onwards, we dont see significant opportunities for further price cuts on the execution side. "We may actually see some more increase in the pricing over a period of time, added Relli. Sebi had approved the block mechanism framework in March this year and issued a circular in June. Emails sent to Zerodha, Groww, Angel One, ICICI Securities, Sharekhan, Kotak Securities, Motilal Oswal, Samco, and IIFL Securities seeking their preparedness on this did not elicit any response. Queries sent to Sebi also remained unanswered. In December last year, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had announced the introduction of single block multiple debits functionality for UPI. It was to facilitate the ASBA model for the secondary market for retail investors. Sebi chair Madhabi Puri Buch had first announced the new mechanism in September last year and the board approved it this year. After extensive internal consultations, the Congress has begun seat-sharing talks in some states with like-minded parties of the INDIA bloc for Lok Sabha elections. IMAGE: Leaders of INDIA parties, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI general secretary D Raja and others, during a protest against the suspension of Opposition MPs from the Parliament's Winter Session, in New Delhi, December 22, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Sources said senior leaders of the party have been told to reach out to other leaders of the alliance and talks with some parties have begun. Formal negotiations for seat-sharing with Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab and Delhi will begin on Monday, the sources added. The Congress' five-member committee on seat-sharing -- which has Mukul Wasnik as convener and senior leaders Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel among members -- has already held internal consultations with state Congress chiefs and handed over its findings to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge. The seat-sharing talks with other parties come after the 28-party Opposition grouping decided to unitedly take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The INDIA bloc has agreed to have a single Opposition candidate in Lok Sabha election seats against the BJP in a bid to defeat it in 2024. The sources said Congress president Kharge has entrusted the responsibility to senior leaders, which also include members of the seat-sharing committee, to work on seat distribution with other parties. The Congress has pre-poll alliances with parties like the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata Dal-United in Bihar, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in Jharkhand and others in Assam, but has no tie-up with some main parties in key states. The most contentious of these include Kerala, West Bengal, Delhi and Punjab, where the difficulty of having seat-sharing arrangements with INDIA bloc partners is well acknowledged by party insiders. In West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress and Left, despite being part of the opposition alliance, do not want any arrangement with each other and the Congress will have to select any one of them. The recent statements of TMC leaders and Congress PCC chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also do not bode well for the possible partnership between TMC and Congress in the state. In Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front has 19 of the 20 MPs from the state and having an arrangement with the Communist Party of India-Marxist seems bleak as it would have to rest its sitting MPs. In Punjab, the state units of both AAP and Congress are confident of their victory and do not wish to hold any arrangement. State Congress units of other states like Kerala have also opposed any such seat-sharing, the sources said. All does not seem well between the Congress and Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, going by the recent statements of Akhilesh Yadav, who is miffed with the party for not giving him any seats in the recent Madhya Pradesh assembly election and over the statements of Kamal Nath against him. However, the party is holding seat-sharing talks with all partners while hoping for some middle path to strengthen the opposition against the BJP. The sources add that the party has decided to complete the seat-sharing arrangements with other parties of the Opposition by this month-end. Congress president Kharge had on Saturday said leaders of INDIA parties would decide within 10-15 days on the allocation of posts in the Opposition bloc, remarks that come amid speculation that the alliance could pick a convener ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He also said that all other matters including seat-sharing of the INDIA bloc would be resolved soon, with party sources indicating that this is likely to be concluded by the month-end. Kharge said the Congress is working on all the 545 Lok Sabha constituencies and has appointed observers for all the seats, but which party will contest which seat and how many will be decided soon after consultations with all constituents of the Opposition alliance. Asked how many seats the party would contest, he said, "We have already finalised parliamentary observers for all the constituencies... We will go and assess each Parliamentary constituency." "Ultimately, when the INDIA bloc is there and negotiations are held in each state, the exact number will come out. But, we are trying to put in our efforts everywhere," he said. The Congress on Sunday strongly deplored the reported arrest of two editors of vernacular newspapers in Manipur and demanded their immediate release, alleging a "double engine assault" by the Modi government and the Manipur dispensation on the state. IMAGE: A file photo of women taking part in a protest against violence in Manipur. Photograph: ANI Photo In a statement, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said that in yet another crackdown on press freedom, two editors from two language newspapers have been arrested by the Manipur government. On December 31, 2023, the BJP-controlled police arrested Wangkhemcha Shyamjai, the editor of vernacular daily Kangleipaki Meira, for allegedly publishing "provocative news", Khera said. On January 5, the Manipur Police also arrested Meitei language newspaper Hueiyen Lanpao's editor Dhanabir Maibam for "promoting enmity on the ground of religion and race", the Congress leader said. In a joint statement, the All-Manipur Journalists' Union, of which Shyamjai was a former chief, and the Editors Guild Manipur condemned his arrest and demanded his immediate release, Khera pointed out. "The Indian National Congress strongly deplores the arrest of the editors of reputable vernacular newspapers. We firmly believe that journalists should be allowed to pursue their professional duties without fear of intimidation, especially when reporting on matters of public interest," Khera said. "We firmly endorse the objections raised by All Manipur Working Journalists Union, Editors Guild Manipur and Paomi Welfare Foundation," he said in his statement. The BJP government in Manipur has indulged in a string of assaults on freedom of press by arresting journalists, slapping grave charges and even confronting the Editors Guild of India when they attempted to honestly report the true picture of the strife-ridden state, Khera alleged. All this is being done to escape any accountability for the "callous mishandling" of the situation, by plunging the state into violence, chaos, and anarchy, he said. "The double engine assault by an apathetic Modi government and discredited BJP state government on Manipur has resulted in the death of more than 200 people, injuring 1,100 people and displacing 67,000 people, in the past eight months," Khera alleged. The Modi government's record on information blockade, suppressing freedom of press and targeting selected journalists by using draconian laws like UAPA, smacks of "brazen authoritarianism", he said. "People of India know that the BJP favours only those journalists who crawl in front of them by covering events such as PM Modi's snorkeling vacation in Lakshadweep or ask questions to him like "'aap calorie conscious hain (Are you calorie conscious?' or 'aap thakte kyu nahi (why don't you tire)'?" Khera said. In this context, the Congress urges the Manipur government to immediately release the detained journalists, pending due process and transparency in all investigations, Khera said. He also urged the state government to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all journalists working in Manipur, upholding their right to report freely and independently. Ahead of the Ram temple consecration, around 100 Congress office-bearers from Uttar Pradesh, including party's state unit chief Ajay Rai and state in-charge Avinash Pande, will visit Ayodhya on January 15 on Makar Sankranti. IMAGE: Actors Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt received an invitation to attend the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, January 7, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo During their visit to the holy city, the Congress leaders will take a dip in Saryu river, and then visit the Ram temple and Hanumangarhi temple, Rai said on Sunday. "On January 15, I am going to Ayodhya. Our general secretary and UP in-charge Avinash Pande, and senior leaders Pramod Tiwari and P L Punia will also visit Ayodhya. In all, around 100 Congressmen will go there," Rai told PTI on Sunday. Giving details about his plan, Rai said, "A decision has been taken to visit Ayodhya on January 15. At 9.13 am, the Sun will become Uttarayan (northward movement of the Sun), and at 9.15 am, we will depart for Ayodhya chanting 'Jai Siya Ram' after observing the tradition of breaking coconut." He added that the Congress office-bearers will take a dip in Saryu after reaching Ayodhya, visit the Ram temple and Hanumangarhi. To a question as to whether the UP Congress wants to deliver any message to the public by undertaking the journey on Makar Sankranti, Rai said, "We are going there because of our religious feelings. This is my first visit to Ayodhya after I became the chief of the UP unit of the Congress. Prior to this, I had visited Ayodhya several times." Meanwhile, Pande, newly appointed AICC in-charge of UP, said the Congress has never played with the aastha (faith) of people. "On January 15, I am going there (Ayodhya) to attend a personal programme. Prabhu Shri Ram resides in our heart," Pandey told PTI. This is Pande's first visit to Ayodhya after assuming the charge of in-charge of the UP unit of Congress. Pande also said that no "political meaning" should be derived from his proposed visit to Ayodhya, and that he was going there owing to his faith. "Be it Lord Ram or Lord Krishna, the Congress has never played with the aasthaa of the people, and will never do so," he said. When asked if any talks are going on with the Bahujan Samaj Party for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Pande said, "The coordination committee at the national level is working on this. What discussions they had with the BSP is not known to me." On the possibility of the Samajwadi Party and the BSP coming together, Pande said, "The aim of everyone is same...we have to get rid of the undeclared emergency-like situation prevailing in the country, and all the like-minded parties will have to come together with a single goal." When asked whether the Congressmen will have khichri bhoj in Ayodhya or in Lucknow after returning from the holy city, UP Congress chief Rai said, "It is not necessary that a khichri bhoj has to take place. Dahi-chura (traditional food of Makar Sankranti) is also consumed. We can have 'dahi-chura' at the house of a party worker." Rai also accused the BJP of distributing worshipped akshat (rice grains mixed with turmeric and ghee) during the "inauspicious" period of Kharmaas. "I come from the city of Baba Vishwanath (Varanasi). We have faith in Lord Ram. Today, when the 'Kharmaas' is still underway, they (BJP) are distributing 'akshat', sending invites for the Ram temple consecration. During 'Kharmaas', they are doing auspicious work." According to Lucknow-based astrologer Trilokinath Singh, during 'Kharmaas', all auspicious activities are forbidden. It started on December 16, 2023 and will end on January 15, 2024, he said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday said the 26 girl inmates of a children's home who were alleged to have gone missing were safe, and directed officials that action should be taken against such institutions which are operating illegally. IMAGE: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. Photograph: ANI Photo Earlier on Saturday, police had said a case had been registered in connection with the alleged disappearance of the girls from Anchal Children's Home in Parwalia area in Bhopal. It was suspected that they left after feeling homesick, said an official. But later, CM Yadav wrote on X that the girls were safe. He also told senior officials via video conference from Indore that strict action should be taken against children's homes which are operating without due permissions and registration, an official release said. Bhopal district rural Superintendent of Police Pramod Kumar Singh told PTI that all the missing girls were safe and with their families. On Thursday, police had registered a first information report (FIR) on the complaint of district programme officer Ramgopal Yadav against Anil Mathew for allegedly running the children's home illegally. Mathew failed to provide a registration certificate for the facility, and 26 of 68 girl inmates were missing, Yadav had claimed. The Maldivian government on Sunday distanced itself from a minister's "derogatory remarks" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media and said these opinions are "personal and do not represent the views of the government" after Opposition leaders slammed the "appalling language" used by the senior official. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried snorkelling on one of the pristine beaches, in Lakshadweep, January 4, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo In a statement on Sunday, the Maldivian foreign ministry said they were aware of the "derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals". "These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives," it said. A row erupted on social media last week when a minister and some other leaders in the Maldives used derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Modi after he posted a video of him on a pristine beach in Lakshadweep. The Maldivian government said it believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, and negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners. It warned that relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks. Earlier on Sunday, former president Mohamed Nasheed described the remarks as 'appalling' and asked President Mohamed Muizzu's government to distance itself from these comments. "What appalling language by Maldives government official @shiuna_m towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives' security and prosperity. @MMuizzu gov must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy," he posted on X. Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb 'strongly condemned' the derogatory and racist comments made by a group of Maldivian politicians towards Prime Minister Modi. "We established the Maldives tourism industry based on the principles of hospitality, tolerance, peace, and harmony. Through strategic positioning and collaborations with global brands and investments, including those from India, we have successfully positioned Maldives as a premier luxury resort destination," Adeeb said. "I strongly condemn any derogatory and racist comments made by a group of Maldivian politicians towards His Excellency PM Modi @PMOIndia and beloved citizens of India," he added. He commended the Maldives government for distancing itself from the views expressed by these officials and emphasizing that they do not reflect the government's position. "Considering the global economic challenges and the vulnerability of the Maldives tourism industry and economy, it is crucial for us to maintain a friendly and humble approach while fostering positive relations, with all nations," he posted on X. Maldives National Party in a post on X wrote that it "condemns racist and derogatory comments made by a government official" against a foreign leader. "This is unacceptable. We urge the government to take necessary action against those involved," it added. The Maldives is India's key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region and occupies a special place in its initiatives like "SAGAR" (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the "Neighbourhood First Policy" of the Modi government. DOHA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Qatari emir stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire during his meeting on Sunday with the visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani stressed the necessity of working towards an immediate ceasefire and protecting civilians, a sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid delivery into all areas of the Gaza Strip, and working to reduce the escalation to ensure stability and security in the region, reported Qatar News agency. Later in the day, Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held a press conference in Doha with Blinken. The Prime Minister of Qatar told reporters that the recent killing of a senior Hamas leader has impacted Qatar's mediation efforts in the Israel-Hamas conflict, while Qatar remains committed to continuing its mediation efforts. He also emphasized that hostile actions in the Red Sea are unacceptable, constituting unfortunate consequences of the Gaza conflict. For his part, Blinken stated that he would raise the issue of protecting civilians during his upcoming visit to Israel, adding that Palestinian civilians must be allowed to return to their homes and should not be forced to leave Gaza. Blinken is currently on a tour of several Middle Eastern countries, seeking to de-escalate the situation in the wake of the killing of a senior Hamas leader, which has further intensified the crisis in the region. Counselling for post-graduate medical admissions will be done only in online mode now and colleges will have to declare fees for each course beforehand, the National Medical Commission has said underlining that no college will admit candidates on their own. IMAGE: Junior doctors of Gandhi Medical College stage a protest during their nationwide strike against the delay for the NEET PG 2021 counselling, in Bhopal, December 7, 2021. Photograph: ANI Photo Medical education regulator NMC recently notified the "Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023" according to which all rounds of counselling for all PG seats will be held online mode by state or central counselling authorities. There shall be common counselling for admission to post-graduate courses in medicine for all medical institutions in India solely based on the merit list of respective exams, the new regulations state. "All rounds of counselling for all seats will be held online mode by state or central counselling authority and no medical college/institution will admit any candidate themselves," it said. "While entering details in seat matrix, medical colleges shall mention the fees for each course, failing which seat will not be counted," the regulations stated. Some changes in the examination system have also been introduced which include formative assessment and option of multiple-choice questions in university examinations, Dr Vijay Oza, president of Post-Graduate Medical Education Board of the NMC said. "This is to bring objectivity in examination and match international standards," he said. Another change has been made in the district residency programme to facilitate its implementation for better training of students. Previously, a district hospital was defined as a 100-bedded hospital. In the new regulations, the requirement has been reduced to 50 beds, Dr Oza explained. "Under the DRP, doctors can be trained in a district hospital which shall be a functional public sector/government-funded hospital of not less than 50 beds instead of the previous requirement of 100 beds," the regulations read. The DRP aims to train post-graduate students in district health systems and hospitals to strengthen healthcare services at the grassroots level. According to the new regulations, once a medical college is granted permission to start PG courses or seats, the course will be treated as recognised for the purpose of registration of qualification for students. This will solve many difficulties faced by students to register their degree after passing postgraduate examinations, Dr Oza said. According to the new regulations, undergraduate medical colleges can start postgraduate courses in the third year now. Previously it was from the fourth year in clinical specialties. Existing or proposed non-teaching hospitals owned and managed by the government can start post-graduate courses without having undergraduate colleges. This will facilitate the government to start postgraduate medical colleges in smaller government hospitals/district hospitals, Dr Oza said. There will be a minimum standard requirement document which will prescribe requirements of infrastructure and faculty clinical material etc. for postgraduate institutes. All students will have to undergo courses in research methodology, ethics and cardiac life support skills. "For better implementation of these regulations, there is provision of penalty clause which includes monetary penalty, reduction in number of seats( admission capacity) or complete stoppage of admissions," the regulations stated. When Narayana Murthy once visited the US for client work during the initial days of Infosys, a temperamental American businessman made him sleep on a large box in a windowless storeroom surrounded by cartons though his own home had four bedrooms. IMAGE: Infosys Foundation chairperson and philanthropist Sudha Murthy speaks to the media during her visit to the Parliament House in New Delhi, December 8, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Indian-American author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni has come out with a biography covering the early years of Sudha Murty's and Narayana Murthy's lives that is replete with many such nuggets about the iconic couple. Published by Juggernaut Books, An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy is the story of the Murthys' early years -- from their courtship to Infosys' founding years and from their marriage to parenthood. Donn Liles, who headed the New York-based company Data Basics Corporation, was a temperamental client and was especially unpleasant to Murthy at times. "He would often delay payments when he could, and Murthy would then be the target of his ire because he would hold his ground, refusing to budge on timely payment for services. Or Donn would not provide timely authorisation for Murthy and his Infosys colleagues to book hotels when they had to visit him in Manhattan. "Once when Murthy visited the US for client work, Donn made him sleep on a large box in the storeroom, surrounded by cartons, though his home had four bedrooms. Additionally, Murthy had to manage Donn's many last-minute demands for resources," the book says. He put up with Donn's behaviour for the sake of his fledgling company, but the box incident truly shocked Murthy. "My mother used to say that a guest was like God, and the way you treated your guests revealed what kind of person you really were," he told wife Sudha. "When my father invited someone over without advance notice, she often served the guest her own food and went to sleep without dinner. And here was Donn enjoying a good night's sleep in his luxurious bed after making me spend the night on a big box in a windowless storeroom," he said, leaving Sudha furious. The book also mentions how Murthy was averse to his wife joining Infosys despite being a fine engineer who knew she could contribute far more solidly to the company than helping with only the odds and ends that her husband assigned to her. When she proposed the idea to him one evening at the dinner table, Murthy bluntly refused: "I'm sorry. You can't work at Infosys." His reasoning was: "The two of us cannot be in the same company." He did not want Infosys to have the same horror stories of family-owned businesses and be perceived as dynastic or nepotistic. Murthy told his wife that she is extremely well-qualified and no one has her kind of determination but if she joins "Infosys will become a husband-and-wife firm rather than a professional company". Divakaruni writes that while Sudha and Murthy had many things in common because of their shared Kannada background and their love for reading, their very different childhoods shaped them in unique ways. Murthy was a staunch socialist who had been influenced as a teenager by his father's ideas as well as Jawaharlal Nehru's open admiration of the USSR. He once told Sudha: "Russian is the language of the future. That's why I've been studying Russian and collecting Russian books for the last two years." Sudha shook her head determinedly. "I'm positive that English is going to remain the language of the world. That's why I make it a point to read as many English books as I can, even though I went to a Kannada-medium school and enjoy reading Kannada more." "Murthy stubbornly held on to his Russian books even after he changed his life philosophy to compassionate capitalism. After their marriage, it would take Sudha many years of cajoling before he would allow her to dispose of them," the book says. Divakaruni says capturing in words the lives of two extraordinary people from ordinary backgrounds, who have changed the face of entrepreneurship and of philanthropy was challenging. "At its heart, this is a love story, an uncommon one. It chronicles not only Sudha and Murthy's love for each other, but also their love for their values and for their country -- and their determination to use the former to transform the latter. It shows us that human love -- no matter what the romantic movies profess -- is fraught with failures as well as successes, sadness as well as joy," she says. A Vermont State trooper, who jumped into a bone-chilling icy pond in Lamoille County to rescue a drowning young girl, is being credited with saving her life. State Trooper Michelle Archer was on routine patrol in Cambridge when she received an emergency radio call from the public safety dispatcher concerning a report of two children that had fallen through the ice at a private pond off Vermont 15 shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday Dec. 17, officials said. Archer, who was just a couple of minutes away, arrived near East View Road, jumped out of her patrol cruiser and got some basic information. She diagnosed the situation as she ran toward the pond, took off her gun belt and dove into the frigid water, State Police Lt. Cory Lozier said Friday. He said Archer had the presence of mind to grab a small life preserver with a rope that state troopers carry in their patrol vehicles. Archer found the freezing 8-year-old girl and brought her back to a snowbank on solid ground to hand her off to State Trooper Keith Cote, who provided needed first aid, Lozier said. Cote eventually ran the chilled child to an arriving Cambridge ambulance, which took her to the UVM Medical Center for examination and treatment. Over the following days the hospital helped restore the girl's normal temperature and she has since been released. Lozier said the pond was an estimated 40 degrees. Cote also was concerned that Archer did not end up suffering from hypothermia after being in the bitter cold water. For Archer, she just needed dry clothes. Archer changed into her State Police Search and Rescue Team uniform while trying to warm up inside her cruiser, Lozier said. "As their Commander, I could not be more proud of Trooper Archer and Trooper Cote. Their swift actions and efforts were selfless and heroic. Both Troopers responded to the scene within minutes of the call and immediately went into action, with zero hesitation or regard for their own safety. Because of their actions that day, a very young girl is alive and well." Both Archer and Cote are being recommended for the department's lifesaving award for their unselfish efforts, according to Lozier, who is the station commander for Chittenden and Lamoille counties. The dramatic rescue was captured on state police video. While most law enforcement agencies release video of heroic and life-saving efforts promptly, Vermont State Police said Friday the department is reviewing how much will be made available for the public to view. It could be released next week. No information about the rescue was initially released by state police while the child was in the hospital recovering, but now the department has acknowledged the lifesaving efforts by the troopers. The preliminary report indicated that a couple of children were sliding near the pond and at some point, they ended up on the thin ice. The two children fell through and the elderly property owner, who does not swim, was somehow able to get the first child out of the water before the troopers arrived, police said. State police hired Archer in January 2018 and she subsequently completed the basic 16-week course at the Vermont Police Academy in Pittsford. During her career, Archer has been assigned mostly to the Williston barracks, which is responsible for patrols in both Chittenden and Lamoille Counties. She also was selected to do a two-month special assignment in Orleans County in 2021 due to a personnel shortage at the Derby barracks. In July, Troopers Archer and Cote also were the primary responding officers to a possible drowning complaint involving a 3-year-old child at the Smugglers' Notch Resort waterpark. The child, who fell into an uncovered underground water storage tank for a slash pad, was taken to the UVM Medical Center where he died a few days later. Cote joined the state police in April 2021 after working as a patrol officer for St. Albans City Police and also as a corporal with its Street Crimes Unit. He was one of three city officers honored in 2018 with the police department's highest award for bravery when they entered a burning apartment building to rescue an elderly double amputee, but not before his oxygen tank exploded knocking the officers off their feet. In the end they helped evacuate 11 others, then-Police Chief Gary Taylor reported. Ahead of Saturdays election, Taiwanese voters say the threat of war isn't the only thing on their minds. A woman in Taipei talks with Radio Free Asia about issues related to the upcoming election. As Taiwan gears up for presidential and legislative elections next Saturday, voters on the streets of the democratic island's capital Taipei say a Chinese invasion isn't at the top of their list of concerns. Despite the Chinese Communist Party's ongoing information wars, political infiltration and military incursions in the Taiwan Strait, some of the island's 23 million people say that such worries aren't at the forefront of their minds. As the country counts down the last days of a presidential race, voters must choose between incumbent ruling Democratic Progressive Party Vice President Lai Ching-te, who has a strong track record of standing up to China, against the more China-friendly opposition candidates Hou Yu-ih for the Kuomintang and Ko Wen-je for the Taiwan People's Party. But not all voters are following the threat from China as closely as they were. "It's pretty pointless as a Taiwanese person to speculate on such matters, as we've been in this situation for a long time," a voter who gave only the surname Lu told RFA Mandarin in a recent round of street interviews. Much of the early debate on the presidential campaign trail revolved around how candidates will handle the military threat from China. U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk together after a meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' week in Woodside, California, on Nov. 15, 2023. Xis statement that there wasnt a timetable for an invasion of Taiwan appears to have made voters feel more secure. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP) But Chinese President Xi Jinping's comments to U.S. President Biden at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco in November, in which he denied there was a timetable for an invasion of Taiwan, appear to have made voters feel more secure. "We all know deep down that there can be no war," a voter who gave only the surname Weng said. "I'm not worried," said a voter surnamed Chou. "The Taiwanese people must have confidence in themselves, and make their country strong." "There is no problem," she said. "I feel confident." Protecting sovereignty Xi hasn't relinquished China's territorial claim on the island, which split from the mainland in 1949 amid civil war and has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party, reiterating in a New Year address on Dec. 31 that "China will surely be reunified." But a 31-year-old Taipei office worker who gave only the surname Hsieh said people are used to military threats and ramped-up rhetoric from Beijing at election time. "All of the parties want to protect Taiwan's sovereignty," Hsieh said, adding that he doesn't see a vote for any of the candidates as a vote for war. Neither can any of them promise that China would definitely not invade if they won the election, he said, adding that low-level, city-level exchanges are likely to alleviate current tensions with China. A J-15 Chinese fighter jet takes off from the Shandong aircraft carrier during exercises around Taiwan, April 9, 2023. One Taipei office worker says people are accustomed to military threats from Beijing at election time. (An Ni/Xinhua via AP) Hsieh said the main advantage for the opposition parties is that China won't talk to the DPP, which has dismissed Beijing's claim on Taiwan and criticized its crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong. But he said the ruling party has a better track record when it comes to diplomacy, national defense and boosting Taiwan's international status, not to mention the all-important relationship with Washington. Stop interfering A 90-year-old voter who gave only the surname Kao said he is a staunch Kuomintang supporter, who nonetheless doesn't want to see Chinese interference in Taiwan's democracy. "I wish China would stop interfering in Taiwanese politics," Kao said. "Taiwan is under a democratic system now, which is different from communism." He said Taiwan has come a long way since the civil war between Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek, and has spent the last few decades moving towards democracy, while China has been under Communist Party rule for more than 70 years. "Taiwan has gotten used to ruling itself democratically," Kao said. A resident uses a magnifying glass as he reads a newspaper article calling Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-tes debate speech "Disaster words," in Beijing, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2023. A 90-year-old voter says she wishes China would stop interfering in Taiwanese politics." (Andy Wong/AP) A voter who gave only the surname Li said anti-communism has been deeply ingrained in Taiwanese society since the 1927-1949 civil war between the Kuomintang government of the 1911 Republic of China and communist insurgents. "They may fear our independence, but they didn't build our country," she said. "It's better if they live their lives, we live ours, and we maintain peaceful cross-straits relations." Housing, the economy Some told RFA Mandarin that they are more worried about the high price of housing than the threat of war. "The economy is still pretty important, and our leaders need to take active steps to deal with it," Lu said. "The high cost of housing has led a lot of young people to lose confidence in the future," he said, adding that he feels it's time for a change after eight years of DPP rule. "If you are in power for too long, then issues of corruption are more likely," Lu said. "This is a problem faced by all ruling parties in the world, not just in Taiwan." Chou disagreed, saying the current leadership has done a good job, and that "Taiwan is very happy now," and that she's counting her blessings. Others said they were keen on Ko, because he appeared more down-to-earth, and to have concerns that were closer to their daily lives. "The stuff about China is kind of out of our reach, and I don't pay much attention to it," a voter surnamed Qu told RFA Mandarin. A Lai supporter surnamed Yang said the issue was much simpler for him. "We must elect people who are able to protect Taiwan," he said. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster Male students who enrolled in Taliban-run religious schools say that sexual and physical abuse has led some to end their pursuit of an education in Afghanistan. The students, all of whom were aged 10 to 17 and spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Azadi on condition of anonymity out of fears of repercussion, described numerous instances in which they and fellow classmates were pressured to engage in sexual acts with teachers and subjected to corporal punishments. The reported cases took place in western and southwestern Afghanistan at Taliban-run madrasahs, part of the network of religious schools that the extremist group has expanded significantly as part of its drive to foster religious education more in keeping with its hard-line Islamist views. One 16-year-old student, a resident of Farah Province, described being propositioned by a teacher at the madrasah he attends. "One day at school a Taliban member who teaches there made an inappropriate offer, but I did not accept it," the boy told Radio Azadi, using inexplicit language to describe sexual abuse, a culturally taboo topic in Afghanistan. "When the lessons were over, he bothered me again." The boy said he reported the incidents to a "qari," a person who has memorized the Koran and serves as a religious authority at the school, to no avail. "I told the qari that the teacher was doing bad things to me, and the qari told him not to do these things, that he was a teacher," the boy said. "The teacher admitted doing it, but it had no effect. He has continued to do bad things and made sexual requests to numerous students at the school." Another student in southwestern Afghanistan, a 17-year-old in the 10th grade, gave a similar account of his experience during his six months studying at a Taliban-run madrasah. "A Taliban member who teaches at the school proposed having a relationship with me and said some other things that I did not accept," the boy said. After being refused, the teacher swore and issued threats, the boy said, adding that his fellow students have faced similar treatment. "He also harassed several of my classmates, and one of them left the school," the boy said. "He told me I should not go to school anymore because the same teacher is harassing me." The boy said the experience has left him "damaged" and unsure of whom he can confide in. "I can't tell my family," he said. The Taliban has come under widespread criticism for the severe restrictions it has placed on the daily lives of the Afghans since seizing power in August 2021. In its pursuit to impose its extreme interpretation of Islam, the Taliban has restored many of the draconian rules it was infamous for during its first stint in power from 1996 to 2001. The ban on the education of girls past the sixth grade, and the erasure of women's role in society stand out among the measures the Taliban has taken. But other steps -- including prohibitions on music and idolatry through art, and pressure against students and teachers -- have affected all walks of life regardless of sex. Since the Taliban returned to power, many educators have left the country, while female teachers have been left at home without work due to restrictions on women's freedom of movement and their ability to teach males. Meanwhile, the Taliban has steadily worked to replace secular state schools and informal madrasahs with a system of religious schooling. The system does allow for girl students, including those of university age, but critics say it falls far short of the standards of modern education for girls and boys alike and often promotes extremism. According to a report on Afghanistan issued by the United Nations in February, the Taliban has established 6,836 madrasahs for males and 380 for females and was expected to finalize a standardized religious curriculum in time for the new school year beginning this month. The recruitment of madrasah teachers is also in full swing, according to the report, following a decree by the Talibans spiritual leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada to have 100,000 new madrasah teachers in place. In December, Human Rights Watch gave a stinging assessment of the state of education in general, saying that in addition to the obstacles to the education of girls and women, the Taliban had "also inflicted deep harm on boys' education" in Afghanistan. "Many boys were previously taught by women teachers; the Taliban has prohibited women from teaching boys, depriving women teachers of their jobs and often leaving boys with unqualified replacement male teachers or sometimes no teachers at all," HRW said. "Parents and students said that corporal punishment, which has long been a problem at Afghan schools, has become increasingly common. The curriculum in many schools appears to be under revision to remove important school subjects and promote discrimination." The rights watchdog said the circumstances had "led many boys to leave school altogether" and "left boys struggling with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression." Shortly after the Taliban regained power, the United Nations highlighted the dire situation for children in Afghanistan, including exposure to sexual violence and increased risk of students dropping out of school. Difficulties in ensuring the protection of children are exacerbated, according to the UN, by the Taliban's refusal to consider people below the age of 18 to be children, as is the international standard, instead using the onset of puberty as the basis for adulthood. Younger madrasah students in western and southwestern Afghanistan below or at the age of puberty said they were not spared physical abuse and sexual harassment from teachers. One young man who spoke to Radio Azadi said he recently learned that his young brother was being subjected to sexual abuse at a madrasah in western Afghanistan. The young man said his brother was being assigned extracurricular "homework by a teacher, or to put it bluntly, he was being asked for sex, [the teacher] fondled his hands and feet and kissed him." As a result, the young man said he told his brother not to go to school anymore. Fear of sexual harassment and sexual and physical abuse were cited as a common factor leading boys in western and southwestern Afghanistan to give up their studies. "Some teachers harass our students and make immoral requests," said one 14-year-old boy who also described common methods of corporal punishment at his madrasah. "They strike our faces or beat our hands and feet under the pretext of disciplining us for not learning our lessons properly." The boy said many students were studying hard in fear of being taken to a special room for punishment, and that "some even drop out of school." Another student, aged 10, said his teacher separated him and other students from their class to beat the soles of their feet. Afterward, he told Radio Azadi, he stopped going to class because he was afraid. And upon hearing about the incidents, his and his classmates' parents "did not allow us to go to school." The Taliban authorities did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations of abuse at madrasahs it has established. And efforts to speak to individuals aware of the situations at madrasahs in other areas of Afghanistan were met by refusals to comment due to fear of reprisals. A women's rights activist who asked that her name not be published told Radio Azadi that families have no avenue to lodge complaints about the abuse their children encounter at Taliban-run madrasahs because they, too, would face threats. The activist said that not only had she been made aware of sexual harassment against both girls and boys at Taliban-run madrasahs, but the curriculum also serves to "increase the level of extremism in the country." Reducing the risks of both threats, she said, would require greater oversight by the Taliban authorities and ideally, she said, a reduction in the number of madrasahs. Najib Amini, a civil society activist in western Afghanistan, said that for now, the onus falls on families to be aware. "Children are subjected to sexual abuse in madrasahs established under the Taliban regime," Amini said. "Families have an important and essential role in this regard. If they do not want their children to be abused in schools, if they want their children to get a basic education...then they should not send their children to madrasahs under the control of the Taliban." Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by RFE/RLs Radio Azadi Vladimir Putin has claimed a fifth presidential term with a landslide victory in a tightly controlled election that has been condemned by the West as neither free nor fair as the Russian leader seeks to prove overwhelming popular support for his full-scale invasion of Ukraine and increasingly repressive policies. With 99.75 percent of ballots counted, Putin won another six-year term with a post-Soviet record of 87.29 percent of the vote, the Central Elections Committee (TsIK) said on March 18, adding that turnout was also at a "record" level, with 77.44 percent of eligible voters casting ballots. The 71-year old Putin -- who has ruled as either president or prime minister since 2000 -- is now set to surpass Soviet dictator Josef Stalins nearly 30-year reign to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than two centuries. "This election has been based on repression and intimidation," the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told journalists in Brussels on March 18 as the bloc's foreign ministers gathered to discuss the election, among other issues. The March 15-17 vote is the first for Putin since he launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that has killed tens of thousands of Russians and led to a clear break in relations with the West. In holding what has widely been viewed as faux elections, Putin wants to show that he has the nations full support, experts said. The vote was also held in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, where hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers are located. Moscow illegally annexed the regions since launching the invasion, though it remains unclear how much of the territory it controls. The Kremlin's goal "is to get as many people as possible to sign off on Russia's war against Ukraine. The idea is to get millions of Russian citizens to retroactively approve the decision Putin single-handedly made two years ago," Maksim Trudolyubov, a senior fellow at the Kennan Institute, wrote in a note ahead of the vote. In remarks shortly after he was declared the winner, Putin said the election showed that the nation was "one team." But Western leaders condemned the vote, with a White House spokesman saying they "are obviously not free nor fair," and EU foreign ministers roundly dismissing them as a sham ahead of agreeing to impose sanctions on individuals linked to the mistreatment and death of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told RFE/RL in an interview in Tbilisi on the second day of a visit to the Caucasus that the Russian election was "not free nor fair." He said those who have had the courage to oppose Putin "are either force to flee, to live abroad, they are jailed, or some of them are killed as we saw with Aleksei Navalny." German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, speaking at the start of the EU foreign ministers' meeting, said Russia's election was "an election without choice." French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said the conditions for a "free, pluralistic, and democratic election were not met," and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the election outcome highlighted the "depth of repression" in Russia. "Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media, and then crowns himself the winner. This is not democracy," Cameron said. France, Britain, and other countries condemned the fact that Russia had also held its election in occupied regions of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Putin has become "sick with power" and he is just "simulating" elections. "This imitation of 'elections' has no legitimacy and cannot have any. This person must end up in the dock in The Hague [at the International UN Tribunal for War Crimes]," Zelenskiy said on X. Putin's allies were quick to heap praise on the Russian leader for his election success. China, one of Russia's most important allies, congratulated Putin, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian saying President Xi Jinping and the Russian leader "will continue to maintain close exchanges, lead the two countries to continue to uphold long-standing good-neighborly friendship, deepen comprehensive strategic coordination." Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called Putin's victory "decisive," the state news agency IRNA reported, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in a congratulatory message to Putin quoted by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) that Russian voters had shown "unshakeable support and trust in" their president, state media reported. In the tightly controlled race, Putin was opposed by three relatively unknown, Kremlin-friendly politicians whose campaigns were barely noticeable. Prior to the election the Kremlin banned anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin from the ballot after tens of thousands of voters lined up in the cold to support his candidacy. Nadezhdin threatened to undermine the narrative of a united nation behind Putin and his war, experts said. Russias opposition movement suffered a serious blow last month when Navalny, who was Putins fiercest and most popular critic, died in unclear circumstances in a maximum-security prison in the Arctic where he was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism widely seen as politically motivated. Russian political analyst Ivan Preobrazhensky said in an interview with Current Time that Putin was also frightened by the rebellion staged by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in June when Prigozhin's forces briefly took control of Rostov-on-Don and were greeted by many citizens as heroes. Prigozhin ended his rebellion before reaching Moscow and was later killed in a plane crash that many believe was retaliation by the Kremlin. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa Every year on January 6, hundreds of Bulgarian men mark the Epiphany feast by dancing to folk tunes in the icy water of the Tundzha River, in the town of Kalofer. Part of the ritual includes a scramble for a wooden cross thrown into the water by an Orthodox priest, who also gives blessings to the onlookers. Although most Bulgarians are Orthodox Christians, unlike many of their coreligionists they celebrate Christmas on December 25. SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Alaska Airlines announced Friday night that it is temporarily grounding all 65 of its Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft for inspection after a serious incident in Portland, in the U.S. state of Oregon. According to multiple reports, a piece of the fuselage blew out on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 at an elevation of 16,000 feet, leaving a large hole and decompressing the passenger cabin. The plane, destined for Ontario, California, made an emergency landing back in Portland 20 minutes after taking off. "All 171 passengers and 6 crew were safe, with only some minor injuries," Alaska Airlines said. In a statement, Alaska Air Group CEO Ben Minicucci said the Boeing 737 MAX 9s would be grounded and inspected to ensure safety. "Following tonight's event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft," Minicucci said. "Each aircraft will be returned to service only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections." "We anticipate all inspections will be completed in the next few days," he added. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had begun to review the damaged aircraft. No information about a possible cause has been provided. Online FAA record shows that the MAX 9 involved in the incident was delivered to Alaska in October. Photos shared on social media showed a large hole in the plane's side with oxygen masks dangling from the ceiling. The FlightAware data shows the plane descended to 10,000 feet within four minutes, then turned back toward Portland. The flight that had taken off at 5:07 p.m. landed back at 5:27 p.m. "We are working with Boeing and regulators to understand what occurred tonight, and will share updates as more information is available," Minicucci said. In a statement, Boeing said it is "working to gather more information," adding that its "technical team stands ready to support the investigation." Kyrgyzstan has changed its national flag. It was clear from the time the idea of altering the flag was first proposed in September 2023 that the countrys president, Sadyr Japarov, wanted the change. There was strong opposition from many of the countrys citizens, but that met with a very aggressive response from authorities and very quickly the idea became a reality. The process by which Kyrgyzstans flag was changed is especially interesting because it illustrates more broadly how the country has been governed since President Japarov came to power. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss Kyrgyzstans new flag and what it says about the current Kyrgyz governments methods are guests Leila Seiitbek, chairwoman of the NGO Freedom for Eurasia, and Admir Kurman, who is from Kyrgyzstan, but currently works in London as an innovation strategist. On January 7, rescuers found a dead child in the rubble of a family house that was hit by a missile in Rivne, eastern Ukraine. Rivne is a village that lies just northeast of the city of Pokrovsk, the main target of overnight Russian missile strikes, in which 11 people were reported killed. As RFE/RL filmed in Rivne, the rescuers were searching for five more missing people, including two children. Maldives Suspends 3 Ministers Over "Derogatory" Remarks Against India's PM Narendra Modi It all started with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep. Maldives Suspended 3 Ministers Over "Derogatory" Remarks Against India's PM Narendra Modi Latest News: In a major development, the Maldivian government on Sunday suspended three of its ministers - Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha, and Hassan Zihan - for their 'derogatory' posts against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These posts allegedly sparked a massive firestorm with several Indians claiming to have canceled their scheduled trip to the island nation, prominently known for its pristine beaches. In the meanwhile, the Maldives government issued a statement in which it stated that "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today issued a statement on the stand of the Government of India about some posts on social media that are insulting to neighboring India. Those who made such posts on social media while in government positions have now been suspended from their jobs." Advertisement However, the statement didn't reveal the names of those who were suspended. However, the local media reports suggested that the ministers who were suspended include the names of Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha, and Hassan Zihan. What is the whole matter? It all started when these ministers and some other leaders in the Maldives started posting derogatory remarks against India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he posted several photos and videos from his recent visit to Lakshadweep. PM Modi's posts, where he was seen snorkeling, went viral on social media. Several social media users suggested India's smallest Union Territory Lakshadweep as an alternate tourist destination to the Maldives. Rome/Ranchi: An Indian student hailing from Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district passed away in Italy under mysterious circumstances. Ram Raut, a resident of West Singhbhum, lost his life on January 2. According to the police, Raut had gone to Italy for pursuing an MBA and was residing in rented accommodation. The tragic incident unfolded when Raut's parents attempted to reach him to convey their New Year's wishes, but he did not respond to their calls. Concerned, his parents contacted the landlord, who disclosed that the student had been discovered dead in the washroom of another residence. Upon receiving news of his demise, Ram Raut's family sought the assistance of senior government officials and public representatives from Jharkhand to repatriate his body to India. Addressing the incident, Ananya Mittal, Deputy Commissioner of West Singhbhum, stated that upon learning of Ram Raut's death, she informed the Home Department and the Migration cell of Jharkhand for the necessary procedures. Mittal affirmed her active monitoring of the case's developments and ongoing communication with the bereaved family. Heritage in Flames: Arsonists Target 150-Year-Old Buddhist Monastery In Bangladesh Gandhi Family's National Herald Resurfaces: ED's Revelations Unearth Controversial Revival Legal Battle Unfolds as AAP MP Sanjay Singh Challenges Court's Ruling in Money Laundering Case Considering Gensol EV spotted testing has three wheels, it might be sold as a motor tricycle and may require just a motorcycle license Primarily known for its solar business, Gensol Group is now foraying into electric car business. The company aims to provide urban mobility solutions to reduce city congestion. Last month, the company teased Gensol EV online and the car is now spotted in testing hat tip to automotive enthusiast K Pratham who spotted this test mule in Chakan, Pune. Gensol EV Spotted Testing For The First Time The electric car startup, Gensol Electric Vehicles PVT LTD, has set up a base in Indias biggest auto cluster, Pune. The HQ seems to be in Mundhwa, Pune and the manufacturing facility is in Chakan, boasting production capacity of 30,000 units per year. The test mule is running temporary registration provided by Chinchwad RTO and the plates read on test. Gensol aims at affordable EV category that has very few action. Were talking about a segment that will sit below MG Comet EV in terms of pricing and above PMV. Refreshing your memory, PMV has launched a mini electric car in India for Rs. 4.79 lakh (ex-sh). It is a four-door, two-seater (back-to-back) electric car with interior parts from Honda cars. Other players are toying with launch plans in this segment too. Were talking about Ligier Mygi, a French contender, running for this segment whose test mules have been spotted in India too. Renault is planning Kwid EV that will end up in this segment as well. So, this is a potent segment for Gensol to target. But there is one oddity with the Gensol EV which is absent in the expected rivals we just mentioned. Which is, Gensol EV is a 3W vehicle, something that even PMV is not. The 3W architecture has two wheels at front and one at the back. So, it doesnt look like a rickshaw or a Reliant Robin (Jeremy Clarkson would approve). How the seating arrangement could be? Considering Gensold EV spotted testing is aimed at affordable urban electric mobility, we might see a small battery pack capable of 200 km claimed and 150 km of real-world range and a single motor FWD layout, driving both front wheels. Top speed is claimed to 80 km/h. Gensol EV may provide seating for four adults (three in comfort) and a decently sized boot space. Doors are limited to just two and then a tailgate. Gensol is going for a tallboy design, which might be concerning to prospective buyers. High centre of gravity and three wheels are like oil and water. Gensol is developing ADAS tech and auto parking features too, that will be offered with their maiden EV. On the inside, there are two electric windows, manual AC, Android-based touchscreen infotainment (likely aftermarket), a single-pane sunroof and more. This particular test mule had basic halogen reflector-style tail lights. Looking at rear section, Gensol might be using axle braking instead of wheel braking for rear single wheel. There might be RWD setup too looking at all the camouflaged components around rear wheel. Launch might happen around 2025 and the price might be below MG Comets. The main question remains, though Can we drive it with a motorcycle license? A walking tour through the historical downtown area of Rancho Santa Fe is set for Saturday. The guided tour, A Walk through The Village of Rancho Santa Fe, will feature nine buildings, with receptions at the Inn of Rancho Santa Fe and La Flecha House. The tour will focus on urban design and the architectural contributions of Lilian J. Rice, master architect for the plan of Rancho Santa Fe Village and downtown. Advertisement Rice, who was born in National City, was one of the first women to earn a degree in architecture from the University of California Berkeley in 1910 and was one of the first woman in San Diego to be licensed as an architect. The tour will highlight architectural design elements, influences, details and materials that Rice used when she designed the village, primarily in the 1920s, with the goal of creating the quiet serenity of a Spanish village. Rices building designs were Influenced by the areas original Osuna Mexican adobes along with her travels to countries such as Spain, Mexico, Cuba and her appreciation of outdoor living. The tour is hosted by the American Institute of Architects & Women In Architecture, Palomar Chapter, and will be led by Vonn Marie May, curator for the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society and author of Images of America, Rancho Santa Fe. A tour preview will begin at 11 a.m. with a display of the history and background of Rancho Santa Fe, including artifacts and curated museum displays, at the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society in the courtyard of La Flecha House 6036 La Flecha. The tour is slated to begin at noon. The tour is followed by a post tour social with a recounting of the history of the Hunts Club and the Santa Fe Hunt at the Inn of Rancho Santa Fe designed by Rice and built in 1922. Tickets: $30 online in advance; $35 at door; students (with valid ID) $15 or $18 at door. Proceeds benefit the Women In Architecture, A Committee of The American Institute of Architects, Palomar Chapter. For tickets and reservations, visit www.AIAPalomar.org/event/WIASpringTour/ Citigroup (NYSE: C) Chief Executive Officer Jane Fraser has been making moves to turn the sprawling bank into a leaner, more profitable business. The bank has made several moves in recent years to realign its business and restructure its management team, and investors have taken notice. Analysts at Wells Fargo believe Citigroup's stock could double during the next three years due to these strategic moves. Citigroup trades at a steep discount and touts a dividend yield of almost 4%, making it appealing to value and dividend investors. Here's what would need to happen for the stock to double from here and whether the bank is a good buy for investors today. Citigroup's widespread business weighed on its performance Citigroup is a huge bank with a global reach, with consumer banking businesses around the world, at one time including in Australia, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines. While it had a broad reach, the bank spread itself thin, making it hard to analyze and manage risks, and it has underperformed relative to its banking peers as a result. One key measure in which we can see this underperformance is its return on equity (ROE). ROE is a standard profitability measure that shows a bank's earnings as a percentage of shareholders' equity. Citi's ROE over the past decade is 6.99%, well below its banking peers Bank of America (8.79%), Wells Fargo (11.33%), and JPMorgan Chase (13.23%). C Return on Equity Chart On top of that, Citigroup got hit with a $400 million fine in 2020 due to "several long-standing deficiencies," including internal controls, risk management, and data governance. Citigroup looks to right the ship under CEO Fraser In 2021, Fraser took over Citigroup's CEO role, replacing longtime chief Michael Corbat. Fraser has been with the bank since 2004 in various roles across its investment and global banking, mortgage, and consumer and commercial banking divisions. Fraser laid out her plans early on: to eliminate less profitable operations and concentrate on those that will boost its efficiency and profitability. First, the bank would eliminate costly businesses and improve its expense and capital structures. When Fraser took over, she announced Citigroup would sell or wind down 13 global consumer franchises -- including its highly profitable business in Mexico. Story continues The bank has made other moves to slim down, consolidate operations, and streamline. Last November, it announced it would eliminate 300 senior management roles. According to a Bloomberg report, this is about 10% of Citigroup's workers two levels below Fraser's executive management team. Citigroup could reach $100 in the next three years, according to one analyst Citigroup's restructuring has analysts, like Mike Mayo and his team at Wells Fargo, optimistic about the bank's future. In a note to investors, Wells Fargo raised its one-year price target for the bank to $70 per share and its three-year target to $100. According to Wells Fargo, the simpler, more profitable Citigroup could see its earnings per share double from $5 to $10. Mayo and his team's outlook may have merit. Citigroup trades at a steep discount to its peers due to its disappointing profitability metrics. Today, Citigroup stock is priced at a 37% discount to its tangible book value. In comparison, Bank of America and Wells Fargo are both priced at a 44% premium to tangible book value. C Price to Tangible Book Value Chart Following its multiyear transformation, Fraser and Citigroup aim for an 11% to 12% return on average tangible common shareholders equity (ROTCE). If it can accomplish this transformation successfully and get its profitability metrics closer to peers, there is good reason for the bank to trade at a higher valuation. During the Goldman Sachs U.S. Financial Services Conference, Chief Financial Officer Mark Mason said he expects Citigroup to complete its reorganization by the end of the first quarter. Is Citigroup stock a buy today? Citigroup presents an intriguing opportunity both for value investors and dividend investors. The stock has gained nearly 45% over the past couple of months but is still relatively cheap from a valuation perspective. Priced below tangible book value, it provides value investors with a margin of safety and solid upside potential. It also yields 3.9% with a modest payout ratio of 38%, or the share of net income a company pays in dividends. Investors will want to closely monitor ROE and ROTCE metrics for Citigroup over the next several quarters to see whether it is gaining ground on its peers. However, considering its steep discount, today may be a good time to scoop up some shares and add more later, as long as its restructuring plans continue to bear fruit. Should you invest $1,000 in Citigroup right now? Before you buy stock in Citigroup, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Citigroup wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Wells Fargo is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Courtney Carlsen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Analyst Thinks This Cheap Bank Stock Can Double From Here: Is It a Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool A senior couple reviewing paperwork for RMDs. Inheriting an IRA as a beneficiary can increase your financial security. But, because an inherited IRA usually imposes a 10-year distribution schedule, the account may also create larger tax implications than expected. However, exceptions to this timeline are available. Heres how distributions work and how to prepare yourself for anticipated taxes. A financial advisor can help optimize your retirement plan to minimize taxes. What Is an Inherited IRA? An inherited IRA is an individual retirement account (IRA) that you receive if the original accountholder passes away and listed you as the beneficiary of the account. You can also inherit an IRA through the probate process if the original account holder doesn't name a beneficiary before passing away. Inheriting an IRA means receiving ownership of a financial account with several rules. You can opt to take all the money as a lump sum, set up required minimum distributions (RMDs) to flow to you over 10 years, or take irregular distributions. That being, said, you usually need to empty an inherited IRA within 10 years. There are exceptions to this rule, which will be explored below. However, it's crucial to understand the 10-year RMD rule for inherited IRAs before doing so. What Is the 10-Year RMD Rule for an Inherited IRA? The 10-year RMD rule is a result of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019, also known as Secure 1.0. The law creates several designations for IRA beneficiaries and defines which rules each designation follows. Beneficiaries following the 10-year RMD rule must drain the account entirely by the end of the 10th year after inheriting the account. This legislation went into effect on December 20, 2019, and dictates what happens to IRAs inherited in 2020 and beyond. Before the legislation in 2019, federal law allowed beneficiaries to receive distributions based on the old account holder's life expectancy. As a result, inheriting an IRA meant you could receive tiny distributions for decades, minimizing the tax consequences for this new stream of income. Secure 1.0 eliminates this possibility for most beneficiary classes and imposes a 10-year RMD schedule to prevent IRAs from lingering in a taxpayer's possession. Story continues Beneficiary Classes Explained Secure 1.0 created four beneficiary classes for inherited IRAs. Understanding which class or designation applies to you will help you determine if you're exempt from 10-year RMD rule. Here are the classes: Designated Beneficiary A designated beneficiary can be a person or a see-through trust. Designated beneficiaries follow the 10-year rule unless theyre eligible for an exception. Eligible Designated Beneficiary An eligible designated beneficiary is exempt from the 10-year rule by falling into one of the following categories: the surviving spouse of the account holder a child under age 21 of the account holder a disabled or chronically ill person a person who isnt more than 10 years younger than the account holder Options for distributions vary for eligible designated beneficiaries. Surviving spouses creating an inherited IRA may be able to use the original account holders RMD age to begin taking RMDs based on their own life expectancy. They can also roll the account over into their own IRA, but early withdrawal penalties may apply in some situations if the surviving spouse takes ownership that way. Minor children, on the other hand, receive RMDs based on their life expectancy. They follow the 10-year RMD rule upon turning 21. Disabled and chronically ill beneficiaries can also use their own life expectancy because of their medical condition. And similarly, beneficiaries no more than 10 years younger than the original account holder can use their own life expectancy for RMDs. Breaking Down the Three 10-Year Rules A senior couple researching 10-year rules for inherited IRAs. The beneficiary designation is also determined by when the account holder dies in relation to their required beginning date (RBD). The RBD depends on the account holders required minimum distribution (RMD) age. Every account holder must start taking RMDs upon reaching a specific age. The RBD is April 1 of the year after the account holder ages into RMDs. For instance, if you reach age 72 after 2022 and turn 73 before 2033, your RMD age is 73. In this case, your RBD is April 1 in the year after you turn 73. However, an account holder who dies before reaching their RBD creates different conditions than dying after their RBD. Here are the three versions of the 10-year RMD rules for beneficiaries based on the account holders death: The Account Holder Dies Before Their RBD This situation means distributions are optional for the nine years after the participants death. However, the beneficiary must receive all of the IRAs funds by the end of the 10th year. Remember, this condition applies to designated beneficiaries, while eligible beneficiaries can use the exceptions described above. The Account Holder Dies on or After Their RBD In these circumstances, a designated beneficiary must take annual RMDs based on their own life expectancy. They have 10 years to empty the IRA, starting on December 31 of the year after the participant dies. In addition, if the original account holder didnt take their first RMD, the beneficiary must receive it immediately. As with the first rule, eligible beneficiaries have exceptions. The Eligible Designated Beneficiary Dies If an eligible designated beneficiary dies, the inherited IRA goes to the successor beneficiary. The successor takes distributions according to the eligible designated beneficiarys life expectancy. These distributions must empty the IRA by the 10th year after the eligible designated beneficiary dies, starting with the first full year. How Are Inherited IRAs and RMDs Taxed? Inheriting a traditional IRA means paying standard income tax rates on distributions. Although the IRA income can raise your marginal tax rate, taking the distributions is better than the alternative: Failing to take RMDs incurs penalties as high as 50% of the annual RMD amount not taken. On the other hand, Roth IRAs usually dont raise your income taxes. Because the original account holder paid income taxes before contributing to the plan, withdrawals from Roth IRAs are tax-free, with one exception. If the Roth IRA was opened less than five years before the account holder passed away, the IRAs earnings will incur income taxes unless you wait for the account to be five years old. Remember, their original contributions are still tax-free in these cases. Proposed Regulations for Inherited IRAs Because Secure 1.0 creates a thicket of rules and classifications to wade through, the IRS decided to waive missed RMD penalties for inherited IRAs from 2020 through 2024. However, industry experts expect that the federal government will provide definitive regulation in 2024 to clarify Secure 1.0. The waived penalties are a temporary measure to give beneficiaries time to prepare for the RMD rules that Secure 1.0 introduced. Because the IRS has delayed enforcing RMD penalties for the last four years, 2024 may introduce new financial consequences for inherited IRA beneficiaries. As a result, consulting with tax professionals to navigate potential tax bills associated with RMDs in the coming years is recommended. Staying informed about legislative changes will help you make effective financial planning decisions. Bottom Line A surviving spouse consulting a financial advisor about tax requirements for an inherited IRA. Inheriting an IRA often starts a 10-year clock on taking distributions. If a beneficiary falls into one of the exceptions, they can slow down distributions using their own life expectancy. The 10-year schedule for distributions increases your annual income from an inherited IRA, raising your taxes if the account is a traditional IRA. On the other hand, Roth Accounts provide tax-free status if the account is at least five years old. Tips for 10-Year RMD Rules for Inherited IRAs Whether you inherit an IRA or win the lottery, a windfall can both create a giant financial cushion while worsening your tax situation. Understanding the implications of a lump sum or monthly distributions can help you optimize your finances and create a plan to secure your future. A financial advisor can draw up a customized financial pathway to reduce taxes and invest efficiently. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have free introductory calls with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you're ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. If you're not the sole beneficiary of an inherited IRA, the situation can get more complicated. Splitting an IRA between siblings can fray relationships, and navigating the process smoothly can help save money and stress. Photo credit: iStock/Wavebreakmedia, iStock/Rockaa, iStock/Lorado The post How the 10-Year RMD Rules Work for Inherited IRAs appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset. Business spotlight Chinatown leaders eye a 2024 rebound Craig Lee/The Examiner Tane Chan, owner of The Wok Shop at 718 Grant Avenue in Chinatown in San Francisco as seen on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Chan opened The Wok Shop in 1969. Chinatown business owners and community leaders are optimistic when looking forward to 2024, which will mark four years since the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the area and threatened the future of hundreds of its businesses. Chinatown will hold its own, Tane Chan told The Examiner inside the Wok Shop, which she has owned for half a century. Were going to hit some bad spots, but well rise above that. Thats Chinatowns attitude, you know? The weight of the pandemic was particularly heavy on Chinatown, the economy of which significantly relies on both tourism and Financial District foot traffic. Neither has rebounded to pre-2020 levels. Edward Siu, founder and president of the Chinatown Merchants Association, estimated that business in the neighborhood is currently down between 20% to 30%, and tourism is down as much as 20% compared to pre-pandemic levels. He said the latter was primarily due to a lack of Asian visitors. In 2019, there were 950 stores, restaurants or offices in Chinatown. More than half of those businesses had to either close permanently or temporarily at the onset of the pandemic, when downtown San Francisco was largely deserted, Siu said. In 2024, there are roughly 700 businesses and offices active in Chinatown, including Chans Wok Shop on Grant Avenue, a community and tourist staple the last 54 years. Chinatown is unique, she said. Regardless of the downturn in our economy, youre going to have people that visit San Francisco and one of the must-see attractions is Chinatown. We have great merchants and great stores here. We have stores and merchandise that are unique and very affordable. Chinatown is self-sustainable, Chan said. Craig Lee/The Examiner Orlando Kuan, owner of Eastern Bakery at 720 Grant Avenue in Chinatown in San Francisco on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Eastern Bakery celebrates its 100 year anniversary in 2024. Chans storefront neighbor, Orlando Kuan, owns another institution: Eastern Bakery, which turned 100 at the start of 2024. But Kuan didnt share her enthusiasm. Yeah, but everybody needs a wok! Kuan quipped when told about Chans optimism. He said business at the bakery, which he has run for 37 years, slightly improved in 2023, but is still not close to what it was pre-pandemic. Kuan was nonetheless upbeat if not as much as his neighbor about what 2024 will bring. Of course Im hopeful, he said while serving customers sesame balls and pork buns from a stool just outside the bakerys door. Everybody is supposed to have hope, right? Rosa Chen, planning manager at the Chinatown Development Center, pointed to several longtime businesses returning including Golden Gate Bakery, known for its lengthy lines down Grant Avenue with people waiting to purchase its famous egg-custard tarts. The shop had been closed for multiple months before its recent reemergence. Weve seen more new restaurants popping up and new, younger businesses coming up, she said. It gives us a lot of hope for the new year with how businesses are going to thrive and flourish in Chinatown. Those new businesses include On Waverly, a month-old bookstore and cultural center tucked on the corner of Washington and Waverly streets. The stores co-owner, Cynthia Huie, said she largely didnt consider the economic climate when deciding to open. I feel like Chinatown even though, you know, were still in need of more visitors will always be a draw for San Francisco, she said. I also think if you believe in your concept and you have a lot of encouragement and support, any time is a great time to start a business. Kathy Fang, award-winning San Francisco restaurateur and owner of House of Nanking and Fang Restaurant in SoMa, said she thinks 2024 will be busier for Chinatown, in part because of some of the newer, more modern restaurants that have opened in recent years. She pointed to Michelin-starred Mister Jius as a prime example. There are really, really nice things that are coming into Chinatown that I think are bringing foot traffic, she said. But Fang, who was born at the Chinese Hospital in Chinatown, lamented that other restaurants that have been in the community for decades arent receiving the same bump in patrons. When you walk by a lot of these old-school places, they barely have people in the day and they may or may not have people at night, she said. That part of Chinatown, which is what I call old-school Chinatown, I feel is dying. I dont know how many can survive in the next couple of years. Craig Lee/The Examiner Eastern Bakery and The Wok Shop on Grant Avenue in Chinatown in San Francisco on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Neighborhood leaders and businesses owners said they were hopeful that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, which brought thousands of economic leaders and business executives to downtown San Francisco in November, would boost Chinatown businesses during whats typically a dead period and provide momentum heading into the new year. Instead, things were stagnant. If anything, it was a bit more on the quiet end, Chen said. We definitely hoped businesses would get a bump. It was definitely a disappointment to know that we didnt see an influx of APEC folks come out. Steven Lee owns three Chinatown businesses, including the 115-year-old Sam Wo restaurant, which itself is in danger of closing when its lease expires at the end of the year. He helped organize various events and media tours of Chinatown to drive up business during APEC, but was among those discouraged in the events aftermath. He said the attendees daily schedules, which included the conference and its surrounding events, left little time to explore Chinatown like the businesses thought. Security restrictions made it even more difficult for any foot traffic to spill over into the neighborhood. Nobody expected that it was going to be so tight, that its going to be so much of a hassle to even go outside and smoke a cigarette, he said. But APEC did spawn at least one positive that Lee and other community leaders hope could have some permanency in the neighborhood: the debut of the Chinatown night market, held the weekend before the summit. The gatherings success indicated that people are still willing to come out after hours, when the neighborhoods businesses have significantly suffered the last few years. Most Chinatown businesses were forced to close earlier in the day due to the pandemic, which many business owners told The Examiner is a major reason why business isnt at the level it once was. Fang said those changes shifted customers habits. Even though (House of Nanking) extended our hours to 9 or 9:30 (p.m.) instead of 8:30, people are still coming in a lot earlier than they used to, so the dinner rush is starting at 5:30, 6 and 7, she said. By the time youre looking at reservations that are hitting that 8 p.m. timeframe, theyve dropped dramatically. More events similar to the night market could help liven up the neighborhood during those hours. The night market was slamming, Lee said. But we have to do more of them. That echoes the sentiments of San Francisco Chamber of Commerce President Rodney Fong, who described himself as bullish on people coming back to Chinatown this year. Whether or not we can all as a city pivot to sell goods that they want and need is a whole other question, he quickly added. Thats a big retail question. For Chinatown, Fong said, that means maintaining traditional activities, like dining at historic restaurants, while continuing to raise the bar with new events similar to the night market. He speculated these might take the form of new cultural exhibits or year-round celebrations similar to those that largely take place around Lunar New Year. Arts and culture, I think, are a real opportunity for Chinatown, Fong said. I know theyve done a great job with music and street closures. But I think thats like what people want now. So having continuity in those kinds of activities is really important. People will come back, but we need to still nurture them and not take them for granted like we did before, he said. Vasin Lee / Shutterstock.com If you ever look closely at the itemized receipt for your airline ticket, you might be shocked at just how many miscellaneous fees and charges are added to your fare. Factor in the service fees you pay for add-ons to your ticket and your total cost of travel can be significantly above the base fare, which is what the airline itself actually earns. Experts: Make These 7 Money Resolutions If You Want To Become Rich on an Average Salary Im a Luxury Travel Agent: 10 Destinations My Wealthy Clients Are Booking for 2024 Heres a look at the most common hidden costs that go into your plane ticket, along with some suggestions on how you can minimize them. Sponsored: Get Paid To Scroll. Start Now Taxes and Fees Airlines arent generally responsible for tacking on taxes and fees to your plane ticket. Rather, most taxes and fees are government- or airport-imposed. While the specific taxes and fees you pay may vary from ticket to ticket, here are the typical ones you should expect to pay, using American Airlines as an example. For American Airlines domestic tickets, in addition to the base fare and any carrier-imposed fees (see below), youll be assessed the following: A 7.5% U.S. government excise tax A September 11th Security Fee of $5.60 per one-way trip, per passenger Airport passenger facility charges (PFCs) of up to $18 roundtrip A U.S. government excise tax of $4.00 on each flight segment, which is defined as one takeoff and one landing For Hawaii/Alaska, the U.S. government excise tax is $8.90 For American Airlines international flights, fees and taxes are as follows: A September 11th Security Fee of $5.60 per one-way trip, per passenger Airport passenger facility charges (PFCs) of up to $18 roundtrip Other government taxes and fees (including U.S. government excise tax) of up to $240 based on destination; this total can vary due to currency fluctuations U.S. government excise tax is used to pay for things like airport construction and airway safety and operations. Story continues Find: 5 Ways To Earn at Least 5% APY on Your Money (Without Using the Stock Market) Carrier-Imposed Charges Carrier-imposed charges can literally be anything the airline chooses to attach to your ticket. However, carrier-imposed charges are generally fuel surcharges, which came into vogue after an oil price spike in 2004. Since then, however, carriers seem reluctant to eliminate or even reduce them, regardless of what the price of oil which drives the price of jet fuel is doing. These carrier-imposed charges are most noticeable on award tickets, which are ostensibly free if you have enough miles but in reality often cost hundreds of dollars. Change or Cancellation Fees Change and cancellation fees vary widely by airline and situation. Some airlines, like United, have relatively recently implemented a no-change-fee policy on most fares, with the exception of Basic Economy. However, other airlines charge substantial change fees, particularly on international itineraries. For example, Delta Airlines charges anywhere from $0 to $400 to change a ticket, depending on your travel route. Note that these change fees are in addition to any increase in fare that may apply to your new ticket. Service Fees Service fees, as the name implies, are assessed if you choose any extras on your flight. Of course, what the airlines define as an extra nowadays was often complimentary in the past. For most airline tickets, you should now expect to pay an extra service fee for everything from choosing your seat to checking baggage. You may have to pay a fee if you book an award ticket or if you use the assistance of an agent on the phone. Some airlines charge a fee to carry a bag on the plane or even to print out your boarding pass. Suggestions To Minimize Fees There are some fees you simply cant avoid if you want to fly on an airline, such as the various government fees and taxes outlined above. Many others can be avoided, though, or at least minimized. As the airline industry is extremely competitive, the cost of doing business with an airline can vary significantly. Southwest, for example, allows two free checked bags with every ticket, something few other carriers still offer. United, as mentioned above, allows free changes on every ticket. And most airlines have loyalty programs that provide numerous perks to elite members, ranging from free award ticket bookings or changes to free baggage. You can also save money by picking and choosing the services you really need. If you dont want to pay a baggage fee, for example, see if you can fit what you need into a carry-on assuming your airline allows free bags on board. Even airlines that charge a fee to pick a seat usually waive those at the time of check-in, typically 24 hours before flight time. Finally, always check to see if the bargain fare youre thinking about tacks on extras for things like printing out a boarding pass. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Hidden Costs in Your Plane Ticket You May Not Realize Kameleon007 / iStock.com To save for retirement, you dont need an employer-sponsored plan such as a 401(k). You can also save for retirement on your own through an individual retirement account (IRA). Doing so can give you more flexibility in terms of what you invest in for retirement. However, IRAs have different rules than 401(k)s, such as around contribution limits and income limits to qualify for tax advantages. Learn: The Average Retirement Age in 2023 in the US vs Canada Read: What To Do If You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS In addition to the potential confusion that can come from different Internal Revenue Service rules around IRAs, some people also dont understand these accounts well because they tend to require a bit more proactiveness on the savers part. Workplace retirement plans often guide employees toward saving and investing for retirement; some even auto-enroll employees and provide matching contributions to jumpstart retirement savings. IRAs, however, generally require more individual effort, although you could work with a professional such as a financial advisor or tax advisor for assistance. Given this backdrop, some common IRA myths include: Sponsored: Get Paid To Scroll. Start Now 1. IRAs Are Only for Self-Employed Individuals Some people think that only self-employed people can or should use IRAs. If youre covered by a retirement plan at work, then it could seem like theres no reason to also invest within an IRA. However, IRAs can offer advantages like having more flexibility than 401(k)s, such as providing access to a broader range of investment choices, whereas your 401(k) can be more limited based on the funds your employers plan selects. If youre within income limits as defined by the IRS, you can be eligible for a tax deduction on contributions to an IRA, even if you or your spouse is covered by a workplace retirement plan. So, while many self-employed individuals do use IRAs, theyre not the only ones meant to have these accounts. Story continues 2. You Have to Choose Between an IRA and 401(k) Related to the myth of IRAs only being for self-employed individuals is the myth that you can only choose one type of retirement account. Instead, you can use multiple retirement account types such as a 401(k) and IRA. If youre within IRS income limits, you can take tax deductions for contributions to both types of accounts, and even if youre above the IRS income limits, you could still contribute to an IRA without taxing a tax deduction. Keep in mind, however, that rules for Roth IRA income limits differ. And you could face penalties for issues like contributing more than that tax years limit for either type of IRA account, as defined by the IRS. However, the maximum contribution limits are separate for 401(k)s and IRAs. Those two limits are independent of each other. So you can max out your 401(k) and your IRA in the same year, said Logan Allec, CPA and owner of Choice Tax Relief. 3. IRA Contributions Are Always Tax Deductible While IRA contributions are often tax deductible, its important to realize thats not always the case. As mentioned, if you or your spouse are covered by a retirement plan through your employer, then there are income limits that affect whether your traditional IRA contributions are also tax deductible. Some people still report that deduction on their tax return, but then the IRS is going to disallow it, said Allec. You could still contribute to an IRA, however, up to that years contribution limit, and enjoy tax-deferred growth, even if the initial contribution isnt deductible, he added. That would likely come into play if youre above the income limits for a Roth IRA and you still want to save for retirement in an account that does not incur taxes on growth until withdrawals. Note, however, that making mistakes like going over the IRA contribution limit doesnt just make those excess contributions not tax deductible but could also incur penalties. 4. Roth IRAs Are Always Better Another common IRA myth or misconception is that Roth IRAs, if eligible, are always the better option. Its more case by case, said Allec. Roth IRAs help some people save on taxes in the long run, because the money can ultimately be withdrawn tax-free. However, you need to put after-tax dollars into Roth IRAs, and if youre in a high tax bracket now but will be in a lower one in retirement, it could be to your advantage to use a traditional IRA. For most people, the choice should be based on their current tax rate versus their expected rate in retirement years. Higher rates later would favor the Roth IRA which also has no required minimum distributions in retirement, said Brad Hartman, owner of Hartman Financial Planning. Keep in mind that you dont have to choose just one. You could have both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA, though keep in mind that annual contribution limits apply on a combined basis across IRA accounts, rather than having separate limits for traditional and Roth IRAs. To help clear confusion about retirement accounts, I tell clients to think of them as a Tupperware container. Some containers defer taxes like a Traditional IRA or 401(k), others eliminate taxes later like a Roth IRA or 401(k) but almost all of them can hold the same type of investments. So pick the container you need based on your individual tax situation and then the investments to hold inside it, explained Hartman. 5. You Just Have to Deposit Money Into the Account Lastly, some people make the mistake of thinking that their work is done after opening an IRA and depositing money into the account. However, you need to make investment choices within the IRA to put that money to work. This can be a problem in 401(k)s too, but in many cases, HR or someone else connected to your employer helps guide you through that process. But with an IRA, youre completely in control of that, and so its even more of a misconception that all you have to do is have money in the IRA, said Allec. If you dont make investment decisions within your IRA, you could miss out on significant growth needed to afford retirement. I have had clients who put cash in every year up to the limit, but theyve missed out on literally thousands of dollars of gains that the market has experienced because they didnt actually make an investment, it was just sitting in cash, said Allec. Avoid IRA Mistakes While these are common IRA myths and mistakes, you can find many reputable resources that help you avoid these types of issues. Looking at the IRS website, for example, explains things like income and contribution limits for IRAs fairly well, said Allec. Read: 10 Things Boomers Should Consider Selling in Retirement Because IRAs have a significant tax component to them, theres a good chance that if you file taxes with an accountant, for example, they can help guide you on how to get the most out of these accounts from a tax perspective. A financial advisor can also help you set up an IRA in terms of choosing a saving and investment strategy that can put you on track for an enjoyable retirement. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Common Myths About IRAs Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Suncor Energy implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price The top 25 shareholders own 42% of the company Recent purchases by insiders Every investor in Suncor Energy Inc. (TSE:SU) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 65% to be precise, is institutions. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Last weeks 6.4% gain means that institutional investors were on the positive end of the spectrum even as the company has shown strong longer-term trends. The one-year return on investment is currently 12% and last week's gain would have been more than welcomed. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Suncor Energy. See our latest analysis for Suncor Energy TSX:SU Ownership Breakdown January 7th 2024 What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Suncor Energy? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Suncor Energy. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Suncor Energy's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. TSX:SU Earnings and Revenue Growth January 7th 2024 Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Suncor Energy is not owned by hedge funds. Sanders Capital, LLC is currently the company's largest shareholder with 4.3% of shares outstanding. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 3.9% of common stock, and Dodge & Cox holds about 3.5% of the company stock. Story continues Our studies suggest that the top 25 shareholders collectively control less than half of the company's shares, meaning that the company's shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of Suncor Energy The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Suncor Energy Inc.. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own CA$11m worth of shares. In this sort of situation, it can be more interesting to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 35% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Suncor Energy better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Suncor Energy (at least 1 which is potentially serious) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Multifaceted tech giant Amazon is about to unveil a major investment in one of Britain's biggest wind farms. The company is aiming to power its entire UK operation from sales warehouses to film studios to cloud computing using renewable energy by next year. The Mail on Sunday understands that Amazon, which employs about 75,000 people in Britain, plans to later this month announce a deal to buy electricity from the Moray West offshore wind farm. Mail on Sunday Federal investigators in the US have launched a probe into how a section of a new Boeing 737 Max blew out mid-flight, as airlines in Turkey and Panama grounded their planes for inspection. The withdrawals come after the US airline regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration, on Saturday ordered the temporary grounding of some 737 Max 9s operated by US airlines or in US territory. All 171 passengers and six crew of the Alaska Airlines-operated Boeing plane landed back safely at Portland, Oregon after the incident on Friday night, but the outcome could have been much worse, according to investigators. Financial Times The CEO of McDonalds, Chris Kempczinski, has said the fast food chain was seeing a meaningful hit to business, as customers boycott the firm in the Middle East for its perceived support of Israel. Mr Kempczinski said calls from pro-Palestinan groups to boycott McDonalds are based on misinformation. The Independent Rishi Sunak has said he wants to cut taxes for working people further this year, possibly cutting welfare payments to fund it. The prime minister said on Sunday his priority before the budget in March would be further tax cuts, which he said would entail stricter controls on public spending and benefits. His comments set up the possibility of an income tax cut in March, what is likely to be the last major tax decision by the chancellor before the general election. The Guardian A mining firm focused on Ghana is planning to list on the London Stock Exchange's junior AIM market by the summer. In a recent presentation seen by The Mail on Sunday, CAA Mining told investors that it was aiming to float at some point between April and June. Founded in 2018, the group works on gold and lithium projects in the West African country. Mail on Sunday European Council president Charles Michel has announced he will run in EU-wide elections in June in a move that would force him to step down early from his current role if elected and could hand more influence to Hungarys Viktor Orban. Michel said in an interview with three Belgian media outlets on Saturday that he planned to stand as the lead candidate for his liberal Reformist Movement party when the EU goes to the polls between June 6 and 9. Financial Times Britains biggest train operator has awarded its three overseas shareholders a record dividend despite strike-ridden services and soaring fares. Govia Thameslink gave its Australian, Spanish and French owners including Keolis, an arm of the French state-owned SNCF a 62 million payout part-funded by a British taxpayer bailout of the railways during the pandemic. The company, which operates Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express, handed out the cash bonanza last year with the blessing of transport secretary Mark Harper. The Sunday Times Federal transit safety investigators will be reviewing all of New York Citys subway operations in response to a collision and derailment that caused minor injuries to more than 20 people, the chairperson of the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday. Chair Jennifer Homendy said the NTSB had concerns because Thursdays collision between two trains was the second serious subway episode in Manhattan in just over a month. On Nov. 29, a subway worker for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority was dragged under a train and killed while working as a rail safety flagger. This is the second accident on New York City transits property in 37 days. Thats not typical, Homendy said at a news conference at the 96th Street station, where Thursdays collision happened. The NTSB has been very focused on system safety ... so coming here we are going to want to look at the entire system, including how it is managed and supervised. Homendy said later Friday that the NTSB typically reviews a companys entire operations and safety protocols in its investigations. Pat Warren, the MTAs chief safety and security officer, said the agency was aware of the NTSBs comprehensive approach. For a subway system that schedules 2.7 million train trips a year, covering 345 million miles annually, this derailment was a rare occurrence that points to the safety and resilience of transit in New York, Warren said in a statement Friday night. The low-speed crash on the Upper West Side took place at about 3 p.m. on the 1, 2 and 3 lines. Homendy said an out-of-service train with a few MTA workers aboard struck another train carrying about 300 passengers at a rail switch, causing both trains to derail. Workers on the out-of-service train had been making repairs after someone pulled a number of emergency stop cords and disabled the train. After resetting most of the brakes and disabling others, the workers were trying to get the train to the 240th Street railyard when the collision occurred, Homendy said. There were no early indicators of a cause, she said. Asked about whether there were signs of human error, Homendy said it was still unclear but added, Its easy to blame humans. Human error is a symptom of a system that needs to be redesigned. Earlier in the day, NYC Transit President Richard Davey said the passenger train had the green light to proceed Thursday but the disabled train did not. As a result, it bumped into the train, he said. Why, we dont know, thats still under investigation. Work crews had been laboring to lift hulking rail cars back on the rails on Friday. Davey said getting them back on the rails in the aftermath was complicated because of the subway tunnels low ceiling. Transit workers are literally lifting it a few inches, shimmying it over, lifting it a few, shimmying it over, Davey said. So that process takes a while. Homendy said the subway system does not have cameras and data recorders that could help investigators. She said the NTSB recommended those devices nationwide to another federal agency in 2015, but the proposal has not been approved so the devices are not required. Thursdays collision caused major service disruptions on the 1, 2 and 3 lines that stretched into Friday. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said limited service on those lines was expected to resume at 5 p.m., and the 96th Street station was to reopen. The 2 train had been diverted to Manhattans east side. Derailments and crashes in the 119-year-old New York City subway system are rare. The worst crash in city subway history happened on Nov. 1, 1918, when a speeding train derailed in a sharply curved tunnel in Brooklyn, killing at least 93 people. More recently, five people died on Aug. 28, 1991, when a 4 train derailed at Manhattans 14th Street Union Square station. That trains motorman was found at fault for alcohol intoxication and served 10 years in prison for manslaughter. A bill making its way through the New York State Legislature aims to regulate future contracts for food concessions on the State Thruway. It also mentions the national restaurant chain Chick-Fil-A by name. But, despite some headlines and social media posts, the bill would not force the Atlanta-based company to reverse its long-standing policy of not opening its restaurants on Sundays. The bill introduced in the Assembly and Senate would require that future contracts for Thruway food vendors specify that rest stop concessions must be open seven days a week. The bill also sets that requirement for concessions at the Port Authority of New York-New Jersey. The bill, as written now, would not affect the Chick-Fil-A locations that are already open on the Thruway. Those restaurants operate as part of a 33-year contract the Thruway Authority signed in 2021 with Applegreen, an Irish convenience store company. Applegreen manages leases as part of the Thruways ongoing $450 million project to renovate 27 rest stops across the state. Chick-Fil-As leases are with Applegreen, not the Thruway itself. Applegreens current contract makes no mention of seven-day operations. In addition, the bill has no impact on Chick-Fil-A or any other restaurants and businesses operating elsewhere in the state. We are not talking about businesses on the corner of Main Street, said state Sen. Michelle Hinchey, a Democrat from the Hudson Valley who sponsored the bill in the state Senate. Were talking about the businesses on the state Thruway that are utilized as a public good. It makes sense, Hinchey says, because Sunday is often the busiest travel day of the week on the Thruway. If there is going to be a food establishment on the Thruway, they should be open on the busiest day, Hinchey said. She noted that even in rest areas that have other food options, a Sunday closing for one can create longer lines and wait times for service at the others. But the bill has come under attack, including from those who believe it violates religious freedoms. Chick-Fil-As closed-on-Sunday policy is attributed to its founders Christian faith. U.S. Sen. Lindsay Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, posted his opposition on X (formerly Twitter) and during a visit last month to New York City. This is war, Graham posted to X. If this goes forward, I will be introducing legislation withholding federal funds from any city or state that requires @ChickfilA to stay open on Sunday. The founders of Chick-fil-A made a decision early on to close on Sunday, consistent with their faith. For any government to try to reverse this decision flies in the face of who we are as Americans. ... New York is off base and their actions will not go unanswered. A memo explaining the bill does mention Chick-Fil-A as the example of a Thruway concession not currently open seven days a week. The chain has seven existing restaurants on the Thruway under its agreement with Applegreen, with three more under development. Applegreens Thruway operations include several restaurant concessions that are open seven days, including Shake Shack, Panera, Popeyes, Burger King and Panda Express. Heres what the bill memo says about Applegreen and Chick-Fil-A: Applegreens portfolio of companies include Chick-fil-A, which by company policy is closed on Sundays, and which has already opened at seven service areas. While there is nothing objectionable about a fast food restaurant closing on a particular day of the week, service areas dedicated to travelers is an inappropriate location for such a restaurant. Publicly owned service areas should use their space to maximally benefit the public. The bill specifies that the food concessions that must be open seven days do not include temporary operators, such as farmers markets. It also notes that the requirement affecting the Port Authority would need approval from the state of New Jersey. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Hey, snow. Stick around, grab a slice or something. At least meet the city Sanitation Department. New York Citys Strongest have been begging to spend time with you for the last two years. Yet again, the weather gods have left the Big Apple with little-to-no snow. Less than half an inch landed on Staten Island: 0.2 inches in Westerleigh, to be exact, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The process in recent winters is becoming familiar: A potential snowstorm appears on the radar. The buzz builds. We hear about how last winter was very un-wintry, and how the city is on a streak of days with less than an inch of snow falling in Central Park in a 24-hour period (were almost at 700 days). Then, as the storm target date nears, the snow begins to look more like rain, and our friends west of us -- like Westchester, Bergen County in New Jersey, Orange County in Upstate New York -- are going to get hit with the real snow. The New York City area will instead get a rain/snow mixture. Itll be sloppy, cold, and wet, but not very snowy, forecasters predict. - Snow falls outside of the Best Buy in New Springville on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Steve White for the Staten Island Advance)(Steve White for the Staten Isla Thats exactly what happened, again, as Port Jervis, New York, received 13 inches. Five inches of snow landed in Totowa, New Jersey. Greenwich, Connecticut, four and a half inches, the NWS reported. Central Park received 0.2 inches. LaGuardia Airport, 0.3; Newark Airport, 0.4, and John F. Kennedy International Airport, 0.1. Though its undetermined exactly how much snow fell on Staten Islands South Shore, images captured in Tottenville and Charleston showed at least a coating, albeit temporary. Staten Islanders and their dogs enjoy the year's first snow in Fairview Park on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in Charleston. (Owen Reiter for the Staten Island Advance)Owen Reiter Despite the minimal snow accumulation, a weather mess blanketed the area on Saturday night, bringing rain and slush. The last time the five boroughs have seen a single storm deliver more than an inch of snow was Feb. 13, 2022. Sunday marks the 28th anniversary of the infamous Blizzard of 1996, which featured a snowy onslaught: 20-plus inches fell, depending on which part of the city; winds howled at 50 mph, snowmen were built, and schools were closed. As for todays weather, says the NWS: Rain and snow late this morning, then a chance of rain this afternoon. Highs in the upper 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent. I guess New York isnt making enough money with speed cameras. That could be why one New York lawmaker is pushing for red light cameras to be put in place at more intersections here. State Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Bklyn.) has a bill that would allow the city to increase the number of red light cameras from the current 150 intersections in the five boroughs, Fox 5 New York reported. With 13,500 intersections in the city, according to Gounardes, having red light cameras at just 1% of intersections isnt nearly enough for public safety. Pointing to figures from the city Department of Transportation, the news report said that the number of violations has declined by 77% since the red light camera program was introduced here in 1994. Thats a pretty good number, no? Do we really need to expand the red light program if its already working that well? Maybe the cameras are already doing their job. But nothing is good enough for the Vision Zero types. If something is working, they want more of it. And if something isnt working, they want more of it. Because the idea is zero traffic deaths. A nice goal but one thats likely unattainable without taking every car and truck off the road. Were also told that speed cameras are doing their job and making city streets safer. If thats the case, why do we need to put red light cameras at more intersections? While advocates say that red light cameras make intersections safer, others say that they actually increase the danger because drivers stop short at those intersections, leading to more rear-end collisions. So theres an irony that a safety measure could actually lead to roads that are less safe, just in a different way. So why the push for more red light cameras? The money that will no doubt be generated is no doubt enticing. Speed cameras showed lawmakers how easy it is to generate income with very little effort. And lawmakers are always looking for more money to spend. And if someone breaks the law and has to pay a fine, either by speeding or by running a red light, nobodys going to feel sorry for that motorist. We can see how quickly the speed camera program expanded over a relatively short period, to the point where the cameras are now in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Long gone are the days when the cameras were in operation only in school zones and only during certain times of the day. Weve also seen speed cameras placed in highway work zones. Lawmakers know easy money when they see it. And for all the claims that speed cameras have made roads safer, the speed camera picture is actually warped because the installation of the cameras in New York City came along with reduced speed limits. That made it easier for drivers to break the law and get a summons. What used to be safe speeds to drive were suddenly deemed hazardous. More and more, drivers are becoming big fat cash cows for government. If you doubt it, just look at the coming congestion pricing tax, where a $15 fee will be charged to those entering Manhattan below 60th Street. You think itll end there? You think that motorists couldnt someday be charged for driving into congested areas of other boroughs, including Staten Island? You have more faith than I do. And Port Authority bridge tolls just went up again. Its just too easy to target drivers. After all, what are we going to do? Not drive? Some of us dont have a choice. And the powers that be know that. And theyre profiting from it. NYPD officials continue to investigate a shooting in Brooklyn on Saturday afternoon that left a teenager and a senior woman seriously wounded near a grocery store, according to amNY. According to the publication, gunshots rang out at about 2:04 p.m. on Jan. 6, near 1925 Nostrand Ave., the Lucky 7 Deli & Grill, in Little Haiti. Responding officers located a 17-year-old boy who was struck three times in the lower back and a 71-year-old woman was hit in the right leg, amNY reports. Both victims were rushed to Kings County Hospital and are expected to survive, according to the report. Detectives are investigating whether the senior was caught in the crossfire, the publication noted. No arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential. THEATRE I HATE PEOPLE; OR TIMON OF ATHENS Leura Everglades, January 6 Until January 21 Reviewed by JOHN SHAND This explodes like a new star in the firmament of the best Shakespeare productions Ive seen. It has a truth, an energy and a ferocity to make the blood drain from your face, and it also raises the question, why is Timon of Athens the most ignored of Shakespeares plays? Noted US academic Harold Bloom observed that Timon stages better than it reads, but thats only true if the production has a protagonist whose tragedy gouges your eyes and makes your ears bleed; a Timon brave enough to drag you to the brink of what it means to be human. And Margaret Thanos Sport for Jove production has that in Damien Ryan. Here Ryan takes his art to a new level; to one that few actors achieve on any stage anywhere. Visceral, raw, compelling and moving, this is a performance you wont forget. Damien Ryans Timon has truth, energy and a ferocity to make the blood drain from your face. Credit: Kathy Luu In reviewing Shakespeare, one usually doesnt bother with the plot, but Timons obscurity makes it worth explaining that the titular character is renowned as an extravagant host and giver of gifts. Generosity being a stronger suit of his than wisdom, he runs himself into bankruptcy, and must beg favours from those friends upon whom hes bestowed such beneficence. Now he finds those friends were merely sycophants who cold-shoulder him, and so he renounces Athens and retreats to the wilds to live in abject poverty. For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit. But as Peter Lynch said in One Up On Wall Street, 'Long shots almost never pay off.' A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up. Despite being in the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, many investors still adopt a more traditional strategy; buying shares in profitable companies like Yinson Holdings Berhad (KLSE:YINSON). Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide Yinson Holdings Berhad with the means to add long-term value to shareholders. See our latest analysis for Yinson Holdings Berhad How Fast Is Yinson Holdings Berhad Growing? The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so you'd expect share price to follow earnings per share (EPS) outcomes eventually. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. Shareholders will be happy to know that Yinson Holdings Berhad's EPS has grown 19% each year, compound, over three years. If growth like this continues on into the future, then shareholders will have plenty to smile about. It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. On the revenue front, Yinson Holdings Berhad has done well over the past year, growing revenue by 114% to RM11b but EBIT margin figures were less stellar, seeing a decline over the last 12 months. So if EBIT margins can stabilize, this top-line growth should pay off for shareholders. The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart. KLSE:YINSON Earnings and Revenue History January 7th 2024 Of course the knack is to find stocks that have their best days in the future, not in the past. You could base your opinion on past performance, of course, but you may also want to check this interactive graph of professional analyst EPS forecasts for Yinson Holdings Berhad. Story continues Are Yinson Holdings Berhad Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? It's pleasing to see company leaders with putting their money on the line, so to speak, because it increases alignment of incentives between the people running the business, and its true owners. So it is good to see that Yinson Holdings Berhad insiders have a significant amount of capital invested in the stock. Indeed, they have a considerable amount of wealth invested in it, currently valued at RM608m. Holders should find this level of insider commitment quite encouraging, since it would ensure that the leaders of the company would also experience their success, or failure, with the stock. Is Yinson Holdings Berhad Worth Keeping An Eye On? You can't deny that Yinson Holdings Berhad has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That's attractive. Further, the high level of insider ownership is impressive and suggests that the management appreciates the EPS growth and has faith in Yinson Holdings Berhad's continuing strength. The growth and insider confidence is looked upon well and so it's worthwhile to investigate further with a view to discern the stock's true value. It is worth noting though that we have found 1 warning sign for Yinson Holdings Berhad that you need to take into consideration. Although Yinson Holdings Berhad certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see companies with insider buying, then check out this handpicked selection of Malaysian companies that not only boast of strong growth but have also seen recent insider buying.. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Advertisement Eating outJust open Melbourne is swimming in wine bars, but this new Carlton North charmer has something extra Five friends who met working in some of Londons most influential wine bars have just opened their very own in Melbourne. Say hello to Brico. Emma Breheny January 8, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share This venue appears 10 hot summery spots to soak up the last weekend of the season collection. See all stories . We could try really hard to not label it a wine bar. But I think thats how people are going to use it, and thats our expertise, says Josh Begbie, the former Bar Liberty manager whos just opened his first venue, Brico, in Carlton North. Melbourne is swimming in wine bars. But there are those that use the label indiscriminately, and then theres Brico. Brico has opened in the charming corner site formerly known as Little Andorra. Paul Jeffers Its owners met working in some of East Londons most influential wine bars: Phil Bracey co-owned P.Franco and its offshoots, Robyn Nethercote was front-of-house at The Quality Chop House, Begbie was at Brawn. Fellow owner Tegan Hendel does design work for food and drink businesses. Chef Simon Ball-Smith worked at Bright, sister restaurant to P.Franco, alongside Bracey. Brico owners Phil Bracey, Tegan Hendel, Simon Ball-Smith, Robyn Nethercote and Josh Begbie. Supplied Advertisement As cornerstones of the organic, biodynamic and natural wine movements in London, these venues attracted a whos who of visiting winemakers and chefs from across Europe and the world. Some of that spirit and those enviable connections are on display at Brico, which opened on January 4. Mussels in escabeche with toast and aioli at Brico. Paul Jeffers Wines are drawn from Gippsland to Portugal and go beyond the usual roster of labels, with the main criteria being good grapes that are responsibly farmed. Examples from the current list include South Australias Manon, Nino Barraco from Sicily and Benjamin Taillandier from France. Ball-Smith (ex-Moon Under Water, Carlton Wine Room and Hobarts Franklin) takes a similar approach in the kitchen, paying attention to provenance and sourcing from local farms to use produce thats in peak condition. Advertisement Light, bright Brico. Paul Jeffers Expect European classics such as mussels escabeche served on toast with aioli, panzanella salad, or grilled whole flounder with brown butter. Theres also panisse (French chickpea fritters) with sage and parmesan, and pipis simmered in sherry with salty jamon. I dont think youll find many unfamiliar combos on the plate, says Bebgie. But [Simons] letting good produce elevate these, rather than adding something quirky. Pipis, butter beans, jamon and sherry are on the menu at Brico. Paul Jeffers Moving into the corner site that was previously Little Andorra (and, long ago, Tansys), the team didnt want to mess too much with the 19th-century buildings bones. But theres a brighter dining room, new timber booths, white cafe curtains (made by Braceys partner Hendel) and a light colour scheme that will soon play backdrop to brightly coloured Laminex tables that are en route. Advertisement Upstairs, one of two private dining rooms will be converted into a wine cellar and a residence will be added for visiting chefs or winemakers, bringing some of that P.Franco/Bright/Brawn spirit to Carlton North. Open Wed-Sat 5pm-late, Sun 2pm-6pm. 555 Nicholson Street, Carlton North, 03 9191 7990, bricomelbourne.com The sunny Brico courtyard. Paul Jeffers 11 of Melbournes best wine bars Advertisement Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The Inner West Councils final meeting for 2023 was a long one. They all are, these days. On a hot night in early December, 22 members of the public addressed councillors before the meeting even began in earnest. Six of them (all men) spoke to one item on the agenda: a proposal to put four adjacent Californian bungalows in Dulwich Hill on the local heritage register. A group of nearby neighbours had fought for heritage protection for the homes, and a church two doors down, since 2016. In years past, this motion might have passed quickly and unanimously, without controversy. But heritage has become a lightning rod in the battle over housing policy and affordability. So-called NIMBYs and YIMBYs are at loggerheads about whether the heritage system protects much-loved suburbs from overdevelopment, or needlessly locks young people out of areas theyd like to live in. The heritage listing of four Californian bungalows in Dulwich Hill became a lightning rod for YIMBY activists in the inner west. Credit: Janie Barrett The debate will only intensify with the state governments new transit-oriented development program, which will rezone land around railway stations for greater housing density including heritage conservation areas (HCAs). There are hundreds of these zones around Sydney, where development is severely restricted. At the December 5 meeting, Inner West Council staff revealed that 43 per cent of the municipality is under some form of heritage protection, including all of Haberfield and much of Balmain. Early next year, the council will consider a proposal to create nine new HCAs, extend three existing ones and make minor reductions to three others. The new zones, mostly south of Parramatta Road in Marrickville and Dulwich Hill, would capture about 1200 properties, or 2.3 per cent of the LGA increasing the portion of the inner west under heritage protection to 45 per cent. Advertisement That alarms housing density advocates such as Sydney YIMBY co-founder Justin Simon. If 45 per cent of the inner west is heritage significant, then its clear the criteria are too broad, he says. Heritage or housing? All three levels of government in Australia can designate heritage items. When it comes to the impact of heritage on housing, however, we are mainly talking about the purview of councils. While all councils list individual heritage houses, broader heritage conservation areas are highly concentrated in the inner west, north and east. The City of Sydney has 75 HCAs, and Ku-ring-gai Council 52, while Fairfield, Liverpool and Blacktown in western Sydney have none. These provisions do not prohibit all development, but make it much more difficult (and costly). It varies immensely, says James Lesh, a historian, heritage specialist and author of Values in Cities: Urban Heritage in Twentieth-Century Australia. In general, whats required would be the retention of the facade and perhaps the front one or two rooms. It shouldnt prevent the modernisation of a home, or potentially, depending on where it is, some form of subdivision. Demolition is out of the question. Advertisement Lesh supports allowing more subdivision of heritage properties, particularly large blocks in less dense areas. But he says there is little to no evidence that heritage is a barrier to housing supply. Heritage is an easy target for a range of broader issues that are going on related to housing and affordability and access, he says. Our heritage areas are actually the densest neighbourhoods in our cities. We have heaps of people living in those areas. Its those heritage protections that are making those suburbs so liveable, and the places where both the YIMBYs and the NIMBYs really want to live. The four Dulwich Hill bungalows each sit on blocks of more than 1000 square metres; enough to accommodate dozens of apartments under the governments planned changes to low- and medium-density zoning. In that context, YIMBY activists argue its an exemplar of how communities and councillors must choose between more heritage and more housing. But heritage proponents dont see it that way. We really have an opportunity in this area to have our cake and eat it, Marrickville resident, architect and former councillor Peter Olive told the December 5 council meeting, citing the adaptive reuse of buildings such as Marrickville Library. Faye Papadakis outside her Dulwich Hill home. The council voted to place the house on the local heritage register. Credit: Janie Barrett Mark Skelsey, who lives metres from the bungalows and led the campaign for their protection, said infill development at the rear of the four blocks would still be possible despite the heritage listing. Lets stop the anti-heritage mania, he said. The property owners themselves had mixed feelings. Faye Papadakis, 63, bought her home in 1991 and lives there with two of her adult sons, one of whom moved back in after his housemates could no longer afford Sydney rent. Advertisement Im sort of torn, she says. These are very large properties. A lot of the back parts are just grass, and unused. I love my home, but Ive got mixed views because weve got such a shocking housing crisis. I just feel like land is very special and precious in Sydney, and were not utilising it. Untenable proposition Justin Simon, the Sydney YIMBY founder, had two unpleasant experiences as a tenant in heritage properties that proved difficult to fix when things went wrong. They might be nice on the outside, he says, but try living in them. The 37-year-old, who lives in the inner west, believes heritage is a direct barrier to more affordable housing, especially as it becomes more pervasive in the popular, expensive parts of Sydney where people want to live. Its not the only constraint, but it is a key constraint, and it really hasnt been talked about, despite how widespread it is, he says. Simon thinks there should be a limit of 5-10 per cent on how much of a local government area can be placed under such restrictions. Sydney YIMBY co-founder Justin Simon outside a house in Glebe that is part of a heritage conservation zone. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos Its an untenable proposition to say 50 per cent of our neighbourhoods are not going to change, he says. Eventually, some of this stuff is going to have to be torn down to create more housing, so we want to be more considered in how we apply heritage listings. Advertisement It seems unlikely that the state government, desperate as it is for more homes, would tear down heritage-listed parts of Balmain despite it being within 1200 metres of the planned Bays West Metro station. Yet both the government and YIMBY types are keen to encourage adaptive reuse, where heritage properties can be built upon and renewed. Supporting documents for the governments transit-oriented development program clearly state that communities in heritage areas should be prepared for significant change. Premier Chris Minns, asked about the looming clash, said while heritage orders werent being discarded, they were too often used as a way of preventing development and saying no without being upfront about it. He singled out Sydneys inner west as an example. Its virtually impossible for young people to move into that community, Minns told ABC radio. They want to live there, its close to the CBD, you can cycle, you can walk. Were building a $26 billion Metro public transport solution for that community, and there needs to be more density. Last line of defence During a debate on a heritage listing earlier this year, Woollahra councillor Luise Elsing explicitly stated that heritage protection was our last line of defence against overdevelopment. Statements like it fuel the perception that heritage is being misused to prevent development some dont like, or density some dont want. Simon says that for some, the entire point of heritage is to freeze their areas in time and lock out new residents who may compete for parking or who may also use those public goods that they seek to monopolise. He wins some agreement there from Lesh, the heritage expert. But Lesh says it applies to NIMBYs and YIMBYs alike: both misuse, or weaponise, heritage to suit their agendas. Advertisement A man has been charged with the murder of his mother after she died from burns sustained in a house fire in southern NSW. Police found Nerol Doble, 65, suffering from severe burns after they were called following reports a woman had been injured at the home on Bribbaree Road, Bribbaree, about noon on Sunday. She was treated at the scene before being flown to Sydneys Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition. After a police appeal for information, including releasing details of a grey Toyota Hilux they believed was heading towards Young, Shannon Doble, 42, was arrested at Parkes police station. Canberra police are investigating a brawl at the capitals Summernats car festival on Saturday, with footage appearing to show several crowd safety staff punching and kicking attendees. The confronting video, which was posted to YouTube, shows spectators at the annual car show throwing cans at men wearing pink vests that read crowd safety. Seconds later, about five crowd safety workers are seen approaching a group of men who are throwing their fists in the air, and two begin a physical fight. One crowd safety worker appears to yell f--- you; Ill kill you aye. Nobody owns the beach in Australia but residents living on Sydney Harbour can carve off their own slice of the waterway to create a private sea pool. There are 78 private sea pools for the exclusive use of waterfront residents but only 20 publicly accessible harbour baths, sparking calls to create more public swimming areas. Residents in this Elizabeth Bay block have their own slice of the Harbour. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos In NSW, marine structures such as jetties, pontoons and swimming enclosures are considered Crown land and do not give the owner sole use of a waterfront structure, meaning it can be used by anyone. In Sydney Harbour, however, different rules apply. Swimming enclosures are reserved for the exclusive use of adjoining landholders. FRAN HAYES: 1953 - 2023 Fran Hayes was the second of five children in her family. There was her much-loved older sister Ann, her brothers Matt and Peter, and her younger sister Dorothy. She spent her early years in Hoxton Park, a suburb of Sydney, then full of market gardens and dairy farms. She said her childhood was very free and enjoyable. The family moved to Rockdale when her grandparents began to need help. Fran attended Catholic girls schools at Liverpool, Hurstville and Ashfield. Her Irish ancestry was significant to her. Fran was the first in her family to go to university. She did a social work degree, with an arts major in government, building a lifelong strong interest in politics. Fran Hayes, aged 38, lifelong activist for womens rights. Fran met her cherished partner of 53 years, Dan OBrien, at university. After graduation she took various community work positions, and in 1977 began working as a volunteer for the newly formed Australian Social Welfare Union, becoming the NSW delegate to the National Award Committee within weeks. Desperate parents are booking doctor appointments for their children interstate due to lengthy paediatrician waitlists, which have prompted some specialists to close their books to new patients or advertise delays of more than a year for consultations. Its feared young patients are missing out on important early intervention for conditions such as autism spectrum disorder or that sinister diseases are going undiagnosed. Young Australian patients are facing waits of many months or years to see paediatric specialists. Credit: Louise Kennerley Several large private paediatric clinics in Melbourne are advertising they are unable to take new patients needing an appointment with a development and behavioural paediatrician. Others have standard waits of a year. In parts of NSW, waits of more than two years have been reported, while in Western Australia, where a parliamentary inquiry was launched into wait times, one clinic is advertising a three-year wait to see paediatricians specialising in ADHD, autism and general development issues. A volunteer had a saying for the heavy rain at one of Melbournes most significant Greek festivals on Sunday. Anoixan oi ouranoi or the skies opened, she said as the crowd on Princes Pier in Port Melbourne sheltered under umbrellas. Cosmo Nicolaidis, 20, of Middle Park, was the first to seize the cross at the 2024 Blessing of the Waters swim at Princes Pier. Credit: Chris Hopkins It was bucketing down, but the deluge didnt extinguish the spirits of a hardy crowd celebrating the Greek festival of Theofania, or Epiphany. Religious chants and Euro pop blared from the PA system, old friends chatted under marquees, and a phalanx of charcoal-fuelled gyros (grilled meat) rotisseries sizzled unhindered in the rain. Visit Bahrain, the owner of leading hotel and hospitality brands, has appointed Rahim Abu Omar as senior advisor at The Grove Hotel & Conference Centre by Solymar. This exquisite establishment offers an array of room sizes, a state-of-the-art conference center, multiple meeting rooms, as well as world-class restaurants, cafes, and facilities. This appointment signifies the latest pinnacle in Abu Omar's illustrious four-decade career in the hospitality industry. According to Visit Bahrain, his impressive journey includes notable roles such as General Manager of Gulf Hotel Bahrain and Chief Operating Officer of the Al Habtoor Group in Dubai, overseeing a portfolio of 14 luxury hotels - half of them nestled within Dubai and the remainder spread across Europe. Welcoming him into The Grove, CEO Ali Amralla said: "We have unwavering confidence in Abu Omar's exceptional capabilities to make a substantial impact and bolster ongoing efforts for the continual advancement of The Grove Hotel and seamless integration of its services." An industry veteran, Abu Omar has over 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry. On the key appointment, Abu Omar said: "I am delighted to return to the Kingdom of Bahrain through this distinguished hotel, which stands as a preeminent destination for citizens, residents, tourists, and visitors." "Drawing upon my extensive four-decade experience in the tourism and hospitality sector, I am committed to steering The Grove towards new heights, solidifying its position as a distinguished presence in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the broader region," he added.-TradeArabia News Service A senior couple getting ultra-high net worth wealth management from a financial advisor. Specializing in ultra-high net worth wealth management can offer valuable opportunities to learn from your clients. By definition, ultra-high net worth refers to individuals with assets over $30 million. These affluent investors may seek out your knowledge and expertise in managing those assets, but they may have insights of their own to share. In working with these types of clients, you may be in a position to enhance your skillset while delivering top-tier service that's attuned to their individual needs, goals and expectations. Ready to grow your client base? SmartAsset helps you connect with leads. What Ultra-High Net Worth Wealth Management Involves The ultra-wealthy have unique needs when it comes to managing their assets and they often require a higher level of sophistication on their advisor's part. The core principles remain the same, in that an advisor's job is to help their clients realize their financial goals. However, working with a larger pool of assets can present more complex challenges when it comes to things like tax planning, diversification and wealth preservation. For instance, a client with an eight-figure net worth may hold a sizable portion of assets in offshore accounts or foreign investments. The advisor who's working with that client will need to understand the legal and regulatory frameworks for managing those assets to ensure that they're doing so ethically and in compliance with any applicable laws or rules. A billionaire philanthropist, meanwhile, may be focused on establishing a private foundation for charitable giving that will continue to operate beyond their lifetime. Or they might need help with legacy planning to preserve wealth across future generations, which is complicated by their having an extensive family network. In either case, an advisor can guide them on the best ways to accomplish their goals. What Advisors Can Learn From the Ultra-Wealthy An ultra-high-net worth client working with a financial advisor. One of the benefits of working with affluent clients is that they can teach you how to better serve them if you're receptive to the cues they're giving. You can also pick up on some of the strategies and practices these clients rely on to build and maintain wealth. Story continues Here are some of the most helpful things you can pick up through a career in ultra-high net worth management. Lesson #1: Don't assume a client has a plan. Every so often, a celebrity death makes headlines but not for the reasons you might think. There have been countless cases of ultra-wealthy celebrities who passed away without an estate plan in place, leading to financial chaos for those fighting for a share of their assets. Whether you work exclusively with ultra-high net worth clients or a mix of clients from different financial backgrounds, don't let assumptions lead you astray. When in doubt about the status of a client's estate plan or any other aspect of their financial plan, ask. A simple question can open the door to an important discussion that could help prevent complications later on. Lesson #2: Time is just as valuable as money. Ultra-wealthy clients may live busy lifestyles that leave no room for a wasted moment. As an advisor, the lesson you can learn from that is to treat every second of your interactions with clients with the greatest care and attention. That means being prepared, punctual and responsive to your clients' requests for information or assistance. If you're meeting with a prospective client for the first time, don't go into the meeting blind. Do your research beforehand so that you know who you're meeting and can better anticipate any questions they might have for you. Ideally, prospects and clients should walk away from their meetings with you feeling that it was time well spent. Lesson #3: You're not just working with one person. When you sit down with an affluent client to discuss their finances, they may be the only person in your office. But they're not the only individual that you're planning for. For instance, your client might have a spouse, children, grandchildren or other loved ones who have an interest in how their wealth is managed. Or they may be running a Fortune 500 company that employs hundreds of people who would be affected by any succession planning decisions your client makes. Other parties may not have a direct say in the decisions your client makes but they may feel the impacts of them all the same. When working with the ultra-wealthy, it's important to remember that the big picture may be much bigger than you think and that's something to account for as you shape their financial plans. Lesson #4: Risk must be respected and anticipated. Regardless of how a client obtains their wealth-whether it's through inheritance, marriage or building a successful business-they most likely have zero interest in losing it. As their advisor, it's your job to understand their boundaries for risk and what they are (or aren't) willing to do when it comes to managing their assets. There's another dimension to the risk discussion to consider as well. The ultra-wealthy may, by nature, be wary of receiving advice from advisors when there isn't a solid foundation of trust in place. That could be risky if they're forgoing recommendations that would ultimately benefit them and increase their wealth long-term. Taking time to cultivate trust with your clients by actively listening to what they have to say can help you overcome any reluctance on their part to take your advice. Your practice should be a safe space for your clients in which they can feel comfortable expressing their fears or doubts and asking questions as they arise. Lesson #5: You get what you pay for. It's a reality that one of the attractions of working with ultra-high net worth clients is the opportunity to increase your earnings. More assets under management means more fees you can collect. However, your clients expect you to deliver services that are equivalent in value. Affluent clients may not mind paying higher fees to you if you're delivering top-tier services and overdelivering above and beyond what you've told them you're going to do for them. That isn't necessarily measured in investment returns either. Superior customer service can go a long way toward gaining your clients' loyalty, even if investment returns sometimes fall short of projections. However, if you consistently overpromise and underdeliver that's a fast way to lose those clients. And remember, the wealthy talk to one another. If you're hoping to gain new referrals from your existing clients, you'll need to give them a reason to tell their friends about you. Bottom Line A financial advisor providing wealth management services for ultra-high net worth clients. Ultra-high net worth wealth management can be an extremely rewarding field if you know how to navigate it. Letting your clients act as a guide can increase your odds of success as you work to scale your firm. Tips for Growing Your Advisory Business Marketing can take up a significant portion of your daily advisor schedule, though it's not something you can afford to neglect if you're trying to grow your client base. If you're looking for a time-saving solution, you might consider using an online lead generation tool to attract new clients. SmartAdvisor, for instance, helps you connect with leads without having to spend half the day cold-calling or emailing prospects. Having a professional website can help to catch the eye of wealthy investors who may be searching for an advisor online. If you have yet to develop a site or are interested in revamping an existing site, researching examples of website design for financial advisors from top firms can yield some helpful ideas and inspiration. Photo credit: iStock/kali9, iStock/PonyWang, iStock/courtneyk The post What Advisors Can Learn From Ultra-Wealthy Clients appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset. Senior women in the Liberal Party are growing increasingly concerned about female representation as men dominate preselection battles ahead of the next election. A review of the Liberal Partys 2022 election loss, released one year ago, recommended a target of 50 per cent female representation within parliamentary ranks in 10 years. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and male colleagues during question time at Parliament House. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen But with preselections under way in Victoria and NSW, only one new woman, Mary Aldred, has been preselected in a Liberal-held seat, and top female members fear the federal partys record-low level of women MPs will not improve. In Victoria, just three women have been endorsed as candidates for the 13 lower house seats where preselections have been held. The Minns government has been warned that attempting to stop religious schools from hiring or firing staff because of their adherence to Christian ethos, including sexuality, would be a breach of religious freedoms. Religious groups including Catholic Schools NSW, Christian Schools Australia and the Presbyterian Church all argue that existing exemptions within the states Anti-Discrimination Act which allow private schools to discriminate on the basis of sexuality, marital status or gender should be retained because of their religious views. Church groups have argued that NSW laws allowing them to hire and fire staff based on their sexuality should not be changed. Credit: The demands from religious organisations to keep the exemptions in place signal a looming test for the Minns government as it seeks to balance their concerns with a push from key crossbench MP Alex Greenwich to prevent gay students and teachers from being expelled or fired by religious schools on the basis of their sexuality. The Minns government ordered the NSW Law Reform Commission to review the states decades-old Anti-Discrimination Act in July last year as Greenwich was preparing to introduce his omnibus Equality Bill into parliament. The legislation would, among other things, overturn the decades-old exemptions within the act. Its a leap of faith, isnt it? When you wave them off at the boarding gate and they disappear down the ramp, youre entrusting them to the care of strangers. Youre hoping theyll have a great flight, they wont get scared or worried and that theyll sit next to the worlds nicest grandmother but its out of your hands, and nagging thoughts might bubble away. Loading In 2001 British Airways instituted a policy banning adult male passengers from occupying a seat next to children under 15. Male passengers were asked to remove themselves from seats next to children. At the time the airline claimed it was simply responding to a request from customers but many men who were uprooted protested at the implicit assumption that they were a danger to the child for no other offence than being male. In 2010, after BA cabin crew forced a male passenger to change seats, the passenger sued the airline for sex discrimination, and costs and compensation were awarded to the complainant. In one of the more celebrated examples of overreach, a British Airways staff member attempted to separate Boris Johnson from his own children on a flight. Johnson hit back, accusing the airline of tarring the entire male population with the paedophile brush. If all men are to be regarded as potential paedophiles, why stop there, critics began asking? Why not ban men from sitting next to unrelated children on other forms of public transport? And in theatres, stadiums, and why not ban adult males from swimming pool change rooms when there are unaccompanied male children present? Should men also be banned from teaching children? Faced with a festering problem, in 2016 British Airways announced the discontinuation of its unaccompanied minors service. From that time on, children under 13 years old have not been allowed to travel alone on BA flights. Rome: Two hikers on snowshoes were killed by an avalanche in the Italian Alps near Switzerland, a rescue service said on Sunday. The avalanche occurred about noon on Sunday at the 2200-metre level in the Formazza valley in the Piedmont region, Italian alpine rescue service spokesperson Federico Catania said. Helicopters were used in the high-altitude search and recovery operation. Credit: AP The force of the avalanche pushed one of the victims into a lake near the bottom of the slope, while the other body was found in the mass of snow, he said. Despite strong winds, a helicopter was able to lower a rescue team aided by a dog unit. In early 1993, and against continued conflict in Northern Ireland, a series of clandestine meetings took place in a private house in Derry, the regions second city. These encounters involved representatives of the British Security Services (MI5/MI6) and senior figures in the IRA. Illustration by Jim Pavlidis Credit: At those face-to-face meetings, organised by three local individuals, the position of each side was explored and the prospects of establishing a pathway to a settlement were assessed, away from the glare of publicity. It was the start of what was to become one of the worlds most successful peace processes. Those meetings were the catalyst for the events that led to the Good Friday Agreement five years later. The meetings occurred at a time of heightened conflict, as well as the memorable comment in Westminster by then British prime minister John Major that it would turn his stomach to speak to the IRA. Yet when this back channel was exposed in the media, the reaction was different from what could be expected. The British cabinet minister responsible, Patrick Mayhew, offered his resignation, but it was soon realised that his sanctioning these meetings received widespread approval and even some plaudits from the opposition benches. The British public strongly supported and appreciated his efforts at securing peace. The obvious lesson is that peace can only come when political figures are prepared to take risks, and that the public will often understand. Is there anything here that could be read across to the current Gaza/Israeli conflict? Jerusalem/Amman: Top international diplomats discussed strategies on Sunday for keeping the Gaza war from spreading beyond Israel and the Palestinian territories, exactly three months after the start of the conflict, as Palestinian and Israel authorities claimed thousands of military and civilian deaths. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell, were on separate trips to the region to try to quell spillover from the three-month-old war into Lebanon, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Red Sea shipping lanes. Smoke rises over Gaza during Israeli bombardment as seen from the Israeli side of the border. Credit: Getty Israel and Hezbollah often trade fire across the Lebanese border, the West Bank is seething, and the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen seem determined to continue attacks on Red Sea shipping until Israel stops bombarding Palestinians in Gaza. Blinken was in Amman, Jordan, after stops in Turkey and Greece. Borrell was on a January 5-7 trip to Lebanon. Both told reporters their priority was quelling spillover from the fighting. Washington: Senior Biden administration leaders, top Pentagon officials and members of Congress were unaware for days that US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had been hospitalised since Monday, officials said, as questions swirled about his condition and the secrecy surrounding it. Austin, who is 70, sits just below US President Joe Biden at the top of the chain of command of the US military and his duties require him being available at a moments notice to respond to any manner of national security crisis. Lloyd Austins hospitalisation was not make public for five days. Credit: AP The Pentagon did not inform the White House National Security Council or top adviser Jake Sullivan of Austins hospitalisation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre in Bethesda, Maryland, until Thursday, according to two administration officials. The officials were not authorised to speak publicly about the matter and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The Pentagons failure to disclose Austins hospitalisation for days reflects a stunning lack of transparency about his illness, how serious it was and when he may be released. Such secrecy, at a time when the United States is juggling myriad national security crises, runs counter to normal practice with the president and other senior US officials and Cabinet members. Argentina's snub of the Brics developing economies may further strain relations with China but the bloc has "dodged a bullet", according to analysts. There has been uncertainty over the relationship between China and Argentina since far-right economist Javier Milei was elected president of the Latin American nation in November. While Milei has softened his tone recently, he had campaigned on breaking ties with China, stating that its people were "not free" and that Argentina would no longer work with nations "ruled by communism". Milei's China policy is a stark contrast to that of his centre-left predecessor Alberto Fernandez, who in 2022 signed onto Beijing's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative. His attendance at the Beijing Winter Olympics that year and the belt and road forum in October were seen as signs of growing ties. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. But Milei has made clear that his country's "geopolitical alignment" is with the United States and Israel, whose ongoing attack on Gaza has alienated much of the Global South. Milei - whose letter to Brics leaders in December said the moment was not "opportune" for Argentina to join as a full member - is seemingly fulfilling his pledge to ditch Fernandez's efforts to seek closer ties with developing economies. Javier Milei (centre) said in a letter to Brics leaders that the moment was not "opportune" for Argentina to join as a full member. Photo: Reuters alt=Javier Milei (centre) said in a letter to Brics leaders that the moment was not "opportune" for Argentina to join as a full member. Photo: Reuters> According to Josef Gregory Mahoney, a politics and international relations professor at East China Normal University in Shanghai, Beijing had anticipated that Argentina would join Brics, so its withdrawal was "a source of some embarrassment". Story continues But he said it would be Argentina that lost out over the decision. Argentina, which is facing a deepening economic crisis, was among six countries invited in August to join Brics - made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - to form an 11-nation bloc. Fernandez had endorsed joining the alliance as an opportunity to reach new markets. "I wouldn't really describe Argentina's decision as a setback for Brics or China - it's a setback for Argentina," Mahoney said. He added that Beijing had been eager to grow the bloc "in ways that balance different regional interests without alienating current members", given that some were "less enthusiastic about expansion". "Given the poor state of the Argentine economy and the damage that's being done to it by Milei's economic policies, his withdrawal is a blessing in disguise for the other Brics members - they've dodged a bullet," Mahoney said, adding that the radical libertarian was pursuing "shock therapy policies" such as a move to slash the value of the Argentine peso by over 50 per cent against the US dollar. According to Zhang Chi, associate lecturer of international relations at the University of St Andrews, Milei's decision on Brics reflects a broader concern among developing countries being pressured to choose between the US-led world order and alternative systems. "In the short term, Argentina's decision to pivot towards the West and align with the US, despite receiving goodwill from Chinese President Xi Jinping, may lead to a decrease in diplomatic and economic engagement with China," Zhang said. In November, Xi sent a congratulatory message to Milei on his election, saying he was ready to work with the new leader to "continue the China-Argentina friendship, help the development and revitalisation of our respective countries through win-win cooperation, and promote steady and far-reaching development of China-Argentina relations". "In the long term, if other Latin American countries follow Argentina's lead in re-evaluating their involvement in Brics, where China plays a major role, it could potentially weaken the bloc's regional economic influence and undermine China's growing influence in Latin America," Zhang said. "China has emerged as South America's foremost trading partner, wielding substantial influence through extensive foreign direct investments and lending, particularly in energy and infrastructure sectors via the belt and road," she said, noting that 21 South American nations had joined the initiative. Those links have worried Washington, while for Milei it has become imperative to "convey a more pronounced alignment with the US, particularly following his recent meetings with US officials", according to Zhang. "This shift signifies a deliberate departure from prior policies and a renewed emphasis on aligning with the US while taking a more assertive stance against China," she added. Mahoney likened Milei's style to that of former US president Donald Trump, especially his stated goal of strengthening bilateral ties with nations without going through international organisations like Brics. "Milei is a right-leaning populist who ran against the previous government's policies, which had pursued Brics membersship, and he also used Trump-style dog whistle tactics to demonise the Chinese government," said Mahoney, adding that his election victory "surprised pundits". Mahoney said Milei, like Trump, used "radical, populist messaging to appeal to deeply frustrated, polarised electorates who are fed up and willing to try something new". Xu Qinduo, a political analyst at the Chinese think tank Pangoal Institution, argued that had Argentina joined Brics it might have made the bloc more attractive to other Latin American countries. "Argentina is the second-largest economy in [South America] and remains a major agricultural power, despite its chronic economic crisis," Xu said. "Having it join Brics would make it more influential as a bloc of emerging economies and perhaps more representative of the Global South." Xu said some Latin American countries were concerned about being seen as "anti-West" by taking part in Brics, while others were focused on economic opportunities. Members benefit from loans from the New Development Bank established by Brics in 2014, and from more access to regional economies. Despite rejecting Brics and attempting to "demonstrate his loyalty to Washington", Xu said Milei was open to developing trade and investment ties in other ways. "There are reasons for Argentina to maintain trade ties with the Brics countries," Xu said. "Brazil, China and India are among its top five trading partners." This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. As every investor would know, not every swing hits the sweet spot. But really bad investments should be rare. So spare a thought for the long term shareholders of Ballard Power Systems Inc. (TSE:BLDP); the share price is down a whopping 87% in the last three years. That would certainly shake our confidence in the decision to own the stock. And the ride hasn't got any smoother in recent times over the last year, with the price 32% lower in that time. We really hope anyone holding through that price crash has a diversified portfolio. Even when you lose money, you don't have to lose the lesson. Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. See our latest analysis for Ballard Power Systems Ballard Power Systems isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth. Over the last three years, Ballard Power Systems' revenue dropped 12% per year. That's not what investors generally want to see. Having said that the 23% annualized share price decline highlights the risk of investing in unprofitable companies. This business clearly needs to grow revenues if it is to perform as investors hope. There's no more than a snowball's chance in hell that share price will head back to its old highs, in the short term. The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). TSX:BLDP Earnings and Revenue Growth January 7th 2024 Ballard Power Systems is well known by investors, and plenty of clever analysts have tried to predict the future profit levels. So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think Ballard Power Systems will earn in the future (free analyst consensus estimates) Story continues A Different Perspective Investors in Ballard Power Systems had a tough year, with a total loss of 32%, against a market gain of about 6.8%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 2% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Ballard Power Systems better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Ballard Power Systems you should know about. If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Canadian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Carrier Global implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price 51% of the business is held by the top 5 shareholders Recent sales by insiders To get a sense of who is truly in control of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE:CARR), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 88% to be precise, is institutions. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Carrier Global, beginning with the chart below. Check out our latest analysis for Carrier Global What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Carrier Global? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Carrier Global. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Carrier Global, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Carrier Global. The company's largest shareholder is Capital Research and Management Company, with ownership of 28%. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 10% and 6.7%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. Story continues On looking further, we found that 51% of the shares are owned by the top 5 shareholders. In other words, these shareholders have a meaningful say in the decisions of the company. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Carrier Global The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Carrier Global Corporation in their own names. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own US$63m worth of shares. Arguably recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 12% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Carrier Global better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Carrier Global , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. And after dinner, David said to Stephen, Play Willy (Nashs nickname), that song that we were just doing, and because the Buffalo Springfield (rock band) had broken up and because David had been thrown out of The Byrds they were trying to get a duo kind of thing together. Sadly though, suburban Athenians are committed drivers, meaning that while most of the new neighbourhood itself will be car-free, the anticipated one million foreign visitors annually, as well as the hundreds of new residents and workers at the anticipated 75,000 new jobs created by the development are likely to add an even heavier traffic burden to the surrounding roads. They should stop wasting time on this costly charade and adopt Labours plan to go after the criminal smuggling gangs, negotiating new security arrangements with Europe to better protect our borders and set up a new returns unit to ensure those with no right to be in the UK are swiftly removed. Obviously its something that happened in the 90s but actually seeing it and hearing about it again just shows what an appalling miscarriages of justice it is for everyone affected and its important that those people now get the justice they deserve, and thats what the compensation schemes are about. The Winchendon CAC is making the former Playaway Lanes available for public bowling on Fridays and Saturdays, with all proceeds going to support the nonprofit's programs in the community. 5 The Winchendon Community Action Committee is making the former Playaway Lanes at 5 Summer Drive available for public bowling on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons, and is also available to rent for private parties and events. All proceeds will help operate the lanes and fund the CACs programs. The CAC looked for a new place because it had outgrown their Central Street location, according to Executive Director Miranda Jennings. So, when the dormant bowling alley, a few blocks away in the Winchendon Works Community Hub building, became available in August, it jumped at the chance to move in. NOLA Cajun Kitchen owners Robert and Judy Nguyen 378 When Robert and Judy Nguyen opened NOLA Cajun Kitchen in West Boylston in 2019 they werent sure whether their dishes, heavy with New Orleans-style flavors, would strike the perfect savory notes for the areas foodies. Five years later, their food has proven to be a hit. Wednesday, the couple will expand to a second, much bigger location in Shrewsbury near Route 9. The new location will be found inside a space at MarketPlace Shrewsbury, 378 Maple Ave., which will dwarf the original location by five times, with 40 indoor seats and 10 outdoor spots. EggHolic expects to open next week. 15 An Indian-cuisine restaurant chain opened its first location in Massachusetts in January at a plaza off Route 9. EggHolic, a restaurant with about 15 locations across the country and Canada, opened Jan. 5 with a menu inspired by Indian street food often served out of street carts known as lahris in India. Kush Patel, who lives in Ohio, said he and his father-in-law, Bharatkumar Patel, of the Shrewsbury area, have partnered to run the location. EggHolic will open its doors in one of the spaces of MarketPlace Shrewsbury, a multispace retail plaza at 378 Maple Ave., once home to Price Chopper. Pauline and James Yantsides are retiring as owners of the Kenmore Diner. 50 James Yantsides, owner of the Kenmore Diner in Worcester, is retiring after 50 years in the hospitality business. In celebration of the Kenmores Diners 50th anniversary, Yantsides and his wife, Pauline, will say their final goodbyes from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 15 at the diner. Yantsides sold the business to Christon Paddock of Auburn, who will officially take over on the closing date, Jan. 16. Yantsides remains owner of the building. Yantsides said he chose Paddock because he felt she was a good fit for the diner. New owner, same diner name, he said. Story continues Christmas Tree Shops in Shrewsbury 1000 Don't you just love a bargain? Christmas Tree Shops across the country may have closed their doors, but pieces of the Shrewsbury store have hit the auction block and could soon be yours, for the right price. Shelving, displays, registers, printers, phones, computers and even employee lockers are among the nearly 200 items listed for auction by Grafe Auctions. After 50 years in business, the retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May, closing stores across the country, including the 1000 Boston Turnpike location. An in-person preview will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Jan. 9 at the former store. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Central Mass. by the Numbers For the 20 years after moving from University City to live in France for work, Anne and Bob Spencer never lost contact with friends and family in St. Louis. So, when Bob retired in 2013, it was an easy decision to return to their hometown. Several friends here were living in the St. Regis across the street from the Chase Hotel, and when one phoned Anne in France to inform her a residence in the building had just been listed, Anne asked if they would inspect it. The report was that it was nicer than their unit, and we should buy it, Anne recalls. We closed within 72 hours, having never seen it ourselves. Now, after being residents for 10 years, the Spencers still retain an infectious enthusiasm about their decision to move into the St. Regis. This is more of a community unto itself than just a place to live, Anne says, naming new neighbor friends they have made, along with old friends who live there. Bob even enjoys seeing younger people becoming residents. Several are in their 20s and 30s, he says, adding that they keep him young at heart. After purchasing the 2,800 square foot condo, they made a few improvements. The kitchen was gutted and built anew. Carpeting was removed from the living room and front parlor, revealing a wood floor that was subsequently sanded and stained. Then the entire unit was freshly painted. Crown molding is found throughout the home. Built-in display cabinets, a marble fireplace, plantation shutters and wood parquet floors are architectural highlights. A surprise awaits in the guest coat closet; where the back wall is, a large stained-glass window overlooks the atrium entrance to the building. Much of their furniture accompanied them on the move to France, and then back to the St. Regis. Many of our upholstered pieces have been inherited and have had many different iterations, Anne explains. Chairs, couches and tables are from grand and great grandparents on both sides of their families. Some cherished mementos are from old friends. A floral painting over the marble fireplace mantel in the living room is by Luxembourg native Marie-Louise Rouff. She painted it when she was a neighbor in University City in the 1980s. Rouff now has her studio on Marthas Vineyard. In the foyer, two paintings are by internationally renowned Pakistani painter and poet Raja Changez Sultan, whom the couple met through a friend in 1999. Another heirloom is a framed oil portrait of Bobs great grandfather who lived from 1741 until 1853. A treasure from Annes family is a Wedgwood bowl hand-painted by her relatives in England in the early 1900s. At the time it was a family tradition, Anne says. A recent memento is a framed collage of hundreds of tiny, 1-inch square photographs depicting different events in Bobs career at Webster University. Unveiled and presented to him on his retirement, the art transitions into his unmistakable portrait when viewed from a distance. At the end of a very long center hallway that bisects the residence, Bob has turned a long-ago maids quarters into his above-ground man-cave. The cozy space is filled with his grandfathers wooden roll-top desk and credenza, and maps, art and flags that have been meaningful in his life. The hallway itself is more like a linear museum, with framed art decorating the walls along its entire length. Important to the Spencers lifestyle is the proximity of the St. Regis to some of St. Louis major attractions. He rides his 21-speed, three-wheel adult tricycle bike in Forest Park, and Anne walks the mile to Washington University to attend adult education classes. They both walk to doctors appointments at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Anne meets friends for coffee several days a week at one of the many eateries nearby. A branch of the main library is across the street, as are the Straubs and Whole Foods grocery stores. Furthermore, a daughter who visits from Indianapolis with two dogs stays at the Chase, which accommodates four-legged family members. An unexpected benefit is the view of the movie marquee outside the theater in the Chase Hotel, which is easily seen from several windows. We can see what is playing and decide at the spur of the moment to go! Anne says. Anne and Bob Spencer Ages: He is 81, and she is 79. Occupations: For the 20 years before retiring at Webster University in 2013, Bob was the director of European campuses for the school, and the couple lived in Provence, France. He had been with the school for 40 years. Before moving overseas, Anne was the head of school at Crossroads College Prep School in the Central West End. While in France she had her own business as a counselor assisting students outside the United States interested in applying for admission to colleges in North America. Home: The St. Regis in the Central West End. They continue to maintain a summer home in Provence, spending several months a year there in the quaint village of Vaison-la-Romaine, a medieval town famous for its rich Roman ruins and cathedral. Family: A married son in Berkeley, California, is a lawyer and has two children. A married daughter in Indianapolis is a veterinarian. Photos: At Home with Anne and Bob Spencer in St. Louis' St. Regis building on Lindell Millennials, you can delay traditional markers of adulthood all you want, but your face doesnt care whether or not youve bought your first home. It does care, however, how often you sunbathed and bummed cigarettes in your younger years. You can certainly show off those fine lines and gray hairs with pride. Getting older is a gift, after all. But its OK to want to slow the process down to look as young as you feel. And for that, millennials are embracing cosmetic procedures that need little to no recovery time. According to a January 2020 article in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, millennials outspend baby boomers 2-to-1 on self-care, including aesthetic medicine. Younger adults, the article states, have embraced the prejuvenation trend getting less invasive procedures like injectables earlier to push back the need for more intense cosmetic procedures later on. Freezing and filling your face comes at a cost, though, especially since you need to get these treatments on an ongoing basis to keep up the effect. This is no small commitment. Each visit to the dermatologists office can start at a few hundred dollars. The cost of cosmetic dermatology The current average cost of botulinum toxin injections (this includes Botox, Dysport, Jeuveau and other brands) is $528, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dermal filler treatments, including Juvederm Ultra, Voluma and Restylane, start at an average of $794. Laser skin resurfacing, which addresses concerns like acne scarring and sun damage, costs an average of $1,489. But prices vary depending on where you live, what treatments you choose and who performs the procedures. Be prepared to pay more if you live in a high-cost area. Keep in mind that none of these are one-and-done procedures if youre happy with the result and want to continue. The aging process never stops, says Dr. Chris Adigun, a dermatologist in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. No matter what you do, youre going to be doing it for a while. Preventive care: The ultimate way to save Taking care of your skin can delay the appearance of issues like fine lines and sun damage. You cannot overstate the importance of skin quality. Youre more likely to get that line on your skin if your skin is dehydrated and you frown, says Dr. Mary Lupo, a dermatologist in New Orleans. Yes, Botox helps prevent etched-in lines from becoming etched-in, but quality of skin is the most important thing. Some good habits cost nothing at all: dont smoke, limit alcohol consumption, stay out of the sun and sleep on your back to avoid squishing your face against your pillow. Your skin care regimen doesnt need to be overly complicated. You can stick to a trifecta of sunscreen, retinol and vitamin C serum, according to Dr. DiAnne Davis, a dermatologist in Dallas. These products are available at a variety of price points, and you can opt for drugstore brands if high-end products arent in your budget. Lupo recommends bringing your products to your dermatologist to get their opinion. You may be inadvertently using two products that cancel out each others benefits, which would be a waste of money. Getting the most bang for your buck on treatments If youre ready for more intense procedures, there are ways you can spend wisely. (And if youre wondering, no, for strictly cosmetic treatments you cannot harness the tax savings of a health or flexible spending account.) First, work with your dermatologist to craft a treatment plan that meets your goals and budget. A skilled injector can provide an honest take on what treatments you can skip, or use lightly, for now. According to Lupo, excessive filler when youre young can actually make you look older. Just one syringe injected strategically, she says, can make a noticeable impact. Join your dermatology practices email list for notifications about special offers. Sometimes specific products or services go on sale, or you may be able to stock up on discounted gift cards for future treatment. Davis advises against skin care devices that make it possible to perform treatments on yourself at home, such as hyaluronic acid pens you can inject into your own face. These devices can cost hundreds of dollars and may not be as effective as in-office treatments. It may seem like youre saving money, but those dollars might be better spent with a professional. When to see a plastic surgeon instead Dermatologists focus on skin quality, but for some cosmetic concerns, a plastic surgeon could be more appropriate, and for the cost, youre more likely to get your desired result. Both Davis and Adigun suggest plastic surgery when patients want to treat sagging skin, while Lupo recommends it when a patient needs their nose fixed for any reason, has severe fat pads under their eyes or wants to correct a recessed jawline with surgery or a chin implant. Even after plastic surgery, you may still choose to work with a dermatologist on other cosmetic issues. Its a partnership. I love my plastic surgeons, Adigun says. I cant do what they do. I need them. Sara Rathner writes for NerdWallet. Email: srathner@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @sarakrathner. The article Forever Young? The Cost of Literally Keeping Your Chin up originally appeared on NerdWallet. ST. CHARLES COUNTY Missouri Attorney General Andrew Baileys suit against the Wentzville Board of Education over discussing transgender bathrooms in closed session will continue, a judge ruled last week. The suit is one small skirmish in the culture wars that have been roiling the country and the state over the last few years. At issue in the case are two meetings the board held last June and July. In both meetings, members went into closed session away from the public to discuss the matter with their attorney, Patrick Brazill. Two board members, Jennifer Olson and Renee Henke, contacted the attorney generals office saying they thought that part of the meetings should have been open, and filed affidavits about it. A third member of the board, David Lewis, also said he had filed an affidavit, but his was not included in the suit. In both meetings, the board members met in private for about 10 to 15 minutes about drafting a legal policy about transgender students using restrooms and locker rooms. The board argued in November that the case should be dismissed because it took no votes or other action during the two closed sessions, and that it was proper to close the meetings because the board discussed legal matters pertaining to the issue with its attorney. On Thursday, St. Charles Circuit Court Judge Deborah J. Alessi ruled that the states case had the necessary elements to continue moving forward. When Chinas BYD recently overtook Elon Musks Tesla as the global leader in sales of electric vehicles, casual observers of the auto industry might have been surprised. But whats caught other carmakers around the world off-guard is something else about BYD, which is backed by Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway: its low prices. No one can match BYD on price. Period, Michael Dunne, CEO of Asia-focused car consultancy Dunne Insights, told the Financial Times. Boardrooms in America, Europe, Korea and Japan are in a state of shock. BYD can keeps its costs low in part because it owns the entire supply chain of its EV batteries, from the raw materials to the finished battery packs. That matters because a battery accounts for about 40% of a new electric vehicles price. While BYD cars are not yet a common sight on American roads, many experts believe its only a matter of time, despite the high tariffs that help keep them at bay for now. Currently in the U.S., made-in-China EVs are subject to a 25% tariff, which goes atop a 2.5% tariff on imported cars. But if BYD or other Chinese carmakers were to come in with a $20,000 car, noted Dunne, theyd still be a good position despite the high tariffs, given that the average price of a new car in the U.S. this year is about $48,000. BYD launched an EV called the Seagull with a cutthroat price of about $11,000 last year in China, where it quickly became one of the bestselling EVs. But it is overseas that the EV could be a truly disruptive force, wrote the UK-based market intelligence firm Autovista Group. Even today, BYDs Dolphin hatchback starts at $33,000 in Britain, according to Reuters, or nearly 30% below the starting price of the VWs rival ID.3 hatchback. But BYD is planning to export much cheaper models to markets around the world, including Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia. And over the past three years, Chinas EV exports have jumped 851%, the New York Times reported in October. Story continues As for the U.S., BYD may enter from south of the border. In Mexico, the company is scouting locations for a new manufacturing plant, according to the FT. Mexico has a free trade agreement with the U.S. and Canada. In November, House lawmakers warned about Chinese giants like BYD gaining a back door to the U.S. market through the southern neighbor. Last year, Ford Motor executive chairman Bill Ford Jr. warned that American automakers are not quite yet ready to compete with Chinese rivals on EVs. They developed very quickly, and theyve developed them in large scale, and now they are exporting, he told CNN. They are not here, but they will come here we think at some point. BYD also has the advantage of its founder and CEO Wang Chuanfu, a relentless cost-cutter whom the late Charlie MungerBuffetts long-time partner at Berkshiredescribed in one of his final interviews last year. On the Acquired podcast, Munger said that Wang could look at somebodys part in the morning and in the afternoon he could make it. Ive never seen anybody like thatHe is a natural engineer and a get-it-done-type production executive, and thats a big talent to have in one place. He added, The guy at BYD is better at actually making things than Elon is. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com If Colorado and Maine are allowed to keep Donald Trump off their ballots, Missouri and other states could use the precedents to remove Joe Biden, too, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft suggested Saturday. The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing a Colorado Supreme Court ruling that former President Trumps name could not appear on the states Republican primary ballot because his actions leading up to the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, amounted to insurrection. Ashcrofts comments follow his Friday post to X, formerly Twitter: While I expect the Supreme Court to overturn this, if not, Secretaries of State will step in & ensure the new legal standard for @realDonaldTrump applies equally to @JoeBiden! Reached at his home Saturday, Ashcroft said if the U.S. Supreme Court does not rule in favor of Trump, We will have further conversations, Im sure. Im not in favor of going down this path, Ashcroft said. But we will go down this path, its inevitable, if the Supreme Court does not stop this. Ashcroft is in a tight race to be the Republican nominee for governor this year, running against Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and state Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring. The primary will be held Aug. 6. Response from Democrats was swift. State Rep. Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, who is running for governor, described Ashcrofts statements as clear and utter nonsense. Matthew Patterson, executive director of the Missouri Democratic Party, said, Secretary Ashcrofts implication that he would have grounds to remove President Biden from the ballot only further demonstrates that he is unserious about making Missourians lives better and remains committed to sowing chaos and dysfunction for his own political gain. If the U.S. Supreme Court does decide that Trumps name could legally be kept from the ballot, Republican secretaries of state might seek to bar President Joe Biden for reasons including allowing an invasion of immigrants into the country, Ashcroft said. As Missouris secretary of state, My job is to be the referee of the administration of elections, my job is not to put the thumb down on either side, Ashcroft said. The rules will be applied equally. I just hope they will not be the rules of Colorado and Maine. Maines secretary of state, a Democrat, ruled last month that Trump could not be on that states Republican primary ballot for the same reason. And in Illinois last week, a group of five voters making similar arguments filed a petition with the states board of elections to keep Trump off the Illinois primary election ballot in March. The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Friday it would review the Colorado court decision, made last month. Article IV of the Constitution says that the United States will protect the states from invasion but does not prohibit officials from holding office if they fail to do so. The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution bars anyone from being in Congress, the military and federal and state offices if they have taken an oath to support the Constitution and have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same. Scholars agree the provision was written to keep people who had fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War from holding office. But amendments to the Constitution are widely understood to be the law of the land in all circumstances. Ashcroft, who is a lawyer, said in his view the decisions in Colorado and Maine were partisan and not supported by the Constitution or the rule of law. If upheld, he said, political parties would be able to keep their opponents off the ballots for not just president, but for all elected positions. In addition, Ashcroft said, Trump has never been found guilty of insurrection in any court, so acting on the presumption that he engaged in insurrection without a trial deprives him of due process. Ashcroft said he plans to file an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court. WASHINGTON In the follow-up to their 2018 bestseller "How Democracies Die," authors Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky write about three rules that political parties must follow: accept the results of fair elections, reject the use of violence to gain power and break ties to extremists. In the aftermath of the 2020 election, they write, only one U.S. political party "violated all three." On Saturday, the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, former President Donald Trump remained the leading Republican candidate in 2024. He still refuses to acknowledge his 2020 loss to President Joe Biden. Far from rejecting the rioters, he suggested he would pardon some of those convicted of violent crimes. Rather than distance himself from extremists, he welcomes them at his rallies and calls them patriots. Trump is now backed by many of the Republican leaders who fled for their lives and hid from the rioters, even some who had condemned Trump. Several top GOP leaders have endorsed his candidacy. The support for Trump starkly highlights the divisions in the aftermath of the deadly storming of the Capitol and frames the question about whose definition of governance will prevail or if democracy will prevail at all. "If our political leaders do not stand up in defense of democracy, our democracy won't be defended," said Levitsky, one of the Harvard professors whose new book is "Tyranny of the Minority." "There's no country in the world, no country on Earth in history, where the politicians abdicated democracy but the institutions held," he told The Associated Press. "People have to defend democracy." The third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack comes during the most convulsive period in American politics in at least a generation, with Congress barely able to keep up with the basics of governing, and the start of the presidential nominating contests just over a week away. Trump's persistent false claims that the election of 2020 was stolen which were rejected in at least 60 court cases, every state election certification and by the former president's one-time attorney general continue to animate the presidential race as he eyes a rematch with Biden. Trump now faces more than 90 criminal charges in federal and state courts, including the federal indictment brought by special counsel Jack Smith that accused Trump of conspiring to defraud the U.S. over the election. Biden, speaking Friday near Pennsylvania's Valley Forge, commemorated Jan. 6, saying on that day "we nearly lost America lost it all." While Congress returned that night to certify the election results and show the world democracy was still standing, Biden said Trump is now trying to revise the narrative of what happened that day calling the rioters "patriots" and promising to pardon them. And he said some Republicans in Congress were complicit. "When the attack on Jan. 6 happened, there was no doubt about the truth," Biden said. "Now these MAGA voices who know the truth about Trump and Jan. 6 have abandoned the truth and abandoned the democracy." At a quieter Capitol, without much ceremony planned for Saturday, it will be the last time the anniversary passes before Congress is called upon again on Jan. 6, 2025, to certify the results of the presidential election democracy once more put to the test. Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Maryland Democrat who led Trump's impeachment over the insurrection, said Biden's 306-232 electoral victory in 2020 remains "the hard, inescapable, irradicable fact that Donald Trump and his followers have not been able to accept to this day." Raskin envisions a time when there will be a Capitol exhibit, and tours for visitors, to commemorate what happened on Jan. 6, 2021. Five people died during the riot and the immediate aftermath, including Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by police. All told,140 police officers were injured in the Capitol siege, including U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who died later. Several others died later by suicide. One officer, Harry Dunn, announced he is running for Congress to "ensure it never happens again." Trump's decision to reject the results of the 2020 election was the only time Americans have not witnessed the peaceful transfer of presidential power, a hallmark of U.S. democracy. Trump opened his first rally of his 2024 presidential campaign with a popular recording of the J6 Prison Choir riot defendants singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" recorded over a phone line from jail, interspersed with Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. More than 1,200 people have been charged in the riot, with nearly 900 convicted, including leaders of the extremist groups the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who are serving lengthy terms for seditious conspiracy. Trump called Jan. 6 defendants "hostages" and said there was so much love at the "Stop the Steal" rally he held near the White House that day before he encouraged the mob to march down Pennsylvania Avenue, assuring he would be with them at the Capitol, though he never did join. Allies of Trump scoff at the narrative of Jan. 6 that has emerged. Mike Davis, a Trump ally sometimes mentioned as a future attorney general, mocked the Democrats and others for turning Jan. 6 into a "religious holiday." Republican Kevin McCarthy, who went on to become House speaker, called Jan. 6 the "saddest day" he ever had in Congress. But the California Republican, who retired last month, endorsed Trump for president and said he would consider joining his Cabinet. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has said he would back whomever becomes the Republican Party nominee, despite a scathing speech at the time in which he called Trump's actions "disgraceful" and said the rioters "had been fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on Earth because he was angry he lost an election." Asked about Trump's second-term agenda, GOP lawmakers brushed off his admission that he would be a dictator on "day one." "He's joking," said Trump ally Byron Donalds, R-Fla. The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2024 1. West Virginia 2. Montana 3. Ohio 4. Pennsylvania 5. Arizona 6. Nevada 7. Wisconsin 8. Michigan 9. Texas 10. Florida Analysis: Pennsylvania moves up list of contested Senate seats in 2024 JERUSALEM An Israeli man was fatally shot at a busy intersection in the West Bank on Sunday, hours after a violent confrontation elsewhere in the Israeli-occupied territory left seven Palestinians and a member of Israels paramilitary border police dead. In Sundays drive-by shooting, assailants fired through the victims front windshield, the Magen David Adom rescue service said. Paramedics arriving at the scene in the central West Bank found the man unresponsive in his car. The Israeli army said security forces were searching the area for the shooter. Israeli media reported that security forces found an abandoned car that was likely used to carry out the attack, and the suspect fled on foot. Hours earlier, a deadly confrontation erupted when Israeli security forces were on patrol to search for roadside bombs in Jenin, a town and adjacent refugee camp by the same name in the northern West Bank. A roadside bomb exploded near a vehicle of the paramilitary border police, killing a policewoman and wounding three others, police said. An Israeli military helicopter targeted Palestinians in the area who were throwing explosives at Israeli vehicles and extracted the Israeli forces, the Israeli army said. Seven Palestinians were killed in the airstrike, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Mujahhid Nazal, a doctor at nearby clinic, said he heard a strong explosion and rushed to the scene of the airstrike. It was a really dire situation, seven young men were lying on the ground," he said. The events followed a dramatic surge in deadly military raids and increase in restrictions on Palestinian residents across the West Bank during the Israel-Hamas war. Violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the territory has also reached record highs, according to the United Nations. The Palestinian Health Ministry says Israeli forces have killed 329 Palestinians in the West Bank since Hamas cross-border attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, in which 1,200 people were killed and roughly 250 were taken hostage. Most of the Palestinians were killed during shootouts in the West Bank that the Israeli military says began during operations to arrest Palestinian gunmen. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. Four days of waiting in UNC Hospitals psychiatric emergency room left Callum Bradford desperate for an answer to one key question. With knots in his stomach, the transgender teen asked: Will I be placed in a girls unit? Yes. The answer provoked one of the worst anxiety attacks Callum had ever experienced. Sobbing into the hospital phone, he informed his parents, who fought to reverse the decision they warned would cause their son greater harm. Although they succeeded in blocking the transfer, the family had few options when a second overdose landed Callum back in UNCs emergency room a few months later. When the 17-year-old learned he was again scheduled to be sent to a girls' inpatient ward, he told doctors the urge to hurt himself was becoming uncontrollable. The exchange is documented in hospital records given by the family to The Associated Press. I had an immense amount of regret that I had even come to that hospital, because I knew that I wasnt going to get the treatment that I needed, Callum said. As the political debate over health care for transgender youth has intensified across the U.S., elected officials and advocates who oppose gender-affirming medical procedures for minors have often said parents are not acting in their childrens best interest when they seek such treatment. Major medical associations say the treatments are safe and warn of grave mental health consequences for children forced to wait to access puberty-blocking drugs, hormones and, in rare cases, surgeries. Youth and young adults ages 1024 account for about 15% of all suicides, and research shows LGBTQ+ high school students have higher rates of attempted suicide than their peers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. North Carolina lacks uniform hospital treatment standards and runs low on money and staff with proper training to treat transgender kids. Sending a transgender child to a unit that does not align with their gender identity should be out of the question, said Dr. Jack Turban, director of the gender psychiatry program at the University of California, San Francisco, and a researcher of quality care barriers for trans youth in inpatient facilities. If you dont validate the trans identity from day one, their mental healths going to get worse, Turban said. When North Carolina lawmakers allocated $835 million to shore up mental health infrastructure earlier this year, none of the money was allocated to meet the specific needs of trans patients. A nationwide dearth of pediatric psychiatric beds has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic as an unprecedented number of people sought emergency mental health services, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Demand has yet to fall back to pre-pandemic levels. North Carolina is short about 400 youth psychiatric beds, leaving UNC with no choice but to send patients to other facilities, even those that cannot accommodate specific needs, said Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody, chair of the UNC Department of Psychiatry. We have no choice but to refer people to the next available bed, she said. UNC declined to comment on Callums case, despite the familys willingness to waive its privacy rights. But Meltzer-Brody broadly addressed barriers to gender-affirming treatment for all psychiatric patients. The public hospital systems policy recommends inpatient assignments based on a patients self-identified gender when feasible. But with the ER overrun in recent years, Meltzer-Brody said meeting that goal is a challenge. The LGBTQ+ civil rights organization Lambda Legal says denying someone access to a gender-affirming room assignment is identity-based discrimination. Parents including Callums father, Dan Bradford, describe feeling helpless while their children are receiving psychiatric care involuntarily, which isnt uncommon after attempted suicide. A psychiatrist himself, Dan Bradford has always supported his sons medical transition, which began with puberty-blocking drugs, followed by a low dose of testosterone that he still takes. Eventually, Callum underwent top surgery to remove his breasts. Irreversible procedures like surgery are rarely performed on minors, and even then only when doctors determine its necessary. In Callums case, the gender dysphoria was so strong that not pursuing gender-affirming medical treatments, like pretty quickly, was going to be life-threatening, his father said. North Carolina law bars medical professionals from providing hormones, puberty blockers and gender-transition surgeries to anyone under 18. Callum was able to continue treatment because he began it before an August cut-off date. When these public policies are discussed or passed, that sends a really strong message to these kids that their government, their society and their community either accepts them and validates them or doesnt, said Turban, the psychiatry researcher at UC San Francisco. Fearing the plan to place his son in a girls ward would be deeply traumatizing, Dan Bradford secured a spot at a residential treatment center in Georgia. He has since returned home and for the first time in years, hes thinking about his future. Although he said his experiences eroded his trust in the states inpatient care network, he is optimistic that new resources could give others a more gender-affirming experience, if theyre paired with policy changes. Im still here, and Im happy to be here, he said. Thats all I want for all my trans friends. Here's how to support transgender youth, according to trans teens Here's how to support transgender youth, according to trans teens Round and round it goes; where it stops nobody knows. As our democracy is circling the drain, so goes the rationales and excuses for not stopping former President Donald Trump from holding the highest office again. Americans should welcome the courts stepping in an attempt to stop chaotic doom loop. Just before Christmas, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump is disqualified from holding the presidency under the Constitutions so-called insurrection clause and ordered the secretary of state to exclude his name from the states Republican presidential primary ballot. The landmark decision found that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment disqualifies Trump from returning to the White House due to his conduct surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Critics of the decision cite the ruling as shutting down the democratic process and say the only way to beat Trump is at the ballot box. I disagree with that argument because Trump was already defeated at the ballot box in 2020 and it was his refusal to accept the results that led to the events of Jan. 6, 2021 and ushered the country down this path. So lets play that argument out. If Trump is the Republican nominee and loses the 2024 general election, is there anyone naive enough to think he will concede and accept the democratic results of another free and fair election? There would be no end to this vicious cycle. One more example of Trumps undemocratic unwillingness to accept his defeat came just three days after the Colorado Supreme Court ruling. Craig Mauger of the Detroit News published a story about a phone call which took place on Nov. 17, 2020, in which Trump reportedly pressured two GOP canvassers in Wayne County, Michigan, not to certify the heavily Democratic countys 2020 election results. Trump reportedly said: Weve got to fight for our country We cant let these people take our country away from us. Everybody knows Detroit is crooked as hell. The RNC Chair and fellow Michigander was also on the call. McDaniel reportedly told the two officials: Do not sign it. We will get you attorneys. Ty Cobb, who once served as an attorney for Trump, told Politicos Playbook he thought the phone call recording was a likely a violation of the federal honest services fraud statute, and shows the depths to which Trump personally participated in fraudulently pimping the big lie. There is little reason to think Trump would not continue these illegal and immoral tactics should he lose again in 2024. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who relinquished his responsibility as a check and balance by refusing to convict Trump after his second impeachment in early 2021, also advocated back then that courts deal with Trump. McConnell suggested that the former leader of his party was still liable in criminal and civil court for his actions surrounding the deadly riot on Jan. 6. Right after he voted to acquit the impeached Trump for inciting an insurrection, McConnell gave a speech on the Senate floor in which he stressed that impeachment was never meant to be the final forum for American justice. Put another way, said McConnell, President Trump is still liable for everything he did while he was in office. Trump didnt get away with anything yet. But three years after the events of Jan. 6, Trump has still managed to get away with it. By leaving the judgment in the hands of voters again, Trump will continue to escape accountability. The Colorado Supreme Court ballot case will most likely be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Especially since Maines secretary of state subsequently joined Colorado in barring Trump from the ballot. On the other hand, Michigan and California have decided Trump can remain on their ballots. The U.S. Supreme Court is also likely to take up the case of whether Trump is immune from prosecution on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 election. There is the federal Jan. 6 case in which Trump was indicted on four charges: one count of conspiracy to violate rights, one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, and one count each of obstructing an official proceeding and conspiring to do so. There is also the Georgia election-interference trial. Whether these cases and trials help Trump politically with Republican primary voters should not be a factor in whether they should either be heard or ruled upon. If as a country we believe in the rule of law, then we need to follow the rules of the law, under the guidance of the justice system. While I am not predicting an outcome of the rulings by the highest court in our land or the jury trials, I embrace the opportunity for the courts to weigh in and potentially stop this illogical and illegal circularity. In this critical moment, we must confront the forces of hate and bigotry that are gaining ground in our nation, particularly in Missouri. It's striking to observe the preoccupation of our Republican representatives in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C., with matters related to sexuality. In the Missouri Legislature, more than 20 pre-filed bills are aimed at restricting LGBTQ rights, trans rights, racial equity, and other critical cultural issues. Even when the public outcry led to a reversal in the Francis Howell School District's decision to remove Black studies, the agenda of Missouri Republicans remains steadfast. One cannot help but wonder: What is driving this fear and resistance to discussions surrounding gender identity and diversity in our schools? Why do they oppose counselors addressing these important topics with our students? These questions are perplexing, indeed. Furthermore, our state is witnessing attempts to curtail healthcare choices for women, a move that the majority of people disagree with. Our legislators seem convinced that they know what's best for us, even as they advocate for government intrusion into our most private spaces, whether it be our bedrooms, our children's locker rooms, or our doctor's offices. Notably, men significantly outnumber women in the Missouri Legislature, creating an imbalance in representation. Ironically, we constantly hear Republicans championing the cause of "freedom," but freedom from what, exactly? Is the measure of their commitment to freedom determined by who can ban the most books? It's high time that Republicans focus on their own affairs and cease their unwarranted interference in our personal lives. Lois Creamer Kirkwood CHUXIONG, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The First Chuxiong Fashion Week Gala was held in Chuxiong Grand Theater in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province of China, on the evening of January 5, which highlighted the ethnic costumes culture in Yunnan. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240107914064/en/ The First Chuxiong Fashion Week Gala was held in Chuxiong, Yunnan Province of China, on January 5, highlighted the ethnic costumes culture in Yunnan. (Photo: Business Wire) The ceremony kicked off with melodious and graceful singing, followed by three chapters: "Dreaming Back a Thousand Years," "Hand in Hand with Fashion," and "Guardian." These performances allowed the audience to visually experience the charm of ethnic clothing and fashion. At the same time, the event announced the list of units, enterprises, and designers who received the inaugural Chuxiong Fashion Week Contribution Award. Additionally, the "Xinhua Chuxiong Fashion Week Index" was launched. Nearly all of China's national-level major media and Yunnan's local media conducted live online broadcasts of the splendid event, attracting over 20 million online viewers. According to the organizer, the gala is one of the events in the series of the first edition of China Chuxiong Fashion Week, which focuses on showcasing ethnic costumes culture and utilizes fashion as a medium. Its purpose is to promote cultural exchange and mutual learning among various ethnic groups, strengthen cultural identity among people of different ethnicities, and enhance communication and integration among them. The 7-day Fashion Week event is a fresh fusion of "Chinese style" and "global style," inspiring a brand-new charm. While showcasing the inherent beauty of clothing from different ethnic groups, it promotes mutual inclusiveness and learning among various cultures, allowing the world to appreciate the harmony within. The Fashion Week presented a visual feast and a profound experience of ethnic culture. The event received support from countries such as Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, as well as numerous domestic ethnic clothing enterprises and designers in China. It featured 39 exquisite fashion shows, showcasing over 1,100 dazzling sets of ethnic clothing and accessories. This Fashion Week has also become a new window for the world to understand outstanding Chinese culture. Preliminary statistics indicate that during the fashion week period, besides the Chinese media, several international media paid attention to Chuxiong as well, and the inaugural Chuxiong Fashion Week garnered a total online exposure of 1.25 billion times across various platforms. In the future, Chuxiong will take this Fashion Week as an opportunity to delve deeper into ethnic cultural resources, inherit innovation, lead fashion trends, strengthen cultural industries, build attractive cultural brands, and strive to develop Chuxiong into a distinctive capital of intangible cultural heritage and creative fashion. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240107914064/en/ E. Zhou Email: [email protected] Source: Chuxiong Information Office Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2024) - Up Funds Management, a prominent financial services company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, is thrilled to announce that it is currently in advanced talks with major banks across the country to provide exclusive Term Deposit rates to retail investors. These discussions mark a significant step forward in Up Funds Management's commitment to delivering superior financial solutions to individual investors. As a reseller, Up Funds Management will have the unique ability to offer more competitive Term Deposit rates than those publicly available, thanks to its long-standing and trusted relationships with these esteemed banking institutions. The negotiations have been ongoing for the past six months, reflecting the dedication of Up Funds Management and the partner banks to crafting a mutually beneficial arrangement that benefits both the financial institutions and retail investors alike. These forthcoming exclusive Term Deposit rates will provide an exciting opportunity for investors to grow their savings and investments in a stable and secure environment. Ralph Hutten, CIO of Up Funds Management, expressed his enthusiasm for this groundbreaking partnership: "We are excited to be in talks with major banks across Australia to offer exclusive Term Deposit rates to our valued retail investors. Our commitment to providing higher rates and superior financial products has been a driving force behind these negotiations. We look forward to bringing these opportunities to individual investors, empowering them to achieve their financial goals with confidence." Up Funds Management has a well-established track record of delivering innovative and competitive financial solutions to its clients. This new collaboration with major banks strengthens their commitment to offering the best investment options available. Further details regarding this partnership and the exclusive Term Deposit rates will be shared with the public in the coming weeks as the negotiations are finalized. Up Funds Management remains dedicated to its mission of helping individuals achieve financial success, and this initiative is a testament to that unwavering commitment. About Up Funds Management: Up Funds Management is a leading financial services company based in Melbourne, Australia. With a team of experienced professionals and a history of providing exceptional investment solutions, Up Funds Management is dedicated to empowering individuals to secure their financial futures. For media inquiries, please contact: Organization: UP FUNDS MANAGEMENT PTY LTD Contact Person: John Hobson - Head Of Media Website: www.upfunds.au Email: [email protected] Contact Number: +613 7044 7500 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/193411 Home builders did build in the Oklahoma City area last year, although you might wonder, considering the relative shortage of houses for sale, and fewer new ones hitting the market than in nearly a decade. But where? Mostly to the west, Canadian County, the fastest-growing county in Oklahoma, part of which includes Oklahoma City. The county population grew 33.6% from 2010 to 2020, and doesn't seem to have slowed down, judging by where builders built in 2023. Dharma Inc.'s Builder Report logged 4,465 new single-family starts in the OKC area last year, down 14.4% from 2022 an estimate since Dharma relies on municipalities to submit information, and not all do. It was the lowest number since 4,383 starts in 2016. You probably couldn't detect the slowdown in construction if you live, work or drive in the Canadian County part of Oklahoma City. The top six neighborhoods for construction were all in OKC, although the homes have Yukon postal addresses. Three are in the Yukon Public school district, two in Piedmont, and one in Mustang. Here are the six busiest additions last year, according to the Builder Report. Price ranges subject to availability. The entrance to the Robertson Landing addition is shown this month in Oklahoma City. No. 1: Robertson's Landing, 122 new homes started Location: South side of NW 122, east of Kilpatrick Turnpike. Schools: Piedmont. Developer: Rausch Coleman Homes. Price range: $190,900 to $274,457. Model home: 9452 NW 122 Terrace. A model home at 9452 NW 122 Terrace is within the Robertson Landing addition in Oklahoma City. RELATED: See the most expensive Oklahoma County homes sold in 2023 No. 2: Tuscany Lakes, 121 new homes started The entrance to Tuscany Lakes addition near NW 122 and N County Line Road. Location: North side of NW 122, west of N County Line Road. Schools: Piedmont. Developer: Homes By Taber. Price range: $268,840 to $320,340. Model home: 9121 NW 121 Terrace (in adjacent Nichols Creek addition). The Homes By Taber model home for Tuscany Lakes is in the adjacent Nichols Creek neighborhood, at 9121 NW 121 Terrace. RELATED: Lower mortgage rates should breathe life into OKC's dispirited home sales, but not yet No. 3: Red Stone Ranch, 110 new homes started The Redstone Ranch addition in Oklahoma City is on the west side of Mustang Road, between W Britton Road and W Hefner Road. Location: West side of Mustang Road, between W Britton Road and W Hefner Road. Schools: Yukon. Developer: Rausch Coleman Homes. Price range: $203,374 to $240,867. Model home: 9825 Glover River Drive. Story continues A model home at 9825 Glover River Drive is within the Redstone Ranch addition in Oklahoma City. RELATED: Rules are set for new Oklahoma Housing Stability Program No. 4: Saratoga, 105 new homes started The entrance to the Saratoga addition is shown in Yukon. Location: East side of Sara Road, between NW 10 and NW 23. Schools: Yukon. Developer: Rausch Coleman Homes. Price range: $189,782 to $270,500. Model home: 1828 Hayes Lane. The Saratoga addition's model home is at 1828 Hayes Lane in Yukon. RELATED: Some disaster recovery funds from 2019 storms across Oklahoma have yet to be spent No. 5: Homestead at Horn Valley, 91 new homes started A free-standing sign marks the entrance to the Homestead at Horn Valley addition in Yukon. Location: North side of NW 23, between Sara Road and Lake Overholser. Schools: Yukon. Developer: D.R. Horton. Price range: From $256,990. Model home: 10244 NW 24 Terrace. The model home for the Homestead at Horn Valley addition is at 10244 NW 24 Terrace in Yukon. RELATED: Affordable housing advocates and developers to get new Oklahoma Housing Needs Assessment No. 6: Ashton Court, 82 new homes started The Ashton Court addition in Yukon is located east of the Kilpatrick Turnpike, between SW 15 and SW 29. Location: East side of Kilpatrick Turnpike, between SW 15 and SW 29 Schools: Yukon. Developer: Lennar Corp. Price range: $247,999 to $275,999. Model home: 2313 Claire Drive. The model home in the Ashton Court addition is at 2313 Claire Drive in Yukon. Sign Up: Weekly newsletter Real Estate with Richard Mize Senior Business Writer Richard Mize has covered housing, construction, commercial real estate and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com since 1999. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, Real Estate with Richard Mize. You can support Richard's work, and that of his colleagues, by purchasing a digital subscription to The Oklahoman. Right now, you can get 6 months of subscriber-only access for $1. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: See the Top 6 neighborhoods for home building in Oklahoma City in 2023 Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Florida's Ashlee Morgan Gives Back To Healthcare Students With Scholarship Fund The Ashlee Morgan Scholarship for Healthcare Students, founded by Ashlee Morgan, opens its doors to aspiring undergraduate, graduate, and high school students dedicated to pursuing healthcare-related degrees. The scholarship, hosted through the website ashleemorganscholarship.com, offers a one-time award of $1,000 to the selected recipient. Candidates eligible for this esteemed scholarship must exhibit exceptional academic performance, a deep-rooted passion for the healthcare industry, and a commitment to personal and professional growth within the healthcare sector. With a deadline set for April 15, 2024, aspiring scholars have an opportunity to showcase their dedication to revolutionizing healthcare and addressing its most pressing challenges. Ashlee Morgan, a certified tissue banking specialist with over a decade of experience, is the driving force behind this scholarship. Her profound expertise in stem cells, birth tissue, and regenerative medicine has led to the creation of this impactful initiative. The scholarship aims to honor and support individuals who share Ashlee Morgan's vision for transforming healthcare through innovation and dedication. The criteria for the Ashlee Morgan Scholarship for Healthcare Students emphasize academic excellence, a profound commitment to healthcare, and problem-solving skills crucial for addressing challenges within the industry. Applicants are required to submit an essay, under 1000 words, presenting innovative solutions to current challenges faced by the healthcare sector. Additionally, candidates are encouraged to identify industries in need of improvement and propose pioneering business ideas to revolutionize them. The recipient of the scholarship will be announced on May 15, 2024, following a meticulous review process. The selected individual will not only receive financial support but also gain recognition for their commitment to advancing healthcare and making a positive impact on patient well-being and community health. Ashlee Morgan's mission is rooted in educating and inspiring individuals about the transformative potential of stem cells and birth tissue. Through this scholarship, she aims to build a community of like-minded individuals, including healthcare professionals, patients, and passionate learners, fostering an environment of continuous learning and exploration. The Ashlee Morgan Scholarship for Healthcare Students stands as a beacon for aspiring healthcare professionals, offering not only financial aid but also the opportunity to join a community dedicated to unlocking the potential of regenerative medicine. As Ashlee Morgan continues to lead the charge in promoting knowledge and understanding in the field, she invites eligible students to become part of this remarkable journey of exploration, discovery, and enlightenment. For more information about the scholarship, its criteria, and how to apply, please visit ashleemorganscholarship.com. Join Ashlee Morgan and her team in their mission to transform healthcare through knowledge, innovation, and passion. Deadline for applications: April 15, 2024. Contact Info: Name: Ashlee Morgan Email: Send Email Organization: Ashlee Morgan Scholarship Website: https://ashleemorganscholarship.com Release ID: 89118062 In case of identifying any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies within the content shared in this press release that necessitate action or if you require assistance with a press release takedown, we strongly urge you to notify us promptly by contacting [email protected]. Our expert team is committed to addressing your concerns within 8 hours by taking necessary actions diligently to rectify any identified issues or supporting you with the removal process. Delivering accurate and reliable information remains our top priority. Isomorphic Labs to Receive $45 Million in Upfront Payment with Potential Total Deal Value up to $1.7 Billion LONDON , Jan. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Isomorphic Labs, a digital biology company with a mission to redefine drug discovery using the power of artificial intelligence, today announced that it has entered into a strategic research collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company. This marks Isomorphic Labs' first pharmaceutical partnership. Under the terms of the agreement, Isomorphic Labs will partner with Lilly to discover small molecule therapeutics against multiple targets and will receive an upfront cash payment of $45 million . Isomorphic Labs is eligible to receive up to $1.7 billion in performance-based milestone payments, excluding the upfront payment and any subsequent tiered royalties of up to low double digits on net sales. "We're thrilled to embark on this partnership and apply our proprietary technology platform, the next generation of AlphaFold, and access to massive computing power to Lilly's development programs," said Demis Hassabis, CEO and founder of Isomorphic Labs. "The focus we share on advancing groundbreaking drug design approaches and appreciation of state-of-the-art science makes this partnership particularly compelling." Isomorphic Labs operates autonomously within Alphabet, with its own dedicated resources and exclusive focus on the application of AI to drug discovery. The company is reimagining the entire drug discovery process from first principles with an AI-first approach, working to build powerful new predictive and generative models of biological phenomena to anticipate how drugs will perform and design novel molecules. Building on the success of AlphaFold and working in collaboration with Google DeepMind, Isomorphic Labs has made remarkable progress in developing the Next Generation of AlphaFold . This new iteration of AlphaFold expands beyond proteins to include small molecules and nucleic acids. Through deep integration of this next generation AlphaFold with other breakthrough AI models developed at Isomorphic Labs, the company is able to better understand the underlying biological mechanisms of drug targets, and rationally design novel therapeutics. ABOUT ISOMORPHIC LABS Isomorphic Labs is an autonomous subsidiary of Alphabet that was launched from Alphabet's DeepMind in 2021 to build on the success of AlphaFold , the company's groundbreaking work in protein folding. That work was heralded as the 'Breakthrough of the Year' by Science and 'Method of the Year' by Nature in 2021. Based in London and now with a second location in Lausanne, Switzerland , Isomorphic Labs was founded and is led by AI pioneer Demis Hassabis, who also co-founded and leads Google DeepMind. As pioneers in digital biology, the company's mission is to use AI to accelerate drug discovery and ultimately find cures for some of humanity's most devastating diseases. Using its AI-first approach to drug discovery and biology, the company's ambition is to advance a new era of medical breakthroughs. For more information, go to www.isomorphiclabs.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X . View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/isomorphic-labs-announces-strategic-multi-target-research-collaboration-with-lilly-302027392.html SOURCE Isomorphic Labs Isomorphic Labs to Receive $37.5 Million Upfront Payment From Novartis to Collaborate on Small Molecule Therapeutics Discovery LONDON , Jan. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Isomorphic Labs, a digital biology company with a mission to redefine drug discovery using the power of artificial intelligence, today announced that it has entered into a strategic research collaboration with Novartis to discover small molecule therapeutics against three undisclosed targets. "Isomorphic Labs and Novartis hold a shared purpose to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives," said Demis Hassabis, CEO and founder of Isomorphic Labs. "We are delighted to embark upon this integrated way of working, bringing Isomorphic's state-of-the-art AI and technology platform, including the next-generation AlphaFold model, and access to massive computing power to Novartis, an established leader in the creation of innovative medicines." "Cutting-edge AI technologies such as AlphaFold hold the potential to transform how we discover new drugs and accelerate our ability to deliver life-changing medicines for patients," said Fiona Marshall , President of Biomedical Research at Novartis. "This collaboration harnesses our companies' unique strengths, from AI and data science to medicinal chemistry and deep disease area expertise, to realize new possibilities in AI-driven drug discovery. We are thrilled to explore uncharted frontiers together with the Isomorphic team." Isomorphic Labs operates autonomously within Alphabet, with its own dedicated resources and exclusive focus on the application of AI to drug discovery. The company is reimagining the entire drug discovery process from first principles with an AI-first approach, working to build powerful new predictive and generative models of biological phenomena to anticipate how drugs will perform and design novel molecules. Building on the success of AlphaFold and working in collaboration with GoogleDeepMind, Isomorphic Labs has made remarkable progress in developing the Next Generation of AlphaFold . This new iteration of AlphaFold expands beyond proteins to include small molecules and nucleic acids. Through deep integration of this next-generation AlphaFold with other breakthrough AI models developed at Isomorphic Labs, the company is able to better understand the underlying biological mechanisms of drug targets, and rationally design novel therapeutics. Under the terms of the agreement, Isomorphic Labs will receive an upfront payment of $37.5 million from Novartis, in addition to Novartis funding of select research costs. Isomorphic Labs is eligible to receive up to $1.2 billion in performance-based milestone payments, excluding the upfront payment and any subsequent tiered royalties from mid-single up to low double-digit royalties on net sales. ABOUT ISOMORPHIC LABS Isomorphic Labs is an autonomous subsidiary of Alphabet that was launched from Alphabet's DeepMind in 2021 to build on the success of AlphaFold , the company's groundbreaking work in protein folding. That work was heralded as the 'Breakthrough of the Year' by Science and 'Method of the Year' by Nature in 2021. Based in London and now with a second location in Lausanne, Switzerland , Isomorphic Labs was founded and is led by AI pioneer Demis Hassabis, who also co-founded and leads Google DeepMind. As pioneers in digital biology, the company's mission is to use AI to accelerate drug discovery and ultimately find cures for some of humanity's most devastating diseases. Using its AI-first approach to drug discovery and biology, the company's ambition is to advance a new era of medical breakthroughs. For more information, go to www.isomorphiclabs.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X . View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/isomorphic-labs-announces-strategic-multi-target-research-collaboration-with-novartis-302027387.html SOURCE Isomorphic Labs An Israeli APC enters Israel from Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at the Israel-Gaza border, Israel, January 6, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen By Simon Lewis and Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN/DOHA (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Arab leaders on Sunday that Washington opposes the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or the occupied West Bank, as he looked to kickstart talks on Gaza's post-war future. Jordan's King Abdullah had raised his country's concerns over displacement with Blinken during their meeting in Amman, according to a palace statement, as Israel pushes on with its military campaign that has turned much of Gaza to rubble and left its 2.3 million residents on the verge of starvation, according to aid workers. "Palestinian civilians must be able to return home as soon as conditions allow. They cannot, they must not, be pressed to leave Gaza," Blinken said at a press conference following a separate meeting with top Qatari officials in Doha. Most of Gaza's residents have been displaced by the conflict, and violence has also flared in the West Bank, including a deadly clash in the city of Jenin on Sunday. King Abdullah told Blinken that Washington had a major role to play in pressuring Israel into an immediate ceasefire, and warned of the "catastrophic repercussions" of the continuation of the war in Gaza, which began when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 240 hostage. Israel's subsequent air and ground assault had killed 22,722 Palestinians by Saturday, according to Palestinian health officials. Blinken is touring the region amid heightened fears that Israel's offensive against Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza will spark a broader regional conflagration. "This is a moment of profound tension for the region. This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and suffering," he told reporters in Doha. The trip comes after a drone strike in Beirut killed a senior Hamas leader and Israel exchanged fire with Iran-backed militia Hezbollah across its northern border with Lebanon. Washington is also rallying allies to deter attacks on Red Sea shipping by Houthi militants who control most of Yemen. Blinken arrived in Jordan late on Saturday and met King Abdullah on Sunday before traveling to Qatar for meetings with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, who also serves as foreign minister. In Doha, Blinken said discussions included efforts to free the more than 100 hostages still believed to be held by Hamas after an earlier agreement mediated by Qatar broke down. Qatar's prime minister said the killing of a Hamas leader by an Israeli drone strike has affected Doha's ability to mediate between the Palestinian group and Israel. Washington wants Israel's Arab neighbors to play a role in reconstruction, governance and security in Gaza in expectation that Israel's assault will eliminate Hamas, which has run the territory since 2007, officials have said. The U.S. delegation aims to gather Arab states' views on the future of Gaza before taking those positions to Israel, the U.S. official said, acknowledging that stances would be far apart. Blinken will end the day in the United Arab Emirates. HUMANITARIAN CRISIS In a camp for displaced people in Rafah, southern Gaza, some Palestinians called on Blinken to live up to U.S. calls for a two-state solution to the conflict. "We hope that it is a visit for our benefit, for peace's benefit and for the benefit of establishing a Palestinian state next to a Jewish state, in line with U.N. resolutions ... and with what America has been calling for," said Moussa al-Atawneh, a 76-year-old displaced man. In Amman, Blinken visited a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse storing canned food bound for Gaza. WFP acting country director for Palestine Laura Turner said ahead of a meeting with Blinken that he should push to halt the conflict and for Israel to open border crossings into northern Gaza. "That's where the population is that we haven't been able to access for six weeks and we're most concerned about," Turner said, adding that aid sent north from southern Gaza was being seized en route by other Palestinians also in dire need of food. Blinken said the U.S. was working to keep aid routes into the strip open and to multiply them. "We are intensely focused on the very difficult and indeed deteriorating food situation for men, women and children in Gaza, and it's something we're working on 24/7," Blinken said. (Reporting by Simon Lewis and Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Amman; Additional reporting by Fadi Shana and Mohammed Salem in Rafah and Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle, Ros Russell and Bill Berkrot) KYIV (Reuters) - Homes in Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv escaped being hit by a fresh Russian missile attack on Sunday, the mayor said in a post on the Telegram messaging app. "It landed near private residential houses in one of the city's districts. Preliminary information indicates no damage or casualties," Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. It was unclear if he was referring to a single missile or to an attack in general. He wrote in an earlier post that Kharkiv was under missile attack and several explosions had been heard. Oleh Syniehubov, the Kharkiv regional governor, said on Telegram that Russian S-300 missiles had hit Kharkiv city twice, and that strikes were also recorded in nearby Vovchansk, but so far no casualties had been reported. Kharkiv and Vovchansk lie close to the border near Belgorod in Russia. Russia has promised to retaliate for recent Ukrainian missile attacks on the city. (Reporting by Oleksandr Kozhukhar in Kyiv and Elaine Monaghan in Washington; Editing by Sandra Maler) Local residents clean up their apartment in a residential building damaged during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine January 7, 2024. REUTERS/Mykola Synelnykov (Reuters) -Russia launched 28 attack drones and three cruise missile at Ukraine overnight, Ukraine's air force said on Sunday, adding that its air defence systems destroyed 21 of the drones. The air force said on its Telegram messaging channel that Russia targeted mainly the south and east of Ukraine, and did not say what happened to the three cruise missiles. "The enemy is shifting the focus of attack to the frontline territories - Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions were attacked by drones," Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told national television. Reuters could not independently verify the report. There was no immediate comment from Russia. Dnipropetrovsk regional authorities said on Telegram that 12 people were injured in a drone attack in Dnipro city. They also said an educational institution and its dormitory, two multi-apartment buildings and one administrative building were damaged. Ihnat said drones were predominantly destroyed by mobile teams, saving "scarce" air defence missiles. He said Ukrainian forces used some missiles to repel two recent major Russian attacks and "processes are under way to continue to provide Ukraine with the number of missiles needed to repel air attacks". Russia deployed almost 300 missiles and more than 200 drones in attacks in the last days of 2023 and the first days of 2024. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv Editing by Miral Fahmy and Mark Potter) The 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team from the Mississippi Army National Guard took command of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine mission in Germany during a ceremony at Grafenwoehr on Jan. 5, 2024.. The soldiers replaced the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from the Arkansas National Guard. (Jarvis Mace/U.S. Army) STUTTGART, Germany A new battalion of Ukrainian soldiers began training Sunday at the U.S. Armys training grounds in Grafenwoehr, an effort that coincides with the arrival of a new contingent of American soldiers to lead the initiative. About 500 Ukrainian troops are taking part in the training, which will involve everything from combined-arms training at the squad level up to large-scale maneuvers that will culminate with a battalion force-on-force exercise, Col. Martin ODonnell, U.S. Army Europe and Africa spokesman, said in a statement Saturday. The Ukrainian unit will be the 19th battalion trained at U.S. ranges in Bavaria since Russias February 2022 full-scale invasion, he said. The Army has relied on National Guard units to carry out much of the day-to-day effort to bolster the fighting capabilities of the Ukrainian troops. On Friday, the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team from the Mississippi Army National Guard took command of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine mission in Germany. The Mississippi Guard soldiers replaced the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from the Arkansas National Guard, which has been responsible for mentoring Ukrainian forces for the past nine months. The 39th oversaw the training of about 7,500 troops during their deployment, which included instruction on a variety of weapons systems now being used on the frontlines. Col. Michael Dykes, commander of the incoming 155th brigade, said his units task is to do its part to help Ukraine make the necessary gains on the battlefield. It really just comes down to one word, which is victory, he said during the Friday transfer of command ceremony in Grafenwoehr. We are here to ensure the Ukrainian victory. ODonnell said the Armys training mission in Germany is one part of the international effort to give Ukrainian forces a boost. More than 116,000 Ukrainian troops have been trained at more than 80 locations around the world, he said. The 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team from the Mississippi Army National Guard took command of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine mission in Germany during a ceremony at Grafenwoehr on Jan. 5, 2024.. The soldiers replaced the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from the Arkansas National Guard. (Jarvis Mace/U.S. Army) Its just one example of our united and steadfast commitment to Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russias ongoing attacks, and consolidate and extend its battlefield gains, ODonnell said. The new Guard brigade takes on the training mission at a challenging time for the Ukrainian army, which has been locked in a virtual stalemate with Russian forces for the past several months. The war has taken a large toll on both sides. And as the fighting drags on, there are growing questions about the durability of western aid for Ukraines war effort, which is heavily dependent on the delivery of arms and ammunition from the United States and other NATO countries. Currently, funding disputes and policy disputes in Washington have put in jeopardy the U.S.s ability to continue funding weapons and equipment for Ukraine. Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Oleski Taran didnt address such concerns during Fridays ceremony in Grafenwoehr, saying that his country remains committed to the fight. He also highlighted the toll the war has taken on the invading Russian forces, which he said has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dead Russian occupants. The Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given to members of the U.S. military. Pvt. Anthony Butenas, who served in Company E, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division, was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on July 18, 1918, in France, when he was 24 years old. (Timothy R. Koster/U.S. Army) EAST WINDSOR, Conn. When Joe Janeczko learned that, after more than a century, his grandfather would finally be recognized for his service during World War I, he wondered if Pvt. Anthony Butenas would soon become the answer to a trivia question. East Windsor may become known for having the last World War I veteran to receive a Purple Heart, he said. Butenas, who served in Company E, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division, was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on July 18, 1918, in France, when he was 24 years old. On Thursday, Butenas family was presented with a medal that he never received himself. Butenas died in October 1962 at 68 and was interred at St. Catherines Cemetery in Broad Brook. Janeczko said getting Butenas the recognition he deserved was a long, complicated and uncertain process, fueled in part by a fire that destroyed a large swath of military personnel records. He said the search began years ago, when he became interested in his grandfathers history. He said he obtained a copy of Butenas medical records, but they lacked many important details that he remembered. I knew he had lost sight in one eye during the war, Janeczko said. He never had a Purple Heart, no medals. The Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given to members of the U.S. military. Originally called the Badge of Military Merit, the first three were given out by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. All three men Daniel Bissell of Windsor, Elijah Churchill of Newington and William Brown of Stamford were from Connecticut. When the U.S. military reinstated awarding the Purple Heart to service members in 1932, it was given to those wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917. Janeczko said when he learned that the Purple Heart medal applied retroactively to some World War I veterans, he reached out to U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthals office to get help in recognizing his grandfathers service. Janeczko said neither he nor Blumenthals office had much luck until he found an old, yellowed piece of paper detailing Butenas service, including when and with whom he served, which battles he participated in, and wounds he received during his service. No pun intended, but this was the smoking gun, Janeczko said. The process moved along quickly once the records were found, Janeczko said, allowing his grandfather get the recognition he deserved over a century after he was wounded. Soldiers like Butenas had to come home and go back to regular life after the war, Janeczko said, despite their injuries and hardships. They had to come home and raise a family, then the Depression started, he said. Janeczko said Butenas was chiefly a farmer, but took on other tasks including building furniture for his neighbors. I appreciate everything he did, Janeczko said. Janeczko said he was glad that so many people who did not know Butenas were interested enough in his story to attend the ceremony. Ernie Teixeira, honorary member of the East Windsor Veterans Commission, said he was glad to see an East Windsor veteran being recognized, and that he knows first-hand how proud Janeczko is of his family. Its a good honor to have this, Teixeira said. Blumenthal said Butenas was an example of leadership, service, and sacrifice. Its because of heroes like Anthony Butenas that we are safer and more secure as a nation, Blumenthal said. East Windsor First Selectman Jason Bowsza said the ceremony would not have happened without the steadfast advocacy of Janeczko. While its a little delayed, were here to do the right thing, Bowsza said. State Rep. Jaime Foster, D- Ellington, said it is difficult to fathom the conditions soldiers faced during World War I. Now this day and age, as we see conflicts around the world, we know the importance of bearing witness, Foster said. Janeczko said his grandfather was, essentially, handed a rifle and a uniform and fast-tracked to the battlefield. It was a whole different war, he said. There was very little training, very little equipment. Blumenthal said after the war, Butenas suffered from lasting effects of trench foot, mustard gas, and partial blindness. There was nothing like the VA health system we have now ... he truly deserved this recognition while he was alive, Blumenthal said. (c)2024 Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn. Visit at www.journalinquirer.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Dock workers on a small row boat pull a rope between the dock and vehicle carrier Sirius Leader as it prepares to enter the Miraflores locks while transiting the Panama Canal on Sept. 23, 2023, in Panama City, Panama. (Justin Sullivan, Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) The vestiges of an ancient forest tell the story of just how bad things are at the drought-stricken Panama Canal. A few hundred feet from the massive tankers hauling goods across the globe, gaunt tree stumps rise above the waterline. Theyre all that remains of a woodland flooded more than a century ago to create the canal. Its not unusual to see them at the height of the dry season but now, in the immediate aftermath of whats usually the rainy period, they should be fully submerged. Theyre a visible reminder of how parched conditions have crippled a waterway that handles $270 billion a year in global trade. And there are no easy solutions. The Panama Canal Authority is weighing potential fixes that include an artificial lake to pump water into the canal and cloud seeding to boost rainfall, but both options would take years to implement, if theyre even feasible. With water levels languishing at 6 feet below normal, the canal authority capped the number of vessels that can cross. The limits imposed late last year were the strictest since 1989, when the conduit was shut as the US invaded Panama to extract its de facto ruler, Manuel Noriega. Some shippers are paying millions of dollars to jump the growing queue, while others are taking longer, costlier routes around Africa or South America. The constraints have since eased slightly due to a rainier-than-expected November, but at 24 ships a day, the maximum is still well below the pre-drought daily capacity of about 38. As the dry season takes hold, the bottleneck is poised to worsen again. As a canal, as a country, we need to take some measures because it isnt acceptable, Erick Cordoba, the manager of the water division at the canal authority, said in an interview. We need to calibrate the system again. The canals travails reflect how climate change is altering global trade flows. Drought created chokepoints last year on the Mississippi River in the US and the Rhine in Europe. In the UK, rising sea levels are elevating the risk of flooding along the Thames. Melting ice is creating new shipping routes in the Arctic. Under normal circumstances, the Panama Canal handles about 3% of global maritime trade volumes and 46% of containers moving from Northeast Asia to the US East Coast. The channel is Panamas biggest source of revenue, bringing in $4.3 billion in 2022. To allow for 24 vessels a day through the dry season, the canal will release water from Lake Alajuela, a secondary reservoir. If the rains begin to pick up in May, the canal might be able to start increasing traffic, according to Cordoba. But those are short-term fixes. In the long term, the primary solution to chronic water shortages will be to dam up the Indio River and then drill a tunnel through a mountain to pipe fresh water 8 kilometers (5 miles) into Lake Gatun, the canals main reservoir. The project, along with additional conservation measures, will cost about $2 billion, Cordoba estimates. He says it will take at least six years to dam up and fill the site. The US Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a feasibility study. The Indio River reservoir would increase vessel traffic by 11 to 15 a day, enough to keep Panamas top moneymaker working at capacity while guaranteeing fresh water for Panama City, where developers have erected a mini-Miami of gleaming skyscrapers over the past two decades. The country will need to dam even more rivers to guarantee water through the end of the century. Moving the proposal forward wont be easy. It will need congressional approval, and the thousands of farmers and ranchers whose lands would be flooded for the reservoir are already organizing to oppose it. Its not the first time Panamanians are banding together to push back against a major infrastructure initiative. Last year, protesters regularly blocked roads after the government rushed to keep First Quantum Minerals Ltd.s $10 billion copper mine operating. Authorities have since said that they will shut the mine, a project many view as an ecological disaster. Elizabeth Delgado, 38, lives in the last house along the road to the Indio River. Its one of the first that will get flooded if the reservoir is built. During major storms, the Indio rises enough to get within a few meters of her unpainted wooden home, where her family lives off of the rice, plantains and cassava she grows. She has no intention of moving. How are we supposed to survive someplace else where we wont know what to do? Delgado said. Theyve told us that were going to have to leave, but were going to stick with our land. Another potential fix is decidedly more experimental. In November, a small plane operated by North Dakota-based Weather Modification Inc. arrived in Panama to test cloud seeding, the process of implanting large salt particles into clouds to boost the condensation that creates rain. But cloud seeding has mostly been deployed successfully in dry climates, not in tropical countries like Panama. Some shippers have expressed frustration that the canal authority isnt moving faster to address low water levels. No significant infrastructure projects have gone ahead in Panama to increase the fresh water supply, Jeremy Nixon, chief executive officer of Japanese container transportation company Ocean Network Express Holdings Ltd., or ONE, wrote in a letter to Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen that was seen by Bloomberg. We sincerely hope that as ONE, and on behalf of our customers, that some urgent action can now be taken. Panamas presidential palace didnt respond to a request for comment on the letter. A combination of climate change and infrastructure expansion are to blame for the canals woes. The canal authority completed a new set of locks in 2016 to increase traffic and keep pace with the growing size of cargo ships. What it didnt do was build a new reservoir to pump in enough fresh water. Then the drought hit. As of November, 2023 was the driest year on record at Barro Colorado Island in Lake Gatun, according to Steve Paton, the director of the physical monitoring program at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Global warming is intensifying the weather phenomenon known as El Nino, which has brought dry conditions to Panama and is expected to last at least through March in the Northern Hemisphere. Lake Gatun drains faster during severe dry seasons, and rising temperatures accelerate evaporation. Last year was totally different from the others, said Gabriel Aleman, the head of the Panama Canal Pilots Association. Hes steered ships through the canal for more than 30 years. We havent reached the peak of the impact. In 2023 the trade winds never fully kicked in, which contributed to record water temperatures off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Panama. Weak winds also mean that rain clouds dont make it all the way to Gatun. On many days, it pours in Panama City while the lake only gets a few drops. The crisis has set back available shipping routes by more than a century. When it began operating in 1914, the canal provided an alternative to the Suez Canal, the Cape of Good Hope and the Strait of Magellan to send goods between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Shippers are now returning to all three options to avert bottlenecks in Panama, although vessels have recently diverted from the Suez to avoid attacks from Yemens Houthi rebels. While the Suez is a sea-level canal, the Panama is a freshwater channel reliant on artificial lakes, making it vulnerable to drought. Jorge Luis Quijano, a consultant and former head of canal authority, says it could take a year to get back to normal volumes. Quijano says he saw the problem coming a decade ago, when he supervised the addition of a new set of locks to accommodate larger vessels in the canal. The locks are engineering marvels, but theyre also water hogs. Salt water mixes with fresh water when the canals locks fill up. To prevent the countrys biggest source of potable water, Lake Gatun, from getting salty, the canal discharges enough lake water to fill up 76 Olympic-sized pools with each vessel. Giant basins inject some of this water back into the lake, but because this process increases salinity, it can only be used on a limited basis, Quijano said. Before his term ended, he lobbied the government to start construction of an additional reservoir, but to no avail. As officials look for lasting solutions, local residents are feeling the effects of the prolonged drought. Raquel Luna, 70, has lived on the edge of Lake Gatun since she was 16. Five of her six adult children live up the road. Most years, she charges visitors one US dollar a head to park at her shaded patch of lakefront. A row of palm trees is normally used to tie boats. But now, theyre 20 feet from the water line. Visitors need to scramble across rocks and mud to get to the water. Shes hardly getting any takers. Nobody is coming, she said. They like it when the water level is high. With assistance from Hayley Warren. 2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. ISTANBUL President Biden has dispatched his top aides to the Middle East with a critical objective: Prevent a full-blown war from erupting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Israel has made clear it views as untenable the regular exchange of fire between its forces and Hezbollah along the border and may soon launch a major military operation in Lebanon. We prefer the path of an agreed-upon diplomatic settlement, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Friday, but we are getting close to the point where the hourglass will turn over. U.S. officials are concerned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may see an expanded fight in Lebanon as key to his political survival amid domestic criticism of his governments failure to prevent Hamass Oct. 7 attack, which killed an estimated 1,200 people and resulted in some 240 hostages being taken to Gaza. In private conversations, the administration has warned Israel against a significant escalation in Lebanon. If it were to do so, a new secret assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) found that it will be difficult for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to succeed because its military assets and resources would be spread too thin given the conflict in Gaza, according to two people familiar with those findings. A spokesperson for the DIA did not offer comment. More than a dozen administration officials and diplomats spoke to The Washington Post for this report, some on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive military situation between Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah, a longtime U.S. adversary with well-trained fighters and tens of thousands of missiles and rockets, wants to avoid a major escalation, according to U.S. officials, who say the groups leader, Hasan Nasrallah, is seeking to steer clear of a wider war. In a speech on Friday, Nasrallah vowed a response to Israeli aggression, while hinting that he might be open to negotiations on border demarcation with Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to arrive in Israel on Monday where he will discuss specific steps to avoid escalation, his spokesman, Matt Miller said before boarding a plane to the Middle East. It is in no ones interest not Israels, not the regions, not the worlds for this conflict to spread beyond Gaza, Miller said. But that view is not uniformly held within Israels government. Since Hamass October assault, Israeli officials have discussed launching a preemptive attack on Hezbollah, U.S. officials said. That prospect has faced sustained U.S. opposition due to the likelihood it would draw Iran, which supports both groups, and other proxy forces into the conflict an eventuality that could compel the United States to respond militarily on Israels behalf. Officials fear that a full-scale conflict between Israel and Lebanon would surpass the bloodshed of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war on account of Hezbollahs substantially larger arsenal of long-range and precision weaponry. The number of casualties in Lebanon could be anywhere from 300,000 to 500,000 and entail a massive evacuation of all of northern Israel, said Bilal Saab, a Lebanon expert at the Middle East Institute, a Washington think tank. Hezbollah may strike deeper into Israel than before, hitting sensitive targets like petrochemical plants and nuclear reactors, and Iran may activate militias across the region. I dont think it would be limited to these two antagonists, he said. The threat of a wider conflict continued to grow Saturday as Hezbollah launched about 40 rockets into Israel in response to its suspected assassination of senior Hamas leader Saleh Arouri and six others in an airstrike in suburban Beirut, Lebanons capital, days earlier. In recent weeks, Israels regular shootouts with Hezbollah along the border have grown more aggressive, drawing private rebukes from Washington, said U.S. officials. According to U.S. intelligence reviewed by The Post, the IDF has hit the positions of the U.S.-funded and trained Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) more than 34 times since Oct. 7, officials familiar with the matter said. The United States views the LAF as the principal defender of Lebanons sovereignty and a key counterweight to the influence of Iran-backed Hezbollah. On Dec. 5, four rounds of Israeli tank fire resulted in the killing of one LAF soldier and the injury of three others. On Dec. 8, Israeli artillery fire containing white phosphorous hit LAF facilities, injuring an LAF soldier who inhaled the noxious fumes. On Nov. 4, Israeli fire against an LAF position at Sarda left a large hole in a LAF structure, according to the U.S. intelligence. Some details of these attacks were reported previously by CNN. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the Israeli strikes, but the White House National Security Council confirmed that Washington has conveyed to Israel that attacks on LAF and Lebanese civilians are completely unacceptable. A National Security Council official said the Biden administration has been very direct and tough with the Israelis on the issue and has said Lebanese Armed Forces injuries and fatalities are not acceptable. The official also said a priority was maintaining the credibility of the Lebanese Armed Forces and that the international community should be doing everything it can to bolster and support them, as they would be a vital component of any day after scenario in Lebanon in which Hezbollah is weakened and poses less of a threat to Israel. The official emphasized, though, that Hezbollah is a legitimate threat to Israel and said the Jewish state has a right to defend itself. An Israeli official told The Post that Israel does not deliberately target LAF positions and blamed Hezbollah for ratcheting up tensions. Hezbollah began firing into Israeli territory, unprovoked, on October 8th and has continued to do so on a daily basis, firing thousands of projectiles. Israel was forced to respond in self-defense, the official said. As a result of Hezbollahs aggression, tens of thousands of Israelis were forced to leave their homes. The state of Israel will not return to the prewar status quo in which Hezbollah poses a direct and immediate military threat to its security along the Israel-Lebanon border, the official added. When Israeli officials first floated the idea of attacking Hezbollah during the opening days of the Gaza conflict, U.S. officials immediately raised objections, said a senior administration official. Israeli officials initially were convinced that the Lebanese militant group was behind the Hamas incursion and had received bad intelligence that a Hezbollah attack was imminent in the days after Oct. 7, according to two senior U.S. officials. There were deep fears in Israel that the government would miss the signs of another violent assault. Biden was on the phone up to three times a day, the senior administration official said, in part working to dissuade Israel from attacking Hezbollah a move that would have resulted in all hell breaking loose, the official said. The Israelis deep fears about the threat influenced Bidens decision to fly to Tel Aviv less than two weeks after the Hamas attack, according one of the senior officials. The risk that Israel might launch an ambitious attack on Hezbollah has never gone away, said White House and State Department officials, but there has been broader concern about an escalation in recent weeks, particularly as Israel announced the temporary withdrawal of several thousand troops from Gaza on Jan. 1 a decision that could open up resources for a military operation in the north. They have a freer hand to escalate, said a U.S. official. Another U.S. official said that the forces Israel withdrew from Gaza could be deployed to the north after sufficient time to rest and prepare for another wave of combat. But Israels air force is also overworked, having conducted constant strikes since the war began in October, said the official, explaining the Defense Intelligence Agencys assessment that an escalation in Lebanon would spread Israeli forces thin. Pilots are tired, and airplanes have to be maintained and refitted, the official said. They would face more dangerous missions in Lebanon than in Gaza, where Hamas has little in the way of antiaircraft defenses to shoot down attacking planes. On Thursday, Biden sent special envoy Amos Hochstein to Israel to work on an agreement to reduce tensions at the Lebanese-Israeli border. The near-term goal is to develop a process to start negotiating a land demarcation agreement that could delineate where and how the two sides deploy forces along the border in an effort to stabilize the situation. U.S. and French officials are in discussions with the Lebanese government over a proposal that would have the Lebanese government take control of part of the Lebanon-Israel border, rather than Hezbollah, to help assuage Israeli concerns, according to two people familiar with the conversations. The White House declined to detail the plan. We continue to explore and exhaust all diplomatic options with our Israeli and Lebanese partners, said the National Security Council official. Getting Israeli and Lebanese citizens back into their homes, living in peace and security is of the utmost importance to the United States. U.S. officials concede that Hezbollah is unlikely to agree to a border deal while scores of Palestinians in Gaza are being killed or injured as a result of Israels military campaign there. Within the administration, there are differing perceptions about Netanyahus interest in a negotiated resolution to the Hezbollah conflict. One senior U.S. official said the Israeli leaders pledge to create a fundamental change to address the border fighting with Hezbollah is mere bluster aimed at extracting concessions from the Lebanese group. Others said that if the Gaza war ends tomorrow, Netanyahus political career will end with it, incentivizing him to broaden the conflict. The political logic for Netanyahu is to rebound after the historic failure of Oct. 7 and have some kind of success to show to the Israeli public, said Saab, the Lebanon expert. Im not sure going after Hezbollah is the right way to do it because that campaign will be far more challenging than the one in Gaza. When asked if political incentives are driving Netanyahus military ambitions, a senior Israeli government official said only that the prime minister will continue to take the necessary steps to secure Israel and its future. Before flying to Jordan, Blinken said reducing tensions at the border is something that were very actively working on. Its clearly a strongly shared interest among countries in the region, he said. Abutaleb and Harris reported from Washington. President Joe Biden and former president Barack Obama walk through the White House in September 2022. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post) Former president Barack Obama has raised questions about the structure of President Bidens reelection campaign, discussing the matter directly with Biden and telling the presidents aides and allies the campaign needs to be empowered to make decisions without clearing them with the White House, according to three people familiar with the conversations. Obama grew animated in discussing the 2024 election and former president Donald Trumps potential return to power, one of the people said, and has suggested to Bidens advisers that the campaign needs more top-level decision-makers at its headquarters in Wilmington, Del. - or it must empower the people already in place. Obama has not recommended specific individuals, but he has mentioned David Plouffe, who managed Obamas 2008 race, as the type of senior strategist needed at the Biden campaign. Obamas conversation with Biden on the subject took place during a private lunch at the White House in recent months, one of the people said, a meeting that has not been previously reported. Biden, who has long used Obama as a sounding board, invited his former boss to lunch, and the two discussed a range of topics including the 2024 election. During the lunch, Obama noted the success of his reelection campaign structure in 2012, when some of his top presidential aides, including David Axelrod and Jim Messina, left the White House to take charge of the reelection operation in Chicago. That is a sharp contrast from Bidens approach of leaving his closest aides at the White House even though they are involved in all the key decisions made by the campaign. Obama also recommended that Biden seek counsel from Obamas own former campaign aides, which Biden officials say they have done, the people said. Obama has been even more explicit with people close to Biden, suggesting the campaign needs to move aggressively as Trump appears poised to quickly wrap up the Republican nomination. His concerns about the campaign structure were not tied to a specific moment, but rather his belief that campaigns need to be agile in competitive races, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential conversations. Spokespeople for Obama and the White House declined to comment. Obama has long harbored worries about Trumps political strength, telling Biden during a different private lunch last summer that Trump is a more formidable candidate than many Democrats realize. He cited Trumps intensely loyal following, a Trump-friendly conservative media ecosystem and a polarized country as advantages for the former president in 2024. Obama, who commands enormous loyalty and star power in the Democratic Party, is not alone in worrying about Bidens weak poll numbers and his unorthodox bifurcated campaign structure. Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Bidens campaign manager, is based at the campaign headquarters in Bidens hometown of Wilmington, while the presidents top political advisers - Anita Dunn, Jen OMalley Dillon, Mike Donilon and Steve Ricchetti - work more than 100 miles away at the White House. That means any important move by the campaign is run by the White House first, prompting concern among some Democrats as they head into a turbulent contest that is likely to require immediate responses to fast-moving developments. Axelrod said Friday he could not speak to Obamas discussions with Biden, but that each president approaches his reelection differently, and Bidens campaign structure may yet evolve. Jim and I started building the structure in Chicago in the spring of 11. President Biden has chosen to keep many of his key political advisers in the White House, Axelrod wrote in a text message. But by necessity, I would expect several of them will move fairly soon to the campaign itself. But some Democrats running on the ticket with Biden are worried. Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who is running for her states open Senate seat, has expressed concern to allies that she may not be able to win if Biden is at the top of the ticket, according to people familiar with the conversations. A spokesman for Slotkins campaign said she looks forward to running with President Biden. Outside of urging structural changes, Obamas sense of urgency about the upcoming presidential race has been reflected in his push to raise money for Bidens effort. He has helped the Biden campaign raise $4 million in small-dollar donations, including $2.6 million through a Meet the Presidents contest where donors have the chance to meet Obama and Biden, Biden campaign officials said. In a statement this summer, Eric Schultz, a senior adviser to Obama, said the former president looks forward to supporting Democrats up and down the ballot next fall, and no race has bigger stakes than President Bidens reelection. We place a huge emphasis on finding creative ways to reach new audiences, especially tools that can be directly tied to voter mobilization or volunteer activations, Schultz said. We are deliberate in picking our moments because our objective is to move the needle. On Thursday, the Biden campaign released a new fundraising video featuring the two leaders. We need your help to ensure Joes leadership continues to guide us forward, Obama says in the video. We know the other side wont rest, so we cant either. The relationship between Obama and the man who served as his vice president for eight years is a complex one. The two men developed a strong working relationship and their families bonded well, but aides to both men say the bromance depicted in some pop culture accounts was always an exaggeration. These days, Biden and Obama check in with each other periodically, and Obama remains close to many of his former staffers who now work in the White House. Some Biden allies who have heard about Obamas musings on their campaign structure are dismissive, still feeling burned by Obamas decision to support Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election instead of Biden. The mention of Plouffe in particular irritates some longtime Biden aides, because it was Plouffe whom Obama dispatched to warn Biden that he faced long odds if he decided to seek the presidency in 2016. The president was not encouraging, Biden wrote in his memoir, Promise Me, Dad. The Biden aides note bitingly that Clinton, despite Obamas support, lost to Trump in 2016, a defeat that remains traumatizing for many Democrats. Plouffe declined to comment but has told friends he is retired from active campaign work. But even Biden is frustrated by his public standing, frequently complaining about his low poll numbers in private conversations with aides. In one meeting shortly before Thanksgiving, he demanded to know what his team and his campaign staff were doing about it. The low approval ratings have persisted despite a humming economy, as the country added 216,000 jobs in December. Just before years end, Bidens rating tied his record low, with 38 percent approving his performance and 58 percent disapproving, according to a Washington Post average of 17 polls in November and December. Voters, including a majority of Democrats, say they are particularly concerned about Bidens age and consistently rank it as a bigger problem for the president, 81, than for Trump, 77. Democrats are also concerned about Biden losing support among younger voters and communities of color because of his handling of the Israel-Gaza war. In December, a New York Times-Siena College poll found that 57 percent of voters disapproved of his handling of the conflict, while 33 percent approved. Bidens aides, however, say that if Trump becomes the Republican nominee as analysts on both sides expect, a clear majority of voters will find Biden preferable, given Trumps chaotic style and anti-democratic tendencies. And in the Times-Siena poll, while all registered voters supported Trump over Biden, those likely to vote favored Biden. On Friday, Biden held his first major official campaign event, traveling to Valley Forge, Pa., to give a speech blasting Trump as a threat to democracy on the eve of the anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Biden launched his reelection campaign in April, but to date his political activity has largely been confined to fundraisers and a few appearances at political rallies hosted by outside groups. Key Insights Highfield Resources' significant retail investors ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public 50% of the business is held by the top 15 shareholders Ownership research, combined with past performance data can help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock To get a sense of who is truly in control of Highfield Resources Limited (ASX:HFR), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. We can see that retail investors own the lion's share in the company with 47% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Clearly, retail investors benefitted the most after the company's market cap rose by AU$24m last week. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Highfield Resources. See our latest analysis for Highfield Resources ASX:HFR Ownership Breakdown January 6th 2024 What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Highfield Resources? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. Institutions have a very small stake in Highfield Resources. That indicates that the company is on the radar of some funds, but it isn't particularly popular with professional investors at the moment. If the company is growing earnings, that may indicate that it is just beginning to catch the attention of these deep-pocketed investors. It is not uncommon to see a big share price rise if multiple institutional investors are trying to buy into a stock at the same time. So check out the historic earnings trajectory, below, but keep in mind it's the future that counts most. ASX:HFR Earnings and Revenue Growth January 6th 2024 We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Highfield Resources. The company's largest shareholder is EMR Capital Pty. Ltd., with ownership of 27%. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 7.4% and 5.8% of the stock. Story continues A closer look at our ownership figures suggests that the top 15 shareholders have a combined ownership of 50% implying that no single shareholder has a majority. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There is a little analyst coverage of the stock, but not much. So there is room for it to gain more coverage. Insider Ownership Of Highfield Resources While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in Highfield Resources Limited. In their own names, insiders own AU$14m worth of stock in the AU$153m company. It is good to see some investment by insiders, but we usually like to see higher insider holdings. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 47% stake in Highfield Resources. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Equity Ownership Private equity firms hold a 27% stake in Highfield Resources. This suggests they can be influential in key policy decisions. Some might like this, because private equity are sometimes activists who hold management accountable. But other times, private equity is selling out, having taking the company public. Private Company Ownership We can see that Private Companies own 9.5%, of the shares on issue. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company. Public Company Ownership Public companies currently own 5.8% of Highfield Resources stock. It's hard to say for sure but this suggests they have entwined business interests. This might be a strategic stake, so it's worth watching this space for changes in ownership. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Highfield Resources better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Highfield Resources (at least 2 which can't be ignored) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Soldiers of an airborne brigade of the U.S. Army stand at the Adazi Military Base of the Latvian armed forces in Adazi, Latvia, on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Gints Ivuskans/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) According to its ever-running television commercials, USAA insurance caters exclusively to members and veterans of Americas armed services and their families. Now a federal judge in San Diego has granted class-action status to a lawsuit filed by two enlisted service members who accused the insurer of shunting them into more expensive policies than those offered to officers. The company, which is officially known as United Services Automobile Association, was sued in 2021 by Eileen-Gayle Coleman, a Marine Corps radio operator from Oceanside, and Robert Castro, an Army culinary specialist from Banning in Riverside County. The two enlisted service members who each purchased USAA insurance policies said the company steered them into products that charged higher premiums than those imposed on military officers. USAA advertises, We know what it means to serve, the initial complaint alleged. It claims to respect and honor the men and women in our nations military and their families who support them. But as shown by its pricing of automobile insurance policies and its deceptive business practices, USAA respects and honors current and former military officers more than it does current and former enlisted personnel, the complaint added. The case was brought by Consumer Watchdog, the Los Angeles advocacy nonprofit that works to keep premiums low by intervening in insurance rate cases. Two Washington, D.C., law firms also are representing the plaintiffs. USAA, which has as many as 200,000 policyholders in California that could be members of the represented class, said the allegations in the lawsuit lack any merit. California law allows USAA to serve members in the manner we do, and our rates are examined and approved by regulators, a company spokesperson said by email. We remain committed to providing competitive products and exceptional service to the military community, he added. In court, company lawyers said the dispute should be decided by the California Department of Insurance and argued against certifying it as a class-action case. The insurance companys lawyers did not respond last week to a request for comment about the allegations or the judges finding. In a 58-page ruling issued late last month, Judge Robert S. Huie granted and denied motions by both parties. The class-action aspect of the case could move forward to determine whether USAA applied good driver discounts equally between enlisted personnel and officers, he said. The court concludes that a class action is a superior means of adjudicating this case, Huie wrote. According to the ruling, USAA is comprised of multiple companies, two of which are defendants in the lawsuit. One, known as United Services, mostly serves military officers. The other, USAA General Indemnity Corp., or GIC, generally serves enlisted service members. Once base rates are established, the judges ruling noted, a series of rating factors affects the final premium. The class-action litigation will decide whether USAA deliberately steered customers into GIC policies that largely served enlisted military personnel, thereby denying them the lowest premium possible under good driver discounts. Plaintiffs allege that USAAs practice of separating policyholders between GIC and United Services discriminates against enlisted military personnel and enlisted veterans by consigning them to its substandard insurance company, the ruling noted. Washington lawyer Jay Angoff, who is co-representing the plaintiffs, said he was pleased that his clients will get their day in court. Those people had a right to get the cheapest coverage for a good driver that USAA provides, he said in an interview. The case had a trial date scheduled for later this year, but the proceeding has been pushed back. The lawsuit will be decided as a bench trial, meaning it will be resolved by the judge rather than a jury. USAA can appeal the class-action certification ruling to the federal appellate court if company lawyers choose. 2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Amid apprehensions of further delay in general elections in the country, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Saturday that the polls will be held on February 8 as per schedule even if "they" get resolutions passed from the United Nations (UN) or the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The remark came during his press conference in Lahore, wherein he was questioned about the approval of a resolution by the Senate to delay the polls. Bilawal said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a schedule for the polls on February 8 so the polls will be staged on the same date. No matter if [they] get a resolution passed from the Senate, the UN or the OIC, elections will be staged on February 8," the former foreign minister told reporters. An independent lawmaker in the Senate moved a resolution seeking deferral of polls in the light of extreme weather and security situation in the country, which was adopted by a majority of 14 senators present in the legislature on Friday. However, a fresh resolution was tabled in the upper house for the elections' conduct on February 8 as per schedule. Jamaat-e-Islamis (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, in the resolution submitted to the Senate Secretariat today, pointed out that holding elections is a constitutional requirement. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court was also moved to initiate contempt proceedings against senators involved in passing a resolution in the Senate for polls delay. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb also stressed that polls in the country will be held as per schedule. Talking to the media after appearing before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore earlier in the day, the former information minister said that PML-N was the only party that opposed the resolution. Elections will be on February 8 [even if] other parties cry or shout, said Marriyum. Ruling out the possibility of the polls being put off, Bilawal recalled Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isas remark of the election date being set in stone. The PPP leader said that he thinks everyone has trust in this remark of the top judge and stands by him on this matter. He expressed confidence that the general elections will be staged on time and the Pakistanis will have the chance to exercise their right to vote and form a government of their choice. "PPP will accept the decision of Pakistani people," Bilawal said while expressing his desire that his party should be given a chance to address the issues of the country. Responding to a question about the provision of a level playing field, the politician said that PPP has faced difficulties whenever it contested elections. He said that other parties are contending that their candidates have been disqualified, but a greater number of candidates were disqualified in the 2013 elections. Bilawal said that the PPP has always demanded free and fair elections in the country but currently, he is focusing on the party's 10-point agenda for the polls instead of complaining about a level playing field. "Our 10-point agenda is our manifesto [for the elections]," he added. The politician further stated that he will contest the elections to implement his manifesto while Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are contesting to save their supremos from cases and jail. Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Omar Hamid Khan stepped down from his post citing health issues. According to media reports, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan has not yet accepted Khan's resignation as the electoral body's secretary. The development comes just a few weeks before the general elections scheduled to take place on February 8 amid allegations of lack of level playing field by key political players including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Earlier today, ECP Special Secretary Dr Syed Asif Hussain rejected the PTI's allegation that it was not being provided a level playing field to partake in election-related activities. In a written response submitted to the Supreme Court on PTI's plea seeking contempt proceedings against the electoral body, the ECP asked the apex court to dismiss the contempt petition with a cost. The PTI's petition sought contempt of court proceedings against the ECP secretary, inspector generals of police (IGPs), chief secretaries of the four provinces and secretary of interior ministry for "non-compliance" of SC order passed on December 22, 2023. Harrison, from the Dundrum Road in Newcastle, is alleged to have sent a woman an image of his erect penis on 29 November last year This is the first man charged with sending an unsolicited d**k pic, which is alleged to have been sent to a shocked woman two days after the legislation came into force. As well as an allegation that he sent an unwanted sexual image, Robert Wayne Harrison faces three charges of breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). The 49-year-old has been remanded into custody due to fears he would commit further offences. Harrison, from Dundrum Road in Newcastle, Co Down, is alleged to have sent a woman an image of his erect penis on November 29 last year, intending that the recipient would be caused humiliation, alarm or distress. That alleged offence came just two days after the crime was created by way of the Justice, Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims Act 2022, with those found guilty facing up to two years in prison and up to 10 years on the Sex Offenders Register. Harrison faces three further charges of breaching his SOPO on dates between September 1 and November 30 last year. During a bail application on Thursday, the court heard how, as a category 2 sex offender, Harrison is someone whose previous offending and/or current behaviour and/or current circumstances present clear and identifiable evidence that he could cause serious harm through carrying out a contact sexual or violent offence. A prosecuting lawyer told the court Harrison was arrested before Christmas after officers were told he was accessing the internet while volunteering at St Vincent de Paul in Newcastle. As part of his SOPO, Harrison must get approval before accessing the web. The woman who alerted police to Harrisons alleged web access also revealed she exchanged messages with a woman who said she had also been communicating with Harrison. She provided a statement outlining her contact with Mr Harrison via Facebook and the nature of the contact, said the lawyer. The court heard how the woman also reported to police their contact was more than a friendship and before communicating on Facebook, they had met on a dating website. Harrison is alleged to have breached his SOPO by failing to disclose this relationship to police and by failing to disclose his convictions to the woman. She claimed that on November 29, 2023, Harrison sent her a picture of his erect penis via Facebook Messenger she had not asked him to do this and receipt of the picture caused her shock and disgust. Arrested and questioned, Harrison claimed he had never used the computer in St Vincent de Paul, denied being a volunteer there and also maintained he and the woman were never in a relationship because they never met. While he admitted to sending images to other people, with and without their consent, he was not sure if he had sent any to the woman he was in a relationship with. He emphasised he had not messaged her for several months. In May last year, Harrison was handed a five-month prison sentence after he told a 17-year-old girl he fantasised about having sex with her and asked her if he could send her images of his genitals. When she told him she didnt want him to send her any explicit images, he asked her not to tell her mum what was going on. Those offences of harassment and the improper use of a telecommunication network resulted in a five-month jail sentence and Harrison being the subject of a five-year SOPO. It was because of those offences that Harrison was refused bail at Downpatrick Magistrates Court on Thursday. Judge Jonathan Connolly remanded him in custody until February 1. Two strangulation charges allege that Colin Taggart wrapped a tea-towel around the neck of the complainant A Co Antrim man has been remanded into custody accused of more than a dozen offences relating to alleged domestic abuse. Colin Taggart spoke only to confirm his date of birth and that he understood the 13 charges against him when he appeared at Coleraine Magistrates Court by video-link from police custody on Friday. Taggart, from Woodvale Park in Bushmills, faces seven charges including a domestic abuse offence, attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent, two charges of non-fatal strangulation and four of common assault. The court was told the alleged offences took place between August 12, last year, and January 3, this year. The 39-year-old was also charged with making and possessing an indecent image of a child, driving while banned, driving with no insurance and possessing class C drug pregabalin. While none of the alleged facts surrounding the offences were opened in court, the two strangulation charges allege that Taggart wrapped a tea-towel around the neck of the complainant and the attempted GBH offences relates to an incident on New Years Day. A police officer said she believed she could connect Taggart to each of the charges and as there was no application for bail Deputy District Judge Laura Levers remanded him into custody adjourning the case to January 29. Judge warns dad of six is a danger to the people of Offaly and Westmeath A FATHER of six caught driving with a blood cocaine reading of more than 45 times the legal limit was described as a danger to the people of Offaly and Westmeath as he was handed a 10-year disqualification from driving. Joseph Jessup (43), of Newtown, Tyrellspass, Co Westmeath, appeared before Judge Andrew Cody at Tullamore District Court on Wednesday charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol and cocaine on the N52 at Ballard, Tullamore on May 23 this year. A clearly appalled Judge Cody noted, as Jessups case was called, that it was just last month that he had come before him with the highest drug reading Id ever heard of more than 45 times the legal limit. Now, youre back today, he said, for being four times above the legal limit [for cocaine]. The judges comments related to a previous appearance by Jessup before the court on December 13. On that occasion, he was charged that on March 6 on the R420 at Cloncollig, Tullamore, he did drive a mechanically propelled vehicle while there was present in his body a quantity of a drug named benzoylecgonine (cocaine). The reading on that occasion was 2,338.0 ng/ml. The legally allowed limit is 50 ng/ml. Judge Cody had fined Jessup 500 and imposed a three-year driving disqualification to take effect from December 28 on that occasion. Appearing for Jessup at Wednesdays hearing, solicitor Donal Farrelly pleaded that both the offence for which Jessup was sentenced in December and the one for which he was being sentenced this week occurred during the same period. He said Jessup was a father of six and his marriage had broken down in the lead up to both incidents. It all happened within a period of devastation to him, he said. The court heard the most recent offences were detected after gardai were alerted that a blue Hyundai i40 was being driven dangerously at Ballard on May 23. The accused was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of an intoxicant. An analysis of his blood later revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 155 mgs of alcohol and a benzoylecgonine (cocaine) concentration level of 186.2 nanograms. Judge Cody heard Jessup has 10 previous convictions, including the December conviction for driving under the influence as well as one for dangerous driving dating from January 2022 when he was disqualified for a period of two years. Defence counsel Mr Farrelly described his client as someone who has suffered from extreme ill health which required numerous medications. He noted that his client had broken his foot and had spent Christmas in hospital. He pleaded that the incidents before the court had taken place against the backdrop of a broken marriage and submitted that, in the context of his clients health situation, he would be an entirely inappropriate person to be sent to prison. Responding that Jessups blood alcohol reading was way over the top and stating he had been off his head on cocaine, Judge Cody queried how the solicitor could say Jessup was an inappropriate person to be sent to prison. He said he believed jail was entirely appropriate in the circumstances. Mr Farrelly responded: Id ask the court to extend what leniency it can. Having confirmed that Jessup was not disqualified at the time of the offence, Judge Cody imposed a convicted fine of 500 in relation to the offence of driving while under the influence of cocaine. Jessup was also given a six-month jail sentence suspended for a period of two years, and was disqualified from driving for 10 years. The same sentence was handed down in relation to the offence of driving while under the influence of alcohol. Judge Cody also warned Mr Farrelly: If he comes back before this court for any reason, hell serve those six months. Hes a danger to the people of Offaly and Westmeath. The Federal Reserve began raising its benchmark interest rate in March 2022. Policymakers pushed that rate higher at its fastest pace since the early 1980s in an effort to bring inflation back to its 2% target. They have nearly hit that mark. The inflation reading was 3.1% in November 2023, a significant slowdown from 9.1% in June 2022. Given that progress, the Fed held rates steady at the last three meetings, and officials have signaled an end to the rate hike cycle this year. In fact, the latest projections imply a few rate cuts in 2024. In any case, the end of a rate hike cycle has historically been a good thing for the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), a benchmark for the broader U.S. stock market. Here's what investors should know. Image source: Getty Images. History says the stock market is headed higher The Federal Reserve has guided the economy through 10 complete rate hike cycles in the last 50 years. The S&P 500 moved higher 80% of the time during the 12-month period following the last hike in those cycles, and the index returned a median of 16.1% during those periods. For context, policymakers last raised the benchmark rate on July 27, since which time the S&P 500 has advanced 3.7%. That leaves an implied upside of roughly 12% through July 2024, provided the index performs in line with its historical average. As a caveat, past returns are never a guarantee of future results. Each rate hike cycle during the last 50 years was caused by different circumstances, so the current one could play out very differently. However, the S&P 500 has returned about 10% annually over the long term, so now is a good time to buy stocks no matter what happens in the next 12 months. Investors can find inspiration in recent stock splits Investors looking for places to put their money should consider the many popular companies that have split their stocks somewhat recently, as detailed below: Amazon : 20-for-1 split in June 2022. Apple : 4-for-1 split in August 2020. Arista Networks : 4-for-1 split in November 2021. Alphabet : 20-for-1 split in July 2022. Dexcom : 4-for-1 split in June 2022. Monster Beverage : 2-for-1 split in March 2023. Nvidia : 4-for-1 split July 2021. Palo Alto Networks : 3-for-1 split in September 2022. Shopify (NYSE: SHOP): 10-for-1 split in June 2022. Tesla : 3-for-1 split in August 2022. The Trade Desk: 2-for-1 split in June 2021. Story continues Stock splits generally follow lasting share price appreciation, which rarely happens in the absence of solid business fundamentals. In that way, stock splits can help investors identify good companies. While a case could be made for every stock listed above, Shopify looks attractive at its current valuation. Shopify is a leader in commerce software Shopify reported stellar financial results in the third quarter. Revenue increased 25% to $1.7 billion due to the onboarding of larger merchants, strong momentum across Europe, and price increases. The company also reported generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) net income of $708 million, up from a net loss of $188 million in the prior year. The driving forces behind improved profitability were the sale of its capital-intensive logistics business and workforce reductions. The investment thesis for Shopify centers on its ability to simplify commerce and support the entire merchant lifecycle, from start-up to enterprise. Its software unifies physical and digital sales channels behind a common dashboard. That means merchants can manage their businesses across online marketplaces, social media networks, branded websites, and brick-and-mortar shops from a single platform. Additionally, Shopify provides supplemental services that help merchants grow their businesses. That includes financial services like payment processing, working capital loans, and business bank accounts, as well as services for cross-border commerce and wholesale. Shopify also simplifies logistics by linking merchants with freight and fulfillment providers like Flexport and Amazon. Indeed, merchants can now offer "Buy with Prime" at checkout, a service that extends the shipping benefits of Prime membership beyond the Amazon marketplace. Here's the bottom line: No other commerce platform offers the same breadth of functionality, and Shopify has earned a leadership position in e-commerce and omnichannel commerce software. In turn, that success has attracted a partner ecosystem that is four times larger than its closest competitor, creating a network effect that further solidifies its market leadership. To elaborate, Shopify has more developers and technology partners building products for its app store, which continuously extends the functionality of its platform. It also has more systems integrators and consulting partners selling its software. Both advantages ultimately bring more merchants to Shopify, which further incentivizes participation in its partner ecosystem, creating a virtuous cycle. The upshot is that Shopify is ideally positioned to benefit as e-commerce becomes more prevalent across both retail and wholesale channels. To quantify that, retail e-commerce sales are forecast to increase by 8% annually through 2030, while wholesale e-commerce sales are projected to increase by 19% annually through 2031. That points to mid-teens or even high-teens sales growth through the end of the decade. Given that growth trajectory, Shopify's current valuation of 13.9 times sales seems reasonable, especially when the three-year average is 23.7 times sales. Patient investors willing to hold the stock for five years should feel confident buying a small position today. That is true regardless of what the S&P 500 does over the next 12 months. Where to invest $1,000 right now When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for two decades, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has more than tripled the market.* They just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Shopify made the list -- but there are 9 other stocks you may be overlooking. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Trevor Jennewine has positions in Amazon, Arista Networks, Nvidia, Shopify, Tesla, and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Arista Networks, Monster Beverage, Nvidia, Palo Alto Networks, Shopify, Tesla, and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool recommends DexCom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. History Says the S&P 500 Could Soar in 2024: 1 Stock-Split Growth Stock to Buy Now and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool Thurles native Gerard OBrien had continued to receive a monthly salary of 14,796 Gerard OBrien pictured at his home in Thurles last week A Circuit Court judge who resigned from the bench yesterday two weeks after he was convicted of the sexual abuse of six young men received more than 440,000 in salary payments while awaiting trial. Thurles native Gerard OBrien had continued to receive a monthly salary of 14,796 despite not having sat on the bench since charges were first filed against him on June 25, 2021. Throughout this period, however, his 177,554 salary was unaffected, as a judges remuneration and conditions can only be affected by Dail resolution. This means that since OBrien first appeared in court on the abuse charges, he has received salary payments totalling 443,885. However, in a statement issued yesterday, the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, confirmed the judge had conveyed his resignation to her, effective from Friday. In a statement, the Department of Justice said: The resignation has been conveyed to the President in accordance with the requirements of section 6 (2) of the Courts (Establishment and Constitution) Act 1961. The Minister will be making no further comment on this matter prior to the court finalising the case by sentencing, which is adjourned to March 4. OBrien was convicted three days before Christmas of the sexual abuse of the six men almost 30 years ago. Earlier this week and following on from coverage in last weekends Sunday World, Sinn Feins justice spokesperson, Pa Daly, called for OBriens removal from the bench in a letter sent to the Judicial Council. He asked the Council, an independent body that oversees judicial standards, if it had taken any decision as to whether it has any role, or will be taking any role, in any disciplinary investigation process concerning Judge OBrien. Mr Daly added that if the judge did not resign, the relevant machinery to remove him should be commenced. OBriens conviction and subsequent unmasking as a sexual predator earlier led to Justice Minister Helen McEntee issuing a statement confirming she had contacted the Attorney General on how best to proceed in terms of his removal from the bench. She confirmed she was considering the options open to the Government and the Oireachtas. OBrien, who is missing both hands and a foot as a result of the rare health condition phocomelia, pleaded not guilty in the Central Criminal Court to one count of attempted rape and eight counts of sexual assault in relation to six complainants, some of whom were his students. His four-week trial was told the offences occurred on dates between March 1991 and November 1997 at locations in Dublin. He was in his 30s while his victims were aged between 17 and 24. OBrien was teaching in a secondary school at the time of the alleged assaults, and four of the complainants were students. The other two complainants knew him from his hometown. When approached by the Sunday World after his conviction, the disgraced judge, now a registered sex offender, said he had avoided much of the reaction and commentary in the wake of his trial. I havent been reading it, he said. When asked whether there was any comment he would make in light of the verdicts against him, OBrien said: Im devastated for everybody. Im just devastated for all involved. Victims associates are mocked to goad them into a turf war Gardai seal off the scene of the shooting Rivals of slain criminal Jason Hennessy Snr have targeted a close associate of the Christmas Eve gun victim accusing him of crying to gardai in an apparent effort to goad him into a gang war. Videos were uploaded to the social media site TikTok within hours of Hennessy Snr dying, taunting the volatile criminal over the 48-year-olds death as well as personally targeting him over his past interactions with gardai. The criminal associate was present with Hennessy Snr in Brownes Steakhouse on the night of the shooting and its understood he may have been the main target of the machine-gun attack by killer Tristan Sherry. He cannot be currently named as he is before the courts on serious charges. Chillingly, the Sunday World has learned the criminal previously warned authorities that it was only a matter of time before one of the Hennessy crew would be targeted or killed as a result of a feud in which he was the target. Tristan Sherry Our revelations come as a source in the locality predicted the death of Jay Hennessy Snr could result in the implosion of the mob he was involved with. The source said the gang, who had been heavily targeted by gardai in the K District in the early 2020s, has become bigger and more dangerous in recent years. However, he also said there was personal animosities between different members of the close-knit crew that had been kept at bay by the presence of Hennessy Snr. There is a real possibility his death could cause this group to implode, the source said. His people are going to be far more paranoid and unpredictable in the wake of his death. You mix that in with grief, anger and old grudges and its a bad mix. According to sources, its unlikely that information from inside the gang played a role in the Christmas Eve attack by gunman Tristan Sherry. The scene of the shooting Hennessy Snr and his associates regularly dined there, he said. They had become less guarded in recent years as the intense Garda focus that was on them a few years back dissipated. But there is as much, if not more drug dealing going on in west Dublin now than there was back then. There is less fear now for these lads getting caught because they dont see the cops and DS (Drug Squad) out doing anywhere near the same amount of checkpoints. That has made gangs likes Hennessy Snrs bigger and more dangerous. His killing has made locals in Blanchardstown very nervous. There is a real fear that this is going to blow up. Nobody wants that and the cops need to be given every resource they need to prevent this happening. The Sunday World understands that Garda Armed Support Units have been operating increased patrols in the Corduff and Finglas areas since the shooting, with extra overtimes allocated by Garda headquarters. Additional local patrols have been stepped up as well as patrols by unmarked gardai and detectives. Hennessy Snr died at the Mater Hospital in Dublin on Wednesday, 10 days after he was shot in the neck as he tried to disarm machine-gun Sherry after the killer entered the steakhouse. His condition was stabilised after he was rushed by car to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown and he was initially expected to survive. However, his condition later deteriorated and despite being moved to the Mater Hospital for specialist treatment, he died. A second gunman who entered the steakhouse with Sherry on the night of the killing fled as his accomplice was overpowered and is now in hiding from both gardai and Hennessy Snrs associates. Sources say officers in K District are bracing themselves for retaliation over the killing and fear it has the potential to lead to a major escalation in the so-called Corduff feud. Gardai seal off the scene of the shooting In the short term, gardai are preparing for the funerals of both Sherry and Hennessy Snr in the coming days. Sources said that as well as safeguarding the mourners at the funerals themselves, a heavy police presence will have to be maintained for the events aftermaths. The trouble around these things usually occurs in the hours after the ceremonies are over, a source said. It is understood that killer Tristan Sherrys funeral was delayed to allow for an independent post-mortem to take place separate to that carried out by the State in the event that it is requested by those who have been charged in connection with his killing. So far, three men have been charged in connection with his death. Witnesses to the incident on December 24 or anyone with video footage has been requested to contact gardai at Blanchardstown Garda station on 01 666 7000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. Its the highest recorded number of visas granted in at least 16 years More than 21,000 Irish young people were granted Australian working holiday visas over a 12-month period starting in July 2022. Its the highest recorded number of visas in at least 16 years. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, 21,525 Irish citizens were granted working holiday visas between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 more than twice the number of visas granted the year previous at 10,491. A decade ago, just 4,074 working holiday visas were granted to Irish citizens in 2014. And more than 8,400 visas were approved in 2007, while 12,847 were allocated in 2008 at the peak of the recession, although this number fell to 6,945 in 2009. Emigration has been steadily rising in Ireland over the past five years, with 11,077 visas granted between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. A slight decline in visa approvals during the pandemic saw 8,878 working holiday visas granted to Irish citizens, but travel experts are anticipating a further increase in applications this year, the Irish Times writes. With higher salaries and sunny beaches, Visa Firsts business development manager Nune Troy said the number of Irish people heading Down Under could increase by at least another 30pc this year. She told the publication: Theres been a huge increase from 2022 onwards and we can see that the number of people applying for working holiday visas is going to increase more and more this year at our company alone we had 1,500 applications last year. There are just more opportunities in the jobs market and better money, but I think its the cost of living and housing situation as well in the big cities like Dublin. Since Australia relaxed its visa regulations in 2022 after the pandemic, Irish citizens up to 35 years of age can now apply for a working holiday visa, whereas before the maximum age was 30. So I think this has also increased numbers. Where are we all going to go if these 50 people, without documentation likely, are hovering here, where we are standing now? The Department of Integration is continuing to engage with the owners of a Co Mayo hotel about the possibility of housing asylum seekers following two nights of protests. The demonstrations began on Friday evening outside the former JJ Gannons Hotel on Ballinrobes Main Street after it emerged that there were plans to accommodate 50 international protection applicants in the building from Monday. The adult male asylum seekers were to be housed at the hotel using 12 rooms for a period of one year. On Saturday, local Fine Gael councillor Michael Burke claimed that the owner of the JJ Gannons Hotel had withdrawn the lease, telling The Journal that he doesnt want any hassle". Taking to social media, he added: I am delighted with this announcement and its a good result for all the people that turned out last night and has been in contact with me over the past 24 hours. Thank you everyone for the support. But later that evening, the Department of Integration said in a statement that engagement on the issue has not ceased. The Department is continuing to engage with the provider in relation to the premises in Ballinrobe, and is not in a position to comment further, it said. The protest outside the JJ Gannons Hotel on Friday gained traction after Burke shared a press release about the Departments decision to house asylum seekers in Ballinrobe. It was organised using a social media page called Ballinrobe Says No and encouraged locals to stand outside the premises overnight and into the early hours of Saturday morning. A livestreamed video of the protest showed a local business owner speaking to fellow demonstrators using a microphone. She spoke about how people were upset that they received just two days' notice about the arrival of asylum seekers in the town. Unfortunately we are going to have to stand here and stay here, and not allow this to happen, she said. If this happens my daughter will not walk down this street, and I wont walk down this street. Where are we all going to go if these 50 people, without documentation likely, are hovering here, where we are standing now? They will be here Monday morning unless we all stay here, stand here, and do something about it, she added. Fianna Fail councillor Damien Ryan also spoke out at the protest and said that he shared the same concerns about the arrival of asylum seekers as the towns residents. He said that he believes Irish people embrace a level of acceptance with genuine refugees but said people in Ballinrobe are infuriated to hear of 50 males going into a building with no collaboration and no communication. He told the crowd that he would attend the protest all weekend, adding there is strength in numbers. Mr Holland (63) was visiting his daughter who had recently moved to Melbourne when he got into difficulty while sea swimming on New Years Day The funeral details have been announced of John Holland, the Co Kilkenny man who drowned while on holiday with a friend in Australia. Mr Holland (63) was visiting his daughter who had recently moved to Melbourne when he got into difficulty while sea swimming on New Years Day. He will lie in repose at his home in The Square, Ballyragget from 2pm on Thursday, January 11 with Rosary at 7pm. The removal will take place on the morning of Friday, January 12 to St. Patrick's Church Ballyragget for funeral mass at 11am, followed by burial in St. Finnans Cemetery, Ballyragget. Speaking to Morning Ireland on RTE Radio One last week, the parish priest from Ballyragget Fr Eamonn OGorman said Mr Hollands death marked a great loss for his family and the local community in Kilkenny. Both his daughter and the paramedics at the scene tried to help Mr Holland, Fr OGorman said. "The paramedics tried to work on him for a good while and the result was that he had died which was very, very sad for the family and many, many friends and parishioners here and around the country. He really had lots of friends in many different places. "Deeply regretted by his heartbroken family, son John, daughters Emma and Kate, sister Mai, Johns fiancee Deirdre Phelan and Kates fiance Kevin Kelly, grandchildren Andy and Nell, mother-in-Law, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews , relatives and a wide circle of friends, a notice on RIP.ie reads. Predeceased by his loving wife Marie. May John Rest in Peace. There was confusion among members when it was reported in the media that the group posted their new years intentions on a wall in the Republic Forensics at scene last February after DCI John Caldwell was shot A threatening message posted on a wall in Dublin claiming to be from the New IRA was not sanctioned by the collective leadership, we can reveal. A rogue member or supporter for the terror group stuck the New Years Day statement on a wall in the Tallaght area threatening to continue targeting members of the security forces. While the message was not connected to the New IRA, leadership sources say the content is accurate. There was confusion among members when it was reported in the media that the group posted their new years intentions on a wall in the Republic. The New IRA statement It was a bit random strange because there was no talk of putting out an official message in those circumstances, said a New IRA source. When we heard about it, people started to ask questions because no one knew who drafted the statement, gave permission for it or decided to stick it on a wall in Dublin. It was quickly established that neither the leadership or any senior member knew anything about it; it was someone going solo. Though the message was accurate, the New IRA will, in 2024, continue to treat all members of the PSNI and security forces as legitimate targets for assassination. The message read: The IRA today reiterates its fight for Irish independence, in all the forms that that might take. We have shown in the past 12 months that we still have the volunteers and capability to target members of the crown forces where, and when we see fit, we will continue to do so. The typed message alludes to the attempted murder of off-duty PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, who was left fighting for his life after being shot in front of his young son in Omagh last year. The New IRA claimed responsibility for the attempted murder of Mr Caldwell in a similar message posted in Derry, although police believe they were supported by criminal gangs from both sides of the community. Ten men have been charged in connection with the shooting. Forensics at scene last February after DCI John Caldwell was shot One denies preparing terrorist acts by sourcing and storing a car used in the build-up to the shooting. He is also charged with possessing articles and providing vehicles for terrorism. Another seven men have been charged with attempted murder. The messages in Derry and Dublin were both signed T ONeill a name previously used by the dissident terror group, and a spin on P ONeill originally used by the Provos. The Dublin message also encouraged people to join their shrinking ranks. Referring to republican commemorative events many organised and attended by Sinn Fein the note added: We would like to remind people that our fallen comrades did not give their lives to be commemorated. Commemorations will not bring us one step closer to a united Ireland, and we would encourage anyone looking to honour our fallen comrades to do so by joining the IRA and [fighting] for the same cause for which they died. DCI John Caldwell The New IRA message also criticised the EU for the erosion of our national sovereignty. Politicians and community workers across the North condemned the statement, with one labelling the New IRA as a death cult. A Sinn Fein spokesperson said: There is no place in our society for any armed groups. They should desist from any further actions and leave the stage immediately. It was also condemned by victims campaigner Kenny Donaldson, director of the South East Fermanagh Foundation. Irrespective of what prefix is attached to IRA, the reality is that such organisations are nothing more than death cults, he said. Those who continue to wage terror and violence, while also running their self-benefiting financial rackets, need to understand that a united Ireland is less likely to be achieved with violence than without it. I think its inevitable at some point in this competition if Im still in it Rosanna Davison admits theres a major chance her famous father Chris de Burgh might be brought on to Dancing With The Stars to sing Lady In Red alongside one of her TV appearances. Stranger things have happened, smiled the former Miss World when asked about such a scenario or her dancing to another of his hits. I think its inevitable at some point in this competition if Im still in it, where someone thinks its a great idea to put me in a red dress and have me dance to Lady In Red. Although I had a conversation with my pro dance partner yesterday and he said wouldnt Spaceman be a cool song to dance to, wouldnt it be a really cool set, a real out of this world sort of space type set kind of set. Rosanna will dance with pro partner Stephen Vincent So, well see. Im not sure what this creative team has planned, what surprises they will spring on me, but Im definitely anticipating it. She expects her husband Wes to bring their three kids to dress rehearsals on Saturdays but is unsure if her father can make it to the live shows on Sundays. I dont know if he will come each week because he has his own busy schedule, she explains. He was only telling us the other day he is celebrating 50 years in the music industry this year, so he has got a whole series of tours and concerts and some musicals running at the moment in Germany, so he has got his own stuff going on, which is great. He is 75 now and theres no stopping him. Former model turned health businesswoman Rosanna also rebuffs any suggestion Wes might be jealous of her being up close and personal with pro dance partner Stephen Vincent, or the possibly of a Strictly type romance curse. We are married 10 years this year. I think we have been together 17 or 18 years, we are kind of beyond that stage now, because Stephen is married as well. I dont know if its even crossed anyones minds, she stresses. Wes is really supportive. He is looking forward to watching the show. He is one of those people with New Years resolutions to get fit. So he has been trying to get back to the gym It is hard with small children to prioritise yourself, so I always think he always looks great. But he was giving out recently about having a dad bod, he is getting back to the gym. So hopefully my kind of lifestyle at the moment will inspire him, my early nights and active lifestyle will inspire him as well. Rosannas dad Chris de Burgh is celebrating 50 years in the music industry Rosanna is also looking forward to glamming up for the show, and putting on lots of fake tan. It comes with the territory, lots of fake tan, she confirms. I think the lights are so bright. The costumes are skimpy in places, that a little bit of tan helps boosts confidence, so thats part of it I think its just part of the whole glitz and glamour of the show as well. She adds she is managing to bring her children to school early every morning and collect them at 2.30pm, having been up usually around 5am after getting to sleep the night before at 9pm. Her eldest Sophia is aged four, while twins Hugo and Oscar are aged three. It felt like the right time for me to step away, she points out as to why she joined the show. Theyre a little bit older, a little bit more independent. They love going to school and they love the extra activities after school. They stay for lunch and do different things. It feels like the timing is right, and its the perfect antidote to being home and changing nappies. Stuffing little arms and jackets every day and that kind of thing I feel really positive Im doing the right thing at the right time and I couldnt be happier that I made the decision to join the show, its been great fun so far. She raves that Sophia in particular loves seeing her mums new challenge. She was in heaven looking at the RTE promo, at the pink sparkly dress, she beams. She was do youre think youre pink now for the show, so Im wearing pink for her, a pink jumper and that kind of thing. Everything is very girly, everything is pink and sparkly. So hopefully at some point I will be able to bring them along to one of the dress rehearsals, they could watch that on a Saturday. Rosanna will dance with pro partner Stephen Vincent Obviously they wouldnt be able to go and watch the show itself, but they are really excited, Sophia in particular Obviously they will be able to go to school and talk to their friends and their teachers and really enjoy it. They are at a lovely age, Sophia especially at a lovely age where she can really soak it all up and enjoy it as well and be part of the process. She explains that she entered to shows to find herself again. One of the many reasons I decided to do the show was to remember who I used to be, she notes. Obviously not to say I used to be a dancer, Im not a dancer in any complicity yet, fingers crossed, but it just to remember the person I used to be independent of being a mum and I think this applies to every mum, perhaps every parent out there, that you lose yourself when you have a child or more than one child, where your thoughts, your decision making, your behaviour changes completely, so its all about. Rosanna has shared her journey on social media You kind of forget about yourself. I reached a point last year where I just thought I dont even know what food I like, what restaurants I like to go anymore. I had lost all sense of who I was, and its been a long process regaining that back again I suppose that process started more so when my twins started school at the end of August, and I had that little bit more time to meet with friends or to go to the gym. All that stuff. I hadnt even been to a Pilates class or a gym or anything in so long, because I was just at home with the kids so much, that I couldnt find the extra time So just being able to regain a sense of who I used to be. I want to do it for all mums and dads out there, that its hard. The first few years are difficult, they are really intense, youre in this baby bubble, but then you slowly come out of it. You slowly find that balance again, of who you used to be and who youre now as a parent. Dancing With The Stars is on RTE One tonight at 6.30pm. One lucky Lotto player from Rotorua will be having a great night after winning $1 million with Lotto First Division in Saturday nights live Lotto draw. The winning ticket was sold on MyLotto to a player from Rotorua. It's been a big night for Bay of Plenty Lotto players from Waihi, Mount Maunganui, and Whakatane, as well as a player from Thames, each winning nearly $20,000 in Lotto Second Division in Saturday's live Lotto draw. Powerball was not struck on Saturday and has rolled over to Wednesday night, where the jackpot will be $6 million. Strike Four has also rolled over and will be $700,000 on Wednesday night. David and Dale Garratt, who became widely known not just across the Bay of Plenty for their involvement in the Tauranga Christmas Conventions in the 1970s, but across NZ churches, have both been made Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Years honours list, for services to Christian music production. The birth of the modern praise and worship movement in New Zealand, and indeed globally, has its roots in this couple's willingness to follow what for them is a calling. From the mid-1960s until 1975, for about a week from Christmas through to New Year, Des and Carley Short from Faith Bible College would host an annual convention in Tauranga where people would come from all around New Zealand, and in fact the world. The Tauranga Racecourse would be packed with thousands of people who came to listen to world renowned speakers such as Derek Prince, Judson Cornwall, Bob Mumford and Ralph Winters. There had really been nothing quite like it since the Billy Graham crusades in 1959 and 1969. Remembered well for leading the music and worship times at many of the conventions morning and evening gatherings were husband and wife team Dale and David Garratt accompanied by musicians and other worship leaders. David and Dale Garratt started a modern praise and worship movement in churches throughtout New Zealand that went on to have a global impact. Photo: Supplied. The non-religious and authentic way they taught the crowds simple devotional songs appealed to many, who found themselves easily learning biblical scripture off by heart because they were set to music with tunes that were remembered. In a stunning example of "using whats in our hands", although David knew some basic guitar chords, both of them were unable to play other instruments or read music at the beginning of their charismatic Christian ministry. Through their fresh approach to Christian worship, Tauranga racecourse would be full of the sounds of not only older hymns like Amazing Grace but resonating more and more with a new and exciting type of Christian music scripture simply set to song. Dale and David Garratt in the 1970s. Photos: Supplied. From the simple one word Hallelujah song through to Be exalted, Praise the Name of Jesus and many other popular freshly written compositions, the stadium was packed with hundreds of people singing together. For many who came from Baptist and Brethren backgrounds, the idea of church outdoors was something new, and it also came at a time when the NZ Charismatic movement was beginning to grow. Dale (Ngapuhi, Te Aupouri) and David founded the Christian ministry brand Scripture in Song in 1968, producing recordings and music books for worship in Christian churches over more than 50 years. Their music also features in two films Once Were Warriors and The Devils Advocate. The songs David and Dale wrote, recorded and published have been used in virtually every Protestant church and by some Roman Catholic groups in New Zealand. Church congregations around the globe have been singing their songs for half a century. They are recognised nationally and internationally as pioneering worship leaders and modellers of congregational singing, particularly for their contextual application of biblical texts and current musical trends. Their breakthrough double LP Prepare Ye The Way (1972) was authenticated Platinum. 'Praise The Name of Jesus' album cover. Photo: Supplied. A live expression of worship in the outdoors was recorded at the racecourse in Palmerston North on a 4-track recording machine in the open air. The surrounding birds are heard on the final recording. Although difficult to know for certain, 'Praise the Name of Jesus' was probably the first live worship album of this new worship movement era. The early days The couple met in 1962 at a Youth for Christ meeting. We were two young followers of Jesus, helping out at Youth For Christ NZ, this was where we met, fell in love and were married from. At this time David played very simple guitar and we both sang, says Dale. Dale and David Garratt at a Youth For Christ NZ rally in the 1960s. Photo: Supplied. At the 50th anniversary of Scripture in Song in Auckland, David reminisced about the beginning. It was 1968 and wed lived in Dunedin for three years after our marriage. We came back to Auckland almost immediately got into a meeting that someone had invited us to, says David. The speaker at that meeting was biblical teacher Derek Prince. As soon as we got there we started to hear a few choruses that were different than the ones that we'd heard before and we heard one in particular which was taken from the book of Revelation. This was thou art worthy O God to receive honour and glory and power. I just felt God say to me I want people to sing songs to me not just about me or not about themselves or about the sweet bye-and-bye or something but to me. And that sort of captured my understanding not that we were planning to do anything with it but that actually meant something to me right then. Brent Chambers recalls the early days Tauranga resident and Christian musician and composer Brent Chambers recalls the early days of Scripture in Song. Whatever I am, wherever I am today, I owe most of it to David and Dale's loving mentorship and friendship, says Brent. I remember a phone call back in 1973 while at Bible College in Auckland, and David inviting me to participate on an album they were working on. The album was Thou Art Worthy. David Garratt on stage at the 50th celebration of Scripture in Song in 2019, with Brent Chambers and Dale Garratt. Photo: Supplied. David listened to some of my "Jesus & me" songs, and was not particularly impressed at the time," says Brent. As I got to know them better, I realized that their much simpler songs were vehicles of personal worship to a personal God, and as I began to breathe that air myself, so I began to write songs that people could easily sing. I would describe it as "Breathing in the word of God...breathing out worship..", says Brent. David and Dale Garratt have both been made Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Years honours list, for services to Christian music production. Photo: Supplied. Brent says he remember the origins of two songs in particular Song of Offering and Be exalted, O God. Re Song of Offering, we were gathered for prayer in a circle, and I remembering crying out "God, I wish I knew how to worship You. Then it was like a song dropped into my heart, words and music, line by line, which went: "Oh accept these words that we bring, as an offering to You, our King, lifting our voices in praise to You, our God. As Your children we come to Your throne, with the worship that is Yours alone, GIVING OURSELVES WITH OUR PRAISE to You, our God...." Brent says they sang it and sang it, just as it came. It's like God heard my heart-cry and answered with a God-song. Stephen Hart presenting a special commemorative 50th anniversary photo book to the Garratt family - Melinda Garrat, David and Dale Garratt, in 2019. Photo: Supplied. Brent says the song Be exalted, O God happened one afternoon in May 1977, when I was at home doing catch-up on university assignments. I took a break, found myself looking at Psalm 57:9-11, picked up my guitar, and pretty much wrote the song as it's become known, says Brent. Our Scripture in Song home group were meeting at our place that night, and I sang the new song. David got me to sing it about three times, and said to me "Brent, do you think God is speaking to you personally through this song?" Up until then I wasn't particularly impressed with it...and then I realised that yes, God was speaking to me. Brent says Be exalted O God became his call to worship in the nations. Like it says: "I will give thanks to You O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations, says Brent. Dale Garratt on tambourine, Brent Chambes on guitar and Melinda Garratt. Photo: Supplied. Brent found traveling with David and Dale for over 20 years gave birth to numerous other songs, many of them of the "instantaneous" variety, because a song was required. I learned to listen for the Holy Spirit like they did, learned to praise God exuberantly and wholeheartedly, like they did....they loved me, and made room for me, says Brent. I regard them not only as friends of the best kind, but "Elijah's" speaking to Elisha, making a way through worship. Brent recalls when he, David and Dale were invited to an evening of Mediterranean music. There were costumes and dancing...mandolins, accordions, and as we were leaving I had a melody playing through my head like nothing that I'd heard that evening. A couple of days later, I sang the melody to Dale. It didn't yet have any words, or suggestion of any interpretation. Dale said "Sounds like a celebration to me" so we called it "The Celebration Song"...very Jewish-sounding. The words and interpretation came to me while looking at the verse in Psalm 22 which says in the RSV footnote "Thou art holy, enthroned upon the praises of Israel", which caught my imagination. The rest came together quite quickly, and The Celebration Song was borne. The lyrics are In the presence of Your people. I will praise Your name. For alone You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Let us celebrate Your goodness, and Your steadfast love. May Your name be exalted, here on earth and in Heaven above, says Brent. 50th anniversary of Scripture in Song in 2019 in Auckland. Photo: Supplied. Brent says The Celebration Song still gives him goose bumps when he sings, plays or hears it. I was on a journey of discovery re my adopted Jewish roots at the time, and found myself writing a lot of Hebraic-sounding songs, encouraged by David and Dale. Let My People Go is a documentary produced by David and Dale Garratt filmed from 1998-99 in New Zealand, Switzerland, France, Australia, and Hawaii. Released in 2000 it highlights the importance of indigenous cultures and their unique expressions of worship. This documentary also briefly details the history of Scripture in Song from 1968-2000. David and Dale Garratt have produced more than 30 recordings in New Zealand and overseas, with most released internationally, the most recent being Songs of Blessing (2021). Dale could be considered one of NZs best-selling Maori composers, as in total, 13 of their albums have achieved Gold or Platinum status and more than three million song books have been sold. A group singing at the 50th anniversary of Scripture in Song in 2019 in Auckland. Photo: Supplied. They have promoted indigenous expressions of song, rhythm and dance into their repertoire and teachings, incorporating Maori, Pacific, North American First Nations and Hawaiian expressions into established Western practice, and producing songs of worship in native languages. They have presented at First Nations conferences in Canada, the United States and Australia and have ministered in the US and South Africa. David and Dale received the Dove Award, the lifetime achievement award from the Gospel Music Association in 1984. Europa Press Malaga Sunday, 7 January 2024, 09:40 | Updated 10:02h. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The Andalusian public health service (Servicio Andaluz de Salud - SAS) continues to execute its plan to reduce waiting lists by increasing both the surgical capacity and number of outpatient consultations, as well as diagnostic tests, in the region. Regional minister of health Catalina Garcia announced some of the measures SAS has put in place after acknowledging current waiting times for some procedures are below standard. She recognised again that the waiting list data were not satisfactory and that her Ministry "would not stand idly by" in the face of this situation. Even so, she pointed out that currently a patient in Andalucia waits 64 days less for an operation than in 2018 - going from 208 days to 144 days in 2023 - and 55 days less to be seen for a hospital consultation than five years ago - from 176 days to 121 in 2023. Garcia also reminded that her priority has always been the increase in healthcare activity through the SAS's own resources. "We are improving" the percentage of operating theatre occupancy, and "we are working intensively" to obtain a better level of performance in those operating theatres that are used less than 85% of the normal working day, according to a regional Ministry of Health statement. Another measure is an upping of the usage of surgical facilities across various Andalusian hospitals in a bid to slash operation wait times. In facilities with more waiting list issues than others, healthcare personnel are offered the possibility of working their usual shift in the afternoon instead of in the morning. "It is a measure that allows us to double the teams and increase surgical activity," Garcia said. Patients who are waiting longer than the guaranteed time have also been added to priority lists, Garcia added. Closure forecast reports Additionally, a closure forecast report for the year is now provided. In this report, each hospital centre knows on a daily basis the forecast of the number of patients that will be out of their guaranteed waiting period at the end of the year, therefore allow them to allocate more time, both for surgeries and diagnostic procedures, for those specialties that have a greater volume of demand. Garcia said the Doctor Munoz Carinanos Hospital in Seville, which has ten new operating theatres, 42 post-anaesthesia recovery beds and seven endoscopy rooms, is an example of how facilities are helping cut through a backlog in surgeries. A collaboration plan has also been activated between geographically close hospital centres, with the aim of alleviating the deficit of professionals in key areas of healthcare activity such as anaesthetists or neurologists. In hospital centres that suffer from a staff deficit, where it has not been possible to fill these positions with temporary or permanent staff, professionals are being drafted in from other nearby centres, "logically with their corresponding remuneration," she pointed out. This is the case of the hospital in Jaen Hospital with professionals from San Cecilio, and the Serrania de Ronda hospital with professionals from the Costa del Sol hospital. Second block of measures A second block of measures to reduce waiting lists involves increasing work activity. Health professionals in the SAS are able to voluntarily extend their working day on a fixed and paid basis, enabling a boost to patient care in the morning, afternoon, evening and night, also at weekends. Since October, SAS health employees have worked more than 1.8 million overtime hours, 8.69% more than in 2022 and 40% more than in 2018. And with a forecast to reach 2.5 million hours by the end of the year, the estimated expenditure for the continuity of care in 2024 is 128 million euros, 66% more than in 2018. The First Chuxiong Fashion Week Gala was held in Chuxiong, Yunnan Province of China, on January 5, highlighted the ethnic costumes culture in Yunnan. (Photo: Business Wire) CHUXIONG, China, January 07, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The First Chuxiong Fashion Week Gala was held in Chuxiong Grand Theater in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province of China, on the evening of January 5, which highlighted the ethnic costumes culture in Yunnan. The ceremony kicked off with melodious and graceful singing, followed by three chapters: "Dreaming Back a Thousand Years," "Hand in Hand with Fashion," and "Guardian." These performances allowed the audience to visually experience the charm of ethnic clothing and fashion. At the same time, the event announced the list of units, enterprises, and designers who received the inaugural Chuxiong Fashion Week Contribution Award. Additionally, the "Xinhua Chuxiong Fashion Week Index" was launched. Nearly all of China's national-level major media and Yunnan's local media conducted live online broadcasts of the splendid event, attracting over 20 million online viewers. According to the organizer, the gala is one of the events in the series of the first edition of "China Chuxiong Fashion Week", which focuses on showcasing ethnic costumes culture and utilizes fashion as a medium. Its purpose is to promote cultural exchange and mutual learning among various ethnic groups, strengthen cultural identity among people of different ethnicities, and enhance communication and integration among them. The 7-day Fashion Week event is a fresh fusion of "Chinese style" and "global style," inspiring a brand-new charm. While showcasing the inherent beauty of clothing from different ethnic groups, it promotes mutual inclusiveness and learning among various cultures, allowing the world to appreciate the harmony within. The Fashion Week presented a visual feast and a profound experience of ethnic culture. The event received support from countries such as Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, as well as numerous domestic ethnic clothing enterprises and designers in China. It featured 39 exquisite fashion shows, showcasing over 1,100 dazzling sets of ethnic clothing and accessories. Story continues This Fashion Week has also become a new window for the world to understand outstanding Chinese culture. Preliminary statistics indicate that during the fashion week period, besides the Chinese media, several international media paid attention to Chuxiong as well, and the inaugural Chuxiong Fashion Week garnered a total online exposure of 1.25 billion times across various platforms. In the future, Chuxiong will take this Fashion Week as an opportunity to delve deeper into ethnic cultural resources, inherit innovation, lead fashion trends, strengthen cultural industries, build attractive cultural brands, and strive to develop Chuxiong into a distinctive capital of intangible cultural heritage and creative fashion. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240107914064/en/ Contacts E. Zhou Email: evisionsinfo@gmail.com Chus Heredia Malagas Sunday, 7 January 2024 | Updated 09/01/2024 11:30h. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The ARCS consultancy and Economic Analysts of Andalucia , working on behalf of Malaga city council and the Diputacion, Malaga's provincial authority, has proposed a new, mainly underground, coastal train project - the umpteenth proposal to run a railway line along the Costa del Sol between Malaga city and Marbella. In the latest proposal, an 88% underground route is proposed, close to the A-7 motorway, at a cost of some 2.7 billion euros, with an estimated completion period of eight years, with trains running at speeds of up 160 km/h. It could carry some 44 million travellers a year. The entire route of the line would be new from Malaga Airport, and the current Malaga-Fuengirola Cercanias track and services would be maintained and operated in parallel. The study was presented on Thursday 4 January. However, surprisingly, the first plan for this route dates back to 1862. There have been seven official projects in 162 years. At one point the extension of the Malaga-Fuengirola Cercanias service was on the table, but this option was finally ruled out. At the time, only three subsections were earmarked due to the lack of land on the Costa del Sol. As early as 5 March 1926, it was established iin a Royal Decree that a Malaga-Algeciras line be included in the plan of lines of "preferential and urgent construction". However, successive events meant that this railway line was not even considered again until the 1960s, being integrated with the modernisation of what existed between Malaga and Fuengirola and the continuation to Algeciras in a national plan that also included the Madrid and Barcelona metros. In the end it didn't happen and the line between Malaga and Fuengirola was electrified and the current services started operating in 1970 with a single Renfe gauge track and passing through the airport as a national first. There was also a regional government proposal to serve the length of the western strip of the Costa del Sol with a metro system. It was budgeted at 1billion euros by the then Department of Public Works of the Junta and, what's more, a double tunnel in La Cala de Mijas was awarded for an amount close to 200 million euros in 2009. However, the financial crisis arrived and the work was shelved .In the last years of the Zapatero government there were high-level conversations between the Junta and Madrid with another project on the table. It was also a new route between Malaga Airport and Algeciras. It was for a medium-distance line compatible with AVE high-speed trains and discussions were opened with Europe to obtain financing. Again, it didn't get off the drawing board due the economic situation at the time. Another innovative project was that of the consultant Lluis Sanvicens, a Catalan based in the province for almost two decades, who maintained that Marbella could be reached in less than an hour by building a train track on 'stilts' above the A-7 motorway. And, more recently, the Plataforma Infraestructuras group has proposed taking the train to Marbella along an alternative route through the interior of the Guadalhorce valley. It would allow a new high-speed route to be built meaning the travel time between the airport and Marbella could be 40 or 50 minutes. The project of what they have dubbed the C3 line shows it running through the Alhaurines, Coin and Monda to Mijas. Ester Requena Malaga Sunday, 7 January 2024, 21:20 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram National Police officers in Malaga have advised people to be careful and keep a close eye on their front doors and those of any neighbours. The force in Malaga city has detected the fact that criminal burglary gangs are taking advantage of homeowners absence from their properties at this time of year. The provincial police headquarters has appealed to residents' associations to pay particular attention to the door frames and windows of properties due to the gangs placing glue or silicone threads, or small pieces of plastics, on entry points to detect if the owners are away. Officers ask for the cooperation of all residents to not only watch the door of their own home, but also those of their neighbours who may be away from home. If you detect any such marks you should alert the National Police on 091. The force recommends that locks are securely fastened and that the president of neighbourhood associations be informed as soon as possible, in order to alert the rest of the residents, as these criminal groups often leave their marks on entire blocks of properties. A woman at a hospital entrance wearing a mask, with the sign indicating that the wearing of a facemask is compulsory. Maria Gardo / Cristian Reino Valencia / Barcelona Sunday, 7 January 2024, 19:17 | Updated 20:46h. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram From Friday 5 January, facemasks have become compulsory in hospitals and health centres in Valencia, Catalonia and Murcia. The health departments of these regions have decided to take the step due to the increase in the number of flu, Covid-19 and respiratory infections. The latest weekly surveillance report of ARIs and SARI: Influenza, Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses for 2023 showed an overall rate of acute respiratory infection in primary care of 908.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants; the previous week the figure was 806 cases. In Catalonia facemasks will have to be worn in hospitals, outpatient clinics and social and health centres. The regional government is also due to ask the natonal Ministry of Health, at Monday's meeting of the inter-territorial council, to reactivate automatic sick leave, as in the time of the Covid pandemic. Meanwhile, in Murcia, the measure will apply in hospitals, health centres, primary care emergency services and clinics in the region. The regional minister of Health, Juan Jose Pedreno, said that "with this measure we want to protect all patients and professionals. We also encourage people to wear a mask in any area when they have symptoms of suffering from a respiratory illness, to avoid infecting other people". The Valencia region has also taken the same measure and has already established the protocol to be followed with regard to the use of masks, which will be compulsory in the following cases: - Symptomatic people in shared spaces - Professionals attending symptomatic cases - Hospital and primary care emergencies - In places where patients and relatives are concentrated, such as waiting rooms. - In other situations generally aimed at protecting vulnerable people, the health department management, based on their own protocols and on the recommendations of the preventive medicine services, may establish the obligatory use of the mask in addition to the established indications. In Aragon the regional ministry of Health issued an internal instruction on Friday to make facemasks mandatory for professionals who provide direct care to users in health and social-health centres, and their deployment is "highly recommended" for the rest of the workers and citizens as a whole, especially in closed places or where people are at an emergency site. Acute respiratory infections in Aragon during the last week of 2023 amounted to 1,184 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, while the incidence of influenza stood at 167.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with the peak not being expected for three or four weeks. At the national level, the minister of Health, Monica Garcia, has called an extraordinary inter-territorial council of the National Health System (CISNS) to discuss with all the regional executives "the respiratory virus peaks". The minister hopes that this meeting, to be held on Monday 8 January, will help to "unify criteria" in all the regions in relation to the way in which each one manages the situation. By Praveen Paramasivam CHENNAI (Reuters) -India's southern state of Tamil Nadu has signed investment pacts worth more than $4.39 billion with firms such as Apple suppliers Tata Electronics and Pegatron, as well as auto major Hyundai Motors, it said on Sunday. Apple is counting on India as the next big driver of its growth as the tech giant looks to diversify some production away from China, with Pegatron working towards a second factory in the country where Tata Group last year began to assemble iPhones. Tata Electronics, a part of the Indian conglomerate, committed to invest 120.8 billion rupees for mobile phone assembly operations, the state government said during the signing of the agreements. "The Tamil Nadu government will support investors in every way possible," Chief Minister M. K. Stalin said at the event, adding that it sought to play a major role in India's growth. Pegatron, Apple's Taiwan supplier, will also invest 10 billion rupees to expand production, the government added. Separately, Tata Power is exploring investments up to 700 billion rupees in Tamil Nadu over the next several years,including investments made in some existing projects, its chief executive officer and managing director Praveer Sinha said at a press briefing at the event. The pacts, unveiled at a meeting of global investors, are projected to generate thousands of jobs in the state. The state's summit comes days before another investment summit in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat where hundreds of domestic and foreign investors are expected to attend. Sunday's deals in Tamil Nadu include an agreement with JSW Energy to invest 120 billion rupees to develop renewable energy projects. Auto major Hyundai Motors also committed 61.80 billion rupees, some of it earmarked for electric vehicle (EV) battery and car manufacturing, the government added. On Saturday, Vietnamese EV maker VinFast agreed to set up its first manufacturing facilities in India and work toward an investment of up to $2 billion in Tamil Nadu, as more companies seek to penetrate the world's third-largest vehicle market. Story continues Nike shoemaker Hong Fu is set to sign a pact with the state to invest nearly 10.4 billion rupees in India, with another 16.6 billion rupees expected soon, Aqeel Panaruna, chairman of Florenece Shoe - the company's India partner - said at the event. ($1=83.1030 Indian rupees) (Writing by Shivangi Acharya; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Elaine Hardcastle) Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Generally speaking the aim of active stock picking is to find companies that provide returns that are superior to the market average. And while active stock picking involves risks (and requires diversification) it can also provide excess returns. For example, the Sarawak Plantation Berhad (KLSE:SWKPLNT) share price is up 29% in the last 5 years, clearly besting the market decline of around 3.4% (ignoring dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 0.6% in the last year , including dividends . Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns. See our latest analysis for Sarawak Plantation Berhad While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During the five years of share price growth, Sarawak Plantation Berhad moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we'd expect the share price to be up. Since the company was unprofitable five years ago, but not three years ago, it's worth taking a look at the returns in the last three years, too. We can see that the Sarawak Plantation Berhad share price is down 6.3% in the last three years. In the same period, EPS is up 4.5% per year. It would appear there's a real mismatch between the increasing EPS and the share price, which has declined -2.1% a year for three years. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). KLSE:SWKPLNT Earnings Per Share Growth January 7th 2024 This free interactive report on Sarawak Plantation Berhad's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Sarawak Plantation Berhad the TSR over the last 5 years was 70%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective Sarawak Plantation Berhad provided a TSR of 0.6% over the last twelve months. But that return falls short of the market. It's probably a good sign that the company has an even better long term track record, having provided shareholders with an annual TSR of 11% over five years. It's quite possible the business continues to execute with prowess, even as the share price gains are slowing. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Sarawak Plantation Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Sarawak Plantation Berhad . Of course Sarawak Plantation Berhad may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. vattyboy BHPian Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Udaipur, Surat Posts: 278 Thanked: 2,492 Times View My Garage Re: My new Hyundai Creta SX(0) Diesel Automatic. "Ownership Review" Process of Buying a Car from a Different State and Registering it in Your Home State I bought the car from Surat, Gujarat and I will register my car in Udaipur, Rajasthan because no dealer in Udaipur could arrange the car in 5 days. So I can tell the process involved. Ask the car dealer to give you a CRTM ( Certificate of Temporary Registration) slip. This costs about Rs 300/-. In issuing CRTM, the dealer asks you these things before the car delivery- 1. In which RTO( City, State) do you want to register your car? 2. Your Address of the City of Registration. 3. Adhar Card. All the above information will be uploaded to the Vahan portal before the delivery of the car and then they will give you the CRTM slip after which you are good to go. CRTM slip costs Rs 300/- but many dealers charge differently for this. My dealer took Rs 4500/- for CRTM. Now, from the date of delivery, you will have 1 month to reach your home city and submit all the RTO documents and road tax. The dealer will give you a file of all the documents which are to be submitted in the RTO, you will have to hand over that file to your RTO agent simply. Don't worry about insurance as the Dealer will provide you with the insurance on the vehicle's VIN and Chassis number so there will be no issues with the claims in case of any mishappening while going to your home city. Drivability of Creta 1.5 CRDi AT - Press the brake pedal along with the push button start and the 1.5 CRDi engine comes to life, it is so silent, and refined and feels like a petrol car. The car feels very easy to drive in the city thanks to its light steering, good turning diameter and good visibility from the windows in all directions. Release the brake pedal and the car starts crawling at 8 kmph. I noticed that the initial pickup is very strong due to the Torque Converter. The engine and gearbox are match-made in heaven. There is no lag in the engine and the icing on the cake is the Perfect tuning of the AT gearbox which always keeps the engine in its turbo band. -With a light foot, the gearbox shifts at 2000 rpm, and in no case, does it shift below 2000 rpm. - If it senses that you want more acceleration and pickup it can stretch and delay the shifting till 4000 rpm. - The gearbox in no scenario keeps the engine spinning below 1500 rpm. The moment engines go below 1500 rpm, the gearbox downshifts. - In case you accelerate hard till 3000 rpm and you don't want to accelerate further and maintain that speed then lift off the throttle and the gearbox will upshift in 1.5- 2 seconds. Mileage- - Out on the highways, I tried testing mileage at various speeds. At 110- 120 kmph it gives 19.5 kmpl. Then I set the cruise control at 90 kmph and it returned 23.5 kmpl mileage. At 80 kmph cruise control, it gives 25 plus kmpl mileage and this is the max mileage Creta D AT can give. -In the city depending on the traffic I am getting between 15 to 17 kmpl with very light input from the accelerator. - With pedal-to-metal driving, the mileage can drop to 12- 13 kmpl. Ergonomics and seating comfort- The first things I notice after sitting in the car are comfort, wide seats and all the ergonomics in place like the door handrest, gear lever, Infotainment system, power window switches etc. Attachment 2554383 I am 6ft, I Adjusted the front seats according to my height and there is a good amount of legroom left at the rear The window glass is very thin. Engine and Performance- Hyundai's 1.5L CRDi VGT engine makes 113.5 bhp /116 ps power and 250 nm torque from a low 1500 rpm. It feels adequately fast and is faster than 90% of cars on the road. I can say confidently that it offers a good amount of performance after driving Big 2.0 L and 2.2L Turbo diesel Engines in my Compass and Mercedes daily. Yes, the 2.0L multijet and 2.2 L CDI of Mercedes have an edge but that extra performance comes into use only 10 out of 100 times on the highway when you are in a mood to smoke other cars. It cruises 100-120 kmph very easily and effortlessly, even 140 feels smooth without any strain on the engine plus the mileage I get at these speeds deserves a standing ovation. At 100 kmph engine spins at 2050 rpm. So the engine in its turbo zone just presses the throttle and zooms past the vehicle in front. One thing I noticed was that slight engine noise creep inside the cabin only after 3000 rpm and that too doesn't feel like A noise from a diesel engine. The engine is city-friendly due to 250 nm torque from low 1500 rpm the car accelerates quickly for overtaking or reducing the gap inside the city. Out on the highway, I had fun keeping the engine between 2k- 3k rpm for performance and I was ahead of almost 95% of cars on highways. And I kept the engine below 2000 rpm to get better fuel efficiency. Notice the AGM Battery I bought the car from Surat, Gujarat and I will register my car in Udaipur, Rajasthan because no dealer in Udaipur could arrange the car in 5 days. So I can tell the process involved.Ask the car dealer to give you a CRTM ( Certificate of Temporary Registration) slip. This costs about Rs 300/-. In issuing CRTM, the dealer asks you these things before the car delivery-1. In which RTO( City, State) do you want to register your car?2. Your Address of the City of Registration.3. Adhar Card.All the above information will be uploaded to the Vahan portal before the delivery of the car and then they will give you the CRTM slip after which you are good to go. CRTM slip costs Rs 300/- but many dealers charge differently for this. My dealer took Rs 4500/- for CRTM.Now, from the date of delivery, you will have 1 month to reach your home city and submit all the RTO documents and road tax. The dealer will give you a file of all the documents which are to be submitted in the RTO, you will have to hand over that file to your RTO agent simply.Don't worry about insurance as the Dealer will provide you with the insurance on the vehicle's VIN and Chassis number so there will be no issues with the claims in case of any mishappening while going to your home city.Press the brake pedal along with the push button start and the 1.5 CRDi engine comes to life, it is so silent, and refined and feels like a petrol car.The car feels very easy to drive in the city thanks to its light steering, good turning diameter and good visibility from the windows in all directions.Release the brake pedal and the car starts crawling at 8 kmph. I noticed that the initial pickup is very strong due to the Torque Converter.The engine and gearbox are match-made in heaven. There is no lag in the engine and the icing on the cake is the Perfect tuning of the AT gearbox which always keeps the engine in its turbo band.-With a light foot, the gearbox shifts at 2000 rpm, and in no case, does it shift below 2000 rpm.- If it senses that you want more acceleration and pickup it can stretch and delay the shifting till 4000 rpm.- The gearbox in no scenario keeps the engine spinning below 1500 rpm. The moment engines go below 1500 rpm, the gearbox downshifts.- In case you accelerate hard till 3000 rpm and you don't want to accelerate further and maintain that speed then lift off the throttle and the gearbox will upshift in 1.5- 2 seconds.- Out on the highways, I tried testing mileage at various speeds. At 110- 120 kmph it gives 19.5 kmpl. Then I set the cruise control at 90 kmph and it returned 23.5 kmpl mileage. At 80 kmph cruise control, it gives 25 plus kmpl mileage and this is the max mileage Creta D AT can give.-In the city depending on the traffic I am getting between 15 to 17 kmpl with very light input from the accelerator.- With pedal-to-metal driving, the mileage can drop to 12- 13 kmpl.The first things I notice after sitting in the car are comfort, wide seats and all the ergonomics in place like the door handrest, gear lever, Infotainment system, power window switches etc.I am 6ft, I Adjusted the front seats according to my height and there is a good amount of legroom left at the rearThe window glass is very thin.Hyundai's 1.5L CRDi VGT engine makes 113.5 bhp /116 ps power and 250 nm torque from a low 1500 rpm. It feels adequately fast and is faster than 90% of cars on the road.I can say confidently that it offers a good amount of performance after driving Big 2.0 L and 2.2L Turbo diesel Engines in my Compass and Mercedes daily. Yes, the 2.0L multijet and 2.2 L CDI of Mercedes have an edge but that extra performance comes into use only 10 out of 100 times on the highway when you are in a mood to smoke other cars.It cruises 100-120 kmph very easily and effortlessly, even 140 feels smooth without any strain on the engine plus the mileage I get at these speeds deserves a standing ovation.At 100 kmph engine spins at 2050 rpm. So the engine in its turbo zone just presses the throttle and zooms past the vehicle in front.One thing I noticed was that slight engine noise creep inside the cabin only after 3000 rpm and that too doesn't feel like A noise from a diesel engine.The engine is city-friendly due to 250 nm torque from low 1500 rpm the car accelerates quickly for overtaking or reducing the gap inside the city.Out on the highway, I had fun keeping the engine between 2k- 3k rpm for performance and I was ahead of almost 95% of cars on highways. And I kept the engine below 2000 rpm to get better fuel efficiency. Last edited by vattyboy : 6th January 2024 at 12:28 . It was a night out in central London celebrating Christmas for Michael, an executive of technology, until that day when he became the victim of a bold assault. To make it worse, this culprit decided to also violate his privacy by reminding him how he managed to steal using a Ring camera at home, after which police still had no lead on where such a brave thief might be hiding since According to the DailyMail, the incident occurred on Tuesday, December 19, when Michael, a 33-year-old executive from East London, was trying to get an Uber home in Leicester Square around 2:45 a.m. when his iPhone 15 Pro, worth up to 120 ($152.7), was taken by an attacker, leaving him baffled and without this phone in hand. Then came a shocking invasion of Michael's personal sanctuary. He woke up at around 10 a.m. to the sound of the thief saying 'Michael, Michael' through his Ring camera. The criminal, who had hacked Michael's phone, proceeded to make crude comments and taunt him for about two minutes. Police: Michael's Stolen iPhone Case Closed The violation extended beyond the intrusion as the thief used Michael's credit card to spend 600 ($763.5) on JD Sports, Asda, and Uber credits. The bungling criminal even changed Michael's Gmail password but provided a recovery email with his name, Ali Hassan. Recalling the ordeal, Michael expressed the profound violation he felt, saying, "The realization that he was able to speak to me and see me in my bed- my most personal space- was so violating. I'd never experienced anything like it." Attempting to recover from the incident, Michael reported it to the police, providing them with the thief's apparent name and email. However, the investigation was closed due to a lack of viable leads and CCTV footage. "The victim was informed of this. Any further information that comes to light will be assessed and investigated accordingly," according to a Metropolitan Police representative, per Mirror. Read Also: Copilot Access: Microsoft Introduces AI Key to Windows 11 PCs The news of the assault happened days after Apple's new security feature. According to CNET, Stolen Device Protection enhances iPhone security by requiring a second Face ID or Touch ID authentication an hour later. This optional but recommended setting aims to deter thieves, making it challenging to reset and access sensitive iCloud settings quickly. This feature adds an extra layer of protection without hindering everyday use. Once activated, users must undergo biometric verification twice to access specific locked settings, such as changing passwords or disabling Find My iPhone. Apple Office Break-In: Vietnamese Student Sentenced in Singapore In a separate development, as reported by Apple Insider, a Vietnamese student has been sentenced to 11 months in jail for breaking into an Apple office and stealing products in Singapore. The student was arrested after voluntarily returning some stolen items to the office. The charges include committing housebreaking and two theft charges. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) found an extensive stockpile of electronic gadgets, including iPads, iPhones, and Macbooks. Authorities discovered bins and bags filled with these devices in December. ABC 7 revealed that the police suspect the items were predominantly pilfered in burglaries of homes and cars. Related Article: New Malware Exploits Google Accounts via Third-Party Cookie Hack, Granting Unauthorized Access 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Are you experiencing trouble accessing websites or noticing that your internet browsing isnt as smooth as it should be on your Mac running Sonoma? Often, these issues can be linked to outdated or incorrect information in your DNS cache. This cache is like a memory bank that helps your Mac remember how to quickly find websites you have visited before. However, when the information in the cache becomes old or incorrect, it can slow you down. Clearing it out can help resolve the issue. It is rare thing to happen but we have got you covered. Let us learn to flush the DNS cache in macOS Sonama and earlier versions. The process is simple and takes a few minutes at most to perform by yourself. Flush DNS Cache in macOS Sonoma You try these minor solutions before flushing the DNS cache on your macOS. Turn off your router and then turn it on after 2 minutes. Check if your internet problems are fixed. If you have recently changed your DNS then it can be the reason for the issues. You can change it using the tutorial we have given at the bottom. Try accessing websites in a different browser to see if it is a browser-specific issue. When none of the above works, you can try clearing the DNS cache on macOS Sonama in the following manner. 1. Press Command and Space on the keyboard to open the Spotlight search. 2. Then type terminal and head to the first setting. 3. Now paste the following command and press enter. sudo dscacheutil -flushcache;sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponde 4. Enter your macOSs password, which will be invisible, and press enter to confirm clearing out of the DNS. Thats all, now you have flushed the DNS cache in macOS Sonoma. Flush DNS Cache on Older Mac OS You can clear DNS cache on older macOS versions by replacing the sudo command with the one given below. macOS Command Ventura (Version 13) sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder Monterey (Version 12) sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder Big Sur (Version 11) sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder Also Read Download MacOS Ventura ISO Change DNS on macOS Flushing the DNS cache did not solve the problem. Then you can also try changing the DNS. 1. Go straight to the System Preferences. 2. Then go to Network from the System Preferences. 3. Select the Wi-Fi or Ethernet option through which you are connected to the internet. 4. Click on the Advanced button. 5. Head to the DNS tab and then click on the plus button in the DNS servers section. 6. Type in the Google Public DNS address 8.8.8.8 7. Then press it again to add the alternate DNS server. 8.8.4.4 8. Click OK and restart your Mac to make the final changes. This will change DNS on macOS. Frequently Asked Questions Is it safe to clean up DNS cache? Clearing the DNS cache on a Mac is typically a safe and straightforward process. The DNS cache on your Mac holds data about the websites you have visited, including their associated IP addresses. By clearing this cache, you can often resolve problems related to accessing specific websites, especially if there have been recent updates or changes to DNS records. Does clearing DNS cache speed up internet? Clearing the DNS cache on a Mac can help fix website access problems, but it might not make your internet faster. Quickly Clearing DNS Cache on macOS Flushing DNS cache on macOS is easy and you can follow the above given method to solve it. If the problem persists with your internet then you consider contacting your internet service provider. David Hartley/Shutterstock / David Hartley/Shutterstock Canadian psychologist and author Jordan Peterson recently shared his views on poverty in North America with personal finance expert Dave Ramsey. Peterson admitted that poverty has many causes. But many people in the U.S., specifically, remain poor because they dont have a plan that can help them make better financial decisions and resist the temptation of instant gratification. See: 10 Healthy Habits of Happy People To Adopt That Will Ultimately Lead to Wealth Find: Pocket an Extra $400 a Month With This Simple Hack You need to develop a plan for your life, Peterson said on The Ramsey Show. That makes delaying gratification and not engaging in impulsive, momentary pleasure worthwhile because youre building toward something that you actually want to attain. Peterson pointed out that schools fail to teach people how to create a vision or plan for the future. Were very bad in our society, appallingly and miraculously bad, at helping people develop a vision, he said. Its the number one thing we should be teaching people and we dont do it at all. Suze Orman: This Common Financial Choice Is the Biggest Waste of Money Out There Sponsored: Get Paid To Scroll. Start Now Petersons Tips for Crafting a Vision (Future Authoring) Peterson provided a solution for those who have no vision for the future he called it future authoring. While the exercise can take as long as 90 minutes or even longer, he suggested that people take just 15 minutes, to start, and begin writing down a vision of what their life could look like in five years. Who do you want to be? Why? What do you want your life to look like in five years? What are you building towards? Why are you saving or working? Whats your vision? What makes it worthwhile? he asked. If you have problems conceptualizing this, you might want to think about what it would be like to take care of yourself the way you would take care of someone you love, such as a child or friend. Story continues Often, people can picture better circumstances for other people than they can for themselves. I think a huge part is to get them to start conceptualizing themselves as people who could be pursuing a goal that they found compelling rather than people who are driven by circumstances, Peterson told Ramsey. Another tactic to get your creative juices flowing might be to look at other peoples lives and consider the positive elements you might want for yourself. What do other people have thats working for them? Peterson said. If it helps, you can even break your vision into various areas, such as: Relationships (romantic, family, friends). Career or job. Educational goals. Hobbies and personal development. Giving back your community / civic responsibilities. Strategies to resist temptation. Now, Peterson said, imagine five years down the road you can have what you want or need. What is it? Dont worry about being right just get it down. Proof of Concept Ramsey and Peterson agreed that, when you are working toward a future vision, feelings like burnout tend to vanish. When you see yourself moving towards a goal, youre inspired, Peterson said. You have enthusiasm. You have hope. You have energy. You can communicate effectively and enthusiastically! When Peterson practiced the Future Authoring exercise with students prior to attending college, it helped reduce the dropout rate by 50%, he said. It also increased those students grade point averages by 35%. Before, students went to university with no vision. Of course, half of them didnt succeed because they had no idea why they were doing anything, he told Ramsey. You have to entice people into the hypothesis of a vision. It helps, at first, to craft a vision that you can believe in or, at least, one that feels attainable from where youre starting out. You want to develop your vision within the realm of possibility, Peterson said. Also, make sure its your dream for the future you are following, and not someone elses definition of success (or what society expects of you). You should be honest enough with yourself so that its actually something thats compelling to you, Peterson said. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Jordan Peterson Tells Dave Ramsey Absence of a Plan Causes Poverty How So? A financial planner reviewing with a colleague the requirements for different licenses. Financial planners help clients manage money to reach goals. While certain professionals may need to have a financial planning license, others do not. Whether you'll need a license to work as a financial planner depends largely on the types of services you offer. Ready to grow your client base? SmartAdvisor helps you connect with leads. When a Financial Planning License Is Required Broadly speaking, a financial planning license is necessary when it's required by federal or state regulatory guidelines. For example, if you plan to become a registered investment advisor, you'll need to meet licensing requirements set by the Securities and Exchange Commission. State regulatory boards can also require licensing for registered advisors. Licensing is also required for financial planners who offer specific types of advice or sell certain types of securities. For example, an insurance license is necessary for advisors who plan to sell insurance products to their clients. A financial planning license may not be a prerequisite to obtaining professional designations. For example, if you'd like to become a certified financial planner, you'll need to complete a course of study that's approved by the CFP Board, satisfy the experience requirements and successfully complete the CFP exam. A bachelor's degree or higher is also required but you don't need to have a financial planning license to get certified. Common Financial Planning Licenses There are several securities licenses that you might obtain as a financial planner. Again, whether you need one or all of them will depend largely on the type of services you provide. Here's an overview of each financial planning license and when you're required to have them. Series 6 License The Series 6 license is administered by FINRA, and this license allows you to sell specific types of investments, including: Open-end mutual funds Variable annuities Variable life insurance policies Unit investment trusts Certain municipal funds Story continues A Series 6 license would not allow you to sell individual stocks and bonds. You might need this type of license if you're working for a bank, brokerage firm or insurance company and you sell packaged securities. Individuals who can hold a Series 6 license include financial advisors, investment bankers and registered representatives. Series 7 License A Series 7 license is widely held to be the most difficult license to obtain, thanks to the challenging nature of the required exam. However, it's also the most comprehensive license you can hold as a financial planner. With a Series 7 license, you can sell virtually any type of investment product. That includes individual stocks and bonds, as well as options and futures. You can also sell the investments that would otherwise be covered by a Series 6 license. There are some exceptions, however. You can't sell commodities, commodities futures or commodities options with a Series 7 license. For that, you'll need to obtain a Series 3 license. Series 65 License A Series 65 license allows you to provide investment and financial advice to clients as an investment advisor representative. This license is required for registration in most states if you charge fees for your services, rather than getting paid commissions. You might be able to waive the Series 65 license requirement if you hold other licenses or certifications. For example, you may be able to get an exemption from your state if you hold a certified financial planner certification or a chartered financial analyst designation. A Series 7 or Series 66 license may also be considered as a substitute for a Series 65 license. Series 66 License The Series 66 license is designed for professionals who want to register as securities agents and investment advisor representatives. The exam that's required to obtain this license spans some of the same topics as the Series 65 exam and the Series 63 exam, which tests your knowledge of state securities regulations. In most cases, you'll need a Series 66 license and a Series 7 license to work as an investment advisor representative. While a Series 7 license allows you to sell securities, it doesn't give you the authority to provide investment advisory services. A Series 66 license, on the other hand, does. How to Obtain a Financial Planning License A financial planner researching the requirements for a financial planning license. If you're interested in getting a financial planning license or need to do so in order to advance your career, you'll need to know what steps to take. How you go about getting a license depends on which one you're seeking. Using the Series 7 license as an example, here's what you'll need to do: Take and pass the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam Take and pass the Series 7 exam It might sound simple, but the amount of studying and preparation these exams require isn't. Exam-takers typically spend anywhere from a few weeks to a few months studying in advance of their test date. In addition to an investment of time, there's also an investment of money to consider. Series 7 exam prep courses can cost several hundred dollars, or in some cases, several thousand. You'll also need to pay the required fees to register for these exams unless your employer covers some or all of the cost for you. Is Obtaining a Financial Planning License Worth It? Having one or more licenses under your belt could give you a competitive advantage. Prospective clients may be more inclined to work with you if they believe that you're the most qualified candidate based on the licenses, designations and certifications you hold. And in some instances, you may be required to secure one or more licenses in order to serve your clients and run your business. Thinking about what you want to do to grow your business and the type of services you plan to provide can help you determine whether it makes sense to pursue licensing. Bottom Line A financial advisor studying for a financial planning license. Financial planning is a broad term that can span many different types of activities. Knowing when a financial planning license is necessary can help you chart your career path to success. Tips for Growing Your Advisory Business If you're not visible in online searches you could be missing out on opportunities to connect with prospective clients. Having a professional website and putting effort into social media marketing can pay dividends if you're able to generate more leads and increase conversions. When you don't have a lot of time to focus on increasing your digital footprint, you might turn to an online lead generation tool to do the heavy lifting for you. SmartAdvisor, for instance, makes it easier to match with leads without tying up precious hours in your day. If you're thinking of starting an RIA firm, consider what you'll need to do to get licensed and register your business. Whether you register with the SEC or your state regulatory agency will depend on the amount of client assets you manage. Once you're registered and your business is up and running, remember that you'll need to stay compliant with financial advisor regulations at all times. Photo credit: iStock/shironosov, iStock/brankokosteski, iStock/wichayada suwanachun The post What Licenses Financial Planners Need to Have appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset. A business manager suspected of having ordered the attack on an elected official from Saint-Denis Tigrane Seydoux, the Frenchman behind the fashionable Italians in Madrid in which you always have to visit the bathroom Energy transition: The experts say so, the Court of Auditors says so Ticks: How to protect yourself from the increasing tick population when taking a walk in the forest A member of the Fatwa Council in Britain calls on Western Muslims to adhere to their religion and identity Death and stuff, the worst series of the week: the copy of a copy of a copy of Agatha Christie Alaska Airlines passenger about hole in plane wall: "I kept staring into the hole and hoping it wouldn't tear any further" Alaska Airlines passenger about hole in plane wall: "I kept staring into the hole and hoping it wouldn't tear any further" La Fievre with Ana Girardot and Nina Meurisse: what is the new event series from Canal+ worth? Ines Reg criticized for her attitude in Dancing with the Stars: the comedian breaks the silence Fatal accident in Wesseling: "Don't be a pathetic coward, come clean, turn yourself in to the police" Trump describes Zelensky as the best salesman and calls for him to loan him money.. How did tweeters comment? IN PICTURES - Football: discover the new Blues jerseys for Euro 2024 and the Olympics For the fifth time in a row: Medvedev lost again to Alcaraz in the Masters final in Indian Wells Badminton Akane Yamaguchi "Shidamatsu" pair and others are guaranteed to participate in the Paris Olympics Rugby: here is the program of the French XV for the rest of 2024 Jean-Marie Rouart, the writer-academician, looks back on December 19, 1964, the entry of Jean Moulin into the Pantheon 2nd Bundesliga: FC Schalke 04 is in the black and fears falling into the 3rd league La Unio denounces the second detection of Moroccan strawberries with hepatitis A in nine days Without unnecessary risks: the ruble has risen in price on the Moscow Exchange following the results of the presidential elections in Russia The "wave of rework" after the Spring Festival has driven the rental market in Guangzhou to heat up rapidly In the first two months, the total foreign trade import and export value of Kashgar, Xinjiang increased by 90% year-on-year. The US said it does not plan to congratulate Putin on his victory in the Russian elections Wretched Creatures... Visual creativity and the brilliance of Emma Stone in the role of the child The Government rescues the precedent of Arabic in the UN to defend Catalan in Europe Garibaldi, Pablo Iglesias' bar in Lavapies, vandalized by anarchists before its opening because of the name of a cocktail Civil servants will have the salary increase after Easter and before the Budgets are approved Urgent | Al Jazeera obtains exclusive photos showing the Qassam tracking the movements of officer in the Shaldag unit, Yitzhar Hoffman, before he was killed by a snipers bullet. The central parity rate of RMB against the US dollar increased by 32 basis points to 7.0943 yuan. Niger: what follow-up after the denunciation of the military agreement between Niamey and Washington? Putin: all traitors fighting against Russia will be identified by name and they will not be given peace In light of the confrontation with Israel... where has the Hezbollah-Free Patriotic Movement alliance reached? IN PICTURES - Football: discover the new Blues jerseys for Euro 2024 and the Olympics Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview I have no nerves for you Operation seduction of the head of Chinese diplomacy in New Zealand and Australia Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. Firefighters battle an industrial fire at Colfor Manufacturing in Malvern in 2020. MALVERN The former American Axle & Manufacturing plant that shut down in 2020 after a fire is now for sale. The more than 92,000-square-foot building at 3255 Alliance Road NW is listed by Colliers management company for $2.2 million. It consists of mostly manufacturing space with about 8,700 square feet of office space, according to the advertisement. The manufacturing plant, which was previously Colfor Manufacturing, near the village of Malvern was the largest private employer in Carroll County. The Detroit-based manufacturer of automobile drive lines employed 275 workers until fire destroyed much of the building in September 2020. The manufacturing plant's location on Google Maps The Great Trail Fire District determined that a press malfunctioned and sprayed hydraulic oil onto parts that were being forged, causing a fire that drew 25 fire departments and first-response agencies. No workers were injured, but part of the plant's roof collapsed. American Axle & Manufacturing announced its closure two months later, citing extensive structural damage. The sales brochure lists "newly built offices" and other amenities, such as a power substation and visibility from state Route 183. Messages to the Colliers representatives listed as contacts for the property were not returned. The westernmost portion of the former manufacturing property is not part of the sale. The company donated 5.3 acres to the Great Trail Fire District, which currently operates out of two leased locations. Chief Ralph Castellucci of Great Trail Fire Department in Malvern talks about the structure which will be converted in a fire station donated to the Great Trail Fire Department by American Axle & Manufacturing which used to operate a plant here before a fire closed the plant. Chief Ralph Castellucci said the agency is in the process of hiring an architect to remodel the building into a fire station and community building. "Once we finish architectural drawings, then we'll go out for a bid and then once that's all completed, that's when we'll be able to move in," he said. Castellucci said he anticipates that the renovation will be complete by late this year or early 2025. Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn X: @kbyerREP This article originally appeared on The Repository: Malvern-area manufacturing plant for sale for $2.2 million Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price The top 3 shareholders own 50% of the company Insiders own 31% of Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd A look at the shareholders of Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd. (KLSE:MUHIBAH) can tell us which group is most powerful. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 43% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd. Check out our latest analysis for Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd KLSE:MUHIBAH Ownership Breakdown January 7th 2024 What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Story continues KLSE:MUHIBAH Earnings and Revenue Growth January 7th 2024 Hedge funds don't have many shares in Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd. Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia is currently the company's largest shareholder with 25% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 20% and 5.0% of the stock. Ngan Mac, who is the second-largest shareholder, also happens to hold the title of Chief Executive Officer. To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 3 shareholders have a majority ownership in the company, meaning that they are powerful enough to influence the decisions of the company. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There is a little analyst coverage of the stock, but not much. So there is room for it to gain more coverage. Insider Ownership Of Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd.. Insiders own RM191m worth of shares in the RM610m company. We would say this shows alignment with shareholders, but it is worth noting that the company is still quite small; some insiders may have founded the business. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 20% stake in Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Company Ownership We can see that Private Companies own 4.9%, of the shares on issue. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can find historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Even the slight strengthening in the yuan can be attributed as much to Fed chair Jerome Powell as Beijings efforts to put a floor under the expansion. Singapore, which had been dogged for part of 2023 by fear of recession, finished strongly. South Koreas economy closed out December with solid momentum. Markets across Asia have been obsessed with when the Federal Reserve will begin to cut interest rates; the prospect of the Peoples Bank of China further reducing borrowing costs is met with a yawn. Bullishness about China was abundant when President Xi Jinping began to dismantle COVID zero at the end of 2022. Credit: AP Neighbours whose economic fortunes were supposed to be tied to the heft of the countrys rebound from the pandemic seem to be doing pretty well without it. Far from being pushed into a slump, some bellwethers had a thoroughly respectable year. This isnt the way things were meant to be. Bullishness about China, and its ability to propel the rest of Asia, was abundant when President Xi Jinping began to dismantle COVID zero in the closing months of 2022. Prospects for the region were considered intimately linked to Beijing. But as Chinas rebound faded, it became commonplace to proclaim that this implied bad tidings for regional economies. That they didnt bomb suggests there is a broader shift at work. There was no shortage of people telling me Asia was China and China was Asia. It might be time to question that assertion. Perhaps Asias economic fate isnt tethered so strongly to China after all. Or, if it is, there are at least some important nuances. Some thinking looks out of date. As a reporter arriving in Washington in 1998, the common refrain was that where Japan goes, so does the rest of Asia. I was sceptical: South-East Asia enjoyed six years of dizzying expansion after Japans property bubble burst around 1990. Before leaving the US to undertake my current assignment in Singapore, there was no shortage of people telling me Asia was China and China was Asia. It might be time to question that assertion. Goldman Sachs Group had a wake-up call. It anchored hopes for a strong 2023 in part on a buoyant China and the prospect that such encouraging conditions would translate into an epic year for emerging markets, generally. A Geelong man has launched civil action against the state government after a probationary police officer entered the backyard of his Waurn Ponds property and shot him in the leg. Andrew Wilczewski, 50, was holding a shovel at the time, but has claimed in a Supreme Court writ to have acted in self-defence when police responded to a noise complaint just before midnight on August 26, 2020. Andrew Wilczewski is taken to an ambulance after being shot by police in August 2020. Credit: Nine Wilczewski was charged with seven offences, including threatening and assaulting an emergency worker, assault and assault with a weapon. Investigations by Victoria Polices armed crime squad and Professional Standards Command found the shooting was justified. However, all seven charges against Wilczewski were withdrawn in the County Court in March last year, after serious weaknesses emerged in the police investigation and the prosecution case during a committal hearing in Geelong Magistrates Court in December 2022. A blindsided Victorian government is scrambling to meet its offshore wind target timeline after the federal government rejected a new terminal at the Port of Hastings, with project documents showing the decision could throw the states energy transition into disarray. Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos on Monday said the state was undeterred and would consider next steps after his federal counterpart, Tanya Plibersek, refused Commonwealth approvals for the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal a proposed hub for offshore wind farm construction south-east of Melbourne over concerns of breaching international guidelines. The decision has left Victoria trying to ensure it can meet its legislated targets of building 2 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2032 and nine gigawatts by 2040. Applications for state environmental approvals submitted by the state-owned Port of Hastings show the swift development of the project was critical to this goal. The expeditious development of this project is essential to meet the Victorian governments offshore wind targets, the application says. Britains Environment Agency planned to upgrade flood defences in one of the towns worst-hit by severe flooding across the country but then failed to complete the work during the pandemic. Officials promised the owners of multiple historic homes in Tewkesbury, south of Birmingham and where the Severn and other rivers have burst their banks, they would provide them with stronger barriers, floodgates and pumps in 2020 but the work was never done. A car passes through flood water by the Cuckmere river in Alfriston, East Sussex. Credit: AP Houses in Tewkesbury are among more than 1000 properties across England that have been flooded in January as defences proved inadequate. Robbie Moore, the floods minister, said on Friday that planning authorities should share some of the blame, saying they could go a lot further in scrutinising the flood risks of homes. Many DexCom, Inc. (NASDAQ:DXCM) insiders ditched their stock over the past year, which may be of interest to the company's shareholders. When evaluating insider transactions, knowing whether insiders are buying versus if they selling is usually more beneficial, as the latter can be open to many interpretations. However, shareholders should take a deeper look if several insiders are selling stock over a specific time period. Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. Check out our latest analysis for DexCom The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At DexCom In the last twelve months, the biggest single sale by an insider was when the Executive Chairman, Kevin Sayer, sold US$4.8m worth of shares at a price of US$106 per share. That means that even when the share price was below the current price of US$124, an insider wanted to cash in some shares. We generally consider it a negative if insiders have been selling, especially if they did so below the current price, because it implies that they considered a lower price to be reasonable. Please do note, however, that sellers may have a variety of reasons for selling, so we don't know for sure what they think of the stock price. We note that the biggest single sale was only 14% of Kevin Sayer's holding. Insiders in DexCom didn't buy any shares in the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Insiders At DexCom Have Sold Stock Recently Over the last three months, we've seen significant insider selling at DexCom. In total, insider Girish Naganathan dumped US$254k worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. In light of this it's hard to argue that all the insiders think that the shares are a bargain. Story continues Insider Ownership Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. It's great to see that DexCom insiders own 0.4% of the company, worth about US$200m. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders. What Might The Insider Transactions At DexCom Tell Us? An insider sold DexCom shares recently, but they didn't buy any. And there weren't any purchases to give us comfort, over the last year. But since DexCom is profitable and growing, we're not too worried by this. While insiders do own a lot of shares in the company (which is good), our analysis of their transactions doesn't make us feel confident about the company. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Donald Trump visited Jeffrey Epsteins Florida mansion for dinner, but would eat with staff in the kitchen, a former housekeeper has claimed in new court filings. Juan Alessi, who worked for the disgraced financier until 2002, said that Trump would visit from his own nearby Mar-a-Lago resort and spend the evening at Epsteins mansion. Donald and Melania Trump with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2002. Credit: Getty The property is where Epstein is alleged to have carried out many of his sex attacks against underage girls who were hired to perform massages. Trump has distanced himself from his former friend since his arrest in 2019, telling reporters that he knew [Epstein] like everybody in Palm Beach knew him and that the pair were not especially close. A permanent administrator has been named for the Wyoming State Hospital (WSH) in Evanston, while interim leadership is also planned for the Veterans Home of Wyoming (VHW) in Buffalo. Both facilities are operated by the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). Kristi Barker has been chosen to lead the WSH staff on a permanent basis. Barker took over as interim WSH administrator in October following the retirement of Paul Mullenax. Barker has a master's degree in health administration and has been with WSH for 19 years in various roles, most recently working as WSH business manager before taking on the interim administrator role. Kristi's knowledge of the hospital and her dedication to its mission are admirable. Her familiarity, dedication and drive will serve Wyoming's residents well in an ever-changing behavioral health system, said Matt Petry, Behavioral Health Division senior administrator with WDH. Stefan Johansson, WDH director, is also thanking Bruce Allison for his time leading the Veterans Home of Wyoming. Allison recently submitted his resignation as facility administrator effective in early February. Bruce led our staff in Buffalo during an important time of change as we constructed our new and recently opened skilled nursing community to expand the care we can offer to Wyomings veterans, Johansson said. Plans for interim and long-term VHW leadership are in the works. WSH, part of the WDH Behavioral Health Division, is Wyomings only state-operated psychiatric hospital and has been providing mental health services in Evanston for state residents since 1887. Operating in Buffalo since 1903 to serve Wyoming veterans, VHW, part of the WDH Aging Division, offers domiciliary care, which is similar to assisted living care, as well as skilled nursing care, which is widely known as nursing home care. Honesty, reliability are equally important with quality Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at the valedictory function along with Vijay Krishna, A K Jain, D K Srivastava and Manish Nuwal. Business Reporter : The word quality has a wide meaning hidden in it. But along with quality, honesty, transparency and reliability are also equally important and it is the real wealth of the 21st century. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways said this while addressing the valedictory function of the National Convention on Quality Concepts organised here at the Shri Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management, Nagpur (RCOEM) by Quality Circle Forum of India (QCFI). On this occasion National President of QCFI Avinash Mishra; Executive Director of QCFI D K Srivastava; Director QCFI Vijay Krishna; Chairman Nagpur Chapter QCFI A K Jain; General Secretary of RCOEM Rajendra Purohit; CEO and Managing Director of Solar Industries India Ltd Manish Nuwal; and others were also present on the occasion. Gadkari said he is happy to see more that more than 10,000 delegates took part in the national convention. I strongly believe that the convention will certainly give a new direction to all of us, he said. Gadkari further remembered his association with the Quality Circle Forum of India and said, I got an opportunity to work with the Quality Circle Forum in 1995. At that time I was the Maharashtra Public Works Minister and I had a great experience working with Mrs. Punawala and her team. 55 flyovers, Worli-Bandra Sea-Link, Mumbai-Pune Expressway, etc. were done in Mumbai. At that time, there were 26,000 people to work with on various Government projects worth Rs 1800 crore. After that we set up Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited, (MSRDC) and managed to complete projects worth Rs 8,000 crore with small team of only 49 people. That is the skill of management, he highlighted. Gadkari also said that good management goes hand in hand with maintaining good quality and it requires speedy decision-making, transparency and a corruption-free environment. Through Quality Circle, we are all getting all the technical education. But along with this, we should also acquire human values and become sensible human beings, Gadkari concluded. Gadkari unveiled a book on 5S and presented the awards to organisations under Nagpur Chapter. Solar Industries, CEAT, JSW and Elkem won the awards in Best Supporting Organisations category from Nagpur Chapter for their commendable efforts in implementing the quality principles. MSME, Hyderabad was awarded as Best Service Sector organisation award (Govt Sector), while Adani Power LTD, Raighar unit was awarded as Rank-1 in 5-S Certification of QCFI jointly with JUSE (Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers, Japan). The certifications for World Class Manufacturing (WCM) were presented to Titan Eyewear Hosur among large scale industries and in MSME units Sashi Sidnal Foods Pvt Ltd Belgaum. QCFI Nagpur Chapter was awarded for successful conduction of event and setting new benchmarks for upcoming conventions. RCOEM was awarded as the best host for jointly organising the event and best in class staff, infrastructure facilities. Vivek Shrouty, Secretary QCFI, proposed vote of thanks. Indiana Jones actor Oliver, 2 daughters die in plane crash LOS ANGELES : HOLLYWOOD actor Christian Oliver, his two young daughters and the pilot died in a plane crash near a Caribbean island, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force announced. Oliver, whose real name was Christian Klepser, was 51. His daughters, Madita Klepser and Annik Klepser, were 12 and 10, respectively. Pilot Robert Sachs also died in the crash, reports Variety. They were the only passengers aboard the plane. The aircraft was a small, one-engine plane owned and piloted by Sachs. It crashed one nautical mile west of Petit Nevis, a small island in the Grenadines, Thursday afternoon. As per Variety, the plane left from the J.F. Mitchell Airport in Paget Farm, Bequia, an island in the Grenadines, around 12:11 p.m. bound for St. Lucia as its final destination. Moments after taking off, the aircraft experienced difficulties and plummeted into the ocean, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force wrote in a statement. Fishermen and divers from Paget Farm went to the scene of the incident in their boats to render assistance. 8 suspects in Pune goon Mohols killing arrested PUNE : THE Pune Police have arrested at least eight persons said to be linked to the broad daylight killing of notorious gangster Sharad H. Mohol and also recovered some arms and ammunition from the accused, officials said here on Saturday. The suspects were caught on the Pune-Bengaluru highway while trying to flee the district late Friday night in two vehicles. They will be produced before a Magistrate Court later Saturday. As per police investigations by nine separate teams, the 40-year-old local goon was shot by one of his associates and other accomplices over a financial dispute, and further investigations are on. The police have recovered three country-made pistols, three magazines and five cartridges, as well as the two getaway cars from the accused. The shootout took place outside Mohols office-cum-residence in Pandurang Wadi of the Sutardara area of Kothrud on Friday at around 1.15 p.m. CCTV footage that emerged on Saturday shows how Moho was reportedly celebrating his wedding anniversary, had lunch with his associates, then stepped out of his home and they suddenly started shooting him in a narrow lane. With major disruptions already hitting global supply chains due to Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea, the situation is now set to worsen as shipping companies face the extra pressure of the coming Lunar New Year. But one possible solution to the current shipping crisis may have been found as some exporters switch to the overland route provided by the China-Europe Railway Express. Since November, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who control much of Yemen including most of the Red Sea coast, have been using exploding drones and missiles to attack commercial vessels using the vital trade route, as they protest Israel's military operations in Gaza. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Their actions have forced major shipping lines, including Danish shipping giant Maersk, Chinese state-owned shipping company Cosco and energy giant BP, to stop using the Suez Canal and Red Sea route. But now the headaches being experienced by shipping companies are set to get even worse as they deal with the extra pressure traditionally felt in the lead-up to Lunar New Year. China, known as the factory of the world, produces a lot of goods for export before factories close for the annual holiday. But with ships being paused or diverted around the Cape of Good Hope, many are not expected to reach Chinese ports in time. The Suez Canal provides the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia. One of the world's busiest waterways, it accounts for 12 per cent of global trade, including 30 per cent of all container movement, according to Egypt's State Information Service. Having to divert around the South African seaboard adds an extra 3,500 nautical miles to a ship's voyage - up to two more weeks. This will delay the return of empty containers back to China, with a knock-on effect that will be felt around the world. Story continues Analysts said there was no way the situation could ease before Lunar New Year, but noted that the China-Europe Railway could become an alternative for export companies. Rico Luman, a senior economist with a focus on transport, logistics and the automotive industry for ING Research, said the current detours and longer trip durations will lead to further port issues in January and February, which in turn will affect supply chains. "Things can only start to normalise - if a solution to the security threats is found - after Chinese New Year," Luman said. Delays caused by the shipping crisis will lead to major problems at ports, according to Marco Forgione, director general at the Institute of Export & International Trade, an association of exporters and importers. "The ports will suffer from congestion ... all that will cascade to create a multiplier effect from the impact of the disruption," Forgione said. The Bahamas-flagged, British-owned Galaxy Leader cargo ship, operated by a Japanese company, was seized by Houthi fighters in November. Companies are now avoiding using the Red Sea trade route as a result of the continued attacks. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS alt=The Bahamas-flagged, British-owned Galaxy Leader cargo ship, operated by a Japanese company, was seized by Houthi fighters in November. Companies are now avoiding using the Red Sea trade route as a result of the continued attacks. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS> With the shipping situation in disarray, some Chinese exporters have now turned to the China-Europe Railway Express, which connects China and Europe through an extensive network of rail services. Forgione said there has been a significant increase in requests for information about the railway. It runs through more than 100 cities in 11 Asian countries and regions and reaches 217 cities across 25 European nations. "The railway to Europe is a viable alternative and we are seeing increased demand for that route. The railway is more feasible for containerised traffic," Forgione said. "The expectation is that the use of rail could even double in the next few weeks as an alternative to sea freight." However, Luman did not agree that the Red Sea situation would have that big an impact on the rail connection. "Shippers that are now threatened to run late for forthcoming important, higher valued deliveries will turn to air freight instead," Luman said. With shipping in disarray, sending freight by rail is becoming increasingly popular. Pictured is a China-Europe freight train loaded and ready to leave Harbin, China. Photo: Xinhua alt=With shipping in disarray, sending freight by rail is becoming increasingly popular. Pictured is a China-Europe freight train loaded and ready to leave Harbin, China. Photo: Xinhua> The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions imposed by many Western nations could also play a part in turning exporters away from the rail option, Luman said. "It's also still a problem for many Western shippers that trains usually run through Russia, so the most popular route now crosses the Caspian Sea and this takes longer than it used to," he said. Shanghai EPU Supply Chain Management Co president Tommy Tan told Chinese state-owned newspaper the Global Times: "The number of inquiries [about the China-Europe Railway Express] has doubled since these incidents began. We are actively preparing route configurations and increasing capacity for round-trip services to meet growing customer demand." Although sending freight by rail is more expensive than by sea, the trains from China to Europe would take about 12 days compared with the usual sea transit time of 35 to 45 days. In the first 11 months of 2023, the China-Europe Railway Express operated a total of 16,145 trains, transporting the equivalent of nearly 1.75 million 20-foot containers, according to data from the China State Railway Group. The total volume of goods transported during this period exceeded the total volume recorded in the whole of 2022. But as exporters look to alternative routes and modes of transport, the move will also see a shift in who wears the extra costs - and who loses revenue. Lars Jensen, founder of Vespucci Maritime and former Maersk director, said the Red Sea attacks would lead to increases in freight rates, as well as causing a significant loss of revenue for Egypt due to the reduction in canal transits. Jensen said, as a rough benchmark, avoiding the Red Sea would add around US$2 million to a ship's journey in terms of fuel and other costs. This means for a full round-trip journey between Asia and Europe, each vessel could have an extra US$4 million in costs, he said. Christian Roeloffs, co-founder and CEO of Container xChange, an online platform for container logistics, said freight rates through the Red Sea had already increased by 20 to 30 per cent. Similarly, average container prices have also risen, he said. "In terms of average container prices, we notice a week on week increase across ports in Tianjin, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Ningbo and Huangpu," Roeloffs said. "If we zoom in to individual locations in China, especially in Shanghai, Tianjin and Ningbo, then we notice that average prices of 40ft-high cube containers have been increasing steadily," he said, adding this was largely attributable to the situation in the Red Sea. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Another TMC leader held in ration scam KOLKATA : THE Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Bongaon Municipalitys former chairman Shankar Adhya in the early hours of Saturday in connection with the alleged ration scam in West Bengal, officials said. Adhya, a TMC leader in the North 24 Parganas district, was arrested from his residence in Simultola in Bongaon after searches were conducted by the agency at properties linked to him and his family members. These searches went on for at least 17 hours on Friday, they said. Following the arrest, his supporters allegedly tried to block the investigators from taking him with them, besides hurling stones at their vehicles. The CRPF personnel who were accompanying the ED team had to baton-charge the mob to bring the situation under control, they added. Along with the searches, Adhya was also being questioned. He was arrested as his replies were not satisfactory, an ED officer said. After the arrest, his supporters, led by women, tried to stop the officers from taking him along with them. The accompanying CRPF personnel brought the situation under control, he said. This was the second attack on the agency after the one in Sandeshkhali in neighbouring South 24 Parganas district on Friday. The ED said three of its officers suffered grievous injuries after a mob vandalised its vehicles during a raid at the residence of TMC leader Sahajahan Sheikh. The mob also snatched their personal belongings such as mobile phones and wallets. Adhya is considered to be close to state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick, who was arrested in connection with the alleged scam last year. Along with properties belonging to the TMC leader, the ED had conducted searches at the residences of his in-laws, his associates and an ice cream factory linked to them. Besides documents, the ED seized around Rs 8 lakh in cash from the residence of the in-laws, the officer said. Soon after his arrest, Adhya told reporters, Ill cooperate with the ED and will help them in every possible way. ED, TMC leaders family file police complaints against each other:Amid a political uproar over the assault on ED team in West Bengal, the family of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and the central agency on Saturday filed police complaints against each other in connection with a raid during which the ED officials were attacked and injured by a mob. The police also lodged a suo motu case against the ED officers, who were conducting the raid in connection with the ration distribution scam, on the charges of molestation, forcible entrance and theft. The ED issued a lookout notice for Shahjahan as there are apprehensions that he might flee the country following the incident in which three ED officers were injured and several vehicles damaged by a mob at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, which is close to the Bangladesh border. Sahajahans family members filed a police complaint, alleging that the central agency raided their residence without prior notice and broke locks to gain entry. The ED also lodged a complaint against Sahajahan and his supporters for assaulting its officers. ED names former Cgarh CM Baghel in chargesheet RAIPUR : IN A significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has named former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, in a supplementary chargesheet filed on January 1, 2024. The chargesheet is related to allegations of receiving bribes amounting to approximately Rs 508 crore from the promoters of the Mahadev App. As per the ED chargesheet, Mahadev App promoter and accused Subham Soni made startling revelations during the investigation. The chargesheet includes names of several other accused individuals, including Subham Soni, Anil Kumar Agrawal alias Atul Agrawal, Rohit Gulati, Bhim Singh Yadav, and Asim Das. ED names former... (Contd from page 1) The supplementary chargesheet was filed before the special court for PMLA cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act at Raipur, Chhattisgarh on January 1, 2024. According to the ED, Asim Das, in his statement, disclosed that Subham Soni, a prominent figure in Mahadev Online Book, instructed him to deliver a substantial amount of cash to Bhupesh Baghel. The chargesheet points out that Das was called to Dubai by Soni on October 25, 2023, and was provided with cash to be delivered to Baghel. A voice message recovered from Dass phone further strengthens the claims, where Soni instructs him to deliver 8-10 crore rupees to Baghel upon returning to India. The supplementary chargesheet reveals that on November 2, 2023, the ED intercepted Asim Das and seized cash amounting to Rs 5.39 crore from his premises. This cash was allegedly being moved by Mahadev App promoters to a select politician in Chhattisgarh, as per ED statements. Das admitted that he was tasked by Subham Soni to deliver the cash to Bhupesh Baghel. Subham Sonis email correspondence and statements from other witnesses, including Chandrabhushan Verma, indicate that Bhim Singh Yadav acted as a conduit for Mahadev Online Book in the payment of liaisoning money. ED acting at behest of its political masters: Baghel RAIPUR, FORMER Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday alleged the ED has mentioned his name in its chargesheet as part of a political conspiracy at the behest of its political masters. The Congress leader also alleged the federal agency has been fraudulently arresting people and pressuring them to give statements against him and his associates. The ED in its second prosecution complaint (charge sheet) filed before a special court in Raipur on January 1 stated that alleged courier Asim Das, arrested in the Mahadev betting app case, who claimed he had been sent to deliver cash to Bhupesh Baghel, has retracted his denial of having made the charges. The way the ED has mentioned my name in its supplementary charge sheet is completely part of a political conspiracy. The ED, at the behest of its political masters, has been fraudulently arresting people and pressuring them to give statements against me and my associates. The allegations of money transactions made in these statements are baseless, Baghel wrote on X. Asim Das, from whom the money was recovered, had said in his hand-written statement from jail that he too has been deceived and implicated and that he never delivered money to any politician or people associated with them. Now the ED has claimed that he has withdrawn his statement. Everyone knows that under which pressure all this has been happening, he said. The ED has the complete recording of the day of the incident when money was allegedly recovered from Asim Das which means the entire incident was pre-planned and engineered by the federal agency, according to Baghel. EDs RFL search ends; papers, digital data seized NEW DELHI : THE Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday concluded its searches in a money laundering investigation linked to alleged diversion of funds worth more than Rs 2,000 crore from Religare Finvest Limited (RFL), official sources said. The agency had launched the raids on Friday and searched nine locations in Delhi-NCR, including the corporate offices of RFL, M3M India Holdings, RHC Holding Pvt Ltd, Hillgrow Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, Dion Global Solutions and Prius commercial, the sources said. The raids ended Saturday. Officials said incriminating documents, including digital evidence, were seized during the searches and large-scale proceeds of crime generated out of criminal activities have been identified. RFL said in a regulatory filing that its current management had also complained to the ED for initiating a probe. The information and documents as advised were provided/submitted to the officials of the authority, the company said in a statement. The EDs money laundering case stems from a Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) FIR and the federal agency had arrested ex-Fortis promoters Malvinder Mohan Singh and Shivinder Mohan Singh and CMD of Religare Enterprises Ltd. Sunil Godhwani. Eichhornia flooding: Finally, work on 10 MLD STP of Wadi begins By Kaushik Bhattacharya : The work will take one-and-a-half year to complete; 65 km long sewage line to be laid in Wadi area to restrict release of sewage in Ambazari lake Wadi Municipal Council (WMC) has finally started construction of its 10 MLD sewage treatment plant (STP) at Ambedkar Nagar in Wadi area, near Amravati Road to restrict the direct release of sewage into iconic Ambazari lake. Last year in April, Ambazari lake witnessed the flooding of Eichhornia weeds which was later removed by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). However, it again flooded during last monsoon and these weeds are also a major reason of recent floods in Nagpur. There is no drainage system available in Wadi area and the residents dispose off the sewage into septic-tanks. However, due to lack of drainage system, the sewage is directly released into nullahs which is connected with Ambazari lake. Presence of nutrients due to intrusion of sewage in Ambazari lake is the main reason behind growing of Eichhornia weeds. To identify the reason of growing of weeds, NMC conducted inspection of surrounding areas of the lake and found one nullah near Amravati road releasing sewage. After this, NMC asked WMC to construct a STP. We have started the construction of 10 MLD sewage treatment plant at Ambedkar Nagar. The project will take one-and-a-half year to complete, Dr Vijay Deshmukh, Chief Officer, WMC told The Hitavada. Wadi has no underground sewage system so far. We have five sewage suction vehicles and on request of residents we collect sewage through these vehicles and dump it in Bhandewadi. After construction of the drainage system the sewage will be treated in the STP. We will supply the treated water to MIDC and WMC will sell the manure to others, said Dr Deshmukh. There are 13,000 families residing in Wadi area and the demand of separate drainage system was raised time to time by the residents. However, the issue of Eichhornia weeds opened the eyes of the administration and the proposal of STP and drainage system is finally getting shape. We are going to lay 65 km long drainage line which will cover every house in the jurisdiction of Wadi Municipal Council in the next one-and-a-half year. The government has sanctioned Rs 85 crore for this project, said Dr Deshmukh. The project will help to restrict the direct intrusion of sewage into Ambazari lake. After the incident of flood, NMC is conducting cleaning of Eichhornia weeds from the lake time to time. But still the weeds reappear and the presence of sewage is the main reason behind it. The matter of Eichhornia flooding in Ambazari lake was also raised in the winter assembly by MLAs and following the same the project is now getting speed. Navy trying to hunt down pirates involved in hijacking attempt NEW DELHI : INDIAN Naval forces are on Saturday investigating suspected vessels in the North Arabian Sea to track down the pirates involved in an attempt to hijack a merchant vessel with 21 crew members including 15 Indians, officials said. The Indian Navy on Friday thwarted the attempted hijacking of Liberian-flagged vessel MV Lila Norfolk and rescued all its crew members. The crew of the bulk carrier are now engaged in restoring the propulsion system, power supply and steering gear of the platform, the Navy said. Thereafter, MV Lila Norfolk will recommence her passage to her destination under escort of the Indian naval warship, it said. The Navy deployed a warship, maritime patrol aircraft P-8I, helicopters and MQ9B Predator drones to assist the vessel, MV Lila Norfolk, after it sent a message on the UK Maritime Trade Operations portal, saying unknown armed personnel had boarded it on Thursday evening. On Friday, Indian Navys elite marine commandos rescued all 21 crew members of the commercial vessel after boarding it from frontline warship INS Chennai. The Navy came out with a statement detailing its response to the hijacking attempt. In a video shared by the Navy, three Indian crew members of the bulk carrier thanked the force for rescuing them. I am proud of Indian Navy, said one of them. The Navy said it swiftly responded to the hijacking incident by deploying considerable strength of assets, both ships and aircraft, with an aggressive intent to counter the attack by pirates. INS Chennai guided missile destroyer arrived at the scene of action by 1515 hours. Continuous aerial recce of MV Lila Norfolk was undertaken by MQ9B (Sea Guardian drone), P8I (maritime patrol aircraft)and integral helicopters, it said in the statement. It said that subsequently, the Indian Navy Marine Commandos boarded MV Lila Norfolk and undertook thorough sanitisation of the upper decks, machinery compartments and living spaces/ The team did not find any pirates onboard. Forceful warnings by the Indian Naval aircraft to the vessel and likely interception by the Indian Navy warship, probably compelled the pirates to escape during the night hours, the Navy said. All 21 crew of MV Lila Norfolk have been rescued and are safe. Indian Naval forces are investigating the suspected vessels in the area, it said. Presently, the crew of MV is engaged in restoring propulsion, power supply and steering gear, it said. This is among a series of such maritime incidents witnessed in the strategic waters over the last few weeks. Liberian-flagged vessel MV Chem Pluto, with 21 Indian crew members, was the target of a drone attack off Indias west coast on December 23. Besides MV Chem Pluto, another commercial oil tanker that was on the way to India came under a suspected drone strike in the Southern Red Sea on the same day. The vessel had a team of 25 Indian crew. Sharmilas Entry Into Congress By Sushil Kutty : Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy sent their uncle Y V Subba Reddy to dissuade Sharmila from throwing in her lot with the Congress, but in Sharmilas case, blood proved to be thinner than water and so, it will be brother versus sister in Andhra Pradesh. Sharmila joined the Congress after failing to make hay in Telangana with her YSR Telangana Party. Now, with YSRTPs merger with the Congress, Sharmila has taken on the task to cut her brother YSR Jagan Mohan Reddys political clout to size. It remains to be seen though whether Y S Sharmila will ever become Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister like her brother and father. If Sharmila ever becomes Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, it will be one for the Guinnessthree CMs from the same family, two of them warring siblings and their father, who died tragically. ANDHRA Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddys sister Y S Sharmila is not what her name suggestsshy, placid She has been a rebel after a cause, and so has done what she had set out to do, become a part of the Congresswhich was her father Y S Rajasekhara Reddys partywith Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Gandhi family scion Rahul Gandhi welcoming her into the fold. Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy sent their uncle Y V Subba Reddy to dissuade Sharmila from throwing in her lot with the Congress, but in Sharmilas case, blood proved to be thinner than water and so, it will be brother versus sister in Andhra Pradesh with the Congress hosting the sister in all sincerity. The Congress hopes to make a comeback in Andhra Pradesh like it did in Telangana with Sharmila leading from the front. That is the problem with sibling rivalry when mixed with dynasty politics. Jagan Mohan Reddy, older by a year to Sharmila, annexed YSRs legacy and Jagans mother stood with him, leaving Sharmila holding the rejection. With the Congress edging into the brother-sister imbroglio, a degree of balance has been established and Sharmila is eager to take on her brother in the battle for the high table. Sharmila joined the Congress after failing to make hay in Telangana with her YSR Telangana Party. Now, with YSRTPs merger with the Congress, Sharmila has taken on the task to cut her brother YSR Jagan Mohan Reddys political clout to size. It remains to be seen though whether Y S Sharmila will ever become Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister like her brother and father. Most likely not though Jagan Mohan might harbour fear because of anti-incumbency, an affliction that spares none. If Sharmila ever becomes Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, it will be one for the Guinnessthree CMs from the same family, two of them warring siblings and their father, who died tragically. For now, though, Jagan Mohan Reddy feels only threatened. The brother knows his sister too well. Apparently, Sharmila told the uncle, Subba Reddy, to take a hike, her attention fully focused on the merger with the Congress. Sharmila did a good job of hurting Jagan Mohan, saying, It gives me immense joy that the YSR Telangana party is going to be a part of the Indian National Congress It was my fathers dream to see Rahul as PM and I will work towards it. Imagine, it was not the fathers dream to see his own son become Prime Minister. The sister couldnt have been more dismissive. Sharmilas clean chit for the Congress was a blanket check, no less Congress always upheld the true culture of India...built the nation's foundationserved all communitiesuniting all sections What more could Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge ask for from Jagan's sister? Sharmila also praised Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Jagan-led YSRCP, however, will be difficult to dislodge from the electorates calculations. For many millions of AP voters, Sharmilas riposte that she will take forward YSRs legacy is empty rhetoric. Sharmila joining the Congress will not benefit the Congress, primarily because Sharmila herself has only a marginal base in Andhra Pradesh. For far too long Sharmila has been wasting time battling KCR and KTR in Telangana instead of building a base for herself in Andhra Pradesh. Actually, joining the Congress should have been the last thing Sharmila should have done. Towards the end, even her father YSR had become disillusioned with the Congress, which the daughter forgot, but the son did not. This much is for sure, joining the Congress bandwagon against brother Jagan Mohan Reddy will not bring back Rajanna Rajyam in Andhra Pradesh and will backfire. Also, Sharmila had always asserted that she belonged to Telangana and not Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, her party was YSRTP and not YSRCP. The siblings couldnt agree on much. By accepting Sharmila, the Congress has acquired an ongoing family feud and how can a running battle help a more or less down in the dumps state unit of a political party is to be seen. The Congress probably will end up fighting Sharmilas battles for her just to ensure that shes of some use to the Congress in Jagans stronghold, Andhra Pradeshwhere the Congress itself is in no great shape. The YSR family is divided but as long as the brother-sister kept to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana respectively, there was peace. It wouldnt be anymore. Sharmila is ready to rock Jagans boat. And Jagan is no spring chicken. Can Sharmila come up to Congress expectations, when the Congress itself is weak in Andhra Pradesh? In both the 2014 and 2019 assembly and general elections, the Congress couldnt save its deposit in any of the seats it contested. Yet, the Congress is so down in the dumps that there is a section in the Andhra Pradesh unit of the Congress which believes that Y S Sharmila is the saviour the Congress in Andhra Pradesh has been waiting for. The Congress has plans for Sharmila. (IPA) Shinde ignores Nagpur, Ramtek, Washim from Shivsankalp Abhiyaan By Vikas Vaidya : Is Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister and supremo of Shiv Sena (Shinde group) ignoring Nagpur and Vidarbha? This question is being asked by his own volunteers and office-bearers of this area. The snub by the leadership of Shinde Sena is evident as the party revised the tour of Shivsankalp Abhiyaan twice. Everytime some or other part of Vidarbha was dropped from the campaign. Every party is chalking out its Lok Sabha 2024 plan and leaders visits throughout Maharashtra. With eyes on Lok Sabha polls, Shinde, too, has prepared the schedule of his visits to various places in Mahararashtra. The party has launched Shivsankalp Abhiyaan which has started from Shirur and will be concluded in a grand convention in Nashik on January 29. In earlier programme, Vidarbhas Washim-Yavatmal, Amravati, Buldhana, Ramtek were included in the drive. The party revised it and in the new programme schedule only two districts of Vidarbha, Amravati and Buldhana, have been retained in the schedule of the drive. Bhavna Gawli from Washim-Yavatmal constituency and Krupal Tumane of Ramtek Lok Sabha have willingly broke away from Shiv Sena (UBT) and joined Shinde group. Shockingly, these two districts are now not the part of Shivsankalp Abhiyaan. It was a year ago that Shinde group split from Shiv Sena but Shinde did not convene a single party meeting in this area since then. The volunteers of this area have no answer to this question. They dont expect a grand convention but want atleast a small meeting with their leader. Shinde was in Nagpur during winter session of state legislature, during that time also he hardly called any meeting with his own party workers of Nagpur and Vidarbha. Of the 14 Lok Sabha members that Shiv Sena has, 13 are with Shinde. Of those 13, four are from Vidarbha viz Buldhana, Amravati, Ramtek and Washim-Yavatmal. A month ago, some office-bearers from Vidarbha had met Shinde to share their grievances. They had also expressed their feeling of getting step-motherly treatment from their other two constituents-Bharatiya Janata Party and NCP (Ajit Pawar). Because of intra-group competition somehow both groups of NCP have become active in Vidarbha. But Shinde Sena failed to take off. The party office-bearers shared their feelings with The Hitavada on condition of anonymity but are unlikely to speak about it with Shinde. According to highly placed sources, Shinde has kept focussed approach and is trying to know where his group could surely win in Lok Sabha as well as in Assembly. Shinde doesnt want any distraction but wants to win every seat, he would target. Photo (Jim Allen/FreightWaves) Chart of the Week: Freightos Baltic Daily Index China to North American west and east coasts, Panama Spread SONAR: FBXD.CNAW, FBXD.CNAE, FBXD.PANA Disproportionate shipping rate increases resulting from the Red Sea attacks further incentivize shippers to bring freight into the U.S. West Coast from Asia, as a pandemic-era pattern of shipping to Eastern ports continues to unwind. Spot rates for 40-foot equivalent containers moving on the ocean from China to North Americas east and west coasts spiked, according to the Freightos Baltic Exchange indices, to start the year. The conflict in the Middle East is now impacting nearly all global shipping lanes. Inbound east coast rates increased more than those to the west, increasing the Panama Spread back over $1,100. The Panama Spread measures the difference between maritime container shipping rates from China to the North American east and west coasts. More positive figures indicate a stronger monetary incentive to ship to the west coast. The ongoing drought in Central America has restricted the flow of freight moving through the Panama Canal and has increased transit times. Transit times from Shanghai to the Savannah, Georgia, port have increased nearly 2.5 days since October, according to SONARs Container Atlas, as canal capacity was limited due to a lack of water. So far demand does not appear to be impacted by the increasing service. Booking volumes in the Shanghai-to-Savannah lane are up since the restrictions were placed on the canal. Time will tell if the rate increases will persist and erode demand. U.S. import demand has increased at a sustainable rate over the past year as inventories appear to have right-sized, increasing the need for more consistent replenishment. A surprisingly robust consumer has also contributed to stronger-than-expected import demand. It is difficult to tell with any precision how much influence the increased transit times and cost differentials have had on domestic freight. Tender volumes out of two of the countrys most import-dependent markets Ontario, California, out West and Savannah in the Easthave increased over the past year, with the Western market growing more than the Eastern one. Story continues The Atlanta market the second-largest outbound freight market in the country, with strong ties to Savannah has not grown, with tender volumes contracting from an annual perspective. The Southern California freight markets tend to slow in January and February before ramping in the spring and peaking around September. Freight attrition will be difficult to recognize at this point as the domestic truckload market remains heavily oversupplied with capacity, but many are expecting that to change later in the year. The Los Angeles-area markets were the bottleneck for many supply chains during the pandemic. At the bare minimum, recent events are pushing more volume to the West, which could manifest more significantly later this year. About the Chart of the Week The FreightWaves Chart of the Week is a chart selection from SONAR that provides an interesting data point to describe the state of the freight markets. A chart is chosen from thousands of potential charts on SONAR to help participants visualize the freight market in real time. Each week a Market Expert will post a chart, along with commentary, live on the front page. After that, the Chart of the Week will be archived on FreightWaves.com for future reference. SONAR aggregates data from hundreds of sources, presenting the data in charts and maps and providing commentary on what freight market experts want to know about the industry in real time. The FreightWaves data science and product teams are releasing new datasets each week and enhancing the client experience. To request a SONAR demo, click here. The post What the Red Sea conflict means for domestic transportation appeared first on FreightWaves. Hong Kong: Power incident probe requested The Electrical & Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has requested CLP Power Hong Kong to identify the cause of this morning's power supply incident in Tsing Yi and submit a detailed report on it within two weeks. The incident occurred at 9.38am. According to information provided by CLP Power, there was a fault in the underground cable at On Mei House, Cheung On Estate, affecting 388 customers. Power was fully restored at 11.04am and CLP is arranging the cable repairs. The Government has requested CLP Power to immediately launch a comprehensive review of its power supply system and carry out preventive inspections and maintenance arrangements to ensure that the incident will not happen again. The EMSD will have a meeting with CLP Power tomorrow to follow up in detail and report to the Environment & Ecology Bureau (EEB). The EEB will also review whether there are areas where the Government can strengthen monitoring to improve the performance of the power companies. The EMSD immediately sent staff to the site to investigate the cause of the incident and whether there was an explosion, followed up with CLP Power on the development of the incident, and monitored the progress of repair work. In view of recent power incidents, the EMSD will step up inspections of the facilities and operations of CLP to monitor its technical and electrical safety performance. The Electricity Ordinance stipulates the powers and obligations of electricity suppliers, including, in the case of an electrical accident, providing the Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services with a report of the cause and what remedial action has been, or will be done, to prevent a recurrence of the accident. This story has been published on: 2024-01-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. stockcam / iStock.com What should you buy from Amazon at the start of the new year? Theres no shortage of items currently on sale clamoring for Amazon shoppers attention spans. Without a strategy, shoppers might wind up ordering too many irrelevant things without getting exactly what they need for the best deal. Im a Financial Planning Expert: Always Buy These 5 Things Right After New Years Read More: Pocket an Extra $400 a Month With This Simple Hack GOBankingRates spoke to Meg Lappe, senior editorial commerce director at The Spruce, about what Amazon shoppers should prioritize buying in January. See if you agree with the runner-up and best items mentioned to add to your shopping list. Sponsored: Get Paid To Scroll. Start Now Runner-up: BLACK+DECKER Indoor Space Heater Lappe has tested out the BLACK+DECKER Indoor Space Heater and said its one of her favorites. Ranked among Amazons Choice, the BLACK+DECKER space heater is now available for $30.26 which is 33% off its original price. This small space heater features a two-in-one fan heater combination where you can set it to low or high heat or low or high fan. Add it to your office desk, workspace at home, bedroom or anywhere where you can use some extra heat during the winter months. Im a Shopping Expert: 6 Top Purchases I Make Every January Runner-up: EcoVacs Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo Dont let the $649 price tag scare you off. The EcoVacs Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo is now 19% off its original price of $799 which Lappe said is the lowest price it has ever been on Amazon. The EcoVacs DEEBOT T9+ sweeps, vacuums and mops your floors simultaneously for the best possible floor cleaning. Each one features an OZMO Pro 2.0 oscillating mopping system, high-frequency vibration and four-level water adjustment. The double-duty nature of this vacuum and mop combo, Lappe said, ultimately helps save you time and money. Winner: American Soft Linen Luxury Towel Set The white sales held throughout January signals this month is the best time to buy bedding and linens for much less. This is especially true of the American Soft Linen Luxury Towel Set. Story continues Originally listed online at $79.99, Amazon shoppers only pay $33.99 for the six-towel set featuring two bath towels, two hand towels and two washcloths. This is a whopping 58% discount. Lappe said it is its best price ever since shoppers only pay a little over $5 per towel. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Single Best Thing To Buy at Amazon in January 2024 Based on the responses of retirees from more than 20 years of annual surveys from national pollster Gallup, Social Security income is indispensable. Between 80% and 90% of then-current retirees said they lean on their monthly Social Security check to cover at least a portion of their expenses. Ensuring that the foundation of America's top retirement program remains strong for current and future generations of retired workers is paramount. Unfortunately, this 88-year-old program is exhibiting signs of distress, and immigration issues are one of the core reasons why. Image source: Getty Images. America's top retirement program is facing a long-term funding shortfall of $22.4 trillion Every year since monthly retired-worker payouts began in 1940, the Social Security Board of Trustees has released a report that examines the program's current balance sheet and forecasts its financial health over the short run (next 10 years) and long term (next 75 years). The trustees take into account a number of factors, including demographics changes, along with shifts in fiscal and monetary policy, when issuing their forecast on Social Security's financial outlook. Since 1985, the Trustees Report has cautioned that America's leading retirement program can't meet its long-term funding obligations. In plainer English, the projected revenue collection in the 75 years following the release of a report won't be sufficient, including cost-of-living adjustments, to cover benefit outlays and administrative expenses. As of the 2023 Trustees Report, Social Security is facing a $22.4 trillion (and growing) unfunded obligation shortfall. The more immediate issue is the asset reserves for the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund. This is the fund responsible for dishing out benefits to 50 million retired workers and roughly 5.8 million survivor beneficiaries each month. If the OASI's excess cash built up since inception were to be depleted by 2033, as currently forecast, sweeping benefit cuts of up to 23% may be necessary to sustain payouts through 2097 without the need for any further cuts. Story continues Put another way, Social Security is in no danger of going bankrupt, or becoming insolvent and disappearing. But it may not be able to sustain its existing payout schedule as soon as nine years from now. The bulk of Social Security's growing cash shortfall can be traced to ongoing demographic shifts. Some of these are well known, such as the retirement of baby boomers and increased longevity since Social Security payouts began more than eight decades ago. Others are perhaps less obvious, such as growing income inequality and historically low birth rates. But the one demographic shift that's causing all sorts of problems for Social Security has to do with the rate of immigration into the United States. Image source: Getty Images. Social Security's immigration problem has been worsening for 25 years Peruse social media message boards and you'll undoubtedly find some very heated and contentious discussion of the role immigration appears to be playing on our nation's top retirement program. In particular, there's the belief that undocumented workers are a strain on Social Security and one of the root causes of the program's growing funding obligation shortfall. However, this thesis couldn't be further from the truth. Social Security is a program that's heavily reliant on people legally migrating into the U.S. each year. Most people who move to the U.S. tend to be younger, which means they'll spend decades in the labor force. Social Security collects approximately 90% of its annual revenue from the 12.4% payroll tax on wages and salaries (up to $168,600 in 2024). The dilemma for Social Security is that net migration into the U.S. peaked a quarter of a century ago and has been precipitously declining every year since then. According to data from the United Nations, the net migration rate for the U.S. per 1,000 people has fallen from 6.48 in 1998 to 2.748 in 2023, representing a nearly 58% drop in legal net immigration. With the U.S. population reaching nearly 340 million in 2023, a net migration rate of 2.748 per 1,000 people translates to roughly 934,300 net legal migrants entering the United States. The 2023 Trustees Report bases its $22.4 trillion funding shortfall estimate on average annual net immigration of 1.245 million people through 2097. In other words, a continued decline in the legal net migration rate will almost certainly result in a larger expected funding obligation shortfall over the coming 75 years. Immigration is a net positive for the traditional Social Security program Interestingly enough, legal immigration isn't the only thing that provides a net benefit to the traditional Social Security program, which includes payments made by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to retired workers, workers with disabilities, and survivor beneficiaries. One of the most common issues with immigration discussions surrounding Social Security is that the traditional Social Security program and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are conflated. Although both programs are overseen by the SSA, they have very different funding sources. Whereas traditional Social Security is funded through a combination of payroll taxation, the taxation of benefits, and interest income earned on the program's asset reserves, SSI is funded via the General Fund. SSI also, on occasion, provides income to people seeking asylum in the United States. Traditional Social Security provides no benefits whatsoever to undocumented workers. Here's what's interesting: According to an analysis from New American Economy in 2016, undocumented workers contributed an aggregate of $100 billion in payroll tax to the traditional Social Security program over the previous decade. While undocumented workers don't qualify for any payments or benefits, they're accounting for a little more than 1% of the annual revenue collected by traditional Social Security. Looking at this from a purely financial perspective, undocumented workers are helping, not hurting, the traditional Social Security program. More importantly, if legal net migration into the U.S. doesn't reverse course soon, Social Security's already large funding obligation shortfall is going to worsen. The $21,756 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $21,756 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Social Security Has an Immigration Problem -- and It's Getting Progressively Worse was originally published by The Motley Fool Hendrik Brink, born 1799. Abel Brink was Graafschaps first banker. At the age of 10, he emigrated from the Netherlands to the United States with his parents, Hendrik Abel and Lammegien Brink, and a brother in 1848. They came from Rotterdam aboard the three-masted sailing vessel Dione and arrived in New York on June 2. They headed west via the Erie Canal, sailed around the lower peninsula of Michigan via the Great Lakes, and landed at the entrance of Black Lake, before boarding a flatboat that took them to the woods of Holland. As soon as he could, Hendrik bought 20 acres of land south of the hill called Graafschap, and commenced clearing land for a log cabin and a small field to grow food. The trees on his property served multiple purposes: their wood provided material for tools and structures, their ashes when used for heating or cooking became fertilizer, a welcome substitute for manure. Hendrik also used oxen to pull logs, enabling him to grow crops amongst the tree stumps. Later he replaced his oxen with horses; still, for every work horse, he had to set aside five acres of productive land for raising oats, grass, hay, and straw. In his first decade of farming in America, it took Hendrik a days labor to cut half an acre of grass or grain by hand with a scythe. The amount of manpower available limited the amount of acreage he could cultivate. In contrast to his father, Hendriks youngest son, Abel H. Brink, pursued commerce. It was an ability he developed because a severe disability precluded him from engaging in heavy farm work. In 1860, at age 22, Abel married Lyda DeBoer and opened a General Store on 60th Street, Graafschaps Main Street. Although two other community members tried and failed before Abel launched his business, Abel successfully operated his store for 14 years. Brink log house in 1859. In 1861, his neighbors elected him Laketown Township Clerk and, in 1866, the U.S. government appointed him Graafschaps postmaster. Abel established the Graafschap Post Office in his store. In 1867, he added Justice of the Peace to his portfolio. By 1870, his estate was worth over $10,000 (over $300,000 in todays dollars). Story continues In 1872, he built a large Veneklasen brick house on South Street (now 5984 Church Street) across from the Graafschap Christian Reformed Church to house his growing family (soon to number 12). Like his father, Abel invested in real estate. In addition to helping his father expand his acreage, he himself invested in land to the southeast, towards Collendoorn (East Saugatuck). Here, good land was still available, but by 1872 the price had risen to $10 per acre, well above the $1.25-$1.50 per acre his father Hendrik had paid. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage By this time, Abel was also buying shares in businesses and lending money to businessmen. Thus, his spacious home also served as a bank. It even served as an inn for travelers who needed short-term lodging. Abel and Lyda Brinks house at 646 Church St. built in 1860. Abels lending to businesses, for a short time, made him the owner of a furniture company in Holland. In December 1887, Reindert Werkman convinced Brink to lend him $11,000 for two years at 11% interest, collateralized by Werkmans business assets, which included the Werkman Agricultural Works, a maker of fanning mills, milk cans, and other related items. Then, Werkman Agricultural Works became the Werkman Manufacturing Company, a maker of furniture, such as bedroom suites. But when an anticipated loan from an insurance company didnt materialize, causing Werkmans empire to collapse, Brink became the owner of Werkman Manufacturing Company's assets. In 1889, Brink sold those assets to a group of Holland investors, including Black Jake Van Putten, who then formed the Ottawa Furniture Company. Hendrik Brink died in 1878. Abel Brink died in 1909. Information for this story comes from William Sytsmas Row Crop Farming The Brinks Legacy Golden Grain Farms and Robert Swierengas "Holland, Michigan." Steve VanderVeen is a resident of Holland. You may reach him at skvveen@gmail.com. His book, "The Holland Area's First Entrepreneurs," is available at Readers World. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland History: A severe disability led this Hollander to banking Many Americans are making promises to do better in 2024 with New Years resolutions to save money and spend it wisely. Some, buoyed by the lingering holiday spirit, may vow to give some of that money to charity in the upcoming year like those who helped a high school teacher in Las Vegas fulfill 600 Christmas wishes for her students by Venmoing money or dropping off gifts. Those heart-breaking wishes included a bag of Taki chips "so I wont feel hungry" or slippers "to protect me from the cold," according to a TikTok the teacher posted that went viral. Americans responded by gifting those items. But those individual actions as well meaning as they are gloss over the reality that to help financially vulnerable Americans requires systemic change that often meets more resistance. "We're not going to GoFundMe our way to a just economy," Bob Farrace, the national director of public affairs at the Childrens Defense Fund, told Yahoo Finance, referring to the crowdfunding platform that allows people to raise money. Organizers rally outside of the US Chamber of Commerce for the child tax credit in 2022. (Eric Kayne/AP Images for Community Change) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) One policy change that could do just as much good as any of these New Year's resolutions is for Congress to restore the enhanced child tax credit, a pandemic measure that temporarily raised the credit to a maximum of $3,600 per child from $2,000. Additionally, the credit in 2021 was fully refundable, meaning if the credit exceeded the tax a family owed, they were entitled to the full amount anyway. That allowed the very poorest families who have no income to receive the full credit. And half of the credit was distributed in advance in monthly installments, providing families with a reliable source of income throughout the last half of 2021. The result? The credit helped to cut child poverty in half, with only 5.2% of US children in poverty in 2021 from 9.7% in 2020 and 12.6% in 2019. That goes much further than a one-time donation. "If you're donating to a holiday wish list that will help a parent afford toys and clothes for their kids through the holiday season, those costs don't magically disappear," Ashley Burnside, senior policy analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy, told Yahoo Finance. Story continues "Once the holidays end, that family may very well still struggle to meet their bills each month," she added. "But when you implement a policy solution like expanding the child tax credit, that policy can support that same family throughout the year." Since the credits expiration at the end of 2021, the child poverty rate has soared, hitting 12.4% in 2022. Food insecurity has also risen. But its been difficult to get lawmakers to reinstate the credit since then, though negotiations for a pared-down version are ongoing now. The resistance is rooted in what Farrace calls the self-made narrative that still dominates American culture. "We maintain this bizarre notion that poverty is a personal choice and that if we get poor people to work harder or acquire better money habits, they will stop being poor. And in the meantime, we will support them with food banks and other charity," he said. "I certainly don't want to diminish that in any way, but we have to see charity as a supplement and not a solution," he added. "The fact is poverty is a choice, but it's not the choice that poor people make. It's a policy choice that the rest of us make." A child is lifted by her parents at a street corner in downtown Seattle, in 2015. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Folks may also gravitate toward charity rather than supporting policy changes because it feels good to make a donation, and theres an immediate impact that people dont see with their tax dollars or their vote. "That's gratifying for us," Farrace said. And online donation campaigns are more personal. Theres an explanation of why someone needs money. Often the posting comes with a picture of whom youre helping. And you can see in real time other people responding, making it feel like a community effort. "I think it's harder for people to see how a policy would impact somebody day to day or how it would change their lives," Burnside said. "It's not as black and white as the description on a fundraiser." But you can have both. Donating to those fundraising campaigns fulfills a familys short-term need right now and thats needed, Burnside said. Policy action that you can support through voting will also provide that same family with more security down the line, so they wont need to turn to strangers for help. Thats good, too. "All those things need to happen at the same time," Burnside said, "but one can't come in place of the other." Janna Herron is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @JannaHerron. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. As India celebrated the National Bird Day, for the first time ever the bird census in Junglemahal area of West Bengal has started this month despite the fact that Saheb Bandh has failed to attract the winter winged guests. The Union forest minister has urged to save wetlands to save birds in a message on Friday. Migratory birds have now become a part of history in and around the vast waterbody of historic Saheb Bandh. Wings over Wetlands, in his X handle, the Union forest minister Bhupendar Yadav has said on National Birds Day (5 January), Where habitat, shelter, and a diverse menu await our avian companions This #NationalBirdDay, join the movement to preserve the wetland ecosystems, ensuring a thriving future for our birds. Wetlands provide habitat, shelter and diversity of food to the birds. The historic Saheb Bandh in Purulia, which has bagged the status of national sarovar few years ago and has been cleaned and revamped with central funds, however, is filled up with water hyacinths. The water too has become polluted due to sewage from surrounding garages and the roaming of the shikaras have disturbed the habitat of the migratory wetland birds. Advertisement Since the last four years there has hardly been any arrival of the winged foreign winter visitors. Migratory birds from the USA like Golden Plover and even from faraway places like Siberia, Ladakh used to visit Saheb Bandh till a few years ago. The state government had planned a few years ago to promote bird tourism in Saheb Bandh like the oxbow lake in Chupi in Purbasthali in East Burdwan, but the lack of migratory bird has been a major setback. These birds have migrated to other wetlands of the Purulia district in the past few years like at the Kooky Dam in Jhaldah, Marble Dam, Futiyari Dam, Murguma Dam, Turga Dam etc in large numbers. The census work has been named Annual Bird Survey 2024 and will be completed on 24 January. The bird lover associations, nature lovers and NGOs will assist the forest department in the census work. Kartikayen M, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Purulia forest division said that the survey work will be mainly on the census of water bird populations. The census work will take place in Murguma, Turga and other wetlands located throughout the district, he said. We have already spotted Eurasian wigeon, wire tailed swallow, great cormorant, Eurasian coot, red crested pochard, northern pintail, grey-headed Swamphen etc in Futiyari Dam. In Kooky Dam bar-headed goose, red shield ducks, gadwal, etc could be seen. Purulia has huge potential for avian species lovers and the areas surrounding the Ayodhya Hills have become a paradise of migratory birds, says Saptarshi Mukherjee, secretary of Wild Tuskers, Asansol, which has been entrusted in the survey work by the forest department. Darshana Jardosh, minister of state for railways & textiles, thanked the people of West Bengal for availing the Howrah New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express & Howrah Puri Vande Bharat Express for their regular visit to Darjeeling & Puri, in a review meeting held at Fairlie Place, Eastern Railway Headquarters today with the senior officials of Eastern Railway & South Eastern Railway. She expressed her happiness that both the Vande Bharat Express trains are running with approximately 100% occupancy. Darshana Jardosh addressing the senior officials of Eastern Railway & South Eastern Railway said that all the ongoing infrastructure projects should be completed within stipulated time period. She expressed her happiness about the last mile connectivity for which the people of West Bengal are very satisfied. Smt Jardosh also advised to keep the railway operations environmentally sustainable to minimize the carbon footprint. She also advised to remain more vigilant to stop infiltration of drugs & girl trafficking to stop the crime rate in West Bengal. One Station One Product (OSOP) stalls are playing a pivotal role in providing a global market to the local products which are to be given more thrust by the Railways for socio-economic development of the local entrepreneurs & artisans and bringing them to a comfortable earning level. Advertisement The countrywide ration shops strike called by All India Fair Price Shop Dealers Association (AIFPSDA) from 1 January for an indefinite period was called off today. The strike has been called off from today after series of discussions with the Centre and governments in different states. But we have already decided to organize a protest rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on 16 January and a team of representatives will meet the Prime Minister after the programme to submit our charter of demands, said Biswambhar Basu, national secretary of the AIFPSDA. We would intensify our protest programme again if the governments both in the Centre and respective states sit idle to our demands, Mr Basu said. The association members have already met the state food and supplies minister Rathin Ghosh and submitted a list of their demands. Owners of 8,38,000 ration shops had downed shutters since 1 January across the country in protest against the central governments failure to solve various types of crisis in public distribution system (PDS). Advertisement PDS in the state as well as the country was affected due to the strike. Owners of around 18,000 ration shops in Bengal took part in the strike in protest against the central governments failure to ensure a minimum monthly income guarantee for every owner. With the strike, more than 80 crore consumers in states and Union Territories were affected. The Centre will have to ensure a minimum monthly income guarantee of around Rs 50,000 for each shop owner. The food ministry is shifting its responsibilities on state government without taking any initiatives on their own, Mr Basu said. A ration shop owner gets commission Rs 95 per quintal in our state and its not adequate to run it giving salary to employees, paying electricity bills and rents for the shop. The Centre is sitting silent on our financial crisis, he said. Its been nearly two years since a devastating fire destroyed one of Zeeland's most iconic restaurants. ZEELAND Its been nearly two years since a devastating fire destroyed one of Zeeland's most iconic restaurants. In the months since, Community Restaurant has been rebuilt from the ground up. It'll host a grand opening at 7 a.m. Monday, Jan. 8. More: Community Restaurant in Zeeland 'a total loss' after devastating fire The restaurant served customers last week during a soft opening, testing operations and giving servers and kitchen staff a chance to get their feet wet. Here's a timeline of how we got here: 1983 According to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Community Restaurant 421 E. Main Ave. is incorporated by Jeffrey Koert. 1990s The restaurant is purchased by Lyle Van Klompenberg. Though it changes hands over the years, it remains in the family. A road sign indicates Community Restaurant in Zeeland is under new ownership in October 2020. 2020 Lyles son, Korde, purchases the business with longtime employee Barry Elzinga. April 12, 2022 Zeeland Fire Chief Ross Tibbets arrives at the restaurant to find an active, working fire. "Upon my arrival, we already had fire through the roof and, by looking through some of the windows, a fair amount of fire throughout the building," Tibbets said. Community members gather to mourn the loss of Community Restaurant on Wednesday, April 13. April 13, 2022 Firefighters fight the blaze into the early morning hours, knocking out the main fire before taking on tedious hotspots and embers. The business announces around 4 a.m. To our friends, coworkers, family, customers, we are devastated to inform you that Community Restaurant had a fire tonight and the building is a total loss. December 2022 Elzinga appears before the Zeeland Planning Commission and Zeeland City Council, now the sole owner, at least three times to obtain approvals to rebuild, which are granted. March 2023 The rebuild is on for Community Restaurant, Elzinga announces. We have been working on it for almost eleven months since the fire. There were a lot of hurdles to overcome and I am happy to announce that we are moving forward. May 31, 2023 Fourteen months after the fire, employees, family members and community leaders gather for the groundbreaking event. Story continues Ill be honest, there were times where I began to question whether this was actually going to happen and if I was going to be able to pull this off, Elzinga said. Just getting to this point today, where the ground has been broken and there are people working, it's just an amazing feeling. Community Restaurant continues progress toward reopening in September 2023. September 2023 Construction is well underway and on-track for a 2024 opening. You go from the emotions of the fire to dreaming that we could rebuild to visualizing it and then seeing it become a reality right in front of us, Elzinga said. He says hes received commitments from about a dozen former employees to return, and unveils a refreshed sign. Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage January 2, 2024 Elzinga announces the grand reopening Monday, Jan. 8, at 7 a.m. We want to give a wholehearted thank you to everyone who has backed and supported us throughout our journey," he wrote. "And especially CL Construction Company, who has been by our side from the start. January 8, 2024 See you at 7 a.m. Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Timeline: Community Restaurant will reopen in Zeeland on Monday Amid the cold weather conditions, Delhi Education minister Atishi on Sunday announced that schools will remain closed for Nursery to Class 5 students for the next five days. The minister informed this through a social media post . She said the decision was taken in the wake of prevailing cold conditions in the national capital. The schools included both government and private. Schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next five days due to the prevailing cold weather conditions, for students from Nursery to Class 5, Atishi wrote in a post on X. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Director of Education (DoE) of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) in an order said, In view of the prevailing weather condition, there will be no classes for Primary Sections (Nursery to Class V) in physical mode in any Government, Government-Aided and Recognised Private schools for the next five days i.e. from January 8 to 12. As far as possible, schools may organise online classes for their respective students of primary classes, it said. January 13 and 14 being Second Saturday and Sunday respectively, the students of Primary classes will join back school in physical mode on January 15 (Monday), the DoE said. Schools shall remain open for all other classes (VI to XII) with effect from January 8 (Monday), it said. The DoE , however, said in view of the weather conditions, no school will start before 8 AM or have classes beyond 5 PM. The Heads of Schools (HoSs) must inform all students, Parents and Staff today itself through bulk SMS/phone calls/SMC or any other suitable means of communication, it said. Intense cold conditions continued to batter the national capital with the minimum temperature recorded at 8.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday. On Saturday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 15.2 degrees Celsius, four notches below the normal. Expressing concern over the smog tower in Connaught Place which was again non-operational, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday took a dig at the officials, saying that they work as per their wishes. He said that earlier the smog tower was closed, and after the courts direction they started it, but, again it has been shut, and he raised doubts on why the tower was shut down. Bharadwaj further hit out at the officers of Delhi government, saying that these days officials did not follow the orders by the ministers, as they were aware no action will be taken against them, Bharadwaj claimed. Advertisement The AAP leader further accused the Central government of deliberately spreading mismanagement. With the air pollution battering Delhi during its peak in November last year, the apex court instructed the government to run the smog tower and further Delhi government issued an order to the concerned authorities to run the tower installed at Connaught Place at its full capacity. It is being said that the towers operation once again came to a halt due to shortage of funds. Meanwhile, Delhis air quality remained in the very poor category on Sunday, according to the AQI reading by the Central Pollution Control Agency (CPCB) at 3 pm, which was 334. According to reports, the tower, when run at its full capacity, brings in some improvement in the air quality of the area up to a certain radius surrounding the tower by reducing pollutants such as PM 2.5 and PM 10 to some extent. Earlier, the tower was stopped after the Realtime Source Apportionment Study (RSAS) with regard to Delhis pollution had come to a standstill. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier recommended suspension of DPCC chief to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena for allegedly stopping the special Realtime Source Apportionment Study (RSAS) on Delhis air pollution and also shutting down a smog tower. Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, John Abraham and Shradha Kapor are among the celebrities who have come out in support of Lakshadweep as an alternate tourist destination to Maldives after the anti-India barbs from the archipelagic countrys ministers. Reacting to the remarks of Maldivian leaders, Akshay Kumar said that such unprovoked hate should not be tolerated and called on people to explore Indian islands and support Indian tourism. Came across comments from prominent public figures from Maldives passing hateful and racist comments on Indians. Surprised that they are doing this to a country that sends them the maximum number of tourists. We are good to our neighbors but why should we tolerate such unprovoked hate? Ive visited the Maldives many times and always praised it, but dignity first. Let us decide to #ExploreIndianIslands and support our own tourism, Kumar wrote on X. Advertisement John Abraham also supported the hashtag #ExloreIndianIslands and posted, With the amazing Indian hospitality, the idea of Atithi Devo Bhava and a vast marine life to explore. Lakshwadeep is the place to go. Posting a beautiful picture of Lakshadweep, Bollywood actress Shradha Kapoor wrote, Lakshadweep has such pristine beaches and coastlines, thriving local culture, Im on the verge of booking an impulse chhutti. This year, why not #ExploreIndianIslands. Their remarks came after several Maldivian leaders, including Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment Mariyam Shiuna hurled anti-India barbs on social media while reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Lakshadweep. Shiuna issued derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Modi in a now-deleted tweet, while another leader accused India of targeting Maldives and added that New Delhi will not be able to compete with Maldivian beach tourism. Their reaction came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted pictures of his recent Lakshadweep trip where he tried snorkeling and suggested the Union Territory must be on the list of tourists. Reacting to Modis pictures, several social media users suggested the island Union Territory as an alternate tourist destination to the Maldives, prompting the reaction from the minister of Maldives pro-China government. While Modi had gone to Lakshadweep to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several development projects, he also used the visit to promote beach tourism in the UT comprising 36 islands with an area of 32 sqkm. Stating that when leadership is good, everyones respect increases, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the last ten years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged as a global power. The country is witnessing the expansion of highways, railways, and air connectivity. AIIMS is being established, and industries are flourishing. Employment is being generated on a large scale. Every eligible person is benefitting from welfare schemes, without any discrimination, he added. CM Yogi made the remarks on Sunday while speaing at a programme organised under Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Raptinagar and Nanda Nagar of Gorakhpur. He interacted with beneficiaries of various schemes on the occasion. Advertisement He further added, The governments schemes are not based on caste, religion, or region and are meant for villages, the poor, farmers, women, and youth. Free housing facilities have been provided to 4 crore people in the country and 55 lakh people in Uttar Pradesh. In the state, 15 crore people have been receiving free ration for the last three and a half years, and this will continue for the next five years. A large number of people are benefiting from the Ayushman Yojana, receiving free medical treatment. CM Yogi stated that what never happened before is happening now. Presently, employment is being generated, development is taking place, women are getting security, and farmers are receiving respect, he remarked. The large crowds gathered serve as testimony that the benefits of the schemes have reached the common people on a large scale, he pointed out. He appealed to those who, for any reason, have not been able to avail the benefits of the schemes to come forward and get registered for the relevant scheme. While mentioning the developmental activities, the chief minister stated that the changing face of Gorakhpur reflects the new Uttar Pradesh. Here, the fertiliser factory has started, AIIMS is operational, and BRD Medical College has become a centre of medical excellence. The place that used to be a stronghold of crime, Ramgarh Taal, is now shining on the tourism map. The encephalitis that used to cost the lives of thousands of children has been brought under control, he asserted. The chief minister extended his wishes for Makar Sankranti and the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22 to all the people in advance. Furthermore, the CM exhorted people to conduct a cleanliness campaign for the consecration ceremony and make religious sites clean and beautiful. Member of Parliament Ravi Kishan also addressed the program on this occasion. In the two programs of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also interacted with beneficiaries of various schemes, including PM Awas Yojana, PM SVANidhi Yojana, National Rural Livelihood Mission, BC Sakhi, Ujjwala, and Ayushman Yojana. Everyone expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister CM Yogi, sharing their experiences. The chief minister mentioned that providing benefits of schemes without discrimination is a guarantee from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also urged the beneficiaries to raise awareness among others and help them avail the benefits of these schemes. During the program, the Chief Minister distributed certificates, blankets, and sweets to the beneficiaries of various schemes such as PM Awas Yojana, Ayushman Yojana, PM SVANidhi Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, etc. At the outset of the program, everyone also took the oath of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. Before the program, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inspected the various stalls set up by different departments at the program venue and observed the Annaprashan for infants and baby showers of pregnant women. He also distributed blankets at various stalls. The Annaprashan of a Muslim womans child by CM Yogi became a centre of attraction for everyone. The woman was extremely delighted to see her child playing in the hands of the Chief Minister. After the Annaprashan, he presented a gift to the child. Mayor Dr Manglesh Srivastav, MLA Vipin Singh, Mahendra Pal Singh, Pradeep Shukla, BJPs State Vice President Dr Dharmendra Singh and Metropolitan President Rajesh Gupta were present at the event. The Inland Waterways Authority of India, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), is set to host the inaugural Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) meeting on January 8 in Kolkata. The day-long meeting on board the vessel MV Ganga Queen, to be chaired by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal, , will bring together key figures from across the waterways states and central government. The event will also see the participation of ministers from various state governments, accompanied by their Principal Secretaries/Secretaries, alongside numerous senior officers of the central government and domain experts in the field. Advertisement Mr Sonowal will also unveil groundbreaking initiatives, including Harit Nauka Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels and the River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047, during the meeting. Additionally, the event anticipates the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), marking collaborative efforts towards advancing the inland waterways and associated sectors. The inaugural IWDC meeting boasts a packed agenda with consecutive sessions addressing vital issues in the development of inland waterways in India. The sessions encompass topics such as fairway development, private sector engagement and best practices, optimising cargo transport efficiency in Inland Water Transport (IWT), fostering the promotion and development of eco-friendly vessels for passenger transportation, exploring the economic advantages of river cruise tourism, and emphasising sustainable practices, among others. It is to be noted that the ministry has set a bold objective to elevate the modal share of Inland Water Transportation (IWT) from the current 2% to 5%, aligning with the goals outlined in the Maritime India Vision 2030. Furthermore, as part of the ambitious Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, the ministry aims to substantially increase the existing IWT cargo volume from approximately 120 MTPA to over 500 MTPA, signifying a significant leap forward in the development of inland waterways in the country. In the state of West Bengal, the Sagarmala Programme is actively driving maritime development with 62 projects valued at Rs. 16,300 Crores. Notably, 19 projects worth approximately Rs. 1,100 Crore have been successfully completed, while 43 projects, totaling around Rs. 15 thousand Crores, are at various stages of implementation. Among these initiatives, 11 projects, with a partial funding of around Rs. 650 Crore from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), are making significant progress. Six of these projects, valued at approximately Rs. 400 Crore, have reached completion, while the remaining five, worth Rs. 250 Crore, are in different phases of implementation. In an important announcement for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat, Aam Aadmi Party National convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday nominated the jailed tribal leader Chaitar Vasava as the partys nominee from Bharuch Lok Sabha constituency. Vasava is MLA from Dediapada in Narmada district representing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Accompanied by his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor on Sunday addressed the public rally held at Netrang in Bharuch during his two day visit to the state. Advertisement Kejriwal expressed distress and claimed that the case against their leader Vasava and his wife was fake. They fabricated a case against Chaitar Vasava, a son of the Adivasi community, and arrested him. The Aam Aadmi Party is our family, and Chaitar Vasava is like our younger brother. What pains me the most is that besides Chaitar Vasava, they also arrested his wife, Shakuntala, who is also a daughter-in-law of our society. They arrested our daughter-in-law as well. This is disrespectful to the entire Adivasi community. The entire society should come together to seek justice for this humiliation, Kejriwal said. He said that Vasava is an emerging leader of the Adivasi community, and alleged that the BJP wanted to crush him, to send a message to the entire tribal society that if any youth dares to raise their voice, they will crush them too. The BJP is afraid that if Chaitar Vasava progresses further, he will speak for the rights of Adivasis and start advocating for their rights, Kejriwal alleged further. The AAP national convenor claimed that Vasavas only fault is that he was ensuring the rights of the poor, laborers, and the Adivasi community. When the forest department tries to acquire land belonging to the Adivasi society, Chaitar Vasava stands with you, protecting your lands. When the forest department officials file false FIRs against people of the Adivasi community, Chaitar Vasava fights for you against the police, said Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal further informed that he along with Bhagwant Mann will be meeting Vasava in jail on Monday. KPCC President K Sudhakaran said here on Sunday that the paeans of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan are proof of the fact that he is turning into a total fascist. Sudhakaran said the CPI-M has fallen into the abyss of degradation and is in a pitiful state without a corrective to force to correct it. The party secretary, who is supposed to control the party and its ranks, is now coming forward to praise Pinarayi Vijayan. Ministers are competing with each other for praising the chief minister, the Congress Kerala chief said in a statement here. The famous Italian novelist and thinker, Umberto Eco, said the paeans glorifying the masculinity of the ruler is one of the symptoms of fascism, Sudhakaran said. Advertisement He said new vocabularies such as horse in fire, eagle flying in storm, sun sprouting from soil and Malayali natin mannan praising the chief minister are pouring in now after Karanabhutan and Kapittan. N Vasavan, a CP-M minister, in the cabinet who believes in materialism, described Pinarayi Vijayan as a Karma yogi who stood the test of time and a gift from God. But Kerala burst into laughter after hearing the epithet of the CPI-M state secretary. CPI-M state secretary MV Govindan described Pinarayi Vijayan as the sun and if anybody come close he would get burnt. Congress workers who showed black flags at Pinarayi Vijayan were lucky for not being get burnt, but were beaten up by the police and goons, he quipped When VS Achuthanandans cut-out was raised during the time when sectarianism in the CPI-M was there, Pinarayi Vijayan, who was the party secretary at that time, explained that personal worship is not a party method, no one is above the party, the party is big and no one can be placed above it, the Congress Kerala chief said Sudhakaran mocked that the CPI-M leadership, who had rolled their eyes saying that P Jayarajan and PJ Army were doing personal worship in Kannur, have now folded their arms and curled their tails in front of Pinarayi Vijayan, when vocabularies and songs praising him are pouring in Amid boycott calls on social media against the Maldives as a tourist destination, the Maldivian government issued a clarification on its stance on its minister Mariyam Shiunas appalling remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modis Lakshwadeep visit. The Maldives government, in the wake of a sudden surge in cancellations of visits by tourists from India, said on Sunday that they would not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks. The minister had reposted another Maldivian leaders reaction to PM Modis Lakshadweep visit in which he had termed the idea of competing with Maldives delusional and questioned how India will offer the so-called service that his country does. Advertisement The reaction came after Prime Minister Modi posted pictures of his recent Lakshadweep trip where he tried snorkeling and suggested the Union Territory must be on the list of tourists. In his post on January 4, he said, Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from Lakshadweep The Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of MaldivesMoreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks, the Madives government statement said. Reacting to Modis pictures, several social media users suggested that the island Union Territory to be an alternate tourist destination to the Maldives, prompting the reaction from the minister of Maldives pro-China government. Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has slammed Shiunas appalling remarks and asked President Mohamed Muizzus government to distance itself from her now comments. What appalling language by Maldives Government official @shiuna_m towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives security and prosperity. @MMuizzu gov must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy, he wrote on X. The bilateral ties between India and Maldives after Dr Mohamed Muizzu took over the countrys government has been strained. A day after taking oath as the new Maldives President, Muizzu had asked India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldivian soil. Bollywood superstars, Akshay Kumar, John Abraham and Shradha Kapor, are among the celebrities who have come out in support of Lakshadweep as an alternate tourist destination to Maldives after the anti-India barbs from the archipelagic countrys ministers. Reacting to the remarks of Maldivian leaders remarks, Akshay Kumar said that such unprovoked hate should not be tolerated and called on people to explore Indian islands and support Indian tourism. Came across comments from prominent public figures from Maldives passing hateful and racist comments on Indians. Surprised that they are doing this to a country that sends them the maximum number of tourists. We are good to our neighbors but why should we tolerate such unprovoked hate? Ive visited the Maldives many times and always praised it, but dignity first. Let us decide to #ExploreIndianIslands and support our own tourism, Kumar wrote on X. Reportedly, over 8,000 hotel bookings and 2,500 flight tickets to Maldives have reportedly been cancelled by Indians after the Maldivian minister has insulted PM Modi on X. The Maldivian government on Sunday suspended two ministers and a ruling coalition leader for making derogatory remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, according to local media reports. The action from the Maldivian government came after massive backlash and a call to boycott Maldives as a tourist destination by several Bollywood celebrities for unprovoked hateful remarks against the prime minister. While the statement didnt reveal their names, media reports identified them as Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid. Advertisement Reacting to PM Modis Lakshadweep visit, Shiuna had called him a clown and puppet of Israel. The minister had reposted another Maldivian leaders reaction to PM Modis Lakshadweep visit in which he had termed the idea of competing with Maldives delusional and questioned how India will offer the so-called service that his country does. Earlier in the day, the Maldivian foreign ministry had distanced itself from their remarks, saying they were personal opinion and didnt reflect the views of the government. Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed had also slammed Shiunas appalling remarks and asked President Mohamed Muizzus government to distance itself from her now comments. What appalling language by Maldives Government official @shiuna_m towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives security and prosperity. @MMuizzu gov must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy, he wrote on X. Hitting back at Akhilesh Yadav for questioning her commitment to the Opposition alliance, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati sought to remind the Samajwadi Party chief of his father Mulayam Singhs blessings to PM Modi for his victory in the Lok Sabha elections 2019. The BSP chief said on social media platform X on Sunday that the SP chief should first introspect as everyone knows how the SP leadership promoted the BJP and associated with them. She asked who could forget the blessings given by then SP chief to the BJP before and after winning the parliamentary elections in 2019. How could the public forget the meeting of the SP leadership with senior BJP leaders when their government was formed in UP? Advertisement Speaking at a programme in Ballia on Saturday, SP President Akhilesh Yadav, alluding to the BSP supremos habit of changing sides after polls, had questioned her inclusion in the INDIA bloc asking who would take her guarantee after the elections. Taking a cue from Yadavs opposition to the induction of the BSP into the INDIA fold, leaders of his party have started issuing anti-BSP comments. After the Lok Sabha elections 2019, then SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav openly congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his victory. Notably, the SP and BSP had though fought the elections in an alliance, they together could win only 15 seats. SINGAPORE, Jan. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Upbit Singapore is thrilled to announce a strategic achievement on its journey in the regulated digital asset ecosystem. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has granted a Major Payment Institution (MPI) licence to Upbit Singapore. Upbit Singapore (PRNewsfoto/Upbit SG) This achievement follows the earlier in-principle approval (IPA) announced in October 2023, demonstrating Upbit Singapore's capability to comply with the Payment Services Act 2019. Now, the MPI licence enables Upbit Singapore to expand its digital asset business in alignment with Singapore's high regulatory standards. "Singapore has emerged as a global hub for digital asset innovation, and its significance for institutional business cannot be overstated. Upbit Singapore is poised to be the nexus of institutional activities, capitalising on Singapore's robust regulatory framework and its reputation as a leading financial centre in Asia. This licence marks an important step for us to serve institutional and retail clients with cutting-edge digital asset solutions contributing to Singapore's thriving digital ecosystem," said Alex Kim, Founder and CEO of Upbit Singapore. With its MPI licence, Upbit Singapore became the latest regulated digital asset business in the portfolio of Upbit APAC, a prominent global digital asset group. Now, Upbit APAC operates regulated digital asset exchanges in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand along with VerifyVASP, a global top Travel Rule solution provider. The MPI licence secured by Upbit Singapore propels Upbit APAC's expansion towards institutional and infrastructure-focused businesses, empowering committed builders. About Upbit Singapore: Upbit Singapore Pte. Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Upbit APAC Pte. Ltd. (Upbit APAC). As the holding company, Upbit APAC operates Upbit Exchange (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a regulated digital asset exchange and broker under Thailand SEC, PT. Upbit Exchange Indonesia, a regulated digital asset exchange under Indonesia BAPPEBTI, and VerifyVASP Pte. Ltd., the world's largest Travel Rule solution provider for digital assets. Story continues Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/upbit-singapore-receives-mpi-licence-from-the-mas-302026978.html SOURCE Upbit Singapore Inclement weather and poor visibility hindered the landing of BJP president JP Naddas aircraft here on Sunday, leaving a large number of party workers disappointed. Many BJP supporters had gathered at the airport to welcome Nadda while many others had assembled at the renowned Raghunath Temple here where the BJP president was scheduled to pay obeisance to the deity before heading to the party office. J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina confirmed the cancellation of Naddas visit after the BJP chiefs flight failed to land at the Jammu airport due to poor visibility. Advertisement Nadda was scheduled to visit Jammu on a daylong tour to preside over an extended core group meeting of the BJP workers to discuss the partys strategy for the coming Lok Sabha elections besides taking up other important issues. In the prevailing circumstances, Raina said that Nadda would now hold a meeting with senior party members virtually. Raina also visited the Raghunath temple to inform the workers about the cancellation of Naddas visit. This is the second VVIP visit to Jammu that was cancelled in the past three days due to poor visibility caused due to fog. Earlier on 4 January, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had to skip his visit here after his aircraft failed to land because of adverse weather conditions and low visibility. Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive here on 9 January on a daylong visit to take stock of the security scenario in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised Indian Navy for carrying out the courageous mission to rescue 21 crew members, including 25 Indians, from a hijacked merchant vessel. Addressing the all-India DGP conference in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Modi lauded Navys efforts to cover 2000km distance to rescue the Liberian-flagged ship in the Arabian Sea. In the last couple of days, the Indian Navy executed a courageous mission. On receiving intel about a merchant vessel facing a hijack threat in the Arabian Sea, they covered a distance of 2000 km to rescue the ship. The Indian Navy, alongside Marine Commandos, successfully safeguarded 21 crew members including 15 Indians, PM Modi said during the event. Advertisement Modi also highlighted how jubilant workers chanted Bharat Mata Ki Jai after their rescue. Many of you must have seen the footage where, following their rescue by the Indian Navy from the attempted hijack, the crew members were chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Modi added. Earlier on Friday, Indian Naval comandos from elite force MARCOs boarded the hijacked vessel and safely evacuated all the crew members. Five to six pirates had reportedly boarded the Liberian-flagged merchant vessel in an attempt to hijack it. The commandos sanitised the vessel and confirmed pirates were not there when they boarded. The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian Navy MPA of interception by Indian Naval warship, the Navy said. The prime minister also highlighted the the sucess of ISROs Aditya L1 mission, saying such achievements show that India is emerging as a major power in the world. The prime minister said that the success of Aditya-L1 is similar to that of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will leave here on Monday on a two-day visit to London. He will be accompanied by a high-level Ministry of Defence delegation, comprising senior officials from DRDO, Service Headquarters, Department of Defence, and Department of Defence Production. During his visit, Mr Singh will hold a bilateral meeting with his UK counterpart, Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps. They are expected to discuss a wide range of defence, security and industrial cooperation issues. He is also expected to call on UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and hold a meeting with Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Affairs David Cameron. Advertisement He will also interact with the CEOs and industry leaders of UK Defence Industry and meet with the Indian community there. During his visit, Mr Singh is expected to invite UKs leading defence manufacturers to invest in the defence sector in India. The two countries have also been considering cooperating on several defence projects. Yogi govt urges residents to light Ram Jyoti in every house in UP on Jan 22; Bhar Yatra from Janakpur in Nepal reaches Ayodhya. In line with preparations for the consecration ceremony of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya, the Uttar Pradesh government is gearing up to celebrate Deepotsav across Uttar Pradesh on January 22. However, it will be different from the Deepotsav held in Ayodhya on the occasion of Diwali (festival of lights) where earthen lamps are lit on the banks of Saryu River. Instead, the government is urging residents to light Ram Jyoti in every household. Advertisement Prime Minister Narendra Modi has named this Deepotsav as Ram Jyoti and now the Yogi government has pledged to light this Ram Jyoti in every house in the state, along with all the religious places in the state. In this gesture, everything like lamps and oil will belong to the people of the state, demonstrating their immense faith in Lord Ram, Adityanath said. The Yogi government is putting in efforts to make this programme historic in the entire state. Starting on January 14, various cultural programmes will begin across the state, including Ayodhya, involving Ramayana recitations, Ram Leela, and a series of classical music performances. In a discussion held on Saturday at the Tourism Bhawan in Lucknow, Principal Secretary Mukesh Meshram informed that Deepotsav will be celebrated across the country on January 22. People in Uttar Pradesh will also be encouraged to celebrate the same, he added. Our effort is to organise Deepotsav at all the mythological and historical places in the state. People will also be encouraged to light lamps at their homes, he stated. He further mentioned that this event will not be like the Deepotsav programme held before Diwali, but will be bigger than that. The occasion will be celebrated in every home like a festival. The Tourism and Culture Department is appealing to all residents to light Ram Jyoti in their homes. This is a historic occasion. We are hoping that more people will actively participate beyond our expectations, he remarked. State Tourism Secretary Mukesh Meshram revealed that for cultural programmes starting from January 14 in Ayodhya, artists associated with various forms such as classical music, singing, and instrumental music have been invited from all over the country. These artists will continuously showcase their performances for 70 consecutive days at various locations in Ayodhya. At least 4,000 to 5,000 artists will stay in Ayodhya for this duration, and kala gram (art village) is being established for their accommodation. A provision of Rs 100 crore has been made by the government in the supplementary budget for these programmes in the entire state. Meanwhile, Janakpur, renowned as the maternal home of Mother Sita and the in-laws of Lord Shri Ram, is also making significant contribution. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) orchestrated a Bhar (Sanesh) Yatra from Janakpur city in Nepal to Ayodhya, which reached the temple city on Saturday evening. These devotees carried a consignment of over 3,000 special gifts for Shri Ram and Mata Janaki, comprising various offerings such as money, clothes, fruits, sweets, and precious metals like gold and silver. The VHP-organised yatra received a warm welcome from Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai at Karsevakpuram in Ayodhya. The yatra, originating from the Janakpur Dham Ramjanaki Temple in Nepal, arrived at Karsevakpuram, with a convoy of approximately three dozen vehicles. Among the participants were over 500 devotees of Ramlalas in-laws, who brought along more than 3000 gifts, encompassing fruits, sweets, gold, silver, and other items. These devotees, expressing gratitude, remarked that it was their good fortune to witness the construction of the birthplace of their son-in-law, the king, and eagerly await Sri Rams enthronement on January 22. The General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra in Karsevakpuram extended a warm welcome to the devotees and graciously accepted the gifts brought for Shri Ram-Janaki. He emphasised the profound spiritual connection between Nepal and India, describing it as a relationship rooted in the soul, transcending time. He noted that this enduring bond dates back to the Tretayuga, underscoring its significance from ancient as well as historical perspective. Expressing gratitude, he conveyed that receiving such gifts was indeed a fortunate and meaningful occurrence. On the occasion, Mayor Mahant Girish Pati Tripathi welcomed all the people coming from Janakpur Dham and said, We, residents of Ayodhya always hold great respect for the people of Janakpur as they are relatives of Mata Janaki. On such an occasion, when Lord Shri Rams idol is placed in a grand temple after 500 years of struggle, any gift arriving from the in-laws side becomes truly priceless. The year gone by stands as a glaring stitch in the tapestry of climate change, revealing the harsh reality of Indias warming landscape. The India Meteorological Departments (IMD) recent revelation that the country endured its second-hottest year since 1901 is more than just a statistical data point. It is a visceral reminder of the palpable impact climate patterns can have on our daily lives. The numbers tell a story of relentless ascent ~ a worrying 0.65C above the longterm average. The broader narrative emerges as a deeply concerning trend. Five of the hottest years in Indian history have unfolded within the last 14 years, underlining a rapid acceleration in warming and an unsettling shift in weather patterns. Were not merely witnessing climate change. Were living it. El Nino, that familiar culprit in climate discussions, played a pivotal role in orchestrating the symphony of scorching temperatures across India in 2023. The signature heating of a strip of Pacific Ocean waters led to higher temperatures and reduced rainfall over the Indian subcontinent. As the year unfolded, we saw the consequences unfold ~ from extreme cyclone activity in the north Indian Ocean to heavy rains, floods, landslides, and a sombre toll of human lives. December brought a fleeting reprieve with welcome rains in the southern peninsula, offering a momentary sigh of relief. However, it was a patch of silver in a stormy sky, with the north Indian Ocean witnessing above-average cyclone activity, including three ferocious extremely severe cyclonic storms. Despite the tumultuous weather, monsoon rainfall across the country remained below the long-period average. The sobering statistics reveal more than just rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns. They narrate tales of hardship and loss, with states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim repeatedly grappling with the consequences ~ be it thunderstorms, lightning, floods, or landslides. The toll on human lives is stark, with 1,270 people falling victim to thunderstorms and lightning, 860 to floods, and 160 to heatwaves. Looking ahead to January 2024, the forecast is nuanced: colder mornings for much of the country, belownormal daytime temperatures in central and northwestern regions, and a potential cold wave in central India. Advertisement The dichotomy deepens as parts of Peninsular and Northeast India are predicted to witness above-normal maximum temperatures. The month may bring dense fog to parts of Northwest and East India, wrapping them in a chilly embrace. Amidst these intricacies of weather patterns, a glimmer of hope emerges. Despite the persistence of The Boy till March 2024, a forecast of higher-than-usual rainfall in January, amounting to 118 per cent in the long-term average, offers solace. This surge could prove a lifeline for rabi crops in Northwest India, especially following the regions 35 per cent shortfall in December. The story of Indias 2023 is a stark reminder that the climate crisis is not a distant future. Its unfolding on our doorsteps. It is slightly paradoxical for me, a pupil of Justin Rosenberg, to write about the future of political science. In his 2016 research article International Relations in the Prison of Political Science, Rosenberg had exhorted the students of International Relations to break free from the prison i.e., the designation of IR as a sub-field of political science. He wrote, for IR should be re-grounded in its own disciplinary problematique: the consequences of (societal) multiplicity. Rosenbergs call beckoned to only a few prisoners (myself included). The message barely reached India, or for that matter South Asia. In the United States, I am yet to hear of a department of International Relations breaking free from the jail of Political Science. Be that as it may, I will try to focus my discussion on the state of Political Science in India, a country that I know best. From within the social sciences, India has had the distinction of producing stellar economists (two of whom, Amartya Sen and Abhijit Banerjee, have also won the Nobel award), historians and sociologists. No such name comes to mind whilst one thinks of political science. The question is baffling. Advertisement It has no readymade answers. The first Department of Political Science was established at the University of Lucknow, (Uttar Pradesh) in 1922. The first issue of the still continuing Indian Journal of Political Science (IJPS) came out in 1939. Despite all this, political science, intellectually speaking, remains in an impoverished state. The only political science scholar who had received a modicum of international repute was the legendary professor of Delhi University, Randhir Singh. His book Reason, Revolution and Political Theory (1967) was touted as the best Marxist take down of the conservative political theorist Michael Oakeshott. His last book Crisis of Socialism: Notes in Defense of a Commitment (2006) running over 1,000 pages was considered to be a landmark achievement by most political scientists/theorists on the Left. His death in 2016 garnered an obituary in the Londonbased newspaper Guardian. After independence, foreign affairs and international relations came under the tutelage of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Big institutions such as the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) and the Indian School of International Studies (which was later merged with the Jawaharlal Nehru University) were established by the government. These attempts were directed to know the world through an Indian lens. Nehrus participation in the Bandung Conference, his convening of the Asian Relations Conference in New Delhi, the inauguration of the Non-Aligned Movement, Indias diplomatic involvement in the Korean War and the decision to chart an independent, postimperial foreign policy led to an unintended, yet consequential, focus on international relations and area studies. Political Science, on the other hand, did not have any immediate national purpose to serve. The burning questions of caste and other forms of social stratification were taken care by sociologists. Political scientists also lost ground to legal scholars on matters such as human rights, constitutional laws, federalism, and state-civil society. Legal luminaries such as Prof. Upendra Baxi and Durga Das Basu became the household names on such matters. The post-Emergency subaltern studies movement in history further caused a lot of young and bright scholars to gravitate away from political science. The one area where political scientists tasted both international and national success was the study of secularism. In the aftermath of the Babri Mosque demolition, Prof. Rajeev Bhargavas book Secularism and Its Critics, (OUP, 1998) became the go-to reference to understand Indian secularism. Later on, Achin Vanaiks book The Furies of Indian Communalism and its sequel Hindutva Rising (Verso and Tulika, India 2017) marked a huge (left-wing) advance on secularism studies. Another major problem plaguing Indian political science is a lack of theory and method. IR in India commands a Talmudist like adherence of Realism and Neo-realism. Political Science lacks such a theoretical spine and therefore fails to stand erect. My own experience of studying political science in one the most premier institutions of India, St. Xaviers College, Calcutta revealed that the course was a medley of subjects ranging from IR, Theory, federalism and Comparative Politics without a theoretical anchorage. Everything was taught to me, yet all seemed to be lost because the syllabi lacked an overarching theoretical coherence. The benefit of hindsight reveals the miasma. Out of 60 students, only two of us have pursued a career in political science. On the question of method: there was no module on research methodology at the undergraduate level. Political Science, like other social sciences, has now become a ticket for a cushy career in the civil services. All the major cities of India have seen a mushrooming of private and money mooching civil services examination preparation centers. Students with a masters or a doctoral degree in political science are attracted towards these abattoirs of knowledge for quick and easy money. Since 2014, big business has also focused on the funding of mostly right-wing foreign policy thinks tanks. The Observer Research Foundation (ORF), currently Indias biggest and richest foreign policy think-tank, had its roots in Dhirubhai Ambanis (father of Indias richest man Mukesh Ambani) attempt to control the media space through his newspaper The Observer. With annual financial inflows over Rs. 35 crore, ORF has become an epistemic behemoth that pales all university IR departments, not to speak of political science, into insignificance. Far from a critical evaluation of the polity, such centres set-up annual jamborees, such as the Raisina Dialogue, touting Indias ostensible rise. Indias constant slippage on the Global Hunger Index (107th out of 121), and the Press Freedom Index (160th out of 180) are hardly debated or discussed. ORFs constant fixation with geo-economic and geopolitical aims to depoliticize debate reflects the actual state of affairs within India. It seems that the English lexicon has no other suffix compared to geo when it comes to political sanitization of debate. With the current assaults on Indias polity, it must be the duty of young and aspiring political scientists to take up the gauntlet. If this does not happen, both the discipline and the people of India, are doomed. (The writer is a PhD candidate, Department of Political Science, University of Connecticut, USA) Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Hania, Crete, and expressed growing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. During the meeting on Saturday, Mitsotakis also expressed concern about the risks of escalating tensions in the Middle East and the repercussions for regional stability and security, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Greek national news agency AMNA. These are difficult and challenging times for the region, Mitsotakis said, reiterating the need for an unhindered flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza Advertisement He also underlined that the solution can only be political, based on the two-state solution in accordance with UN resolutions. After the meeting, Blinken, who was on his Mideast diplomatic mission, told reporters that he wants to make sure the conflict in the Middle East doesnt spread. Mitsotakis and Blinken also exchanged views on bilateral ties and other international issues. QuantumScape (NYSE: QS) stock has disappointed a lot of investors since its public debut on Nov. 27, 2020. The developer of solid-state batteries went public by merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), and its stock started trading at $24.80 before skyrocketing more than fivefold to its all-time high of $131.67 less than a month later. But today, QuantumScape trades at less than $10. The bulls lost their patience for three reasons: The company wasn't generating any revenue yet, it was still deeply unprofitable, and the electric vehicle (EV) market was cooling off. Rising interest rates also broadly drove investors away from speculative pre-revenue companies. Image source: Getty Images. QuantumScape's stock should remain volatile until it actually commercializes its batteries and generates stable revenue. But could it stabilize and revisit its all-time high over the next five years? Let's review its roadmap to find out. QuantumScape wants to disrupt the lithium-ion battery market QuantumScape's solid-state batteries run on solid electrolytes, which are less volatile, more resistant to higher temperatures, charge faster, and last longer than the liquid electrolytes used in lithium-ion batteries. Solid-state batteries are already used in pacemakers, wearable devices, and small radio-frequency identification (RFID) products, but they haven't been mass-produced for mobile devices and EVs because they're generally pricier and harder to mass produce than lithium-ion batteries. Nevertheless, QuantumScape aims to commercialize solid-state batteries for EVs over the next few years to address the growth and evolution of the EV market. Volkswagen has a lot of faith in QuantumScape's plans -- it became the company's top investor and manufacturing partner more than a decade ago. QuantumScape is currently developing a solid-state battery for EVs with a range of 400-500 miles and a charge time of less than 15 minutes. Its newest design could expand that range to 600 miles with a charge time of less than 30 minutes. Story continues QuantumScape's technology sounds like a game-changer for the EV market, but it already faces a lot of competition. Toyota plans to start mass producing its own solid-state batteries by 2028, China's Nio has been testing out its own battery which has a range of more than 600 miles, and scientists in South Korea aim to replace lithium-ion batteries with hydrogen-powered "aqueous rechargeable" batteries. QuantumScape has high hopes for 2028 During its pre-merger presentation, QuantumScape claimed it would start commercializing its batteries in 2024 and ramp up its production through 2028. It predicted its revenue would rise from $14 million in 2024 to $6.44 billion in 2028 -- which would represent a stunning compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 363%. QuantumScape plans to start shipping its first low-volume samples in 2024 and high-volume samples in 2025, but it hasn't provided any updated revenue forecasts. Yet the company's mass production plans still seem to be on track. Volkswagen's battery unit PowerCo recently completed its first endurance test for QuantumScape's solid-state battery, and found that it "achieved more than 1,000 charging cycles with still more than 95 percent capacity" -- so an EV could potentially drive over 310,000 miles "without any noticeable loss of range." By comparison, lithium-ion batteries tend to lose 10% of their range after 200,000 miles. According to Precedence Research, the global solid-state battery market could grow at a CAGR of 38% from 2023 to 2028. The firm expects that growth to be driven by the increased adoption of those batteries across consumer electronics, industrial machinery, Internet of Things (IoT), wearables, and EV markets. But a lot of optimism is baked into QuantumScape's valuations QuantumScape's stock has plummeted more than 90% from its all-time high, but it still has an enterprise value of $2.2 billion. That's a nosebleed valuation for a company that hasn't generated any meaningful revenue yet. For now, analysts expect the company to generate just $2 million in revenue in 2024 and $15 million in revenue in 2025 -- so it might be falling at least a year behind its optimistic pre-merger targets. Based on those estimates, it's already valued at nearly 150 times its 2025 sales -- so it could still have a lot of downside potential if it fails to ramp up its production. On the bright side, QuantumScape's insiders bought more shares than they sold over the past 12 months. Volkswagen's firm commitment to the company also suggests it has a good shot at commercializing its solid-state batteries. Where will QuantumScape's stock be in five years? QuantumScape still has a lot to prove, and its stock could easily be cut in half before it doubles. But over the next five years, it could rise a lot higher if it starts mass-producing its solid-state batteries. It could also become a lucrative takeover target for Volkswagen as it expands its EV business. However, investors who can't afford to buy and hold the stock for at least the next five years should steer clear -- since it could be an extremely bumpy ride before its business finally stabilizes. Should you invest $1,000 in QuantumScape right now? Before you buy stock in QuantumScape, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and QuantumScape wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nio and Volkswagen Ag. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Where Will QuantumScape Stock Be in 5 Years? was originally published by The Motley Fool We Indians have more festivals than any other people. Yet, we have no national festival, only national holidays on I-Day and R-Day. Even Diwali, which many think is pan-Indian, is not celebrated in several corners. As a child who grew up in central Kerala, I knew Deepawali only as the day on which my grandfather had his birth star of Chithira (Chitra), a day plus or minus. I would bet a million banned notes at a Diwali card party that most revellers dont know the panchang month and tithi on which Diwali falls. Leave it, let them have fun. Nor do I know. We have a national festival, but it comes once in five years. It can be celebrated earlier, if our rulers will so. It is our elections, the festival of democracy. Indians love elections. Most people do, but none of them has the kind of colour, melody and medley of an Indian election. The earth turns divine territory. Our ruling gods, as also the aspiring Asuras, come to the earth with folded hands, promise the most, smile the most, meet the most and fete the most. Illustration: Bhaskaran Sixty countries are holding national polls this year. Thats a number that will not be reached again till 2048, says a US thinktank. The list includes India the largest democracy, the US the oldest, Bangladesh our nearest, Pakistan the toughest, European Union the fairest, and many more. There will also be the warring Russia and Ukraine (if the latter chooses), the threatened Taiwan, the unstable South Sudan, the stabilised Tunisia, the oil-rich Venezuela, and more. Political pundits, killjoys, say that democracy is not just elections. Indeed, democracy is also the way the people are ruled after elections. Most democracies fail in this. Tyrants have come to power through polls. Didnt Hitler? All the same, elections are the best tests for a democracy. If people get to vote freely and fairly, it is half the votes won. Like success, democracy has many fathers. The Greeks claim to have developed democracy; the Romans soon copied it, as they did the gods. Of late, India has been claiming to have mothered democracy, having had republican janapadas in the fifth century BCE and earlier, the sangams in the south and more. Some say, the Harappans, whose ruins havent yielded anything royal or monarchical, might have been living in trading republics. Many tribes claim to have been practising democracy for centuries. Look at the Afghan jirgas and shuras. Were these democracies inclusive? The Greeks kept slaves who were denied political rights, as were women. The same with the Romans, copycats! India didnt practise slavery, but Buddhist texts say our janapadas had a ruling caste (rajas) and a working class (dasas). Then there was the chaturvarna system that prescribed different rights for different castes. That goes against the democratic principle of equal rights. The English claim to have mothered the elected parliament, but Icelands parliament is older. And it was when the Brits denied polls to own people in the colonies that the Americans set up what is now claimed to be the oldest modern democracy. The Yanks trade in democracy. Their first export was to France. French troopers, who had gone to help the colonists against the colonialists, returned to France and told the masses about democracy. The masses got inspired, stormed the Bastille, and set up a series of republics. In the melee, a few hundred heads rolled. Export of democracy is an idea that the US tries when a tyrant somewhere turns against them. They put export curbs when the tyrant turns their friend. prasannan@theweek.in Long term investing can be life changing when you buy and hold the truly great businesses. And we've seen some truly amazing gains over the years. Don't believe it? Then look at the Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (JSE:HAR) share price. It's 321% higher than it was five years ago. And this is just one example of the epic gains achieved by some long term investors. Also pleasing for shareholders was the 42% gain in the last three months. While this past week has detracted from the company's five-year return, let's look at the recent trends of the underlying business and see if the gains have been in alignment. Check out our latest analysis for Harmony Gold Mining There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. During the last half decade, Harmony Gold Mining became profitable. That kind of transition can be an inflection point that justifies a strong share price gain, just as we have seen here. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). JSE:HAR Earnings Per Share Growth January 7th 2024 We know that Harmony Gold Mining has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? If you're interested, you could check this free report showing consensus revenue forecasts. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Harmony Gold Mining's TSR for the last 5 years was 339%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. Story continues A Different Perspective We're pleased to report that Harmony Gold Mining shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 67% over one year. That's including the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 34%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Harmony Gold Mining better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Harmony Gold Mining you should know about. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on South African exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. In 2015, I chaired, at the invitation of an international non-governmental organisation, a round table of a dozen members of Parliament, together with other policy-makers and civil society activists, to address a burning question: why wasnt public health more of a priority for our political class? The discussion was rich and illuminating, but one fact stood out for me: that every single politician present agreed that public health simply wasnt an issue that any voter bothered to press them on. When they visited their constituencies, MPs were badgered on a number of other issues, but no one told them to vote for, or spend more money on, public health. Thats why it didnt loom large in their consciousness. If any one thing has changed in our voters minds in the aftermath of the pandemic, it should surely be this: the public is now much more aware of the importance of health, and of the need for adequate governmental and political attention to it. This is true of the medical landscape across the world, where the Brookings Institute suggests that a $4.4 trillion increase in spending on public health care, especially among developing countries, is likely by 2040. Of course, these numbers alone will count for little if we do not leverage the current global momentum to address the principal challenges facing the health care ecosystem in our country. Key among these are the immediate and everyday challenge of the difficulty Indians experience in obtaining access to affordable quality health care. Affordability is the key issue here. Take Kerala: a state with perhaps Indias best health care system, with a doctor to patient ratio of 1:400, far better than the WHO standard of 1:1,000 and the Indian average of 1:2,000 people. Yet, in Kerala, since the 1990s, private health care has vastly surpassed the public health care infrastructure, with one estimate showing that 95.31 per cent of the hospitals and 97.09 per cent of the dispensaries in the state are run by private organisations. Even among poorer households, the majority currently prefer to look to private options for health care given the perception that the quality of treatment and facilities available at these venues are better. But this raises the ominous challenge of ruinous out-of-pocket expenditure to finance medical treatment. Shutterstock Poverty remains one of the biggest challenges for India. But there is less awareness of the enormous role that health care plays in deciding the fate of Indias poor. The working poor are one economic shockwhich, for a daily wage labourer, could mean as little as missing a single days work and pay on account of illnessaway from slipping below the poverty line. A terminal illness like cancer could mean wiping out a familys economic security, as land and home are sold to meet the medical expenses of the principal breadwinner when he is no longer able to earn to support his family. About 47 per cent of hospital admissions in rural India and 31 per cent in urban India are financed by loans and sale of assets, among the worst in the world. People often dont have ill-health because they are poor; they are poor because they have ill-health. So it is not enough just to give public health care a greater priority in governmental policy-making. Despite all the positive efforts to make quality health care accessible in Kerala, we are home to one of Indias highest levels of out-of-pocket expenditure. A 2020 study, which surveyed the impact of OOP expenditure in rural Kerala, found that 41.6 per cent of the total income of study participants was spent for health care of chronic diseases, which indicates a catastrophic level of health expenditure. This has worrying implications for the ability of our more vulnerable segments to stay afloat after medical expenses, and should be a concern for policymakers. So more resources for government hospitals and primary health facilities, and universal government-backed medical insurance to support continuing costs, are vital. Disease should not mean choosing between death and debt for so many of our compatriots. editor@theweek.in A young Narayana Murthy was once forced to sleep on a large box in a windowless storeroom when he was in US as part of a client work for Infosys, then a fledgling company, a new book has revealed. The book, An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy, by Indian-American author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni was published by Juggernaut Books. The biography covers the early years of the couple's lives, including the founding years of Infosys, their courtship, marriage and parenthood. Donn Liles, who was back then heading the New York-based Data Basics Corporation, was especially unpleasant to Murthy at times, according to the book. "He would often delay payments when he could, and Murthy would then be the target of his ire because he would hold his ground, refusing to budge on timely payment for services. Or Donn would not provide timely authorization for Murthy and his Infosys colleagues to book hotels when they had to visit him in Manhattan, reads the book. "Once when Murthy visited the US for client work, Donn made him sleep on a large box in the storeroom, surrounded by cartons, though his home had four bedrooms. Additionally, Murthy had to manage Donn's many last-minute demands for resources, it added. Murthy put up with Donn's behaviour for the sake of his fledgling firm but the box incident was shocking to him. "My mother used to say that a guest was like God, and the way you treated your guests revealed what kind of person you really were," he told wife Sudha. "When my father invited someone over without advance notice, she often served the guest her own food and went to sleep without dinner. And here was Donn enjoying a good night's sleep in his luxurious bed after making me spend the night on a big box in a windowless storeroom," he said, leaving Sudha furious. -- with PTI inputs Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal who was accused in an alleged fraud of Rs 538 crore at Canara Bank was teary-eyed when he appeared at a special court on Saturday. With folded hands, Goyal told the court that he had lost every hope of life and it would be better if he dies in jail than living in his present condition. The 74-year-old businessman was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on September 1, 2023, in the case and he is currently in judicial custody at Mumbai's Arthur Road jail. He had filed a bail plea with the special court and during the proceedings, Goyal requested for a few minutes of personal hearing, which special judge M.G. Desphande allowed, reported PTI. Goyal said his health is precarious and the jail staff has their limitations in helping him. Pointing to his knees, he told the judge they were swollen and painful and he was unable to fold his legs. The businessman also told the court that he has severe pain while urinating and sometimes blood is passed through urine, according to the news agency. The Jet Airways founder added that there was no point in referring him to JJ Hospital, pointing out that travelling with other inmates as per the convenience of prison staff and escort party from Arthur Road jail to the hospital is troublesome. Goyal told the judge that he is unable to reach the doctor in time due to the long queue of patients and further follow-up is not possible. Saying these are "very badly affecting his health", the businessman requested the court not to send him to JJ Hospital and instead allow him to die in the prison. He told the court that he misses his wife Anita who is bedridden and in the advanced state of cancer, according to the court's record of daily hearings. Goyal added that there is no one to look after her as his only daughter is also ill. After listening to Goyal, special judge Desphande noted, I heard him patiently and also observed him when he made the submissions as such. I found that his whole body was trembling. He needs assistance even to stand. I have taken note of everything he has submitted and also assured the accused that he will not be left helpless and all possible care of his mental and physical health will be taken with proper treatment, the judge said after hearing Goyal. The judge directed Goyal's lawyers to take appropriate steps concerning his health. In the bail plea filed in December, the businessman said he was suffering from heart condition, prostate and orthopaedic issues and claimed there were reasonable grounds to believe that he is not guilty. The ED has filed a response to his bail plea and the matter will be further heard on January 16. with PTI inputs Chip designer Qualcomm on Sunday announced an expansion in Chennai with a new design centre that entails a proposed investment of Rs 177.27 crore and job creation for up to 1,600 skilled professionals. The new centre will specialise in wireless connectivity solutions, with a focus on innovations that complement Wi-Fi technologies. It will also actively contribute to Qualcomm's global Research and Development endeavours in 5G cellular technology, affirming the company's commitment to be at the forefront of the wireless communications industry, according to a release. The new design centre is expected to generate jobs for up to 1,600 skilled professionals, contributing to the growth and development of Chennai's vibrant workforce, it said. "At the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet in Chennai today, Qualcomm Incorporated announced a significant expansion in Chennai with a new facility for their Design Centre, representing a proposed investment of Rs 177.27 crore," the release said. Savi Soin, President, Qualcomm India, said the new design centre in Chennai plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of connectivity globally, especially in India. "The new design centre is a critical asset to support Qualcomm's commitment to make in India and design in India. This will expand our collaboration with India technology partners and accelerate the market adoption of new technology," Soin said. Mahesh Moorthy, Vice President, Engineering and Qualcomm Chennai Design Center Head, said the state of Tamil Nadu with its rich pool of skilled professionals, outstanding educational institutions and focus on innovation holds the key to propelling Qualcomm's technological advancements to new heights. BJP's national president, JP Nadda, is scheduled for a one-day visit to Jammu on Sunday. He will first visit the revered Raghunath Temple and then proceed to the BJP Office at Trikuta Nagar for discussions with the party leaders and former ministers. The main focus of the meeting will be the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the party's strategies concerning them. His emphasis during the meeting will be on extending the reach of Modi government schemes to a larger populace in both regions of Jammu and Kashmir. According to available information, Nadda aims to gather extensive feedback from party leadership regarding their readiness, the execution of initiatives by both the party as well as the Centre along with various public welfare programmes. In attendance at this crucial meeting will be the BJP core committee members and the extended core group members from the Union Territory, senior leaders, former ministers well as party national general secretary Tarun Chugh and Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh. The BJP is making a serious push to win at least three Lok Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir, as opposed to two in the last polls. The party is aiming to secure the Anantnag-Rajouri-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency, which was created after the delimitation and submitted its final report in May 2022. The constituency has a sizeable number of Scheduled Tribe (ST) votes, mainly from the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities. Nominating Ali Muhammad Khatana for Rajya Sabha, who belongs to the Gujjar community, is part of the strategy to woo this community. The party has also decided to confer ST status to Paharis who mostly dwell in Rajouri-Poonch and the Chenab Valley comprising districts of Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar in Jammu. The ST status for Paharis, opposed by the Gujjar community, will politically benefit the BJP in Lok Sabha and assembly elections. Naddas visit comes two days ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shahs visit to Jammu on January 9. Shah is expected to discuss the security situation in Rajouri-Poonch in view of the rising attacks on security forces in the region. He will also discuss the partys readiness for the Lok Sabha polls. Maldives government on Sunday suspended ministers over derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi relating to his Lakshadweep visit. Reportedly, Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid were suspended over their 'insulting' remarks. In an official statement, Maldives government spokesperson Ibrahim Khaleel said, "All government officials responsible for the comments have been suspended from their posts, effective immediately." Shiuna serves as the deputy minister at the Maldives Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Art. Derogatory remarks made by 2 Deputy Ministers of the current #Maldives Government, and a member of a political party in the ruling coalition, towards Prime Minister @narendramodi and the people of India on social media is reprehensible and odious. I call on the Government to pic.twitter.com/kCjEyg4yjb Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) January 7, 2024 Seeking action against the ministers, former foreign minister of Maldives Abdullah Shahid said that the public figures must maintain decorum. "Derogatory remarks made by 2 Deputy Ministers of the current Maldives Government, and a member of a political party in the ruling coalition, towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India in social media is reprehensible and odious. I call on the Government to reprimand these officials. Public figures must maintain decorum," Shahid had tweeted. He also added that India is a time-tested friend and an unwavering ally. "They have historically been the first to respond in our time of need. Our close relationship has been bound by mutual respect, history, culture and strong people-to-people relations..," he said. The Maldivian government had issued a statement distancing itself from the "derogatory remarks" made against PM Modi on social media. According to the government, the opinions are "personal and do not represent the views of the Government." Modi visited Lakshadweep on January 2 and inaugurated, laid foundation stone for development works worth over Rs 1,150 crore. During his stay in Lakshadweep, he urged people to visit the serene island and boost tourism. A massive row had erupted after Shiuna made insulting remarks against Modi, calling him a 'clown' and 'puppet' over his recent Lakshadweep visit. Though the minister deleted his post on X, it paved way for huge backlash against Maldives. Ex-president Mohammad Nasheed condemned Shiuna's remark by calling it 'appalling'. Also, former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih condemned the use of "hateful language" against India by the Maldivian government officials on social media. "I condemn the use of hateful language against #India by Maldivian government officials on social media. India has always been a good friend to Maldives and we must not allow such callous remarks to negatively impact the age old friendship between our two countries," he posted on X. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday said there is no need to project a Prime Minister candidate to seek votes for his party and its allies for the Lok Sabha polls slated to be held in April-May. In the last Parliamentary polls, "did Naveen Patnaik (Odisha Chief Minister and BJD top leader) project a PM face? No...did Jagan Mohan Reddy came up with a PM face to seek votes? No." Similarly, in Kerala the Left front did not specify a Prime Minister candidate when they sought votes from people, the AIADMK chief said. Addressing the 'Vellattum Mathasarbinmai' (Let secularism win) rally of SDPI in Madurai, Palaniswami said the only need is 'to do good,' to serve people and protect their interests. In Parliament, the AIADMK will voice its support to protect the interests of the minorities. The AIADMK had always been a 'fortress' in protecting the interests of minorities. The leader of opposition said his party stalled Parliament proceedings over the Cauvery issue to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu and its people unlike the ruling DMK which 'enacted dramas.' The DMK promised to get the NEET cancelled once it captured power. To this date, it has not fulfilled its promise, he said. Rejecting Stalin's accusation that 'AIADMK is BJP's slave,' Palaniswami said his party is independent and had never allowed any entity to enslave it. Also, the AIADMK had never enslaved any other party. Any party that joined forces with the AIADMK is poised to grow while those with 'the DMK are set to face setback.' The AIADMK chief further said the allies of the DMK were servient and could not take up any issue with the Stalin-led party. "The AIADMK is beyond caste and religion," and even an ordinary worker could go on to adorn top posts. The AIADMK leader said his party's electoral alliance with the BJP in the past was considering the 'circumstances of that time.' However, the AIADMK had never compromised on its ideology. Palaniswami reiterated that AIADMK will have no truck with the BJP for the 2026 Assembly polls as well. Even after his party severed its links with the BJP, Palaniswami said Stalin had alleged repeatedly that the AIADMK had a secret alliance with the Saffron party. It was only an outcome of the DMK president's frustration as his party had all along deceived the minorities. When the AIADMK moved out of the BJP camp, Stalin was 'affected by fever' over ways to win minority votes. Without naming expelled leader O Panneerselvam, Palaniswami said he helmed the state to best serve the people amid several troubles within the party. The AIADMK, when it held power followed democracy and allowed protest demonstrations to allow people to voice dissent. However, the DMK is all for scuttling protests against the government and the Stalin-led party tried to prevent SDPI functionaries from attending the public meeting. The DMK is not worried about the people and the INDIA alliance is merely to seek ministerial berths for family members, he alleged. "What did the DMK do (for the welfare of minorities and people) when they were part of various dispensations at the Centre?" he asked, recalling that the DMK shared power for over a decade at the Centre. The former Chief Minister, referring to the Global Investors Meet 2024 in Chennai, said the government had already held similar events and dared the government to release a white paper on investments secured and job opportunities created following such past initiatives. Such exercises were aimed at pulling the wool over people's eyes. "Hoodwinking people is a craft well known to them (DMK)." The DMK is a 'chameleon' which always hankered for power and the state is being 'looted'. Palaniswami praised the SDPI functionaries for the grand public meeting. Accusing Stalin of creating a false impression that only the DMK and its allies followed secularism, Palaniswami said it was mere lip service whereas the AIADMK and its partners practised true secularism. "Secularism is here," he said, showing the dais in which spiritual leaders from all religions were present. The AIADMK chief reiterated his party's demand to release Muslim prisoners in jail for decades. Seeking to turn the tables on Stalin for his oft-repeated accusation that Palaniswami became the Chief Minster in 2017 after he 'crawled' in front of V K Sasikala, Palaniswami said he gradually rose through the ranks through sheer hard work. However, Stalin, did not know 'what hard work is' and became the CM as he is the son of late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi. Stalin also does not care about the people, he alleged. Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent vacation in Lakshadweep has hit the right chord, and seems to have unsettled Maldives with politicians from the island nation responding a bit anxiously on social media to the visit. Lakshadweep topped Google searches soon after his visit. The prime minister visited Lakshadweep on January 2 and inaugurated, laid the foundation stone for development works worth over Rs 1,150 crore. Modi, with 94.3 million followers on social media platform X, also utilised the visit to promote Lakshadweep tourism and tried to satiate his adventurous spirits by trying snorkelling during his short stay. For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list. During my stay, I also tried snorkelling - what an exhilarating experience it was!, Modi tweeted about the visit. Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the pic.twitter.com/tYW5Cvgi8N Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 4, 2024 Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people, Modi had tweeted. He added, In addition to the scenic beauty, Lakshadweep's tranquility is also mesmerising. Modi said the early morning walks along the pristine beaches were moments of pure bliss and shared images of him trying snorkelling, Lakshadweep beaches and an aerial view of the island. For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list. During my stay, I also tried snorkelling - what an exhilarating experience it was! pic.twitter.com/rikUTGlFN7 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 4, 2024 However, the visit, amidst Maldivess tiff with India has unsettled politicians in the island nation. Social media is abuzz with Maldives vs Lakshadweep discussions and a Maldives minister tweeted saying India targeting Maldives explicitly isnt diplomatic. While I wish success of Indias tourism, targeting the Maldives so explicitly isnt diplomatic. India faces significant challenges competing in beach tourism, considering our resort infrastructure exceeds their total islands. Plus this is your culture @narendramodi, NDTV reported quoting Maldives minister Abdulla Mahzoom Majids tweet. Likewise, another politician, Zahid Rameez, a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives Senate tweeted saying the idea of India competing with Maldives in beach tourism is delusional. The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall, Zahid Rameez tweeted. The discussion comes on the backdrop of new Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's scheduled visit to China on Monday. Perceived to be pro-China, Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed will visit China from January 8 to 12, on President Xi Jinpings invitation. Muizzu, who is seen as a pro-China politician, took oath as the eighth President of the Maldives after defeating the India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September. Meanwhile, Mohamed Nasheed, the first democratically-elected President of Maldives, perceived pro-Indian has condemned recent comments of some ministers against India. "What appalling language by Maldives Government official @shiuna_m towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives security and prosperity. @MMuizzu gov must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy." -with PTI inputs. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will fly to London on a two-day visit to the United Kingdom on January 8, the government said on Sunday. Interestingly, Singh will be the first defence minister to visit the UK in the last 22 years. The Raksha Mantri will hold a bilateral meeting with his UK counterpart, Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps, the defence ministry said in a statement, adding that the two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of defence, security and industrial cooperation issues. Singh will be accompanied by a high-level defence ministry delegation, comprising senior officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Service Headquarters, Department of Defence, and Department of Defence Production, it said. Singh is also expected to call on UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and hold a meeting with Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron. He will also interact with the CEOs and industry leaders of UK Defence Industry and meet with the Indian community there, the defence ministry said. Quoting people familiar with the matter, PTI reported that Singh's talks with Shapps would largely focus on sharing of critical technology and expanding bilateral industrial defence cooperation. The two sides are expected to discuss collaboration in joint development of fighter aircraft and other military platforms. The situation in the Indo-Pacific, West Asia and Ukraine are also likely to come up for discussion between the two leaders. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar took a fresh jibe at his uncle and Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar, saying some people were not willing to retire from politics even in their 80s. "Employees of Maharashtra government retire at the age of 58. Most people normally stop their active professional life after turning 75. But there are a few (Sharad Pawar) who, even after crossing 80 years of age and now 84, are not ready to retire," said Ajit Pawar while addressing a gathering of party workers in Thane district. Ajit and Sharad Pawar have been at loggerheads ever since the former, along with some MLAs loyal to him, joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in the state in July last year, leading the NCP to a vertical split. Ajit subsequently staked a claim to the NCPs name and poll symbol, but the move was challenged in the Election Commission by party founder Sharad Pawar. Ajit said he joined the government as he believed that peoples problems and other issues cannot be resolved without power. "We are here to work and we can perform. If we are wrong somewhere let us know. We have so much potential. I have been the Deputy Chief Minister of the state many times. We have made many schemes successful," he said. Interestingly, Ajits revolt against his uncle had come just two months after Sharad Pawars announcement that he was planning to retire from politics, and his retraction from the decision within days following protests by party workers. Ajit, in his speech on Sunday, also appealed to the NCP workers to unite ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, showcasing partys strength in the district, and supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's candidacy for a third term. Beijing and Washington appear set to remain at loggerheads over weapons sales to Taiwan, given US approval for a US$300 million tactical systems upgrade in its latest defence support for the island. The December 15 announcement came a month after a much-awaited summit in San Francisco between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, who pointed out that Taiwan remained "the most important and most sensitive issue in China-US relations" and urged that the US "stop arming Taiwan". Observers said the latest sale might be "less provocative" or "low-key" as it involved systems support, but would still be viewed by Beijing as a challenge to its national reunification efforts. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China, to be reunited by force if necessary. The United States, like most countries, does not recognise self-governed Taiwan as independent, but is opposed to any attempt to take the island by force. Washington is also legally bound under its 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to help the island protect itself, by providing "arms of a defensive character", and is its top international supporter and weapons supplier. The act, passed three months after Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing in January 1979, aimed to demonstrate that the US was not abandoning its old ally. But it is deliberately ambiguous about Washington's commitment to directly defend the island against an attack from Beijing - seen as aimed at discouraging supporters of Taiwan independence. According to the Pentagon, the tactical systems sale would include follow-on life cycle support to maintain Taiwan's C4 capabilities - involving command, control, communications and computers. Story continues Dean Chen, a professor of political science at Ramapo College of New Jersey, compared the latest deal to those announced under Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump. "The nature of the arms sale this time - to merely do a follow-on life-cycle support of Taiwan's C4 capabilities - is relatively less provocative than, say, the Trump 2019 sales," Chen said. Trump's approval in 2019 for an US$8 billion arms sale to Taiwan involving 66 F-16 fighter jets was one of the largest single such transactions. It also came five months ahead of presidential elections in Taiwan in January 2020, when Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party was re-elected for a second and final term. Li Nan, a visiting senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore's East Asian Institute, also said the software upgrade was a "low-key and less eye-catching" move than selling fighter jets, ammunition and warships, but was still likely to incur Beijing's wrath. A similar warning was sounded by Xin Qiang, deputy director of the Centre for American Studies at Fudan University. "The latest arms sale ... will inject negative energy into bilateral relations despite the fact that [both sides] have wanted to bring about a thaw or momentum of detente to the relationship after the Xi-Biden summit," Xin said. US arms sales to Taiwan have also long been a sore point, but did not take the centre stage in its relations with Beijing in the decades when mainland China remained focused on economic development. It was only in the late 2000s that things began to change, as Beijing's military modernisation drive started to take off. The quick shift in military balance in favour of Beijing raised concerns over Taiwan's ability to defend against a cross-strait attack. US arms sales to Taiwan began to be ramped up, to not only boost the island's defence capacity but also counter the rise of Beijing as Washington's geopolitical rival. After stagnating in the early 2010s, arms sales have speeded up since the Trump presidency. According to Taipei, the C4 equipment deal is the 12th weapons sale to the island in the three years since the Biden administration took over. During Trump's four years in office, the US approved 11 arms sales to Taiwan. In comparison, there were three arms deals reached during Barack Obama's two terms. "[The latest arms sale] is compatible with the Biden administration's intent to compete intensely with the PRC while avoiding derailing their fragile relationship that was so painstakingly mended last month in San Francisco," Chen said, using the acronym for mainland China's official name - the People's Republic of China. As with previous US arms transfers, Beijing has steadfastly condemned the spate of weapons sales under Biden. Increasing US-Taiwan security cooperation has also left Beijing nervous, seeing it as a signal that the US is opposed to China's peaceful rise. The US has supported Taiwan's military aims under Tsai to develop a "porcupine strategy" - involving asymmetric warfare and "smaller, cutting-edge technologies, and more agile military strategic concepts and weapon platforms" to exploit the vulnerabilities of a stronger adversary, Chen said. "This would be different from past US administrations' arms sales packages which laid more emphasis on large-ticket items like fighter jets and tanks." Li at NUS said the C4 upgrade would strengthen Taiwan's asymmetric warfare capacity involving highly dispersed and decentralised events. It would enable the different armed services to share a common battlefield picture in real time, to ensure a "seamless sort of coordination" and achieve interoperability among land, air and navy forces, he said. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen inspects the island's annual military exercises from on board a navy ship. Photo: Taiwan Presidential Office via AP alt=Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen inspects the island's annual military exercises from on board a navy ship. Photo: Taiwan Presidential Office via AP> Zhang Zhizhou, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said Beijing was likely to view the sale as part of Washington's strategy to obstruct reunification efforts, and be spurred to step up its efforts towards achieving that goal. "Beijing will view it as Washington's [move] ... to intentionally suppress China, making its peaceful reunification with Taiwan more difficult," Zhang said. "The US' arming of Taiwan not only limits the mainland's options in its peaceful policy towards Taiwan, but also reinforces the urgency for Beijing to achieve reunification by force." Both Xin and Zhang said the timing of the move, just a month after the breakthrough San Francisco summit, would also undermine strategic trust as the two sides try to rebuild ties following months of heightened tensions over issues including Taiwan, Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea, and US-led tech curbs on Beijing. "From Beijing's point of view, the US is playing the Taiwan card by stepping up military security cooperation," Xin said. "It will deal a blow to the fragile strategic mutual trust between the US and China, deepening China's worries that the US is hindering China's reunification plan." Robert Sutter, a professor of practice of international affairs at George Washington University, said while the US-China divide over the arms sales issue had existed since 1979, it had now become "irreversible". Such sales "will continue after Taiwan's elections [this month]," Sutter forecast. "The US government today is strongly committed to supporting Taiwan and to using such sales and other efforts to deter China from using coercive means against Taiwan and thereby changing the status quo in the Taiwan Strait." More than 19 million Taiwanese are expected to vote in presidential and legislative elections on January 13, with the outcome expected to shape both cross-strait and US-China relations. Vice-President and DPP candidate William Lai Ching-te is the favourite in the race, with almost all opinion polls placing him ahead of the mainland-friendly Kuomintang's Hou Yu-ih and Ko Wen-je of the smaller Taiwan People's Party. Beijing has urged Taiwanese voters to "stand on the right side of history ... and advance the process of the peaceful reunification of the motherland". This came two days after Xi in his New Year's Eve address said "reunification" with Taiwan was inevitable, a point he also highlighted to Biden when they met in November. Continued US arms sales could also undermine Beijing's charm offensive approach towards eventual reunification, said Raymond Kuo, director of the Taiwan Policy Initiative and a senior political scientist at US-based think tank Rand Corporation. "International support simply makes it harder [for Beijing] to entice or coerce the people [in Taiwan] back into the mainland," Kuo said. "Providing the Taiwanese with an independent defensive capability means that China must rely more on attraction. Beijing has struggled with that approach." Taiwan's increased engagement with Washington under Tsai has seen Beijing step up military and economic pressure on the island. The People's Liberation Army has frequently staged exercises around the island in recent years, including major live-fire drills after then-US House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited in August 2022 and Tsai met Pelosi's successor Kevin McCarthy in the US in April. PLA warplanes now also regularly cross the Taiwan Strait median line, once an unofficial barrier between the two sides. The US says its aim in selling arms to Taiwan is to credibly deter Beijing from taking military action against the island, and also seeks to assure Beijing that the arms sales do not contradict Washington's 1979 "one-China policy" - which recognises the PRC government as the sole, legitimate government of China. A memo sent by then-US president Ronald Reagan in 1982, declassified in 2019, reaffirmed this commitment, and said the quantity and quality of the arms provided to Taiwan should depend entirely on the threats posed by Beijing. However, the current cross-strait situation had made the US double down on such sales, Chen said. "The US message is essentially that these arms sales must go forward in response to China's escalated and more sophisticated military threats towards Taiwan." This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. The sun is shining and the skies are clear in Dhaka as Bangladesh gets ready to vote. The results of these elections are a given even before the polls opened. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is all set to make history in what is likely to be her fourth term. At stake for Hasinaa cakewalk with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotting the pollsis not a win, but a win that will be seen as a winto the West. There is a lot at stake. The BNP has called for a 48-hour nationwide general strike, which will end on Monday morning. The Jamaat, which is an alliance with the BNP, is organizing processions to urge voters to stay away. The BNP has urged voters to stay away from the elections of the fascist government. In the lead-up to the elections, over 8,000 BNP leaders have been arrested. One of the big credibility tests will be the voting percentage. In the past, the polls have been marked with violence. And the fear looms large this time around. The new agency Reuters has reported a passenger train was set ablaze in Dhaka, Bangladesh, killing four. And, according to reports, the fire is among 14 arson incidents in Bangladesh. In the first few hours of polling, according to media reports, the numbers have been slow. Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, has been quoted in DailyStar on being asked to comment on voter turnout: "I don't know about voter turnout. My job is to arrange voting but won't comment on voter turnout right now." A total number of 119.6 million registered voters will get inked in more than 42,000 polling stations across the country. Polling stations will be open till 5pm local time. But beyond Bangladeshand the ramifications of a largely unopposed election for domestic politicsthere will be implications on the region as well. It is no secret that America is less than impressed with Hasinas track record. In September 2023, the United States imposed visa restrictions on Bangladeshi officials found culpable in undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh". Bangladesh was not called for President Joe Bidens Summit for Democracy. (Even Pakistan got an invite). And the Bangladesh garment manufacturersliterally the golden goose in terms of exports for Bangladesh fear that sanctions may be imposed post elections. For India, Hasina and her tenure represent stability. Hasina has been able to keep the North-East safe and has clamped down on radicalization. New Delhi has emerged as a big investor in Hasinas development plans. From infrastructure as well as becoming a test case for Indias ability to find new ways of partnerships in the region. Whether it is with Rooppur Power Plant being built with Russian help or bringing in Japan to help partner the development dream. Delhis engagement of Dhaka is a good example of Indias democratic realism: dont let the ideal come in the way of real (same in early 2014, when Indias pragmatic position prevailed over the US line not to recognize the result), posted Constantino Xavier, fellow CSEP, on his post on X. For the South Block with tensions in the region rising because of China, especially as they sour relations with Maldives, Dhaka is an important partner. And Hasina will keep the engagement on track. The 12th national elections of Bangladesh will be held on Sunday, which could see Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina retain power for the fourth time in view of the boycott of elections by the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Nearly 119.6 million people will vote to elect 299 lawmakers out of 300 constituencies at Sunday's polls in more than 42,000 polling stations, according to the country's Election Commission. Voting began at 8 am local time and will continue till 5 pm. The election eve was marred by violence and a crackdown on protesters. A passenger train was set ablaze killing four people, in an alleged act of arson. Several polling booths and institutions were also gutted and over 800,000 police, paramilitary and police auxiliaries have been deployed for the smooth conduct of polls. Meanwhile, the BNP began a 48-hour nationwide strike against the "illegal government" on Saturday and announced the boycott of elections after Sheikh Hasina denied its demand to resign and let a caretaker government run the election. The BNP will carry out processions and mass campaigns and distribute leaflets against the polls across the country, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune. Hasina is accused of authoritarianism, human rights violations, crackdowns on free speech and suppression of dissent. BNP's leader Khaleda Zia is under house arrest on corruption charges which the BNP claims are false. Khaleda's son Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the party, too faces graft charges but is in exile. The 27 political parties that are contesting the elections include the opposition Jatiya Party (JAPA). The rest are members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition, which experts dub as "satellite parties." There are allegations that Hasina's Awami League has put up "dummy" candidates as independents to try to make the election look credible, a claim the ruling party denies. The elections are being held under tight security and the monitoring of over 100 foreign observers, including three from India. Other observers include a team from the European Union and the Commonwealth. Hasina, 76, has been in power since 2009 and her Awami League won the last election in December 2018. The BNP boycotted the 2014 election but joined the one in 2018. Hasina, who has been credited with turning around Bangladesh's economy and the garment industry, has maintained close ties with India and in her current manifesto states that it would continue to maintain friendly relations with India. "The long-standing problem of demarcation of land boundaries and exchange of enclaves with India has been resolved. This achievement has encouraged continued multilateral cooperation and friendly relations with India," it read. Pakistan's former foreign minister and Tehreek-e-Insaf party's Senior Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi has been declared "ineligible" to contest February 8 general elections. The appellate election tribunal on Saturday rejected Qureshi's appeal against the rejection of his nomination papers, The News International reported. Qureshi, 67, is currently lodged in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi in a cipher case. While Qureshi was cleared to contest polls from the NA-214 constituency in Sindh's Umarkot city, the poll tribunal rejected his nomination papers for Multan in Punjab province. Qureshi, 67, is currently lodged in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi in a cipher case. The former foreign minister had filed nomination papers for NA-150 Multan-III, NA-151 Multan-IV and PP-218, PP-219 constituencies. Multan High Court Bar Association President Rana Asif Saeed said the election tribunal had rejected Qureshi's appeal to restore his right to candidacy. Appellate Tribunal Judge Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar delivered the verdict, he said. The PTI leader had filed appeals against the rejection of his nomination papers by the RO's for the same constituency. In Lahore, an appellate tribunal held a hearing on an appeal filed against the approval of nomination papers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif from NA-130. (With PTI inputs) Israel has said that it has completed the dismantlement of Hamass 'military framework' in the northern Gaza Strip. The annoucement by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) comes on the eve of the three-month mark of the Israel-Hamas war. IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said at a press conference that the military was now focused on dismantling Hamas in central and southern Gaza. As many as 8,000 militants were killed, thousands of weapons seized and millions of documents destroyed. Hagari added that the Palestinian militants are now operating in the area only sporadically and "without commanders". The statement comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Saturday that Israel would continue its campaign to eliminate Hamas, return our hostages and ensure that Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel. "We have to put everything aside ... until the complete victory is achieved," Netanyahu said in a statement. The IDF added that though battles and sporadic rocket fire could still occur in northern Gaza, Hamas's infrastructure was out and it could no longer carry out large-scale attacks. He claimed that towns in central Gaza were "dense and full of terrorists," while Khan Younis in the south has an "underground city of branching tunnels." "The fighting will continue throughout 2024. We are working according to a plan to achieve the goals of the war: to dismantle Hamas in the center and south, and continue all efforts, intelligence and operational, and military pressure, to return the hostages, Hagari said. Mohammed Deif's photograph The IDF spokesperson also revealed a photo of Mohammed Deif, the commander of Hamass military wing. The photo was among some 70 million digital files recovered by the IDF in Gaza, Hagari said. Deif, who is believed to be hiding in Gaza, is see holding a plastic cup in one hand and dollar bills in another. Though it was believed that he was an amputee and nearly paralyzed, the IDF recently confirmed that it was not the case. Meanwhile, the IDF and Shin Bet also confirmed that the commander of Hamass Nuseirat battalion in central Gaza, Ismail Siraj, and his deputy, Ahmed Wahaba, were killed in an airstrike in the Strip. The battalion was responsible for the attacks on Kibbutz Beeri on October 7. Bangladesh on Sunday recorded low voter turnout amid opposition BNP's boycott of the elections. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to win a fourth straight term amid the tensions and violence prevailing in the nation. According to the initial estimates, the voter turnout was around 40 per cent but the figure could change after the final count, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said. The voter turnout was recorded 27.18 per cent at 3 pm. In 2018, the general elections registered an overall turnout of over 80 per cent. An election commission spokesman said that the voting ended at 4 pm and the counting has started. The results are expected on Monday. Amid tight security blanket, the voting was peaceful in majority of the areas. However, sporadic incidents of violence were reported in some districts. The Commission suspended polling in one seat because of the death of a candidate. The Commission cancelled the candidature of a ruling Awami League candidate in northeastern Chattogram towards the end of the voting hours as he threatened a police officer. With the Awami League candidate out of the race, the polls in the constituency was contested by the two rebel candidates of the ruling party. Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies boycotted the polls saying no election would be fair under the current government. Voting was cancelled at three centres -- one in Narsingdi and two in Narayanganj. According to reports, the Election Commission ordered the arrest of Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun's son on charges of electoral fraud in Narsingdi. Clashes were reported in Chattogram, where two people were shot and rushed to the nearby hospital. Two crude bombs exploded near a voting centre in Dhaka's Hazaribagh, where four people got injured. Over 7.5 lakh members of law enforcement agencies and security forces have been deployed to ensure law and order during the polls. A total of 119.6 million registered voters were eligible to vote at Sunday's polls, in which over 1,500 candidates from 27 parties contested. Prime Minister Hasina, along with he daughter Saima Wazed cast their vote at Dhaka City College polling centre. Hasina, 76, has been in power since 2009 and her Awami League won the last election in December 2018. Hasina wins in Gopalganj-3 constituency Sheikh Hasina was re-elected to Parliament on Sunday from Gopalganj-3 constituency after a landslide victory in the general elections. Hasina bagged 249,965 votes while her nearest rival M Nizam Uddin Lashkar from the Bangladesh Supreme Party secured just 469 votes, bdnews24 reported. It is the eighth time since 1986 she has won the Gopalganj-3 seat. For weeks the engineering team at the Ram Mandir grappled with the challenge of ensuring a foundation that would uphold a temple for 1,000 years. The original plan was to build a temple on pillars. Soil testing revealed that the Saryu had once flowed under the site. Though the river had changed its course, the lingering moistness in the soil would make pillars unstable. Mechanically induced tremors proved this. This is the only project where every material, every methodology was meticulously studied before execution. Vinod Mehta, project director of the Ram Mandir An option was to use concrete. Traditional temple builders suggested that it be mixed with lime to stabilise the soil. But it was not easy to get lime of the desired quality to fill the 12m deep hollow that had been dug in 2.27 acres for the under-structure. Filling up the foundation with concrete posed another challenge: when poured, it generates heat. A temperature too low or too high would impact the materials initial or final strength, and also cause cracking. The solution: self-compacting concrete, which was brought to 18 degrees below the ambient temperature and then poured into the base. Achieving that temperature required on-site ice crushing plants. The resultant mash was mixed in concrete. To further minimise the impact of the external temperature, the foundation was filled only at night, with temperature-monitoring sensors placed inside the mix. For Vinod Mehta, 57, project director of the Ram Mandir, this is just one of the many innovations that mark the building of a temple that is equal parts faith and science. Mehta, whose previous project at Larsen and Toubro (L&T) was building a FIFA stadium in Doha, almost didnt make it to Ayodhya. Being in the Gulf for more than 20 years and then moving to north India where winters are brutal was just one of the concerns. To live up to the expectations of various stakeholders, to explain engineering to non-engineers, to listen to all suggestions and try ones best to find a path all have been part of the challenge, said Mehta. Empowering a team of 150 engineers, never letting morale sag, responding to weekly monitoring, ensuring that timelines are sacrosanctit has been no mean feat. It has taken a toll on Mehtas health, with persistently high blood pressure and sugar levels. As a follower of Jainism, he finds strength in the Navkar mantra and in visiting the Jain temples in the city. He said the temple construction was unlike any in the world. This is the only project where every material, every methodology was meticulously studied before execution, he said. For believers, the Ram Mandir shall imprint eternity. If that large, immense idea is as confounding as a spiders web, then think of its many strands as links woven by countless people like Mehta. These also include the 4,000 workers who are on site, the 2,000 who work in the mines, the believers who gifted bricks during the Ram Mandir movement, those who started carving pillars at the original karyashala (workshop) when the end of the movement was not in sight, and those who waited. L&Ts senior deputy general manager Kowsalya T.S., 59, who heads the quality department in the project team, said, A Vishnu bhakt, and with my name, where else could I have been? (Kaushalya was the mother of Ram, who is an incarnation of Vishnu). She likened the temple to an iceberg, with just its tip being visible to the devotees. The bigger marvels shall remain hidden. For the temples plinth (platform), 17,000 granite stoneseach weighing some three tonneshad to be precisely placed. Tower cranes were used initially. But the engineers wanted something safer and quicker, so they designed a lifter. Think of it as something that can pick up glass, explained Kowsalya. With this innovation, they could place almost 15 times more stones daily. Abhishek Nigam, 32, L&Ts IT and HR manager, said that being part of the project was being part of history. Initially, he was being considered for a project too far from his hometown of Banda (some 195km from Lucknow), but he requested his seniors to send him to Ayodhya. That initial attraction of being close to home was soon dwarfed by faith. People say we would have been the vaanar sena (army of monkeys) of Ram in a past life to have been chosen, he said. Nigam finds it difficult to explain what happens when technique and tenet fuse. He said there was always a sense that a higher power was at work. That power manifested itself in his personal life, too. His two-year-old daughter had not started talking when the family reached Ayodhya in September 2020. My wife and I were very worried, he said. And then she (daughter) came here and immediately started reeling off the names of colours. Among the many standout moments during the construction that he oversaw was flipping a switch on from a distance and watching the mandir light up. But long before the multidisciplinary expertise of L&T, came those like Bacche Lal Bind, who has carved stones for the temple for 30 years. We are traditional stone carvers. Twenty of us from Mirzapur came here when we heard of the Ram Mandir, he said. The cranes have come now, but we know how to lift huge stones with chains. Carving just one flower could take months. Any carelessness, any less precision, and the entire column would be ruined. Visitors to the karyashala would often ask Bind if the temple would ever take shape. How was I to answer that? All I knew was that Ram ji had called me here for a job, he said. Others like him, performing different tasks, have stayed in tin shanties for decades, clinging on to just hope. Ashish Sompura, son of the temples chief architect Chandrakant Sompura, said his father accepted his assignment in 1989. Ashok Singhal ji (then international working president of the Vishva Hindu Parishad) took my father to Ayodhya and asked him to prepare a comprehensive outline of the temple, he said. Since there was an existing structure, he was not permitted to take measurements with any tools. He used his feet to map the estimated area. The Sompuras have a lineage of building temples. Chandrakants father, Prabha Shankar, designed and built the Somnath temple. The three generations have built 132 temples in the Nagara style in India and abroad. As the Ram Mandir gets ready for its grand opening, Nigam said his only wish was that devotees treat it with as much care as the makers have lavished on it. In that, care is a reinforcement stronger than any concrete. Ayodhya is emerging from a time warp. Once a dusty town with poor infrastructure and a tumultuous past, it is on the cusp of becoming Indias foremost pilgrimage centre. At the centre of this transformation is the three-storey Ram Mandir161ft tall, 380ft long and 250ft wide, and exquisitely carved in pink Bansi Paharpur stone from Rajasthan. BJP-ruled states will fund pilgrimages to Ayodhya. More than 2.5 crore people are expected to visit the temple in the next two months. Nehru had once described big dams as temples of modern India. Now, temples are actually becoming an intrinsic part of public policy in Modis New India. Idols of Ram as a child will be installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple on January 22, in Prime Minister Narendra Modis presence. The consecration will mark an epochal change in Indias history. The infrastructure development has been rapid. An international airport, a world-class railway station with Vande Bharat trains from main cities, a new township, five-star hotels and highways would link the once-sleepy town to rest of the world. Prospects of fast growth in real estate and tourism have been attracting private investments as well. Ayodhya now faces the burden of changing fast enough to keep pace with the influx of pilgrims from across the world. Ayodhya was a magnificent city, full of wealth and bliss and at the peak of prosperity, Modi said in a recent rally in the temple town. We need to reconnect with the ancient identity of Ayodhya and integrate it with modernity. Ayodhya is likely to become Indias religious capital, its cultural significance far outweighing the electoral importance. We are not comparing, but it is obvious that Ayodhya will be the worlds major pilgrim centre, Alok Kumar, international working president of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, told THE WEEK. The temple gives a message of social harmony, removal of caste prejudice, dignity for women and annihilation of terrorism. The message is of positivityof maryada, sheel, parakram (righteousness, good conduct and valour). The BJP aims to whip up a sentiment around the temple for a third term for Modi. The removal of Article 370 and the building of Ram temple are the two key emotive issues that the party will rely on in the Lok Sabha polls, along with its efforts to pull the votes of beneficiaries of development schemes. There are 104 crore registered beneficiaries of various schemes in the country, a constituency the BJP has nurtured. During the 2019 elections, the BJP polled more than 22 crore votes37 per cent of the polled votes. Opposition parties have accused the BJP of using the temple for political gains, even as they struggle to come up with a counter-narrative to Modis message of having delivered on both emotive issues. Building a magnificent temple in Ayodhya has been an unfulfilled agenda for centuries, and particularly for the last few decades, said BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli. In the 1980s, the BJP articulated this as a clear mission, not as a political issue but as an ideological one. The construction of the temple and its inauguration mark the fulfilment of a long-pending national desire. Its a homecoming, in a sense that it brings justice. The BJP had turned the temple consecration as a key poll promise in the recently concluded assembly polls and won three states in the Hindi heartland. BJP-ruled states will now fund pilgrimages to Ayodhya. More than 2.5 crore people are expected to visit the temple in the next two months. The BJP banks on the sterling leadership of PM Modi and his performance-driven government, said Kohli. It believes in his positive agenda of creating a new India with a mission of sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayas (together, for everyones growth, with everyones trust, and everyones effort). There is a new class of votersthe beneficiaries of the governments positive initiatives, and those who take pride in Indias global and economic stature. This is the agenda that the people will vote for. Modernity meets tradition: Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya | PTI Modis exhortation to the people to light lamps in their homes on January 22, celebrations being organised by the sangh parivar in five lakh temples across the country, and TV channels airing plays and serials based on the Ramayan are all aimed at turning the temple consecration into a grand festival. To build up the Hindu sentiment, the VHP, which was at the forefront of the temple movement, will distribute sacred rice from Ayodhya to 10 crore households. For the RSS, the temple is a step towards integrating the Hindu community. Ayodhya needs more than a temple, though. There will be 50,000 people coming to pay obeisance every day, said Alok Kumar. Besides darshan, we are aiming for a total experience for the pilgrims, so that they be able to bathe in the Saryu, visit the 3D museum, watch different Ramlila [performances] in open-air theatres, [and visit] satsang halls [during their stay]. Opposition parties are in a dilemma. It is hard even for those opposed to Modi and the BJP to ignore the inauguration of the Ram temple. Even as they accuse the BJP of politicising the event, opposition leaders such as Akhilesh Yadav, Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray have made it clear that they would attend it if they are invited. The Congress has indicated that its leaders who have been invitedformer president Sonia Gandhi and president Mallikarjun Khargemay attend the function. In an apparent move to counter the BJPs mandir push, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is preparing for a follow-up to his Bharat Jodo Yatrawith an east-to-west Nyay Yatra, with a message of social justice. The contrasting messaging could get accentuated in the Lok Sabha campaign. The parties that are accusing the BJP (of politicising the temple issue) are the ones that chose to deny the existence of Lord Ram in an affidavit in the Supreme Court, said Kohli. They went out of their way to delay a resolution [to the dispute] in court. Today, they look the other way when their allies consider sanatan dharm as disease, or pass unacceptable statements about the Hindu gods and goddesses. They are the ones politicising it, not the BJP. The country itself has changed since the temple movement became part of public consciousness in the early 1980s. Prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had once described big damssymbolising the infrastructure projects that a newly independent India neededas temples of modern India. Now, temples are actually becoming an intrinsic part of public policy in Modis New India. City of lights: Devotees take pictures of temples on the banks of the Saryu in Ayodhya on December 29 | Reuters A precedent was set during the reconstruction of Somnath Temple immediately after independence. Nehru was opposed to government involving itself in the reconstruction, which he termed as a project of Hindu revivalism. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, deputy prime minister and home minister, declared that the temple construction was a holy task. Mahatma Gandhi intervened to suggest that funds for it come from the public instead of the government. K.M. Munshi, a minister in the Nehru cabinet, became chairman of the trust to build the temple. He invited Rajendra Prasad, the first president of India, to inaugurate it. Ignoring Nehrus opposition, Prasad went ahead and participated in the pran prathisthan (consecration) on May 11, 1951. Having laid the foundation of the Ram temple on August 5, 2020, Modi will now lead the Ram Mandirs high-profile pran prathisthan to be telecast live across the world. It will be another concrete step in reimagining India through the civilisational lens. Modi has also led efforts to build the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, the Ujjain corridor, the Kartarpur corridor and the Char Dham corridor, and reconstructed religious sites to make them part of public consciousness. Realising the importance of courting the sentiments of the majority community, non-BJP leaders, too, are undertaking key religious projects. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has pushed through the Rs3,200-crore Jagannath Temple corridor project. The state government has sent invites to more than 1,000 temples across the country for the inauguration ceremony on January 17five days before the Ayodhya event. The corridor will cement the legacy of Indias longest-serving chief minister. Sukhbir Badal, former deputy chief minister of Punjab, had made the Golden Temple heritage corridor his pet project. Though his party lost the polls before work on it was completed, the project could not be ignored by the subsequent government. An able communicator, Modi has linked development with the reconstruction of religious places. When Ram Lalla gets a temple, four crore poor people also got pucca homes, he said in Ayodhya on December 30. He then juxtaposed the reconstruction of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi with 30,000 new panchayat buildings, the redevelopment of the Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand with 315 new medical colleges, and the construction of the Mahakal corridor in Ujjain with more than two lakh water tanks. Interestingly, the BJP hardly had any role in the three key events in the build-up of the Ram temple movementthe placing of the idol in the Babri Masjid in 1949, the opening of the locks of the masjid in 1985, and the telecast of the serial Ramayana in 1987. In fact, the first call to reclaim the Ram Janmbhoomi had come from former Congress MP Dau Dayal Khanna, who called for the freeing of temples in Ayodhya, Mathura and Varanasi during a VHP function at Muzzafarnagar in 1983. Present in the event were senior Congress leader Gulzarilal Nanda and RSS leader Rajendra Singh, who later became RSS chief. Sensing that the issue had the potential to turn into a mass movement, the BJP made it part of its election manifesto in the 1989 polls. The efficacy of it was soon revealedthe BJPs Lok Sabha tally zoomed from just two in 1984 to 85 in 1989, and 120 in 1991. The party also won absolute majority in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls in 1991. BJP leader L.K. Advanis Rath Yatra in 1990, in which Modi also participated, marked a turning point in the temple movement and helped the BJP expand in the Hindi heartland. This movement was not the product or the work of the BJP. It was an evolution of history that gathered momentum and developed into a political movement, said the partys 1993 white paper that was published in response to the white paper brought out by the Narasimha Rao government after Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6, 1992. The BJP, said the partys white paper, decided to support the Ayodhya movement a full six years after the movement had begun (in 1983) and after it had assumed mass dimension incapable of being politically ignored. The charge that the BJP made the Ayodhya movement and Sri Rama a political issue is incorrect, and betrays a lack of appreciation of the cultural and integrative impact of Rama in India. What happened on December 6, 1992 is the fruition of 400 years of Hindu struggle to regain their holy place. As the BJP under Modi starts its 2024 campaign with favourable winds and an evocative message, the focus will shift to other disputed sites in Mathura and Varanasi. The cases are not fought in the streets, but in courts, said Kumar. We have strong cases in Kashi (Varanasi) and Mathura, and we are hopeful that the verdicts will be in our favour. During a book release function in 1990, Advani had made an offer to Muslim leaders that he would ask the VHP to drop plans for constructing temples on the disputed sites in Mathura and Varanasi if they voluntarily withdrew their claim over Ram Janmbhoomi. Since the offer was not accepted, the VHP feels that the disputed sites in Mathura and Varanasi should be reclaimed. The Muslim community has accepted the Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya title suit. Awaiting the community now is a long legal fight over Mathura and Varanasi. Mumbai, Jan 7 (PTI) Actor Vijay Sethupathi says he initially thought his career up north would be limited to a couple of films as he wasn't confident about his language skills, but little did the actor know that there was a new audience waiting to welcome him with open arms. The 45-year-old actor, regarded as one of the dependable performers in both commercial and indie space in south cinema, is now among the most sought-after names in Hindi film industry following his roles in web series "Farzi" and Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Jawan". He made his Hindi film debut with 2023 movie "Mumbaikar", directed by Santosh Sivan, and then signed Zee Studios' silent feature "Gandhi Talks". "It is a huge blessing and I didn't expect this. I didn't have this much confidence. I was worried about my language (skills). When they approached me for 'Mumbaikar' or 'Gandhi Talks', I was like I'm going to do only that and it's not going to be many films," Sethupathi told PTI in an interview here. "Then 'Farzi' and 'Jawan' came. So, it was really surprising for me. I didn't expect that they would give me so much love. I'm grateful for the love," he added. Many of Sethupathi's films such as "Pizza", "96", "Vikram Vedha", "Master" and Malayalam movie "Super Deluxe" had already found audience in the North, but when he started doing Hindi projects, the actor said he was worried he will be trolled for his accent in Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK's "Farzi" in which he played a Special Task Force officer named Michael Vedanayagam. "I thought people would troll me for my Hindi. I remember I would ask Chesta (Goswami, assistant director of 'Farzi'), 'Will they troll me?' She was like, 'They will like you'. They liked my gaalis (abuses). Once people connect with you, they connect." The National Award winner credited the flurry of film offers from Bollywood filmmakers to fans. "They created this energy and that energy went to so many directors and writers who thought they needed this person to play this role. It's a mass energy that made writers think of me," he said. Sethupathi will next appear in Sriram Raghavan's "Merry Christmas", where the actor plays the lead role opposite Katrina Kaif. The thriller is set to release in theatres on January 12. The actor said he was excited when he received the offer to work with Raghavan as he liked the filmmaker's earlier movies "Ek Hasina Thi", "Badlapur" and "Andhadhun". "About seven years ago, one of my friends gave me a DVD of 'Ek Hasina Thi' and recommended that I watch the film. I saw the film and it was very nice," he recalled. After watching Raghavan's 2015 neo-noir action-thriller "Badlapur", Sethupathi said he hoped the movie would be remade in Tamil where he would play Nawazuddin Siddiqui's character. "I had watched 'Badlapur' in a theatre, and I thought somebody will remake that film in Tamil and I'll get to play Nawazuddin's role. Later, I met him (Raghavan) in Melbourne. I saw 'Andhadhun' and I didn't expect that I'll get a chance to work with him. It was really a wonderful and most memorable experience that I've had." "Merry Christmas" is set over the course of one night and follows the story of two strangers. "I didn't have any expectations. I just wanted to work with this man (Raghavan) because I love his craft. After I met and spent so many days with him, I love him as a person also. The respect became so high," the actor added. In the film, Sethupathi plays the role of Albert, a character he described as a "nice and innocent man". "He is just searching for love in his life. He fought with his fate and finally, he won," he said. "Merry Christmas" is presented by Tips Films and Matchbox Pictures. Washington, Jan 7 (AP) Federal officials on Saturday ordered the immediate grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners until they are inspected after an Alaska Airlines plane suffered a blowout that left a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage. The required inspections take around four to eight hours per aircraft and affect about 171 airplanes worldwide. Alaska Airlines said in a statement that of the 65 737 Max 9 aircraft in its fleet, crews had inspected the paneled-over exits as part of recent maintenance work on 18 planes, and those were cleared to return to service on Saturday. Inspections for the remaining aircraft were expected to be completed in the coming days, the company said. An Alaska Airlines jetliner blew out a portion of its fuselage shortly after takeoff 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) above Oregon late Friday, forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing as its 171 passengers and six crew members donned oxygen masks. No one was seriously hurt as the depressurized plane returned safely to Portland International Airport about 20 minutes after departure. Authorities are still looking for the door from the paneled-over exit and have a good idea of where it landed, near Oregon Route 217 and Barnes Road in the Cedar Hills area west of Portland, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference late Saturday. If you find that, please, please contact local law enforcement, she said. It was extremely lucky that the airplane had not yet reached cruising altitude, when passengers and flight attendants might be walking around the cabin, Homendy said. No one was seated in 26A and B where that door plug is, the aircraft was around 16,000 feet and only 10 minutes out from the airport when the door blew, she said. The headrests were gone on seats 26A and 25A and 26A was missing part of its seatback. There were also clothing items strewn about the area, Homendy said. Passenger Evan Smith said a boy and his mother were sitting in the row where the panel blew out, and the child's shirt was sucked off him and out of the plane. You heard a big loud bang to the left rear. A whooshing sound and all the oxygen masks deployed instantly and everyone got those on, Smith told KATU-TV. Homendy could not confirm reports that anyone had a shirt sucked off by the depressurisation or provide details yet about what happened to those sitting closest to the blown fuselage. Homendy and investigators from the NTSB arrived in Portland on Saturday to begin an investigation that is likely to last months. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said the inspection of the company's 737-9 aircraft could take days to complete. They make up a fifth of the company's 314 planes. We are working with Boeing and regulators to understand what occurred ... and will share updates as more information is available, Minicucci said. My heart goes out to those who were on this flight I am so sorry for what you experienced. Alaska cancelled more than 100 flights, or 15 per cent of its Saturday schedule by midday, according to FlightAware. United said the plane inspections would result in about 60 cancellations. The Port of Portland, which operates the airport, told KPTV that the fire department treated minor injuries at the scene. One person was taken for more treatment but wasn't seriously hurt. Flight 1282 took off from Portland at 5:07 p.m. Friday for a two-hour flight to Ontario, California. About six minutes later, the chunk of the fuselage blew out as the plane was at about 16,000 feet (4.8 kilometers). One of the pilots declared an emergency and asked for clearance to descend to 10,000 feet (3 kilometers), the altitude where the air would have enough oxygen to breathe safely. 'We need to turn back to Portland," the pilot told controllers in a calm voice that she maintained throughout the landing. Videos posted by passengers online showed a gaping hole where the paneled-over exit had been and passengers wearing masks. They applauded when the plane landed safely about 13 minutes after the blowout. Firefighters then came down the aisle, asking passengers to remain in their seats as they treated the injured. The aircraft involved rolled off the assembly line and received its certification two months ago, according to online FAA records. It had been on 145 flights since entering commercial service November 11, said FlightRadar24, another tracking service. The flight from Portland was the aircraft's third of the day. Aviation experts were stunned that a piece would fly off a new aircraft. Anthony Brickhouse, a professor of aerospace safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said he has seen panels of fuselage come off planes before, but couldn't recall one where passengers are looking at the lights of the city. He said the incident is a reminder for passengers to stay buckled in. If there had been a passenger in that window seat who just happened to have their seat belt off, we'd be looking at a totally different news story. The Max is the newest version of Boeing's venerable 737, a twin-engine, single-aisle plane frequently used on US domestic flights. The plane went into service in May 2017. The president of the union representing flight attendants at 19 airlines, including Alaska Airlines, commended the crew for keeping passengers safe. Flight Attendants are trained for emergencies and we work every flight for aviation safety first and foremost, Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said in a statement on Saturday. Two Max 8 jets crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people and leading to a near two-year worldwide grounding of all Max 8 and Max 9 planes. They returned to service only after Boeing made changes to an automated flight control system implicated in the crashes. Last year the FAA told pilots to limit use of an anti-ice system on the Max in dry conditions because of concern that inlets around the engines could overheat and break away, possibly striking the plane. Max deliveries have been interrupted at times to fix manufacturing flaws. The company told airlines in December to inspect the planes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder-control system. (AP) PY PY By Julien Benoit, University of the Witwatersrand, Cameron Penn-Clarke, University of the Witwatersrand, and Charles Helm, Nelson Mandela University Johannesburg, Jan 7 (The Conversation) Credit for discovering the first dinosaur bones usually goes to British gentlemen for their finds between the 17th and 19th centuries in England. Robert Plot, an English natural history scholar, was the first of these to describe a dinosaur bone, in his 1676 book The Natural History of Oxfordshire. Over the next two centuries dinosaur palaeontology would be dominated by numerous British natural scientists. But our study shows that the history of palaeontology can be traced back much further into the past. We present evidence that the first dinosaur bone may have been discovered in Africa as early as 500 years before Plots. Were a team of scientists who study fossils in South Africa. Peering through the published and unpublished archaeological, historical and palaeontological literature, we discovered that there has been interest in fossils in Africa for as long as there have been people on the continent. This is not a surprise. Humankind originated in Africa: Homo sapiens has existed for at least 300,000 years. And the continent has a great diversity of rock outcrops, such as the Kem Kem beds in Morocco, the Fayum depression in Egypt, the Rift Valley in east Africa and the Karoo in southern Africa, containing fossils that have always been accessible to our ancestors. So it wasnt just likely that African people discovered fossils first. It was inevitable. More often than not, the first dinosaur fossils supposedly discovered by scientists were actually brought to their attention by local guides. Examples are the discovery of the gigantic dinosaurs Jobaria by the Tuaregs in Niger and Giraffatitan by the Mwera in Tanzania. Our paper reviews whats known about African indigenous knowledge of fossils. We list fossils that appear to have long been known at various African sites, and discuss how they might have been used and interpreted by African communities before the science of palaeontology came to be. Bolahla rock shelter in Lesotho One of the highlights of our paper is the archaeological site of Bolahla, a Later Stone Age rock shelter in Lesotho. Various dating techniques indicate that the site was occupied by the Khoesan and Basotho people from the 12th to 18th centuries (1100 to 1700 AD). The shelter itself is surrounded by hills made of consolidated sediments that were deposited under a harsh Sahara-like desert some 180 million to 200 million years ago, when the first dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Landscape with distant mountains. This part of Lesotho is particularly well known for delivering the species Massospondylus carinatus, a 4 to 6 metre, long-necked and small-headed dinosaur. Fossilised bones of Massospondylus are abundant in the area and were already so when the site was occupied by people in the Middle Ages. In 1990, archaeologists working at Bolahla discovered that a finger bone of Massospondylus, a fossil phalanx, had been transported to the cave. There are no fossil skeletons sticking out the walls of the cave, so the only chance that this phalanx ended up there was that someone in the distant past picked it up and carried it to the cave. Perhaps this person did so out of simple curiosity, or to turn it into a pendant or toy, or to use it for traditional healing rituals. After heavy rains, it is not unusual that the people in the area discover the bones of extinct species that have been washed out of their mother-rock. They usually identify them as belonging to a dragon-like monster that devours people or even whole houses. In Lesotho, the Basotho call the monster Kholumolumo, while in South Africas bordering Eastern Cape province, the Xhosa refer to it as Amagongqongqo. Three-toed shape on rock surface. The exact date when the phalanx was collected and transported is unfortunately lost to time. Given the current knowledge, it could have been at any time of occupation of the shelter from the 12th to 18th centuries. This leaves open the possibility that this dinosaur bone could have been collected up to 500 years prior to Robert Plots find. Early knowledge of extinct creatures Most people knew about fossils well before the scientific era, for as far back as collective societal memories can go. In Algeria, for example, people referred to some dinosaur footprints as belonging to the legendary Roc bird. In North America, cave paintings depicting dinosaur footprints were painted by the Anasazi people between AD 1000 and 1200. Indigenous Australians identified dinosaur footprints as belonging to a legendary Emu-man. In South America, the notorious conquistador Hernan Cortes was given the fossil femur of a Mastodon by the Aztecs in 1519. In Asia, Hindu people refer to ammonites (coiled fossil-sea-shells) as Shaligrams and have been worshipping them for more than 2,000 years. Claiming credit The fact that people in Africa have long known about fossils is evident from folklore and the archaeological record, but we still have much to learn about it. For instance, unlike the people in Europe, the Americas and Asia, indigenous African palaeontologists seem to have seldom used fossils for traditional medicine. We are still unsure whether this is a genuinely unique cultural trait shared by most African cultures or if it is due to our admittedly still incomplete knowledge. Also, some rather prominent fossil sites, such as the Moroccan Kem Kem beds and South African Unesco Cradle of Humankind caves, have still not provided robust evidence for indigenous knowledge. This is unfortunate, as fossil-related traditions could help bridge the gap between local communities and palaeontologists, which in turn could contribute preserving important heritage sites. By exploring indigenous palaeontology in Africa, our team is putting together pieces of a forgotten past that gives credit back to local communities. We hope it will inspire a new generation of local palaeoscientists to walk in the footsteps of these first African fossil hunters. (The Conversation) PY PY The real-estate service Zillow predicts Cincinnati will be the nation's second hottest market in 2024. Cincinnati home shoppers hoping for a bargain this year are likely to be disappointed. The real-estate service Zillow predicts Cincinnati will be the nation's second hottest market, meaning it will be the most competitive aside from Buffalo. Columbus is at #3, Indianapolis at #4, and Cleveland at #8. Cincinnati was not on Zillow's top ten list in the last two years. More: How Ohio cities fared in latest home-price rankings Zillow reported that cities on the list "should stand out as strong in a housing market still buffeted by low inventory and relatively high mortgage rates and prices." But the company cautioned that the housing market will remain tight for most buyers in 2024. "While mortgage rates have come down significantly in recent weeks, and projections for improved affordability and more homes for sale have become more common, the challenges that limited the U.S. housing market last year are unlikely to disappear entirely in 2024." Zillow's list attempts to measure how "competitive" housing markets will be. The ranking is based on several calculations including anticipated home value appreciation; the speed of home sales; and the estimated number of new jobs per new home. The last metric in particular resonates in Columbus, where job growth is expected to be weak this year, but the number of new homes built might be even weaker, leaving buyers fighting for available homes. Zillow's list comes a few weeks after Realtor.com's similar forecast of hot housing markets. Realtor.com's list included none of the three Ohio cities on Zillow's list but pegged another Buckeye city, Toledo, as the nation's hottest market for 2024. Realtor.com's lineup is based on expected sale and price growth rates. No matter which list proves more accurate, Ohio homeowners and shoppers should expect more price hikes and competition this year. But despite the big jumps, Midwestern cities on Zillow's Top 10 list are more affordable than nationally. In Columbus, for example, the typical home value is $301,138, well below the national average of $347,415. Story continues Housing markets are healthiest where affordable home prices and strong employment are giving young hopefuls a real shot at buying and starting to build equity, Anushna Prakash, data scientist for Zillow Economic Research, said in a news release. Im cautiously optimistic that the housing market will get back on stable footing in 2024 we shouldnt see the massive price spikes of the early pandemic or fast-rising mortgage rates of recent years. jweiker@dispatch.com @JimWeiker This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What will happen to Cincinnati real estate in 2024? Johannesburg, Jan 7 (The conversation) In a world fraught with anxiety, stress, and environmental and humanitarian disasters, people are looking for ways to cope. Many have turned to practices originating in ancient eastern philosophies for guidance. Among these is mindfulness, which is linked to meditation. What does mindfulness actually mean? The original translation of the Pali word sati is remembering. It was about remembering your ethics, the right way to behave in each moment. Its shifted within the modern context and is usually translated as being conscious and aware of the present moment. The word I prefer to use is awareness. Start your day with evidence-based news. A mindfulness practice would be a way to bring you back to the present. Youd use your senses, your breath, or your body as in a yoga practice. To be mindful is to be present, to be open. Youre not trapped in the past or in the future. And that helps to calm you down because a lot of depression or depressive thoughts are linked to the past and things that we regret. A lot of anxiety is linked to the future. There is research on these particular tendencies. If people experience a lot of anxiety, its often that their mind is in the future, worrying about what will happen next. And the same thing for depression. The mind goes back into the past and goes into ruminating cycles of things that have happened or that weve done wrong, or what we perceive as wrong. The present moment frees you from those aspects. Your attention is focused on exactly whats here and now. Within that you can bring a sense of discernment. My work is also linking it to compassion. So if the present moment is uncomfortable experiencing a friend suffering or our own suffering you bring compassion to that. I find mindfulness and compassion go together. How do we include meditation in our daily lives? Mindfulness is often achieved through meditation, a practice of sitting still and focusing the mind on the senses or the breath, but we can also remain mindful throughout the day. I think the word habit is a really good one. To make your meditation as familiar a practice as brushing your teeth or having a shower. Its mental hygiene. Making it a daily practice, at a particular time of the day, helps people: its less negotiable. As soon as we start negotiating with ourselves should I practise, shouldnt I practise we often default to the less healthy habits like scrolling the internet or watching repetitive news stories. In The Compassionate Activist I distinguish between five categories of contemplative practices: calming, insight, positive qualities, engagement and shadow integration. The soothing practices are ones that calm us down. For most people a deep abdominal breath can be like a switch that shifts them from chaos to calm. It can really help. Not everyone. If youve had asthma, if youve had trauma associated with your breath, then thats not always the best method to use. Moving practices also help activate and then quieten the body, which in turn calms down the heart and mind. When expressive movement (a form of dance) or yoga are carried out with a real conscious awareness of the body, they can be very useful to prepare the mind for meditation. Mindfulness and meditation. Whats the difference? How important are insight and self-awareness? Insight practices help us gain an understanding of our own habits. If you tend to find yourself in a state of depression or anxiety, just bringing your mind back to the present again and again can shift you out of those tendencies. We often dont believe its as simple as that, but its amazing how much support we can give ourselves just by coming back to the present moment. Of course, if we have experienced traumatic incidents, then these practices are best done in parallel with psychotherapy. There are also practices for cultivating positive, pro-social qualities such as curiosity, wonder, compassion, joy and gratitude, which are innate aspects of being human. The mind has a negativity bias. The brain likes to learn quickly, so it tends to learn from negative experiences, but we have many wonderful experiences as well. Training the mind to focus on gestures of care that people show us every day, even if its just being let into the traffic, or someone making you a cup of tea, opens the mind to gratitude, appreciation and wonder. Anger is often a result of fear. We go into fight and flight mode. Hurt is a result of sadness. So we dont need to demonise any of our difficult emotions. We use them to gather information. What am I feeling in this moment? And what do I need? We learn to look at our experience rather than being swamped by it. What is your advice for people wanting to refocus their lives? Theres a lovely saying, that there are 84,000 Dharma doors. Dharma means the truth. So 84,000 different ways to find the truth. Your own truth. But the reason that number is given is that apparently in the audience where the Buddha spoke, there were 84,000 people. So what its saying is: find your own way. When do I feel content? When do I feel at ease? When do I feel joy? Use those positive emotions as a way to reassure you that youre on the right track. Be tuned into your own happiness, your own joy, your own contentment and ease, and let them guide you to the type of practices that are going to bring you the most benefit at different stages in your life. (The Conversation) PY PY Eagle Pass (US), Jan 7 (AP) Daniel Bermudez's family had fled Venezuela and was headed to the US to seek asylum when the freight train they were riding through Mexico was stopped by immigration officials. His wife tried to explain that her family had permission to go to the US Instead, they flew her to Mexico's southern border as part of a surge of enforcement actions that US officials say have contributed to a sharp drop in illegal border crossings. In addition to forcing migrants from trains, Mexico also resumed flying and busing them to the southern part of the country and started flying some home to Venezuela. Even if temporary, the decrease in illegal crossings is welcome news for the White House. President Joe Biden's administration is locked in talks with Senate negotiators over restricting asylum and USD 110 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel hangs in the balance. Bermudez said his wife became separated from her family when she talked to authorities as he gathered his stepchild and their belongings. He wanted to run, but his wife said they shouldn't because they had followed procedure by making an appointment with US immigration authorities. I told her, `Don't trust them. Let's go into the brush', Bermudez said, adding that other migrants had fled. He recalled her telling him, Why are they sending us back if we have an appointment? Last week, Bermudez, his stepchild and two other relatives were waiting for her at a shelter in the Mexican border town of Piedras Negras as she took a bus back in hopes of still making the date. Mexico's immigration agency sent at least 22 flights from its border region with the US to southern cities during the last 10 days of December, according to Witness at the Border, an advocacy group that tracks flight data. Most were from Piedras Negras, which is across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas. Mexico also ran two removal flights to Venezuela with 329 migrants. The stretch was punctuated by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Mexico City on December 28 to confront unprecedented crossings to the United States. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said a financial shortfall that had led the immigration agency to suspend deportations and other operations was resolved. He did not offer details. Arrests for illegal crossings into the US from Mexico fell to about 2,500 on Monday, down from more than 10,000 on several days in December, according to US authorities. In the Border Patrol's busiest area, arrests totalled 13,800 during the seven-day period ending Friday, down 29 per cent from 19,400 two weeks earlier, according to Tucson, Arizona, sector chief John Modlin. The drop led US Customs and Border Protection to reopen the port of entry in Lukeville, Arizona, on Thursday after a month-long closure on the most direct route from Phoenix to its nearest beaches. The US also restored operations at Eagle Pass and three other locations. Merchants in Eagle Pass, a city of about 30,000 people, saw sales take a major hit while a bridge was closed to vehicle traffic so border agents could be reassigned to help process migrants, Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu said. We survive pretty much from everything that comes from the Mexican side, he said. Last month, CBP resumed freight crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, after a five-day shutdown that US officials said was a response to as many as 1,000 migrants riding atop a single train through Mexico before trying to walk across the border. In Piedras Negras on Thursday, Casa del Migrante housed about 200 migrants, down from as high as 1,500 recently. Among them was Manuel Rodriguez, 40, who said his family will miss their appointment to seek asylum that was made through the US government's CBP One app. He said the appointment was registered with his in-laws, who were deported to Venezuela after authorities boarded the bus they were riding. "It was all under her name and she lost everything, Rodriguez said. Proposals being discussed by the White House and Senate negotiators include a new expulsion authority that would deny rights to seek asylum if illegal border crossings reach a certain threshold. Any such authority would almost certainly depend on Mexico's willingness to take back non-Mexicans who enter the US illegally, something it does now on a limited scale. Mexico's support was critical to defunct Trump-era policies that forced 70,000 asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for hearings in US immigration court and to deny rights to seek asylum during the COVID-19 pandemic. Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, DC., cautioned against overstating Mexico's role in the recent drop in traffic. Panama reported that less than 25,000 migrants walked through the Darien jungle in December, about half of October's level and a sign that fewer people are leaving South America for the US Migration usually drops in December amid holidays and cold weather. The US is able to lean on Mexico for a short-term enforcement effect on migration at the border, but the long-term effects are not always clear, Selee said. (AP) PY PY Jerusalem, Jan 7 (AP) The Israeli military signaled that it has wrapped up major combat in northern Gaza, saying it has completed dismantling Hamas' military infrastructure there, as the war against the militant group entered its fourth month on Sunday. Its spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said late Saturday that forces would continue to deepen the achievement there, strengthen defences along the Israel-Gaza border fence and focus on the central and southern parts of the territory. The announcement came ahead of a visit to Israel by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Biden administration officials, including Blinken, have repeatedly urged Israel to wind down its blistering air and ground offensive in Gaza and shift to more targeted attacks against Hamas leaders to prevent harm to Palestinian civilians. In recent weeks, Israel had already been scaling back its military assault in northern Gaza and pressing its offensive in the territory's south, where most of Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians are being squeezed into smaller areas in a humanitarian disaster while being pounded by Israeli airstrikes. The war was triggered by Hamas' October 7 attack on southern Israel in which the militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 people hostage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted the war will not end until the objectives of eliminating Hamas, getting Israel's hostages returned and ensuring that Gaza won't be a threat to Israel are met. Israel's retaliation by air, land and sea has killed more than 22,700 Palestinians and wounded more than 58,000, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The count of the dead does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Health officials say about two-thirds of those killed have been women and minors. Israel blames Hamas for the heavy civilian casualties because the group operates in heavily populated residential areas. On Sunday, officials at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies of 18 people, including 12 children, who were killed in an Israeli strike late Saturday. More than 50 people were injured in the strike on a home in the Khan Younis refugee camp, which was set up decades ago to house refugees from the 1948 Mideast war over Israel's creation and morphed into a neighbourhood of the city. Another airstrike hit a house between Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, killing at least seven people whose bodies were taken to the nearby European Hospital, according to an Associated Press journalist at the facility. Israeli forces were also pushing deeper into the central city of Deir al-Balah, where on Saturday residents in several neighbourhoods were warned in flyers dropped over the city that they must evacuate their homes. The international medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by the acronym MSF, said it was evacuating its medical staff and their families from Deir al-Balah's Al Aqsa Martyrs' Hospital because of the growing danger. The situation became so dangerous that some staff living in the neighbouring areas were not able to leave their houses because of the constant threats of drones and snipers, said Carolina Lopez, the group's emergency coordinator at the hospital. She said a bullet penetrated a wall of the hospital's intensive care unit on Friday, and that drone attacks and sniper fire were just a few hundred metres from the hospital over the past couple of days. The group had about 50 Palestinian and international medical staff in the hospital. Lopez said the hospital has received between 150 and 200 injured people daily in recent weeks. On some days, we have received more dead than injured, she said. No one and nowhere is safe in Gaza. Hagari, the military spokesman, said Israeli forces would act differently in the south than they had in northern Gaza, where heavy bombardment and ground combat levelled entire neighbourhoods. He said the urban refugee camps currently being targeted by the military are packed with gunmen and that an underground city of sprawling tunnels was discovered underneath Khan Younis. He said the military is applying the lessons we learned, but did not elaborate. Echoing Israeli political leaders, he said the fighting will continue throughout 2024. His comments about changing the way the forces are fighting appeared to be a nod to Blinken, who is on his fourth Mideast trip in three months. In addition to appeals for scaling back high-intensity combat, Blinken has called for more aid to reach Gaza and urged Israel's leaders to come up with a vision for post-war Gaza. Two US senators who inspected aid deliveries over the weekend described a cumbersome process that is slowing relief to the Palestinian population in the besieged territory largely due to Israeli inspections of cargo trucks, with seemingly arbitrary rejections of vital humanitarian equipment. The system to ensure that aid deliveries within Gaza don't get hit by Israeli forces is totally broken, said Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley, both Democrats. Meanwhile, the Biden administration and Netanyahu remain far apart on who should run the territory after the war, with the Israeli leader repeatedly rejecting the Washington-floated idea of having a reformed Palestinian Authority, an autonomy government in parts of the occupied West Bank, eventually administer Gaza. In a further complication of Blinken's mission, a new escalation of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah has put strains on a US push to prevent a regional conflagration. Saturday's fighting was described by Hezbollah as an initial response to the targeted killing of a top Hamas leader in a Hezbollah stronghold of the Lebanese capital of Beirut last week. The strike was presumed to have been carried out by Israel. (AP) PY PY Dhaka, Jan 7 (PTI) Bangladeshis on Sunday began voting in the general elections expected to be won by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the absence of the main Opposition BNP which is boycotting it. Voting began at 8 am local time and will continue till 5 pm. A total of 119.6 million registered voters are eligible to vote at Sunday's polls in more than 42,000 polling stations, according to the countrys Election Commission. The voting is being held in 299 out of 300 constituencies. The election to one centre will be held later as a candidate died there. More than 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties are contesting in the election besides 436 independent candidates. Over 100 foreign observers, including three from India, will monitor the 12th general election, which is being held under tight security. The election commission said it expected the results to start flowing from early on January 8. Hasina, 76, has been in power since 2009 and her Awami League won the last election in December 2018. The BNP boycotted the 2014 election but joined the one in 2018. Prime Minister Hasina's ruling Awami League is expected to win for a straight fourth time as the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former premier Khaleda Zia, 78, who is under house arrest as a convict of graft charges, boycotted the polls. The BNP is observing a 48-hour nationwide general strike which began at 6 am on Saturday and will end at 6 am on Monday. The 27 political parties that are contesting the elections include the opposition Jatiya Party (JAPA). The rest are members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition, which experts dub as "satellite parties." Rafah, Jan 7 (AP) An apparent Israeli airstrike killed two Palestinian journalists in southern Gaza on Sunday, including the son of veteran Al Jazeera correspondent Wael Dahdouh, who lost his wife, two other children and a grandson and was nearly killed himself earlier in the war. Dahdouh has continued to report on the fighting between Israel and Hamas even as it has taken a devastating toll on his own family, becoming a symbol for many of the perils faced by Palestinian journalists, dozens of whom have been killed while covering the conflict. Hamza Dahdouh, who was also working for Al Jazeera, and Mustafa Tharaya, a freelance journalist, were killed when a strike hit their car while they were driving from Khan Younis to the southern town of Rafah, according to the media office of the Hamas-run government. Amer Abu Amr, a photojournalist, said in a Facebook post that he and another journalist, Ahmed al-Bursh, survived the strike. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Wael Dahdouh, 53, has been the face of Al Jazeera's 24-hour coverage of this war and previous rounds of fighting for millions of Arabic-speaking viewers across the region, nearly always appearing on air in the blue helmet and flak jacket worn to identify journalists in the Palestinian territories. Speaking to Al Jazeera after his son's burial, Dahdouh vowed to continue reporting on the war. The whole world must look at what is happening here in the Gaza Strip," he said. "What is happening is a great injustice to defenseless people, civilian people. It is also unfair for us as journalists. Dahdouh was reporting on the offensive in late October when he received word that his wife, daughter and another son had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. His grandson, wounded in the same strike, died hours later. The Qatar-based broadcaster later aired footage of him weeping over the body of his son while still wearing his blue press vest. In December, an Israeli strike on a school in Khan Younis wounded Dahdouh and Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa. Dahdouh was able to run for help, but Abu Daqqa bled to death hours later as ambulances were unable to reach him because of blocked roads, according to Al Jazeera. Earlier in December, a strike killed the father, mother and 20 other family members of another Al Jazeera correspondent, Momen Al Sharafi. The Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 70 Palestinian reporters, as well as four Israeli and three Lebanese reporters, have been killed since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack triggered the war in Gaza and an escalation in fighting along Israel's border with Lebanon. Over 22,800 Palestinians have been killed in the war, mostly women and minors, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. Some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Israel during the initial Hamas attack. Israel denies targeting journalists and says it makes every effort to avoid harming civilians, blaming the high death toll on the fact that Hamas fights in densely populated urban areas. Some 85 per cent of Gaza's population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, with most seeking shelter in Israeli-designated safe zones in southern Gaza. But Israel also regularly carries out strikes in those areas, leading many Palestinians to feel that nowhere in the besieged territory is safe. Palestinian journalists have played a essential role in reporting on the conflict for local and international media outlets, even as many have lost loved ones and been forced to flee their own homes because of the fighting. Israel and Egypt, which maintain a blockade on Gaza, have largely barred foreign reporters from entering Gaza since the war began. (AP) RUP RUP Kyiv, Jan 7 (AP) The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson was subjected on Sunday to numerous shelling attacks from Russian-occupied parts of the Kherson region, across the Dnieper River, local officials said. The head of the Kherson city administration, Roman Mrochko, said two people died in the attacks and several others were wounded. Air defense shot down 21 of 28 drones launched by Russia overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said Sunday. Russia also launched three anti-aircraft missiles against Ukraine. On an unannounced visit to the country this weekend, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa pledged Japan's continued support for Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv on Sunday, she said that Japan had decided to contribute $37 million to the NATO trust fund to provide drone detection systems, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry. In Russia, more than 100 residents of the Russian border city of Belgorod have evacuated to an area further away from Ukraine, local officials said. On behalf of the regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, we met the first Belgorod residents who decided to move to the safest place. More than 100 people were placed in our temporary accommodation centers, Andrey Chesnokov, head of the Stary Oskol district, some 115 kilometers (71 miles) from Belgorod, wrote on Telegram. Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod on Dec. 30 killed 25 people, officials there said, with rocket and drone attacks continuing throughout this week. Meanwhile, Russian military personnel marked Orthodox Christmas on Sunday. Russia's Defense Ministry said that military priests led prayer services on the front line both on Sunday and on Christmas Eve night. Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined by families of military personnel who died in the war in Ukraine at Christmas Eve services at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence, in the western suburbs of Moscow. Many of our men, our courageous, heroic guys, are warriors of Russia even now, during the holiday with arms in hand, they defend the interests of our country, he said to the attending families, according to the Kremlin's press service. In his annual Christmas interview, carried by Russian state news agency TASS, Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, made reference to the war in Ukraine. The trials that befall us today ... are not capable of crushing our worldview, which directly includes love for the Motherland and readiness to defend it, he said, when asked how to reassure Russians in the midst of military and civilian deaths. (AP) RUP RUP Palghar, Jan 7 (PTI) Police have arrested three Bangladeshi nationals for allegedly staying illegally in Maharashtra's Palghar district, an official said on Sunday. Acting on a tip-off, the police conducted a search in Vasai area on January 4 and apprehended the three persons, in the age group of 23 to 45 years. During questioning, it was found that they did not possess valid documents for staying in India, the official from Vasai police station said. The three persons were subsequently placed under arrest and a case was registered against them under provisions of the Passport (Entry into India) Rules and the Foreigners Act. Ambikapur, Jan 7 (PTI) Chhattisgarh Congress chief Deepak Baij on Sunday alleged the newly-elected BJP government is working in the interest of corporates and trees are being chopped in bio-diversity rich Hasdeo Arand area for a coal mine extension project. Baij and several Congress workers joined villagers in Hariharpur in Surguja district in an ongoing protest against coal mine projects. Hasdeo-Arand coalfield spread over a 1,878 sq km area in Korba, Surguja and Surajpur districts in the northern part of the state, is located about 300 km from Raipur. The region is called as 'lungs of Chhattisgarh' for its rich forest. "During campaigning for elections last year, Rahul Gandhi had said if people press the lotus (BJP's symbol) button on the EVM, Adani will come out from the VVPAT and this statement has proved to be true after the formation of the BJP government in the state," Baij told protesters. He alleged the Vishnu Deo Sai government has started handing over natural resources including jal, jungle, zameen and mineral resources to Adani (group). Baij rejected Chief Minister Sai's claim that the permission for felling trees in the bio-diversity-rich Hasdeo Arand for a coal mine was given by the previous Congress government. "The reality is that this permission and environmental clearance were given by the Modi government," he alleged. The previous Congress government had cancelled this approval and had also written a letter to the Centre seeking to cancel the permission, the Congress leader said. "On October 31, 2022, the Additional Secretary of Chhattisgarh's Forest and Climate Change department had written a letter to the Inspector General of Forests, Government of India, urging to ban the Parsa open cast coal mine excavation and cancel the proposal for deforestation. "A resolution was also passed by the Chhattisgarh assembly on July 26, 2022, that mining activities will not be carried out in Hasdeo area and sent to the Centre," he said. Baij claimed 50,000 trees have been chopped in the Hasdeo area so far since December 2023 when the BJP came to power, and added that a total of 3 lakh trees will be felled. Notably, the fresh tree felling exercise for Parsa East and Kete Basan (PEKB) phase-II extension coal mine in the Hasdeo Arand region started on December 21 last year amidst police security cover. The local administration had claimed that it had all the necessary permissions to go ahead with the tree felling in PEKB-II which is an extension of the PEKB-I mine. This mine has been allotted to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RRVUNL) which has given MDO (mine developer and operator) to Adani group. Manpur, Jan 7 (PTI) A 25-year-old school teacher has been arrested for allegedly being a Maoist supporter in Chhattisgarh's Mohla-Mapnur-Ambagarh Chowki district, police said on Sunday. Angered by the arrest, a group of villagers, including school children, have launched a protest in front of a police station here, demanding his release. Ramlal Nureti was arrested from Karekatta village under Madanwada police station limits on Saturday, an official said. The man was allegedly involved in putting up Maoist banners and posters in the area in September last year, he said. The accused, a resident of Mahka village under Sitagaon police station area, works as a guest teacher appointed on a contractual basis at the government primary school in Karekatta village. On September 15 last year, the police recovered posters and banners from Madanwada area wherein Maoists appealed to observe the 19th anniversary of the outlawed movement, he said. Investigations revealed Nuretis involvement in the act and police personnel kept an eye on him, the official said. The investigations and technical evidence confirmed the accuseds involvement in the offence, following which he was apprehended by the Sitagaon police, he said. During questioning, Nureti tried to mislead the police but later admitted to putting up Maoist posters and banners, following which he was arrested under provisions of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005 and produced in a local court, the official said. The accused has been sent to Rajnandgaon district jail, he added. Meanwhile, villagers sat on dharna in front of the Sitagaon police station, demanding his release. "We will continue our demonstration till Nureti is released. He was arrested from the school without any investigation. He is a school teacher, not a Naxalite," a protester told reporters. School children joined the agitation on Sunday, and protesters blocked the Manpur-Aundhi and Madanwada-Sitagaon roads using tractors. A large number of police personnel have been deployed at the protest site. Aizawl, Jan 6 (PTI) Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Saturday said his government would continue providing assistance to refugees from Myanmar and internally displaced people from Manipur, with support from the Centre. Lalduhoma made the comments at a press conference here upon his return from Delhi. "Even though the Centre can't accord refugee status to the Myanmar nationals, it is ready to collaborate with us in providing relief to them. People from Manipur, who fled their homes due to ethnic violence, will also be looked after with help of the central government," he said. According to officials, more than 31,000 individuals belonging to the Chin community from Myanmar have sought shelter in Mizoram since February 2021, following a military coup in their home country. Over 9,000 internally displaced people from Manipur have also taken refuge in the state. The Chin community from Myanmar and ethnic Kuki-Zo community from Manipur share ethnic ties with the Mizos. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on Friday informed Lalduhoma that the Centre wont deport Myanmar nationals who sought refuge in the state since February 2021, until normalcy is restored in the neighboring country, an official release said. The chief minister also expressed hope that the Centre will cancel the move to fence a portion of the India-Myanmar border. The Union government had recently said it plans to fence a 300-km stretch of unfenced boundary with Myanmar, and end the Free Movement Regime, which allows people living on both sides of the international border to travel within 16 km into each others territory without visa. The McSwiggin murder was the kind of story that editors once thought sold newspapers. The Tribune laid out the initial facts in a front-page story on April 28, 1926: William H. McSwiggin, youthful assistant states attorney, who was known as the hanging prosecutor because of his success in the conduct of murder trials, was shot to death last night when a machine gunner in a curtained automobile poured a blast of fire upon him and two other men as they stood in front of a saloon at 5613 West Roosevelt Road (the address was given as 5615 in subsequent reports) in Cicero, just beyond the Chicago city limits. A day later, President Calvin Coolidge cited McSwiggins assassination in calling for a national war on organized crime. Prohibition had sparked gang wars for control of the underground booze trade. On the back page of the first-day story were photographs of the tavern where the hit took place; of McSwiggin gesturing in court, making the case for hanging a cop-killer; and of a police captain aiming a Thompson machine gun, similar to the type cops said McSwiggins killer had used. McSwiggins companions in death were James Doherty, a Cicero beer-runner, and Thomas Duffy, a Chicagoan who was identified variously as a barber, a saloon keeper and a political minion, perhaps a euphemism for fixer. He was a West Side precinct captain. Days after the slayings, the coroners jury made a pilgrimage to three sorrow-laden homes, the Tribune reported. In Duffys modest flat, at 4721 W. Harrison St., his widow told jurors that she didnt know of her husband having enemies, and that she never heard of him being threatened. There was a quiet grimness about the mourners in the Doherty house, the Tribune noted, as if they sensed the jurors belief that the plotted death of Doherty, the gangster, had resulted inadvertently in the murders of Prosecutor McSwiggin and Duffy. Assistant States Attorney William H. McSwiggin, known as the hanging prosecutor because of his success in murder trials, in an undated photo. Yet even if McSwiggin wasnt the target, his boss, Cook County States Attorney Robert Crowe, was put on the hot seat. The investigation quickly sent McSwiggins fair-haired image down the drain. Crowes boy-wonder assistant was revealed to be a buddy of gangsters. Perhaps looking to distance himself from the embarrassing details, Crowe turned the McSwiggin investigation over to a special grand jury led by Illinois Attorney General Oscar Carlstrom. Say what you will about McSwiggin, he was a prodigy. The son of a cop who didnt make enough to pick up the tab for college, McSwiggin worked his way through DePaul Law School as a department store salesman, a theater usher and a delivery wagon driver. He became a courtroom star while still in his early 20s. When he was on a case he worked twenty-four hours a day, Crowe said of McSwiggin. The interior of the car where Assistant States Attorney William H. McSwiggin was shot and killed along with two others on April 27, 1926, shows hats and a cloth used to stop the flow of blood in the Lincoln automobile. James J. Doherty, a leader of a Cicero beer gang, was instantly killed with McSwiggin. Thomas Duffy, also in the car, died a few hours later at West Suburban Hospital. On the last day of his life, McSwiggin, 26, had dinner at his parents home at 4946 W. Washington Blvd. Telling them he was going out to play cards or grab a beer in Cicero, he was picked up by Duffy. Doherty, and the ODonnell brothers, Myles and William Klondike, were also in the car. They all went back a long way. Just a year earlier, McSwiggin had unsuccessfully prosecuted Doherty and Myles ODonnell for murder. But in that time and place, childhood buddies were often emotionally bound for life. It didnt matter if one enforced the law and the other broke it. On that fateful night, the group stopped at a saloon on an empty stretch of Roosevelt Road in Cicero. As they exited Klondikes Lincoln sedan, another car pulled up and an occupant sprayed them with bursts of machine-gun fire. The ODonnell brothers hit the dirt and survived. So too did Ed Hanley, an ex-cop who had joined the group en route. A motorist took the wounded Duffy to West Suburban Hospital where he died the following day. McSwiggin and Doherty were also fatally wounded. Hanley and the ODonnells loaded them into the Lincoln and sped off. McSwiggin and Doherty expired, and their corpses were dumped in Berwyn. William H. McSwiggin and two others were shot and killed outside Madigan and Wendells saloon at 5615 West Roosevelt Road in Cicero, shown here on April 27, 1926. A pedestrian came upon the bodies at 16th Street and Wisconsin Avenue and notified the Berwyn police. That started a chain reaction of the shocking news that a public official had been assassinated. When it reached Crowe, he ordered raids on every beer runner, every gunman, and every other racketeer in reach of an officer of the law, the Tribune reported. All the cigar shops, gambling houses, and saloons were stripped of their occupants. The Chicago police and Cook County highway police responded promptly. But Assistant States Attorney Joseph Savage was angered by the Cicero cops lackadaisical attitude in the face of three brutal murders. Stomping into a police station, he demanded to see the officer in charge. The captain is gone, he was told. Go and get him out of bed and tell him to get here and in charge, or Ill turn your police station upside down, Savage replied. Sgt. Charles Schroeder, surrounded by the coroners jury, points to the spot where William H. McSwiggins body was dumped at 16th Street and Wisconsin Avenue in Berwyn on April 29, 1926. The attorney general, like the states attorney before him, wrestled unsuccessfully with the question of who ordered the hit and why. Al Capone, the infamous gangster who had set up shop in Cicero, quickly became a prime suspect but initially was nowhere to be found. Upon surfacing, he was arrested but denied having it in for McSwiggin. I didnt kill him, Capone reportedly said. I liked the kid. Capone was freed for lack of evidence, and on Sept. 8 a special grand jury was empaneled I am positive that I know who killed McSwiggin, special prosecutor Charles McDonald said. I am hopeful that this grand jury will solve the puzzling features of the case. That proved easier said than done. Courtroom kibitzers had rival theories about what face card McDonald might be holding. Five fedoras and William H. McSwiggins glasses were found inside the car where McSwiggin and two others were shot on April 27, 1926. The light gray velour hat belonging to McSwiggin, bottom left, is perforated by a bullet. Perhaps Capones name which in many reports of the time was given as Caponi was prematurely scratched off the suspects list. Word on the street was that Doherty demanded a share of Capones lucrative beer business, and wouldnt take no for an answer. With methodical preparation Caponi sent out his scouts to report on Dohertys movements, the Tribune reported. And on May 28, last, he answered Dohertys defiance. Another theory held that McSwiggin was killed while gathering evidence for the prosecution of Martin Durkin. A car thief accused of killing a federal agent, Durkins arrest had been followed by death threats. One recipient was McSwiggins boss, the states attorney. McSwiggins father, a police sergeant, joined the search for his killer, pressing a prisoner who was in custody for a separate crime and who was an alleged confederate of Capones for information. The man said he knew nothing but wished he could help. You cant help me, Sgt. McSwiggin retorted. They killed me too, when they killed my boy. But you can help yourself by telling. Sgt. Anthony McSwiggin, father of slain Assistant States Atty. William H. McSwiggin, with his daughters Mary, from left, Emily and Margaret in April 1926. On July 15, 1927, the investigation into McSwiggins murder was closed. It had failed to uncover any information on who killed McSwiggin, the grand jurys final report acknowledged. The tale was occasionally revisited and given a new spin. In 1960, John Lyle wrote a Tribune story crediting the McSwiggin case with ultimately sending Capone to prison. In the wake of the murder, a raid on a Capone betting parlor, the Hawthorne Smoke Shop, turned up a bookkeeping ledger. The ledger was tossed aside and left to gather dust for four years. Finally reexamined by investigators, it was found to record income Capone hadnt reported to the Internal Revenue Service, and led to his 1931 conviction as a tax dodger, according to Lyles account. The McSwiggin murder remains unsolved, although the special grand jury cleared him of being targeted because of any underhanded activity on his part. McSwiggin was on a legitimate errand at the time, when one gang fired at another gang, and we think that the murderers had no knowledge of the identity or position of the young man who became their victim. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com. Colorado Springs police are looking for at least two burglary suspects who reportedly fled officers in a stolen vehicle before abandoning the car early Sunday, according to law enforcement officials. Just before 5 a.m., officers responded to a call about possible vehicle break-ins in the 9100 block of Crowne Springs View in northeast Colorado Springs, police said. When the officers found the suspects, they drove off in a vehicle, hitting a squad car in the process. Not far from the original scene, police found the vehicle the suspects had been driving, but it had been abandoned. Guns and other items, which police suspect were stolen, were found inside the vehicle, according to CSPD. Investigators suspect the vehicle, which had been reported stolen, had been involved in additional crimes. No suspect information was given, and no arrests were announced. Kolkata, Jan 7 (PTI) Expressing concern that TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, the prime accused in the case of assault on ED officials, may have "crossed the border", West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose has instructed authorities to arrest him immediately and investigate his alleged connections with terrorists. His remarks that Sheikh has links with terrorists drew sharp criticism from the ruling TMC on Sunday. The statement issued by Raj Bhavan late Saturday night highlighted that the governor, upon receiving a complaint in the Peace Room, instructed the police chief to promptly arrest the culprit. "On receipt of a complaint in the Peace Room of Raj Bhavan that Shahjahan Sheikh is supported by some political leaders with the connivance of some police officers, Hon'ble Governor instructed the Police chief to arrest the culprit forthwith and report compliance," the statement said. The governor emphasised on the need to ascertain Sheikh's whereabouts and take appropriate action. The complaint alleging that Sheikh may have "crossed the border" and "liaison with the terrorists" may be "enquired into immediately", the statement added. Responding to the governor's comment, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, "We don't know what is the basis of his remarks. According to the Constitution, the governor works in consultation with the state government. So how can he make such remarks without any concrete report or evidence? He is not here to run a parallel government." Amid a political uproar over the assault on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team in West Bengal, the family of the TMC leader and the central agency filed police complaints against each other on Saturday. The complaints were related to a raid during which the ED officials were attacked and injured by a mob. The police also lodged a suo motu case against the ED officers, who were conducting the raid in connection with the alleged ration distribution scam. The charges included molestation, forcible entrance and theft. The ED issued a lookout notice for Shahjahan due to concerns that he might flee the country following the incident in which three ED officers were injured and several vehicles were damaged by a mob at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, close to the Bangladesh border, on Friday. Jamshedpur, Jan 7 (PTI) A criminal wanted in over two-and-a-half dozen cases was arrested from Rajgir in Bihar, a senior police officer said on Sunday. Harish Singh alias Chotu Singh, a member of the notorious Akhilesh Singh gang, was arrested by a police team headed by SP (City) Mukesh Kumar Lunayat from a hotel in Rajgir on Saturday, SSP Kishore Kaushal said at a press conference here. Altogether 30 criminal cases were registered against Singh under various sections of IPC and arms Act including murder and criminal conspiracy under different police stations of East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswan districts in Jharkhand, SSP said, adding that Singh was carrying a bounty of Rs 40,000 on his head. Kaushal said a special team led by Lunayat was constituted after receiving information that Singh along with his aides was intimidating businessmen for money for the past few days. The SSP said following his arrest, Singh tried to misguide police with his fake Aadhaar cards but failed. Police have seized two fake Aadhaar cards and four smartphones. Kaushal said Singh was brought here on transit remand from Rajgir. Agartala, Jan 7 (PTI) Hundreds of Muslims from Tripura's Ramnagar Assembly constituency on Sunday offered prayers for Surajit Datta, a BJP MLA who passed away on December 28. Datta, a seven-time MLA, was admired by both the Hindus and Muslims for his generosity, locals said. He died at a hospital in Kolkata after a prolonged illness at age 71. Abdul Rahim, the imam of South Ramnagar mosque, said, "Datta served both communities equally and always helped us when needed." "On Sunday, we held a prayer for the departed soul and for the wellbeing of his family. He was like a guardian to us, supporting us in every step of life," he added. Rahim also mentioned that a special prayer will be held in all the mosques of Ramnagar Assembly constituency for Datta next Friday. Mohan Dutta, the MLA's younger brother, expressed gratitude to the Muslim community for their support. "I would like to thank the members of the Muslim community for offering prayers for my elder brother, who worked tirelessly for the wellbeing of both communities in his constituency. Our Muslim brothers came to our residence on Sunday and prayed for my brother. It demonstrates that my brother served the people of his constituency in the best possible way," he added. "Although I have lost my brother, our doors will remain open for everyone. Our family does not discriminate people based on their caste, creed, or religion. We serve all people," he added. New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) After extensive internal consultations, the Congress has begun seat-sharing talks in some states with like-minded parties of the INDIA bloc for Lok Sabha elections. Sources said senior leaders of the party have been told to reach out to other leaders of the alliance and talks with some parties have begun. Formal negotiations for seat-sharing with Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab and Delhi will begin on Monday, the sources added. The Congress' five-member committee on seat-sharing - which has Mukul Wasnik as convener and senior leaders Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel among members - has already held internal consultations with state Congress chiefs and handed over its findings to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge. The seat-sharing talks with other parties come after the 28-party opposition grouping decided to unitedly take on the BJP in upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The INDIA bloc has agreed to have a single opposition candidate in Lok Sabha election seats against the BJP in a bid to defeat it in 2024. The sources said Congress president Kharge has entrusted the responsibility to senior leaders, which also include members of the seat-sharing committee, to work on seat distribution with other parties. The Congress has pre-poll alliances with parties like the DMK in Tamil Nadu, RJD and JDU in Bihar, JMM in Jharkhand and others in Assam, but has no tie-up with some main parties in key states. The most contentious of these include Kerala, West Bengal, Delhi and Punjab, where the difficulty of having seat-sharing arrangements with INDIA bloc partners is well acknowledged by party insiders. In West Bengal, the TMC and Left, despite being part of the opposition alliance, do not want any arrangement with each other and the Congress will have to select any one of them. The recent statements of TMC leaders and Congress PCC chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also do not bode well for the possible partnership between TMC and Congress in the state. In Kerala, the Congress has 19 of the 20 MPs from the state and having an arrangement with CPI-M seems bleak as it would have to rest its sitting MPs. In Punjab, the state units of both AAP and Congress are confident of their victory and do not wish to hold any arrangement. State Congress units of other states like Kerala have also opposed any such seat-sharing, the sources said. All does not seem well between the Congress and Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, going by the recent statements of Akhilesh Yadav, who is miffed with the party for not giving him any seats in the recent Madhya Pradesh assembly election and over the statements of Kamal Nath against him. However, the party is holding seat-sharing talks with all partners while hoping for some middle path in order to strengthen the opposition against the BJP. The sources add that the party has decided to complete the seat-sharing arrangements with other parties of the opposition by this month-end. Congress president Kharge had on Saturday said leaders of INDIA parties would take a decision within 10-15 days on the allocation of posts in the opposition bloc, remarks that come amid speculation that the alliance could pick a convener ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He also said that all other matters including seat-sharing of the INDIA bloc would be resolved soon, with party sources indicating that this is likely to be concluded by the month-end. Kharge said the Congress is working on all the 545 Lok Sabha constituencies and has appointed observers for all the seats, but which party will contest which seat and how many will be decided soon after consultations with all constituents of the opposition alliance. Asked how many seats the party would contest, he said, "We have already finalised parliamentary observers for all the constituencies... We will go and assess in each Parliamentary constituency." "Ultimately, when the INDIA alliance is there and negotiations are held in each state, the exact number will come out. But, we are trying to put in our efforts everywhere," he said. New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) The Indian High Commission in Male on Sunday raised with the Maldivian government the issue of derogatory comments made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by certain lawmakers, even as Male distanced itself from these remarks and asserted that "personal" views do not represent its position. Sources said the Indian mission in Male objected to certain social media posts against the prime minister that came after his visit to Lakshadweep. A Maldivian lawmaker criticised Modi following his Lakshadweep trip inferring that New Delhi is attempting to project the Union Territory as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives. "The government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the government of Maldives," the Maldivian foreign ministry said in a statement. It said the government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners. "Moreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks," it said. The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and the overall bilateral ties including in areas of defence and security witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male. The new president, Mohamed Muizzu, is seen to be close to China. After taking charge of the top office over a month back, he called for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives. New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) Counselling for post graduate medical admissions will be done only in online mode now and colleges will have to declare fees for each course beforehand, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has said underlining that no college will admit candidates on their own. Medical education regulator NMC recently notified the "Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023" according to which all rounds of counselling for all PG seats will be held on online mode by state or central counselling authorities. There shall be common counselling for admission to post-graduate courses in medicine for all medical institutions in India solely based on the merit list of respective exams, the new regulations states. "All rounds of counselling for all seats will be held on online mode by state or central counselling authority and no medical college/institution will admit any candidate themselves," it said. "While entering details in seat matrix, medical colleges shall mention the amount of fees for each course, failing which seat will not be counted," the regulations stated. Some changes in the examination system have also been introduced which include formative assessment and option of multiple-choice questions in university examinations, Dr Vijay Oza, president of Post-Graduate Medical Education Board of the NMC said. "This is to bring objectivity in examination and match international standards," he said. Another change has been made in the District Residency Programme (DRP) to facilitate its implementation for better training of students. Previously, a district hospital was defined as a 100-bedded hospital. In the new regulations, the requirement has been reduced to 50 beds, Dr Oza explained. "Under the DRP, doctors can be trained in a district hospital which shall be a functional public sector/government-funded hospital of not less than 50 beds instead of the previous requirement of 100 beds," the regulations read. The DRP aims to train post-graduate students in district health systems and hospitals to strengthen healthcare services at the grassroots level. According to the new regulations, once a medical college is granted permission to start PG courses or seats, the course will be treated as recognised for the purpose of registration of qualification for students. This will solve many difficulties faced by students to register their degree after passing postgraduate examinations, Dr Oza said. According to the new regulations, undergraduate medical colleges can start postgraduate courses from the third year now. Previously it was from the fourth year in clinical specialties. Existing or proposed non-teaching hospitals owned and managed by government can start post graduate courses without having undergraduate colleges. This will facilitate government to start post graduate medical colleges in smaller government hospitals/district hospitals, Dr Oza said. There will be a minimum standard requirement document which will prescribe requirement of infrastructure and faculty clinical material etc. for postgraduate institute. All students will have to undergo courses in research methodology, ethics and cardiac life support skills. "For better implementation of these regulations, there is provision of penalty clause which includes monetary penalty, reduction in number of seats( admission capacity) or complete stoppage of admissions," the regulations stated. Harike (PB), Jan 7 (PTI) Around 40,000 to 50,000 migratory birds are estimated to have arrived at Punjab's Harike wetland so far. The arrival of avian guests was late this season because of the delay in onset of the winter season. The Harike wetland, which is north India's largest wetland, spreads over 86 square kilometres in the Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Kapurthala districts of Punjab. It serves as a habitat to rare species of migratory water birds during the winter season. The wetland is located on the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers. Migratory birds of around 90 species from different countries, including Siberia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Russia and other parts of the world arrive at the Harike wetland every year after water bodies get frozen at their native places in winter. Winged birds which arrive at the Harike wetland stay till March and April. "Around 40,000 to 50,000 migratory birds are estimated to have arrived at Harike," said Gitanjali Kanwar, coordinator, World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) India. The exact number of the arrival of migratory birds will be known after the census exercise of water birds is conducted this month, she further said. Migratory birds usually start coming in September but this season, they started arriving in November, said Kanwar, attributing the delay to the late commencement of the winter season. The number of migratory birds is expected to rise further in the coming days, she said. At the Harike wetland, species like greylag geese, coots, gadwall, northern pintail, common teal, common pochard, northern shoveler, godwits, redshank, spoonbills and painted storks have arrived. We expect pochard and ducks to come in more numbers, she added. Meanwhile, district forest and wildlife officer (Ferozepur range) Lakhwinder Singh said teams have been deputed for undertaking round-the-clock patrolling at Harike to check poaching of migratory birds. More than 65,000 migratory birds from different countries arrived in 2023, which was almost 12 per cent lesser than the number of winged guests that arrived in 2021. There was no census of migratory birds in 2022 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 74,869 migratory birds of 88 different species arrived in 2021 while the number of winged visitors was 91,025 with 90 species in 2020 at the Harike wetland. There were 94,771 birds of 94 species and 1,23,128 birds of 83 species in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Apart from the Harike wetland, Punjab has five more protected wetlands - Keshopur Miani wetland, Nangal wetland, Ropar wetland, Kanjli wetland and Beas river wetland. Besides these, the Ranjit Sagar Dam conservation reserve has been recognised as a national wetland. PTI CHS VSD MNK -- MNK MNK Shahjahanpur (UP), Jan 7 (PTI) A government school teacher here has weaned 40 nomadic tribe children from the practice of begging and successfully enrolled them in a school. Sita Trivedi, a primary school teacher of Bajhera village, personally visited the houses of the children belonging to the Kalabaj community and convinced their parents to send their wards to a school. Kalabaj is one of the marginalised nomadic tribes in the state and people of the tribe earn their livelihood as acrobats or by begging. A teacher at Bajhera Primary School since 2019, Trivedi was given the task of conducting a child census a few years ago. When she visited a nearby village for conducting the survey, the locals stopped her from going towards the houses of Kalabaj community. However, she went ahead with her mission. "I was informed that none of the children from Kalbaj household go to school and instead help the family by begging for their livelihood," the teacher told PTI. Trivedi also faced resistance from the Kalabaj elders in her efforts to enrol the children in school. "I visited every house on several occasions and told the elders about the importance of education. I told them stories of children from humble background becoming officers and successful industrialists after getting educated. This had an impact on them and they began sending their children to school," recalled the teacher. "Today 40 children of the Kalabaj community are enrolled in our school," she added. Though she got the children enrolled, Trivedi faced another challenge as students from other communities were not ready to accept them. "I noticed that children of other communities didn't eat mid-day meals with the children of Kalabaj community. I called the parents of other children and urged them to ask their wards to not discriminate with the children of Kalabaj community. The problem was resolved with the support of parents," she said. Trivedi said she often buys clothes and books for these children as their parents do not have enough money. District Magistrate Umesh Pratap Singh lauded the efforts of Trivedi as commendable. "I hope these children will move forward in the interest of the society and get educated. Through efforts like these, the evils of caste-based discrimination will also end," the officer told PTI. Basic Siksha Adhikari (BSA) Ranveer Singh said they have taken note of the efforts made by the teacher. "The efforts made by the teacher are commendable. We hope that such efforts are also made in other schools so that not a single child in the district is kept away from school," said the BSA. Lucknow, Jan 6 (PTI) The BSP will organise public meetings in all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh on January 15 to take stock of the preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The party also plans to launch the 'Behan Ji' app on the occasion of her birthday (January 15). The party intends to connect youth workers with this app, made on the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'NaMo' app. BSP's UP unit chief Vishwanath Pal told PTI on Saturday, "This time on behen Mayawati's birthday, the party is organising public meetings in all 75 districts of the state. In these public meetings, the people of the state will be given information about the various public welfare schemes of the BSP." He said that the party is fully prepared for the Lok Sabha elections to be held in the next two-three months and is organising these public meetings to energise its workers for the elections. When asked whether the party would make any electoral understanding with the 'INDIA' bloc for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Pal said, "Only behen ji (Mayawati) will take any decision in this regard. We are just workers. All the decisions in the party are taken by behen ji." On a question that Mayawati had earlier said she would contest the Lok Sabha elections alone, Pal said, "If our leader has said that our party will contest the elections alone, then all of us party workers will contest the elections alone with full strength and will win." The BSP's state unit president claimed the party is fully prepared to contest elections on all the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state. BSP chief Mayawati had announced in July last year that her party would contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections alone. She had also criticised the NDA as well as the 'INDIA' bloc and alleged that none of them were "friendly" to Dalits and oppressed classes. Meanwhile, sources said the party will also hold a show of strength at district levels on Mayawati's birthday. In this, the popularity of the contenders for the Lok Sabha constituencies will be assessed based on their ability to gather crowds. The BSP and the SP had formed an alliance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The BSP was the bigger gainer with 10 seats, while Akhilesh Yadav's SP had won five seats. On being asked whether he would attend the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony to be held at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, Pal said, "I was born in Ayodhya and am a resident of that place. Since childhood, my mother used to take me in her lap and go to the Ram Janmabhoomi for 'darshan'. "Therefore, it is useless for you to ask me whether I will go to 'Pran Pratistha' or not. When I stay in Ayodhya, I will go for 'darshan' whenever I feel like." He said he is against any kind of politics being done on the Ram Temple issue. He said no political party should do politics of religion. A senior party leader said that Akash Anand, Mayawati's nephew, has become "very active" after she declared him as her successor. According to sources, Akash can get the 'Behan Ji' app launched by Mayawati on January 15. The objective of this app will be to connect such youths with the party, who agree with the party's ideology but do not know much about its policies. At present, the BSP has only one MLA in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. PTI ZIR NAV MNK MNK MNK MNK MNK MNK Jammu, Jan 7 (PTI) Two policemen a suspended constable and a special police officer (SPO) were dismissed from service for prolonged absence from their duties in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district, police said on Sunday. Samba Senior Superintendent of Police Benam Tosh ordered the removal from service of suspended selection grade constable Joginder Singh and disengagement of SPO Bachan Lal on the recommendations of inquiry officers, a police spokesman said. "The stern departmental action of removal/disengagement has been taken after the delinquent personnel did not pay heed to series of signals to resume duties, attendance notices and show cause notices served upon them as also published in newspapers and showed no interest to serve any more in the department. "Moreover, inquiry officers had also recommended their removal, termination in their findings after conducting enquiries under rules," the spokesman said. He said the under-suspension constable has been removed from service in terms of Article 128 of J&K Civil Service Rules, as he had been absenting himself unauthorizedly for the last 10 months. During his absence, he was also involved in a case registered last year at Kathua police station under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act after he was involved in firing and assault at an eatery, the spokesman said. He said SPO Lal has been disengaged on the recommendation of the inquiry officer for being a habitual absentee, remaining absent for six months last year. Silt police were called to an incident involving U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and her ex-husband, Jayson Boebert, on Saturday night, authorities confirmed. In a statement to Colorado Politics on Sunday, the two-term Republican denied punching her ex-husband. This is a sad situation for all that keeps escalating and another reason Im moving," Boebert said in a text message, via a spokesman. "I didnt punch Jayson in the face and no one was arrested. I will be consulting with my lawyer about the false claims he made against me and evaluate all of my legal options. The incident occurred at the Miners Claim restaurant at 740 Main St. in Silt, police said. Silt Police Chief Mike Kite confirmed to The Denver Gazette that Boebert and her ex-husband, Jayson, were involved" and said that there is surveillance video from the restaurant, as well as 911 dispatch records, though that information was not released because Saturday's incident is an ongoing investigation. "We are treating this case no differently than we would anyone else," he said. The eight-person force will be conducting interviews with witnesses and asking for anyone with iPhone video of the incident to contact them, he said, adding there is an incident report. Featured Local Savings Boebert filed for divorce from Jayson Boebert, her then-husband of nearly 18 years, in May, citing "irreconcilable differences." She called the announcement "difficult" and said she doesn't intend to discuss the matter further in public. The divorce was finalized in October. Boebert and Jayson Boebert married in 2005. They have four sons and a grandson. The congresswoman announced last week that she would not seek reelection in the 3rd Congressional District. Instead, she is jumping to Colorado's 4th Congressional District, where she is now one of 11 Republicans running for the seat held by retiring U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, a Windsor Republican serving his fifth term. Anchored by Douglas County, the 4th CD covers Colorado's Eastern Plains and is the state's most reliably Republican district. Prior to her surprise switch, Boebert was facing a competitive primary and general election in the Western Slope-based 3rd CD, where she won reelection in 2022 by fewer than 600 votes. In September, Boebert generated international headlines for weeks after being escorted by security from a performance of "Beetlejuice: The Musical" in Denver for "causing a disturbance." Although the lawmaker initially shrugged it off admitting only to snapping a photo with her cell phone and "laughing and singing too loud!" Boebert later issued an apology after surveillance video obtained by 9News showed her vaping during the performance and wagging her finger at theater staff on the way out. New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday in Ujjain inaugurated a health food street and said that in the coming days, every city will have its own food street to ensure that healthy food reaches to all across the nation. The Minister inaugurated the country's first 'Healthy and Hygienic Food Street', 'Prasadam', at Neelkanth Van, Mahakal Lok in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. Prasadam will connect people in every corner of the country with pure and safe local and traditional food, Mandaviya said. Spread over an area of 939 square metres with a total number of 19 shops, 'Prasadam' offers convenient and culturally rich dining options for the 1-1.5 lakh devotees who visit the Mahakaleshwar Temple daily, the statement said. The food street is designed to provide various facilities including a kids' play area, drinking water facility, CCTV surveillance, parking, public conveniences and seating spaces. In addition to enhancing Ujjain's tourism appeal and preserving its culinary traditions, 'Prasadam' will also contribute to economic growth and community engagement, an official statement said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, State and Minister of State for Public Health and Family Welfare Narendra Shivaji Patel attended the inauguration. Mandaviya said "to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat, it is imperative that the citizens of the nation must be healthy." He further elaborated, "Apart from substantive health infrastructure, healthy food that is hygienic forms a necessary component for good health for a citizen. In the coming days, every city will have its own food street ensuring healthy food reaches all across the nation." The Union Health Minister launched the official website for the 'Healthy and Hygienic Food Street' initiative. He further unveiled a brochure outlining the Standard Operating Procedure for Healthy and Hygienic Food Streets. Mandaviya and Manoj Yadav jointly inaugurated 17 civil works encompassing two Public Health Unit blocks, 54 Chief Minister Sanjeevni Health Clinics and three Integrated Public Health Labs, Emergency Covid response package including 30 beds and wards three Community Health Centres and eight Primary Health Care Centres, a health ministry statement said. Additionally, the Union Health Minister and the Chief Minister also jointly launched the Mannhit app which is an initiative facilitating screening for mental health, it said. Under the National Health Mission, Digital Bhoomi Pujan was completed and various projects were inaugurated. Amritsar, Jan 7 (PTI) Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia Sunday demanded the dismissal of Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains for failing to ensure justice for the three minor girls allegedly sexually abused by a teacher at a government primary school here. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader visited the village in the Majitha area where the school is located and met with the parents of the three girls. He also spoke to women and elders in the village and ensured them of justice. Police have booked the teacher under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A (sexual harassment) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and are looking for him. He has been suspended by the Punjab school education department (primary). Majithia said it was shameful that the education minister had not found it fit to visit the village and console the families. "Harjot Bains does not deserve to be in the chair even for one more day. He should be dismissed forthwith," the SAD leader said. He also targeted Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for not taking note of the action and said the education department has also "failed" the victims. "Shockingly, four days have passed since the case was registered against the teacher, but he is yet to be arrested," Majithia said. "What message are we sending out? That students from the poorer sections of society studying in government schools will not get justice? Is this the Delhi model which is now being implemented in Punjab," he asked. Hyderabad, Jan 7 (PTI) A migrant labourer was killed and 10 others injured after the slab of an under-construction church collapsed in Sangareddy district of Telangana on Sunday, police said. The accident took place in Kohir of the district when a group of workers were laying a slab, they said. Following the mishap, those working above the iron structure fell down even as some labourers who were working below got trapped in the debris, a senior police official said, adding that one of them died. Ten others who were trapped in the debris and injured were pulled out and admitted to a hospital, police said. The project engineer and the contractor have been taken into custody, the official said. Asked about reports that the deceased migrant worker belonged to Myanmar, the official said it is yet to be confirmed. Further investigations are on. Nagpur, Jan 7 (PTI) Two boys who strayed 15 kilometres away from home while chasing kites in Nagpur were traced and reunited with their families, a police official said on Sunday. The boys, in the 10-13 age group, are residents of Tolapar village in Narkhed tehsil and got lost in the jungle while chasing kites on Saturday evening, the Katol police station official said. "After police was alerted, a team found them in Chikhli Maina village, some 15 kilometres away from their home. They have been reunited with their families," he added. Westerly, RI (02891) Today Sun and clouds mixed. High near 50F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Former President Donald Trump urged his supporters Friday evening not to be complacent in the face of a commanding polling lead as he kicked off the sprint to the Iowa caucuses with his first events of the election year. Ten days from now, the people of this state are going to cast the most important vote of your entire lives, Trump told several hundred supporters gathered in Sioux Center. He implored them to turn out on caucus night, warning, Bad things happen when you sit back. Trump held a pair of commit-to-caucus events, one in the far northwest corner of the state on the border with South Dakota and one in north-central Mason City. Hell spend Saturday in Newton in central Iowa before heading to Clinton in the states far east. The visit came the day before the third anniversary of Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob of Trumps supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol as part of a desperate bid to keep him in power after his 2020 election loss. Trump did not acknowledge the date Friday, but railed against the treatment of those who have been jailed for participating in the riot, labeling them hostages and saying it will go down as one of the saddest things in the history of our country. More than 1,230 people have been charged with federal crimes for their participation, including felonies like assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. Trump also asked at one point in Sioux Center whether there was anyone in the friendly room who wasnt planning to vote for him, but then quickly warned them not to raise their hands. Theyre going to say he incited an insurrection, he said to laughs. And over and over, he repeated his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen the same lies that motivated the rioters. Trump also spent much of the night lashing out at President Joe Biden, who earlier Friday delivered a speech warning that Trumps efforts to retake the White House pose a grave threat to the country and democracy. We all know who Donald Trump is, Biden said near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where George Washington and the Continental Army spent a bleak winter nearly 250 years ago. The question we have to answer is: Who are we? Biden said Jan. 6 marked a moment where we nearly lost America lost it all. Trump, who faces 91 criminal charges stemming from his efforts to overturn his loss to Biden and other state and federal cases, continued to argue that it is, instead, Biden who poses the threat. He is a danger to democracy, Trump charged in Mason City. The former president and his campaign have spent months accusing Biden and other Democrats of using the justice system to damage their chief political rival. There is no evidence that Biden has influenced the investigations led by state officials or the Justice Department which has also indicted his son, Hunter Biden, twice. Joe Bidens record is an unbroken streak of weakness, incompetence, corruption, and failure, Trump told the crowd in Sioux Center. Thats why Crooked Joe is staging his pathetic fearmongering campaign event in Pennsylvania today. Trumps team is hoping for a knockout win in Iowa on Jan. 15 that will deny his rivals an opportunity to seize momentum and set the table for him to lock up the nomination by the spring. They also hope to turn out a wave of new voters who have never caucused before in a show of strength ahead of an increasingly likely general election rematch against Biden. You have to get out and vote because it sets the tone. It even sets the tone, frankly, for November, Trump said in Mason City. While he remains far ahead in Iowa and other early state and national polls, Trump also continued to lash out at his top Republican rivals, unleashing some of his most pointed attacks to date against former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who has seen growing support in recent months following a series of well-reviewed debate performances. Trump tried to cast both her and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was once the only rival he criticized, as establishment pawns, alleging they would sell voters out. DeSantis, who has staked his campaign on Iowa, entered the race with sky-high expectations but has struggled to gain traction against Trump. Sadly, the establishment losers and sellouts lagging far behind us in the Republican primary cannot be trusted on taxes, on trade, or anything else, Trump charged. Theyll betray you just like they betrayed me. Haleys campaign has been celebrating Trumps recent attention including a new attack ad arguing it reflects his growing concern that she is gaining on him. DeSantis and Haley needled each other at their own events in Iowa Friday, with DeSantis leaning into his opponents flippant comment about the role of Iowa among the early-voting states. DeSantis, appearing with Texas Rep. Chip Roy and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, hounded Haley for insulting Iowans by suggesting New Hampshire voters could correct the caucus results. Haley, who held morning and evening events in Des Moines, described the comment as good-natured ribbing among early-voting states. She is the former governor of South Carolina, which will vote third. DeSantis, campaigning across central and northeastern parts of the state, also repeatedly told his crowds of about 100 people that Trump failed to follow through with his previous campaign promises and accused the former president of running a campaign all about himself. While Trump last visited Iowa before Christmas, his allies have been fanning out across the state, holding their own events on his behalf. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who are both considered potential vice presidential picks, have been working to get out the vote in recent days, as has his son Eric Trump. Trumps team has repeatedly argued that any margin of victory larger than 12 percentage points would be a historic win in an open caucus. Trump lost the state in 2016 to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz but ultimately won the nomination and the presidency. This time, Trump is facing criminal charges across four separate jurisdictions. But those charges have only solidified his support. Michael Grevengoed, 34, from Doon, Iowa, is planning to caucus for Trump on Jan. 15 and said he isnt concerned about Trumps legal woes. Theyre brought against him, yes, and he may be indicted for them, but I dont think theyre legitimate reasons for him not to be president, he said. In addition to his criminal charges, Trump is also facing efforts to remove him from the ballot over his attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss. The Supreme Court said Friday it would take up the question of whether states can bar him from the ballot. Marj Wichers, who lives in Sioux Center and said her backseat was full of Trump gear she bought for her grandchildren outside the venue, criticized efforts to disqualify him. Hes got to get back in there, said Wichers, after standing in line for four hours to attend the first event. If they dont want to put him on the ballot, Ill write his name down. Wichers, 58, said she works the night shift so she might not be able to caucus on Jan. 15. I think hes going to get in anyway, so Im not too worried about it, she said. (AP) President Joe Biden warned Friday that Donald Trumps efforts to retake the White House in 2024 pose a grave threat to the country, the day before the third anniversary of the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol by then-President Trumps supporters aiming to keep him in power. Speaking near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where George Washington and the Continental Army spent a bleak winter nearly 250 years ago, Biden said that Jan. 6 2021, marked a moment where we nearly lost America lost it all. He said the presidential race a likely rematch with Trump, who is the far and away GOP frontrunner is all about whether American democracy will survive. The speech, the presidents first political event of the election year, was intended to clarify the expected choice for voters this fall. Biden, who reentered political life because he felt he was best capable of defeating Trump in 2020, believes focusing on defending democracy to be central to persuading voters to reject Trump once again. We all know who Donald Trump is, Biden said. The question we have to answer is who are we? Biden, laid out Trumps role in the Capitol attack, as a mob of the Republicans supporters overran the building while lawmakers were counting Electoral College votes that certified Democrat Bidens win. More than 100 police officers were bloodied, beaten and attacked by the rioters who overwhelmed authorities to break into the building. Whats Trump done? Hes called these insurrectionists patriots, Biden said, and he promised to pardon them if he returns to office. He excoriated Trump for glorifying rather than condemning political violence. At least nine people who were at the Capitol that day died during or after the rioting, including several officers who died of suicide, a woman who was shot and killed by police as she tried to break into the House chamber, and three other Trump supporters who authorities said suffered medical emergencies. Biden said that by trying to rewrite the facts of Jan. 6, Trump is trying to steal history the same way he tried to steal the election. Trump, who faces 91 criminal charges stemming from his efforts to overturn his loss to Biden and three other felony cases, argues that Biden and top Democrats are themselves seeking to undermine democracy by using the legal system to thwart the campaign of his chief rival. The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide whether Trump could be kept off the ballot because of his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. Speaking in Iowa Friday, Trump repeated his false claims that he won the 2020 election and his assertion that the Capitol rioters were patriotic, and called the long prison sentences handed down for some offenders whom Trump calls hostages and were convicted of crimes like assaulting police officers on Jan. 6 or seditious conspiracy one of the saddest things. Biden, in his remarks, seized on Trumps grievances and his pledges to get retribution on his political enemies. Donald Trumps campaign is about him, Biden said. Not America. Not you. Donald Trumps campaign is obsessed with the past, not the future. He added: Theres no confusion about who Trump is or what he intends to do. Before his remarks, Biden, joined by his wife Jill, participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Valley Forge National Arch, which honors the troops who camped there from December 1777 to June 1778. He also toured the home that served as Washingtons headquarters. Biden invoked Washingtons decision to resign his commission as the leader of the Continental Army after American independence was won and the painting commemorating that moment that resides in the Capitol Rotunda to cast Trump as unworthy of Washingtons legacy. He could have held onto that power as long as he wanted, Biden said of Washington. But that wasnt the America he and the American troops of Valley Forge had fought for. In America, our leaders dont hold on to power relentlessly. Our leaders return power to the people willingly. Vice President Kamala Harris was headed to South Carolina Saturday, where she too was to address the Jan. 6 riot. On that day, we saw violence, chaos, and lawlessness, even though some so-called leaders still say it was a peaceful protest led by, quote, great patriots, she will say, according to her prepared remarks. Although the chaos of Jan. 6 came down on members of both political parties, it is being remembered in a largely polarized fashion now, like other aspects of political life in a divided country. In the days after the attack, 52% of U.S. adults said Trump bore a lot of responsibility for Jan. 6, according to the Pew Research Center. By early 2022, that had declined to 43%. The number of Americans who said Trump bore no responsibility increased from 24% in 2021 to 32% in 2022. A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll released this week found that about 7 in 10 Republicans say too much is being made of the attack. Just 18% of GOP supporters say that protesters who entered the Capitol were mostly violent, down from 26% in 2021, while 77% of Democrats and 54% of independents say the protesters were mostly violent, essentially unchanged from 2021. Biden said that politics, fear, money have led many Republicans to abandon their criticism of Trump after the Jan. 6 attack. These MAGA voices who know the truth about Trump and Jan. 6th have abandoned the truth and abandoned democracy, Biden said. Theyve made their choice. Now the rest of us Democrats, Independents, mainstream Republicans we have to make our choice. I know mine. And I believe I know Americas. Biden has frequently invoked the dangers of Jan. 6 since his 2021 inauguration on the same Capitol steps where police officers were struggling to battle back rioters just two weeks earlier. On the first anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack, Biden had stood in the Capitols Statuary Hall, a historic spot where the House of Representatives used to meet before the Civil War. On Jan. 6, rioters filled the area, some looking for lawmakers who had run for cover. They werent looking to uphold the will of the people, Biden said of the rioters. They were looking to deny the will of the people. On the second anniversary, Biden presented the nations second-highest civilian award to 12 people who were involved in defending the Capitol during the attack. Fridays appearance included supporters and young people motivated by the attack to get involved in politics, campaign advisers said. (AP) The Supreme Court said Friday it will decide whether former President Donald Trump can be kept off the ballot because of his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss, inserting the court squarely in the 2024 presidential campaign. The justices acknowledged the need to reach a decision quickly, as voters will soon begin casting presidential primary ballots across the country. The court agreed to take up Trumps appeal of a case from Colorado stemming from his role in the events that culminated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Underscoring the urgency, arguments will be held on Feb. 8, during what is normally a nearly monthlong winter break for the justices. The compressed timeframe could allow the court to produce a decision before Super Tuesday on March 5, when the largest number of delegates are up for grabs in a single day, including in Colorado. Trump, speaking at a campaign event in Iowa, said: All I want is fair. I just hope that theyre going to be fair. The court will be considering for the first time the meaning and reach of a provision of the 14th Amendment barring some people who engaged in insurrection from holding public office. The amendment was adopted in 1868, following the Civil War. It has been so rarely used that the nations highest court had no previous occasion to interpret it. Colorados Supreme Court, by a 4-3 vote, ruled last month that Trump should not be on the Republican primary ballot. The decision was the first time the 14th Amendment was used to bar a presidential contender from the ballot. Trump is separately appealing to state court a ruling by Maines Democratic secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, that he was ineligible to appear on that states ballot over his role in the Capitol attack. Both the Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine secretary of states rulings are on hold until the appeals play out. The high courts decision to intervene, which both sides called for, is the most direct involvement in a presidential election since Bush v. Gore in 2000, when a conservative majority effectively decided the election for Republican George W. Bush. Only Justice Clarence Thomas remains from that court. Three of the nine Supreme Court justices were appointed by Trump, though they have repeatedly ruled against him in 2020 election-related lawsuits, as well as his efforts to keep documents related to Jan. 6 and his tax returns from being turned over to congressional committees. At the same time, Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh have been in the majority of conservative-driven decisions that overturned the five-decade-old constitutional right to abortion, expanded gun rights and struck down affirmative action in college admissions. Some Democratic lawmakers have called on Thomas to step aside from the case because of his wifes support for Trumps effort to overturn the results of the election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Thomas is unlikely to agree, and there was every indication Friday that all the justices are participating. Thomas has recused himself from only one other case related to the 2020 election, involving former law clerk John Eastman, and so far the people trying to disqualify Trump havent asked him to recuse. The 4-3 Colorado decision cites a ruling by Gorsuch when he was a federal judge in that state. That Gorsuch decision upheld Colorados move to strike a naturalized citizen from the states presidential ballot because he was born in Guyana and didnt meet the constitutional requirements to run for office. The court found that Trump likewise doesnt meet the qualifications due to his role in the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021. That day, the Republican president had held a rally outside the White House and exhorted his supporters to fight like hell before they walked to the Capitol. The two-sentence provision in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states that anyone who swore an oath to uphold the constitution and then engaged in insurrection against it is no longer eligible for state or federal office. After Congress passed an amnesty for most of the former confederates the measure targeted in 1872, the provision fell into disuse until dozens of suits were filed to keep Trump off the ballot this year. Only the one in Colorado was successful. Trump had asked the court to overturn the Colorado ruling without even hearing arguments. The Colorado Supreme Court decision would unconstitutionally disenfranchise millions of voters in Colorado and likely be used as a template to disenfranchise tens of millions of voters nationwide, Trumps lawyers wrote. They argue that Trump should win on many grounds, including that the events of Jan. 6 did not constitute an insurrection. Even if it did, they wrote, Trump himself had not engaged in insurrection. They also contend that the insurrection clause does not apply to the president and that Congress must act, not individual states. Critics of the former president who sued in Colorado agreed that the justices should step in now and resolve the issue, as do many election law experts. This case is of utmost national importance. And given the upcoming presidential primary schedule, there is no time to wait for the issues to percolate further. The Court should resolve this case on an expedited timetable, so that voters in Colorado and elsewhere will know whether Trump is indeed constitutionally ineligible when they cast their primary ballots, lawyers for the Colorado plaintiffs told the Supreme Court. The issue of whether Trump can be on the ballot is not the only matter related to the former president or Jan. 6 that has reached the high court. The justices last month declined a request from special counsel Jack Smith to swiftly take up and rule on Trumps claims that he is immune from prosecution in a case charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 presidential election, though the issue could be back before the court soon depending on the ruling of a Washington-based appeals court. And the court has said that it intends to hear an appeal that could upend hundreds of charges stemming from the Capitol riot, including against Trump. (AP) The longtime head of the National Rifle Association said Friday he is resigning, just days before the start of a civil trial over allegations he treated himself to millions of dollars in private jet flights, yacht trips, African safaris and other extravagant perks at the powerful gun rights organizations expense. Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president and chief executive officer, said his departure is effective Jan. 31. The trial is scheduled to start Monday in New York Attorney General Letitia James lawsuit against him, the NRA and two others whove served as executives. LaPierre was in court this week for jury selection and is expected to testify at the trial. The NRA said it will continue to fight the lawsuit, which could result in a further shakeup of its leadership and the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee its finances. With pride in all that we have accomplished, I am announcing my resignation from the NRA, LaPierre said in a statement released by the organization, which said he was exiting for health reasons. Ive been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life, and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever. James, a Democrat, heralded LaPierres resignation as an important victory in our case and confirmed the trial will go on as scheduled. His exit validates our claims against him, but it will not insulate him or the NRA from accountability, James said in a statement. Andrew Arulanandam, a top NRA lieutenant who has served as LaPierres spokesperson, will assume his roles on an interim basis, the organization said. LaPierre, 74, has led the NRA s day-to-day operations since 1991, acting as the face and vehement voice of its gun-rights agenda and becoming one of the most influential figures in shaping U.S. gun policy. He once warned of jack-booted government thugs seizing guns, brought in movie star Charlton Heston to serve as the organizations president, and condemned gun control advocates as opportunists who exploit tragedy for gain. In one example of the NRAs evolution under LaPierre, after the Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colorado, in 1998, the NRA signaled support for expanded background checks for gun purchases. But after a gunman killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, LaPierre repudiated background checks and called for armed guards in every school. He blamed video games, lawmakers and the media for the carnage, remarking: The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. The post-Sandy Hook apocalyptic speech was kind of the talismanic moment when, for him and the NRA, there was no going back, Robert Spitzer, a political science professor at the State University of New York-Cortland and author of several books on gun politics. The NRA remains a strong political force, with Republican presidential hopefuls flocking to its annual convention last year. In recent years, though, the organization has been beset by financial troubles, dwindling membership, and infighting among its 76-member board along with lingering questions about LaPierres leadership and spending. After reporting a $36 million deficit in 2018, fueled mostly by misspending, the NRA cut back on longstanding programs that had for decades been core to its mission, including training and education, recreational shooting and law enforcement initiatives. In 2021, the organization filed for bankruptcy and sought to incorporate in Texas instead of New York, where it was founded as a nonprofit charity in 1871 but a judge rejected the move, saying it was a transparent attempt to duck James lawsuit. (LaPierre) is, more that any other single person, responsible for putting the NRA in the dumpster situation it is right now, Spitzer said. Gun control advocates lauded LaPierres resignation, mocking his oft-repeated talking point in the wake of myriad mass shootings over the years. Thoughts and prayers to Wayne LaPierre, said Kris Brown, president of the gun-control advocacy group Brady: United Against Gun Violence. Hes going to need them to be able to sleep at night. Wayne LaPierre spent three decades peddling the Big Lie that more guns make us safer all at the expense of countless lives. He has blood on his hands, and I wont miss him. Another advocacy group, March For Our Lives, said that when it was founded in 2018 after a mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school, the NRA was an untouchable and seemingly all-powerful political juggernaut. Months later, the group sent a letter to the New York attorney generals office raising questions about alleged financial misdeeds involving NRA executives, including LaPierre. The letter sparked the investigation that led to James lawsuit. All it took was some meddling kids and a whole lot of determination to take down one of the largest and most powerful lobbying machines in American history, March for Our Lives said in a statement. James sued LaPierre and three co-defendants NRA general counsel John Frazer, retired finance chief Wilson Phillips and LaPierres ex-chief of staff Joshua Powell in 2020, alleging they cost the organization tens of millions of dollars from questionable expenditures including lucrative consulting contracts for ex-employees, and gifts for friends and vendors. LaPierre is accused of setting himself up with a $17 million contract with the NRA if he were to exit the organization, and spending NRA money on travel consultants, luxury car services, and private flights for himself and his family including more than $500,000 on eight trips to the Bahamas over a three-year span. As punishment, James is asking that LaPierre and the other defendants be ordered to pay the NRA back and that they be banned from serving in leadership positions of any charitable organizations conducting business in New York, which would bar them from any NRA involvement. Powell, who wrote of staggering waste and corruption in his 2020 book Inside the NRA, settled with James office late Friday. He agreed to testify at the trial, pay the NRA $100,000 and forgo further nonprofit involvement. Frazer and Phillips have denied wrongdoing. Defending himself in prior testimony, LaPierre said that cruising the Bahamas on a vendors 108-foot (33-meter) yacht was a security retreat because he was facing threats after the Sandy Hook and Parkland shootings. LaPierre also took steps to purchase a $6.5 million safe house for him and his wife in Texas through the NRA after the Parkland shooting, but the deal fell through, the lawsuit said. LaPierre conceded not reporting the yacht trips on conflict-of-interest forms, testifying: Its one of the mistakes Ive made. Some expenses related to the trips were covered by the NRA, the lawsuit said. Phillip Journey, an ex-NRA board member who clashed with LaPierre and is expected to testify at the New York trial, said LaPierres resignation doesnt resolve open questions before the court or fix persistent rot within the organization. Honestly, the grifters are a snake with many heads and this is just one, said Journey, a Kansas judge who is running to rejoin the NRA board. Journey also testified at the NRAs bankruptcy trial in Texas and said he anticipates there is enough evidence for the James to prove her case. Its a tragic end to a career that had many high points, Journey said of LaPierre stepping down. Its one of his own making. (AP) Members of far-right extremist groups. Former police officers. An Olympic gold medalist swimmer. And active duty U.S. Marines. They are among the hundreds of people who have been convicted in the massive prosecution of the Jan 6, 2021, riot in the three years since the stunned nation watched the U.S. Capitol attack unfold on live TV. Washingtons federal courthouse remains flooded with trials, guilty plea hearings and sentencings stemming from what has become the largest criminal investigation in American history. And the hunt for suspects is far from over. We cannot replace votes and deliberation with violence and intimidation, Matthew Graves, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, told reporters on Thursday. Authorities are still working to identify more than 80 people wanted for acts of violence at the Capitol and to find out who placed pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic national committees offices the day before the Capitol attack. And they continue to regularly make new arrests, even as some Jan. 6 defendants are being released from prison after completing their sentences. The cases are playing out at the same courthouse where Donald Trump is scheduled to stand trial in March in the case accusing the former president of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the run-up to the Capitol attack. The Justice Department will hold all Jan. 6 perpetrators at any level accountable under the law, whether they were present that day or otherwise criminally responsible for the assault on our democracy, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Friday. He said the cases filed by Graves and the special counsel in Trumps federal case, Jack Smith, show the department is abiding by the long-standing norms to ensure independence and integrity or our investigations. A look at where the cases against the Jan. 6 defendants stand: BY THE NUMBERS More than 1,230 people have been charged with federal crimes in the riot, ranging from misdemeanor offenses like trespassing to felonies like assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. Roughly 730 people have pleaded guilty to charges, while another roughly 170 have been convicted of at least one charge at a trial decided by a judge or a jury, according to an Associated Press database. Only two defendants have been acquitted of all charges, and those were trials decided by a judge rather than a jury. About 750 people have been sentenced, with almost two-thirds receiving some time behind bars. Prison sentences have ranged from a few days of intermittent confinement to 22 years in prison. The longest sentence was handed down to Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys national chairman who was convicted of seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors described as a plot to stop the transfer of power from Trump, a Republican, to Joe Biden, a Democrat. Many rioters are already out of prison after completing their sentences, including some defendants who engaged in violence. Scott Fairlamb a New Jersey man who punched a police officer during the riot and was the first Jan. 6 defendant to be sentenced for assaulting law enforcement was released from Bureau of Prisons custody in June. ALL EYES ON THE SUPREME COURT Defense attorneys and prosecutors are closely watching a case that will soon be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court that could impact hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants. The justices agreed last month to hear one rioters challenge to prosecutors use of the charge of obstruction of an official proceeding, which refers to the disruption of Congress certification of Bidens 2020 presidential election victory over Trump. More than 300 Jan. 6 defendants have been charged with the obstruction offense, and so has Trump in the federal case brought by special counsel Jack Smith. Lawyers representing rioters have argued the charge was inappropriately brought against Jan. 6 defendants. The justices will hear arguments in March or April, with a decision expected by early summer. But their review of the obstruction charge is already having some impact on the Jan. 6 prosecutions. At least two defendants have convinced judges to delay their sentencings until after the Supreme Court rules on the matter. RIOTERS ON THE LAM Dozens of people believed to have assaulted law enforcement during the riot have yet to be identified by authorities, according to Graves. And the statute of limitations for the crimes is five years, which means they would have to be charged by Jan. 6, 2026, he said. Several defendants have also fled after being charged, including a Proud Boys member from Florida who disappeared while he was on house arrest after he was convicted of using pepper spray gel on police officers. Christopher Worrell, who spent weeks on the lam, was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in prison. The FBI is still searching for some defendants who have been on the run for months, including a brother-sister pair from Florida. Olivia Pollock disappeared shortly before her trial was supposed to begin in March. Her brother, Jonathan Pollock, is also missing. The FBI has offered a reward of up to $30,000 for information leading to the arrest of Jonathan Pollock, who is accused of thrusting a riot shield into an officers face and throat, pulling an officer down steps and punching others. Another defendant, Evan Neumann, fled the U.S. two months after his December 2021 indictment and is believed to be living in Belarus. WHAT ABOUT THE PIPE BOMBER? One of the biggest remaining mysteries surrounding the riot is the identity of the person who placed two pipe bombs outside the offices of the Republican and Democratic national committees the day before the Capitol attack. Last year, authorities increased the reward to up to $500,000 for information leading to the persons arrest. It remains unclear whether there was a connection between the pipe bombs and the riot. Investigators have spent thousands of hours over the last three years doing interviews and combing through evidence and tips from the public, said David Sundberg, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. We urge anyone who may have previously hesitated to come forward or who may not have realized they had important information to contact us and share anything relevant, he said in an emailed statement on Thursday. The explosive devices were placed outside the two buildings between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2021, but officers didnt find them until the next day. Authorities were called to the Republican National Committees office around 12:45 p.m. on Jan. 6. Shortly after, a call came in for a similar explosive device found at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. The bombs were rendered safe, and no one was hurt. Video released by the FBI shows a person in a gray hooded sweatshirt, a face mask and gloves appearing to place one of the explosives under a bench outside the DNC and separately shows the person walking in an alley near the RNC before the bomb was placed there. The person wore black and light gray Nike Air Max Speed Turf sneakers with a yellow logo. (AP) Senior Biden administration leaders, top Pentagon officials and members of Congress were unaware for days that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been hospitalized since Monday, U.S. officials said Saturday, as questions swirled about his condition and the secrecy surrounding it. The Pentagon did not inform the White House National Security Council or top adviser Jake Sullivan of Austins hospitalization at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, until Thursday, according to two administration officials. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The Pentagons failure to disclose Austins hospitalization for days reflects a stunning lack of transparency about his illness, how serious it was and when he may be released. Such secrecy, at a time when the United States is juggling myriad national security crises, runs counter to normal practice with the president and other senior U.S. officials and Cabinet members. Still, President Joe Biden spoke with Austin on Saturday, and expressed confidence in him, according to a White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly about internal discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity. In a statement issued Saturday evening, Austin took responsibility for the delays in notification. I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better, said Austin, acknowledging the concerns about transparency. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure. Austin, 70, remained hospitalized due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure, his press secretary said, as it became increasingly clear how closely the Pentagon held information about his stay at Walter Reed. In his statement, Austin said he is on the mend and is looking forward to returning to the Pentagon soon, but he provided no other details about his ailment. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the White House and the Joint Chiefs of Staff were notified about Austins hospitalization, but he would not confirm when that notice happened. A number of U.S. officials said Saturday that many of the most senior Pentagon service leaders were unaware until Friday that Austin was in the hospital. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. Politico was the first to report the White House learned of his condition on Thursday. Ryder said members of Congress were told late Friday afternoon, and other officials said lawmakers were informed after 5 p.m. It was not clear when key senior members of Austins staff were told, but across the Pentagon, many staff found out when the department released a statement about Austins hospital stay just minutes after 5 p.m. Many believed Austin was out on vacation for the week. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who took over when Austin was hospitalized, was also away. A U.S. official said she had a communications setup with her in Puerto Rico that allowed her to do the job while Austin, who spent 41 years in the military and retired as a four-star Army general in 2016, was incapacitated. Ryder said Saturday that Austin is recovering well and resumed his full duties Friday evening from his hospital bed. Asked why the hospital stay was kept secret for so long, Ryder said on Friday that it was an evolving situation, and that due to privacy and medical issues, the Pentagon did not make Austins absence public. Ryder declined to provide any other details about Austins medical procedure or health. The Department of Defense deliberately withheld the Secretary of Defenses medical condition for days. That is unacceptable, said Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee. We are learning more every hour about the Departments shocking defiance of the law. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, also criticized the delayed notice. The Secretary of Defense is the key link in the chain of command between the president and the uniformed military, including the nuclear chain of command, when the weightiest of decisions must be made in minutes, said Cotton in a statement, adding that if Austin didnt immediately tell the White House, there must be consequences for this shocking breakdown. The Pentagon Press Association, which represents media members who cover the Defense Department, sent a letter of protest on Friday evening to Ryder and Chris Meagher, the assistant defense secretary for public affairs. The fact that he has been at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for four days and the Pentagon is only now alerting the public late on a Friday evening is an outrage, the PPA said in its letter. At a time when there are growing threats to U.S. military service members in the Middle East and the U.S. is playing key national security roles in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, it is particularly critical for the American public to be informed about the health status and decision-making ability of its top defense leader. Other senior U.S. leaders have been much more transparent about hospital stays. When Attorney General Merrick Garland went in for a routine medical procedure in 2022, his office informed the public a week in advance and outlined how long he was expected to be out and when he would return to work. Austins hospitalization comes as Iranian-backed militias have repeatedly launched drones, missiles and rockets at bases where U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq and Syria, leading the Biden administration to strike back on a number of occasions. Those strikes often involve sensitive, top-level discussions and decisions by Austin and other key military leaders. The U.S. is also the chief organizer behind a new international maritime coalition using ships and other assets to patrol the southern Red Sea to deter persistent attacks on commercial vessels by Houthi militants in Yemen. In addition, the administration, particularly Austin, has been at the forefront of the effort to supply weapons and training to Ukraine, and hes also been communicating frequently with the Israelis on their war against Hamas. (AP) China announced sanctions Sunday on five American defense-related companies in response to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and U.S sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals. The sanctions will freeze any property the companies have in China and prohibit organizations and individuals in China from doing business with them, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted online. It was unclear what impact, if any, the sanctions would have on the companies, BAE Systems Land and Armaments, Alliant Techsystems Operations, AeroVironment, Viasat and Data Link Solutions. Such sanctions are often mostly symbolic as American defense contractors generally dont sell to China. The Foreign Ministry said the U.S. moves harmed Chinas sovereignty and security interests, undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and violated the rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals. The Chinese government remains unwavering in our resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens, the ministry statement said. The announcement was made less than a week ahead of a presidential election in Taiwan that is being contested in large part over how the government should manage its relationship with China, which claims the self-governing island as its territory and says it must come under its rule. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not specify which arms deal or which U.S. sanctions China was responding to, though spokesperson Wang Wenbin had warned three weeks ago that China would take countermeasures following the U.S. governments approval of a $300 million military package for Taiwan in December. The deal includes equipment, training and equipment repair to maintain Taiwans command, control and military communications capabilities. The U.S. said the sale would support the modernization of Taiwans armed forces and the maintenance of a credible defense. The proposed sale will improve the recipients capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing operational readiness, a news release from the Pentagons Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. Taiwan is a major flashpoint in U.S.-China relations that analysts worry could explode into military conflict between the two powers. China says that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are interference in its domestic affairs. The Chinese military regularly sends fighter planes and ships into and over the waters around Taiwan, in part to deter the islands government from declaring formal independence. An invasion doesnt appear imminent, but the constant military activity serves as a reminder that the threat is ever-present. The U.S. switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, but it is bound by its own laws to ensure that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself. America and its allies sail warships through the Taiwan Strait, a 160-kilometer (100-mile) -wide waterway that separates the island from China. (AP) Former President Donald Trump, campaigning in Iowa Saturday, marked the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol by casting the migrant surge on the southern border as the real insurrection. Just over a week before the Republican nomination process begins with Iowas kickoff caucuses, Trump did not explicitly acknowledge the date. But he continued to claim that countries have been emptying jails and mental institutions to fuel a record number of migrant crossings, even though there is no evidence that is the case. When you talk about insurrection, what theyre doing, thats the real deal. Thats the real deal. Not patriotically and peacefully peacefully and patriotically, Trump said, quoting from his speech on Jan. 6, before a violent mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol as part of a desperate bid to keep him in power after his 2020 election loss. Trumps remarks in Newton in central Iowa came a day after Biden delivered a speech near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where he cast Trump as a grave threat to democracy and called Jan. 6 a day when we nearly lost America lost it all. With a likely rematch of the 2020 election looming, both Biden and Trump have frequently invoked Jan. 6 on the campaign trail. Trump, who is under federal indictment for his efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Biden, has consistently downplayed or spread conspiracy theories about a riot in which his supporters spurred by his lies about election fraud tried to disrupt the certification of Bidens win. Trump also continued to bemoan the treatment of those who have been jailed for participating in the riot, again labeling them hostages. More than 1,230 people have been charged with federal crimes connected to the violence, including assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. They ought to release the J6 hostages. Theyve suffered enough, he said in Clinton, in the states far east. Release the J6 hostages, Joe. Release em, Joe. You can do it real easy, Joe, he said. Trump was holding the commit-to-caucus events just over a week before voting will begin on Jan. 15. He arrived at his last event nearly three-and-a-half hours late due to what he said was a mechanical issue with a rented plane. After Trump spoke in Newton, he signed hats and other items people in the crowd passed to him, including a copy of a Playboy magazine that featured him on the cover. One man in the crowd, Dick Green, was standing about 15 feet away, weeping after the former president autographed his white Trump Country hat and shook his hand. Itll never get sold. It will be in my family, Green said of the hat. A caucus captain and a pastor in Brighton, Iowa, Green said he had prayed for four years to meet Trump. Ill never forget it, he said. Its just the beginning of his next presidency. Trump spent much of the day assailing Biden, casting him as incompetent and the real threat to democracy. But he also attacked fellow Republicans, including the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona, whose no vote derailed GOP efforts to repeal former President Barack Obamas signature healthcare law. John McCain, for some reason, couldnt get his arm up that day, said Trump of McCain, who was shot down over Vietnam in 1967 and spent 5 years as a prisoner of war. The injuries he suffered left him unable to lift his arms over his head for the rest of his life. His daughter, Meghan McCain, responded on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, calling Trump an expletive and her father an American hero. Earlier Saturday, Trump courted young conservative activists in Des Moines, speaking to members of Run GenZ, an organization that encourages young conservatives to run for office. Trumps campaign is hoping to turn out thousands of supporters who have never caucused before as part of a show of force aimed at denying his rivals momentum and demonstrating his organizing prowess heading into the general election. His chief rivals, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, were also campaigning in the state as they battle for second place in hopes of emerging as the most viable alternative to Trump, who is leading by wide margins in early state and national polls. Trump has used the trip to step up his attacks against Haley, who has been gaining ground. He again cast her Saturday as insufficiently conservative and a globalist beholden to Wall Street donors, and accused her of being disloyal for running against him. Nikki will sell you out just like she sold me out, he charged. On Friday, Trump had highlighted several recent Haley statements that drew criticism, including her comment that voters in New Hampshire correct Iowas mistakes (You dont have to be corrected, he said) and her failure to mention slavery when asked what had caused the Civil War. I dont know if its going to have an impact, but you know like slaverys sort of the obvious answer as opposed to her three paragraphs of bulls, he told a crowd Friday. In Newton, he said that he was fascinated by the horrible war, which he suggested he could have prevented. Its so fascinating, he said. Its just different. I just find it Im so attracted to seeing it So many mistakes were made. See that was something I think could have been negotiated, to be honest with you. Haleys campaign has pointed to his escalating attention, including a new attack ad, as evidence Trump is worried about her momentum. God bless President Trump, hes been on a temper tantrum every day about me and everything hes saying is not true, Haley told a crowd Saturday in North Liberty, Iowa. (AP) JOIN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS WHO ALREADY ARE ALERTED OF BREAKING NEWS LIKE THIS IN LIVE TIME: YWN WHATSAPP STATUS UPDATES: CLICK HERE to join the YWN WhatsApp Status. YWN WHATSAPP GROUPS: CLICK HERE to be added to an official YWN WhatsApp Group. MAKE SURE TO CHECK THIS PAGE FREQUENTLY AS UPDATES WILL BE PUBLISHED IN LIVE TIME THERE IS NO NEED TO REFRESH THIS PAGE AS UPDATES WILL APPEAR AUTOMATICALLY (YWN World Headquarters NYC) IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced that the IDF has successfully dismantled Hamass military infrastructure in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. There are no shortcuts when it comes to fighting terror, Hagari remarked, noting the three months it took to neutralize Hamas in the northern region and prevent large-scale attacks. We have completed dismantling the military framework of Hamas in the northern part of the Strip, and we will continue to deepen the achievement, strengthen the barrier and defenses on the border, Hagari stated. However, he cautioned that sporadic rocket fire from these areas might continue. Hagari also mentioned that the IDFs current focus is on dismantling Hamass operations in central and southern Gaza. We will do it in a different method, in a thorough way, based on the lessons we learned from the fighting until now, he said. He described the refugee camps in central Gaza as dense and full of terrorists, and Khan Younis as having an underground city of branching tunnels. The IDF spokesman projected that the operations would continue throughout 2024, with a strategic plan to dismantle Hamas in central and southern Gaza. We are working according to a plan to achieve the goals of the war: to dismantle Hamas in the center and south, and continue all efforts, intelligence, operational, and military pressure, to return the hostages, he explained. Additionally, Hagari said that the IDF is constructing new defenses along the Gaza border to facilitate the return of residents displaced since October 7. Hagari also unveiled a photo of Mohammed Deif, the commander of Hamass military wing, which was found among approximately 70 million digital files recovered by the IDF in Gaza. The photo, showing Deif with a plastic cup in one hand and dollar bills in the other, discredits prior beliefs about his physical condition, as it contradicts the long-held notion that he is an amputee and nearly paralyzed. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Al Thani held a meeting with the families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, who traveled to Doha on Friday in an attempt to restart talks regarding the release of their loved ones from the Gaza Strip. Thani mentioned that the discussions with Hamas had become more complicated due to the recent killing of the groups deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri and other senior members in Beirut. Following Arouris assassination, Hamas reportedly suspended negotiations via Qatar and Egypt. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had stated earlier that talks for the hostages release were still ongoing. According to Axios, the Qatari PM informed the visiting families that it is more difficult to talk to Hamas after what happened in Beirut. The families of the six Israeli hostages met with Qatari Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, who leads the Qatari negotiations team, and later with the Qatari premier during their visit to Doha. Qatar had previously played a role in brokering the release of 105 hostages during a weeklong truce in late November, but 132 hostages taken on October 7 by Hamas-led terrorists remain in the Palestinian enclave, with not all of them confirmed to be alive. Qatar and Egypt have been working to facilitate a new agreement that could lead to the release of several hostages in exchange for a cessation of hostilities. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) An Arab-Israeli man was killed in a shooting attack on Route 465 in the West Bank, between the settlements of Eli and Ofra, in a terror attack. It appears the terrorists shot at the vehicle thinking it was a Jewish-owned vehicle, and instead murdered an Arab. The victim was identified as 35-year-old Ammar Mansour of the Beit Hanina neighborhood. He was pronounced dead on the scene by MDA Paramedics. A manhunt was underway for the Palestinian terrorists who fled the scene. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Two Police officers sustained minor injuries in a car-ramming terror attack on Sunday evening at an East Jerusalem checkpoint, located near the Palestinian town of Biddu. The terrorist was promptly neutralized by Border Police officers. A 3-year-old Arab child was also killed mistakenly by IDF soldiers firing at the terrorist carrying out the attack. According to United Hatzolah, its paramedics were treating a 20-year-old woman who was lightly wounded in the ramming attack when a 3-year-old child was brought to them in critical condition, though the childs injuries were not specified. Following valiant resuscitation attempts, the paramedics were forced to declare her dead. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The decisive drashah of Hagaon Harav Aryeh Leib Shapira, shlita, Mashgiach of the Ponevezh Yeshiva, addressing one hundred talmidei chachamim, Shas Yiden, and their relatives who participated in the joyous annual Siyum HaShas, after they were tested by Hagaon Harav Chaim Peretz Berman, shlita, and Hagaon Harav Bunim Schreiber, shlita A fundamental lesson for every parent and mechanech. * With the permission of the Torah luminary, a man whose vision has created many great things, the Pozna Rov, Hagaon Harav Avrohom HaLevi Eisen, shlita. At the outset, I would like to extend a special blessing to the esteemed Rebbetzin, who stands behind the Pozna Rov, and helps and supports his endeavors to proliferating true talmidei chachamim. I want to share a story that I heard from the Rov of Yerushalayim, Hagaon Harav Betzalel Zolty, ztl. From it, youll understand how much gratitude and honor are due to the esteemed Rebbetzin. After the Rogatchover Gaon was niftar, a dispute arose between the community members of Dvinsk, where he served as the Rov of the Chassidic community, and the Rebbetzin, the widow of the Rov, ztl. The size of Dvinsk was approximately like the size of Gan Varsha in Bnei Brak and the Rogatchover wasnt even the Rav of the entire city, only of the Chassidic community. Nevertheless, he was considered Rabban Shel Kol Bnei Hagolah, and his fame spread far and wide across the Jewish world. Accordingly, the community members gave him a suitable salary fitting for the Rabban Shel Kol Bnei Hagolah, a generous salary in proportion to what was customarily given to a Rov of such a small community. But after his petirah, the members of the community argued that indeed, the Rogatchover was the Rabban Shel Kol Bnei Hagolah, and therefore they needed to give him a salary accordingly. However, they claimed, the Rebbetzin is not the Gaon of the generation. Therefore, they claimed, we should only need to give her what we would give to any other Rovs widow, not as the widow of a leading Gaon. This question was brought before the Gedolim of that generation and it even reached the doorstep of Hagaon Harav Chaim Ozer Grodzensky, ztl. Reb Chaim Ozer didnt need much deliberation to give a psak; he responded immediately and said unequivocally: A wife of a talmid chacham is like her husband. Being that he was the Gadol Hador, therefore, she is also the great like the Gadol Hador. He was the Rabban Shel Kol Bnei Hagolah, and she, the Rebbetzin, is also the Rebbetzin Shel Kol Bnei Hagolah, and therefore, she deserves the expanded allowance, as what her husband received! From here, we must draw the necessary conclusion regarding the esteemed Rebbetzin, tlita, the wife of the honored Rov, who took a part in Torah that nobody has been able to claim since the times of Rabi Akiva and his talmidim. Blessed are you that you have merited to have a part in such outstanding talmidei chachamim. You have a hundred talmidei chachamim, a hundred children, and each one of them knows the entire Shas. ** Morai vRabbosai, It is hard for me to speak before you. I will own up, without any shame. During last Chol Hamoed Sukkos, my family members entered the sukkah and found me sitting there and crying. They asked me, Why are you crying? And I replied to them that I had just seen documentation from your previous tests, of Shas Yiden. I witnessed how you are fluent with the entire Shas as if its in the palm of your hands, and I cried deeply. Now I sit here, hearing you being tested again on the entire Shas, feeling ashamed and embarrassed, witnessing your tremendous knowledge, your broad and clear erudition of Shas. It reminded me of an incident I heard about 35 years ago from the Sar HaTorah, Hagaon Harav Michel Zilber, shlita. I used to deliver sichos in the Itri Yeshiva. I would arrive at the yeshiva for the second Seder, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. I saw Harav Michel Zilber enter his room at four oclock, with a small tape recorder and three cassettes, sixty minutes each. At 7 p.m., he left his room with three tapes containing three shiurim on three dapim, on the second part of Maseches Yevamos. This was when Kol HaDaf was being set up. They started with the recorded shiurim of Maseches Yevamos, and Harav Michel Zilber recorded them in the yeshiva during the afternoon Seder. I stood there, astonished, and I asked him, Reb Michel, you dont know me, but this is the second time Ive seen you enter your room, for three hours, and you leave with three shiurim on three daf of Maseches Yevamos! Without any hesitation or pause, you deliver shiurim on three daf so smoothly. How do you do that? What is your secret? Rav Michel told me his secret, and now I will share it with you. It was many years ago, he said, I was a maggid shiur at Itri. I was a maggid shiur in the mechina class ahead of the yeshiva, during the afternoon Seder. Not a position requiring extensive Torah knowledge. There was once a wedding in Tel Aviv, and all the staff members traveled to attend the wedding. We traveled in a taxi with seven seats, and I had the privilege of traveling with all the gaonim of Itri: Hagaon Harav Simcha Schiff, Hagaon Harav Chaim Brand, Hagaon Harav Mordechai Elefant, Hagaon Harav Shmuel Auerbach, and others. I was the youngest, so I sat in the back For two hours, we drove to Tel Aviv, and all the way, they discussed a topic I had never known existed in Torah During those two hours, I felt crushed, Rav Michel told me, when we arrived in Tel Aviv, everyone got out of the taxi, and I, sitting in the back, came out last. I slammed the door of the taxi and shouted to myself: Michel! Shame on you! Go back and learn! And since then, I have not appeared in public! My dear and esteemed friends, Tonight, as I sat before you, the gaonim of Shas Yiddn, I understood and felt what Rav Michel felt back then when they spoke in learning. I understood what built Rav Michel! This embarrassment woe to that embarrassment, woe to that disgrace! But I say to your wives, who are sitting in the nearby hall and listening to these words: you, wives of the gaonim, you merit to have living sifrei Torah in your homes! Not every wife merits to being an aron for a living sefer Torah! But you must know this: your husbands will never be mentioned in the newspaper in fifty years. They will never be seen in public. They have the real thing. Kol haTorah kulo! Fortunate are you, and fortunate is your portion! ** There is nothing more appropriate than holding this remarkable Siyum HaShas, especially after the dreadful Simchas Torah we experienced in Eretz Yisrael, on the day when Hashem turns to us with a call of affection, I and you will rejoice together, the day of which the Ben Ish Chai writes that if a person would know of the kirvas Elokim on Simchas Torah the day of I and you alone they would never leave the beis medrash and not abandon the siddur and the tefillos! And it was on the day of Shabbos Kodesh as well, a day marked by a call of affection of I and you alone, that this terrible decree has befallen us from Heaven, of such magnitude that we have not experienced since the Holocaust. This hit hard within us, striking hundreds of families. It has driven hundreds of thousands into a state where they suffer anxiety and fear. Our brethren in the Negev, in Ofakim, Tifrach, Yerucham, and Dimona, are now wanderers and homeless in their own land, may Hashem have mercy on them. Many children are now without structured educational institutions. But this grand Siyum is the true rectification for the Heavenly demand of us that we are unaware of. But if Hakadosh Baruch Hu struck us on Simchas Torah, then now, with this Siyum, we are doing the requisite tikkun. I will explain: Rabi Shimon bar Yochai says [in the introduction to Eicha Rabasi]: If you see cities uprooted from their place in Eretz Yisrael, what is the reason for this? Chazal say: Go and check whether they pay the melamdim? Do they tend to the students? Check the state of limmud haTorah, as the passuk says: Who is the man so wise that he can understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of Hashem has spoken? Until Hashem Himself explained: Because they have forsaken My Torah. Chazal recount a story following this, that the grandson of Rabbeinu Hakadosh, who once wanted to examine the state of limmud haTorah in Eretz Yisrael. He sent Rav Ami and Rav Asi, instructing them to examine the state of the guards. Guards?! He meant lomdei Torah! They arrived at a city in Eretz Yisrael, and they asked the residents: Where can we find the guardians of the city? Where are the guards? They immediately took them to the soldiers and military personnel. Rav Ami and Rav Asi said to them: Are these the guardians of the city?! These are the neturei karta, the guardians of the city? These are the destroyers of the city! The Radal asks a strong question: How can you say about that soldier who guards the city, that he is destroying the city, what evil has he done that caused the city to be ruined? The Radal says that their intention was that the destroyers of the city were the residents city themselves, if your spontaneous response when asked to see the guardians is the soldiers with weapons and uniforms, then you will, unfortunately, deserve the passuk, Cursed is the man who places his trust in man. You will end up with my might and the strength of my hand have made all this! And that is considered destruction! The residents are the destroyers of the city because their view of these guards is as the guardians of the city. Chazal tell us the continuation of the story: The residents of the city said to Rav Ami and Rav Asi, Then who are the real guardians of the city? They replied: The lomdei Torah! Even the wicked Haman understood that what saved the Am Yisrael from his decree was limmud haTorah. After scheming a plan that was set to destroy, kill, and annihilate all of Am Yisrael, and then Achashverosh suddenly sends him to Mordechai to parade him on the kings horse through the city streets, Haman understood precisely what happened. He entered the beis medrash, and the first thing he inquired about was what they were learning, what sugya had they successfully defeated him with! They told him they were learning Masheches Menachos. Immediately, the wicked Haman said to them, Your small fistful (of the Mincha) came and overcame my ten thousand talents of silver. Rabbosai, there are people among us, even some who wear hats and jackets, who dont fully believe in this. They have less emunah than Haman had. And apparently, this is a difficult question: How did the wicked Haman truly understand this, while sometimes Torah-observant Jews do not comprehend it to its fullest? The Rosh Yeshiva, Hagaon Harav Aharon Leib Shteinman, ztl, said: The truth is, everyone understands this. Its the simple truth. But there is one thing that can interfere with this understanding: when one goes with his nose in the air, when a person is filled with thoughts of my might and the strength of my hand, he forgets Who really gives him the strength to act. The moment Haman received a blow to his nose, to his ego, and went around with his nose downwards, this reality was already clear to him, and he had no doubt about what caused Am Yisrael to be able to defeat him. We received a serious blow on the nose on Simchas Torah, and we now understand that it was not even a situation of false confidence in the guards, but rather there were no guards at all! For 75 years we have been here in Eretz Yisrael, and there is no guard. Hakadosh Baruch Hu Himself guards us and protects us from those who seek our harm. ** I would to go a little deeper. Theres a wonderful vort from the Arvei Nachal: The passuk says that Yaakov Avinu laid down to sleep on Har HaMoria, and Hashem folded all of Eretz Yisrael under him. This was a greater miracle than the splitting of the Yam Suf, as the passuk says: The land on which you lie, to you I will give it and to your offspring. Rashi quotes what Chazal say, To you I will give it, what does it mean? That it should be easy for you to conquer. What do we see here? Its indeed a great wonder. Hashem performed a miracle greater than the splitting of the Yam Suf, and its not clear at all for what purpose this miracle was done. Rather, Harav Shach says, Hashem wanted to show and teach us one thing: wherever Yaakov Avinu lies, Yaakov is the pillar of Torah, that is Eretz Yisrael! Where there is Torah, there is Eretz Yisrael; without Torah, we have no right to Eretz Yisrael! And lets return to the words of the Arvei Nachal: Its written in Tanach that the Bnei Yisrael failed to conquer the city of Kiryat Sefer, no matter how many times they tried, they did not succeed. They had already conquered all the other territories, but they did not succeed with Kiryat Sefer. Kalev ben Yefuneh rose and said: Whoever comes and conquers the city of Kiryat Sefer, I will give him my daughter for a wife. Osniel ben Kenaz came, as according to the simple interpretation of the pessukim in the Navi, and he conquered the city, and Kalev ben Yefuneh gave him his daughter. At first glance, it seems from this that Oshniel ben Kenaz was a war hero, a valiant soldier who could strike the enemy with a victorious blow and bring down many casualties. But as you, Shas Yiden, know, the Gemara in Temurah gives us a slightly different account of the story: Many halachos were forgotten on the day of Moshe Rabbeinus petirah, (there are several girsaos in the Gemara regarding the exact number) until Osniel ben Kenaz came and restored them. And when he restored them, Kalev ben Yefuneh gave him his daughter for a wife. Meaning, Osniel ben Kenaz was not at all a military officer, not even a senior officer or a valiant soldier, he was a Rosh Yeshiva! A Shas Yid!!! Through the power of his pilpul, he restored 3,000 halachos and earned the right to marry Kalev ben Yefunehs daughter. The truth is that there is no contradiction between being a war hero and being a gaon in Torah. In our times, indeed, it is a complete contradiction, but in those times, there were generals who were talmidei chachamim. Benayahu ben Yehoyada was the army chief of Shlomo Hamelech. So, its no wonder that Osniel ben Kenaz could both restore 3,000 forgotten halachos and also conquer Kiryat Sefer. But its not clear why Kalev ben Yefuneh gave him his daughter as a wife, was it because he conquered Kiryat Sefer or because he restored 3,000 halachos through his pilpulim? ** The Arvei Nachal in Parashas Vayishlach writes in the second piece: I heard from a certain chacham that the entire creation is subjugated to the Torah. The Torah is the mold that influences and shapes the entire form of the world. If this mold the Torah does not exist, the world has no existence. But even more so, Eretz Yisrael is connected and enveloped in the Torah. Know this, says the Arvei Nachal, every piece of land in Eretz Yisrael is connected to another section in the Torah. The reason why Hakadosh Baruch Hu safeguards and watches over Eretz Yisrael is because all sections of the Torah are studied in the batei medrash; every part of the Torah influences another place in Eretz Yisrael! There were three thousand halachos that were forgotten, and these three thousand halachos were the Torah that corresponded to Kiryat Sefer! And since these halachos were not learned and were missing, there was no possibility of conquering Kiryat Sefer! Until Osniel ben Kenaz came and restored these 3,000 halachos, and thus, the victory in war was achieved. So what actually was Osniel ben Kenaz? A general in Shas Yiden! So it turns out that the simple understanding of the pessukim and the interpretation of Chazal in Maseches Temurah are in total agreement, there is no contradiction between them. In this same vein, the Arvei Nachal explains about what happened with Yehoshua in Ai. They succeeded in conquering everything, and he then said, Now I have come, referring to the missing passage of Torah of that last night, therefore it was impossible to win the war. And what happened after Yehoshua spent that night in the valley? He delved into the depths of halachah, and suddenly the succeeded in the war. The words of the Arvei Nachal are truly Ruach Hakodesh! He further explains why the division of Eretz Yisrael was based on lottery, because there are six hundred thousand Neshamos corresponding to the six hundred thousand letters in the Torah, and each letter in the Torah has a connection to another section in Eretz Yisrael, so therefore each one of Bnei Yisrael needed to receive the part of the land belonging to the root of his Neshamah and his part in the Torah. And who can know this? Only through Ruach Hakodesh can Eretz Yisrael be divided, hence the division was by lots through Ruach Hakodesh. According to the Arvei Nachal, Rashis words are also well understood. Hashem folded the entirety of Eretz Yisrael beneath Yaakov because Yaakov Avinu is the pillar of Torah, and when Eretz Yisrael is nourished by the holiness of limmud haTorah, it becomes easier to be conquered! Therefore, the true and most effective answer against acts of terror and attacks on the cities of Eretz Yisrael is through learning all sections of the Torah, just as you Shas Yiden do. The more you engage in all parts of the Torah, Eretz Yisrael will be easier to be conquered, and Am Yisrael will be able to dwell in it, safe and secure. For the true guardians of the Land, those who guard it faithfully, do their part and learn all parts of the Torah, kol haTorah kulo. ** Chazal tell us in the Pesicha of Shir HaShirim (1:52): Ben Azzai was sitting and expounding and a fire came down from Heaven and encircled him. They came and told this to Rabi Akiva, and he asked Ben Azzai: Did you delve into the secrets of the Maaseh Merkava? Did you learn the hidden aspects of the Torah? Ben Azzai replied, On what was I giving a shiur? From the Torah to Neviim and from Neviim to Kesuvim the entire Torah, and the words of Torah were joyful like when they were given, and were they not given through fire?! Chazal continue: Rav Avahu was sitting and expounding when fire descended from Heaven; he was disturbed and said: There are those who are tied up in bundles, they interweave Torah with vast knowledge, from the Torah to Neviim and from Neviim to Kesuvim. If I were only tied up in bundles in the Torah alone, perhaps this fire came from Heaven to punish me, as it seems that I have not learned correctly. There are also those who are diggers of pits, they dig into the depth of a subject without broad knowledge they delve deeply into the matter, deeper and deeper. If I were only a digger alone, maybe this fire came from Heaven to punish me because perhaps I am not learning properly. But I, Rav Avahu said, am both a tied-up bundle and a digger of pits. The words of Torah were joyful like at their giving, and were they not given through fire?! Therefore, fire descended from Heaven. Chazal reveal to us here the way to achieve true greatness in Torah. Its not just one thing; its two things, being a tied-up bundle and a digger of pits. When a person combines these two things, as Rashi says in Sanhedrin (42), the war of Torah is not futile argumentation! These are discussions that stem from comprehensive knowledge in all areas of Torah, this is the proper wholeness in Torah. One needs both things together! Both the breadth of knowledge and the depth of iyun. This is what you, the gaonim of Shas Yiden, do. ** I heard from Hagaon Harav Eliyahu Weissfish, shlita the author of the first sefer released on the Arbaas Haminim that Hagaon Harav Isser Zalman Meltzer, ztl, recounted that in the Volozhin Yeshiva, there were three types of bachurim. There were those who learned iyun all day among them, no one became a talmid chacham! There were those who learned bekius all day, and from them emerged a few who became Gedolei Torah, one of them being Hagaon Harav Reuven Bengis, ztl. But the majority of the talmidei chachamim who emerged from the Volozhin Yeshiva were bachurim who were both tied-up bundles and diggers of pits. This is the combination that you Shas Yiden make, to be fully absorbed in learning. And thus, you, are the real neturei karta, the guardians of the city, because the entire Eretz Yisrael is subjugated to the Torah, and only by learning the entire Torah can we protect and safeguard all parts of Eretz Yisrael. For this reason, all of Am Yisrael owe tremendous gratitude to the Nasi and founder of Shas Yiden, Hagaon Harav Avrohom Halevi Eisen, shlita, the Pozna Rov. ** I would like to conclude with words of praise and gratitude to the nashim tzidkaniyos, the righteous women, who pay no simple price to enable you to sit and learn during irregular times, and they sacrifice completely your assistance and partnership in managing the household. True, its very hard to manage alone with the children and engage in the numerous tasks involved in raising a family. It could have helped if the husband had contributed more in this field, but this is the greatest gift a person can achieve in this world! A husband who is a Shas Yid. Praiseworthy are you who have merited this, praiseworthy are the dear women who accompany the gaonim of Shas Yiden on their journey, praiseworthy are their fathers who taught them Torah, praiseworthy are their mothers who bore them, praiseworthy is the nation that has this. Please continue to learn more and more, to protect all parts of Eretz Yisrael from any pain and anguish. Yasher koach to you for all that you are doing on behalf of all of Klal Yisrael! Theatre and music halls were all the rage in Victorian times. But few benefited from electric lighting. Instead, they would heat quicklime until it emitted a brilliant white light, known as limelight. Quicklime has more of a backstage role in modern times but, behind the scenes, the chemical also known as calcium oxide plays an essential part in almost every aspect of our daily lives. Made by heating limestone, quicklime is used as a purifier to create products as wide-ranging as glassware, crockery, kettles, ovens, milk and sugar. Bright future: SigmaRoc produces limestone needed for products from roads to crockery and kettles The compound is also deployed to create steel bridges, buildings and roads. It is an essential component of paper production, ensures water is pure enough to drink and acts as a fertiliser, making soil less acidic and grass tastier for cattle. Historically, most leading players in this industry have been privately owned. Now, however, SigmaRoc is set to become a top-tier lime and limestone producer, following an audacious deal announced late last year. The shares are 57p and should move considerably higher as the transaction beds in and the business grows. SigmaRoc was founded in 2016 by Max Vermorken, a Belgian, now 40, who came to the UK to do a PhD and decided to stay put. Formerly at cement giant Holcim, Vermorken joined with building materials veteran David Barrett to create SigmaRoc, an innovative aggregates and quarrying firm. With 40 years' experience in the field, Barrett is known for founding and developing successful companies. Both he and Vermorken felt that businesses in their industry had become too centralised, with decisions taken by directors far away from the coalface. From the start, SigmaRoc encouraged regional managers to develop their own networks, build relationships and make decisions based on local customers' needs. The strategy worked. In 2017, SigmaRoc generated sales of 27 million and profits of 2.6 million. By 2022, revenues had increased to 538 million, while profits had soared to 63 million. Growth came organically and by acquisition but Vermorken wanted more and, last year, he found it, when Irish building group CRH decided to offload its Northern European lime operations. Vermorken pounced and last November unveiled an 870 million takeover of the CRH businesses, funded by shares and debt. With SigmaRoc valued on the stock market at less than 400 million, the deal was ambitious but big investors signalled their faith in Barrett and Vermorken, approving the acquisition just before Christmas. Now, the duo just have to make it work. Their task will not be easy but the rationale behind the deal is clear, creating a business with sales of 1 billion and sites in 14 countries. SigmaRoc already had a reasonable position in the limestone and lime industry. Following the CRH deal however, the group will become the number one operator in the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia and number two in Germany and much of Eastern Europe. Vermorken and his team have also proved that they can buy and integrate businesses, having acquired about 20 over the past seven years. This is the biggest, but it has been structured in three tranches. The first and largest was completed last week the others will be finalised later this year. Payments are staggered too, with 580 million due now and the rest falling due over the next six years. The combined business will generate significant economies of scale and lower transport costs, creating a company with more than 2.5 billion tons of mineral reserves and resources. Size matters in this field. Many industries cannot function without lime so firms need to be confident that the right products will be delivered on time to their plants and factories. SigmaRoc has already developed a reputation for efficiency. Extra heft should bolster that to the benefit of customers and investors alike. Vermorken has green credentials too. Lime absorbs carbon dioxide and is expected to play a key role as companies strive to reduce their carbon footprint. Brokers are optimistic about SigmaRoc's future, with sales and profits forecast to more than double this year and beyond. CRH has signalled its support too, spending 82 million on a 15 per cent stake in SigmaRoc, as part of the takeover deal. Midas verdict: Lime and limestone are essential components of daily life and SigmaRoc has now become a market leader in this sector. At 57p, the shares are a long-term buy. Traded on: AIM Ticker: SRC Contact: sigmaroc.com or 020 7129 7828 Multifaceted tech giant Amazon is about to unveil a major investment in one of Britain's biggest wind farms. The company is aiming to power its entire UK operation from sales warehouses to film studios to cloud computing using renewable energy by next year. The Mail on Sunday understands that Amazon, which employs about 75,000 people in Britain, plans to later this month announce a deal to buy electricity from the Moray West offshore wind farm. The project, which is located off the North-East coast of Scotland and controlled by a joint venture between Spanish energy giant EDPR and French rival Engie, is currently under construction. It is expected to start operating later this year. Eco friendly: Moray West is aiming to generate about 900 megawatts of electricity Moray West is aiming to generate about 900 megawatts of electricity. Amazon will use 473 megawatts more than half the total capacity and enough to power 175,000 homes. The site will also inject an estimated 500 million into the Scottish economy and support more than 1,000 jobs. The upcoming deal for wind power comes as Amazon tries to hit its target of using renewable energy to power its entire worldwide operations by 2025 five years ahead of schedule. The firm is currently obtaining 90 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources after pouring billions of pounds into around 400 wind and solar energy projects around the world. Amazon claims that between 2014 and 2022 its green energy efforts generated 285 million worth of investment and boosted Britain's GDP by 90 million. The breakneck expansion into renewables forms part of an agenda spearheaded by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The multi-billionaire is thought to have blocked initiatives at the company which he deemed environmentally unfriendly, including petrol discounts for Amazon's Prime customers in the US. Amazon is not the only overseas giant interested in the UK's burgeoning wind power sector, which has struggled amid worries that spiralling costs could make some projects unviable. Last year, it emerged that Masdar, the United Arab Emirates' state-backed green energy company, was set to buy up to 49 per cent of the East Anglia Three offshore wind farm, which is being built off the coast of Norfolk. In December, Masdar snapped up a 49 per cent share of Dogger Bank South an 11 billion UK wind project in the North Sea from German utility group RWE. Last month, Danish giant Orsted signed off its financial plan for the Hornsea 3 project in the North Sea, which will be the world's largest offshore wind farm, able to power more than 3.3 million homes. It will create about 1,200 jobs. Mamas & Papas plans to open up to ten more concessions in Next and Marks & Spencer stores as the nursery and baby clothing retailer ramps up expansion plans. The further push into bricks-and-mortar shops caps a remarkable revival for the company, which has undergone a series of restructurings that have included cutting jobs and shutting stores since it was bought by private equity firm Bluegem a decade ago. Chief executive Nathan Williams told The Mail on Sunday: 'We're very much on track for a record-breaking year. We've had a phenomenal golden quarter of peak trade.' Expansion plans: Mamas & Papas plans to open up to ten more concessions in Next and Marks & Spencer stores Mamas & Papas sells everything from baby clothing and toys to nursery furniture and pushchairs. The company posted a 7 per cent jump in underlying sales in the 13 weeks to 31 December. Underlying profits rose by 50 per cent. 'Growth has come from all our channels,' Williams said. UK sales are now split almost equally between its own shops, concessions and online. Mamas & Papas has 33 'stores-within-stores' in Next and M&S and is looking to open another ten this year. It also plans to expand in Spain, Thailand and Indonesia. Williams played down speculation that Bluegem might look to sell the business. He said market conditions 'are not that conducive'. Accounts filed for Mamas & Papa's holding company, Stork Beta Ltd, show that in the year to March 2023 sales hit 144 million, versus 126 million in 2022. Pretax profits jumped to 8.2 million from 6.2 million. A mining firm focused on Ghana is planning to list on the London Stock Exchange's junior AIM market by the summer. In a recent presentation seen by The Mail on Sunday, CAA Mining told investors that it was aiming to float at some point between April and June. Founded in 2018, the group works on gold and lithium projects in the West African country. Digging deep: Founded in 2018, CAA mining works on gold and lithium projects in the West African country Ghana Chief executive Douglas Chikohora previously worked at Cluff Resources, set up by British energy and mining veteran Algy Cluff. It is not clear what valuation the firm will attract, but it is likely to be small. However, if the group joins AIM it will be a boost for the London market after a dearth of flotations in 2023, and a series of major companies snubbing the City or switching their primary listing to New York. Helen McEntee has insisted those responsible for arson attacks on buildings proposed for housing asylum seekers will face justice. The justice ministers comments came as gardai carried out a series of searches as part of an investigation into a deliberate blaze at a disused hotel where international protection applicants were set to be accommodated. The property at Rosscahill in Co Galway was badly damaged in the fire in December. The arson attack at the Ross Lake House Hotel happened days before it was due to accommodate 70 asylum seekers. It was one of a series of recent incidents of criminal damage at properties that have been earmarked as accommodation for refugees or asylum seekers. A former pub in Ringsend in Dublin was set alight on New Years Eve amid speculation it was going to be used to house international protection applicants, even though it was actually due to be used for homeless accommodation. On Thursday, gardai said they were investigating suspected criminal damage by fire at an unoccupied building in Fethard, Co Tipperary. In a statement on Saturday, Ms McEntee said: I strongly condemn these criminal acts of arson. People need to understand these are very serious crimes which carry heavy prison sentences and those who have carried them out will be brought to justice. I have been in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner (Drew Harris) and I have reassured him that any resources required will be made available to him. Meanwhile An Garda Siochana is doing everything possible to investigate recent acts of arson. I understand they are making good progress in their investigations and I encourage anyone with any information in relation to any of the incidents to contact them. I also ask anyone with information either on past incidents or about possible upcoming threats to contact their local gardai. It is clear that a group of people in society are intent on sowing division and fear through intimidation. I repeat that there can never be justification for such acts, regardless of circumstances or alleged motivation. In regard to the fire at the Ross Lake House Hotel, gardai said they carried out four searches at properties in the Rosscahill area on Saturday morning. The operation was conducted by Garda members attached to Galway Divisional Crime unit, supported by the National Bureau of Crime Investigation. Gardai said a number of exhibits were seized and they will be subject to analysis that will determine the next stages of the investigation. The Garda described the investigation to date as large scale, with 229 investigative tasks having been conducted and 145 statements taken. Gardai reiterated their appeal for anyone with information about the attack to come forward. Ms McEntee said the Garda and the International Protection Accommodation Service (Ipas) continued to work closely together to ensure effective policing plans were in place wherever there is an identified operational need. Where accommodation centres are being established, Ipas notifies and engages with local communities through their Community Engagement Team in advance, she said. Gardai are continually monitoring emerging threats, including monitoring social media activity, and stepping up policing responses as necessary. Both my department and I are fully committed to the fight against racism and bigotry and strongly condemn the actions of those who abuse and attack others because of their own prejudices. Ireland is a diverse and tolerant country, and such behaviour is not acceptable. The head of the HSE has said he is committed to ensuring appropriate justice is achieved over failures that led to the death of teenager Aoife Johnston at University Hospital Limerick. But Bernard Gloster said he was not prepared to allow healthcare staff to be tried by social media prior to the conclusion of an independent probe into the case. The 16-year-old died on December 19, 2022 after waiting 12 hours in the hospitals emergency department for treatment for sepsis. Her family has said her condition deteriorated so much that other patients began advocating for her to be seen. An independent investigation led by retired chief justice Frank Clarke is to examine the circumstances surrounding Aoifes death, as well as the clinical and corporate governance of the hospital. An initial report found that overcrowding in UHLs emergency department is endemic, and doctor and nurse staffing levels are insufficient. HSE chief executive Mr Gloster said he hoped to meet Aoifes family to discuss the case. I do want to express my profound regret and sincere apology to them for what has happened to them, he told RTE Radio One. There is nothing I can say that can take away the pain and the grief they must be experiencing. And it is just so dreadfully tragic. And I do sincerely want to apologise for that. That is the first thing. The second thing I want to say is that in healthcare, mistakes and errors happen and very often we have to learn from those and we have to create an environment that we would call a just culture, that allows us to learn because otherwise people would never practice medicine or clinical care. However, there certainly in this case are significant factors of a serious failing that had the most catastrophic outcome and consequences. I have said very clearly the question of accountability has to be a question that I, as the CEO of the organisation, have to answer. Asked if people will lose their jobs if adverse findings are made against them in the independent investigation, Mr Gloster said: I have raised the question of accountability. This is not only a tragic, but very complex matter. Thats why I have asked for and he has agreed for Mr Justice Frank Clarke to assist me. Hes going to do that over a very short period of time, this is not a two or three year prolonged inquiry. Based on what he tells me and everything else, I have to then determine whether or not other processes follow from that. I cant engage in speculation or presumption around that, but I do want to say, and its important, there has been no finding against any individual at the moment, and I think its very important that where there is accountability people can be absolutely assured I will discharge that. But I equally will not commit my staff to trial by social media or the summary justice of populism. Mr Gloster was asked to respond to reports that criticism of hospital management in an early draft of an internal report had been removed before being passed to the Johnston family. I dont know quite frankly, I wasnt here at the time of the draft report, he said. But if I can just explain, away from this specific case, what normally happens with a systems analysis (report) is if youre a staff member who contributes to it, you get back a factual accuracy check of what you said to ensure the investigator has what you said. And if the investigator is drafting a report that in any way might appear to be, or have the consequence of being an adverse finding, which is not the purpose of systems analysis, you do have the right respond to that beforehand. And that does lead to changes in draft reports. What I am saying though, equally, is that any concern that anybody has about the systems analysis report, including the family, I will be very glad to hear that from them. And Id be very glad indeed for them to be able to raise that directly with Mr Justice Clarke. So everything is on the table. But I do want to be clear first and foremost in my thoughts here has to be Aoife and her family and doing appropriate justice to the failure that led to her death. The quotient of local violence persists into the new year and early this morning police investigated the latest spate of deadly gunfire. Here is the first report as this year's murder count begins anew: Homicide 6200 block of Prospect Ave Just after midnight, officers were dispatched to the 6200 block of Prospect Ave. on a reported EMS call. When officers arrived, they located an adult male lying in a nearby business parking lot unresponsive and appeared to be suffering from a medical emergency. Officers immediately began to render medical aid until EMS arrived to transport the victim. It was later discovered the victim was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported the victim to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated. A person of interest has not been identified and police do not currently have anyone in custody. Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to begin gathering evidence and collecting witness statements. This is being investigated as a homicide and is ongoing at this time. If anyone was in or around the area at this time and saw or heard anything they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS there is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline. We are committed to assisting victims of violent crimes through use of Missouris Protection Program for Victims/Witnesses of Violent Crime. Funding for temporary, or even permanent relocation, may be available but is subject to pre-approval by the States administering agency. We are working with Partners for Peace in all our homicide investigations to monitor risks for retaliation and provide social services to affected residents. ########### Developing . . . Just wanted to share a few great local stories that deserve a look because they offer a better view of KC kindness and compassion otherwise unseen in our daily dose of news poison. "Bring what you don't need and take what you do" at the KC Farm School A group in Kansas City, Kansas put a twist on the goal by hosting a big community swap on Saturday. Kansas City leaders looking to launch youth council to enact change, called KC Future Commissions 16 year old Dj Yearwood, intern with Councilwoman Patterson Hazley, worked with her and other organizations to create KC Future Commissions youth council to help tackle issues in community. KC Pet Project helps create another new family Your holiday wish lists may be complete but if you're left feeling a bit underwhelmed with what you received, there's still time! Family wanted: Torri loves helping people and hopes to be a cosmetologist one day With just a few simple words or a good laugh, Torri has a knack of bringing comfort and happiness to those around her. 'She was a ray of sunshine.' GoFundMe set up to help family of mother found dead in KC The family of Ebony Duncan has started a GoFundMe to help with the cost of services. Duncan was reported missing and later found dead. Read more vialinks . . . Developing . . . I'm gonna try my best not to get preachy. Already, I had to nix a post idea about the "feet of clay" at the foundation of this new stadium tax deal. Ask your priest if good can come from evil . . . TKC can't even figure out how the toaster works in order to consistently warm a quality bagel and/or some of the skinnier pan dulce offerings. But after decades of watching local government, here's what this blog community knows as fact: SECRETIVE KANSAS CITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ALWAYS FAIL!!! Call it karma or just deserts . . . But when politicos & developers collab without public oversight the results are ALWAYS disastrous. There are are too many examples which prove this axiom but here's a couple of recent instances that stand out: New KCI is poorly designed Chinese glass & steel garbage that doesn't even have a dedicated pedestrian walkway from the parking lot to the terminal . . . As time goes by more people now feel comfortable to push back against the hype and realize what a dud the public was sold that was built with only minimal input from voters. The downtown convention hotel is quickly going bankrupt and in need another 12th & Oak cash infusion. Voters weren't allowed any say on MILLIONS worth of subsidy for a structure that garnered its grand opening at the outset of a global pandemic. We won't belabor the toy train streetcar disaster but only remind readers that the free ride FAIL killed Christmas biz for Main Street merchants last year and this mode of transit is ALSO quickly running out of cash. But the past is prologue . . . A quick preview of the road ahead for the new Royals stadium . . . Activists and "urban leaders" are first in line at this feeding trough and we shouldn't forget that "community benefit" is just another word for payoff by way of taxpayer dollars. This is important . . . WE'RE STILL AT SQUARE ONE WITH NO COMMITMENT ABOUT THE FINAL LOCATION OF THE DOWNTOWN STADIUM!!! For the love of sweet baby Jebus, please don't bore the hell out of us with old Star building hype . . . Worst of all . . . The proposed tax will likely pass in April but secretive design and construction pretty much GUARANTEES a disaster in the making. Jackson County is going to commit HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS to a process with few checks and/or balances, very little oversight and nothing but promises from politicos, developers and the Royals ownership group who have all been less than forthcoming during this deceptive process. And so we offer more than just a moment of doubt or a dire prediction . . . Let this post and our blog community serve as a warning that any project built under these circumstances is nothing less than CURSED by incompetence and a nearly absolute disrespect for local Democracy. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . County Legislature considers April election for stadium question "I think an April, or really even a 2024 ballot question is irresponsible." North Kansas City residents, businesses react to Royals stadium decision North Kansas City residents discuss their reactions to the Royals deciding where they'd like to build their new stadium. KSHB 41 found there's no hard feelings. The Royals finally have a real plan for their downtown stadium I can't say I'm happy about it but I'm not entirely displeased, either. Developing . . . Weekend dead-tree denunciation leveled against the senior Missouri Senator . . . Here's the word: To mark the anniversary of the riot, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, one of the leading newspapers in Missouri, published an op-ed written by its editorial board breaking down the events of the attack. The piece titled, "Jan. 6 showed that, yes, it could happen here. The voters must not let it," also at various points chastised Hawley for his hand in questioning the results of the 2020 election, crediting him for working to legitimize Trump's lies about widespread fraud. "Trump's gaseous lies might have merely dissipated into the atmosphere had it not been for Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who was the first senator to object to ballot results," the piece reads. "That damnable, self-serving stunt is what made it necessary for Congress that day to debate the undebatable legitimacy of Joe Biden's victory thus providing a time-and-place target for the MAGA madness of Jan. 6." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Josh Hawley brutally rebuked by home state newspaper on Jan. 6 anniversary Hawley was one of the first and most prominent GOP voices to give credence to Donald Trump's election fraud claims. Related reading for those who missed it in our compilation . . . He Took the Iconic Photo of Josh Hawley on Jan. 6. Here's How It Happened. A Q&A with POLITICO photographer Francis Chung on capturing a historic moment. You decide . . . This year will see the opening of long-awaited cultural venues, as well as noteworthy exhibitions at beloved institutions. And theres something for everyone, whether you favour masterpiece paintings or quirkier fare say, a retro Nintendo museum, or the first comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the Pope of Trash (John Waters). Here are five art destinations worth the trip. For the masterpiece paintings What: Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers at the National Gallery Where: London, England When: Sept. 14, 2024 to Jan. 19, 2025 In 2024, the National Gallery will celebrate its 200th anniversary. To toast the occasion, the London landmark will be launching a dozen exhibitions of national treasures, all opening May 10. The program involves sending 12 iconic paintings to 12 venues in the U.K. The Water-Lily Pond by Monet will go to York; Botticellis Venus and Mars to Cambridge; and The Rokeby Venus by Velazquez to Liverpool. At home in London later in the year, the gallery will also host a major exhibition on Van Gogh, encompassing some of its current holdings (including Sunflowers and Van Goghs Chair), as well as works on loan from galleries worldwide. Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers will be a rare chance to see many of the renowned Dutch artists works some seldom displayed in the same space. For nostalgic fun What: Nintendo Museum Where: Uji (nearKyoto), Japan When: March 2024 (anticipated opening) For decades, Nintendos Uji Ogura plant produced trading cards. When the factory closed, the company announced the space would be revitalized into a massive gallery showcasing 150 years of gaming history and memorabilia from the Nintendo vault. Details are still under wraps, but the museum will be just south of Kyoto (a 30-minute train ride from the city centre), and also within day-tripping distance of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, if you want to build out a travel itinerary full of Mario, Luigi and the gang. For the celebrity-curated collection What: Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys at the Brooklyn Museum Where: Brooklyn, N.Y. When: Feb. 10 to July 7, 2024 Over the past 20 years, Swizz Beatz (music producer Kasseem Dean) and Grammy-winning R&B artist Alicia Keys have been quietly amassing a collection of more than 1,000 world-class artworks. Now, fans will be able to see the couples curated gems with the opening of this Brooklyn Museum exhibition. While Giants features plenty of notable names, the focus is on championing Black artists. Among the works, find pieces by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Arthur Jafa, Lorna Simpson and Gordon Parks, alongside massive paintings by Meleko Mokgosi and powerful portraits by Kehinde Wiley. For a campy cinematic experience What: John Waters: Pope of Trash at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Where: Los Angeles When: On now untilAug. 4, 2024 This new exhibition explores the eccentric cinematic universe of the man that William S. Burroughs dubbed the Pope of Trash: director, actor and art icon John Waters. Delve into Waters work and his world of drag queens, lowlifes, misfits and the other colourful characters that inspired him. Theres plenty of interesting artifacts from his oeuvre, including set decorations, handwritten scripts and costumes (like the big wigs and cockroach dress from Hairspray). The museum will also be screening movies from Waters filmography. For Nordic modernist art What: Kunstsilo Where: Kristiansand, Norway When: May 2024 (anticipated opening) Over the past few years, a historic, 1930s-built grain silo building on a scenic peninsula in Kristiansand, in Southern Norway, has been undergoing a careful restoration. This spring, the space is slated to open as Kunstsilo, a new global hub for Nordic art. The museums core will be the Tangen Collection, the worlds largest collection of Nordic modernist art, encompassing more than 5,500 works amassed by Nicolai Tangen. Works from Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Danish artists will be spread out over three floors. Kunstsilo will round out its offerings with exhibits of interactive digital art, concerts and recitals, restaurants and, further into the future, an adjoining hotel. Correction Jan. 9, 2024 A previous version of this article mistakenly said artist Vincent Van Gogh was French. While he lived in France for a short period, Van Gogh was Dutch. One resolution you wont regret making for 2024? Trying to be a more responsible traveller, through reducing your carbon footprint, giving back to the communities you visit and spending your hard-earned dollars where it truly helps. Here are five ways to travel thoughtfully in the year ahead. Cruise with a conscience With its sizable carbon footprint, cruising has long been considered the antithesis of sustainability, but some companies are striving to lessen its environmental impact. Departing March 2024 and 2025, Coral Expeditions 10-night Citizen Science Cruise will take up to 70 passengers from Brisbane to Cairns, Australia, to support the ongoing conservation of the Great Barrier Reef. Working alongside marine biologists, the guests activities will include conducting reef health surveys and volunteering at a turtle rehabilitation centre. Closer to home in Canada, Maple Leaf Adventures vessels including a catamaran, a classic tugboat and a century-old schooner take small groups on low-impact sailings. Guests on the seven-night Desolation Sound & Fjords of BC itinerary in October 2024 will assist humpback whale researchers who were featured in BBCs Planet Earth III series. Go low and slow Its estimated that tourism produces about eight per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Thats why in 2024, small-group tour operator Intrepid Travel is removing 18 short-haul flights across 14 of its trips the equivalent of 4,000 passenger flights and introducing new lower-carbon itineraries. For example, on Intrepids soon-to-launch, 10-day Real Borneo tour through the Sabah region where the endemic species include orangutans, elephants and bears visitors will travel by van, while the eight-day Paris-to-Madrid by Rail trip will rely exclusively on public transport (primarily train travel). In addition, more than 500 Intrepid departures now include carbon labelling, so you can better understand a trips impact. Support a community in recovery After a natural disaster strikes, an impactful way to support a communitys economic recovery is to visit when its ready to welcome travellers again. Thats the case in Maui, where visitor arrivals dropped by three-quarters following wildfires in August 2023, resulting in a loss of $13 million (U.S.) per day in the weeks following the devastation. Respectful travel to Mauis accessible areas is now welcomed, with accommodations reopening in phases over recent months. (Visit gohawaii.com/islands/maui for updates from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.) Guests can help give back by booking the Return to Maui package offered at hotels like the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa and the Wailea Beach Resort, which donates $100 (U.S.) of their stay toward relief funds. Travellers can also volunteer their time with local organizations through the Malama Hawaii Program (Malama translates to give back). Activities include helping to remove invasive plants, maintain taro patches or participate in beach cleanups. Contribute to wildlife conservation Say goodbye to the days of riding elephants, petting tigers and otherwise treating wildlife like tourism attractions. Opportunities to get up close to threatened species can be focused on conservation instead. In 2024, family-owned tour operator Wilderness Travel will introduce a suite of safaris in Namibia that allow travellers to get involved in field research. On this summers 13-day Giraffe Conservation Safari, for example, guests will help scientists track and GPS-tag wild giraffes (considered both ecologically and culturally significant), as well as track leopards with the AfriCat Foundation and black rhinos with rangers from Save the Rhino Trust. Connect with culture At its best, travel has the power to build connections across cultures and foster empathy and understanding. In Canada, one of the best ways to experience its transformative power is by taking part in an Indigenous-led tourism experience. Kicking off this winter is the new Whisper from the Stars program at Metis Crossing, a cultural interpretive centre about a 90-minute drive from Edmonton. Guided by an Elder, visitors will learn how Metis people used the stars to navigate and understand when to hunt and work the land. Then, at night, you can drift to sleep under the dancing northern lights in the sites Sky Watching Domes. Another noteworthy accommodation is Pemiska Tourisms tipi-inspired lodges, opening in spring 2024, about 45 minutes north of Saskatoon in Fort Carlton Provincial Park. The historic site regularly hosts Indigenous markets and activities, such as bannock-making over a fire with Nehiyaw storytellers and historians. Ukraines Air Force has no information that Denmark is set to postpone the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Thats according to Yuriy Ihnat, the spokesman for the Air Force Command, who spoke at the national telethon, Ukrinform reports with reference to Radio Liberty. "Let's look at the Danish Ministry of Defense at least I didn't see any statements... The Berlingske publication refers to some sources. The piece is immediately picked up and becomes mainstream in our media. Everyone understands how sensitive the F-16 issue is for us," he said. Ihnat noted that Ukrainian pilots are learning to fly F-16s "at an extremely high pace." "No other state did it this way. You know, there are many countries waiting in line for F-16s, and not only for the warplanes as such but also for the instructors who would be able to retrain pilots used to older Soviet aircraft or other models to fly this plane," the spokesman concluded. Earlier, foreign media reported that Denmark initially intended to hand over the first batch of six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by 2024, but instead the planes will be delivered "somewhere in the second quarter." Photo: US Air Force Canadian and Italian Foreign Ministers Melanie Joly and Antonio Tajani have discussed further support for Ukraine in deterring Russian aggression. Melanie Joly wrote about this on her page on the social network X, Ukrinform reports. Glad to connect with my Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, to discuss Italys presidency of the G7 this year. We discussed the conflict in the Middle East, the need to continue supporting Ukraines fight for freedom, and our respective engagement in the Indo-Pacific, the minister posted. As reported, since the start of Russias full-scale invasion, Canada has provided Ukraine with military assistance worth almost $2 billion. The total amount of various Canadian aid to Ukraine, including humanitarian and financial, has exceeded $7.5 billion since the beginning of last year. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Yoko Kamikawa, strongly condemned Russias missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, adding that the decision to choose a shelter for a joint press conference venue due to an active air raid alert indicates the seriousness of the situation of Ukraine. The said press conference was held with Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Our meeting has just ended. During the meeting, an air raid alert went off so we urgently decided to hold this press conference in a protected place. I now feel the tension and seriousness of the situation in Ukraine... I once again strongly condemn the ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks on various regions, including Kyiv, at the end of the year and during the New Year holidays, and express my sincere condolences to the victims of these attacks, said Kamikawa. The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said that before meeting with her Ukrainian counterpart, she visited Bucha, where she saw with her own eyes "fresh scars" caused by the Russian aggression and experienced shock from the destruction she saw. "I am convinced that we must never allow a unilateral change of the status quo through force and that we must work to protect women and children who are particularly vulnerable during war," Kamikawa emphasized. She assured that Japan is determined to continue supporting Ukraine so that peace reigns over the country again. As reported earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Yoko Kamikawa, arrived in Kyiv on Sunday, January 7, with an unannounced visit. This is Kamikava's first visit to Ukraine since she took office in September. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan iDEX-DIO to participate in Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 New Delhi, Jan 7 (UNI) Innovations for Defence Excellence- Defence Innovation Organization (iDEX-DIO) will participate in the tenth edition of Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2024 from 10 to 12 January at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. An iDEX Pavilion is being set up based on the theme of the Summit Gateway to the Future, wherein the iDEX innovators will be exhibiting their futuristic technologies in the field of unmanned solutions, Artificial Intelligence, cyber security, advance material, etc, an official statement said on Sunday. During the global summit, leading defence startups/MSMEs of iDEX will be showcasing their cutting-edge solutions. The Trade Show will spotlight TECHADE and Disruptive Technologies and feature the Champion Services Sector, emphasizing Digital India initiatives, India Stack, and Emerging Technologies including Industry 4.0, Smart Manufacturing, and AI/ML, among others. Moscow, Jan 7 (UNI) Russian air defenses destroyed six Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles over the northwestern part of the Black Sea on Saturday, said the Russian Defense Ministry in a statement. Attempts by the Ukrainian side to launch an attack using Neptune anti-ship missiles at targets on the territory of the Russian Federation were stopped at around 17:00 Moscow time (1400 GMT) on Saturday, it said. "Six Ukrainian missiles were detected and destroyed over the northwestern part of the Black Sea by the air defense systems on duty," it added. UNI/XINHUA ARN After they missed their train from Glen Ellyn to Chicago early Friday morning, migrants wrapped themselves in thin white blankets on the concrete platform. They were left at the Metra station after a ride in a large charter bus from El Paso, Texas, and given train tickets by their bus driver. They ran toward a train that was just pulling out of the station, but had gotten there too late. Police said the next train wouldnt come for five hours. Its so bad, said 22-year-old Daniel Torres from Maracay, Venezuela, after riding the bus for over 30 hours. Look at the time we arrived. A complex humanitarian crisis in Venezuela that has brought record numbers of migrants to the U.S. border is now being twisted into a game of human transport where people are passed off like cargo. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has sent more than 630 buses to Chicago in the past 16 months carrying some 29,000 migrants, as of city data Friday. He began sending migrants on buses from his state to suburbs of Chicago when the city tightened rules in mid-December to ask for more coordination and communication about drop-offs with Texas. Prior to the citys rules, buses were coming at all hours of the day and night, without warning. Now, in order to skirt new $3,000 fees issued by the city, theyre doing the same in the suburbs leaving some migrants in uncertainty and forced to stand or walk long distances outside in the cold. Friday was the second day in a row Glen Ellyn received a bus, following a wave of nearby municipalities who passed similar ordinances with high fines for sending uncoordinated buses. 30 miles from their destination At about 12:30 a.m. Friday, the Tribune watched the charter bus from Texas drop off Torres and about 40 other men and women in Glen Ellyn and then drive away. After missing the train, migrants stood outside in subfreezing temperatures wearing cotton T-shirts, pants and sandals. They told the Tribune they had just spent several days in a detention center in El Paso, one of the worlds largest urban border regions. Migrants wait outside the Glen Ellyn Metra station around midnight after arriving on a bus from El Paso, Texas early on Jan. 5, 2024, just missing the last Metra train into Chicago. Metra services had stopped for the day, so police tried to open the small brick building at the train station to shelter the migrants. It was locked. Shivering, the asylum-seekers who had traveled thousands of miles across rivers and mountains to make it to the sanctuary city of Chicago stood at the station and looked at the yellow strung lights in the quiet suburb, about 30 miles from their destination downtown. They were puzzled. Glen Ellyn police were also confused, so they called the bus driver. The group of huddled migrants re-boarded the bus. Several said they were hungry and hadnt eaten all day. The bus spent the next few hours driving migrants around the suburbs in the middle of the night looping through Elmhurst, Lombard and Villa Park occasionally stopping at gas stations and in strip mall parking lots. Glen Ellyn police cars followed the bus, before driving away when it entered a neighboring suburb. Several migrants were dropped off on the side of the road to be reunited with family members or friends who picked them up. At 4:30 am, the bus again dropped migrants off at the Metra station in Glen Ellyn. The bus driver had accidentally bought them weekend passes. Theyre not valid, said the woman at the ticket counter, but she let them board the train anyway. Caution, the doors are about to close, said an automated voice over the intercom in English. Migrants board a Metra train around 5 a.m. after arriving in Glen Ellyn on a bus from El Paso, Texas, just after midnight on Jan. 5, 2024. The migrants were seated in a private train car and the doors were locked. They ended up boarding the train toward Chicago, and there was no further issue. No further incidents, said a spokesperson from the Glen Ellyn Police Department when asked late Friday morning what had happened. This sense of fear, more than anything The majority of migrants at the border have incurred tremendous financial costs to get to the United States and have experienced food insecurity, exhaustion and in some cases exploitation. They already have problems knowing who to trust and who not to trust because they have been taken advantage of, said Luz Maria Garcini, interim director of community and public health at Rice Universitys Kinder Institute for Urban Research, whose research focuses on addressing the psychological needs of marginalized communities. All of a sudden youre being bused to a place you know nothing about. You dont speak the language. Your health and physical state (are) very frail and you dont have access to health care, she said. Heidi Sarmiento, 45, sat on the blue leather train seat with her husband, Josele Mendoza, and recounted the threats and violence theyd experienced in Mexico. Authorities there threatened to take away Sarmientos grandchild, she said. Heidi Sarmiento, 45, a migrant from Venezuela, cares for her feverish husband, Josele Mendoza, 41, as they ride a Metra train to Chicago with other migrants after arriving in Glen Ellyn on a bus from El Paso, Texas, in the early morning hours of Jan. 5, 2024. Many migrants arrive through the Customs and Border Protections CBP One app an official mobile application the agency uses to inspect and document arrivals and departures in the United States. But Mendoza, 41, said he and his wife felt they couldnt survive in Mexico, so they crossed the border in the middle of the night. It was this sense of fear, more than anything. Mas que todo, fue este sentido de miedo, Sarmiento said. It was just insanity. The two were separated and detained for three days, and said they had reunited by a miracle and were able to come to Chicago on the same bus. But Sarmientos daughter and three grandchildren had entered with the app, she said, and she had no idea where they were or how to find them. Her daughters phone had been taken by detention officers in El Paso. Early Friday morning, Mendoza was feeling feverish, and his wife gently held his head on her shoulder. She leaned down and kissed the back of his neck. He worked as a welder in his home state of Falcon but left due to growing shortages of food and basic supplies. We carry those experiences There is no quick fix for Venezuelas economy, which has tanked due to a combination of falling crude oil prices and an authoritarian regime under President Nicolas Maduro. The number of encounters between Venezuelan nationals and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency officials shot up from 50,499 in 2021 to 334,914 in 2023 as Venezuelas internal crisis has spilled out into neighboring countries and up to the United States. Some experts say politicians like Gov. Abbott are using the soaring border crossings for political gains, but border towns are also being strained by a record high number of crossings. Migrants on the train expressed gratitude to have a ride into a city that promises shelter and resources, despite their earlier stop in Glen Ellyn. In the softly lit train car, they recounted the uncertainty and desperation they felt riding on top of trains in Mexico. Tony Suarez, 32, from the northern Carabobo state of Venezuela, said he saw a baby fall from the top of a train and die. He said he spent eight days in the detention facility in Texas. People dont understand how we carry those experiences in our minds. It almost makes you go crazy, he said. Tony Suarez, 32, of Venezuela, center, rides a Metra train to Chicago with other migrants after arriving on a bus to Glen Ellyn from El Paso, Texas, in the early morning hours of Jan. 5, 2024. He held his forehead tightly and looked at a video on his phone of migrants stacked up on the fast-moving, metal train that runs through Mexico that they call La Bestia. They talked in low voices and watched as buildings formed in the tinted windows outside. Not accustomed to this cold The train slowed to a stop and the migrants exited, still wrapped in thin white blankets. They held their belongings in plastic bags theyd been given at the detention facility. You guys made a long trip, said a Metra officer who greeted them. They still had a lot of questions. What will our next steps be? Will there be food there? Is there heat? they asked. The officer brought them down a flight of stairs, lined them up and gave them a paper with basic directions to get to the citys loading zone for migrant intake at 800 S. Desplaines St. in the West Loop. Migrants walk to the citys landing zone after traveling from Glen Ellyn to Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago in the early morning hours of Jan. 5, 2024. The migrants were were given a sheet of paper with walking directions to the citys landing zone for migrants. The group set off alone down West Madison Street in the freezing Chicago air, holding the map. They had no idea where they were going and got lost. They walked for almost half an hour. Its beautiful there. Ive never been in a place like this, said Jordin Benitez, 29, from the northwestern Trujillo state of Venezuela. He lit a cigarette and took a selfie on a highway overpass. Sarmiento said her whole body hurt from the cold. She walked closely next to her husband and blew on her hands to keep them warm. Im not accustomed to this cold. I want a hot coffee, she said. Josele Mendoza, 41, and his wife, Heidi Sarmiento, 45, both of Venezuela, walk with other migrants to the citys landing zone after traveling from Glen Ellyn to Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago in the early morning hours of Jan. 5, 2024. When the migrants arrived at the Office of Emergency Managements staging ground, they were told to line up in the parking lot outside and were given thin blue blankets wrapped in plastic. They quickly tore open the packaging and draped the blankets over their shoulders. With so many asylum-seekers arriving over the past few weeks, the city has had to put overflow migrants in warming buses to sleep while they wait for shelter. As of Friday morning, there were 151 migrants temporarily staying in warming buses at the citys loading zone. Sarmiento and her husband said they had chosen between going to New York, Denver and Chicago. Theyd heard Chicago had more resources, and thought they were walking to shelter. Theyd walked for over three months. After finally arriving in Chicago, looking for recourse, they were brought to another crowded bus. nsalzman@chicagotribune.com PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Jan, 2024) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development and Management Company (KP-EZDMC) has launched a digital mobile app to make the services of the company easily accessible to investors and industrialists. The launching of the digital mobile app is being considered a milestone towards the facilitation of investors and industrialists as the required services, facilities and information of the company would now be available on it. With this initiative, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has become the first province in the country, to introduce such a unique kind of comprehensive and useful app for industrialization in the public sector. The app was formally launched by the KP Caretaker Minister for Industries, Commerce and Technical education, Dr Aamer Abdullah at the headquarters of KP-EZDMC, the other day, said an official press release issued here on Sunday. Besides, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) KP-EZDMC, Javed Iqbal Khattak, and other senior management of the company were also present on the occasion. It is worth to mention here that the Provincial Caretaker Minister for Industries, Commerce and Technical Education, Dr Aamer Abdullah had assigned this task of online availability of the services to the company, which has been achieved by the IT section of the company within a short period of two weeks. Addressing the launching ceremony of the app, the provincial minister appreciated the performance of the management and whole team of the company and termed it a visible step towards the facilitation of industrialists and investors of the industrial sector in the province. He said that through this project, the public sector of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has taken a lead over other provinces of the country, for which he said the whole team of the KP-EZDMC deserves appreciation. The provincial minister directed making the digital online facility efficient and accessible with time, wherein all required services and information regarding industries and investment are available. He further directed the inclusion of the existing rules regulations and by-laws of the company as a compulsory segment for the use of the app. He said that the app should also have complete data on vacant plots in all economic zones of the province and make the attractive incentives easily accessible to intending investors and give a deadline of one week to the company for the completion of the task. On this occasion, the provincial minister was told that in the first phase, the digital app would be available only on Android phones and after a few weeks, its availability would also be guaranteed on Apple. He was told that the required information regarding the company and two aspects of the required services from the company have been included in the app while industrial facilitation, industrial projects, the latest information, assistance & cooperation and feedback have also been included in it. Similarly, the intending investors could also submit online applications for plots. Meanwhile, the caretaker minister also presided over a meeting regarding matters relating to the affairs of the newly established economic zone in Chitral. During the meeting, the provincial minister was informed in detail regarding the completion of the concerned economic zone and issues relating to the provision of electricity to it. The provincial minister was told that the Chitral Economic Zone is fully ready for industrialization wherein 35 plots have already been allotted. However, it required the provision of electricity as soon as possible. In this connection, he was told that a proposal of the provision of one mega-watt green energy is under consideration, which for the time being is sufficient for several years. In this connection, the caretaker minister directed the management of the company to review all technical aspects of this model and after completion of feasibility present it to the board of directors for implementation. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Jan, 2024) Pakistan Furniture Council's (PFC) delegation will attend a three-day Sial Montreal Canada Expo to be held from May 15 this year, for exploring new market and promotion of bilateral trade. PFC Chief Executive Officer Mian Kashif Ashfaq announced this in a meeting with a delegation of exhibitors led by Chaudhry Muhammad Araib here Sunday. He said, "The prime objective of this visit would be to explore the possibilities of expanding trade relations; fostering joint collaboration; and identifying potential investment avenues between the two countries." During the visit, he explained, the delegation would engage in meaningful discussions with key stakeholders, government officials, and business leaders in Canada. The PFC chief said, "We are enthusiastic about the prospect of building lasting partnership that will not only boost the furniture industry but also contribute to the overall economic development of both countries." The PFC is fully committed to promote economic ties and strengthen partnerships, he said, citing, "By fostering collaboration, we can create mutually beneficial opportunities that contribute to the growth of both economies. We look forward to the opportunity to exchange ideas, share expertise, and establish connections which will pave the way for a successful and fruitful collaboration between two countries." RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Jan, 2024) Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chatta has said that the transplant unit at Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Transplantation (RIUT) would be fully functional by March. According to a Commissioner Office spokesperson, the Commissioner during a visit to RIUT, inspected the medical treatment facilities being provided to the patients. The Commissioner took notice of non-functional heating system in some wards of the Hospital due to technical fault in HVAC sensors. Liaquat Ali Chatta directed that HVAC sensors should be replaced immediately and the heating system should be made fully functional as the patients could not bear this cold. He also visited Emergency, Operation Theater, Radiology, Dialysis Center and OPD of RIUT. The DMS briefed the Commissioner about the facilities being provided to the patients in the hospital while the Building Department representative also briefed about the repair work. he Commissioner was informed that in this state-of-the-art 250-bed hospital, more than 100 emergency patients are admitted and provided medical treatment daily while on an average, 250 to 300 patients visit the OPD of the hospital daily. Currently, five departments of the hospital are fully functional. So far, the patients are being provided surgery, dialysis, pathology, radiology and nephrology medical facilities at RIUT. Apart from this, 13 departments of Holy Family Hospital are also temporarily providing services in this hospital. Medical facilities are also being provided at RIUT due to the rush of the patients and revamping project of the Holy Family Hospital. All encroachments from the service road were removed to provide the patients easy access to the hospital. The Commissioner said that the administration was striving to provide quality medical facilities to the residents of Rawalpindi. The RIUT is providing state-of-the-art medical facilities to the patients, he added. The Commissioner during the visit also talked to the patients and their families who expressed satisfaction on the medical facilities being provided in the hospital, the spokesperson informed. Gaza Strip, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Jan, 2024) The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Sunday that an Israeli air strike killed two journalists in the Palestinian territory. Mustafa Thuria, a video stringer for AFP news agency, and Hamza Wael Dahdouh, a journalist with Al Jazeera television network, were killed while they were travelling in a car, the ministry and medics said. Hamza's father Wael al-Dahdouh is Al Jazeera's bureau chief in the Gaza Strip, and was also recently wounded in a strike. He was wounded after his wife and two children were killed by a separate Israeli strike in the initial weeks of the war. Thuria had worked with AFP since 2019. By December 31, at least 77 journalists and media workers had been killed since the October 7 start of the war between Israel and Hamas, according to the new York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Of those 77, 70 were Palestinian, four Israeli, and three Lebanese. Melbourne, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jan, 2024) Rafael Nadal on Sunday withdrew from the Australian Open with a muscle tear after he played his first tournament in almost a year. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, including missing 11 majors through a series of knee, feet, ankle, abdomen and wrist problems. AFP Sport looks at Nadal's history of pain: 2003: Elbow -- Two years after his professional debut, Nadal experienced his first physical problems which forced him to withdraw from the French Open after picking up an elbow injury in training. 2004: Left foot -- Just 18, Nadal misses the French Open and Wimbledon due to a broken bone in his foot. 2009: Knee -- In June, Nadal, having already experienced a first-ever loss at the French Open, suffers tendinitis in his knees, depriving him of the opportunity to defend the Wimbledon title he had won 12 months earlier in an epic final against Roger Federer. In September, Nadal is knocked out of the US Open semi-finals admitting to playing with an abdominal tear. 2012: Knee -- Tendonitis in his left knee forces Nadal out of the Olympics where he was the defending champion. The Spanish star also sits out the US Open due to issues with his left knee. 2014: Back -- Despite a back problem, Nadal battles to the Australian Open final in January where he loses to Stan Wawrinka. In July, a right wrist injury forces him to miss the US Open. 2016: Wrist -- A left wrist injury forces Nadal to withdraw from the French Open, where he is already a nine-time champion, before the third round. 2021: Foot -- In August, Nadal ends his season early due to yet more left foot problems and explains he has been suffering from Mueller-Weiss syndrome for years. This condition affects one of the bones in the foot, causing chronic pain. He has surgery in September. 2022: Rib/Foot/Abdomen -- Having defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals at Indian Wells, Nadal loses in the final to Taylor Fritz. He then misses several tournaments including the Monte Carlo Masters due to a cracked rib. In May and June, Nadal endures searing pain in his left foot. After wrapping up a 14th French Open title - and 22nd Grand Slam crown - he reveals that he has to take "anesthetic injections before each match" to put his foot to sleep which allows him to play. "It's obvious that I cannot and do not want to continue playing in these circumstances," said Nadal. Weeks later, Nadal has to forfeit an eagerly-anticipated Wimbledon semi-final against Nick Kyrgios after suffering an abdomen tear in a gruelling last-eight clash with Fritz. 2023: Hip -- In January, Nadal loses in the Australian Open second round and explains that he is suffering from a hip injury. He predicted an absence from the tour of 6-8 weeks but eventually calls time on his season before undergoing surgery. 2024: Thigh -- After almost a year on the sidelines, Nadal returns to action in Brisbane, reaching the last-eight where he loses to Jordan Thompson. He feels a pain in his left thigh and an MRI scan reveals "a micro muscle tear". He withdraws from the Australian Open and returns to Spain to consult his medical team. Adelaide, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Jan, 2024) Former world number two Paula Badosa begins her injury comeback at the Adelaide International this week in a field populated with four Grand Slam champions, all gearing up in the final countdown to the Australian Open. Spain's Badosa missed the second half of 2023 with a stress fracture of the back but was confident before Monday's tournament start that her fitness would hold up. "I want to get back to my level as soon as possible. I know it's going to be tough at the beginning," said Badosa, who has three career WTA single's titles. "It's been a lot of months that I didn't play. Winning a Slam, It's one of my dreams, and it will always be until the day I retire." She has not played since quitting Wimbledon in the second round, and returns to Adelaide having reached the semi-finals a year ago before withdrawing with injury. Badosa, who managed only one Grand Slam appearance in 2023, said there was little she was able to do to speed up her recovery, but had noted progress in the last month. "Since three, four weeks ago, I've been pain-free... but it was like a rollercoaster, a very tough process." Topping the seeding list on the women's side of the ATP-WTA tournament is 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina, with current All England Club title holder Marketa Vondrousova seeded three. Sandwiched in between is Jessica Pegula, runner-up to top-ranked Iga Swiatek at the WTA Finals in November. Completing the lineup of heavyweights are a pair of Roland Garros winners: Barbora Krejcikova (2021) and Jelena Ostapenko (2017). World number five Pegula starts with a bye, with the American hoping to improve later this month on a career Grand Slam record which has ended six times in the quarter-finals. "I feel I've put up obviously great stats over the last couple of years, super consistent," she said. "I had a great run at the finals, so hopefully beating that many high-calibre players (at the majors) back-to-back will give me some confidence." The men's field is headed by Tommy Paul of the United States, with Chile's Nicolas Jarry seeded two and 2023 finalist Sebastian Korda, also of the United States, three. Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis, who lifted the trophy in 2022, will be trying to do the same again at Memorial Drive. The world number 65 is making a comeback of his own after a disappointing end to 2023. "I got injured a little bit before Davis Cup, so I wasn't able to play there. I'm looking at this to try and kick-start my year," he said. "This week feels like my starting point where I feel physically and mentally ready to go." Bangladesh election officials began counting votes Sunday after polls guaranteed to give a fifth term in office to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina closed, following a boycott led by an opposition party she branded a "terrorist organization." Hasina has presided over breakneck economic growth in a country once beset by grinding poverty, but her government has been accused of rampant human rights abuses and a ruthless opposition crackdown. Her party faced almost no effective rivals in the seats it contested, but it avoided fielding candidates in a few constituencies, an apparent effort to avoid the legislature being branded a one-party institution. "Vote counting has begun," election commission spokesman Shariful Alam told AFP. The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), whose ranks have been decimated by mass arrests, has called a general strike and urged the public not to participate in what it called a "sham" election. But Hasina, 76, called for citizens to cast their ballots and show their faith in the democratic process. "The BNP is a terrorist organization," she told reporters after casting her vote. "I am trying my best to ensure that democracy should continue in this country," she added. Results are expected as early as Monday morning. 'Farce' election Initial signs suggested that turnout was low, despite widespread reports of carrot-and-stick inducements aimed at bolstering the poll's legitimacy. At noon, according to Election Commission Secretary Jahangir Alam, turnout stood at 18.5 percent. Many said they had not voted because the outcome was assured. "When one party is participating and another is not, why would I go to vote?" said Mohammad Saidur, 31, who pulls a rickshaw. "We all know who's going to win," said Farhana Manik, 27, a student. Charity worker Shahriar Ahmed, 32, called the election a "farce" and did not vote. "I would rather stay home and watch movies," Ahmed said. BNP head Tarique Rahman, speaking from Britain where he lives in exile, said he worried about ballot stuffing. "I fear that the election commission may increase voter turnout by using fake votes," he told AFP. Some voters said earlier they had been threatened with the confiscation of government benefit cards needed to access welfare payments if they refused to cast ballots for the ruling Awami League. "They said since the government feeds us, we have to vote for them," Lal Mia, 64, told AFP in the central district of Faridpur. The BNP and other parties staged months of protests last year, demanding Hasina step down ahead of the vote. Around 25,000 opposition cadres including the BNP's entire local leadership were arrested in the ensuing crackdown, the party says. The government puts the figure at 11,000. Small and scattered protests continued in the days ahead of the election -- a shadow of the hundreds of thousands seen at rallies last year. On Sunday, police in the port city of Chittagong said they had fired shotguns to break up a rally of up to 60 opposition members who had blocked a road using burning tires, adding that no one was injured. The election commission said nearly 700,000 police officers and reservists had been deployed to keep order during the vote along with nearly 100,000 members of the armed forces. Politics in the world's eighth-most populous country was long dominated by the rivalry between Hasina, the daughter of the country's founding leader, and two-time premier Khaleda Zia, wife of a former military ruler. Hasina has been the decisive victor since returning to power in a 2009 landslide, with two subsequent polls accompanied by widespread irregularities and accusations of rigging. Zia, 78, was convicted of graft in 2018 and is now in ailing health at a hospital in Dhaka, with her son Tarique Rahman helming the BNP in her stead from London. Rahman told AFP that his party, along with dozens of others, had refused to participate in a "sham election." 'Dangerous combination' Hasina has accused the BNP of arson and sabotage during last year's protest campaign, which was mostly peaceful but saw several people killed in police confrontations. The government's security forces have long been dogged by allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances -- charges it rejects. The United States, the biggest export market for the South Asian nation of 170 million, has imposed sanctions on an elite police unit and its top commanders. Economic headwinds have left many dissatisfied with Hasina's government, after sharp spikes in food costs and months of chronic blackouts in 2022. Wage stagnation in the garment sector, which accounts for around 85 percent of the country's $55 billion in annual exports, sparked industrial unrest late last year that saw some factories torched and hundreds more shuttered. Pierre Prakash of the International Crisis Group said before the vote that Hasina's government was clearly "less popular than it was a few years ago, yet Bangladeshis have little real outlet at the ballot box." "That is a potentially dangerous combination." China announced sanctions Sunday on five American defense-related companies in response to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and U.S sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals. The sanctions will freeze any property the companies have in China and prohibit organizations and individuals in China from doing business with them, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted online. It was unclear what impact, if any, the sanctions would have on the companies, BAE Systems Land and Armaments, Alliant Techsystems Operations, AeroVironment, ViaSat and Data Link Solutions. Such sanctions are often mostly symbolic as American defense contractors generally don't sell to China. The Foreign Ministry said the U.S. moves harmed China's sovereignty and security interests, undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and violated the rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals. "The Chinese government remains unwavering in our resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens," the ministry statement said. The announcement was made less than a week ahead of a presidential election in Taiwan that is being contested in large part over how the government should manage its relationship with China, which claims the self-governing island as its territory and says it must come under its rule. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not specify which arms deal or which U.S. sanctions China was responding to, though spokesperson Wang Wenbin had warned three weeks ago that China would take countermeasures following the U.S. government's approval of a $300 million military package for Taiwan in December. The deal includes equipment, training and equipment repair to maintain Taiwan's command, control and military communications capabilities. The U.S. said the sale would support the modernization of Taiwan's armed forces and the maintenance of a credible defense. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing operational readiness," a news release from the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. Taiwan is a major flashpoint in U.S.-China relations that analysts worry could explode into military conflict between the two powers. China says that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are interference in its domestic affairs. The Chinese military regularly sends fighter planes and ships into and over the waters around Taiwan, in part to deter the island's government from declaring formal independence. An invasion doesn't appear imminent, but the constant military activity serves as a reminder that the threat is ever-present. The U.S. switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, but it is bound by its own laws to ensure that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself. America and its allies sail warships through the Taiwan Strait, a 160-kilometer-wide waterway that separates the island from China. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday named former environment minister Murat Kurum as the ruling AK Party's candidate in Istanbul's mayoral election in March, bidding to win back control of Turkey's largest city. Kurum will stand against incumbent Ekrem Imamoglu from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), whose election as mayor in 2019 ended 25 years of rule in Istanbul by the AKP and its Islamist predecessors. Last May, Erdogan won re-election as president while his AKP and its nationalist allies took a majority in parliamentary elections, illustrating the challenge faced by the opposition in the nationwide municipal elections on March 31. "Working shoulder to shoulder, we will definitely bring Istanbul out of the interregnum of the last five years," Erdogan said at a ceremony to announce the candidacy of Kurum and other AKP candidates in the elections. Kurum, 47, was environment and urbanization minister from July 2018 until last June, leaving the post after the elections. He was then elected as a member of parliament for Istanbul, Turkey's commercial hub and a city of 16 million, or some 20% of the population. Kurum was one of the most prominent figures in the government's response to the devastating earthquakes that shook southern Turkey last February, killing more than 50,000 people. He studied engineering at university and worked in Turkey's mass housing administration before his time as a minister. Erdogan announced his party's candidates for more than two dozen of the country's municipalities on Sunday and was expected to announce its candidates for the others, including the capital Ankara, later this month. Daniel Bermudez's family had fled Venezuela and was headed to the U.S. to seek asylum when the freight train they were riding through Mexico was stopped by immigration officials. His wife tried to explain that her family had permission to go to the U.S. Instead, they flew her to Mexico's southern border as part of a surge of enforcement actions that U.S. officials say have contributed to a sharp drop in illegal border crossings. In addition to forcing migrants from trains, Mexico also resumed flying and busing them to the southern part of the country and started flying some home to Venezuela. Even if temporary, the decrease in illegal crossings is welcome news for the White House. President Joe Biden's administration is locked in talks with Senate negotiators over restricting asylum and $110 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel hangs in the balance. Bermudez said his wife became separated from her family when she talked to authorities as he gathered his stepchild and their belongings. He wanted to run, but his wife said they shouldn't because they had followed procedure by making an appointment with U.S. immigration authorities. "I told her, Don't trust them. Let's go into the brush,'" Bermudez said, adding that other migrants had fled. He recalled her telling him, "Why are they sending us back if we have an appointment?" Last week, Bermudez, his stepchild and two other relatives were waiting for her at a shelter in the Mexican border town of Piedras Negras as she took a bus back in hopes of still making the date. Mexico's immigration agency sent at least 22 flights from its border region with the U.S. to southern cities during the last 10 days of December, according to Witness at the Border, an advocacy group that tracks flight data. Most were from Piedras Negras, which is across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas. Mexico also ran two removal flights to Venezuela with 329 migrants. The stretch was punctuated by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Mexico City on December 28 to confront unprecedented crossings to the United States. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said a financial shortfall that had led the immigration agency to suspend deportations and other operations was resolved. He did not offer details. Arrests for illegal crossings into the U.S. from Mexico fell to about 2,500 on Monday, down from more than 10,000 on several days in December, according to U.S. authorities. In the Border Patrol's busiest area, arrests totaled 13,800 during the seven-day period ending Friday, down 29% from 19,400 two weeks earlier, according to Tucson, Arizona, sector chief John Modlin. The drop led U.S. Customs and Border Protection to reopen the port of entry in Lukeville, Arizona, on Thursday after a monthlong closure on the most direct route from Phoenix to its nearest beaches. The U.S. also restored operations at Eagle Pass and three other locations. Merchants in Eagle Pass, a city of about 30,000 people, saw sales take "a major hit" while a bridge was closed to vehicle traffic so border agents could be reassigned to help process migrants, Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu said. "We survive pretty much from everything that comes from the Mexican side," he said. Last month, CBP resumed freight crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, after a five-day shutdown that U.S. officials said was a response to as many as 1,000 migrants riding atop a single train through Mexico before trying to walk across the border. In Piedras Negras on Thursday, Casa del Migrante housed about 200 migrants, down from as high as 1,500 recently. Among them was Manuel Rodriguez, 40, who said his family will miss their appointment to seek asylum that was made through the U.S. government's CBP One app. He said the appointment was registered with his in-laws, who were deported to Venezuela after authorities boarded the bus they were riding. "It was all under her name and she lost everything," Rodriguez said. Proposals being discussed by the White House and Senate negotiators include a new expulsion authority that would deny rights to seek asylum if illegal border crossings reach a certain threshold. Any such authority would almost certainly depend on Mexico's willingness to take back non-Mexicans who enter the U.S illegally, something it does now on a limited scale. Mexico's support was critical to defunct Trump-era policies that forced 70,000 asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court and to deny rights to seek asylum during the COVID-19 pandemic. Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., cautioned against overstating Mexico's role in the recent drop in traffic. Panama reported that less than 25,000 migrants walked through the Darien jungle in December, about half of October's level and a sign that fewer people are leaving South America for the U.S. Migration usually drops in December amid holidays and cold weather. "The U.S. is able to lean on Mexico for a short-term enforcement effect on migration at the border, but the long-term effects are not always clear," Selee said. India has achieved another milestone in space exploration by successfully placing a spacecraft in an orbit from which it will study the sun for five years. India joined a select group of nations already studying the sun four months after it became the first country to land an unmanned spacecraft on the moon's southern polar region, cementing its reputation as a nation that is emerging on the frontlines of space exploration. The Indian Space Research Organization said that the space observatory, Aditya L-1, reached the position from which it can monitor the suns outer layer and send data back to Earth on Saturday. The spacecraft, which was launched September 2, took four months to reach its destination. "The orbit of Aditya-L1 spacecraft is a periodic Halo orbit which is located roughly 1.5 million km [kilometers] from earth," according to an ISRO statement. Aditya-L1 is named after the Hindu god of the sun, called Aditya in Sanskrit. "L1" refers to Lagrange point 1, the location in space between the sun and Earth, where the satellite has been parked. "This demonstrates Indias capability to travel over a million kilometers away from the Earths orbit. It is a capability that very few countries have and India is the first in Asia to do so," according to Chaitanya Giri, associate professor of environmental sciences at Flame University in Pune. "The ability to maintain deep space communication with a spacecraft that has traveled so far and sustain a mission for a long period is also significant." The Indian mission is scheduled to study the sun for five years. The "Lagrange 1" point, where the spacecraft has been positioned provides an uninterrupted view of the sun, even during eclipses. The major focus of the mission is to gain a better understanding of space weather, variations in the environment in space between the Earth and the sun, which is crucial for protecting satellites and other spacecraft, according to space scientists. "It is vital to understand space weather at a time when there are thousands of satellites in space," Ajay Lele, space scientist and former senior fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defense Studies and Analyses in New Delhi, said. "Space weather is about disturbances that happen on the sun such as solar winds, solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These three components need to be studied," he said. Aditya-L1 is expected to be able to give warnings about space storms that can have an impact on Earth, occasionally affecting the operation of satellites and radio communications. The spacecraft is equipped with seven scientific instruments to study solar wind particles and magnetic fields. Solar observatory missions have been launched so far by the U.S. space agency NASA, the European space agency, Japan and China. Indias space program, which began in the 1960s, has gained prominence under Prime Minister Narendra Modi it is seen as part of his efforts to promote Indias global stature. "India creates yet another landmark. It is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists in realizing among the most complex and intricate space missions," Modi said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday. Other major missions planned by the Indian space agency include a manned mission to space that is due to be launched this year and an interplanetary mission to Mars. Besides scientific space explorations such as these, India is also looking to enhance its military capabilities in space, according to experts. The first signal that it is giving a military profile to its space program came in 2019 when it conducted an anti-satellite weapon test to demonstrate that it could shoot down satellites in space a capability that only the United States, China and Russia have. India has plans to develop 50 new satellites based on artificial intelligence technology in the next five years to beef up the countrys border surveillance and enhance its "geo-intelligence" capabilities, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairman S. Somanath said last month. Enhancing surveillance capabilities from space from a military perspective is key for India, according to experts. Its concerns center both on its Himalayan borders with China, where disputed borders between the two have sparked military tensions, and on the Indian Ocean region, where China has been increasing its influence. An anti-hijab advocate in Iran, Roya Heshmati, has been lashed 74 times by Iranian authorities on charges of injury to public chastity" for not wearing the mandatory head covering. Heshmati was detained at her home in Tehran last April after sharing an unveiled image of herself on social media, according to her lawyer, Mazyar Tataie. Tataie said Heshmati had been convicted in two distinct cases, facing charges of "propaganda against the system," "presence in public spaces without Islamic hijab," "injury to public chastity," "production of obscene content," and "encouraging corruption." The lawyer said Heshmati served a 15-day prison term, and an appellate court upheld the sentence of 74 lashes for the charge of "injury to public chastity." According to the attorney, Heshmati said to the judge who deemed mandatory hijab as a law, "Let him enforce the laws; we will persist in our resistance." The United Nations and human rights organizations have consistently denounced punishments like finger amputation and lashes as "barbaric," "medieval," and forms of "torture." They have persistently called for the abolition of these physical punishments in Iran. The European Union should form its own combined army that could play a role in peacekeeping and preventing conflict, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said. In an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa, Tajani said that closer European cooperation on defense was a priority for the Forza Italia party that he leads. "If we want to be peacekeepers in the world, we need a European military. And this is a fundamental precondition to be able to have an effective European foreign policy," he said in an interview published on Sunday. "In a world with powerful players like the United States, China, India, Russia - with crises from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific - Italian, German, French or Slovenian citizens can only be protected by something that already exists, namely the European Union," he added. European defense cooperation has risen up the political agenda since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago. However, efforts have been more focused on NATO expansion, with EU nation Finland joining the alliance last year and Sweden also on track to become a member. Tajani also said the 27-nation EU should streamline its leadership and have a single presidency, rather than the current structure of a European Council president and a European Commission president. The foreign minister became leader of Forza Italia following the death of Silvio Berlusconi last year. European Parliament elections in June will be the first gauge of the party's popularity after the loss of its charismatic former leader. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa paid a surprise visit Sunday to Kyiv where she said Tokyo was "determined" to keep supporting Ukraine, as the second anniversary of Moscow's invasion nears. Kamikawa, the first high-level foreign official to visit Kyiv this year, announced new deliveries of defense equipment and discussed Tokyo's plans to host a February conference to promote Ukraine's economic reconstruction. "Japan is determined to support Ukraine so that peace can return to Ukraine," Kamikawa told a press conference with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, held in a bomb shelter as an air raid siren rang out. "I can feel how tense the situation in Ukraine is now." Her visit came during escalating attacks by both sides in the conflict. "I once again strongly condemn Russia's missile and drone attacks, particularly on New Year's Day," said Kamikawa. She said Tokyo would "allocate" $37 million to provide Ukraine with a drone detection system. It will also supply five generators to help Ukraine "survive" another winter. Kamikawa visited the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, where Russian forces are blamed for a 2022 massacre of civilians, saying she was "shocked" by what she saw. She also went to Irpin, a past scene of heavy fighting. 'Comprehensive support' Her unannounced visit is part of a two-week tour starting Friday that was planned to take in Poland, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Germany and Turkey. Kuleba said Kyiv was thankful for Japan's decision last year to provide Ukraine with F-16s jets, but said the country also needed air defense systems. "Every day, Ukrainian cities are destroyed by Russian missiles and drones. They cannot capture us, so they are trying to destroy us," he said. Kuleba said the two also discussed "threats from North Korea," and he expressed "solidarity" after the recent earthquake in Japan. Kamikawa later met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who thanked Tokyo for its security, economic and humanitarian "assistance" to Kyiv. "Japan is our very important and strong partner," Zelenskyy said on social media. Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also hailed a "meaningful meeting" with Kamikawa, thanking Japan for its "comprehensive support," including humanitarian and financial assistance. In a Telegram message, he applauded Japan for its "decision to allocate $1 billion for humanitarian projects and reconstruction, with a readiness to increase this amount to $4.5 billion through the mechanisms of international institutions." He said the meeting also covered the Ukrainian president's conditions for peace, the implementation of reforms, and joint cooperation on infrastructure projects. Shmyhal said Kyiv and Tokyo are also strengthening trade relations. "We have already held meetings with two business delegations from Japan and are interested in locating production facilities of leading Japanese companies in Ukraine," he added. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Jordan and Qatar on Sunday to meet with Arab leaders in a new push to tamp down fears that the Israeli war with Hamas could spiral out of control across the Middle East. In meetings with Jordan King Abdullah II and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the top U.S. diplomat spoke of the need for Israel to curb civilian casualties during the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza and significantly increase the amount of humanitarian aid reaching famished Palestinians in Gaza. But the U.S. has continued to support Israel in refusing Arab demands for a cease-fire to halt the fighting in the three-month war. The Jewish state has vowed to continue the war until it believes the threat of future Hamas attacks has been eradicated and the militant group no longer controls Gaza, the narrow territory along the Mediterranean Sea. Blinkens trip will also take him to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Egypt before he returns to Washington, his fourth to the region since the war began. The royal court said King Abdullah "warned of the catastrophic repercussions" of Israels war in Gaza against Hamas while calling on the U.S. to press for an immediate cease-fire. Israel and the U.S. believe that a cease-fire would only serve Hamas to be able to regroup in its fight against Israeli forces. While in Amman, Blinken also visited a World Food Program warehouse where trucks are loaded with aid for famished Palestinians in Gaza. "The efforts right here to collect and distribute food to people in need are absolutely essential," Blinken said. "The United States has worked from day one to open access routes into Gaza." "We continue to work on that every single day, not only to open them but to multiply them, to maximize them and to try to get more assistance, more effectively," he said. "We're determined to do everything we possibly can to ameliorate the situation for the men, women and children in Gaza." Turkey is prepared to use its influence with critical countries in the Middle East to deescalate and prevent the Gaza conflict from spreading, Blinken told reporters late Saturday, after he held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a strong critic of Israels military actions in Gaza. Blinken held meetings earlier in the day with Erdogan in Istanbul, and then in Crete with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He embarked on a Middle East diplomacy tour this week seeking to calm the situation in Gaza and soothe regional frictions. In a separate meeting with Blinken, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for "an immediate cease-fire" in Gaza and for the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid. Fidan also advocated for the immediate start of negotiations for a two-state Israeli-Palestinian solution, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. The United States has urged a lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. This involves achieving Palestinian political rights notably the establishment of a Palestinian state with security assurances for Israel. In Crete, Blinken thanked Mitsotakis for the countrys continued support for the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken expressed appreciation for Greece's commitment to the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. This is particularly crucial, as Yemeni Houthis have been attacking vessels in the sea in solidarity with Hamas. On Saturday, Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah group launched dozens of rockets into northern Israel. Israel responded with airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. "One of the areas of real concern is the border between Israel and Lebanon, and we want to do everything possible to make sure that we don't see escalation there," Blinken said Saturday. He told reporters that Israel is "clearly not interested" in an escalation and emphasized, "It's not in Lebanon's interest to see any escalation." Blinkens trip comes at a time when the risk of a broader regional conflict is surging, despite collective efforts of Western and regional powers to confine the Israel-Hamas war to the Gaza Strip. Israel began its military campaign to wipe out Hamas after Hamas fighters crossed into southern Israel on October 7. Israel said about 1,200 people were killed and about 240 captives taken in the terror attack. Gaza health officials say more than 22,000 Palestinians, a large percentage of them women and children, have been killed in Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip. The United States has stated its opposition to forcibly removing Palestinians from Gaza. The U.S. is also working on a postwar road map for the Palestinian territories. "Gaza cannot, once again, serve as a launching pad for terrorist attacks against Israel, Miller told VOA last week. "What we ultimately want to see is Gaza and the West Bank reunited under Palestinian leadership," and "certainly there's no role for Hamas in that." On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant outlined the country's plans for the next stage of its operations in Gaza. The new approach involves a more targeted strategy in northern Gaza and a continued pursuit of Hamas leaders in the south. Gallant said in a statement that after the war, Gaza would no longer be under Hamas control. While Israel would retain operational freedom, there would not be any Israeli civilians present in the Gaza Strip. Some material for this report was provided by Reuters and The Associated Press. When a North Korean artillery shell slammed into his house and burned it to the ground in 2010, Jung Chang-kuan thought that war had broken out again. That attack a North Korean artillery barrage on Jung's home, on the remote South Korean border island of Yeongpeong killed four people in the first such incident since the 1950-53 Korean War. And Friday, that previous attack was on Jung's mind as he fled to a shelter with his family after North Korea fired artillery shells near his island, prompting a South Korean live-fire exercise in response. "There wasn't that much fear inside the shelter. Rather, all the residents came and it was just a chatting atmosphere because they had not seen each other in a long time," he said of the Friday evacuation. In contrast, in 2010, Jung said his family was unable to salvage any of their belongings from their burning house and had no choice but to run. "The shells rained down, smoke billowed, and everything was engulfed in flames and destroyed, there was no time to think about anything else," he told AFP. Having to flee again Friday, 70-year-old Jung said it felt both strange and "reminiscent" of the 2010 incident. "I wasn't too shocked," he said. "I've even experienced (my house) being directly hit by artillery fire before." On Saturday, North Korea fired another 60 artillery shells in the area, Seoul's military said, urging Pyongyang to immediately cease "actions that increase tension" along the maritime border. Shelters always open Yeonpyeong is extremely close less than 2 kilometers to the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas known as the Northern Limit Line or NLL. Although controlled by Seoul and on the southern side of the de facto maritime border, the sparsely populated island is much closer to North Korea. It is only around 42 kilometers away from the North Korean city of Haeju, while being situated about 115 kilometers west of the South Korean capital Seoul. On clear days in autumn months, the train station in Haej as well as the plumes of smoke rising from the city's factories can be seen from a hilltop on Yeonpyeong. Yeonpyeong operates around 10 shelters across the island equipped with medical beds, children's books, and gas masks, among other materials. "We always keep the shelter doors open," an official from the Yeonpyeong district office told AFP at one of the shelters where around 200 residents stayed Friday. "Our aim is to ensure that people can seek refuge here whenever necessary." Compassion for North Koreans The streets and residents of Yeonpyeong remained peaceful early Saturday, with military soldiers visiting hair salons and people enjoying bike rides on quiet roads. "I always have this understanding in my mind that ... (Yeonpyeong Island) is a tense place in the West Sea," a hairdresser and island resident, who asked not to be named, told AFP. "If we're told to go to a shelter, we should follow the instructions, since we live in this place. There's no need to worry excessively. Tomorrow is tomorrow, and today is today." But resident Kim Na-yeon, 69, said she suffered from trauma stemming from the 2010 incident, and said many elderly women on the island were deeply shaken and filled with fear both Friday and during the 2010 shelling. Fourteen years ago, Kim said that people sought refuge in a poorly built, rudimentary shelter where they could see dead mice, anxiously awaiting private and public ferries to evacuate them from the area. On Friday, "I was anxious and didn't know if I should go to sleep or not, so I left a bag by the door without even unpacking it," she told AFP. Due to its location, around 30 percent of the island's residents are war refugees who hail from Hwanghae Province in North Korea. "I long to step on the land of my hometown, where my mother rests," reads a sculpture erected on the island in remembrance of the families separated by the Korean War. For such reasons, resident Jung said he harbors no personal grudge against North Koreans, despite having his house destroyed by Pyongyang's shells. "Even now, I feel compassion towards the North Korean people," Jung said. "I even have this willingness to help them." Note: The graphic description of the violence in this story may be disturbing to sensitive readers. Mexican authorities in the violence-plagued southwestern state of Guerrero said they were investigating a gruesome massacre that took place in a part of a remote desert where two rival criminal groups have been fighting for control. Police investigators had found five burned bodies stacked onto a burned vehicle when they arrived in Buenavista de los Hurtado on Friday, the state attorney general said in a statement shared late Saturday. Citing footage shared by alleged members of the Familia Michoacana on social media and interviews with unnamed sources in the area, local media reported that 30 people had died after a drone attack. In the footage shot in the desert, heavily armed men dressed in military clothing were shown piling bodies some naked, their clothes scattered around the ground on the hood and the rear of a red pickup riddled with bullet holes. Some of the men appeared to have limbs cut off and at least one had a head missing. A severed head is shown being arranged atop the human pile by one man while another, holding the camera and filming the pickup from all sides, says in heavy Mexican swear words to "send more." Since being posted on Friday night, the video racked up 3.1 million views on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Reuters was unable to independently verify the video, but several local media later published widely shared videos showing what appeared to be the same pickup and burned bodies. Mexican authorities in the statement said they were aware of a "confrontation between the criminal groups of Familia Michoacana and Los Tlacos, which have a running dispute for control of the area." Police investigators in the area found no evidence of other crimes, the statement said, adding that villagers had declined to give DNA samples that would allow for the identification of the remains and advance investigations. Reuters was unable to get comment from villagers. Orthodox Christians packed churches Saturday night for Christmas Eve services, a holiday overshadowed for many believers by conflict. Traditions vary, but typically the main worship service for Orthodox Christians takes place the night before Christmas, which is January 7. Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, the world's largest Orthodox denomination, led elaborate and well-attended services at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral. In ornately decorated vestments, dozens of priests and officiants took part, swinging smoking incense censers and chanting the liturgy. In his Christmas message, broadcast just before the service Saturday night, Kirill spoke on the theme of sacrificial love, noting that Jesus Christ "saved us from the wrong path in life, from the wrong life orientation." He also called for prayers for Russia, so that "no alien evil will could disrupt the peaceful flow of life." Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined by families of military personnel who have died in the war in Ukraine at Christmas Eve services at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence, in the western suburbs of Moscow. In a statement congratulating Orthodox Christians, Putin highlighted the "efforts of religious organizations aimed at supporting our heroes participants in the special military operation," as the Kremlin refers to Russia's efforts in Ukraine. Officials said about a million people were expected to go to church in the Russian capital. But nighttime services were canceled in the Russian border city of Belgorod due to the "operational situation," Mayor Valentin Demidov said. Ukrainian attacks in Belgorod on December 30 killed 25 people, officials there said, making it one of the deadliest strikes on Russian soil since the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine nearly 23 months ago. Rocket and drone attacks on the city continued throughout this week. Russians and Orthodox in some other countries observe Christmas on January 7. But Ukraine, which is a predominantly Orthodox country, officially observed Christmas this year as a public holiday on December 25. The change, enacted in legislation signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in July, reflects Ukrainians' dismay with the nearly 23-month-old Russian invasion and their assertion of a national identity. In neighboring Belarus, Christmas is officially celebrated with public holidays on both December 25 and on January 7. About 80% of believers are Orthodox, belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church, while around 14% are Catholics, living mainly in the west, north and center of the country. President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for 30 years, calls himself an "Orthodox atheist." He usually attends Christmas Eve services and lights a candle in an Orthodox church. He wished Orthodox Christians a happy Christmas, saying in a statement that he is "convinced that by preserving the Orthodox traditions of mercy and moral purity, together we will create the best future for our native Belarus." Orthodox believers in Serbia marked the day by burning oak branches at services outside churches and temples, including hundreds who gathered at the St. Sava Temple the biggest Orthodox church in the Balkans. The young oak tree symbolizes Christ and his entry into the world, with the centuries-old tradition led by Serbian Orthodox church priests. As the fire was lit, dozens of people of all ages threw small branches of dried oak into the large bonfire. "In these hard times, we need to come together in unity and to nurture peace, love, and respect towards each other," Belgrade resident Mica Jovanovic told The Associated Press. Celebrations in the Middle East were darkened by another conflict: the Israel-Hamas war. In Bethlehem, where Orthodox Christmas Eve normally draws tens of thousands of tourists to visit the traditional birthplace of Jesus, roughly 100 observers milled about in Manger Square. They were nearly outnumbered by police officers and clergymen. Christmas festivities were canceled in the West Bank town after the heads of major churches in Jerusalem asked their congregations to "forgo any unnecessarily festive activities" in light of the fighting in Gaza. The majority of Christians in the region are Palestinians, and Christian leaders have called upon observers to spend the holidays praying for peace and an end to the war. Despite the cancellation of festivities, church leaders still gathered to welcome the arrival of patriarchs from different Orthodox churches Greek, Coptic and Ethiopian and a customary procession of Boy Scouts proceeded through Bethlehem, though without the usual fanfare. A midnight Mass was planned. Samir Qumseyeh, a Palestinian Christian and founder of a Christian TV channel, has been filming the celebrations since 1996. He said this year's observance was even more muted than at the height of the second intifada, when Israeli forces locked down parts of the West Bank in response to Palestinians carrying out suicide bombings and other attacks that killed Israeli civilians. "Even during the intifada, still the festivals and the joy were there," Qumseyeh said. "But this year, I am feeling very, very, very sad. But I understand why the church leaders had to do this. You cannot show joy when the people of Gaza are suffering." In Iraq, many Christians canceled Christmas and New Year's celebrations in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, as well as in an act of continued mourning for the victims of a deadly fire that killed more than 100 people at a wedding in the predominantly Christian Hamdaniya area of northern Iraq in September. Dozens of Iraqi Armenian Orthodox Christians attended Christmas Eve Mass in Baghdad but the celebration was limited to Christmas prayers and rituals. "In 2023, we went through many crises, including the Hamdaniya tragedy which the entire world learned about, as well as to Gaza and our brothers in Palestine," Gebre Kashikian, pastor of the Armenian Church in Baghdad, said at the Mass. In Istanbul, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I presided over the Blessing of the Waters ceremony on the Golden Horn. The tradition sees the patriarch toss a wooden cross into the inlet, which this year nearly 50 swimmers competed to recover. Kostas Kypros, from Alexandroupoli in Greece, emerged from the water clutching the crucifix. "I am very happy. I wish the best for everyone. I was lucky and I pulled out the cross," Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported him as saying. Earlier, members of Istanbul's tiny Greek Orthodox community and visitors from neighboring Greece attended an Epiphany service led by Bartholomew I at the Patriarchal Church of St George in Istanbul's Fener district. Bartholomew I is regarded as the "first among equals" among patriarchs in Eastern Orthodoxy and the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians. The patriarchate dates from the 1,100-year Orthodox Greek Byzantine Empire, which ended in 1453 when the Muslim Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople, today's Istanbul. U.K. police have opened a fraud investigation into Britain's Post Office over a miscarriage of justice that saw hundreds of postmasters wrongfully accused of stealing money when a faulty computer system was to blame. The Metropolitan Police force said late Friday that it is investigating "potential fraud offences arising out of these prosecutions," relating to money the Post Office received "as a result of prosecutions or civil actions" against accused postal workers. Police also are investigating potential offenses of perjury and perverting the course of justice over investigations and prosecutions carried out by the Post Office. Between 1999 and 2015, more than 700 post office branch managers were accused of theft or fraud because computers wrongly showed that money was missing. Many were financially ruined after being forced to pay large sums to the company, and some were convicted and sent to prison. Several killed themselves. The real culprit was a defective computer accounting system called Horizon, supplied by the Japanese technology firm Fujitsu, that was installed in local Post Office branches in 1999. The Post Office maintained for years that data from Horizon was reliable and accused branch managers of dishonesty when the system showed money was missing. After years of campaigning by victims and their lawyers, the Court of Appeal quashed 39 of the convictions in 2021. A judge said the Post Office "knew there were serious issues about the reliability" of Horizon and had committed "egregious" failures of investigation and disclosure. A total of 93 of the postal workers have now had their convictions overturned, according to the Post Office. But many others have yet to be exonerated, and only 30 have agreed to "full and final" compensation payments. A public inquiry into the scandal has been underway since 2022. So far, no one from the publicly owned Post Office or other companies involved has been arrested or faced criminal charges. Lee Castleton, a former branch manager who went bankrupt after being pursued by the Post Office for missing funds, said his family was ostracized in their hometown of Bridlington in northern England. He said his daughter was bullied because people thought "her father was a thief, and he'd take money from old people." He said victims wanted those responsible to be named. "It's about accountability," Castleton told Times Radio on Saturday. "Let's see who made those decisions and made this happen." The long-simmering scandal stirred new outrage with the broadcast this week of a TV docudrama, Mr. Bates vs the Post Office. It charted a two-decade battle by branch manager Alan Bates, played by Toby Jones, to expose the truth and clear the wronged postal workers. Post Office Chief Executive Nick Read, appointed after the scandal, welcomed the TV series and said he hoped it would "raise further awareness and encourage anyone affected who has not yet come forward to seek the redress and compensation they deserve." A lawyer for some of the postal workers said 50 new potential victims had approached lawyers since the show aired on the ITV network. "The drama has elevated public awareness to a whole new level," attorney Neil Hudgell said. "The British public and their overwhelming sympathy for the plight of these poor people has given some the strength to finally come forward. Those numbers increase by the day, but there are so many more out there." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed confidence that Russia could be defeated and warned that the war in Ukraine has shown that Europe should develop a joint weapons production with Ukraine and build a sufficient weapons arsenal for its defense. Two years of this war have proven that Europe needs its own sufficient arsenal for the defense of freedom. Its own capabilities to ensure defense. Its own potential that will allow all of Europe, or any part of it, to stand and preserve itself under any global situation, he said. Zelenskyy made the comments via a video link at a Stockholm defense conference Sunday, while Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom expressed his countrys commitment to support Kyiv. Watch related video by Arash Arabasadi: Swedens military, political, and economic support for Ukraine remains the Swedish governments main foreign policy task in the coming years, he posted during the event on X, formerly Twitter, the messaging app. Japan also pledged its support to Kyiv Sunday when Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa made an unannounced visit, becoming the first official foreign visitor in the Ukrainian capital in 2024. "Japan is determined to continue to support Ukraine so that peace can return to Ukraine, Kamikawa said through an interpreter at a joint news conference with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba. Kamikawa, who was forced into a bomb shelter by an air alert in Kyiv, condemned Russias missile and drone attacks on civilians, particularly on New Years Day, adding that her country would provide an additional $37 million to a NATO trust fund to help purchase drone-detection systems. Russia deployed almost 300 missiles and more than 200 drones in attacks in the last days of 2023 and the first days of 2024, according to the Reuters news agency. Russia attacks Russia launched 28 attack drones and three cruise missiles at Ukraine overnight, Ukraines air force said Sunday, adding that its air defense systems destroyed 21 of the drones. The air force said on its Telegram messaging channel that Russia mainly targeted the south and east of Ukraine but did not say what happened to the three cruise missiles. Reuters could not independently verify the report. There was no immediate comment from Russia. Two people were killed, and several others wounded in Russian shelling of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, the head of the city administration, Roman Mrochko, said. In Ukraine's northeast Kharkiv region, a man was killed, and two other civilians wounded in Russian shelling of the Kupiansk district Sunday. A deadly Russian missile strike hit the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk on Saturday, about 80 kilometers northwest of Donetsk, the governor of the Ukrainian-held part of the region, Vadym Filashkin, wrote on Telegram. "Eleven dead, including five children these are the consequences for now of strikes on Pokrovsk district," Filashkin said, posting pictures of rescue squads sifting through large piles of smoldering rubble in the dark along with a burned-out vehicle. The British defense ministry said Sunday that Rosgvardia, the Russian National Guard, is seeking to boost its resources and personnel, because of upheavals in Russias internal security caused by its war on Ukraine. The daily ministry report said portions of the mercenary Wagner Group came under the umbrella of Rosgvardia in October, followed this month by the separatist Donetsk Peoples Republic Vostok Battalion. Moscow has been making moves to dissolve the breakaway regions Kaskad group, which specializes in drone operations, and subordinate parts of it to Rosgvardia, according to the ministry. These moves, along with the authorization Russia gave Rosgvardia this past summer to use heavier weaponry, will likely represent a significant increase in Russias combat effectiveness, the British ministry said. Drones - North Korea The Kharkiv region prosecutor's office provided evidence Saturday indicating Russia may have attacked Ukraine with missiles supplied by North Korea. Examining fragments of one of several missiles that hit the city of Kharkiv on January 2, Dmytro Chubenko, spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, said it was visually and technically different from Russian models. Chubenko would not provide the missile's exact model name but showed remnants to reporters and said its production method was not very modern. He said it differed from the standard Iskander missiles that had previously struck Kharkiv. This missile is similar to one of the North Korean missiles," Chubenko said, adding that its diameter was slightly larger than a Russian Iskander missile and its nozzle, internal electrical wiring and rear parts were different. Russia and Ukraine are ramping up their drone production as UAVs unmanned aerial vehicles - have been widely used by both sides since the beginning of the war. Russia plans to domestically produce more than 32,000 drones each year by 2030, accounting for 70% of its drone stockpile, at the cost of $7.66 billion, the TASS news agency cited First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov as saying Saturday. "This is almost three times higher than current production volumes, Belousov told TASS. Ukraine said in December it planned to produce more than 11,000 medium- and long-range attack drones in 2024, as well as 1 million FPV, or first-person-view, drones that are widely in demand on the front line. Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Federal officials on Saturday ordered the immediate grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners until they are inspected after an Alaska Airlines plane suffered a blowout that left a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage. The required inspections take around four to eight hours per aircraft and affect about 171 airplanes worldwide. Alaska Airlines said in a statement that of the 65 737 Max 9 aircraft in its fleet, crews had inspected the paneled-over exits as part of recent maintenance work on 18 planes, and those were cleared to return to service Saturday. Inspections for the remaining aircraft were expected to be completed in the coming days, the company said. An Alaska Airlines jetliner blew out a portion of its fuselage shortly after takeoff 4.8 kilometers above Oregon late Friday, forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing as its 171 passengers and six crew members donned oxygen masks. No one was seriously hurt as the depressurized plane returned safely to Portland International Airport about 20 minutes after departure. Passenger Evan Smith said a boy and his mother were sitting in the row where the panel blew out, and the child's shirt was sucked off him and out of the plane. "You heard a big loud bang to the left rear. A whooshing sound and all the oxygen masks deployed instantly, and everyone got those on," Smith told KATU-TV. The National Transportation Safety Board said Saturday it will investigate. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said the inspection of the company's 737-9 aircraft could take days to complete. They make up a fifth of the company's 314 planes. "We are working with Boeing and regulators to understand what occurred ... and will share updates as more information is available," Minicucci said. "My heart goes out to those who were on this flight I am so sorry for what you experienced." Alaska canceled more than 100 flights, or 15% of its Saturday schedule by midday, according to FlightAware. United said the plane inspections would result in about 60 cancelations. The Port of Portland, which operates the airport, told KPTV that the fire department treated minor injuries at the scene. One person was taken for more treatment but wasn't seriously hurt. Fuselage blows out Flight 1282 took off from Portland at 5:07 p.m. Friday for a two-hour flight to Ontario, California. About six minutes later, the chunk of the fuselage blew out as the plane was at about 4.8 kilometers. One of the pilots declared an emergency and asked for clearance to descend to 3 kilometers, the altitude where the air would have enough oxygen to breathe safely. "We need to turn back to Portland," the pilot told controllers in a calm voice that she maintained throughout the landing. Videos posted by passengers online showed a gaping hole where the paneled-over exit had been and passengers wearing masks. They applauded when the plane landed safely about 13 minutes after the blowout. Firefighters then came down the aisle, asking passengers to remain in their seats as they treated the injured. Plane certified 2 months ago The aircraft involved rolled off the assembly line and received its certification two months ago, according to online FAA records. It had been on 145 flights since entering commercial service November 11, said FlightRadar24, another tracking service. The flight from Portland was the aircraft's third of the day. Aviation experts were stunned that a piece would fly off a new aircraft. Anthony Brickhouse, a professor of aerospace safety at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said he has seen panels of fuselage come off planes before, but couldn't recall one where passengers "are looking at the lights of the city." He said the incident is a reminder for passengers to stay buckled in. "If there had been a passenger in that window seat who just happened to have their seat belt off, we'd be looking at a totally different news story." The Max is the newest version of Boeing's venerable 737, a twin-engine, single-aisle plane frequently used on U.S. domestic flights. The plane went into service in May 2017. The president of the union representing flight attendants at 19 airlines, including Alaska Airlines, commended the crew for keeping passengers safe. "Flight Attendants are trained for emergencies, and we work every flight for aviation safety first and foremost," Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said in a statement Saturday. Two Max 8 jets crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people and leading to a near two-year worldwide grounding of all Max 8 and Max 9 planes. They returned to service only after Boeing made changes to an automated flight control system implicated in the crashes. Last year the FAA told pilots to limit use of an anti-ice system on the Max in dry conditions because of concern that inlets around the engines could overheat and break away, possibly striking the plane. Max deliveries have been interrupted at times to fix manufacturing flaws. The company told airlines in December to inspect the planes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder-control system. Noelia Sanchez was born in the rolling farmlands of southwestern Missouri, where her Mexican parents worked as seasonal farmworkers in the 1950s. When she was 1, Noelia and her mother, Aurora, who had no work documents, were rounded up with dozens of other immigrants in a Texas town near the border. The U.S.-born child and her mother were forced to go to Mexico along with hundreds of thousands of other people. Their deportations were part of a U.S. government effort that was known in official papers and the media as "Operation Wetback." The term "wetback," which was used to describe Mexicans who swam or waded across the Rio Grande, is considered a racial slur. Donald Trump has lauded the Eisenhower-era raids without using their name since he first ran for president and is now promising voters that if elected, he would begin the largest domestic deportation operation in American history, exceeding the 1950s. He has escalated his verbal attacks on immigrants as he seeks a second term, telling supporters twice in recent weeks that immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country." Advocates and experts have noted his language echoes writings from Hitler, which Nazi Germany used to justify killing millions of Jews during World War II. People affected by the deportations of the 1950s and historians argue Trump is using fragments of history and rhetoric for political purposes while discounting his own administration's failures to carry out mass deportations, even as it separated families at the U.S.-Mexico border and enacted sweeping restrictions on asylum. "Families were divided by misapplied immigration policies and discriminatory immigration policies specifically geared toward Indigenous people, Mexican Americans, Latinos," said Joaquin Sanchez, Noelia's son, who is now an immigration attorney in Chicago. "These are the types of policies that my family has witnessed for generations." The Eisenhower-era raids coincided with a guest worker program that provided legal status to hundreds of thousands of largely Mexican farmworkers. Noelia Sanchez, who was born in Missouri, and her mother were able to get their papers in about a year and return to settle in Chicago. The administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower launched a military-style campaign in the summer of 1954 seeking to remove Mexican immigrants who were in the country illegally. The operation followed several other deportation efforts of the 1940s and 1950s. Scholars have challenged the 1 million arrests reported for the summer operation, saying figures from previous years were included and that the number for the entire year was actually much smaller, about 250,000. The government relied on scare tactics to prompt people to self-deport so that they could have a chance to return to the U.S. "It was a terror campaign that was designed to scare people from the country," said UCLA history professor Kelly Lytle Hernandez. "It was really a PR campaign designed to terrorize communities into self-deporting." Hernandez said the administration would round up a sizable number of people, broadcast it and announce they were traveling to other towns. "There is no way the United States had that force to affect that number of deportations." Trump often labels immigration as dangerous in his speeches, suggesting people crossing the border are criminals who are trying to invade the U.S. and bring diseases. Speaking in Ankeny, Iowa, in September, he said, "Following the Eisenhower model, we will carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history." He invoked the same operation in 2015 when he was first running for president. But his administration did not deport millions during his four-year presidency as he promised before and after becoming president. Just as in the 1950s, the U.S. government was limited in how many deportations it could carry out at one time. According to the Migration Policy Institute, the Trump administration deported about one-third as many immigrants in the country illegally from the interior during its first four fiscal years as the administration of President Barack Obama during the same time frame. Enforcement sweeps take months of planning, and arresting an immigrant can often require days of surveillance. Officers don't usually carry search warrants, and advocates warn immigrants not to open their doors. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement often struggled to find adequate detention space during the Trump administration, and people can fight their deportation cases for months or years. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for information on why his administration did not come close to deporting millions and how a second term would conduct such a large-scale effort. The Trump administration was more hostile to immigration than any administration in decades. Trump prevented people from applying for asylum at the southwest border, separated children from their families, and built a border wall in environmentally sensitive areas. Well into his term in 2019, Trump announced on Twitter that he would deport millions the day before he was launching his reelection bid. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, knocked Trump for his immigration record in the last GOP debate. "He did say in 2016 he'd have the largest deportation program in history. He deported less than Barack Obama did when Barack Obama was president," he said. "Some of these policies he ran on in '16, I was cheering him on then, but he didn't deliver it." Both DeSantis and Trump have touted the Eisenhower program as a model. Several candidates in the field have talked about using deadly force at the border or sending the U.S. military into Mexico. Joaquin Sanchez's grandmother, now 92, still lives in Chicago, in a home she owns a few blocks from a proposed temporary shelter for newly arriving migrants. "Grandma laughs at her own experience because she was able to come back, and look at her now, and look at her kids," he said. "She's had an incredible trajectory." Al Jazeera has condemned the death of two journalists, one of them a freelance for the network, whom authorities in Hamas-run Gaza say were killed in an Israeli airstrike while traveling in their car covering the war near Rafah. Mustafa Thuria was a video stringer for Agence France-Presse. Hamza Al-Dahdouh was Al Jazeeras stringer and the son of the TV networks bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Al-Dahdouh. A third freelancer, Hazem Rajab, was wounded in the strike. Earlier in the war, Wael Al-Dahdouh lost his wife, two other children and a grandson and was nearly killed himself. The Qatar-based Al Jazeera network said in a statement the latest killings demonstrate without a doubt the Israeli forces determination to continue these brutal attacks against journalists and their families, aiming to discourage them from performing their mission, violating the principles of freedom of the press. Al Jazeera urged the International Criminal Court, governments, human rights organizations and the United Nations to hold Israel accountable for its heinous crimes and demanded an end to the targeting and killing of journalists. Israels military has not commented on the strike but in a statement on December 16, responding to the death of another Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza, the army said, "The IDF has never, and will never, deliberately target journalists." In the 10 first weeks of the war in Gaza, 77 journalists and media workers had been killed in the enclave, the Committee to Protect Journalists, an international media watchdog, said. Seventy were Palestinians, four were Israelis and three were Lebanese. The concentration of journalists killed in the Israel-Gaza war is unparalleled in CPJs history and underscores how grave the situation is for press on the ground, said CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg in a statement earlier. A video posted on an Al Jazeera-linked YouTube channel showed Wael Al-Dahdouh crying next to his son's body and holding his hand. Later, after his son's burial, he said in televised remarks that journalists in Gaza would keep doing their job. "All the world needs to see what is happening here," he said. Israeli forces have completed dismantling Hamas' "military framework" in northern Gaza, killing about 8,000 militants in that area and seizing tens of thousands of weapons and millions of documents there, military spokesperson said Saturday. Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in an online briefing that Israel is now focused on breaking up Hamas in the central and southern Gaza Strip, acknowledging this will take time. Hagari said Israels military effort in eradicating Hamas from central and southern Gaza will be done differently than it was done in the north, noting that the refugee camps in the central Gaza strip are crowded and full of terrorists, while stating the elaborate network of underground tunnels in the south of Gaza are labor intensive to destroy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement Saturday the war against Hamas must not be stopped until Israel achieves three main objectives: eliminate Hamas, return our hostages and ensure that Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel. Meanwhile, Israel and Hezbollah continued trading fire Saturday across Lebanons border, in one of the heaviest days of cross-border fighting in recent weeks. Air raid sirens blared across northern Israel as Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah group said it launched more than 60 rockets at an Israeli military base. Israel said it retaliated by striking a "terrorist cell responsible for the launches." It also said it struck several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including military sites and "terrorist infrastructure." Hezbollah said five of its fighters had been killed in Israeli strikes. Hezbollah said in a statement, its strikes against Israel were an initial response to the assassination of one of Hamas leaders, Saleh al-Arouri, earlier in the week. Hezbollah believes Israel is responsible for the strike that killed Arouri, but Israel has not claimed responsibility. Hamas and security officials in the region attributed the strike that killed Saleh al-Arouri to an Israeli drone, although Israel has not directly acknowledged this. Hezbollah like Hamas, an Iran-backed militant group designated as a terror organization by the United States and others has been firing rockets across Israel's northern border since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, are on separate trips to the region. They each are trying to contain a spillover from the three-month-old war into Lebanon, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Red Sea shipping lanes, where Iranian backed Houthi rebels based in Yemen have been attacking commercial vessels linked to Israel, in what the group has called a revenge campaign on Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. In a video message shared by Hamas on Saturday, the head of Hamas' political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, said he hopes Blinken will be "more focused" on ending Israeli "aggression" in Gaza during the top diplomat's multi-country visit to the region. Israel Defense Forces dropped new flyers on neighborhoods in central Gaza on Saturday, urging Palestinians to evacuate. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled to southern Gaza to seek refuge from the fighting, but the fighting has followed them there. Israel launched strikes early Saturday on the southern Gaza cities of Rafah and Khan Younis. At Egypts Rafah border crossing, relief to the Palestinian population has been reduced to a crawl, as lines of hundreds of trucks carrying aid have been waiting for weeks to enter Gaza. Two U.S. senators said Saturday after a visit to the border that a warehouse full of goods rejected by Israeli inspectors holds everything from water testing equipment to medical kits for delivering babies. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Jeff Merkley pointed to a cumbersome process that is slowing relief in the besieged territory largely from what they say are seemingly arbitrary rejections by Israeli inspectors of aid cargos carrying vital humanitarian equipment. Almost the entire population in Gaza depends on the humanitarian aid from across the border with Egypt for their survival. One in four Palestinians in Gaza is starving, and the rest face crisis levels of hunger, according to the U.N. More than 85% of Gazas people have been driven from their homes by Israels bombardment and ground offensives. The Middle East has been a tinderbox since Iran-backed Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people while taking about 240 people hostages, Israel said. Some of the hostages have been released, though about 130 are still being held in Gaza. Israel's response has killed more than 22,600 Palestinians, a large percentage of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Neither side differentiates between combatants and civilians. Some material for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. The United Nations has urged Afghanistan's ruling Taliban to bring to justice the perpetrators of an overnight deadly minibus bombing in Kabul that targeted members of the minority Hazara-Shiite community. Saturday's attack in the western Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood of the Afghan capital killed at least five passengers and wounded more than a dozen others, a Taliban police statement said. An earlier statement put the death toll at two. A regional Islamic State affiliate, known as Islamic State-Khorasan, or IS-K, claimed responsibility, saying it detonated an explosive device on the bus carrying Shiite Muslims, whom the Sunni-based militant outfit condemns as disbelievers. "At least 25 members of Kabul's Hazara community killed and wounded in last night's explosion in Dasht-e Barchi," the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Sunday on X, formerly known as Twitter. "UNAMA calls for an end to targeted attacks on civilians, greater protection for # Afghanistan's Hazara community and accountability for perpetrators," the agency wrote. Dasht-e-Barchi is a predominantly Shi'ite neighborhood and has experienced persistent militant bomb attacks targeting mosques, schools, and hospitals. IS-K has claimed credit for almost all recent attacks against the Hazara community in the city and elsewhere in Afghanistan, killing hundreds of civilians. The militant group has also targeted prominent Afghan religious personalities linked to the Taliban since they regained control of the country more than two years ago. Taliban officials claim their counterterrorism operations led to a 90% decrease in nationwide IS-K attacks in the past year, saying the group is not able to threaten Afghanistan or beyond. However, the United States says IS-K "remains a viable terrorist threat" to the conflict-torn South Asian nation and the region. "ISIS-K does remain a viable terrorist threat. Certainly, they are largely based out of Afghanistan. That's where they headquarter themselves," John Kirby, the U.S. National Security Council spokesperson, told reporters on Thursday, using a different acronym for the group. Kirby was responding to questions about IS-K's strength and its ability to threaten global security after the group claimed credit for twin suicide bombings that killed nearly 100 people in predominantly Shi'ite Iran last Wednesday. Iranian authorities said after the deadly attack in the southeastern city of Kerman that they were shutting "porous stretches" of the country's long borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan as part of a "comprehensive plan" to increase national security. Iran's media reported that the plan stemmed from concerns that "illegal immigrants" and "terrorists" from the two neighboring countries had slipped into Iranian territory, posing a security threat. Islamabad and Kabul have both condemned the bomb attack in Iran, but they have not yet responded to Tehran's terror allegations. WASHINGTON U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Sunday visited Jordan, where the royal court said King Abdullah II "warned of the catastrophic repercussions" of Israels war in Gaza against Hamas while calling on the United States to press for an immediate cease-fire. Jordan is the latest stop on Blinkens tour of the Middle East, where the top U.S. diplomat is attempting to curb the spread of violence to other countries beyond the Israel-Hamas fighting. Jordan and other Arab countries have demanded an immediate cease-fire since the conflict erupted in October, but Israel, with the support of the U.S., has resisted the call for an end to the fighting and vowed to continue the fight to erase Hamas control of Gaza. Blinken also visited a World Food Program warehouse where trucks are loaded with aid for famished Palestinians in Gaza. "The efforts right here to collect and distribute food to people in need are absolutely essential," Blinken said. "The United States has worked from day one to open access routes into Gaza." "We continue to work on that every single day, not only to open them but to multiply them, to maximize them and to try to get more assistance, more effectively," he said. "We're determined to do everything we possibly can to ameliorate the situation for the men, women and children in Gaza." Turkey is prepared to use its influence with critical countries in the Middle East to deescalate and prevent the Gaza conflict from spreading, Blinken told reporters late Saturday, after he held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a strong critic of Israels military actions in Gaza. Blinken held meetings earlier in the day with Erdogan in Istanbul, and then in Crete with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He embarked on a Middle East diplomacy tour this week, seeking to calm the situation in Gaza and soothe regional frictions. In a separate meeting with Blinken, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for "an immediate cease-fire" in Gaza and for the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid. Fidan also advocated for the immediate start of negotiations for a two-state Israeli-Palestinian solution, according to Turkish diplomatic sources. The United States has urged a lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. This involves achieving Palestinian political rights notably the establishment of a Palestinian state with security assurances for Israel. In Crete, Blinken thanked Mitsotakis for Greeces continued support for the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Blinken expressed appreciation for Greece's commitment to the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. This is particularly crucial, as Yemeni Houthis have been attacking vessels in the sea in solidarity with Hamas. On Saturday, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group launched dozens of rockets into northern Israel. Israel responded with airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. "One of the areas of real concern is the border between Israel and Lebanon, and we want to do everything possible to make sure that we don't see escalation there," Blinken said Saturday. He told reporters that Israel is "clearly not interested" in an escalation and emphasized, "It's not in Lebanon's interest to see any escalation." Blinkens fourth trip to the Middle East comes amid intense diplomatic efforts to facilitate the delivery of the humanitarian aid into the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and increasing international pressure on Israel to reduce civilian casualties among Palestinians. Additionally, he will make the rounds in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Egypt for meetings with foreign counterparts and other officials. This comes at a time when the risk of a broader regional conflict is surging, despite collective efforts of Western and regional powers to confine the Israel-Hamas war to the Gaza Strip. Israel began its military campaign to wipe out Hamas after Hamas fighters crossed into southern Israel on October 7. Israel said about 1,200 people were killed and about 240 captives taken in the terror attack. Gaza health officials say more than 22,000 Palestinians, a large percentage of them women and children, have been confirmed killed in Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip. The United States has stated its opposition to forcibly removing Palestinians from Gaza. The U.S. is also working on a postwar road map for the Palestinian territories. "Gaza cannot, once again, serve as a launching pad for terrorist attacks against Israel," State Department spokesman Miller told VOA last week. "What we ultimately want to see is Gaza and the West Bank reunited under Palestinian leadership," and "certainly there's no role for Hamas in that." On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant outlined the country's plans for the next stage of its operations in Gaza. The new approach involves a more targeted strategy in northern Gaza and a continued pursuit of Hamas leaders in the south. Gallant said in a statement that after the war, Gaza would no longer be under Hamas control. While Israel would retain operational freedom, there would not be any Israeli civilians present in the Gaza Strip. Humanitarian aid The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, has warned that Gaza is becoming a public health disaster and that the recent mass displacement across southern Gaza is fueling disease outbreaks. About 400,000 cases of infectious diseases have been reported since October 7, with about 180,000 people suffering from upper respiratory infections. More than 136,000 cases of diarrhea have been reported, half among children younger than 5, according to OCHA. Hostage release Meanwhile, intense diplomatic efforts to retrieve the remaining hostages held in Gaza by Hamas militants continue. There are believed to be 129 people held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza. Last week, Egypt proposed a plan to end the military conflict involving a cease-fire, a phased hostage release, and the formation of a Palestinian government of experts to administer the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Details of the plan were reportedly worked out with Qatar and presented to Israel, Hamas, the United States and European governments. But the head of Hamas' political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, stated Tuesday that the hostages will be released only on Hamas' terms. Some material for this report was provided by Reuters and The Associated Press. Gambias Immigration Department has launched a manhunt for immigration smugglers after an increase in the death toll of Gambians attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean into Europe. Some returnees are holding workshops to tell about the dangers of trying to flee the country. Senanu Tord reports PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA Officials say South African athlete Oscar Pistorius has been released from prison on parole and is now at home. The Department of Corrections gave no more details of Pistorius' release. The announcement came at around 8:30 a.m., indicating officials released the world-famous double-amputee Olympic runner in the early hours. Pistorius has served nearly nine years for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day 2013. Hed been sentenced to 13 years and five months. He was approved for parole in November. Serious offenders in South Africa are eligible for parole after serving at least half their sentence. Steenkamp's mother, June Steenkamp, said in a statement that she had accepted Pistorius' parole as part of South African law. "Has there been justice for Reeva? Has Oscar served enough time? There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back," June Steenkamp said. "We who remain behind are the ones serving a life sentence." "With the release of Oscar Pistorius on parole, my only desire is that I will be allowed to live my last years in peace with my focus remaining on the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation, to continue Reeva's legacy." Pistorius will live under strict conditions until the remainder of his sentence expires in December 2029, the Department of Corrections said. It emphasized that the multiple Paralympic champion's release like every other offender on parole does not mean that he has served his time. Some of Pistorius' parole conditions include restrictions on when he's allowed to leave his home, a ban on consuming alcohol, and orders that he must attend programs on anger management and on violence against women. He will have to perform community service. Pistorius will also have to regularly meet with parole officials at his home and at correctional services offices and will be subjected to unannounced visits by authorities. He is not allowed to leave the Waterkloof district without permission and is banned from speaking to the media until the end of his sentence. He could be sent back to jail if he is in breach of any of his parole conditions. South Africa does not use tags or bracelets on paroled offenders, so Pistorius will not wear any monitoring device, Department of Corrections officials said. But he will be constantly monitored by a department official and will have to inform the official of any major changes in his life, such as if he wants to get a job or move to another house. Pistorius has maintained that he shot Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, by mistake. He testified that he believed Steenkamp was a dangerous intruder hiding in his bathroom and shot through the door with his licensed 9 mm pistol in self-defense. Prosecutors said he killed his girlfriend intentionally during a late-night argument. Steenkamp's family did not oppose his parole application in November, although June Steenkamp said in a victim statement submitted to the parole board that she didn't believe Pistorius had been fully rehabilitated and was still lying about the killing. Before the killing, Pistorius was held up as an inspiring role model after having had both of his legs amputated below the knee as a baby because of a congenital condition. He became a champion sprinter on his carbon-fiber running blades and made history by competing at the 2012 London Olympics. But his murder trial destroyed his image. He was accused of being prone to angry outbursts and acting recklessly with guns, while witnesses testified about various altercations he had with others, including an argument in which he allegedly threatened to break a man's legs. Pistorius was first convicted of culpable homicide a charge comparable to manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison for killing Steenkamp. After appeals by prosecutors, he was ultimately found guilty of murder and had his sentence increased, although that judgment by the Supreme Court of Appeal still didn't definitively rule that he knew it was Steenkamp behind the toilet door. Pistorius was first sent to prison in 2014, was released on house arrest in 2015 during an appeal and was sent back to prison in 2016. He was initially incarcerated at the maximum security Kgosi Mampuru II Prison in Pretoria but was moved to Atteridgeville early in his sentence because it is better suited to holding disabled prisoners. Reaction to Pistorius' parole has been muted in South Africa, a stark contrast to the first days and months after Steenkamp's killing, which sparked angry protests outside of Pistorius' court hearings calling for him to receive a long prison sentence. There is no death penalty in South Africa. "He has ticked all the necessary boxes," said Themba Masango, secretary general of Not In My Name International, a group that campaigns against violence against women. "And we can only wish and hope Oscar Pistorius will come out a better human being." "We tend to forget that there is a possibility where somebody can be rehabilitated." Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics. A woman in her 90s trapped for five days under rubble caused by a huge earthquake in central Japan was rescued against the odds, but snow and storms were further complicating relief efforts on Sunday. At least 128 people have died since the 7.5 magnitude tremor on New Year's Day and its aftershocks -- a toll sure to rise, with 195 others reported missing, according to local authorities. The shockwaves toppled buildings, sparked a major fire and triggered tsunami waves over a metre high on the Sea of Japan side of the main island of Honshu. The hope of finding survivors usually fades three days after a destructive quake. But an elderly woman spent five days under the wreckage of a collapsed house in the city of Suzu on the hard-hit Noto Peninsula before being saved on Saturday. She was taken to hospital and was able to hold a conversation, according to public broadcaster NHK. "Hang in there!" rescuers were heard calling to the woman in police footage from the rainy scene published by local media. "You're gonna be OK!" they shouted. "Stay positive!" A Tokyo police spokesman confirmed to AFP that the rescue had been carried out by officers from Tokyo and Fukuoka, but he could not give further details. Not all were so lucky. In the town of Anamizu, a 52-year-old man who lost his 21-year-old son and his parents-in-law waited to hear news of his wife, his other three children and more family members. "I want them to be alive. It's unthinkable that I could be left alone," he told NHK. - Sleet and snow - On Sunday, rain, sleet and snow made the recovery efforts of thousands of police, troops and other rescuers even more challenging. The cold weather is also likely to worsen conditions for more than 28,800 people in 404 government shelters. Continuous rain has increased the risk of fresh landslides, while heavy snow through Monday could cause more buildings to collapse under its weight, the regional government warned. At least 2,000 people in many communities on the remote peninsula have been cut off by damaged roads, with some of an estimated 1,000 landslides also blocking aid vehicles. That means relief materials have been slow to reach areas suffering water and power outages. Around 20,700 households in the wider Ishikawa region remained without electricity on Sunday. More than 66,100 households were without water. "The first priority has been to rescue people under the rubble, and to reach isolated communities," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in an interview with NHK on Sunday. The military has sent small groups of troops to each of the isolated communities on foot, he said. The government has also "deployed various police and fire department helicopters" to reach them, Kishida added. "In parallel with these efforts, we need to improve the conditions in shelters, and the health of those suffering in the disaster," because they may have to stay in place for extended periods, he warned. In Anamizu, rescuers in heavy-duty orange or blue waterproof suits were seen carrying the body of a landslide victim covered in a blue tarp under a toppled pylon. And among the widespread destruction in the city of Wajima, the traditional red gate of one shrine remained standing, but the view through it was a now-familiar mess of splintered wood and toppled beams. But in a coastal village called Akasaki, visited by AFP, no houses had collapsed -- thanks to their unusual design. To withstand the rough environment at the tip of a headland, the houses have few glass windows, and the exterior walls are made from sturdy wooden slats layered horizontally. "I felt so encouraged, because the village was still there standing," said Masaki Sato, who maintains one of the homes remotely. Japan experiences hundreds of earthquakes every year, though most cause no damage with strict building codes in place for more than four decades. But many structures are older, especially in rapidly ageing communities in rural areas like Noto. The country is haunted by the monster quake of 2011 that triggered a tsunami, left around 18,500 people dead or missing and caused a nuclear catastrophe at the Fukushima plant. Japan's last earthquake disaster to cause more than 100 deaths was in 2016 in the southern city of Kumamoto, where 276 people died. kh/kaf/dva Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Help! There are too many stars in the Hollywood sky! Thats why the Television Academy has to spread their awards out over three nights (one of which is televised). The Television Academy two Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremonies on this weekend, kicking things off ahead of the 75th Primetime Emmys on January 15. Normally held in September, the awards were rescheduled due to the Hollywood labor strikes. The big winner of night one was HBOs The Last of Us, which walked away with eight awards, the most of the night. The Bear, Wednesday, and The White Lotus all tied for second with four each. The guest-acting categories saw wins for Sam Richardson (Ted Lasso), Storm Reid (The Last of Us), Nick Offerman (The Last of Us), and Judith Light (Poker Face). Other recognizable winners included Ed Sheeran, Weird Al Yankovic, and Tim Robinson Detroiters fans rejoice! I Think You Should Leave won big, with Best Short Form Comedy, as well as Best Actor in a Short Form Comedy. Below are all the winners from both nights. Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Sam Richardson, Ted Lasso, International Break Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming Blindspotting, The History / San Quentin Blues Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series The White Lotus Outstanding Casting for a Limited of Anthology Series or Movie BEEF Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series The Bear Outstanding Period Costumes for a Series The Great, Choose Your Weapon Outstanding Period Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Daisy Jones & The Six, Track 8: Looks Like We Made It Outstanding Fantasy / Sci-Fi Costumes House of the Dragon, The Heirs of the Dragon Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for a Series Wednesday, Wednesdays Child Is Full of Woe Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for a Limited of Anthology Series or Movie BEEF, The Birds Dont Sing, They Screech in Pain Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup The Last of Us, Infected Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) Wednesday, Woe What a Night Outstanding Period and/or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Susan Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Judith Light, Poker Face, Time of the Monkey Outstanding Period and/or Character Hairstyling Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Crown Jewels Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling The White Lotus, Abductions Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Drama Series, Limited or Anthology Series or Movie The Boys Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or Variety Program Barry Outstanding Stunt Performance The Mandalorian, Chapter 24: The Return Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour) Only Murders in the Building, Sparring Partners Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More) Wednesday, Wednesdays Child Is Full of Woe Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More) Guillermo del Toros Cabinet of Curiosities Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie The Last of Us Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Single Episode Five Days at Memorial, Day Two Outstanding Main Title Design The Last of Us Outstanding Motion Design Ms. Marvel Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie, or Special Prey Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation The Bear, Review Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) The Last of Us, When Youre Lost in the Darkness Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One Hour) The Last of Us, When Youre Lost in the Darkness Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) The Bear, Review Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Daisy Jones & The Six, Track 10: Rock N Roll Suicide Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score) Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Outstanding Music Supervision The White Lotus, Bull Elephants Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance, and Max Martin, Ted Lasso, So Long, Farewell / Song Title: A Beautiful Game Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Tim Robinson, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) The White Lotus, In the Sandbox Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music Danny Elfman, Wednesday Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series Jasmine Guy, Chronicles of Jessica Wu Outstanding Picture Editing for a Multi-Camera Comedy Series Night Court, Pilot Outstanding Picture Editing for a Single-Camera Comedy Series The Bear, System Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie BEEF, Figures of Light Outstanding Picture Editing for a Drama Series The Last of Us, Endure and Survive Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (One Hour) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Four Minutes Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (Half-Hour) Atlanta, Andre Wyeth. Alfreds World Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Black Bird, Hand to Mouth Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Storm Reid, The Last of Us, Left Behind Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Nick Offerman, The Last of Us, Long, Long Time Outstanding Television Movie Weird: The Al Yankovic Story Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama Or Variety Series I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction Or Reality Series Succession: Controlling The Narrative Outstanding Picture Editing For Variety Program A Black Lady Sketch Show Outstanding Directing For A Variety Series Liz Patrick, Saturday Night Live Outstanding Directing For A Variety Special Shawn Carter, The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Variety Special 2022 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction For A Variety Series Dancing With the Stars Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation Entergalactic Outstanding Commercial Apple The Greatest Accessibility Outstanding Narrator Barack Obama, Working: What We Do All Day Outstanding Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program 100 Foot Wave Outstanding Cinematography For A Reality Program Welcome to Wrexham Outstanding Choreography For Variety Or Reality Programming Dancing With the Stars Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Special Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Or Reality Series Saturday Night Live Outstanding Costumes for Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Programming Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program Welcome to Wrexham Outstanding Structured Reality Program Queer Eye Outstanding Directing For A Reality Program Bryan Rowland, Welcome to Wrexham Outstanding Picture Editing For A Structured Reality Or Competition Program RuPauls Drag Race Outstanding Picture Editing For An Unstructured Reality Program Welcome to Wrexham Outstanding Casting For A Reality Program The Traitors Outstanding Writing For A Variety Special John Mulaney, Baby J Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series Outstanding Makeup for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration Outstanding Game Show Jeopardy! Outstanding Host For A Game Show Keke Palmer, Password Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program Were Here Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Competition Program RuPaul, RuPauls Drag Race Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Reality Program (Single or Multi-Camera) Welcome to Wrexham Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety Series Or Special Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium Outstanding Sound Editing For A Nonfiction Or Reality Program (Single Or Multi-Camera) Moonage Daydream Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary Series Or Special (Original Dramatic Score) Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie Outstanding Music Direction Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song: Joni Mitchell Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series Or Special Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Special Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series The 1619 Project Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking The Territory Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction Program The U.S. And The Holocaust Outstanding Picture Editing For A Nonfiction Program Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program Davis Guggenheim, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie Outstanding Animated Program The Simpsons Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance Maya Rudolph, Big Mouth Outstanding Emerging Media Program For All Mankind Season 3 Experience The transformation of Mary Donaldson of Bondi Junction to the soon-to-be Queen Mary of Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen is providing an unexpected boon in her homeland, not least for those in the business of princess training. Twenty-three years after the then 28-year-old marketing executive enrolled in Teresa Pages $1195 eight-week StarMakers deportment course, Sydneys princess whisperer can take some of the credit for her metamorphosis into a glamorous Euro royal. Page says increasing demand thanks to a resurgence of interest in all things Mary has inspired her to relaunch her classes to teach a new generation the art of walking, talking and smiling in a way that allows one to radiate light. Pages eager student, who she first met at their local eastern suburbs gym, enrolled in the course five weeks after she had secretly met and partied with Crown Prince Frederik at the Slip Inn during the Sydney Olympics. The lovebirds connected over a mutual love of horses and fitness, according to media coverage at the time. In 2019, Krysty Sullivan started to experience back and breast pain on her left side. The then 47-year-old booked herself in for a mammogram at a local BreastScreen centre. It came back clear, she recalled. Eleven months later, she felt a lump in her left breast. Having meanwhile learned the BreastScreen service is for women without symptoms, the Sydneysider attended a private clinic. Breast cancer survivor Krysty Sullivans mammogram didnt detect her tumour. Credit: Dean Sewell At this consultation, Sullivan discovered her breasts were classified as extremely dense and so not suited to mammography. Two two-centimetre tumours detected by ultrasound at the clinic were not visible on a mammogram taken the same day. I trusted that the first report had said no cancer detected, she said. I didnt think that meant they couldnt see anything. Two federal Liberals MPs are warning that a debate over religious discrimination laws must not again descend into a culture war that captures LGBTQ Australians in its crosshairs, as faith leaders and equality advocates urged the Albanese government not to delay legislating. Tasmanian MP Bridget Archer and NSW senator Andrew Bragg were among a small bloc of moderate Liberal MPs who broke ranks with their party room in favour of stronger protections for LGBTQ students during the former Morrison governments failed attempt to pass religious discrimination laws on the cusp of the 2022 federal election. Liberal MP Bridget Archer says she is concerned a renewed debate on religious discrimination will devolve into a nasty culture war. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen A renewed debate on the issue is expected to kick off when federal parliament returns in February and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus releases the findings of a review by the Australian Law Reform Commission. The review is designed to inform the governments plans to legislate a religious discrimination framework while also bolstering protections for LGBTQ students and staff at religious schools. Archer and Bragg said their positions remained unchanged on the issue and that any reform must simultaneously protect people of faith while also repealing laws that provided a legal basis for discrimination against LGBTQ teachers and students. George Brauchler is the former district attorney for the 18th Judicial District. He also is an Owens Early Criminal Justice Fellow at the Common Sense Institute. He hosts The George Brauchler Show on 710KNUS Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Follow him on Twitter(X): @GeorgeBrauchler. CENTER VALLEY, Pa. DeSales University's Gerald "Jerry" Joyce will leave the Center Valley school to become the 27th president of Mount Saint Mary's University. Joyce, currently executive vice president of DeSales, will take over at "The Mount" on July 1. Mount Saint Mary's is a Catholic university in Emmitsburg, Maryland just a few miles south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The school is the home of the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, the oldest U.S. replica of the Lourdes grotto in France. The shrine in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually, according to the Mount Saint Mary's website. Mount Saint Mary's started a national search for a new president in March, 2023, after Timothy E. Trainor said he would retire. The school's selection of Joyce was reported earlier by the AD Times, the newspaper of the Diocese of Allentown. Gracelyn McDermott, Mount Saint Mary's board chair, said Joyce is known for being a collaborator who has established partnerships with healthcare systems. She noted that DeSales has brought in its largest first-year classes for two consecutive years. Joyce also served DeSales as interim president. "Jerry is prepared to lead the university into the future," she said in a statement from Mount Saint Mary's. McDermott said Joyce is the right person for the school as it prepares to open a School of Health Professions, boost undergraduate enrollment and develop new online programs. "I eagerly anticipate leading the university in this transformative ear, ensuring that we remain well-poised to offer an education that is both rooted in the Catholic liberal arts tradition and attuned to the evolving landscape of higher education," Joyce said. Joyce has worked in education for 32 years. He has a doctorate from The Catholic University of America, a master's degree from Kutztown University and a bachelor's degree in finance from DeSales. He and his wife Erin, a nurse practitioner, have five children. Mount Saint Mary's was founded in 1808. In addition to its undergraduate school, it is home to the Mount Saint Mary's Seminary. The school has more than 2,000 full-time students on its campuses in Emmitsburg and Frederick, Maryland. DeSales, also a private Catholic university, was founded in 1964 as Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales. In 2001, the school changed its name to DeSales University. DeSales has about 3,000 students, according to its website. The total includes graduate students and undergraduates. Pius Kamau, M.D., a retired general surgeon, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP); co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group, and an activist for minority students STEM education. He is a National Public Radio commentator, a Huffington Post blogger, a past columnist for Denver dailies, and is featured on the podcast, Never Again. Weather Alert ...Elevated Fire Danger Today and Tuesday... ...Hard Freeze Expected Tonight... The combination of very dry air and northwest winds gusting up to 20 mph will create an elevated risk of uncontrolled fire spread this afternoon. Relative humidity values will fall to 20 to 35%, with the lowest humidity levels over the Ozark Foothills of southeast Missouri. A more substantial fire danger is expected Tuesday, as southwest winds increase significantly, with gusts of 25 to 40 mph forecast Tuesday afternoon. Relative humidity values Tuesday afternoon will fall to 25 to 35%. If you are planning outdoor burning today and Tuesday, use extra caution and have fire suppression equipment ready. Tonight, very cold and dry surface high pressure will allow temperatures to drop into the middle and upper 20s throughout the region. Although the growing season has not officially started, tender vegetation could be impacted by these cold temperatures. Please take necessary actions to protect any tender vegetation tonight. The following statement was issued by a participant in the November 2022 illegal strike of Ontario education support-staff workers and is a leader of the Ontario Education Workers Rank-and-File Committee (OEWRFC). The OEWRFC was established during the 2022-23 contract struggle by 55,000 education support workers and 200,000 teachers to organize a rebellion of rank-and-file education workers against the union apparatuses, which connived with the right-wing government led by Premier Doug Ford to enforce concessions-filled contracts. You can contact the committee by emailing ontedrfc@gmail.com. The Ontario Education Workers Rank-and-file Committee stands in solidarity with the public sector workers in Quebec and calls on all workers to support them. In defending health care, education and other vital public services and opposing the austerity program implemented by Francois Legault and his right-wing Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) government, the Quebec workers are waging a struggle on behalf of all working people. They must also wage a fight against the union bureaucracy, which is allied with Legault and acts as the police force of the capitalist state by demobilizing the public sector workers struggle. The union bureaucracy is determined to defend the capitalist system and our exploitation which produces the wealth of society and business profits. Quebec workers must learn the lessons from other struggles across Canada, such as the Ontario education workers strike in November of 2022 against the ultra-right Ford regime. Ford tried to trample over workers democratic rights by using the anti-democratic Notwithstanding clause in the constitution to pre-emptively ban our strike and impose a savage pro-government contract. Workers courageously resisted this onslaught on democratic rights by walking out in defiance of Fords strike ban. But we were ultimately betrayed by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and Ontario Federation of Labour. The Ontario education workers' strike, which at its height threatened to unleash a province-wide general strike, marked a new stage in working class opposition to capitalist austerity and wage-cutting. Above, strikers and their supporters rallying outside the Ontario Legislature, November 4, 2022. After the first day of the strike, which was a Friday, the union bureaucrats got a small glimpse of the social power of the working class and were scared to death of losing control of the situation. Over the following weekend, they begged the Ford government to rescind the strike ban and come back to the table, warning him of an explosive confrontation with the working class that could threaten to bring down his government. The entire union bureaucracy in the public and private sector led by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) was mobilized with the encouragement of the New Democratic Party and the NDP-supported federal Trudeau Liberal government to lobby the Ford government to repeal his draconian law. Facing mounting calls among workers for a general strike, Ford and his hated side-kick Education Minister Stephen Lecce were persuaded by the union bureaucrats to announce that they would repeal the strike ban and return to the bargaining table. In exchange, CUPE and its Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU), at the encouragement and with the full support of all the unions immediately scuttled the strike. OSBCU President Laura Walton, who because of growing workers anger had made all sorts of promises of open negotiations and rank-and-file input, ordered workers to immediately return to work without a vote, a tentative agreement or any of the demands being met. Once negotiations resumed behind closed doors, CUPE began making concession after concession. The sellout culminated in a rotten contract with real-terms pay cuts. For services rendered to the ruling elite in selling out workers, Walton was promoted by her fellow bureaucrats to the position of president of the Ontario Federation of Labour one year later. We encourage workers to review the World Socialist Web Sites coverage of the 2022 Ontario education workers struggle carefully, including several statements and resolutions issued by our committee. After the tentative agreement was announced, the OSBCU went on a propaganda campaign of lies and distortions to manipulate workers to agree to the deal against their interests. Well-paid CUPE national bureaucrats and their lawyers were brought in to lie and intimidate workers, warning them that if they rejected their sellout proposal they would be on their own and there would be no guarantee of getting a better deal. The union bureaucracy was determined to enforce yet another pro-government sellout deal after three decades of wage reductions and attacks on working conditions. Their determination flowed from the fact that the agreement upheld the collective bargaining system from which the bureaucracy draws its privileges. The union bureaucracy in no way represents workers. They are organizations that depend entirely on the legal framework of the capitalist state and derive their privileges from the status quo and their collaboration with the government, whether it be led by Trudeau at the federal level, Ford in Ontario, or Legault in Quebec. They want to keep workers divided by region, language, and profession so they remain isolated in their struggles against the ruling class. My union, CUPE, also is the bargaining representative for tens of thousands of Quebec public sector workers. But the bureaucracy has maintained a deafening silence on your fight, even though the issues we face are fundamentally the same. The assault on the public sector and its workers must also be seen in its international context. Theres an explosive movement of strikes all over the world, and it is just the beginning. Workers around the world are determined to fight to reverse poverty wages and ever-deteriorating working conditions and put an end to imperialist war. The government is cutting public services, impoverishing workers and stripping our democratic rights to pay for wars abroad, which include the Gaza genocide in the Middle East and the NATO-provoked war against Russia in Ukraine. These conflicts also includes provocations against China in the Indo-Pacific. Wars do not benefit workers, we are always the ones paying for them with our lives and worsening living conditions. The international working class in Russia, Ukraine, China, the Middle East and throughout the world are our allies in the struggle against the assault on public services and the promotion of militarism and war, which are rooted in the death agony of capitalism. We must wage a conscious political struggle against capitalism and its institutions. Rank-and-file Committees that are independent of all bourgeois parties and the union bureaucracy must be organized in every workplace. A committee of a handful of members is a great start towards building an organization that actually represents the independent interests of the entire working class. The Quebec Public Sector Workers Rank-and-File Coordinating Committee is leading the way in establishing rank-and-file committees in all public sector workplaces to fight for real wage increases and improvements to working conditions, and mobilize support from workers across Canada and beyond. The full social power of the working class cannot be expressed without unifying all sections of workers in a counter-offensive against austerity, anti-strike laws, ever mounting social inequality, and for the socialist reorganization of society in Quebec, Canada and globally. A rendering of a proposed 36-story apartment building on the southwest corner of a block bounded by Sahwatch and Costilla streets and Cascade and Vermijo avenues in downtown Colorado Springs. Ahead of the next UK national rally in London on January 13 against Israels genocidal destruction of Gaza, thousands protested in regional actions around Britain on Saturday in a Day of Action for Palestine. There were 11 protests in London, including one in Camden which marched to the constituency offices of Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, both supporters of Israeli genocide. The rally in Harrow included a march to the office of Starmers Shadow Minister for International Trade of the United Kingdom, Gareth Thomas MP. The march in Camden passes the local London Underground station, January 6, 2024 More than 50 protests were held nationwide, including in Birmingham, Brighton, Derby, Leicester, Lancaster, Manchester, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Glasgow, Dundee, and Cardiff. Thousands protested at the rally in Belfast. A rally outside the RTE broadcaster, called by Mothers against Genocide was held in Dublin, Ireland. 108 pairs of shoes were laid out in a display to signify the number of journalists killed by the Israel Defence Forces since the conflict began in October. Londons Metropolitan Police mobilised to clamp down on the protests. Protesters, led by the Free Palestine Coalition gathered in St James Park, planned to block nearby Westminster Bridge, adjacent to the Houses of Parliament. As the protests was assembling, police removed one of the groups sound systems. Scuffles broke out police attempted to break up the protest by moving several organisers away from the area. They arrested two women under the Royal Parks and Open Spaces Regulation 1997. As protesters staged a sit-in near Westminster Bridge, hundreds of officers moved in to prevent the action from spreading. Police kettled the demonstration of more than 1,000 people, forming a wall on three sides, preventing them from moving for hours and stopping any more protesters accessing the bridge. Protesters chanted, Who do you serve, how do you protect? Police did not give a figure on how many officers were deployed, but stated, A large number of officers responded to a protest in central London this afternoon. At 2.15pm the Met announced they had imposed conditions under Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986. This means the group is only allowed to protest in Bridge Street and it must end by 3pm. WSWS reporters spoke to some of these protesting at the rally in Camden, London against Starmers support for the genocide. Zineb, a teacher, said, Unless you give a voice to these issues, they end up being not forgotten but hidden. Especially with this issue theres so many ways it gets hidden or peoples words get misconstrued; you get told you cant call for a ceasefire because thats a horrific thing to say, that you dont want children to die! Her partner, a Palestinian, added, To be taken seriously needs action. Im not sure that trusting the political class to act on our interests is reasonable anymore. A more important reason is for the people who are under occupation and oppression to understand that they are not alone. There are people in all corners of the world who see the injustice and are willing to speak up. The protest outside Starmer's office in Mornington Crescent, Camden Zineb continued, As a teacher, you teach in school about people like Rosa Parks, and Id feel like such a hypocrite if I wasnt here. Because youre telling children, these are our rights, these are role models. Sometimes I worry that history is made too comfortable for everyone. For example, Rosa Parks she wasnt a little old lady who sat on a bus, she was a revolutionary. So, I worry about things being taught in a way that makes revolutionaries more palatable but distorts what they really were. When our children grow up, I want them to know that when you want change to happen, its not a case of just sitting around waiting for somebody else to do it. You have to actually speak up, actually go to the protests, actually boycott, actually let people know what Palestinians are saying. Otherwise, it is hypocritical to celebrate these people, when they would be rolling their eyes at us if they saw us sitting on our couches on a Saturday. Answering the slanders that opposing Israels genocide is antisemitism, Zineb continued, Every time you come to one of these protests theres always a huge Jewish presence, and they say, not in our name. Basically what [those levelling accusations of antisemitism] are doing is silencing them too, which I find to be antisemitic. Youre saying that Zionists speak for all Jewish people, when they dont. Speaking about the long history of imperialist-sponsored violence in the region, she explained of her partner, His family is in Jordan, they were moved in the Nakba. Some ended up in Syria. The family that went to Syria, they have been displaced again because of the war. His family in Jordan, we want to take our son to see them and a conversation were actually having is Lets go sooner rather than later, because look at what happened in Syria. Mary, a local resident, said, Its horrendous whats happening in the Labour party; Ive left because of it. The branch in this area was horrendous on Palestine, They wouldnt accept that Israel is an apartheid state, even. Jewish people in the Labour Party supporting Palestine are being expelled as antisemitic. He [Starmer] doesnt have my vote; I will not vote, theres no one else I would vote for. The march in Camden passes the local London Underground station, January 6, 2024 Speaking about former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, she explained, I never thought he would make a good leader; I didnt support him as a leader, I support him as a person and for his politics. When WSWS reporters raised about his refusal to fight the right wing of the party over the antisemitism witch-hunt, Mary responded, Looking back, its difficult to judge what was on his mind. But thats what I mean about him not being a leader; he couldnt take the brave decisions. Lynne said she was attending to protest the inhumanity of whats going on and the fact that western governments, who are always going on about their humanity, their democracy, their support of the right of people to struggle for freedom, are openly supporting genocide, the murder of over 10,000 children and possibly more under the rubble, the bombing of hospitals, the killing of children in incubators. I think its absolutely appalling. And were not even seeing it anymore on the BBC, theyve scaled down their reporting because theyve seen the outrage its causing in this country. I think thats the most appalling thing. The fact that we have media thats been shut down. Weve been walking along the pavementwe should be walking along the road in a demonstration. I think that right has been curtailed. We have to all stand up and do something about it. We have to do something about it. Lynne hold up a banner at the rally I think they want to destroy any idea of Palestine, to eliminate Palestinians. Its not about Hamas. In any case, they called Mandela a terrorist. So anyone who fights for their rights and for their freedom becomes a terrorist in the eyes of their oppressor. So were not allowed to say the H word on protests. Who has the right to defend Palestinians? Why dont Palestinians have the right to have a defence against whats happening to them? Why dont they? I dont understand. How do the oppressors have the right to determine how you struggle and who struggles? They [the Israeli government] wont stop. Theyre not going to stop. It is genocide. They want to eliminate the Palestinians, just as Hitler wanted to eliminate the Jews in the Final Solution. This is their Final Solution. Doesnt it look like that? Speaking about the Labour Party, Lynne said, Ill never vote for the Labour Party again. I was a Labour Party member since the 70s but left [when Blair came in] and then re-joined when Corbyn came in, and have now left again. But well never join again. I think the Labour Party has been so tarnished by what theyve done in Iraq and now Palestine, so I dont think theres any future for the Labour Party as it now stands. And Im shocked and horrified and disgusted that the Arab countries havent done more. Its been left to the Yemenis to actually take some real action. I just hope the demonstration next week is a big one. I hope the movement continues to grow, as it did for South Africa and as it did for Vietnam. The unions havent been involved. Where is their involvement? Its absolutely shocking. I think there should be strike action, there should be far more. And why arent they using their clout within the Labour Party? Its like the tail is wagging the dog. Theyre the ones who give the financial support and allow the Labour Party to organise. So why on earth arent they exercising some sort of control on this? Tom Cronin and Bob Loevy are news columnists who write about Colorado and national politics. In a new documentary from the United Kingdoms Channel 4, an anonymous woman shares her accusations of sexual violence against far-right misogynist influencer Andrew Tate. She said, I completely lost consciousness after he strangled me during sex. When I came to, he was still having sex with me. I dont know how long I was knocked out, but I completely lost consciousness. The woman is one of a group of four pursuing civil charges against Tate. He must have known that I had gone limp, she continued. I was so confused when I woke up. I had forgotten who I was, who he was and where I was, the woman continued. I just laid there completely still. Terrified. I was worried hed do it again, and I wouldnt wake up the second time he did it. Elsewhere in the documentary, the woman detailed more of Tates alleged behavior. He said he was going to kill me, he said that he owned me and that I belonged to him. He was making me say that I loved him. He was pinning me up against the wall. I didnt know what to do, I was too scared to speak. She added, He left early in the morning and had parked somewhere near my house. He kept saying if he got a parking ticket he would come back and kill me. In my head, I believed he would have. I thought he was going to kick the door down. But he didnt get the ticket. The woman also said that she blamed herself for the attack. She explained, I didnt tell anyone. I felt ashamed and like it was my fault because Id agreed to have sex with him obviously not that kind of sex. But Im older now and times are different. After the #MeToo movement, theres a lot more awareness and people talk about things a bit more. Four women are filing a civil suit against Tate. They all claim instances of sexual violence that took place between 2013 and 2016. Tate has denied the allegations against him. The planned lawsuit was announced in September. At the time, Jennifer Sayles, the lawyer for the women, told the Sunday Times, They have bouts of depression and anxiety. Constant feelings of being overwhelmed. It is just traumatizing every time Tate crops up in their lives he is everywhere. In June, Tate and his brother were charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania. The pair were released from house arrest in August, and in December, Reuters reported that Tate requested to be allowed to temporarily leave the country. That request was denied. I Am Andrew Tate will be available on the United Kingdoms Channel 4 on Jan. 7. The post Andrew Tate Accuser Says He Choked Her During Sex Until She Passed Out appeared first on TheWrap. Cindy Morgan, best known for her roles in the early 1980s films Caddyshack and Tron, has died of natural causes at the age of 69, according to a report from the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office in Florida. Morgans body was discovered in her bedroom in her Lake Worth Beach home on Dec. 30, following a 911 call from her roommate, who last saw Morgan alive eleven days prior, the sheriffs office told USA TODAY. The roommate told police that she had just returned from a holiday visit when she knocked on Morgans door and received no response. The roommate also noticed a strong odor coming from her room, according to police. Morgan is said to have died of natural causes, with no foul play suspected, the sheriffs office said. Its unclear when Morgan died. Morgan rose to fame after playing the promiscuous Lacey Underall in the golf comedy Caddyshack in 1980 alongside actors Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Rodney Dangerfield. Cindy Morgan arrives at the TRON MySpace Party At Comic-Con 2010 San Diego on July 23, 2010 in San Diego, California. In a 2012 interview, Morgan said: Caddyshack was my first film and Ill say that the end product was so completely different, it was originally about the caddies. So at first, I had nothing to lose to audition. It was fun. All I did was focus on making the person sweat. Look em in the eye, do that thing many women know how to do. It wasnt long before Morgans appearance and mere existence as a female in a then male dominated industry became the center of her acting career. In the same 2012 interview, Morgan recalled a conversation with producer John Peters in which he told her that she was f***ed in this business for prohibiting Playboy to take photos of her on set. Morgan said that Playboy came anyway and that her agent didnt handle it. Morgan found ways to push back. She mentioned that a still of her in "Caddyshack" wearing a FILA shirt without a bra was the most popular photo she sold of herself to her primarily male fan base. In a separate interview included in the Tampa Bay Times, Morgan said it was 1979, and women had just burned their bras. It was a political statement more than anything." Morgan is also known for her roles in Disneys original Tron" film and the TV series Falcon Crest and CHiPs, among others. Her most recent role was voicing Masons Mother in the 2022 indie film Face of the Trinity. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cindy Morgan found dead at 69, police say Kanye West is flaunting his wife Bianca Censori and her racy outfits again on Instagram. His latest post about her generated mixed reactions from fans, who criticized him for flaunting her body and took jabs at his outfit. The photos come in the wake of West celebrating Censori on her 29th birthday with a lengthy post calling her the "most amazing stepmom." The rapper praised his wife's intelligence and made sure to highlight her "140 IQ." Fans Troll Kanye West's Fashion Sense After Sharing New Pics Of Wife MEGA Kanye West has shared a new post of him and his wife, Bianca Censori, on Instagram, and it featured the outfits they wore during their trip to Italy. The photo showed Censori in a matching sheer and flesh-colored crop top and tights combo with a messy pixie cut. The sheer clothing hid little of Censori's body, so West even had to censor her chest in his Instagram post. Censori's racy outfit was from their controversial trip to Florence, Italy, in 2023, during which she was heavily criticized for her revealing clothing choices. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ye (@kanyewest) In the comments section of West's post, there were mixed reactions from fans, with some praising him for always flaunting Censori and others asking the rapper to stop showing off her body while slamming his own fashion choices. A person wrote, "Why Ye look like a vendor in King's Landing about to offer me a magical dragon potion." Another jokingly stated, "My boy dresses like a merchant on Elden ring." A third comment read, "How would you like it if some much older dude posted pictures like these for the world to laugh and gawk at of your daughters?" One fan with a contrary opinion wrote, "Love the wife posting this is how all men should step up." Kanye West Made A Lengthy Birthday Post For Bianca Censori Instagram | Kanye West On Saturday, West also took to Instagram to celebrate Censori on her 29th birthday, sharing a beautiful close-up shot of her face. His caption, which was in his usual confusing style of no punctuation or structure, praised her beauty, intelligence, and impact on his life. It read, "Happy birthday to the most beautiful super bad iconic muse inspirational talented artist masters degree in architecture 140 IQ loving by my side everyday when half the world turned their backs on me" In his post, the "Good Morning" rapper also called Censori the "most amazing stepmom to our children." The rapper shares four kids with his ex-wife Kardashian: North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm. West concluded his sweet birthday caption with, " I love you so much. Thank you for sharing your life with me." Fans Keep Comparing Bianca Censori To Kim Kardashian View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kim Kardashian (@kimkardashian) Since West married Censori and started showing off her outfits, there's been heavy comparison to his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian. In one of Kardashian's recent posts, many fans called her out for allegedly trying to look like Censori. The post, made on Friday, showed the reality star in a winter look while attending an event at an art gallery. In the photos, Kardashian wore a long fur coat with a matching hat and oversized purse. Beneath the coat, she had on a white shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers, and fans said the outfit was too similar to Censori's fit for designer Amina Muaddi's pop-up store launch in Dubai. Kanye West with Bianca Censori and fashion designer Amina Muaddi in Dubai earlier today pic.twitter.com/XRk7WqedqR RapTV (@Rap) November 30, 2023 After several people commented that they thought Kardashian was Bianca at first glance, one person wrote, "I was searching for this comment glad I'm not the only [one] thinking this." Another person wrote, "That's Bianca's look .. OMG, grow up Kim!" The outfit in question was Censori's mini brown dress and oversized fur hat combo for a fashion store launch in the Middle East. Fans saw the outfit in Muaddi's photo dump on Instagram from the event, which included a picture of her with West and Censori. A fan mentioned the similarity in hats, writing, "Kimmy cakes, my love. Haven't seen you wear these hats until Bianca started wearing them lol." Kanye West's Wife Has Had Multiple Controversial Outfits MEGA Since Censori and West married in December 2022, she's repeatedly gone viral for her racy outfits during their outings together. West recently reminded fans of these outfits with Instagram posts of his wife's racy clothing choices. The first photo showed the architect in a tiny pair of string underwear and a fur bandeau top, which barely covered her private parts. She completed the look with knee-high fishnet tights, pointed-toe pumps, and a black stocking cap on her head. West's caption read, "No pants this year." Another photo in the post showed Censori in a similarly revealing outfit. The former Yeezy employee wore a tiny string top, high-waist corset leather thong, long trench coat, and boots. She's also been seen publicly in a strapless microdress, often holding onto a stuffed animal or pillow. Michael Ealy and Khatira Rafiqzada have been married since 2012 Prince Williams/Wireimage Michael Ealy keeps his relationship with his wife, Khatira Rafiqzada, relatively private. The Golden Globe-nominated actor who's starred in various blockbuster films and television shows, including 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), The Good Wife, Think Like A Man (2012) and Bel-Air married Rafiqzada in October 2012. They have since welcomed two children together: son Elijah and daughter Harlem. Ealy spoke kindly of his wife when posting a photo of her holding their daughter Harlem on Instagram in 2017. "We can always find comfort in you," Ealy wrote at the time. "We're all blessed to have you. We celebrate you everyday! Thanks 4 holding us down. You are the core and the rock." So who is Michael Ealy's wife? Here's everything to know about Khatira Rafiqzada and her relationship with the Barbershop star. She was born in Afghanistan Khatira Rafiqzada Instagram Rafiqzada was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, but moved to India with her family when she was 8 years old, according to TEDxWaterStreet. She moved again four years later, this time to Northern California. Rafiqzada has shared on social media that she moved around often during her childhood a total of 26 times. "I came here as a refugee from Afghanistan when I was 12 years old, sponsored by Catholic Charities as victims of war," Rafiqzada captioned a throwback photo of her parents in 2017. "I loved my childhood and [because] war hadn't yet made it to our backyard, I couldn't understand why we left my country." "I'm now married to an American and have kids that are half first-generation immigrants and half Black. My biggest achievement so far has been to raise these children as self-aware, conscious and thoughtful human beings," she added. "I'm proud to have that opportunity and proud to be American. I would not have been able to add all of these experiences to the American fabric, but for my parents' will to offer us a better life." She and Ealy celebrate their first date every year Khatira Rafigzada Instagram The couple commemorates the anniversary of their first date every year on Feb. 16 by ordering the same meal they shared at Viet Noodle Bar in Los Angeles. On Instagram, Rafiqzada stated that it only took three days from when she gave Ealy her number for them to go on their first date. Sparks flew, and the date lasted all day from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. The two both knew within their first few dates they wanted to marry each other. "I knew within an [hour] of our first date that I was going to marry you! I had never before felt safety in someone's presence like I did 10 years ago today," she captioned the anniversary post in February 2018. Similarly, Ealy wrote in a 2020 Instagram post, "A rainbow is a meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection. The myth goes as such: at the end of it lies a pot of gold. I knew I found my gold on our 2nd date and I've been reflecting on the phenomenon that is you ever since." She has been in the food industry for over a decade Khatira Rafiqzada Instagram Sharing a photo of workers at the Korean restaurant Le Comptoir in L.A., Rafiqzada wrote that she "started her career in the food industry as the prep girl." She also had jobs as a dishwasher, bus girl, bar back and host, among others. When she's not professionally cooking, Rafiqzada unveils her favorite food finds on social media and bakes her kids' birthday cakes. She also runs a cooking program called Break Bread which she cofounded at St. Anne's Family Services in L.A. "We teach young moms who are transitioning out of the foster care and probation systems how to make healthy, delicious meals for themselves and their kids," the entrepreneur captioned a photo of a FoundRae necklace on Instagram in December 2020. "We break bread with them after each cooking lesson and enjoy the meal they have just prepared." She married Ealy on October 20, 2012 After four years of dating, the lovebirds tied the knot in a private ceremony in L.A. in October 2012. However, they didn't share the news of their nuptials until two months later. "Michael has always been a private guy, and he wanted to enjoy his time as a newlywed with his wife privately," Ealy's rep exclusively told PEOPLE at the time. "Now that some time has passed and the holidays are here, he wanted to share the news with his fans that he is married and very happy." The couple exchanged vows in front of six witnesses at their October ceremony, Rafiqzada shared on Instagram. They held a larger reception with friends and family that December. She shares two children with Ealy Michael Ealy Instagram Rafiqzada and Ealy are parents to Elijah Rakim and Harlem Quest. After welcoming their son Elijah in September 2013, Rafiqzada gave birth to their daughter Harlem in April 2016. Though the couple chose to keep the pregnancies and births of both of their children private, Ealy later opened up about being a father while speaking with PEOPLE in 2014. "There are multiple milestones every day," the actor shared at the time. "He said 'Mama' yesterday in the car and it really warmed my heart. It was a lot of babbling!" She is an art collector Presley Ann/Getty Rafiqzada is an avid art collector, often visiting galleries and sharing her findings on social media. She started gathering pieces at a young age, and now art has become one of her great "loves" in life. "Once I came to America, I fell in love with anti-war photography. It expressed the frustration of what my reality was," she told Sugarcane Magazine in 2021. "At the time, I didn't have the language to communicate those feelings. Art gave me the gift of communication without words, and that was powerful for me. I loved photography so much I picked it up as a hobby." Rafiqzada's passion for art has also rubbed off on her husband. Ealy began compiling artworks after meeting his wife and was even on the Board of Trustees at the Baltimore Museum of Art. "I started collecting because my wife was so passionate and persuasive about it," the actor said to Sugarcane Magazine. "Truly. I am still collecting because she was right. The passion is infectious, and the impact on our kids seeing themselves in the works is unparalleled." They are each other's biggest supporters Michael Ealy Instagram Rafiqzada and Ealy mostly keep their family life out of the limelight, but they aren't shy about sharing their support for one another on social media. After Ealy gave the commencement speech at Dillard University in 2021, the food connoisseur praised her husband. "I have never been so proud," she captioned a video of Ealy's address. "People finally get to see a side of him that has kept me sane all these years. He genuinely is my rock. He inspires me on a daily to appreciate the small things and to never compare my life w/ anybody else. He is the king of living in the present and not bothered by your business. He is [focused] and has a very healthy definition of what success is." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A special screening for The Taste of Things, Frances entry for Best International Feature at the 96th Academy Awards, was held Friday, January 5 at The Crescent in Beverly Hills. Afterwards, director Tran Anh Hung and Oscar winner Juliette Binoche joined moderator David Canfield (Variety) for a Q&A to discuss the film in front of the packed theater. Watch the full discussion above. Set in France in the late 19th century, the film follows the life of Dodin Bouffant (Benoit Magimel) as the preeminent chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugenie (Binoche). Eugenie and Dodin share a long history of gastronomy and love. While emotions remain contained, the culinary discoveries are, on the other hand, breathtakingly exquisite. The only hitch is that Eugenie refuses to marry Dodin. So, the food lover decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her. More from GoldDerby The Taste of Things has been shortlisted by the academy, putting it among 15 films considered for the five nomination slots at this years Oscars. Binoche admitted she was nervous before shooting the film with Magimel as her co-star. The two have a daughter together and split in 2003. It was not the easiest separation, she revealed. But there was respect. When he said yes I was surprised and happy. When we started working it was like two cats looking at each other, she laughed. But as filming went on the actress says, We found a real deep tenderness. It was overwhelming. PREDICT the 2024 Oscar nominees through January 23 Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Dont miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why? SIGN UP for Gold Derbys free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Cheddar cheese has a long and rich history. First appearing in the town of Cheddar, England in the 12th century, this cheese grew in popularity throughout the world. By the middle of the 19th century, cheddar was the most popular cheese in the U.S. What defines cheddar cheese varies. In the U.S., the FDA governs the definition of cheeses, and it says that if a variety contains no more than 50% milkfat and no more than 39% moisture, it's cheddar. Everything else is at the discretion of the manufacturer, including the age, type of milk used, or production methods. That's a loose definition. How cheddar tastes often relies on two factors: age and location. The longer it is aged, the sharper it will be. For example, Wisconsin cheddar has a sweeter flavor, while New England cheddar is more bitter and sharp. Cheddar cheese is still one of the most popular types of cheese for cooking. Whether you're making a grilled cheese sandwich, creating a homemade mac and cheese casserole, or just topping off a recipe, cheddar is robust and versatile. But it's not the final word on cheese. Many varieties can replace it and liven up mundane recipes. These are the top substitutes for cheddar cheese. Read more: 13 Unexpected Ingredients To Elevate Lasagna Mozzarella mozzarella on cutting board - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table Like cheddar, mozzarella originated in the 12th century, this time in southern Italy. The stretching and kneading process that makes this cheese gives it a firm yet stringy consistency. That explains why it took the longest to melt and why it is a perfect topping for pizza. Mozzarella comes in a few varieties, including mozzarella di bufala, derived from buffalo milk. However, the brand we chose comes from cow milk. Unlike cheddar, it's white in color and semi-soft, with a very mild yet distinctive flavor that does not mimic the sharpness of cheddar. We would not always recommend mozzarella to replace cheddar. For example, it will work for mac and cheese or any dish that is flavored by a sharp cheese. However, it's an excellent sandwich and flatbread topper. It works if you want to lend your recipe an Italian flair by adding pesto or tomato sauce. Mozzarella is a great cheese to blend with sharper cheeses, like cheddar, in dishes such as quiche. Provolone sliced provolone on cutting board - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table Next on our list is another Italian cheese, provolone, available in different varieties. It only dates back to the 19th century, also in southern Italy. Like mozzarella, the provolone-making process requires stretching. Provolone comes in a variety of styles and has a generally smoky flavor. The mild dolce requires two months of aging, while provolone picante needs at least four. This sharper version is firmer, too, so if you want a cheese that melts, dolce is your best choice. Provolone is mild but has a flavor that is distinct from cheddar. It took more time to melt than other cheeses and quickly burnt on the bottom, so exercise caution when melting. However, the process made the cheese milder in taste, making it a better fit to replace cheddar taste-wise. We still would not use it for mac and cheese, omelets, or cheddar soup recipes. Provolone is a wonderful choice for sandwiches, paninis, and salads. You can also add it to vegetables such as cauliflower, tomatoes, and carrots. We also love adding aged provolone to our charcuterie boards, especially alongside cheddar and cured Italian meats. To impress your guests, serve it with salami, prosciutto, soppressata, pickled red peppers, and crostini. Swiss Cheese swiss cheese slices on board - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table Swiss cheese is easily recognizable because of its visible air holes. It hails from Emmental Valley in Switzerland and dates back to the 14th century. There are many varieties of Swiss cheese, but the Emmental variety is the one we think of most commonly in the U.S., outside of Gruyere. Those distinctive air holes look like mouse nibbles -- and you can find many cartoons that illustrate this. The bacteria in the cheese release carbon dioxide once thought to cause the holes. However, new research shows that initially, hay got into the cheese, creating air pockets. As hygienic cheese production methods came into practice, the holes got smaller. In Switzerland, high altitudes and longer aging times create a sharper cheese. In the U.S., modern manufacturing replaces traditional aging and is limited to four months, creating a milder flavor. Swiss is a good choice because of its availability, but the flavor differs from cheddar. It melts well but retains the flavor, so it's not a good one-for-one substitute, but it's great for sandwiches and salads. If you're melting it on a burger, steak sauce complements the flavor better than ketchup. You can use Swiss cheese in au gratin dishes, and it makes a great fondue choice. It is a perfect fit for quiche, too, but it won't work for mac and cheese or cheese-based soups. A nice solid block of Swiss fits well with charcuterie, paired with grapes and apple slices, and provides a good counterbalance with cheddar. Gruyere gruyere on cutting board - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table Gruyere is another cheese from a different region of Switzerland, the town of the town of Gruyeres. Most commonly found atop French onion soup, gruyere is similar in flavor to Swiss but richer and softer, making it a better choice to replace cheddar. It is not, however, a sharp cheese, so keep that in mind. Known for its creaminess, you'll need to use caution when selecting Gruyere as a sub for cheddar to ensure that it fits the recipe. It's also excellent for whipping up a milder cream sauce to top savory dishes. This cheese is soft and mild, often a good choice for melting. We did not like the melting texture of the brand we chose, so be selective at the store. Use it to whip up an exceptionally creamy quiche. Gruyere is also a good choice for quiche, au gratin dishes, potato recipes, and recipes with strong-flavored meats like sausage. Pepper Jack pepper Jack on cutting board - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table Pepper Jack is only a good choice if you like a bit of heat in your dish. Some people disagree, claiming its smoky flavor will ruin cheddar dishes. Therefore, we advise you to choose your recipes wisely when substituting. This cheese consists of Monterey Jack with jalapenos and red bell peppers for that spicy kick. It may also contain garlic, rosemary, sweet peppers, and habanero peppers. Read your package before purchasing to ensure which peppers it contains. We put pepper Jack cheese solidly in the middle. While we think it's a good replacement for cheddar, not everyone appreciates the added heat. If you do, however, this cheese is perfect for sandwiches, hamburgers, omelets, and so much more. We really love this spicy choice for Mexican dishes. Cheese normally cools these recipes, but adding a little extra heat to tacos, burritos, and quesadillas makes us happy. We can always add sour cream! But if you only want a little heat, pair this cheese with sweeter options, like mango salsa. We would not add this to charcuterie because it makes a better topping than an ingredient. Havarti Havarti cheese on board - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table Originating in Denmark in the 1800s, Havarti is the name of the farm that developed this semi-soft cow milk cheese. Its delicious flavor is somewhere between Swiss and cheddar but on the nutty side. It took a little longer to melt than some of the other cheeses. We did not get the best consistency from the brand we bought, but it was flavorful. Havarti cheese does compare to cheddar in one way. It is one of few cheeses that develop more flavor and complexity with aging. The longer it ages, the more it resembles cheddar, so keep this in mind when buying this cheese. While you should be able to replace cheddar with Havarti, this cheese has a higher fat content. That can impact the texture of your recipe and may be why we didn't get the consistency we were expecting. This cheese works best for salad and fondue. It's also a welcome addition to your charcuterie board. Muenster Cheese slices of muenster on board - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table Next up is the cheese with the weird and amusing name. Muenster cheese is named for Munster in Alsace, although many believe it to be the city of the same name in Germany or the Irish province. While there is a Munster cheese, here in the U.S., we eat Muenster cheese, a slight variation on the original. American Muenster is milder and softer than its European counterpart. It does not exactly taste like cheddar, but it is a step closer. It took a while to melt and was another variety that burned on the bottom, but it had better flavor afterward. Muenster is a better replacement for hardier dishes. This cheese works in grilled dishes and served on a cutting board alongside red wine. Just like many cheddar recipes, it also goes well with beer. Since it's a white cheese, you'd do well to replace white cheddar in recipes such as casseroles. Gouda sliced gouda on board - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table Gouda is a good substitute because, like cheddar, it is also a semi-hard cheese. What's the difference between gouda and cheddar? There are flavor differences as well as history. Named for a town in South Holland, Gouda existed in the 1400s. However, it could date back to the 13th century. Dutch gouda is different from other versions found around the world. While gouda aging and sharpness vary, almost all varieties are milder than cheddar. Its flavor profile leans toward a sweet and nutty variety of cheese. The color depends on the length of aging: the longer, the more orange the color. Gouda is usually made from cow's milk but can come from sheep or goat's milk. It also stands out from other cheeses in one important way: After it is formed, producers soak it in brine, giving it a distinctive flavor. Aside from a great addition to your charcuterie board -- we recommend smoked varieties -- gouda is a creative substitute for cheddar in many dishes. It took a little while to melt but it was surprisingly more like cheddar afterward, making this a great substitute. Its unique flavor is the reason we recommend you try this cheese for more traditional cheddar dishes, including mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, fondue, soups, and potato dishes. We are not fond of it on a burger. But if you'd like to try it, we recommend a sharper, aged gouda. Daiya Dairy-Free Cheddar Slices package of daiya cheese - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table Hosting events can be challenging if you invite guests who are vegan or avoid dairy. The best hosts welcome these guests with options such as dishes made with non-dairy cheese. Daiya cheese is one of the most popular and available dairy-free cheddar brands. At first, we were hesitant to add this cheese to this article. In the past, the flavor and melting consistency was not great. However, given its recent reformulation, we thought it was time to give it another try. We're happy to report this new Daiya formula is a much better approximation of cheddar cheese. It has a mild but salty flavor. The cheese melted slowly but was the right consistency. The new recipe just hit the shelves and is made from oat cream containing oats, pea protein, cultures, and enzymes. The flavor was consistent whether cold or melted, so we recommend it as a one-to-one substitution for most of your cheddar cheese dishes. The taste is mild, so feel free to try one of their other flavors, like smoked gouda, if you want something stronger. We love that you can serve this to your vegan and dairy-free friends as an affordable option. American Cheese American cheese slices on board - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table American cheese, widely available at your local deli, is a natural fit since it often comes from cheddar. However, some people may be upset that we've included processed cheese here. Why? Here's where things get tricky. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that to label a product as cheese, it has to contain 51% cheese. The rest are vegetable oils and milk proteins. We include it here because not all processed cheeses are equal. We purchased Boar's Head White American Cheddar. This processed cheese contains real milk. It was unclear from the website how much is real and how many additives there are. The taste of American cheese imitates cheddar very well, and it melts properly. It is an easy substitute in a pinch for just about any dish, but we cannot guarantee how much real cheese it contains. The same is true of most processed brands. Therefore, we could not give it top grades. However, it is a workable substitute. Monterey Jack Monterey Jack on cutting board - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table Monterey Jack hails from Monterey, California. In the 1800s, Spanish missionaries brought the cheese to the area, where it was sold by locals to support their families. Local businessman David Jack used the recipe and started producing it commercially, and the name of this variety of cheeses has stuck ever since. Jack may have given us a great cheese, but he was a ruthless businessman. This cheese is one of our top five picks. Monterey Jack comes very close in flavor to cheddar, with slight differences. It is milder but has a richer taste. It's almost buttery. When it melted, it had a smooth and creamy consistency, making it an excellent replacement for cheddar. That texture makes it ideal for cheesy soups, mac and cheese recipes, and melting over dishes like burritos and other bakes. It's also a good choice for cheesy dips. Remember that you can use it interchangeably with pepper jack for more kick. Monterey Jack works wonderfully in cheesy casseroles and as a filling for cheese bread recipes. We can't say enough good things about this one. Thank you, California. Fontina Cheese fontina cheese on board - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table Fontina is probably a familiar name that you've seen on menus from restaurants of many different cuisines. This cheese developed in a different area of Italy: the Aosta Valley in the Italian Alps in the 12th century. It also goes by the names fontal, fontella, and fontinella. This semi-soft cheese is another cheddar replacement, especially for milder recipes. Melting this semi-soft cheese gives a smooth and creamy consistency. The flavor closely resembles a mild cheddar but with a hint of nuttiness. Fontina is unique because it carries a PDO or Protected Designation of Origin. PDO cheeses follow strict regulations, including which cows the milk can come from. The cows graze a unique herb-flavored grass available only in the high Alps, giving fontina its unique taste. You can buy the real Fontina but you must know what to look for. Sadly, what you see in the grocery store is not PDO Italian Alp Fontina. Production grew past Italy as many countries made their own versions of Fontina. However, this cheese is an ideal selection to replace cheddar. We recommend it for mac and cheese recipes, a standard that is tough to meet, in our opinion. That's why Fontina lands in the top two. Use a younger, creamier version for fondues and the older version for everything else, like a decadent grilled cheese sandwich. Colby Cheese Colby cheese on board - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table At the top of our list of recommended substitutions is Colby cheese. It's closest in taste to cheddar. But it's also decadent, smooth, and tasty enough for any occasion. Created in Colby, Wisconsin in 1885, this cheese resulted from an experiment by Joseph Steinwand, whose family owned a cheese factory. The market for his invention grew -- in a given year, Wisconsin cheesemakers now produce 45 million pounds of Colby. Colby stands apart because it's processed differently. While typical cheeses get to the curd stage of processing, the curds are heated and separated into slabs. Instead of separating, Steinwand stirred the curds and then washed them in cold water. This process reduced the acidity of the cheese, creating a sweeter result. While Colby is slightly milder, it's also rich and flavorful. It melts quickly to a perfect consistency and a smooth texture. It even felt like an upgrade from cheddar. We recommend Colby as the top substitute for all your cheddar recipes, from mac and cheese and cheese to soups, to comforting casseroles and Texas nachos. Methodology cheese in cast iron pan - Gina Badalaty/Tasting Table To rank the best cheddar cheese substitutes, we sought out alternative cheeses we believed would work with dishes that typically use cheddar cheese, including omelets, mac and cheese recipes, or melted toppings. These brands were widely available and affordable. We examined the taste quality to see if it closely matched cheddar and could emulate the proper taste. If it was different, we narrowed down the recipes that would fit the cheese and which would work best. Finally, we melted each cheese individually to compare texture and melting ability with cheddar. The more closely the cheese resembled cheddar cheese as a substitute in each dish, the higher rank we gave it. That said, cheeses with distinct flavors yet similar melting qualities as cheddar help create variety in your cooking. We would not hesitate to recommend any of these selections, depending on your dish and what flavor you wish to serve. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Open Bible The Bible is made up of two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is known for providing God's law, while the New Testament is known as the fulfillment of God's law through Jesus Christ. So, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that the "I Am" statements of Jesus in the New Testament book of John actually have a connection to the second book of the Old Testament (Exodus). From God talking to Moses and identifying himself as "I AM WHO I AM," to Jesus identifying himself by giving a series of "I Am" statements, there is plenty of significance to unpack. We'll go over the original context from Exodus, as well as share the seven distinct "I Am" statements that Jesus gives in Johnplus, what they mean. Related: Renew Your Strength in the Lord With These 130 Bible Verses Background of 'I Am' from the Old Testament Moses had been away from Egypt for a long time. His ancestor, Joseph, was but a memory (Exodus 1:8). As a baby, Moses was hidden in a basket among the reeds of the Nile River, where his lineage and his rearing met with providence. The Pharaoh's daughter found him there, but his mother continued to nurse him (Exodus 2:5-10). Forty years later, a now-grown Moses walked among his people one day, and could not stand by and watch one of his own being abused. After making sure no one was watching, he killed the Egyptian who abused a Hebrew slave (Exodus 2:12). Moses fled for his life, settling into the land of Abraham and Keturah for the next forty years. At Mt. Horeb, he met with God, who appeared to him in a burning bush. God told Moses to go back to Egypt, rescue his people and bring them to a land he'd prepared for them. Moses wondered how people would know it was God who sent him to do this. "God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14 NRSV). In Hebrew: "ehyah Asher eheh." From the website Israel by Locals, we learn: 'Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh' is closely connected to the Tetragrammaton, the four-letter Hebrew name of God, often written as YHWH (). The exact pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton has been lost over time due to ancient Hebrews lack of written vowels. It is considered so sacred that devout Jews avoid pronouncing it, substituting it with 'Adonai' (Lord) during prayers and readings." Related: 17 Bible Verses About Pregnancy Why Is Jesus Referred to as 'I Am'? Centuries later, the words of Jesus are recorded by the gospel writer, John, intentionally identifying Jesus as "I Am." In using this phrase, Jesus proclaimed his divine nature: fully God, fully man. Similarly, the Nicene Creed states: "Lord Jesus Christ... begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made." Related: 51 Bible Verses About Faith How Many Times Did Jesus Say 'I Am' in the Bible? The statements are sometimes emphasized more than once, but in total, Jesus declared himself to be "I Am" seven times throughout his ministry. The number seven is considered one of the most important numbers in the Hebrew Scriptures. It is associated with the idea of completeness, holiness and even perfection. Related: 300 Bible Trivia Questions What Are the Seven 'I Am' Statements of Jesus? The following "I Am" statements are quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) Bible: 1. "I Am the Bread of Life" There was a crowd looking for a sign, a miracle so they could believe. Maybe manna, as in the days of Moses. Jesus told them about the true bread of God: "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty" (John 6:35). 2. "I Am the Light of the World" He was speaking to the people once more, at the Feast of Tabernacles, where there would have been a huge menorah on display in the temple courtyard, when Jesus announced: "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life" (John 8:12). 3. "I Am the Gate for the Sheep" Here, Jesus was telling a story. There was a thief trying to steal sheep, and a shepherd who enters through a gate, one recognizable both to the gatekeeper and the sheep. This good shepherd knows the sheep by name and guides them, because the sheep come to know and trust his voice. "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep" (John 10:7). 4. "I Am the Good Shepherd" The image of Jesus as Shepherd is a common metaphor used throughout the life of Jesus, one Jewish people in first century Judea and Galilee would have understood well. In the same story we looked at above, Jesus goes on to identify with another character in the story, "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me" (John 10:14). 5. "I Am the Resurrection and the Life" Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, was sick, and he died before Jesus could get to his house in Bethany. His sisters, Mary and Martha, knew that if Jesus had been there, their brother would not have died. At the grave of Lazarus, Jesus shouted for Lazarus to come out, and he did. It's in the middle of this powerful story that Jesus declared, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). Related: 30 Good Friday Bible Verses 6. "I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" It's a more intimate setting when Jesus made this "I Am" statement. He was dining with his disciples, hours before being arrested. Jesus explained he was leaving, but would prepare a place for them. The disciple, Thomas, wondered at this (likely just asking the question everyone had on their mind). "Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6). 7. "I Am the True Vine" Jesus is still sharing his final words with the disciples, those who walked closely with him in his earthly ministry. He again turns to metaphor, painting a word picture those in an agrarian society would have understood well. "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Up next: 50 comforting Bible verses about God's love I love history, and I'm always reading new journal articles, and old books, and discovering new obsessions that I NEED to share with people. I've really been enjoying writing this series where I bring all my favorite history facts to you, so here are seven more to close out the year! 1.In September 2023, an article was published in the journal Nature about wood artifacts recently found in Zambia, at the archaeological site of Kalambo Falls. Archaeologists discovered "two interlocking logs joined transversely by an intentionally cut notch," at least 476,000 years old. This might sound small, boring, or insignificant but actually, it's now the world's oldest-known wooden structure, predating our previous oldest wooden structure by over 450,000 years. According to the University of Liverpool, whose researchers along with those from Aberystwyth University published the research in Nature, the newly-discovered structure predates even "the evolution of our own species, Homo sapiens," which is currently estimated to have first appeared around 315,000 years ago. The research posits that the structure may have been built as a "raised platform, walkway or foundation for dwellings." Professor Larry Barham of the University of Liverpool has said that the find "has changed how I think about our early ancestors." According to Archaeology Magazine, before this discovery, the most recent wooden structure known was built in northern England around 11,000 years ago. That's quite a difference! Zakaria Mgala / Getty Images 2.Ancient Roman religion involved the worship of the main gods the big dogs like Jupiter, Apollo, and Magna Mater but they also had a much more intimate, everyday kind of worship: that of the spirits of the house and home. Romans believed that every single thing around us had a spirit and that each human has one, as well whether you're alive or dead. One of the more endearing aspects of Roman worship (in my opinion) was that of the lares familiares, the guardians of the home, who, more often than not, were the spirits of one's own ancestors. Most Roman homes had a shrine inside called a lararium, which, according to World History Encyclopedia, "housed [family members'] statuettes and from which [Romans] worked to make sure the family prospered." I just think it's cute to keep statuettes of family and touch base with their spirits on the day-to-day. Flory / Getty Images 3.Other household gods probably have more recognizable (dare I say "household") names. Vesta, goddess of the hearth, was a big one. The panes and panates were spirits of the kitchen (pantry, anyone?). And Janus, the two-faced god whom you might recognize from the Janus Films logo, is criminally underrated. According to World History Encyclopedia, Janus is the "god of all beginnings and ends," and the "custodian of the universe." And when the Romans say "all beginnings and ends," they mean it: we're talking marriages, deaths, sporting matches, months, seasons, you name it. He was believed to preside over all doors, gates, and transitions. And, most importantly, his statues look really, really cool. Dea / De Agostini via Getty Images 4.Speaking of cool statues: below are two lamassu, a type of Assyrian guardian statue. Lamassu were typically placed on either side of important gateways, such as those of cities or temples, to repel evil spirits. They depict a winged bull with the head of a man. Beyond that, notice anything weird? Instead of the natural four, a lamassu actually has five legs; this is so that it can be viewed from the front as well as the side and still look like it has four legs. Also, I want to note how mind-blowingly old these are (and Assyria is): the statue on the left dates from 722705 B.C., and the one on the right from the reign of Ashurnasirpal II, who was king from 884859 B.C. And Ashurnasirpal II was a Neo-Assyrian king, meaning he was very modern; only 9th century B.C.. Pshh, young! Assyrian history dates as far back as a little before 2,000 B.C., so, the 21st century...B.C. That's old. Pictures From History / Universal Images Group / Getty Images, Culture Club / Art Images via Getty Images 5.Our beloved Santa Tracker began in a way that's so cute it honestly sounds made-up. At CONAD (now NORAD) operations center, on Nov. 30, 1955, US Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup got a call... on the Dreaded Red Telephone. The top-secret phone rang. Who could it be? The president, telling him that the USSR had declared nuclear war? Colonel Shoup answered the phone. "Yes, sir, this is Colonel Shoup," he reportedly said. Silence on the other end of the line. He repeated himself. Still, silence. "Sir, can you read me alright?" he said. Then, quietly "Are you really Santa Claus?" Apparently, a Sears catalog had misprinted the number for a Santa hotline, and accidentally put the top-secret number for CONAD headquarters. The Colonel went with it, and from there, the NORAD Santa Tracker has evolved. Tzara / Getty Images, Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Getty Images 6.A writer named James Harden-Hickey (who altogether seems a rather eccentric guy) once went to an island and formed his own country, the Principality of Trinidad, where he declared himself James I, Prince of Trinidad. It was taken from him by the British, who seem to be fond of doing such things. New York Press described him as a "Baron of the Holy Roman Empire by command of the Supreme Pontiff, editor, novelist, swordsman, and adventurer, who... was born in San Francisco, CA." According to the paper, when Harden-Hickey's ship landed upon the uninhabited Trinidad, he "went ashore, explored the island and claimed it in his own name." Just like that! He announced that the Principality would be a military dictatorship, bought ships for colonists, and even had a secretary of state for foreign affairs. Unfortunately for James I, "In July 1895, the British government... landed troops and took possession of Trinidad as a cable station. By Marc Guitard / Getty Images 7.My random history obsession of the week has been Mary of Burgundy. When Mary was born in 1457, her grandfather Philip the Good didn't even attend the baptism, as "it was only for a girl." But despite the disadvantage of having dared to be born female (the horror!), Mary became her father's heir and eventually the beloved ruler [cite] of the Duchy of Burgundy. Because of her lands and title, Mary was one of the most eligible bachelorettes in Europe; everybody wanted her hand. King Louis XI (who really, really wanted to take everything she had and make it part of France) even expressed that it was his "dearest wish" to see her married to his son the Dauphin, who was six years old. No thanks! Sepia Times / Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images When Mary decided to marry Archduke Maximilian of Austria (what a catch!) it began a rift between France and the Habsburgs that only ended in the 18th century. Mary co-ruled with Maximilian, and loved riding and hunting; she was most often depicted on a horse, with one of her beloved falcons. According to Olga Karaskova, this made sure her image was that of a "skilled horsewoman and passionate huntress," "she alone among the duchesses of Burgundy." The woman had a vision. (See page 207, or Mary's Wikipedia page, if you want to read more about that. I apologize for the source being in French, it's hard to find sources on her!) In one amazing anecdote, she once stopped Maximilian from going to battle with France by telling him to first come home to say goodbye, locking him inside his own apartments, and refusing to let him out until he agreed that he would "instead of going to the front, to go dancing." (See page 140 of the source for that one.) Tragically, Mary died at age 25 after sustaining injuries from falling off her horse. Maximilian went on to be quite an influential Holy Roman emperor, and we can only speculate at what could have been had she lived! Mourn with me 541 years later, dear readers, for a very cool lady who died very young. Universal History Archive / Universal Images Group / Getty Images If there are any dramatic/interesting/cool facts from history that you think I would love, please, please, please drop them in the comments! I always love learning more historical stuff, and I'm sure other people do, too. Advocates and critics of the marijuana industry offered contrasting assessments of the drug 10 years after its legalization, with the former calling its decade-long existence a successful model for the rest of America, while the latter insist it has harmed Coloradans. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Between hosting American Idol, replacing Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune and exiting his six-year run on Live, Ryan Seacrest's year has been one filled with success. Along with the career highs, he also worked with his family to open three state-of-the-art media centers (called "Seacrest Studios") at various children's hospitals in Tennessee, New York and Utah as part of his charity, the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. And after seeing a recent emotional Instagram post, it appears the latter means the most to him. On December 31, Ryan posted an Instagram montage showing clips from the various Seacrest Studios openings, as well as a snippet with his mom Connie, dad Gary and sister Meredith. In the caption, he shared how special it was to work with his loved ones to bring more charitable projects to fruition for children across the country. "My family and I are looking back at this year with so much gratitude," he captioned the video. "Thankful that weve been able to open 3 #SeacrestStudios this year; and although things can move quickly, its always nice to pause and reflect on all the incredible moments that have come from opening 14 broadcast centers for kids across the country. We look forward to opening many more!" When fans saw the post, they immediately rallied behind him to voice their own kind words for all the work he and his loved ones put into the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. "Amazing on what you and your family helps with!! ," one person declared on Instagram. "Love this, so impressive! Thank you for all you do for the children in these hospitals. It is an amazing feat and brings so much joy at times when there may not be," another penned. "Thank you for the Seacrest foundation does for the children. No better example of paying it forward. Happy New Year," a different follower added. The Ryan Seacrest Foundation's official website writes that the goal of the charity is to "build broadcast media centers, named Seacrest Studios, within pediatric hospitals for patients to explore the creative realms of radio, television and new media." The site also notes the centers contribute positively to the healing process for children and their families" as they "bring an uplifting spirit to the hospital community." You Might Also Like When a seemingly inconspicuous bakery opened in Primrose Hill, north London, in October 2023, the hype took people by surprise. TikTok was awash with videos of huge queues. But the crowds werent there for the breads and pastries that every trendy bakery over the past decade has served flaky croissants, cinnamon buns or sourdough loaves. They were there for bagels. With mahogany crusts, crispy and chewy, the bakes at Its Bagels! have a saltiness almost reminiscent of pretzels. There are several flavoured cream cheeses, or schmears, on offer, but no salt beef. This is nothing like Brick Lanes Beigel Shop, founded 168 years prior, which also boasts infamous queues. A classic New York filling, the suitably brash bacon, egg and cheese, was a messy delight. Its Bagels! shines a spotlight on the iconic holey bread but is only the latest in a bagel boom. Dedicated bagel bakeries are popping up everywhere, their wares a far cry from poor supermarket imitations. A pre-lockdown trickle of openings including The Good Egg and B Bagels in London, and Edinburghs Bross Bagels, has turned into a tidal wave. 2023s launches include Kafe Bagel in Walthamstow in the capital, Lincoln Bagel Co, and Chapter One Bar & Kitchen in Oldham, Greater Manchester. Bread Flower in Manchester, which began as a lockdown project, opened a permanent site in 2022. Some businesses are expanding. B Bagel launched a fourth site in Camden in December, with plans for four more this year. B Bagel's bagel fillings include cream cheese and avocado, labneh cream cheese with olive oil & za'atar herbs, Nutella with strawberries and banana slices, and roasted turkey breast, coleslaw, mustard and pickles - Naf Castanas After opening in Oxford in April 2023, The Steamhouse (which loads its rolls with everything from hot pulled pork to scrambled eggs and chipotle mayo), now has seven sites in the south of England and Midlands. A freshly baked bagel is like a ring of happiness, says B Bagels founder, Yoav Baumgarten. Affordable, versatile and, crucially in a digital age, photogenic with an appeal perhaps boosted by the artisan bakery resurgence bagels are taking Britain by storm. A history of holey rolls While all bagels are made similarly the yeasted wheat dough enjoying a long prove before being rolled, very briefly boiled and then baked for that characteristic chew several styles have emerged over the decades. New Yorks are large, with big holes, a hard chewy crust and pillowy interior. Theyre often topped with seeds. Lots of schmear is a must. London bagels are smaller, with a softer exterior, sweeter, chewier and denser inside. Montreal bagels, boiled in honey water, are sweeter still. No one knows exactly when bagels were first created, but holed breads have existed for centuries in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, among them Polish obwarzanek krakowski and Turkish simit. Yet it was from Eastern Europe, mainly Poland, that what was known in Yiddish as a beigel travelled west in the 19th century. Bagel shops popped up in cities with large Jewish communities, such as New York and London. New York even had a bagel bakers union and, by the 60s in the States, bagels had been industrialised, becoming a staple outside Jewish communities. The spread in Britain, where some still refer to them as beigels (pronounced bye-guls), didnt happen to the same extent. Once found across the East End, Brick Lanes Beigel Bake and Beigel Shop are popular relics of bygone eras. Todays traditional bagel bakeries are mostly found in areas with large Jewish populations, from Daniels in Golders Green, Grodzinskis in Stamford Hill, Shalom Hot Bagels in Ilford and Manchesters State Fayre Bakery. A few miles up the road from Its Bagels!, the bagels at Daniels are surprisingly different. Sweeter, softer, with almost no distinct hole, they are nevertheless delicious. Fresh from the oven, piping hot, they are almost toffee-ish, and can be eaten plain. A London bagel from Daniel's, above, 'sweeter, softer, with almost no distinct hole'; It's Bagels! New York-inspired bagel, below - Tome Morrissy-Swan When founder New Yorker Dan Martensen moved to London in 2019, he struggled to find the bagels of his youth. Its like soul food, or pizza to an Italian, or barbecue to a southern American, says Martensen. In New York and many other American cities bagels are an everyday food. The famous everything bagel (topped with poppyseed, garlic and onion flakes, sesame seeds and salt) with lox and schmear (Yiddish for smoked salmon and cream cheese) is a brunch staple. In London, Martensen was shocked to see how Jewish bagels were. In New York its of Jewish heritage, but everyone eats them. During lockdown Martensen, who describes himself as Jewish but not religious, couldnt fly back to New York to get his fix, so he scoured London for bagels. None were quite right. While a fan of Brick Lanes salt beef bagels, he admits that, like most people, I prefer them after three or four pints. He decided to make his own with the help of a professional baker at Caravan, a cafe chain. After plenty of trial and error, Martensen sold them online, and they were so successful that a permanent site was soon required. Its Bagels! looks like a traditional Big Apple bagel shop, with pictures of New York celebrities on the walls, a long counter, baskets of the holey rolls and an open bakery at the back. Bagels are always freshly baked, crucial for a bread that goes stale within hours. Borrowing from the Big Apple A strong connection to New York is a key driver of Britains new bagel movement. Partly, thats because bagels there are excellent; partly, anything New York is always seen as luxe. Francesca Goldhill grew up eating bagels from a local Jewish deli in London almost every day. I went to a Jewish school, so bagels were always part of school lunches, she recalls. When she moved to New York in 2017 for work she fell in love with the citys bagels and bagel culture. Every bagel shop in New York is for everyone, not just Jews or those who know about the Jewish deli on a particular street. B Bagel's chicken shawarma bagel with houmous, tahini, tomato, pickles and parsley (left) and a shaved beef pastrami bagel with mustard mayo and pickle (right) - Naf Castanas Back in the UK in lockdown, Goldhill tried to recreate them, posting her results on Instagram and initially selling them from her mothers house. By January 2022, she opened a permanent bagel shop in Radlett, Hertfordshire. Bagels + Schmear focuses on the New York style. Bagels are a very personal thing, says Goldhill. Of course, there are those who prefer the Jewish-British style, but there are also plenty who love this type. With the rise of New York-style bagel shops in the UK, people can now get what they prefer. Paul Traynor, meanwhile, never ate bagels growing up near Aberdeen. His wife Jordan, however, is from Long Island and, like Martensen, missed them after moving to London in 2017. After becoming obsessed with sourdough baking the pair left their jobs and opened The Bagel Guys in 2018 in Netil Market, east London. The only 100 per cent sourdough bagels in the UK (they claim), their bagels have that characteristic sourdough tang, and none of the sweetness traditionally associated with bagels. Yet theyre recognisably New York: a crispy crust and full of flavour. During lockdown, business boomed and, now operating under the name Paulies Bagels, they opened a permanent site in nearby Homerton in December. Flavoured schmears, a feature of the classic New York bagel shop, are preeminent at Paulies, as is bacon, egg and cheese. Yet here there is also a nod to Britains bagel culture with salt beef, which in America is more commonly eaten on rye bread. Its been a hit and hasnt left the menu since launching a year ago. The classic lox filling at Paulie's Bagels - Paulie's Bagels Back to British roots London-based food writer Adrienne Katz Kennedy grew up in Cleveland, where bagels were as quotidian as in New York. Arriving in London in 2006, she quickly fell in love with Londons bagel culture. Katz Kennedy believes the emergence of the New York style is good variety is always welcome yet thinks Britons should embrace their history. Constantly turning towards somewhere else for inspiration undervalues the places already established here, she says. Kafe Bagel is one of few new spots to claim inspiration from Brick Lane rather than Brooklyn. Brand new styles are already emerging. We call them Newcastle bagels, not New York or Montreal or London, says Joss Elder, co-founder of King Baby Bagels in Newcastle. Inspired by both New York and Gateshead, which has a sizeable Jewish community, Elder started with pop-ups before launching a permanent site at Grainger Market in the city. King Baby Bagels in Newscastle - Ryan Lilburn His crusts are softer than typical New York bagels, partly because of local conditions, and the fillings a mix of traditional and novel. Theres smoked salmon and cream cheese but also a mortadella, salami and pastrami number, and a Geordie take on the traditional salt beef sandwich: salted ham, pease pudding, dill pickles and mustard. We have people walking past our shop confused as to what were selling, he admits. Yet his bagels are a hit. In fact, bakeries like Happening Bagel Bakery in the capitals Finsbury Park and Bagel King in Camberwell have long offered very London fusions, such as jerk chicken bagel, serving up a wonderfully British mishmash of cultures. And while the emerging New York-inspired bagel scene is currently all the rage, Katz Kennedy sounds a word of warning: If it makes it into Pret, were in trouble. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. With Queen Margrethe of Denmarks shocking announcement on New Years Eve that she is abdicating the throne after 52 years on January 14, the world will suddenly be without a queen regnant (a queen born to the throne, not a consort that married into the family). Much like her third cousin Queen Elizabeth, Margrethe was the longest-reigning monarch in her country, and her loss to both Denmark and the global royal stratosphere is profound. So, yes, royal families around the world may be helmed by a boys club right now, but that wont last. Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway all have heir apparents that are womenso, when it comes to the global royal landscape, the future is very, very female. Long may she reign! Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden Though Crown Princess Victoria, 46, is the eldest of King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvias three children, after her brother Prince Carl Philip was born in 1979, she was bumped down behind him in the line of succession because he is maleuntil Sweden changed its constitution so that birth order determined the line of succession regardless of gender. This change was effective January 1, 1980, once again making Victoria the heir apparent after seven months as No. 2. (Most of the women here will be on the throne thanks to absolute primogeniture, just like what happened in Sweden.) When Victoria takes the throne, she will be Swedens fourth queen regnant and its first since 1720. Of these group of future queen regnants, Victoria is so far the only one that is a wife and mother; she married Daniel Westling in 2010, and they have two children. Crown Princess Victoria Crown Princess Victoria Crown Princess Victoria Crown Princess Victoria Princess Elisabeth of Belgium Princess Elisabeth, 22, is the eldest of King Philippe and Queen Mathildes four children and became Duchess of Brabant and heir to the throne in 2013 after her grandfather King Albert abdicated. After taking part in her first royal engagement at just five years old in 2006, she gave her first public speech (in Dutch) in 2011, when she was nine. She undertook military training for her future role as queen, and in August 2020 entered the Royal Military Academy in Brussels, studying social and military sciences. She swore the officers oath in September 2023, being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Belgian Army. She reads history and politics at Lincoln College, Oxford, and has rowed crew under the name Elisabeth de Saxe-Cobourg. She speaks Dutch, French, German, and English, has taken classes in Mandarin Chinese, and holds children with learning difficulties, the elderly, the homeless, and the disabled as causes close to her heart. Princess Elisabeth Princess Elisabeth Princess Elisabeth Princess Elisabeth Princess Elisabeth Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands Princess Catharina-Amalia, 20, became first in line to the throne when her father, King Willem-Alexander, ascended in 2013when she was just nine years old. The eldest of Willem-Alexander and Queen Maximas three daughters, Catharina-Amalia is the first Princess of Orange in her own right (Prince or Princess of Orange is the title given to the heir to the throne in the Netherlands). She made headlines in June 2021 when she announced her refusal to accept her 1.6m annual income, as it made her uncomfortable that she hadnt yet done anything to earn it. (Respect.) Shes currently studying politics, psychology, law, and economics at the University of Amsterdam and, in addition to speaking Dutch, English, and Spanish, has taken classes in Mandarin Chinese. Princess Catharina Amalia Princess Catharina Amalia Princess Catharina Amalia Princess Catharina Amalia Princess Catharina Amalia Princess Catharina Amalia Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway After Princess Ingrid Alexandras birth in 2004, the already popular Norwegian royal family experienced a surge in popularity, likely because Ingrid, 19, will one day become the countrys second female monarchand its first since the fifteenth century. Ingrid is the eldest child of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit and the grandchild of King Harald, who is currently on the throne. She has a younger brother, Prince Sverre Magnus, whom she ranks above in the line of succession thanks to the implementation of absolute primogeniture in Norway in 1990. This year, she is expected to undertake military training for 12 months at the Engineer Battalion in Brigade Nord. Princess Ingrid Alexandra Princess Ingrid Alexandra Princess Ingrid Alexandra Princess Ingrid Alexandra Princess Ingrid Alexandra Princess Leonor of Spain Princess Leonor, 18the eldest of two daughters born to King Felipe and Queen Letiziabecame first in line to the throne following the abdication of her grandfather, King Juan Carlos, in 2014, when she was eight years old. Since then, Leonor has taken part in a bevy of firsts: her first public engagement in 2018, when she was 12; her first public speech on her thirteenth birthday that same year; her first public solo engagement in 2021; and her first international trip without her parents in 2022. This past September, Leonor took the heirs oath, officially declaring her as next in line to the throne and during which she swore allegiance to the Spanish constitution. Known as the Princess of Asturias, last August Leonor joined the General Military Academy to start her three-year military education and is currently an officer cadet in the General Spanish Military Academy. She is fluent in Spanish and English, has studied Mandarin Chinese, and, when she ascends to the throne, she will be Spains first queen regnant since the mid-1800s. Princess Leonor Princess Leonor Princess Leonor Princess Leonor Princess Leonor Princess Leonor Princess Leonor Princess Leonor The worlds eyes are on Crown Princess Mary, who, in less than two weeks time, will become Queen Mary of Denmark following the surprise abdication of her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe after a record-breaking 52 years on the throne. When she becomes queen, Mary will become the first Australian-born queen ever. She met her husband, Crown Prince Frederik, in her home country when he visited for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney; they met at a pub called the Slip Inn, and successful ad exec Mary had no idea that Fred was the heir to the Danish throne. They married in 2004 and have four children. This year, Frederik and Mary will mark 20 years wed, and vis a vis, Mary will celebrate 20 years of being a working member of the Danish royal family. To those who follow global royals (and not just the British royal family), Mary has long been a style icon, a hardworking royal, and beloved not unlike Catherine, Princess of Wales in the U.K. (The two even physically resemble each other.) Right down to a commoner-marrying-prince so-called fairytale love story, Mary and Kate have a lot in common, and Kate is said to have modeled her own royal life after Marys. The two are so similarboth physically and situationallythat Chanels Karl Lagerfeld once dubbed them royal sisters. Kate Middleton and Crown Princess Mary Here we take a look at Marys evolving style over the past two decades as she prepares for a monumental shift this month. We cant wait to watch it all unfold. 2004 Crown Princess Mary 2005 Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary 2008 Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary 2009 Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary 2010 Crown Princess Mary 2011 Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary 2012 Crown Princess Mary 2013 Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary 2014 Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary 2015 Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary 2016 Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary 2017 Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary 2018 Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary 2019 Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary 2021 Crown Princess Mary 2022 Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary 2023 Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Crown Princess Mary Heavy metal as a music genre isnt everyones cup of tea, but when theres some in your cup of hot chocolate, it becomes a public health issue that requires government intervention. Thats why researchers from the USDA are using genome editing to reduce the amount of cadmium cacao trees in Colombia can absorb from the soil. The USDAs Cacao for Peace program, with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development and assistance from the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, has developed nine genetically engineered cacao lines that should result in chocolate products with less cadmium. While cadmium can be released through pollution, it is also a natural element found in soil. The carcinogenic heavy metal can cause stomach irritation, diarrhea, and vomiting when consumed in large amounts and lead to an increased risk of kidney diseases and fragile bones, per the CDC. The project should help boost cacao exports from the South American country to global markets like the U.S., where chocolate is always in high demand. The U.S. imported a world-leading $3.8 billion of chocolate in 2022, nearly $1.2 billion more than the second-highest nation. Colombia isnt a global powerhouse in the cacao industry since it grows 50,000 metric tons of beans every year about 20% of the production in neighboring Ecuador. However, it has the potential to become a leading exporter because of its 2.8 million hectares of land suitable for cacao production. Other recent scientific advancements in the world of chocolate and climate change include finding a new use for cacao beans as biochar to be used in applications like more environmentally friendly concrete and Mars making its packaging more sustainable. The research toward reducing cadmium seems all the more important when considering Valentines Day, since 92% of Americans plan to celebrate the holiday with chocolate or candy, per the National Confectioners Association. The economic opportunity benefits more than just U.S. chocolate and confectionary industries and American agriculture as well, as the Cacao for Peace initiative supports thousands of Colombian farmers and their families, making it a win-win situation for everyone involved including the millions of people who will receive chocolate this Valentines Day. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet. On their 12,000-mile summer road trip exploring the four corners of the United States, Tesla owner Simon Wong and his 12-year-old son discovered the true potential of their Model Y. Navigating via Teslas internal system for charger locations, they tackled cross-country journeys, sometimes covering up to 600 miles a day with brief 15-minute pit stops for recharging. There were four places we said we must go: San Diego, Key West, Maine, and Seattle, Wong said. Beyond that, we just relied on the Tesla computer to decide how far we would drive and sleep. Utilizing Teslas Camp Mode, they comfortably rested in the car overnight, saving both time and money typically spent on hotels. Wong estimated a mere $750 spent on charging the electric vehicle throughout the trip, nearly half the cost expected for a gas-powered vehicle covering the same distance. Beyond the financial gains, this adventure served as a bonding opportunity for Wong and his son, offering a different perspective on American life beyond their Southern California suburb and allowing them to experience diverse cultures across the country. While some drivers have fears about taking an EV on a long road trip, these Tesla owners are proving them wrong. Taking an EV on a road trip creates significantly less carbon pollution compared to that created by gas-powered vehicles, and some states are even offering residents major incentives to switch over to an EV. Finding charging stations does take some planning (Tesla is working on that), but in Wongs case, his Model Y helped make it easier. While charging EVs does draw on electricity, the overall impact of using EVs reduces the amount of planet-warming gases released into the atmosphere. Wong said he saw the trip as a bonding opportunity after he was laid off from his tech job. That job was really stressful, and I didnt get much time to spend with my family, my son, Wong said. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. If you can even find any crawfish for your etouffee, expect to pay more this season. Susan Vineyard/Getty Images Crawfish are hard to come by in Louisiana so far this season, and producers say the fall's hot, dry weather is to blame. People are starting to notice since crawfish is a popular dish to serve around the holidays from Thanksgiving through Easter. WWL-TV Channel 4 in New Orleans reports that seafood restaurant and market Kenner Seafood, which usually ships crawfish to other restaurants nationwide, is currently empty handed. This is the time when we basically have lots of crawfish that we'd be sending out, 10 to 20 sacks on a daily basis. The phones are ringing off the hook. Still no crawfish, with no date promised, said the owner, Trudy Alexander. Don Benoit, owner of D and T Crawfish in Vermillion Parish, explained to WWL-TV that he only produced 5 percent of his usual crop in November and December. We didn't get any rain in this parish. I don't think we got one drop September and October," Benoit said, adding that September was unusually hot as well. Because the crawfish season is sensitive to weather conditions, you may have to wait for more rain before you can host that crawfish boil. In the meantime, any crawfish you find will likely be smaller and more expensive than usual. Let's hope the weather cooperates by Lent so families can enjoy plenty of crawfish etouffee. We will remain hopeful this turns around quickly. For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Southern Living. Model and actress Leyna Bloom made history in 2021, when she landed the cover of the SI Swimsuit Issue. Her rookie year, she became the first transgender woman to land on the front of the magazine in its history. She worked with photographer Yu Tsai in Tampa, Fla., for the groundbreaking occasion. Bloom has returned to the fold each year since, and her work with the magazine has taken her to Belize and Dominica, where she reunited with Yu Tsai and worked with Amanda Pratt, respectively. In addition to her breathtaking collaborations with SI Swimsuit, the Chicago native has also worked with notable brands like LaQuan Smith, Hugo Boss, LOreal Paris and others. This is a huge opportunity, really on another level, Bloom said of her cover girl moment in 2021. Because I know its not just for me. Its for all my communitiesthe Black girls, the Asian girls, the LGBTQ+ communitythis is my moment, and Im so proud of myself for that. But its also our moment, and were going to take it and keep stepping into our power. While each of Blooms three SI Swimsuit features thus far have been incredible, we often find ourselves drawn back to her 2022 feature in Belize, due to the vibrant swimsuits that really popped against the backdrop of the verdant surroundings in Central America. Below are just a few of our favorite snapshots of the Port Authority star modeling bright and beautiful bikinis in Belize. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Leyna Bloom was photographed by Yu Tsai in Belize. Swimsuit by Monday Swimwear. Necklaces by Cleopatras Bling. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Leyna Bloom was photographed by Yu Tsai in Belize. Swimsuit by Tropic of C. Earrings by H&M (Necklace is hers). Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Leyna Bloom was photographed by Yu Tsai in Belize. Swimsuit by Frankies Bikinis. Earrings by 8 Other Reasons. Necklace by Cleopatras Bling. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Leyna Bloom was photographed by Yu Tsai in Belize.. Swimsuit by Cia.Maritima provided by Zuzu Swim. Earrings by Ottoman Hands. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Leyna Bloom was photographed by Yu Tsai in Belize. Swimsuit by Navy Ray. Dress by Celia B. Earrings by 8 Other Reasons. Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube! In a twist of irony, peoples symbolic vows of undying love are leading to deaths in our national parks. In a TikTok video posted by Conserve2preserve (@conserve2preserve_), Elijah, the account owner, calls out a popular yet problematic trend among tourists thats endangering the wildlife that call the parks home. In this video, they specifically talk about Grand Canyon National Park, though the problem is much more widespread. As the PSA starts, Elijah talks over a picture of a park ranger holding up several padlocks and a pair of bolt cutters. They explain that people put the locks on fences in the park as a sign of love, throwing the keys into the canyon to symbolize that the bond of love is forever and cant be undone. These are California condors, Elijah goes on to explain over a picture of the majestic bird, and they are very, very curious birds, and the way they investigate things that are unusual is with their mouths. The birds see shiny metal things such as the discarded keys or gum wrappers and coins and investigate them, which, Elijah says, eventually leads to them swallowing it because they really dont know any better. The statement is followed by an X-ray of a condor that had swallowed some coins. The California condor is critically endangered and, as Elijah said, doesnt know any better. We do know better, however, so it is up to us to do better. Animals worldwide such as the parks birds, this bear in Colorado, and this whale in Hawaii are dying from ingesting humans trash. Enjoying the parks is a privilege, and interactions with the natural world and wildlife should lead to a desire to protect it, not pollute and imperil it. With parks such as Grand Canyon National Park making changes like adding electric car chargers, more people wishing to travel consciously may visit than ever. Witnessing careless acts such as littering or approaching animals inhibits others from forging the connection with nature they came to have. The videos comment section was flooded with disdain for the troubling padlock tradition. Ive never understood the whole lock thing anyway, one viewer said. Such a simple thing moral of the story stop throwing things away in nature, another stated. A third summed it up with words that could have come from the condors themselves, stating simply, Im so tired of humans. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. If youre the adult child in this scenario, it may be important to ask yourself: Why do you want your parents to retire? Americans are working until later and later in life. Thats in part because of longer life spans, and in part because many older adults are behind in retirement savings and have to stick it out. (According to one 2022 survey, 71% of baby boomers say they feel behind on saving for retirement.) As a result, the workforce is becoming older than ever. As The Washington Post reported in July, people under age 40 made up more than 60% of the workforce in 1984. Today, that number has fallen to 45%. Over that same period, workers over 60 have become twice as common. Its not just money concerns that keep baby boomers the generation born between 1946 and 1964 working. There are plenty of older adults who want to keep clocking in because their sense of worth and community is tied to their work. As the Boston College Center for Retirement Research summed it up in 2016, people need more than financial security to make the leap to retirement. Still, working into your 60s, 70s or even 80s doesnt exactly match everyones idea of the golden years. If youre an adult child of someone whos nearing retirement but still working, its natural to want them to let go a little and finally enjoy everything theyve worked for. In various Reddit communities, theres no shortage of millennials asking How do I retire my parents? or discussing what it was like to have the talk about retirement with a parent. But could it come across as an overstep, or a tad condescending, to have that talk? Is asking Have you thought about retiring soon? a bit helicopter child of you? (Helicopter parents are so named because they hover over their childrens every move and decision. Naturally, the inverse of the type a helicopter adult child exists, too.) Experts we spoke to were divided on the subject. Brent Bernard, a clinical counselor and the owner of Keep Moving Forward Counseling and Consulting in Dayton, Ohio, thinks that if handled sensitively and empathetically family conversations about retirement timing can be a good thing. As hes seen with his own clients, the talk can help defuse any stress that the parent or the child may be bottling up. Having these frank and honest conversations about this with your loved one may help manage any stigmas or concerns about being a burden to adult children, he said. It may help shift the focus of worry to a more productive problem-solving perspective. Still, your parents retirement ultimately isnt your decision to make, which means the goal should be to listen, not persuade, Bernard said. Youre a collaborator or an adviser in this, not the one calling the shots. If your parent doesnt feel heard in their worries and concerns, and think that your agenda is being forced upon them, theyre likely to become defensive and more entrenched in their position rather than hearing a concerned family members thoughts that retirement may be in their best interest, he said. This is a sensitive topic because it shifts the power dynamic in a typical parent-child relationship. If youre the still-working parent, its easy to get defensive when youre put in a situation where it feels like your decision-making skills are being questioned, or like your sense of agency is slipping out of your hands. Given how emotionally loaded the subject is, adult children would be wise to ask themselves Why do I want my parents to retire? before jumping in, said Celia Roberts Hughes, a financial therapist based in Nashville, Tennessee. Are you concerned about their safety or ability to maintain their integrity in their careers? Or is it possible that youre projecting your own feelings onto them? she said. Is it possible that retiring is something that you look forward to, and so you cant understand why they arent moving forward? Does their retirement benefit you in some way, perhaps helping with their grandchildren more? And while you may think youre doing them a favor if you plan to volunteer to help them out financially, many parents are loath to be dependent on their children. What feels like a gift to you may not feel that way to them, Roberts Hughes said. Keep the focus on serving them and partnering with them, not saving them, she said. Keep the focus on serving [your parents] and partnering with them, not saving them, said financial therapist Celia Roberts Hughes. Oliver Rossi via Getty Images Boomers who are putting off retirement despite being financially secure may want to ask themselves some questions too, Roberts Hughes said. For boomers faced with this decision, its OK if retirement isnt what you want right now, but Id ask why? she said. How does your work serve you? What needs are being met? (If youre pondering questions like this, or are otherwise retirement-shy, Roberts Hughes said she highly recommends Barbara Paganos book The 60-Something Crisis: How to Live an Extraordinary Life in Retirement.) Other people think conversations of this nature are best avoided or that at least, adult children shouldnt be the ones to broach them. Its generally not appropriate because, one, it should be the older adults decision, and two, the idea that at a certain point youre supposed to stop working is inherently a bit ageist, said Dr. Leslie Kernisan, a geriatrician and the author of When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A Geriatricians Step-by-Step Guide to Memory Loss, Resistance, Safety Worries, and More. Kernisan pointed out that some research suggests its actually healthy and stabilizing for older adults to continue work if they still can. And its good financially, of course, she said, noting that many boomers are not financially stable enough actually for retirement, and it keeps them engaged and purposeful. Kernisan brought up one exception where this conversation might be appropriate: If your parent is slipping cognitively, you may want to talk. Kernisan knows of a family whos in this very situation right now. The mom, who I think is 72, has been working as a bookkeeper for a small business for 10 years, and shes starting to make a lot of mistakes, she said. The owner of the business is concerned, and its awkward for them. They would love for the employee to decide to retire because they dont like the idea of having to point out the mistakes that the older woman is making. Boomers were raised in a social and cultural context where they were expected to commit to their career for the duration of their professional lifespan, said Erin Mason, a psychotherapist in Los Angeles who specializes in life transitions. MoMo Productions via Getty Images Understand where the reluctance to retire is coming from If youre the child here, give some thought to why asking your parents to retire might be such a tall order, regardless of their financial circumstances. Boomers were raised in a social and cultural context where they were expected to commit to their career for the duration of their professional lifespan, said Erin Mason, a psychotherapist in Los Angeles who specializes in life transitions. As Gallup noted in a 2014 study of potential retirees, boomers notoriously hard-charging work ethic and drive to get ahead can make it difficult to envision downshifting into the slower pace of retired life. It can feel inconceivable to let go of something in which youve invested immense effort, emotion and energy, Mason said. Women in particular have had to exhibit relentless work ethic, fierce determination, and personal sacrifice to forge a professional path for themselves. Differentiating yourself from your career after a lifetime of work can be a huge challenge, she said. Your professional identity becomes inextricably intertwined with who and how you see yourself and your self-perceived value, Mason said. A successful career often provides people with the confidence that they belong in the world. Fulfilled by a sense of productivity and participation, they feel theyre able to contribute to society. They are relevant. Your parents work might connect them not only to their sense of purpose, but also to other people and supportive social relationships are integral to healthy aging, Mason said. Some research suggests its actually healthy and stabilizing for older adults to work if they can. FG Trade via Getty Images A few tips if you do have some version of the talk While it might not be your place to push retirement on your parents, it could be appropriate for you to remind them of the social connections they still have or can still cultivate, Roberts Hughes said. And if theyre afraid that they wont feel like they have a purpose, you can talk through some ways that they can continue to live a purposeful life, like through hobbies and volunteering, she said. If you do move forward with any form of retirement conversation, its important to start with connection and humanity. As an adult child, it is easy to forget that our parents are autonomous people living independent lives, and telling them what to do is likely going to backfire and create tension in the relationship, Roberts Hughes said. She offered some questions that you might want to lead off with: What do you love about working? What does it feel like when you think about retirement? Is there any part of retirement that feels scary or boring or unattractive to you? What do you love to do other than work? Ask open questions and be prepared to get to know them better, Roberts Hughes said. Maybe there are approaches theyve overlooked that you could suggest, like downshifting, where you ease up on your hours on the job or take on less work or fewer projects. (That said, downshifting is considerably easier to do when youre your own boss if your parent is not self-employed, they might want to read up on how to submit a downshifting proposal for their employer that could lead to a workable plan beneficial for both parties.) However the conversation goes, remember: Our parents are entitled to agency over their lives and choices, even when we dont consider those choices the wisest, said Marc Shulman, a psychologist and the founder and director of Long Island Psychology. We can be honest with our parents, and show love, support and acceptance even when theyre making choices we dont understand or believe to be in their best interest, he said. If youre an older adult on the receiving end of this conversation, its OK to be forthcoming and clear about boundaries, Shulman said. When you communicate clearly what role youd like your children to play inthe next phase of your life, along with being open about what youre willing to share and clear about what is off the table, it makes difficult conversations productive and facilitative, he said. Remember that your children love you and have your best interests at heart, he said. Perhaps youll decide that partnering with your children to support you emotionally and practically in transitioning through retirement and the next stage of life might actually help you actualize your hopes and wishes for your twilight years, he said. Its up to you. This post originally appeared on HuffPost. The Israeli military signaled that it has wrapped up major combat in northern Gaza, saying it has completed dismantling Hamas military infrastructure there, as the war against the fighter group entered its fourth month Sunday. The military did not address troop deployments in northern Gaza going forward. Its spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said late Saturday that forces would continue to deepen the achievement there, strengthen defenses along the Israel-Gaza border fence and focus on the central and southern parts of the territory. The announcement came ahead of a visit to Israel by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who on Sunday was in Qatar, a key mediator. Biden administration officials have urged Israel to wind down its blistering air and ground offensive in Gaza and shift to more targeted attacks against Hamas leaders to prevent harm to Palestinian civilians. In recent weeks, Israel had been scaling back its military assault in northern Gaza and pressing its offensive in the south, where most of Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians are squeezed into smaller areas in a humanitarian disaster while being pounded by Israeli airstrikes. The war was triggered by Hamas Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel in which the fighters killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 250 people hostage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again insisted the war will not end until the objectives of eliminating Hamas, getting Israels hostages returned and ensuring that Gaza wont be a threat to Israel are met. This is our responsibility and this is the obligation of all of us, he told his Cabinet. Israels retaliation has killed more than 22,800 Palestinians and wounded more than 58,000, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The count of the dead does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Health officials say about two-thirds of those killed have been women and minors. Israel blames Hamas for the civilian casualties because the group operates in heavily populated residential areas. On Sunday, officials at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies of 18 people, including 12 children, who were killed in an Israeli strike late Saturday. More than 50 people were injured in the strike on a home in the Khan Younis refugee camp, which was set up decades ago to house refugees from the 1948 Mideast war over Israels creation. An airstrike near the southern city of Rafah killed two journalists on Sunday, including Hamza Dahdouh, the oldest son of Wael Dahdouh, Al Jazeeras well-known chief correspondent in Gaza, the Arabic channel and local medical officials said. Al Jazeera broadcast footage of Dahdouh, weeping and holding his sons hand, before walking away in a daze. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Al Jazeera strongly condemned the killings and other brutal attacks against journalists and their families by Israeli forces, and urged the International Criminal Court, governments and human rights groups to hold Israel accountable. Dahdouh previously lost his wife, two children and a grandchild in an Oct. 26 airstrike, and himself was wounded in an Israeli strike last month that killed a co-worker. Another airstrike hit a house between Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, killing at least seven people whose bodies were taken to the nearby European Hospital, according to an Associated Press journalist at the facility. Everything happening here is outside the realms of law, outside the realms of reason. Our brains cant fully comprehend all this that is happening to us, said a grieving relative, Inas Abu al-Najja, her wavering voice rising. Men worked the rubble with picks and bare hands. Israeli forces pushed deeper into the central city of Deir al-Balah, where on Saturday residents in several neighborhoods were warned in flyers dropped over the city that they must evacuate. The international medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by the acronym MSF, said it was evacuating its medical staff and their families from Deir al-Balahs Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. A bullet penetrated a wall of the hospitals intensive care unit on Friday, and drone attacks and sniper fire were just a few hundred meters from the hospital over the past couple of days, said Carolina Lopez, the groups emergency coordinator at the hospital. She said the hospital received between 150 and 200 injured people daily in recent weeks. The head of the hospital, hosting a U.N. delegation, warned that today, we are on the verge of a true catastrophe. Without health care, residents will be left in the streets to meet their death, Dr. Iyad Abu Zaher said. Hagari, the military spokesman, said scattered fighting in northern Gaza was to be expected, along with rockets sporadically being launched from there toward Israel. He said Hamas fighters without a framework and without commanders are still present. The military has said it has killed more than 8,000 Hamas fighters, without presenting evidence. Hagari said Israeli forces would act differently in the south than they had in northern Gaza, where heavy bombardment and ground combat leveled entire neighborhoods. He said urban refugee camps being targeted by the military are packed with gunmen and that an underground city of sprawling tunnels was discovered underneath Khan Younis. Echoing Israeli political leaders, he said the fighting will continue throughout 2024. In addition to U.S. appeals for scaling back high-intensity combat, Blinken on his fourth Mideast trip in three months has called for more aid to reach Gaza and urged Israels leaders to come up with a post-war vision for the besieged territory. Two U.S. senators who inspected aid deliveries over the weekend described a slow and cumbersome process largely due to Israeli inspections of cargo trucks, with seemingly arbitrary rejections of vital humanitarian equipment. Meanwhile, the Biden administration and Netanyahu remain far apart on who should run the territory after the war, with the Israeli leader rejecting the Washington-floated idea of having a reformed Palestinian Authority, an autonomy government in parts of the occupied West Bank, eventually administer Gaza. A new escalation of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah has complicated the U.S. push to prevent a regional conflagration. Hezbollah described Saturdays rockets as an initial response to the targeted killing of a top Hamas leader in a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut last week. The strike was presumed to have been carried out by Israel. Do humans ever learn from the past? When all the witnesses have died or dispersed, it can seem dreamlike, almost unreal. Even the last centurys greatest horror isnt immune to this phenomenon. To that extent, its good that Jozsef Debreczenis Cold Crematorium, published in Hungarian in 1950, is only now published in English: in the timeliest possible way, it succeeds in restoring the Holocausts reality. Debreczeni, Hungarian-speaking and Jewish, was deported from Serbia to the land of Auschwitz (as he puts it in the books subtitle) in May 1944. He was not long in the main camp and spent the next 14 months in three sub-camps of Gross-Rosen, Eule, Furstenstein and Dornhau, in the last of which he ended up in the cold crematorium of the title, the hospital where prisoners too weak to work awaited execution. As a journalist and poet, his testimony is unusual. Primo Levi noticed that in survivors writings, words such as indescribable or inexpressible are often used: language was not made for its implacable and reductively savage world. But in Paul Olchvarys vivid translation, Debreczeni writes with a cinematic clarity: a sort of resistance in itself, a determination to make detail triumph over mass dehumanisation. Identity is first to go. How will I prove that I am I? he asks, as clothes and documents are confiscated. But he keeps his self alive by recognising others and his relationships with them: Bela Maurer, a lawyer and editor from Novi Sad; Balint, another reporter from Bratislava; Farkas, a Budapest doctor who will help save him from typhus; Sanyi Roth, a notorious thief and room elder with whom he strikes up a friendship by listening to his stories of robberies. Camp life is minutely catalogued: starvation, dysentery, pneumonia, hunger edema, the barter market that accelerates our rapid deterioration non-smokers are often able to swap for themselves five or six lives worth of bread. Body lice are a lethal torment, palm-size encampments of glittering larvae [taking] shape in our rags and blankets. Like the turbulent images in a nightmare, these silvery splotches begin to stir, then squirm, and then frightfully, inextinguishably, disperse. Our nights of half-sleep end, like that. Those hours allotted to rest now pass with curses and tormented scratching. A picture taken at Auschwitz just after the liberation by the Soviet army in January, 1945 - AP Photo/CAF pap, file Later the lice become the main transmitter of typhus, introduced deliberately into the Dornhau camp by the Germans importing infected prisoners to eliminate camp populations without the accusation of mass murder in the last months of the war. In Debreczenis narrative, lice metaphorically stand in for the Nazis, whom he keeps in the background. The prisoners daily world is that of the kapos, the slightly superior prisoners who, for extra rations, terrorised their Haftlinge (prisoners). The appearance of a rare SS officer one day is all the more shocking. Who is the best worker? he asks. 46514, the kapo answers. A young, sunburnt former woodcutter from the Carpathians jumps to attention. The SS man reaches lazily for his holster, pulls out the revolver, and presses the barrel to 46514s temple. A shot rings out. The man, whod been standing straight as a flagpole, teeters before crashing face down into the pit A little demonstration, he says. An example of how even the best Jew must croak. As Nazis and kapos flee and Soviet soldiers arrive, Debreczeni, part recovered from typhus, is caught between desire for revenge and nostalgia. Clenching my teeth, I try again to walk. I think with envy of Farkas and Brull, and yet I miss them. I miss the other faces, too. I miss everyone I ever spoke to. No longer do I know anyone here; new people Ive never seen before are gesticulating all around me. Revenge by other prisoners is mentioned: accounts settled with brutal kapos by hunting them down as they escape. He notes too the poetic justice of some tormentors fleeing the camp, only to die from typhus days or weeks later. But his personal redress is that of the writer, leaving to us this superbly human, harsh and uncompromising story of his survival. In the face of contemporary atrocities, such as Russias in Ukraine or Hamass in Israel, it surely teaches us what we need to learn to prevent them. Cold Crematorium, trans Paul Olchvary, is published by Jonathan Cape at 16.99. To order your copy for 14.99, call 0844 871 1514 or visit Telegraph Books Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. This story is from an installment of The Oeno Files, our weekly insider newsletter to the world of fine wine. Sign up here. Last summer, in a meeting in Eastern Washington, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE), delivered some devastating news to the grape growers in attendance. The states largest winery told the vineyards it would purchase 40 percent less fruit from them over the next five years. That massive reduction came on the heels of SMWE announcing layoffs earlier in the year; just last month it revealed yet another round of job cuts. SMWE has long been a driver behind Washington wine, so its cascade of bad news cast a pall over the states entire industry in 2023. Words like crisis have been thrown around, while others argued Washington wine needed to be saved. More from Robb Report Sean P. Sullivan, the publisher of Northwest Wine Report, summarized the situation well in an article written in early December, just after the second round of layoffs was announced. As Sullivan so succinctly states, Washington is very much a tale of two industries. SMWE produces seven million cases of wine per yearalmost half of the states entire outputwhile 90 percent of Washington wineries make fewer than 5,000 cases per year. So although theres been a lot of doom and gloom in the air, in our eyes, much of the hand wringing is akin to a large fast-food chain announcing it will be closing eateries immediately followed by news outlets forecasting the end of fine dining. While it seems that a major producer cutting its orders on fruit by 40 percent is a bad thing, not everyone sees it that way. Sullivan thinks it could be very beneficial for Washington. He tells us, It gives growers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to evaluate what they have planted, where they have it planted, what is working, what is not, and what they might do differently. That will lead to taking out varieties or vines in some areas as well as planting or replanting in others. And as Scott Lloyd, general manager of Quilceda Creek Winerywhich grows its own grapes in estate vineyards and does not buy any fruit from outside growerssays, For other wineries, there will be a renewed opportunity to have access to vineyards they have not had before to make fantastic wine at a great value. Demand for Quilceda Creek remains strong. If you are not already familiar with Washington State wine, you are missing out. One of the challenges the industry faces is a lack of identity, because more than 80 different grape varieties are grown there, so its hard to pin a label on it. As much as wine lovers enjoy extolling the freedom of working with whatever grapes fit the terrain in New World winemaking, consumers and the trade still like easy markers. Napa equals Cabernet Sauvignon. Burgundy equals Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Washington State equals Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Riesling, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and any grape you can think of. The second largest wine-producing state in the country, Washington has been making fermented grape juice since the 1860s. If you think the producers are keeping it all to themselves, think again: In 2022 and the first half of 2023, 72 percent of the states wine was shipped out of state. Many of the best wineries have strong direct-to-consumer programs, so you can order bottles straight from the source. Quilceda Creek is one such winery. The demand is so strong for its Cabernet Sauvignon that there is currently a waiting list. The winery owns and farms all its vineyards in the Columbia Valley and Red Mountain AVAs. Given this independence and relative isolation, we are not really affected by these changes at Ste. Michelle, Lloyd points out. This makes a lot of sense considering the price differential. If you can get hold of a bottle of Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, it will run you $200, while a bottle of Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Cab Sauv sells for $17. Coupled by a very loyal membership list who are eager to attain high quality wine and the consistent 100-point scores weve received from critics for our Cabernets, the future looks bright at Quilceda Creek, Lloyd continues. We also spoke with Jesus Martinez Bujanda Mora, CEO of Valdemar Family, who is the fifth generation of his family to make wine and the first to do so in Washington State, at their Valdemar Estates winery in Walla Walla. He believes at the low end of the spectrum there will be brutal competition because of a glut of grapes in the market, while at the higher end he thinks there will be increased demand. Washington is producing consistently world-class wines, and most of the world still doesnt know about it, he says. Therefore, I think the potential for growth and our quality proposition clearly will offset any negative impact that could come from this situation. Former star NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe has spent his post-playing career deeply involved in the Washington wine scene with Doubleback. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, Valdemar Family also produces Syrah, which could wind up being one of the varieties that gets Washington discovered by a wider range of wine lovers. Syrah and Syrah-based blends from Washington are so special, Sullivan tells us. Quality can be outrageously high, and theres great diversity. Styles range from light and earthy to full-bodied and rich. The wines can also be extremely well-priced for their level of quality. Its a dream for consumers. Everyone we spoke with offered a positive outlook for Washington wine. Although were clearly in a period of transition, we remain optimistic about the future, Kristina Kelley, executive director of the Washington State Wine Commission, says. That transition echoes the one facing the industry as a whole, with sales falling the last few years as younger drinkers look to different beverages or abstain from alcohol entirely. Thats taking a toll on the likes of SMWE that specialize in wines on the lower end of the price spectrum. But theres still a market for premium offerings, which Washington has plenty of. So we will carry on covering some of the shining stars to guide our readers toward the best wines the state has to offer. Look for bottles from LEcole No 41, Sparkman Cellars, DeLille Cellars, Figgins, Leonetti, Doubleback, and even the high-end bottlings from the winery that started this conversation, Chateau Ste. Michelle. Want more exclusive wine stories delivered to your inbox every Wednesday? Subscribe to our wine newsletter The Oeno Files today! Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Your flight has been canceled. This is a text no one wants to receive as they finish smooshing sweaters, mittens and boots into their suitcase in the hours before heading to Chicagos OHare International Airport. But thats what I got, so I quickly reached out to my cousin, Debbie, whom I was traveling with to Germany. The plan was to fly out of Chicago at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 3, then have her daughter, Laura, and Lauras husband, Connor, pick us up at the Munich airport at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 4 (flying east and gaining seven hours). But a once-in-a-century snowstorm dumped 18 inches of snow on Munich and shut the city down over the weekend. German airline Lufthansa sent us and hundreds of others heading across the pond to the Frankfurt airport instead. They promised a connecting flight to Munich, but we left the runway at around midnight without anything confirmed. There definitely are angels among us. With no direction about a connecting flight as we exited the plane, Debbie and I headed for the nearest Lufthansa help desk. It was darkened without a soul in sight. Luckily, some travelers from Chicago who frequently visit relatives in Germany took us under their wing, leading us to an active help desk. We waited nearly three hours to change our connecting flight to a train pass for Nuremberg. And when we went to find our suitcases, mine was lost an apparently common occurrence in Europe. After a two-hour train ride in winter darkness, Connor picked us up for an hourlong drive to their home in Grafenwohr. Grafenwohr is in eastern Bavaria and is home to a U.S. Army Training Area, where Connor is stationed. They live just off the base, in a cozy townhouse near the small citys center. Debbie and I visited the base the day after arriving, and the wet snow hanging from tall pines was magical. The base is basically a town, with a gas station, post office and lots of housing. About 3,000 are stationed there. Later, taking a walk in Lauras neighborhood, I was struck by the narrow, winding and slightly hilly roads. Buildings are made of cement, with pitched roofs and most painted in pastel colors. A cobblestone street and buildings in the city of Weiden, Germany, in December 2023 We visited the grocery store, where I was surprised at the reasonable prices. I bought pastries for breakfast, soda, fruit, toothpaste and a toothbrush, deodorant (remember my missing luggage?) for a whopping $12 euros. Thats the equivalent of about $11 in the U.S. But Laura reminded us to bring reusable sacks. Store clerks in Germany do not ask you if you prefer paper or plastic they expect you to bring your own. And dont expect a smile or small talk from the cashier or the folks behind you in line. People in Germany were never rude, but businesslike and not interested in sharing unnecessary words with visitors. Connor says German people tend to be rule-followers reserved and content with their lives rarely exhibiting emotions. No bear hugs from these folks, but at least they are polite. Most spoke enough English to communicate with us. Crowds surround a giant polar bear during a busy time at the Dresden, Germany, Christmas market in December 2023. In addition to spending time with Laura and her family, Debbie and I were excited to visit Christmas markets during our stay. Before this trip, I had no idea there were so MANY markets, not only in Germany, but throughout Europe. It would be impossible to see them all in one visit. Fortunately, my suitcase arrived on Wednesday, so I could wear my warm boots to the markets. We visited several markets, but my favorite was in Dresden, about a two-hour drive from Grafenwohr. Most markets are held in the old city centers of cities, where the centuries-old buildings still stand, as well as the cobblestoned town squares. Dresden is one of the oldest and largest market. The architecture in Dresden is amazing, and many of the buildings are blackened from bombing during World War II. Markets are set up with small, usually wooden booths, with vendors selling food, drinks and a variety of items to buy, such as ornaments, knitted hats, paper stars, candy and gingerbread cookies. A highlight of many markets is the gluhwein, or mulled wine, which is served warm in specialty mugs. You pay around 10 euros for the drink, and then can either keep the mug or return it for a 5-euro deposit. Many people collect them from the various markets, and I brought home a few myself! The warm eierpunsch, or German spiked egg punch (similar to eggnog), was also delish. At night, everything is lit up, and many markets have ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds. Nighttime at the Dresden Christmas market in Germany in December 2023 Our Airbnb for the night was a quaint little place in the country. The owner was a woman we guessed was from Russia, who wanted to charge more because my cousin had left a nightlight on during the night. She claimed that cost her more! That didnt fly with Connor. We went back to see the market the next day, and it looked so different! There were several cruise ships in the river, and a ton of tourists walking around. Patti Zarling and her cousin prost with cups of eggnog at the Nuremberg Christmas market in Germany in December 2023 Sunday night, Laura and Connor took us to a small country market. It had a medieval theme and was less Christmassy, but equally pretty. This one was built around an old castle, with beverages and food served within the castles courtyard. We also toured the Flossenburg Nazi Concentration Camp. One thing I really wanted to experience while in Germany was a concentration camp, and this smaller memorial is about a 40-minute drive from Grafenwohr. Patti Zarling and her cousin toured the Flossenberg, Germany, Nazi Concentration Camp in December 2023. Flossenburg mostly housed political prisoners who worked in the granite mines, hauling heavy rocks to be used for the giant colosseum Adolf Hitler had planned for Nuremberg. It didnt matter that the inmates were wearing skimpy clothing and shoes in the cold or carrying granite uphill with malnourished bodies. If they struggled or became sick, prisoners were put before a firing squad. Many prisoners were forced to march from larger camps in northern Germany and Poland near the end of the war, when the Nazis were evacuating places like Auschwitz. The entrance to the Flossenberg Concentration Camp in Germany 2023 More than 30,000 people died or were killed in this small camp, which didnt have gas chambers but did have a crematorium. Pretty humbling to see the pyramid of ashes near the crematorium and walk through the building where prisoners were sent when they first arrived to have their heads shaved, shower and exchange their clothing for striped prison suits. Somber, but interesting to see the letters they wrote, and crude utensils or cups they fashioned with tin they found. Later, townspeople claimed they didnt know what was going on at the camp. Most of its buildings were torn down, and for decades no one discussed what had happened. Businesses moved into the space until the state bought the land in the mid-1990s and created the memorial. I was struck by the rows of houses where residents essentially have a death camp in their back yards. Staying in a lighthouse: Whats it like to spend a week in a historic Door County island lighthouse? Reporter shares her experience. Too soon, it was time for us to head back to Wisconsin. Debbie and I took a train from nearby Regensburg to the Munich airport for around $20 each. The train made many stops along the way, with people hopping on and off. Wish we had this in the States. An arch in the city of Weiden, Germany, in December 2023. Theres not much of a car culture in Germany, where gas costs the equivalent of $9 a gallon. Im amazed at how much Americans take our cars, our big homes and yards all the wide-open space for granted. We did drive through areas of the countryside in Germany, but towns themselves are tightly packed together. Patti Zarling enjoying a cup of gluhwein at a German Christmas market in December 2023 After most vacations, I think about what Id like to see when I go back! In my dream world, I think I would make a city such as Munich or even Prague, in the Czech Republic, a home base and take trains to visit Christmas markets throughout that part of Europe. Id also travel farther south to see mountains. Now, its time to print pictures, work on a scrapbook and smile at all the good memories. Contact reporter Patti Zarling at pzarling@gannett.com or 920-606-2575. Follow her on Twitter @PGPattiZarling or on Instagram @PGPatti. This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Wisconsin reporter travels to Germany to see Christmas markets DOHA, Qatar On another urgent diplomatic mission to the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Sunday with Arab partners to press for their help in tamping down resurgent fears that Israels three-month war against Hamas in Gaza could spread. In discussions with Qatars emir and Jordans king, Blinken spoke of the need for Israel to adjust its military operations to reduce civilian casualties and significantly boost the amount of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, while stressing the importance of preparing detailed plans for the post-conflict future of the Palestinian territory, which has been decimated by Israeli bombardments. The mission that will also take him to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank and Egypt before he returns to Washington is Blinkens fourth to the region since the war began. After a day of talks with Turkish and Greek leaders in Istanbul and Crete, Blinken met with Jordans King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman before traveling to Doha for talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to seek buy-in for U.S. efforts to tamp down resurgent fears that the war could engulf the region, ramp up aid to Gaza and prepare for an eventual end of hostilities. This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and even more suffering, Blinken told reporters during a joint news conference with Sheikh Mohammed. So from day one, among other priorities, we have been intensely focused on working to prevent the conflict from spreading. Blinken said it is has been a major focus of his discussion with all of the leaders he has met with in recent days. We share a commitment to ensure that the conflict does not expand, he said. He said they also have discussed what each country can do once the conflict is over to provide the assurances and the incentives required to build a more secure and more stable, more peaceful future for the region. And my takeaway from the discussion so far, including here with our friends in Qatar, is that our partners are willing to have these difficult conversations and to make hard decisions. All of us feel a stake in forging the way forward. Jordan and other Arab states have been highly critical of Israels actions and have eschewed public support for long-term planning, arguing that the fighting must end before such discussions can begin. They have been demanding a cease-fire since mid-October as civilian casualties began to skyrocket. After his talks with Blinken, Sheikh Mohammed called for an immediate cease-fire, saying the constant images of death and destruction in Gaza are de-sensitizing people to the horrors of what is happening. This is a big test for our humanity, he said. We are looking for a sustainable future, however the focus is now on stopping the fighting. King Abdullah warned of the catastrophic repercussions of the war in Gaza while calling on the U.S. to press for an immediate cease-fire, a statement from the Royal Court said. Israel has refused to agree to a cease-fire and the U.S. has instead called for specified temporary humanitarian pauses to allow aid to get in and people to get to safety. In Amman, Blinken also toured the World Food Programs regional coordination warehouse, where trucks are being packed with aid to be delivered to Gaza through both the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings. He commended the work of the WFP and other U.N. agencies as well as the government of Jordan to get assistance into Gaza. The efforts right here to collect and distribute food to people in need are absolutely essential, Blinken said. The United States has worked from day one to open access routes into Gaza. We continue to work on that every single day, not only to open them but to multiply them, to maximize them and to try to get more assistance, more effectively, he said. Were determined to do everything we possibly can to ameliorate the situation for the men, women and children in Gaza. The U.S. has been pressing Israel for weeks to let greater amounts of food, water, fuel, medicine and other supplies into Gaza, and the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution on Dec. 22 calling for an immediate increase in deliveries. Three weeks ago, Israel opened Kerem Shalom, adding a second entry point for aid into Gaza after Rafah. Still, the rate of trucks entering has not risen significantly. This week, an average of around 120 trucks a day entered through Rafah and Kerem Shalom, according to U.N. figures, far below the 500 trucks of goods going in daily before the war and far below what aid groups say is needed. Almost the entire population of 2.3 million depends on the trucks coming across the border for their survival. One in four Palestinians in Gaza is starving, and the rest face crisis levels of hunger, according to the U.N. More than 85% of people in Gaza have been driven from their homes by Israeli bombardment and ground offensives. Most live in U.N. shelters crowded beyond their capacity, in tent camps that have been sprung up, or on the streets. In Greece on Saturday, Blinken said his trip would be dominated by not necessarily easy conversations with allies and partners about what they are willing to do to build durable peace and security. Blinkens visit comes as developments in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea and Iraq have put intense strains on what had been a modestly successful U.S. push to prevent a regional conflagration since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, and as international criticism of Israels military operation mounts. These are not necessarily easy conversations, he said in Greece. There are different perspectives, different needs, different requirements, but it is vital that we engage in this diplomacy now both for the sake of Gaza itself and more broadly the sake of the future for Israelis and Palestinians and for the region as a whole. He said his priorities are protecting civilians far too many Palestinians have been killed getting more humanitarian aid into Gaza, ensuring Hamas cannot strike again, and developing a framework for Palestinian-led governance in the territory and a Palestinian state with security assurances or Israel. Hours before Blinkens meetings on Saturday, Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah militia fired dozens of rockets at northern Israel and said the barrage was an initial response to the targeted killing, presumably by Israel, of a top leader from the allied Hamas group in Lebanons capital this past week. Israel responded in what became one of the heaviest days of cross-border fighting in recent weeks. Meanwhile, stepped-up attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels have disrupted international trade and led to increased efforts by the U.S. and its allies to patrol the vital commercial waterway and respond to threats. The coalition of countries issued what amounted to a final warning to the Houthis on Wednesday to cease their attacks on vessels or face potential targeted military action. Since Dec. 19, the militants have carried out at least two dozen attacks in response to the Israel-Hamas war. An Ohio law will was slated to go effect in January that requires children under the age of 16 to get parental consent to start an account on certain social media websites. A federal judge stopped it on Jan. 9, 2024. A state law intended to limit children's social media use by requiring parental permission was slated to go into effect next week but has been stopped by a judge. U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday to block the law from going into effect for now, after a group representing social media companies filed a federal lawsuit earlier this month. Ohio's Social Media Parental Notification Act was passed last year as part of the state's two-year budget and would have made it so parents have to allow children under the age of 16 to use certain social media sites a government oversight that goes further than some pending federal laws on the topic. It would apply to new accounts being created on gaming platforms, message boards and social media companies such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat and requires them to get verifiable parental permission for children under age 16 to create new accounts on the sites. Both Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Attorney General Dave Yost pushed for the act, with proponents saying it will help stem the youth mental health crisis after studies showed social media can harm mental health. But a trade group representing Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram), TikTok and other tech companies filed a federal lawsuit in early January claiming that the Ohio law is too broad and is in violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. NetChoice, the trade group, said families can decide themselves how they use social media and that tech companies already have protections for youth users. Similar policies in Arkansas and California were blocked by judges temporarily after similar suits were filed by NetChoice. Here's what Ohioans need to know about the law as it was set before being blocked: What is in Ohio's social media law? The law states that certain technology, social media and gaming companies must: Create a method to figure out if users are children under 16 Get parental or legal guardian consent to their terms of service before children under the age of 16 can use the platform and send the parent a copy of their consent in writing. Give parents their privacy guidelines so they know what will be censored or moderated on a child's profile. Deny access to the user if there is no consent given. Present parents with a list of censoring or content moderation features. Comply by Jan. 15, 2024 (though Marbley's ruling takes this deadline away for now) What is 'verifiable' parental consent? Husted's office detailed possible ways to verify that children are under 16 and have parental consent in an online posting about the act. His office suggested that companies can have parents give consent by: Signing a digital form Using a credit card, debit card or other online payment system Calling a toll-free telephone number Connecting to trained personnel via videoconference Offering a form of government-issued identification to be checked Why are lawmakers championing this? Husted and other proponents have pushed the law because they say tech companies are "targeting children." Husted said addictive social media algorithms negatively affect children's mental and physical health. Health officials, such as U. S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, have warned that social media can affect the mental health of children and teenagers, leading to double the risk of anxiety and depression. Cyberbullying and exposure to dangerous predators also put children at risk for mental and physical health concerns, according to the Cleveland Clinic. "This new law gives parents a greater say in if, how and when their children use these platforms," Husted said in a statement on the act. "We hope that more parents will either prohibit or limit the amount of interaction their children are having, amount of time their children are spending on their devices, on these apps, and put filters on it to make sure that it is limiting the age-level content if they really want their children to be seeing." Before being blocked by the temporary restraining order, Yost's office said it would enforce the law and if companies failed to get permission or deny the child an account without it, they would be subject to civil penalties and fines. Just like any other time, if you feel like youve been wronged by a company, we take those complaints and work to resolve any issues this is no different," Yost said in a prepared statement. If parents want to terminate their child's existing access, they should contact the website operator, which would have 30 days to comply with the request, according to Yost's office. If parents aren't successful, they would be able to file a complaint with Yost's office at OhioProtects.org. Is there federal social media legislation? There are multiple federal bills tackling safety on social media for children, two with bipartisan support and similar restrictions to Ohio's act. One is the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which was introduced in the U.S. Senate in May, passed by committee in August and progressed to the entire Senate in December, but was not brought up for a vote. If passed, the bill states that requirements for platforms would include site designs that prevent harm to minors; giving parents tools to supervise minors' use; allowing reporting of harm of minors; not advertising age-restricted products to minors; annually reporting risks of harm to minors using the platform. Another is the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act, which goes further than KOSA and is similar to Ohio's law. It was introduced in the Senate in April. If passed, the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act would require platforms to verify the age of account holders; limit access for children under 13; gain consent from parents or guardians of minors who are 13-years-old before accounts are created and allow the parents to take away their consent. The nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation has come out strongly against the bills and said the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act combines "some of the worst elements of various social media bills" into one law. "Ultimately, this legislation would lead to a second-class online experience for young people, mandated privacy-invasive age verification for all users, and in all likelihood, the creation of digital IDs for all U.S. citizens and residents," the nonprofit's website states. In an opinion piece in the Washington Post, the bill's sponsors U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.)explained why they introduced the act. The Protecting Kids on Social Media Act would not solve every problem of the digital age, but it would curb some of the worst abuses of social media companies that prioritize profit over our kids safety and well-being," the senators wrote. "Congress can no longer sit on the sidelines." What's next? The federal bills are making their way through the Senate. As for Ohio's law, the law was blocked from going into effect after United States District Court's Southern District of Ohio Judge Algenon L. Marbley issued a temporary restraining order on Jan. 9. The next hearing is set for Feb. 7. The case, NetChoice, LLC. v. Yost, was filed on Jan. 5, according to court records. NetChoice is excited to announce that Ohio's Parental Notification by Social Media Operators Act has been temporarily halted ahead of our hearing for a formal preliminary injunction against the law in NetChoice v. Yost on February 7, 2024. The written order will be issued by the NetChoice (@NetChoice) January 8, 2024 On Tuesday, NetChoice took to X, formerly Twitter, to say it was excited about the judge's decision. Meanwhile, Yost announced plans to challenge whether the group even had standing to file the suit and said he will defend the Ohio law. USA Today Network Ohio Bureau reporters Kayla Bennett, Jessie Balmert and Haley BeMiller contributed to this reporting. dking@dispatch.com @DanaeKing This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio law giving parents control of kids' social media is now on hold WASHINGTON Supporters of ex-President Donald Trump and his critics clashed Sunday over whether Trump's actions on Jan. 6, 2021 and his refusal for hours to speak out against the riot disqualify him from 2024 ballots. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said states and courts will decide whether Trump should be on the ballot. But Trump's actions surrounding Jan. 6 and his silence during the attack on the U.S. Capitol means he should never be president again. "What is very clear is that the American people want us to honor our oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States," Pelosi said on ABC's "This Week." Pelosi's comments come as legal fights are playing out across the country while advocates seek to disqualify Trump from seeking reelection under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Colorado's Supreme Court ruled last month that Trump was barred from another term and therefore banned from that states primary ballot by a Civil War-era provision in the 14th Amendment intended to keep federal officials who sided with the Confederacy from regaining power in the reconstructed federal government. Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who served as the vice chair of the House Committee that investigated the insurrection, on Sunday told CBS' "Face the Nation" she believes Trump "ought to be disqualified from holding office in the future" and that the case against the former president will work its way through the justice system. Meanwhile, Republican supporters of Trump in general downplayed Jan. 6 in a series of interviews on Sunday, preferring instead to bash Democrats over the lawsuits seeking to bar him from the ballot. Donald Trump in Iowa "What we're seeing so far is that Democrats are so desperate, they're trying to remove President Trump from the ballot," said Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., speaking on NBC's "Meet The Press." The Supreme Court said Friday it will take up an appeal of the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling that would block Trump's reelection bid in the state. Donald Trump didn't want to stop Jan. 6, report says The legal fight over Trump's candidacy and the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack have also generated more revelations about Trump's conduct that day, ahead of a federal trial charging with conspiracy to try to steal the 2020 election. ABC News reported that special counsel Jack Smith has statements from the former president's aides about Trump refusing to lend his voice to stopping the Capitol riot, though he watching it on TV in the White House. Dan Scavino, an aide in Trump's administration and on Trump's 2024 campaign team, told investigators that, as Jan. 6 riot unfolded, Trump "was just not interested" in doing more to help stop it, ABC reported. Another aide, Nick Luna, told investigators that Trump did not seem to care when he was told that then-Vice President Mike Pence the recipient of death threats from pro-Trump demonstrators had to be rushed to a secure location within the U.S. Capitol. "So what," Trump reportedly said, ABC reported. During an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union," Pence said Trump acted recklessly on Jan. 6. But while the former vice president said he hopes Republican voters pick another candidate, he also argued Trump should not be kicked off the ballot. "I believe that history and the American people will hold him ultimately to account for his role in that day," Pence said, adding that "these efforts to take the decision away from the American people are really antithetical to the very democracy that the President Biden and many Democrats talk about wanting to defend." Trump downplays Jan. 6 violence Trump continued to distort the violence on Jan. 6, 2021 during weekend campaign stops in Iowa. The former president falsely described imprisoned rioters as "hostages" and has said he would pardon rioters if he is reelected to the presidency. He also incorrectly described the riot as as "peaceful." Officials in Colorado and Maine cited the Capitol attack in ruling that Trump is ineligible for the presidency and therefore barred from ballot. Trump allies, saying the states are misapplying the Constitution for political reasons, are confident the Supreme Court will rule their way. During a Friday rally in Iowa, Trump did express some concern that some of conservative justices are facing "pressure" and might rule against him. All I want is fair," Trump said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jan. 6: Trump, Biden allies clash over push to bar former president Birthdays in the British royal family are always major occasions, but Kate Middleton might receive a very special gift for her upcoming birthday. The Princess of Wales turns 42 years old this Tuesday. While were certain shell commemorate the occasion surrounded by family and friends, a new report suggests Kate might get a major promotion within the Firm. Kate could receive a new appointment courtesy of her father-in-law, King Charles III. According to a report from The Daily Express via Marie Claire, the Princess of Wales might have a new title on the way: Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter. Sounds pretty grand, doesnt it? Well, according to the report, theres a long history behind this title. More from SheKnows Kate Middleton takes fashion inspiration from Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, the incoming queen consort. https://t.co/8lrFDnjZvy SheKnows (@SheKnows) January 3, 2024 The appointment is among the oldest in the British monarchy, signifying a certain level of seniority as part of the Order of Chivalry in Britain, per the outlet. Its inception can be traced back roughly 700 years to the time of King Edward III, the outlet reports. If the Princess of Wales is named a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter, it would cement her seniority in the Firm and is personally chosen by the monarch, an insider shares with The Daily Express. Based on previous reports and what weve seen over the course of more than a decade, Kate has become an integral part of the royal family. Since she married Prince William back in 2011, Kate has wholly come into her own, taking on new responsibilities and adding a number of royal engagements to her calendar over the years. While shes been hard at work for the royal family, shes also been raising her three children alongside Prince William. We wouldnt be at all surprised if the Princess of Wales received this symbolic gift from King Charles. The pair are reportedly quite close, and this appointment would signify the importance of Kates place in the royal family. Regardless, were eager to see what this year holds for her. Before you go, click here to see more of Kate Middletons best royal fashion moments. Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Nearly 70 million people across the Gulf Coast and Southeast are at risk for severe weather, including tornadoes, damaging wind and flooding rain on Monday and Tuesday, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Days after the seasons first big winter storm, another storm is on the move and is expected to bring heavy snow, blizzard conditions, strong winds, potential tornadoes and serious flooding as it carves a path from the Southwest to the Northeast through midweek. There is now a Level 3 of 5 enhanced risk Monday for cities like New Orleans, Louisiana, Gulfport, Mississippi and Mobile, Alabama, as storms sweep across the area in the afternoon and overnight. Tornadoes are especially likely in this area. Additionally, there is also a Level 3 of 4 moderate risk of excessive rainfall with 3 to 5 inches expected, which could lead to flooding. On Tuesday, the same system moves further east, where there is an enhanced risk of severe weather for cities like Tallahassee, Florida, Albany, Georgia, and Panama City, Florida in the early morning and continuing into the afternoon. The coming disruptive weather arrives just a day after a winter storm dumped more than a foot of snow on the Northeast and brought rain, snow, ice and even a tornado as it tracked from the Gulf Coast to Maine. The latest system is expected to rapidly strengthen into an exceptionally powerful January storm and cause widespread, significant effects east of the Rockies beginning Monday. Although it will be a fast-moving system, traversing over 1,800 miles in 72 hours, it will still produce notable snowfall across more than a half a dozen states. Widespread snowfall accumulations of at least 6 inches are expected from northern New Mexico to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Heavy snow and strong winds will create blizzard conditions Sunday as the storm exits Arizona and heads to the Texas and Oklahoma panhandle region Sunday night. Blizzard warnings were already hoisted in Colorado and New Mexico early Sunday morning. One forecast model's projected snowfall from the next storm as of Sunday morning. These totals could change or shift based on the storm's final track. - CNN Weather Poor visibility and difficult-to-near-impossible driving conditions will set in for the Southwest on Sunday, the central and southern Plains on Monday and the Midwest on Tuesday. Strong winds will also bring wind chill values below zero degrees for some locations in the Plains. Snow and cold temperatures will not be the only concerns as the storm surges northeast, intensifies and expands its reach to much of the eastern half of the US into the middle of the week. Flooding, damaging winds and even tornadoes will also be concerns. Along the Gulf Coast, warm, moist air will fuel the threat for severe storms, including a few strong tornadoes and damaging winds. CNN Weather More than 15 million people are under a severe storm threat Monday from Texas to Florida. Over 35 million people are under the same threat level Tuesday from the Panhandle of Florida to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. An equally serious concern is the potential for significant flooding from the storms strong winds blowing water onshore and its potent rainmaking storms. Widespread and potentially significant river and flash flooding are likely from the central Gulf Coast through much of the Eastern U.S. early this week, the Weather Prediction Center said. Powerful onshore winds will lead to widespread coastal flooding along the eastern Gulf Coast and much of the East Coast. Widespread rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected from the Gulf Coast to New England with isolated locations exceeding 4 inches. Theres serious concern for flooding in the Northeast with this next wave of rain coming right after the first snowstorm dropped more than half a foot of snow in multiple Northeast states. Heavy rain will accelerate snowmelt and increase the amount of water running off into waterways, raising the ceiling on the flood potential in these areas. As a result, there is a Level 3 out of 4 risk for flooding in portions of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania on Tuesday. A Level 2 of 4 threat spans nearly the entire path of the first storm from Georgia through Massachusetts. CNN Weather A Level 3 of 4 risk for flooding is also in place along the western coast of Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle for the flood potential from the initial round of rain on Monday. The rainfall is both a gift and a concern for Louisiana and Mississippi both still grappling with serious droughts, though drought has already improved substantially since November from a recent overabundance of rain. Locations along the Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Tallahassee, Florida, are more than 5 inches above normal for rainfall since December 1, so it wont take much for the saturated ground to flood. Wind is another concern with saturated ground. It makes trees more vulnerable to toppling over onto power lines or homes. And the winds will be strong enough to cause such damage. Gusty winds on the warm side of the storm may exceed 50 MPH and cause damage over the Appalachians to the East Coast, the Weather Prediction Center said. The center also warned people to prepare for power outages from the potentially damaging winds. The strongest winds will be closer to the coast. High wind watches will likely be issued in the next 24 hours, but the National Weather Service office in Boston noted they might need to issue hurricane-force wind watches warning of winds akin to a Category 1 hurricane for coastal areas if the storms worst forecast fears came to pass. Winds will also trigger high surf of 8 to 11 feet and significant beach erosion is possible. Dangerous rip currents are also likely and will continue through at least the middle of the week. The storm system looks to wrap up near the end of the week, but another storm looks like it could follow a similar path and affect some of the same areas later in the week and into the weekend. CNN meteorologist Gene Norman contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The search for the replacement for the Oregon Government Ethics Commission's current director, Ron Bersin, who is retiring after leading the agency since 2006, is down to two candidates. Susan Myers and Jay Messenger work in Salem as state government employees. They answered submitted questions Thursday so the commission could better understand how they would respond to potential budget cuts and their leadership style, and their knowledge about the position. The commission enforces the states ethics laws, provides training for public officials and maintains the registry of required economic interest disclosures, registered lobbyists, and quarterly expenditures. State auditors in 2021 said the nine-member commission could be strengthened and more independent. The commission last year launched an investigation into former secretary of state Shemia Fagan and her potential ethics violations of using state resources for personal benefit and reimbursement of personal expenses. The commission also made headlines after Gov. John Kitzhaber resigned amid an ethics scandal in 2015. The full commission is set to conduct a final interview with the finalists this week. Susan Myers, a finalist to replace the retiring head of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, during a meet and greet panel on Thursday. Susan Myers, OGEC's compliance and education coordinator Meyers joined the commission in 2018 as an investigator. She received her bachelors in English from the University of Arizona and a masters degree in English Literature from the University of New Mexico. She moved to Portland in the 1990s and taught English Literature for 10 years at Mt. Hood Community College and Portland Community College before returning to Arizona and attending law school. She worked at a private law firm before becoming an assistant attorney general in Arizona from 2008 through 2016, specializing in antitrust law. Jay Messenger, a finalist to replace the retiring head of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, responds during a Thursday session. Jay Messenger, internal controls officer for the Oregon Department of Revenue Messenger was raised in Pennsylvania and attended Temple University for his undergraduate and law degree. He worked for two law firms doing securities regulatory defense and was a senior attorney in the National Association of Securities Dealers Department of Enforcement. He taught at Santa Clara Universitys School of Law before moving to Oregon in 2010 and teaching at Willamette Universitys College of Law. He also briefly worked as a chief of staff for California Assembly member Tony Thurmond in 2016. He joined the Oregon Department of Education as the legal and enforcement director from 2019 to 2022 before his latest position at the Department of Revenue. Below are responses the finalists gave Thursday during what the commission called a "meet and greet." They have been edited for length and clarity. What is your understanding of the mission of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission? Myers: To enforce the areas of law within its jurisdiction and to do so with impartiality. To accept complaints alleging violations of the three areas of law: ethics laws, lobbying laws and the public meetings. Our mission is to enforce those laws, but our mission also is to educate and that part of the mission, education, is, in my mind, primary. We accomplish more by educating people than simply by fining them or sanctioning them. Im not saying the enforcement is not important but even in the enforcements, in the investigations, and so forth, the goal is still education because we dont want people to repeat the same offenses. Messenger: It administers and enforces Oregon government ethics and emphasizes education. Beyond the actual text of it is the government ethics commission deals with lobbying. It deals with government ethics, generally a lot of conflict-of-interest work. It deals with executive session laws. The OGEC has this body of law that they have to administer and enforce and just like any regulatory compliance practice, which Ive been involved with most of my legal career, is making sure that those rules are adhered to. What I really appreciate about this mission is the education aspect What any regulator wants is voluntary compliance. So you need the hammer of the enforcement but you also need to be able to teach and get the message out and help people understand The mission is extremely important in order for people to have faith in government. What experience do you bring that will help you be successful in this role? Messenger: My own unique path meets the job duties of this description and would help support me my law background deals with statutes and regulations. I spent almost a decade teaching in law schools Ive had significant management positions. Myers: Being an English professor, being an attorney and the years Ive spent at this agency. Ron Bersin has taught me a lot in those years. Ive learned a lot. He has intentionally involved me in every aspect of the agency. What are your top priorities for the agency in the first 30, 60 and 90 days? Myers: In the first 30 days, the top priority is a successful transition, making sure staff understands expectations and how things will be working but outwardly facing is move the rulemaking process for public meetings law. Were going to do rulemaking for ethics and lobby laws as well but getting the public meetings law done and getting the rules advisory committee formed is the primary goal for the next 30 to 60 days And then we also have other items. Budgetary things that have to happen by early February as well legislative concepts 60 to 90 days would be making sure the rulemaking process gets completed taking steps to make our agency a little more open and transparent. That may be by providing more information on our website figuring out where our agency could be more open and providing better information to the public. Messenger: Theres some information I dont have because Im obviously on the outside. I dont know some of these things but from being involved in the executive leadership team at the Department of Revenue certain deadlines are coming up I dont know if (OGEC) has any in the works but I would take a look at that We have this short session, I dont know what OGEC has going on in the short session so one is to deal with the legislative issues both for the short session thats coming up and the 2025 session. What do we need to do to prepare for that? What do you need to do to get the trains running on time and keep the trains running on time make sure while Im learning that the work keeps flowing and maintain the high standards that the agency has I want to make sure the staff feel supported Getting more on-demand training available. I noticed on the OGEC website that theres a plan to get more of it out in 2024 so Id like to make sure that happens. What opportunities do you see for the commission? Myers: This has been a major transition not just in terms of Ron leaving but in terms of public meetings law. This is new not just to us, but other than the court system there has been no one in Oregon in all these years enforcing public meetings law It is an opportunity for the commission and for the commission to meet that part of the mission that I said is preeminent: to provide education to everyone who needs it Other opportunities are to explore outreach. Not just sending our trainers out to different parts of the state but exploring different ways of reaching our audience There is an opportunity here for the commission and commission staff to establish better relationships with all of the public bodies that we serve The other is something that I would propose, a difficult thing Ive thought about the benefits that COVID has brought us. I dont mean COVID itself but meetings like this. We didnt have Teams and Zoom meetings and all of that pre-COVID and now when the commission meets some of them are present in person and some are present in video The opportunity for the commission is, as we get new commissioners it is important that the commission be representative of the entire state. Its well represented on a political spectrum, I would like to see, maybe, better representation on the statewide spectrum. Messenger: I see some opportunities in outreach. I've been in the Oregon state government since 2019 ... I took the course every state employee takes, the OGEC intro training that's required but I don't recall outreach done to state employees. I don't know what outreach has been done to other public officials like local employees or local officials, people in boards and commissions across the state so I'd like to do some more outreach ... More on-demand video training ... And could we have little blurbs from opinions or stipulated orders that said here's an example of a potential conflict of interest? Here's an example of an actual conflict of interest. Why do you want to lead the commission? Messenger: The mission speaks to me. It's a very important mission ... And I feel like I could really contribute to the work of the commission. Myers: I have worked very hard for this position ... and that is because I'm very much committed to what this agency is and does and I believe I can help it do more. Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Two finalists for Oregon Ethics Commission director answer questions Home and Away spoilers follow for UK viewers. Home and Aways Harper and Dana Matheson are to face a tricky decision over Irene, as their ordeal continues. In scenes that have aired in Australia and will air in the UK next week, Harper is still awaiting trial for helping to hide her sister Dana when she was on the run after being framed in a drug investigation. Channel 5 Related: Former Home and Away star Sam Frost discusses possibility of extending family Irene Roberts also helped to hide Dana from the police, with her house being used as a base, but she already has a prior criminal record. Harpers lawyer therefore advises her to keep her distance from Irene, something Harper later confides in Cash and Eden about. Cash tells Harper that she needs to talk to her about this, to prepare Irene if the prosecution is going to be tough on her. The next day, Harper does just this, and tells Irene why she has been avoiding her. Irene is understanding of the situation and encourages her to follow the advice of her lawyer. However, Harper tells Irene that she isnt going to abandon her, as Irene has helped her so much. As a result, John demands Irene see her own lawyer. Channel 5 Related: Home and Away's Zara to leave Summer Bay after final Mali rejection John continues to pester Irene about this, but Irene doesnt want to hear her friends concern. In a fury, she kicks him out of the Diner, but privately she is scared about her future. Irene hits breaking point when she catches Harper and Dana looking up her criminal charges, thinking that theyre now doubting their decision to stand by her. John continues to support her, which Irene is grateful for. What does the future hold for Harper, Irene and Dana? Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5 and 6pm on 5STAR. First-look screenings air at 6.30pm on 5STAR and the show also streams on My5. Selected classic episodes are available via Prime Video in the UK. Read more Home and Away spoilers on our dedicated homepage You Might Also Like Reporters at The Topeka Capital-Journal push for transparency in local and state government. They hold elected officials accountable for their words and actions. They explain to readers how their lives will be affected by what happens under the Capitol dome or at city hall. They celebrate community successes, explore entertainment opportunities and reveal new business openings. They give voices to residents who might not be heard, neighbors who might be overlooked. And sometimes, they have to cover a story that hits with an emotional left hook. Capital-Journal reporters covered the slaying of Zoey Felix and the circumstances that led to her becoming homeless in the weeks before her death. Our entire news reporting team in early October covered a story about the rape and killing of Zoey Felix, 5, who had recently become homeless. The Capital-Journal broke stories about why former neighbors had taken care of Zoey and what led to her being unsheltered; detailed the horrible living conditions at her former home; revealed that power and water had been turned off there; found the reason Zoey's mother was on probation; shared why Zoey had dropped out of preschool last year; talked to a relative saying people had vandalized the home; gave analysis on how passage of a DCF-proposed bill in 2021 would have enabled leaders to share more publicly sooner; showed how preschool had been Zoeys refuge and covered many other angles as well. And through aggressive questioning, our team learned the city of Topeka didn't send a report about Zoey to the Kansas Department of Children and Families until after Zoey's death despite the city announcing it had done so. Human error led to the report stalling at the Topeka Police Department, which says it has since taken measures to prevent future delays. Would that information have made a difference? Possibly. DCF continued calling and knocking on a door where Zoey no longer resided. Had the report been shared, DCF likely would have known Zoey was living in a homeless camp and not in her mother's home. Here are a few of the other stories that made a difference in 2023. Kansas gave Hill's Pet Nutrition $3 million in economic development incentives to keep its headquarters in Kansas, although it left Topeka for Overland Park. Hill's Pet Nutrition relocates headquarters from Topeka to Overland Park Through an open records request, Capital-Journal reporters learned Kansas taxpayers were giving $3 million in economic development incentives to Hill's Pet Nutrition as part of the company's relocation of its headquarters from Topeka to Overland Park. Hill's didn't mention the taxpayer-funded incentives when it announced Jan. 11, 2023, it was moving its headquarters, although a contract provision required them to do so. And Gov. Laura Kelly and Lt. Gov David Toland didn't publicly promote the incentive package as they had with other Hill's projects. Former Topeka city manager Stephen Wade discussed his decades-long mental illness struggles weeks after being fired by the Topeka City Council. Ex-city manager shares struggles with mental health and depression After Stephen Wade was unanimously fired as city manager July 11, he agreed to sit down with a Capital-Journal reporter and photographer to talk about his decades-long battle with mental illness. Wade, who was publisher at the newspaper from 2018-2020, said his goal wasn't to explain himself but to share a powerful message that "it's OK to not be OK" and encourage others who might be struggling with their mental health to seek help. He also spoke about how difficult it was to get help in the mental health system despite his connections. During the interview, Wade revealed a suicide attempt that precipitated a leave of absence. In November, The Capital-Journal learned Wade sent a demand letter to the city demanding $100 million from the city in an apparent wrongful termination claim. City officials fired back, alleging in a fiercely worded statement that Wade engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. Stories unveiled legal maneuvers on natural gas price lawsuit Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach terminated the state's contract with a Florida-based law firm investigating alleged natural gas price gouging during a 2021 winter storm, claiming Morgan & Morgan, which had been hired by his Republican predecessor Derek Schmidt, was politically biased and produced subpar work. Kobach sought to rebid the contract. The AG's office then lost the natural gas lawsuit on a technicality but could refile. Some of The Capital-Journal stories were cited in court documents. Kobach is now having and could continue to have a difficult time finding bidders on new contracts. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach used his private email to conduct official state business. Kris Kobach used private email for official state business The Capital-Journal received almost 1,000 pages of documents from the Kansas Attorney General's Office showing Kris Kobach is using a private email address for government work purposes. An open records request resulted in eight PDFs totaling 940 pages of emails and attachments. A list indicates 169 separate emails sent to Kobach's private email account, plus 39 sent by that Gmail. The request cost the newspaper $209.13. But the KORA response also indicates there was an unspecified number of additional pages that weren't released, deemed confidential enough to excluded entirely from the responsive records. A handful of the released documents contained redactions. Documents show KDOT paid millions for downtown Topeka properties Open records requests showed the Kansas Department of Transportation paid nearly $4.4 million and nearly $4 million, respectively, to buy properties formerly owned by Let's Help Inc. and TFI LLC in the future path of the Polk-Quincy Viaduct in downtown Topeka. Those amounts were well above the appraisal values Shawnee County determined of $1,698,400 for the former Let's Help property at 200 S. Kansas Ave. and $583,000 for the former TFI property at 129 S.E. Quincy. Reporting about lucrative consulting contract could bring change Kansas lawmakers are expected to push to reform contracting laws this legislative session after the Department of Commerce gave a lucrative consulting contract to a top official. The Capital-Journal reported July 30 that Paul Hughes while still employed by the state as the deputy secretary of business development formed his own company, Catapult Kansas LLC. Hughes then bid on and was awarded a contract to consult for the Commerce Department on megaprojects. His contract went into effect two and a half weeks before he left his government job. State officials maintain there was no conflict of interest in awarding the consulting contract. Here's how you can help ensure impactful journalism continues We hope you'll partner with us to ensure in-depth and powerful reporting of the Topeka area and Kansas by subscribing to The Capital-Journal. We're also looking for your ideas. Email your story suggestions and news tips to news@cjonline.com. You can also reach out to our reporters at cjonline.com/contact/staff. Tomari Quinn is The Capital-Journal editor. Please share your questions, concerns and suggestions by calling 785-295-1212 or emailing tquinn@cjonline.com. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Capital-Journal stories made impression on Topeka and Kansas in 2023 Members of an Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite armed group carry pictures of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Qasem Soleimani next to his coffin during a joint funeral procession in Baghdad on Jan. 4, 2020. File Photo by Ibrahim Jassam/UPI Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Iranian officials have announced the arrest of 11 people in connection with a pair of deadly suicide bombings in the southeastern city of Kerman on Wednesday. Iran's Ministry of Information revealed Friday that one of the suicide bombers was from Tajikistan and raised the toll from the twin blasts to 91 deaths and 280 injuries. After identifying how the suicide bombers entered Iran, investigators determined where they stayed prior to the attack and have now arrested 11 people in six provinces, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombings that occurred at the tomb of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Qasem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran, Wednesday. The Iranians were holding a memorial service when the suicide bombings occurred four years after the U.S. military used a drone to assassinate Soleimani in Baghdad in January 2020. The attack is the deadliest event in Iran since the 1979 revolution. A mass funeral was held in Kerman Friday morning for the victims of the attack on Wednesday. Iran's Pres. Ebrahim Raisi and current IRGC commander Gen. Hossein Salami attended. During the mass funeral, Raisi claimed Israel supports the Islamic State and said the names of the two suicide bombers are Omer al-Mohed and Safiullah Mujahid, Turkish news outlet Anadolu Ajansi reported Saturday. The two men wore vests laden with explosives to commit the mass-casualty attack. Iranian officials said they will continue to investigate and arrest more people who assisted the suicide bombers in any way. They discovered additional equipment for carrying out attacks at a residence used by the suicide bombers, including two explosive vests, two detonators and two remote-control devices, official media said. The U.S. military undertook a "decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad" when President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Soleimani, the Pentagon said in a statement issued on Jan. 2, 2020. Soleimani led a Quds Force that Washington says killed hundreds of U.S. and coalition service members and wounded thousands of others in a series of coordinated attacks on bases in Iraq in the months prior to his assassination. One such strike was a Dec. 31, 2019, attack on the Green Zone of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad carried out by Iraqi Hezbollah militiamen. I admired the force of his writing, even when I often didnt support what he wrote, and he was always warm when we met. So wrote John Simpson, the veteran BBC foreign affairs correspondent, on news of the death of the campaigning journalist John Pilger on December 30 at the age of 84. Those who know of Pilgers work only in recent years and from the obscure far-Left websites that published it may struggle to imagine that he was once a big figure in print and broadcast media, when newspapers sold in the millions and there was only terrestrial television with three channels. But he was, and generous sentiments such as Simpsons have abounded in the past few days. Pundits, politicians and others have typically praised Pilger for his journalistic integrity while making clear that they did not necessarily share his politics. Theres a more sceptical variant of the same message, which Ive noted especially among people of my generation, born in the 1960s and 1970s, who were impressed by Pilgers reports when we were young and he was at the height of his fame. It runs like this: though Pilger descended in later years into apologetics for repressive regimes, he was once a principled and vital foe of oppression and human rights abuses, and it is this side of his work that deserves to be remembered. The dichotomy is unfortunately not raised at all in an obsequious and evasive Guardian obituary by Anthony Hayward, from which you will learn little. But more thoughtful admirers of Pilger are exercised by this question and do pose it: what made Pilger, the famed voice of radical conscience, go from his celebrated series of films on the plight of Cambodia to his defence of Slobodan Milosevic, Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin and his furious denial of their amply documented war crimes? I immodestly claim to have the answer to this conundrum. There is an essential continuity in Pilgers work. It is not, as many believe, that his judgment dramatically deteriorated as he got older: he was always that way, and his reputation has progressively adjusted downwards to match reality. Pilger was not really an investigative journalist at all, for he never did investigations. As a reporter who once worked closely with him explained it to me, Pilger was a polemicist who went out looking for what he wanted to find. Vulnerability compounded by weakness Therein lies the essential transience of Pilgers lifes work, for while there is much suffering and evil in the international order, a journalists first duty, allowing for personal biases and partial information, is to describe the world as it is and not as they might wish it to be. Pilger, by contrast, fabricated his conclusions in order to accord with his premises. This was always his method and I will give examples of this malpractice from his output on two particular issues. The first is his celebrated reporting from Cambodia, and the second concerns the wars in the former Yugoslavia, a region he neither knew nor understood. There is no diplomatic way of saying it but, in his journalism, Pilger was a charlatan and a fraudster. And I use those terms in the strict sense that he said things he knew to be untrue, and withheld things he knew to be true and material, and did it for decades, for ideological reasons. If you know where to look, youll uncover his inspiration. John Pilger in 1976 when he worked for the Daily Mirror - Trevor James Robert Dallen/Fairfax Media via Getty Images In 1983, the newly established Channel 4 broadcast a series of interviews by Pilger with people who, in his words, have challenged orthodox ideas that lead us in the same direction; additionally, he or she must have demonstrated the courage of his or her convictions. The series was titled The Outsiders. Some of the interviewees were genuinely courageous or at least of real historical weight and importance. They included Salman Rushdie, Jessica Mitford and the redoubtable anti-apartheid campaigner Helen Suzman. And there was also an interviewee called Wilfred Burchett. Few people now have heard of Burchett but he was not like these others. He was, in his own words, a pioneering radical Australian journalist, though he travelled on a British passport. In Pilgers words, Burchett was the only Western journalist to consistently report events from the other side in the Korean War and the Cold War, and from China, the Soviet Union and Vietnam. Thats quite some euphemism. Burchett didnt merely report from the other side: he literally repeated their propaganda and pretended it was news. He notoriously claimed the US was conducting biological warfare in the Korean War. He never presented a shred of evidence for this incendiary allegation, because it wasnt true. For these efforts he was secretly awarded the (North) Korean Order of the National Flag. Not even the radical American journalist I.F. Stone, later exposed as having been a Soviet spy from 1936 to 1938, believed the germ warfare allegations and he publicly rejected them. It was later proved, from documents uncovered in Moscow in 1998, that the whole story had been a propaganda ruse concocted by the Chinese Communists. Australian journalist Wilfred Burchett - Fairfax Media Archive I am not, of course, suggesting Pilger was ever an agent of a foreign power. Im pointing to the model of his journalistic mentor, who lied to his dying day in order to serve what he believed to be the greater cause. And that is what, as I shall discuss presently, I charge Pilger with having done too. If Im right (and I am) that Pilger operated with a combination of evasion, misdirection and fakery for decades, it is explicable though inexcusable. This was, after all, easier than the arduous and unglamorous tasks of fact-finding and fact-checking, for which Pilger was temperamentally unsuited. Pilger was a man of such natural credulousness that he never thought to check his own story when, investigating child slavery in Thailand in 1982, he bought a girl and returned her to her family. It was a hoax. The girl had been prevailed upon to act the part by a Thai fixer who knew Pilger wanted to buy a slave. When the Far Eastern Economic Review pointed out Pilgers error, he responded characteristically with wild and irrelevant invective, accusing the journalist concerned of having CIA connections. Auberon Waugh then additionally pointed out in The Spectator the sheer improbability of this account, whereupon Pilger responded with bluster and libel writs. The case was settled out of court, with no payment made by the magazine. The fiasco was due in part to Pilgers vanity, which took the form, among other things, of extreme sensitivity to any perceived slight, consistent rudeness to those he counted as the little people, and a hair-trigger litigiousness. He was the only journalist Ive come across who habitually wrote angry letters for publication in response to criticism of his articles by readers. This is in my view an improper practice, even supposing the writer has a genuine point, which Pilger rarely did. The letters page of a periodical should be for readers, as writers already have all the other pages. Pilgers vulnerability was compounded by the weakness of his technical grasp of almost any given subject. Sooner or later in public debate, and it was generally sooner, hed flounder. Fortunately for him it was rare that any top-notch scholar considered his work but this was a danger he continually ran. In his book The Price of Peace: Living with the Nuclear Dilemma (1986), Lawrence Freedman, one such academic heavyweight, noted a tendentious television documentary which had sought to demonstrate how mendacious governments were in handling nuclear issues but which was in fact riddled with errors of its own. Freedman was too tactful to name this documentary, but it was Pilgers film The Truth Game (1983). The gravamen of the film is as Freedman states it. Pilger purports to offer a critique of nuclear propaganda but his errors of fact are legion. Freedman, with William Shawcross, itemised numerous of these fallacious claims for the magazine New Society (since subsumed in The New Statesman), to which Pilger replied, and its worth digging out the exchange. Its not online but it should be available in a good university library (you can find it at Senate House in London). Pilger plaintively thanks the many people who, on reading Freedman and Shawcrosss critique, sent him sources and information with which to counter it. The notion that he might have investigated sources and checked his claims before making the film rather than after had apparently not occurred to him. Pilger made multiple documentaries around the world - Carlton The general thesis of the film is extremely weak. Pilger argues that by using reassuring, even soothing, language language which allowed the politicians and us to distance ourselves from the horror of nuclear war this new type of propaganda created acceptable images of war and the illusion that we could live securely with nuclear weapons. His sources include Wilfred Burchett, whose very trade was deceit and treachery on behalf of the Communist bloc. And the evidence is overwhelming that, so far from seeking to diminish the threat of nuclear war, Western policymakers were anxious to stress that the bomb had changed everything. In the much-quoted words of the American military strategist Bernard Brodie in The Absolute Weapon (1946), thus far the chief purpose of our military establishment has been to win wars. From now on, its chief purpose must be to avert them. It can have almost no other useful purpose. And in an extraordinarily prescient memorandum titled The Atomic Bomb in August 1945, shortly after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the new prime minister Clement Attlee wrote: While steps must be taken to prevent the development of this weapon in any country, this will be futile unless the whole conception of war is banished from peoples minds and from the calculations of governments. Idleness and indecency The theme of official deceit was an abiding theme of Pilgers work and he fancied himself a penetrating debunker of evasive language. Hence in The New Statesman on May 9 2013, he congratulated himself on the thoroughness of his early journalistic training: A style developed by a highly literate editor, Brian Penton, who had published poetry in The Daily Telegraph, instilled a respect for English grammar and the value of informed simplicity. Words like during were banned; in was quite enough. The passive voice was considered lazy and banned, along with most cliches and adjectives As you will surely already have perceived, Pilger, in this brief passage, roundly condemns the passive voice while using three passive clauses himself. Indeed, the passive voice was considered lazy and banned is itself an agentless passive of the type almost universally (though in my view misguidedly) condemned by style guides. Were it not for the fact that Pilger was famously humourless, youd have to wonder if he was being ironic here. The more plausible explanation is that, while he talked a lot about the power of language, he didnt know much about it, and he didnt know what he didnt know. That sort of arrogance has its inadvertently comic side, but it could also be ugly. Pilger prided himself on his courage in rejecting what he derided as identity politics, but in truth he lacked even an elementary sensitivity to issues of ethnicity and gender. Employing a startlingly demeaning racial epithet, he lambasted Barack Obama in 2008 as a glossy Uncle Tom, and in 2013 lamented that the problem with media-run conversations on gender is not merely [sic!] the almost total absence of male participants, but the suppression of class. He considered Hillary Clinton a more dangerous presidential prospect in 2016 than Donald Trump. Pilgers politics can fairly be described as anti-American, in that he reflexively saw the United States as a malevolent actor in any conceivable situation. That idee fixe in turn drove him to the conviction that any regime opposed by the US was automatically innocent or even benign. Interviewed on the state-propaganda outlet Russia Today in 2018, he declared the Putin regimes attempted murder of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury a carefully constructed drama in which the media plays a role. He said in December 2021, as if Ukrainians lacked any capacity to speak and act for themselves and were merely puppets of Washington: It was the US that overthrew the elected govt in Ukraine in 2014 allowing Nato to march right up to Russias western border. The apotheosis of this approach was an article in 2016 in which Pilger claimed: The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague has quietly cleared the late Serbian president, Slobodan Milosevic, of war crimes committed during the 1992-95 Bosnian war, including the massacre at Srebrenica. There was, I need hardly say, no truth whatever in this preposterous fabrication. With all too familiar legerdemain and gullibility, Pilger had alighted on an article on the Russia Today website and, without stating this was his source, plagiarised it. In my view this episode marks, in its combination of idleness and indecency, the nadir of Pilgers career, and it was a very low and shady point indeed. Pilgers vanity took the form, among other things, of extreme sensitivity to any perceived slight - Don Arnold/Getty Images This is not the place to set out the chronology of the Bosnian war but what the mainstream media (including The Guardian, through the exemplary reporting of Ed Vulliamy and Maggie OKane) said about it at the time was simply the truth. The war was not a cover for American power: it was a campaign of genocidal aggression conducted by Bosnian Serb forces covertly orchestrated from Belgrade, and in which Nato intervened against their positions far too late. It was also, as I have described here, a terrible augury of the barbarous assault that another European autocrat, Vladimir Putin, would direct against Ukraine 30 years afterwards. What, then, of the earlier body of Pilgers work, before his alleged journalistic and ethical deterioration? In the nature of things, it was not always wrong, but it was always reductive. His condemnation of Australian recognition of Indonesias occupation of East Timor, in print and in his 1994 film Death of a Nation, was entirely correct. But to be right on a discrete issue was never enough for him. He would have to construct some overarching explanation (or, less politely, a conspiracy theory) in which to embed it. He hence charged that Australia was administering a hidden empire [that] stretches from the Aboriginal slums of Sydney to the South Pacific. Youd be hard put to find any such coherence in Australian foreign policy, which has often been made on the hoof and at the mercy of events. When East Timor eventually achieved its independence, it did so to the fury of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. It was, in their eyes, an affront, for East Timor (whose population is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic) was properly a part of the Islamic world and belonged to Indonesia. This complaint was explicitly cited by bin Laden in justifying al-Qaedas bombing of the Indonesian tourist resort of Bali in October 2002, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians. Pilger was usually quick to blame Western foreign policy for provoking terrorism he referred to the 7/7 attacks in London in 2005 as Blairs bombs yet here was a case where Western nations incurred the wrath of al-Qaeda for unequivocally (if belatedly) doing the right thing. The geopolitical situation was more complex than he had supposed, and than you would imagine from reading his output. He dealt with the disjunction of theory and fact in time-honoured fashion, by never mentioning it. And then there is the case of Cambodia, the single best-known body of work Pilger did. His first film on the subject, Cambodia: Year Zero (1979) elicited a huge public reaction. (It made a big impression on me as a teenager.) It had two undeniable benefits, though one was more alloyed than the other. First, it raised a lot of money from the public to alleviate the desperate plight of Cambodians after the fall of the Khmer Rouge. Second, it dramatically raised public awareness of the issue. The problem was that public awareness was not necessarily equivalent to public understanding, and Pilgers work didnt serve the latter. Pilgers message in this first film and still more so in its several successors was essentially propaganda on behalf of the Vietnamese puppet regime that had supplanted the Khmer Rouge and that was itself guilty of extensive human rights abuses. It was misleading and dishonest, and it involved defaming decent people trying to do their best for a ravaged nation. 1979: Pilger in Vietnam - Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images Let me first give a bit of background. Pilger is often thought (and he did nothing to dissuade people from believing it) to have been responsible for exposing the sufferings of Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. He wasnt. Journalists who broke this story, whose horrors were almost impossible to conceive of, as early as the summer of 1975 included Tony Paul of Readers Digest, Bruce Palling and Elizabeth Becker of The Washington Post, and Henry Kamm (no relation to this author) of The New York Times. They were the first writers to publicise refugee accounts, yet for their pains their reports were rubbished by some on the radical Left as media distortions. Noam Chomsky, the famed theoretical linguist, and his co-author Edward Herman, a grotesque fabulist who went on to deny the genocides in Bosnia and Rwanda, wrote an infamous article in 1977 in which they complained that American newspapers were presenting a seriously distorted version of the evidence available, emphasising alleged Khmer Rouge atrocities and downplaying or ignoring the crucial US role, direct and indirect, in the torment that Cambodia has suffered. But the refugee accounts of Khmer Rouge atrocities, under which about 1.7 million out of a total Cambodian population of eight million perished, were, in all essentials, accurate. Western journalists, in impossibly difficult conditions, had alerted the world to depravities that almost defied the imagination. Pilger was late to the story. This was due not to oversight on his part but to politics. He was a cheerleader for Vietnam, which had only just turned against the Khmer Rouge and invaded Cambodia. Pilgers consistent theme was that Western governments and the United Nations were giving tacit support, including military aid, to the Khmer Rouge in order to undermine the Vietnamese-backed regime in Phnom Penh. And to muddy the truth that the Khmer Rouge had itself been supported by radical Left-wing pundits in the West, and that its leaders were all former members of the French Communist Party, he slyly and repeatedly compared the movement to the Nazis. In, especially, his second film in this series, Cambodia Year One (1980), and thereafter Pilger developed the theme that the West was denying development aid to Cambodia while providing assistance to the resurgent Khmer Rouge. These were shocking fabrications with direct and baneful humanitarian consequences. The truth was that Vietnam was deliberately preventing food aid from reaching the starving people of Cambodia: it was using international aid as a political tool, choosing who would be fed and who would not. UN agencies and NGOs told Pilger this, so he accused them of lying. 1988: Pilger forms a human billboard with celebrities to share a message about Kampuchea (commonly known as the Khmer Rouge) - David Jones/PA Archive The aid agencies were correct and Pilger was the one telling untruths, which he never retracted. In fact, the regime in Phnom Penh, along with the occupying Vietnamese forces, required every UN agency or NGO operating in Cambodia to pledge not to provide aid to starving Cambodians languishing at the border with Thailand. A real campaigning journalist would have exposed this scandal and inhumanity, but it was not Pilgers cause. His documentary Cambodia: The Betrayal (1990), in which he alleged that SAS members had trained the Khmer Rouge, provoked a libel writ that Central Television settled at substantial cost. Pilger went on to engage in reckless and extravagant fakery in the case of Kosovo, a province (and since 2008 an independent country) that he showed no sign of having visited. Nato forces engaged in a military campaign, beginning in March 1999, to stop the Milosevic regime in Belgrade from assaulting the Albanian population of Kosovo. It was a desperate, last resort when diplomacy had failed. Though Pilger later depicted it as the forerunner of the Iraq war, the cases were nothing like each other. A career in the service of deceit The campaign against Milosevic was fought not for regime change or even for the independence of Kosovo, but for the single and specific reason of protecting a Muslim population from genocide. It was the right thing to do. Milosevics forces had already expelled some 300,000 Kosovans from their homes, killed almost 2,000 and destroyed dozens of villages. And they threatened to do much worse. After 78 days, and nearly 40,000 combat sorties, Nato forced Milosevic to back down. This limited, just and necessary campaign was described by Pilger in apocalyptic terms (the truth is that the US and Britain are engaged in a form of nuclear warfare in the Balkans, he wrote in The Guardian on May 4 1999) that had absolutely no purchase on reality. But the reason I cite it in this context is that it elicited a series of demonstrable falsehoods by Pilger, all crafted to convey the message that Western governments were lying about the threat to Kosovo and the numbers of Milosevic;s victims. He later wrote: There was no genocide. The Nato attack was both a fraud and a war crime. In the wake of the war itself, Pilger wrote in The New Statesman in November 1999: The numbers of dead so far confirmed suggest that the Nato bombing provoked a wave of random brutality, murders and expulsions, a far cry from systematic extermination: genocide. He was rubbishing the entirely accurate charge that Serb forces had engaged in systematic ethnic cleansing. And to make his point, he alleged that Western politicians had wildly exaggerated the numbers of victims of the Serbs. Hence, wrote Pilger: Figures were supplied. The US defence secretary, William Cohen, said: Weve now seen about 100,000 military-aged men missing . . . They may have been murdered. But Pilger deliberately elided the context from this remark. This was an interview that Cohen gave on CBS television, and he was not suggesting that the Serbs might have murdered 100,000 military-age men. As Michael Ignatieff correctly pointed out in The New York Times in November 1999: In Mr. Cohens appearance on Face the Nation, his statements were actually much more complicated. While he said that 100,000 were missing, he also clearly stated that his reports showed that 4,600 Kosovars had been executed, a claim that has been confirmed by the forensic trail of evidence uncovered by war crimes investigators since June. Ever after, Pilger claimed that the Nato allies had deliberately and vastly exaggerated the number of victims in Kosovo at the hands of Milosevics forces. It was completely untrue. He amplified his fakery by claiming that, during the Kosovo campaign, David Scheffer, US ambassador-at-large for war crimes, announced that as many as 225,000 ethnic Albanian men aged between 14 and 59 may have been murdered. Again, Pilger was lying. What Scheffer actually said, and Pilger trusted that his readers wouldnt check, was that these men were unaccounted for a very different thing. Pilgers career was replete with glamour and awards but it was in the service of deceit - Yui Mok/PA Wire Then and thereafter, Pilger always referred to a final body count of 2,788 victims of the Kosovo war, to reinforce his message that Nato had maligned the Serbs with false claims of mass violence. Again, he was lying by misdirection. The accepted number of those who were killed or went missing during the war is a little more than 13,500. These included just under 1,800 Serb civilians, as well as more than 8,600 Kosovan Albanians. Thousands, and perhaps tens of thousands, more would have perished under Milosevics orders had Nato not intervened. Pilger adopted the bizarrely literalistic view that someone could only be counted as dead if their body had physically been found. That is not the reality of war. In particular as my family, friends and colleagues who reported Milosevics depravities observed directly it was the aim of Serb forces to bury and hide their victims body parts far from any theatre of war, trusting these would never be found. And here is the final weirdness of Pilgers coverage of the Kosovo war. He not only lied about the statements of Nato governments and denied the atrocities of Milosevics regime, but also sought to spread flagrant disinformation about the war itself. Writing in The Guardian on May 18 1999, some three weeks before Milosevic capitulated, Pilger dramatically claimed: Nato is suffering significant losses. Reliable alternative sources in Washington have counted up to 38 aircraft crashed or shot down, and an undisclosed number of American and British special forces killed. This is suppressed, of course. Pilger gave no indication of who these reliable sources were, but they were anything but reliable. The aircraft that Nato lost in the entire campaign amounted to exactly two: an F-117 Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft and an F-16 fighter jet. And there were no allied fatalities. This was before the digital age, and I did not take up the trade of journalism myself till several years later, but I did try to identify where Pilger was getting this stuff from. I never managed to track it down. Im familiar with the small circles of pro-Serb lobbyists but every inquiry failed to elicit a response. I wrote to Pilger, via The Guardian, asking for his sources but I neither expected nor got any reply. Its conceivable that someone, knowing Pilgers record of swallowing tall stories and never checking them, fed him these whopping falsehoods in order to see if hed put them in the public domain. But I have no direct evidence that any such third party existed. The dispiriting but economical explanation is hence that Pilger himself invented the tale of extensive Nato losses which were being suppressed by the state and the news media, because he wished to stimulate popular opposition to government policy. He was spectacularly lying for the cause, which in this case was to assist a genocidal regime in its campaign of brutal repression. I am sorry for Pilgers family that he is now dead but sympathy does not necessitate sentimentality. Pilgers career, at least till his more recent brutish outbursts, was replete with glamour and awards but it was in the service of deceit, and it exemplified indifference to human suffering and disregard for human rights. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. The Justice Department charged two former associates of former President Donald Trump with violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act for lobbying for the Qatari government. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI Jan. 3 (UPI) -- The Justice Department charged two former associates of ex-President Donald Trump with breaking the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Barry Bennett, an unpaid adviser in Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, and associate Douglas Watts admitted in court filings to lying to the Justice Department about lobbying efforts on behalf of Qatar. The two said they accepted funds from Qatar's government to influence U.S. policy in the Middle East to benefit the nation. Prosecutors said the men were urged by the Qatari government to set up "Yemen Crisis Watch," an organization highlighting allegations of brutal violence by Saudi Arabia's government in its conflict with Houthi militants. As part of the work they organized Congressional briefings about issues related to the Houthis in Yemen and helped to set up two op-eds in the Washington Examiner on the issue. Bennet's firm Avenue Strategies was reportedly paid $3 million between 2017 and 2018 to run the organization, despite not being registered as a foreign lobbying organization, and Bennett was personally paid $250,000 "for use in supporting the relief of humanitarian suffering in Yemen." Prosecutors said that Bennet gave investigators false documents during its investigation of venue strategies, as he tried to "knowingly and willingly falsify, conceal and coverup" information to block FARA investigators. The Justice Department said Bennett and Watts have agreed to enter "deferred prosecution" deals that will allow both to have their charges dismissed after a year if they comply with its terms. Both will pay fines -- $100,000 for Bennett and $25,000 for Watts -- along with staying away from lobbying and public relations for 12 months. U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez has been accused of accepting various gifts -- including race car tickets -- in exchange for promoting Qatari interest within the U.S. government in a current investigation that is threatening his re-election. There are no known ties, though, between the two cases. Grain being unloaded from a ship and bagged at Berbera Port in Somaliland - ED RAM/AFP Landlocked Ethiopia is set to secure access to the sea as part of a historic deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland. Under the agreement, Addis Ababa will lease a 12.4-mile stretch of the self-declared republics coastline for 50 years in exchange for formally recognising it as an independent state. Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia three decades ago, is not recognised by regional powers or the United Nations. Somalia still considers it as part of its territory and has declared the deal null and void, warning that it endangers the regions stability. The exact details of Mondays agreement have not been made public, but Abiy Ahmed, the prime minister, said it would pave the way to realise the aspiration of Ethiopia to secure access to the sea. Discussions leading up to the memorandum of understanding, which is not legally binding, had focused on the Somaliland port of Berbera. Located on the Red Sea, it is the largest site of its kind in the territory. Ethiopia currently relies on neighbouring Djibouti for most of its maritime trade, with more than 95 per cent of its imports and exports flowing through the country. Somalilands foreign ministry described the agreement as historic and said it would ensure Ethiopia has access to the sea for their naval forces. [This is] reciprocated by formal recognition of the Republic of Somaliland, marking this as a significant diplomatic milestone for our country, it added. Ali Hassan Mohamed, Somalilands information minister, described the deal as a gamechanger. Abiy Ahmed (left), Ethiopias prime minister, and Muse Bihi Abdi, Somalilands president, at the signing of the memorandum of understanding agreement - TIKSA NEGERI/REUTERS Somaliland seceded from Somalia in 1991 and has been self-governing ever since. It encompasses the former British colony of British Somaliland, which united with the originally Italian-ruled UN trust territory of Somaliland in 1960 to form Somalia. Somalias government, which continues to claim Somaliland as its own, recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia for deliberations over the port agreement after holding an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning. Abdirizak Omar Mohamed, Somalias natural resources minister, said his countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity was uncompromisable. Discussions for the agreement have focused on the Somaliland port of Berbera - ED RAM/AFP Ethiopias 120 million-strong population makes it the most populous landlocked country in the world. It has had no access to the sea since the 1990s, when secessionist rebels seized Eritrea the countrys then-northernmost region and declared independence. Addis Ababa signed a deal with Somaliland in 2018 that would have seen it obtain a 19 per cent stake in Berberas port. But the agreement fell through in 2022 when Ethiopia failed to meet the conditions needed to acquire the stake before the deadline, Somaliland said at the time. Mr Abiys office said the latest agreement would usher in a new chapter of co-operation and regional integration in the Horn of Africa. Redwan Hussein, an adviser to the Ethiopian leader, described the deal as a step ahead in the right direction for this and generations to come. Mr Abiy has previously described sea access as an existential issue for his country. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Join travel journalist Chris Schalkx as he checks in to andBeyond Punakha River Lodge, Bhutan. Chris Schalkx/Travel + Leisure "NO HURRY, NO WORRY," reads a hand-painted roadside sign on the way to Punakha, a tropic-tinged valley in the heart of Bhutan. Its an apt descriptor for this former capital, where even for Bhutans already laid-back standards, life seems to slow down to an even more syrupy pace. Ive taken three trips around Bhutan, and Punakha has become one of my favorite Bhutanese valleys for good reason: the Punakha dzong, a whitewashed fortress wedged between two rivers, is one of the kingdoms oldest and prettiest. And thanks to its year-round balmy weather, Punakha is one of the only places in Bhutan where resorts come with outdoor swimming pools a welcome perk after a long day of temple-hopping around the surrounding countryside. andBeyond Punakha River Lodge, Bhutan With just six tented suites and two family-friendly villas, the camp feels delightfully intimate. Bathrooms in the tented suites come with a skylight in their bamboo-covered ceiling, making them perfect for stargazing from a hot herbal bath on clear nights. The pop-up cocktail carts, candlelit destination dinners, and excursions are all included in the rate, so theres no need to worry about surprises on the bill. One of Bhutans prettiest stupas, the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, is visible from the restaurant and just a 40-minute hike away. No wonder, then, that luxury hospitality company and tour operator andBeyond recently pitched up its first Bhutanese camp in a river bend between Punakhas rice fields. The views are beautiful, but Punakha is also central enough for us to operate excursions to various areas like Gangtey, Gasa and Laya, says Rishi Sarma, andBeyond Punakha River Lodges general manager. Its an activity-rich destination full of hikes, rafting, mountain biking, and fishing. And with its proximity to red pandas and snow leopards, we can hone the wildlife conservation efforts andBeyond is known for. Spoiler alert: stop reading if youre already planning a visit, because Namgay, the camps experience manager, had lots of surprises up his tartan-patterned sleeves. One steamy morning, when I reached the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten stupa after a 40-minute uphill hike, he and his team awaited me with a picnic breakfast of fresh juices, flaky pastries, and Amarula-spiked coffee. Another day, after I had finished a tour around the Punakha dzong and the sun began to dip behind the mountains, he appeared with a pop-up cocktail bar on a nearby riverbank ice-cold G&Ts, mini-quiches, chili-cheese poppers, and all. The Rooms As specialists in Africas tented safari camps, its no surprise that andBeyond chose a similar setup for its first Asian outpost. The idea was to bring in the real Bhutan, Sarma says. It needed to feel wild and not too manicured. Tents lend themselves well to this immersion into the wilderness, without leaving a carbon-heavy footprint on the land. Chris Schalkx/Travel + Leisure I stayed in one of the six tented suites, which was, in fact, more like a tent-villa hybrid. Pitched up in a traditional Bhutanese timber frame, the bedroom area had a canvas ceiling and wall-spanning windows that could zip open to let the outside in. The decor could only be described as Bhutanese chic: a mix of wood and bamboo, with jolts of blue suede (inspired by the blue poppy, Bhutans national flower, Sarma says.), licks of brass, and vintage carpets adding a pop of color. I particularly liked my beds headboard, which was covered in kaleidoscopic local fabrics made by Renew, a Thimphu-based nonprofit that helps women around Bhutan learn new skills (weaving, in this case) to generate an income. The ensuite bathroom eschewed canvas walls for gray slate and stacked sandstone. There was an outdoor shower for balmy summer days (in addition to a spacious one indoors), and a brass-clad bathtub positioned right under a skylight in the bamboo ceiling for stargazing on clear nights. For more space, theres the 1,615-square-foot River House, a two-level villa built like a traditional farmhouse on one of the loveliest spots around the property. From the plunge pool on its verandah (or the bathtub near the window upstairs), you can watch the river rush past and the Himalayan peaks on the horizon. Surrounded by tall grasses farther back on the property, the Family Suite is even larger (3,337 square feet, to be precise) and features two bedrooms separated by a living- and dining area, alongside a large private pool and multiple pillow-strewn terraces. Food and Drink The lobby flows into the camps only restaurant, but during my four-night stay, I only had dinner there once (because it rained). Instead, the team had set up my table at a different spot around the property every night near the fire pit, between tangles of prayer flags in the citrus orchard, or on a pretty spot along the river. Led by the amiable South African chef Rudolf van der Westhuizen, the kitchen team draws on local ingredients to design a new menu every night, which included, during my visit, chicken ramen, beef curry, and Himalayan trout ceviche. They also got creative with Bhutanese food: apart from a brilliant dinner spread of my favorite Bhutanese classics (kewa datshi potatoes and cheese among them) I requested one night, some menus included playful riffs on local comfort foods such as momos (dumplings) with apple and arancini-like bites stuffed with ema datshi (chili and cheese). Chris Schalkx/Travel + Leisure Experiences and Amenities The camp has a lounger-lined pool and both indoor- and outdoor yoga shalas overlooking the rice fields. And while theyre lovely, its the off-camp activities where andBeyond really shines those are what you come to Punakha for after all. There are guided tours around that pretty dzong, of course, but also visits to temples and nunneries few others get to see, such as the Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup Lhakhang Nunnery, which has a stunning mountaintop setting. For activities of a more active kind, the camp can organize rafting trips down the Mo Chu river; treks through the surrounding valleys; and mountain bike bike rides to the old-timey villages dotting the hillsides. The Spa The spa was still under construction at the time of my visit (a few weeks after the camp started welcoming guests), but when it opens, itll be a small village of treatment rooms for all-natural Bhutanese massages and mineral-rich herbal hot stone baths. Chris Schalkx/Travel + Leisure Family-friendly Offerings Most of the activities from Bhutanese darts games to cooking classes in the outdoor kitchen are fun for all ages. The Family Villa comes with two bedrooms and a private swimming pool, while the sofas on the ground floor of the River House can be converted into beds. Accessibility and Sustainability Chris Schalkx/Travel + Leisure The bedrooms in the Family Villa are wheelchair-accessible, and ramps can be arranged to cover some of the steps around the property. That said, the landscape is hilly and pathways are made from stepping stones, leaving most of the resort off-limits to guests with limited mobility. On the sustainability front, single-use plastics are banned and the camp sources almost all of its kitchen ingredients locally. Like its African andBeyond counterparts, tents were chosen as a way to tread lightly on the land a plot of which 75 percent is allocated to local farmers to grow crops. Besides, the camp aims to uplift the local community by hiring almost 80 percent of its staff from local villages, and most of them receive on-the-job training for this first foray into their hospitality careers. Location Every visitor in Bhutan has to travel with a guide and driver (which andBeyond can arrange through its tour-operator division), which puts Punakhas sights within easy reach. The valleys main draw, one of Bhutans oldest and prettiest dzongs, is about a 20-minute drive away, while the drive to the of-visited Chimi Lhakhang (fertility temple) will take about 45 minutes. There are plenty of sights within walking distance, too: the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a gold-rimmed hilltop stupa visible from the resort, is reachable via a 40-minute hike. Punakha lies some three hours from Thimphu, and four hours from Paro airport, which makes stopping here worthwhile even if youre visiting Bhutan for only a few days. How to Get the Most Value out of Your Stay The tented suites, which are the entry-level rooms at andBeyond Punakha River Lodge, start from $890 per night. Not cheap, but a fair bit more affordable than the other five-star competitors in the valley. Plus, everything from meals to drinks and activities (with the exception of spa treatments and river-based excursions) is included in that rate. But thats not all: Bhutans Sustainable Development Fee will cost you $100 for every day you spend in the Kingdom, and youll need to hire a guide and driver. To make a trip hassle-free, your best way is booking through one of the travel agencies specializing in Bhutan, such as andBeyonds tour-operator arm which takes care of everything from flight bookings to visas and might even be able to hook you up with some extra perks at the camp. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A man from Guatemala was charged with raping a 15-year-old in Wyoming County, according to the Wyoming County Sheriffs Office. 21-year-old Rodrigo Domingo-Nolasco is accused of having sexual intercourse with the teen. He was arrested and charged with third-degree rape on Dec. 27 and was committed to the Wyoming County Jail. He will re-appear in court on Wednesday. Latest Local News Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. Decisions that would knock former President Trump off the ballot in two states run a high risk of backfiring on President Biden and his party. Mindful of the dangers, high-profile Democrats in elected office including California Gov. Gavin Newsom as well as influential commentators such as David Axelrod have expressed their resistance to the effort. There is no doubt that Donald Trump is a threat to our liberties and even to our democracy, Newsom said in a statement in the days after the first of the two decisions, from the Colorado Supreme Court, was released. But in California, we defeat candidates at the polls. Axelrod, appearing on CNN after the second decision, which came from Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, said: I have very, very strong reservations about all of this. I do think it would rip the country apart if he were actually prevented from running, because tens of millions of people want to vote for him. The constitutional point at issue is whether the 14th Amendment disqualifies Trump from retaking the presidency. The amendment dates from the Civil War period. Section 3 prohibits people who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution from holding office, unless a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress makes an exception. More from The Hill: The Colorado Supreme Court decided that Trumps words and actions around the Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021, were egregious enough to merit disqualification. It announced the decision on Dec. 19. Nine days later, Bellows made a similar decision in Maine. The two decisions were instantly controversial for obvious reasons. The Colorado Supreme Court split 4-3 on its verdict even though all seven justices were nominated by Democratic governors of the Centennial State. The state GOP has already filed an appeal urging the Supreme Court to intervene, and it is expected Trump will soon appeal himself. With respect to Maine, Trump on Tuesday appealed Bellowss decision to the state Superior Court, arguing that the secretary of state had failed to provide due process, was biased and lacked the proper legal authority to consider the federal constitutional issues at stake. Former President Trump (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) The legal arguments around the amendment revolve around a handful of key issues. They include whether the amendment was intended to cover the office of the presidency, whether a person can be disqualified having not been convicted by the courts, and whether it is legitimate to extend to the present day a provision originally intended to prevent Confederates from taking office right after the Civil War. Allan Lichtman, a history professor at American University, contended that the answers to the key questions were resounding in favor of disqualification. He said, for example, that the people who framed the amendment did not intend this just to apply to Confederates or they wouldnt have made it a constitutional amendment. The debates indicate that this was meant to guard the republic in perpetuity, not just in the aftermath of the rebellion. A minority of conservative voters have argued similarly, including two members of the conservative Federalist Society who last summer released a paper arguing Trump should indeed be disqualified. Conversely, some critics of Trump argue against the use of the 14th Amendment in this way. Bill Barr, who served as Trumps attorney general but has since become a trenchant critic, argued in a Tuesday op-ed in The Free Press that the efforts to strike the former president from the ballot are legally untenable. Democrats who have tried to put some distance between themselves and the decision tend to worry more about the likely electoral impact than the finer points of the constitutional argument. They fret that the efforts to keep Trump off the ballot play far too neatly into the former presidents claims that he is being unfairly targeted. They draw an analogy with the four times Trump was indicted on criminal charges last year. In each of those instances, Republican voters rallied around Trump, boosting his chances of claiming the party nomination. On Tuesday afternoon, Trump led the GOP field by 52 points in the national polling average maintained by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ. Its likely to gin up anger and turnout among the Trump and MAGA people, said Democratic consultant Hank Sheinkopf. They will see this as part of the continued conspiracy to prevent Donald Trump from being president of the United States. The decisions in Colorado and Maine drew some celebrations from grassroots Democrats and Trump critics, especially online. But Sheinkopf argued that ballot exclusion was not a smart strategy adding, if people think this is good for Joe Biden, they have lost their minds. The danger is simple. Voters, including some independents as well as Trump diehards, might well recoil at efforts to throw the leading contender for the GOP nomination off the ballot. In the end, they might end up more likely to vote for him. Its an outcome that the Trump campaign would dearly like to see. Two of the most senior members of the campaign to reelect Trump released a memo on the state of the race Tuesday. Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles wrote that when Democrats saw the indictments had failed to capsize Trump, they launched unconstitutional efforts to remove President Trump from the ballot, thereby removing the opportunity for the voters to decide an election. If that argument resonates beyond the MAGA base, it could spell trouble for Biden. The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In a free society, the debate between opposing viewpoints should be played out in the marketplace of ideas. Enshrined in the First Amendment, our right to free speech is the bedrock of our great nation. Unfortunately, free speech is under attack by the very people sworn to protect it: government officials. In October, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear our bombshell censorship case, Missouri v. Biden, in which we alleged and proved a conspiracy by government officials to silence conservative speech on social media. In partnership with Louisiana, my office filed suit to combat the Biden Administrations censorship of speech that challenged the governments narrative on everything from the COVID19 lab leak theory, to the Hunter Biden laptop story. The Biden Administrations censorship campaign was unsparing. It targeted government officials, scientists, healthcare workers, academics, and everyday Americans. Left-leaning federal bureaucrats used both direct and implied threats to distort public debate on key issues over the course of several years. We sued to stop it, and thankfully, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. The vast censorship enterprise uncovered in Missouri v. Biden is highly disturbing. Whats worse is its not the only example. The Supreme Court has agreed to review yet another case involving government censorship against political opponents: NRA v. Vullo. Vullo goes back to 2017, when New York Governor Andrew Cuomo hatched a plot to destroy the National Rifle Association (NRA) and its ability to advocate for gun rights. Working with Maria Vullo, head of New Yorks Department of Financial Services (DFS), which supervises and regulates the activities of nearly 3,000 financial institutions, New York initiated a campaign of public warnings and backroom threats to financial institutions designed to hamper the NRAs ability to function. Their message: drop the NRA, or face regulatory reprisals. This campaign succeeded. One of the NRAs longtime insurance partners told them it had no choice but to drop their business for fear of losing its New York business license. The NRAs longtime corporate insurance providers withdrew from ongoing negotiations to renew coverage, saying they were unwilling to do business with the NRA at any price in light of New Yorks threats. A third insurance company stated in internal minutes that New Yorks actions had transformed the matter of doing business with the NRA into a compliance issue. New Yorks DFS followed up by announcing large fines targeted at the NRAs insurance partners for conduct it regularly excused in other contexts. DFS then issued a directive calling on all banks and insurance companies doing business in New York to review any relationships they have with the NRA or similar gun promotion organizations, and to take prompt actions to managing these risks and promote public health and safety in light of what it called the social backlash against the NRA and the voices of the passionate, courageous, and articulate young people denouncing the gun rights group. Governor Cuomo issued a public directive the same day which underscored the purpose of Superintendent Vullo to drive the NRA out of New York. The NRA filed suit to end this blatant violation of its First Amendment rights. New Yorks actions are inherently unconstitutional. In the 1960s, the Supreme Court held that implicit threats of reprisal against speakers disfavored by the government violate the First Amendment. This precedent is the same that supports our lawsuit, Missouri v. Biden. Applying this clearly established law, the Northern District of New York held that the NRA stated a cause of action for violation of the First Amendment. On appeal, the Second Circuit wrongfully reversed. Citing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant, it held that this age of enhanced corporate social responsibility justified regulatory concern about general backlash against a customers political speech. Under this view, any censorship of free speech would be justified by simply claiming the government has a general regulatory interest in combatting so-called misinformation. That is antithetical to our constitutional freedoms. Thus, I filed a brief requesting the Supreme Court review NRA v. Vullo. They agreed to hear the case, and the stakes could not be higher. Cuomo made no bones about his intentions when he posted on social media, The regulations NY put in place are working. Were forcing the NRA into financial jeopardy. We wont stop until we shut them down. This type of government bullying and censorship cannot stand. Regulators have enormous power over our lives especially our finances. If speaking out on public issues in opposition to government officials means they can cut off access to financial services, our country has become little more than a dictatorship. Thats not the America I fought to defend on the battlefields of Iraq or swore to protect as Missouris 44th Attorney General. If the Supreme Court lets the Second Circuits decision stand, it will set a devastating anti-free speech precedent at a time when the First Amendment is under widespread attack. The Supreme Court should correct the Second Circuits egregious misstep and uphold our constitution. Andrew Bailey is a combat veteran and the 44th Attorney General of Missouri. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: MO AG: U.S. Supreme Court must protect First Amendment from government U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will resume commercial and legal travel at four official crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday that were partially or fully closed recently due to record levels of migrant crossings, senior U.S. officials told reporters Tuesday. The impacted ports of entry are in Eagle Pass, Texas, Lukeville and Nogales, Arizona and San Ysidro, California. The U.S.-Mexico border crossing at Lukeville, Ariz. sat closed on Dec. 15, 2023 in response to a large migrant influx. It was to reopen on Jan. 4, 2024, U.S. officials said, after crossings levels fell substantially. / Credit: Gregory Bull / AP The U.S. officials also said the Mexican government has stepped up efforts to slow U.S.-bound migration, adding that those operations have been partially responsible for a recent marked drop in illegal border crossings. The U.S. Border Patrol processed roughly 2,500 migrants Monday, a sharp decrease from the record arrivals reported in December, one of the U.S. officials said. Mexican officials have been carrying out "enhanced enforcement actions" to "decongest" the U.S. southern border, the U.S. officials pointed out. Among the steps Mexican officials are using: increasing deportations to southern Mexico and Venezuela. The U.S. officials also noted that since May, the U.S. has repatriated more than 460,000 migrants, including 75,000 parents and children traveling as families. When asked by CBS News about the recent spike in illegal crossings by Venezuelan migrants, one of the U.S. officials said the administration is working to "ramp up" deportation flights to Venezuela. Mexico and U.S. officials will meet again in Washington to discuss migration later this month. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and President Biden's homeland security adviser, Liz Sherwood-Randall, traveled to Mexico last week to meet with that country's president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, about the border situation. The White House and a small, bipartisan group of senators have been negotiating a package that would make dramatic changes to the nation's asylum and border security laws. Republicans in Congress have conditioned any further military aid to Ukraine and Israel and funding for border operations key components of Mr. Biden's multi-billion-dollar national security package on congressional Democrats and the White House backing asylum restrictions and broader legal authorities to deport migrants crossing the U.S. southern border unlawfully. The White House has signaled it is willing to accept drastic limits on asylum and a vast expansion of detention and deportation efforts, according to people involved in or briefed on the talks who requested anonymity to discuss the closed-door meetings. Asked by reporters at Joint Base Andrews after returning Tuesday from a family holiday vacation in St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands about what he intends to do about the border, Mr. Biden replied, "We've got to do something. They ought to give me the money I need to protect the border." Border security has emerged as a major political vulnerability for the president as he seeks reelection. Additional reporting by Brian Dakss and Caitlin Yilek Passenger jet collides with Japan coast guard plane, killing 5, Japanese state TV reports Names of more than 150 people connected to Jeffrey Epstein to be unsealed FBI investigates fiery New Year's Day crash in Rochester, New York A Swedish company is planning to make money-saving home-heating technology more accessible in the United Kingdom, with its revolutionary business model earning it the Spotify of heat pumps moniker. The Guardians Jillian Ambrose reported Dec. 27 that Aira, which specializes in clean energy, intends to provide a monthly subscription service that includes installation and servicing. Were providing a hassle-free, one-stop shop experience. Its a confidence guarantee. If the heat pump doesnt work, or if you need to repair or maintain it, its on us, Aira chief executive Martin Lewerth told the outlet. In December, the U.K. government supported a proposal that would standardize the presence of heat pumps in new homes starting in 2025, but as detailed by The Guardian, there have been nagging concerns about the technology, including its affordability and reliability. The number one hurdle for many consumers is the high upfront costs of buying and installing a heat pump. So were removing that, Lewerth said, adding that Scandinavia known for its cold winters has had success with the adoption of heat pumps. Airas program comes with a 10-year service guarantee, and the contract is transferable if a house changes ownership. In order to reduce harmful pollution from home heating, the U.K. government along with other countries, including the United States has been passing incentives to support the installation of heat pumps, which save people hundreds of dollars on electric bills annually. The development of micro heat pumps has also helped consumers reap the benefits of the tech at a lower cost. According to the International Energy Agency, heat pumps are at least three times more efficient than boilers that run on dirty energy. In the U.K., gas boilers are responsible for roughly 16% of planet-warming pollution, per The Guardian, and the amount of energy used for heating is not an outlier in much of Europe and the U.S. The IEA estimates that the accelerated deployment of heat pumps globally could reduce carbon pollution by around 500 million tons by 2030. We think this is how it becomes accessible to the many. It should not be a very big capital investment; it should be an accessible service, Aira UK CEO Daniel Sarefjord told The Yorkshire Post, as reported by MSN. Given [that heating] is one of the biggest bills a household will have, the fact you can save money and save 75% of your emissions, it is a double win, he added. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. You are the owner of this article. Jasper Kenzo Sundeen's reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and community members through the Yakima Valley Community Fund. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. The Last Of Us leads first night of Creative Arts Emmy Award winners If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. New Delhi: Frontdesk, a proptech startup overseeing more than 1,000 furnished apartments across the United States, terminated its entire staff of 200 on Tuesday due to unsuccessful attempts of securing additional capital, as reported by sources to TechCrunch. On Tuesday afternoon, Frontdesk CEO Jesse DePinto reportedly fired all employees in a brief two-minute Google Meet call. An employee who participated in the virtual meeting shared information about the meeting with TechCrunch. (Also Read: Ayodhya Real Estate Booms Ahead Of Ram Mandir Inauguration) As per the report, Frontdesk CEO Jesse DePinto informed employees that the company intends to file for a state receivership which is an alternative to bankruptcy, according to sources. As of now, there has been no response from the company to a request for comment. TechCrunch reported that upon dialing the number listed on Frontdesk's website, a recorded message states: "Frontdesk is currently unavailable. If you have a reservation, please arrange for alternative accommodations and anticipate contact within the next two weeks." The layoffs which involved full-time, part-time employees, and contractors occurred seven months after the acquisition of smaller competitor Zencity by the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based startup. Established in 2017, Frontdesk had secured approximately $26 million in funding from investors including JetBlue Ventures, Veritas Investments, and Sand Hill Angels, as per Crunchbase. The report stated that Frontdesk pursued a bridge round aiming to persuade investors with a new strategy focusing on full building management. Unfortunately, the plan was unsuccessful leading to the company's inability to sustain its operations. The company not only struggled to meet rental payments for several properties but also had minimal communication with reportedly infuriated landlords, according to sources. New Delhi: Zomato's recent declaration of liquidating subsidiaries like Zomato Vietnam Company Ltd and Poland's Gastronauci signifies its departure from ten global markets within a year. Zomato in a communication to stock exchanges this week informed that it has initiated the dissolution process for its step-down subsidiaries in Vietnam and Poland as a cost-cutting measure. The Gurugram-based food delivery platform has liquidated ten subsidiaries since March 2023. (Read More: Robert Kiyosaki, 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' Author Reveals He Is Under $1.2 Billion Debt) Zomato bid farewell to various entities, including Zomato Chile SpA, PT Zomato Media Indonesia (PTZMI), Zomato New Zealand Media Pvt Ltd, Zomato Australia Pty Ltd, Zomato Media Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Zomato Ireland Limited Jordan, Czech Republic's Lunchtime, and Zomato Slovakia, all in the year 2023. Zomato discontinued its operations in Canada, the US, the Philippines, the UK, Qatar, Lebanon, and Singapore. Despite withdrawing from most major global markets, the company remains active in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the UAE. Zomato stated that the liquidation of its subsidiary would not affect the company's operations since it wasn't actively engaged in business operations of foreign markets. In Zomato's FY2023 annual report, it listed 16 direct subsidiaries, 12 step-down subsidiaries, and one associate company, such as Zomato Payments Pvt Ltd (acquired in 2021), Blinkit Commerce (acquired in 2022), and Zomato Financial Services (acquired on 25 Feb 2022), among others. In FY2024, Zomatos financial performance has been strong posting profits for two consecutive quarters. In the September quarter, they reported a net profit of Rs. 36 crore, and in the June quarter, a Rs. 2 crore profit. Revenue from operations increased by 71% to Rs. 2,848 crore. The current 52-week high for the company's stock stands at 134.35, and it recorded a trading volume of 2,968,442 shares on the BSE. ICAI November Result 2023: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is expected to announce the results for the Chartered Accountant (CA) Intermediate and Final exams conducted in November 2023 on January 9, as per the official announcement made by the statutory body on Thursday. Candidates can check their results on the official website by providing their registration numbers and roll numbers. The examinations took place from November 1 to 17, 2023. Candidates who appeared for the exam can download the ICAI CA Final and Intermediate Result once released. "The results of the Chartered Accountants Final and Intermediate Examinations held in November 2023 are likely to be declared on Tuesday, the 9th of January 2024 and the same can be accessed by candidates on the website icai.nic.in." reads the official notice. ICAI CA Final, Inter Result Nov 2023: Steps To Download 1. Go to the official website - icai.nic.in 2. On the homepage, select the result link for Final and Inter Nov 2023 3. Enter your roll number and other details 4. The result will be displayed on the screen 5. Download the result and keep a copy for future use The ICAI CA Foundation examinations for November 2023 were held on December 24, 26, 28, and 30. For the CA Intermediate exams in November 2023, Group 1 exams occurred on November 2, 4, 6, and 8, while Group 2 exams were conducted on November 10, 13, 15, and 17. The CA Final exams for November 2023 took place on November 1, 3, 5, and 7 for Group 1, and November 9, 11, 14, and 16 for Group 2. New Delhi: The Maldives government on Sunday suspended three of its ministers for posting derogatory and offensive remarks against India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. The ministers are Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid, who hold portfolios of homeland security and technology, education, and youth empowerment, information and arts respectively. The suspension came after India expressed its concern over the tweets, which mocked PM Modi's visit to the Lakshadweep islands and derogatory comments. A group of deputy ministers from the Maldives sparked outrage on social media after they made insulting comments about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who shared a picture of himself snorkelling during his recent trip to Lakshadweep. One of them, Mariyam Shiuna, deputy minister of homeland security and technology, called Modi a clown and referred to him as the puppet of Israel Mr Narendra diver with life jacket in a post that he later deleted. The incident triggered a backlash from many Indians, who urged to boycott the Maldives, a neighbouring island country that is only 70 nautical miles away from Lakshadweep. Another deputy minister, Zahid Rameez, from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives, also took a dig at Modis visit to Lakshadweep, which was aimed at boosting tourism in the Union territory. Rameez wrote on Friday: It is very sad that a big country like India is trying to make money by copying a small economy like Sri Lanka. Two more deputy ministers, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid, joined the chorus of criticism against Modi. The Maldives government issued a statement distancing itself from the tweets and calling them "personal opinions" of the ministers. It also warned that it will not hesitate to take action against anyone who violates the code of conduct and ethics of public officials. The tweets have sparked outrage among Indians, who have cancelled their vacation plans to the Maldives, a popular tourist destination. Many have also called for a boycott of Maldivian products and services. The incident has strained the bilateral relations between the two countries, which have been close allies and partners in the Indian Ocean region. Who Are The Three Suspended Ministers? The suspended ministers are among the 72 deputy ministers appointed by President Mohamed Muizzu, who took office in November 2023 after defeating former President Abdulla Yameen in a historic election. President Muizzu has vowed to restore democracy, human rights and good governance in the Maldives, which had suffered under Yameen's authoritarian rule. Mariyam Shiuna is the deputy minister at the Maldives Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Art. Shiuna is also the spokesperson of the Male City Council. Malsha Shareef is also a deputy youth minister of the Maldives Ministry of youth empowerment, information and arts. Mahzoom Majid is the deputy minister of youth empowerment, information and arts. New Delhi: Counting of votes started on Sunday after the polling ended in Bangladesh's general elections marred by sporadic violence and a boycott by the main opposition BNP and its allies, paving the way for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to secure a record fourth straight term. According to the initial estimates, the voter turnout was around 40 per cent but the figure could change after the final count, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said. An hour before the voting ended, the election commission had said that the voter turnout was 27.15% at 3 p.m. The 2018 general election recorded an overall turnout of more than 80 per cent. "The voting ended at 4 pm and the counting has started," an election commission spokesman said, adding that the results were expected by early Monday. He said that other than some sporadic incidents of violence, the voting was largely peaceful in 299 of the 300 constituencies. The Commission suspended polling in one seat because of the death of a candidate. The early results show that Awami League is leading the electoral race. So far, unofficially, Awami League has won in 10 constituencies, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. The election commission cancelled the candidature of a ruling Awami League candidate in northeastern Chattogram at the fag-end of the voting hours as he scolded and threatened a police officer. The development left the polls in the constituency to be contested by two rebel candidates who belong to the ruling party as well. The voter turnout was low as the ailing jailed ex-premier Khaleda Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) stayed away from the polls asking people to boycott it. The party alleged that no election under the current government would be fair and credible. The usual election-day fervour was nowhere to be seen. Even in front of the election campaign booths, there was no presence of voters except the ruling party-backed supporters and election agents. Voters cast their votes without any disruption in the absence of long queues, leaving presiding officers with idle time. Voting was cancelled at three centres -- one in Narsingdi and two in Narayanganj. The Election Commission ordered the arrest of Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun's son on charges of electoral fraud in Narsingdi, according to reports. Shots were fired during a clash between supporters of two candidates running for the Chattogram-10 seat. Two people Shanto Barua, 24, and Jamal, 35 were shot and taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Two people were injured after a clash between supporters of the Awami League candidate and an independent candidate at a polling centre in Jamalpurs Sharishabari. Four persons, including a child, were injured after two crude bombs exploded near a voting centre in Dhaka's Hazaribagh. A total of 119.6 million registered voters were eligible to vote at Sunday's polls in more than 42,000 polling stations, according to the countrys Election Commission. More than 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties were contesting in the election, besides 436 independent candidates. Over 100 foreign observers, including three from India, monitored the 12th general election, which is being held under tight security. More than 7.5 lakh members of law enforcement agencies and security forces have been deployed to ensure law and order during the polls. Prime Minister Hasina cast her vote at Dhaka City College polling centre soon after the voting started. Her daughter Saima Wazed accompanied her. Hasina, 76, has been in power since 2009 and her Awami League won the last election in December 2018. She is set to secure a fourth consecutive term as prime minister and a fifth overall term in the one-sided election. "Polling in the country is going on very well. I hope all the people will come to vote and establish their rights. Maintain the democratic flow in the country and work for the socio-economic development of people," Hasina told reporters after casting her vote. She alleged that the opposition BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami alliance does not believe in democracy. "People will vote as they wish. And we were able to create that voting environment. Although the BNP-Jamaat alliance has caused many incidents, including arson attacks," she said. In response to a question, Hasina told reporters that India is a trusted friend of Bangladesh. "We are very lucky...India is our trusted friend. During our Liberation War, they supported us not only that after 1975, when we lost our whole family - father, mother, brothers, everyone (in a military coup) - and only we two (Hasina and her younger sister Rehana) survived... they gave us shelter. So, we have our best wishes to the people of India," she told reporters. In August 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his wife and their three sons were assassinated in their home by military officers. His daughters Hasina and Rehana survived the purge as they were abroad. In response to a question on how acceptable the election will be while the BNP is boycotting it, Hasina said that her responsibility is towards the people. "Whether people accept this election or not it is important to me. So, I don't care about their (foreign media) acceptance. No matter what did the terrorist party say or not?" she said. Hasina's ruling Awami League (AL) is expected to win the election as the BNP of former premier Khaleda Zia, 78, who is under house arrest as a convict of graft charges, boycotted the polls. The BNP boycotted the 2014 election but joined the one in 2018. The 27 political parties that contested the elections include the opposition Jatiya Party (JAPA). The rest are members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition, which experts dub as "satellite parties." The BNP is observing a 48-hour nationwide general strike which began at 6 am on Saturday and will end at 6 am on Monday. It had called upon voters to shun the election to mark the beginning of an end of what it calls a "fascist government." Fifteen other political parties also boycotted the election. The ruling party did everything it could to make the election look participatory and competitive. It allowed party leaders to join the polls in droves as "independent" candidates. As a result, in every seat, two or more AL candidates are pitted against each other. Former Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Sakhawat Hussain termed Sunday's polls a unique one compared to the previous two elections. "This time the election is taking place between candidates from the same party in the name of independents and dummies. As a result, voters are less interested in the polls," said Sakhawat. "So, it is a unique model election Results of the election are certain, everybody knows who is going to win. The only uncertain thing is who will be in the opposition bench," he added. New Delhi: The microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday flooded with posts calling out to boycott the Maldives after a sitting Maldives minister made disparaging remarks following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. Following his comments people across the country began posting PM Modi's photos and videos from Lakshadweep visit and urging a boycott of the Maldives stating that Indians should not visit the country where the government is hostile towards them. Maldives is one of the tourist hot spots thronged by Indians each year however after Mariyam Shiuna's derogatory comments on PM Modi people in India are now urging the public to boycott Maldive and visit Lakshadweep. Sharing the picture from Lakshadweep, one user on the microblogging site wrote "This is not #Maldives. This beautiful place is from #Lakshadweep. You don't need a passport, visa, or permission to travel to #Lakshadweep. Why do you want to go to a country whose government and people hate you?" This is not #Maldives. This beautiful place is from #Lakshadweep. You don't need a passport, visa, or permission to travel to #Lakshadweep. Why do you want to go to a country whose government and people hate you?#BoycottMaldives#Maldivians #NarendraModi#Indian pic.twitter.com/baTOCxK7Oc Subhash Choudhary (@subhash92) January 7, 2024 "Say no to Maldives. Boycott Maldives and explore Lakshadweep the hidden gem of India and help India to become Worlds 3rd economy!" wrote another user. "Why should we Indians go to the Maldives when we have Lakshadweep It is more beautiful than the Maldives. Say No To Maldives. #BoycottMaldives" wrote another user. Why should we Indians go to the Maldives when we have Lakshadweep It is more beautiful than the Maldives. Say No To Maldives #BoycottMaldives#ExploreIndianIslands | #Lakshadweep pic.twitter.com/XvAsbho1aT Anurag Jareda (@Anurag_4M) January 7, 2024 More than 7500 hotel bookings have been cancelled in Maldives. More than 2300 flight tickets have been cancelled. Maldivians should know that we Indians can destroy their economy. Lakshadweep & Andaman will beat Maldives in 5 years.#BoycottMaldives pic.twitter.com/7IlWtI7ONi (@ellyse_kaur) January 6, 2024 Why should we Indians go to the Maldives when we have Lakshadweep It is more beautiful than the Maldives. There is a list of indian most beautiful Islands below. Now Say No To Maldives #BoycottMaldives "Atithi Devo Bhaca" And#ExploreIndianIslands #Lakshadweep #Maldives pic.twitter.com/ElCQLEJCmo Abdullah Shoukat (@AbdulahShokat10) January 7, 2024 As per reports, many people have been canceling their flight tickets and hotel bookings as a manifestation of their displeasure towards the Male government's unfriendly actions against India. The Mohamed Muizzu government, which came to power on "India Out" movement, has displayed a marked anti-India stance since assuming office in November of the previous year, including not renewing the hydrographic agreement. Furthermore, the new Maldives president is set to embark on a visit to China, indicating a deepening engagement between Male and Beijing. The government led by Mohamed Muizzu, which rose to power amidst the "India Out" movement, has consistently shown a pronounced anti-India stance since taking office in November of the preceding year. This includes the decision not to renew the hydrographic agreement. Additionally, the new Maldives president is scheduled to visit China, suggesting a growing engagement between Male and Beijing. New Delhi: The Congress party has started the process of seat-sharing with its allies in the INDIA bloc, a 28-party opposition coalition that aims to challenge the ruling BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to sources, the party has instructed its senior leaders to initiate talks with other leaders of the alliance and some discussions have already begun. The sources also said that formal negotiations for seat-sharing with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab and Delhi will commence on Monday. The party has formed a five-member committee on seat-sharing, headed by Mukul Wasnik and comprising of Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and other senior leaders. The committee has conducted internal consultations with state Congress chiefs and submitted its report to party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The seat-sharing talks with other parties follow the decision of the INDIA bloc to field a single opposition candidate in each Lok Sabha seat against the BJP, in order to maximise the chances of defeating it in 2024. The sources said that Kharge has delegated the responsibility of working on seat distribution with other parties to senior leaders, including the members of the seat-sharing committee. The Congress has already forged pre-poll alliances with parties like the DMK in Tamil Nadu, RJD and JDU in Bihar, JMM in Jharkhand and others in Assam, but it faces challenges in striking deals with some major parties in key states. Kerala, West Bengal, Delhi And Punjab Pose Difficulties The most difficult states for the Congress to have seat-sharing arrangements with INDIA bloc partners are Kerala, West Bengal, Delhi and Punjab, where the party insiders admit the complexity of the situation. In West Bengal, the TMC and the Left, despite being part of the opposition alliance, are not willing to have any understanding with each other and the Congress will have to choose one of them. The recent statements of TMC leaders and Congress PCC chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have also dampened the prospects of a possible partnership between the two parties in the state. In Kerala, the Congress has 19 of the 20 MPs from the state and having an arrangement with the CPI-M seems unlikely as it would mean sacrificing its sitting MPs. In Punjab, both the AAP and the Congress are confident of their victory and do not want to have any alliance. State Congress units of other states like Kerala have also opposed any seat-sharing, the sources said. Congress-Samajwadi Party Rift In Uttar Pradesh The relations between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh are also strained, as evident from the recent statements of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who is unhappy with the Congress for not giving him any seats in the recent Madhya Pradesh assembly election and for the remarks of Kamal Nath against him. However, the Congress is holding seat-sharing talks with all partners while hoping to find some middle ground in order to strengthen the opposition against the BJP. The sources added that the party has decided to complete the seat-sharing arrangements with other parties of the opposition by the end of this month. INDIA Bloc May Pick A Convener Soon Congress president Kharge had said on Saturday that leaders of INDIA parties would take a decision within 10-15 days on the allocation of posts in the opposition bloc, amid speculation that the alliance could pick a convener before the Lok Sabha elections. He also said that all other matters, including seat-sharing of the INDIA bloc, would be resolved soon, with party sources indicating that this is likely to be done by the month-end. Kharge said that the Congress is working on all the 545 Lok Sabha constituencies and has appointed observers for all the seats, but the final decision on which party will contest which seat and how many will be taken after consultations with all constituents of the opposition alliance. Asked how many seats the party would contest, he said, We have already finalised parliamentary observers for all the constituencies We will go and assess in each Parliamentary constituency. New Delhi: India has officially raised its concerns to Male over derogatory comments made by Mariyam Shiuna, a sitting Maldives minister, regarding India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shiuna, who serves as the Deputy Minister at the Maldives Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Art, as well as the spokesperson of the Male City Council, had made disparaging remarks following Indian PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep. Although Shiuna has since deleted her tweets, the incident has sparked diplomatic row between the two neighbouring countries. Zee News' sister site WION reached out to the Maldives government for a response, but as of now, there has been no official comment from the Mohamed Muizzu government. However, the Maldives political class has not remained silent on the matter. Faris, the President of the Maldives Reform Movement, called on the government to take action against public officials who display disrespect towards the heads of state and high officials of friendly countries. He emphasized that failure to do so could be interpreted as the government condoning such disrespectful comments. The government must reprimand public officials who are disrespectful towards heads of state and high officials of friendly countries. If such punitive action is not taken, there is room to interpret that the disrespectful comments are condoned by the Maldives government. January 6, 2024 Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed condemned the language used by Shiuna as "appalling" and urged the government to distance itself from her comments. Nasheed further called for a clear assurance to India that Shiuna's remarks do not reflect the official policy of the Maldives government. What appalling language by Maldives Government official @shiuna_m towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives security and prosperity. @MMuizzu gov must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy. Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) January 7, 2024 The Maldives National Party also strongly criticized the "racist and derogatory comments" made by the government official, labeling them as unacceptable and urging the government to take necessary action against those involved. Maldives National Party condemns racist and derogatory comments made by a government official against a foreign head of State. This is unacceptable. We urge the government to take necessary action against those involved. January 7, 2024 The Mohamed Muizzu government, which came to power on "India Out" movement, has displayed a marked anti-India stance since assuming office in November of the previous year, including not renewing the hydrographic agreement. He has been also calling on India to remove its troops in the country, which have helped in evacuation efforts. The shift in diplomatic tone is evident in President Muizzu's decision to choose Turkey as his first foreign visit, breaking from the tradition of Maldives presidents traveling to India after taking charge. Furthermore, the president is set to embark on a visit to China, indicating a deepening engagement between Male and Beijing. New Delhi: Mohamed Nasheed, the first democratically-elected President of Maldives, has expressed his outrage over the appalling social media posts by a minister in the archipelagos government on Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Lakshadweep islands, Indias smallest Union Territory. PM Modis visit to the Union Territory consisting of 36 islands with an area of 32 sqkm was aimed at boosting tourism on the island. However, the Maldivian minister Mariyam Shiuna used abusive language against PM Modi in her tweet. Another minister of the island nation accused India of targeting the archipelago and said India struggles to compete with the Maldives in beach tourism. What appalling language by Maldives Government official @shiuna_m towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives security and prosperity. @MMuizzu gov must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy. Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) January 7, 2024 Mr Nasheed, who was elected President in 2008 but resigned in 2012 after what he claimed was a coup orchestrated by his opponents, urged President Mohamed Muizzu to clarify to the world that the comments by the ministers do not reflect government policy. He said in a post on X, What appalling language by Maldives government official Mariyam Shiuna towards the leader of a key ally, that is instrumental for Maldives security and prosperity. The Mohamed Muizzu government must distance itself from these comments and give clear assurance to India they do not reflect gov policy. The relations between India and Maldives have been tense in the past few months, after President Mohamed Muizzu came to power. Mr Muizzu, who took over as President in November 2023, had promised in his election campaign that he would remove a small group of some 75 Indian military personnel in his island nation and change Maldivess India first policy. He is seen as a pro-China politician, who defeated his India-friendly predecessor Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential run-off held in September. Mr Muizzu is set to visit China on Monday, the Chinese foreign ministry announced in a statement. Chinese President Xi Jinping invited him, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Friday. China and the Maldives boast time-honoured friendship. In the past 52 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have treated each other with respect and supported each other, setting a fine example of equality and mutual benefits between countries of different sizes, said Wang Wenbin, another spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry, according to news agency PTI. Mr Muizzus predecessors in the recent past visited India first, considering the wide-ranging bilateral ties and the Maldives proximity to India, followed by China which has expanded its influence in the island nation by investing in major infrastructure projects there. The new Maldives President had met PM Modi in Dubai on the sidelines of the COP28 climate talks in December 2023. Both leaders had agreed to set up a core group to discuss the multidimensional relations and further deepen ties. The meeting also took place after Mr Muizzu asked New Delhi to withdraw 77 Indian military personnel from the Maldives and decided to review more than 100 bilateral agreements between the two countries. The new Maldives Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef last month visited China, his first visit abroad, and took part in the China-sponsored China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation in Kunming. Interestingly, while praising Chinese infrastructure projects, Mr Latheef made no mention of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) under which most of the Maldives infrastructure projects were built. New Delhi: After Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit and the derogatory remarks of the neighbouring country Maldives ministers, social media is abuzz with the union territory of Lakshadweep and its beauty. PM Modis Lakshadweep tour and social media posts promoting tourism there have sparked speculations of a pinch for Maldives at the international level. This irked the Maldivian ministers, who made baseless statements and got suspended from their positions. Lakshadweep became the most searched keyword on Google Search after PM Modis tour. Social media users wrote about the stunning natural beauty and the warm hospitality of the people there. Meanwhile, thousands cancelled their trip to Maldives and #BoycottMaldives hashtag started trending on social media. History Of Lakshadweep Islands How did Lakshadweep, the land of Hindus and Buddhists, become Muslim-dominated? Also, how does Maldives compare to the natural beauty of the beaches of Lakshadweep? Lakshadweep is the smallest union territory of India. There are now 36 islands in this archipelago of 32 islands. Lakshadweeps current administrative capital is Kavaratti. More than 96 per cent of the population here follows Islam. However, Lakshadweep was not Muslim-dominated before. There were followers of the Hindu and Buddhist religions here. How Islam Reached Lakshadweep? Islam was introduced in Lakshadweep in AD 631 by an Arab Sufi Ubaidullah. Government documents say that the advent of Islam in Lakshadweep was around the year 41 Hijra in the 7th century AD. Amini, Kalpeni Andrott, Kavaratti and Agatti are the oldest inhabited islands of this archipelago established by King Cheraman Perumal. King Cheraman Perumal converted to Islam in 825 AD because somewhere his influence was also on this island due to contact and trade with Arabs. Lakshadweep Became A Union Territory In 1956 During the 11th century, this archipelago was ruled by the last Chola kings and then the kings of Cannanore. Later the Portuguese and then after the 16th century the Chirakkal Hindu rulers and then the Arakkal Muslims, then Tipu Sultan and then the British ruled in Lakshadweep. After independence in 1947, it was merged into the Madras Presidency of India on the basis of language in 1956. After that, it was included in the state of Kerala. Then in the same year, Lakshadweep was given the status of a union territory. Earlier it was known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi. The name of this region was changed to Lakshadweep after 1971. Unexplored Tourist Destination Most of Lakshadweep and its beaches are unexplored in terms of tourism. Most of its population usually lives on 9-10 islands out of total 36. Therefore, most of Lakshadweep and its beaches are unexplored in terms of tourism. Permission has to be taken from Lakshadweep Tourism before coming here from other states of the country. It is better to bring cash for travel here because internet connectivity is limited in many areas of Lakshadweep. Except Bangaram Island, there is prohibition on all islands. The administrator appointed by the President of India runs the administration in Lakshadweep. New Delhi: As Bangladesh heads to the polls today, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina extended her best wishes to India, expressing gratitude for the strong friendship between the two nations. She also emphasized India's crucial support during the Liberation War in 1971. In her message to India, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, ''We are very lucky...India is our trusted friend. During our Liberation War, they supported us...After 1975, when we lost our whole family...they sheltered us. So our best wishes to the people of India." PM Hasina reflected on the tragic events of her family's massacre in 1975, during which her entire family was killed. She lived in exile in India for several years before eventually returning to Bangladesh and assuming leadership of the Awami League. #WATCH | Dhaka: In her message to India, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says, ''You are most welcome. We are very lucky...India is our trusted friend. During our liberation war, they supported us...After 1975, when we lost our whole family...they gave us shelter. So our pic.twitter.com/3Z0NC5BVeD January 7, 2024 After casting her vote for the general elections, Hasina underscored the significance of democracy in the country's development on Sunday. She stated that her government, over the past years, has worked to establish and uphold the democratic rights of the people. "Our country is sovereign and independent...We have a big population. We have established people's democratic rights...I want to make sure that democracy should continue in this country and without democracy, you can't make any development. As we are a long-term democratic system from 2009 to 2023, that is why Bangladesh made this much of an achievement," she said. She also accused the Bangladesh opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of inciting violence in the country and said that they are against the development of the people. Nearly 170 million people in Bangladesh will vote to elect 299 lawmakers during the 12th national election amid a boycott by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, demanding Hasina's resignation. Kerala Lottery Results Sunday 07-01-2024 Live: The Kerala lottery "AKSHAYA AK-633" Result, on behalf of the Kerala government, will be announced today, January 07, 2024, at Gorky Bhavan Near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala State Lotteries department, which releases the lottery in 12 series (subject to change), will draw the result. Each week, 108 lakh tickets are made available for purchase, and the series may vary. The first-place winner stands to receive a substantial 70 Lakh Rupees as the bumper prize. For those eagerly awaiting today's draw, the AKSHAYA AK-633 outcome for January 07, 2024, can be checked on this website. Stay tuned to ensure you don't miss the live results of Kerala Lottery AKSHAYA AK-633. Kerala Lottery Result 07-01-2024 Jan: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR AKSHAYA AK-633 LOTTERY LUCKY NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKHS IS: AA 933564 LUCKY NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 5 LAKHS IS: AA 975927 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: AA 973092 AB 131077 AC 828303 AD 807186 AE 880923 AF 949928 AG 745891 AH 729066 AJ 400053 AK 521655 AL 149724 AM 100760 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: AB 933564 AC 933564 AD 933564 AE 933564 AF 933564 AG 933564 AH 933564 AJ 933564 AK 933564 AL 933564 AM 933564 (For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below) LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0025 0090 0584 0772 2121 4055 4096 4457 4896 5259 5348 6356 6533 6722 8165 8634 8728 9766 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE: 1994 3999 4654 4863 5722 7741 8932 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0049 0085 0843 1267 1628 1707 2744 2772 3055 3224 3974 4397 4807 4973 5316 6629 7089 7424 7718 8083 8085 8648 9288 9588 9787 9939 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0017 0196 0707 0708 0713 0844 1110 1149 1219 1238 1247 1286 1345 1578 1765 2049 2253 2463 2502 2660 3162 3182 3606 3610 3718 3850 3953 3972 3993 4260 4446 4487 4519 4659 4867 5154 5212 5384 5456 5529 5766 6332 6350 6559 6651 7070 7384 7428 7432 7475 7505 7630 7851 7910 7931 7970 8278 8538 8640 8825 8870 8908 9196 9209 9223 9260 9293 9309 9355 9402 9650 9920 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 7200 1394 0443 8950 8899 4577 5265 6064 2620 2048 1428 7226 6509 6433 7737 4569 4267 9397 0528 0577 2272 7855 2196 6447 3026 5504 0353 6195 8872 2761 2681 3728 1556 0677 2871 1727 8394 7667 6612 3021 2241 3826 1794 7019 4920 4684 4950 8341 9442 6432 1318 9606 4424 5710 7077 7293 2358 4385 7795 0246 7704 0373 8893 1738 9719 1145 9363 0572 1316 6131 7025 2651 1422 6663 9796 9460 9006 9943 7094 8702 5566 7600 8161 2356 4070 0611 0937 7730 8351 7099 0907 7209 4310 6980 8027 6652 3445 6313 5418 9201 0721 1961 6791 2536 9443 0402 9391 8260 0504 3569 8022 1101 1297 4895 4636 8102 0265 7233 3577 9295 6285 5684 7573 KERALA LOTTERY RESULT 07-01-2024 January TODAY: AKSHAYA AK-633 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS 1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakhs 2nd Prize: Rs. 5 lakhs 3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh 4th Prize: Rs. 5,000 5th Prize: Rs. 2,000 6th Prize: Rs. 1,000 7th Prize: Rs. 500 8th Prize: Rs. 100 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 (NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote lottery in anyway.) New Delhi: Several regions of Northern India are currently experiencing severe cold conditions, with no relief anticipated in the near future. Considering the bone-chilling winter, authorities in various districts and cities have extended holidays. Winter Vacations Extended In Several Cities Of Uttar Pradesh The winter vacations for classes up to 8 in Lucknow district have been extended until January 10. Additionally, the timings for classes 9 to 12 have been adjusted to 10 am to 3 pm. In response to the escalating cold conditions in Noida, the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar has directed the extension of school holidays. All schools in Noida-Greater Noida, for classes from nursery to 8th, will remain closed until January 14. Prayagraj has extended winter vacations for classes 1 to 8 until January 10, while Bijnor has ordered the closure of schools for classes 1 to 8 until January 13 due to the severe cold. Considering the cold wave, the District Education Office has modified the timings for classes from nursery to 8th. Schools have been instructed not to conduct classes before 9 am until January 13. In the midst of severe cold day conditions in Rajasthan, the administrations of Jaipur and Sikar have prolonged winter vacations for classes 1 to 8 until January 14. Similarly, Jammu has extended winter vacations until January 12. Meanwhile, Delhi Govts Directorate of Education has withdrawn the earlier announced order on extension of Winter Vacation for all the Govt, Govt-aided and Unaided Recognised Private Schools till January 10. New Delhi: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secured her fourth consecutive term in office and fifth overall as her party, the Awami League, won a landslide victory in the general elections held on Sunday. The elections were, however, boycotted by the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies, who alleged widespread rigging and intimidation. According to the initial estimates, the voter turnout was around 40 per cent, much lower than the more than 80 per cent recorded in the 2018 polls. The final figure could change after the counting is completed, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said. The election commission also said that the voting was peaceful in most parts of the country, except for some sporadic incidents of violence. He said that other than some sporadic incidents of violence, the voting was largely peaceful in 299 of the 300 constituencies. The Commission suspended polling in one seat because of the death of a candidate. The early results show that Awami League is leading the electoral race. So far, unofficially, Awami League has won in 10 constituencies, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. The election commission cancelled the candidature of a ruling Awami League candidate in northeastern Chattogram at the fag-end of the voting hours as he scolded and threatened a police officer. The development left the polls in the constituency to be contested by two rebel candidates who belong to the ruling party as well. The voter turnout was low as the ailing jailed ex-premier Khaleda Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) stayed away from the polls asking people to boycott it. The party alleged that no election under the current government would be fair and credible. The usual election-day fervour was nowhere to be seen. Even in front of the election campaign booths, there was no presence of voters except the ruling party-backed supporters and election agents. Voters cast their votes without any disruption in the absence of long queues, leaving presiding officers with idle time. Voting was cancelled at three centres -- one in Narsingdi and two in Narayanganj. The Election Commission ordered the arrest of Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun's son on charges of electoral fraud in Narsingdi, according to reports. Shots were fired during a clash between supporters of two candidates running for the Chattogram-10 seat. Two people Shanto Barua, 24, and Jamal, 35 were shot and taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Two people were injured after a clash between supporters of the Awami League candidate and an independent candidate at a polling centre in Jamalpurs Sharishabari. Four persons, including a child, were injured after two crude bombs exploded near a voting centre in Dhaka's Hazaribagh. A total of 119.6 million registered voters were eligible to vote at Sunday's polls in more than 42,000 polling stations, according to the countrys Election Commission. More than 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties were contesting in the election, besides 436 independent candidates. Over 100 foreign observers, including three from India, monitored the 12th general election, which is being held under tight security. More than 7.5 lakh members of law enforcement agencies and security forces have been deployed to ensure law and order during the polls. Prime Minister Hasina cast her vote at Dhaka City College polling centre soon after the voting started. Her daughter Saima Wazed accompanied her. Hasina, 76, has been in power since 2009 and her Awami League won the last election in December 2018. New Delhi: The Maldives government on Sunday issued a statement cautioning its unruly ministers against making derogatory remarks about foreign leaders and high-ranking officials. The statement came amid backlash over a minister in the newly-elected Mohamed Muizzu government and other leaders using derogatory and racist slurs against Indians and PM Modi over his tourism push for Lakshadweep. The island country said that the comments made by some of its ministers do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives. The Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives, the statement said. The Government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised in a democratic and responsible manner, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners, it added. Government of Maldives issues statement - "The Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of pic.twitter.com/RQfKDb2wYF ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2024 The government statement said that it would take a tough stand against the comments, saying, Moreover, the relevant authorities of the Government will not hesitate to take action against those who make such derogatory remarks. What is the whole controversy? A few days after Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the Lakshadweep archipelago, social media posts from a minister and other leaders in the Maldives have stirred controversy. The visit by PM Modi to the countrys smallest Union Territory, comprising 36 islands, was seen as an initiative to promote tourism on the island. In these tweets, the ministers used abusive language against PM Modi, accused India of targeting the Maldives, and claimed that India faces significant challenges in competing with the Maldives in beach tourism. These tweets came in response to PM Modis posts on X (formerly Twitter), where he shared his experience of snorkeling in the Lakshadweep. The posts attracted widespread attention, leading social media users in India to suggest the island Union Territory as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives. Last summer, the U.S. Supreme Court moved society one step closer to equality when it abolished racist admissions policies at Harvard and UNC-Chapel Hill. But the scope of the courts ruling is confined to higher education, which is merely the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Discrimination remains commonplace, although its practitioners often hide behind the sacred cows of progressive thought: diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). There is nothing virtuous about inclusion that actively excludes (i.e., discriminates against) one class in order to include another. The non-hooded racists at Harvard and Chapel Hill discriminated against whites and Asians, in order to admit more Black students. One could argue that the class of citizens most egregiously victimized by Harvard and Chapel Hill is Asians. Why? Because their scores on standardized tests are typically higher than the scores of any other group. They are the most worthy applicants. Progressive racists at Harvard and Chapel Hill low-balled Asians non-academic scores as a means of obscuring their superior academic achievements. The perpetrator of last months most flagrant act of racism is an anointed progressive in good standing, and a longtime champion of DEI programs: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who is Asian. Her office mistakenly sent every member of the Boston City Council an invitation to her Electeds of Color Christmas party. Fifteen minutes later, Wus office sent another email this one to uninvite all seven white members of the council. All six councilpersons of color were invited. In Wus defense, she is a graduate of Harvard, where she learned that overt racism and discrimination are acceptable means to the virtuous ends of DEI. Incidentally, one of the uninvited white folks on the Boston council belongs to a few of the lefts protected classes: council member Liz Breadon is a woman, an immigrant and a lesbian. Many self-proclaimed champions of DEI do not practice what they preach. The Congressional Black Caucus, for instance, will have nothing to do with Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, who is Black, for two reasons: first, because Donalds is a Republican (there are zero Republicans in the CBC); and second, because he is a conservative. Evidently, Congressman Donalds doesnt think the way a Black person is supposed to. In this case, as in many others, inclusion for some entails the exclusion of others. When Chief Justice John Roberts schooled Harvard and UNC officials in his majority opinion, he reminded them that an applicant must be evaluated on his or her experiences as an individual not on the basis of race. Many universities have for too long done just the opposite. Lets hope Michelle Wu, the CBC and the millions of citizens duped by DEI initiatives are listening. A couple of weeks after the courts ruling on admissions, attorneys general of 13 states sent a letter to Fortune 100 companies, advising them that corporate DEI programs could be subject to legal scrutiny. But for the most part, the private sector is unaffected by the courts ruling. I receive emails from writers magazines, from which I learn about contests, open calls for submissions, and the like. Heres a contest brazenly declaring that the Editors Prize will be considered only for writers of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, women and/or other marginalized communities. Heres a magazine that boasts an extended submission period for Canadian writers who are BIPOC, trans and/or disabled. Heres a publication that features fee-free submissions from BIPOC writers. What about everybody else? Other poets have a submission fee. Fairness and equal opportunity should be universal principles, but discrimination practiced in the name of diversity, equity and inclusion is far too common. If Trump wins With the death of the fairness doctrine, the advent of Rush Limbaugh and hate radio, and the lies and propaganda spewed by Fox News, America may very well award Donald Trump another term. Its time we ask ourselves some hard questions based on Trumps pronouncements and behavior. How will natural-born and naturalized Mexican American citizens react to 5.3 million undocumented (many family members) being rounded up and placed in camps to await deportation? How will taxpayers bear the cost of such an enterprise? How many years will it take to transport the incarcerated by air, rail and truck? Will MAGA devotees want these camps established in their backyards? Are we really that kind of people? Can our population produce workers who willingly do the hard work of harvesting our crops, cleaning our motel rooms, and roofing our houses? How will Canada and our European and Asian allies react to our country being led by a corrupt, would-be dictator? Would they still come to our aid in the event of war with Iran? Will Trump abandon NATO and deliver Ukraine to his admired friend, Putin? What will our military do when given an illegal order to quell anti-Trump dissent? Will the assaults and killings of Jews and Muslims accelerate? Will African Americans be gerrymandered out of their right to representation? Has our beloved constitution failed us? Could our democracy survive Trumps Second Coming? M. Craig Fuller High Point Politics in America How can men and women full of animosity and intolerance accomplish anything good for our country? Roman Lavore Julian Pioneers On Jan. 5, the Community News section in the News & Record included a story celebrating the retirement and final sermon of the Rev. W. Steve Allen, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Greensboro. It stated that Steve, a former attorney, was the first African American Superior Court judge in Guilford County. The first African American Superior Court judge in North Carolina and one of the first in the South was the Honorable Sammy Chess Jr. of High Point. Those interested in learning of his career as a pioneering civil rights lawyer might read A Giant Among Men: Sammie Chess Jr. by Joe Webster (Bloch Judicial Institute, Duke Law School, 2018.) Or a tribute to Judge Chess by Nancy McLaughlin published in the News & Record on July 28, 2022, commemorating his passing. Ray Bretzmann Winston-Salem Calif. dreaming Regarding the column Sorry, haters, California actually doing fine by Froma Harrop (Jan. 2): Its amazing how liberals like Harrop think being having a $68-plus billion deficit is doing fine. I see more taxes coming for California residents. Californias elected leaders are like the liberal Democrats in Congress. They think the $34 trillion-plus national debt is OK. Lets spend more of what we dont have. Go figure. J.P. Lester Reidsville Self-inflicted What distinguishes us from other creatures is the knowledge we humans have collected about the world around us and our ability to communicate what we have found to one another, to band together and to adapt to change and solve problems with what we have learned. Yet we seem to be doing a poor job of that. We have taken the technology we have developed from that accumulated knowledge and often used it to do great harm. Decades ago, it was atomic energy, which we quickly used to obliterate Hiroshima and Nagasaki and which still looms over us as an existential threat. Another is information technology, which has vastly increased the knowledge we can access and our ability to communicate instantly with one another. However, it has also allowed us to spread disinformation and hatred and, in so doing, has broken down the trust and cooperation essential to our survival as a species and our country as a democracy. We are bombarded daily by news of the devastating effects of climate change on our environment and our global economy, our inhumanity to each other as reflected in never-ending wars and domestic violence in our streets, schools and homes, and the dying off of other creatures and natural habitats such as forests that sustain all life on Earth. And still many of us remain in denial of our role in all of this and our responsibility and duty to act either individually or collectively to put an end to the damage we inflict on ourselves and our beautiful planet, perhaps the only one of its kind in our galaxy. Tim Miles Mount Airy Calif. dreaming Regarding the column Sorry, haters, California actually doing fine by Froma Harrop (Jan. 2): Its amazing how liberals like Harrop think being having a $68-plus billion deficit is doing fine. I see more taxes coming for California residents. Californias elected leaders are like the liberal Democrats in Congress. They think the $34 trillion-plus national debt is OK. Lets spend more of what we dont have. Go figure. J.P. Lester Reidsville Pioneers On Jan. 5, the Community News section in the News & Record included a story celebrating the retirement and final sermon of the Rev. W. Steve Allen, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Greensboro. It stated that Steve, a former attorney, was the first African American Superior Court judge in Guilford County. The first African American Superior Court Judge in North Carolina and one of the first in the South was the Honorable Sammy Chess Jr. of High Point. Those interested in learning of his career as a pioneering civil rights lawyer might read A Giant Among Men: Sammie Chess Jr. by Joe Webster (Bloch Judicial Institute, Duke Law School, 2018.) Or a tribute to Judge Chess by Nancy McLaughlin published in the News & Record on July 28, 2022, commemorating his passing. Ray Bretzmann Winston-Salem Daniel Bermudezs family had fled Venezuela and was headed to the U.S. to seek asylum when the freight train they were riding through Mexico was stopped by immigration officials. His wife tried to explain that her family had permission to go to the U.S. Instead, they flew her to Mexicos southern border as part of a surge of enforcement actions that U.S. officials say have contributed to a sharp drop in illegal border crossings. In addition to forcing migrants from trains, Mexico also resumed flying and busing them to the southern part of the country and started flying some home to Venezuela. Even if temporary, the decrease in illegal crossings is welcome news for the White House. President Joe Bidens administration is locked in talks with Senate negotiators over restricting asylum and $110 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel hangs in the balance. Bermudez said his wife became separated from her family when she talked to authorities as he gathered his stepchild and their belongings. He wanted to run, but his wife said they shouldnt because they had followed procedure by making an appointment with U.S. immigration authorities. I told her, `Dont trust them. Lets go into the brush,' Bermudez said, adding that other migrants had fled. He recalled her telling him, Why are they sending us back if we have an appointment? Last week, Bermudez, his stepchild and two other relatives were waiting for her at a shelter in the Mexican border town of Piedras Negras as she took a bus back in hopes of still making the date. Mexicos immigration agency sent at least 22 flights from its border region with the U.S. to southern cities during the last 10 days of December, according to Witness at the Border, an advocacy group that tracks flight data. Most were from Piedras Negras, which is across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas. Mexico also ran two removal flights to Venezuela with 329 migrants. The stretch was punctuated by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit to Mexico City on Dec. 28 to confront unprecedented crossings to the United States. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said a financial shortfall that had led the immigration agency to suspend deportations and other operations was resolved. He did not offer details. Arrests for illegal crossings into the U.S. from Mexico fell to about 2,500 on Monday, down from more than 10,000 on several days in December, according to U.S. authorities. In the Border Patrols busiest area, arrests totaled 13,800 during the seven-day period ending Friday, down 29% from 19,400 two weeks earlier, according to Tucson, Arizona, sector chief John Modlin. The drop led U.S. Customs and Border Protection to reopen the port of entry in Lukeville, Arizona, on Thursday after a monthlong closure on the most direct route from Phoenix to its nearest beaches. The U.S. also restored operations at Eagle Pass and three other locations. Merchants in Eagle Pass, a city of about 30,000 people, saw sales take a major hit while a bridge was closed to vehicle traffic so border agents could be reassigned to help process migrants, Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantu said. We survive pretty much from everything that comes from the Mexican side, he said. Last month, CBP resumed freight crossings in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, after a five-day shutdown that U.S. officials said was a response to as many as 1,000 migrants riding atop a single train through Mexico before trying to walk across the border. In Piedras Negras on Thursday, Casa del Migrante housed about 200 migrants, down from as high as 1,500 recently. Among them was Manuel Rodriguez, 40, who said his family will miss their appointment to seek asylum that was made through the U.S. governments CBP One app. He said the appointment was registered with his in-laws, who were deported to Venezuela after authorities boarded the bus they were riding. It was all under her name and she lost everything, Rodriguez said. Proposals being discussed by the White House and Senate negotiators include a new expulsion authority that would deny rights to seek asylum if illegal border crossings reach a certain threshold. Any such authority would almost certainly depend on Mexicos willingness to take back non-Mexicans who enter the U.S illegally, something it does now on a limited scale. Mexicos support was critical to defunct Trump-era policies that forced 70,000 asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court and to deny rights to seek asylum during the COVID-19 pandemic. Andrew Selee, president of the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., cautioned against overstating Mexicos role in the recent drop in traffic. Panama reported that less than 25,000 migrants walked through the Darien jungle in December, about half of Octobers level and a sign that fewer people are leaving South America for the U.S. Migration usually drops in December amid holidays and cold weather. The U.S. is able to lean on Mexico for a short-term enforcement effect on migration at the border, but the long-term effects are not always clear, Selee said. While many young, ambitious women longed to live at the hotel, it came with many restrictions. Men weren't allowed in women's rooms, for example, and the residents were chastised if they came home late or inebriated. In 1961, writer Joan Gage wasn't permitted to step outside the building wearing slacks. These rules were in place because the elite hotel wanted to maintain a good reputation, as well as assure the women's parents that their daughters would be safe here. Despite these rules, life was not always staid inside the Dollhouse. Men constantly tried to sneak up to the women's rooms, for one thing, squeezing into dumbwaiters or pretending to be doctors, plumbers, priests or fathers anything to be allowed upstairs. Most were not successful, but some made it through. And Grace Kelly, whom many consider to best personify the hotel's residents, scandalized some of the other guests by dancing topless in the hallways. Advertisement " " Actress Grace Kelly from her early days as a model. Here she is demonstrating a Remington typewriter Bettmann/Getty Images The hotel's heyday came in the 1940s through the 1960s. This was the era of Bergen, Kelly, Plath, Liza Minnelli, Ali MacGraw, Cybill Shepherd, Phylicia Rashad and more. Some of these women were part of the Eileen Ford modeling agency, which rented rooms for its models partly to try and keep them out of trouble. The Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School also paid to lodge its clients here, while the women's magazine Mademoiselle rented rooms to house the college students it hired every summer as guest editors. These editors-in-training were known as the Millies, from the Mademoiselle abbreviation "Mlle." Plath and Didion were both part of this guest editor program. The Barbizon did not admit a Black woman until 1956, when it accepted Barbara Chase-Riboud, a Millie and an accomplished artist, with work displayed in the Museum of Modern Art. Still, Chase-Riboud faced discrimination both at the magazine and inside the hotel, where she was excluded from using the pool. " " Artist and author Barbara Chase-Riboud, circa 1981. Louis MONIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images During the hotel's prime, living there even after you "made it" was not uncommon. "One model made up business cards to show she was staying there," says Bren. "It was a mark of glamor and respectability." But not necessarily for every resident. Some never hit it big and became known as part of "the Women," older residents who elected to stay at the hotel, despite their lack of success. The label was as feared as being called a spinster. One such single was Molly Brown, famous for surviving the Titanic's final, fateful journey. Brown found herself short on cash when her wealthy and estranged husband died sans will, landing her at the hotel, where she lived until her death in 1932. Pilita Clark is an associate editor and business columnist at the FT where she writes on corporate life and climate change. Formerly the FTs environment correspondent, her writing has won awards in the US and Asia and in 2019 she was named Environment Journalist of the Year for the third year in a row at the British Press Awards. Like the Gospel of Wealth (GW) developed and advocated by Andrew Carnegie, the Gospel of Black History (GBH) advocates for the delivery of Black History to Blacks and others in as many ways as possible, including during Black History month. Black history in this column refers to African-American history or American history in the United States of America. Carnegie believed that it was the responsibility of wealthy people to share with others, which formed the basis of philanthropy that many people practice today. When Carnegie was writing about GW in 1889, Warren C. Coleman (a bi-racial Black man) was working, as a former slave, to build wealth in Concord. Concord was a wealthy town due to the many textile mills located in the town at the time. Unlike Carnegie, Coleman was born as a chattel slave to Rufus Barringer, a white attorney and former mayor, and Roxana Coleman, a slave in 1849. His brother, Thomas, (same father) was born in 1845. Many of Barringers family members reside in Mount Pleasant. For those who have the knowledge and ability, GBH advocates that this knowledge be disseminated to as many people as possible in many locations. The playing field for Coleman was clearly not equal, but Coleman did what he could do to build wealth in real estate and share the wealth with others. He did so by building a church (Price Memorial), building a 17- acre cemetery (Old Camp Ground Cemetery), his own four-bedroom home, building a store, close to 100 homes and a 196,000-square-foot textile (manufacturing) mill. His mill was the first Black mill in America or the world. Some think of it as a pyramid in the south. In 1889, when Coleman was building his mill, did he know about Carnegie? I would argue that Coleman, after attending Howard University for about two years, must have learned about the money given to Livingstone College and Tuskegee Institute in Alabama by Mr. Carnegie. Livingstone was first developed in Concord, Colemans home, by Dr. Joseph C. Price, supported by the Rev. J.W. Hood, and later moved to Salisbury. This portion of the column will discuss what Black history is and why it is important for Blacks, whites, Hispanics and others to have some basic information. In addition, I will discuss how Carnegie wanted, as part of his policy, to help Black schools and other related activities. Black history is the research, study and dissemination of Black life from the beginning or after the travels of Christopher Columbus in 1492. Although, it is understood that Blacks traveled to the New World before Columbus. 1619 is the time that most scholars say that Blacks were officially brought to America as slaves. From 1619 to 1865, Blacks were, for the most part, held as enslaved people in the South and parts of the North. Warren C. Coleman, born into slavery, was freed in 1865 when all Blacks were freed at the end of civil war. Other parts of Black history include the period known as Reconstruction Jim Crow, and later the Civil Right Movement (CRM), and after the CRM (some question whether it was successful). Later in 2008, we see the election of Barack Obama (a bi-racial Black man) as president for two terms. In reaction, some would say a backlash, Donald Trump was elected and served for one term. When Coleman passed away in 1904, he left a mark and wealth that will be fully utilized with over 150 apartments in the mill (to be completed sometime in 2026). For the Black community, this will mean a major delivery of money and how they (especially those in Black areas) will benefit is a major source of concern. Colemans church, cemetery, mill and other empirical evidence is available for the world to see and will also mean a major transfer of wealth. Carnegie, on the other hand, had wealth that Coleman and other Blacks could not dream of, but the ideas are similar and the GBH does apply because knowledge is wealth, and I believe that those who have it must do everything possible to share with others. Carnegie, a white man born in Scotland in Europe, had enormous opportunity (unequal opportunity). He is responsible for Carnegie Hall, Carnegie Mellon University and Carnegie Museums in Pittsburgh, for example. What if Coleman had his opportunity? Carnegie shared a small portion of his wealth with Black colleges like Livingstone in Salisbury and Tuskegee in Alabama. His (Carnegies) face is in conspicuous locations in the schools. Both Carnegie and Coleman were, and I am, wealthy (in terms of knowledge human capital) relatively speaking, and they made an enormous difference for many people. Today, many wealthy Blacks (Lebron, Jordon, etc.) are stepping up and following the example of Coleman, Carnegie and myself. Peace. Bianca Williams was tired of trying to find a store that either accepted federal food benefits for low-income mothers and their children or a store that had quality produce. So the Milwaukee resident who has seven kids, including two currently being breastfed decided in November that shed rather turn to frozen Thanksgiving leftovers and food from family and friends. More than 6 million people in the U.S. get benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women and Children, commonly known as WIC. But its not always easy to get the fresh produce, baby formula and other nutritious WIC-approved items. Williams' closest Walmart shuttered in 2016. Since then, she said, WIC can be too much of a hassle." Sometimes, to be honest, I dont even use it, said Williams, who makes about $7 too much a month to qualify for food stamps, because its so hard to get to and from the grocery store, and find a vendor that does accept (WIC). Unlike food stamps, WIC-approved items cant be bought online, though a few states are working on pilot programs to make it a reality. Complex requirements make it tough for smaller stores and sometimes big-name grocers to participate in WIC. Some states are trying to expand access after vendors left over the last five years due to changes in the program or closing down during the pandemic. Its really set up to be a program, at least in our area, that a large full-scale grocer can participate in, said Ann Sanders, the director of public benefits policy and programs at the Pennsylvania nonprofit Just Harvest. Since 2019, the state has seen a net loss of 353 vendors. Though both are under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, WIC differs from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, because SNAP participants can buy almost any grocery item they want regardless of the nutritional value. With WIC, states use federal guidelines to choose products and quantities that vendors are required to carry; brands commonly found on WIC-approved lists include Cheerios, Juicy Juice and Similac. Many smaller stores participate in WIC because community members need the help, but it can come at a cost, according to the National Grocers Association, which lobbies for independent stores. Its not necessarily a big moneymaker for them by any means, said Stephanie Johnson, the associations vice president of government relations, adding that some even lose money from participating in WIC. WIC programs have been making a slow transition from paper vouchers to electronic benefits, known as eWIC. Its easier for shoppers, but stores had to spend money on upgrading cash registers, which in Georgia caused some to quit the program. Michael Gay, who owns Food Fresh, the only grocery store in rural Claxton, Georgia, said eWIC is very time-consuming at the register" to parse out which items are eligible. Despite that and other frustrations, he has stuck with the program because, I want you to have it ... I want to sell it, and I want your baby to eat." National chains don't always participate in WIC, either. Aldi doesnt because it only carries its own brand of formula. Trader Joes told The Associated Press in a statement that the majority of its products dont meet WIC's brand or size criteria. About half of Target stores accept WIC, spokesperson Brian Harper-Tibaldo said, because there are different sizes and layouts. He said smaller stores might not have enough shelf space to meet minimum stocking requirements. Ashley Yancey recently tried to find formula for her daughter at a Target about 30 miles from her home in Douglasville, Georgia, and was stunned the location didnt accept WIC. Often, her nearest WIC vendor is out of the product. Its embarrassing, kinda, she said about her attempt to use WIC at the Target store. Because its like, are you too good to take WIC? Are you looking at me like Im poor?" Yancey doesnt have a car, and likes the freedom of doing most of her grocery shopping online, where she can use her SNAP benefits; the USDA started piloting online SNAP purchases in 2019 and expanded it during the pandemic. Its harder that I cant get my milk like that, she said. I have to borrow somebodys car to go look for the milk, just to not find the milk. It is inconvenient that they dont take WIC online. The USDA is reviewing comments on a proposed rule that would remove barriers to online shopping, like not requiring a cashier to be present for WIC transactions. The agency also has paired with the nonprofit Center for Nutrition to pilot online shopping in seven states and with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Major retailers Walmart and Hy-Vee are participating in some places. I think the states want to see (online shopping), I think they know it would make a big difference for their participants, and I think retailers are on board, too, said Ali Hard, the policy director for the National WIC Association, which is an advocacy group and frequent federal partner. Its a huge equity issue if WIC participants cant buy their groceries in the same way everybody else can. In states where the number of WIC stores has drastically decreased, officials say the impact is most pronounced in rural areas. Louisiana has lost 68 WIC vendors since 2019, and is working on a recruitment plan for stores. We want to focus on more of the rural areas and determine where there might be a store that we can have a conversation with, Bureau of Nutrition Services Director Jennifer Nicklas said. Some of it just organically happens when we know weve had an existing relationship with the store before thats going to really help us to develop where exactly we want to have those conversations. In New Hampshire, minimum inventory requirements kept smaller, more rural stores out of the program, said Hailey McAlary with the state Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition, so the state decided those stores no longer have to carry things like juice concentrates and pureed meat for infants. I think participation and vendor certification are really connected food shopping, we all know, has to be convenient, said Rebecca White, the public and government affairs associate for Hanover Co-Op Food stores in New Hampshire and Vermont. People will buy foods based on what works with their schedule and their lifestyle. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Cities with the most residents in need of rental assistance Cities With the Most Residents in Need of Rental Assistance Minority and low income renters were more likely to apply for assistance Alaskan renters were the most likely to apply for assistance 15. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 14. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA 13. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 12. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 11. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 10. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA 9. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL 8. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 7. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 6. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 5. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 4. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 3. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 2. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Boeing faces new scrutiny about the safety of its best-selling plane after federal officials announced the temporary grounding of some Boeing 737 Max planes Saturday, following a harrowing flight in which an Alaska Airlines jetliner was left with a gaping hole in its side. The Federal Aviation Administration said it required immediate inspections of some Max 9 planes operated by U.S. airlines or flown in the United States by foreign carriers. The FAA's emergency order, which it said will affect about 171 planes worldwide, is the latest blow to Boeing over the Max lineup of jets, which were involved in two deadly crashes shortly after their debut. The inspections take about four to eight hours per aircraft. On Friday night, a fuselage panel blew out on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, causing the rapid loss of cabin pressure. None of the 171 passengers and six members was severely injured and pilots made a safe emergency landing minutes later. Passenger Evan Smith said a boy and his mother were sitting in the row where the panel blew out and the childs shirt was sucked off him and out of the plane. You heard a big loud bang to the left rear. A whooshing sound and all the oxygen masks deployed instantly and everyone got those on, Smith told KATU-TV. The Port of Portland, which operates the airport, told KPTV the fire department treated minor injuries at the scene. One person was taken for more treatment but wasn't seriously hurt. Hours after the incident, Alaska Airlines announced it would ground its entire fleet of 65 Max 9s for inspections and maintenance. CEO Ben Minicucci said Alaska expected the inspections to be completed "in the next few days." Alaska said Saturday the affected areas on 18 of its Max 9s were inspected during recent, intense maintenance work and were cleared to return to carrying passengers Saturday. Even the short grounding disrupted the airline: Alaska canceled more than 100 flights, or 15% of its schedule, by late Saturday morning on the West Coast, according to FlightAware. United Airlines said it inspected 33 of its 79 Max 9s, and pulling the planes from service caused about 60 canceled flights. Photos showed a hole in the Alaska jet where an emergency exit is installed when planes are configured to carry a maximum number of passengers. Alaska plugs those doors because its 737 Max 9 jets don't have enough seats to trigger the requirement for another emergency exit. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board said they would investigate Friday's incident. Boeing declined a request to make an executive available for comment. The company, based in Arlington, Virginia, issued a statement saying it supported the FAA's decision to require immediate inspections. Boeing said it is providing technical help to investigators. The plane involved in Friday's incident is brand-new it began carrying passengers in November and has made only 145 flights, according to Flightradar24, a flight-tracking service. Aviation experts were stunned a piece would fly off a new aircraft. Analysts said the extent of the damage to Boeing's brand will depend on what investigators determine caused the blowout. Richard Aboulafia, a longtime aerospace analyst and consultant, said if the blowout is traced to a manufacturing issue, it would put more pressure on Boeing to change its processes, and cash-generating deliveries of new planes could be slowed. The Max the Max 8 and Max 9 differ mainly in size is the newest version of Boeing's venerable 737, a twin-engine, single-aisle plane frequently used on U.S. domestic flights. More than a decade ago, Boeing considered designing and building an entirely new plane to replace the 737. But afraid of losing sales to European rival Airbus, which was marketing a more fuel-efficient version of its similarly sized A320, Boeing decided to take the shorter path of tweaking the 737 and the Max was born. A Max 8 jet operated by Lion Air crashed in Indonesia in 2018, and an Ethiopian Airlines Max 8 crashed in 2019. Regulators around the world grounded the planes for nearly two years while Boeing changed an automated flight control system implicated in the crashes. Federal prosecutors and Congress questioned whether Boeing cut corners in its rush to get the Max approved quickly, and with a minimum of training required for pilots. In 2021, Boeing settled a criminal investigation by agreeing to pay $2.5 billion, including a $244 million fine. The company blamed two relatively low-level employees for deceiving the FAA about flaws in the flight-control system. Robert Clifford, a Chicago lawyer who is representing families of passengers killed in the Ethiopian crash, said Friday's incident raised questions of whether regulators were too quick to let Max planes return to flying. He accused Boeing of putting profits over safety. Boeing estimated in financial reports that fallout from the two fatal crashes cost it more than $20 billion. It reached confidential settlements with most of the families of passengers who died in the crashes. Airlines resumed buying the Max after a pause following the crashes, but the plane has been plagued by problems unrelated to Friday's blowout. Last year, the FAA told pilots to limit use of an anti-ice system on the Max in dry conditions because of concern that inlets around the engines could overheat and break away, possibly striking the plane. Top 10 safest airlines to fly on right now Top 10 safest airlines to fly on right now Hawaiian Airlines Delta Airlines Alaska Airlines American Airlines United Airlines International: Qatar Airways International: Qantas Airways International: Etihad Airways International: Air New Zealand International: Singapore Airlines Safest low-cost airlines in 2023 With the current news stories of huge bank failures and federal payouts to depositors its easy to think that such catastrophic events only occur on the East or West Coast. Economic depressions and financial institution defaults and failures are, however, no strangers to Nebraska and Lincoln. Lincolns first bank was established by State Treasurer James Sweet of Nebraska City in 1868 on the northeast corner of 10th and O. Two years later R. C. Outcalt, most recently a shirtmaker in New York City, arrived in Lincoln and went to work for the Sweet & Brock Bank then, in 1872, became a bookkeeper for the State National Bank. About 1878 he joined Marsh Brothers & Mosher Bank. Brothers C. W. and W. W. Marsh joined C. W. Marshs uncle Charles W. Mosher from Illinois, in forming Marsh Brothers & Mosher Bank on Oct. 1, 1878, with a capitalization of $50,000. The Marsh brothers also were the principal owners of Marsh Bros. Manufacturing and other Illinois companies. It was later reported that the banks principal business became handling the paper of the various Marsh-owned businesses which should possibly have been a red flag. In 1881 the bank moved from 9th and O into the Walsh/Putnam Building pictured on the southwest corner of 11th and O. The bank was then elaborately remodeled in polished maple and cherry. R. C. Outcalt joined the bank in 1881-82. On June 29, 1883, With Charles W. Mosher president and Richard C. Outcalt cashier, Marsh National Bank incorporated and received federal charter number 2,988 with $300,000 in capital and employing 17 clerks. The following year the bank changed its name to the Capital National Bank of Lincoln. In 1889 a local newspaper lauded R. C. Outcalt as one of the best posted financiers of Lincoln and noted he was the second oldest banker in the city. In 1892 Capital National Bank was called one of the most thoroughly reliable financial institutions in the West and by years end, reported $912,000 in deposits and $21,181 in undivided profits. President C. W. Mosher was considered one of the great financiers in the state, while also serving as vice president of the Lincoln Gas & Electric Light Co. and treasurer of Farmers and Merchants Insurance Co. while the bank carried a correspondent relationship with Chemical Bank of New York, American Exchange Bank of Chicago, and U. S. National Bank of Omaha. What could possibly go wrong? At 9 a.m. on Jan. 21, 1893, about 100 men gathered outside the Capital National Bank where a handwritten note on bank letterhead was posted saying the bank was temporarily closed. The headline on the Lincoln Evening News of Jan. 23 read Capital National Bank Goes Under for Half Million. John Griffith, the National Bank Examiner arrived from Wahoo and immediately suspended the banks operation. Although the State of Nebraska had already withdrawn $60,000, when they attempted another withdrawal of $225,000 from the banks total reported deposits of $625,000, there were no ready funds available. Concerns from the public did not precede the states attempted withdrawal even though the bank had just, for the first time, missed paying a quarterly dividend. Further there was little concern about liquidity because it was widely felt Mosher was wealthy and additionally his father-in-law was worth from $1 million to $3 million dollars and would stand behind the bank. Within two days information began to leak, beginning with a $66,000 Mosher purchase of pedigree stallions which had been unloaded for about $3,000 and other general crooked work done by those who managed the institution, including all sorts of promissory notes from the Farmers and Merchants Insurance Co., Western Manufacturing and Lincoln Gas & Electric Co., all of which Mosher was closely associated with. In that regard, the bank proved to have paid out $602,054.50 on $15,946.77 in certificates of deposits. On Feb. 6, 1893, the bank was officially in receivership for dishonesty. In April C. W. Mosher, termed thieving and criminally negligent, was arrested on a federal grand jury indictment and in July, Omaha Judge Elmer Dundy sentenced Mosher to the minimum sentence of five years in the Sioux Falls Federal Penitentiary. Mosher was released in 1897 after serving three years and four months, then moved directly to Chicago and never returned to Lincoln. The Journal Star's most memorable photos of 2023 The conviction and sentence of an Omaha man who was found guilty of killing his friend more than a decade ago was affirmed by the Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday. Bernard "BJ" Turner, now 28, was convicted by a jury in 2022 of first-degree murder for the 2013 killing of 19-year-old Julius Vaughn. Turner was 18 at the time of Vaughn's killing, and the two were close friends and members of the same gang. Turner appealed his conviction and sentence to the Nebraska Supreme Court last year, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction and that his attorney was ineffective and failed to "zealously advocate" for him. On Friday, the court affirmed Turner's conviction and sentence of life in prison without parole. Vaughn was found shot nine times in his neck and chest in a car outside an apartment complex near 23rd and Vinton streets on Oct. 18, 2013. Though it would take years for an arrest to be made, family and associates of Vaughn were immediately suspicious of Turner. The break in the case came when a man awaiting trial on federal drug charges told authorities he had given Turner a ride away from the scene of Vaughn's killing. At trial, the witness testified that Turner called him shortly after the shooting and requested a ride. The witness then drove Turner to a storm drain so he could dispose of the gun. When the witness led police to the storm drain seven years later, the gun was still there though ballistics tests couldn't be completed because of rust and water damage. On appeal, Turner questioned the credibility of the witness and said his testimony was "riddled with discrepancies," which the Nebraska Supreme Court found unpersuasive. The court also found no merit to Turner's claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. The Journal Star's most memorable photos of 2023 Nebraska Department of Education officials say their agency doesnt have enough resources to manage a new federal food aid program after it was rejected by Gov. Jim Pillen in December. Education Commissioner Brian Maher said during a State Board of Education meeting Friday that he had considerable conversations with Nebraska lawmakers and advocates about the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Program for Children. It will provide millions in food aid to low-income families with children qualifying for free or reduced-price meals this summer to states that participate. States had to express interest in the program by Jan. 1, but Pillen decided against the program in December, despite pleas from Nebraskans. The Nebraska Department of Education still has the authority to take on the program itself, but Maher said there are currently not enough resources to do so. Certainly in our office, weve had meetings and worked to be clear what role, if any role, we have with EBT administration, Maher said. Were not set up to handle EBT administration at the NDE. Maher said in order to administer the funds, the department would have to increase its staff or reallocate duties. Department officials have expressed multiple times in previous meetings that staff members are already stretched thin. The department would also have to obtain the hardware, software, EBT cards and other materials, which would take a lot of time, Maher said. Nebraska Appleseed estimated the state cost would be about $300,000 for administration. The item is not currently on our list of legislative priorities for the Department of Education, but thats not surprising we werent aware of this until fairly recently, Maher said. The new program, which is launching in other states this summer, would provide families $40 per child per month on an EBT card to be spent on groceries. Pillen said one reason he rejected the program was because the state already provides food through the Summer Food Service Program, an older federal program that provides free meals to children at various sites in low-income communities. Advocates have said that traveling to various sites is a barrier for some families and the locations can be few and far between, especially in rural parts of the state. In 2019, Nebraska had 83 sponsors and 270 sites for the whole state. This year, there were only 58 sponsors and 197 sites. Brian Halstead, the Education Departments chief of staff, said roughly 20,000 children participate in this program every summer. He said more than 100,000 children are eligible for food aid in the state. Maher said the topic is an ongoing conversation between the department and lawmakers. On Thursday, Sen. Jen Day of Omaha introduced LB952, which would require the state to participate in the new federal program. Enrolling in the program in the future is still possible, despite the challenges the Education Department would face in managing it, Maher said. States that choose not to participate this year can still participate in future years, according to the program. None of these are deal breakers, should this program come to the department, Maher said. (This is) rather a heads-up that these are some areas we would have to address if something like this comes our way. Photos: Nebraska Legislature gavels in for first day of 2024 session Throughout the pandemic, we have seen an astonishing uptick in youths mental health concerns and a striking loss of mental health and wellness capacity in our city and state. Yet what we are seeing is not new. The impact of the pandemic has only compounded the consequences of an already broken youth mental health and wellness system in our city, state and country. Thus, it is not surprising that youths who lost resources and support during the pandemic, on top of having a long experience of adversity, are coming alive as we exit the pandemic. And in doing so, they are embracing the world and each other in a quest to heal themselves and move into the future. The success of youths in navigating these challenges is dependent on the world that we provide for them. In Chicago, this responsibility rests on our leaders foresight and capacity to develop the resources and support necessary for youths to advance their well-being. Lakaya Knight, a youth leader for the racial justice organization Communities United, makes this critical point in her own Sunday op-ed: There is a powerful link between the healing powers of socializing with others and mental health. For youths to function at their very best, they need at minimum: * Daytime activities that are engaging and stimulating. For most youths, this is their school. This may be a given for most young people, but our school systems often have struggled to help youths meet the many challenges they face today and to foster their optimum development. * Strong communities. Historical trauma and systemic racism have devastated many communities. Even so, most families function heroically and provide the important fundamentals for their children in the face of adversity. Yet many do not that is on us. * Outlets. Music, physical activity and structured social interactions provide opportunities for brain health, which is key to mental health and wellness. As leaders, we have fallen short of our obligation to provide these basic resources. * Lastly, youths need a purpose. While all the above are essential for youths in Chicagoland, finding a higher purpose based on their lived experience is the mental health game changer. In our Chicagoland work, we are finding that youths such as Lakaya, who come to terms with their lived experience, identify a social justice concern and move to address those challenges through advocacy and action as they experience personal healing and work to heal their families and communities. As the chair of the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Lurie Childrens Hospital, I am happy to be in partnership with Communities United as we seek to proactively respond to the growing youth mental health crisis. By rooting our efforts in the Healing Through Justice model, an approach that centers the leadership of youths of color in developing healing-centered strategies for Black and brown youths, we are on the pathway to addressing youth wellness by centering youth leadership and organizing efforts rooted in justice. I can see where Lakaya has a deep optimism, given Chicagos many blessings, and her determination to make a difference. But she needs our help. We must see more partnerships between social justice organizations and corporations that seek to address the needs of our youth population and under-resourced communities. As leaders, we need to understand what we need to do and step up to make Chicagoland a better place for our youths. The new year will open new opportunities to take on this challenge. The time is now. Dr. John Walkup is chair of the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. State lawmakers will reopen the debate over the rules governing the Legislature next week, as senators will consider nearly three dozen proposed changes that range from codifying precedents to reshaping how the unicameral system operates. Its an unusual step for Nebraskas lawmakers to take at the start of the second year of the biennium, particularly when the permanent rules are agreed to at the start of the first year of the two-year legislative session. But even as time is short and the list of bills is growing longer, five senators have submitted a total of 34 proposed changes that will go before the Rules Committee at a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. Monday. The hearing is open to the public in Room 1525 on the first floor of the Capitol, or online at nebraskapublicmedia.org. Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard, who has served on the Rules Committee during his entire tenure in the Legislature and now leads it as chair, acknowledged the fight over the rules has grown more intense in recent years. Previous Rules Committee chairs have presided over meetings where only a handful of changes were proposed. Last year, ahead of what would become a contentious legislative session, the committee heard 57 proposals during a public hearing that adjourned after more than eight hours. This year, Erdman said he plans to streamline the process in order to wrap up the hearing around 5 p.m. On Friday, he said each senator who brought an amendment to the rules a total of five lawmakers including Arch submitted changes this year will introduce each of their proposals one after the other. The committee will then open up the hearing for feedback from the public. Testifiers should stipulate which rules they plan to address to the committee, Erdman said, and should opt out of repeating what others have said previously. Were going to try and be efficient, Erdman said. Following Mondays hearing, senators on the Rules Committee will meet in executive session on Tuesday morning to decide which proposals will be advanced to the floor for debate. Those rules changes wont come out as a package, as happens when the Legislature considers the permanent rules at the start of the biennium, but as individual amendments to the permanent rules. Each change will require the approval of 30 senators to be adopted, according to Clerk Brandon Metzler. Speaker John Arch has scheduled as many as seven days on the legislative calendar for a rules debate, beginning on Jan. 10, or Day 6 of the session. A schedule handed out to senators at a pre-session meeting indicates the last day scheduled for floor debate of any proposed rules changes will be Jan. 19, or Day 12 of the 60-day session. Because the permanent rules are in place, Arch said the rules debate could end at any time: As soon as were done with rules, well move onto bills. Erdman and Arch, who is a non-voting member on the six-senator Rules Committee, said they don't know how many proposed rules changes may ultimately make it to the floor. "There's five people on that committee, and it will be what three people agree to," Erdman said. "I don't think half of them will make it." Arch said most of the ideas that will be presented at the public hearing have been circulated in the weeks and months leading up to the session, which he said has led to thoughtful conversations among senators. He hopes that can tamp down the temperature on the rules debate, which was muted at the start of last year's session before the rules were amended in the middle of the year, leading to a prolonged, heated fight on the floor. "A lot of times, reaction occurs to proposed rules when you don't have that time," Arch said. "Maybe the Rules Committee has thought it through but the others haven't, which tends to be an automatic 'no.'" The discussions over the last few weeks, particularly between the Legislative Council meeting in early December and the start of the session, have led to improvements in the proposals Arch plans to bring. It's also led him to leave some on the cutting room floor, he added. Erdman said he believes the rules should have been the Legislature's focus at the end of the 2023 session, which he said would have resulted in reforms preventing the political minority from dominating the proceedings moving forward. But, with the start of the new session, Erdman said it remains to be seen how far lawmakers want to go with redefining their processes and procedures. "The interim had a calming effect on people, so they may not be as receptive to make changes," he said. Among the proposals Erdman, who will be term-limited this year, plans to bring are a measure discounting "present" or "not voting" votes from being counted as part of a motion to end debate. Erdman also brought rules changes that would reorder priority motions used during filibusters, a motion allowing senators to attempt to suspend any dilatory amendments, and the procedures for calling the question, which ends discussion on an amendment or bill. He also wants to end the longstanding practice of using secret votes for committee chairs and prohibit members of the media from reporting on executive sessions of legislative committees. Arch's proposals fall within three categories, he said, including technical changes or "cleanup language" for existing rules. The speaker also wants to codify precedent, which was often at the center of arguments that derailed debate from the bill at hand in the 2023 session. "We just spent way too much time talking about the interpretation of the rule and I think we could do better with plain language," he said. Finally, Arch said he wants to enact what he called "process improvements," or rules that will likely attract more discussion and debate as they would "define those guardrails more clearly so that our bill process is more efficient." Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair brought a change that would limit senators to introducing no more than 14 bills per session. Senators who introduce five or fewer bills would be able to designate two priority bills, which give them scheduling preference during debate. Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne proposed changing the rule stipulating that voting to suspend the rules would be recognized separately from any other subsequent vote from subsequent motions for which the rules are suspended. Wayne also introduced a rule change requiring senators to vote yes or no on final reading, except if they are excused, as well as a proposal that designates any photos or recording produced by the media on the floor of the Legislature cannot be copyrighted. Finally, Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh brought a change limiting debate over enrollment and review amendments technical changes to a bill between the first and second round of debate to 15 minutes, and clarifying no new material could be added to the bill until that process is completed. Cavanaugh also has a rule change that would require the withdrawal of any motions to postpone a bill be made with unanimous consent or a majority vote of the Legislature. Each January, the Journal Star editorial board presents its agenda for the year, listing topics we believe are of the greatest importance to Nebraska, Lincoln and, importantly, our readers. As was the case last year, our list remains largely unchanged, but events and expectations necessitate some adjustments. Those adjustments begin, importantly, with the addition of protecting democracy as part of our ongoing call for inclusiveness, civility and, in the Nebraska Legislature, nonpartisanship. Shielding our democracy from authoritarianism, while preserving and bolstering individual rights, especially the right to vote, is critical to our nation. Inclusiveness continues to be an unfortunate political battleground, while civility seems a relic of the past but something we could use in a bitterly contentious election year. The other topic that has been most altered is protecting public education. Last year, Gov. Jim Pillen and the Legislature implemented a public education funding plan that would guarantee state aid to all schools while providing some property tax relief. It is imperative that it be implemented, and changed if necessary, to preserve adequate funding for and lid-free spending by public schools. We have added protecting the University of Nebraska, and especially the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, to this agenda topic, as the university generally, and UNL specifically, are facing dramatic downturns if the Legislature continues to fail to fully fund budget requests. The three remaining topics have also seen some alterations, but the issues have largely remained the same, for, in the case of climate change, about a decade. The eighth warmest year ever recorded in Lincoln, 2023 set records for the number of days with 80-degree or higher heat and marked the fourth consecutive year with below-average precipitation, the driest four-year period in 70 years. Those changes have at last brought more political leaders to acknowledge climate change and, at some governmental levels, action has begun to reduce carbon emissions that drive global warming. But a state climate resiliency plan is still needed, and Nebraska must address the impact of climate change on agriculture, its water supply and usage and economic development. That kind of planning would also fit under our fourth topic, quality of life, which includes ongoing challenges for all Nebraskans, not just governments, to work to increase affordable housing opportunities and add middle-class housing, create higher-paying employment in our historically low-wage state and to welcome and increase the number of refugees and immigrants coming to Nebraska. Finally, on prisons and policing, disappointingly few changes took place in 2023. The state has authorized the construction of a new prison to replace the aging State Penitentiary. But building a new prison which will, if incarceration rates stay the same, be full the day it opens doesnt address the states overcrowding crisis. Nor has the Legislature been willing to seriously address criminal justice reform that would create a more fair, just system while reducing the number of people that the state puts behind bars. RACINE The Racine Unified School District is seeking community input for its superintendent search. Three focus group meetings are scheduled for later this month. A virtual Zoom meeting will take place at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 23. The meeting link is zoom.us/j/92069773116?pwd=cDNUYXN0ajJwTkxvK3huR2QvN1BSUT09. The meeting ID is 92069773116 and the passcode is 985013. People can also attend by calling 312-626-6799. An in-person meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Cesar Chavez Community Center, 2221 Douglas Ave. The meetings will be presented in English with Spanish interpretation available. A focus group in Spanish has been scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 24, at Cesar Chavez Community Center. Registration is not required for the meetings, which are expected to last 45 minutes to an hour. Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates will lead the meetings and provide a report to the RUSD Board, according to Stacy Tapp, RUSD chief of communication and engagement. In October, the board approved a $34,729 contract for HYA Associates to provide superintendent search consulting services. If community members cannot attend one of the meetings, they can provide input through an online survey at survey2.ecragroup.com/index.php/136523?. Anyone with questions or who wants to email input can contact Mike Richie at mikerichie@hyasearch.com or Sarena Shivers at sarenashivers@hyasearch.com. The meetings are intended to provide the board with a sense of what traits the community prioritizes in the next superintendent. RUSD also will host staff and parent-specific focus groups, according to the school district. Search timeline Soren Gajewski became RUSD acting superintendent in May and interim superintendent in July after former RUSD Superintendent Eric Gallien accepted a superintendent job in South Carolina. Gajewski anticipates holding the interim superintendent position through the end of the 2023-24 school year. According to RUSDs website, the deadline to apply for the superintendent opening is Feb. 23. The RUSD Board plans to begin interviewing candidates in early March, host finalists for a day at the school district in mid-March and conduct final interviews in late March. The board plans to select a permanent superintendent in mid-April, and that person will start work July 1. More information about the search is available at rusd.org/about/rusd-superintendent-search. Six photos of the Case HS Carolers performance Riley Booker Riley Booker sings during a Case Carolers performance at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus Building 1. Booker was one of about 20 student Seven Hentzell Seven Hentzell introduces a song during a Case Carolers performance at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus Building 1. The high school grou Leah Starks Leah Starks sings a solo during a Case Carolers performance at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus Building 1. Aquil Ocacio Aquil Ocacio, back right, sings during a Case Carolers performance at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus Building 1. Booker and Starks Riley Booker, left, and Leah Starks wait to begin singing during a Case Carolers performance at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus Buildin Alahna Conley Alahna Conley sings a solo during a Case Carolers performance at the RUSD Administrative Service Campus Building 1. The group is composed of C Case Carolers at RUSD ASC Drunk driving has, overall, subsided as a national habit. DUIs are on the decline nationallythe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)s latest study even notes that drunk-driving fatalities have decreased by one third in the past three decades. This is likely due to the rise of research and educational initiatives aimed at raising public awareness of the dangers of impaired driving. But that doesnt mean the issue doesnt persist across the country. In fact, someone dies from a drunk driving accident every 50 minutesthat amounts to 29 fatalities a day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, over a quarter of all traffic-related deaths are the result of alcohol impairment. Across the nation, some cities and towns see a markedly higher prevalence of DUIsposing a threat to those communities drivers. Interested in which cities are home to the most offenders, the data scientists at Insurify, a car insurance comparison shopping website, sought to rank U.S. cities by their proportion of drivers with DUI histories. Heres what they found: National averages. The data scientists at Insurify found that the national average proportion of drivers with a DUI in the past seven years is 1.58 percent. While some of Americas most populous cities greatly exceed this proportion, others boast numbers that are well below the national average. Furthermore, countywide statistics on excessive drinking in the past 30 days, as reported by County Health Rankings and Roadways, ranged from 16 to 27 percent of the population in counties that are home to the nations most populous cities. Insurifys data scientists also found that 7 cities among the nations 15 most populous report higher rates of traffic fatalities that involve alcohol impairment than the national average of 28 percent. West isnt best. Cities in the western half of the contiguous United States were vastly overrepresented in the final list. Only two cities east of the Mississippi RiverVirginia Beach, Virginia and Paducah, Kentuckycracked the top 25. Nearly half of the top 25 consists of cities in Nevada, Colorado, and California. California drinkin. Speaking of the Golden State state, California has a major drunk driving issue. A whopping 8 cities from Southern California alone take a spot in the top 25. Three SoCal cities within the nations 15 most populated cities also see a higher incidence of DUIs than the national average. Avoiding danger in Americas top cities. While some major cities possess alarming statistics on drinking behavior and alcohol-related driving fatalities, their DUI rates tend to stay below the national average, and well below those of the mid-sized cities that dominate the top 25. This could be due to a number of factors, including access to alternative modes of transportation. Methodology Insurify provides car insurance quotes based on customers answers to questions about driving history, vehicle type, and other personal data. The rankings in this article are based on a set of 1.5 million car insurance shopper applications. Each shopper was asked whether any drivers on their policy application had been cited for a DUI (driving under the influence) in the past seven years. Using this information, the data scientists at Insurify were able to calculate the percent of drivers in each city with a DUI in their driving history, and ranked the top 25. They also found DUI data for the 15 most populous cities in the nation, and calculated the likelihood of these cities drivers having a DUI against the national average of 1.58%. They observed this data alongside county-based statistics on adults reporting excessive drinking behavior (binge or heavy drinking) in the past 30 days, and the percentage of driving deaths that involved alcohol. These data points were gathered from an expansive 2016 County Health Rankings study. Population data was taken from the U.S. Census Bureaus June 2017 Population Estimates. PLEASANT PRAIRIE Sparks and smoke swirled through the air as over 100 Christmas trees were set ablaze for a community bonfire over the weekend. The villages annual Twelfth Night Holiday Tree Bonfire was held at the Donald Wruck Beach Pavilion, on the west side of Lake Andrea, at 9999 Park Drive, on Saturday night. Hundreds of attendees sipped coffee and cocoa, munched on chocolate chip cookies, roasted marshmallows on outdoor fire pits and sang carols before the mountain of aromatic Christmas trees was lit up at 6:15 p.m. The event started in the 1980s and, after being snuffed out for several years, it was revived in 2020. Ahead of this years event village residents contributed their used holiday trees by dropping them off at specially marked sites. The free event was organized by Visit Pleasant Prairie, the Pleasant Prairie Fire Department, the Pleasant Prairie Police Department, the Pleasant Prairie RecPlex and Pleasant Prairie History Museum. The police department had two drones in the air offering a live-stream of the bonfire for those who wished to watch it from under a tent instead of on the sandy and snowy beach. Organizer Sarah Howard, executive director of Visit Pleasant Prairie, said the event continues to exceed expectations. Its a whole community effort for a community event, Howard said. Its a beautiful way to celebrate Twelfth Night, and we even have some snow on the trees. Assistant Fire Chief Dave Wilkinson said the fire was started by a flare and fuse and the fire would burn for about two hours. The villages Public Works Department then cleans up the beach. Were able to get rid of the trees in a safe and responsible way, Wilkinson said. Its just a great event. Still, Wilkinson said no one should attempt to light their own Christmas tree on fire. They are full of sap, he said. Sap can burn very, very quickly and the trees are starting to get dry. Zahra Ermoian, of Kenosha, attended the event for the first time. Its awesome! Ermoian said. I love it. ... Its really cute. I just thought it was going to be a burn, so I didnt expect all this stuff. Its really nice. Ermoian said Kenosha should do something like this. Twelfth Night is the celebration that marks the end of the Christmas season, falling on the last night of the Twelve Days of Christmas. PHOTOS: Holiday scenes around Kenosha SOUTHPORT ELEMENTARY ORNAMENTS SOUTHPORT ELEMENTARY ORNAMENTS SOUTHPORT ELEMENTARY ORNAMENTS Kenosha HarborMarket third annual Holiday Market Kenosha HarborMarket third annual Holiday Market HISTORY CENTER AND LIGHTHOUSE HISTORY CENTER AND LIGHTHOUSE MAGIC AT MUNI MAGIC AT MUNI HAWTHORN HOLLOW HOLIDAY BOTIQUE HAWTHORN HOLLOW HOLIDAY BOTIQUE CHRISTMAS TREE ON 60TH CHRISTMAS TREE ON 60TH HOLIDAY TRAIN AT THE MUSEUM HOLIDAY TRAIN AT THE MUSEUM MERRY & BRIGHT HOLIDAY MARKET MERRY & BRIGHT HOLIDAY MARKET LIGHTIN' UP DOWNTOWN LIGHTIN' UP DOWNTOWN LIGHTIN' UP DOWNTOWN LIGHTIN' UP DOWNTOWN Between state budget battles, uncertainty over the University of Wisconsin systems building priorities, more closed branch campuses and a looming budget shortfall, 2023 was a busy year for Wisconsins public university system. Dont expect 2024 to be any quieter. Many of the headlines that dominated 2023 will be back in 2024, albeit in slightly different forms. Instead of the will-they-or-wont-they of the UW Board of Regents approving a deal with the state Legislature, the focus will shift to seeing whether the Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers approve crucial aspects of that deal, including UW-Madisons new engineering building and $32 million returned to the UW system budget to implement its workforce development plan. And you can expect the sagas of long-standing issues with the UW system anticipated budget shortfalls, enrollment and the future of the branch campuses to continue as well. Here are five things to keep an eye on in 2024. Implementation of the deal It was the story that dominated December: UW system President Jay Rothman, along with UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, struck a deal with legislative Republicans to get much of what many felt had been unfairly withheld, such as UW system staff pay raises already approved in the budget process and the engineering building that seemed like a slam-dunk decision to in growing Wisconsins economy. In return, the UW system agreed to reclassify a third of its diversity, equity and inclusion employees under the systems student success umbrella and to eliminate any questions on admissions applications that refer to diversity, an initiative Rothman announced earlier this year with job applications. But the deal hinges on lawmakers approving many provisions that require legislative and governor approval. Certain aspects, such as all of the state borrowing required to build or renovate UW system buildings, are expected to come forward as bills in January and need to be approved by the end of February. Other aspects, such as a new Minnesota student tuition reciprocity agreement and guaranteed admissions for a certain percentage of the states top high school students, at one point have been standalone bills introduced this session. Since the deal was struck between Rothman and Assembly Speaker Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, its unclear whether the deal will be executed to the letter. The deal prompted significant outcry from legislative Democrats after it was announced earlier this month, and at least one Republican indicated he was unhappy with the deal following a vote on approving the withheld pay raises for UW system employees, stating that it didnt go far enough to eliminate DEI. Steep budget shortfalls As the majority of the UW systems universities were projected to have a combined $58 million budget shortfall by June 2024, many have undergone cost-cutting measures. Some of the universities, such as UW-Platteville, are looking to close entire budget gaps within the year, despite Rothman requiring all of the universities to reduce spending by the end of fiscal year 2028. Others, such as UW-Oshkosh, already have made deep cuts. Oshkosh eliminated nearly one in six jobs in October. But universities will still wrestle with budget shortfalls this year. For years, UW system universities were draining money from reserve accounts to make ends meet. While Rothman has said the UW systems fiscal situation is not surprising, given decisions made by legislators to keep state aid relatively flat or deal UW system deep cuts during the past decade, the use of reserves is also unsustainable. Enrollment projections Last fall was the first in nearly a decade the UW system was able to increase its enrollment. Whether it can continue to reverse a longstanding downward trend has yet to be seen. Already, the system is implementing strategies it has lacked at a systemwide level for years. The system is poised to automatically offer admission to eligible Wisconsin high school juniors to the majority of its campuses starting this summer, with the hopes of expanding its reach. More than 200 high schools or districts have signed on to the program, including the majority of Dane County schools. The UW system also is pursuing private dollars to keep its tuition-waiver program for low-income students alive for a second cohort. At the same time, UW-Milwaukee, which has the largest percentage of students receiving the UW systems tuition waiver program, is planning to launch its own promise program, expected to eventually cost $7 million a year. Enrollment growth is a vital part of the UW systems financial stability, as state aid has either stagnated or decreased in the past decade. Re-envisioning branch campuses With the UW system effectively closing three branch campuses in the past two years, administrators are pressed to figure out a sustainable plan forward for the remaining branches. Rothman has said plans to end classes are driven by enrollment, not finances, and has said the UW system needs to come up with a new model for its branch campuses. After announcing the closure of UW-Platteville at Richland in November 2022, Rothman said he was tasking the chancellors who oversee branch campuses with determining paths forward for each of them. Since branch campuses merged with the UW systems four-year institutions in 2018, some have been able to stabilize enrollments by creating a one university, many locations approach, where branch campuses have curriculum tailored to community needs or can offer the same bachelors degrees as the main campus. Workforce development The UW systems workforce development plan, although not yet approved by legislative Republicans, is set to strengthen its focus on industries that are clamoring for new workers. Those areas are computer science, especially in the area of artificial intelligence; health care; business and finance; and engineering. Through that plan, the UW system could recoup $32 million the Legislatures budget-writing committee held back in an effort to pressure the UW system to eliminate its DEI staff and programming. UW-Parkside would create the Center for AI and Business and UW-Stout would establish a cluster hire program, where faculty are hired as a group, to integrate artificial intelligence into five of its departments. Other campuses, including UW-Eau Claire, UW-Green Bay and UW-Whitewater, also would offer new degrees in artificial intelligence, robotic automation or both. At other campuses, nursing and other health care programs are slated to expand. UW-Parkside plans to establish a nursing program independent of its current collaborations with other colleges; UW-Platteville and UW-Superior would leverage their connections with technical colleges to build undergraduate nursing programs. Just after Christmas, attorneys general from 23 states and the District of Columbia urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a federal rule banning bump stocks. We concur and if the high court doesnt get it right, Congress should get to work and spell out the ban in a new law. The high court agreed to take up the issue in November after differing lower court decisions over the ban, which was put in place by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives six years ago by the then-President Donald Trump administration. The ATFE bump stock ban went into effect after a mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2017. You remember that, of course. A crazed gunman in the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel opened fire with bump stock-equipped AR-15s on a crowd of 20,000 people attending a country music festival across the street. By the time the smoke had cleared and the screaming had stopped, 58 people were killed and another 500 were wounded or injured in the rush for cover. The gunman, Stephen Paddock, killed himself before he could be apprehended. The attorneys general told the court in their petition that the ban aligns with longstanding prohibitions dating to 1934 against public ownership of most machine guns and that bump stocks, which use the recoil of the weapon to rapidly fire without additional trigger pulls belong in that category. Bump stocks were deliberately developed and marketed to circumvent federal law banning civilian use of automatic weapons, said District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, These devices are designed to convert semiautomatic firearms to illegal machine guns, with foreseeable tragic and deadly consequences. We urge the Supreme Court to prioritize public safety and the safety of law enforcement officers by upholding a reasonable, well-established rule classifying bump stocks as banned automatic weapons. We cant undo the horror and bloodletting at Mandalay Bay, but we can take steps to prevent the next crazed shooting by keeping the ban on bump stocks. If the Supreme Court cant see its way to support the ban, then Congress should step in and pass a single piece of legislation to enforce it. There may need to be an exception for handicapped hunters, but for the most part there is no reasonable purpose for nearly full automatic firepower. Not for hunting; not for self-protection. Consider that Stephen Paddock, at one point in the tower at Mandalay Bay, was able to fire 90 shots in a 10 second period using bump stocks. A machine gun can fire 98 shots in a seven second period. Theres not a deer herd or a concert crowd that can stand up to that rain of fire. The Supreme Court should get that. 1. Yes. It will be convenient and the fares are cheap. I plan to use the transit system often. 2. Yes. I have a vehicle, but I may still use the service now and then, especially in bad weather. 3. No. I dont use the current bus service, and I dont plan to use the micro-transit service either. 4. No. It may be fine in town, but it still involves a transfer for longer trips. That wont work. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say. It depends on how well the service works once its in place. Vote View Results Will the so-called ComEd Four actually ever see any prison time? For that matter, will former House Speaker Michael Madigan, who just had his pending corruption trial delayed by six months? Those are now real questions as we await the U.S. Supreme Courts verdict on whether federal prosecutors have been overly aggressive in taking down the likes of Madigan and former Ald. Ed Burke. No, the high court isnt weighing in directly on Madigan or former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and three others who were convicted last spring of bribing the once-all-powerful speaker through an elaborate system of favors, including hiring Madigan cronies for lobbying jobs requiring little or no work. But it might as well be. Sentencing for the four, originally scheduled for this month, has been delayed until late next month and probably will be set back further. U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey, overseeing Madigans upcoming trial, determined as much when he reluctantly agreed with Madigans lawyers to delay the trial to wait for the decision in an appeal brought by a former northwest Indiana mayor. Its better to do it right than to do it twice, he said. The reason: The Supreme Court will rule on a criminal case involving former Portage, Indiana, Mayor James Snyder, who was convicted of tax and corruption charges. That case comes out of the federal court systems 7th Circuit, which includes Chicago and all of Illinois. The result will weigh heavily on the fates of the ComEd Four defendants and Madigan. Its worth briefly summarizing the Snyder case. As mayor, Snyder took great pains to ensure a specific company got a city contract for new garbage trucks. That company then hired Snyder as a consultant for $13,000 an arrangement in which there was no evidence Snyder did any work. Prosecutors charged Snyder with corruptly accepting a cash gratuity in return for steering the contract to the firm. Snyders defense attorneys argued the evidence showed no explicit quid pro quo. They warned that convicting public officials in the absence of a stated corrupt arrangement risks criminalizing simple favors like buying a case of wine for an official after winning public business or getting a law passed. The Snyder case is interesting because the facts demonstrate about as clearly as possible the presence of corruption without an explicitly stated underhanded bargain. Most observers, we believe, would look at those facts and conclude that, yes, that kind of behavior is corrupt and should be illegal. Likewise, in the ComEd Four case, most reviewing the evidence would view as blatantly corrupt the sometimes-frantic steps Pramaggiore and company lobbyists took over many years to keep in Madigans good graces as he helped push through state legislation that meant billions for ComEd and its parent, Exelon. The Snyder case doesnt bear as directly on Burkes conviction, which involves a different statute. So the former aldermanic powerhouse, who recently turned 80, has less hope of avoiding jail time thanks to decisions yet to be rendered in Washington. In the cases of both Madigan and Burke, regardless of the ultimate legal outcomes, the feds have done a great public service in ridding the city and state of political heavyweights who acted as gatekeepers on critically important public policy issues while they arguably tied many of those matters to their own private interests. Still, it wont be a surprise, given how the Supreme Court has ruled recently in other public corruption cases around the country, if the justices decision in Snyder significantly undermines the ComEd Four convictions. Scott Lassar, Pramaggiores attorney and the former chief federal prosecutor for the Northern District of Illinois, has said publicly that he expects the outcome to mean at the very least a new trial and possibly a reversal of the convictions. We wont know until probably in June, when the justices tend to issue opinions in major cases. We certainly want to see justice done in the case of Madigan, whose Springfield political machine was a cancer on Illinois body politic. But were at least as concerned with how the Snyder ruling affects future FBI and prosecutorial efforts in a city and state that have more than earned their reputations as cesspools of corruption. The high court, through its past rulings in this area, seems very disturbed by what it views as prosecutorial overreach, particularly when it comes to policing the behavior of public officials. Fair enough. Theres room for debate on that subject. But if an explicit quid pro quo or the classic stack of bills in a brown bag ends up being whats required to prove that a public official is acting corruptly, the justices risk going too far in tying the hands of federal law enforcement and prosecutors. That would be a terrible result for a state that only now, with the falls from grace of Madigan and Burke, is showing some signs of getting past its notorious and frankly justified image. The other risk is that the high court unintentionally provides the corruption-prone with a road map on how to get away with behavior like the sleazy arrangement ComEd had with Madigan over nearly a decade. There was no need for foolish if you do that, then I will do this statements in the hours of wiretaps that otherwise amply demonstrated the individuals involved knew precisely why they were doing back flips to please Madigan. The absence of such cluelessness didnt change the truth of what was happening, which was blatant. We can look at those facts and assert this without equivocation: If thats not illegal, then (as they used to say) there oughta be a law. If the Snyder ruling ends up undermining the public corruption fight seriously enough, our congressional delegation should seek to make federal law clearer. Unfortunately, expecting Congress to act these days, even when an issue cries out for a response, is naive. In light of that, we call on the justices to keep our state in mind as they determine Snyders fate. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. HOLDREGE A new energy agreement went into effect on Jan. 1 for the power generated at the Johnson No. 1 and Johnson No. 2 hydroplants. Also on Jan. 1, the power generated at the Jeffrey Hydroplant began selling on the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) market. Electrical Projects Operations Manager Eric Hixson told the CNPPID Board of Directors at their monthly board meeting that scheduling the new operations has gone well so far. The Central control center and engineers are working together daily to schedule the most efficient way to utilize the water while creating power at the Jeffrey hydroplant to take advantage of the changing market. Cabin owners at Jeffrey Lake will likely see larger and more frequent lake level fluctuations this winter as a consequence of the very high variability in market conditions Central is subject to within the SPP region. All generated power at J1 and J2 now is being delivered to the MEAN (Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska) for its customers in Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado and Wyoming. Central had been sending power to Evergy in Kansas from 2013-23. Evergy is assisting with marketing the power generated at Jeffrey on the SPP market while the Central board continues to explore long term options for that generated power. Also at Wednesdays meeting: The Central board approved the inclusion of 61 accounts totaling 1,053 acres in the 2024 Water Leasing Program. Irrigation customers who submit acres for the program agree not to irrigate the acres in exchange for payment of $100/acre from the Platte River Recovery and Implementation Program (PRIPP). Instead, that leased water is added to PRRIPs environmental account in Lake McConaughy and is managed and released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to benefit wildlife habitat along the Platte River. Irrigation and Water Services manager Scott Dicke reported that crews are continuing work on replacing pipelines. He hopes the Axtell protection plan of lining one mile of the canal can be completed by irrigation season. Tyler Thulin reported that Lake McConaughys elevation currently is 3,237.5 feet, or 59.2 % of maximum volume, which is up one foot since Dec. 20. Current inflows cannot be measured exactly due to icing in the river, but they were around 1,300 cubic feet per second last week with outflows continuing at 300 cfs. Thulin added that snowpack in the upper North Platte Basin is at 64% of median, setting the lowest mark at this time since 1991. Snowpack is 48% in lower North Platte basin and 71% in the South Platte basin. KEARNEY Starting next week, people no longer need to make appointments to pick up food at the Free Mobile Produce Pantry. The pantry serves Kearney, Minden, Holdrege, Gibbon, Elm Creek and Ravenna. Pick-ups are scheduled at one site every other week, completing a cycle of all locations every six weeks. Starting Jan. 12, people can show up any time the pantry is open to pick up non-perishable food and paper products on a first-come, first-served basis. Food will be distributed, no questions asked, until supplies run out. The Free Mobile Produce Pantry is executed by the Mid-Nebraska Community Action Food Bank. It follows the guidelines of the Food Bank from the Heartland in Omaha. The January and February schedules are as follows. Food will be distributed until 11:30 a.m., or until it runs out. Jan. 12: Minden United Methodist Church, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Jan. 26: Gibbon Public School, west side, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Feb. 9: Ravenna Utilities Department, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Feb. 23: Elm Creek Fire Hall,9:30-11:30 a.m. Clients are asked to pull up onsite and inform the staff of their needs. The staff will use a contactless delivery system to load their food into their vehicles. The staff will do their best to fill the needs. People are advised to come early since food may run out before the end of the time period. The Food Bank staff will pack up and depart as soon as that happens. The pantries began in July 2017. The process begins when the Food Bank for the Heartland in Omaha delivers boxes filled with fresh fruits, vegetables and one loaf of bread to Kearney by truck. The Community Action Food Bank employees and volunteers add frozen meat, canned goods, dry goods and personal care items such as diapers, paper towels and toilet paper picked up from Walmart, Target, Dollar General and Family Fresh. Those pick-ups are done two times a week as part of the Community Action Food Bank Food Rescue Program. The Food Rescue items, along with food drive items, are added to the Mobile Produce Pantry boxes so participants receive two boxes of food at pick-up time. The pantries that serve Minden, Holdrege, Elm Creek, Gibbon, and Ravenna are organized to serve 120 households. Pantries held at the Food Bank in Kearney are set up to serve 200. Before Christmas, Community Action Partnership also delivered 588 hams, a gift from Hy-Vee, with the assistance of the Kearney Police Department. For questions, call Kyla Martin at 308-440-0153, Megan Mandery at 308-627-3945 or Rae Lynn Johnson at 308-865-5683, ext 1. Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian is voicing support for a long-derailed plan to create a commuter rail line between the cities of Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee, with related items expected to come through the city in the coming months. He said he has spoken with Racine Mayor Cory Mason about the project. In 2022, Racine received $5 million from the federal government for a new study on the feasibility of the commuter rail project. Im very supportive, Antaramian said. Its an excellent opportunity for the community and the whole region. Last year, a profile of the project was posted on the Federal Transit Administration website, proposing a private entity, the Wisconsin Transit & Realty Group, own and operate the rail line. In the profile, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation proposed to implement commuter rail service along an existing 33-mile freight rail corridor from Downtown Kenosha, through Racine and to the Milwaukee Intermodal Station, in conjunction with the WTRG. The line would serve nine stations, three existing and six new, providing a connection to Metras Union Pacific-North commuter rail line in Kenosha. The project, running along Lake Michigan parallel to I-94, would involving upgrading the tracks to allow operating speeds up to 79 mph. Beyond new stations and updated tracks, the project proposal included up to three 10,000-foot passing sidings, implementing positive train control, upgrading grade crossings along the route with quadrant gates and signaling, building a maintenance facility, and rehabilitating or replacing various bridges. Plans for the KRM commuter railway date back to the 1990s, but were stalled in 2011 when the State Legislature and governor dissolved the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority, the organization created to oversee the project. In the wake of former Ald. Edward Burkes blockbuster racketeering conviction, his onetime colleagues on the Chicago City Council are faced with a choice: whether to hold themselves to tougher ethical standards. Theyre largely weighing that decision without input from Mayor Brandon Johnson, who, unlike his predecessor, is taking a hands-off approach to anti-corruption reforms. The fresh debate is spurred by a slew of new recommendations from the Chicago Board of Ethics tightening rules for city contractors, campaign fundraising and advertising that a key committee chairman pledged to take up in the new year. It could be Johnsons first significant opportunity to start to establish his good government bona fides. The issue was front and center in the 2019 campaign after a raid on Burkes office that Lori Lightfoot successfully seized on to help propel her to victory. But Johnson and many council members arent treating it with the same urgency, despite a jury convicting Burke last month of wielding his power as alderman to secure business for his law firm. While the new rules wouldnt have stopped Burke, they could at least send a signal to Chicagoans fed up with corruption that City Hall takes the situation seriously. One close observer said Johnson has so far sent out troubling signals about his commitment to transparency. And since the ethics board itself has no actual authority, its recommendations are only as relevant as the political will that exists at City Hall to act upon them. Reached last week, Johnsons administration was mum on which ethics board proposals were a priority and whether the mayor thinks they go far enough. A spokesman said in an email Johnson supports all efforts to make city government more transparent and responsive to the people that we serve. These proposed ethics reforms are a positive step toward a more accountable city government. Some of the most significant changes proposed by the Board of Ethics which takes a fresh look at the citys regulations at the start of each new mayoral administration were spurred by Tribune reporting about the widespread use of aldermanic expense accounts to hire contractors. Others would limit the contributions aldermen and other candidates for city office could take from leaders of businesses that have city contracts, and mandate that as candidates, they stand by the content of their political ads and mailers. Ald. Matt Martin, 47th, outside his North Center ward office, Jan. 3, 2024. I dont think from my standpoint anything should be off the table, said Ald. Matt Martin, 47th, the head of City Councils Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, who said he wants to be as comprehensive as possible instead of taking lots of different little nibbles like last term. Its unclear whether Johnson has the appetite to prod aldermen toward more ethics restrictions, however. Lightfoot made it a 100-day agenda item, quickly passing a package that allowed the citys inspector general to dig into council committees and prohibiting aldermen and city employees from doing outside work that could conflict with the citys interests. Lightfoot argued her overwhelming electoral victory gave her a mandate to tighten the rules. It passed unanimously, but she failed to tackle other promised good government reforms and in some cases, reversed her stance as relationships with aldermen frayed over the rest of her tenure. Johnson, meanwhile, focused on using his early political capital to pass pro-worker legislation in his first months in office. He also pledged to heal the fractures between aldermen and the fifth floor, framing himself as a unifier who could rebuild relationships across the city. That gives the mayor far less incentive to exhaust goodwill to try to get aldermen to vote to be harder on themselves, especially while the migrant crisis has already strained his rapport with council and made it more difficult to pass other pillars of his progressive agenda. The administration doesnt seem to be taking the lead, said Geoffrey Cubbage, a policy analyst for the Better Government Association and a former aldermanic staffer. That isnt necessarily bad: the BGA has advocated for aldermen to fulfill their role as legislators, Cubbage said. Its less ethics and more transparency where BGA has trouble with the Johnson administration, he said. That includes council sessions that were gaveled out without properly being adjourned, important matters being voted on without language being released to the public beforehand, and the short-lived proposal that would have changed the publics access to the council floor. Were seeing troubling signals, Cubbage said. We do honestly see this administrations really not taking the bold steps on transparency that wed hoped for during the campaign. Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, who has pressed for a ban on outside employment for aldermen, agreed ethics have not been a Johnson priority, adding that he expects some council members will push back on everything. Ald. Andre Vasquez Jr., 40th, speaks with Mayor Brandon Johnson during a City Council meeting at City Hall on Dec. 13, 2023. I think hes comfortable having the council try to figure it out, Vasquez said of the mayor. But most of his colleagues are not raring to tackle it either, despite the potential boost to their reputations. Do I think 26 alders are going to be like, Yes, sign us up!? I dont think thats an easy lift, no. Ethics Chair Martin is looking to put the changes on the agenda in the coming months while also making sure were moving at a very deliberate pace given whats been in the news as well as the fact that its been, now, over a year and a half since the council has taken a thorough review of its ethics ordinance. Hes also open to a subject matter hearing on Vasquezs ordinance on outside employment. Vasquez said hes looking at grandfathering in the current aldermen who have other jobs, or starting the effective date later. Among the changes proposed by the ethics board, contractors working for aldermen would largely be subject to the same ethics restrictions as city employees. If approved, those contractors: Would owe the same fiduciary duty to the city always working in its best interest as officials and regular city employees when they are working for council. Would be barred from getting involved in any city decisions that benefit their own financial interests, or that of other clients or employers. This would apply in matters in which they stand to receive or have received income or compensation for a full year before and after that matter is pending, ethics officials wrote in the footnotes of the proposal. They would similarly be subject to the same rules prohibiting city employees from making, participating in making, or using their position to influence any city governmental decision or action in which he knows or has reason to know that he has any financial interest distinguishable from its effect on the public generally for that same two-year window. Would be required to disclose a financial interest in any matter pending before any city agency to the board of ethics and, if the matter is pending in his own agency, to the head of the agency. Would be barred from making money from representing a third party anyone other than the city in any formal proceeding with a city agency, or in judicial, quasi-judicial, or other proceeding in court where the city is an adverse party or where it may hurt city finances, health, safety or welfare. Under the current rules for contractors, the machinery is still in place for such workers to essentially be patronage hires, said Cubbage. The proposed fixes are a good start to addressing contractors roles, he said. It is also currently difficult to know independent contractors potential conflicts: Of the 18 independent contractors aldermen paid between January 2019 and December 2022, a Tribune review in June found only five had statements of economic interest available on the Board of Ethics website for each year they were paid. Those statements include questions about other work or income. The remaining 13 were all missing at least one year, and eight of them had no statements filed at all. The ethics board proposal also tightens up rules around contractor disclosures. The Tribune found some were paid through LLCs, which allowed them to avoid filing annual statements of financial interest at all. One of the proposals clarifies the definition of City Council contractor to include both entities and the individuals who own or are employed by entities that perform services for members of council, committees, bureaus, or other City Council service agencies, according to the summary. No changes have been proposed that bar contractors from working at City Council if they are on a sister agencys do-not-rehire list. That would require a separate fix to city hiring practices, not tweaks to the ethics ordinance. Even so, Martin said he wanted to speak with sister agencies to see what rules could be incorporated across the board so nothings falling in the cracks. One such contractor, Alonzo Williams, was put on the Chicago Park Districts do-not-rehire list for his involvement in the districts sexual abuse lifeguard scandal, but was hired and worked for four aldermen. City records show payments to Williams firm stopped in July 2023. Two of the aldermen that hired Williams said he was not let go, but had taken another job. Williams LinkedIn page says he has since joined an IT consulting firm that previously helped launch the councils e-voting system in the spring of 2022. The citys Human Resources Department previously told the Tribune the city conducts background checks for employees, vendors and contractors, but did not identify any office that vets City Council contractors. Several ethics board proposed revisions deal with campaign snafus that emerged during the most recent municipal elections. After Lightfoots mayoral campaign was embroiled in controversy for sending emails seeking interns to Chicago Public Schools employees, the board is also calling for a rule that would make clear that no candidate or political fundraising committee may, for example, send emails soliciting political contributions or campaign work to city employees or officials to their official city email addresses. The case against Lightfoot was ultimately dismissed because, the board found, Lightfoot herself was not responsible for the emails, the fundraising committee and its leadership were. In its November decision, the board noted it regrettably did not have the power to hold the wrongdoers to account. The change would add political fundraising committee to current language that says no official or employee shall compel, coerce or intimidate any city official or employee to make, refrain from making or solicit any political contribution. The BGAs Cubbage says he expects another proposal to garner significant attention: one that would close a campaign finance loophole involving contribution caps imposed on businesses with city contracts. As it stands, companies doing business with the city can donate up to $1,500 per candidate, but its officers, directors, partners, or members/owners of LLCs or other business entities can also donate on top of it. They are currently allowed to contribute up to $6,900 each per election cycle in addition to the businesss $1,500. Reforms would consider all donations from the businesses and its officers in aggregate and subject them to the $1,500 cap. Thats similar to rules in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and in Illinois for state offices, the board says. The board made a similar proposal to close that loophole in 2019, but it was not heeded. Separately, after more than a dozen enforcement actions were taken during the 2023 election cycle against candidates for city office who used pictures of Chicago police officers or firefighters, their vehicles, or logos or insignia in campaign materials, the board also proposed added language to make it clear that use of such photographic images in electioneering communications for or against candidates for elected city office is strictly prohibited. Several candidates, including U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia and Ald. Nick Sposato, 38th, were dinged for including such insignia or personnel in campaign ads. Sposato posted a picture of himself online in a CFD uniform and in front of a fire truck, and Garcia used footage of a conversation with a uniformed police officer in an ad (a violation of Chicago Police Department policy). The board issued warnings, telling candidates not to use city property in campaign ads, but did not issue any fines or fees for violations. As long recognized by courts, the government has a significant interest in maintaining control over official symbols of authority like these, as well as manifesting law enforcement and firefighters official neutrality as to supporting particular candidates while in uniform or on duty, ethics officials wrote. The ban on of use city property for electioneering would include not only use of the city seal and city buildings in ads but also any intellectual property or personal property, equipment, machinery, or tangible items owned or used by the city for city business purposes, including but not limited to any uniform, badge, or other insignia that identifies or purports to identify an individual as a city employee. Also proposed: a stand by your ad provision requiring candidates themselves to say in radio or filmed campaign ads that the candidate personally reviewed and approved the communication, per the ethics board summary. Cubbage was encouraged existing laws were enough to snag Burke and said the new proposals make important fixes to hold council members accountable going forward. By acting to address other potential conflicts, Vasquez hopes to avert future damaging headlines tying aldermen to corruption: Rather than hoping these are bygone days, its important to make change so history doesnt repeat itself. aquig@chicagotribune.com - Advertisement - Every time I hear of activities like this, I light up with pride and joy knowing that our people continue to exhibit the true essence of a Filipino kind, loving, and doing things with that luminous smile. So, for this weeks column, Im veering away from the usual tourist destinations, to focus on the heart of the Filipino, which is what truly makes him an attraction that always awes our foreign visitors, giving them the most important reason why they Love the Philippines. Bright smiles lit up the faces of over 2,600 medium-security inmates of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City when they were treated to a hearty meal cooked especially for them over the holidays by three famous local chefs. The cooking event dubbed as the Bilibid or Not Cookout was an initiative of Lucas Lepri Philippines (LLP) to support the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service Foundation Inc. (PJPS) and its scholarship program for deserving children whose parents are incarcerated at the nations main jail facility. Scholars under the program will gain a formal education, giving them better opportunities to bring about a positive change in their lives. Vlogger and chef Ninong Ry shares his culinary talents by participating in the fundraising cooking event By organizing the cookout, Lucas Lepri Philippines in partnership with PJPS, aimed to draw attention to the plight of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and their need for financial assistance to be able to send their kids to school. Its main goal is to establish an endowment fund that would sustainably support the scholarship program over the long term. - Advertisement - Well-known chefs JP Anglo, Ninong Ry, and Chavi Romawac responded to LLPs call and jumped at the opportunity to put their combined culinary talents to good use. All popular kitchen personalities, with a large base of followers, teamed up for their first-ever prison community project as their way of spreading the word in support of their friends at LLP and this meaningful cause. The outdoor makeshift kitchen set up within the prison grounds was bright and breezy, a perfect match to the jovial mood of the whole team helping out that day. Cooking up a storm, the celebrity chefs served up hundreds of kilos of Chicken Adobo and Bistek, each dish prepared in 3 different ways and cooked onsite. With all hands on deck, the hugely successful cookout is just the starting point of things getting better for PDLs and their childrens future. Krissy Kairuz, General Manager of LLP, happily shared that the fundraising cooking event has already brought in pledges for the scholarship fund. Expressing how good and uplifting it felt to be the hands that extend help, she added, We not only served up platefuls of food but we served up plates of hope for a brighter tomorrow for the families of those behind bars. As the premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training center in the country today, Lucas Lepri Philippines thanked all those who responded and gave generously to support their project of giving hope and rebuilding lives. Learn more about how to be a sponsorship partner through MK Guano at: pjps@pjps.org.ph or you may give the gift of education by donating to: Metrobank Account Name: Philippine Jesuit Prison Service Foundation Inc. Account No. 3497-3495 130 44 YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers. Now, they drink like their fathers. For feedback, Im at bobzozobrado@gmail.com Members of two Orthodox churches in Aurora along with city officials met Saturday at the pedestrian footbridge near RiverEdge Park to celebrate the first-ever blessing of the Fox River. Both St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox and St. Athanasius Romanian Orthodox churches were represented at the ceremony that was purposely held during the feast of Theophany which recognizes three events including the visit of the Magi, the wedding at Cana and the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. The Rev. Panagiotis Boznos of St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church spoke before the event and said the feast of Theophany takes place each year on Jan. 6 and is a celebration of Jesus Christs baptism in the Jordan River. It is called Theophany because at his baptism, Jesus was revealed to the world as the son of God, he said. Because water is an essential element of a baptism, the Orthodox church celebrates the blessings of the waters service as part of the festivities for Theophany. Where possible, it has become a tradition among the orthodox to bless significant bodies of water within communities on Theophany. Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit which descended on the water of the Jordan River at Jesus baptism will also descend upon the waters that we bless and through the grace of the Holy Spirit will sanctify the world. Boznos added prayers would include the blessing of the Fox River, which is vital to the life of our city, and be felt throughout the region. Clayton Muhammad, chief communications and equity officer for the city of Aurora, said a request was made over six months ago to hold Saturdays ceremony. We come under a One Aurora vision from the mayor and part of that vision is to include all the religious communities. When we launched the Aurora Interfaith Alliance a number of years ago to bring our faith communities together that really was our stance on making sure there are voices that are able to be heard, he said. When Father Panagiotis reached out to us, we said wed love to support you on this initiative. We hope this is something that becomes a tradition. Muhammad said the event on Saturday reflects the vision of local clergy and their experiences. He said Boznos of St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church wants to bring things that are traditional to the church and he was sharing stories how in parts of Florida the blessings of the river are huge. The Rev. Daniel Pop from St. Athanasius Romanian Orthodox Church spoke on the bridge Saturday and said having the first-time ceremony was something great. As Orthodox Christians having this, we have a good turnout and Im looking forward to this becoming a yearly tradition, Pop said. This brings to my memory the beautiful things from our countries back there (in Europe) and during this celebrating people were jumping in the water to grab the holy cross. More than 60 people gathered on the pedestrian bridge in downtown Aurora Saturday afternoon for a blessing of the Fox River offered by two Orthodox churches in the city. A crowd of more than 60 huddled on the center of the pedestrian bridge for the event, many of whom said they were members of one of the two churches involved in the ceremony. Brian McAnally of Aurora said he was the incoming president of the parish council at St. Athanasios and that Saturdays event was going to be quite an experience. This is the first time weve gotten to do this and its a blessing to be able to do it, he said. This is a good way to start the tradition. Its a tradition across the diocese and a way to bring the community together and all of our parish joining in to celebrate. Bill Collins of Naperville came with his two sons Anthony, 21, and William 16, who said they are members of St. Athanasios. Were excited to see this and this is great. The tradition would be to jump in and go after the cross but were too high up and the river here is a little shallow, Bill Collins said with a smile. David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News. - Advertisement - Donald Trump hit the campaign trail Saturday in the first-in-the-nation presidential nominating state of Iowa, vowing to win for the third time as Americans marked the anniversary of the deadly assault on the US Capitol by a mob of his supporters. Many watched in horror three years ago on January 6, 2021, as rioters egged on by the ex-president and fueled by his false claims of voter fraud stormed the seat of US democracy in a bid to halt the transfer of power. In a rambling, two-hour speech Saturday to supporters in Newton, Iowa, Trump did not delve into the events of that day, but described those jailed over their roles in the assault as hostages. He has said that if elected, he will pardon many. Trump mocked President Joe Biden, his putative rival in Novembers election. He said Biden has overseen economic decline and invited chaos at the nations borders, while failing to stop Russias invasion of Ukraine. - Advertisement - I wouldve absolutely stopped Putin, he said. Trump warned of World War III if Biden is re-elected, adding, This is our last chance to save America. Never having given up on the fiction that he won the 2020 election, Trump declared that in November he will win for the third time. The runaway leader in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Trump was impeached for inciting insurrection and faces multiple felony charges over his conduct leading up to and during the violence. In an evening appearance at a middle school in the town of Clinton, Trump gave another meandering speech in which he attacked Biden as too old to govern, incompetent and leading the United States to ruin with overrun open borders. We are a failing nation, Trump said in the hour-long address. Were going to bring it back from hell, he added. Biden, who offered blistering criticism of Trump in a speech Friday, has no public events planned this weekend, the White House said. Trump leads rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis by more than 30 points in Iowa, which stages its Republican nominating contest known as a caucus on January 15, kicking off the 2024 primary season. Trump has described January 6 as a beautiful day and has made the great patriots and hostages imprisoned over the riot a cause celebre. The false claim that Democratic election theft led to January 6 has become orthodoxy among many Republicans, with hard-liners in Congress promoting the fantasy that the chaos at the Capitol was a false flag operation by federal agents. A Washington Post/University of Maryland poll released Thursday found that 44 percent of Trump voters believe the FBI organized and encouraged the riot. But polls also show that Democrats and independents hold strongly negative views of the riot and the rioters, and of Trumps role in encouraging them. We will never forget the horrific events of January 6, 2021, Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement Saturday, adding that those responsible must be held accountable, because in this country no one is above the law. Vice President Kamala Harris posted on social media that a victory by those who seek to dismantle our democracy would bring violence and chaos. Threat to democracy The House, controlled at the time by the Democrats, impeached Trump for inciting the violence, which was linked to the deaths of five police officers and several rioters, although he was acquitted by allies in the Senate and denies all wrongdoing. A later congressional investigation concluded that the violence was the culmination of a criminal conspiracy led by Trump to subvert the election. The ex-president is facing multiple federal and state felony charges related to the events. MSNBC on Saturday released chilling new video footage from January 6 showing two Republican lawmakers speaking with Capitol rioters who scream at and taunt them through the broken windows of the House chamber doors. Capitol officers point guns at the mob trying to breach the floor. Democrats plan to make the tycoons conduct on January 6 a key campaign issue, pointing to the 450-plus Trump supporters jailed over allegations ranging from seditious conspiracy to trespassing and assaulting police. In his speech Friday in Pennsylvania, Biden framed the election as a test of the robustness of the republic and he highlighted the Capitol riot as a demonstration of Trumps threat to democracy. And he accused his predecessor of echoing Nazis with his rhetoric on immigration, accusing him of being willing to sacrifice our democracy to regain power. - Advertisement - President Marcos underscored the role of every Filipino in his administrations goal to achieve Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines). In his latest vlog released on Saturday, Mr. Marcos challenged Filipinos to strive to fulfill their respective New Years resolutions. Like many Filipinos, Mr. Marcos said he also has resolutions he wanted to work on for self-improvement and change. These include spending more time with his family, maintaining good health, having regular exercise to lessen stress for stronger immunity, and being more cool-headed when it comes to driving. But, of course, topping our New Years resolution is our aspiration for the country because there is still much to be done, a lot to improve, and a lot to fix so that we can continue to progress towards a New Philippines, the President said in Filipino. - Advertisement - He said individual and community involvement are needed to achieve the administrations goals. He said that aside from the government, he would make sure, with the help of Filipinos, that Bagong Pilipinas will be attained by the nation through Bagong Pilipino, citing the significance of everyones New Years resolutions. Filipinos could start with themselves and their families by observing punctuality, being more productive in their work, and spending prudently. He encouraged Filipinos to improve and develop themselves by reading books, learning new technologies, observing personal grooming and self-discipline, and becoming a good citizen and a family member. As the nation observes Community Development Day this weekend, Marcos said it is a reminder of the importance of improving and developing local communities. In the next weeks, you will have a better understanding of what Bagong Pilipinas means, Marcos said. We will further encourage everyone to be part of improving our barangay, city, province, and the whole country. There will be no New Philippines without a New Filipino, he said. - Advertisement - Mexican authorities are investigating the cartel-related killing of five people in the southern state of Guerrero, the regional prosecutors office said, after an NGO first reported an attack in the area involving drones and explosives. The prosecutors office said on Saturday that it had initiated an inquiry into the attack on a group of 30 people in the town of Buenavista, in the Heliodoro Castillo municipality. The incident, the office said, stemmed from the confrontation between the criminal groups La Familia Michoacana and Los Tlacos, who are in a dispute for control of the area. The human rights NGO Minerva Bello had first reported on Friday an attack in the area using drones and explosive devices the previous afternoon. Later, agents of the Guerrero prosecutors office were able to establish the existence of charred skeletal remains corresponding to five people in a burned-out car, the office said. - Advertisement - However, the bodies were taken away by the residents of a neighboring community and the officials only found the vehicle. The director of Minerva Bello, priest Filiberto Velazquez, said on Saturday that the vehicle contained an indeterminate number of charred bodies, but at least five skulls. Six survivors were reported, and the rest of the peoples whereabouts are unknown, he said. The prosecutors office said it had not received any reports of missing people in the area. Guerrero is one of the poorest states in Mexico, and is used by drug cartels to grow marijuana and poppy. - Advertisement - The Manila Economic and Cultural Office has turned the 20,000 sacks of rice that were donated by the Taiwanese government to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for distribution to the needy and poorest households and victims of calamities. MECO chairman Silvestre Bello III said the rice stocks, which arrived in the Port of Manila late last month, consisted of half of the 2,000-metric ton rice donation of Taiwan made through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO). The MECO chief also said another 20,000 sacks of rice will be shipped to the Philippines in the soonest possible time. The goodwill is Taiwans means of reciprocating the friendly relations with the country. The donation will go a long way in providing relief to poor Filipino households and families, and those affected by calamities, Bello said. Bello secured the donation from TECO head Wallace Minn-Gan Chow, the Taiwan Representative to the Philippines in simple ceremonies last week. It was attended by officials of MECO and TECO, and representatives from the DSWD and other agencies of government. - Advertisement - Taiwan had made similar donations in the past in the aftermath of calamities and disasters that hit the country. There are more than 150,000 Filipinos in Taiwan, about 125,000 of whom are factory workers. - Advertisement - Aboitiz Foundation Inc., the Aboitiz Groups corporate social responsibility arm, has renewed its commitment to the rehabilitation project of Cebu A-Park, which will enhance and revitalize the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve. The initiative forms an integral part of the CSR efforts of the Aboitiz Foundation and various Aboitiz business units in Cebu, including Visayan Electric Co. Inc., in collaboration with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). The project aligns with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Enhanced National Greening Program, underscoring the commitment of the Aboitiz Group to co-create safe, empowered, and sustainable communities. The project aims to rehabilitate, protect, and conserve 30 hectares of the Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve. With plans for planting over 150,000 seedlings, establishing a riparian and creating a butterfly sanctuary, the project demonstrates the Aboitiz Groups dedication to nature-based carbon emission management through its flagship program, A-Park. As the Aboitiz Group embarks on its great transformation to become the Philippines first techglomerate, sustainability takes center stage. The ongoing partnership between the Aboitiz Group and PBSP under the Cebu A-Park program is vital for the continued rehabilitation of the protected forest, addressing the impending water crisis in Metro Cebu, and stands as a beacon of hope and environmental stewardship. - Advertisement - Over the planned five-year program, the initiative focuses on environmental conservation and provides sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities. For us in the Aboitiz Group, sustainability is an integral part of our Great Transformation journey. We will stay actively focused on developing environmentally and socially impactful initiatives for all our stakeholders, as we continue to advance business and communities, said Aboitiz Foundation chief operating officer Mardi Mapa-Suplido. The fourth year of the Cebu A-Park VECO-Buhisan Watershed Forest Rehabilitation Project marks a milestone in this sustainable journey. The project addresses climate change and supports the DENRs Enhanced National Greening Program. Managing environmental impacts and taking innovative climate action are integral to the Aboitiz Groups #OneNew Aboitiz Sustainability Synergy, reflecting its commitment to confront critical environmental challenges. The Buhisan Project, part of A-Park, has played a pivotal role in reforestation efforts, adopting 150 hectares in the Buhisan Watershed. Through partnerships and community engagement, the project ensures a stable water supply for Metro Cebu while providing livelihood opportunities for local organizations. Visayan Electric is committed to ensure that this project will continue not just for the environment but also to ensure the steady supply of water to Cebu, said engineer Raul Lucero. Future goals for the Buhisan Project will include planting over 250,000 native trees, achieving an 80 percent survival rate, establishing a central tree nursery and creating a two-kilometer riparian, or bank. With sustainability at the core of the Great Transformation, the Aboitiz Group remains committed to developing initiatives that have a positive impact on the environment and society. This sustainable partnership exemplifies the Aboitiz Groups dedication to contributing to the 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals. The group will continue to collaborate, work towards a sustainable future, and co-create a better world for generations to come. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Respiratory motion modeling. (The cover picture of Volume 28 Issue 4, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Science). This article was the cover article of that issue.). Credit: Peizhi Chen, Yifan Guo, Dahan Wang, Chinling Chen. Research published in Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Science) has proposed a new method for lung image registration named Dlung. Dlung is an unsupervised few-shot learning-based diffeomorphic lung image registration, which can help construct respiratory motion models based on limited data with both high speed and high accuracy, offering a more efficient method for respiratory motion modeling. Respiratory motion modeling is an essential technique in imaging technology for the analysis of thoracic organs such as lungs with respiratory motion. It offers important references for targeting tumors by radiotherapy while avoiding damage to normal tissues during lung cancer treatment. Lung image registration, the process of constructing a dense correspondence between lung image pairs, is critical for respiratory motion modeling. Among all the current methods for lung image registration, unsupervised learning-based methods have gained huge interest as they can compute the deformation without the requirement of supervision. However, there are two drawbacks in the current unsupervised learning-based methods: one is that they cannot handle problems with limited data; the other is that they lack diffeomorphic (topology-preserving) properties, especially when large deformation exists in lung scans. Aiming at these two problems, the researchers proposed the method Dlung which solves the problem of limited data via fine-tuning techniques and realizes diffeomorphic registration by the scaling and squaring method. Compared with baseline methods elastix, SyN, and VoxelMorph, Dlung achieves the highest accuracy with diffeomorphic properties when applied in the registration of 4D images. "Dlung constructs accurate and fast respiratory motion models with limited data," explained Peizhi Chen, the first author of this research, "we believe that it has a wide application prospect in image-guided radiotherapy when treating lung cancer in the future." More information: Peizhi Chen et al, Dlung: Unsupervised Few-Shot Diffeomorphic Respiratory Motion Modeling, Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University (Science) (2022). DOI: 10.1007/s12204-022-2525-3 Provided by Shanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center Daines' bill is not for Montana Montanas wildlife are feeling the pressure of a booming population. Those of us who live and recreate in our wild landscapes have seen it firsthand. Now, Senator Daines is attempting to remove protections from some of our most critical habitat: wilderness study areas. Hoodoo Mountain, Wales Creek and the Middle Fork of the Judith area are all pristine ecosystems for Montanas wild critters. While this bill bears an attention-grabbing name in an attempt to rally support, it's crucial not to be misled. The alterations in management proposed by this bill will undeniably diminish the security of wildlife habitats, leading to adverse consequences for critical elk, deer, and moose populations within these wilderness study areas. Sen. Steve Daines hasnt been able to get his Sportsmen Conservation Act passed on any of his previous attempts because Montanans are smart enough to see past the name of a bill. With only 6% of our state supporting it, it is clear that this bill is made for Washington, D.C., not us. Jerry McCarthy, Helena Today is Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. Let's get caught up. Keep scrolling for more political news in advance of the Nov. 5 presidential election. Plus, check out a special edition of our daily news podcast exclusive to this newsletter: *** Important dates to watch January dates of note: Republicans will hold their caucus in Iowa on Jan. 15. The New Hampshire primaries are Jan. 23. Republicans will hold their caucus in Iowa on Jan. 15. The New Hampshire primaries are Jan. 23. Upcoming dates of note: Democrats will hold a primary in South Carolina on Feb. 3. The date to watch will be Super Tuesday on March 5, when primaries and caucuses are held in 16 states and American Samoa. Democrats will hold a primary in South Carolina on Feb. 3. The date to watch will be Super Tuesday on March 5, when primaries and caucuses are held in 16 states and American Samoa. Party conventions: Republicans will meat July 15-18 in Milwaukee and Democrats will hold their convention Aug. 19-22 in Chicago. Republicans will meat July 15-18 in Milwaukee and Democrats will hold their convention Aug. 19-22 in Chicago. Debates: Presidential debates will be held on Sept. 16, Oct. 1 and Oct. 9. One debate for vice presidential candidates will be held Sept. 25. Presidential debates will be held on Sept. 16, Oct. 1 and Oct. 9. One debate for vice presidential candidates will be held Sept. 25. General election: Nov. 5. Electors cast their votes on Dec. 17. *** CNNs inaugural Road to 270 shows Trump in a position to win the White House CNNs inaugural Road to 270 electoral map shows President Joe Biden struggling to recreate his Electoral College majority from his successful 2020 run and former President Donald Trump with enough states solidly in his corner or leaning in his direction to put him in a position to win the presidency again. This first look at a potential Biden vs. Trump rematch and the electoral math each would need to capture 270 electoral votes captures the dynamics at play 10 months from Election Day. Biden is an incumbent president with stubbornly low approval ratings, persistent questions and concerns about his ability to serve another term, and diminished support from some key components of his winning coalition from 2020. Read more: *** House Democrats demand Clarence Thomas recuse himself from Trump ballot case A group of House Democrats is demanding Justice Clarence Thomas recuse himself from a case stemming from the Colorado ruling disqualifying Donald Trump from holding office, citing past efforts by Thomas wife to reverse the 2020 election results. In a letter sent by eight Democrats on Thursday to Thomas, the lawmakers argue his wife, Virginia Ginni Thomas role in the January 6, 2021, Stop the Steal rally that she attended make it unthinkable the conservative justice could be impartial in deciding whether the event constituted an insurrection. Read more: *** Wisconsin's Democratic governor says Trump should be on ballot, Biden must visit to beat him Wisconsin's Democratic governor opposes keeping Republican Donald Trump off the ballot in the battleground state, saying that those who think he should be disqualified can vote against him. Gov. Tony Evers also told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday that in order for President Joe Biden to win Wisconsin, he must be a frequent visitor to the state and focus his message on his successes and issues that matter to the middle class, not just the argument that the fate of democracy is at stake. Read more: *** Fact checking Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haleys CNN town halls in Iowa Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley each participated in CNN town halls on Thursday in Iowa ahead of the states caucuses later this month. The candidates, who are vying to emerge as the main alternative to former President Donald Trump, took questions from likely GOP caucus-goers and from moderators Kaitlan Collins and Erin Burnett at Grand View University in Des Moines. DeSantis and Haley both made several claims worth checking. Read more: *** Feeling caucus confusion? Your guide to how Iowa works The race for the White House officially begins in less than two weeks, and despite some prolonged jockeying over the election calendar, the long primary season will once again begin in Iowa with a caucus process that has served as the lead-off voting event since the 1970s. While Iowa has played an outsize role in presidential politics for generations, the details of how the caucuses actually work can surprise and mystify even hard-core political junkies. The Republican process this year is largely unchanged, but there are significant changes to the traditional voting schedule on the Democratic side. Much of what you think you know about the Iowa caucuses may no longer be applicable in 2024. Since the contested Iowa caucuses of 2016 and 2020 may seem like a long time ago, heres an update of what they are, how they work and why they matter. Read more: Iowa Republicans will gather in schools, churches and community halls to cast their vote for the presidential nomination and kick off the national primary process on Jan. 15. Iowa Democrats, meanwhile, will hold party-organizing precinct caucuses on the same day as Republicans. But they will express their presidential preference using a new mail-in process and wont announce results until March 5. The change came after national Democrats booted the state from their early nominating spot in an effort to redesign the calendar in a way that better represented the party's demographics. The Libertarian Party of Iowa achieved major party status in Iowa after the 2022 election, and it will hold its own organizing caucuses Jan. 15, the same night Republicans and Democrats hold their caucuses. Heres what you need to now about the Iowa caucuses. What is a caucus? Its a century-old tradition of Iowans gathering in person in their precincts to discuss and conduct party business, including electing delegates to county conventions, electing precinct representatives to the county central committee and discussing resolutions that can be shared at county conventions to be included in the state party platform. Every four years, during presidential election cycles, this also entails registering their preference as to who should be their partys nominee for president. Caucuses are not primaries, which are state-run elections. Primary elections are conducted like other U.S. elections at polling places and by secret ballot, held throughout the day and usually also with absentee/mail-in ballots and early voting. Caucuses, by contrast, are meetings run by political parties, convened at a specific time 7 p.m. on Jan. 15 where every four years a presidential preference poll is conducted. Since it isnt a traditional election, a candidates performance in Iowa is often viewed as a test of his or her campaigns organizational strength. The Iowa caucuses begin the process of choosing the partys presidential nominee and serve to winnow a large field to a small group of contenders who have proved they are the most viable candidates. In previous caucuses, winners included: Republicans: George W. Bush won the 2000 caucuses with 41% of the vote, and went on to win the partys nomination and the presidency. Mike Huckabee won the 2008 caucuses with 34.4% of the vote. He lost the partys nomination to John McCain. Rick Santorum narrowly won the 2012 caucuses with 24.56% of the vote. He lost the partys nomination to Mitt Romney. Ted Cruz won the 2016 caucuses with 27.6% of the vote. He lost the partys nomination to Donald Trump, who went on to win the presidency. Democrats: John Kerry won the 2004 caucuses with 37.6% of the vote and went on to win the partys nomination. Barack Obama won the 2008 caucuses with 37.6% of the vote, and went on to win the partys nomination and the presidency. Hillary Clinton narrowly won the 2016 caucuses with 49.84% of the vote. She went on to win the partys nomination, but lost the general election to Donald Trump. The 2020 caucuses resulted in a virtual tie too close to call between Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders. Neither would go on to win the partys nomination. What happens at an Iowa caucus? Republican and Democratic voters will gather at 7 p.m. on Jan. 15 at designated precinct locations. Libertarians will gather at 6:30 p.m. Republicans After conducting a prayer and a Pledge of Allegiance, attendees will elect a permanent precinct caucus chair to run the caucus and a permanent secretary to record caucus results. Before the presidential preference poll, representatives from each presidential campaign can make brief speeches in support of their candidate. Attendees will then cast their vote for president by writing a name on a slip of paper. Those votes are counted and announced to the caucus and reported to the state party. A representative from each campaign is allowed to watch the tabulation. Unlike in past Iowa Democratic caucuses, where Iowans stood in corners of the room to be counted, Republicans keep their choices a secret. Once the voting is over, caucus attendees move on to party business like electing delegates to the county convention and proposing items for the party platform. A sample caucus night schedule released by the Iowa GOP estimates on average most precinct caucuses will adjourn within an hour and a half, depending on the size of the precinct and length of deliberations. Iowas 40 delegates to the Republican National Convention will be bound on the first ballot proportionately to the results of the Iowa caucuses, unless only one candidates name is placed for nomination at the convention. While voters across the country cast ballots for their preferred presidential candidate during the presidential primary season, its the delegates to the national party conventions who select the presidential nominees for each major party. Much like in the general election, where a candidate needs a majority of votes in the Electoral College to win the White House, candidates need a majority of delegate votes at the convention to win the partys presidential nomination. Democrats Iowa Democrats will hold their party-organizing caucus on Jan. 15 and express their choice for president via a mail-in process starting in January. The partys new presidential preference cards will include the names of incumbent President Joe Biden and two long-shot challengers, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota and author Marianne Williamson, along with an option to remain uncommitted. Democrats will be able to cast their presidential preference through the mail by requesting a preference card at iowademocrats.org/caucus. The last day to submit a request is 5 p.m. on Feb. 19. Preference cards will be mailed starting Jan. 12. Printed request forms must be mailed to the Iowa Democratic Party at 5661 Fleur Dr., Des Moines, Iowa 50321. Or, Democrats may email their request forms to preferencecardrequest@iowademocrats.org. Preference cards must be postmarked by March 5 in order to count. Results will be announced by party officials later that same day, which is Super Tuesday, when more than a half-dozen other states will hold presidential primaries. The national partys Rules and Bylaws Committee said it would not accept Iowa Democrats delegate selection plan unless the party ensured that the postmark deadline for mail-in presidential preference cards is March 5 or later ensuring that Iowa's caucus results couldn't be announced until after the early voting window concludes and other states begin weighing in on Super Tuesday. For questions, call the IDPs helpline at (515) 216-3893. Libertarians Libertarian Party of Iowa Chair Jules Cutler said the partys caucus process will be similar to that of Republicans, where representatives for each candidate seeking the Libertarian Partys nomination for president will make brief speeches in support of their candidate. Attendees will then cast their vote. Once the voting is over, caucus attendees move on to party business. We are not reinventing the wheel, Cutler said. You nominate, vote, conduct party business and youre done in a half-hour to an hour. Who can participate in the caucuses? Any person voting at a precinct caucus must be a registered voter and resident of Iowa, and a registered member of the political party living in the precinct in which they intend to caucus. Individuals may register to vote or change their party affiliation at the caucus. To register to vote in Iowa, you must: Be a U.S. citizen Be an Iowa resident Be at least 17 years old as long as you will turn 18 on or before Election Day. Not be judged mentally incompetent to vote by a court Not claim the right to vote in any other place Iowans can register to vote online using the Iowa Department of Transportation's website or by downloading a voter registration form from the Iowa Secretary of State's website, sos.iowa.gov, and mailing the form to their county auditor. Iowans also can register to vote in person on the day of the Iowa caucuses by showing up to their caucus site and bringing documents, including ID and proof of residency. Iowans can check their voter registration status and find more information at voterready.iowa.gov/registertovote. What do I need to take to my caucus site? Iowa voters planning to participate in the Iowa causes will need to bring a valid form of ID on caucus night, which includes: Iowa Voter Identification Card Iowa Driver's License Iowa Non-Operative ID U.S. Military ID or Veteran ID U.S. Passport Tribal ID card/Document Those who plan to register to vote at their precinct location on caucus night, also will need to bring the following: A valid form of ID, as listed above A proof of address (e.g. residential lease, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, property tax statement, government document, etc.) Where do I caucus? For Republican and Democratic caucusgoers, there's a two-part system for finding where you need to be on caucus night: First, find your regular voting precinct at the Iowa Secretary of State's website. Then, find your caucus site on the Republican Party of Iowa's website or the Iowa Democratic Partys website. The Libertarian Party of Iowa has posted county caucus location on its website at lpia.org/caucus/. All precincts in a county will meet at the listed location. If your county does not have a location yet, email info@lpia.org. Caucus sites are subject to change, so Iowans should double check the website before they head out to caucus. How many people will participate in the caucuses? The Republican Party of Iowa said it expects participation in this years caucus to be on par with 2016, in which a record more than 186,000 Republicans cast their preference for presidential candidate. The previous two contested cycles in 2012 and 2008 saw turnout of around 120,000. 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The county has put together its state and federal legislative platforms. This is the document that county lobbyists will use in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. to promote county priorities. A complicated item involving possible loss of vehicle license fee swap money is highlighted. Thats because of the potential consequences involved, should it come to pass within a couple of years. The loss of $50 million of local revenues every year would send the county, its cities and town, into financial crisis, the platform said. All of this stems from a labyrinth of state budget moves over the decades. One move had California, in 2004, lowering vehicle license fees and reimbursing counties and cities for the lost revenue. That ended up tying into an earlier state move in the 1990s involving school funding. Some local property taxes went into an Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund, which later provided money for the vehicle license fee reimbursements. The bottom line is that the Napa Valley Unified School District, which has seen enrollment shrink for nearly a decade, could see a shift in how it is funded as soon as 2024-25. As a result, the local funding mechanism for vehicle license fee reimbursements would be gone. Absent a statutory fix, Napa County, its cities and town will be forced to significantly reduce staffing and crucial programs, fundamentally altering the way Napa County provides services, the platform said. And, since all 58 counties aren't in the same situation, Napa County must make the case for itself with the help of its lobbyists. The county has lobbied the state for several years to find a fix. It will try again in 2024. Its such an important issue to us, county Supervisor Ryan Gregory said. Napa Countys 2024 legislative platform has a new look. The county last year passed a 23-page federal legislative platform and 65-page state legislative platform. The new version for 2024 is a single, 25-page document. Gone are many of the specific asks from past years. They fall under broader goals. For example, gone is the request to bring affordable housing to vacant state land at the Veterans Home of California in Yountville. Instead, the county wants the state to streamline development of housing in urbanized areas. Also removed is the request to keep a Native American tribe from taking county land into trust, giving it control over the land and the power to build a casino though no tribe is proposing this at the moment. Instead, the county simply wants land use control to remain entirely within the purview of local governments. That doesnt mean all specifics have been jettisoned. The hoped-for purchase of Skyline Wilderness Park from the state receives considerable attention. So, of course, does the vehicle license fee swap. But overall, theres less of a laundry-list approach. More succinct, Gregory said. That approach should work better when meeting with state and federal legislators and their staff to express county concerns. Sometimes, the county has 10 minutes of time, he said. The platform has six sections. They are agriculture and natural resources, climate action and resiliency, infrastructure, public protection, resident quality of life and social safety net services. Each section has subsections. This is not an exhaustive or all-encompassing list of every county priority, said Andrew Mize, county legislative and policy analyst. Rather, the platform has items that county supervisors and department heads identified as being particularly challenging and/or high-priority in the state and federal regulatory climate, he said. Napa County uses state and federal lobbyists to drive its points home. It pays state lobbyist Shaw Yoder Antwih Schmelzer & Lange $58,000 annually. It pays federal lobbyist Platinum Advisors $180,000 annually, with the Napa Valley Transportation Authority reimbursing the county $30,000. The county Board of Supervisors approved the 2024 state and federal legislative platforms on Dec. 19. PHOTOS: The Napa Valley Register's Best Climate and Environmental Photos of 2023 Kennedy Park encampment Storm Coverage MLK Day Pruning competition Tsunami Zone Coombsville Fire Mosquito abatement Walt Ranch The directions were simple, but hard to say. Take a left from Stony onto Midway Plaisance, I told my wife, who was transporting our son to an appointment at University of Chicago Hospital. Play-A-Sance, I said without a smidgen of French inflection. That was years ago, but the oddly named boulevard in Hyde Park has remained a running joke in our family ever since. These days its taken on a distinctly Quebecian flavor: Ple-zaan. In the early days of Google, I searched for information and came across a tiny street on a map in a remote portion of the upper Midwest, perhaps the Northwoods of Wisconsin or the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, called Midway Plaisance. How odd, I thought, and vowed to someday look into it. That memory was jarred when a friend on social media posted a photo of her alma mater, Pullman High School. I didnt know she grew up in Pullman, I thought. Wait Pullman doesnt even have a high school! Nichole Dailor, of Bourbonnais, created the post after a holiday visit to her hometown of Pullman, Washington. The rolling hills and mountains looming in the distance there make for a far different scene than the factory ruins, row houses and flat topography of Chicagos first National Historic Park. Pullman High School is not in Chicago, or even Illinois. It is in Pullman, Washington. As one might suspect, Chicagos Pullman and its counterpart in Washington share a namesake. The Washington towns name was changed from Three Forks in the 1880s in an effort to lure rail service to a place originally settled because it was where three creeks came together. It worked. Pullman, Washington, became a regional rail hub and later landed a college that became Washington State University. Its future was secured around the same time Pullman, Illinois, was heading for the history books, destined to be absorbed by Chicago. The Dailors recently visited the National Historic Park, coming away with a new appreciation for the history behind the Pullman name, though Nichole had one caveat afterward. I wish Pullman, Illinois, had the kind of rolling hills that we do in Washington, she said. But the connection still resonates nearly a century and a half later with Dailor. I always think it is interesting how history ties things together in ways one might never consider, she said. My husband is also from Washington, so we both thought it was cool that they had the same name. Pullman, Washington, likely is the largest of the non-Chicago Pullmans, and probably the highest in elevation as well. While George Pullmans railcar empire stretched across the country, the ploy by the former town of Three Forks in Washington didnt have similar success elsewhere. A quick search shows only the small town of Pullman, West Virginia (population 134 in 2020) as well as some unincorporated areas in states such as Michigan and Texas. Its remarkable when familiar place names show up in unexpected places. Such was the case a while back when a traveler posted on a community social media page a photo of a restaurant they came across in the United Kingdom. Theyd spotted a place called Chicago Heights in Fort William, a town on the shore of Loch Linnhe in the Scottish Highlands. Billed as an Italian American BBQ Smokehouse Cafe/Diner, diners leaving mixed online reviews never mention Italian beefs or other specialties one might find in Chicago Heights. One reviewer enjoyed a hot dog covered with chili and cheese and served on a baguette. Another liked the veggie haggis. And the traditional Scottish breakfasts, perhaps containing meat haggis, seemed to go over well too. Id hoped to talk to someone associated with the restaurant to find out more about why they landed on their name. Beyond the reviews on Google and other sites, there was no contact information out there for the place. A message sent to the Fort William Chamber of Commerce wasnt returned. As it turned out, Chicago Heights the restaurant didnt survive the pandemic and its storefront in Fort William has a large For Let sign out front, perhaps awaiting a restaurateur offering a beef/sausage combo with giardiniera, or chicken Vesuvio, or maybe just a steak burrito. So I returned to searching for the tiny Midway Plaisance Id stumbled across years ago. Search functions being vastly improved these days it should be no problem, I thought. Traffic flows north on South Cornell Drive approaching East Midway Plaisance in 2021. The name Midway Plaisance predates the roadway by several decades. Turns out the intelligent robots I assume are behind the search algorithms these days have decided I only want to know about Chicagos Plaisance in Hyde Park. Each related query ended up being changed to Midway Plaisance Park, no matter what I actually typed. Getting around that obstacle turned into one of those internet deep dives that can devour hours. In the process, I found the Midway Plaisance in Toledo, Ohio, when it showed up in a few crime stories from newspapers there. Evidently its now a rough part of town, but the only link I can find to its namesake in Chicago points to a brighter past, when a large amusement park was built nearby in the early 1900s. Called White City, the park, which operated from about 1900 to 1914 in Toledo, was modeled on the Worlds Columbian Exhibition, the immensely popular Chicago Worlds Fair featuring classical architecture that earned it the nickname White City and is still proudly referenced by one of the four stars in the Chicago flag. A big part of the Chicago fair was the amusement rides and other attractions situated along Midway Plaisance. It was where the worlds first Ferris wheel rotated spectators high into the sky. The area made such a huge impression on fairgoers that midway has become the term for the gallery of games and attractions at carnivals large and small throughout the world. People walk down the Midway Plaisance at the Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago, circa 1893. The Ferris wheel can bee seen in the background. But Chicagos Midway Plaisance predates even the fair that made it famous. It was proposed as a placid lagoon in a wide strip of greenery connecting Jackson and Washington parks as part of a green space development designed by a team led by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who had designed New Yorks Central Park. Then known simply as South Park, the Midway Plaisance was literally midway between the two larger park sections, where more Plaisance sections were to be incorporated according to the 1871 plan. One became the lagoon in Jackson Park on the south side of whats now the Museum of Science and Industry, but the waterway planned for the Midway section is long lost to history. The waterways were important to the designers, as they wrote in the report accompanying the 1871 plan. In Chicago the banks of the navigable streams are unattractive for domestic purposes and cannot fail to be required for commerce, they wrote, making most water access areas less and less valuable to live near, adding to the necessity of including water to areas which are in no danger of being invaded for commercial purposes. In another fun element, the report accompanying the South Park plan puts the project in a class with Londons Hyde Park, a name that traveled from its historic birth city to the area south of Chicago that would become home to Midway Plaisance. Its just up the tracks from Pullman and a few miles down the Dixie Highway from Chicago Heights, other places that have sent their names across the world. Landmarks is a weekly column by Paul Eisenberg exploring the people, places and things that have left an indelible mark on the Southland. He can be reached at peisenberg@tribpub.com. Guwahati: In a recent set of satellite images obtained, it has been reported that China is rapidly encroaching on northeast Bhutan by constructing townships along the river valley in Beyul Khenpajong, an area of deep cultural significance. These images, dated less than a month ago, showcase the alarming pace at which illegal land grabs are occurring across Bhutans northern, western, and southwestern peripheries. Despite ongoing border talks between China and Bhutan, Beijings construction activities persist, signalling a concerning disregard for diplomatic negotiations. The extent of construction in Beyul Khenpajong and the nearby Jakarlung region suggests that China might be too entrenched to consider any withdrawal. Also Read: Assam: Wild elephant killed after being hit by train in Jorhat Satellite imagery experts consulted by NDTV describe the constructed settlements as large format and capable of housing hundreds of residents. Over 200 single- and multi-storey structures have been counted so far, with the final number expected to be much higher as construction is still underway. Bhutan, a nation with a population significantly smaller than Indias National Capital Region, finds itself in a challenging position, unable to counter Chinas assertive moves. Professor Robert Barnett, an expert on Tibetan history, highlighted that China is making dubious claims over an area of great cultural importance, exploiting the limited options available to its less powerful neighbour. Bhutans Ambassador to India, Major General Vetsop Namgyel (retired), emphasized the countrys commitment to upholding and safeguarding its territorial interests during ongoing boundary negotiations. Also Read: Assam revs up green mobility with launch of Indias first electric bike taxi fleet The Beyul Khenpajong region, transformed since November 2020, includes valleys and hillsides carved into to accommodate an extensive road network connecting the enclaves. Multipurpose buildings across the region can potentially house several hundred residents. The strategic significance of Beyul, or the hidden valley, is highlighted by John Pollock and Damien Symon in a recent piece published by Chatham House. The royal familys ancestral heritage is traced to this mountainous region, yet Bhutans government appears powerless to prevent Chinese settlements. Chinas encroachment into Bhutan also raises security concerns for India, as seen in the 2017 Doklam standoff. The current land grab in Bhutan is perceived as part of Chinas broader strategy to extend its presence southward, potentially threatening the Siliguri corridora narrow land strip connecting the northeast with the rest of India. Aizawl: Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma on Saturday said that his government would continue assisting refugees from Myanmar and internally displaced people from Manipur with the help of the Centre. He also said that he is hopeful that the Centre may cancel its plan to fence the Indo-Myanmar border. Lalduhoma, who returned from Delhi on Saturday, addressed a press conference in Aizawl and said that he discussed the refugees and other important issues with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other important leaders during his recent visit to the national capital. He said that the Centre could not give refugee status to the Myanmar nationals, who fled their homes and took shelter in Mizoram since February 2021 as India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol. However, the state government will continue to assist the Myanmar nationals and internally displaced people from Manipur, who are also Indian citizens, with the help of the Centre, he said. Even though the Centre cant give refugee status to the Myanmar nationals, it is ready to collaborate with us in providing relief to them. People from Manipur, who flee their homes due to ethnic violence will also be looked after with the help of the Centre, Lalduhoma said. According to the state home department, over 31,000 people belonging to the Chin community from Myanmars Chin state have been taking shelter in different parts of Mizoram since February 2021 following a military coup. More than 9,000 internally displaced people from Manipur have also been taking shelter in the state due to ethnic violence since May last year, it said. The Chin community from Myanmar and the ethnic Kuki-Zo community from Manipur, who took shelter in Mizoram, share ethnic ties with the Mizos. Mizoram also hosted more than 1,000 refugees from Bangladesh. Lalduhoma, who was formerly in the Indian Police Service, said that he invited External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who is his batchmate in the Indian civil service, to visit Mizoram to inspect relief camps. The chief minister also expressed hope that the Centre may cancel its move to fence the Indo-Myanmar border. During his meeting with the Prime Minister and Jaishankar recently in Delhi, Lalduhoma said he had informed them that the present 510-km stretch of the boundary between Mizoram and Myanmar was considered by the Mizo people as imposed by the British. The British had separated the Mizos by carving out Burma from India and divided the ancient Mizo land into two parts, he said. The Mizo people living in different parts of the country still dream of becoming a nation under one administration one day and any move to fence the Indo-Myanmar border is unacceptable for the Mizos, he said. Recently, the Centre has said that it has planned to fence 300 km stretches of the unfenced border with Myanmar and to end the Free Movement Regime which allows people living on both sides of the international border to travel within 16 km into each others territory without visa. Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani, on Sunday said his conglomerate has committed to making new investments in Tamil Nadu in renewable energy and green hydrogen, and he was confident that the state government under MK Stalin will support its forthcoming initiatives. "We shall work closely with the state government to promote sustainable development, which is necessary to save Mother Earth from the climate crisis. I am confident that the state government will support our forthcoming initiatives with viable policies," Ambani said, virtually addressing the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024. Praising Chief Minister MK Stalin, the Reliance Industries boss said Tamil Nadu has become one of the most business-friendly states in the country. "Therefore, I have every reason to believe it will soon become a trillion-dollar economy, which is the apt slogan of this summit," he said. Tamil Nadu aims to become a USD 1 trillion economy by 2030. Speaking about Reliance's investments in the state, Ambani said his group has opened nearly 1,300 retail stores across the state, with an investment of over Rs 25,000 crores. "Jio has invested over Rs 35,000 crore in Tamil Nadu, bringing the fruits of digital revolution to 35 million subscribers in every town and village in the state." In December, Jio completed the fastest rollout of 5G, anywhere in the world, Ambani said, adding that the benefit of which will also be shared by Tamil Nadu. "In December, Jio completed the fastest roll out of 5G, anywhere in the world. This will enable Tamil Nadu to reap the benefits of artificial intelligence and other breakthrough fourth industrial revolution technologies, which will further accelerate its economy." Reliance has partnered with Canada's Brookfield Asset Management and US-based Digital Reality to set up a state-of-the-art data centre, that will be opened next week, he announced. (ANI) Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Pratima Bhoumik on Saturday said that the country will observe Diwali on January 22, the day when the consecration ceremony of the Lord Ram Lalla idol is scheduled in Ayodhya. "We will all celebrate and welcome Lord Ram, just like Diwali was celebrated when he returned after 14 years of Vanvas. Now, we will celebrate Diwali again on January 22," stated the Union Minister. She said, "In nearly 500 years, many people have sacrificed their lives. Lord Ram is 'Maryada Purushotam Ram' and is God to us." Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple on January 22, with several VVIP guests expected from both within the country and abroad. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given houses to crores of people and it is our fortune that the Ram Mandir will be inaugurated by him," the Union MoS said. Meanwhile, preparations are underway in full swing for the event, which is expected to be attended by thousands of dignitaries and people from all sections of society. Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahautsav. A 1008 Hundi Mahayagya will also be organised, in which thousands of devotees will be fed. Several tent cities are being erected in Ayodhya to accommodate thousands of devotees, who are expected to arrive in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh for the grand consecration. According to the Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust, arrangements will be made for 10,000-15,000 people. Local authorities are gearing up for the anticipated surge in visitors around the grand ceremony and are in the process of implementing enhanced security measures and making logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth and spiritually enriching experience for all attendees. (ANI) Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Pratima Bhoumik on Saturday said that Reang families eligible for the benefit of the PM-JANMAN scheme, will receive Rs 2.5 lakh for the construction of their house and a toilet. The Reang community of Tripura is one of the 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the country. "Under normal circumstances, PMAY beneficiaries receive Rs 1.3 lakh for house construction and 98 man-days of MGNREGA. However, under the PM JANMAN scheme, eligible beneficiaries will instantly receive Rs 2.5 lakh for constructing houses and toilets," Bhowmik said while speaking at an event organised to mark the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra at Mogpuskarini ADC village located at Matabaari RD block. The PM JANMAN mission was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas in Jharkhand to extend support for the development of the 75 PVTGs. This has a financial outlay of around Rs 24,000 crores, and focuses on 11 critical interventions related to 9 key ministries. "A normal person becomes eligible for the PMAY benefit if he qualifies for as many as 14 parameters. Under the special scheme, there are only two criterions. First, no one from the family should be in government service and second is that the family should not have an existing Pucca house", Bhoumik added. Earlier on Saturday, the Union Minister attended a meeting of the Advisory Committee of Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) Airport here in Agartala. After chairing the meeting, the Union MoS said that the main agenda of the meeting was the smooth facilitation of the passengers travelling through the airport and the cleanliness of the airport. "Today there was a meeting of the advisory committee of MBB Airport. The main agenda of the meeting was for the smooth and facilitation of the passengers travelling through the airport and cleanliness of the Airport," she said. "We have discussed how we can bring more airlines to our airport and all other necessary issues. It's a great news that our airport that is MBB Airport Agartala, has received the first position in ranking among these smallest airports of India," She added. The Union Minister said that among all the airports in the country, MBB Airport is in the 10th rank. "It's great news for us," Bhoumik said. (ANI) In the run-up to the 'pran pratishtha' (consecration ceremony) of the Ram idol at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, cultural and religious programmes will be held in all temples of Lord Ram, Lord Hanuman, and Maharishi Valmiki in Uttar Pradesh from January 14. Additional Commissioner of Municipal Corporation, Atul Kumar, said that Moradabad Municipal Corporation will follow suit and ensure smooth conduct. "All temples of Lord Ram, Lord Hanuman, and Maharishi Valmiki have been asked to conduct Ramayana lessons, Sriram Katha, bhajans and other cultural events from Makar Sankranti (January 14) to 22 January (the day of the Ram Temple 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony). Moradabad Municipal Corporation will follow suit and ensure smooth conduct," Atul Kumar told ANI on Sunday. Preparations are underway in full swing for the Ram Temple inauguration on January 22, which will draw dignitaries and people from all walks of life. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple on January 22. Preparations are underway in full swing for the event, which will draw dignitaries and people from all walks of life. The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust has decided to enthrone Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple at noon on January 22. Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, holds great spiritual, historical and cultural significance for the people of India. The trust has also invited 4,000 saints of all sects for the ceremony. Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahautsav. A 1008 Hundi Mahayagya will also be organised, in which thousands of devotees will be fed. Several tent cities are being erected in Ayodhya to accommodate thousands of devotees, who are expected to arrive in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh for the grand consecration of the Ram Temple. (ANI) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel attended the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad on Sunday. He also flew a kite on this occasion. Participants brought kites with images of Lord Ram for the festival in the light of the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya which will be held on January 22. An attendee from Denmark said, "It's my third time in India. I am very excited for this year. It looks like it is going to be bigger than last year. In the past, it has been fun. I have met several kite fliers from India, which has been interesting. I feel very welcomed here. Gujarat is beautiful. Last time I visited the Statue of Unity, learned about its history." On January 14-15, Gujarat will celebrate the festival of Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan. Kite flying is an integral part of this festival, and people across the state throng to their rooftops to have a glimpse of the colourful skyline or to immerse themselves in kite flying. But a few years ago, the world was unaware of this festival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his chief ministership in Gujarat, thought of making this local festival of Gujarat global and through Vibrant Gujarat, the kite festival was organised first in Ahmedabad and then in different cities across the state under the name of International Kite Festival. Kite flyers from all over the world were invited to take part in the festival in Gujarat. Since then the International Kite Festival in Gujarat has become global. Making a kite, flying it and bringing down another person's kite is an art. Gopal Patel, an expert kite flyer, said he has had the opportunity to visit many different countries and showcase his kite flying skills, ever since the festival was promoted under Vibrant Gujarat. "Kite flyers and people from abroad are also coming to Gujarat to see this festival and this has increased tourism. Earlier, the kite flyers who used to make fun of our small kites copied the design of our kites," the kite flyer from Ahmedabad said. Ever since the International Kite Festival started through Vibrant Gujarat, the fortunes of kite-making artisans have changed. Kite-making artisans mostly come from the Muslim community. In earlier years, only a few traders used to come to local artists to buy kites from them and sell them in the market. But ever since the Kite Festival started, people ever started contacting them from abroad. These artisans nowadays have worked almost throughout the year. Rizwan Qadri, a historian, said that this kite festival has been celebrated in Gujarat for many years. "The beauty of this festival is that neither age nor religion nor discrimination of anything becomes a hindrance in celebrating this festival," Gadri asserted. (ANI) Ahead of the grand consecration at Ayodhya's Ram Temple, Bharatiya Janata Party president in Kerala, K Surendran, criticised the Congress party for showing double standards and accused the grand old party of "neglecting the sentiments of the majority community" for the sake of vote bank politics. Claiming that the Congress party has decided not to organise any programmes in connection with the consecration on January 22, Surendran alleged that the party's hypocrisy is very clear. "The Kerala Congress unit has decided not to organise any programmes on January 22. The Congress Party's double standard and hypocrisy are very clear," Surendran said. "For vote bank politics, they are not considering the sentiments of the majority community, the Hindu community. They are acting as a Muslim League," the BJP chief added. Earlier, Union Minister and BJP leader V Muraleedharan slammed Congress for its alleged discomfort in attending the consecration ceremony. Muraleedharan said that despite receiving an invitation for Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Temple, there is no clarification from Congress. "This shows that this approach is just for the majority community, the Hindu community. Congress has no issue when it comes to participating in iftar or conducting a rally in favour of Palestine. We also have seen Congress leaders pretending to be Hindu devotees and do campaigns in elections, but when it comes to participating in Pran Pratishtha of the temple, they have doubts," added Muraleedharan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple on January 22. The event has garnered significant attention, with several VVIP guests from India and abroad receiving invitations to participate in the auspicious occasion in Ayodhya. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahotsav. A 1008 Hundi Mahayagya will also be organised, in which thousands of devotees will be fed. Several tent cities are being erected in Ayodhya to accommodate thousands of devotees, who are expected to arrive in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh for the grand consecration. According to the Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust, arrangements will be made for 10,000-15,000 people. (ANI) While the national capital remains shrouded in a thick blanket of haze, the smog tower located in Connaught Place is locked up. The smog tower, inaugurated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in 2021, has stopped working after the personnel responsible for its operations 'locked it' due to non-payment of their salary for December 2023 and no written 'job guarantee' from the Delhi government. It was made operational in November last year after the Supreme Court directed the government to repair it and make it operational. Speaking on the matter, Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said that the officials are following the orders of ministers because they are aware of inactions against him as "powers have been given to a few officials." "Today all powers have been given to a few officials and now they are working as per their wish. First, they closed the smog tower but when the court scolded them, the smog tower was made operational. Now, I don't know under what circumstances it has been closed. Officials are not following the orders of ministers because they know that no action will be taken against them," he said, while speaking to ANI. The Delhi minister further alleged that the smog towers have been locked 'deliberately' by the central government. "I think this mismanagement is being deliberately spread by the central government," Bhardwaj added. (ANI) The injured labourers were rushed to a hospital, where one of the workers was declared brought dead. According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, the deceased labourer has been identified as Mohammad Akbar (38). "The compound wall collapsed during the Navy's water line repair work. The two contract labourers were taken to the INHS Asvini hospital, where doctors declared one of them brought dead," they said. The other contract worker sustained minor injury in the incident, and was discharged after first-aid treatment, they added. More details are awaited. (ANI) Douglas A. Williams, Jr. Named Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Houston Field Office Director Christopher Wray has named Douglas A. Williams, Jr. as the special agent in charge of the Houston Field Office. Mr. Williams most recently served as the special agent in charge of the New Orleans Field Office. Mr. Williams joined the FBI as a special agent in 2002 and was assigned to the Miami Field Office, where he investigated drug trafficking organizations, violent crime, and organized crime. He was promoted to supervisory special agent in 2008 and transferred to the National Gang Targeting Center in the Criminal Investigative Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C. His service at Headquarters included a four-month temporary assignment to the FBIs office in Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served on the International Contract Corruption Task Force. In 2010, he transferred to the Special Operations Division at Headquarters. In 2011, Mr. Williams transferred to the Cincinnati Field Office as the supervisory special agent over the violent crime, transnational organized crime, and violent crimes against children programs. He also supervised the offices SWAT team. In 2016, he was moved to oversee Cincinnatis public corruption and complex financial crimes squads. Mr. Williams was promoted to assistant special agent in charge of the Houston Field Office later in 2016. He was responsible for one of Houstons criminal branches, with oversight of the violent crimes, transnational organized crime, violent crimes against children, and civil rights programs. In 2020, Mr. Williams was promoted to section chief in the Office of Congressional Affairs. He led the team that managed all FBI interactions with Congress and advised FBI leadership about congressional matters. In 2021, Mr. Williams was promoted to special agent in charge of the New Orleans Field Office. Before joining the FBI, Mr. Williams was a police officer for the Kenton County Police Department in Kentucky. He earned a bachelors degree in accounting from Thomas More College in Kentucky and a masters degree in organizational management and leadership from Western Governors University. This story has been published on: 2024-01-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Community leaders gathered Saturday at South Suburban College to recognize top businesses in the area as well as area individuals at the 11th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Business Brunch. Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard received the Martin Luther King Service Award, Latoya McDonald was named Business Person of the Year and longtime company Land OFrost was honored as Business of the Year. Henyards term as mayor has been mired in controversy, some of it reaching the national spotlight, for alleged profligate spending on a beauty regimen, a costly trip to Las Vegas, a proposal to cap the mayoral salary at $25,000 for any replacement and lawsuits from trustees for alleged financial improprieties. Community Award recipient Justin Sawyer thanks the college for its recognition. Nevertheless, Henyard has defended herself in grandiose terms, which were echoed Saturday. At one point, after decrying politricks by the media and her opponents. Henyard pointed out that she oversaw the construction of a large ice-skating rink but, in her opinion, she got little credit for that and alleged her attackers make money on social media views. People drag you, they put a smear campaign on you, Henyard said. But she went on to say, I am Martin Luther King, I am Rosa Parks and I am Harriet Tubman. The theme of the event was civility. Henyard aside, the other awardees kept remarks to a familiar script of thanking the community and the college for the recognition. Land OFrosts Kelli Howard accepts the Business of the Year Award. We like to invest in those organizations in our communities, said Kelli Howard, the vice president of Lansing-based Land O Frost supply chain. Land O Frost is a family-owned sliced sandwich meats company that is a national band. However, Howard said, keeping close to home is still important. We have a lot of employees who are part of this community, the work that you are doing to empower our community and our young people is of great benefit to our young people, so thank you, she said. However, the top of the event did touch on national politics, with Saturday being the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Keynote speaker and Illinois Supreme Court Justice J. Scott Neville Jr., told the audience the solution to the Jan. 6 debate no matter the side was best settled at the ballot box. Illinois Supreme Court Justice P. Scott Neville Jr. delivers remarks as the keynote speaker. Theres one simple solution to that problem. Vote, he said. You have the power in your own hands. you cant win if you dont vote. But, he also pointed out even seemingly right solutions might not be popular, though a sense of right and wrong is necessary. Conscience will ask the question, is it right?' Neville said. Every day of my work, there comes a time when I must take a position and that position is neither safe nor politically correct nor popular. To this day I continue to do that. Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown Alleging "power has intoxicated" the Congress government, BJP leader and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said that a state of "undeclared emergency" is prevailing in Karnataka. "The power has intoxicated the government. The present government has become the government of oppression. The language of the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues is affecting the freedom of speech of the individual. Cases were filed against those who raised their voice against injustice," former Karnataka CM Bommai said. Reacting to the recent arrest of Karsevak Shrikant Pujari, who later was granted bail by Karnataka's Hubbali court, Bommai said that not a single case was pending against Pujari yet he was arrested which shows that an "undeclared emergency" is prevailing in Karnataka. Bommai further claimed that Congress and INDIA bloc leaders are advising people to not visit Ayodhya for the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "A 'Chinthan-Manthan' of the party will be held tomorrow where the plan of action will be decided. The Congress Party was against the construction of the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya but a magnificent temple was being built. The Congress MLC hinted at the Godhra-like incident to happen during the temple inauguration. Similarly, the INDIA Front leaders have advised people against travelling in trains," Bommai said. "Since Narendra Modi has been the Prime Minister of Bharath, he would not allow any small untoward incident to happen in the country. The temple would be dedicated to the nation on a grand scale," he added. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra temple has decided to enthrone Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple at noon on January 22. Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, holds great spiritual, historical, and cultural significance for the people of India. The trust has also invited 4,000 saints of all sects for the ceremony. Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration ceremony) of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. (ANI) "We wish all these prisoners who were released to live good lives in society and not indulge in any activity that can put them behind bars. We want them to live a fruitful life in society," Sanghvi told ANI on Sunday. Explaining the mechanism for applying for release, the state Home Minister said, "The prisoners who are facing life imprisonment can apply for release under CrPC 432 after 14 years. Under this legal provision, the Jail Advisory Committee sends requests to the government to release certain inmates." Sanghvi said that those inmates who are elderly, who have maintained "good behaviour in jail" in the last 14 years, and those who engaged in "social service" while in prison or duly obeyed all rules in jail, stand a chance of being released. Harsh Sanghvi added, "On Diwali, 71 prisoners were released. In the first week of 2024, 32 prisoners have been released." The Gujarat Home Minister also held a meeting with state officials to review preparations ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 in Gandhinagar. (ANI) "Monitoring the quality of medicines through the CDSCO Sub-Zonal Office will ensure access to high-quality medicines to the citizens and provide ease of doing business for the stakeholders of pharmaceutical industries of Madhya Pradesh," Mandaviya said. Mandaviya also laid the foundation stone of six new facilities at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal and inaugurated a slew of facilities in Madhya Pradesh. "It is the dream of Hon'ble Prime Minister that AIIMS should be opened in all states of the country on the lines of AIIMS New Delhi. In the last 10 years, 17 AIIMS have been opened bringing the total number of AIIMS to 23 in the country," he said. The Union Health Minister also addressed the 75th Foundation Day Ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College in Indore. "Inspired by the principles given by respected Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi), the government has started work on the principle of One District One Medical College to convert all districts in the country into Ayushman districts," he said. "The most special thing about the Indore model of preventive healthcare is that it is sustainable as well as scalable and affordable," Mandaviya said. (ANI) Reacting to All India United Democratic Front chief and MP Badruddin Ajmal's recent appeal to Muslims, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said that there are rivals in politics, not enmity and that they are rivals, not enemies. Ahead of the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya, Badruddin Ajmal on Saturday urged all Muslims to stay home from January 20 to 25. Referring to this, Rijiju said, "How BJP has become the enemy of Muslims. There is no enmity in politics, there are rivals in politics. We are rivals, not enemies. On January 22, everyone, whether it is Christian, Muslim, Jain, Buddhist, or Hindu, should welcome Lord Ram by lighting Diyas because Lord Ram is the symbol of Bharat, not for a single religion." "This is a very wrong statement. When the temple is being built in the name of Lord Shri Ram, it is the symbol of India. At this time, it is not good to make such a provocative statement," the Union Minister added. The AIUDF chief's remarks also garnered criticism from the BJP after he called the party the "biggest enemy" of the community. "We will have to be cautious. Muslims should avoid travelling from January 20 to 25. The entire world will witness the idol of Ram Lalla being placed in Ram Janmabhoomi. Lakhs of people will travel by buses, trains, aeroplanes, etc. We will have to maintain peace," Ajmal said while addressing a gathering in Assam's Barpeta. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple on January 22. The event has garnered significant attention, with several VVIP guests from India and abroad receiving invitations to participate in the auspicious occasion in Ayodhya. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahotsav. A 1008 Hundi Mahayagya will also be organised, in which thousands of devotees will be fed. Several tent cities are being erected in Ayodhya to accommodate thousands of devotees, who are expected to arrive in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh for the grand consecration. According to the Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust, arrangements will be made for 10,000-15,000 people. (ANI) Bangladesh voters participated in the general elections in large numbers on Sunday, exuding confidence in the incumbent Awami League-led government under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The voters said that there will not be any impact from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as people are not with them, but with the progress that the country has witnessed in the last 15 years. Notably, around 170 million people in Bangladesh are voting to elect 299 lawmakers during the 12th national election amid a boycott by the main opposition BNP. "We are very happy, it is a festive mood, people are coming out to vote. It's nice. People are very very excited to cast their vote. They are voting because they believe this government has done a lot of development which will continue if the party comes back to power. We think they will win and continue with the development," a voter named Rober Simon Gomez told ANI. The voters further said that people across the country are coming out to vote because they want this government to continue and also refuted any impact of the protests carried out by BNP. "No, there will be no impact of BNP protests because people are not with the BNP, they are with the Bangladesh government, Awami League and other parties taking part in the election...the country has developed in the last 15 years. Asaduzzaman Khan is a very good person. He is a very successful Home Minister. Many votes will be cast in his name," a voter, Nirmal Rogerio said. Another voter named Gilbert Gomez said, "As a responsible citizen, I have cast my vote in a free and fair way. The environment is very enjoyable. We are from a Christian community and living very peacefully. We want to live together and want the country to develop efficiently." Ahead of the polls, the locals in Bangladesh said that they are looking forward to the polls as they want to exercise their democratic rights. They also refuted any impact of the protests called by BNP on the people and said that they are not following the 'democratic process'. "In our country, there are 46 registered parties from the election commission. BNP is just one party. Only one party cannot define our country's political system. I will go to the vote centre to cast my vote because I want to elect my representative," a local said. "No. I don't think that because voters are in the places to cast their vote in their home, the villages and their own parliamentary section. So I don't think that it will impact the election process because, as a political party, you cannot refrain from participating in the election. So that's why you cannot call a strike. But no. I don't think that people are supporting them because it is not a democratic process," another local added. Earlier in the day, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina emphasised the importance of democracy for the development of the country as the Asian nation goes to the polls for the 2024 general elections today. "Our country is sovereign and independent...We have a big population. We have established people's democratic rights...I want to make sure that democracy should continue in this country and without democracy, you can't make any development. As we are a long-term democratic system from 2009 to 2023, that is why Bangladesh made this much of an achievement," she said. She also extended her wishes to India and said that Bangladesh is lucky to have a trusted friend like India. She also highlighted India's support during the Liberation War in 1971. In her message to India, PM Hasina said, ''We are very lucky...India is our trusted friend. During our Liberation War, they supported us...After 1975, when we lost our whole family...they gave us shelter. So our best wishes to the people of India." Al Jazeera reported that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to win a fourth straight term in the absence of the main opposition BNP which on Saturday began a 48-hour nationwide strike against the "illegal government" amidst violence and a crackdown on protesters. International election expert teams from the European Union are present in Dhaka, and foreign observers from various countries, including a Commonwealth team, are monitoring the elections. (ANI) Union Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday met the Saudi Ambassador to India, Saleh Eid Al Husseini, and the two leaders discussed enhancing ties between New Delhi and Riyadh and building a robust partnership for shared progress and prosperity. The meeting comes ahead of Irani's visit to Saudi Arabia leading the delegation to sign the bilateral Haj Agreement 2024. "In a productive meeting today, Minister @smritiiraniand the Saudi Ambassador to India explored avenues to enhance Indo-Saudi ties. Discussions focused on building a robust partnership for shared progress and prosperity," the Office of Smriti Irani posted on X. https://x.com/SmritiIraniOffc/status/1743963482616222053?s=20 Union Minister of Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, Smriti Irani, accompanied by Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan will embark on a visit to Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Union Minister Smriti Irani will lead the delegation for the signing and exchange of the bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 in Jeddah, an official press release of the Consulate General of India in Jeddah said. Moreover, the minister will also hold a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Haj and Umrah Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah to discuss the issues of mutual interest related to the forthcoming Haj 2024. "On January 7, 2024, the Hon'ble Minister of Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs will lead the delegation for the signing and exchange of the bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 in Jeddah. Hon'ble Minister will also hold a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Haj and Umrah Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah, to discuss the issues of mutual interest related to the forthcoming Haj 2024. Subsequently, the delegation will also meet the Indian business community and the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia," the Consulate General of India, Jeddah said in a press release. On January 8, Smriti Irani will also attend the opening ceremony of the 3rd Edition of 'Haj and Umrah Conference' in Jeddah. "On January 8, 2024, the Hon'ble Minister will attend the opening ceremony of the 3rd Edition of 'Haj and Umrah Conference' in Jeddah being organized by the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah Affairs. The Indo-Saudi partnership has deepened in recent years, marked by sustained engagement across various sectors," the release added. The visit will further strengthen the strategic partnership placing Haj as a vital dimension in this relationship, according to the Consulate General of India in Jeddah. (ANI) The Baloch National Movement Germany Chapter staged a demonstration on Saturday in solidarity with the long march for the families of Baloch missing persons. A huge number of members from the Baloch diaspora in Germany participated in the protest. Pamphlets distributed during the protests highlighted the gross human rights violations in Balochistan carried out by Pakistani security forces and the use of force against the peaceful long march against the Baloch genocide. Member of the Central Committee of Baloch National Movement Hammal Khan while addressing the demonstration, said: "This movement which started in Turbat after the fake encounter of Balach Mola Bakhsh, is not for one individual or some families. Rather, it is for the entire Baloch nation. Because any movement is neither for an individual nor a particular area or belongs to a party; movement. In reality, it belongs to the entire nation. It is national sense of belonging that contacts us, no matter how far away we are from our motherland." Hammal Khan added: "It is also our sense of belonging that today we are here and trying our best to be the voice of our people. He also warned that "the day when we distance ourselves from national sense of belonging, it would be a harbinger of our death as a diaspora." The President of the Baloch National Movement Germany Chapter Asghar Ali applauded the roles of Baloch women in organising such a powerful movement. He in this regard quoted The mother of Zakir Majeed, the leader of Baloch Student Organization who was abducted in 2009. She said, "I know, till I am alive, maybe I won't get my son, Zakir Jan back. But I'll keep participating in demonstrations, because when I leave this world, then someone can show these pictures to Zakir Jan and tell him, look! Your mother kept struggling for you till she was alive." The vice president of Baloch National Movement Germany Chapter Samul Baloch categorically expressed her views, "media might not show the truth of the misery, the pens of their journalists might be bloody of the Baloch nation, the so-called politicians might be blind and deaf, the world might be ignorant of the hopes and despair of Baloch people but we will scream until the world is forced to listen, until the world can no longer turn a blind eye on us. Until the voices of Baloch sisters and mothers echo in their sleeps." She added further, "Until we show them what balochs are built of. We the son and daughters of Balach and chakar, we the nation from mountain and dessert. We will show you. The opresser that we will never be silent. We will never fear you. Balochistan will keep giving birth to our Kareema, Mahrungs and Samis to Remind you of our resilience and strength." The joint secretary of Baloch National Movement Germany Chapter Shar Hassan said that Pakistan is a ruthless state which had no regards for human rights. Pakistan only believes in violence and it's policies are colonial in nature. The human rights violations in Balochistan is in peak where security forces turned Balochistan into a extended prison. And in Pakistan speaking for human rights is a crime and those who speak for it would be treated as terrorist." A member of Baloch National Movement Germany Chapter Sadiq Saeed thanked the participants of the demonstration and he said that "our purpose is to express our solidarity with the long march for the families of Baloch Missing Persons." He added that the families of massing persons marched from Turbat to Islamabad for the safe recovery of their loved ones. But Pakistani media and state-sponsored journalists make fun of their pain and agonies. He rightly said, "if someone's animal goes missing, he or she will do all to find it and Baloch mother, sister and daughter have lost their loved ones who have been forcibly disappeared for years and when they questioned for the safe recovery of their loved they met with harassment, arrest and torture." Unit secretary of NRW Badal Khan said that the purpose of demonstration is to express solidarity with the families of Baloch Missing Persons. As we know people have been forcibly disappeared and suffering torture for years. But the attitude of Pakistani forces is even the same with their families. When they marched to Islamabad, they were received with water cannons, arrest and torture." The member of Baloch National Movement Germany Chapter Safia Manzoor addressed, "The United Nations, as the global guardian of human rights, must not turn a blind eye to the atrocities taking place in Balochistan. The principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights must be upheld, and the international community must stand in solidarity with the Baloch people. It is imperative that the UN investigates the human rights violations in Balochistan and holds the responsible parties accountable for their actions." Bakhtawar Baloch stated, "The current protest in Islamabad is a continuation of the Turbat sit-in which started on November 23, 2023, after the murder of Balach Mola Buksh along with three others previously abducted Baloch youth in a staged encounter at the hands of the CTD." Pakistani military have been directly involved in Baloch Genocide and the so-called democratic government of Pakistan along with Media and Judiciary have failed to stop the killings of civilians in Balochistan." Salma Baloch in her speech said that Balochistan has grappled with a violent insurgency for the last two decades, resulting in numerous forced disappearances and bodies being dumped along roadsides. Caught between radicals exploiting the province's resources and the military combating these groups, Baloch families await news on their missing loved ones." Social media activist Felix expressed his solidarity with the long march for the forcibly disappeared persons and he also condemned the use of force against the peaceful long march of Baloch activists in Islamabad. In the programme, Asif Baloch and Adil Gwahram also delivered speeches. At the end of the demonstration, Asghar Ali, the President of the Baloch National Movement, thanked all participants and vowed to continue their struggle for the people of Balochistan. (ANI) Former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Sunday condemned the use of 'hateful language' against India by government officials on social media, saying New Delhi has always been a good friend to the island nation. Taking to his official handle on social media platform X, Solih posted, "I condemn the use of hateful language against India by Maldivian government officials on social media." He stressed that "India has always been a good friend to the Maldives and we must not allow such callous remarks to negatively impact the age-old friendship between our two countries". https://x.com/ibusolih/status/1743967784428818575?s=20 A massive uproar broke after a Maldivian deputy minister and some other government officials shared derogatory posts about PM Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep. PM Modi visited the Union Territory of Lakshadweep on January 2 and shared several pictures, including an 'exhilarating experience' of him trying his hand at snorkelling. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches and the pristine blue skies and the ocean, and tagged them with a message that read, "For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list." In a post that has now been deleted, the Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Shiuna, made a mocking and disrespectful reference to PM Modi over his visit to the Indian island cluster. Her post even featured images of PM Modi from his visit to Lakshadweep. A section of India's film fraternity, too, came out in support of PM Modi and strongly criticised the derogatory remarks by Maldivian leaders against the country and its leader. They also voiced support for PM Modi's call for promoting beach tourism in Lakshadweep. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches and the pristine blue skies and the ocean, and tagged them with a message that read, "For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list." "Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are some glimpses, including aerial glimpses from Lakshadweep...During my stay, I also tried snorkelling - what an exhilarating experience it was! For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list," PM Modi posted on X. He also laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 1,150 crore in Agatti on Tuesday. (ANI) Weighing in on the derogatory remarks by Maldivian ministers against Prime Minister Modi as well as India on social media, foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev on Sunday said the posts in question were "absolutely deplorable". A massive uproar erupted after a Maldivian deputy minister, along with other cabinet members and government officials, made disparaging and unsavoury references to PM Modi's recent visit to Lakshadweep. Recalling the attempted coup of 1988, he said New Delhi sent its forces within hours in response to a distress call from the nation and the bid to take down the Maldivian government at the time was averted. Sachdev said India has also aided the Maldivian government and economy through rough phases, majorly by way of helping it leverage its tourism potential. "It is absolutely deplorable...There is one section (in Maldives) which is anti-India. India not only helps the economy of Maldives by aiding and enabling tourism but also providing them security," Sachdev told ANI. "I am reminded of 1988 when there was an attempted coup in the Maldives. India sent its forces and within hours, the bid to bring down the government at the time was thwarted. So for the national security of Maldives, India is the neighbour right across," the foreign affairs expert said. Underlining how India extended a helping hand to the island nation on numerous occasions, he added, "There were times when there was an acute water shortage in the Maldives and India sent an aircraft and our naval assets with bottled water." There was a spontaneous outpouring of anger after Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Mariyam Shiuna, took to her official X handle to make a mocking and disrespectful reference to Prime Minister Modi over his recent visit to Lakshadweep, which lies in the vicinity of the Maldives. The post by Shiuna, which has now been deleted, featured images of PM Modi from his recent visit to the Union Territory. Amid the uproar, the Maldivian government on Sunday sought to distance itself from Shiuna's derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying her opinion does not reflect the government's views. The government added that 'appropriate action' will be taken against the minister, who is in the midst of a social media firestorm over her post. Posting images from his visit to the Union Territory on January 2, PM Modi also shared an 'exhilarating experience' of him trying his hand at snorkelling. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches, the pristine blue skies and the ocean, and tagged them with a message that read, "For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list." (ANI) Endorsing the 12th Parliamentary elections of Bangladesh on Sunday, a former member of the European Parliament, Paulo Casaca, said he was very impressed with the polls in the nation, adding that the voting procedures in general are very good. Paulo Casaca is also the founder and Executive Director of South Asia Democratic Forum. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Casaca said, "...I was very positively impressed with what I saw today. I saw voting procedures that, in general, are very good. They are really up to the standards." "Some of the points are very ingenious. Some others could be improved but I think that especially there is a very big electoral, procedural democratic machine that is in place, that has to be worked with, that has to be respected, and that can produce wonders. That's what I think..." he added. On whether he interacted with the voters there, Casaca said, "Well, I have to say that today I did not have the opportunity to engage. I mean, it would not be proper anyway, because it's a voting day." "I'm not going to discuss what are the political opinions of people, but of course, I've been discussing before the election with many people, many organizations. Well, I think that, yes, most of the people think there should be BNP in the election to turn it more clear and lively and to have a possibility of choosing one thing or the other," he added. Casaca was the EU's designated observer for the 12th national parliamentary elections of Bangladesh on Sunday, in his capacity as the executive director of the South Asia Democratic Forum. After the daylong vote, he spoke with the press at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital, according to the Dhaka Tribune. The polls that took place in the country today, were boycotted by the opposition, led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The voting began at 8 am at 261,912 polling stations in 42,024 voting centres and continued until 4 pm. Overall, 27 per cent votes were cast in the first seven hours, from 8 am to 3 pm (local time), Md. Jahangir Alam, secretary of the Election Commission (EC), said during a news conference at the Agargaon Election Commission (EC) headquarters, according to Dhaka Tribune. Some 800,000 security personnel were kept on election duty to maintain the electoral atmosphere by checking for violations of codes of conduct throughout the country. They include 38,154 Army personnel, 2,827 Navy personnel (19 districts), 45,185 (1,158 platoons) BGB personnel, 2520 (75 platoons) Coast Guard personnel, 600 RAB teams and 95 RAB reserve teams, 184,959 police personnel, and 558,500 Ansar men. Furthermore, 653 judicial judges and 2,076 executive magistrates were deployed in the field to penalise violations of the election code of conduct, the Dhaka Tribune reported. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to win a fourth straight term in the absence of the main opposition BNP, which on Saturday began a 48-hour nationwide strike against the 'illegal government' amidst violence and a crackdown on protesters, according to Al Jazeera. The Supreme Court on December 27 provided clearance for the Election Commission (EC) to proceed with the general elections. The poll panel made thorough arrangements ahead of the 12th national elections. As many as 127 foreign observers will track the election process to assess the election's fairness. (ANI) A former traveling nurse was sentenced to seven years in prison Friday after admitting he raped a woman in January 2021 at Methodist Hospitals in Gary with broken bones from a car wreck. Timothy Jerome Jackson, 54, will serve the sentence in the Indiana Department of Correction without alternative placement. He faced up to 7 1/2 years under his plea for Level 3 felony rape. Indiana law requires inmates to serve at least 75% of their sentence. His nursing license expired in October 2021, state records show. The victim sued Jackson, Methodist Hospitals and OneStaff Medical in January 2023. The complaint is under seal. A Methodist Hospitals spokeswoman previously declined to comment on pending litigation. He was immediately removed after the allegations, she said previously. Judge Salvador Vasquez said the rape was a horrendous violation of trust. First on the stand, Clarence Greer, Jacksons friend of over 30 years, said Jackson lost his nursing career and was salvaging his life. Decades earlier, he had encouraged Jackson to leave trucking and go back to school to get his associates nursing degree. Now, he was helping Greer fix up houses in Gary. Jackson was deeply remorseful about what he did, Greer told Jacksons defense lawyer Angela Jones. This aint about blowing smoke, he told Vasquez. I saw a broken man in my living room. It was an egregious mistake, Greer said. Deputy Prosecutor Tara Villarreal read a letter from the victim. A probable cause affidavit alleged Jackson withheld pain medication until the woman screaming in agony let him assault her. Jackson targeted her thinking because of who I am, no one would believe me, she wrote. He then said he would see her on his next shift. She was so scared he would assault her again and reported what happened. No one believed me at Methodist, she alleged. Two days after the assault, she left the hospital. That meant many of her injuries didnt heal properly, she wrote. It was impossible to forget what happened to me, she wrote. I dont know if Ill ever heal. Jones said she hadnt seen a client say more bluntly what he did. Jackson lost his career, reputation and dignity. He had almost no criminal history, lost his professional license and blew his whole life up, Jones said. She asked for three years with a mix of community corrections and probation. Villarreal noted he is now legally considered a sexually violent predator and would have to register as a sex offender. He violated his fiduciary duty and Hippocratic oath, she said. The hospital should be a safe place. In her deposition, the victim said she never once consented, Villarreal said. Yes, the woman left the facility, the prosecutor said. Any reasonable person would not want to stay in a hospital where they were just raped, she said. Nurses took the side of their co-worker, Villarreal said. A rape kit found Jacksons DNA on her. There was no question it happened, the prosecutor said. Vasquez asked Villarreal who called the police. At some point, the hospital did, she said. This was a great regret, at this stage of my life, Jackson told the court. He had a broken spirit and took full responsibility, apologizing and asking the victim who was not in court to forgive him. Vasquez accepted the plea. Jackson had factors in his favor including people speaking for him, a lack of criminal history, and his efforts to fix up houses. However, it was akin to a teacher abusing a child in a school, he said. A nurse is supposed to protect people. What he did meant prison time. It has to be a message to you, Vasquez said, to anyone paying attention. The woman was hospitalized on Jan. 27, 2021 for a car wreck at Methodist, where she was recovering from a broken right leg, right arm, left arm, fractured ribs and punctured lung, an affidavit states. She was screaming around 4 a.m. for her pain medication when Jackson came into her room, asking, What are you going to do for it?' charges allege. After she asked him what he meant, he closed the blinds and made a motion with his mouth indicating a sex act and unzipped his pants. Johnson assaulted the woman, then raised up the hospital bed and raped her, the affidavit states. This is what youre going to do, or youre not getting no pain medicine, he said during one assault, the court document said. Jackson was a traveling nurse employed by One Staff Medical at Methodist, court records say. He denied any sexual contact with the victim to Gary police, documents state. DNA from a rape kit matched to the victim and Jackson, records state. mcolias@post-trib.com The 11th meeting of the Joint Steering Committee on Power Sector Cooperation (JSC) was held in Chitwan, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said. The meeting was co-chaired by Pankaj Agarwal, secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India and Gopal Prasad Sigdel, secretary (Energy), Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. "The meeting followed the signing of the Agreement on Long-Term Power Trade between India and Nepal on January 4, 2024. This was preceded by the 11th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Power Sector Cooperation (JWG) held on January 3, which was co-chaired by Dr. D. Sai Baba, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power and Nabin Raj Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Government of Nepal in Kathmandu," the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu stated. The meetings comprehensively reviewed the bilateral power sector cooperation between India and Nepal, including power trade and the implementation of hydropower projects and transmission lines. The progress made by various bilateral committees, including the Joint Technical Team (JTT), was also discussed. The modalities of cross-border power trade through 132 kV and below transmission lines were approved during the meeting. This assumes special significance as three new 132 kV lines, i.e., second circuit of Raxaul (Bihar, India) -Parwanipur (Nepal), the second circuit of Kataiya (Bihar, India) -Kusaha (Nepal) and the new Nautanwa (Uttar Pradesh, India)-Mainhiya (Nepal) were inaugurated by the External Affairs Minister of India and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal on January 4. These lines add about 200 MW transmission capacity enhancing the overall transmission capacity between India and Nepal to 1400 MW. Further, the New Nautanwa-Mainhiya transmission line is the first connection between Nepal and the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Achieving progress on the India-Nepal Joint Vision Statement on Power Sector Cooperation issued during the visit of the Prime Minister of Nepal to India in April 2022, both sides agreed to hold the first meeting of the Joint Hydro Development Committee (JHDC) soon. Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal also called on Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation of Nepal, Shakti Bahadur Basnet, before the JSC. The two sides agreed to continue the discussions on the subject and decided to meet soon for the next sessions of the JWG/JSC meetings to be organised by the Indian side. (ANI) North Korea fired around 90 artillery shots into waters off its western coast on Sunday, Yonhap news agency reported, citing South Korea's military. These artillery shots are the latest in a series of drills near the tensely guarded western border. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the artillery firings in the maritime buffer zone north of the Northern Limit Line, the de-facto maritime border in the Yellow Sea, and South Korea's border island of Yeonpyeong from about 4 pm to 5:10 pm (local time). The buffer zone was set under a 2018 inter-Korean military accord designed to reduce tensions along the border. There was no damage to the South Korean military or civilians from the latest firing, a JCS official said, adding that the South Korean military does not plan to hold drills in response. It marked the third consecutive day of North Korean artillery drills in the area, the South's military said, raising tension near the maritime border. Ongjin County, which has jurisdiction over South Korea's northwestern islands, issued a warning to the border islands as artillery fire was heard from the North Korean side. "Troops on Yeonpyeong Island are currently responding, but residents are advised to be cautious of outdoor activities," the county said in a text message sent to islanders. Notably, North Korea has been staging live-fire drills from its south-western coast for the third consecutive day, raising tension near the maritime border. Earlier on Friday, North Korea fired some 200 artillery shells from its southwestern coastal areas, prompting the South Korean troops on the front-line islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong to stage live-fire drills in response. North Korea's Friday artillery firing marked the 16th one of its kind, including a missile launch in December 2022. The South Korean military conducted live-fire drills near the maritime buffer zone for the first time since the signing of the 2018 pact, according to Yonhap news agency. The latest sabre-rattling came after Pyongyang in November vowed to restore military measures halted under a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement, which set up buffer zones in land, sea and air, and banned live-fire drills near the border area to prevent accidental clashes. On Saturday, the North carried out live-fire drills for the second consecutive day to fire around 60 shells from the western coast, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Earlier in the day, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, claimed that Pyongyang conducted a "deceptive operation" by detonating explosives simulating the sound of 130 mm coastal artillery the previous day, deriding the South Korean military's detection capabilities, Yonhap news agency reported. (ANI) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won the re-election for a fifth term in the national election that were conducted on Sunday amidst the boycott by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former PM Khaleda Zia, who is currently in jail. Sheikh Hasina's party Awami League has won a fourth consecutive term in the 12th parliamentary election, marking the second lowest voter turnout since the reinstatement of democracy in 1991, according to the Daily Star. The Awami League party hailed a significant victory for the fourth straight term, with Sheikh Hasina returning to power despite the ongoing anti-election activities by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), as reported by the Dhaka Tribune. The landslide victory that the AL helped itself win in yesterday's polls means Sheikh Hasina will further tighten her grip on power as she is poised to go in history as the longest serving prime minister in Bangladesh,according to the Daily Star. Notably, the Awami League won in five constituencies amid a boycott by the opposition BNP and 15 other parties. Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina has instructed her party leaders, workers and supporters not to hold any victory procession following the announcement of the results of the 12th general election, Dhaka Tribune reported. PM Sheikh Hasina and Awami League president has won the Gopalganj-3 constituency almost unopposed in a landslide victory bagging 2,49,962 votes in Sunday's 12th general election. The total number of seats in this constituency is 108. Earlier in the day, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader expressed confidence that the Boat would emerge victorious in this election, the Dhaka Tribune reported. "A victory of democracy and people of the country," he said. "The election was held in a free, fair and peaceful manner, overcoming many obstacles. They [BNP] wanted to confuse the international and national friends of Bangladesh by spreading propaganda," he added. Meanwhile, Awami League Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua highlighted that the turnout of voters in the 12th parliamentary election was satisfactory despite the "terrorism and anti-election activities of the BNP". PM Hasina also accused the Bangladesh opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of inciting violence in the country and said that they are against the development of the people. "Bangladesh is a sovereign country and people are my power," she said after voting, adding that she hoped her party would win the people's mandate, which would give it a fifth term since 1996. PM said, "BNP and Jamat did several arsoning and various other violent activities, such as burning train, burning vehicle, stopping people's movement...I would say that they do not believe in democracy, they are not patriots, and they are against the development of the people. Moreover, they don't want democracy to continue." Hasina, 76, urged citizens to cast their ballots and show their faith in the democratic process, branding the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) a "terrorist organisation", Al Jazeera reported. The 12th national polls in Bangladesh ended on Sunday amidst a largely peaceful environment. However, according to the Daily Star, voters' presence was noticeably low, with many election centres hardly seeing any queues throughout the day. In many centres, election officials and polling agents sat idly with very little to do. The voting began at 8 am on Sunday at 261,912 polling booths in 42,024 voting centres and continued until 4 pm with 299 parliamentary seats up for election, according to the Dhaka Tribune. Highlighting the anti-election activities by the opposition party, incidents of violence were reported in different districts, which left one person dead in Munshiganj and many others injured in different parts of the country. Reportedly, by the time the nation went to the polls yesterday, over 27,000 BNP leaders and activists were rounded up and over 1,700 were sentenced to jail in political cases in just about two months, according to Daily Star. (ANI) EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) New Mexico State Police collected more than 1,200 guns from four locations during its second Gun Buyback event on Saturday, Jan. 6. Gun Buyback events were held in Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Espanola and Farmington. People voluntarily and anonymously turned in unwanted firearms and received Visa gift cards in return. Buybacks are intended to prevent unwanted guns from causing harm or being used to commit acts of violence, according to a news release sent out by New Mexico State Police. A total of 1,289 guns were collected from all four locations. The Las Cruces site collected 136 handguns and 307 rifles and/or shotguns. Out of 1,289 guns collected statewide, 10 were reported as stolen. This was another proactive event where people could voluntarily turn in unwanted guns as a means to help minimize gun violence, reduce suicides, accidental deaths, and injuries where guns are involved. State Police is committed to safeguarding every community we serve, and as such, we will continue to utilize every resource we have to reduce gun violence. said Troy Weisler, chief of the New Mexico State Police. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. (BCN) A three-vehicle pileup on Interstate Highway 680 near Pleasant Hill Shopping Center left one person dead, the California Highway Patrol said Saturday. 2 dead, 9 injured in 35-vehicle pile up along I-5 west of Bakersfield The highway patrol was notified at 9:52 p.m. Friday of the collisions near Concord Avenue. A southbound black Honda Pilot SUV struck the concrete center divider and became disabled in the traffic lanes, police said. A white Chevrolet 2500 pickup also traveling south was unable to avoid colliding with the disabled Honda, the CHP said. A Tesla was also involved. The driver of the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger wasnt injured. The drivers of the Chevrolet and the Tesla werent hurt, police said. Anyone with information on the crash or the events leading up to it is asked to contact CHP Contra Costa in Martinez at (925) 646-4980 or email their contact information to 320Investigations@chp.ca.gov to be contacted by the investigating officer. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. 1. White House reportedly left unaware of defense secretarys hospitalization The Pentagon did not tell the White House for more than three days that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been hospitalized, U.S. officials said Saturday. The revelation caused alarm across the federal government given that Austin is the top official in charge of the Defense Department. Austin was hospitalized for an elective medical procedure on New Year's Day, but national security adviser Jake Sullivan was not informed of this fact until Jan. 4, officials told Politico. It is believed that President Joe Biden was also unaware of Austin's hospitalization until Sullivan told him. In a statement, Austin wrote, "I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed." Politico, The Washington Post 2. Biden to deliver State of the Union address on March 7 President Joe Biden will deliver the State of the Union address on March 7, in what will be the third such speech of his presidency. In a letter to Biden on Saturday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) formally extended an invitation to address Congress, asking him to deliver the speech during "this moment of great challenge for our country." Biden replied on X that he was "looking forward" to the speech. The speech will notably fall at a late date; the State of the Union is typically given in February, such was Biden's 2023 speech which took place on Feb. 7. The date also falls after a pair of deadlines to keep the government funded. The New York Times, Bloomberg 3. Special counsel reportedly finds new details about Trumps inaction on Jan. 6 Special Counsel Jack Smith has uncovered new information about the inaction of former President Donald Trump during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, ABC News reported Sunday. Many of the details came from Trump's former deputy chief of staff, Dan Scavino, who spoke with Smith's team last year. Scavino reportedly said that Trump "was just not interested" in doing anything to stop the violence as it unfolded. When Trump was told that his vice president, Mike Pence, had to be taken to a secure location, Trump reportedly replied, "So what?" Scavino reportedly told Trump on that night, "This is all your legacy here, and there's smoke coming out of the Capitol." ABC News 4. Israeli strike reportedly kills 2 Palestinian journalists A pair of Palestinian journalists were reportedly killed during Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Sunday. The pair of freelancers, Hamza Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya, reportedly died following an airstrike on a car in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. Al-Dahdouh had worked as a reporter for Al Jazeera television while Thuraya was a video stringer for the AFP news agency. A third freelancer traveling with the pair was also wounded. The Israeli Defense Force has continued to ramp up airstrikes and bombing attacks in its war with Hamas, which has now been ongoing for exactly three months. Hamas' government office said 109 journalists have been killed in the war. Reuters, AFP 5. FAA grounds additional Boeing 737-9s after Alaska Airlines emergency landing The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Saturday ordered the temporary grounding and inspection of dozens of Boeing 737-9 Max airplanes. The move comes one day after an Alaska Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after a piece of its fuselage blew out in the air, causing a rapid decompression of the cabin. No injuries were reported, and Alaska Airlines said it was grounding its entire fleet of 737-9s as a result. The FAA followed suit by grounding 171 more 737-9s across numerous U.S. airlines, saying in a statement that it was "requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight." CBS News, CNBC 6. Winter weather to cause ongoing issues across US Large swaths of the United States are already dealing with winter storms and there doesn't appear to be any respite on the horizon. Winter weather struck both ends of the country on Saturday, as storm and snow warnings enveloped the East Coast while a snowstorm battered the Sierra Nevada mountain range on the West Coast. Winter storm warnings in the Northeast also caused icy conditions as far south as North Carolina. Blizzard-like conditions, flooding and tornadoes are also possible this coming week as the winter weather pattern carves its way through the central portion of the United States. More than 10 million people remain under winter weather advisories. CNN, The Associated Press 7. Michigan Republicans vote to oust controversial chairwoman A group of Michigan Republicans voted Saturday to remove the head of their state's party, Kristina Karamo, from office. Republicans reportedly cheered as Karamo was ousted from power, with around 88% of the 45 people participating in the vote choosing to remove her. The exact number remains unclear as the vote was conducted using secret ballots. Karamo said that she would not accept the results of the vote, calling it illegitimate, amid continuing signs of division growing within Michigan's Republican Party. Karamo and party leadership have been criticized for the GOP's string of losses at the ballot box as well as mounting financial troubles and infighting with party members. The Detroit News, The Detroit Free Press 8. Italian foreign minister calls for EU to create its own army Italy's foreign minister said Sunday that the European Union should form its own army to play a role in peacekeeping across the continent. Antonio Tajani told Italian newspaper La Stampa in an interview, "If we want to be peacekeepers in the world, we need a European military. And this is a fundamental precondition to be able to have an effective European foreign policy." Tajani, who is also the deputy prime minister of Italy, said that forming an EU army was a priority for his Forza Italia political party. "Italian, German, French or Slovenian citizens can only be protected by something that already exists, namely the European Union," Tajani added. Reuters 9. Barbenheimer to lead controversially renewed Golden Globes The 81st Golden Globe Awards will take place Sunday night in Los Angeles, as the award show that appears to be impossible to kill will play host to one of Hollywood's biggest nights. The night will likely be dominated by Warner Bros.' "Barbie" and Universal's "Oppenheimer," the two films that defined a social media sensation last summer; both films are up for numerous awards. The Globes will also take place under the shadow of controversy, as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, long accused of racist standards, no longer has control; the Globes are now co-owned by Penske Media, the parent company behind the largest Hollywood trade publications. The Associated Press 10. Worlds largest cruise ship arrives in Puerto Rico ahead of maiden voyage The world's largest cruise ship is preparing for final inspections ahead of its maiden voyage this month. Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas arrived in Ponce, Puerto Rico this week for its last "regulatory inspections" before officially setting sail. The ship will embark on its maiden voyage from Miami on Jan. 27. The 20-deck vessel dwarfs its competitors and has room for 5,610 guests and another 2,350 crew members. The ship was handed over to Royal Caribbean upon its completion last November after taking 900 days to construct. The ship's features include a large waterpark, different neighborhoods and more than 40 dining and bar options. CNN Over a dozen people were forced to find somewhere else to spend the night after a fire tore through a multi-family home in North Attleboro Saturday morning. Firefighters responded to a multi-family home on Park Street to find smoke billowing from the buildings third floor. Crews brought a hose up to a 3rd-floor bedroom to find a fire. Sixteen residents, 10 adults and six children, were able to escape the home before firefighters arrived. One man inside the home was transported to a local hospital to be treated for injuries. No one else was injured. The first and second floors of the home sustained water and smoke damage as well. The house has been deemed inhabitable at this time. The American Red Cross is assisting the 16 residents who have been displaced, the North Attleboro fire department said. Our aggressive response to this fire highlighted the importance of fire department staffing levels. By being fully staffed, we were able to conduct a coordinated attack that included us advancing hose lines, conducting searches and ventilating the building to prevent the fire from spreading while ensuring all occupants were safely evacuated, Attleboro Fire Chief Christopher Coleman said. We would also like to stress the importance of smoke detectors as they were able to alert the residents to the fire and give them time to evacuate safely. The fire does not appear to be suspicious and is under investigation by North Attleboro and state officials. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Each winter as the Christmas rush settles down and the new year is just around the corner, many of us begin to think about New Years resolutions. My thoughts also turn toward the coming legislative session. January is a time of renewed optimism and new resolve, as I anticipate how I can work with other legislators to keep Idaho moving forward. I suspect that same optimism and resolve ruled the hearts and minds of those who met in the summer of 1787 to frame our U.S. Constitution. Fearing that the fragile and nascent Union was in danger of breaking apart, they realized that their task was urgent and critical if the American experiment was to survive. Although they shared a common goal, which was to craft a system of government that would work for a new nation, each of them no doubt arrived in Philadelphia with his own best idea of how to reach it. By the end of the conventions hundred days, the delegates were exhausted, and there was still significant disagreement among them about the specifics of the document they were being asked to approve. The oldest delegate present, 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, wisely observed that this was understandable, given that the attendees brought with them all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. In fact, he understood that it was something akin to a miracle (he used the term astonishing) to have finally produced a Constitution worthy of their consideration a system of government that he described as approaching so near to perfection as it does. In his closing speech to the Constitutional Convention, Franklin said, the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment and pay more respect to the judgment of others. Herein lies the genius of Dr. Franklin. In a word, it was his humility. Idahos legislative sessions generally last roughly the same amount of time as those patriots spent in the sweltering summer heat of 1787. Like they did in Philadelphia, we arrive in Boise with our own best ideas for how to tackle the issues that lie ahead. We spend 75 or 80 days, or sometimes even 100, studying, discussing, listening, debating and hammering out legislation that we think will work for Idaho and her people. The process is not easy. Just as it was in Philadelphia, its sometimes rancorous, contentious and downright messy. One way to make it less so would be to realize that none of us has the perfect answer to every question or every issue. In modern parlance, this might be called thinking outside the box. But in this context the box needs to be seen for what it is: our own carefully constructed and closely guarded treasure chest of ideas. If we could loosen our tenacious attachment to our own positions, we could more readily listen to proposals different from our own and admit that some of them may actually be better. Franklins closing statement to the 1787 Convention included an appeal to each of his fellow delegates to doubt a little of his own infallibility and agree to sign the new Constitution of the United States, despite any lingering doubts or disagreements. In other words, Dr. Franklin and every one of the 39 original signers had to compromise before they could ever hope to launch this nation on its path to greatness. The most effective legislators are those who, like Benjamin Franklin, appreciate the value of humility. They are men and women who can imagine a variety of options without letting go of their own core beliefs. They are the ones who are willing to listen to all opinions without denigrating the ideas of others, weigh all ideas despite any question or hesitation about their viability, and sift through all the possibilities until a workable solution can be agreed to. Most importantly, they are the ones who are not afraid to doubt a little of their own infallibility instead of stubbornly clinging to their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. As we approach the 2024 legislative session, it is my sincere hope that all of us can more closely emulate Dr. Franklin by being willing to doubt our own infallibility. We will better serve our fellow Idahoans by doing so. Scott Bedke is the lieutenant governor of Idaho. You are here: Business The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on Saturday said that it will work toward a significant increase in direct flights between China and the United States in 2024. Regular, direct passenger flights between the world's top-two economies have risen in number to 63 per week, official data shows. Also in 2024, China will actively expand air traffic rights arrangements with Belt and Road countries, and deepen cooperation with Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa, the CAAC said. The administration will also work to improve visa and border control policies, and facilitate customs clearance processes further. A crash involving four vehicles claimed the lives of two people and sent four others to the hospital, authorities said. Preliminary information from a Los Angeles Fire Department release indicates that the collision occurred around 1:45 a.m. Sunday morning in the 7600 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Canoga Park. 2 dead, 9 injured in 35-vehicle pile up along I-5 west of Bakersfield Two of the victims, only identified as a man and a woman of unknown age, were pronounced dead at the scene after being trapped in the wreckage of the four-car crash. Two other victims were taken to local hospitals and were said to be in critical condition. The remaining victims suffered minor injuries and did not require transport. 2 dead, 4 injured in violent multi-car crash in Canoga Park Law enforcement officials confirmed that three of the vehicles were moving while one was parked on Topanga Canyon at the time of the collision. Lululemon fires back at former CEO for comments on diversity, equity and inclusion programs The driver of an older model Honda Civic that had been traveling southbound and for some unknown reason crossed over into the northbound lanes and collided with a Toyota Camry, Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant Rich Brunson said. The impact between those two vehicles caused the Honda Civic to rotate, at which time the driver was ejected and his front right passenger was killed. According to Sgt. Brunson, speed was a factor in the fatal crash. The 7600 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard was reopened by 7 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Two people were injured after a vehicle rolled onto its side in Ross Township. Firefighters say the crash happened on Church Road during Saturdays snowstorm. The roof of the vehicle had to be cut off to rescue two people who were trapped inside. Members of the Bauerstown Volunteer Fire Department said they had firefighters staffed at the station in preparation for the dangerous conditions caused by the snow. Eight firefighters responded to the crash from that department. The two people who were trapped inside were taken to a hospital to be evaluated. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Stowe Township police searching for missing 17-year-old with Down syndrome Pittsburgh Weekend Winter Storm: How much snow we could see and latest timing Steelers at Ravens gameday: Playoff picture, clinching scenarios, more VIDEO: Lunar lander built on Pittsburghs North Side will head to the moon Monday DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Two people were killed and nine others were injured Saturday in a massive pileup north of Los Angeles that involved as many as 40 vehicles in foggy conditions on Interstate 5, authorities said. The deadly pileup on the West Coast's main north-south corridor occurred on the southbound side of I-5 in Kern County, about 33 miles north of the Los Angeles County line, according to the California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans. The freeway remained closed at Millux Road as California Highway Patrol investigators attempted to reconstruct elements of the pileup and determine an official cause, CHP spokesperson Tami Grimes said. Saturday's multivehicle pileup on I-5. (KBAK/KBFX) Grimes confirmed two fatalities. She said more details were expected Saturday night. Kern County Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim Calhoun told NBC affiliate KGET of Bakersfield that nine other people were hospitalized with minor injuries. Caltrans said foggy conditions affected the freeway Saturday morning, and Calhoun said visibility was down to about 10 feet when rescuers arrived. Grimes said as many as 40 vehicles were involved in what appeared to be three core collisions in close proximity to one another. The battalion chief said 18 of the vehicles were tractor-trailers. The pileup was reported shortly after 7:30 a.m., according to KGET. It happened along a rural stretch of the freeway in the town of Conner, north of a snow-prone area known as the Grapevine. Such low-visibility conditions are known in the San Joaquin Valley as tule fog, which covers the ground in a heavy, rising mist after rain saturates the soil. KGET said the fog can linger as high-pressure air traps it. The area was in for more hazardous weather Saturday night through Sunday as a southbound storm was forecast to deliver a few inches of snow to the Grapevine, the National Weather Service said. Forecasters also warned that the corridor north of Los Angeles could be affected by ice and wind gusts as powerful as 80 mph. Motorists should beware of "blizzard conditions with low visibilities from blowing snow," the weather service said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Two people were killed and nine others were injured Saturday in a massive pileup on Interstate 5 in California involving 35 vehicles as thick fog impeded visibility, authorities said. The deadly pileup occurred on the southbound side of the freeway in Kern County but both sides were closed and traffic was diverted, the California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans, said on X. SB I-5 Multi-vehicle pile-up (KBAK/KBFX) Caltrans did not provide further details, and the California Highway Patrol and Kern County Fire Department could not be reached for comment. Emergency responders were called around 7:30 a.m. on a collision report, according to NBC affiliate KGET 17 News in Bakersfield. Caltrans said the pileup occurred during foggy weather conditions, known in the San Joaquin Valley as Tule fog, which covers the ground in a heavy mist after rain saturates the soil. Seventeen vehicles and 18 big rigs were involved in the pileup, KBAK reported. Fire department Battalion Chief Jim Calhoun told the station that two people died and nine others were taken to the hospital in unknown conditions. This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com MURRAY, Utah (ABC4) Two women are facing charges after allegedly using false personal information to buy a new Mazda from Tim Dahle Mazda twice. Gabrielle Marie Baker, 33, and Laree Nichole Willis, 36, were arrested for the offenses of producing or transferring false identification, a second-degree felony; theft/deception firearm or operable motor vehicle, a second-degree felony; forgery, a third-degree felony; false evidence of title and registration, a third-degree felony; making a false credit report, a class A misdemeanor; possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor; and use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor, the Murray Police Department said. Woman killed, baby and man hospitalized after Cedar City rollover crash On Dec. 30, 2023, Baker and Willis went to the Tim Dahle Mazda dealership located in Murray. They co-signed and filled out the paperwork to purchase a 2024 Mazda CX-30 from the dealership, however with incorrect information, according to Murray Police. Willis reportedly put a false social security number on the applications and gave the dealership a photocopy of a fake Arizona drivers license. Baker reportedly put a false name, date of birth, and social security number on the applications and gave the dealership a photocopy of a fake Utah drivers license. The two also provided fake 1-800-CONTACTS paystubs, according to Murray Police. Baker and Willis later told police the drivers licenses and paystubs were fake, and that the social security numbers were not valid, saying they got them off the internet, police said. Additionally, during the purchase process, Baker and Willis reportedly provided false information on their credit application. The social security number Baker provided belonged to a different person, and the social security number Willis provided was fake, police said. Baker and Willis filled out the Utah application for title forms using fake drivers license numbers, Murray Police said. Baker reportedly used the name Gabriella Sanchez, which police noted is not her name. Additionally, Baker filled out a motor vehicle lease form with Mazda, agreeing to buy the vehicle for $31,332.80, and with Willis as the co-signer. Baker again used the name Gabriella Sanchez on this document. After a few days, police said employees at the dealership became suspicious because Baker and Willis did not make the down payment on time. The dealership attempted to contact them, but the phone numbers and other contact information were not valid. The dealership then reportedly contacted 1-800-CONTACTS, and confirmed that the two were not actual employees and that the paystubs were false. The dealership listed the vehicle as stolen, and police said they later recovered it. On Friday, Jan. 5, officers with the Murray Police Department said they responded to the Tim Dahle Mazda dealership when one of the employees stated Baker and Willis were there trying to purchase another vehicle. Baker reportedly provided the name Gabriella Sanchez again, with a false date of birth and social security number. Officers advised Baker they knew that was false information, however she insisted it was not. Later, police said Willis told Baker just to be honest, and Baker gave her correct information. Police said Willis was placed under arrest and searched. Officers reportedly found three small bags of black tar, later field tested and found to be heroine. Police said they also found a hollow plastic tube with black and brown residue inside. Baker and Willis were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on the aforementioned charges. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. For nearly 100 years, The Ledger has been Polk County's primary source for in-depth coverage of life in our community. More than 700,000 people call this county home, a number that's growing every day. That's a lot of life. And our goal today, as it was decades ago, is to make a small difference and add to the quality of those lives on a daily basis. Here's a look back at just some of the work by Ledger reporters that made a difference in 2023. Homeless plight in Lakeland Nick Karlowa and his father Allen Karlowa, both homeless and living at Lighthouse Ministries. Nick, who is autistic, was trespassed out of the park by a Lakeland police officer. He was later allowed to return to Munn Park after a Ledger story. There's been a renewed spotlight on the issues faced by individuals who are homeless in Lakeland, all starting with a man who is autistic was trespassed from Munn Park. His rights to visit Munn Park were reinstated after The Ledger's reporting, but it revealed a larger pattern of people who are homeless being banned from the park for arguably trivial reasons, leaving people without a safe, public place to be during daytime hours when homeless shelters close. Two organizations have drafted plans to build day centers to offer services to those who are homeless. Some city officials' calls for more stringent laws against feeding the homeless have yet to materialize into policy. Increasing awareness of public surveillance Cameras manufactured by Flock Safety have been popping up in unincorporated areas of Polk County like this one at Old Polk City Road and Scandinavia Boulevard in Lakeland. The Sheriff's Office installed several such cameras, and Lakeland police want to do the same. The Lakeland Police Department fully rolled out body-worn cameras to all its public-facing officers in early 2023 after years of intense debate. With this addition came new license plate readers on Lakeland police vehicles. The Ledger's Sara-Megan Walsh wrote about the Polk County Sheriff's Office installing automatic license plate readers roadside in front of residents' homes without notice. The Sheriff's Office would not discuss its surveillance cameras in detail, citing an exemption to public-records law related to police inventory and tactics. And in more reporting from Walsh, the Lakeland department publicly stated it intended to pursue such technology in advance of signing a contract, disclosing it to residents, even if it would not reveal specific sites. Reporter Paul Nutcher also wrote about the outcry from some members of the public when the Polk County Sheriff's Office asked the County Commission for $5 million to purchase a new plane with more advanced camera systems. Critics said the plane's sophisticated imaging system was a threat to privacy and that the Sheriff's Office had not answered questions about how the data would be stored and who would have access. Sheriff's officials said the new plane had short takeoff and landing capabilities that the old plane didn't have, and the advanced imaging system could operate at up to 10,000 feet, avoiding conflicts with increasing air traffic at local airports, mainly Lakeland. Endless development in Polk County This was, time and again, the biggest issue throughout the county in 2023, and no other news outlet examined the pains of rapid growth on a countywide level like The Ledger. Nowhere is the pain more acute than in the rural eastern part of the county, near Haines City and Poinciana. Debra Lawson holds a sign protesting a proposed housing development off Lake Hatchineha Road during a Polk Planning Commission hearing on a 1,876-home development on part of the Creek Ranch. The county's biggest development fight of the year centered on the Creek Ranch near Lake Hatchineha and the Kissimmee Chain, known as the headwaters of the Everglades. Nutcher followed the fight from the beginning. In April 2022, Center State Development bought the 1,300-acre Asana Ranch, subsequently returning it to its historic name, Creek Ranch. The company, run by Reginald Baxter, has applied to have the state purchase development rights for nearly 700 acres the part closest to Lake Hatchineha through the environmental lands program. On the rest of the property, plans were submitted, and ultimately approved, for a 1,876-home development with a small commercial strip. Nearby residents, particularly in the rural enclave of Port Hatchineha, protested loudly every step of the way. In October, residents filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn County Commission approval. The property owner has also applied for Polk County's Environmental Lands Program. The county said in November that if a deal is reached, the entire 1,300-acre could be protected from development. Nutcher also reported on the annexation of more than 600 acres by tiny Lake Hamilton, also in East Polk, not far from the fight over the Creek Ranch. The annexation increased the town's acreage by more than 20%, and with nearly every inch slated for new homes, it could more than double the town's population. The town sits between Dundee and Haines City, both of which are expanding at a rapid rate. Mayor Michael W. Kehoe told The Ledger, If we do not allow annexation and development, the Town of Lake Hamilton we will have our centennial next year we will disappear. We have to expand our town to survive." New subdivisions under construction in Lake Hamilton. A developer tried again to build a subdivision on rural Deeson Road in the Kathleen area, scaling down a previously rejected plan from more than 200 homes to 147 homes. At the June 7 Planning Commission meeting, the board voted 5-2 to approve the application by Eric Swanson of Swan Capital Partners LLC for 147 homes. Nearby residents appealed, and in August, the full County Commission voted to deny the scaled back development plan. Another developer, twice rejected by the County Commission for a large development along the Peace Creek, is attempting annexation into the city of Bartow. A slew of officials from the city and the county have opposed the annexation. As of October, no action had been taken on the request, according to Bartow officials. You'd think getting a new Publix store nearby would be cause for elation. But that wasn't the case for these Auburndale residents, who complained throughout the process that construction of the store at the Lake Juliana Shopping Center along County Road 559 was disrupting their lives. They said dirt and debris littered their yards, construction activity rattled their homes and equipment blocked their views. Publix met with residents and made an effort to mitigate most of their problems. Not all were happy. Florida's judicial circuits The Ledger's Gary White reported in July about a proposal to consolidate the state's 20 judicial circuits. In August, White and John Kennedy of USA Today Network-Florida's Tallahassee bureau followed that story up with another on the growing concerns about the consolidation of judicial circuits after a second state attorney was removed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. In December, the Florida Supreme Court decided not to diminish the number of circuits. Hemp industry regulations Morgan Haas vapes before a dialysis appointment in April. He was an outspoken opponent of a hemp bill that, in its original form, could have made products more expensive and hard to find for patients and hurt hemp-industry businesses. The bill passed, but with some of the provisions removed. Sen. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, proposed new regulations for the hemp industry that aimed to regulate all hemp-derived cannabinoids, including Delta-8 and Delta-9 dosing levels; require production in food-safe facilities; and set stricter regulations for its packaging, marketing and sales while also prohibiting sales to people younger than 21, among other provisions. Proponents said child and consumer safety were the reasons for the bill. But critics said it was unnecessary regulation that would limit suppliers and make products more expensive and hard to find for patients. The bill passed, but not before some of the elements were removed. Abortion debate White provided ongoing coverage of different facets of the abortion issue, including a feature on a Lakeland woman whose medical center denied her wishes to terminate her pregnancy despite a diagnosis of a fatal fetal abnormality. We reported on two Polk County residents arrested with a state senator outside the Capitol in a protest for abortion rights and chronicled local efforts supporting a constitutional amendment to make abortion legal in Florida, as well as the opposition arguments against the amendment. Bonnie Patterson James, left, can be seen protesting as Florida Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, speaks Tuesday after during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Options for Women property on South Florida Avenue. Patterson-James was arrested Thursday on a charge that she threw a pair of rolled-up women's underwear that hit a Polk County Sheriff's Office deputy. White also broke the story of a local abortion activist's heckling of a state legislator at the dedication of a pregnancy care center and her subsequent arrest after she allegedly threw a pair of women's underwear that struck a sheriff's deputy in the leg. We followed up with an article exploring the question of when public criticism of an elected official becomes a crime. LGBTQ issues White reported extensively on issues affecting LGBTQ residents, interviewing drag queens and transgender people considering a departure from Florida over laws and policies they considered hostile to their lives and medical care. We delved into the complexity of a murder-suicide in which the pregnant victim identified as a transgender man. Raucous Fort Meade The city of Fort Meade produced more than its share of drama, and The Ledger covered the resignation of a city commissioner, the reprimand of a city manager for his purchase of a fire truck, the departure of that city manager after 2 tumultuous years and the contentious sale of a city-owned mobile home park. Polk's Jan. 6 defendants and fugitives Six of the people indicted for actions in the U.S. Capitol attack have ties to Polk County, including three who were fugitives until Saturday, the third anniversary of the riot. White continued his intensive coverage of their legal cases, with stories on a guilty plea and a conviction at trial. The reporting reminded readers of Polk County's connection to the historic breach of Jan. 6, 2021. On Saturday, the FBI announced that three fugitives, siblings Jonathan and Olivia Pollock and their friend Joseph Hutchinson III, were arrested at a ranch in Groveland. Inmates in Florida prisons The Ledger helped bring attention to the plight of inmates in Florida's state prisons. White reported this year on the lack of air conditioning in prisoners' living quarters. The reporting quoted inmates and the wife of an incarcerated man, providing a sense of how difficult life is for prisoners during the summer months. A funding proposal for the Department of Corrections would provide money to install air conditioning at prisons. Even the swans benefitted The city of Lakeland changed its traditional Christmas parade route because of construction on Orange Street, circling Lake Morton. In October, White reported about a petition asking the city to change the route again to avoid harming Lake Morton's wildlife, including the city's iconic swans. A couple of weeks later, the city changed the parade route again to avoid all but a small section of Lake Morton. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: The Ledger aims to make an impact with in-depth coverage of Polk A 39-year-old New Hampshire man was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Littleton on Sunday morning. Around 8 a.m. police responded to a car off the road on Great Road (Route 119) westbound area of Gilson Road. Upon arrival, first responders found a 2019 Hyundai Kona off the road on private property. The driver, a 39-year-old male from Wilton, N.H., was the lone occupant. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Fire Department paramedics. Preliminary investigation shows the driver veered off the road and struck a tree. The crash is under investigation by Littleton and state police. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Littleton Police Department at 978-540-2300. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Photo from Kannapolis Fire and Police. KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (WNCN) Six fire agencies took an hour to get control of a blaze in a North Carolina mansion Saturday evening, officials said. The fire was reported around 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 5959 Rolling Ridge Dr., which is in the gated Pine Creek community off Trinity Church Road just west of Kannapolis, according to Kannapolis fire officials and reports. When fire crews arrived, they spotted heavy smoke coming from the attic of a large three-story home in Cabarrus County, about 20 miles northeast of Charlotte. Photo from Kannapolis Fire and Police. Firefighters found that the fire had extended from the first floor into the attic, Kannapolis Fire and Police said in a news release. The house is at least 11,000 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, according to real estate data. A second alarm was transmitted in order to bring additional resources to battle the fire, officials said. Photo from Kannapolis Fire and Police. The main damage of the fire was in the center of the home. No one was injured. In addition to Kannapolis Fire Department, other agencies that assisted included City of Concord Fire Department, Odell Fire and Rescue, Atwell Fire Department, Landis Fire Department and Salisbury Fire Department. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. The Central Military Commission (CMC) has honored nine military units and 20 individuals for outstanding performance in military training, according to an official circular. The CMC circular called on the armed forces to follow the example set by these units and individuals, place military training in a strategic position in their work, and consider it to be their central task. The armed forces should strengthen realistic and joint training, improve training with a scientific approach and manage it in accordance with the law. They should do this to fulfill the missions and tasks of the new era that have been entrusted to them by the Party and the people, and to achieve the centenary goal of the People's Liberation Army. A young girl is recovering at the hospital after officials say her brother accidentally shot her. Monroe County Sheriff officials said on Saturday at 11 a.m., deputies received reports of a person shot at a subdivision off Sanders Road. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] When deputies arrived, they located a 12-year-old that has been shot. She was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. According to the investigation, the victims seven-year-old brother grabbed a 22-caliber handgun, thinking it was an air-soft gun and shot her. TRENDING STORIES: Please make sure that all weapons are properly secured and kept out of the reach of children, sheriff officials said. It is unclear if anyone will face charges in the incident. The shooting remains under investigation. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Dont let her tiny size or adorable looks fool you Gaia, a new cat at Utahs Hogle Zoo, is one of the worlds deadliest predators, according to wildlife experts. The 8-month-old black-footed cat came to the zoo as part of a conservation program, zoo officials told The Salt Lake Tribune. Weighing in at just under 3 pounds and boasting the biggest eyes youve ever seen, she may look adorable, but looks can be deceiving, the zoo said in a news release. Gaia, an 8-month-old black-footed cat now at Utahs Hogle Zoo, is one of the worlds deadliest hunters, experts say. Black-footed cats, native to Africa, can catch more prey in a single night than a leopard does in six months, Smithsonian Magazine reported. They have a 60% success rate while hunting, compared to the 20% achieved by big cats, the zoo said. Black-footed cats hunt mostly at night, taking advantage of their small size to stalk prey in the tall grass, the International Society for Endangered Cats Canada said. They eat rodents, insects, spiders, reptiles, eggs and even small birds they pluck out of the sky, the organization said. When she finishes growing up, the zoo hopes to mate Gaia with Ryder, a male black-footed cat, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. The cats are classified as vulnerable and are found in the wild only in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, Smithsonian Magazine said. Gaia, on loan from the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas, according to The Salt Lake Tribune, is now on exhibit in the zoos small animal building next to Ryder. Strange 8-eyed creature a speedy hunter found in India. Its a new species Metallic creature with panther-like wing pattern is new species from Morocco Boaters witness one-of-a-kind moment when predators attack whale mom and baby in CA This article was first published by St. Louis Public Radio, a BND reporting partner. For the third time in five years, agricultural trade in the United States will be at a deficit meaning it imports more than it exports. As of November 2023, the U.S. imported $20 billion more in agricultural products than it exported this year, which would set a record for biggest deficit in a calendar year in nearly a century if the trend continues through the last month of 2023. For some farmers, the years big deficit is a sign that trade has taken a hit and that other countries may be outtrading the U.S. However, some economists argue there are logical explanations behind what has created such an eye-popping deficit including rising imports, a strong American dollar and basic supply and demand. Trade deficits arent something we should be inherently worried about, said Bill Ridley, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, who studies international trade. Over the past five years, agricultural exports have climbed from $141 billion in 2019 to nearly $196 billion in 2022, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In both 2020 and 2021, agricultural trade was at a surplus, with exports exceeding imports. Colin Kruse cranks a lever to open up his transport truck and drop corn into a collection pit on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, at Cargill, Inc.s facility in East St. Louis. For the third time in five years, the U.S. will import more agricultural products than it exports. However, this years deficit is tracking to be around $20 billion, far more than last years $2 billion deficit. In the 2023 calendar year, the U.S. has reported exporting $143 billion and importing $163 billion. At this time last year, the country had exported about $18 billion more. Data for the remainder of the year is scheduled to be published Jan. 11. The U.S. is very much still the breadbasket to the world, said Doug McKalip, chief agricultural negotiator for the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the government agency responsible for promoting trade. Were growing things and successfully exporting them around the globe. So theres certainly a lot more to it than what might meet the eye initially. To the farmers who grow some of the most profitable exports soybeans, corn and wheat the deficit is concerning and something many watch closely. Chris Otten, a fourth-generation grower who owns roughly 1,400 acres about 40 miles southeast of St. Louis, said farmers would like to see the deficit turn into a surplus. Thatd be ideal for us, said Otten, who farms near St. Libory, Illinois. I dont know if thatll ever happen, but that is ideal for us to get back to where were exporting as much as we possibly can. During a year like this, when export totals have also dropped, farmers are naturally prepared to weather the current economic conditions, Otten said. However, the politics of trade are frustrating to him. Chris Otten checks the moisture levels of his corn crop, stored in bins while they wait to be sold, on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, at his farm outside St. Libory, Ill. For the third time in five years, the U.S. will import more agricultural products than it exports. However, this years deficit is tracking to be around $20 billion, far more than last years $2 billion deficit. Examples include China pulling out of buying U.S. agricultural products in 2019 or Mexico announcing this year it intends to ban genetically modified corn. The political nature of those disputes cost farmers, he said. I contend our food source shouldnt be a political game, Otten said. In his eyes, one remedy would be striking trade deals with other countries around the world to establish more avenues to sell American products. For Otten and other farmers, checking a small box when they sell their products called the commodity checkoff program is a good place to start. Those provide small funds to certain commodity groups that could help advocate for expanded trade opportunities. To Ridley, the Illinois professor, analyzing all agricultural trade markets in one lump can be misleading. While there are similarities, looking at individual commodities paints a more accurate picture, he said. For example, exports of soybeans, the most profitable commodity, have been robust this year, Ridley said. Through October, Americans exported $21.38 billion worth of soybeans. In 2022, a record year, that figure stood at $23.81 billion during the same time frame. Corn exports also remain high. This year, $11.1 billion worth of corn has been sold and shipped abroad, according to USDA data. At the same time last year, the U.S. exported $16.5 billion. A truck pulls into a probing station, where its contents will be quickly tested and assigned a collection pit, on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, at Cargill, Inc.s facility in East St. Louis. For the third time in five years, the U.S. will import more agricultural products than it exports. However, this years deficit is tracking to be around $20 billion, far more than last years $2 billion deficit. Causes of the deficit Economists have a variety of answers as to why agricultural imports will far outpace exports this year. Simply put, Ridley said, it boils down to one reason: more imports. It seems to be purely and almost entirely a story about imports rising, Ridley said. And, of course, the more you import, holding your exports mostly constant, thats going to shrink your trade surplus or create a trade deficit. Through November, the U.S. had imported $163 billion worth of agricultural products. Compared to last year at this time, that figure stood at $166 billion. The strength of the American dollar also plays a factor with the deficit, said Tanner Ehmke, an economist with CoBank, one of the biggest lenders to rural America. A strong dollar makes our exports noncompetitive overseas, and it makes imports more competitive, Ehmke said. Our stronger dollar gives us more purchasing power. Therefore, we can afford to bring in more imports. Also, Americans are now using some products domestically that they used to export, Ehmke said. Namely, renewable diesel demand has grown so much that the U.S. is keeping vast amounts of soybean oil home. To compensate for this, Americans are now importing more canola oil, largely from Canada, to fill that demand. Corn is dropped out of a transport truck and into a collection pit on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023 at Cargill, Inc.s facility in East St. Louis. For the third time in five years, the U.S. will import more agricultural products than it exports. However, this years deficit is tracking to be around $20 billion, far more than last years $2 billion deficit. As U.S. exports trickle downward this year, Brazil continues to have record years. That nation is becoming especially competitive with American farmers when it comes to corn, soybeans, cotton and rice, Ehmke said. Russia is another country thats had a record crop this year. Paired with the value of its currency collapsing, the agriculture exports from Russia are ample and cheap, Ehmke said. Theres a lot of events that are coalescing here, Ehmke said. Not only are economic dynamics changing abroad, they are changing domestically, said Tait Berg, a southern Minnesota farmer who also works at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. The U.S. consumer, we want a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, and we cant grow that year-round here, Berg said. Through October, the U.S. imported $79 billion worth of fruits and vegetables. At the same time last year, that figure stood at nearly $76 billion. A river barge is loaded with soybeans on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, at Cargill, Inc.s facility in East St. Louis. For the third time in five years, the U.S. will import more agricultural products than it exports. However, this years deficit is tracking to be around $20 billion, far more than last years $2 billion deficit. In Bergs eyes, this is the global market meeting its demand. The market responded similarly in 2020 when demand for flour grew like crazy. Many people baked more while they worked from home during the COVID pandemic. Hopefully, were growing global trade, and thats kind of part of the deal, Berg said. Thats what we want. Economists expect that agriculture trade may eventually swing in the other direction and could be in surplus again. If and exactly when are harder questions to answer. During the next fiscal year, USDA forecasters anticipate the deficit could widen. Exports are projected to total $169.5 billion. Imports will tally $200 billion leaving the deficit standing around $30.5 billion. For farmers, they say they will wait to see what happens. As always, theyll need to be financially prepared for whatever weather they get or whatever the markets dictate. These forecasts and projections always change, Berg said. And thats just something that were all a part of as producers. We need to keep our ducks in a row. A corn field on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, off Highway 67 in Illinois. This story was produced in partnership with Harvest Public Media, a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues. Prof Mike Wooldridge argues that machine learning will usher in a new technological era - University of Oxford When academics at the University of Oxford asked artificial intelligence to design a perfect rail network in which trains did not crash, they were hoping to make a scheduling breakthrough. Instead they found that their machine learning algorithm alighted on a novel and unexpected solution stop the trains from running at all. I was working with a Dutch colleague who said it was a very British solution to the problem, said Mike Wooldridge, a professor of computer science at Oxford. I can really vividly remember pressing return the first time I ran my programme and found it instantly came back with: the trains dont move. No human being would make that mistake, but these programmes are very, very literal. There can be unintended consequences with AI, where it faithfully does something you asked it to, but in a way you didnt anticipate. The flaws and foibles of AI often make the headlines, but in this years Christmas Lectures at the Royal Institution, Prof Wooldridge focussed on the benefits, arguing that machine learning will usher in a new technological era and ultimately do more good than harm. His view is not universally shared. Britain recently hosted the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in which a declaration was signed highlighting the risks posed by AI, particularly in cybersecurity and biotechnology. Glorified spreadsheet Earlier this year, the heads of OpenAI and Google DeepMind signed an open letter warning that AI could lead to the extinction of humanity, while Geoffrey Hinton, a pioneer of the technology, also expressed concern that algorithms could take control. But Prof Wooldridge believes that many fears come from a misconception that AI works like a human mind. Im a parent of two children and its one of your fundamental fears as a parent that you bring something into the world that turns out to be malevolent, he said. And I think fear of AI is a manifestation of that primal human fear. There is a misconception that it is a mind and it is contemplating what to say next. Its essentially a glorified spreadsheet. The idea that it could crawl out of a computer and take over? Well nobody has given me a single scenario that convinced me that was plausible. It absolutely isnt something that keeps me up at night. Not an existential threat However, while Prof Wooldridge does not think AI is capable of wiping out humanity, he acknowledges that it could pose a catastrophic risk in the wrong hands. The concern is that AI makes it much easier for people to construct bioweapons, that youve got expert systems that can guide you through the construction of a bioweapon and that it might be used to suggest new formulas for constructing deadly pathogens, he said. So that, I think, is a concrete scenario, that doesnt sound implausible. You would still have to have access to a wet lab and advanced bio facilities but you can sort of imagine that might happen. Similarly, the cybersecurity attack scenario, the idea there is that AI could write computer programmes for you to launch a cybersecurity attack on government services. If you brought the NHS services to their knees for a few days imagine theres no ambulance services in the UK that can operate for a few days, something like that thats a catastrophic scenario, which would be devastating, but it isnt an existential threat. Yet the rise of AI could also make human endeavour more valuable, Prof Wooldridge believes, with man-made products and content becoming more sought after and worthy of protection. Produced gibberish Academics have also recently found that there is something entirely unique about original human text that computers still do not seem to be able to replicate. When Oxford tried to train a large language model on data produced by earlier language models, it quickly started churning out gibberish. They call it model collapse and its absolutely fascinating because why is that happening? The obvious answer is that the text thats being produced is qualitatively different to the text that human beings produce. Human beings are doing something fundamentally different, Prof Wooldridge said. I think human-generated content is going to be a premium, and we need to be certifying it and protecting it and potentially putting it in vaults to make sure it is not polluted by a machine. Make our world better Overall, Prof Wooldridge is positive about the developments and believes the potential downsides, such as students cheating on essays using ChatGPT, can be mitigated. The fears are not dissimilar to what was said about the internet, that students would just copy some generic essay that they had found on a site on the other side of the world, he said I think if little Johnny turns in an essay which is suddenly well-written and coherent, that sets off alarm bells for most teachers. Were going to see lots of examples of how AI is going to make our world better. Its going to give us access to better health care, better education, better leisure opportunities and to take a lot of the drudgery out of our daily work. This is about looking under the hood, seeing how it works, demystifying it and equipping kids to understand it. For every dystopian AI quote there is going to be AI doing extremely beneficial things in society. The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures are available on iPlayer. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. The bodies of the victims killed by airstrikes are shrouded in blankets at a building in Kanan village, Khampat town in Sagaing region on Sunday, Jan.7, 2024. Airstrikes by Myanmars military on a village under the control of the pro-democracy resistance in the countrys northwest are reported to have killed at least 17 civilians, including nine children. (AP Photo) BANGKOK (AP) Airstrikes by Myanmars military on a village under the control of the pro-democracy resistance in the countrys northwest have killed at least 17 civilians, including nine children, local residents and a human rights group said Sunday. The morning aerial attacks on Kanan village in Sagaing regions Khampat town, just south of the Indian border, also wounded about 20 people, they said. Myanmar is wracked by violence that began after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict. The countrys independent online media and the BBC's Myanmar-language service reported the air attack Sunday, but the military government denied responsibility, claiming that it was false news spread by Khit Thit Media, an independent online news service sympathetic to the anti-military resistance. The report by the state-run MRTV television in its Sunday night news broadcast cited an unnamed official from the area as saying there had been no plane flying in the area on Sunday morning. The military government in the past two years has stepped up airstrikes against two enemies: the armed pro-democracy Peoples Defense Force, and ethnic minority guerrilla groups that have been fighting for greater autonomy for decades. The two groups sometimes carry out joint operations against the army. In response to accusations of abuses, the military government often accuses pro-democracy forces in the area of carrying out violent campaigns of terror. But analysts for the United Nations and non-governmental organizations have gathered credible evidence of large-scale human rights abuses by the army, including the burning of entire villages and displacement of close to 2 million people that has triggered a humanitarian crisis. Sagaing region, near the border with India, has been a stronghold of armed resistance to the army. A district capital and two small towns, including Khampat, have been seized in the past few months by a coalition of resistance forces and the Kachin Independence Army, one of the stronger ethnic rebel groups. A local resident who helped carry out rescue work told The Associated Press on Sunday that a jet fighter dropped three bombs on the village of Kanan, on the outskirts of Khampat, about 280 kilometers (170 miles) northwest of Mandalay, the countrys second-biggest city, killing 17 civilians who were in buildings near the village school. Most of the residents in Khampat town are from the Chin ethnic minority, the vast majority of whom are Christians, generally Baptist. Myanmar is largely Buddhist, led by the Burman majority. The ruling military identifies with a nationalistic strain of Buddhism that shows hostility to non-Burman and non-Buddhist populations, found mostly in the border areas where much of the current fighting takes place. About 10 houses near the school were destroyed by bombs, said the resident who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was afraid of being arrested by the military. He provided a possible explanation for the attack, noting that a ceremony had been scheduled for Sunday to mark the completion of combat training for new members of the resistance forces at another school in the village, and that might have been the intended target of the attack. He added that the bombing might have been the consequence of a tip-off by a military informer. Another resident, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said nine of the dead were children and 20 other people were injured. He also provided AP with photos of the aftermath of the attack, including dead and wounded people and damaged buildings. Salai Mang Hre Lian, a program manager of the Chin Human Rights Organization, also confirmed the number of the victims and charged that it was a deliberate attack by the military on the civilians and children at the school. If the international community continues to allow war crimes to be committed like this, then they let themselves to be knowingly complicit in the violations of international humanitarian laws, including the Geneva Conventions and Rome Statues, Salai Mang Hre Lian said in text messages. The military stepped up airstrikes after an alliance of three ethnic minority armed groups in late October launched a major offensive, seizing towns in the countrys northeast, along with major border crossings for trade with China. The resistance forces scored a major victory last week when it forced the army to give up the city of Laukkaing in northern Shan state near the Chinese border. The independent Myanmar Pressphoto Agency and Shan media reported that at least five people, including three teachers, were killed Sunday in an airstrike on Namhsan township, which was captured last month by the Taang National Liberation Army, a members of the Three Brotherhood Alliance that launched the October offensive. Ukrainian air defence forces shot down 21 UAVs out of 28 launched on the night of 6-7 January. Source: Air Force Quote: "On the night of 6-7 January, the occupiers attacked with 28 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs from the Primorsko-Akhtarsk area, Russia, and three S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles from occupied Donetsk Oblast. The main directions of the attack are south and east". Details: The Air Force says that 21 Russian UAVs were destroyed by the Ukrainian Air Force and Defence Forces. Anti-aircraft missile units and mobile fire groups were involved in repelling the air attack. Air defence forces were operating in Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia and Cherkasy oblasts. Support UP or become our patron! Screenshot of map showing air-raid warnings issued across Ukraine An air-raid warning was issued in Kyiv and some oblasts due to the threat of ballistic missiles on 7 January. Source: Ukrainian Air Force; Kyiv City State Administration Details: The Ukrainian military said Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Poltava, and Zhytomyr oblasts are under threat from ballistic missiles. Updated: The all-clear was given 30 minutes later. Support UP or become our patron! This aerial photo taken on Jan. 5, 2024 shows visitors having fun at the Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The 40th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival kicked off here on Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) With its enchanting allure and captivating attractions, Harbin, the picturesque ice city of Heilongjiang province in Northeast China, has become a social media sensation, leaving netizens mesmerized by its myriad splendors. Among these fascinating sights are a group of 11 charismatic children from Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in South China, who fearlessly embarked on an educational trip to Harbin, instantly winning the hearts of online communities. Clad in vibrant orange attire, they are fondly referred to as the "little tangerines", with the oldest just 6 and a half years old, while the youngest only 3 years and 5 months old. The nickname symbolizes both their cute orange outfits and Guangxi's prominent citrus production. Each day, their enchanting presence is trending on various social media platforms. Wherever they venture, they are warmly embraced and showered with affection by the locals. In Harbin, they savored the local delicacies, and watched a firework display amid the snowy landscape. Liang, the lead teacher of their tour, confirmed their arrival in Mohe, a pivotal destination in their educational itinerary. Upon their arrival, the tour group was warmly welcomed by a local travel agency in coordination with the city's tourism bureau. At the northernmost police outpost of China, they sang the national anthem and saluted the border guards, marking an important part of their educational trip. Moreover, the police officers at the station prepared snow sculptures and snowmen to treat the "little tangerines". A parent of one of the children expressed gratitude for the collective support and concern shown by netizens and friends from Northeast China. The use of orange coats worn by the children was chosen by a vote among the parents, primarily for safety reasons. Such gestures of care have provided the parents with peace of mind, allowing them to wholeheartedly embrace the adventure, according to a report by The Cover, a news outlet in Sichuan province. Following their remarkable online journey, these children have received an invitation from cultural and tourism authorities in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. "Parents are strongly requesting to go to Xinjiang. However, it still needs further discussion", said Liu Ben, organizer of this study tour. To express gratitude for the hospitality received in Heilongjiang, a free batch of tangerines from Lipu of Guangxi was sent to the province on Thursday. Data show that Harbin welcomed more than 3 million visitors, raking in 5.9 billion yuan ($830 million) of tourism revenue during the three-day New Year holiday, which ended on Monday. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Passengers aboard an Alaska Airlines flight from Portland to Ontario, California said it was a trip from Hell when a door blew off on the Boeing 737 Max 9 at 16,000 feet, KCBS reports. The aircraft reached approximately 16,000 feet about six minutes into the flight before beginning its descent, according to FlightAware. Were declaring an emergency, the pilot said. We do need to come down to 10,000. This image from video provided by Elizabeth Le shows passengers near the damage on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9, Flight 1282, which was forced to return to Portland International Airport on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. (Elizabeth Le via AP) The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the crew reported a pressurization issue. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board said they were launching investigations. FAA orders grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9s after window blows out from PDX-departing flight At PDX, outgoing passengers on Saturday told KOIN 6 News they were aware of what happened Friday night but werent overly concerned. Julya (no last name given) said she is not overly worried after a door blew off an Alaska Air flight from Portland, January 6, 2024 (KOIN) Corey Mostafa said he is not overly worried after a door blew off an Alaska Air flight from Portland, but noted it was troubling, January 6, 2024 (KOIN) Very freak accidents are very rare and miniscule, a passenger named Julya told KOIN 6 News. Ive been flying with Alaska almost my entire life so I have a trust with them. Accidents happen so I dont have a problem with that. Corey Mostafa, who was flying from Portland to Santa Rosa, said the fact the 737s were grounded was a good idea. I heard some of the 737s, that particular model, are being grounded so Im not too concerned. But its kind of troubling to hear about it, Mostafa said. Its definitely troubling it would happen even once. but I am glad they did ground those planes going forward. Alaska Airlines flight headed for Ontario, Calif. diverted back to PDX after a window blew out (Courtesy to KOIN from passenger who wants to remain anonymous) Passenger Jessica Montoia told KCBS that, for some reason, she wasnt afraid. No one really screamed or anything, she said. One of the guys that was there, his shirt was sucked out and his phone was sucked out and, you know, and the pilot, just faith of God, he, he got us landed. And as soon as we landed, the paramedics were in, the fire department was in, checking who was injured and, you know, they were fabulous. And it was a trip from Hell. Montoia, who described herself as very religious, said the sound of the door blowing off was very loud. I mean, for it to suck the guys t-shirt off and take his phone off his hand, you know? I mean, Ive seen it in the movies, but yeah, but this is real, she said. So anyway, but its done, its over with. By the grace of God were here. Seattle aviation lawyer, pilot calls Alaska plane incident preventable Statements Just after 11:30 p.m. Friday, Alaska Airlines CEO, Ben Minicucci reacted to the incident, stating: At Alaska Airlines, safety is our foundational value and the most important thing we focus on every day. Following tonights event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft. Each aircraft will be returned to service only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections. We anticipate all inspections will be completed in the next few days. I am personally committed to doing everything we can to conduct this review in a timely and transparent way. The Boeing 737 Max 9 that lost a door on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 sits on the tarmac at Portland International Airport, January 6, 2024 (KOIN) Boeing, the manufacturer of the plane in question said: Safety is our top priority and we deeply regret the impact this event has had on our customers and their passengers. We agree with and fully support the FAAs decision to require immediate inspections of 737-9 airplanes with the same configuration as the affected airplane. In addition, a Boeing technical team is supporting the NTSBs investigation into last nights (Friday) event. Midday Saturday, Alaska Airlines said 18 of the 737 Max 9 planes passed inspection and returned to service. An investigation into the incident is underway by both the NTSB and the FAA. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Stephanie King told CNN she was returning to her home in California after a visit to Portland, Oregon, when she heard a loud roar of wind on her Alaska Airlines flight on Friday. King said she was seated in an aisle seat in row 12 of Flight 1282, but several rows back, a section of the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft had blown out midflight. I just knew that something bad had happened. I wasnt sure what was going on and felt pretty scared, she told CNN by phone Saturday. King said flight attendants made announcements but because the plane was open, it was too loud for her to hear much of what was being said. Several passengers closer to the hole in the plane were frantic and moved to empty seats away from the incident, King told CNN. One of the ladies was screaming and crying. She was inconsolable. She kept saying My son! My son! He got his shirt ripped off! King said, It was absolutely surreal. Fearing for her safety, King told CNN she took out her cellphone to record video and draft final text messages to her loved ones. Passenger oxygen masks hang from the roof next to a missing window and a portion of a side wall of an Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. - @strawberrvy/Instagram via Reuters Because I was flying alone, I drafted some text messages to my boyfriend and my mom to say something was going on, that I was scared, and I love them, she said. King said while it felt like forever, the plane safely landed less than 10 minutes after the incident. That was more than enough time to freak out though. I heard that peoples cell phones and shoes and shirts got thrown out the window. Anything couldve happened, she added. Shortly after the emergency landing, firefighters boarded the plane to see if there were injuries. Once the area was cleared, the deboarding process started, King told CNN. It was then really calm. Everybody was just in shock. We were all still so confused. Everybody was super quiet. It was eerie, actually, how quiet and calm everybody was just because it was so unreal, she told CNN. There were no serious injuries reported among the flights 171 passengers and six crew members, and one person was taken to the hospital, CNN previously reported. After the Federal Aviation Administration ordered all Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft to be grounded pending careful inspection, Alaska Airlines said Saturday 18 of its fleet of 65 Max 9 aircraft have been cleared to return to service. King said she is still processing the event but that she has received communication and unspecified compensation from Alaska Airlines. Its unsettling that there have been so many issues with this specific type of plane. I hope something is done so that this doesnt happen again because it went OK this time but might not next time, King told CNN. CNNs Jay Croft, Sara Smart, Sharif Paget, Pete Muntean and Raja Razek contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Tragedy may have been averted Friday night when a panel of a Boeing plane blew out as an Alaska Airlines flight traveled at 16,000 feet, an NTSB official said Saturday night. Seats adjacent to the blowout, which occurred when a panel called a door plug detached from the plane, were not occupied, and the aircrafts altitude meant passengers were likely seated with seatbelts in use, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said during a news conference Saturday night. Headrests became detached from two nearby passenger seats, the back of one seat was gone, and there was clothing left in the area following the accident, which depressurized the cabin and resulted in chaos, Homendy said. airline mishap (Courtesy Kyle Rinker) We are very, very fortunate here that this didnt end up in something more tragic, the NTSB chair said. No one was seated in 26A and 26B, where that door plug is. The flight was about 10 minutes from its departure airport, Portland International, when the panel detached at 6:38 p.m. Friday with 171 passengers and six crew members on board. The passenger cabin was subject to rapid decompression after the panel detached and left a large hole in the port side of the aircraft, Homendy said. For people on board, the accident must have been truly terrifying, she said. The 737 Max 9 was en route to Ontario International Airport in San Bernardino County, California, but it returned to Portland and made an emergency landing, authorities said. The flight was only 10 minutes out from the airport when the door blew, Homendy said. Authorities were still searching for the door plug, which they believe fell to the ground in the community of Cedar Hills, about 7 miles west of central Portland. Cabin underwent rapid decompression Though no passengers sustained serious injuries, the chair said some on board were treated for minor injuries. She imagined the accident would could have been much worse if the flight had been at its cruising altitude of 35,000 feet, with people standing, walking or using the restroom. We could have ended up with something so much more tragic, Homendy said. The blowout resulted in rapid decompression of the cabin, the chair said. This can result in hypoxia oxygen starvation which can cause dizziness, loss of consciousness, and even permanent brain damage, the FAA says. Video from on board the flight showed oxygen masks had dropped from the ceiling. The aircraft was at 16,000 feet, Homendy said, and it soon returned safely to ground level on Friday. Roughly 12,000 feet is the level at which passengers would be safe without supplemental oxygen, an FAA official told NBC affiliate WFLA of Tampa, Florida, last year. The NTSB is in charge of the investigation and will start its first full day of inquiry Sunday, Homendy said. The chair said shed avoid speculating on the cause until more was known. Some 737 Max 9 planes grounded Alaska Airlines said it operates 65 of the Boeing aircraft and that it initially grounded all of them. On Saturday, it said it inspected and cleared 18 of its Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft. But those planes will remain on the ground after the FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive, ordering an estimated 171 of the planes grounded pending inspections with specific parameters, Alaska said on Saturday evening. Alaska said in a statement the 18, which underwent in-depth inspections as part of heavy maintenance checks, were to remain out of service until the airlines inspections pass muster under the FAA directive. The groundings prompted the airline to cancel 160 flights, affecting an estimated 23,000 passengers, Alaska said. The temporary grounding is being felt across the industry. United Airlines has 79 of the 737 Max 9 aircraft and temporarily suspended service on all of them, it said Saturday. The airline was working to put affected customers onto other planes. We are working with the FAA to clarify the inspection process and the requirements for returning all MAX 9 aircraft to service, the airline said in a statement. What are plug doors? A plug door is a panel sealed in place, in part, with air pressure. It is used in place of an emergency exit and might be required depending on how an airline configures a plane namely based on its passenger capacity, Homendy said. The plane used Friday was configured to carry 178 people, and thus extra emergency exits were not required, she said. For a capacity of 215 passengers, those plug doors would have to be converted to emergency exits, the board chair said. Passengers on a plane with a plug door would normally see a window at the location, though from the outside it would look like a door. The NTSB will examine the door plug on the opposite side of the plane, essentially a mirror image of the one that blew out, she said. Investigators will look at how it was fastened, its structure, as well as the planes air pressurization system, among other factors, Homendy said. The 737 Max 9 involved in Fridays accident was essentially brand-new, with Homendy saying it was delivered to Alaska Airlines on Nov. 11, and Alaska saying in its statement that it took delivery Oct. 31. It was prudent for the FAA to ground the model for now, the chair said. Im very encouraged that the FAA took action, she said. Investigators hope to see more passenger photos and video from the time of the accident, the board chair said, and they are hoping someone will find the door plug and report it to authorities. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Amanda Abbington has requested rehearsal footage from her time on Strictly Come Dancing amid rumours of a feud with her former professional partner Giovanni Pernice, a report has claimed. The actor, best known for her work in Sherlock, was a contestant on the most recent edition of the BBC celebrity dance competition. However, she withdrew from the competition after a few weeks, citing medical reasons for her departure. Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington (BBC/Guy Levy) On Saturday (6 January), The Sun published a report that claimed Abbington, 51, has asked for video recordings of her practice sessions with Pernice as part of her allegedly seeking legal advice. A source told the publication: The BBC have received a request for the footage they hold of Amanda and Giovanni. It is known as a data subject access request. There is a feeling that the recordings will lift the lid on what really goes on behind the scenes on Strictly. The alleged on-set insider added that the atmosphere in rehearsals can become very tense before describing the Italian ballroom professional Pernice as a perfectionist who can be incredibly full-on. The Independent has approached representatives of Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice for comment. The BBC declined to comment when contacted. Amanda Abbington on 'Strictly Come Dancing (BBC/Guy Levy) When Abbington first addressed her exit from Strictly in October, fans noticed that she failed to mention Pernice in her message. Posting a statement on Instagram, Abbington wrote: It is with deepest regret that I had to leave Strictly. I did not come to this decision easily or lightly but for personal reasons I am unable to continue. It was an absolute joy working with my fellow contestants, they are a beautiful, hardworking and talented group of people who I love and who I will miss seeing every Friday and Saturday and competing alongside. She went on to thank the production team and everyone on Strictly who looked after me and who are so kind and caring. Pernice, who has danced on the programme since 2015, shared a message of support for the actor on his Instagram, writing: Amanda I am so sad we cant continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love. In their final appearance on the show, Abbington and Pernice scored 31 out of 40 for a quick-footed foxtrot. Abbington did not return for Strictlys live final in December as other departed contestants did, including Nigel Harman, who was forced to withdraw ahead of the semi-finals due to an injury. Historians have been having a field day setting the records straight, thanks to the likes of Republican presidential candidates like Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and Nikki Haley. Most recently, at a Berlin, New Hampshire town hall, Nikki Haleys holiday-season gaffe or more accurately her attempt at whitewashing slavery when asked by an audience member about the origins of the Civil War, is a case in point. Not wanting to offend the white racist base of the GOP, the former governor of South Carolina, while omitting slavery as part of her answer, had this to say about the first state to secede from the Union in 1860. basically it was about how the government was going to run and freedoms and what people could and couldnt do. This was not the first time Haley omitted slavery as part of her explanation. On the campaign trail for governor in 2010 she maintained the Civil War was about tradition vs. the future. This allowed Thom Hartmann, radio and television commentator, businessman, and prolific author to trot out one of his recent titles, The Hidden History of American Oligarchy, where he has argued that the South had ceased to be a democracy by the 1830s primarily due to the invention of the cotton gin and mass production by Eli Whitney. Moreover, at the time the Civil War broke out the South was already a full-blown police state run by a few thousand morbidly rich families who lived and acted like the feudal lords of ancient Europe. And when the pro-slavery South seceded from the anti-slavery Union and the Civil War began it was because the former wanted a nation comprised only of slave owning states. As Hartmann wrote in a Raw Story commentary on January 2, 2024: The simple reality is that the pro-slavery South is still very much with us, and is stillafter 163 yearstrying to make the case that democracy should be replaced with a strongman white supremacist oligarchy. He continues, Just as the agricultural revolution birthed humanitys first documented oligarchies, the invention of the cotton gin and its widespread use by 1820 birthed the first American oligarchy, one that eventually rose up and challenged democracy itself in a bloody Civil War. Flash forward to the present. In an interview with The Guardian newspaper about his latest book, Its OK to Be Angry About Capitalism (2023), Senator Bernie Sanders informs us that oligarchs run Russia. But guess what? Oligarchs run the United States as well. Sanders also claims that oligarchs run Europe, the UK, and the rest of the world where were seeing a small number of incredibly wealthy people running things in their favor. A global oligarchy. Under uber capitalism, governmental rule by the rich (plutocrats) or rule by the few (oligarchs) has become one and the same. Nowadays, those richest few that are ruling the governments whether democratic or autocratic are simply referred to as the oligarchy of the rich. Uber-capitalism, laissez-faire markets, unfettered and unregulated capitalists, and regressive tax systems are epitomized by oligarchs like Jeff Bezos and Amazon.com, Inc in the United States. Though there are plenty of other examples from the Kochs to Walmart to Starbucks to Elon Musk. The issues are always the same: unlimited greed, opposing the rights of workers to organize, and abusing power that hurts people and injures nations. In 2017 and 2018, Amazon paid no taxes. In 2021, Amazon had revenues of almost $470 billion and made a record-breaking $36 billiona 453 percent increase from where it was before the pandemic. While some Amazon essential workers were literally catching COVID and dying during the first year of the pandemic, Bezos became $65 billion richer or a 57 percent increase in his fortune. his net worth of$170 billion made him the second wealthiest human being on the planet behind Musk who had a net worth of $186.9 billion as of March 2023. Known on Wall Street as the Big Three, BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street investment asset managers controlled more than $20 trillion or the equivalent GDP of the USA at the beginning of 2023. Their portfolio consists of banks, transportation, health care, media, and real estate. Taken together these investment firms are the largest shareholders in the biggest banks in America, such as JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citibank. They are among the top owners of the four major airlines in the USAmerican, Southwest, Delta, and United. They are also among the largest stockholders in Comcast, Disney, and Warner Brothers. On average they own 20 percent of the major US drug companies, and about one-third of the homes purchased in the nation in 2022. In short, these oligarchs control the U.S. democracy as they spend tens of billions of dollars on campaign contributions to both major political parties for the purposes of buying politicians who will do their bidding. They spend billions more on lobbying firms to influence governmental decisions at the federal, state, and local levels. Modern day oligarchies are associated with the dissolution of the USSR in the early 1990s, the destruction of the Communist Party and the KGB networks, and the rise of competitive politics and post-Soviet market economies came the formation of the national states of Eastern Europe and northern Eurasia under the strong influence of oligarchic groups. At the beginning of the 21st- century governments of post-soviet nations tried to end oligarchies in one of two ways: democratically or by systems of pyramid-like power. In the former, oligarchical corruption was fought in the public sector by strengthening the rule of law and calling for a clear division between the public and private sectors. In the latter, pyramid-like power systems were of two kinds: single-pyramid autocracies or multi-pyramid hybrid regimes with both democratic and nondemocratic political elements. For example, the success of the single-pyramid model in Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Russia gave birth to the current autocratic regimes in those countries. Multiple attempts, on the other hand, to fight corruption have kept Georgia and Ukraine as hybrid regimes interpolated by many oligarchic groups and repeatedly oscillating between more and fewer political and economic freedoms. After Russias invasion of Ukraines Crimea region in 2014, sanctions from the U.S., Switzerland, and the U.K were imposed on businessmen and officials believed to be in Mr. Putins inner circle. The U.S. expanded its sanctions in 2018 to Russians indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller for alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. election, and several other oligarchs and officials the U.S. government allegedly had been involved in various forms of worldwide malign activity. When Russia invaded Ukraine again in early 2022 the U.S., the U.K. and the European Union ratcheted up their sanctions on several of Russias richest and most politically connected elites: Western governments are chasing down the yachts, jets, and bank accounts of an expanding list of Russian billionaires and Kremlin elites, hoping to use them to pressure Russian Vladimir Putin to pull back from his countrys invasion of Ukraine. As it turned out, those sanctions were not enough to make Putin rethink his course of warfare with his much smaller neighbor. Similarly, federal prosecutors had been quietly issuing a series of subpoenas to seize U.S. assets held by Russian oligarchs pretty much to no avail. So the Justice Department in late November asked Congress for a new law that would streamline the process after delaying tactics by defense attorneys were stymying their efforts. Oligarchies are not necessarily good or bad, however, where rule is by the few, they tend to rule in favor of themselves. The term oligarchy varies or is amorphous and somewhat subjective. Globally, people argue about which countries should be listed as oligarchic and which should not. The World Population Review has recently identified China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe as oligarchic. The USA constitutes a multi-pyramid hybrid regime as Americans traditionally enjoy many features of a democratic government. However, over the past two decades powerful corporations and affluent individuals have had a significantly larger influence on policymaking than ordinary citizens due to changes in the campaign finance laws. Oligarchs, as well as kleptocrats who use their power and money to buy or bribe politicians or to corrupt and/or steal from governments, come from many other countries besides the ones listed. These may include African despots as well as someone like Jean-Claude Duvalier, better known as Baby Doc, from the Caribbean nation of Haiti. In 1983, Baby Doc became Trumps first landed kleptocrat but not his last by any means. Twelve years earlier, Baby Doc at just 20 years of age had ascended to the presidency of Haiti, following the death of his autocratic father. After smothering talk of reform and democratization, he spiraled into crimes against humanity. For example, he housed political prisoners in jails dubbed the triangle of death where many suffered unspeakably painful deaths. At the same time, his regime supporters made sure any critical journalists were tortured or exiled for their reporting. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. After looting state coffers, pillaging local populations, and pocketing Haitis national wealth to the tune of upwards of $800 million, Baby Doc, with the help of a few friends, opened an American bank account. Soon becoming, on a smaller scale, like the great kleptocratic American client of that era, the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos, whose looted wealth had been estimated to be worth between $5-10 billion. Back in those days, folks in Washington, DC happily embraced dictators like Duvalier and Marcos because of their strong stances against communism. Back then, banks did not have to concern themselves over matters of servicing dictators monies dripping in blood in places like Saudi Arabia like they allegedly do today. Today, as Casey Michel lays out in a special edition of Mother Jones, the United States is one of the world capitals of kleptocratic cash. Michel tells the story of Kingdom Trust, a small company headquartered in South Dakota servicing individual retirement accounts (IRAs) with a focus on maintaining slow and steady growth. Then in the mid-2010s, the firm began soliciting a much different class of clientele"shadowy companies based in notorious offshore heavens that were having trouble opening US accounts. While there is nothing technically illegal in this strategic shift, what drove Kingdom Trust, which now goes by Choice, into the crosshairs of federal regulators was not any crime per se, but the egregious lack of due diligence. In the words announced last spring by Himamauli Das, acting director of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (Fincen), Kingdom Trust had virtually no process to identify and report suspicious transactions. The investigation not only spotlighted the lapses of Kingdom Trust but also how anonymous shell companies and secret trusts are money-laundering enablers. This is American oligarchy. Before its too late One attack, two interpretations: Biden and Trump both make the Jan. 6 riot a political rallying cry, (sanluisobispo.com, Jan. 3) As we mark the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, its important to remember how we got to that moment and who was responsible for it. Donald Trump and his allies engaged in a months-long criminal conspiracy after the 2020 election, spreading lies about voter fraud and using those lies to put pressure on state officials to illegally overturn election results. When their scheme to interfere with Congress certification of the 2020 election results failed, Trump and his co-conspirators incited a violent mob to attack the U.S. Capitol. MAGA Republicans nationwide have continued this assault on our democracy by introducing radical voter suppression bills in Congress and state legislatures, spreading false election conspiracy theories and threatening to overturn election results they disagree with. Now, Trump is running for president again, and he and his allies are planning for a second term that is even more extreme and authoritarian than the last one. If he is reelected, he plans to pardon himself and his supporters, use the Department of Justice to exact revenge on his enemies and purge the federal government of anyone who doesnt agree with him until theres no one left to say no. Just last month, Trump said if he was reelected, he would attempt to be a dictator on day one. We need to take him at his word. Too much is at stake for the American people to allow Trump to take back power. Its up to all of us to say no to a second Trump presidency now, before its too late. Jenann Mclennan San Luis Obispo Protecting democracy One attack, two interpretations: Biden and Trump both make the Jan. 6 riot a political rallying cry, (sanluisobispo.com, Jan. 3) The third anniversary of Jan. 6 is a solemn reminder that we cannot take our fundamental freedoms for granted, including our right to vote and choose our leaders. Despite the fact that Donald Trump is facing charges for inciting the insurrection and conspiring to overturn the will of voters in 2020 in addition to sexually assaulting columnist E. Jean Carroll he is still running for president. Too much is at stake for the American people to allow Trump to take back power. Preserving our democracy takes work. This year, we must all do our part. Trump and his allies pose an urgent threat to our democracy, our fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. Camille Cherry San Luis Obispo Opinion Who is responsible Reporters Without Borders accuses Israel and Hamas of war crimes, reports deaths of 34 journalists, (sanluisobispo.com, Nov. 1) Journalists take deadly risks when they enter chaotic war zones controlled by barbaric terrorists who have subjugated and exploited their own people and used them as human shields and have murdered, maimed, raped and captured innocent civilians in a neighboring country. Who is to be designated your guarantor of safety in these zones? The perpetrators or defenders? The anti-Semitic Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have pinpointed the Israel Defense Forces as the systematic evil perpetrators for the death of journalists. How so? Israel has been attacked time and again from the Arab world for the 75 years of its existence. Hamas objective is not to coexist with Israel but to destroy it. Phil Bauman Morro Bay Take the cannoli, leave the cannolis This SLO County husband and wife duo are dishing out cannolis, one farmers market at a time, (sanluisobispo.com, Dec. 28) I enjoyed your article on Yolo Cannolo and am looking forward to a visit to their place of business. My family and I just had our annual cannoli making get-together, and I couldnt help noticing the articles incorrect spelling of this delicious, sweet treat. My Sicilian mother-in-law, Carmela Gentile, taught me that one is a cannolo and more than one are cannoli. This is the correct Italian spelling, and there is no such thing as cannolis. Carole Gentile Pismo Beach Stunning display Paso Robles celebrates New Years Eve with bonfire, concert, (sanluisobispo.com, Dec. 30) Cayucos chose to ring in a healthy 2024 with a polar plunge. Paso Robles, on the other hand, chose to ring it in with a massive bonfire, creating a senseless homage to pollution and bad health. It was a stunning display of stupidity. M. Power Giacoletti San Simeon Studying problems Another COVID variant is on the rise across US. What is it and how bad is it in California? (sanluisobispo.com, Jan. 3) According to The Chicago Tribune, the U.S. with 4% of the worlds population had 20% of the worlds COVID cases and deaths. Other nations have studied the why question to help prepare for future pandemics, but not the U.S. I was once responsible for problem identification and subsequent handling on the manufacturing side for a large multinational business. Years later, I watched with alarm over how the Trump administration handled COVID. Why hasnt that administrations reaction to COVID been studied for the benefit of future pandemics? Mike Broadhurst Cambria The Traktorozavodsky District Court of the city of Chelyabinsk in Russia has arrested a 16-year-old teenage boy from Dagestan for two months on suspicion of an attempted arson of a military aircraft at the Shagol airbase. Source: Novaya Gazeta. Europe with reference to a local media outlet 74.RU Details: Members of the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) detained the teenager on 5 January. According to the investigation, he tried to set a Su fighter jet on fire but it was extinguished quickly. The boy may be sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment under the article about sabotage (Article 281 of Russias Criminal Code). He is also suspected of setting two railroad facilities on fire in Dagestan in November and December 2023. According to the Russian security forces, his involvement has been proven. The court proceeding in the case about the fighter jet arson was closed, and journalists were only invited for the announcement of the verdict. A 16-year-old boy lived in the Dagestan city of Buynaksk together with his parents. He has no previous convictions. Background: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) has officially announced that a Su-34 tactical fighter bomber burned out at Shagol airfield in the city of Chelyabinsk, Russia, on the night of 4 January 2024. The DIU also published the video. According to a source of Ukrainska Pravda, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine is responsible for setting the aircraft in Chelyabinsk on fire. Support UP or become our patron! Read some of the best stories published in the Asbury Park Press in 2023. At the Asbury Park Press, our guiding principle is to connect with readers by publishing journalism that brings about positive change. We are as invested in the success and prosperity of our region as you are, and we take pride in providing a platform for these positive changes. In the paragraphs ahead, you will find just a sampling of the impactful journalism that the Asbury Park Press newsroom produced in 2023. From how first responders and others averted tragedy during a spring wildfire to a story about the little-known homeless encampment in a Toms River park to a local couple struggling to get citizenship for their child born, and stuck, in Mexico. You will meet the people who have helped make a difference and the people whose lives have been forever changed. These stories aren't easy. They required reporters to spend days sifting through public archives, fighting for documents and interviews, and asking hard questions, even when repeatedly rebuffed. Thank you to all of our subscribers and loyal readers. Your support allows us to chase these stories with the resources and energy that they deserve. If you have not yet taken the plunge to subscribe, now is a great time. We have some great offers right now that you can see by clicking here. How a catastrophe was averted The towns of Manchester and Lakehurst were in trouble. Late on a Tuesday night in April, an ominous orange glow backlit parts of the two towns as a tower of flames threatened destruction. A wildfire had jumped Route 539, and it was heading toward Lakehurst and Manchester. Weather conditions were near perfect for it to spread. Dozens of homes and businesses sat helplessly in its path. The only thing standing in its way was a group of state and local firefighters. This is the story of how firefighters saved Manchester and Lakehurst, and how close the rural communities came to destruction from a constant threat officials say is only growing. Stories of homeless people that will surprise you Hidden in the woods of Riverwood Park in Toms River, 17 homeless people were living in a tent city. And hardly anyone knew they were there. Jean Mikle's story did more than expose them. It showed how each ended up there and it started a conversation about how to get them into permanent housing. But it did something else, also. The story presented them as people, as individuals. Their stories will surprise you. It brought home the issue of homelessness in a way that few have experienced before. Read about their stories here. And also, see what action that story has provoked to help them find homes. Rachel Lopez poses with her daughter Alecia Perreault The tragedy that should never have happened Crippled by rheumatoid arthritis and weighing just 89 pounds, a young woman repeatedly begged her social worker to move her from the crime-ridden Seaside Heights motel where she had been placed by the Ocean County Board of Social Services. Three weeks later, she was dead, strangled by a violent career criminal placed in a similar motel nearby. Kathleen Hopkins' stories about Alecia Perreault's last days paint a picture of extreme fear and helplessness. And of a community unable or unwilling to help. The county Board of Social Services last year paid $1.5 million to Perreault's estate to settle claims related to her death. Yet, at a February Board of Commissioners meeting, it was revealed the county's proposed budget contained no provisions to build transitional housing for the homeless. That was not good enough for a lot of people. Kathleen and her colleagues kept the pressure on by following the county's attempt to take steps to fix this situation and the conditions at these motels, just blocks from sunny summer scenes of the town made famous by Snooki and friends on Jersey Shore. Helping readers navigate the new world of legal weed In a year of rapid expansion in the New Jersey cannabis industry, the Asbury Park Press was there to cut through the noise and give readers the information they can't find anywhere else. We logged each new dispensary opening faster than the state itself, and published a first-of-its-kind review of every single dispensary menu searching for the cheapest eighth-ounce in the state. We dug into the data on cannabis sales and taxes and broke down the "tug of war" between state regulators and influential cannabis business lobbyists. And we followed the Jersey Shore's foray into legal weed, with the first dispensaries opening in Ocean County, long seen as a legal weed "desert," while cities like Asbury Park, viewed as a "mecca," were tied up in lawsuits and left behind. In a highly-regulated, dense-with-jargon industry, the Press provided readers with coverage designed not for industry bigwigs, but for you -- taxpayers, consumers and anyone fascinated by this booming new industry. The Asbury Park Press shows how much hate and bias exists in Monmouth and Ocean Counties by delving into local data. How hate found a home here There are more than 3,000 towns, villages and cities in New Jersey, and three of the top four in terms of bias reports are at the Jersey Shore. The rates in these towns far exceed those in most U.S. cities of any size. This two-story package took a deep dive into the statistics behind the statistics, uncovering incidents that show the depths of these verbal and physical attacks. But there is also an issue over how these statistics are gathered, or not, that should force state officials to standardize how to record, investigate and follow-through with such complaints. Laura, Sam and Simon Kaitz Helping a family reunite A Freehold couple's baby, born last year in Mexico, was barred for months from entering the United States. Why? The baby was the product of surrogacy. In Mexico, there is no legal framework for foreigners to pursue surrogacy. It turned the family's one-time miracle of life into a weeks-long nightmare of bureaucracy, alleged lies and legal fees. The baby was born on April 18 in Mexico City but was barred from entering the United States. No one has been able to help us, said Laura Kaitz, 52. We're frightened and panicking. I want my family home. Enter APP.com reporter Joe Strupp. He told readers the family's story, and even though the law wasn't on their side, some Asbury Park Press readers were. Joe's story brought together a New York fertility doctor and a Mexican attorney, who helped pave the way for little Simon to finally make his way home. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Asbury Park Press stories that made a difference in many of our lives A local Atlanta restaurant is wanting to provide health insurance to its employees. The owners are doing that by adding an extra 4% charge to the customers bills. Jenchans is a staple in Cabbage Town which is located in southeast Atlanta. The atmosphere is welcoming. We really do want to bring in everybody to the table and eat supper together, said Emily Chan. The food is good but unique. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] We are a pizza and Chinese restaurant. I know we get that a lot, said Chan. They also get a lot of customers. The Vietnamese pork pizza is super popular. Our pizza is made from a sourdough starter, which is probably about seven years old now, said Chan. Emily Chan said that is one of their top sellers on their menu. But lately another item has been getting the attention of everyone. We have a line item on our menu for health insurance coverage. It is something we were inspired by other restaurants here in Atlanta do the same thing. It is the only way we could do the math to cover our employees health insurance. The 4% message is on their menu. As a customer, you know about it before you place your order. The restaurant says it is about giving their customers a choice. TRENDING STORIES: Of course, people are going to disagree with it, and I think that is what is beautiful about where we live. I want people to disagree because that means we can have a conversation about it. That is fantastic but let us leave the physical violent threats out of the picture, said Chan. Chan said those threats were posted on their Facebook page. One post states, Ive never seen a family that needs to be beaten up more, make that healthcare come in handy. But other people support the restaurant. Another Facebook post said Yall are doing right by your employees and customers. Wish there were more like you. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] We are obviously doing this to bring attention to something. Health insurance is incredibly expensive. Our own son is not even on our own health insurance plan, because it is really, really expensive, said Chan. The restaurant said as of right now, the 4% will help them provide insurance for just full-time employees, who work 35 hours or more. They are hoping to include all employees soon. IN OTHER NEWS: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he could have better informed the public about his recent hospitalization after concerns arose over transparency and what the Pentagon knew. I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon, Austin said in a statement Saturday. I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure, Austin added. The Pentagon announced Friday that Austin was admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Monday evening. He went to the hospital for complications following a recent elective medical procedure. At all times, the deputy secretary of defense was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the secretary, if required, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement Friday. Ryder said it was not clear when Austin would be released from the hospital but said he was recovering. But the Pentagons failure to disclose Austins hospitalization is out of the norm for the president and other senior U.S. officials and Cabinet members, The Associated Press reported. The Pentagon Press Association, a group of reporters that cover the Department of Defense, sent a letter calling the lack of information an outrage. At a time when there are growing threats to U.S. military service members in the Middle East and the U.S. is playing key national security roles in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, it is particularly critical for the American public to be informed about the health status and decision-making ability of its top defense leader, the letter wrote, per the AP. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), who is ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a statement about Austins hospitalization news. I am glad to hear @SecDef is in improved condition and I wish him a speedy recovery. However, the fact remains that the Department of Defense deliberately withheld the Secretary of Defenses medical condition for days. That is unacceptable, Wicker said online, adding that the public deserved to know. Worryingly, we now have more questions than answers, Wickers statement said, adding that the incident further erodes trust in the Biden administration. The White House has not said when or how it was informed about Austins hospitalization, but according to Politico, the Pentagon did not tell President Biden and other top officials for three days. I want to thank the amazing doctors and nursing staff at Walter Reed for the exceptional care they have delivered to me and for the personal warmth they have shown my family, Austins statement said. I also appreciate all the outreach and well wishes from colleagues and friends. Charlene and I are very grateful for your support. It was not immediately clear what the elective medical procedure was. Austin, who is 70-years-old, is a retired Army four-star general who served more than 40 years in the military, The Hill previously reported. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Law enforcement officials in Florida have increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspected gunman in the deadly Ocala mall shooting that left one person dead two days before Christmas. The Ocala Police Department is still actively searching for Albert Shell Jr. and is offering $20,000 for information that can help authorities apprehend him, the department announced Saturday on Facebook. Shell, 39, is accused of fatally shooting 40-year-old David Nathaniel Barron, who was found dead in a common area inside the Paddock Mall in north-central Florida on one of the years busiest shopping days, according to police. The incident also left a woman wounded after being shot in the leg, authorities said. Ocala police are offering $15,000 and the Florida Sheriffs Association put forth an additional $5,000 toward the reward amount. Law enforcement officials have said they believe the shooting was a targeted act of violence. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Shell Jr. on December 24 for premeditated first-degree murder and attempted premeditated first-degree murder, CNN previously reported. There were a lot of people inside the mall when the shooting occurred, according to Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken, which means theres a lot of witnesses that could potentially help us bring this case to a successful resolution, he said. CNNs Dakin Andone and Ashley R. Williams contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Claim: A photo showed electric vehicles that failed and were abandoned during a December 2023 winter storm in Germany. Rating: Rating: Miscaptioned In early December 2023, a winter storm hit parts of southern Germany, as The Guardian reported, with air and rail traffic blocked in Munich. A photograph surfaced on X (formerly Twitter), allegedly showing the storm's impact on a highway. According to the X post, the cold drained power from several electric vehicles' batteries and so their owners abandoned them, causing major roadblocks. The post claimed (we translated it from Italian): Many highways in Germany are blocked due to electric vehicles running out of power in the cold. Even normal cars are stuck between electric vehicles, they cannot get around empty vehicles. Similar problems are also seen in the Czech Republic. (X user @elena_bardet1) That was a false caption for the photo. In reality, it depicted a snow storm in Chicago more than a decade earlier, in February 2011, according to The Associated Press' archives. For that reason, we rated this claim Miscaptioned. (The feature image for this article depicts the same winter scene from a slightly different angle, courtesy of Getty Images.) To come to that conclusion, we conducted a reverse-image search. TinEye's results showed the photo had been shared online almost 800 times since 2011. With various captions, the posts included memes and stories, such as a 2021 article in Arabic that claimed the photo was captured in Texas. Meanwhile, another Arabic-language article claimed it was captured in Pakistan. On Facebook alone, the image appeared in posts written in Hungarian, Italian, and Polish, in total gaining over 100,000 reactions. In December 2023, however, the photo helped spread the in-question claim that a recent winter snow storm in Germany caused electric vehicles to fail and create highway roadblocks. For instance, the photo was shared in a Russian-language article with the title,"It was in the cold that electric cars ran out of charge on the highways in Germany." Another post on X, authored in Russian, claimed, "This is not footage from a movie about the apocalypse, this is Germany. Electric cars that have discharged in the cold stand idle." Furthermore, a post in Ukrainian with the photo read, "They write that due to bad weather, many autobahns in Germany were blocked due to electric vehicles running out of charge in the cold." Around the same time, another post with the image went viral, gaining more than 3 million views and calling electric vehicles "the biggest scam the world has ever seen." Based on our research, there were no credible reports about electric vehicles being abandoned in December 2023 snow storms in Germany, or anywhere else. To determine the photo's origins, we turned to Alarmy, an online stock-photo website. It hosted the image and captioned the scene as "hundreds of cars [...] stranded on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago" on Feb. 2, 2011. Next, we looked for news stories about the 2011 storm in Chicago, with the goal of finding one that published the in-question photo. On Minnesota Public Radio's website, for instance, we found the photo attached to a story titled, "Massive storm paralyzes cities as it rolls east." (https://www.mprnews.org/) By looking at that photo's caption, we learned the photo belonged to The Associated Press that is, a photojournalist with that news outlet captured it. We turned to the Associated Press' archives, which confirmed the photograph was taken on Feb. 2, 2011, by one of its photographers in Chicago. The photo's description read: FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2011 file photo, hundreds of cars are seen stranded on Lake Shore Drive Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 in Chicago. A winter blizzard of historic proportions wobbled an otherwise snow-tough Chicago, stranding hundreds of drivers for up to 12 hours overnight on the city's showcase lakeshore thoroughfare and giving many city schoolchildren their first ever snow day. A year later temperatures are in the mid 50's and flirting with record highs for this date. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato,File) Other news outlets, such as ABC Chicago, reported on the Chicago snow storm in February 2011, saying that hundreds of vehicles were abandoned: Motorists and their passengers were caught on Lake Shore Drive for hours before they opted to evacuate or officials told them to evacuate. They had been trapped by accidents ahead of them and traffic behind during the worst of the snow storm. There was no evidence to confirm, or deny, whether any vehicles in the photo were electric powered. Sources: AP. https://newsroom.ap.org/editorial-photos-videos/detail?itemid=4afb37b3725b4761bd327fde868ec98c&mediatype=photo. Accessed 20 Dec. 2023. France-Presse, Agence. Heavy Snow Brings Chaos to Southern Germany as Munich Suspends Flights. The Guardian, 2 Dec. 2023. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/02/snow-chaos-southern-germany-munich-airport-suspends-flights. Farms across California have had to euthanize several million chickens and ducks in recent weeks, as a wave of avian influenza threatens to upend national poultry and egg supplies. While cases of the disease have been cropping up throughout the U.S., agricultural hubs in Northern California have endured the greatest losses over the past month. Theres economy of scale in commercial agriculture, including poultry, Maurice Pitesky, an avian disease specialist at the University of California Davis (UC Davis) School of Veterinary Medicine, told The Hill. No pun intended if you put your eggs all in one basket, the virus gets into a facility and then all the birds have to be euthanized, unfortunately, Pitesky said. As of midday Friday, about 10.62 million birds in 63 flocks nationwide had been affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks over the past 30 days, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Of these flocks, 37 were commercial and 26 were backyard, and a total of 3.8 million birds were concentrated in California. The current spike in HPAI on the rise since mid-fall is the latest escalation in a nationwide outbreak that has ebbed and flowed since 2022. A previous surge in the disease rattled the nations poultry industry last year, leading to national egg shortages and record-high price tags. The country could be headed in that direction again: While egg prices are still half of what they were about a year ago, they have risen 12 percent over last month, according to The Wall Street Journal. Cal-Maine Foods, the countrys biggest egg producer, cited a 91 percent loss in profits in its fiscal 2024 second quarter earnings generating $17 million in quarterly net income, as opposed to $198.6 million during the same period last year. Max Bowman, Cal-Maines vice president and chief financial officer, acknowledged the need to improve biosecurity measures to mitigate the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a statement accompanying the report. HPAI is typically introduced into the U.S. from wild birds that migrate along the East Asian Flyway and cross paths with birds traveling along the North American routes, according to UC Daviss Western Institute for Food Safety and Security. Pitesky described migratory birds as the primary reservoir for HPAI, noting that ducks and geese often travel thousands of miles meeting during fall in the Arctic, before heading south. When all those different flyways interface with each other, thats where you get all these exchange[s] of viruses, he said. While wild waterfowl often carry the virus without developing symptoms, spreading to domestic poultry can result in what institute researcher Michael Payne described in a statement as catastrophic mortality. It doesnt take much, Payne warned. A drop of manure from an infected bird weighing only a gram, about the same as a dime, contains enough virus to infect one million birds. Two strains of HPAI, which attack multiple organs in chickens, come with up to 90-100 percent mortality rates and can cause death within 48 hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although sporadic human infections have occurred with various bird flu viruses, they have typically happened only after prolonged, unprotected contact with sick birds, per the CDC. Californias Central Valley hosts about 500 to 600 commercial poultry farms, as well as robust habitats for both nonmigratory and migratory waterfowl, according to Pitesky. This domestic-wild combination, he explained, has created a spatial interface for disease transmission. Exacerbating that clash, Pitesky said, are the dual threats of human development and climate change which have collectively caused shifts in the proximity of waterfowl to these farms. The five California counties that currently have active infections of HPAI include Sonoma, Marin, Merced, Fresno and San Joaquin, the California Department of Food and Agriculture determined in a recent investigation. To protect other flocks in California, the locations of the detected infected flocks are currently under quarantine, and the birds are euthanized to prevent further disease spread, the department said. Sonoma County last month declared a state of emergency following the detection of HPAI at two commercial poultry farms in the southern portion of the county. To protect other flocks in the region, those locations were put under quarantine and about 250,000 birds were euthanized. Such action served to prevent further disease spread, but also came at the expense of the local agricultural economy, Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt said in a statement at the time. Southern Sonoma County poultry farms supply hundreds of thousands of eggs each and every day, which in turn bolsters the food chain for the entire West Coast if not beyond, he added. More recently in Sonoma County, about 494,200 birds were affected by HPAI at a commercial table egg layer farm, according to APHIS. A similar fate befell 54,000 and 37,300 birds located at two such farms on Dec. 28, per the APHIS data. On the same date, the disease was also detected in Marin County, impacting 151,000 birds at a table egg pullet farm a farm that houses immature laying hens. More than 2.3 million birds residing at multiple Merced County table egg layer farms were affected by the disease during December, the data determined. Also impacted throughout these counties have been broiler chickens, ducks and turkeys. Other states with reported outbreaks include South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Arkansas, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Although some experts are calling for mass vaccination of poultry to prevent the spread of the disease, Pitesky said that this is currently impractical from both a financial and logistical perspective, as there would be a need to process some 8 billion broilers and more than 350 million egg-laying hens annually. Also complicating matters are associated political tensions: Some vaccinated birds might have no symptoms but still be capable of transmitting the disease, he explained. At the same time, the U.S. remains one of the top poultry exporters in the world. The way that trade works is once you start vaccinating, it becomes much more difficult to differentiate vaccinated infected birds from uninfected birds, Pitesky said. As the disease continues to rip through California and other regions around the globe, however, the World Organization for Animal Health called for the reconsideration of all available tools to reduce pandemic risks, including vaccination. Arguing that sanitary control measures may be insufficient to curb the spread of HPAI strains, the group pushed to include vaccination among disease prevention strategies. Opting for such action, the group stressed, would require not only high-quality vaccines that meet international standards, but also robust surveillance protocols, a compliance commitment from poultry producers and traceability of every step of the process. Although four HPAI vaccines are licensed in the U.S., none have been approved for the most virulent strain, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Meanwhile, the USDA has completed initial testing on five HPAI vaccine candidates but is still evaluating their efficacy. Ultimately trade rules and regulations might have to change, Pitesky said, noting that Australia remains the only continent that is currently free of bird flu. Everyones kind of getting hammered by it, he added. So we might have to revise some of those rules are ultimately in order to facilitate trade. As far as the future is concerned, Pitesky said that he and his team are working on developing remote sensing tools that can indicate where waterfowl are with respect to commercial poultry. He voiced support for restoring waterfowl habitats at a farther distance from existing poultry farms, while acknowledging that certain areas and geographies might not be suited for organic or pastured poultry cultivation. Describing the ongoing outbreak as an existential issue, Pitesky stressed that poultry remains the top-consumed animal protein nationwide. We cant keep on having this happen every year, where were having to euthanize and depopulate millions of birds from a welfare perspective, from an economic perspective, he said. There is value in having large farms, but I also think we need to be very thoughtful about where we have those large farms, Pitesky added. When Dawn Roche, a Dennis resident, lost her son Trevor in 2018 from a fentanyl overdose, she lost all hope to live. She took a lot of sleeping pills, Roche said. But that didn't work. Over time, Roche started to be more involved in a substance awareness group in Yarmouth and a parent group. She had found a purpose in life. I'm trying to prevent other parents from going through the nightmare that some of us are living, said Roche. I started to look for ways to give back and give hope to others. Today, Roche is on the Yarmouth Substance Awareness Committee, and a board member for Parents Supporting Parents, a nonprofit. The opioid settlement fund announced by then-Attorney General Maura Healey in 2021 is a way to help people seeking treatment or any kind of help they need, according to Dawn Roche, a member of the Yarmouth Substance Awareness Committee. The opioid settlement fund announced by then-Attorney General Maura Healey in 2021 is a way to help people seeking treatment or any kind of help they need, according to Roche. The opioid settlement funds represent a $26 billion resolution between several opioid distributors, manufacturers and the 46 participating states. Massachusetts gets more than $500 million in the settlement, according to the 2021 announcement. The settlement holds liable companies accountable for their roles in the U.S. opioid epidemic, according to the announcement. The settlement offer was made by opioid manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the parent company of Johnson & Johnson, and the big three" distributors McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Cardinal Health to resolve their liabilities in opioid crisis-related lawsuits, according to the announcement. For municipalities in Massachusetts Each municipality will receive part of that money based on factors like overdose deaths, number of residents with substance abuse disorder, number of opioids prescribed and population. The 15 towns in Barnstable County will $8.278 million over several years from the Johnson & Johnson and the "big three" distributors settlement, according to the attorney general's office data. The town of Barnstable is set to receive about $1.8 million the highest amount among the Cape towns. Money must be spent on treatment, recovery support and more The agreement specifies the money must be spent on treatment, recovery support, connecting people to care, harm reduction and services to people involved with the criminal justice system, as well as spent on support for pregnant or parenting women with opioid use disorder and efforts to prevent opioid misuse. The funds started to flow into municipalities across Massachusetts in June 2022 and each Cape town is currently involved in making decisions regarding the use of the funds. As of Sept. 15, distributor payment (McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Cardinal Health) up to year 3 and Janssen payments (parent company of Johnson & Johnson) up to year 5 has been distributed to the municipalities. For example, the town of Barnstable received $445,000 in distributor and Janssen payments as of Sept. 15, according to the attorney general's office. How are Cape towns deciding to spend the money? The county has been kind of keeping an eye on what the different towns are doing on Cape Cod and remain available to partner and pool funds to implement these regional approaches, said Kate Lena, Substance Use Prevention Program Manager for Barnstable County. County officials are concerned with making sure that the limited funds the county received are being planned to create the biggest impact possible, Lena said. The goal is to figure out a solid community engagement process how to make sure that community members with lived experience are genuinely involved in the decision making at the town level and how to spend the funds, according to Lena. Oftentimes people with lived experience, people who use drugs, people in recovery, and their family members are not invited to the table or not asked for their opinion, she said. Falmouths approach is one the county is watching, Lena said. Falmouth has set an example We designed a format to do some community conversations, the first forum had about 60 people at Saint Barnabas's Church, and we got really great feedback, said Beverly Costa-Ciavola, the chair of the Falmouth Commission on Substance Abuse. The town of Falmouth is expected to received about $1.4 million in opioid settlement funds of several years, according to the attorney general's office. The town ran forums through August with specific populations one with staff from the school system, one for families who have lost a loved one to addiction, one for families of people in recovery, and then another one for individuals who were in recovery or treatment, according to Costa-Ciavola. The town of Falmouth is expected to receive at least $1.4 million in opioid settlement funds over 17 years. We'll be looking at giving maybe a couple of large grant grants, a couple of medium sized ones and then maybe some smaller ones, said Beverly Costa-Ciavola, chair of the Falmouth Commission on Substance Abuse. Coasta-Ciavola was photographed Tuesday in Mashpee. Based on the results of the forums, a proposal was presented Nov. 6 to the Select Board. The proposal is one the town will be able to revisit in three to five years because the funds are coming in on a 17-year basis, she said. We'll be looking at giving maybe a couple of large grant grants, a couple of medium sized ones and then maybe some smaller ones, for startups or for small, smaller nonprofits as well, said Costa-Ciavola. Better management of sober living homes was one issue that arose in the forums, Costa-Ciavola said. Mashpee: First steps in distributing the money Mashpee expected to receive $727,000 over several years already distributed the first round of opioid abatement funds from the settlement. It came from an appropriation of $152,000 at town meeting in May. Six different agencies with a total of $112,500 received the funding, said Gail Wilson, the human services director for Mashpee. Duffy Health Center received $22,500; Parents Supporting Parents, a support group for the parents of those struggling with substance use disorder, received $20,000; AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod received $15,000; Behavioral Health Innovators, a nonprofit focusing on substance use disorder and related mental health conditions in teens received $15,000 and One Shared Spirit, a free health and recovery center in Mashpee, received $20,000. A three-member panel appointed by the town manager reviewed the funding applications, said Wilson. Wilson and Assistant Town Manager Wayne E. Taylor and Corinne J. Wickel of Parents Supporting Parents were part of the panel, which now is expanded to five members. Each year, the amount of funding has to be approved at town meetings. We'll go through the next round of applications in May and then in June we'll be able to afford more of the funding, said Wilson. Each of these groups specified how they're going to use the funding and we have a contract with them. We took steps to make this process pretty comprehensive. Yarmouth: Choosing to distribute money Yarmouth also distributed the first round of funding to several organizations, according to Danny Rodrigues, co-chair of the Yarmouth Substance Awareness Committee. The recipients were Yarmouth Comprehensive Treatment Center; AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod; the Alternative Peer Group program serving teens on Cape Cod; and Duffy Health Center. Yarmouth is expected to receive $275,000 over several years from the settlement, according to the attorney general's office. Our goal was to as quickly and mindfully as possible put in an approach where we could get those funds to the organizations that are doing the work, said Rodrigues. We had agencies come in to present what their needs were and what they wanted to do with some additional funding. We ended up deciding to focus on the basic needs of our community members where there tend to be a lot of gaps. The Yarmouth Substance Awareness Committee also retained some amount from the remediation funds to host events and create materials around prevention, education and promotion around reducing stigma for people with substance use disorder. What is the Outer Cape doing? The four Outer Cape towns Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown are working together in working groups, according to Emily Beebe, the health and conservation agent for Truro. In total, Eastham is expected to receive $165,000 in settlement funds. Wellfleet is expected to received $140,000. Truro is slated for $127,000, and Provincetown $188,000, according to the attorney general's office. Proposals for the programming are being made to each town's Select Board and Board of Health, and by early in the new year the four towns hope to finish that, Beebe said. The towns have been working with Outer Cape Community Solutions, a network of group organizations "working to improve the health and well-being of residents across the Outer Cape," according to the website. "We're working with all of their network members and that is basically the start of how we will be reaching out to the public," said Beebe. "We're not trying to create anything new, we're trying to fund the testing efforts and try to support the people already affected by this issue," she said. It's important to know that the money will be received over a long period of time, Beebe said. "Planning is very important at this stage to make sure that we're addressing what's happening right now and also try to mitigate the issue over a long period of time. We really want people to feel comfortable in their community, finding help in resources," she said. At a Provincetown Select Board meeting on Dec. 11, Alex Nelson, the network coordinator for Outer Cape Community Solutions, shared which agencies are currently working on the Outer Cape to figure out how to spend the funds. We also have direct partnership with the Truro Police Department and Wellfleet Police Department, said Nelson at the meeting. They were active in the meetings, giving feedback all along and this group of agencies has been meeting since January 2023, every month. Seeking a detox/rehabilitation center in mid-Cape Today, Roche believes the Cape needs more mental health facilities, detox centers, rehab centers and other treatment resources. What I would love to see is a detox/rehabilitation center in the mid-Cape area, similar to a small setting of a hospital, said Roche. The center should also have a safe space for those who are struggling with either mental health and substance use disorders. For Roche, the opioid settlement fund is a process of strengthening available resources and a way to soften the stigma of addiction and substance use. We're all trying to provide hope and resources so that nobody has to bury their child, she said. Rasheek Tabassum Mujib writes about health care and education. Reach herat rmujib@capecodonline.com. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape towns receive opioid settlement based on overdose deaths and more Markus Soder, Bavarian Prime Minister and leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), has said Germany should supply long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. Source: t-online, a German news outlet, citing Soder, DW, as reported by European Pravda Details: Soder believes Taurus missiles would help Ukraine "fight off persistent drone and missile attacks". This would be "the only serious chance for Ukraine to find new courage and not let the Russians win," the Bavarian prime minister said. The official noted that Germany and the EU would face a "real security problem" if Russia wins the war and the US keeps shying away from international crises in the future. Meanwhile, former German President Joachim Gauck has criticised the current German government's cautious stance on supplying Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles. "I don't know much about military affairs, but I have talked to people with the necessary military knowledge. And after these conversations, I can no longer understand why we are hesitating to supply these weapons and other ammunition," Gauck said. He added that amid the exhausting positional warfare and large-scale Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, "I look at what we are doing with concern and question whether our support is sufficient." Gauck noted that there is no international legal prohibition on providing armed assistance to a victim of aggression. He believes Ukraine should receive the Taurus missiles, as "a Russian victory would jeopardise the security of other European states in the medium term". Background: After Russia's large-scale missile attacks on Ukraine, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Chair of the German Bundestags Defence Committee, has also advocated for Taurus missiles for Ukraine. She pointed out that Ukraine is currently in dire need of "artillery ammunition, Taurus and spare parts for the heavy equipment we supply". Furthermore, several leading representatives of the German Bundestag who are defence spokespersons have spoken out in favour of providing Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles to strike targets in Russia. Meanwhile, the German government persistently refuses to supply long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! From the Dispatch Weekly on The Dispatch Hello and happy Sunday. Yesterday marked the third anniversary of the January 6 riot at the Capitol. The events of that day were a major story of the week, but it wasnt just obligatory anniversary coverage that media outlets were reporting on. Were seeing how the fallout from the riot at the Capitol will be a prominent feature of the 2024 election. President Joe Biden made his first big campaign speech of the new year on Friday from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and he focused on former President Donald Trumps actions on January 6. Trumps mob wasnt a peaceful protest; it was a violent assault, he said. They were insurrectionists, not patriots. They werent there to uphold the Constitution; they were there to destroy the Constitution. Its clear that Biden is anticipating that Trump will win the Republican nomination. And, as weve been reporting for the last year, thats certainly what the polling would indicate. Trump is expected to easily win the Iowa caucuses on January 15, and, while Nikki Haley is certainly making things interesting in New Hampshire, shed need a big win there on January 23 to have any kind of chance in the February 24 primary in her home state of South Carolina. Even if Trump does win the primary, its an open question as to whether his name will appear on every states ballot come the falland it looks like that question will be answered by the Supreme Court. Last month, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump was ineligible to run for office based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which states: No person shall be a Senator or representative in Congress or elector of president and vice president or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath as a member of Congress or as an officer of the United States or as a member of any state legislature or as an executive or judicial officer of any state to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. Whether Trump is eligible to hold office depends on the answer to two key questions: Did his efforts to overturn the election amount to an insurrection? And is he an officer of the United States? The Colorado Supreme Court answered yes to both of them. Now its the Supreme Courts turn, having granted Trumps petition for review. Oral arguments will take place on February 8. The sweep of the courts ruling is likely to be broad, New York Times Supreme Court reporter Adam Liptak writes. It will probably resolve not only whether Mr. Trump may appear on the Colorado primary ballot after the states top court declared that he had engaged in insurrection in his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, but it will most likely also determine his eligibility to run in the general election and to hold office at all. Weve covered the 14th Amendment issue extensively, in Sarah and Mikes newsletter The Collision, and on Advisory Opinions with Sarah and David French. Jonah and Kevin have weighed in. The Supreme Court news broke late on Friday, so expect us to have much more on what it means and what to expect in the coming days and weeks. In the meantime, thanks for reading and have a great weekend. Not a member? Join now! Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist organization based in Lebanon, has thus far played a minimal role in the war between Israel and Hamas. Its engaged in border skirmishes with the Israeli Defense Forces but has resisted the more full-scale invasion that many anticipated after October 7. Will that change after Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri was assassinated in a Hezbollah-dominated neighborhood in Beirut, reportedly by an Israeli drone? The Dahieh neighborhood, which is the most important stronghold of Hezbollah, is supposed to be a safe area, Yoni Ben-Menachem, an Israel-based Arab affairs expert, told Charlotte. Al-Arouri was a guest of Hezbollah, and he was assassinated. Charlotte provides some important background on al-Arouri and reports on what it might say about Israels future plans: The commanders killing on Tuesday sends a powerful messageboth to Hamas remaining leadership and to other members of Irans resistance networkthat Israel is willing to take risks to prevent future attacks. Amid the drama of Kevin McCarthy losing the speakership and the chaos that followed when Republicans couldnt decide on a replacement, Rep. Patrick McHenry provided some important stability as the speaker pro tempore. But he announced in December that he would not seek reelection in 2024. He sat down with John McCormack for an illuminating conversation about why hes leaving and the major institutional challenges facing the House, from the broken budgeting process to a congressional calendar that not only complicates that process but is also hard on representatives with children. But McHenry remains optimistic: By having such a terrible, awful, no good, lousy year, he told John, this should be the moment where my party comes back to, What the hell are we about? And, What are we here to achieve? What was your reaction when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday blamed the media for not being harder on Donald Trump? Personally, the voice of Dana Carveys Church Lady character popped into my head: Isnt that special? Because, as Nick notes in Boiling Frogs, DeSantis has had plenty of chances to criticize the man hes running against for the Republican nomination. The whole thing reminds him not of a Saturday Night Live sketch but the 2016 primary, when Ted Cruz won Iowa only to see his victory downplayed on Fox News. Nick dives deep on DeSantis entire media strategy and finds it wanting. He cold-shouldered mainstream outlets, provided access to friendly right-wing platforms, and engaged in a sort of influencer arms race with Donald Trump aimed at dominating the social media conversation on the right, he writes. The problem with that strategy is that it was destined to make an already unsympathetic press corps that much more unsympathetic to him. Not a member? Join now! And heres the best of the rest: Claudine Gay stepped down as Harvards president on Tuesday, and media coverage quickly took on a conservatives pounce vibe since it was conservative activists pushing the claims and the right-leaning Washington Free Beacon investigating them. Jonahs having none of it in the G-File (): Sure, its an interesting story that conservatives were out to get Claudine Gay, he writes. But its not like Chris Rufo has a time machine that allowed him to go back to the 1990s and force her to plagiarize whole paragraphs. Nippon Steels acquisition of U.S. Steel sets Scott Lincicome up for a classic Capitolism (), offering him the chance to remind everyone that protectionist policies have unintended consequences. He notes that U.S. Steel opted to lobby for tariffs and subsidies instead of modernizing, and those very tariffs made the companya shadow of its former selfattractive for a takeover by a foreign company looking to set up shop here and avoid said tariffs. Several Protestant denominations have struggled with divisions over gay marriage, but none to the extent of the United Methodist Church. Thousands of congregations have left the UMC, and Norman Hubbard helpfully explains how the schism came about, why conservative congregations are the ones leaving, and where they are going. Are you ready for a Mickey Mouse slasher film? Its a possibility now that the copyright has expired on Steamboat Willie, the first Mickey Mouse cartoon to be distributed. The Morning Dispatch () crew uses that anecdote to kick off a fascinating dive into Public Domain Day and the state of copyright law in the U.S. And the pods! On The Dispatch Podcast roundtable, the gang is feeling a little morose about the inevitability of Trump being the GOP nominee. Jonah welcomes AEIs Yuval Levin to The Remnant for a wide-ranging conversation about Claudine Gays resignation, the usefulness of the horseshoe theory, and the health (or lack thereof) of our institutions. And David and Sarah discuss a number of Supreme Court cases, including SEC v. Jarkesy and Harrington v. Purdue Pharma, on Advisory Opinions. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. WASHINGTON Advisers grappling with President Joe Bidens stubbornly low poll numbers and pressure from Democrats to shake up his strategy are planning a far more aggressive approach in coming weeks, with a keen focus on what they see as a high-stakes opportunity and hurdle to clear: the State of the Union address. One administration official said the speechs importance is not lost on the presidents top advisers and the president himself. This is probably going to be the most important speech of his presidency and its going to set the tone for [this] year, another administration official said. The White House is trying to fend off Democratic anxiety about how the incumbent president enters the election year virtually tied with former President Donald Trump in national polls. There is a concern among some Democratic strategists that the White House and Biden campaign have a tendency to brush away the criticism instead of trying to figure out whats going wrong. Since launching his re-election campaign in April, Biden has focused his public message almost entirely on the economy. In recent months, he has sought to garner support for funding for Israel and Ukraine as they both wage U.S.-backed wars. But one Biden adviser says there is now a window to get back to some of our core messaging, which started Friday as the president delivered his most pointed rebuke of Trump as a threat to democracy. The campaign feels the speech was successful in commanding significant attention, which they will reinforce with Mondays address about political violence that Biden will deliver at Mother Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina, the site of a deadly 2015 shooting that targeted Black churchgoers. Biden and his aides have heard an increasing amount of anxiety from Democrats who worry that Trump is gaining a foothold. Biden had lunch with former President Barack Obama in December, a source familiar with the meeting confirmed. Biden invited Obama to the lunch and the two discussed the campaign, the source said. Obama expressed concern about Trump and his political strength. We all know Trump has a massive and loyal following, the source said. The source added, This is an all-hands-on-deck moment. One consistent criticism has been that the campaign is taking too long to make decisions juxtaposed with Obamas campaign, which had more of his top aides leave the White House. But Biden aides say technology has allowed those inside the administration who are permitted by law to work with the campaign to do so easily. The truth is the key people at the White House who are doing campaign work talk to the campaign every day, multiple times a day. I dont think thats slowing down decision-making, the adviser said. The campaign has shown signs of changing its approach. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will pick up their pace of travel some campaign, some official with a particular focus on the early-voting states in the Democratic primary calendar: South Carolina, Nevada and Michigan the latter two also important general election battlegrounds. Their message will broaden from the initial democracy focus to include protecting reproductive rights ahead of the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, and economic initiatives. Budget and border negotiations in Congress loom as moments that may pull Biden back into Washington. But aides say the potential standoffs will in some ways highlight what is expected to be a major theme of the presidents State of the Union address: comparing a record of action from the president and a Democratic Congress to an ideology of obstruction from Republicans. The State of the Union address is a particularly important moment, advisers say, as poll after poll has shown that another of voters top concerns about the president in 2024 is an unchangeable fact: his date of birth. The annual address to Congress, now scheduled for March 7, will offer Biden one of the biggest audiences hell have this year to not just make the case for the work of his administration thus far, but also demonstrate his ability to continue it well into the future. Advisers say the speech is not a moment for Biden to telegraph a second-term agenda which instead will be rolled out by the campaign as the election grows closer. But it is a critical chance to highlight what the president has done in office, and ways that he can continue to leverage and build on those accomplishments. Officials were reluctant to discuss preparations for the speech, citing what is still an early stage of preparations and the typical secrecy around the major address. Multiple factors could determine what does and doesnt make the final text of the speech, including the dynamic situation in Gaza, negotiations over border security, and progress or lack thereof toward a government funding deal before a set of deadlines that could trigger government shutdowns. But the value being placed on the speech inside the West Wing reflects a defining characteristic of the Biden teams strategy that often rankles outside allies. Rather than engage in every news cycle, advisers prefer for the president to instead focus his efforts on more significant moments that command wider audiences ones more likely to include swing voters. Bruce Reed, the deputy White House chief of staff, has been leading a review process in the administration for weeks focused on identifying policy priorities for this year, an undertaking that will help shape the speech as well. Biden will offer criticism of congressional Republicans who have largely opposed his agenda. And hell have a chance to continue to highlight bipartisan initiatives under the umbrella of his Unity Agenda enhancing access to mental health services, supporting veterans and combatting fentanyl where additional progress can be made this year. The White House viewed Bidens 2022 State of the Union address as a triumph, and not because of anything that was in his prepared text. Biden at times bantered with Republicans who jeered at some of his remarks, and at one point challenged them over whether they disagreed with proposals to curtail retirement programs like Social Security and Medicare. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene also shouted out to accuse Biden of being a liar, something that elevated her to become a useful foil for the president as he sought to paint all House Republicans as of her mold. Bidens deft handling of the situation and his ad-libbed remarks quickly became a part of the regular White House and campaign talking points to demonstrate that the now-81-year-old was more than up to the task. Similarly, Biden advisers felt that in his speech near Valley Forge on Friday, some of the best moments were again largely unscripted, as he flashed what they said was genuine anger when veering from prepared remarks that cataloged past Trump comments denigrating veterans and expressing admiration for foreign dictators. More than the presidents age, Biden advisers say, a tougher obstacle is the stubbornly sour state of the American electorate. Nearly 3 in 4 Americans say the country is on the wrong track, according to a recent NBC News poll, a number that has shifted only marginally since Biden took office. Voters have long viewed the nation as moving in the wrong direction. The last time the percentage of Americans who said the country was heading on the wrong track dipped below 50% was in June 2009. That pessimism has only deepened since the pandemic, Biden advisers say, with one official regularly stating that Covid-19 has a long tail. Biden has struggled to balance what he views as a strong economic rebound from the brief pandemic recession with the fact that many Americans feel no reason to celebrate. In last years address, he tried to personalize the argument, recalling how his own middle-class family felt the price shocks of higher fuel and grocery prices just as much as most Americans do. More recently, Biden had tried to take something of a victory lap while vowing to build on that progress. I acknowledge theres a disconnect between the numbers and how people feel about their place in the world right now, Biden said in an economic address in November. We still have work to do, but our model for growing is delivering real results for all Americans. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Flash The call by the general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to arm civilians in a popular campaign, or the "Sudanese Popular Resistance," to fight the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has sparked controversy and concern over involving civilians into war. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, addressing soldiers at the Jabait military base in eastern Sudan on Friday, said, "We will arm the popular resistance with any weapon we have, and we will not prevent the Sudanese resistance from bringing any weapons." Al-Burhan's statements evoked varied responses from politicians and popular entities regarding the controversial issue of arming civilians to fight alongside the army. The RSF slammed the call as an indication of the army's "inability to defend Sudan," adding that arming civilians would "harm" them and increase the risk of a comprehensive war in the country. "Any person who gets armed and stands with the armed forces will be considered a legitimate target for the RSF," Haroun Mahmoud Medikhair, a senior RSF advisor, said in a statement on Saturday. However, Husham Al-Shawani, a Sudanese politician, believed that popular resistance "is a right, a duty, and an inevitable necessity." "The popular resistance is a necessary movement to defend the homeland ... and it is a popular revolution that will lead to building the state and the local government in the future," Al-Shawani said in a statement posted on his X account on Saturday. For his part, Mohamed al-Faki Suleiman, a former member of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council, warned against the dangers of putting dangerous weapons into the hands of citizens and the involvement of civilians in war. Khalid Omer Yousif, a leading figure in the Coordination of Civilian Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), meanwhile, said the call for popular armament indicated that the ongoing war in Sudan has taken on an ethnic and racial dimension. "The dynamics of the war are evolving toward a point of no return. The war has now taken on an evident regional dimension with its parties engaged in extensive recruitment and mobilization," Yousif said Saturday on the social media platform X. Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF since April 15, 2023. More than 12,000 people had been killed in the fighting, according to a statement by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in December last year. President Bidens approval rating on handling immigration has reached an all-time low, a new poll found. Just 32 percent of Americans said in the new CBS News poll released Sunday that they approved of Bidens handling of the border a number that CBS notes is the all-time low for the president on this question. Overall, 68 percent in the new poll disapprove of how Biden is handling the border. Congressional Republicans also received poor approval ratings for their handling of the border, results that come as the House GOP has vowed to make border policy their focus at the start of the new year. The poll found that 35 percent of Americans approve of GOP lawmakers handling of the border, while 65 percent disapprove. The poll also found that 45 percent of Americans see the border situation as a crisis, and another 30 percent view it as a serious problem. Sixty-three percent said it should be tougher for migrants to cross the border into the U.S. while just 16 percent said it should be easier. Americans sentiments toward immigrants were ultimately more negative, according to the new poll. Nearly 50 percent said immigrants crossing at the border will make American society worse in the long run, while 22 percent suggested it would be better. In addition, 57 percent said they disapproved of sending migrants to northern states. However, 53 percent of Republicans approved of the action as Republican-led states continue to send migrants to Democratic-led cities in the north. The poll was conducted among 2,157 adults between Jan. 3 and Jan. 5 and has a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Joe Bidens day one priority if he earns a second term? First of all: Roe, deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks said Sunday during an interview on NBCs Meet the Press. The president has been adamant that we need to restore Roe. It is unfathomable that women today wake up in a country with less rights than their ancestors had years ago, Fulks said. Biden has been poised to run on what has been described as the strongest abortion rights platform of any general election candidate as he and his allies look to notch a victory in the first presidential election since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. The president, who is Catholic, has described himself as personally not "big on abortion" because of his faith, but the landmark 1973 decision "got it right, he said over the summer. And hes slammed court rulings limiting abortion access and fought efforts to restrict the availability of abortion pills. Last month, Biden seized on a case in Texas, where a woman, Kate Cox, was denied an abortion despite the risk to her life posed by her pregnancy. No woman should be forced to go to court or flee her home state just to receive the health care she needs, Biden said of the case. But that is exactly what happened in Texas thanks to Republican elected officials, and it is simply outrageous. This should never happen in America, period. When abortion rights are on the ballot, they win with voters across the political spectrum though they dont always boost Democratic candidates on ballots advocating for them, a POLITICO analysis found. Still, as the Biden campaign works to turn the focus of the election away from the president himself and on to the threat posed by the possibility of Trumps return to power, the attention on abortion rights which Trump had a hand in through his Supreme Court nominees is expected to continue to be a focal point of the campaign. Look, the president understands that this election isn't about him: it's about the American people, Fulks said Sunday. Restoring Roe isnt the only item on Bidens to-do list. In a second term, the president would aim to finish the job, on a slate of priorities his administration has already begun pushing for, Fulks said, including banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines, cutting the cost of insulin and expanding student loan forgiveness. Lloyd Austin, 70, was admitted to hospital on New Years Day for what the Pentagon said were 'complications' following a recent elective surgery - Getty Images North America Joe Biden is under mounting pressure to sack his defence chief, Lloyd Austin, after he kept the US president in the dark for four days over his hospitalisation. Mr Austin, 70, who was still in hospital on Sunday, was admitted on New Years Day for what the Pentagon said were complications following a recent elective surgery. But the White House was not informed of his absence until January 4, while Mr Austins deputy, Kathleen Hicks, was herself on holiday in Puerto Rico. Calls for defence secretary to be replaced The apparent lapse came as war continues to rage in Gaza and Ukraine and has heaped pressure on the White House to take action, with Republicans calling for the defence secretary to be replaced. If this report is true, there must be consequences for this shocking breakdown, said Arkansas senator Tom Cotton. Jim Banks, a member of the House Armed Services, added Mr Austin had been a disaster since day one. He should be replaced by someone who will focus on making the military ready to fight and win wars instead of advancing woke political causes of the Biden administration, Mr Banks said. Available at moments notice The defence secretary sits just below Mr Biden at the top of the chain of command of the US military and his duties require his being available at a moments notice to respond to any manner of national security crisis. While he and his deputy were away from the Pentagon, the US military carried out an airstrike in Baghdad, killing the leader of an Iran-backed militia. Mike Pence, the former vice president, told CNN that it was a 'dereliction of duty' - Getty Images It remains unclear the extent to which his duties were delegated to Ms Hicks, or whether Mr Austin was involved in any key decisions during his absence. Ms Hicks was herself not informed of the reason she was stepping up to fill in for her boss, CNN reported. But the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Roger Wicker, accused the Pentagon of failing to inform Congress immediately about such matters, as required by law. He added the episode had further eroded the publics trust in the Biden administration, citing past failures to quickly disclose information about national security incidents, including the appearance of a Chinese spy balloon over the United States last year. When one of the countrys two National Command Authorities is unable to perform their duties, military families, Members of Congress, and the American public deserve to know the full extent of the circumstances, Mr Wicker said in a statement. Dereliction of duty Mike Pence, the former vice president, told CNN: To think that at a time when we have allies at war in Eastern Europe and here in Israel, that the leader of Americas military at the Pentagon would be out of commission for a number of days, and the President of the United States didnt know about it. I think it was a dereliction of duty and the Secretary and the administration, frankly, need to step forward and give the American people the facts. It is unbelievable, Jeff Lord, who worked in the Reagan White House, told The Telegraph. I cant imagine how nobody in the White House knew he was in hospital and not at his job. The president should have been informed. This is off-the-charts irresponsible. We are in a nuclear age for starters and with what is going on in Ukraine and Israel, the negligence is stunning. Unclear when Mr Austin discharged The Pentagon, which said Mr Austin resumed his full duties on Friday, was unable to say when the defence secretary would be discharged from Walter Reed Hospital. It also declined to disclose details of Mr Austins medical condition, beyond saying there were complications, following a routine procedure. Mr Austin is recovering well and in good spirits while remaining in hospital, Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman said on Sunday night, adding that no date had been set for his release from Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre. Since resuming his duties on Friday evening, the Secretary has received operational updates and has provided necessary guidance to his team, Mr Ryder said. He has full access to required secure communications capabilities and continues to monitor DoDs day-to-day operations worldwide. The Secretary spoke to President Biden yesterday. He has also been in contact with Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. and his senior staff. Despite being in Puerto Rico, Ms Hicks had maintained full communication with the Pentagon, a spokesman for the defence department said as it tried to contain the political fallout. It added that Mr Austin had spoken to the president on Saturday for the first time after being admitted to hospital. US officials speaking on condition of anonymity said Mr Biden retained full confidence in his defence chief. Mr Austin takes full responsibility An embarrassed Mr Austin said he took full responsibility for what had happened. I also understand the media concerns about transparency, and I recognise I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better, he said. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. For nearly nine years, since June 17, 2015, the spire atop Mother Emanuel Church has watched over Charleston and served as a reminder of the horrors of racial violence. Nine Black churchgoers were killed when a white supremacist walked into one of the South's oldest Black churches, intent on starting a race war. The shooting laid bare the racial tensions in South Carolina polity and society and eventually brought down the Confederate flag, which until then flew on top of the Statehouse. On Monday, Jan. 8, President Joe Biden will visit the church and is expected to highlight the importance of preserving democratic institutions to combat hate and extremism. His visit is also being viewed as a way to reconnect with Black voters, whose support for him seems to be waning in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia, as per the New York Times and a Siena College poll. US President Joe Biden arrives with First Lady Jill Biden to speak during an event kickstarting his 2024 re-election campaign at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, on January 5, 2024. Charleston County Democratic Party Chair Sam Skardon said Biden's visit was a strong metaphor for the choice voters face in 2024. "Between Donald Trump, who is facing criminal charges for violently rejecting the results of a democratic election, and President Biden, who is working to expand voting rights and strengthen our democratic institutions," Skardon said in an email. University of South Carolina Professor Todd Shaw, an expert in African American politics, characterized Biden's visit to Charleston as a necessary move to reintroduce his campaign. "I think he's going to have to demonstrate why Black voters should mobilize given that there is some real genuine softness in his numbers," Shaw said, adding that several Black voters who supported Biden in 2020 presumably did so thinking that they were voting for a transitional president. Biden will be the oldest president at 81 years old if he were to be reelected this year. Though Biden's economic track record has been effective, frustrations of not being able to institute voting and civil rights safeguards like the John Lewis Voting Rights Act have also remained. "Political scientists often talk about the fact that in political psychology, voters don't vote just logically or cognitively they vote emotionally," Shaw explained. "Biden has to make a genuine appeal. Not just sort of based on his record, which is a very hard thing for a candidate to do. He's going to have to make an appeal about character, about personality, about integrity." Before his South Carolina visit, Biden gave a searing speech in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania on the eve of the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attacks, and cast former President Donald Trump as an autocratic leader on the path of endangering American values, and himself as the protector of democracy. It was the most emotional Biden has been on the campaign trail. President Joe Biden speaks in Blue Bell, Pa., Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) What does Biden's visit to Mother Emanuel Church mean? Rep. JA Moore's sister, Rev. Myra Thompson, was one of the nine Black churchgoers killed in the shooting, and he has since then advocated for gun safety laws as well as the embattled Hate Crimes legislation, named after South Carolina Senator and Mother Emanuel Church Pastor Clementa C. Pinckney who was also killed in the shooting. SC Rep. JA Moore poses for a portrait at South Carolina State House in Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, June 15, 2022. "I do think us always remembering what hate looks like and being conscious that it's not something that we just read in history, that racial violence happens every day in this community," Moore said. Charleston church shooting: They lost loved ones in a mass shooting in Charleston. Now, they fight to stop the next one During his Monday visit, Biden will likely contrast his campaign's message on racial tensions with that of former Gov. Nikki Haley's bewildering explanation of the Civil War and Trump's comments about immigrants from Africa, Asia and South America "poisoning the blood" in a Dec. 16 rally. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a commit to caucus rally, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in Clinton, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Biden staffers on his campaign team have said that anti-immigrant and racially charged comments were evidence of the GOP's "flirtation with white supremacy." But for that to be a convincing campaign platform, especially since polls have remained unfavorable to his candidacy, Biden needs to effectively shore up the coalition that supported him in 2020. In that regard, South Carolina has always been viewed as an asset to Biden's campaign. The Democratic National Convention made South Carolina the primary launching pad seeing as how the state and its Black voter base revived Biden's chances back in 2020. "One visit doesn't do that," Moore said, adding that he hoped the visit was the one among "a long line of action items that the Biden-Harris campaign plans to do to show that we need a president and vice president that will be able to not just empathize with us but also promote policies and use the executive branches in a way to uplift Black and brown minorities." Will this visit also put Haley under the spotlight? David Woodard, a professor at Clemson University, said Biden's visit could also shed a spotlight on Haley, who was the governor at the time of the mass shooting. "The compromise of moving the Confederate flag to a monument on the statehouse grounds in 2000 was never satisfactory to anyone, and Haley used this shooting to get it off government grounds in 2015 and off the public agenda," Woodard said. "It was probably her best day as governor with that move." Presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks at a Run GenZ event at The Des Moines Embassy Club on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Des Moines. Haley's handling of the massacre helped launch her to a national profile and paved the path for her eventual move to the United Nations as an ambassador. But for Moore, her response was unsatisfactory. "I think Nikki Haley exploited the tragedy for political gain," he said. "I don't look at her attending the funerals of people that were killed in such a horrific manner or her being the governor when the flag came down a testament or favorable to her. That was a bare minimum that she could do. Where was Nikki Haley before nine parishioners were murdered at the church when it comes to civil rights?" SC Democrats confident they will take Biden to victory. But can Biden do the same for local Democrats? It's all hands on deck for the South Carolina Democratic Party. Earlier in December 2023, the state party announced they will be deploying nearly 50 new staff members, and target all 46 counties for voter outreach. The party also said that they would be launching a statewide bus tour for "reaching voters where they are." The Feb. 3 primary, despite New Hampshire's decision to go ahead with its own on Jan. 23, provided a deep Southern state like South Carolina a rare opportunity to reinvigorate its base to garner some local wins on the backs of the presidential race. But whether Biden can be beneficial to local and statewide races remains to be seen. "The only way Biden becomes more of an asset to local Democrats is that his poll numbers come up and his poll numbers come up only through some grassroots efforts," Shaw said. That's an uphill climb for a state like South Carolina where the Democrats have not been the dominant party for quite a while. But that is not to say that a bevy of civil rights activists do not remain active in their communities, Shaw said. Local Democrats in Greenville County and all across the state have begun having conversations about key issues: How big is the disconnect between Black voters and the Democratic Party? Does that transfer from the local level right up to the national stage? Will voters show up to vote? Greenville County Democratic Party Chair Amanda McDougald Scott said several Upstate-based grassroots workers have expressed the desire to see Biden campaign in the ruby-red part of the state as well. On the national stage, Biden's second in command Vice President Kamala Harris has been ramping up visits to the state in the Midlands and the Lowcountry areas. The Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris was the keynote speaker at the Blue Palmetto Dinner Program. The event featured a host of Democratic Party speakers and was held at the Columbia Convention Center in downtown Columbia, S.C., on June 10, 2022. Vice President talks about her support for South Carolina. Harris visited the 7th Episcopal District AME Church Womens Missionary Society annual retreat in Myrtle Beach on Jan. 6., and is also scheduled to headline the NAACP's annual King Day at the Dome event on Jan. 15 on MLK day. The significance of the event is key as it began as a protest to the Statehouse's Confederate flag. On Nov. 18, Sen. Cory Booker appeared as a surrogate for Biden's campaign in Spartanburg and defended Biden's record. Its no coincidence that both Joe and Kamala are making plans to visit less than a month away from the Democratic primary," GOP State Party Chairman Drew McKissick said in a press statement. "Along with the majority of Americans, South Carolinians are sick and tired of what this administration has done to our country, and theyre going to use their voices and their votes to make a change starting with the Republican Presidential Primary on February 24. No amount of appearances from Biden is going to change that fact. Devyani Chhetri covers SC politics for the Greenville News. You can reach her at dchhetri@gannett.com or @ChhetriDevyani on X. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Biden visit to Charleston AME an emotional appeal to Black voters For nearly nine years, since June 17, 2015, the spire atop Mother Emanuel Church has watched over Charleston, South Carolina, and served as a reminder of the horrors of racial violence. Nine Black churchgoers were killed when a white supremacist walked into one of the South's oldest Black churches, intent on starting a race war. The shooting laid bare the racial tensions in South Carolina polity and society and eventually brought down the Confederate flag, which until then flew on top of the statehouse. On Monday, Jan. 8, President Joe Biden will visit the church and is expected to highlight the importance of preserving democratic institutions to combat hate and extremism. His visit is also being viewed as a way to reconnect with Black voters, whose support for him seems to be waning in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia, as per the New York Times and a Siena College poll. US President Joe Biden arrives with First Lady Jill Biden to speak during an event kickstarting his 2024 re-election campaign at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, on January 5, 2024. Charleston County Democratic Party Chair Sam Skardon said Biden's visit was a strong metaphor for the choice voters face in 2024. "Between Donald Trump, who is facing criminal charges for violently rejecting the results of a democratic election, and President Biden, who is working to expand voting rights and strengthen our democratic institutions," Skardon said in an email. University of South Carolina Professor Todd Shaw, an expert in African American politics, characterized Biden's visit to Charleston as a necessary move to reintroduce his campaign. "I think he's going to have to demonstrate why Black voters should mobilize given that there is some real genuine softness in his numbers," Shaw said, adding that several Black voters who supported Biden in 2020 presumably did so thinking that they were voting for a transitional president. Biden will be the oldest president at 81 years old if he were to be reelected this year. Though Biden's economic track record has been effective, frustrations of not being able to institute voting and civil rights safeguards like the John Lewis Voting Rights Act have also remained. "Political scientists often talk about the fact that in political psychology, voters don't vote just logically or cognitively they vote emotionally," Shaw explained. "Biden has to make a genuine appeal. Not just sort of based on his record, which is a very hard thing for a candidate to do. He's going to have to make an appeal about character, about personality, about integrity." Before his South Carolina visit, Biden gave a searing speech in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania on the eve of the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attacks, and cast former President Donald Trump as an autocratic leader on the path of endangering American values, and himself as the protector of democracy. It was the most emotional Biden has been on the campaign trail. President Joe Biden speaks in Blue Bell, Pa., Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) What does Biden's visit to Mother Emanuel Church mean? Rep. JA Moore's sister, Rev. Myra Thompson, was one of the nine Black churchgoers killed in the shooting, and he has since then advocated for gun safety laws as well as the embattled Hate Crimes legislation, named after South Carolina Senator and Mother Emanuel Church Pastor Clementa C. Pinckney, who was also killed in the shooting. SC Rep. JA Moore poses for a portrait at South Carolina State House in Columbia, S.C., Wednesday, June 15, 2022. "I do think us always remembering what hate looks like and being conscious that it's not something that we just read in history, that racial violence happens every day in this community," Moore said. Charleston church shooting: They lost loved ones in a mass shooting in Charleston. Now, they fight to stop the next one During his Monday visit, Biden will likely contrast his campaign's message on racial tensions with that of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's bewildering explanation of the Civil War and Trump's comments about immigrants from Africa, Asia and South America "poisoning the blood" in a Dec. 16 rally. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a commit to caucus rally, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in Clinton, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Biden staffers on his campaign team have said that anti-immigrant and racially charged comments were evidence of the GOP's "flirtation with white supremacy." But for that to be a convincing campaign platform, especially since polls have remained unfavorable to his candidacy, Biden needs to effectively shore up the coalition that supported him in 2020. In that regard, South Carolina has always been viewed as an asset to Biden's campaign. The Democratic National Convention made South Carolina the primary launching pad seeing as how the state and its Black voter base revived Biden's chances back in 2020. "One visit doesn't do that," Moore said, adding that he hoped the visit was the one among "a long line of action items that the Biden-Harris campaign plans to do to show that we need a president and vice president that will be able to not just empathize with us but also promote policies and use the executive branches in a way to uplift Black and brown minorities." Will this visit also put Haley under the spotlight? David Woodard, a professor at Clemson University, said Biden's visit could also shed a spotlight on Haley, who was the governor at the time of the mass shooting. "The compromise of moving the Confederate flag to a monument on the statehouse grounds in 2000 was never satisfactory to anyone, and Haley used this shooting to get it off government grounds in 2015 and off the public agenda," Woodard said. "It was probably her best day as governor with that move." Presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks at a Run GenZ event at The Des Moines Embassy Club on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Des Moines. Haley's handling of the massacre helped launch her to a national profile and paved the path for her eventual move to the United Nations as an ambassador. But for Moore, her response was unsatisfactory. "I think Nikki Haley exploited the tragedy for political gain," he said. "I don't look at her attending the funerals of people that were killed in such a horrific manner or her being the governor when the flag came down a testament or favorable to her. That was a bare minimum that she could do. Where was Nikki Haley before nine parishioners were murdered at the church when it comes to civil rights?" South Carolina Democrats are confident they will take Biden to victory. But can Biden do the same for local Democrats? It's all hands on deck for the South Carolina Democratic Party. Earlier in December 2023, the state party announced they will be deploying nearly 50 new staff members, and target all 46 counties for voter outreach. The party also said that they would be launching a statewide bus tour for "reaching voters where they are." The Feb. 3 primary, despite New Hampshire's decision to go ahead with its own on Jan. 23, provided a deep Southern state like South Carolina a rare opportunity to reinvigorate its base to garner some local wins on the backs of the presidential race. But whether Biden can be beneficial to local and statewide races remains to be seen. "The only way Biden becomes more of an asset to local Democrats is that his poll numbers come up and his poll numbers come up only through some grassroots efforts," Shaw said. That's an uphill climb for a state like South Carolina where the Democrats have not been the dominant party for quite a while. But that is not to say that a bevy of civil rights activists do not remain active in their communities, Shaw said. Local Democrats in Greenville County and all across the state have begun having conversations about key issues: How big is the disconnect between Black voters and the Democratic Party? Does that transfer from the local level right up to the national stage? Will voters show up to vote? Greenville County Democratic Party Chair Amanda McDougald Scott said several Upstate-based grassroots workers have expressed the desire to see Biden campaign in the ruby-red part of the state as well. On the national stage, Biden's second in command Vice President Kamala Harris has been ramping up visits to the state in the Midlands and the Lowcountry areas. The Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris was the keynote speaker at the Blue Palmetto Dinner Program. The event featured a host of Democratic Party speakers and was held at the Columbia Convention Center in downtown Columbia, S.C., on June 10, 2022. Vice President talks about her support for South Carolina. Harris visited the 7th Episcopal District AME Church Womens Missionary Society annual retreat in Myrtle Beach on Jan. 6., and is also scheduled to headline the NAACP's annual King Day at the Dome event on Jan. 15 on MLK day. The significance of the event is key as it began as a protest to the statehouse's Confederate flag. On Nov. 18, Sen. Cory Booker appeared as a surrogate for Biden's campaign in Spartanburg and defended Biden's record. Its no coincidence that both Joe and Kamala are making plans to visit less than a month away from the Democratic primary," GOP State Party Chairman Drew McKissick said in a press statement. "Along with the majority of Americans, South Carolinians are sick and tired of what this administration has done to our country, and theyre going to use their voices and their votes to make a change starting with the Republican Presidential Primary on February 24. No amount of appearances from Biden is going to change that fact. Devyani Chhetri covers SC politics for the Greenville News. You can reach her at dchhetri@gannett.com or @ChhetriDevyani on X. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Joe Biden visits Charleston church in emotional appeal to Black voters President Joe Biden was not aware for days that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. National security adviser Jake Sullivan ultimately informed Biden late Thursday afternoon, soon after Sullivan himself learned Austin had been hospitalized, the source said. Austin was admitted to the hospital on New Years Day due to complications from an elective surgery. The Pentagon announced the hospitalization Friday. Austin issued his first statement Saturday, five days after being admitted to the hospital, saying he could have done a better job of notifying the public. Austin offered no details about his condition, nor did he say exactly why he was hospitalized on January 1. As of Saturday evening, he remained in the hospital, according to a defense official. On Saturday evening, Austin thanked the amazing staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for the care he has received and said he is on the mend and looking forward to returning to the Pentagon. He acknowledged media concerns about transparency and said I commit to doing better in the statement, which totaled seven sentences. But he did not apologize for failing to notify the public or the press in a timely fashion. Senior administration and military officials who are hospitalized normally put out a statement within 24 hours. On New Years Day the day Austin was admitted to the hospital the defense secretary was among Bidens top national security officials who participated in a call with the president to discuss, among other things, the escalating situation in the Red Sea, a source familiar with the call told CNN. It was not clear whether the call which was said to have taken place in the morning was before or after Austin was hospitalized. But the secretary sounded fine during the meeting, the source said. The fact that the defense secretary spoke directly with the president about highly sensitive national security matters on the day he had to be admitted to the hospital and that the White House would not learn about it until days later underscored the highly unusual nature of the circumstances. Senior administration officials said they were shocked to learn of Austins hospitalization and the delay in informing the White House. The overriding reaction has been one of concern for the well-being of Austin, who is generally well-liked within the White House. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks periodically assumed the duties of the defense secretary while she was on vacation in Puerto Rico during the time Austin was hospitalized, two US officials said. Hicks had arrived in Puerto Rico prior to Austins hospitalization. GOP Sen. Roger Wicker, the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Saturday that the chain of events was unacceptable. Worryingly, we now have more questions than answers. Why was the notification process under 5 U.S.C. 3349 not followed and who made the determination not to follow it? he said, alleging Austin did not follow the US code for reporting vacancies in an office, which applies to the head of each executive agency. What role did the Secretary of Defenses staff play? When exactly was the President notified? What justification did the Department have for withholding information from the National Security Council? To what extent was the Secretary incapacitated by his surgery? he said in a statement. The very fact that we have none of this information is an indictment of an administration which consistently holds Congressional authority on national defense matters in contempt, Wicker added. Austin has since reassumed his full duties, and a White House official told CNN that Biden and Austin spoke Saturday evening. The White House official described the call as a warm conversation, and added the president has complete confidence in Secretary Austin and is looking forward to him being back in the Pentagon. The congressional oversight committees were not notified of Austins hospitalization until Friday night, according to three congressional aides familiar with the matter. Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said Friday evening that Austin was recovering well. NBC and Politico were first to report some of the details. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Arlette Saenz contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Unidentified drones have been repeatedly spotted over German military bases where Ukrainian soldiers are training, raising concerns about potential espionage, the German tabloid said on Jan. 7, citing sources in government. At least 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been trained in Germany as of August 2023, with the goal of 10,000 by the end of the year. Programs have involved general combat training, as well as instruction on advanced equipment like Patriot air defense systems and U.S.-provided Abrams tanks. Marcus Faber, a member of Germany's parliament, told Bild that Drones are regularly spotted over the Klietz military training area, where the Bundeswehr (German military) trains Ukrainians (on Leopard 1 tank)." Faber said that he suspects Russia is behind the drone incursions, but has no concrete evidence to support the claim because no drones have been intercepted. Other German lawmakers expressed concern about the government's inaction, as a German military commander publicized the issue as far back as October 2022. "We must not allow Russia to spy on military training areas with drones," said Andreas Schwarz. Faber said that the Bundeswehr has "a huge amount of catching up to do when it comes to drones," and needs more modern jamming equipment. Read also: 10 books to better understand wartime Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By Arafat Barbakh, Simon Lewis and Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA/TEL AVIV/CAIRO (Reuters) -Pressure grew on Israel on Monday from its staunch ally the United States and from Middle East powers to ease its assault on Gaza as its forces said they engaged in "tough battles" against Hamas militants in central and southern parts of the enclave. Following talks with Arab leaders, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed late Monday in Tel Aviv on the latest leg of a regional tour aimed at preventing the war - now entering its fourth month - from turning into a wider conflagration. Israeli officials have said they are entering a new phase of more targeted warfare after mass bombardments that have devastated the Gaza Strip and killed more than 23,000 Palestinians. There was no respite on Monday, however, with the Israeli military saying a "different mix of forces" was pursuing holdout Hamas fighters in the enclave's north as "intense operational activity" focused on central Gaza and the area of the southern city of Khan Younis. "Handling tough battles in both the center and south," said Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman. "The fighting will continue through 2024." Israeli forces bombarded the eastern part of Khan Younis and the central Gaza Strip amid ground clashes, residents said. They said a strike in Deir Al-Balah killed 18 people overnight and four on Monday, while health officials in the Hamas-run enclave said 247 people were killed overnight. Hamas's military wing the Al-Qassam Brigades said its fighters fired a missile barrage at the Israeli city of Tel Aviv in response to what it called the "Zionist massacres against civilians". And in a further sign the war is spreading beyond Gaza's borders, Israel killed a top commander of Hamas' ally Hezbollah in a strike in south Lebanon on Monday, sources familiar with the group's operations said. Blinken held talks in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Monday to try to chart a way forward in the bloodiest chapter ever of the decades-long Israel-Palestinian conflict. It is his fourth mission to the region since the deadly Oct. 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas militants triggered the massive Israeli assault. Speaking to reporters before flying to Israel following talks with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi oasis town of Al Ula, Blinken said he found support among Arab leaders for normalizing relations with Israel. "There's a clear interest in the region in pursuing that but it will require that the conflict end in Gaza and it will also clearly require that there be a practical pathway to a Palestinian state," said Blinken, who stopped in Jordan and Qatar on Sunday. The Saudi crown prince, the kingdom's de facto ruler, stressed the importance of stopping the hostilities in Gaza and forming a path for peace, Saudi state news agency SPA reported. SPA said the crown prince - who prior to the war's outbreak had been leading a rapprochement between his country and Israel - underscored the need to restore stability and to ensure the Palestinian people gain their legitimate rights. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden, confronted by protesters shouting "ceasefire now" while he visited a church in Charleston, South Carolina, said he had been working "quietly" with the Israeli government to encourage it to reduce its attacks and "significantly get out of Gaza". Though long a fervent supporter of Israel, Biden has previously described Israel's bombing campaign as "indiscriminate". Israel, which says it is in a fight for its very survival, accuses Hamas of operating among civilians. Hamas, which is sworn to Israel's destruction, denies this. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told the Wall Street Journal his country was both determined to end Hamas rule of the enclave and deter other Iran-backed adversaries. The Israeli offensive has so far killed 23,084 Palestinians, Gaza health officials say, while Israel says Hamas still holds more than 100 hostages of the 240 seized during its attack on Israeli towns on Oct. 7 in which the militants killed about 1,200 people. Blinken said he would tell Israeli officials in their meetings that they must do more to prevent civilian casualties in Gaza. He also said Israel must allow Palestinian civilians to return home after right-wing members of Israel's ruling coalition called for them to move elsewhere. 'GENERATION OF ORPHANS' Jordan's King Abdullah said on Monday that "indiscriminate aggression" and shelling could never bring peace or security. In remarks at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda, he said: "More children have died in Gaza than in all other conflicts around the world this past year. Of those who have survived, many have lost one or both parents, an entire generation of orphans." The Israeli military said it had bombed an arms cache and uncovered a tunnel shaft in central Gaza and killed at least 10 militant fighters in Khan Younis. It dropped leaflets on al Moghani in central Gaza warning residents to evacuate several districts it said were "dangerous combat zones". Hamas said a sniper had killed an Israeli soldier in central Gaza. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million people have fled their homes at least once and many are now moving again, often sheltering in makeshift tents or huddled under tarpaulins. For Aziza Abbas, 57, camped close to the southern border with Egypt, there was nowhere else to go after what she said was bombing around a school in which she had taken shelter after leaving her home in the north. "They may kill us here, it doesn't matter to them," she told Reuters, saying she did not want to leave Gaza for Egypt, which has closed the border fearing an exodus. (Reporting by Arafat Barbakh and Fadi Shana in Gaza, Simon Lewis in Abu Dhabi, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Clauda Tanios in Dubai and Dan Williams in Jerusalem; additional reporting by Hatem Maher, Ali Sawafta and James Mackenzie; writing by Jonathan Landay, Philippa Fletcher and Angus MacSwan, editing by William Maclean, Hugh Lawson and Cynthia Osterman) Flash A convoy of 56 tanks loaded with "stolen" oil departed illegally from Syria for U.S. bases in Iraq on Saturday, reported Syria's state news agency SANA. The convoy crossed through the illegal Al-Mahmudiyah crossing in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah toward U.S. bases in Iraqi territory, said SANA, citing the locals living near the Syrian-Iraqi border. It added that in the morning, another 34-vehicle convoy consisting of covered trucks, refrigerated trucks, and large carriers, reportedly left U.S. bases in northern Syria's Jazira via the unauthorized al-Walid crossing for U.S. bases in northern Iraq, not specifying what the convoy carried. The Syrian government has repeatedly accused the U.S. forces of "pillaging Syrian resources," a move that further exacerbates the economic hardships facing the war-torn country. Farhan Jamil Abdullah, head of the government-run Syrian Oil Company, said in July last year that as a result of the U.S. sanctions and military presence in Syria, oil production by his company had decreased from the previous 385,000 barrels per day to 15,000 barrels, while gas production had plunged from 30 million cubic meters per day to 10 million cubic meters. The government has lost control of most of the energy fields due to the U.S. presence in oil-rich areas in Syria's northern and eastern parts, Abdullah added. Syrian Oil Minister Firas Hassan Kaddour said last July that the U.S. presence in the country had led to economic losses of about 100 billion U.S. dollars in its energy sector. Editor's Note: For the latest news on the Israel-Hamas conflict, please see our live updates file here. As the grueling Israel-Hamas conflict hit the three-month mark Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed forward with an urgent Middle East mission amid fears the tinderbox region could explode into a wider war. The visit by Blinken, who was in Jordan and Qatar on Sunday before traveling to Israel this week, came as the Israeli military indicated it may be winding down major combat in northern Gaza. Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the military would continue to deepen the achievement there but focus on the central and southern parts of the territory. The Biden administration has repeatedly implored Israel to limit its offensive in Gaza, launched after Hamas' brutal attacks on Israeli border communities Oct. 7. The militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 240 people hostage. Israel's potent military response has left more than 22,000 dead and 58,000 injured, distressing Arab leaders. This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and even more suffering, Blinken said Sunday. So from day one, among other priorities, we have been intensely focused on working to prevent the conflict from spreading. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to stand firm Sunday that the war won't end until Hamas is crushed and the hostages are returned. I say this to both our enemies and our friend, Netanyahu told his cabinet. This is our responsibility and this is the obligation of all of us. A family's struggle: As Israel's war with Hamas rages on, the family of an American hostage waits anxiously Developments: Officials at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis said they received the bodies of 18 people, including 12 children, who were killed in an Israeli strike late Saturday. More than 50 people were injured in the strike on a home in the Khan Younis refugee camp. The Israeli government said 198 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza on Sunday, 121 of them through the Rafah crossing and the rest through Kerem Shalom. They brought in food, water, and medical and shelter equipment. Departure and arrival information at Beiruts international airport was replaced Sunday by a message accusing Hezbollah of putting Lebanon at risk of an all-out war with Israel, after opponents of the militant group hacked the display screens. Hezbollah has been trading fire with Israel for several weeks. A 50-year friendship: A close look at caring dialogue on Israeli-Palestinian conflict Blinken meets leaders in Jordan, urges Israel to use restraint Blinken's trip, his fourth Middle East mission in recent months, comes as developments in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea and Iraq have ratcheted up fears over a more widespread conflict. Hours before Blinkens meetings Saturday, Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah militia fired a volley of rockets at northern Israel it said was a response to the targeted killing, presumably by Israel, of a top Hamas leader last week. Recent attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels have also disrupted international trade and fed into mounting tensions. Blinken on Sunday met with Jordans King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. The king warned of the catastrophic repercussions of the war and urged the U.S. to demand an immediate cease-fire, a statement by the Royal Court said. The State Department said in a readout of the meeting that Blinken "stressed U.S. opposition to forcible displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza and the critical need to protect Palestinian civilians in the West Bank from extremist settler violence.'' During the trip, Blinken again urged Israel to scale back its military offensive and increase the amount of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza. He toured the World Food Programs Regional Coordination warehouse in the Jordanian capital, where trucks are preparing aid to be delivered to Gaza through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings. Blinken will also travel to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates later Sunday and Saudi Arabia on Monday. He will then visit Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday and Wednesday before ending the trip in Egypt. These are not necessarily easy conversations, Blinken said at an earlier stop in Greece. There are different perspectives, different needs, different requirements. But it is vital that we engage in this diplomacy now both for the sake of Gaza itself and more broadly the sake of the future for Israelis and Palestinians and for the region as a whole. Hezbollah hits Israel air traffic control base in latest affront Blinkens task is further complicated by Hezbollahs provocations in the form of persistent shelling of communities in northern Israel, which has forced some 80,000 residents to evacuate. On Sunday, the Israeli military said Hezbollah had struck an air traffic control base in Mount Meron the previous day. No Israeli personnel was injured and air defenses were not impaired, but Israeli military chief of staff Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi warned a continuation of such cross-border attacks may lead to another war. Netanyahu had a similar message for the militant group, a Hamas ally. I suggest that Hezbollah learn what Hamas has already learned in recent months: No terrorist is immune, Netanyahu told his Cabinet. We are determined to defend our citizens and to return the residents of the north safely to their homes. People search for victims in a building that was destroyed during Israeli airstrikes on January 07, 2024 in Rafah, Gaza. Palestinian girl killed as police respond to West Bank attack A young Palestinian girl was killed Sunday evening when Israeli police shot two suspected attackers who rammed their car into a West Bank checkpoint, officials said, as violent incidents proliferate in the occupied territory. The confrontation near the Palestinian village of Biddu, northwest of Jerusalem, took place hours after nine people were killed in other West Bank unrest. Police said a man and woman inside the car were shot, but a girl in another vehicle nearby was hit as well. The girl, who was reported to be 3 or 4 years old, was pronounced dead by Israels Magen David Adom rescue service, which also said a female officer was lightly wounded. There was no immediate information on the condition of the suspects. Earlier in the day, seven Palestinians were killed by an airstrike during an Israeli raid that led to clashes in the West Bank city of Jenin, where a border policewoman died and three other officers on patrol were injured when a roadside bomb exploded. In a separate incident, a Palestinian man driving a car with Israeli license plates was fatally shot at a busy intersection in the West Bank. The U.N. humanitarian office known as OCHA reports that 315 Palestinians had been killed as of Jan. 5 in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since the war started Oct. 7, the vast majority of them by Israeli forces. The 507 Palestinians killed in the enclave last year represent the largest number since OCHA began record-keeping in 2005. Two journalists killed; IDF says they shared car with terrorist Two Palestinian journalists were killed Sunday in an Israeli airstrike near the southern city of Rafah, including Hamza Dahdouh, the oldest son of Wael Dahdouh, Al-Jazeeras well-known chief correspondent in Gaza, the Qatar-based channel and local medical officials said. Al-Jazeera broadcast footage of Dahdouh sobbing next to his sons body and holding his hand. The Israel Defense Forces told the Times of Israel one of its aircraft identified and struck a terrorist who operated an aircraft in a way that put IDF forces at risk, and said the journalists, including videographer Mustafa Thuria, were in the same vehicle with the operative. Family of US hostage endures a draining wait for news Omer Neutras absence hangs on a dog tag around his fathers neck, declaring in Hebrew that his heart is held captive in Gaza. Its displayed in Omer's face emblazoned on his dads T-shirt and in the photos taped to empty chairs at holiday tables. His absence drives his mothers daily inner talks with her missing son, and her plans for a new apartment to be waiting for him to rebuild his life. It flickers in the candles his parents lit and watched burn down to the chocolate icing on his 22nd birthday. For three months, it has fueled Ronen and Orna Neutras all-consuming mission to free their son, who grew up on Long Island and deferred college to spend a year in Israel, leading him into the Israeli army and, on Oct. 7, to his apparent capture by Hamas. Read more here. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel-Hamas war live updates: Grueling conflict hits three-month mark The body of a child has been removed from under rubble by emergency workers in the village of Rivne, Pokrovsk district (Donetsk Oblast). Source: Ukraine's State Emergency Service (SES) Details: The SES reported that the body of a dead child had been recovered from under the rubble in the village of Rivne. Search and rescue operations for five people, including two children, are ongoing at the site of the destroyed house. Meanwhile, a civilian was rescued from under the rubble of two destroyed private houses in the town of Pokrovsk, and the body of a woman was recovered. Search and rescue operations are underway to find five people, including two children. Ukraine's State Emergency Service and Interior Ministry reported nine injured people, although no death toll was disclosed. Photo: Ukraine's State Emergency Service Background: On the evening of 6 January, Donetsk Oblast Military Administration reported that 11 people had been killed, including 5 children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also confirmed the deaths of "over 10 people". Support UP or become our patron! Former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile said Sunday that U.S. Supreme Court justices appointed by former President Trump dont owe him one thing and should not treat him differently when they hear arguments in his appeal of the Colorado Supreme Court decision removing the former president from the states primary ballot under the 14th Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court announced late Friday it would hear Trumps appeal of the Colorado decision, which affirmed a lower court ruling that Trump engaged in insurrection and ruled that under the 14th Amendments insurrection clause, Trump could not hold public office again. Trump appointed three of the nine current justices to the bench and resisted pressure to pull the nomination of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who faced sexual assault allegations during the confirmation process and whose appointment to the court was almost derailed. Brett Kavanaugh and the Republican justices do not owe Donald Trump one thing, Brazile said in a panel discussion on ABC Newss This Week with George Stephanopoulos. This notion that somehow or another hes going to be treated unfairly, no. He should be subjected to the same laws, the same consequences, the same accountability as every other American. No one is above the law, Brazile said. Braziles remarks come as pundits have speculated on how the justices will decide what is likely to be one of the most important cases this year. Concern about whether the justices would feel obliged to side with Trump increased when Trumps attorney appeared on Fox Newss Hannity one day before the high court agreed to hear the case. I think it should be a slam dunk in the Supreme Court. I have faith in them, Trump attorney Alina Habba told host Sean Hannity on Thursday. You know, people like Kavanaugh, who the president fought for, who the President went through how to get into place, hell step up. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) sharply criticized these remarks, comparing them to mobsters language. This is the way that New York mobsters think about judges, Raskin told MSNBC on Friday. Yeah, we own that one. We own that one. Get in that court. That guys in our pocket. And for fascists and authoritarian parties and movements, the law is really not what you know, but its who you know. And its always better for them to know the judge than to know the law. But to know the law here is to understand that Donald Trump is disqualified, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. With so many sessions in 2023, the Texas Legislature put plenty of new laws on the books, including about 30 that took effect Jan. 1. And while some are necessary and useful, they remind us how lawmakers could have used their time a bit more wisely. A handful of new laws address property appraisal issues and streamline tax codes. One makes it so that if a person who is 65 or older dies, a surviving spouse who qualifies can still get a homestead exemption the next year without applying. This is a helpful tweak for an already-complicated homeowners life in a time filled with grief and confusion. Weve written before about the pros and cons of homeowners associations, but one new law might help level the playing field for property owners. House Bill 614 makes it so that HOAs now need to adopt a policy for issuing fines, outlining amounts for specific violations and providing information about hearings. No more guessing for homeowners who see a bill and wonder what the fuss is about. An important if little noticed change could help keep young Texans from long interaction with the criminal justice system. The law enrolls more minors charged with Class C misdemeanors in diversion programs, such as community service or mental health treatment. That should help many learn and make behavioral changes to avoid escalating crime. There are boundaries, of course; kids arent eligible for the program if theyve already participated unsuccessfully. But curbing crime early on will help everyone in the long run. House Bill 4758 makes it a class B misdemeanor to market electronic cigarettes to children. Vaping has become an epidemic among adolescents and while more goes into the appeal for kids than packaging, every effort to prevent kids from starting the process is a good idea. Texans need major help acquiring and navigating health insurance. And while the Legislature again fell woefully short on providing more coverage through Medicaid, it took a modest step to help people improve the quality of their insurance. House Bill 4500 requires insurers to create online portals so healthcare providers can see what plans patients have and other pertinent information, which should improve the accuracy of billing. While this will be helpful for providers and patients, the Legislature did nothing to deal with the almost 2 million Texans who have lost access to Medicaid due to changes post-pandemic. Often, simple paperwork errors or difficulty verifying assets can make the difference in getting coverage or not. Keep in mind that for many low-income people who just miss out on Medicaid, coverage at county-funded facilities is their last resort. Urban taxpayers will pay more than if the state stepped up with more preventive care. Probably the most controversial and timely law taking effect is the state ban on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at public universities. This includes eliminating offices that offered training for faculty and staff or requirements for diversity considerations in hiring and helped support diverse enrollment. In a majority-minority state, its vital that college opportunities are open to all. Lawmakers should have followed up with more support for students struggling to afford higher education, such as programs that improve the experience for first-generation students. Mostly, the 2023-24 Legislature will be remembered for unresolved battles for property tax cuts and the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton, along with the political fallout that has yet to be fully measured. But dont forget the unfinished fight over school vouchers, which meant a whole raft of missed opportunities to improve public education. On the heels of the Uvalde school massacre, the state could have pursued modest gun reform, such as raising the age to buy semi-automatic rifles or implementing red-flag laws, as Florida did following the Parkland shooting. While Texas did approve a bill to require armed security personnel at schools, legislators didnt provide much to pay for it. Meaningful reforms to improve classroom education are still missing, too, a real shame in a state thats lagging behind others in reading, writing, and math metrics. The voucher fight derailed a chance to raise teacher pay. Legislation that would have helped refine reading instruction and improved school accountability should be a priority when lawmakers are back at it a year from now. Dont get me wrong: Great Britain is a beautiful island, full of interest and opportunities for pleasure, from hedonism to cosiness, to historical and natural pursuits of all kinds. But the world does not begin and end within its borders, and for me, escaping to more exotic climes (as well as enjoying the fruits within) is an essential part of life, possible thanks to the miracle of low-cost air travel. Britain is far from homogenous, but culturally its pretty familiar, as are the language and Costa Coffees and dying high streets. Expansion of horizons, and the refreshment of true difference, requires leaving. And so I was bemused to see Shropshire being billed as the new Maldives. Abta, the travel trade association, has included the region on its list of forecasted boom destinations for next year the first time a domestic location has been included. This rural gem is tipped to lure people with its delightful towns, including Ludlow, which is regarded as a foodie paradise and lots more besides. Im all for enjoying homegrown delights, but I cant help but feel the inclusion of Shroppers heralds a new parochialism. Indeed, it aligns rather well with the new politics of curtain-twitching eco-warriors keen to outcompete each other by refusing to leave Britain or only going places by train or boat. If the eco-movement does claim this as a win, then I think this is the perfect time to assert our freedom to go wherever we jolly well like, whenever we like (if we can) the further away the better. Theres nothing wrong with Shropshire or any other of our many rural gems. Quite the contrary. But it wont be my new Maldives, or India, thank you very much. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. BROCKTON Mayor Robert F. Sullivan laid out a vision for his third term in a speech Monday during the swearing-in of the city's elected officials. "The future is bright. It's very, very bright in the city of Brockton," Sullivan said. While Brockton has its share of empty storefronts and under-utilized buildings, a wave of construction projects, both major and minor, should shape the city in 2024. Here are six development projects that should be completed or make major progress in the new year. One family-owned restaurant has been sharing the joys of handcrafted cocktails, flights, and unique entrees with a kiss of flavors from all over the globe. Barrels & Boards has a different feel when it comes to dining. In case you missed it, here are five stories of the top stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area. Italian Kitchen cranks out more than 60,000 of them each December Italian Kitchen cranked out more than 60,000 meatballs in December. That's more than half a meatball for each of Brockton's 106,000 residents. It's a Brockton tradition in its fourth generation. And it's all hands on deck from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, says Jeremy Jamoulis, chief operating officer of the Main Street mainstay. "Crank out" is not a figure of speech. Italian Kitchen employees still grind and spice the certified Angus beef and pork by hand. Meatball madness: Meatball madness: Italian Kitchen cranks out more than 60,000 of them each December See the meatballs being made: Brockton staple Italian Kitchen makes tens of thousands of meatballs in December Sometimes the meatballs that the Italian Kitchen of Brockton makes are put in marinara sauce for customers. Here, kitchen manager George Pinzino inspects a batch on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The big vat in the foreground contains sausage in marinara sauce. Family devastated after Raynham mom dies in childbirth Shane Manozzi met his partner Laura Hill for the first time at an afterparty at a Phish concert in New York City in the summer of 2017. He was from Westwood, Massachusetts, and she was from Exton, Pennsylvania, but they couldn't stay away from each other. Up until a few weeks ago, they were inseparable. Since that point, this is the longest Ive been away from her, Shane said. On Dec. 5, Laura, 40, died suddenly while giving birth to their third child, Liana. Liana survived and is healthy. Their two other children are Luciano, 4 and Nico, 3. 'Robbed of future adventures': 'Robbed of future adventures': Family devastated after Raynham mom dies in childbirth Laura Hill and her partner Shane Manozzi have fun with their two sons, Luciano and Nico. Laura died Dec. 5, 2023, in Raynham while giving birth to their third child, Lianna. These are 10 of the biggest Brockton storylines to look forward to in 2024 It's that time again, when news outlets recycle the year's biggest headlines. As we did last year, we're taking a different tack by looking forward. Here are 10 storylines The Enterprise will be following in 2024. Let's look at those storylines: 10 biggest Brockton storylines: in 2024: These are 10 of the biggest Brockton storylines to look forward to in 2024 A multiple-alarm transformer fire broke out in a basement at Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital, forcing the evacuation of 187 patients, on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Rustic Raynham restaurant serves up warm ambiance, lemon drop martinis and grilled steak One family-owned restaurant has been sharing the joys of handcrafted cocktails, flights, and unique entrees with a kiss of flavors from all over the globe. Barrels & Boards has a different feel when it comes to dining. Inside the restaurant and bar is a warm ambiance with dark wood panels and barrels of whiskey used as decorations. The eatery offers meals with lots of character through the chefs' unique seasonings and spices. Co-owners Dean Saxonis and his wife Irene Saxonis hired chefs with rich and diverse backgrounds that can add an exciting flare to the food. Rustic Raynham restaurant: Rustic Raynham restaurant serves up warm ambiance, lemon drop martinis and grilled steak Take a peek inside Barrels and Boards: Take a peek inside family-owned Barrels & Boards restaurant in Raynham Barrels & Boards Executive Chef Manuel Hernandez on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, holds two of the more popular dishes at the Raynham restaurant, candied bacon and seared scallops. Bridgewater rallies around 2-year-old with rare form of anemia Two-year-old Kit Murdoch is just like any other Bridgewater toddler she loves books, music, dance class and being silly with her 5-year-old sister Lucy and her mom and dad, Molly and Sam Murdoch. But unlike most toddlers, Kit needs blood transfusions every month to stay alive. At just 3 months old, Kit was diagnosed with Diamond-Blackfan anemia, a rare blood disorder that occurs when the bone marrow fails to make red blood cells, according to Kits care team at Boston Childrens Hospital. Every Thanksgiving, members of the Bridgewater community line-up at a blood drive hosted by Kits family to donate blood in honor of kids just like Kit. 'What' Kit needs to live':: 'What Kit needs to live': Bridgewater rallies around 2-year-old with rare form of anemia From left: Two-year-old Kit Murdoch of Bridgewater has a rare form of anemia. From left, Kit's dad Sam, Kit's sister Lucy, 5, and Kit's mom Molly. Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton-area top 5 stories: Brockton consruction; Italian restaurant A potentially deadly mistake caused a Los Angeles area company to recall Publix Deli Carolina-Style Mustard BBQ Sauce cups sold in store delis. Ventura Foods out of Brea, California, said the recalled lot of 2-ounce sauce cups might have Traditional Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce instead of Carolina-Style Mustard BBQ. Traditional Sweet & Spicy has anchovies. Carolina-Style Mustard BBQ doesnt have any kind of fish. While thats an infuriating problem for people with a taste Carolina-Style Mustard BBQ Sauce and/or a distaste for anchovies, its a real problem for people with a fish allergy. The wrong sauce in the cup means the wrong listing of ingredients both on the label and online. People with a fish allergy arent warned about the fish inside. People who have a fish allergy or severe sensitivity to fish (anchovy) run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products, the recall notice states. This concerns just one lot, lot No. APR 08 24B, which has a use by date of April 8, 2024. Publix Deli Carolina-Style Mustard BBQ Sauce If theres any chance someone with a fish allergy will dip into the sauce or you really wanted the Carolina-Style sauce, return it to the store for a full refund. Ask questions about this recall by calling Ventura at 888-500-0086. This embedded content is not available in your region. You are here: World Flash Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Hania, Crete on Saturday, and expressed growing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. During the meeting, Mitsotakis also expressed concern about the risks of escalating tensions in the Middle East and the repercussions for regional stability and security, reported Greek national news agency AMNA. "These are difficult and challenging times for the region," Mitsotakis said, reiterating the need for an unhindered flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza He also underlined that the solution can only be political, based on the two-state solution in accordance with UN resolutions. After the meeting, Blinken, who was on his Mideast diplomatic mission, told reporters that he wants to make sure the conflict in the Middle East "doesn't spread." Mitsotakis and Blinken also exchanged views on bilateral ties and other international issues. Scientists have completed the first comprehensive estimate of mountain lions in California, a vital statistic needed to shape puma-friendly land-use decisions and ensure that the predators can find room to roam, mate and find prey. The total number of mountain lions is estimated to be between 3,200 and 4,500, which is thousands fewer than previously thought. The count was conducted by state and university scientists who used GPS collar data and genetic information from scat samples to model population densities across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Mojave Desert and Southern Californias patchwork of weedy, fire-stripped wilderness. The greatest density is in the coastal forests of Humboldt and Mendocino counties of Northwest California, and lowest is the high desert east of the Sierra Nevada range in Inyo County, said Justin Dellinger, a large-carnivore biologist and leader of the California Mountain Lion Project effort. The Central Valley and portions of the Mojave Desert have no mountain lions. Two orphaned mountain kittens huddle in a transport crate on their way to the Oakland Zoo in November 2023. (Oakland Zoo) A report on the projects findings will be reviewed by experts prior to publication in a scientific journal later this year. Theres never been a study of this scale and over such a large and diverse geographical area with such a variety of habitats, said Winston Vickers, a co-author of the study and a veterinarian at the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center. Read more: Why did California officials drop two mountain lions in the desert and leave them to die? The California Department of Fish and Wildlife had for decades estimated that the states mountain lion population was roughly 6,000 even despite relentless vehicle strikes, wildfires and encroachment by land-hungry humans throughout their range. That old figure was just a back-of-the-envelope calculation without much data to support it, Dellinger said. The new, more accurate information we collected will be used to conserve and manage mountain lions more appropriately. In a collaborative effort involving the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, the nonprofit Institute for Wildlife Studies and the nonprofit Audubon Canyon Ranch, Dellinger and others traipsed through mountain forests, canyons and desert badlands in search of tracks. They also set trail cameras and traps, tranquilized lions, took biological samples and fitted animals with tracking collars. Dellinger said the group spent roughly $2.45 million in state funds over seven years to produce three population estimates: One suggests there are 4,511 cougars living in California, and the other two suggest the number is roughly 3,200. Read more: In a remote corner of California, roaming dog packs leave a trail of blood and terror Deciding which figure is most precise will be challenging for biologists tasked with reviewing the census report. They already agree on one thing: Humans are the greatest threat to mountain lions. In California, close to 40 million people live within, or adjacent to, cougar habitat. Mountain lions as a species are not listed as endangered. But in Southern California, vehicle strikes, rat poison, inbreeding, wildfires, poaching, urban encroachment and freeway systems are all contributing to what scientists call an extinction vortex. Theres an almost 1 in 4 chance that the charismatic cats could be extinct in the Santa Monica and Santa Ana Mountains within 50 years. The state Fish and Game Commission has granted cougars in six regions from Santa Cruz to the U.S.-Mexico border extra protection under "candidate status" to be listed as threatened. The action came in response to a petition co-sponsored by the Center for Biological Diversity and the nonprofit Mountain Lion Foundation. It argues that six isolated and genetically distinct cougar clans within those areas comprise a sub-population that is threatened with extinction. The commission is expected to make a final decision later this year. We look forward to getting mountain lions the protection that is clearly warranted and desperately needed, said Brendan Cummings, the Center for Biological Diversitys conservation director. Read more: Venomous snakebites kill thousands every year. A California doctor may have a solution The effect of the designation would be far-reaching. If the state Fish and Game Commission agrees, the state Department of Transportation would not be allowed to build or expand highways in core mountain lion habitat without implementing adequate measures to ensure linkages and safe passage over them. In addition, large-scale residential and commercial development could be prohibited or limited in mountain lion habitats within a region covering roughly a third of the state. The new mountain lion population assessment comes at a time of ongoing efforts by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify and prioritize wildlife movement barriers across the state. It also comes at a time of growing support for wildlife crossings. A view of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing construction site on the 101 Freeway. The structure on the right holds a time-lapse camera to document the project. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times) One such bridge is the $87-million Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, currently being constructed over a 10-lane stretch of the 101 Freeway near Liberty Canyon in Agoura Hills. In the meantime, officials are preparing new census campaigns to help guide development choices in areas where conflicts with other big predators over territory are testing public fortitude. The state is trying to get a black bear census off the ground, Dellinger said. Having as much data as possible is always best for managing species like that, especially in places where wilderness is overcrowded with people. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. (FOX40.COM) The California Highway Patrol (CHP) welcomed more than 90 new members of law enforcement during a graduation ceremony at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento. During the past six months in the Academy, these men and women forged a foundation of dedication, discipline, and duty, said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. Congratulations to the newest members of our CHP family. They are not just officers they are leaders who have chosen to serve and protect the communities that depend on them. New gun laws wont be enforced by Sutter County Sheriffs Office: We have no interest in criminalizing constitutionally protected behavior CHP Academy cadet training reportedly consists of vehicle patrol, crash investigation, first aid, and the apprehension of suspected violators such as those who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. CHP said cadet also includes training in nobility in policing, leadership, professionalism and ethics, cultural diversity, mental illness response, crisis intervention techniques, and more. The graduating class of 95 officers included four women who will report for duty on Jan. 15, 2024, at area offices throughout the state, according to CHP. A new class of more than 100 cadets will begin their 26 weeks of training at the CHP Academy that same day, which will bring the total number of cadets in training to more than 300. CHP said it hopes to hire 1,000 new officers. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. In 2008, Nikki Haley was a woman on the rise. She was a two-term South Carolina state representative and a Republican majority whip, and she was considering running to chair an influential committee. Then, after her fellow lawmakers voted to grant themselves raises by voice vote, she became the face of an unpopular but ultimately successful push to mandate roll call votes for key issues. For her legislative career, it was a death blow. She lost her leadership position, was demoted to a new committee and was shunned by fellow lawmakers. Long story short, when I refused to put the bill away, and when I went around the state telling [voters] what was going on with voice votes, they stripped me of everything, Haley said at a recent town hall in Rye, New Hampshire. So I ran for governor. After she won, one of the first bills she signed cemented on-the-record voting. Pat Benatars Hit Me With Your Best Shot played over the Statehouse loudspeakers. The story is a staple of her stump speech. As her rivals seek to paint her as a moderate, a flip-flopper or an establishment figure beholden to donors, Haley has drawn from her time in South Carolina to portray herself as someone with a tea party background who speaks hard truths and takes on tough fights and who often wins. But as Haleys political star has risen, her record in South Carolina has received more attention. Her response to a question about the origins of the Civil War brought up her history of trying to navigate race relations and satisfy both sides of the Confederate flag debate. Detractors from former allies to primary opponents have argued that she strayed from her tea party roots over the course of her governorship and have latched onto her past comments on the state gas tax, transgender bathroom bills, and recruiting businesses and jobs with taxpayer-funded incentives. Democrats have criticized her refusal to expand Medicaid access in the state. And critics are quick to note that many South Carolina officials and donors including some former Haley allies have backed former President Donald Trump ahead of the states February 24 presidential primary. Allies say its familiar territory. All my colleagues get off on endorsements and things like that, said Nathan Ballentine, a South Carolina state representative and longtime Haley ally. Well, Nikki aint never going to win that endorsement game and she doesnt want to. Haleys campaign says the attacks, from Democrats and Republicans, are a sign that she is the candidate they fear most. Nikki has always been a tough, anti-establishment conservative. As governor, she signed pro-life legislation, cracked down on illegal immigration, passed voter ID, and took on both parties over spending and transparency issues, spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said in a statement. Thats the Nikki you see running for president. Haley rose to national prominence during her 2010 gubernatorial race as a darling of the tea party, a protege of a governor who tried to reject stimulus funds from then-President Barack Obama and an honorary mama grizzly endorsed by GOP former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Friends and critics alike described her as a skilled politician with an ability to sense where the grassroots in the state was heading and tap into it. On November 3, 2010, South Carolina Gov.-elect Nikki Haley greets supporters in Columbia after delivering her acceptance speech. - David Goldman/AP As governor, she wielded social media criticism and the threat of primary challengers in an almost Trumpian style to push the GOP Legislature, which had significantly more power than her under the state constitution. Nikki is a keen student of history, said one veteran South Carolina Republican strategist. This may make her more like Trump than she cares to admit, but [she] really understands the theatrics of politics. Shes built for the modern news cycle. A common refrain in Haleys stump speech is that shes been underestimated in every race shes ever run. Her first political campaign for a state House seat outside of Columbia pitted her against Larry Koon, a 30-year incumbent whose family roots in the district went back to the 1700s. To them, I was Nikki who? she wrote of the 2004 campaign in her 2012 memoir, Cant Is Not an Option. It became a running joke in later campaigns. I always started out as Nikki Who. Haley beat Koon in the primary by 9 points, and received what shes described as a less than warm welcome from members of the good old boys network within the Legislature. She also became one of the few allies of Republican Gov. Mark Sanford, who frequently vetoed spending. A contentious relationship with the Legislature But roll call voting became one of the defining issues of her time in the Legislature. Ashley Landess, the former president of the South Carolina Policy Council, recalled having lunch with Haley after the Legislatures voice vote to raise its pay. Her organization had been researching why the states budgets were out of control, and realized part of the issue was that no one could prove how lawmakers voted on the budget. She was lamenting it, she was truly horrified by it, and told me, I dont understand how they can get away with it. And I said, Because they dont record their votes. That started the conversation, Landess said, adding: It was a very good issue for her to be involved with, and she recognized that. Roll call voting was one of the key issues Haley ran on during her 2010 gubernatorial bid. Haley won the Republican nomination for governor against the lieutenant governor, a congressman and then-Attorney General Henry McMaster after a particularly nasty primary that prompted her to describe South Carolina politics as a blood sport in her memoir. As executive, Haley continued to have a contentious relationship with the Legislature. There was some tension with members of the legislature, said Scott Huffmon, a professor of political science at Winthrop University. But she was and is incredibly good about finding the path that conservatives in South Carolina were moving towards, and always having her sails set to sail along that path. During her first year in office, she issued report cards for legislators. She frequently used Facebook to voice her displeasure with lawmakers who disagreed with her, backed their primary challengers and called them out at campaign events in their districts. Now, did Nikki have problems with the Legislature as governor? Sure, state Sen. Katrina Shealy told CNN. She did, because Nikki was tough on the Legislature. Haley backed Shealy in her 2012 bid against then-state Sen. Jake Knotts, who used a racial slur against Haley during her gubernatorial race. But the two clashed in 2015 over the head of the state Department of Social Services. Haley stood by her pick, while Shealy, who was a member of the committee investigating the deaths of children under the departments care, was the first Republican to call for the directors resignation. The two exchanged words over Facebook. The director eventually stepped down. She didnt bring you in and talk about it, Shealy said of Haleys leadership style. She would just let everybody else know she was mad at you. Haley at a town hall event at the Saddle Up Saloon in Kingston, New Hampshire, on January 3, 2024. - Sophie Park/Bloomberg/Getty Images Those differences, however, werent personal, Shealy said. She backed US Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina for president until he dropped out, and is now supporting Haley. I think sometimes you have to fight back, and I think Nikki can do that, she said. Haley has suggested she would take a similar approach to the US Congress, particularly over its inability to pass budgets on time. Were gonna have to do some serious tough love with Congress, and when I say, We dont pay them if they dont do their job, everybody in America would support me in saying that, Haley said last month at a town hall in Iowa. Weve got to put the pressure on them to get them to do the right thing. From outsider to insider As polling has shown Haley to be a contender in the GOP primary and, if she were to become the nominee, a credible threat to President Joe Biden, members of both parties have ramped up their attacks on her. She laid out the MAGA agenda before it had a name, said Christale Spain, the chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party. Spain pointed to Haleys refusal to expand Medicaid; legislation she signed to restrict abortion after 20 weeks; and her support for former House Speaker Paul Ryans proposal to privatize Medicare as examples of the former governors conservative agenda. On the right, some have accused her of becoming too moderate. Trump allies have sought to push Haleys record on the gas tax. MAGA Inc, a super PAC supporting Trump, has spent $2 million on a New Hampshire ad accusing her of flip-flopping on the states gas tax. Though Haley initially said she would not support the Legislatures effort to raise the gas tax, she later said she would if it was paired with a cut to the state income tax. That deal didnt pass, and the Legislature raised the gas tax under Haleys successor. Talbert Black, a longtime libertarian activist in South Carolina who isnt backing any candidate, also cited Haleys gas tax position as one of the issues that soured him on her. Black, a former constituent from Haleys Statehouse days, was one of several activists who felt that she compromised too much once she got into office. When Haley endorsed GOP Sen. Mitt Romney for president in 2011, it confirmed with a lot of folks that she had left the very conservative, libertarian roots that she ran on, Black said. To be honest, Haley was a very typical Republican governor, he said. Its just that when she ran, we thought she was going to be atypical, that she was going to be better than that. Haley speaks at a town hall at the Atkinson Country Club and Resort in Atkinson, New Hampshire, on December 14, 2023. - Mark Ostow/Redux Over time, Haley became known less for her anti-establishment roots and more for her work wooing large companies to the state. Vincent Sheheen, a Democratic former state senator who ran against Haley in the 2010 and 2014 gubernatorial elections, said Haley was able to win by a larger margin in her reelection thanks in part to closer ties to the business community. When she ran in 2010, she very much was channeling the Mark Sanford-tea-party-outsider thing, Sheheen said. But by 2014, she was the establishment. That shift was clear in their endorsements. In 2010, the state Chamber of Commerce endorsed Sheheen over Haley, prompting her campaign to call the group a big fan of bailouts and corporate welfare. Four years later, it backed Haley, praising her for making job creation and a better business climate her No. 1 priority, according to South Carolinas The State. Haleys focus on recruiting business often meant staying out of contentious debates over social issues. After North Carolina faced severe backlash over its law banning transgender people from using the bathroom of the gender they identify with a reaction that led to companies pulling business from the state Haley said such a bill wasnt necessary in South Carolina. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies have used that example to paint Haley as out of step with Republicans on transgender rights. (While DeSantis signed legislation restricting transgender rights in recent years, in 2018 he also said bathroom legislation wasnt necessary.) Im so disappointed that Nikki cant even just stand up and say, You know what, I will say right now that there wasnt a rampant issue in South Carolina, and I messed up, I should have thought a little bit more about being proactive instead of reactive, said South Carolina state Rep. Ashley Trantham, who is backing DeSantis. But she didnt do that. Haley has said the government should stay out of transgender health care but has opposed allowing transgender athletes to participate in girls sports. If Nikki were not a true conservative, I would never give my name to her, said Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, the lone member of the states congressional delegation to back Haley. I know what she did as governor. I know what she did as ambassador to the United Nations and I just know, she is the only candidate that can get elected. Haley has sought to bolster her conservative credentials during the GOP primary. Her campaign recently released an ad featuring clips of Palins 2010 endorsement of her gubernatorial bid and clips highlighting her record on immigration and the economy. And some of the good old boys, maybe they dont like her too much, Palin says in the video. She stands up for conservative principles and she doesnt back down from a challenge. Taking down the Confederate flag One of the defining moments of Haleys governorship came in 2015, when a racist shooting prompted her to call for the Confederate battle flag to be removed from the Statehouse grounds. On the campaign trail, shes cited the moment as an example of her ability to bring people together despite their differences in this case, what shes described as one side that views the flag as a symbol of heritage and tradition and another that views as one of slavery and hate. Haley signs a bill to remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse on July 9, 2015, in Columbia, South Carolina. - John Moore/Getty Images In the days after a White supremacist killed nine Black worshippers at Charlestons Emanuel AME church in 2015, Haley called for the flag to be removed. - Tracy Glantz/The State/TNS/Getty Images My job wasnt to judge either side, Haley said at a CNN town hall Thursday. My job was to get them to see the best of themselves and go forward. Haleys bungled answer on the origins of the Civil War last month, in which she initially failed to mention slavery before clarifying her answer, has drawn attention to her past comments on the Confederacy and how she talks about race. Her efforts to clean up her Civil War answer hit another snag Thursday after she declared that she had Black friends growing up while elaborating on how slavery was often discussed. I know the hardships, the pain, that come with racism, she told MSNBC on Friday when asked about the Black friends comment. Critics can say whatever they want, I am very comfortable in my skin, Im very comfortable with what I believe in, and my job is not to convince them. Over the years, Haley has talked about racist incidents she experienced growing up in rural South Carolina as an Indian American who was neither White nor Black. But on the campaign trail, she has focused on emphasizing that she believes America is not racist but blessed. She frequently cites the removal of the flag as an example of unity. While campaigning for governor in 2010, she told a group dedicated to fighting attacks against Southern culture that she believed the flag was about tradition and heritage, and that she did not believe it was racist, CNNs KFile reported. In the same 2010 interview, with a now-defunct group called the Palmetto Patriots, Haley said she would support a Confederate History Month in the state, which she compared to Black History Month. During her 2014 reelection bid, in which her Democratic opponent Sheheen ran on removing the Confederate battle flag from the Statehouse grounds, Haley called the flag a very sensitive issue during a debate and described his campaign push to remove it a political stunt. But in the days after a White supremacist killed nine Black worshippers at Charlestons Emanuel AME church in 2015, Haley called for the flag to be removed. Though Haley didnt lead the charge to remove the flag, which required a two-thirds vote in the state House and Senate, her support helped bring in more GOP votes. I thought it was important that we forced the issue and forced her and [South Carolina GOP Sen.] Lindsey Graham and others to finally say that it need to come down, Sheheen said. But it was also important that they said it. Haley, surrounded by three former governors, some family members of the slain nine, and many legislators, signing a bill to remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds on July 9, 2015. - Tim Dominick/The State/AP For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Carta, an ambitious 14-year-old Silicon Valley outfit, has gone through numerous iterations over time, originally inviting investors, startups and employees to use its software to manage their cap tables and later aspiring to evolve into a private stock market for companies," as founder Henry Ward once told TechCrunch. As he explained back in 2019: Now that you have this network of companies and investors all on one platform and the ability to transfer securities, you can build liquidity on top of it. The strategy has boosted Carta's valuation in recent years. But a prominent customer is now accusing Carta of misusing sensitive information that startups entrust to the company in pursuit of its own goals. The claim is raising wider questions about how Carta operates, even as Carta argues the incident was isolated. The row dates back to Friday, when Finnish CEO Karri Saarinen posted on LinkedIn that he had received surprising news about Linear, the project management software company he co-founded four years ago and that raised $35 million in funding this fall. Linear is a Carta customer, and according to Saarinen, earlier on Friday, without his consent or knowledge, a representative from Carta reached out to an angel investor in Linear, telling the individual that Carta had a firm buy order from an interested party at a specific price, though this buyer might be willing to flex higher, said the Carta employee in an email. As it turns out, Linear is perfectly happy with its current shareholders, and that angel investor is related to Saarinen so immediately alerted him to the email outreach. Feeling betrayed by Carta, Saarinen took to LinkedIn and blasted the company. This might be the end of Carta as the trusted platform for startups," he wrote. "As a founder it feels kind [of] shitty that Carta, who I trust to manage our cap table, is now doing cold outreach to our angel investors about selling Linear shares to their non disclosed buyers." Continued Saarinen, "They never contacted us (their customer) about starting an order book for Linear shares. The investor they reached out to is a family member whose investment we never published anywhere. We and they never opted in to any kind of secondary sales. Yet Carta Liquidity found their email and knew that they owned Linear shares. After the post took on a life of its own -- thousands have liked it and it has drawn nearly 800 comments -- Ward waded into the conversation to apologize. Ward also said the email that was sent to Linear's investor was not condoned by Carta. Wrote Ward: Hi Karri and everyone, Im appalled that this happened. We are still investigating but it appears that Friday morning an employee violated our internal procedures and went out of bounds reaching out to customers they shouldnt have. This impacted Karris company and two other companies. We have contacted the other two companies and are continuing to investigate. If you have any other information please reach out to me directly at henry.ward@carta.com to let me know while we continue our investigation. Ward did not respond to TechCrunch's request for more information yesterday. But Saarinen was not assuaged by Ward's public apology. He continued to post on LinkedIn that the incident seemed anything but isolated. So far Ive heard from 4 of our investors who were approached with the same email. All of them were the early pre-seed investors. Also heard from 2 companies who had this happen to them. One of them a prominent AI company. Saarinen also posted separately on X that, "Ive learned from multiple companies that this has been going on for months or even years where investors or employees of private companies are solicited by Carta employees to put their shares on sale. These people havent opted in to this and companies havent approved these sales." Back on LinkedIn last night, Saarinen wrote that he'd finally talked with Ward, and that "nothing" that Ward told Saarinen "really changed" his position. In response to an interview request, Saarinen told TechCrunch that he is "retiring from this fight, this already has consumed too much of my time . . . My trust in Carta hasnt recovered after talking to the CEO. Added Saarinen, I hope Carta takes action on these issues but likely we will be moving on to another service as we no longer have confidence in them. In the meantime, one outstanding question is how much wiggle room Carta gives itself in its contracts with its customers. While some on social media speculate that Carta may have breached the law by using information from Linear in a way that Linear never intended, Carta's customers might not have the protections they imagine. In one "master subscription agreement" sent to TechCrunch by a startup, the language is noticeably vague around the protection of customer data. These same customers are now following the conversation and comparing notes. As one founder told TechCrunch this morning, I am a customer of Carta. I just learned about all of the weird stuff going on with them going behind companies' backs to offer secondaries. I haven't been affected by it, but I would be furious if I learned they were peddling shares in my company without my knowledge. I am definitely considering switching platforms. Asked about the situation with Linear, venture capitalist Matt Murphy of Menlo Ventures, who is among Carta's board members, looked to diffuse the situation by echoing what Ward told Saarinen on Linkedin. Carta does not use customer cap table data," Murphy wrote to TechCrunch. "The cap table business and the CartaX (private stock liquidity) business are separate business units with separate teams and leadership. There was a breach of this protocol from an employee on the CartaX team that has been dealt with and which we learned from. Carta is trying to "bring legitimacy to a messy market," Murphy added, noting that these days, "Almost every board meeting I go to, some employee is selling stock and we have to allow, exercise our [right of first refusal] and sometimes block if we can." Indeed, Murphy implied that Carta's process around such sales is typically both straightforward -- and ethical. "With Carta, they have a tender product where they coordinate directly with the company to help a process they would run. Then in the case of CartaX marketplace, we verify a buyer and confirm their demand, and then we use public sources of data like Crunchbase and PitchBook to find potential supply to match the buyer." Given Saarinen's very different experience, he doesn't seem interested in what's typical for Carta, however. "Carta mentions that in their pdf faq that 'Most secondary transactions will be subject to approval by companies,'" he observed on LinkedIn. "But they still take buy orders and spam our investors knowing that these wont get approved." For Carta, the unflattering attention is the latest in a stream of bad publicity. It has been so constant that in October, Ward even emailed customers, telling them that if they are concerned about negative press tied to the outfit, they should read a Medium post of his. The move appeared only to call more attention to the many reported problems plaguing the company. Carta kicked off 2023 by suing its former CTO, for example, and it has been embroiled in numerous other lawsuits over the years. Among these: in 2020, the companys former VP of marketing sued Carta, accusing the outfit of gender discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and of violating the California Equal Pay Act, which TechCrunch featured here. Soon after, four employees spoke on the record with The New York Times, telling the outlet that when they voiced concerns about the way the company is run, they were sidelined, demoted or given pay cuts. CENTRAL TEXAS (KXAN) For nearly three years, the Central Texas nonprofit Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue has been a source of refuge and sanctuary for at-risk dogs flagged for behavioral issues. Now, the organization is preparing for its next chapter, gearing up for an out-of-state move in the spring. Katie Johnson launched the organization alongside her dad, Kevin Johnson. Katies work in animal welfare dates back years, with previous experiences as an animal fosterer and volunteer. TRENDING NOW: 2 killed, 1 injured in shooting at north Austin game room While volunteering at a Williamson County animal shelter, Katie said she fell in love with a dog named Kringle, who was struggling with the shelter environment. Since its launch, the rescue has a 100% save rate, meaning no animals have been euthanized under the organizations watch. That was imperative to the nonprofits mission, specifically honing in on dogs who otherwise might not be able to live in more traditional shelters due to space demands and behavioral issues. I really worried about what was going to happen to him, Katie told KXAN. And so I just decided to start the rescue, so that I could pull him and offer him sanctuary and the space and patience and love that he needed to really thrive. For nearly three years, the Central Texas nonprofit Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue has been a source of refuge and sanctuary for at-risk dogs flagged for behavioral issues. (Courtesy: Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue) For nearly three years, the Central Texas nonprofit Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue has been a source of refuge and sanctuary for at-risk dogs flagged for behavioral issues. (Courtesy: Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue) For nearly three years, the Central Texas nonprofit Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue has been a source of refuge and sanctuary for at-risk dogs flagged for behavioral issues. (Courtesy: Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue) For nearly three years, the Central Texas nonprofit Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue has been a source of refuge and sanctuary for at-risk dogs flagged for behavioral issues. (Courtesy: Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue) For nearly three years, the Central Texas nonprofit Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue has been a source of refuge and sanctuary for at-risk dogs flagged for behavioral issues. (Courtesy: Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue) For nearly three years, the Central Texas nonprofit Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue has been a source of refuge and sanctuary for at-risk dogs flagged for behavioral issues. (Courtesy: Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue) For nearly three years, the Central Texas nonprofit Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue has been a source of refuge and sanctuary for at-risk dogs flagged for behavioral issues. (Courtesy: Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue) For nearly three years, the Central Texas nonprofit Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue has been a source of refuge and sanctuary for at-risk dogs flagged for behavioral issues. (Courtesy: Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue) For nearly three years, the Central Texas nonprofit Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue has been a source of refuge and sanctuary for at-risk dogs flagged for behavioral issues. (Courtesy: Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue) Originally from Colorado, the Johnsons purchased a piece of land in Oregon to start fresh at a place they owned themselves and didnt need to lease. With this impending move and land ownership, Katie said the organization will face fewer restriction on the number and kinds of animals they have on the property. Some changes to come include rescuing horses as cows, as well as some more pigs to join the two already living at the ranch. But that doesnt mean that theyll stop caring for Texas animals, Katie said. Even though were moving to Oregon, were still going to be rescuing dogs from Texas, she said. So well still be involved in the Texas community. We have a lot of transporters that will be bringing dogs to us up to Oregon, so even though well be in a different state, were committed to Texas animals. Laylas Hearts lease ends May 31. In the lead up to the move, the organization is fundraising to help cover some of the costs of the move and new location, with three specialty raffles underway, volunteer fundraising coordinator Peyton Watts told KXAN. Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue relocation raffle (Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue) Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue relocation raffle (Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue) Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue relocation raffle (Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue) Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue relocation raffle (Laylas Heart Ranch and Rescue) I reached out to local businesses that I love and chains and just companies that either a dog lover or just a person or an Austinite loves, and the ones that I reached out to were very supportive, Watts said. Tentatively, Watts said the organization hopes to raise $5,000 through the raffle. But beyond that, Watts added all the rescue hopes for is more people know of their services and their dedication to the animals they save. Regardless of how much money we raise, an outcome Im really hoping for is simply outreach, Watts said in a follow-up email to KXAN. I want more people do know that they exist. The raffle fundraiser runs through Feb. 9. Beyond the raffle and monetary contributions, those interested can also donate food, treats, toys and bedding, towels and blankets to the organization. We believe that every animal deserves a chance as long as they can live a healthy and happy life, and theyre in good physical condition we believe that they should be able to live their life, Katie said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) on Sunday pushed back against Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) claim she considered signing an amicus brief on overturning the 2020 election results, noting she was only in communication with Johnson about the brief. Johnson, who was serving as the Republican Study Committee chair at the time, helped lead efforts to garner support among GOP members for an amicus brief that supported a Texas lawsuit aimed at overturning the 2020 election results in four swing states Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. More than 100 House Republicans eventually signed the brief. In an interview that aired earlier Sunday with CBS Newss Face the Nation, Johnson told moderator Margaret Brennan he was surprised to see Cheneys criticism of the brief because she at one point even considered signing on to that bill. Ill tell you that that is a fact, to that amicus brief, Johnson said. And we talked about that at great length, and we had a difference of opinion on the law, and people can agree to disagree on that. But Im telling you that the plain language of the Constitution has never changed. Asked if his remarks are factual later on Face the Nation, Cheney said, It is not. We were, as Mike said, in constant contact throughout that period, Cheney continued. I actually know precisely when he sent me the brief and precisely when, less than 30 minutes later, I told him my concerns with the brief. Mike knows that as well. Cheney said she made clear to Johnson the brief itself was legally and constitutionally infirm, and that Johnson was misrepresenting the brief to the members of conference. Speaking Sunday, Cheney also pushed back on Johnsons claims that he has the right to reject or ignore the rulings of the court. We have dozens of state and federal courts that assessed the claims, asserted the constitutionality and rejected them. And Mikes position which people really need to think about because its so chilling is that somehow as a member of Congress, he has the right to ignore the ones of those courts, to assert absent any fact-finding a fact that somehow he feels that something that happened was unconstitutional and therefore he can throw out the votes of millions of Americans. Thats tyranny, its not the rule of law. In his interview with Face the Nation, Johnson touched upon his belief that the change in election laws without ratification violated the Constitution. But Im telling you that the plain language of the Constitution has never changed. And what happened in many states by changing the election laws without ratification by the state legislatures is a violation of the Constitution. Thats a thats a plain fact that no one can dispute, Johnson said. Cheney used Johnsons argument to reiterate her belief that House Republicans cant be counted on to defend the Constitution. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) Chesapeake Public Schools is hosting a job fair on Jan. 10 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event is set to be held at the school administration building at 312 Cedar Road. Apply Here They are looking for teachers, bus drivers, school nutrition services, custodians and more. Keep up to date with the latest news on WAVY.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Flash Smoke rises from damaged buildings in the northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Jan. 4, 2024. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua) The Israeli army announced Saturday evening that it has dismantled the military framework of Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a press conference that in the north of the strip, Hamas had two military brigades with 12 battalions, "which had about 14,000 terrorists." He added that "Hamas does not function in this region in an organized manner, and we have revoked the main terrorist capabilities in the area." Hagari detailed the methods in which the Israeli army operated, including the elimination of commanders, ground combat, intelligence gathering, locating rockets and other means of warfare, and destroying the underground infrastructure. He noted that the IDF located about 70 million intelligence files, including information on senior Hamas members in Gaza and beyond, along with computers, maps and radios. The IDF spokesman affirmed that the fighting would take time and continue during 2024, adding that the army is now focusing on dismantling Hamas' operations in the center and south of the enclave. "We will do it with a different method, in a comprehensive way and based on the lessons we have learned from the fighting so far," he noted. Israeli troops are seen near the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, on Jan. 4, 2024. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua) FILE PHOTO: Trade visitors walk past an advertisement for BAE Systems at Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, Britain BEIJING (Reuters) -China will sanction five U.S. military manufacturers in response to the latest round of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sunday. U.S. arms sales to Taiwan are a frequent source of tension between Washington and Beijing. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory, a claim Taiwan's government rejects. The sanctions come ahead of Taiwan's Jan. 13 presidential and parliamentary elections, which China has cast as a choice between war and peace. The U.S. State Department last month approved $300 million sale of equipment to help maintain Taiwan's tactical information systems. The spokesperson said in a statement the recent arms sales "seriously undermine China's sovereignty and security interests, seriously jeopardise peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait". The companies to be that will be sanctioned are BAE Systems Land and Armaments, Alliant Techsystems Operations, AeroVironment, Viasat and Data Link Solutions. China will freeze the assets of these companies and ban people or organisations in China from engaging them, the spokesperson said. The U.S. embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Yew Lun Tian; Editing by William Mallard) When I wandered the streets of Washington more than 30 years ago to learn what services homeless men could receive, I found two kinds of institutions, each with drawbacks. The Community for Creative Non-Violence at the corner of Second and D streets in Washington, D.C. 1,350 beds, the most of any shelter in the United Stateshad no barriers to entry. It had a street reputation as a place where drug use was rampant and, ironically, so was violence. The Gospel Mission a few blocks away was a traditional Christian organization that offered dinner and a safe bed, but it had a string attached: required attendance at an evening worship service. Over the years I visited other Christian shelters in California and Colorado, Texas and Missouri, and Illinois and Pennsylvania, and saw some fairly low common denominators. Hymn singing at rescue mission services was louder and lustier than what Im used to as a Presbyterian elder, but thats because many of the participants were drunk. I volunteered alongside a Miss America at a New York City mission, but except for her all the shelters were old and mostly ugly. The picture around the country now is generally darker but with new points of light. On the negative side, the Department of Housing and Urban Development last month released its Annual Homelessness Assessment Report and reported the highest numbers since national counting began in 2007. Last year 653,100 people (up 12 percent since 2022) were without a home on one particular night, which probably translates into 2 million homeless at various times during the year. Last year also brought large increases in the number of homeless single moms with children and the number of under-25 persons without homes. During the past few months, though, Ive visited some newer Christian shelters and have lived for two weeks in three of them. None requires residents to sing for their suppers, with feeding dependent on chapel attendance. Most of the buildings are new or freshly painted. The freshly plastered still gain admittance, but the programs are hugely varied. Here are three examples of the variety, on a spectrum ranging from purpose-directed (where residents must follow a specific schedule throughout the day) to largely libertarian (where residents have almost no requirements). Tustin, California. Thirty years ago the Orange County Rescue Mission (OCRM) inhabited old buildings in Santa Ana. Fifteen years later OCRM opened its campus, 36 miles south of Skid Row in Los Angeles, on the site of what had been a Marine Corps base. Now, new buildings include an airy dining hall and a chapel/auditorium with modern stained-glass windows alongside a bright playground and petting zoo for children. OCRM calls its 340 residents students and organizes them in four classes. Freshmenstudents in the first 3-5 months of what is typically an 18-month programgo through assessments of physical and mental health, educational and legal status, computer skills and financial understanding. They participate in therapy groups, work through three Bible study books, and wear yellow lanyards. Theyre busy all day and are not allowed to leave the OCRM grounds. Sophomores (wearing green lanyards) and juniors (blue lanyards) have some liberty but still stay busy completing three more Design for Discipleship books, working in various campus jobs, obtaining a high school diploma if they dont have one, and taking a Road to Success course. Seniors wear red lanyards and begin outside employment. Safety first: OCRM has 600 cameras recording what happens in every public area and corridor. Yet OCRM respects personal autonomy in that anyone in its program can leave the mission at any timebut those who stay have to turn over all their cellphones and other electronic devices. They get them back near the end of their program, or when they drop out. Students arent allowed anything containing alcohol, including mouthwash and perfume. I interviewed 40 students, almost all under 40, during my four days of living at OCRM. Commonalities included anarchic childhoods: jumping from foster care home to home, running circles around a beleaguered single parent, living for drugs and alcohol. Most of them seemed ready to escape from a careening life and gain some discipline that could turn into self-discipline. Springfield, Missouri. At the other end of the spectrum is Eden Village. It sits in one of Springfields gray industrial areas, but inside its gate I felt like a walk-on in The Wizard of Oz when it moves from black-and-white to color. On both sides of a paved one-eighth of a mile sit 31 craftsman-style, 390-square-foot homes of all different colors. The major Eden rules are few: Pay $325 per month rent (usually from government disability payments). Dont consume anything illegalalcohol and marijuana (now legal in Missouri) are allowed in private places. Dont fight with neighbors. And Eden Village is meeting-minimalist. A community room was empty 90 percent of the time during my six-day stay. Staff members are Christians, and some Bible-related phrases are visible on walls and plaques: My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Several residents attend a coffee hour once a week that gives room for group prayer and a church brings dinner once a month. I interviewed 23 of the residents during my six days of life in Eden. Around the fourth day some of them began leveling with me, and I didnt see much interest in exploring Christianity. Only a handful of the residents go to church. Nate and Kelbi Schlueter manage Eden and say that Godnot activitychanges people. Im skeptical about what programs can achieve, Nate said, and Kelbi deliberately avoids soliciting churches to bring meals. Formerly homeless people need to learn to live independently depending on others for food can foster ungratefulness and entitlement, she said. Colorado Springs, Colorado. Springs Rescue Mission, a tiered program with 450 beds, is in the middle of the spectrum. It has a welcome sign out 24/7, 365 days a year and encompasses three different living situations. The starting point is its Relief Shelter: Anyone who enters gets a storage bin, a warm bed in a big open area, and a cold breakfast. Its low barrier but not no barrier, because it does have rules as explained by CEO Jack Briggs: Dont fight. Dont call the staff names. You cant use or sell [drugs] while youre here. Then come incentives to move to the Next Step Shelter, where each step increases momentum: Same bed every night, eggs-and-bacon hot breakfast, a locker the resident can go to any time. Residents get physical, mental, and behavioral health checkups. They can get their IDs and address legal issues. Do more, get more. Springs offers vocational training in custodial and maintenance trades and culinary arts, starting with the basics: showing up on time, being clean, doing what youre asked. Springs does not hide its Christian core, but it also does not obligate those staying for a night to attend a Christian service. Our faith is why we do what we do, but faith is never required of others to receive basic relief services, Joel Siebersma, senior director of transformation and research at Springs Rescue Mission, said. Yes, we hold them accountable, but its Gods job to change people. Its our role to help in the project, not own it. After Next Step, residents can move into the Advanced Shelter Program, with better accommodations. Addicts who want to change can enter an intensive one-year New Life Program. Doctors, counselors, and psychiatrists offer physical and mental help. Bible studies and church services offer spiritual help. Its always a step at a time. Residents in the culinary arts program start by washing dishes. After they show they can be on time and do a job, they learn to prepare meals, starting with simple ones, and can earn ServSafe licenses that lead to culinary jobs. Springs has a liaison who visits potential employers and explains how a former meth addict could be someone the business wants to hire. Employers have learned to trust those whom Springs recommends. CEO Briggs, a former Air Force major general, introduces himself to people walking into his mission off the streets: Im Jack. Whats your name? Sharing a name created a bond, he explains. Many homeless people live in a world where no one keeps a promise, so residents at Springs hand over clothes to be washed and they get them back. Everything at Springs, Briggs says, is designed to build trust. The varieties of Christian shelter experience. Which is best: strict, loose, or middling? The different groups serve different demographics: Most Eden Village residents, because of age or mental disabilities, are not in the job market. The average age is 56, and most residents are looking not for a way-station but a final destination. At OCRM and at Springs, most are young and will head out when they complete the program. Homelessness is complex and outcomes are hard to predict, so well know better in a few years which programs work best. But the late Pastor Tim Kellers summary of the Gospel is worth remembering: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. Some programs emphasize sin, some emphasize love, and the balance is sometimes hard to find. Demanding that residents change may seem cruel, but removing incentives to be open to change is also cruel. Most of the several hundred homeless persons Ive talked with lived in a small world of day-to-day survival, with a god who was often much too small. These days I like seeing a variety of groups following different strategies, rather than pretendingas is common in our polarized societythat one size fits all and one particular approach is proven best. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. In the wake of former Ald. Edward Burkes blockbuster racketeering conviction, his onetime colleagues on the Chicago City Council are faced with a choice: whether to hold themselves to tougher ethical standards. Theyre largely weighing that decision without input from Mayor Brandon Johnson, who, unlike his predecessor, is taking a hands-off approach to anti-corruption reforms. The fresh debate is spurred by a slew of new recommendations from the Chicago Board of Ethics tightening rules for city contractors, campaign fundraising and advertising that a key committee chairman pledged to take up in the new year. It could be Johnsons first significant opportunity to start to establish his good government bona fides. The issue was front and center in the 2019 campaign after a raid on Burkes office that Lori Lightfoot successfully seized on to help propel her to victory. But Johnson and many council members arent treating it with the same urgency, despite a jury convicting Burke last month of wielding his power as alderman to secure business for his law firm. While the new rules wouldnt have stopped Burke, they could at least send a signal to Chicagoans fed up with corruption that City Hall takes the situation seriously. One close observer said Johnson has so far sent out troubling signals about his commitment to transparency. And since the ethics board itself has no actual authority, its recommendations are only as relevant as the political will that exists at City Hall to act upon them. Reached last week, Johnsons administration was mum on which ethics board proposals were a priority and whether the mayor thinks they go far enough. A spokesman said in an email Johnson supports all efforts to make city government more transparent and responsive to the people that we serve. These proposed ethics reforms are a positive step toward a more accountable city government. Some of the most significant changes proposed by the Board of Ethics which takes a fresh look at the citys regulations at the start of each new mayoral administration were spurred by Tribune reporting about the widespread use of aldermanic expense accounts to hire contractors. Others would limit the contributions aldermen and other candidates for city office could take from leaders of businesses that have city contracts, and mandate that as candidates, they stand by the content of their political ads and mailers. I dont think from my standpoint anything should be off the table, said Ald. Matt Martin, 47th, the head of City Councils Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight, who said he wants to be as comprehensive as possible instead of taking lots of different little nibbles like last term. Its unclear whether Johnson has the appetite to prod aldermen toward more ethics restrictions, however. Lightfoot made it a 100-day agenda item, quickly passing a package that allowed the citys inspector general to dig into council committees and prohibiting aldermen and city employees from doing outside work that could conflict with the citys interests. Lightfoot argued her overwhelming electoral victory gave her a mandate to tighten the rules. It passed unanimously, but she failed to tackle other promised good government reforms and in some cases, reversed her stance as relationships with aldermen frayed over the rest of her tenure. Johnson, meanwhile, focused on using his early political capital to pass pro-worker legislation in his first months in office. He also pledged to heal the fractures between aldermen and the fifth floor, framing himself as a unifier who could rebuild relationships across the city. That gives the mayor far less incentive to exhaust goodwill to try to get aldermen to vote to be harder on themselves, especially while the migrant crisis has already strained his rapport with council and made it more difficult to pass other pillars of his progressive agenda. The administration doesnt seem to be taking the lead, said Geoffrey Cubbage, a policy analyst for the Better Government Association and a former aldermanic staffer. That isnt necessarily bad: the BGA has advocated for aldermen to fulfill their role as legislators, Cubbage said. Its less ethics and more transparency where BGA has trouble with the Johnson administration, he said. That includes council sessions that were gaveled out without properly being adjourned, important matters being voted on without language being released to the public beforehand, and the short-lived proposal that would have changed the publics access to the council floor. Were seeing troubling signals, Cubbage said. We do honestly see this administrations really not taking the bold steps on transparency that wed hoped for during the campaign. Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, who has pressed for a ban on outside employment for aldermen, agreed ethics have not been a Johnson priority, adding that he expects some council members will push back on everything. I think hes comfortable having the council try to figure it out, Vasquez said of the mayor. But most of his colleagues are not raring to tackle it either, despite the potential boost to their reputations. Do I think 26 alders are going to be like, Yes, sign us up!? ... I dont think thats an easy lift, no. Ethics Chair Martin is looking to put the changes on the agenda in the coming months while also making sure were moving at a very deliberate pace given whats been in the news as well as the fact that its been, now, over a year and a half since the council has taken a thorough review of its ethics ordinance. Hes also open to a subject matter hearing on Vasquezs ordinance on outside employment. Vasquez said hes looking at grandfathering in the current aldermen who have other jobs, or starting the effective date later. Among the changes proposed by the ethics board, contractors working for aldermen would largely be subject to the same ethics restrictions as city employees. If approved, those contractors: Would owe the same fiduciary duty to the city always working in its best interest as officials and regular city employees when they are working for council. Would be barred from getting involved in any city decisions that benefit their own financial interests, or that of other clients or employers. This would apply in matters in which they stand to receive or have received income or compensation for a full year before and after that matter is pending, ethics officials wrote in the footnotes of the proposal. They would similarly be subject to the same rules prohibiting city employees from making, participating in making, or using their position to influence any city governmental decision or action in which he knows or has reason to know that he has any financial interest distinguishable from its effect on the public generally for that same two-year window. Would be required to disclose a financial interest in any matter pending before any city agency to the board of ethics and, if the matter is pending in his own agency, to the head of the agency. Would be barred from making money from representing a third party anyone other than the city in any formal proceeding with a city agency, or in judicial, quasi-judicial, or other proceeding in court where the city is an adverse party or where it may hurt city finances, health, safety or welfare. Under the current rules for contractors, the machinery is still in place for such workers to essentially be patronage hires, said Cubbage. The proposed fixes are a good start to addressing contractors roles, he said. It is also currently difficult to know independent contractors potential conflicts: Of the 18 independent contractors aldermen paid between January 2019 and December 2022, a Tribune review in June found only five had statements of economic interest available on the Board of Ethics website for each year they were paid. Those statements include questions about other work or income. The remaining 13 were all missing at least one year, and eight of them had no statements filed at all. The ethics board proposal also tightens up rules around contractor disclosures. The Tribune found some were paid through LLCs, which allowed them to avoid filing annual statements of financial interest at all. One of the proposals clarifies the definition of City Council contractor to include both entities and the individuals who own or are employed by entities that perform services for members of council, committees, bureaus, or other City Council service agencies, according to the summary. No changes have been proposed that bar contractors from working at City Council if they are on a sister agencys do-not-rehire list. That would require a separate fix to city hiring practices, not tweaks to the ethics ordinance. Even so, Martin said he wanted to speak with sister agencies to see what rules could be incorporated across the board so nothings falling in the cracks. One such contractor, Alonzo Williams, was put on the Chicago Park Districts do-not-rehire list for his involvement in the districts sexual abuse lifeguard scandal, but was hired and worked for four aldermen. City records show payments to Williams firm stopped in July 2023. Two of the aldermen that hired Williams said he was not let go, but had taken another job. Williams LinkedIn page says he has since joined an IT consulting firm that previously helped launch the councils e-voting system in the spring of 2022. The citys Human Resources Department previously told the Tribune the city conducts background checks for employees, vendors and contractors, but did not identify any office that vets City Council contractors. Several ethics board proposed revisions deal with campaign snafus that emerged during the most recent municipal elections. After Lightfoots mayoral campaign was embroiled in controversy for sending emails seeking interns to Chicago Public Schools employees, the board is also calling for a rule that would make clear that no candidate or political fundraising committee may, for example, send emails soliciting political contributions or campaign work to city employees or officials to their official city email addresses. The case against Lightfoot was ultimately dismissed because, the board found, Lightfoot herself was not responsible for the emails, the fundraising committee and its leadership were. In its November decision, the board noted it regrettably did not have the power to hold the wrongdoers to account. The change would add political fundraising committee to current language that says no official or employee shall compel, coerce or intimidate any city official or employee to make, refrain from making or solicit any political contribution. The BGAs Cubbage says he expects another proposal to garner significant attention: one that would close a campaign finance loophole involving contribution caps imposed on businesses with city contracts. As it stands, companies doing business with the city can donate up to $1,500 per candidate, but its officers, directors, partners, or members/owners of LLCs or other business entities can also donate on top of it. They are currently allowed to contribute up to $6,900 each per election cycle in addition to the businesss $1,500. Reforms would consider all donations from the businesses and its officers in aggregate and subject them to the $1,500 cap. Thats similar to rules in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and in Illinois for state offices, the board says. The board made a similar proposal to close that loophole in 2019, but it was not heeded. Separately, after more than a dozen enforcement actions were taken during the 2023 election cycle against candidates for city office who used pictures of Chicago police officers or firefighters, their vehicles, or logos or insignia in campaign materials, the board also proposed added language to make it clear that use of such photographic images in electioneering communications for or against candidates for elected city office is strictly prohibited. Several candidates, including U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia and Ald. Nick Sposato, 38th, were dinged for including such insignia or personnel in campaign ads. Sposato posted a picture of himself online in a CFD uniform and in front of a fire truck, and Garcia used footage of a conversation with a uniformed police officer in an ad (a violation of Chicago Police Department policy). The board issued warnings, telling candidates not to use city property in campaign ads, but did not issue any fines or fees for violations. As long recognized by courts, the government has a significant interest in maintaining control over official symbols of authority like these, as well as manifesting law enforcement and firefighters official neutrality as to supporting particular candidates while in uniform or on duty, ethics officials wrote. The ban on of use city property for electioneering would include not only use of the city seal and city buildings in ads but also any intellectual property or personal property, equipment, machinery, or tangible items owned or used by the city for city business purposes, including but not limited to any uniform, badge, or other insignia that identifies or purports to identify an individual as a city employee. Also proposed: a stand by your ad provision requiring candidates themselves to say in radio or filmed campaign ads that the candidate personally reviewed and approved the communication, per the ethics board summary. Cubbage was encouraged existing laws were enough to snag Burke and said the new proposals make important fixes to hold council members accountable going forward. By acting to address other potential conflicts, Vasquez hopes to avert future damaging headlines tying aldermen to corruption: Rather than hoping these are bygone days, its important to make change so history doesnt repeat itself. aquig@chicagotribune.com A classic North Carolina field trip is reportedly becoming a victim of climate change. ALSO READ: Flooding drives millions to move as climate migration patterns emerge Were talking about the USS North Carolina, permanently docked and serving as a floating museum in Wilmington, the Washington Post reports. Museum leaders have documented a more than 7,000% increase in total flooding since the museum first opened to the public in 1961. Last year, Hurricane Idalia contributed to heavy flooding in the area. In 2020, roughly half of the property was flooded due to high tides and heavy rain. The battleship is choosing to cooperate with the changing landscape instead of fighting it. Plans include restoring the flood-prone parking lot to a tidal creek and wetland by planting trees, shrubbery, and native plants. All of this construction is expected to take eight months and be completed just before peak hurricane season. Funding for the project is coming from state and federal grants and the state budget. (WATCH BELOW: How a new type of sand on the Outer Banks could help fight climate change) Rep. James Clyburn said on Sunday that he was very concerned about President Joe Bidens standing with Black voters as the general election nears. The South Carolina Democrat, making an appearance on CNNs State of the Union, said he had spoken to the president about his fears, which were based around the failure of the White House to translate its legislative accomplishments into positive voter sentiment. I have no problem with the Biden administration and what it has done, Clyburn said. My problem is that we have not been able to break through that MAGA wall in order to get to people exactly what this president has done. If you took the little simple thing [that is] student loan debt relief, he promised to relieve student loan debt, and he has done that. This president is keeping his promises, he added, but people keep focusing on the one or two things he did not get accomplished. Clyburn carries more weight within the presidents orbit than any other member of Congress owing to the critical role he played in helping Biden secure the 2020 primary. So his fears will undoubtedly register among the reelection team in Wilmington. The timing of his comments are notable too, as Biden is set to head to Clyburns home state on Monday for a speech at the Mother Emanuel AME Church, the site of the slaying of nine parishioners by a white supremacist in 2015. Clyburn went on to say that he believed that Bidens poor standing in the polls was being overemphasized, arguing that polls today were not a true reflection of where voters are. But his larger fears about the state of the race have been echoed elsewhere. Former President Barack Obama told Biden directly that he had concerns about the structure of his campaign, according to a report in the Washington Post confirmed by POLITICO. Among the points he stressed during a lunch the two had prior to the holidays, was that his 2012 reelection campaign had clear lines of authority both inside the White House and at the campaign headquarters, according to a person familiar with the lunch. Other top Democrats have made similar concerns, including around the absence of key personnel in critical swing states. In an interview with NBCs Meet the Press, deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks defended the current infrastructure. Look, our campaign has been awake since the president announced in April which is why we've come out the gate swinging as well, said Fulks. We've put innovative organizing programs in place to begin to communicate with voters on the ground, which is why we've made investments into constituency media the largest investments to voters of color, Hispanic voters, young voters than any other presidential campaign in history. And now we're in the phase where more Americans are paying attention to what's going on and that is why we're making the choice. CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour on Sunday accused former President Trump of engaging in Nazi talk and underscored the significance of former Vice President Mike Pence calling for new leadership in the party. In a discussion on Sky News on Sunday, Amanpour warned about what public reporting is saying Trump and his team are planning for a hypothetical second term in the White House. Trump went as far as [to] say, I will be a dictator for the first day. He said, I will use my Justice Department to go off to all my enemies. I am your retribution. What does that even mean? About immigrants, he said, they infect the blood of Americans. This is Nazi talk. This is really dangerous, Amanpour added. He has declared what he will do. Amanpour acknowledged some of the concerns sometimes are dismissed as hyperbole. Now some say your fears are just the fears of demented liberals. Others say that actually he is a genuine real and proven threat to not only U.S. but also global democracy, Amanpour said. And the 14th Amendment actually says that any state or federal official who has taken part in an insurrection is barred from taking office and holding office in the future. Trumps campaign has not responded to an immediate request for comment. Amanpour noted the significance of Pences earlier comments about Trump, especially given Pence is an unwavering conservative Republican. For him to come out and even, not quite, but definitely say that he does not want Trump again is a big deal. He has put himself in the firing line three years ago on January 6, and he did, and hes right people do thank him for holding onto his office and being brave when people were calling to hang Mike Pence, and he got no help from his president, who was watching from the White House, she said. So this is a big deal. Earlier Sunday, in an interview on CNNs State of the Union, Pence called for a fresh start and new leadership in the party, saying, I continue to hope that with the Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire just around the corner, that all the good Republican voters in those states will give our party a fresh start, and give us new leadership to lead our party forward in the election and beyond. Elections are about the future. And we need new leadership in the Republican Party. We certainly need new leadership in the White House to move us forward, Pence said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who represents Colorados Third congressional district, has frequently made headlines for her personal life and not politics; the mother of four boys is pictured holding her new grandson as she arrived for a meeting at the US Capitol last year (Getty Images) Police are investigating an alleged physical altercation between Republican Rep Lauren Boebert and her ex-husband Jayson Boebert at a restaurant in Colorado on Saturday evening. Police in Silt, Colorado, told The Independent that it is looking into reports of an incident involving the Colorado Republican at Miners Claim restaurant on 6 January. Police Chief Mike Kite declined to elaborate further, citing that it was an ongoing investigation. He said the police are looking at security camera footage. Mr Kite didnt confirm who initiated the alleged fight and said no one had been arrested. When asked whether anyone had been hospitalised, he said: Not that I know of. The Independent has contacted Rep Boeberts office and the restaurant where the incident allegedly took place. A Boebert aide told The Daily Beast that Jayson Boebert had called the cops claiming that he was a victim of domestic violence. The Independent has not independently verified this allegation. Rep Boebert denied the claim that she had committed any domestic violence, the aide told the outlet. Ms Boebert recently made headlines for switching districts for her re-election campaign in 2024. The lawmaker also made headlines when she was removed from a Denver theatre during a showing of Beetlejuice after engaging in vaping, singing, taking flash photos and apparent groping. She has since apologised for her behaviour. FILE - Residents play Chinese chess games outside a residential area in Beijing on July 19, 2021. A competitor in Chinese chess says he has sued the national association in China for mental distress after he was stripped of a title for drinking alcohol and defecating in the bathtub of his hotel room at a recent competition. Yan Chenglong 's complaint which demands that the association apologize, restore his reputation in the media and pay him 100,000 yuan ($14,000) in damages was mailed to a court in central China's Henan province on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, according to a post on Yan's social media account. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File) BEIJING (AP) A competitor in Chinese chess says he has sued the national association in China for mental distress after he was stripped of a title for drinking alcohol and defecating in the bathtub of his hotel room at a recent competition. Yan Chenglong doesn't deny what happened but wrote in a civil complaint this week that he drank a moderate amount of beer to celebrate his win with other players and that some food had caused stomach problems and he couldn't make it to the toilet in time. The complaint came one week after a social media post by the Chinese Xiangqi Association that described the drinking and defecation. It said an investigation had found that Yan damaged hotel property, violated public order and good behavior, and had a negative impact on the tournament. Chinese chess, called xiangqi in Chinese, is a traditional board game that remains popular, particularly among older people. Neighborhood residents play in parks and along sidewalks, often with small crowds gathered around to watch. Yan's complaint which demands that the association apologize, restore his reputation in the media and pay him 100,000 yuan ($14,000) in damages was mailed to a court in central China's Henan province on Monday, according to a post on Yan's social media account. The post includes photos of the six pages of the complaint and an envelope with an express mail sticker addressed to a court in central China's Henan province. Calls to the Chinese Xiangqi Association weren't answered on Thursday and Friday. The chess association said in its post that it had also looked into reports that Yan had cheated during the tournament but was unable to confirm them. The report found the IDF are overstretched and would struggle to fight a war on two fronts - XINHUA/SHUTTERSTOCK Israel is unlikely to win a war against the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah if it decides to open a new front on its northern border, according to a confidential report by US intelligence. The US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) found that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would be too stretched by fighting on two fronts, with the air force already overworked by constant raids on Gaza. IDF pilots would face far more dangerous missions going up against Hezbollahs powerful air defences, the DIA warned, according to a report in the Washington Post. Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging cross-border fire on a daily basis since Oct 8, when the Lebanese group started operations in solidarity with Hamas. On Sunday, the IDF said it had wrapped up combat operations in northern Gaza and completed the dismantling of Hamass command structure there. Tens of thousands of troops have already been withdrawn from Gaza, with some already being redeployed to the northern front in the event war breaks out there. Last week, Israel assassinated a senior Hamas official in a drone strike in Beirut, raising fears of a regional escalation. Hezbollah has since retaliated by launching at least 40 rockets into northern Israel. Antony Blinken told reporters the conflict could easily metastasise, causing even more insecurity and suffering - EVELYN HOCKSTEIN/AFP Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, on Sunday met with the leaders of Jordan and Qatar on Sunday as he attempted to prevent a spill-over in the conflict. He told reporters in Doha: This is a moment of profound tension for the region. This is a conflict that could easily metastasise, causing even more insecurity and suffering. Mr Blinken was also tasked with reassuring the Arab state leaders that the US opposes the forcible displacement of civilians from Gaza. Amos Yadlin, a former IDF military intelligence chief said on Sunday that Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, does not want another war given Lebanons fragility but the IDF was preparing for a wider conflict with the Iran-backed group. Hezbollah cares about Lebanon they dont want to see what is happening in Gaza to happen in Beirut, they dont want to be seen as the ones who destroyed Lebanon, Mr Yadlin said That said, we have to be careful we dont have the intelligence to read Nasrallahs thoughts. The [IDF] northern command is not basing its activities and deployment on the assumption that Nasrallah doesnt want a war. Fearing an attack from the north, Israel wants Hezbollah to comply with a long-standing UN resolution that requires its fighters to withdraw some 18 miles from the border. Israel also violates the resolution by flying warplanes over Lebanon. Israeli officials have said that a military escalation against Hezbollah is on the cards if negotiations over governance and security in southern Lebanon do not reach an acceptable agreement. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a IDF spokesman said late on Saturday: We have a duty to defend our people, if not through diplomatic means, then through the force of arms. The diplomatic window may be short, but its still open. Amos Hochstein, a White House advisor who successfully brokered a maritime border agreement between Lebanon and Israel, was in the region last week seeking ways to avoid another Israel-Hezbollah war. Hassan Nasrallah is said to 'care about Lebanon' and may be willing to negotiate some aspects of the border - AFP Nasrallah said in a speech on Friday that he may be willing to negotiate on some aspects of the Lebanon-Israel border, without making any firm commitments. Iran-backed Hezbollah has an arsenal of tens of thousands of rockets and missiles, and groups of experienced fighters who have battleground experience in Lebanon and Syria. Its commanders have also advised other Iran-backed militant groups in Yemen and Iraq. The Gaza war has caused divisions in Benjamin Netanyahus Right-wing government, prompting the Israeli prime minister to demand high-ranking officials to take lie detector tests to prevent leaks to the press, Israeli media reported. Israels Channel 12 reported in a cabinet meeting Mr Netanyahu said: We have a plague of leaks and I am not willing to continue like this, which is why I directed the promotion of a law that everyone who sits in cabinets and security discussions, including the political and professional ranks will undergo a polygraph. The prime ministers comments come after widespread press coverage of a recent meeting to discuss postwar Gaza ended in acrimony and recriminations. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Flash This photo taken on Jan. 4, 2024 shows the Wajima Morning Market which has been burned down by a large blaze following a series of earthquakes in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. The death toll has surged to 126 in the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa after a series of earthquakes of up to 7.6 magnitude struck the prefecture and its vicinity, amid fears of secondary hazards and escalating casualties despite intensified rescue and search efforts on day six of the quake on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) The death toll has surged to 126 in the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa after a series of earthquakes of up to 7.6 magnitude struck the prefecture and its vicinity, amid fears of secondary hazards and escalating casualties despite intensified rescue and search efforts on day six of the quake on Saturday. The figure as of 1 p.m. local time marked the first time since the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, which claimed 276 lives, that Japan has witnessed over 100 casualties due to an earthquake, including related fatalities, according to the weather agency. Meanwhile, 516 people in Ishikawa suffered injuries due to the quakes, with 210 residents in the prefecture still unaccounted for as of 2 p.m. local time, according to local authorities. The strongest temblor, officially named the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, is classified as a reverse fault earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 by a government panel, and intermittent aftershocks are hampering recovery support to the affected areas. Striking at a shallow depth centered around 30 km east-northeast of Wajima, the devastating quake on New Year's Day registered a maximum intensity of 7, with tremors felt in large metropolises such as Tokyo and Osaka. Aftershocks, weather hamper rescue work The combination of frequent aftershocks and severe weather conditions poses a dual threat to the affected region, hampering rescue and relief operations and heightening the risk of secondary hazards. In the latest update from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), a 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit the Noto region at 5:25 a.m. local time on Saturday at a depth of 10 km, measuring upper 5 on the country's seismic intensity scale of 7. Citing an unprecedented surge in seismic activity in the Noto region following the earthquake, the JMA said over 1,045 earthquakes registering intensity 1 or higher have been observed as of 8 a.m. on Saturday, over twice the total number of similar-intensity temblors recorded in the area over the past three years. Officials warned that roads, already cracked from the dozens of earthquakes that continue to shake the area, could collapse completely. Rain and snow expected overnight and Sunday for the region might further complicate the disaster-relief work, and the JMA also warned local residents to stay alert for possible mudslides and other possible secondary hazards. On day six of the earthquake, the most-hit coastal city of Wajima confirmed 59 deaths, facing about 100 reports about people being buried and trapped under collapses of buildings. Japan has deployed its Self-Defense Forces to strengthen their presence from about 5,000 to 5,400 personnel, in collaboration with local police and fire departments to intensify search and rescue efforts. At a meeting of the emergency disaster response headquarters on Saturday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged relevant departments to "spare no efforts in conducting search and rescue work," noting that "fatigue and stress are accumulating" for those taking shelters due to prolonged evacuation life. Escalating damage With the full extent of wreckage still unknown, infrastructure has suffered severe damage in Ishikawa, with around 24,000 households facing power outages and 66,000 households left without water in 14 cities and towns as of 8 a.m. local time on Saturday, the national news agency Kyodo reported. While some 31,400 people were staying at evacuation centers in Ishikawa, issues related to sanitation and hygiene were emerging, with some reports of COVID-19 infections and flu coming in, local media reports showed. The prefecture was planning to initiate the installation of temporary housing in the cities of Wajima and Suzu starting next Friday to secure living accommodations for the affected residents. More damage reports were coming in even outside Ishikawa, with liquefaction caused by continuous aftershocks being a major reason. As of Saturday, the New Year's Day quake has wrecked more than 2,000 homes in the city of Niigata alone, with over 150 buildings damaged. The earthquake's direct economic impact, based on the current damage reports, could surpass 800 billion yen (about 5.5 billion U.S. dollars), which amounts to about 0.15 percent of Japan's nominal gross domestic product, according to Japanese economist Takahide Kiuchi. This photo taken on Jan. 4, 2024 shows the Wajima Morning Market which has been burned down by a large blaze following a series of earthquakes in Wajima city, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. The death toll has surged to 126 in the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa after a series of earthquakes of up to 7.6 magnitude struck the prefecture and its vicinity, amid fears of secondary hazards and escalating casualties despite intensified rescue and search efforts on day six of the quake on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu) As we kick off a new week, let's take a look back at the week that was. Top stories this past week included: An interview with Emily Curran, the Durfee High senior and star defenseman for the Bishop Stang co-op hockey team, whose field hockey season came to and end after she suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in her left knee. She lost the balance of the field hockey regular season and tournament play, softball in the spring, and ice hockey in the winter. But she's not letting it get her down: Curran has made herself a fixture at practices and games, going to cheer on and encourage teammates. The latest Greater Fall River real estate report, featuring a contemporary colonial in Westport that sold for $735,000. The Spinnaker Way home sits on two acres, and it has a fireplaced front-to-back living room, a gorgeous kitchen, a private den, and a three-season room. Check out this property, as well as other recent top-sellers. These were the most read stories of the week on HeraldNews.com: Convicted former mayor Jasiel Correia moved to 5th federal facility Convicted former Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia II has been on the move in the federal prison system since late November, going from a federal Bureau of Prisons facility in Berlin, New Hampshire, to stopovers in New York City, Philadelphia, and then Oklahoma City for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Former Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia, left, is seen here in a Herald News file photo with defense attorney Kevin Reddington outside the federal courthouse in Boston. As of Jan. 3, Correia has now been moved to a fifth federal facility. Herald News Reporter Jo C. Goode has the story. Convicted ex-mayor moved to new prison: Convicted former mayor Jasiel Correia moved to 5th federal facility. Where he is now New detour at President Ave. and Davol Street: The details in 60 seconds Drivers heading through the intersection of President Avenue and Davol Street will have to get used to another traffic pattern tweak for the next four months, as Route 79 construction work continues. Here are the details, in a 60-second read. 60-second read: Get ready for a new detour at President Ave. and Davol Street Transit group: South Coast Rail is 'compromised,' but it can be made better In about half a year, South Coast Rail is expected to be ready to carry passengers from Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton to Boston. But that's not the end of the line. Jarred Johnson, executive director of the public transportation advocacy group TransitMatters, said he worries the state may not be ready to operate the line most efficiently, with key questions about South Coast Rail operations so far publicly unanswered. These are some of the issues that South Coast Rail could face, and what solutions might look like. Transit group: South Coast Rail is 'compromised,' but it can be made better. Here's how. These former Patriots players were spotted at Sagres Restaurant: Fall River Eats Every week, Fall River Eats takes a look at events, announcements, specials, and more at restaurants from around the Greater Fall River area. This week, Sagres Restaurant in Fall River had some news to share about a recent visit from two former New England Patriots players. Fall River Eats: These former Patriots players were spotted at Sagres Restaurant 'I wish we had more time': Family is devastated after Christmas crash that left 3 dead Floriano and Donna Arruda always had room in their hearts when it came to children. When Donna, who worked in the cafeteria in the Dighton-Rehoboth school system, saw kids without warm clothes or a hot meal, she had to help. My mom loved all the kids that came through," said Lisa Napert, Donnas daughter. "If there was a kid that didnt have money, my mom would sneak them sandwiches and food, and make sure every kid had food on their plate and breakfast. Shed bring in jackets and gloves for kids. Its just who she was. Donna, 68, died on Dec. 29 due to injuries she suffered in a devastating head-on car crash a Christmas night tragedy at the hands of a driver accused of driving drunk. From left, Donna, Jacoby and Floriano Arruda of Seekonk are seen in a family photo. The three were killed after a devastating car crash in Somerset on Christmas night. The wreck also claimed the life of her husband, 73, and their grandson, Jacoby, 15, an incident that has left the family devastated and the community grieving. 'I wish we had more time': Family is devastated after Christmas crash that left 3 dead Herald News/Taunton Daily Gazette copy editor and digital producer Kristina Fontes can be reached at kfontes@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette today. This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Herald News Top 5: Jasiel Correia moved to another federal prison Anne Linkletter has slept on the streets of Orlando for months as she awaits housing, finding a place on sidewalks, under overpasses and anywhere she feels safe. She said she and others who live similarly worry an ordinance under consideration by Orlandos city council could be used to deny unsheltered people this small bit of refuge. The ordinance clarifies what is disorderly conduct, specifically noting that a person who walks, stands, sits, lies or places an object in such a manner as to intentionally block passage by another person would be in violation. It was unanimously voted forward last month by the city council, who is scheduled to vote on whether to enact it on Monday. If this ordinance is passed, I believe with every bit of my heart and soul it will be used to target the homeless people of Orlando, Linkletter, 62, said. City officials say thats not their intent. They said the ordinance was crafted to keep sidewalks clear for pedestrians and could be used to combat people distributing marketing materials, collecting signatures, soliciting donations, or fighting, said Cassandra Bell, a spokesperson for Mayor Buddy Dyer. The ordinance is not aimed at people sleeping at sidewalks, only at those individuals who intentionally block sidewalks and refuse to move when asked, Bell said. An unsigned statement from the Orlando Police Department last month said the ordinance shouldnt disproportionately impact anyone and also noted the dangers of blocked sidewalks. The ordinance will allow officers anywhere in the city to take immediate action against anyone who is intentionally trying to limit movement on City sidewalks, the statement reads. It is inherently dangerous for people to be moved into the street or to have their path intentionally blocked. Violators of the proposal would face punishments including a fine of up to $500, up to 60 days in jail or six months of probation. Martha Are, the CEO of the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, said her organization has concerns about the ordinance, as homelessness has risen 75% since 2019. Officials estimate about 200 people sleep on Orlandos streets each night, and shelter beds are full nearly every night. Are said shes met with the city attorney and is working with various homeless services providers to help keep their clients in compliance should the ordinance pass. Our concern is for those people who have no choice but to live on our streets, Are said in a statement. In some places, it is already illegal to sleep in public places including parks and on benches. And since its also illegal to trespass on private property, our unsheltered neighbors could find themselves violating the law essentially by merely surviving. Any arrest or fine will only exacerbate the challenges they face in regaining housing. Eric Gray, who runs the Christian Service Center in Parramore, said he too has been briefed by city officials about the ordinance, and hes taking Orlandos leaders at their word that the homeless wont be targeted. Gray, who serves hundreds daily at a campus near Exploria Stadium, said he hopes the rule could give OPD more authority to remove people who try to do business on sidewalks outside of the Christian Service Center, or try to scam his clients. For now, he isnt overly worried about it, but said hell monitor arrests in the city to see how its used. I actually think what theyre doing is probably a step in the right direction, he said, but noted other cities across the country have used sidewalk enforcement to remove the homeless. Tim McKinney, who lives downtown and runs the nonprofit United Global Outreach, said he worries that even if the ordinance wasnt intended for use on the homeless, individual police officers could do so anyway. Even though the police chief and the mayor may have the best of intentions, street-level cops can make decisions that violate the liberties of the homeless, he said. rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com With snowflakes lightly falling Wednesday afternoon in downtown Marshall, Dr. Abby Sirovica took a moment to admire the standing room only crowd of colleagues and area business leaders gathered at the site of her latest business expansion. A wave of gratitude, admittedly, was rolling over her. "The way that Marshall steps in and supports is (like) none that I have ever, ever experienced," Sirovica told the crowd gathered inside Grassroots Cafe, formerly Outside the Box Wellness Cafe, at 136 W. Michigan Ave. "Ive practiced around the United States and people dont care the way that you guys care. As a small business owner, thats everything to us. We couldnt be more grateful." Grassroots Cafe in downtown Marshall on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. Wednesday's turnout embodied the relaxed, patient-first atmosphere Sirovica and her team have cultivated at Grassroots Family Chiropractic in Battle Creek, helping families, children and even pregnant moms on their individual wellness journeys since 2017. Having grown consistently through word of mouth and eager to reach more people, Sirovica expanded the practice in mid-May, leasing a space at 115 S. Grand St. in Marshall. But from the outset, the goal was was always to find a more permanent home in the Marshall area. Subsequent conversations this summer with Outside the Box founder Dr. Lori Zettell proved fruitful. "We were being pulled in so many directions and began praying about our next steps and then without having it on the market, God brought just the perfect person who loved the heart of OBX and what we did," Zettell wrote in a Sept. 30 Facebook post explaining the transition. "(Abby) wanted to put her chiropractic office in the back, just like I had started out with my medical practice in the back of the cafe. After just one meeting, I knew this was the right person to take the cafe to the next level. I have no doubt that she will embrace the cafe and move it forward for this next part of its story." Grassroots Cafe in downtown Marshall on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. Grassroots Cafe will essentially serve as a continuation of Outside the Box as it pertains to its wide array of healthy food offerings, including soups, customizable bowls, smoothies and baked goods. Subscribe: Follow more local stories. Subscribe to the Battle Creek Enquirer. One noticeable difference, though, will be the coffee available to patrons at Grassroots. Sirovica is partnering with longtime friends and Cafe Rica owners Tristan and Jackson Bredehoft to serve their coffee on site. "Weve been besties for a long time," Sirovica said. "Weve kind of gone through these growth things at the same time." Sirovica insists that Grassroots Cafe will continue to be a dairy free and gluten free food destination, "we are just serving Cafe Rica coffee in it." The Bredehofts, for their part, have heard customers' pleas to bring Cafe Rica to Marshall for years. "Now were going to make all of those dreams come true," Tristan said with a smile. "Its awesome," Jackson added. "Weve always kind of talked about how someday theres probably going to be something were going to end up doing together and its really cool to see it come to fruition." The back of the cafe, meanwhile, will encompass Grassroots' chiropractic practice, with multiple rooms for adjustments. "Were so excited to not only have Grassroots Chiropractic back here, but also to have Grassroots Cafe, to have accessibility to clean, healthy food to support our community," Sirovica said. "They built a wonderful foundation and we have every intention to keep that the same with gluten free, dairy free (offerings)." Additionally, chiropractic clients may be referred to one of Grassroots' Battle Creek locations which also offer massage therapy, nutritional consultations and an infrared sauna. Grassroots does not accept insurance, but instead offers patients a variety of membership options. "We dont work for an insurance company," Sirovica told the Enquirer previously. "We work directly for our patients and are able to make it really affordable and accessible for them." Dr. Emily Endres performs a chiropractic adjustment on Rachel Jurgens Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at Grassroots Family Chiropractic in Battle Creek. A poster in the hallway of Grassroots Cafe details six reasons why children need to get chiropractic adjustments. "Im adjusting in here and I look out there and I see people stopping and reading that," Dr. Emily Endres explained Wednesday. The poster, among other informational materials inside the cafe, is just one of the ways people can learn more, and be exposed to, the benefits of chiropractic care. "Moving over here, you just get to touch so many more lives," Endres said. "We have people coming through the cafe that we might not have ever seen or they might not have ever seen an adjustment." The opportunity to build upon the foundation Outside the Box established in Marshall with the Grassroots platform is "indescribable," Endres said, adding the strong showing of support Wednesday merely demonstrates the strength of Grassroots' community. "That just goes to show what our people truly mean to us," Endres said of Wednesday's turnout. "Were not their doctors, we are their family that also happens to be able to take care of them and help them, whatever journey that theyre walking right now Were truly just surrounded by family, which is so cool." For more information, visit grassrootsfamilywellness.com. Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Grassroots Family Chiropractic expands with wellness cafe in Marshall Lady Hallett and her team will spend three weeks in Edinburgh for one of the broadest' inquiries in UK history - AFP The Covid Inquiry is costing the taxpayer 200,000 a day as it faces fresh criticism over a UK tour. Baroness Hallett will travel to Edinburgh next week for the next stage of what her team have described as one of the broadest inquiries in UK history. Amid suggestions from MPs that tours should be left for boy bands, not taxpayer-funded public inquiries, Lady Hallett and her team will spend three weeks in the Scottish capital. She will then travel to Wales in February and Northern Ireland in April as devolved politicians and officials face questions on their response to the pandemic. In addition to hearings outside London, the inquiry has been touring the country as part of its Every Story Matters listening exercise. A humbling experience We have taken the inquiry on tour in recent weeks, speaking to people in Carlisle, Wrexham, Newham, Exeter and Birmingham, Ben Connah, the inquirys secretary wrote in a recent newsletter. We have spoken to hundreds of people face to face and it has been a humbling experience. Despite completing evidence in Module 2, its most significant investigation looking at government decision-making during the pandemic, the inquiry has still been recruiting more staff. In recruitment campaigns, staff have boasted about it being one of the broadest in UK history as it tries to attract more paralegals to help sift through documents. The team encourages working in a flexible, collaborative manner to learn and support each other as we look to undertake one of the broadest, most publicly anticipated inquiries in UK history, an advertisement for paralegals stated. According to the inquirys most recent financial report it has already cost 56 million, spending just under 18 million between July and the end of September, before the second phase of hearings began. The figures for the inquirys second quarter work out at 200,000 a day or nearly 1.4 million a week, with most of the money going towards inquiry lawyers and the legal costs of core participants, who range from charities to groups representing bereaved families. Lady Hallett has received 255,000 since she was appointed as chairman in December 2021 but the inquiry declined to reveal whether she would take the train or plane to Edinburgh and what class she would occupy, saying travel would be in line with approved government guidance. Danny Kruger, the Tory MP, said the inquiry appears to missing basic questions - Yui Mok/PA The inquiry has faced criticism over its size and whether it is asking the right questions and Danny Kruger, the MP for Devizes, said that tours were for pop bands rather than public inquiries. Immense harms of lockdowns The task of the Covid Inquiry is to identify lessons to be learned to inform preparations for future pandemics across the UK, he said. This requires a clarity of focus which does not sit well with the broadest ever inquiry, which includes a listening exercise and commemorative tapestry. As a rule, UK tours should be left for boy bands, not taxpayer-funded public inquiries. Meantime, the inquiry appears to missing basic questions such as whether the immense harms of lockdowns and interventions were proportionate to the actual and perceived benefits of those policies, the reliability of the underlying data and assumptions underpinning the response and ethical failures of government decision-making including the monitoring and suppression of inconvenient commentaries and opinions. Most expensive witch-hunt in history He said there was an urgent need for its terms of reference to be updated while Gareth Johnson, the Conservative MP for Dartford, said that the Inquiry should not come at any cost. The Covid Inquiry is rapidly becoming the most expensive witch-hunt in history. We must learn the lessons from our response to the pandemic so we can be better prepared for the future but this should not come at any cost. We will not be London-centric A spokesman for the inquiry said: We all know the pandemic affected people differently in different places. We are a UK-wide public Inquiry and the Chair has promised that we will not be London-centric. It is therefore entirely appropriate to hold hearings in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, as well as other events in locations outside the South East of England, rather than requiring all attendees to travel to and stay in London at significant personal expense. The inquiry said the public deserved a serious, thorough and comprehensive examination of the UKs planning and response and Lady Hallett had set out the substantial task of considering the preparations and response to the pandemic. She made clear that to do this properly will take time and have a significant cost. All inquiry spend is rigorously reviewed to get value for money when fulfilling the inquirys terms of reference. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Most South Carolinians charged with a crime arent receiving speedy trials as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution due to a years-long backlog of criminal court cases. But key stakeholders in the states criminal justice system say they see the light at the end of the tunnel. Amid ongoing talks about how South Carolina elects its judges, some state officials have resurfaced concerns over the number of criminal cases resting on court dockets for more than a year without a resolution in sight. As a result, beyond issues of delayed justice and overcrowded jails across the state as indigent criminal defendants often spend years in jail waiting for their day in court the snarl of cases has created increasingly heavy caseloads for solicitors and public defenders. To aid the crisis, however, the Legislature last year granted solicitors and public defenders the most funding ever to hire additional staff. And the South Carolina Supreme Court last summer issued, for the first time, a concise docket order, providing solicitors, defense attorneys and judges specific instructions on how to manage the criminal court docket. 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe regards those moves as a game changer, and predicts the state will see a significant decline in backlogged cases by the end of this year. Even though we have been doing a good job of getting backlogged cases down, were still at close to catastrophic levels on cases that are over 545 days old, Pascoe said. Now, I believe were going to get it down much much more because of Chief Justice Beattys order and the funding provided by the House. Magnitude of the backlog South Carolinas backlog reached an unprecedented level in 2021 with 191,708 pending criminal cases on court dockets. Although that number decreased in 2022 and again in 2023, many General Sessions, or criminal courts continue to experience significant delays of several months, if not years. As of Nov. 30, 2023, South Carolina had a total of 175,167 criminal cases pending, according to data from S.C. Court Administration, which considers cases more than 365 days old as backlogged. Of the total number of cases, 81,854 are more than a year old, while 56,077 have been stale for more than 545 days, or a year and a half. According to a Court Administration benchmark, which is tracked by judicial circuits and counties throughout the state, court officers are encouraged to keep pending cases a year old or less at at least 80%. Of the states 16 judicial circuits, only one the 10th Circuit, which encompasses Anderson and Oconee Counties has successfully met that standard. Besides the 10th Circuit, one other county, McCormick, in the 11th Circuit, has met the states benchmark. The remaining 15 judicial circuits and 43 counties fall short, with the worst being the 13th, 3rd and 6th Judicial Circuits with 64%, 59% and 58% of its pending cases being more than 365 days old, respectively. But Lisa Catalanotto, executive director of the South Carolina Commission on Prosecution Coordination, says those numbers arent fully revealing as other factors may keep a case on a courts docket even though it has essentially been resolved. There are some issues when you look at the number of pending cases that might not necessarily be quite as bad as you think because there are so many diversion programs in all of the 16 circuits, Catalanotto said. Those (diversion) cases are not fully disposed of for purposes of reporting until after that participant has completed the program, but theres nothing left to be done on a prosecution standpoint. Still, they remain on the docket. Cause and contributing factors to the backlog Solicitors and public defenders both attribute a lack of resources as the underlying cause to the criminal case backlog. Other factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and an increased number of arrests have also, they say, played a role in the logjam. Notwithstanding a problem in retaining prosecutors and public defenders in South Carolina, Catalanotto said recruiting lawyers to public service has been a fundamental snag toward the alleviating the backlog. We all need the resources available in order to make the system work, Catalanotto said. And one of the biggest issues recently has been the pay of public defenders and prosecutors in public service. The pay for those attorneys historically have been significantly less than those same attorneys could earn in the private sector. Like Catalanotto, her counterpart, Hugh Ryan, who serves as executive director of the South Carolina Commission of Indigent Defense, attributed the logjam to a growing inability to retain and recruit pubic defenders. The biggest issue now is just finding people to hire, Ryan said. Its a difficult job market to find attorneys, so we need to focus on increasing our workforce. Another contributing factor to the backlog, Catalanotto said, involves South Carolinas growing population, which, in effect, has led to increased rates of crime. Since 2020, more than 250 thousand people relocated to the Palmetto State, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. As we have a lot more people coming into South Carolina, we have a lot more crime, Catalanotto said. The number of warrants and arrests that that are made, are significantly higher now than they were 10 years ago. And its a good bit higher in 2023 than 2022. So, that has been another factor with the increasing backlog of cases. But private defense attorney and state Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland, said the problem has more to do with the evolution of technology. We simply have to change the way that we look at things, Rutherford said. When I first started my career (as a solicitor) 20 years ago, I could try a DUI case in a day. Now, that police officer has a body cam that you have to watch. He has a dashcam that you have to watch. And if any other officer came on the scene, that same officer has a body cam and a dashcam you have to watch. So you went from having a DUI case that you could try in a morning to a DUI case thats going to take you a full day just to review the evidence to decide whether you need to move forward or not. And while some may regard COVID as the most flagrant cause to the backlog, Pascoe, who became the 1st Circuits solicitor in 2005, said criminal cases began piling up in 2016, before the start of the pandemic. It all started, according to Pascoe, with a state Supreme Court decision that reformed who controls when cases comes before the court. Historically, solicitors had exclusive control over the courts calendar, or criminal docket, deciding when a defendant appears before the court along with the judge who presides over the case. That, however, changed in 2012, when K.C. Langford III complained to the states high court for not having received a speedy trial following a conviction of armed robbery, burglary and kidnapping. The court found it unconstitutional to allow circuit solicitors to rule the docket, and said that function primarily belongs to the courts. As a result, a whirlwind of confusion ensued as to how to manage the courts criminal docket, ultimately contributing to the current backlog of cases. Following Langford, We didnt have a docketing order on how to run the criminal docket, and it left the courts, solicitors and defense attorneys a little bit in limbo, Pascoe said. From that point in 2016 to 2023, we began bringing in more cases than we were moving. Efforts to address the problem Last year, both the South Carolina House and Supreme Court took measures seeking to fix the states criminal case backlog crisis. For the first time, the House granted solicitors and public defenders $25.7 million dollars collectively to aid in recruiting and retaining staff. Prosecutors got $14.5 million while public defenders received $11.2 million. Pascoe said the funding increase allowed him to immediately hire five new assistant solicitors, which has helped his office to make significant strides toward clearing cases in the 1st Circuit. Going into the month of November (2023), we have already set a record in the number of cases weve cleared in the 1st Circuit, thanks to the additional funding by the Legislature, Pascoe said. The Supreme Court issued a docket order last summer, providing specific instructions to solicitors, judges and defense attorneys on how to manage the criminal docket. Catalanotto and Ryan both agree with Pascoe, that in light of the extra funding by the House and the Supreme Courts docketing order, major strides toward reducing the criminal case backlog are underway. Unless there is another significant spike in the number of arrests that are made and new warrants coming into the office, those two things together are going to be a tremendous, help, Catalanotto said. Guest Opinon. In the early 90s, long before anyone ever heard of McGirt, Cherokee Nation signed its first cross-deputization agreement. That powerful act of tribal sovereignty has served us, and all of our friends and neighbors, well ever since. Cross-deputization is often misunderstood, particularly as we grapple with the complexities of the post-McGirt era. The landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, which led to the reaffirmation of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, makes understanding cross-deputization more important than ever. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Cross-deputization helps solve the great challenge of multiple law enforcement agencies exercising their respective authority over the same geographic area. Without cross-deputization, our shared goal of public safety takes a back seat to potential confusion or competition over law enforcement activities, including critical work where time can mean the difference between life and death. It is important to first recognize what cross-deputization does not do. Cross-deputization does not give up a bit of sovereignty or jurisdictional authority by either party involved. Cross-deputization does not determine which government state or tribal has jurisdiction over a particular case. Cross-deputization does not take away rights from anyone involved in a law enforcement action, be it the victim, the alleged offender or the law enforcement agency or personnel involved. Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. What cross-deputization does do is empower law enforcement local, state and tribal with tools that are only possible through government-to-government cooperation, and which mean better, more efficient and more effective law enforcement and public safety protections for all of us. Cross-deputization achieves this by a fairly simple agreement: parties to a cross-deputization agreement agree that each partys officers can effectively wear the badge of the other for the purposes of law enforcement actions. Without sacrificing sovereignty and jurisdiction, two law enforcement agencies can ensure that they have each other's back when it comes to matters like making arrests or writing a traffic ticket. Lets take a hypothetical scenario involving my hometown of Vinita, a longstanding party to a Cherokee Nation cross-deputization agreement. Suppose a Vinita police officer pursues a suspect accused of assault and battery and who happens to be a Cherokee citizen. Under the McGirt case, the suspect would face tribal and potentially federal charges, but not state charges. Does the Vinita police officer even have authority to arrest the suspect? Without cross-deputization, the answer is no. The local police officer would be powerless to do what we expect all police in our communities to do: arrest dangerous suspects and let justice be served in the courts. On slightly different facts, it is easy to see the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service in the same predicament. A non-Indian suspect, outside the jurisdiction of Cherokee Nation, would be legally beyond the reach of one of our Deputy Marshals. But with cross-deputization, both the local police officer and the Cherokee Deputy Marshal can do what they are trained to do: protect and serve all of us. Either officer, with the authority and certainty of the cross-deputization agreement, can arrest the suspect. In many cases, this means both officers are literally working together to get that done. After the arrest is made, the courts resolve the question that cross-deputization, by design, does not address: which government prosecutes the case? Saving the important question of jurisdiction for after the suspect is arrested and the threat neutralized is the beauty of cross-deputization agreements. At Cherokee Nation, we have cross-deputization agreements with every law enforcement agency within our 7,000-square-mile reservation. This includes every local police department, sheriffs office, the Grand River Dam Authority and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. This means for every person living, working, or even just traveling through our reservation, law enforcement agencies have the basic tools in place to work seamlessly in the public interest. Our cross-deputization agreements also create an atmosphere of cooperation and certainty that is larger than the agreements themselves. The agreements, and the atmosphere of camaraderie, trust and respect they create, allow sharing of best practices and resources, such as specialized equipment and specially trained teams. Just last year, Cherokee Nation provided millions of dollars in equipment grants to cross-deputized agencies. As we move forward with seizing the new opportunities for asserting our sovereignty under the McGirt case, lets remember that cross-deputization, an indispensable tool of tribal sovereignty, has been here all along, serving us well since the early 1990s. Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. In May 2020, some unusual rocks containing distinctive greenish crystals were found in the Erg Chech sand sea, a dune-filled region of the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria. On close inspection, the rocks turned out to be from outer space: lumps of rubble billions of years old, left over from the dawn of the solar system. They were all pieces of a meteorite known as Erg Chech 002, which is the oldest volcanic rock ever found, having melted long ago in the fires of some now-vanished ancient protoplanet. In new research published in Nature Communications, we analysed lead and uranium isotopes in Erg Chech 002 and calculated it is some 4.56556 billion years old, give or take 120,000 years. This is one of the most precise ages ever calculated for an object from space and our results also cast doubt on some common assumptions about the early solar system. Related: World's 1st 'boomerang meteorite' a rock that left Earth, spent millennia in space, then returned possibly discovered in the Sahara Desert The secret life of aluminum Around 4.567 billion years ago, our Solar System formed from a vast cloud of gas and dust. Among the many elements in this cloud was aluminum, which came in two forms. First is the stable form, aluminum-27. Second is aluminium-26, a radioactive isotope mainly produced by exploding stars, which decays over time into magnesium-26. Aluminum-26 is very useful stuff for scientists who want to understand how the Solar System formed and developed. Because it decays over time, we can use it to date events particularly within the first four or five million years of the Solar System's life. The decay of aluminum-26 is also important for another reason: we think it was the main source of heat in the early Solar System. This decay influenced the melting of the small, primitive rocks that later clumped together to form the planets. Uranium, lead and age However, to use aluminum-26 to understand the past, we need to know whether it was spread around evenly or clumped together more densely in some places than in others. To figure that out, we will need to calculate the absolute ages of some ancient space rocks more precisely. Looking at aluminum-26 alone won't let us do that, because it decays relatively quickly (after around 705,000 years, half of a sample of aluminium-26 will have decayed into magnesium-26). Its useful for determining the relative ages of different objects, but not their absolute age in years. But if we combine aluminium-26 data with data about uranium and lead, we can make some headway. There are two important isotopes of uranium (uranium-235 and uranium-238), which decay into different isotopes of lead (lead-207 and lead-206, respectively). The uranium isotopes have much longer half-lives (710 million years and 4.47 billion years, respectively), which means we can use them to directly figure out how long ago an event happened. a speckled rock sits on a ruler. Meteorite groups Erg Chech 002 is what is known as an "ungrouped achondrite". Achondrites are rocks formed from melted planetesimals, which is what we call solid lumps in the cloud of gas and debris that formed the Solar System. The sources of many achondrites found on Earth have been identified. Most belong to the so-called Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite clan, which are believed to have originated from Vesta 4, one of the largest asteroids in the Solar System. Another group of achondrites is called angrites, which all share an unidentified parent body. Still other achondrites, including Erg Chech 002, are "ungrouped": their parent bodies and family relationships are unknown. A clumpy spread of aluminum In our study of Erg Chech 002, we found it contains a high abundance of lead-206 and lead-207, as well as relatively large amounts of undecayed uranium-238 and uranium-235. Measuring the ratios of all the lead and uranium isotopes was what helped us to estimate the age of the rock with such unprecedented accuracy. We also compared our calculated age with previously published aluminium-26 data for Erg Chech 002, as well as data for various other achondrites. Related Stories: Rock that crashed through New Jersey home may be 4.6 billion-year-old chunk of Halley's Comet Bits of asteroid Ryugu are among 'most primordial' materials ever examined Meteor showers and shooting stars: Formation and history The comparison with a group of achondrites called volcanic angrites was particularly interesting. We found that the parent body of Erg Chech 002 must have formed from material containing three or four times as much aluminium-26 as the source of the angrites' parent body. This shows aluminium-26 was indeed distributed quite unevenly throughout the cloud of dust and gas which formed the solar system. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the Solar System's earliest developmental stages, and the geological history of burgeoning planets. Further studies of diverse achondrite groups will undoubtedly continue to refine our understanding and enhance our ability to reconstruct the early history of our Solar System. This edited article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. An Indiana father and son were arrested after police say the son tried to kill a woman they accused of shooting at a family members house, police told news outlets. Khalil McCraney, 19, is charged with attempted murder, and his father, Tyjuan McCraney, 44, is charged with aiding, inducing or causing attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, according to the Star Press. Khalil McCraney was arrested after authorities say he was seen on surveillance footage shooting up a car with a woman inside around 9:30 p.m. Jan. 2 in Muncie, WXIN reported. The woman was shot multiple times and taken to a hospital to be treated, police said, according to WTHR. When police interviewed Khalil McCraney, he told officers the woman shot at his grandfathers house twice in one day. He said after the second shooting, he and his father got in the car and his father drove to the womans apartment, WTHR reported. Once at the apartment complex, Khalil McCraney said he grabbed a semi-automatic rifle that belonged to his father and began shooting, police told WXIN. Initially, Khalil McCraney said he shot in self-defense because he got scared, but officials questioned that, saying that in the surveillance footage, the shooting looked like an ambush, the Star Press reported. Tyjuan McCraney confirmed to police that he was the one who drove to the womans apartment. He said when they got there, his son told him, Imma take care of this now, according to WTHR. Officials said neither Tyjuan or Khalil McCraney reported to police that their family members home had been shot, WXIN reported. Instead, they took actions into their own hands and attempted to carry out the murder of this female victim, police said, according to the Star Press. Dad shoots daughters stepfather after the girl writes disturbing note, Texas cops say Man poses as delivery man, then shoots and kills exs new boyfriend, Georgia cops say Court officer of 35 years shot dead while serving eviction notice to Michigan resident Flash China has decided to sanction five U.S. defense industry companies, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sunday. The United States recently announced new arms sale to Taiwan and sanctioned Chinese businesses and individuals under various pretexts. The spokesperson announced the decision when asked about China's countermeasures. The U.S. arms sales to China's Taiwan region in blatant violation of the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, particularly the August 17 joint communique of 1982, and the illegal unilateral sanctions the United States has imposed on Chinese companies and individuals under various false pretexts seriously harm China's sovereignty and security interests, said the spokesperson. The U.S. arms sales and the illegal unilateral sanctions also undermine the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and violate the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals. China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this and has made solemn demarches to the United States, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said that in response to these gravely wrong actions taken by the United States and in accordance with China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, China has decided to sanction five U.S. defense industry companies, namely BAE Systems Land and Armament, Alliant Techsystems Operation, AeroVironment, ViaSat and Data Link Solutions. The countermeasures consist of freezing the properties of those companies in China, including their movable and immovable property, and prohibiting organizations and individuals in China from transactions and cooperation with them, the spokesperson said. "I would like to stress that the Chinese government remains unwavering in our resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens," said the spokesperson. China urges the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, observe international law and the basic norms governing international relations, stop arming Taiwan, and stop targeting China with illegal unilateral sanctions, the spokesperson said, noting that "otherwise there will be strong and resolute response from China." A Texas father is accused of shooting his daughters stepdad after the girl accused him of sexually assaulting her, Houston police told news outlets. Officers responded to the shooting at an apartment complex on the citys west side at about 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, police told KRIV. The daughter had written a note accusing her stepfather of sexual assault and gave it to her mother, police told KPRC. When the mom came to pick her up from her biological fathers home, he learned about the note and what it said, then went to the mothers apartment to confront the stepfather, police told the outlet. The stepfather denied assaulting the girl, police said, but her father was apparently not convinced, KHOU reported. During the confrontation, the daughter and mother stepped out of the apartment, and the father shot the stepdad three times in the stomach and legs, police told the station. The stepdad was taken to a hospital for treatment, according to police, adding that the shooting and the sexual assault accusations are both being investigated, KRIV reported. The girls father could be charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, police told KPRC. Pregnant 18-year-old, boyfriend were killed in drug deal gone wrong, Texas cops say Stranger repeatedly breaks into home to watch 9-year-old girl sleep, PA mom says 12-year-old accidentally shot, killed in targeted attack on VRBO house party, cops say Man charged with murder coached teen in robbery gone wrong, Texas cops say LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Records show Clark County prosecutors are seeking to indict a former school bus driver accused of assaulting a student with autism. The childs father, William Becker, said his 10-year-old son has experienced a downward spiral since the incident, which has kept him out of the classroom for more than a year. Its just real hard for him. He just doesnt know what to do with himself any more, Becker said. Vincent Brown cant speak for himself, he is considered non-verbal. His routine and structure [are] completely broken and for autistic children, its just not a good thing, Becker said. Vincent was in fourth grade when he was allegedly attacked on his way to Variety School in November of 2022. Variety School (KLAS) Officers with the Clark County School District Police Department arrested Dorys Tovar in December of that year on one count of child abuse. According to court documents, Tovar struck Brown in the face, body, limbs, torso, and extremities. He rages out, hes been out of school for a year now, Becker said. He had got the allegations of abuse backed up by video and a couple of statements by other people. Online court records show Tovars case was dismissed in Las Vegas Justice Court in October of 2023, and prosecutors are now pursuing a grand jury indictment. Hes a beautiful child, hes smart. Just a good kid. He just needs the guidance and help, Beker said. Vincent Brown (KLAS) Browns family is against him riding a school bus or going back to Variety. Becker said he wants his son to go to a school near their home. His parents hope that a federal lawsuit they filed against the Clark County School District not only helps Brown but brings changes. CCSD should probably have a better screening process for people to deal with these types of children because there are so many autistic children out there, Becker said. CCSD has a policy of not commenting on pending litigation. Here is a link to a GoFundMe Browns family started to raise money for a private tutor. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Grifter. Cheater. Con artist. These are just a few of the words that are hurled at American politicians. But in Michigan in at least one case it was true. In 1964, a criminal investigation uncovered that a state legislator wasnt actually who he said he was. He was using the name and resume of a dead man and leveraged that gravitas to expand a tax fraud scheme, all while collecting a check from Lansing. Looking back: How the Kerns Hotel fire shook Lansing, Michigans Legislature The crazy part? Its all still a mystery. After a warrant for his arrest was issued, the person impersonating Daniel West disappeared. He has successfully evaded authorities and is possibly still alive and on the lam today. The biography inside the 1963-64 Michigan Legislature Manual says Rep. Daniel W. West was born in Tennessee, graduated from Swarthmore College, earned his law degree at Yale and was a practicing lawyer in New York. All of that was technically true. Except West died in 1961 and never ran for office in Michigan. To this day, we dont know the exact identity of the man who used Wests name and story to fake his way to the state House. Michigan historian and Grand Valley State University professor Matthew Daley said the mystery man used a lot of key con man tactics in building his backstory. He shows up here and he said he had all of these crazy jobs like he was the public works commissioner in the Virgin Islands, all of these sorts of things, Daley told News 8. They were all jobs that were very hard to track down. They sounded great but they are all these remote places. Who was going to check it? Thats partly how he was able to play that game. The other mounds: Lost history is a part of West Michigans story According to the Detroit Free Press, West first tried to run for a House seat in 1954 and again in 1960 to no avail. In 1962, he was elected to represent Wayne Countys 6th District and quietly served for two years. West was easily re-elected for a second term in November 1964 but was never seated in the new Legislature as the scandal started to unfold. It started as a fraud investigation. While West made his name as a practicing lawyer, campaign documents from his 1960 filing said he was working as an accountant, according to MLive. He was accused of essentially shorting people, shorting businesses and individuals on tax returns and tax preparation. Its one of the oldest schemes in the book, Daley said. Essentially, he would say, Youre going to get a $100 refund. Well, you are actually getting a $200 refund and hes pocketing the other $100. Daley continued: Apparently one of his clients thought something didnt sound right, so they got a second opinion, and that person said, Oh no, youre getting shorted. They complained to the fraud department of the Detroit Police Department, who referred it to the state police. In the days following the election, investigators brought West in for questioning and took a copy of his fingerprints. That is when everything fell apart. The banner headline from the Dec. 6, 1964 edition of the Detroit Free Press that reveals the legislator known as Daniel West is a conman using another persons identity. (Newspapers.com/Detroit Free Press) The fingerprints matched West, but showed he had served prison time following several criminal convictions. He was reportedly sentenced to 18 months at the Minnesota State Reformatory for burglary. He was arrested on larceny and breaking-and-entering charges years later in Virginia and was also given a 15-year sentence in the Iowa State Penitentiary for forgery, all under different names. They realize he is a felon. Well, if theyve got his fingerprints and he was a felon, what is his real name? Well, the names in his (criminal records) were false, too. So we dont know who this guy is, really, Daley said. Pigeon Hill: Another piece of West Michigan lost to time The timeline gets murky from there. The Detroit Free Press talked to Wests neighbors in Detroit, asking what they knew about him. Investigators, both police and journalists, searched for him. They cased two properties connected to him in Detroit a two-story home on South Junction Street and a rented flat on Whitfield Street. The biography for Daniel West as printed in the 1963-64 Michigan Legislature Manual, which we now know was stolen by a con man. (Michigan Legislature Archives) One person claimed that West was sick and had been staying with his brother for several weeks. Another neighbor admitted to being completely clueless about who he was. She said they talked briefly about the recent election, but he never mentioned that he was a lawmaker. I thought he was a garbage man. He was standing by the truck, she told the Free Press. The man who lived in the flat below West said glumly, You never know who you are voting for. When the Legislature reconvened for the new year, West was nowhere to be found. He didnt show up for the first session. And even if he had, he wouldnt have been welcome. According to Gongwer News Service, the Legislature refused to seat him the only known time to have taken such action and the districts seat was declared vacant. The formal indictments finally came in June 1965. After investigators estimated that he defrauded more than 1,000 clients, West was eventually indicted on 117 counts of income tax fraud and two counts of voter registration fraud. It was a very clever scheme. Being a legislator and being respectable opens doors. If you are running one con, you can run an even bigger con, Daley admitted. You are going to be able to open lots of doors because you are a member of the Michigan Legislature. It allays peoples fears. Who is going to look into that? You got elected to office. You must be who you say you are. 1883: The logjam that nearly sank Furniture City An arrest warrant was issued for the so-called West, but he was nowhere to be found. His first court date came and went without him appearing, officially making him a fugitive. According to Gongwer, a handful of sightings were reported in the years following Wests disappearance. One person who reportedly worked on Wests 1964 campaign team claimed to have saw him at a restaurant more than 10 years later across the river in Windsor, Ontario. When Mr. West saw (the person) staring at him, he got up and left without ordering any food, Gongwer reported. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. The McSwiggin murder was the kind of story that editors once thought sold newspapers. The Tribune laid out the initial facts in a front-page story on April 28, 1926: William H. McSwiggin, youthful assistant states attorney, who was known as the hanging prosecutor because of his success in the conduct of murder trials, was shot to death last night when a machine gunner in a curtained automobile poured a blast of fire upon him and two other men as they stood in front of a saloon at 5613 West Roosevelt Road (the address was given as 5615 in subsequent reports) in Cicero, just beyond the Chicago city limits. A day later, President Calvin Coolidge cited McSwiggins assassination in calling for a national war on organized crime. Prohibition had sparked gang wars for control of the underground booze trade. On the back page of the first-day story were photographs of the tavern where the hit took place; of McSwiggin gesturing in court, making the case for hanging a cop-killer; and of a police captain aiming a Thompson machine gun, similar to the type cops said McSwiggins killer had used. McSwiggins companions in death were James Doherty, a Cicero beer-runner, and Thomas Duffy, a Chicagoan who was identified variously as a barber, a saloon keeper and a political minion, perhaps a euphemism for fixer. He was a West Side precinct captain. Days after the slayings, the coroners jury made a pilgrimage to three sorrow-laden homes, the Tribune reported. In Duffys modest flat, at 4721 W. Harrison St., his widow told jurors that she didnt know of her husband having enemies, and that she never heard of him being threatened. There was a quiet grimness about the mourners in the Doherty house, the Tribune noted, as if they sensed the jurors belief that the plotted death of Doherty, the gangster, had resulted inadvertently in the murders of Prosecutor McSwiggin and Duffy. Yet even if McSwiggin wasnt the target, his boss, Cook County States Attorney Robert Crowe, was put on the hot seat. The investigation quickly sent McSwiggins fair-haired image down the drain. Crowes boy-wonder assistant was revealed to be a buddy of gangsters. Perhaps looking to distance himself from the embarrassing details, Crowe turned the McSwiggin investigation over to a special grand jury led by Illinois Attorney General Oscar Carlstrom. Say what you will about McSwiggin, he was a prodigy. The son of a cop who didnt make enough to pick up the tab for college, McSwiggin worked his way through DePaul Law School as a department store salesman, a theater usher and a delivery wagon driver. He became a courtroom star while still in his early 20s. When he was on a case he worked twenty-four hours a day, Crowe said of McSwiggin. On the last day of his life, McSwiggin, 26, had dinner at his parents home at 4946 W. Washington Blvd. Telling them he was going out to play cards or grab a beer in Cicero, he was picked up by Duffy. Doherty, and the ODonnell brothers, Myles and William Klondike, were also in the car. They all went back a long way. Just a year earlier, McSwiggin had unsuccessfully prosecuted Doherty and Myles ODonnell for murder. But in that time and place, childhood buddies were often emotionally bound for life. It didnt matter if one enforced the law and the other broke it. On that fateful night, the group stopped at a saloon on an empty stretch of Roosevelt Road in Cicero. As they exited Klondikes Lincoln sedan, another car pulled up and an occupant sprayed them with bursts of machine-gun fire. The ODonnell brothers hit the dirt and survived. So too did Ed Hanley, an ex-cop who had joined the group en route. A motorist took the wounded Duffy to West Suburban Hospital where he died the following day. McSwiggin and Doherty were also fatally wounded. Hanley and the ODonnells loaded them into the Lincoln and sped off. McSwiggin and Doherty expired, and their corpses were dumped in Berwyn. A pedestrian came upon the bodies at 16th Street and Wisconsin Avenue and notified the Berwyn police. That started a chain reaction of the shocking news that a public official had been assassinated. When it reached Crowe, he ordered raids on every beer runner, every gunman, and every other racketeer in reach of an officer of the law, the Tribune reported. All the cigar shops, gambling houses, and saloons were stripped of their occupants. The Chicago police and Cook County highway police responded promptly. But Assistant States Attorney Joseph Savage was angered by the Cicero cops lackadaisical attitude in the face of three brutal murders. Stomping into a police station, he demanded to see the officer in charge. The captain is gone, he was told. Go and get him out of bed and tell him to get here and in charge, or Ill turn your police station upside down, Savage replied. The attorney general, like the states attorney before him, wrestled unsuccessfully with the question of who ordered the hit and why. Al Capone, the infamous gangster who had set up shop in Cicero, quickly became a prime suspect but initially was nowhere to be found. Upon surfacing, he was arrested but denied having it in for McSwiggin. I didnt kill him, Capone reportedly said. I liked the kid. Capone was freed for lack of evidence, and on Sept. 8 a special grand jury was empaneled I am positive that I know who killed McSwiggin, special prosecutor Charles McDonald said. I am hopeful that this grand jury will solve the puzzling features of the case. That proved easier said than done. Courtroom kibitzers had rival theories about what face card McDonald might be holding. Perhaps Capones name which in many reports of the time was given as Caponi was prematurely scratched off the suspects list. Word on the street was that Doherty demanded a share of Capones lucrative beer business, and wouldnt take no for an answer. With methodical preparation Caponi sent out his scouts to report on Dohertys movements, the Tribune reported. And on May 28, last, he answered Dohertys defiance. Another theory held that McSwiggin was killed while gathering evidence for the prosecution of Martin Durkin. A car thief accused of killing a federal agent, Durkins arrest had been followed by death threats. One recipient was McSwiggins boss, the states attorney. McSwiggins father, a police sergeant, joined the search for his killer, pressing a prisoner who was in custody for a separate crime and who was an alleged confederate of Capones for information. The man said he knew nothing but wished he could help. You cant help me, Sgt. McSwiggin retorted. They killed me too, when they killed my boy. But you can help yourself by telling. On July 15, 1927, the investigation into McSwiggins murder was closed. It had failed to uncover any information on who killed McSwiggin, the grand jurys final report acknowledged. The tale was occasionally revisited and given a new spin. In 1960, John Lyle wrote a Tribune story crediting the McSwiggin case with ultimately sending Capone to prison. In the wake of the murder, a raid on a Capone betting parlor, the Hawthorne Smoke Shop, turned up a bookkeeping ledger. The ledger was tossed aside and left to gather dust for four years. Finally reexamined by investigators, it was found to record income Capone hadnt reported to the Internal Revenue Service, and led to his 1931 conviction as a tax dodger, according to Lyles account. The McSwiggin murder remains unsolved, although the special grand jury cleared him of being targeted because of any underhanded activity on his part. McSwiggin was on a legitimate errand at the time, when one gang fired at another gang, and we think that the murderers had no knowledge of the identity or position of the young man who became their victim. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department are looking for a suspect who robbed a man on Saturday morning. The suspect approached the man at about 10:48 a.m. in the 900 block of Rittenhouse St., Northwest. He snatched property from the victim before fleeing the scene, MPD said in a press release. Standing water creates congestion in Takoma Park A photo of the suspect was captured by a surveillance camera below: (Courtesy of the Metropolitan Police Department) Anyone with information is asked to call MPD at (202) 727-9099 or text the departments tip line at 50411. A reward of up to $1,000 is offered to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin faced sharp criticism on Sunday as details emerged about the degree to which senior officials, including President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, were left in the dark about Austins multiday hospital stay. Austin was admitted to the hospital on New Years Day due to complications from an elective surgery, but Biden was not informed that his civilian leader of the military was hospitalized until January 4, when national security adviser Jake Sullivan told him, according to a source familiar with the matter. Austin remains hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center but is recovering well and in good spirits, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement on Sunday. The Pentagon does not yet know when he will be released, Ryder said. Austin was hospitalized following an elective medical procedure he had on December 22, while he was on leave, Ryder said. He returned home the following day, but on the evening of January 1 he began experiencing severe pain and was transported to Walter Reed via ambulance. He was placed in the hospitals intensive care unit to ensure immediate access to due to his medical needs, but then remained in that location in part due to hospital space considerations and privacy, Ryder said. Hicks, who began assuming some of Austins responsibilities on January 2, did not know that it was because Austin was hospitalized, two defense officials told CNN. Hicks was on vacation in Puerto Rico at the time and was not informed of Austins hospitalization until the afternoon of January 4, the officials said. Blinken, in response to a reporters question at a news conference in Qatar on Sunday, said he wasnt aware of Austins medical issue at the time. I talked to Lloyd last weekend before this incident and I know that hes put out a statement addressing it, Blinken said. Republicans, including former Vice President Mike Pence, had harsh words for Austin. I believe the American people have the right to know about his medical condition, about the reasons for it, Pence told CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union, characterizing Austins actions as a dereliction of duty. Pence said that he wishes Austin well but said the lack of transparency was totally unacceptable. Sen. Roger Wicker, the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed similar sentiments in a statement released Saturday. I am glad to hear Secretary Austin is in improved condition and I wish him a speedy recovery. However, the fact remains that the Department of Defense deliberately withheld the Secretary of Defenses medical condition for days. That is unacceptable, the Mississippi Republican said. Wicker said the lack of transparency regarding Austins hospitalization erodes trust in the Biden Administration. He added, Worryingly, we now have more questions than answers. Why was the notification process under 5 U.S.C. 3349 not followed and who made the determination not to follow it? 5 U.S.C. 3349 is the US code for reporting vacancies in an office, which applies to the head of each executive agency. Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma called the lack of disclosure over Austins hospitalization shocking. Its pretty shocking on this because when youre the secretary of defense, you need to make everyone aware that youre actually going out of pocket, Lankford said on Fox News Sunday. Lankford went on to say the issue was not just that Austin was absent from his position, but that key branches of government werent aware. Apparently, the National Security Council didnt know it, the White House didnt know it, Congress didnt know it. Were at a time with a lot of turmoil internationally, Lankford said. Rep. Jim Clyburn, assistant Democratic leader in the House, told CNNs Tapper that he disagreed with Pence that Austins actions were a dereliction of duty, calling Austin a stand-up guy and a great defense secretary. Now we have some laws in this country, HIPAA laws, that keep us out of peoples medical businesses, and I do believe this man has as much right to be protected by those laws, and be subjected to those laws, as everybody else. He does have a duty to keep the public informed, the South Carolina Democrat said. And I dont know whether it was him, or someone inside the military establishment that decided to do it this way, but I am sure he will do a little better going forward as he said he would. Reps. Mike Rogers and Adam Smith, the chair and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, respectively, released a combined statement on Sunday saying they were concerned about how Austins hospitalization was handled and demanded more details on the decision-making process. We are concerned with how the disclosure of the Secretarys condition was handled. Several questions remain unanswered including what the medical procedure and resulting complications were, what the Secretarys current health status is, how and when the delegation of the Secretarys responsibilities were made, and the reason for the delay in notification to the President and Congress, the statement said. Rogers, a Republican, and Smith, a Democrat, added that the defense secretary must provide additional details on his health and the decision-making process that occurred in the past week as soon as possible. Austin is a critical member of Bidens cabinet and holds one of the most important roles in the national security establishment particularly as the US military faces increased tensions in the Middle East. During Austins hospitalization, the US carried out a strike in Baghdad against the commander of a pro-Iran militia. Austin gave authorization for the strike before he was hospitalized, said Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary. The day he was hospitalized, Austin was among the top national security officials who participated in a call with the president to discuss, among other things, the escalating situation in the Red Sea, a source familiar with the call told CNN. It was not clear whether the call which was said to have taken place in the morning was before or after Austin was hospitalized. But he sounded fine during the meeting, the source said at the time. Austin has since reassumed his full duties. He spoke to Biden on Saturday evening, according to a White House official, who said the president has complete confidence in Secretary Austin and is looking forward to him being back in the Pentagon. On Saturday evening, Austin thanked the amazing staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for the care he has received and said he is on the mend and looking forward to returning to the Pentagon. He acknowledged media concerns about transparency and said I commit to doing better in the statement, which totaled seven sentences. But he did not apologize for failing to notify the public or the press in a timely fashion. Senior administration and military officials who are hospitalized normally put out a statement within 24 hours. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Samantha Waldenberg, MJ Lee, Oren Liebermann, Haley Britzky, Natasha Bertrand and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remained in the hospital Sunday as more details emerged about key decision-makers, even President Joe Biden, being kept in the dark for days that the Pentagon chief had been in the intensive care unit at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The Pentagons failure to disclose Austins hospitalization reflects a stunning lack of transparency about his illness, how serious it was and when he may be released. Such secrecy, at a time when the United States is juggling myriad national security crises, runs counter to normal practice with the president and other senior U.S. officials and Cabinet members. A senior defense official said Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks was not notified until Thursday that Austin had been hospitalized since Jan. 1. Once notified, Hicks began preparing statements to send to Congress and made plans to return to Washington, the official said. Hicks was in Puerto Rico on leave but had communications equipment with her to remain in contact and had already been tasked with some secretary-level duties on Tuesday. The Pentagon did not say if Hicks was given an explanation on Tuesday for why she was assuming some of Austins duties, but temporary transfers of authority are not unusual and the official said it is not uncommon for authorities to be transferred without a detailed explanation. Hicks decided not to return after she was informed that Austin would resume full control on Friday. The official was not authorized to provide details of the transfer of authority and spoke on condition of anonymity. Biden also was not told of Austins hospitalization until he was informed on Thursday by his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan. Thats according to three people with knowledge of the hospitalization who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. In a statement issued Saturday evening, Austin took responsibility for the delays in notification. I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better, said Austin, acknowledging the concerns about transparency. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure. Austin, 70, remained hospitalized due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure, his press secretary said, as it became increasingly clear how closely the Pentagon held information about his stay at Walter Reed. In his statement, Austin said he is on the mend and is looking forward to returning to the Pentagon soon, but he provided no other details about his ailment. Sen. Roger Wicker, the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the episode erodes trust in the Biden administration and called on the department to provide lawmakers with a full accounting of the facts immediately. I am glad to hear Secretary Austin is in improved condition and I wish him a speedy recovery. However, the fact remains that the Department of Defense deliberately withheld the Secretary of Defenses medical condition for days. That is unacceptable, Wicker said in a statement. Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced support for Austin at a news conference in Qatar on Sunday. He is an extraordinary leader in this country, in uniform and now out of uniform. And its been a highlight of my service to be able to serve alongside him, Blinken said. And Im very much looking forward to see him fully recovered and working side by side in the year ahead. The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists who cover the Defense Department, sent a letter of protest on Friday evening, calling the delay in alerting the public an outrage. At a time when there are growing threats to U.S. military service members in the Middle East and the U.S. is playing key national security roles in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, it is particularly critical for the American public to be informed about the health status and decision-making ability of its top defense leader, the PPA said in its letter. Other senior U.S. leaders have been much more transparent about hospital stays. When Attorney General Merrick Garland went in for a routine medical procedure in 2022, his office informed the public a week in advance and outlined how long he was expected to be out and when he would return to work. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Michael Balsamo and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) The Pentagon released new details Sunday about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's continued hospitalization, saying he had a medical procedure Dec. 22, went home a day later and was admitted to intensive care Jan. 1 when he began experiencing severe pain. The latest information came as members of both parties in Congress expressed sharp concerns about the secrecy of Austin's hospital stay and the fact that the president and other senior leaders were kept in the dark about it for days. The statement, released by Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, did not, however, provide any details about the medical procedure or what actually happened on Monday to require Austin to be in intensive care at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Ryan said Austin was placed in the hospitals intensive care unit "due to his medical needs, but then remained in that location in part due to hospital space considerations and privacy. The Pentagons failure to disclose Austins hospitalization, including to President Joe Biden, the National Security Council and top Pentagon leaders, for days reflects a stunning lack of transparency about his illness, how serious it was and when he may be released. Such secrecy, when the United States is juggling myriad national security crises, runs counter to normal practice with the president and other senior U.S. officials and Cabinet members. Ryder said the National Security Council and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks were not notified until Thursday, Jan. 4, that Austin had been hospitalized since Jan. 1. Ryder said Austin's chief of staff, Kelly Magsamen, was ill and unable to make notifications before then. He said she informed Hicks and the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, on Thursday. Once notified, Hicks began preparing statements to send to Congress and made plans to return to Washington. Hicks was in Puerto Rico on leave but had communications equipment with her to remain in contact and had already been tasked with some secretary-level duties on Tuesday. The Pentagon did not say if Hicks was given an explanation on Tuesday for why she was assuming some of Austins duties, but temporary transfers of authority are not unusual and are often done without detailed explanations. Hicks decided not to return after she was informed that Austin would resume full control on Friday. Biden was told of Austin's medical stay on Thursday by Sullivan, according to three people with knowledge of the hospitalization who were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. In a statement issued Saturday evening, Austin took responsibility for the delays in notification. I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better, he said, acknowledging the concerns about transparency. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure. Austin, 70, remains hospitalized and officials have been unable to say how long he will be at Walter Reed. In his statement, Austin said he is on the mend and is looking forward to returning to the Pentagon soon, but he provided no other details about his ailment. Sen. Roger Wicker, the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the episode erodes trust in the Biden administration and called on the department to provide lawmakers with a "full accounting of the facts immediately. I am glad to hear Secretary Austin is in improved condition and I wish him a speedy recovery," Wicker said in a statement. However, the fact remains that the Department of Defense deliberately withheld the Secretary of Defenses medical condition for days. That is unacceptable. It's not just Republicans expressing alarm. In a joint statement, Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Adam Smith, D-Wash., said they were concerned with how the disclosure of the Secretary's condition was handled. Among the questions they had were what the medical procedure was and what the resulting complications were, how and when the delegation of his responsibilities was made, and the reason for the delay in notification to the president and lawmakers. Rogers is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and Smith is the panel's top Democrat. Transparency is vitally important," said the two lawmakers. Austin must provide these additional details on his health and the decision-making process that occurred in the past week as soon as possible." Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced support for Austin at a news conference in Qatar on Sunday. He is an extraordinary leader in this country, in uniform and now out of uniform," Blinken said. And its been a highlight of my service to be able to serve alongside him,. He added: "Im very much looking forward to see him fully recovered and working side by side in the year ahead. Ryder said Austin is able to do his full duties, has secure communications at Walter Reed, and is in contact with his senior team, getting updates and providing guidance. He said he doesn't know if Austin will do in-person briefings this coming week. The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists who cover the Defense Department, sent a letter of protest on Friday evening, calling the delay in alerting the public an outrage. At a time when there are growing threats to U.S. military service members in the Middle East and the U.S. is playing key national security roles in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, it is particularly critical for the American public to be informed about the health status and decision-making ability of its top defense leader," the group said in its letter. Other senior U.S. leaders have been much more transparent about hospital stays. When Attorney General Merrick Garland went in for a routine medical procedure in 2022, his office informed the public a week in advance and outlined how long he was expected to be out and when he would return to work. ___ Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Michael Balsamo and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report. Democrats are in a tough spot, with Republicans working to force a choice between keeping the government open or enacting a draconian border reform package. House Republicans are openly pursuing an H.R. 2 or bust funding negotiation strategy that leaves Democrats with few palatable options. H.R. 2 is a GOP border package approved by the House in May. At the time it was seen as a messaging bill chock-full of politically unviable, hawkish provisions, but it now stands a chance at becoming law. That chance lies within the struggle for Congress to fund the government before a partial shutdown on Jan. 19 and a full shutdown on Feb. 2. Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), say they want H.R. 2 or H.R. 2-like provisions in order to play ball on passing a budget. On Sunday Congressional leaders announced they had reached a top-line spending deal to fund the federal government for the rest of fiscal 2024, the first step to avoid a partial government shutdown. The deal still has to pass both chambers while some hard-line House Republicans are still calling to force a government shutdown over the border. Johnson has touted the support of his conference, most recently at a border press conference attended by more than 60 Republican lawmakers, including border representatives from competitive districts such as Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), in whose district the conference was held. H.R. 2 crosses a litany of red lines for Democrats, but theyre entering an election year with low poll numbers for President Biden, and they dont want to be blamed if the government does shut down. The standoff is reminiscent of two key moments in border policy legislation: the 1996 shutdown threat engineered by former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) against then-President Clinton that led to the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), and the preelection Senate scramble to pass the 2006 Secure Fence Act. Both those bills, rushed through to meet a political moment, are reviled by advocates, who see them as the core of whats broken in the immigration system. That view drove opposition to Senate negotiations in December a rush to hash out border legislation on deadline and drove a wedge between leadership and immigration advocates on the Hill, led by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). In some ways, finding a common enemy in Johnsons proposals has helped heal that wound, allowing Democrats to focus their fire on the House GOP. House Republicans are now holding American families hostage alongside the critical funding our allies desperately need by threatening to shut down the government to pass extreme immigration policies, said CHC Chair Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.). And while the Senate negotiations meant aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan were held up over border policy, the threat of government shutdown is a significant escalation. Republicans are manufacturing yet another shutdown crisis in order to strong-arm policies that are politically charged, and worse, not effective. Theyve already rejected $14 billion to address the border yet state they want to improve conditions adding to their hypocrisy, said Barragan. But Democrats are on thin ice. Advocates may hate H.R. 2, but the general public has never show much interest in immigration policy minutiae, and Democrats will have to make the case for why stopping the bill is worth a shutdown. If Republicans maintain this stance of H.R. 2 or nothing, the governments going to shut down over this. The question for Dems is are they going to be able to articulate why H.R. 2 would be a policy and political disaster? How are they going to put up a fight that defines H.R. 2? said a source familiar with the negotiations who asked for anonymity to speak frankly. The GOP bill would slash asylum, mandate border wall construction, supercharge interior enforcement, decrease legal protections for migrant minors and reinvigorate the E-Verify program. Those provisions are toxic among many immigrant communities in large part because similar policies have led to serious human rights violations around the world and because of the chilling effect they can have on immigrants and Latino communities targeted by authorities. But its uncertain how the general public will judge those provisions, and public sentiment is already primed against migrants. The politics are so toxic right now toward new arrivals that even if the policy doesnt happen and the government shuts down, its not going to set up good political conditions for better policy development later, said the source familiar with negotiations. While attrition-fueled xenophobia is likely to bolster the House GOPs position, H.R. 2s most fervent advocates want to strike while the iron is hot. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) on The Sean Spicer Show on Thursday accused Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of lawlessness and painted a picture of urgency to approve H.R. 2. So we have to not do this for political purposes. We cant just say, Oh, well win elections if we just fight, but well figure it out next January. No, we have an obligation right now, to actually stop them. So we need to withhold funding and force Biden to the table. Theres no other choice. Its now or never, said Roy. Restrictionist border and immigration bills, like IIRIRA and the Secure Fence Act, have come at key moments of inflection in a longer-term trend of militarization, according to Alexander Avina, a historian at Arizona State University who focuses on 20th century Mexico. Militarization of the border goes back to the Mexican Revolution of 1910, said Avina, who is also Ciscomanis brother-in-law and has been sharply critical of the Arizona Republicans positions. This gradual hardening and militarization of the border has been constant, he added. Advocates worry that if Democrats cave and enact the Republican proposals hardening the border, theres little evidence that the reforms will reduce migrant arrivals in the long term, creating a lose-lose scenario for the Biden administration. Its setting the stakes for a very nasty situation where either some Republicans shut down the government or you allow them to move through policies that will likely make conditions on the ground even worse in an election year. Weve seen this kind of hostage-taking for funding packages before, but this is very significant now, because the politics of the issue has changed so significantly, said Andrea Flores, vice president for immigration policy at FWD.us. But Johnson is also in a delicate position, where he cant afford to lose any votes, meaning he has little if any wiggle room to move away from H.R. 2, a package that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has already said is a non-starter in the Democratic-controlled upper chamber. Some advocates read into that an intent to seek a shutdown. I just think its obvious that they are playing politics, theyre moving the goal posts and they dont plan to actually really negotiate, said Kerri Talbot, executive director of the Immigration Hub. I think this is all going to lead to a shutdown. You know, and I think thats what Republicans want. They wanted a shutdown; they wanted it in the fall. And now theyre going to use the borders as an excuse to shut down the government so they can finger-point, instead of actually legislating. Updated at 5:23 pm. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley are stepping up their direct attacks on former President Trump as time runs out to court voters in Iowa. The GOP rivals went after Trump over flip-flopping on abortion, his past campaign promises and electability Thursday in back-to-back town halls hosted by CNN in Iowa. The ramped-up aggression is a new tact for DeSantis and Haley as they vie to overtake one another and deny Trump the nomination in the eleventh hour of primary season. They paid less attention to each other as they tried to hone their messages to voters about why they were a better choice for the GOP than Trump. The challenge for both of these candidates is literally just getting people to notice and getting Republican primary voters to really, truly notice them because it feels like Donald Trump is going to carry the day in that state, said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean, referring to Iowa. Trump has been the clear front-runner throughout the race, maintaining a lead of 50 points nationwide and more than 30 points in Iowa, according to polling averages from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ. Despite Trumps lead in the polls, most of his rivals for the Republican nomination have shown hesitation in attacking him head-on. The most common attack that the rest of the field made against Trump earlier in the race was criticizing his decision to skip the GOP debates. Haley had already begun to hit Trump harder, pointing to chaos following him and that would continue in a second Trump term. But both candidates displayed some of their sharpest attacks yet on Trump on Thursday night, arguing he did not keep the promises he made when first running in 2016 and that the baggage he has would hurt him in a general election. DeSantis attacked Trump on several policy points throughout his town hall, notably slamming Trump for not following through on his promise to end birthright citizenship. All he had to do was put his John Hancock on a piece of paper, and he did not do it, DeSantis said. When I tell you Im going to do something, you can take it to the bank. He also alleged that Trump flip-flopped on the issue of abortion, saying the former president is of course not pro-life. He pointed to comments Trump made last year calling the six-week abortion ban DeSantis signed as governor of Florida a terrible mistake. I mean, when youre saying that pro-life protections are a terrible thing, by definition, you are not pro-life, DeSantis said. During Haleys town hall, the former United Nations ambassador said Trump was the right president at the right time but chaos follows him. And we cant have a country in disarray and a world on fire and go through four more years of chaos. We wont survive it, she said. Haley also argued she is the strongest candidate to face President Biden in November and that the country does not want another nail-biter of an election, noting polls show a hypothetical Trump-Biden match-up is closer. Neither candidate has criticized Trumps conduct relating to his four indictments, but both noted the charges could hurt him in a general election. Republican strategists said they expect DeSantis and Haley to continue with these sharper attacks as voting gets underway, but they needed to take this approach sooner than just over a week before the first votes. Bonjean said DeSantis seemed to focus mostly on Trump and ignore Haley because Iowa feels like his last stand given the resources the Florida governor has put in the state. DeSantis shifted much of his staff to Iowa in the fall and visited all 99 of the Hawkeye States counties, indications he appeared to be going all-in on Iowa. He is polling at almost 20 percent in Iowa in The Hill/Decision Desk HQs polling average, just ahead of Haley for second place, but hes been in single digits mostly in New Hampshire. Bonjean said DeSantis seemed to try to be more relatable and Haley delivered a strong performance in which she stayed on message, but both waited too long to turn their attention to the front-runner. Where was this focus months ago? They both have been very worried about turning off Republican voters, but in order to get noticed youve got to take on the front-runner, and you got to do it progressively, he said. He said former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christies (R) approach of vigorously attacking Trump was not going to work to remove Trumps front-runner status as it has turned off many GOP primary voters. That can actually really backfire because youre focusing too much, but they needed to turn up the volume like they were [during the debate], Bonjean said. Republican strategist Brian Seitchik said he considers the attacks that DeSantis and Haley are making on Trump too little, too late. I always felt it was a losing strategy to try to be Trump-lite or quote Trump without the baggage. If you want to be the king, you got to beat the king, he said. Seitchik argued that Trumps firm grip on the party meant that consolidating the non-Trump vote in the primaries was not going to be enough to beat him for the nomination, as he has been close to or past a majority in the polls for months. DeSantis and Haley have seemed to be battling with each other for months to be the main alternative to Trump, but Trumps lead in Iowa has been ticking up in recent weeks, surpassing majority support in The Hill/Decision Desk HQ polling average. Seitchik said he thinks Haley is in a much stronger position than DeSantis as she has been on the rise in New Hampshire. He said if Haley can claim second in Iowa and win New Hampshire, We have a legitimate race. He said political observers have been waiting for years for the moment that Trump is going to implode, but it has not happened, making the strategy of avoiding confrontation with Trump impractical. It was a strategy destined to fail to decide not to go after Trump in fear of alienating his voters, Seitchik said. Now, unless youre playing for 28 or youre playing for VP or youre playing for the Cabinet, then I understand that strategy. But if you got into this race 12 months ago with the intention of winning, you had to go after Trump. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Charlotte City Council is letting a rezoning petition move forward, clearing the way for potential redevelopment at the site of a popular bar. Charlotte City Council unanimously approved the rezoning petition for the Two Buck Saloon site. The property owner is exploring redevelopment options #CLTCC https://t.co/RHEykjs3EG Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) January 16, 2024 The Two Buck Saloon is in Charlottes Belmont neighborhood. Its home to the buckshot, a signature order that consists of a PBR draft and a shot of Jim Beam. ALSO READ: Historically underserved small businesses eligible for grants On Tuesday, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission considered a rezoning petition for the property the bar sits on. Clachan Properties asked the Charlotte City Council to rezone the 1.6 acres that include Two Buck Saloon. They wanted it rezoned from manufacturing and mixed-use to transit-oriented development. Council unanimously approved the rezoning petition on Tuesday. While the rezoning allows more to be built on the property, many loyal customers have one question: What does this mean for Two Buck Saloon? According to the property owners attorney, though the owner is exploring redevelopment options, they expect the saloon to be part of the community for the foreseeable future. (WATCH BELOW: Trans woman says bouncer at NoDa bar attacked her, used homophobic slur) Whatever happened in Atlanta on New Years Eve left an 18-year-old girl dead, robbing her of a future with her newborn son. Gwinnett County police say they responded to reports of shots fired at a home on Chance Lane after 1 a.m on New Years Eve. Neighbors reported waking up to the sounds of gunfire. They also reported seeing a bunch of kids scattering from the home into their cars. However, when police arrived on the scene, they realized that not everyone made it out. Read more The police are still investigating the incident and have yet to identify a suspect, the report says. Witnesses gave video recordings of the teens fleeing the scene to local Atlanta reporters. One X user claimed the shooting was a result of celebratory gunshots fired into the air for the New Year, a trend that occurs every year and also every year claims the lives of innocent bystanders. However, the authorities have not confirmed that was the case. Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to reach out to Gwinnett County police at (770) 513-5300. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers (404) 577-8477 or online at stopcrimeatl.com. Authorities are offering a monetary reward for tips. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Dear Dispatch readers, Thank you to everyone who participated in Decembers Monthly Mailbag with senior editor, John McCormack. To read about his Wisconsin upbringing, rationale for joining The Dispatch, time covering Congress, and experience living with Mike Warren, be sure to click here. This month, assistant editor Luis Parrales has raised his hand to take on all of your questions. Luis joined The Dispatch in early 2023 from the American Enterprise Institute, where he worked in campus outreach and as a research associate. His day-to-day role at The Dispatch involves a lot of commissioning and editing, but he also runs our weekend culture sectionand writes for it, too. Hes a contributing editor at American Purpose, and a Graduate Institute student at St. Johns College in Annapolis. As youre thinking about questions you have for Luis, here are some suggested topics: The Dispatchs cultural coverage and why conservatives should care about pop culture and the arts; How his experience organizing campus events for conservative speakers made him (somewhat) more optimistic about higher education; Moving from Mexico City to southeastern Virginia; Studying at St. Johns College as an adult, why everyone should read the Great Books, and why we do racial minorities a disservice by steering them away from the works of dead white men; His personal best mile time; and An inside look at Dispatch karaoke. Drop your questions for Luis in the comments below, and keep an eye out for an email with all of his answers in the coming weeks! Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) went after the New Hampshire Democratic Party over the upcoming primary in the Granite State in a Friday letter. The event on January 23, 2024 cannot be used as the first determining stage of the states delegate selection process and is considered detrimental, the DNCs Rules and Bylaws Committees (RBC) co-chairs, Minyon Moore and James Roosevelt Jr., said in a letter obtained by Politico and addressed to the New Hampshire Democratic Partys chair, Raymond Buckley. Two months ago, New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan (R) announced that the state would hold its primary on Jan. 23. The placement of the primary defied an attempt by Democrats to have South Carolina go first in its primary calendar, on Feb. 3. We are aware that the Party intends to host a delegate selection process on Saturday, January 6, the letter continues. We advise you to inform participants that this process has not been approved by the RBC and is therefore not the approved route to become a Delegate to the National Convention, nor will it be recommended for approval by the RBC. Buckley said in an emailed statement that it is nothing new. Theyve been saying that for a year, yet we persist. Historically, Iowa and New Hampshire have been the first states in the Democrats nominating process. However, they moved to change the primary calendar this year in an attempt to increase racial diversity in the process. The Democratic Party looks like America, and so does this proposal, said DNC Chair Jamie Harrison of the plan last year. The Hill has reached out to the Democratic National Committee. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. As school starts back up again, doctors warn parents that their children might not be getting enough sleep. With the holiday season behind us and many children returning to school after winter break, Nemours KidsHealth advises parents to pay attention to their childrens moods. Doctors said that when students dont get enough sleep, they could have trouble paying attention, mood swings, behavior problems, and learning problems. Read: Bipartisan proposal would help tech companies improve online safety for kids According to the hospital, kids between the ages of 1 and 17 should sleep between 13 and 8 hours a day. The hospital said that children who dont sleep the necessary hours can: Have trouble paying attention Struggle with schoolwork Be cranky, whiny, irritable or moody Have behavior problems Read: Join us for Family Fest at Dezerland Action Park January 27th! Nemours KidsHealth is encouraging parents to create good sleeping habits for their children by: Sticking to a regular bedtime routine. Encourage older kids and teens to set a bedtime that allows for full hours of sleep. Turn off all screens at least 1 hour before bedtime. For more helpful tips, click here. Read: Walt Disney World race weekend wraps up with Sundays marathon Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Three Central Florida residents have joined the list of nearly 100 Floridians who have been arrested in connection to the Capitol riots. Jonathon Pollock, Olivia Pollock and Joseph Hutchinson III were arrested at a ranch in Groveland Saturday over their alleged participation in the Capitol insurrection. Read: FAA grounds some Boeing 737-9 aircraft after window blowout on Alaska Airlines flight They are being held in Marion County Jail. Arrest documents show Jonathon Pollock is facing the most charges out of the group. He was pictured on the documents in a ballistic-plate carrier vest, along with green kneepads and brown tactical gloves. Read: Runners gearing up for Sundays 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon Hes accused of punching two in the face, kneeing a police officer, dragging an officer downstairs, charging at law enforcement with a flagpole, grabbing an officers neck and pinning them to the ground and ramming a police shield to an officer. Documents show he originally called off work to travel to D.C. with his family, then upon returning -- the affidavit said, he used his cell phone to show photos of himself at the capitol...and to brag to his coworkers about having been on the news. The FBI spoke to former coworkers of his to identify him from the images. Read: 3 years since Jan. 6 attack: Supreme Court to decide if Trump can be banned from 2024 ballot Then the search began. He evaded authorities for years despite the FBI offering thousands of dollars for details on his whereabouts. Olivia Pollock has pleaded not guilty. Shes set to go to trial last March on federal charges for a coordinated attack assaulting an officer, but she didnt show up to court. Documents show Hutchinson was identified by law enforcement because he worked at the Pollocks family gun shop there. Hutchinson is also facing assault charges for that coordinated attack. Hes pled not guilty. Jonathon Pollock has yet to enter a formal plea. All three are expected to appear in federal court over in Ocala on Monday. More than 700 people have pled guilty so far to federal charges connected to the Capitol riots, including 200 who admitted to felonies. More than 80 people are still wanted for acts of violence at the capitol, including Joshua Doolin and Michael Perkins, who were named in association with the above three in their charging affidavits. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Donald Trump said that the Civil War could have been negotiated. He said that he believed Abraham Lincoln could have done more to avoid violence. A Yale history professor said the comments were "elementary school nonsense." Former President Donald Trump declared that the Civil War, which was primarily fought over the issue of slavery, could have been negotiated. "The Civil War was so fascinating, so horrible but so fascinating," Trump said at a campaign event on Saturday. "I'm so attracted to seeing it. So many mistakes were made. See, there was something I think could have been negotiated, to be honest with you. All the people died, so many people died." Trump spoke about how "vicious" the war was and suggested that then-President Abraham Lincoln could have done more to avoid violence. "Abraham Lincoln, of course, if he negotiated it, you probably wouldn't even know who Abraham Lincoln was," Trump said. "He would've been president, but he would've been president, and he would have been he wouldn't have been the Abraham Lincoln." The Civil War has become a talking point for Republican primary contenders in recent days. At a different event in Iowa on Friday, Trump also criticized Nikki Haley for not using the word "slavery" when talking about the cause of the Civil War. Haley has since said: "Of course, the Civil War was about slavery." 'Elementary school nonsense' President Abraham Lincoln, wearing top hat, is shown with Union Army Gen. George B. McClellan, facing Lincoln, and McClellan's staff at Antietam, Maryland, 1862 during the American Civil War. Alexander Gardner/AP Historians have disputed Trump's views that the war that killed 620,000, ending with the defeat of the southern Confederate states by the Union, the reunification of the United States, and the abolition of slavery, could have been stopped through negotiations. David Blight, a history professor at Yale University, told The Washington Post that Trump's suggestion the war could have been negotiated was "elementary school nonsense" and "historically ignorant." James Grossman, executive director of the American Historical Association, told The Washington Post that southern states were not willing to negotiate, partly because of the issue of runaway slaves. "The declarations of secession explicitly state that the seceding states were leaving the Union to maintain that system, and because many northern states were refusing to return escapees from that regime. This could not be 'negotiated,'" he said. Read the original article on Business Insider Nikki Haley: Isnt that sweet of [Donald Trump] spending so much time and money against me? - Brian Cahn/Shutterstock Donald Trump has rounded on Republican rival Nikki Haley, claiming she would betray US voters in the same way as she betrayed him. Campaigning in Iowa ahead of the states caucus, the former president stepped up his attack on his former UN ambassador, who is rivalling Florida governor Ron DeSantis as Mr Trumps main rival for the Republican nomination. Nikki would sell you out just like she sold me out, Mr Trump said as he recalled Ms Haley once saying she would never run against him. Mr Trump also turned on one of Ms Haleys donors Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, whom he described as a slob. A Democrat and Biden supporter, Mr Hoffman has given $250,000 to a Hayley-supporting super Pac committee. Mr Trump also dismissed Ms Haley, whose foreign policy is closer to the traditional bipartisan approach, as being a globalist and in the pocket of establishment donors. She likes the globe, Mr Trump said. I like America first. Mr Trump also dismissed Ms Haley as being a globalist - Scott Olson/Getty Recent polls have had Ms Haley closing in on Mr Trump in New Hampshire, with one survey narrowing the gap to just four points. This has seen Mr Trump not only step up his rhetoric against Ms Haley, but also spend $5 million on advertising in New Hampshire attacking her. Isnt that sweet of him spending so much time and money against me? she said on Fox News on Friday. In New Hampshire, at least, she has emerged as the only viable stop Trump candidate. She is backed by Chris Sununu, the states popular Republican governor, who said that Ms Haley was gaining momentum in the race. Ms Haleys strong showing in the state has put pressure on Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor, and Ron DeSantis to give her a clear run. But neither man shows any sign of doing so. Shes phoney Mr DeSantis, whose campaign has been faltering, stepped up his onslaught on Ms Haley as he concentrated his effort on Iowa. Last week, he said his bumper sticker message for those attending the Iowa caucus was: Donald Trump is running on his issues. Nikki Haley is running on her donors issues. Im running on your issues. Mr DeSantis stepped up his attack in a joint interview with the Des Moines Register and NBC News. Im just thinking to myself, you know, shes phoney. You know, she doesnt have a core set of convictions. Shes coming in here. Shes trying to be relatable but just doesnt get Iowa. And I think thats becoming more and more apparent. In Iowa, Mr DeSantis and Ms Haley have jointly spent more than $21 million attacking each other in recent weeks. Ms Haley has described Mr DeSantis as too lame to lead, while the Florida governor has run ads dubbing her Tricky Nikki Haley. While the two candidates turn on each other, Mr Trump looks unassailable. The latest poll average, according to FiveThirtyEight, puts Mr Trump at 61.8 per cent, Mr DeSantis at 12.1 per cent and Ms Haley on 11.2 per cent. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. For over a year, unidentified drones have been spotted over the training grounds and barracks of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) in Germany, where Ukrainian soldiers are being trained. Source: German newspaper Bild, as reported by European Pravda Quote: "Drones are regularly spotted over the Klitz military training ground, where the Bundeswehr trains Ukrainians on Leopard 1 tanks. Sometimes several drones simultaneously enter the airspace of other bases," said Marcus Faber, a member of the Bundestag from the Free Democratic Party and a member of the Defence Committee. Details: The official added that sometimes, several drones are recorded simultaneously. Faber stressed that this is "clearly organised and points strongly to Russia". The Bundeswehr is also suspecting Moscow of being behind the drone operations but cannot prove it. The German Defence Ministry reported that none of the drones had been shot down. Nils Hilmer, State's Secretary at the German Defence Ministry, explained that the first step is to consult with the Interior Ministry on matters of drone defence. Research is necessary to establish what protective assets are effective and how quickly they can be purchased. "There is a huge backlog of demand when it comes to drones. One thing is clear: our army needs modern jammers. We need the results of the working group's activities over the next few months," Faber stated. Background: After Russia's large-scale missile attacks on Ukraine, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Chair of the German Bundestags Defence Committee, also advocated for Taurus missiles for Ukraine. She pointed out that Ukraine is currently in dire need of "artillery ammunition, Taurus and spare parts for the heavy equipment we supply". Meanwhile, the German government persistently refuses to supply long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has tried to distance himself from the Horizon scandal - Andrew Matthews Sir Ed Davey must be held to account for wicked Post Office decisions, a victim of the scandal has said. The Lib Dem leader has tried to distance himself from the Horizon scandal, claiming he was deeply misled while serving as the postal affairs minister between 2010 and 2012. But those falsely accused of wrongdoing are demanding that he is subject to a full interrogation over what he knew and when. Ex-postmistress Sally Stringer has said that the root of the scandal goes back to ministerial decisions some of which were wicked. In what has been described as one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history, more than 700 postmasters were prosecuted after faulty accounting software, called Horizon, made it appear money was missing from their stores. Events surrounding the scandal are back in the spotlight following an ITV drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which was screened last week. It has since emerged that Sir Ed and other ministers were repeatedly warned about the accounting problems and issues with the software. ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office has brought the events back into the spotlight - ITV press centre Campaigner Alan Bates ended up cutting contact with Sir Ed after he said in response to numerous complaints in 2010 that he had checked with the Post Office and it continues to express full confidence in the integrity and robustness of the Horizon system. In a letter seen by the Sunday Times, Mr Bates responded in 2011 saying: Having nailed your colours to the POLs [Post Office Ltd] mast from the [Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance] standpoint there was little point in continuing a dialogue with you or your department at that point. Bitterly regrets A spokesman for Sir Ed has said that he bitterly regrets that the Post Office was not honest with him and in hindsight he wishes that he could have done more. However, Mrs Stringer, who ran a post office in Beckford, Gloucs, for 20 years and faced audits, accusations and demands for repayment of money that was supposedly missing, believes that the responsibility for the scandal lies at the door of the Government. I think the problems with Post Office Limited goes back to ministerial decisions taken during the coalition government of the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives formed in 2010, she said. The ministerial decisions range from incompetent to wicked. Interrogate Sir Ed She has asked the ongoing public inquiry to interrogate Sir Ed as well as former business secretary Sir Vince Cable and Jo Swinson, who also held the position of postal affairs minister whilst prosecutions took place. Giving evidence to the ongoing public inquiry, Mrs Stringer said the CEOs of the Post Office are pawns in the scandal as they did as they were told by [the Department of Business]... They are all dysfunctional to the core, the whole lot, and they need to be accountable. She added: There has to be a concerted effort to get the responsible individuals. It needs to be done as a block, otherwise those responsible will walk away nicely. I would like Vince Cable and Edward Davey to be cross examined about what they knew and did. Completely understands victims anger A Liberal Democrat spokesman said that Sir Ed did meet with postmasters and raise concerns whilst minister in charge of the Post Office. They added: Ed completely understands the victims anger at this appalling miscarriage of justice, and in hindsight he wishes he could have done more to help them. His focus is now on getting justice and compensation as quickly as possible to all those affected. Ed deeply regrets not realising that the Post Office was lying to him and other ministers on an industrial scale in what amounts to a conspiracy against the public. He will fully cooperate with the inquiry and is keen to give his evidence as soon as possible to help get to the bottom of this scandal. Liberal Democrat MP and former leader Tim Farron said: Ed has said how much he regrets that the Post Office was lying to him, just like it was to everyone else. Hes experienced more than his fair share of tragedy in his life, I know he feels the pain of those affected by this scandal very deeply. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. LIVINGSTON COUNTY Donations to essential fundraisers, packed school board meetings, community debate and dialogue, making stronger demands of our public officials these are the benefits of a free and active press. Throughout 2023, reporters at The Livingston Daily worked to bring our readers the most up-to-date coverage of issues we hold dear. We answered questions, from the mundane to the vital. When would streetscaping wrap up? Where were the current detours in Livingston County's never-ending construction schedule? Where, exactly, was Brighton's famous statue, "Decision Pending," going to be placed when it returned downtown? We put a spotlight on tornado damage, on a once-in-a-lifetime hailstorm, on crash victims and fire victims and a particularly dangerous intersection at Fowlerville and Chase Lake Road (which was marked for improvements in September). We touched on the importance of safe storage, talked about the celebrations that make our communities special, and attended the meetings that residents flooded to voice their opposition. Our team will continue that coverage in 2024, working hard to have an impact on the community so many of us call home. Cassandra Lybrink is the local editor of The Livingston Daily. Contact her at clybrink@livingstondaily.com. Follow her on Twitter @CassLybrink. This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: From the editor: Delivering an impact to our readers Sherry Jones is editor of the StarNews and the NC East Group executive editor for the USA Today Network. Telling stories about people in our local communities and digging into issues that are important to local readers is at the core of what we do at the StarNews. Here's a look at some of the impactful local stories and topics we covered in 2023. Hurricanes Thankfully, we didnt see a direct hit in 2023, but we did feel the impacts of Idalia, Lee and Tammy. Providing coverage of hurricanes and other severe weather threats is a public service and essential to our mission as a news organization. MORE: Complete coverage of Hurricane Idalia's impacts on the Wilmington area Changes at Wilmington International Airport -- From plans for more parking to new flights, these were some of the most popular stories we published in 2023. Its clear readers want this information because it impacts their lives. MORE: With new flights and passenger numbers soaring, what's next for Wilmington's airport? Police officer under investigation The StarNews was the first to report when a Wilmington police officer had been suspended and was under investigation. We kept digging and asking questions until we finally learned that she was actually the victim of a money mule scheme. This is a good example of the work we do to hold public officials accountable. MORE: Wilmington police detective victimized in fraud scheme resigns Impact of the writers and actors strikes Reporter John Staton looked at the local economic impact of the film industry shutdown. The strikes caused a financial hardship for some workers, and some productions halted filming. MORE: Film industry shutdown's economic impact in Wilmington to likely cause 'spillover effects' Climate change and environmental issues For several years now, reporter Gareth McGrath has provided in-depth coverage of how climate change is impacting coastal North Carolina. From beach nourishment to threatened wildlife, these stories have been well-researched and reported. One of the most read stories on this topic this year was about how armadillos are moving into North Carolina because of warming temps here. CLIMATE CHANGE REPORTING: Read Gareth McGrath's stories. Readers tell us they enjoy seeing how our work has made a difference in our communities. And these are just a few examples. Id like to take this opportunity to thank the StarNews staff for their dedication and commitment to providing content that impacts the communities we serve in a meaningful way. Sherry Jones is the StarNews executive editor. You can reach her by email at sjones1@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: From the editor: Impactful journalism is at the core of what we do The newsroom staff at The Fayetteville Observer has learned in recent years that earning trust is hard work and it should be. More than that, though, its fulfilling work. In 2022, I wrote about our efforts to do a better job of reaching Black people in our community. That journey started with the knowledge that the Observer hasnt always done right by the Black community, ranging from active harm (running ads for enslaved people or running an endless stream of mugshots) to neglect (not adequately covering issues important to Black people in our community). We are striving to change that and have spent the past couple of years trying to build in some cases mend relationships and earn trust in Cumberland County's Black communities. Black people make up 40% of Cumberland Countys nearly 340,000 population and 42% of Fayettevilles nearly 210,000 people. When you cover a community, it is imperative to cover the fullness of life that exists within that community. We arent perfect, but we try to do better every day. Putting in the work Weve made a concerted effort to listen to people in the Black community about what they want from us not just what we think they want from us. Readers told us they wanted more stories about people helping their community. We listened. 'You're loved': Fayetteville State hosts more than 300 young men for inaugural summit Fayetteville youth need a safe place to go. Carl Pringle has a plan to help. Fayetteville's living history: Neighbors work to preserve historically Black neighborhood Readers told us they wanted more stories about young children and teens. We listened. Meet Fayettevilles Future Black History Makers 3-year-old Fayetteville model struts the runway at New York Fashion Week Fayetteville bowler from Westover is state champ with hopes of going higher Readers told us they wanted us to investigate issues that particularly affect Black people. We listened. Pitts: I felt devalued. Fayetteville racial land restrictions no longer have legal power but can still sting Fewer Fayetteville-area minorities own their homes than whites. What can be done? NC Black babies have a higher death rate. We must help them survive. Readers told us they wanted more coverage of local people doing great things. We listened. Meet the Fayetteville doula fighting to improve Black maternal health, infant mortality rates Meet Jelisa Montalvo, the chef behind Dorothys Catering, a 40-year Fayetteville tradition Why I Joined: Fayetteville native enlisted for opportunity. Now, he's leading troops. Fayetteville Observer News Director Beth Hutson, left, listens as Opinion Editor Myron B. Pitts speaks introduces the agenda for a moderated discussion at the Sip Room on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. Listening to Black women Its not just about the stories, although thats obviously important. Its about building relationships. Black people arent a monolith. There are many intersectional ties to explore within such a large group of people, and in 2023, we felt that it was time to narrow our focus when we were given the opportunity to enhance our community engagement through an American Press Institute grant. The group we chose was a no-brainer: Black women professionals. Black women are often the movers, the shakers, the leaders and the helpers in this community. We wanted to hear from them. We identified a couple dozen Black women professionals in Cumberland County and invited them to an evening of wine, appetizers and a discussion moderated by retired Cumberland County Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Greg Weeks at the Sip Room in downtown Fayetteville. Our topics included race and the media, education, family, business and health. The feedback was powerful: "I felt heard," one woman wrote in an anonymous survey of participants. Such care and thoughtfulness was put into this it felt welcoming and sincere, wrote another. That was a common refrain during and after the event these women appreciated the chance to share their thoughts, and we hoped to show them we were listening. We have since published several stories that came directly from that listening session, including a two-part series on youth mentorship, as well as a story looking at the funding barriers Black women-led nonprofits face. We continued the conversation in a private Facebook group, as well as in a follow-up moderated discussion in December. One of our original participants, Sylvia Glanton, offered to host that discussion at her downtown Fayetteville business, Personameant Solutions. Some of our original participants brought friends. One brought her daughter. One participant, Tiffany Campbell, left the session with the idea for her 100 Black Women in Black event that happened Saturday in downtown Fayetteville. What's next? It meant a lot to us at the Observer that these women were willing to continue the discussion and even bring new people into it. We plan to make these events a regular occurrence in 2024, and well continue to keep the conversation going in our private Facebook group, Your Story Matters: Community Conversations with The Fayetteville Observer. Our ultimate goal is to make this kind of engagement a habit, part of our jobs and part of our organizations DNA. We are off to what we believe is a very promising start. News director Beth Hutson can be reached at bhutson@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3533. Beth Hutson This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville Observer editor: Reaching Black readers President Trump speaks at a rally near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump's lawyers argue he is immune from prosecution because he was impeached and acquitted on the charge that he incited an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) On Tuesday, a federal appeals court in Washington will hear arguments on a question of vital interest to the rule of law: whether former President Trump is immune from prosecution for alleged crimes related to his elaborate efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit must reject Trumps claim, not only to ensure that he faces a jury but also to deter future presidents from acting criminally and not just when they try to cling to office after losing an election. The Supreme Court declined a request from special counsel Jack Smith to rule on this case before the appeals court weighed in. If the appeals court rules in a timely fashion, the high court could still review the immunity issue in time for Trump to be put on trial before the Republican National Convention in July. (On Friday the justices said they would take up another controversy involving Trump, agreeing to review a Colorado Supreme Court decision holding that he was barred from the ballot in that state because he engaged in insurrection.) Read more: Editorial: No immunity for Trump. Former presidents don't have a 'get-out-of-jail-free' card In arguing for immunity for Trump, his lawyers suggest that the actions alleged in Trumps indictment by a federal grand jury which include efforts to assemble fake electors and press Vice President Mike Pence to reject electoral votes for Joe Biden fall within the outer perimeter of the presidents official responsibility. The outer perimeter language appeared in Nixon vs. Fitzgerald, a 1982 Supreme Court decision holding that former President Nixon couldnt be sued by a former Air Force analyst who claimed he was fired because of testimony to Congress about cost overruns. The court said that a former president is entitled to absolute immunity from damages liability predicated on his official acts. Trumps lawyers suggest that the Fitzgerald case, which involved a civil lawsuit, means that Trump is also immune to criminal prosecution. Read more: Opinion: This surprise argument could derail Trump's immunity claim in the Jan. 6 trial That argument is unpersuasive. First, the actions for which Trump has been charged lie outside even a loose definition of decisions within the outer perimeter of the presidents official responsibility. Trumps lawyers strain to characterize the actions for which was Trump was indicted as official acts that reflect President Trumps efforts and duties, squarely as chief executive of the United States, to advocate for and defend the integrity of the federal election, in accord with his view that it was tainted by fraud and irregularity. That characterization is laughable; Trump was acting in his political self-interest, not as a disinterested champion of election integrity. Second, there is a distinction between civil lawsuits and criminal prosecutions. In a concurring opinion in the Fitzgerald case, Chief Justice Warren Burger stressed that the court wasnt recognizing sweeping immunity for a president for all acts. He emphasized that immunity is limited to civil damages claims. In a brief filed with the appeals court, Smiths office made another important point: The Supreme Courts concern in the Fitzgerald case about former presidents being subjected to highly intrusive lawsuits from countless people doesnt apply in the criminal context. Read more: Calmes: 2023 sucked, but at least there was a measure of accountability in Washington Finally, Trumps lawyers point to an unbroken tradition of not prosecuting current or former presidents. To which Smiths office has a pithy reply: Other former presidents havent been prosecuted, not because of a tradition of criminal immunity, but because most presidents have done nothing criminal. The special counsel also notes that President Fords pardon of former President Nixon covering acts during the latters presidency rested on the assumption that no post-presidency immunity from criminal prosecution existed. Trumps lawyers are also making the equally unpersuasive claim that Trump cant be prosecuted because he was impeached and acquitted of inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. That argument depends on a far-fetched interpretation of language in the Constitution saying that an official who has been convicted by the Senate at an impeachment trial can be prosecuted which doesnt mean that a president who was acquitted cant also be criminally charged. None of Trump's arguments pass muster legally. But if such expansive concepts of presidential immunity should prevail, they would, as Smiths office pointed out, protect a president who accepts a bribe in exchange for directing a lucrative government contract to the payer; a president who instructs the FBI director to plant incriminating evidence on a political enemy; a president who orders the National Guard to murder his most prominent critics; or a president who sells nuclear secrets to a foreign adversary. Like his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Trumps attempt to have the courts grant him immunity from criminal liability poses a threat to democracy. The appeals court should quickly reject such dangerous theories and the Supreme Court should follow suit. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. As we begin the new year, it's an opportune time to reflect on the positive strides in Tallahassee, especially regarding the upcoming legislative session starting Jan. 9. A significant focus has been the Florida Senate's forward-thinking push for deregulating public schools, which promises to bring refreshing changes to our educational landscape. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo articulated a clear and pragmatic approach to deregulation. Her framework, based on three insightful questions, is a testament to a thoughtful and constructive legislative process. These questions aim to streamline regulations and ensure they are necessary, but they also strive to make sure those regulations don't compromise student safety and can be effectively managed on the local level. More autonomy This approach signals a shift toward more autonomy and flexibility for public schools and it would align public schools more closely with their private counterparts. Sarasota County School District Superintendent Terry Connor, center, speaks with Venice Middle School arts teachers Lisa Jodwalis (visual arts), left, and Tatiana Ignotis (theater), right, before the start of the Aug. 7, 2023, Arts Teachers Pre-planning Professional Learning conference at Riverview High School. The proposed Senate bills CS/SB 7000, CS/SB 7002 and CS/SB 7004 address critical areas: personnel management, district operations and instructional practices. These bills have made commendable progress in the Senate and are poised to bring about significant positive changes that include: More flexibility in teacher contracts. Eased financial reporting for districts. A more rational approach to instructional materials and testing. This period represents a unique opportunity for educators to engage with these positive changes. By staying informed and involved, we can help steer these developments in directions that best serve our students, educators and communities. The upcoming year is set to be a milestone in Florida's educational history, marking a shift toward a more streamlined, efficient and responsive educational system. Deregulation in public schools is paramount to ensure they remain competitive and responsive to changing demands. As other school choice options, such as charter and private schools, operate more flexibly, public schools must also be empowered to be as nimble and agile. Deregulation can streamline processes, reduce bureaucratic constraints and foster innovation, allowing public schools to adapt quickly to new educational trends, technological advancements and the diverse needs of students and families. Public schools can focus more on personalized learning, operational efficiency and robust teacher support by easing regulatory burdens. Such agility is crucial for public schools to continue being a top choice for quality education, responding effectively to the competition and maintaining their pivotal role in the broader educational system. An even playing field As a dedicated servant leader of public schools, I fully support school choice; I recognize its importance in fostering dynamic educational options for every student. However, it is essential to emphasize the need for an even playing field. For our public schools to compete effectively and be the top choice for families in Sarasota County, we need equitable resources, flexibility and opportunities akin to those available to private and charter schools. This level playing field is not just a matter of fairness it is also crucial for cultivating an environment where all students, irrespective of their backgrounds, have access to the highest quality education. Ensuring every school has the necessary tools and support to innovate, adapt and excel is vital in making them a preferred and competitive option for families seeking the best educational outcomes for their children. As the superintendent of schools for Sarasota County, I express my appreciation to Senate President Passidomo and state Sens. Alexis Calatayud, Travis Hutson and Corey Simon and also to the Senate Education Pre-K-12 and Fiscal Policy committees and the Florida Department of Education. Their efforts in drafting and advancing the education deregulation bills align with our 2024 legislative platform, which aims to enhance public education in Sarasota County. These bills foster our ability to attract and retain outstanding teachers, and we endorse the 10-year renewable professional certificate for teachers consistently rated highly effective. This recognition is crucial, as highly effective teachers are pivotal in delivering top-tier education. Forward-thinking bills In addition, the proposal to designate educators with Exceptional Student Education (ESE) certificates as in-field for self-contained classrooms expands our hiring pool, and it will encourage more educators to pursue these vital roles. We support the removal of the Department of Education's approval for our personnel evaluation systems, enabling us to apply local metrics for assessing our instructional staff and leaders. This flexibility will allow for a more tailored evaluation, including how we incorporate student performance data. Regarding CS/SB 7002, we advocate for removing the cost-per-student construction limit. This change is essential in an era of escalating costs, allowing us to design facilities that meet community needs and compete with private schools. We also back the proposal to eliminate the annual facilities work plan and the five-year plant survey requirements, giving us more flexibility to align facility projects with our educational strategy. We favor the proposal in CS/SB 7004 for the state's education commissioner to publish the list of adopted instructional materials earlier and extend the authorization to purchase these materials. Additionally, we agree that changes to the school grades model should only be effective in the following school year, providing ample time for adjustment. The proposal to remove the uniform assessment calendar is also beneficial, as local control over student assessments ensures better alignment with our district's needs. We support authorizing district school boards to determine how to make capacity determinations for controlled open enrollment and reduce required capacity determinations from every 12 weeks to twice annually. This will allow us to provide the best opportunities for our families to take advantage of our education options. Also, we support the proposal to enable districts to publish required public notices on their websites instead of in the newspaper or on a county website. While these bills may evolve through the legislative process, we urge lawmakers to consider retaining these provisions. Their inclusion in the final legislation will grant districts greater flexibility to meet the diverse needs of our communities. Our district looks forward to collaborating with the Florida Legislature to address these vital educational matters in the upcoming session. Terry Connor is the superintendent of the Sarasota County school district. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota County's schools will benefit from education proposals ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday named former environment minister Murat Kurum as the ruling AK Party's candidate in Istanbul's mayoral election in March, bidding to win back control of Turkey's largest city. Kurum will stand against incumbent Ekrem Imamoglu from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), whose election as mayor in 2019 ended 25 years of rule in Istanbul by the AKP and its Islamist predecessors. Last May, Erdogan won re-election as president while his AKP and its nationalist allies took a majority in parliamentary elections, illustrating the challenge faced by the opposition in the nationwide municipal elections on March 31. "Working shoulder to shoulder, we will definitely bring Istanbul out of the interregnum of the last five years," Erdogan said at a ceremony to announce the candidacy of Kurum and other AKP candidates in the elections. Kurum, 47, was environment and urbanisation minister from July 2018 until last June, leaving the post after the elections. He was then elected as a member of parliament for Istanbul, Turkey's commercial hub and a city of 16 million, or some 20% of the population. Kurum was one of the most prominent figures in the government's response to the devastating earthquakes that shook southern Turkey last February, killing more than 50,000 people. He studied engineering at university and worked in Turkey's mass housing administration before his time as a minister. Erdogan announced his party's candidates for more than two dozen of the country's municipalities on Sunday and was expected to announce its candidates for the others, including the capital Ankara, later this month. (Reporting by Daren Butler; Editing by Susan Fenton) Mark Esper, the former U.S. Secretary of Defense, said former President Trump is a threat to democracy on the third anniversary of the Capitol riot. And yes, I do regard him as a threat to democracy, democracy as we know it, our institutions, our political culture, all those things that make America great and have defined us as, you know, the oldest democracy on this planet, Esper told CNNs Jim Acosta on Saturday. Esper, who served as the secretary of the Army and later as defense secretary under the Trump administration, said Jan. 6 is a tragic day in our nations history. Esper had concerns that Trump may use the military to remain in power after the 2020 presidential election and said that he thinks its a possibility that if Trump were reelected, he could use the military against potential protestors at a 2025 inauguration. The former defense secretary said he could see state governors, particularly those who are fans of Trump, lending him their national guards in that case. He added that if that werent to happen, Trump could invoke the Insurrection Act, which authorizes the president to deploy military forces to suppress protests or domestic violence. Trump aides reportedly drafted an order that would have allowed the former president to invoke the act amid the Black Lives Matter demonstrations and civil unrest that followed after police killed George Floyd in 2020. Esper was fired by Trump in November 2020, shortly after the election, following months of a rocky relationship since the nationwide protests in the summer. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. European Council President Charles Michel will run as a candidate for the European election in 2024, possibly triggering a crisis to fill a top diplomatic position, Belgian media reported on Jan. 6. "I have decided to run in the European elections in 2024," Michel told the newspaper. Michel would take up his seat in the European Parliament mid-July. EU leaders will then have to quickly appoint a successor for his vacated Council post. Due to the fact that Hungary takes over the rotating presidency of the Council in July, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban could fulfill the role of Council president if EU members do not quickly agree on a candidate. Tensions between the EU and Hungary over support for Ukraine have grown in intensity over the past year. Orban as Michel's stand-in successor would likely cause further conflicts between members of the Commission. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has repeatedly obstructed EU support for Kyiv, opposed sanctions against Russia, and now threatens to thwart Ukraine's EU aspirations. After the European Council agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova on Dec. 14, Orban effectively abstained from the vote to open talks, claiming that "EU membership for Ukraine is a bad decision." The next day, he blocked a 50 billion euro ($55 billion) EU package for Ukraine. Despite Orban's opposition, the European Council has remained a strong supporter of Ukraine throughout the full-scale invasion. Read also: Charles Michel: I dont think this counteroffensive has failed Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The EMA signed a lease for the property five years before the Brexit vote - Andy Rain/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The European Union faces a 27 million hit for a sprawling London office it vacated after Brexit, according to a confidential document seen by The Telegraph. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) offloaded its 280,000sq ft office to the US office-rental giant WeWork after Britain voted to leave the bloc. But the US firm filed for bankruptcy in November, leaving the future of the vast office complex in doubt. The EMA signed a 25-year lease worth 500 million for the property five years before the Brexit vote. The medicines watchdog moved its headquarters, alongside 900 staff, to Amsterdam, as a result of Britains departure from the EU. A High Court judge dismissed its claim that its lease had been frustrated by Brexit, leading to the agency to offload the office to WeWork in an attempt to recoup funds. High Court dismissed the EMA's claim that it had been 'frustrated' by Brexit - Andy Rain/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The US firm signed on to sublet the 10 floors of office space in 2019. But a document circulated to the European Parliaments powerful budget committee said the UK branch of WeWork would stop paying rent to the bloc for 30 Churchill Place in Canary Wharf. The EU now faces a 27 million bill if it remains empty for the rest of the year. The EMA has already requested more funds to cover for the surprise hit to its budget, with MEPs shortly due to decide whether to cover the 4.55 million it will have to pay for the first quarter of 2024. The Agencys current budget for 2024 does not have funding for additional costs outside its annual programme, the briefing note, labelled confidential and urgent, said. As negotiations with WeWork UK continue, it appears increasingly likely that the Union budget will need to contribute towards the rent of the 30 Churchill Place premises, which has until now been fully covered by WeWork UK, the document adds. The EUs lease on 30 Churchill Place expires in June 2039, with the EU still on the hook for 373 million in rent and other charges if a longer-term solution isnt found. Meanwhile, the EMA has been left furious by plans to build a mega-brothel near the site of its new headquarters in Amsterdam. Blueprint for a multi-storey erotic centre In 2023 it said it was very concerned by the blueprint for a multi-storey erotic centre that would rehouse sex workers from the Red Light District. In December, Amsterdam officials confirmed that the site with 100 work spaces for sex tourism would indeed be in Europaboulevard. The plans will now be debated by the city council with the site not due to open until 2031 if it gets the final green light. The EMA had warned that the change of location of the red light district is motivated by concerns of nuisance, drug-dealing, drunkenness and disorderly behaviour, adding: Locating the Erotic Centre in close proximity to the EMAs building is likely to bring the same negative impacts to the adjacent area. Frank Furedi, the executive director of think-tank MCC Brussels, said: EU taxpayers are on the hook for millions of Euros because of bad decisions by EU agencies. We are still paying for the incompetence of the EMA not negotiating an exit clause of their expensive London property. There was no need to rush forward to move the European Medicines Agency from London after Brexit, but because of that arrogant decision by the EU, millions will be wasted. A Wework spokeswoman said: We are up to date on our lease obligations at 30 Churchill Place, which remains open and operational. As part of our previously-announced process, we continue to work constructively and collaboratively with our landlord partner at this flagship location to craft a solution that mutually benefits both parties for the long term. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. (Bloomberg) -- Charles Michel, president of the European Council, will seek a seat in the European Parliament in elections scheduled for June and step down from his current role early if elected. Most Read from Bloomberg Michel, who runs the meetings of the 27 European Union leaders, plans to head the slate for Belgiums liberal Reformist Movement party, he said in an interview with local media on Saturday. The move will likely upend the process to choose the EUs top jobs following the election, which always involves horse trading among the largest parties. The center-right EPP, the progressive S&D and liberal Renew currently hold the most seats. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a member of the EPP, hasnt said if shell seek another term running the blocs executive arm. I want to serve the European project, said Michel, a former prime minister of Belgium. I want to continue to work for the European unity and, above all, the European strength. If elected, Michel, 48, will step down from his current role in July, before his term is scheduled to end in November. Under EU rules, the role could be assumed in the interim by the chair of the Council of the European Union, which will then be Hungary. Playing down such concerns after a meeting of his party on Sunday, Michel said in an interview that: everyone should be pleased and excited that European leaders want to be accountable. The bloc could also anticipate Michels election and pick a successor sooner, he said in the interview. The European Council will meet twice in June, when a new leader can be chosen. Citizens of 27 EU countries will go to the polls in early June to choose 720 members of Parliament. (Updates with additional Michel quote in the sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Charles Michel will step down in order to stand in the European parliament elections - GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP European council president, Charles Michel, announced on Sunday that he will step down early, setting off a race against time for EU leaders to prevent the role falling to Viktor Orban, the nationalist Hungarian president. The 48-year-old former Belgian prime minister has been organising EU summits and government meetings since 2019 and should leave office in November 2024. But he said he would leave early as he will stand in the European parliament elections to be held in June. Mr Michel will be the head of the liberal Reformist Movement in the elections. Mr Michel said: Four years after starting my term as a European leader, its my responsibility to give an account of my work these past years and to propose a project for Europes future. An EU summit is scheduled for just after the June 6-9 elections, and at this moment it will have to decide when my successor will take up the job, Mr Michel said. If European Union leaders cannot find a successor by then, Mr Orban, who has had frequent battles with Brussels, could take the job temporarily. Close to Putin As council president, one of Mr Michels main tasks has been overseeing EU summits that have decided the blocs responses to crises including Russias invasion of Ukraine. Mr Orban has maintained close ties to Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, since the war started. Hungary is due to take over the rotating presidency of the 27-member group from July 1. In that role, it organises EU ministerial meetings. Mr Michel said he will remain as the council president until he is sworn in as a European parliament deputy, which is scheduled for July 16. His move has been criticised by some European politicians. Sophie int Veld, a Dutch MEP for the liberal centrist Renew Europe party said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Mr Michel had abandoned his duties. The captain leaving the ship in the middle of a storm. If that is how little committed you are to the fate of the European Union, then how credible are you as a candidate? she asked. Mr Michel said: 'There are many tools if there would be the political will to avoid Viktor Orban.' - JOHN THYS/AFP His move also heightens speculation over many top EU jobs which must be decided by November. The elections for 720 MEPs every five years set off fierce horse-trading for the top EU jobs, including the European Commission and European Council. Ursula von der Leyen, the EU commission president, who like Michel was appointed in 2019, has kept quiet on whether she intends to seek a second term. Mr Michel has said that the EU summit in June could bring forward the appointment of his successor to avoid the risk of a long wait with no one in the post. Mr Michel said normal procedures could be changed by a simple majority vote. Defending his decision to quit early, Mr Michel said: There are many tools if there would be the political will to avoid Viktor Orban. It would be very comfortable for me... to wait until December, not to run, not to be accountable... not to participate in the debate, he said, adding that he could have negotiated a new role behind the scenes. Mr Michel said he had informed EU leaders of his decision on Saturday and most have reacted positively. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. A former Donald Trump White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications told special counsel Jack Smith that the ex-president was just not interested in stopping the escalating violence during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to a Sunday report from ABC News. Dan Scavino previously refused to speak about the riot with the House committee involved in the probe, but after a judge rejected claims of executive privilege in 2023, he talked to Smiths team. He described the situation as very unsettling due to Trump being very angry on Jan. 6not at protesters but at the election being allegedly stolen from him. Scavino and others tried to convince Trump for 20 minutes to release a statement to quell the crowd, but when they walked out of the room and left him alone, he posted on Twitter, accusing then-Vice President Mike Pence of not having the courage to do what should have been done. At the time, Scavino was the only person other than Trump with access to the former presidents Twitter account, so he was confronted by White House lawyers when the message dropped. According to ABC News sources, Scavino explained he was blindsided, saying, I didnt do it. Read it at ABC News Read more at The Daily Beast. Former German President Joachim Gauck called for Germany to supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles in an interview published by the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag on Jan. 7. Taurus missiles have been the subject of extensive discussion since Ukraine submitted a request for the weapons, which have a range of up to 500 kilometers, in May 2023. Bild reported in October that Olaf Scholz is against sending Taurus missiles to Kyiv because he fears the move will draw Germany into the war. Ukraine has received other long-range missiles, such as the Storm Shadow from the U.K. and the French-made SCALP. The missiles would be "used solely inside our borders," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in August. "The longer the missile range, the shorter the war," he argued. Gauck, who was president of Germany between 2012 and 2017, told Bild that "given the grueling trench warfare and the heinous airstrikes on the Ukrainian civilian population," Berlin should supply Taurus missiles. "I have spoken to people who have the necessary military knowledge," Gauck said. "After these discussions, I can no longer understand why we are hesitant to deliver this weapon." "There is no international law ban on supporting an attacked victim with weapons," and Ukraine should be supplied with "everything we have at our disposal." "A Russian victory would also threaten the security of other European states in the medium term," Gauck said. According to German news outlet T-online, Markus Soder, the prime minister of the German state of Bavaria, also spoke out in support of sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine on Jan. 6. A delivery of Taurus missiles represents "the only serious chance for Ukraine to find new courage and for the Russians not to win," Soder reportedly said during the winter retreat of his party, the Christian Social Union in Bavaria. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Military reports striking Russian arsenals in Crimea, cross-border raid inside Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Opponents of the ban on diversity, equity and inclusion offices and programs at Texas public universities and colleges say the new law removes protections against the historic exclusion of students of color and those who are LGBTQ+. DEI offices are not and have never been an instrument to promote one race or gender or sexual orientation above another, said Courtney Avant, legislative counsel for the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ rights nonprofit. "They have been a critical tool to address inequality and discrimination." Senate Bill 17 which prohibits colleges from using state money to provide special benefits" to people on the basis of race, color or ethnicity; considering diversity in hiring; or conducting mandatory DEI trainings went into effect Jan. 1. Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, who authored the bill, told the American-Statesman in a statement Saturday evening that DEI programs are ineffective and "inject politics and promote cancel-culture into our colleges and universities." "I challenge those who still oppose SB 17, to read the legislation which narrowly ends the practice of compelled speech, mandatory political oaths, diversity training and hiring practices that are not merit based," Creighton said. SB 17 does not affect academic courses, research, guest speakers, recruitment, provision of health care and student groups, yet the law's broadness and fear of overcompliance have left rights advocates, students and university employees worried that those programs could also get chopped, and that professors will leave. University of Texas student Angela Chan protests in May outside the Capitol against bills to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Such a DEI ban, Senate Bill 17, was passed and went into effect Jan. 1. How some schools are complying with SB 17 Universities across the state began complying with SB 17 at different paces, sometimes months before the law went into effect. Texas A&M University was among the first institutions to act. It cut its Office of Diversity in September, and, in November, it announced that the student Pride Center would become the Student Life Center. The University of Texas System, which oversees 14 academic and health institutions, including UT in Austin, released an FAQ guidance in mid-September and finalized its compliance policy in November. As of Jan. 1, UT-Austin's former Division of Diversity and Campus Engagement is known as the Division of Community and Campus Engagement, and the Gender and Sexuality Center is now the Womens Community Center. It's unknown if the Multicultural Engagement Center, which houses six university-sponsored student groups the Afrikan American Affairs, Asian Desi Pacific Islander American Collective, Latino Leadership Council, Native American and Indigenous Collective, Queer People of Color and Allies, and Students for Equity and Diversity will continue to operate or be reprogrammed. The center's website was taken down in December. UT declined to comment further on its changes. Texas A&M did not respond to requests for comment. Antonio Ingram, assistant counsel at the Legal Defense Fund, a national racial justice advocacy organization, which advocated against SB 17, said DEI bans have only been passed in Texas and Florida leaving enforcement in unprecedented territory. He said SB 17 attacks students ability to find belonging on campuses, or a desire to come to Texas. It is creating a chilling effect on people of color and queer students and our allies who want to come to places like UT-Austin, Ingram said. Why would you come to an institution that makes you hide parts of yourself or does not give full dignity to all parts of yourself? UT professors Roger Reeves, left, and Monica Jimenez and Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, right, demonstrate at the Freedom to Learn Texas Day of Action rally on May 3. The confusion and despair on campus is profound, said Karma Chavez, a UT Mexican American and Latina/o Studies professor and an executive committee member of the UT chapter of the American Association of University Professors. I've been on university campuses for over 20 years, and I've never been on one where the morale is as low as it is right now at UT-Austin, she said. Faculty members, she said, are exhausted. A lot of professors are on the job market right now, Chavez said. Chavez, who as chair of UT's Mexican American and Latina/o Studies department, writes letters for colleagues seeking employment elsewhere, and said she has written several. Creighton, SB 17's author, however, said he has heard from professors and administrators seeking employment in Texas who were previously concerned about the "weaponization" of DEI units and merit-based hiring. "Now that SB 17 is law, Im confident that Texas public colleges and universities can return to their core mission of innovation and education and if they do not, the Texas Senate will be resolute in enforcement of this legislation which includes provisions for university funding clawbacks, should there be violations," Creighton said. 'Did not seem to be valued anymore' Idia Thurston came to Texas A&M four years ago to work as an associate professor in health promotion and community health. She said a significant selling point for her recruitment was working in the Diversity Science Cluster a cohort of psychology faculty members and graduate students who research social identities related to sex, gender, race, ethnicity, cultural identity, age, language, sexuality and more. But within years, she felt like her work was no longer valued. An article she co-authored in 2020 about addressing racism in psychological science received praise nationally, she said, but little attention from Texas A&M. Even the science that I was doing, that at the time I was recruited was said was valued, did not seem to be valued anymore, Thurston said. Last year, when lawmakers began discussing how to regulate DEI at universities, she worried for her research. After Abbott's office in February issued a memo telling public universities to stop considering diversity in hiring, she was confused about how to recruit staff whose work centered on diversity. Thurston said she and other faculty members stopped working on an internal grant after they were left confused if SB 17 would allow it. It was definitely a chilling effect," Thurston said. While proponents of SB 17 say DEI programs have been ineffective, critics say the new DEI ban will have "a chilling effect" on people of color and LGBTQ+ students at Texas colleges. Northeastern University tried to recruit her in September 2022. But after having relocated with her family to Texas A&M, she declined. In the months after, as conversations against DEI in Texas were intensifying, she agreed to take a look at the campus in Massachusetts. By March, the month when SB 17 was introduced in the Legislature and weeks after Abbotts memo she accepted the job. Thurston now is the associate director of Northeastern University's Institute for Health Equity and Social Justice Research. Though research is exempt from the DEI ban in Texas, Thurston said she believes more diversity scholars in the state will look for employment elsewhere. This direction, that Texas is going, will drive scholars away, she said. I wouldn't be in academia if I could not do this health equity work and, so for it to be on the line, it just wasn't tenable for me. Joshua Barbour, a communications professor, worked at Texas A&M from 2008 to 2016, and at UT after that. He loved his time in Texas he and his wife imagined retiring here. But last year, he relocated north, largely due to state politics. I just couldn't see myself continuing to try and do my best work under those circumstances, Barbour said. The changes really pointed to a kind of instability and unpredictability that made it difficult for me to make a long-term commitment. As a researcher of organizations, he said there is no more important issue than how institutions manage diversity. Barbour, who now is a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a place and state he said value diversity, said he misses UT, but SB 17 and other state laws changed the landscape of higher education in Texas. If I'm having a conversation with a graduate student who's thinking of coming to the university, Barbour said, and they asked me, Am I going to be discriminated against because of the color of my skin or because of my religious belief? And I can't say with confidence that the institution will make sure that you are protected, that's just a really hard conversation to have. 'We have a responsibility to speak up' Avant, the Human Rights Campaign lawyer, said the removal of DEI offices at universities, with an exception for student groups, puts the onus on students to address gaps in need. It is a lot to put on their shoulders, Avant said. Sofia Alejandro and Yatziry Nava, both Hispanic, third-year students at UT, are starting a Hispanic film student organization at the school. At the group's first gathering, seeing her Hispanic classmates come together in one space brought Alejandro to tears. Students gathered for a sit-in at the Capitol in March to oppose DEI bans. Our perspective wasn't out there and having that space for us, I literally cried at the first meeting, Alejandro said. It's not about giving Hispanics more opportunities. It's about leveling the playing field. Alejandro and Nava said the overarching feelings on campus right now are confusion and fear confusion about why DEI is being targeted, and fear of how it will affect not only their experience, but students perspectives on diversity. On Dec. 5, Nava and Alejandro gathered outside on the West Campus Mall to protest SB 17. A few other students joined them. As a student organization, their group, Accion! Cine Colectivo, will be allowed to seek registration next semester. But Nava, who is the diversity officer of another film organization, said she is already concerned about UT resources the organization will have access to. I know a lot of the times these (laws) that are passed theyre put in place by people who don't really take into account the ones who are being affected, Nava said. We have a responsibility to speak up, and that's the only way that we will make sure that those people know how we're being affected. Chavez, the UT Mexican American and Latino/a Studies professor, said shes here to stay to support students of color and queer students as best she can. I've put roots in here, and I want to be here, and I really believe in my students and colleagues, Chavez said. But UT and the state of Texas make that very hard to do, I would say. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: DEI ban in Texas colleges leaves students, professors rattled Claim: Viral photographs shared in early 2023 showed authentic ice formations in the shape of flowers on Songhua River in China. Rating: Rating: Fake In January 2023, a collection of stunning images was shared on Facebook with a caption claiming they showed, "Ice flowers found in Songhua River, China." The Facebook post read: #CTDiscovery People In China Are Spellbound By The Pictures Of Ice Flowers In Songhua River. As per Chinas Peoples Daily newspaper, the formation of ice flowers is dependent on weather conditions. They are usually formed on shrubs. The best time for the formation of ice flowers is during the morning of late autumn or early winter. Songhua River, China Netizens cannot stop gushing over the amazing photograph. #iceflower #china #songhuariver #chinabeauty #scenic #scenery #picturesque #china #beauty #amazing #explorechina #explorepage #exploremore #fyp Google reverse-image search results showed that the same photographs were also shared on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). They were also included in various news articles for instance, in a DNT India article with the title, "Viral Photo: Natural art! Image of Ice Flower on Chinese River is truly amazing, see the most terrific pic of 2023." TinEye search results indicated that the pics were first shared on Reddit in December 2022 with a caption reading, "Ice flower on Songhua River in northeast China." Multiple social media users, however, suggested that the images were created using artificial intelligence (AI). For instance, one comment on Instagram read: Unfortunately it should be clearly Stated that these are ai generated because people who are not familiar with the tech assume they're photographs and loose their mind. In fact, AI or Not, Is It AI?, and Illuminarty, tools designed for detecting images created using artificial intelligence, indicated the images were indeed AI-generated. (aiornot.com screenshot) Moreover, we used Baidu, a Chinese search engine, to investigate the photographs' origins. We found Chinese-language articles showing "ice flowers" on Songhua River in China; however, the footage did not resemble the in-question images. For instance, the People's Daily, China, Facebook profile shared a video showing "'Frost flowers,' flower-shaped ice crystals, cover the surface of Songhua River in NE China's Heilongjiang" back in December 2022. The same video was also shared by the Wang Wenbin Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson " Facebook profile. What's more, we found an article published by Hong Kong Baptist University in January 2023 with the title, "Viral images of frost flowers on Songhua River are AI-generated" on the topic of the in-question photographs. It read: Ms. Lam Ching Chi, Senior Scientific Officer of the Hong Kong Observatory told HKBU Fact Check: The winter phenomena shown in the pictures cant be real according to physical laws. When water surface temperatures drop to zero or below, ice will form on the water surface. The form of ice is nothing like those in the pictures. The viral images were also investigated by Taiwan FactCheck Center that underscored the fact that the light in the images was unnatural, further proving they were AI-generated (we translated it from Chinese): Regarding the photos of the Songhua River posted online, Lin Sihan analyzed that in several pictures, the way the light radiates is unnatural, and the reflection on the water surface is illogical. "Although there are obvious flaws in some of the pictures, it is difficult to distinguish the others without obvious flaws. The above-mentioned organization informed that other, similar AI-generated videos were circulating on social media, allegedly depicting ice formations on Songhua River in China: All in all, given that the in-question images had signs of being AI-generated and that they were not shared by any reputable sources, we have rated this claim as "Fake." Sources: Home. https://www.aiornot.com/. Accessed 3 Jan. 2024. Https://Isitai.Com/Ai-Image-Detector/. Is It AI?, https://isitai.com/ai-image-detector/. Accessed 3 Jan. 2024. Illuminarty. https://app.illuminarty.ai/. Accessed 3 Jan. 2024. Viral Images of Frost Flowers on Songhua River Are AI-Generated HKBU Fact Check. https://factcheck.hkbu.edu.hk/home/en/fc_report_eng/23010301/. Accessed 3 Jan. 2024. AIAI. , 5 Jan. 2023, https://tfc-taiwan.org.tw/articles/8624. . https://wappass.baidu.com/static/captcha/tuxing.html?ak=572be823e2f50ea759a616c060d6b9f1&backurl=https%3A%2F%2Fmbd.baidu.com%2Fnewspage%2Fdata%2Flandingsuper%3Fid%3D1753620227502722168%26wfr%3Dspider%26for%3Dpc%26third%3Dbaijiahao%26baijiahao_id%3D1753620227502722168%26c_source%3Dduedge%26c_score%3D0.999100tamp=1704317699&signature=3244b515aa8bdd1ef2e0151b66982821. Accessed 3 Jan. 2024. A Fall River woman has been sentenced to serve 10 to 12 years in prison after she was found guilty of fatally stabbing another motorist in a road rage incident in Brockton in 2019, the district attorney said. Jacqueline Mendes, 36, was found guilty by a Plymouth County jury on Dec. 8, 2023 of one count each of manslaughter and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon following the fatal stabbing of 41-year-old Jennifer Landry, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said in a statement. She was sentenced Thursday to serve 10-12 years in state prison, after prosecutors had requested that Mendes serve 13-17 years. Landry, a Brockton mother, was fatally stabbed during an afternoon road rage incident on June 28, 2019. Jacqueline Mendes, 36, of Fall River, left, was sentenced to serve 10 to 12 years in prison after she was found guilty of fatally stabbing another motorist, Jennifer Landry, 41, of Brockton, in a road rage incident in Brockton in 2019. At approximately 3:45 p.m. on June 28, 2019, Brockton Police received multiple 911 calls reporting a stabbing in the area of 276 Belmont St. and at the intersection of Grafton Street. When emergency crews arrived, they found Landry, the victim, bleeding profusely and suffering from a stab wound to the right side of her neck, Cruz said. She was treated on scene and taken by ambulance to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton before she was flown to Boston Medical Center, where she later died. About 15 minutes after the incident, Mendes arrived at Brockton Police Department and reported to police that she was in an altercation with a motorist in the Belmont Street area, and there may have been a stabbing involved, Cruz said. An investigation by State Police detectives assigned to Cruzs office and Brockton Police found that a traffic confrontation had occurred between Mendes and Landry before the stabbing, Cruz said. Mendes allegedly stabbed Landry with a knife and then got into her vehicle and drove away from the scene, Cruz said. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW John Schmid was just a boy when his mother told him something that would stick with him forever: The truest form of love is when you feed somebody you dont know. Decades later, thats still his mantra as he leads a volunteer group that has cooked a whopping 85 meals for the Philadelphia nonprofit Gift of Life Donor Program. Under the team name Friends of Bear, Schmid, whose nickname is Bear, cooks meals for the Howies House, Gift of Lifes house where transplant patients and their families can temporarily stay as they seek treatment in the Philly area. Gift of Life provides the kitchen while Schmid and his team use their own money to buy and prepare food for families who stay at the house. Their volunteerism is part of the Home Cook Heroes program. Schmids most recent event was on Dec. 20. His fiancee, Debbie, was there by his side as they prepared deep fried turkeys, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, carrot cake and more. Team Friends of Bear has fed as many as 102 people in one sitting and as little as 20 people in one sitting, he said, adding that they host brunches on Saturdays and Sundays. John Schmid with his fiancee, Debbie, at Howie's House in Philadelphia. Schmids favorite part, he said, is witnessing people who have spent all day at the hospital smell whats cooking. The Home Cook Heroes program gives them a chance to unwind, he said, which is much-needed. Somebody who spends all day at the hospital they don't always get good news, he told USA TODAY last week. The look of relief when they walk in and they smell what's been prepared it's kind of spectacular. Gift of Life Donor Programs president and CEO Richard Hasz said in a statement that his generosity is so inspiring. He, and all of our Home Cook Heroes, represent the very best of our community and show how simple acts of kindness can make such a meaningful difference to our families and our patients awaiting life-saving transplants, Hasz said. Donor understands the need for relief after medical visits, health scares Residents at the home where Schmid volunteers are used to spending lots of time at the hospital. Its something he recalls experiencing with his late wife, Maureen, Rene for short. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 at 43 years old, and the pair have two children together. She's probably the sweetest person I've ever met in my life, said Schmid, adding that shes the bravest person he has ever met, too. She accepted her diagnosis. Never questioned why. She fought. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments but eventually passed away in 2005. He recalls the deep, raspy cough she had that led them to see a doctor, as well as her having fluid in her lungs and eventually losing her hair. John Schmid (center) with his Home Cook Hero Team, Friends of Bear." The pair met in 1982 while working at the same bank. He was also a local bowling league secretary and she wanted to join the team. She had no bowling average, he recalled. She claimed that she was just an average bowler, Schmid said, adding that she bowled a 200 average, a 185 and a 190. I'm sitting there looking at her and I said Maureen, you do realize that your average is going to be like 192 for the night? She said I don't know anything about averages and she had a little smirk. We connected and gradually, a relationship built. The Home Cook Hero Team Friends of Bear," which volunteers at Gift of Life Howie's House in Philadelphia. The group buys food and prepares it for families staying at the house who have traveled to Philadelphia for life-saving transplants. Volunteerism began at previous job, donor says Schmid said he first began working with the Gift of Life Donor Program when his previous boss asked him to do some volunteer work. They considered working with another nonprofit but it felt too corporate to him. The Gift of Life Donor Program, he said, was the obvious choice because of the important work they do. They gave us a tour, he said. They explained what they have provided to families that come to Philadelphia for transplant surgery. Both the patients and family members come and stay It touched us. His boss eventually left the company they worked for, but made Schmid promise to continue their work with the Gift of Life Donor Program. Schmid now wants to challenge people everywhere to volunteer. Its not hard to do, he said. You just have to pick your cause and jump on board. Just reach out and donate your time and see how good you feel afterwards. There's nothing like it. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Philly man uses food's healing power to help strangers, and himself I was saddened to read the news article ranking Florida in the bottom 20 percent of all states when it comes to health, particularly as it relates to access to mental health care providers. This concern about mental health access was echoed in the recently released Community Assessment by the Collier Community Foundation and Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. Dr. Jaclynn Faffer As the leading advocate for seniors in our community, Baker Senior Center Naples has seen the local senior population increase dramatically. A majority of these older adults deal with health issues. Many of them also struggle with mental health issues and, until recently, lacked access to such care. When our information and referral professionals brought to our attention the fact that they were receiving numerous calls from older adults in our community requesting referrals to affordable mental health counseling, we decided to take a look at the issue. Here is what we discovered: Requests for counseling were primarily for loss and grief issues, relationship problems, and mild anxiety and depression. These were not problems requiring 24 hour/seven day a week availability. Few licensed and credentialed mental health providers locally accepted insurance, or charged less than $150 per session. As a result of our findings, Baker Senior Center Naples launched a Geriatric Mental Health Counseling program shortly after we relocated to our new permanent home on Autumn Oaks Lane in January of 2023. With a staff of Licensed Clinical Social Workers, we are currently providing short term, solution focused, mental health counseling to more than 50 older adults. Counseling is provided on an outpatient basis to seniors and their families in a warm and supportive environment. We provide individual therapy, couples therapy and family therapy. Our experienced and licensed therapists can help seniors with anxiety and stress, depression, grief and loss, difficult relationships, adjusting to life changes, concerns related to aging, low self-esteem, coping with illness, anger, trauma, isolation and loneliness, and caregiver stress. Importantly, we are Medicare providers and are on the panels of other private insurance as well. For those who do not have Medicare, services are provided on a sliding fee scale. Referrals come from physicians, clergy, other senior center members and the general community. This new Baker Senior Center Naples Geriatric Mental Health Counseling program was funded with generous donations from the community and is available to all adults over the age of 60. Celebrating 10 years of service in January, Baker Senior Center Naples takes pride in developing programs that address gaps in service experienced by older adults in Collier and southern Lee counties. As our tag line Looking Forward indicates, at Baker Senior Center Naples we are always proud to be part of positive response to issues of concern in the community. The senior center is well known for its many social and educational programs addressing isolation and loneliness in older adults. It also is regarded for its much-needed dementia respite and caregiver programs. Now, we have added mental health counseling for older adults. We look forward to assisting our beautiful state of Florida as it moves up in the annual rankings of health. For additional information about mental health counseling as well as our other programs for local seniors, please call (239) 325-4444 or visit our website at Bakerseniorcenternaples.org. (Dr. Jaclynn Faffer is president/CEO of Baker Senior Center Naples, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive, one-stop-shop professional services and programs for local seniors and their families.) This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Filling the gap for geriatric mental health counseling When marine scientist Ian Enochs jumped into the water at Cheeca Rocks, a small reef in the Florida Keys known for vibrantly colorful corals, what he saw shook him to the core. Literally everything was white, said Enochs, a research ecologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Miami. It does not look normal at all, its just like a different reef. It was July, still early in what would become the hottest summer on record in South Florida, and Enochs was witnessing a mass event bleaching a telltale trouble sign that corals are struggling in abnormally hot ocean waters. Keys reefs have been hit periodically by bleaching over the decades and recovered, the corals weakened but still alive. But prolonged bleaching can prove fatal. To Enochs, this looked severe and potentially lethal. The flesh, the tissue [of the soft corals] were just falling off of them, Enochs said, They were literally falling apart before our eyes. A brain coral at Cheeca Rocks off Islamorada in October shows the damage from the summer heat wave, bleached white dying patch larger than a remaining healthy area. Now, as ocean temperatures cool, teams of scientists are engaged in an unprecedented effort to assess not only the heat wave damage but the future of South Florida long-ailing reef tract. Cheeca Rocks, Enochs prime study spot for more than a decade, had been considered among the Keys healthiest reefs. In the months and years ahead, it will serve as a living or dying laboratory. The fate of its corals will help tell scientists like Enochs how and if reefs can survive climate change, which is driving sea temperatures to new highs. Dr. Phanor Montoya-Maya, center, lowers a tray of coral fragments into the hands of diver at the Coral Restoration Foundations underwater nursery in November. Record sea temperatures off South Florida Summer 2023 set sea temperature marks up and down the Florida coast. At Cheeca Rocks, Enochs team from NOAAs Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory on Virginia Key, recorded a temperature near 93 degrees Fahrenheit. In other parts of the Keys and up both Florida coasts, ocean surface temperature soared 4, 5 or more degrees above historic averages. It approached 100 in the some shallow areas. One sensor in the grass flats off Manatee Bay in Everglades National Park hit a staggering 101.1 degrees Fahrenheit. Consider that hot tubs typically range from 100 to 103 degrees. Globally, August 2023 set a record for the highest monthly sea surface temperature anomaly of any month in NOAAs 174-year record, the federal agency later reported. Cheeca Rocks, a shallow nearshore reef popular with snorkelers, is particularly vulnerable to the hot weather and water. But much of the South Florida reef tract which stretches from off Palm Beach County down to the Dry Tortugas saw impacts. An entirely bleached mound coral at Cheeca Rocks reefs off Islamorada. Month after a summer of record heat, the coral appears dead and recovery is in doubt. It was starkly evident to scientists and divers who frequent South Florida reefs. During bleaching, coral shed the algae that give them their dazzling colors and provide them important nutrients. The bleaching victims, with all or swathes of their hard exoskeletons turned pale white, stand out like bones. It may take a year to see how much recovers and to assess the final toll. But its already clear that the record heat worsened what has been a precipitous decline for corals off South Florida. In just a half century, the undersea reefscape bordering the coast has profoundly and permanently changed. Two species of large and spectacular branching corals, staghorn and elkhorn, once formed dense forests and served as the primary reef builders in South Florida. Since the 1970s, scientists estimate 90 percent of those have disappeared.. Losses have been even higher in the Caribbean. Diego Lirman, a University of Miami associate professor in marine science, has monitored the regions reefs for 30 years. When he started working in the field of disturbance ecology research focused on forces that can wipe out existing systems the typical reef boasted about 20 percent coral cover. Now, hard coral survives on just about 5 percent of the bottom. Soft corals, algae and other marine life have moved in instead, altering the marine food chain and reducing the shelter and prey that reefs provide to an array of marine life. Comparing coral life on the ocean floor in the Florida Keys from 1992 to 2023. 1992 shows what scientists considered about 20-30% stony coral cover, and 2023 shows a mostly dead reef with a few bleached corals that attempt to recover after this years bleaching, according to NOAA scientist Ian Enochs. The forces of destruction that Lirman and other scientists have identified are many. Over the decades, Floridas reefs have been hammered by humans with everything from pollution and dredging sediments to boat anchors, fishing lines and diver fins. In 1990, the 3,843-square-mile Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which stretches from Biscayne National Park to the Dry Tortugas, was created to help protect reefs from continuing damage. Anchor buoys were added and no fishing zones established around major reefs. Divers and snorkelers are taught not to stand or touch corals and are typically now much more attuned to the fragility of the undersea world they have entered. Those steps have helped reduce coral damage loss from tourists, divers and anglers. Breeding heat-resistent corals But battling climate change is a whole other level of challenge. Scientists believe rising sea temps have driven the increasing impacts from invasive smothering algae and helped spread coral-damaging diseases, from black-band and white-band disease to white plague and stony coral disease. Its also made the ocean more acidic, which makes it harder for corals to build their hard skeletons. Weakened by repeated bouts of bleaching, some corals may not be healthy enough to survive all the mounting stressors. Bleached brain corals at Cheeca Rocks reef off Islamorada still show major bleaching damage after a summer of record heat. One hope is to breed more resilient corals. Scientists have been growing coral in labs and underwater nurseries for years but newer tools like genetic sequencing have provided perhaps the latest and and maybe last chance for eventually reviving dying reefs. The hope is to pinpoint the most heat-tolerant genetic strains ones that if cultivated, regrown and replanted on offshore reefs might have the best chance to survive and thrive. The complication is that some coral strains may do better with hot water but might prove less resistant to disease or other issues. So its essential to have a selection of strong corals for the future and threats to come, some of the perhaps still not identified. We know there is no such thing as a super coral, said Phanor Montoya-Maya, program manager for the Coral Restoration Foundation in Tavernier. We need to ensure that every single genotype that is alive today has the chance to live beyond these conditions. Dr. Phanor Montoya-Maya, Coral Restoration Foundation program manager, monitors coral brought to the land nursery after the ocean surface level temperatures in the organizations underwater nursery increased. Thats part of the mission at NOAAs Experimental Reef Laboratory on the campus of UMs Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science. NOAAs Enochs and UMs Lirman co-lead the lab and $4.2 million project that launched last month involving seven different academic and research institutions that amounts to the largest collaborative effort yet to assess the health and future of South Floridas reefs. At the lab, scientists can manipulate conditions from temperature to water quality to assess the strength of samples of various species and genetic strains of corals. Those samples can be fragmented to grow as new individual corals. Then those small corals can be moved to nurseries in Biscayne Bay or elsewhere or eventually replanted on natural reefs. We watch them grow, Lirman said, and we build our restoration stocks. Lab-grown corals alone cant replace all that has disappeared but, if theyre hardy enough, they might be the seeds for stronger natural reefs. Fragments of staghorn coral hang in a tank at the Experimental Reef Laboratory, which is jointly run by NOAA and the University of Miami. Reef scientists turned emergency responders The unprecedented summer sea temperatures turned many marine scientists into emergency reef responders, with an array of agencies and universities scrambling to save what they could. There was nothing to do about natural reefs but they could try to save the string of managed underwater coral nurseries all along the coast where researchers are growing thousands of coral fragments the stock for future restoration efforts. The staff at the Coral Restoration Foundation realized they had to move quickly to save their own four field nurseries, risking pulling them out of the ocean and moving them to land tanks with controlled temperatures at least until the ocean waters returned to normal. Other groups did the same, pulling corals from offshore and putting them into tanks, creating a sort of Noahs Ark of genetic diversity to ride out the heat wave. A Coral Restoration Foundation staff member counts and monitors coral fragments after returning them to the nursery on Nov. 20, 2023, off of the coast of Tavernier in the Florida Keys. These coral fragments were taken out of the nursery to enable their survival earlier in the year, and as temperatures cooled, were returned to the ocean. In once case in August, UM scientists also did the opposite planting nursery and lab-grown corals on the seafloor two miles east of Key Biscayne. It was a study that boiled down to survival of the fittest. Those corals, previously collected from a range of reefs off South Florida, are being put to a critical real-world heat-stress test. Some likely wont make it. But if some do, their survival could help identify coral types more likely to endure future climate change. We dont want to keep doing this just to watch our corals die, said UMs Lirman. We need to learn from the survivors. As waters cooled in late November, Montoya-Maya and other foundation staffers were able to return about 1,500 to field nurseries in the waters off Tavernier. They carefully transferred the corals from a tank into coolers on a boat. After about a 30-minute boat ride, scientists jumped into the water to pass down the shelves bristling with nubs of healthy corals. The shelves, made out of PVC tubing and mesh, were then attached to nursery trees in waters from about 10 feet to 30 feet deep. A Coral Restoration Foundation diver moves coral fragments back to an underwater nursery off Tavernier in November. Theyd been pulled out to protect them from the record high water temperatures during the summer -- but an estimated half did not survive. Overall, scientists say that it will be hard to tell how much coral will rebound and survive to next summer. They will have a better idea as they collect more data in the coming year. But if the losses at offshore nurseries are any indication, the toll could be severe. As the year came to a close, the Coral Restoration Foundation estimated theyd lost just over half their nursery corals. Since this summers heat wave, Enochs and his team have been back to Cheeca Rocks as often as possible. They are monitoring areas that are recovering, keeping an eye out for both outbreaks of disease among the weakened corals and natural pathways toward healing. Was the biggest bleaching event perhaps ever the final nail in the coffin for the Keys reefs? Its too soon to tell, but at Cheeca, Enochs retains some hope. Things are not great, but they could be worse, said Enochs. And the fact that they arent worse means theres a way out of this. On his political ascent, Gov. Ron DeSantis has used Floridas annual legislative session as rocket fuel, pushing an aggressive agenda in recent years that has rewired state institutions with right-wing orthodoxy, punished critics and enthused conservatives around the country. But with lawmakers set to reconvene in the Florida Capitol on Tuesday, and DeSantis fading presidential ambitions hinging on contests playing out this month more than 1,000 miles away, the two-term governor is returning to Tallahassee this week to what could be his most tamped-down legislative session yet. While things could change quickly, more than a dozen lawmakers and consultants interviewed by the Herald/Times say theyre expecting a less explosive session than in recent years, when the GOP-controlled Legislature approved restrictions on transgender care, a six-week abortion ban, limits on what can be taught in public schools and an historic expansion on school choice, among other polarizing issues. But a slower pace in Tallahassee, they say, is not an indication that DeSantis is losing influence over the legislative process as he struggles on the national stage. Like the governor, many Republicans say that after pushing Florida further to the right in recent years, they expect a sleepier session as the race for the Republican presidential nomination plays out. The last year was a year where I feel like we got 10 years worth of bills, and for us, that has been really fantastic, said Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Lake Mary. Its like the dog that caught the bumper. Now what do we do? Unlike last year, when DeSantis rolled out a slew of contentious measures that helped generate headlines in the lead-up to his presidential campaign, this year the governor has been relatively quiet on state issues. He has asked state lawmakers to continue paying for some of his top political priorities including another $5 million to continue his migrant flights program and $45 million to pay teachers $3,000 to undergo civics training crafted by conservative organizations. But he has pitched no major new initiatives, and his proposed spending plan for state government suggests he intends to do less in the name of efficiency. On the presidential campaign trail, DeSantis is telling voters he has already fulfilled the agenda he set for his time in the governors office. I can stand here and say, Ive delivered on 100% of what I promised I would do, DeSantis said at a campaign event in Scott County, Iowa in late December. Lawmakers are similarly signaling a slow-down in pace. By the deadline to file bills, senators had filed just over 800, well below the roughly 1,000 they file each year. In the House, which has three times as many lawmakers as the Senate, representatives have filed even fewer bills just 695. Last year, they filed 919, and they regularly filed more than 2,000 bills in prior years. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis takes a photo with a supporter while attending the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Iowa Hawkeyes in Ames, on Sept. 9. What insiders are expecting to do and see In past sessions, DeSantis largely set the agenda. And for the most part, lawmakers obliged. In the last two years alone, he has had Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate create an elections police force, restrict the teaching of race-related issues in schools and workplaces and create a program to relocate migrants to other parts of the country. Lawmakers also passed a 6-week abortion ban, allowed Floridians to carry concealed guns without a permit, restricted treatment for children with gender dysphoria and gave every school-age kid vouchers or education savings accounts. They expanded restrictions on sexual orientation and gender identity discussions in K-12 schools and cracked down on Disney after the company disagreed with DeSantis. Weve passed all of his priorities, said Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, who endorsed DeSantis opponent, former President Donald Trump, in the primary. I dont know if theres anything left from the standpoint of major policy initiatives that hes trying to tackle. But even if they dont match the breakneck pace of recent years, lawmakers still expect to be busy. Just like a goldfish will always grow to fill the size of the tank you put them in, our ambitions for session will always grow to fill the full 60 days, said state Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota. So far, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, wants to pass legislation to create more doctors and nurses in Florida, and to deregulate public schools to put them on a level playing field with private schools. House Speaker Paul Renner, her counterpart in the House, has said he wants to regulate kids use of social media. Other lawmakers are proposing new regulations on the use of artificial intelligence, a rollback of child labor laws to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work more hours during the school week and penalties for college students who back foreign terrorist organizations such as Hamas. Lawmakers are also seeking to make changes to the states gaming laws, prompting questions about whether new casinos could come to Miami-Dade County. And they are taking steps toward regulating kratom, a controversial substance derived from the dried leaves of a tropical Southeast Asian tree that over the past decade has been tied to hundreds of deadly overdoses. And while there are fewer politically-charged issues this year compared to recent years, there are still some measures that could spark emotional debates in the state capitol building. Lawmakers have proposed eliminating a statewide three-day waiting period to buy a rifle or a shotgun, a move that would undo one of the changes enacted after the Parkland high school mass shooting. DeSantis was receptive to the idea when asked about it Thursday during a CNN town hall. You shouldnt have to be on a mandatory waiting period. Instant checks will do the job, he said. Two lawmakers are also reviving DeSantis wish to make it easier to sue media companies for defamation. And legislators are crafting legislation to reform regulations impacting condominium owners and associations. Despite DeSantis mission-accomplished campaign message, Democrats and many Floridians say the state still has plenty of problems left to solve. Homeowners insurance premiums havent gone down despite years of reforms. Auto insurance rates are among the highest in the country. Rent and housing costs are through the roof. State government has been beset by widespread vacancies. Florida needs to invest billions to renovate its prisons. And a growing number of condo owners are increasingly frustrated about state laws limiting their ability to hold condo and HOA boards to account. Republicans and Democrats have filed various bills to lower premiums for some homeowners. Of course hes trying to project success at the legislative level, House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said of DeSantis. But lets be honest. We know what that means. What has it done for Floridians? To me, its like hes used the Legislature as his vanity project for his own ambition, Driskell added. Even Trump is needling DeSantis as the governor returns to Tallahassee, with a super PAC erecting billboards along the drive from the governors mansion to the state Capitol building urging DeSantis to quit the campaign and get back to work! A view of the Florida Capitol complex in Tallahassee New political dynamics at play Just as the torrid pace of recent legislative sessions accompanied DeSantis ascendance to presidential contender, the relative placidity expected over the next two months comes as his prospects of earning the GOPs 2024 nomination are dimming. Virtually every national and state-level poll shows DeSantis trailing Trump the primary contests clear frontrunner by wide margins. The upcoming Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15 are widely seen as make-or-break for the governor. But legislators and lobbyists said the mood heading into Tuesday shouldnt be misconstrued as DeSantis losing control over Floridas Capitol. If anyone thinks that hes not going to be the same Ron DeSantis, the person who is driving the conversation both in the state of Florida and nationally, they are sorely mistaken, said Blaise Ingoglia, a Spring Hill Republican who is a close ally of DeSantis. Ingoglia acknowledged that the lead-up to this session has been quieter than in recent years. Thats partially due to DeSantis splitting his time on the presidential campaign trail and Tallahassee, and also because of the timing of this years session, he said. Lets not forget that this is an early session in an election year, and traditionally those years do not produce the same type of spotlight legislation as a normal session, Ingoglia said. Brian Ballard, a lobbyist who has been involved in Floridas legislative sessions since 1986, said it would be foolish to think DeSantis influence is dwindling. What is happening on the presidential side is of interest, but the fact that hes a governor with three years left two [legislative] sessions after this makes him incredibly powerful, Ballard said. For the most part, thats because DeSantis has strong relationships with Renner and Passidomo, the two Republicans who carry the agenda in each chamber and who largely agree with the governors priorities. I am a big believer that in the Legislature, theres probably 20 people that matter a lot, and of those 20 people, I think the governors relationship is strong, Ballard said. But one thing is likely to change: a small but loud group of Republicans who have publicly endorsed Trump in the presidential race are more willing to criticize DeSantis this session. State Rep. Juan Porras, R-Miami, is one of them. He believes the governors influence over the Legislature could wane midway through the legislative session based on the governors performance on the national stage. I think he was seen as the shining star of our state and nobody could ever dare speak against him, Porras said. I think as time goes on, and some of these election results start coming in, I think you might see a lot more people start to break. A Florida woman who has been in jail since 2022 is pregnant, prompting an investigation A woman who has been in a Florida county jail since June 2022 is pregnant, according to her sister and her attorney, who are demanding answers from corrections officials. Daisy Link, 28, called her family on Christmas Day to say she was almost four months pregnant, according to her sister, Crystal Barreto. I was lost for words. I couldnt believe what I was hearing, Barreto, who lives in Homestead, Florida, said in a phone interview. Right away, I was concerned about Daisy and her safety. Daisy Link. (Courtesy Crystal Barreto) Link is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County on a charge of second-degree murder, jail records show. She is also charged with battery by a detainee on a visitor or other detainee. Her case has not gone to trial yet. In her first interview about Links pregnancy, Links criminal defense attorney, Marlene Montaner, told NBC News that the second-degree murder charge stems from a domestic violence incident in which Link fired a single gunshot while attempting to protect herself from an abusive partner. She shared photos with NBC News of Link with blood on her shoulders and head that Montaner said was the result of abuse Link had endured days before she fired the weapon in June 2022. Both Montaner and Barreto have been trying to get Link released on house arrest, especially now that she is pregnant. Neither knows how she got pregnant. The Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department did not comment on who may have impregnated Link and Barreto said that her sister has not told her what happened. My sister, when she was able to call us here and there, was trying to tell us pieces of the story, but is very scared to say anything over the phone because her calls are being recorded, Barreto said. Montaner said the allegations right now are that its another inmate, but said she does not yet have additional information. The county jail houses male and female inmates, separated by floor. Montaner added that she doubts implausible reports that were published in other media outlets that suggested the pregnancy may have been the result of a male inmate passing semen through an air conditioning vent. Barreto also said she doesnt believe that story. Regardless, Montaner said, she blames the corrections officials. No matter how you slice this for them, at the end, they are at fault for her pregnancy, she said, adding: I want answers. Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami. (Google Maps) A spokesman for Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation said in an emailed statement that the matter is under active investigation and that corrections staff were told by an inmate on Dec. 23 that she believed she is pregnant. The pregnancy was confirmed after a thorough medical exam through our Correctional Health Services partners, the statement said. According to Barreto, Link said she had tried telling jail officials about her pregnancy earlier. They laughed at her. They told her, Youve been in here going on two years. Who are you going to be pregnant by, aliens? Like, mocking her, Barreto said. Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation declined to comment further on the investigation but said it has seen no evidence that the pregnancy was the result of a sexual assault. While there is no evidence of sexual battery against our inmate at this time, the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy are currently under active investigation, the departments spokesman said. Pregnant inmates receive timely and appropriate prenatal care, he added. The MDCR has healthcare procedures in place to ensure the safety of all those in our custody, any unborn child, and staff, in any case of pregnancy while in our care, he said. But Links family remains concerned. Nobody should come out pregnant in jail. This is really ridiculous, Barreto said. Were just very worried about Daisy and her well-being, her safety and the safety of her unborn child. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com A woman jailed in Florida on murder changes since 2022 is pregnant, prompting an investigation into possible rape or sexual assault. Photo courtesy of Miami-Dade County Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A woman jailed in Florida on murder changes since 2022 is pregnant, prompting an investigation into possible rape or sexual assault. Daisy Link, 28, has been held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County since 2022, when she was charged with second-degree murder. Her lawyers contend Link fired a single shot at her partner to protect herself in a domestic violence incident. The case has not yet gone to trial. "We don't know what's going to happen to her. But we do know Daisy should not be four months pregnant," said Crystal Barreto, Daisy Link's sister, told CBS News. Barreto said that her sister had called her from the jail to tell her she was pregnant and had been sexually assaulted, but that the hospital "never tried to give my sister a rape treatment." She said her sister did not name the man who attacked her. "The care, safety and rehabilitation of all those in our custody remains our top priority," corrections officials said to CBS News. "While there is no evidence of sexual battery against our inmate at this time, the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy are currently under active investigation." But Barreto said officials are not doing enough to investigate what happened to her sister. She told NBC News that when Link had tried telling jail officials she was pregnant, they mocked her and suggested she got pregnant by "aliens." "My sister is a human being," Barreto said. "She deserves a right to due process. She deserves a right for this to be investigated and that unborn child also deserves a fighting chance and for medical care and to be properly care for." Meanwhile, Link's lawyer Marlene Montaner dismissed "implausible" reports that Link became pregnant by a male inmate passing his semen to her through an air duct. Even so, "no matter how you slice this for them, at the end, they are at fault for her pregnancy," Montaner said. "Nobody should come out pregnant in jail. This is really ridiculous," Barreto said. "We're just very worried about Daisy and her well-being, her safety and the safety of her unborn child." Read the full story on The Auto Wire Florida Woman Shoots Up Boyfriends Girlfriends Car Florida has got to be one of the weirdest states in the Union and this story of a mistress shooting up her boyfriends girlfriends car with his gun clearly illustrates that. Its the kind of story which pretty much could only come out of the land of gators, California, or Alabama. You cant paint or wrap your car to look like a Florida trooper. If youre confused about how this web of relationships works, bear with us while we walk you through who is who. Per Fox 35 Orlando, 20-year-old Zehra Percy was the one who shot up the car another woman was driving with that womans one-year-old child in the backseat. Apparently, the other woman is the girlfriend of the other woman and hes the father of the baby. Percy, who is being described as the mans mistress even though hes not married, took the mans gun which she allegedly used to shoot the other womans car as she left her apartment to go to Wendys. But the report goes on to state the other woman got into an argument with Percy after seeing her exit an apartment with the man. So basically this was like a high school girls fight over a boy, only these are supposedly grown women and one used a gun. And a baby was in the crossfire. Ugh. Later, when Percy was arrested during a traffic stop, she reportedly referred to the man as her sugar daddy. So apparently this is something unmarried men are now doing, at least in places like Florida. Suddenly, living in a Leave It To Beaver existence doesnt sound so bad. Incidentally, in the traffic stop that resulted in Percys capture, she wasnt driving but instead was a backseat passenger. This is why cops will sometimes ask for the IDs of every adult riding in a vehicle. Image via Volusia County Sheriffs Office Follow The Auto Wire on Google News. Chad Preston, a senior political science major at Florida AM University, poses for a photo before class on Sept. 27, 2023 in Tallahassee, Fla. A core mission of Florida A&M University from its founding over a century ago has been to educate African Americans. It was written into the law that established the school along with another college, in Gainesville, reserved for white students. At Florida's only public HBCU, some students now fear political constraints might get in the way of teaching parts of their history. (AP Photo/Sharon Johnson) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) A core mission of Florida A&M University from its founding over a century ago has been to educate African Americans. It was written into the law that established the school along with another college, in Gainesville, reserved for white students. At Florida's only public historically Black university, some students now fear political constraints might get in the way of teaching parts of their history. A law signed last spring by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, blocks public colleges from using taxpayer money on diversity programs. It also forbids instruction of theories that "systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities. The new law, part of broader GOP efforts to rein in campus efforts on equity and inclusion, has spurred protests on campus. Some students say they are watching for signs the new guidance will affect teaching of topics related to race and American history. Chad Preston, a senior political science major, said he worries some viewpoints will be silenced. We deserve the same level of education that all these other states are getting. We deserve the same information, he said. DeSantis describes the law as an effort to rid university classrooms of what he calls left-leaning woke indoctrination. His education policies including limits on what schools can teach about racism and which bathrooms students use have faced criticism from civil rights leaders but fueled his political rise by harnessing culture war passions. In reality, what this concept of DEI has been is to attempt to impose orthodoxy on the university, DeSantis said at a ceremony in May when he signed the bill into law. This has basically been used as a veneer to impose an ideological agenda, and that is wrong. The university, founded in 1887, hosts about 10,000 students at its campus a few blocks from the state capitol. The new law has made Florida a difficult learning environment for students and faculty of color, said Marybeth Gasman, a Rutgers University historian whose research focuses on historically Black colleges and universities and systemic racism in higher education. Ive talked to some FAMU faculty who have basically told me that theyre keeping their head down because theyre afraid theyre going to lose their jobs, Gasman said. If I were in Florida, I would probably be concerned as well. FAMU has not seen upheaval anywhere near the scale of New College of Florida, a progressive campus where DeSantis and his allies overhauled the Board of Trustees and installed a majority of conservative figures. But many on the FAMU campus are wary. Asked about the impact of the new law, a university spokesperson referred to a comment Florida A&M President Larry Robinson made in June. There are more than 30 pieces of legislation passed this legislative session that have some impact on educational institutions in Florida, including FAMU, and we take them all seriously, Robinson said. But our commitment to Excellence With Caring remains strong, and remains unchanged. In early December, the board overseeing Floridas state university system released proposed regulations outlining programs that would be prohibited from receiving state or federal money under the new law. Programs on the outs would include any that promote differential or preferential treatment of individuals, or classifies such individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The FAMU Democrats have been taking steps to ensure the messages of speakers they invite to campus are moderate, said Jovan Mickens, a senior and president of the student political group. With my organization, there are certain things I cant do like bring certain people on campus for a panel discussion. Were tip-toeing around this university, he said. Historically Black colleges and universities often receive less funding than predominantly white public colleges. A group of students at FAMU have filed a lawsuit against the state, saying it has underfunded their school by nearly $1.3 billion. But for leaders of public colleges, pushing back on policies they disagree with could put them at odds with the same officials deciding on their budgets, said Abul Pitre, chair of the Department of Africana Studies at San Francisco State University. It requires a certain kind of balance that does not allow them to have too much of an Afrocentric social justice perspective, because they have to go to the same politicians for money who are advocating to eliminate it, he said. Raghan Pickett, a senior at FAMU, traces her lineage back to Rosewood, Florida, where hundreds of Black people were killed or driven out in 1923 by a mob of white men who then destroyed their neighborhoods. She fears the new law could stop instructors from teaching about such atrocities. Back then, it was afraid of being lynched, Pickett said. Today, Black people are still struggling. Were still fighting to learn basic history. ___ The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content. King Abdullah II of Jordan talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza. The Jordanian King warned against catastrophic repercussions of an ongoing Israeli campaign in the Gaza Strip. -/Royal Hashemite Court/dpa The food supply for hundreds of thousands of people in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The food situation for men, women and children is "very difficult" and "deteriorating," Blinken said on Sunday in Amman after visiting a warehouse of the World Food Programme (WFP). Much of the food delivered is ready to eat because people can hardly or not at all prepare it under current conditions. "This is the only way to effectively get what people need right now," Blinken added. Israel completely sealed off and attacked the Gaza Strip after the terrorist attack by the Islamist Hamas on October 7. This dramatically worsened the already poor supply situation of the approximately 2.2 million inhabitants. Almost everyone in the Gaza Strip is suffering from hunger or displacement. According to a UN study, around 577,000 people, or 26% of Gaza's inhabitants, fall into the most severe category of hunger. In the rest of the world, 129,000 people are similarly threatened. Former advisers to Trump, Ben Carson admit to unlawful lobbying on behalf of Qatar A former adviser to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, along with a former aide to one-time presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson, have admitted to unlawfully lobbying on behalf of Qatar, the Justice Department announced Wednesday. Barry Bennett and Douglas Watts admitted to lying to the Justice Department about their work running a pair of Washington, D.C.-based advocacy groups that advocated for Qatar's interests, without properly registering as agents for the wealthy Middle East country. MORE: Sen. Bob Menendez facing even more allegations in new superseding indictment The admissions are part of a deferred prosecution agreement that will dismiss charges against them after a year of compliance. Both Bennett and Watts served as advisers to Carson's 2016 presidential campaign before Bennett ultimately joined Trump's campaign as an unpaid adviser. After Trump's election, court papers say Bennett established the consulting firm "Avenue Strategies" and tasked Watts with operating a separate company that promoted the interests of Bennett's foreign clients. PHOTO: In this Sept. 16, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential hopefuls, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, left, smiles as real estate magnate Donald Trump speaks after they arrived on stage for the Republican presidential debate in Simi Valley, Calif. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) The two established an organization called "Yemen Crisis Watch" that promoted a public relations campaign denigrating Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for their role in the conflict in Yemen -- all on behalf of Bennett's Qatari clients, according to the Justice Department. Bennett has agreed to pay the U.S. a $100,000 fine as part of the deferred prosecution agreement, while Watts will pay a $25,000 fine. The charges against them will be formally lifted after one year of compliance with the terms of the deal. Former advisers to Trump, Ben Carson admit to unlawful lobbying on behalf of Qatar originally appeared on abcnews.go.com CHICAGO The filing period for presidential candidates to appear on Illinois March 19 primary ballot ended Friday with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie putting in paperwork to join the partys top three national contenders, former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley. But Christies filing indicated the difficulties of putting together a national campaign organization for the GOP fields most vocal opponent of Trump. Trump, DeSantis and Haley on Thursday all filed full slates of 51 delegate candidates three from each of the states 17 congressional districts to go to the Republican National Convention July 15-18 in Milwaukee. Christie filed paperwork for only 35 delegate candidates. He had none in the 13th and 16th congressional districts, both downstate Trump strongholds and only one in each of the 15th and 17th districts. He also had no delegate candidates in the heavily Democratic 2nd District, which covers parts of Chicago and the south suburbs. Among Christies delegate candidates is Jennifer Pritzker, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzkers cousin. Gov. Pritzker, a member of President Joe Bidens reelection campaign team and a major donor, will play host for the Democratic National Convention Aug. 19-22 in Chicago. Another cousin of the governors, former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, is Bidens special U.S. representative for Ukraines economic recovery. In 2016, Jennifer Pritzker supported Trump and gave committees backing his campaign more than $250,000. But she soured on Trumps 2017 transgender military ban and gave Biden $2,000 in 2020. Like the governor, she is an heir to the Hyatt hotels fortune, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, the founder of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago and Forbes has described her as the worlds only known transgender billionaire. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy did not file for the Illinois ballot. Little-known Republican candidate Ryan Binkley, a businessman and pastor from Dallas, filed on Thursday but did not offer any delegate candidates. On the Democratic side, Bidens candidacy petitions were filed a day earlier, as were those for two nominal opponents, self-help author and unsuccessful 2020 presidential candidate Marianne Williamson and U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota. On Friday, event producer Frank Lozada of New York filed for the Democratic nomination but, like Williamson and Phillips, he did not file any delegate candidates. An objection to Trumps candidacy has been filed by a group of five voters backed by Free Speech for People, an organization that has pursued efforts nationwide to have Trump disqualified from state ballots under the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment. Veteran election law attorneys contacted by The Chicago Tribune said they expected the State Board of Elections to reject the groups effort. The board has previously said that its actions on constitutional issues are limited by a past Illinois Supreme Court ruling and that the issue of disqualification is one for the courts or the Illinois legislature. Some lawyers said privately that they theorized the filing of an objection with the board was a procedural precursor to filing a lawsuit seeking to have Trump removed from the ballot. The Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine secretary of state have disqualified Trump from the ballot over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and the former president has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. On Friday, the court agreed to hear arguments on Feb. 8, with a ruling expected quickly given the nations election calendar. Trump spokesman Steve Cheung said the campaign welcomed a fair hearing at the Supreme Court. The so-called ballot-challenge cases are all part of a well-funded effort by left-wing, political activists hell-bent on stopping the lawful reelection of President Trump this November, even if it means disenfranchising voters, Cheung said in a statement. We are confident that the fair-minded Supreme Court will unanimously affirm the civil rights of President Trump, and the voting rights of all Americans in a ruling that will squash all of the remaining ballot challenge hoaxes once and for all. ____ Fujitsu must use its billions to compensate victims of the Post Office sub-postmaster Horizon scandal, campaign leaders have said. Tory peer Lord Arbuthnot and Baron Falconer, who sits in the House of Lords for Labour, have both played prominent roles in seeking justice for the hundreds affected. They were convicted between 1999 and 2015 because Horizon, a faulty accounting system that was designed by Fujitsu, made it seem as though money was missing from their businesses. The Japanese multinational is worth about 58 billion and Britain is one of its key markets, with the firm representing around 7,000 jobs in the UK. In a column for The Sunday Times, the peers said: The inquiry needs to examine in detail the role of Fujitsu, which provided and managed the faulty software. Was Fujitsu completely unaware of the devastating effect of its actions? Should it not contribute to the compensation claims of hundreds of sub-postmasters? Baron Falconer - Heathcliff O'Malley The Government has continued to work with Fujitsu in the wake of the scandal, awarding it public sector contracts worth 3 billion since 2013. Last week, the Environment Agency announced that the firm had been given a 2 million contract extension to run the flood warnings system after reported delays in finding a replacement supplier. Lord Arbuthnot and Baron Falconer called for a full statutory public inquiry without the restrictions and limitations of the current one. They added: There needs to be a fast-track procedure, within the inquiry, to calculate how each individual sub-postmaster should be compensated, for loss of money, for the trauma through which they have been forced and in many cases for the punishments they have wrongly been given. We should be ashamed of ourselves. But the value in shame is that it encourages one to do better. Provided we take the right steps, without further foot-dragging, we can begin to put things back in place. But for too many sub-postmasters, that can never happen. Lord Arbuthnot - Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament Evidence from the faulty Horizon system secured the prosecutions of 700 sub-postmasters between 2000 and 2014, with the Post Office prosecuting them for false accounting, fraud and theft. Out of these, only 11 have been compensated in full. On Sunday, Andrew Neil, the veteran broadcaster, described Fujitsu as complicit in the scandal and said those responsible for the Horizon scandal should be held to account. He said: They should have their day in court too. But it was the Post Office which put innocent people in jail. A spokesman for Fujitsu told The Telegraph: The current Post Office Horizon IT statutory inquiry is examining complex events stretching back over 20 years to understand who knew what, when, and what they did with that knowledge. The Inquiry has reinforced the devastating impact on postmasters lives and that of their families, and Fujitsu has apologised for its role in their suffering. Fujitsu is fully committed to supporting the inquiry in order to understand what happened and to learn from it. Out of respect for the inquiry process, it would be inappropriate for Fujitsu to comment further at this time. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. There can be few worse experiences than being accused of a crime you have not committed and to feel all efforts to clear your name have been ignored. Hundreds of sub-postmasters found themselves in this Kafkaesque position after being accused of fiddling the books. Dozens of stories have been told about the impact this has had on the lives of the accused, some of whom died waiting for justice while others went to prison. MPs have pushed for compensation and a public inquiry has been sitting for the past three years to establish what went wrong and who is to blame. This scandal has been apparent for years and yet it has taken a television dramatisation of the heroic fight for justice led by Alan Bates, one of the accused, for some serious questions finally to be asked about who is responsible and whether they will be held accountable. Post Office bosses at the time have not only escaped direct censure but some have been rewarded and promoted. Paula Vennells, who was the chief executive for much of the period in question, was awarded a CBE and later became chair of an NHS trust. Under her management the Post Office brought private prosecutions against sub-postmasters, despite mounting evidence that the cause of the apparent financial shortfalls was an IT system called Horizon, which had inaccurately recorded their accounts. The Criminal Cases Review Commission has called this the most widespread miscarriage of justice it had seen and the biggest single series of wrongful convictions in British legal history. The Post Office required many of these innocent people under their contracts to reimburse them for shortfalls, bankrupting many. Scotland Yard is now investigating potential fraud offences, in addition to looking into allegations of perjury and perverting the course of justice. The question must be why consideration is only now being given to the exoneration of the sub-postmasters involved? Moreover, what of Fujitsus role in this outrage? It seems not only to have kept a low profile but also continues to receive public sector contracts including one with the Post Office. So far the Government has paid out 150 million in compensation to the wronged sub-postmasters. Why should the taxpayer foot the bill and not those responsible? It is time Fujitsu stumped up. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. On this "Face the Nation" broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan: House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of LouisianaFormer Rep. Liz Cheney2024 GOP hopeful Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland Click here to browse full transcripts of "Face the Nation." MARGARET BRENNAN: I'm Margaret Brennan in Washington. And this week on Face the Nation: We traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border for a firsthand look at what a growing number of Americans are calling a crisis. Plus, an in-depth conversation with the new speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. It's all just ahead on Face the Nation. Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation. Yesterday marked the third anniversary of the January 6 attack on the Capitol, and our CBS News polling shows that many Americans in each party are uneasy about the prospects of a peaceful transfer of power in future elections, with half the country expecting there will be violence from the side that loses. Our polling also shows that three in four Americans see the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border as either a crisis or a very serious situation. That 45 percent is a notable increase. Both of those issues, democracy and immigration, are dominating the campaign trail as we head into the last week before the first votes in the 2024 election are taken in Iowa. But first: We traveled to Eagle Pass, Texas, last week and caught up with House Speaker Mike Johnson, who led a delegation of 64 Republican members of Congress to the Texas-Mexico border on a fact-finding tour. (Begin VT) REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON (R-Louisiana): We have a humanitarian catastrophe here, and, of course, huge national security concerns. What we saw is in in some ways difficult to describe, just the magnitude of the chaos here, of the number of lives that are adversely affected, the, you know, minor children that are being trafficked into the country, and fentanyl overdoses and poisoning that has been a scourge on the country. These are transnational, dangerous criminal organizations. And the maddening thing about it is that the White House is allowing all this. These are policy choices that that created this chaos. And it is thus policy choices that could change it. And that's what we're trying MARGARET BRENNAN: Which policy choices do you think need to be changed? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Well, on his first day in office, President Biden came in and issued executive orders that began this chaos. Remain-in-Mexico is is one of them. The the catch-and-release program has created part of this problem. You could end catch-and-release. MARGARET BRENNAN: But you need the logistical and financial support to be able to do that. Congress has the purse strings to give them the money to do that. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Well, that's true, but I will I will quote to you the the deputy chief of the U.S. Border Patrol. He said: "It is as if we're trying to administer an open fire hydrant." MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: He said: "I don't need more buckets, I need for the I need the flow to be turned off." And the way you do that is with policy changes. We're just asking the White House to apply common sense. MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: And they they seem to be completely uninterested in doing so. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, we toured the Firefly facility, that tented facility. You all went on the same tour. And what we were told is, there there is a need for consequences, Border Patrol officials say, but they also need the money. They need the resources to be able to process. They said they didn't have enough men, they didn't have enough logistical support to even deport people when they wanted to do that. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Right. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, can you look them in the eye when you talk to them and say, I'm going to get you the money that you need, because that is part of the challenge? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: We did look them in the eye. Many of these, I mean, from the top officials to the rank-and-file, and they all say the same thing: Please stop the flow. MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you saying you wouldn't authorize new funding to help out those agents with what they say they need, unless it is matched with these bigger policy changes? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Right. The I think anyone with common sense would tell you that you cannot throw more money at a bad system. We don't want to empower more of this. They the White House, the administration, Secretary Mayorkas have put a welcome mat out. And you know that MARGARET BRENNAN: But you couldn't even go through the deportations that you would like to see happen without the funding to actually have the process function. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Well MARGARET BRENNAN: I mean, ICE has the capacity to hold 40,000 beds. That's not nearly matching what you're describing. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: In a triage situation, you have to stop the flow first before you can commence with the with the surgery. MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: And we we're hemorrhaging here. And everyone knows it. MARGARET BRENNAN: These are very, very real and immediate issues. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: They are. MARGARET BRENNAN: It is a crisis. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Absolutely. MARGARET BRENNAN: So don't you need the help of the homeland security secretary, instead of trying to impeach him? (LAUGHTER) REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: We've been asking Alexander Secretary Mayorkas since he took office to enforce the law, to do his job, and he's done exactly the opposite. MARGARET BRENNAN: But REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: He's testified un untruthfully before Congress repeatedly. MARGARET BRENNAN: But but why focus the congressional resources on going ahead with an impeachment, when they could be dealing with the actual issues here on the ground? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: I believe Secretary Mayorkas is an abject failure, but it's not because of incompetence. I believe he has done this intentionally. I think these are intentional policy decisions that he's made. And I think there must be accountability for that. Secretary Mayorkas MARGARET BRENNAN: You're going to impeach the guy you need to negotiate with. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Secretary Mayorkas is not a good faith negotiating partner. He is unwilling to enforce existing federal law. Why would we believe that he would do any new provision? He's lied to Congress repeatedly. He's lied to me personally, under oath. MARGARET BRENNAN: About what? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: He's stood in front of my committee on multiple occasions and insisted that the border is closed and secure, when everyone in America knows it's not true. MARGARET BRENNAN: So the senators who are negotiating with the White House right now have not shared the text of what they're putting together with you. Is that accurate? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Right. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, one of the main Republican negotiators, Lindsey Graham, was with us on Sunday. And he said, there were three things that would help get a deal to pass the House, asylum reform, limitations on parole, and reinvoking expulsion authority. Those things are being negotiated. So what more do you need? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Well, you've heard us say repeatedly, insisting upon the provisions of H.R.2, which is our legislation that we passed more than seven months ago. Provisions of H.R.2 include reforming that broken parole system, reforming the broken asylum process, also MARGARET BRENNAN: But it's got no future in the Senate. Even Republican senators like James Lankford and Lindsey Graham say they don't want it. Biden's going to veto it. So, it's dead on arrival. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Well, I I don't know if you can speak for all the senators. There's a lot who understand why those provisions are important. And the reason is, if you only reform one of those five provisions, if you don't end catch-and-release as a policy, if you don't reinstitute remain in Mexico, if you only fix asylum or parole and not these other things, then you don't solve the problem. You don't stem the flow here. And, again, that's the number one objective, so that we can get a handle on this crisis. MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you believe that more border funding is needed? Because the White House says they want to hire more agents, they want to do all sorts of things, and you are standing in the way in the House. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: That's nonsense. It's absolute nonsense. They have to solve the crisis here. And throwing more money at the broken system will not do that. All it will empower MARGARET BRENNAN: But you're not opposing funding? That's what I'm trying to clarify. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: No, but we have no, we we understand that Border Patrol needs the necessary resources to do its job. But they can't do the job that they're hired to do unless you change the policy here. MARGARET BRENNAN: But you would potentially be open to what the Senate is negotiating and put it on the floor in the House? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: It's it's a hypothetical question. Again, they've not sent me any of these provisions. But I have told them what we expect. MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm. But you want a deal? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Of course we want a deal. MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: We want to solve this crisis. We have to. We have a moral obligation to do so. MARGARET BRENNAN: Look, you at the end of this month are going to have a majority of just 219 Republicans. You need 218 to govern. Have you talked to the Democratic leader about what it would take to get a bill through? Have you talked to the White House? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: No. I I mean, Hakeem Jeffries and I are colleagues and friends, and I have a good relationship with him. I'm not deterred by this at all. I'm I'm undaunted by this. We deal with the numbers that we have. It will be one of the smallest majorities in the history of the Congress, clearly. MARGARET BRENNAN: It doesn't give you a lot of wiggle room. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: It it doesn't. But we do have, I think, a lot of unity on the big, important issues that we're really focused on. And I'm confident that we'll get the job done and be able to demonstrate that we can govern well, and I think that's one of the reasons that we will expand this majority in the next election cycle. I'm very optimistic about that. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, first, you have got to keep the government open, January 19. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: We we do. And we've been negotiating in good faith all through the holidays every day over the holidays, except for Christmas, on the the top-line numbers. MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: And I I think that we may be close to a deal, but we have insisted that federal spending must be addressed in a very serious and sober manner. We we crossed an important threshold this week, 30 $34 trillion dollars in federal debt. It's there's never been anything of that magnitude in the history of the country. And it's not sustainable. The the Congress has a responsibility. We have the power of the purse, of course. MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: And we have to be good stewards of precious taxpayer resources. We we cannot continue to borrow money to spend it. And so reducing non-defense discretionary spending must be a priority of Congress. And we're trying to insist upon that in these negotiations. MARGARET BRENNAN: When President Trump says immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country, is that a statement you agree with? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: That that's not language I would use, but but I understand the urgency of President Trump's admonition. He's been saying this since he ran for president the first time that we have to secure the border, and I think the vast majority of the American people understand the necessity of that. MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: And I think they agree with his position. MARGARET BRENNAN: But that statement goes beyond what you are personally comfortable with? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: It's it's not language I would use, but but I understand that it comes from MARGARET BRENNAN: Because it sounds hateful. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Well, it's it's not hateful. What President Trump is is trying to advance is his America first priority. And I think that makes sense to a lot of people. The the current president, President Biden, wants additional supplemental spending on national security, but he denies the most important point of our own national security. And that is our own border. And so that's frustrating to him. MARGARET BRENNAN: But you can say that without talking about blood and purity. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: It's President Biden's position is frustrating to us. It's frustrating to the American people, and certainly to President Trump. And I think that's what he's that's what he's articulating there. (End VT) MARGARET BRENNAN: The White House declined our invitation to have Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas join us today, but we will continue to ask for him. According to administration officials and sources familiar with the negotiations in the Senate, a deal to surge resources to the border and make significant policy changes is expected this week. Details are being finalized. More of our interview with Speaker Johnson and former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney when we come back. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: Aid to Ukraine is being held up in Congress by Republicans who want to tie it to a border security package, including Johnson, who told us he believes Russia's Vladimir Putin must be defeated, but that the U.S. must quote "secure the U.S. border before we secure anyone else's." We asked the speaker if the two aid packages could be passed by February. Speaker Johnson says President Zelenskyy personally told him that was the date by which he needs the U.S. funding. (Begin VT) REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: I think, if the White House and the Senate are serious about this, and they listen to the American people, remembering this is an 80 percent issue with the American people. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: They understand the necessity of what we're talking about. We have to insist upon securing our own country, and also if we get the necessary information and the necessary answers with regard to what what is the endgame in Ukraine, and how will be we be responsible with the the expenditure of those resources. The White House has not given us the necessary information. MARGARET BRENNAN: Have you spoken with President Biden recently or Donald Trump recently? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Yes, both. I mean, yes, I have spoken to President Trump very recently. And President Biden, but well, before the holidays. MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you take counsel from the former president, or what are your conversations like? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Well, very friendly. I mean, I have I have known the president well. I think I think he will be the nominee, and I think he's going to win the election and be the next president of the United States. So it's important to maintain that relationship. It'll be an important one for the country. MARGARET BRENNAN: Back in 2021, you were the lawmaker who circulated the - - the legal brief known as the Texas amicus brief challenging the 2020 election outcome in a number of states, which, by CBS editorial standards, makes you an election denier. So REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: That's nonsense. I'm not an election (CROSSTALK) MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that's can I get you on the record on that? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: I have always been consistent on the record. Did you read the brief? Did you get a chance to read what we filed with the Supreme Court? MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, I have read extensively some criticisms of that, but REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: You read commentary about the brief, but not what we submitted to the court, right? MARGARET BRENNAN: But do you recognize that President Biden won the 2020 election? Can you just put that aside as an issue? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: President Biden was certified as the winner of the election. He took the oath of office. He's been the president for three years. What I the argument that we presented to the court, which is our only avenue to do so, was that the Constitution was clearly violated in the 2020 election. It's Article 2, Section 1, and anyone can Google it and read it for themselves. MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: The the system by which you choose electors to elect the president of the United States must be done by the individual states, and the system must be ratified with the state legislatures. That is language, plain language, out of the Constitution. MARGARET BRENNAN: So you still have issues with the validity of the 2020 election? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: The Constitution was violated in the run-up to the 2020 election, not not always in bad faith, but in but in the aftermath of COVID, many states changed their election laws in ways that violated that plain language. That's just a fact. We presented that argument and that that those facts to the court. And and it was never directly addressed because of the Texas litigation. But that was the only vehicle we had to present that issue squarely to the court. MARGARET BRENNAN: But it was completely shut down as an issue. But your colleague Liz Cheney, your former colleague, wrote: "Mike Johnson and our Republican leaders had played a destructive role." You you, she says, "convinced 125 other Republican members of Congress to sign on to an amicus brief that many never read, that made numerous false factual and constitutional claims." How do you respond to that and the impression that you might have contributed in some way to January 6? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: No, I I don't spend much time responding to Liz Cheney's criticism these days. Liz Cheney worked with the Democrats on the Jan. 6 January 6 Select Committee to to make all of this even more politicized than it was. She was a a close friend and colleague before MARGARET BRENNAN: She said that in her book about you. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: she made those choices. Yes. I I well, look MARGARET BRENNAN: Which is why she's surprised, she said. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Well, I'm surprised that she's given that criticism, because, during that process, Liz and I were in constant dialogue about that. And at one point, she even considered signing on to that bill I will I will tell you that that is a fact to that amicus brief. And we talked about that at great length, and we had a difference of opinion on the law, and and people can agree to disagree on that. But I'm telling you that the plain language of the Constitution has never changed. And what happened in many states by changing the election laws without ratification by the state legislatures is a violation of the Constitution. That's a that's a plain fact that no one can dispute. MARGARET BRENNAN: How do you make sense of the idea that you still have issues with the validity of the 2020 election, but you have to negotiate and talk with the president of the United States, Joe Biden? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: This is water under the bridge. I mean, when when the Supreme Court passed on the Texas litigation and did not address the issue, I believe in the rule of law. This is our system. We move forward. And I I work with President Biden as the president of the United States. I think that he will be a one-term president. But this discussion about what happened in 2020 is is yesterday's news. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, I want to ask you, though, because a majority of House Republicans voted to authorize an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden recently. What do you think he should be impeached for? And how do you negotiate with him in the process of that impeachment or potential impeachment? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: The House has among the very heavy responsibilities that the House of Representatives holds, next to the declaration of war, impeachment is probably the heaviest power that we have. In the previous administration, we were very critical of the House Democrats because they politicized impeachment. That is not the way that we should handle that heavy power of the House. We do have a responsibility, however, to investigate things that are untoward. And this has happened with the Biden administration, very methodically, very carefully in a way that is exactly the opposite of what the House Democrats did during the Trump administration. And now the investigation is being impeded. The White House has suddenly refused to turn over documents that have been requested and certain witnesses that are key to unwinding exactly what happened. So it came to a certain point that the House had to pass the impeachment inquiry as a measure, because that puts us at the apex of our constitutional authority, because we'll have to enforce the subpoenas in a court of law. That was a necessary step that we had to take. So, again, we it's still not been prejudged. We've not made a determination that impeachment is going to happen here. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you haven't made the conclusion that you've seen evidence that you'll move forward with this? REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: Well, no, you can't prejudge an impeachment inquiry or investigation. I think that would be a violation of our duty under the Constitution. You have to investigate and follow the truth where it leads. There is a lot of smoke here. MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON: And Congress has the responsibility to find the fire if it exists, and that's what they're doing right now very, very carefully. MARGARET BRENNAN: If it exists. (End VT) MARGARET BRENNAN: Our full interview with Speaker Johnson is available on our YouTube channel. We turn now to former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney. Her book is "Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning." Good morning to you here. FORMER REPRESENTATIVE LIZ CHENEY (R-Wyoming): Good morning, Margaret. Great to be with you. MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to give you a chance to respond to the Speaker. Is it a fact, as he asserted, that, when you were in House leadership, you considered signing on to that challenge to Donald Trump? LIZ CHENEY: It is not. We were, as Mike said, in constant contact throughout that period. I actually know precisely when he sent me the brief and precisely when, less than 30 minutes later, I told him my concerns with the brief. Mike knows that as well. The brief itself was was legally and constitutionally infirm. I made that clear. Mike's claims that somehow and this is very dangerous that, somehow, as a member of Congress, he has the right to reject, ignore the rulings of the courts you know, we have dozens of state and federal courts that assessed the claims, assessed the constitutionality and rejected them. And Mike's position, which which people really need to think about because it's so chilling, is that, somehow, as a member of Congress, he has the right to ignore the rulings of those courts, to assert, absent any fact finding of fact, that somehow he feels that something that happened was unconstitutional, and, therefore, that he can throw out the votes of millions of Americans. That's tyranny. It's not the rule of law. It's tyranny. And and it's important for people to understand that, because this notion of rejecting, ignoring, refusing to abide by the rulings of the courts is also what we will see in a second Trump term if Donald Trump is reelected. MARGARET BRENNAN: And you write extensively about this in your book, and you say it was actually Donald Trump's own lawyers who wrote that legal brief that Speaker Johnson circulated. LIZ CHENEY: Correct. And the other thing is, he Johnson and I made this clear to him too the very first time we spoke after I reviewed the brief that he was misrepresenting the brief to the members of the conference. I also told him that I thought that signing on to this brief for anyone who was a member of a bar raised significant and serious ethical issues, because you were asserting to a court facts that not only were untrue, but which had already been rejected by other courts, and for which you had no basis, no knowledge. So, he knows the truth, but the American people, beyond the disagreement between Johnson and I, need to recognize how dangerous it is to have elected officials who think they can ignore the rulings of the courts. MARGARET BRENNAN: And so for for those folks who say, oh, this sounds very complicated, one of the reasons we're talking about this is because the members of the House Republican leadership signed on to it. LIZ CHENEY: Correct. MARGARET BRENNAN: All of the members of the House Republican leadership supported Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and currently are endorsing him to be the next president of the United States. LIZ CHENEY: Right. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, from your perspective, it sounds like you're saying you don't trust Republican leadership in the House and their conduct in the upcoming election. LIZ CHENEY: Look, they you've had two members of Republican leadership in the House on television this morning. You've had Mike on, again, claiming that he has the right, individually to decide that he's going to throw out millions of votes and ignore the rulings of the courts. You've had Elise Stefanik on this morning talking about the J6 hostages. I mean, you don't have to take my word for the fact that you can't count on these elected Republicans to defend the Constitution. Every time they go out and give an interview, they demonstrate it themselves. MARGARET BRENNAN: Now, Elise Stefanik was on another network this morning. You just mentioned her. The quote was: "I have concerns about the treatment of the January 6 hostages." Hostages is a very specific word. And there are well over 1,200 people in the U.S. legal system going through legal proceedings right now for their role in the attack that day. That word she used is exactly the word that Donald Trump uses. LIZ CHENEY: And that's why she's using it. And it's outrageous, and it's disgusting. And if you if you go and you look at what individuals have been convicted for who are incarcerated, you'll find, you know, extensively, these are people who were involved in violence against police officers in the assault on the Capitol. And it is really it's disgraceful for Donald Trump to be saying what he's saying. And then for those who are attempting to enable him or attempting to further their own political careers to repeat it, it's a disgrace. And you cannot say that you are a member of a party that believes in the rule of law, you can't say that you're pro-law enforcement, if you then go out and you say these people are quote "hostages." It's it's disgraceful. MARGARET BRENNAN: We have other Republican candidates for president like Ron DeSantis who have said they are open to reviewing the cases against these defendants and considering pardons for them. LIZ CHENEY: Look, the president has has pardon power and pardon authority. I think that it's a very important piece that people ought to consider when they're thinking about for whom they're going to vote. Someone who says that they would pardon individuals who assaulted the Capitol, who attempted to stop a constitutional process, who assaulted police officers I mean, it was a bloody battle. I had police officers, one, tell me that it was it was like medieval hand-to-hand combat. The notion that the Republican Party would continue its efforts to whitewash that day, when the peaceful transition of power is at the core of the survival of our republic MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. LIZ CHENEY: tells you that they're unfit for office. MARGARET BRENNAN: We have to take a break, but I want to come back with you on the other side of it. So, stay with us. We'll be right back. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: Our trip to Eagle Pass also included a firsthand look at what officials need to help handle those crossing into the U.S. and why some of those migrants want to come to the U.S. in the first place. That's coming up after Liz Cheney. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: We will be right back with a lot more Face the Nation. Stay with us. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to FACE THE NATION. We return to our conversation with former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney. The Supreme Court is going to take on that Colorado case where the state was going to remove him from the ballot citing insurrection and the 14th Amendment. The special counsel, Jack Smith, charged Donald Trump with a number of things. Insurrection was not one of them. So, given that it doesn't meet that Justice Department standard, do you think the Supreme Court will ultimately disqualify Trump? LIZ CHENEY (Former Republican Congresswoman from Wyoming): We'll see what happens in the courts. If you - if you look at the select committee's work, we made a criminal referral with respect to the part of the 14th Amendment that talks about providing aid and comfort to an insurrection, I certainly believe that Donald Trump's behavior rose to that level. I believe that he ought to be disqualified from holding office in the future. It's working its ways through the courts. And in the meantime, and in any case, we have to be prepared to ensure that we can defeat him at the ballot box, which ultimately I believe we'll be able to do. MARGARET BRENNAN: The Supreme Court may ultimately hear it, but right now the D.C. Circuit will be taking on this question of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution this Tuesday. LIZ CHENEY: Lindsey Graham was on this program, the senator, last Sunday saying, "no one's immune from prosecution, but presidents do have immunity in order to do their job." And he said Trump just gave a fiery speech. As a conservative, what do you make of this and the broader argument that this would be undermining presidential immunity? LIZ CHENEY: Look, I think that there's - there's no basis for an assertion that a president of the United States is completely immune from criminal prosecution for acts in office. And I suspect that that's what court will hold. I think it's really important for people, as they're looking at all of this litigation, to recognize what Donald Trump's trying to do. He's trying to suppress the evidence. He's trying to delay his trial because he doesn't want people to see the witnesses who will testify against him. And - and we just saw again this morning news reports that Dan Scavino, Pat Cipollone, testimony they have apparently given in front of the grand jury, that once again confirms, you know, what we were able to discover in the select committee, confirms that Donald Trump did not want to tell people to go home, did not want to tell the mob to leave the Capitol, that he watched the attack on television. And - and Trump knows that the witnesses in his trial are not his political opponents. He knows that they're going to be the people who are closest to him, the people that he appointed. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. LIZ CHENEY: And he doesn't want the American people to see that evidence before they vote. They have a right to see that evidence before they vote. And so I think it's very important he not be able to to delay his trial. MARGARET BRENNAN: Very quickly, what do you think of the fact that Secretary Austin has been hospitalized since January 1st and didn't tell the White House until days later? LIZ CHENEY: I - I think they've got some very serious explaining to do. I think that there's a - there's a real difference between public transparency and, you know, alerting the commander in chief to the fact that the secretary of defense is in the hospital. Apparently the deputy secretary was on vacation in Puerto Rico. I think it's - it's - it's - it's inexplicable. We need to know more about exactly what happened there. But that's not the way the Pentagon ought to be conducting business. MARGARET BRENNAN: Still be asking questions about it. Thank you. LIZ CHENEY: Thank you. Good to be with you. MARGARET BRENNAN: Liz Cheney, thank you for being here. The very first votes of 2024 will happen next Monday in the Iowa caucus. Our Ed O'Keefe is there. (BEGIN VT) ED O'KEEFE (voice over): Just over a week to go and Donald Trump remains confident. DONALD TRUMP (R), FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT AND 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Because I always say, how the hell do I lose Iowa? I got the farmers of this country $28 billion. How the hell do I ED O'KEEFE (voice over): The former president is running a far more formidable operation than the first time he ran in the first in the nation caucus. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Calling from the Trump team. ED O'KEEFE (voice over): And Iowa is like the rest of the country, increasingly concerned about the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. ED O'KEEFE: What's the sort of number one, number two issues that you're worried about? MAN: Close the border. ED O'KEEFE: Immigration? MAN: Immigration. MAN: Well, the border for sure. ED O'KEEFE (voice over): With more migrants being sent north and west to big cities, most Americans now oppose providing temporary housing and social services in the areas where they live. WOMAN: All these millions of people that have nowhere to live and that our system cannot support, we are not helping these people. ED O'KEEFE (voice over): Another hot topic in Iowa, January 6th. Two-thirds of Republicans nationally support Trump's calls to pardon those who forced their way into the Capitol. TRUMP: Some people call them prisoners. I call them hostages. Release the J. 6th hostages, Joe. JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Trump's assault on democracy isn't just part of his past, it's what he's promising for the future. ED O'KEEFE (voice over): How Trump responded to January 6th and broader concerns about American democracy are now leading themes of President Biden's re-election campaign. TRUMP: They were there with love in their heart. That was an unbelievable and it was a beautiful day. It was a beautiful day. ED O'KEEFE (voice over): But while Trump may be leading here in Iowa, that isn't stopping GOP opponents Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, both running hard for second place. (END VT) MARGARET BRENNAN: That was Ed O'Keefe reporting in Iowa. We go now to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who joins us from Des Moines, Iowa. Good morning to you, Governor. GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL) (Presidential Candidate): Good morning. MARGARET BRENNAN: You know, when we were in Texas, we saw Florida law enforcement trucks patrolling along that Texas border. I know you've been very supportive of Governor Abbott of Texas. Do you think that immigration should be left up to federal authorities, or do you also plan to have Florida try to use its local law enforcement to arrest migrants? GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: Well, when I'm president, we will, of course, it's a federal issue, a federal interest, but states and localities should absolutely be able to supplement the federal government. And we're in a situation now where the federal government asserts, under the supremacy clause of the Constitution, that they have the sole dominion over enforcing immigration laws, but they're choosing not to faithfully enforce immigration laws. MARGARET BRENNAN: But supplementing is different than superseding. And as you know, the Supreme Court was asked to weigh in on this in the state of Arizona back in 2012. Are you saying in Florida you're going to use law enforcement to arrest migrants now? GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: What I'm saying is, as president, I am going to deputize state and localities. And you're right about that Arizona case. I actually think the Supreme Court would - would reevaluate that today, especially in light of what we've seen. But as president, I am going to say, state and localities have the authority to enforce immigration laws as long as they're upholding the law. It's one thing if a state was trying to frustrate the law. Of course, under the supremacy clause, they couldn't do that. But that's not what we have here. It's the federal government that's frustrating the imposition the enforcement of the law. It's the states that just want the law enforced. MARGARET BRENNAN: So, there were at least two groups of migrants fleeing Cuba that landed in your state of Florida this past week. But the numbers versus last year are actually way down. The Biden administration said anyone caught at sea will be banned from humanitarian parole programs. Do you believe that the Biden policy has helped Florida? GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: Well, what's helped Florida, Margaret - because the Coast Guard does a good job and they are in charge of that. We started to have a rash of boats coming and there were a lot of gaps because the Coast Guard didn't have enough resources. So, I marshalled state resources, state maritime assets. We filled in the gaps. And so what would happen, if you had a boat coming from Haiti, let's say, Florida law enforcement would interdict. We would have to turn over the potential illegal aliens to the Coast Guard, but then the Coast Guard would deport them back to Haiti or Cuba or wherever. That had a huge, huge deterrent effect because people are not going to want to go over those choppy waters knowing that most likely they're just going to end up back where they came. It's the same principle applied to the southern border. People know if they just get to the border they're going to get free passes into the United States. So, they're going to be willing to pay thousands of dollars to coyotes and cartels. If we have a new sheriff in town on this and they know they're going back to their home country - MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: You're going to see a dramatic decrease in people that will even try this voyage. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, let me ask you about that because you said this past week you would like to deport nearly 8 million undocumented migrants. Would you deport those who are waiting asylum legal proceedings before they've had their day in court? GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: Well, what we are going to do is, we are going to streamline that. You know, we're going to do a presumption against asylum for the people that come across the border illegally, from the - from the traditional countries which, you know, look, America is a better place to live than some of those countries, but they just don't qualify for asylum. So, yes, they will be included. We're going to work through that to make sure that we can streamline it. But the idea that you can come to the southern border MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you think you need Congress to do that? GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: I think we can do I think we can do a lot through executive action. I do think it would be helpful for Congress to do some things on that. And I know the House of Representatives, with HR-2, is doing that. I would support that. But we have a situation now, you show up at the border, you say the magic words, then they give you a sheet of paper and they say, come back in two years. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: Enjoy your stay in America. How is that something that is ever going to get this border under control? And I'll tell you, I'm - I'm here in Iowa now, talking to people in New Hampshire, South Carolina, these early states, they're frustrated with how the federal government will treat people coming into our country illegally better than Americans in some respects, free lodging, free transportation. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that's - that's - GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: You know, the Biden administration was charging people to get out of Israel to take them to Greece. I sent planes to Israel. We - we set brought people back free of charge. So, we've got to put the American people and our sovereignty first. MARGARET BRENNAN: Our CBS polling shows half the country expects there will be violence from the side that loses in future elections. Do you share that concern about this race? GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: Oh, I - I - I hope not. I mean I think that, you know, we have an opportunity - one of the - you know, one of the reasons I'm running is I think the Republicans, we have a great shot to win if we frame the issues about the problems facing the country, the failures of the Biden administration, and how we have a great set of ideas to - to turn the country around. And I've shown how that can be done in Florida. I think if we're relitigating the the past elections, if it's about, you know, Donald Trump or his legal issues or criminal trials or all that stuff, you know, I think it's going to be a really nasty election. I don't think that puts Republicans in a good position to win. So, we - we need to have an election on the issues. You know, we need a candidate that can win a clearcut victory. And we need to start looking forward as a country. MARGARET BRENNAN: You have never lost a political race in your career. You are a second in the CBS Iowa projections. Is that victory enough for you? GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: Well, we've got to win a majority of the delegates. This is a long process. We're doing really well in Iowa. You know, I kind of like being underestimated, Margaret, so I hope people kind of say - say that. But we've got the enthusiasm when the calendar clicked to '24, you see, we've got more undecided voters coming out to all our events. So, we're going to outwork everybody. But this is a long process. There's a lot that happens to accumulate all these delegates. We're going to do well in Iowa, but we're also going to be competing in all these other states. And I think that there's a lot of real estate. I think a lot of things are going to happen. I wish the former (INAUDIBLE) I mean I think if you're going to stand for nomination, you should be able to stand on stage to do it. I'm happy to debate him on your program, or if your network wants to host a debate in New Hampshire or South Carolina. But the idea that he can go and just read off the teleprompter for 45 minutes and then go back, you know, back home, that doesn't cut it in Iowa and that doesn't cut it in a lot of these states. And so let's go get on the stage and let's have the debate of ideas. And I hope Donald Trump will be willing to do that. MARGARET BRENNAN: We will see. Governor, thank you for your time this morning. GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: Thank you. MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll be right back. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen spent the last several days in the Middle East. He and Senator Jeff Merkley visited the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, and he joins us this morning from Amman, Jordan. Senator, what is the choke point? Why isn't aid making it into Gaza? SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): Well, Margaret, Senator Merkley and I went to the Rafah crossing to find out exactly that question. There are two big things that are happening. One is the unnecessarily cumbersome process going through the Israeli screening process, which I believe is the result of political decisions by the Netanyahu coalition. For example, many items that are should be allowed to go into Gaza, water, sort of filtration systems, other systems like that, were in a warehouse of rejected items that we visited. While we were there, we saw a truck turned away that had a big box from UNICEF, which is, of course, the U.N. organization that helps children. It was a unit to help with water desalination. It was rejected. And when one item on a truck is rejected, the entire truck is rejected. The other big issue is within Gaza. The so-called deconfliction process, which is just a fancy name for those who are providing humanitarian assistance to have the confidence that they can deliver it without being killed. And according to all the international NGOs that we talked about who have been operating in conflict zones around the world, they've never seen a worse process for assuring the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance. And so that, of course, makes it very difficult to get the help to people who need it, people who are starving and where they're on the verge of outbreak of cholera and other diseases. MARGARET BRENNAN: France and Jordan made the decision to airdrop aid in because of those issues going in by land. Should the United States do the same? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Well, I think we should consider every means to try to get desperately needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza. The problem with airdrops is it's just not at scale. In other words, it's good, but what we need is far more trucks to be able to cross into Gaza. After all, before the war started you had 500 trucks crossing into Gaza. And today, you know, this last week it was around 150 trucks per day. We need to make this a 24/7 operation. The Israeli screening sites are only operating on like an eight-hour-a-day schedule, taking some days off. This is a 24/7 humanitarian crisis, and we need a system that will recognize that people are - are - are dying every day. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Of course some from bombs. We have over 22 people dead, two-thirds of them women and children, but also this humanitarian crisis. MARGARET BRENNAN: You said you believe aid is not getting in because of a political decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. If that's the case, does that government need to face consequences from the United States, their ally? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Yes, I do think there have to been - have to be consequences. And, you know, Secretary Blinken and President Biden have been right to insist on two things, a reduction in the unacceptable levels of civilian casualties, and much more cooperation when it comes to providing humanitarian assistance. We've not seen that. This is one reason why I and other senators have proposed an amendment that would apply to every country that the United States provides military assistance to, whether it's Ukraine, Israel, or any other country, that would require that country to cooperate fully with the United States in providing humanitarian assistance in an area of conflict where U.S. provided weapons are being used. It would also require all recipients of U.S. military assistance to abide by international humanitarian law. These are some basic principles that should be universally applied by the United States. MARGARET BRENNAN: The White House, so far, has not signed on to that. Before I let you go, sir, I want to ask you, since you're coming back to Washington to work, 63 percent of Americans, according to our polling, believe Joe Biden needs to get tougher at the U.S. border. I'm wondering if you are comfortable with provisions that would tighten asylum law and give more expulsion authority to turn away migrants coming to the United States? SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Well, Margaret, President Biden is well aware of the unacceptable challenges that we're facing right now at the U.S. border, which is why he provided large numbers of additional proposed additional resources for border patrol agents. As you know, there's a bipartisan group of senators that are discussing various policy changes. I'm looking forward to hearing the results of those discussions. I'm told that both the Democratic Senate caucus and the Republican Senate caucus may be briefed as early as this week on a framework, although I don't know for sure. MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: I'm going to have to look at every proposal before I make any final decisions. I can tell you that some of the House proposals - MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Are way too extreme - MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. All right, Senator - SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: And undermine the idea of America as a (INAUDIBLE) of immigrants. MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, I'm sorry, because of the delay, I'm going to have to speak over you and cut you off because this commercial break. I apologize, sir. We'll be back in a moment. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: We toured a federal border facility and a migrant shelter while in Eagle Pass, Texas, to understand the full border picture. Here's what we saw. (BEGIN VT) MARGARET BRENNAN (voice over): Four-day-old Juan Onhel (ph) is one of America's newest citizens. We met him and his 26-year-old mother, Lesley (ph), at a temporary shelter the day after they were released from the hospital. She just had an emergency c-section. MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you in pain? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking in a foreign language). UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (speaking in foreign language). UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. MARGARET BRENNAN: But you're smiling? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking in a foreign language). MARGARET BRENNAN (voice over): Thanks to God, everything is OK, she says. After a two-month journey from Honduras with her nine and four-year-old, Lesley told us she went into labor in the Rio Grande while crossing illegally to the U.S. MARGARET BRENNAN: He is a U.S. citizen now. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking in a foreign language). UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (speaking in foreign language). MARGARET BRENNAN: And that's what you wanted? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking in a foreign language). MARGARET BRENNAN (voice over): Yes, that was the plan, she says. Lesley said she came to the U.S. seeking better opportunities. But the road ahead is unclear. She can't take this Texas state funded bus to a different city since newborns and America aren't permitted. Shelters that receive federal funds, like this one, only assist non-citizens, so newborn Juan cannot stay. Some of these asylum seekers have family in the U.S., but there's no federal program to settle them. The average wait for asylum to be granted is four years. There's a backlog of 3 million pending cases and less than 800 immigration judges to process them. Families make up 40 percent of arrivals in this sector senior border patrol officials told us. This is the facility where migrants are processed. It can hold a maximum of 1,100 people for no more than 72 hours. Many arrive wet from the river and are offered food and dry clothes. They're given mylar blankets, which are resistant to lice, and medical checks. Boys 14 and older are fingerprinted. Sixty percent of the migrants now are single adult males, mostly Venezuelans, held in these plexiglass pods. Border patrol estimates smugglers make $32 million a week in this 242 miles remote border stretch. They target this thinly resourced area. Since September, agents in Eagle Pass apprehended migrants from 61 countries from as far away as Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The FBI is investigating one picked up last week. The agents admit they don't know who they might have missed. They're frustrated that before Christmas 90 percent of this sector went unpatrolled while they dealt with a crush of illegal entries. MARGARET BRENNAN: What's going to happen to these kids? MARGARET BRENNAN (voice over): There are caregivers for the unaccompanied children. This six-year-old boy came on his own from Mexico. These young girls made the dangerous trek from Honduras on their own. And that weighs on the agents that apprehend them. A Border Patrol agent wanted us to know, as he put it, we're not monsters. VALERIA WHEELER (ph): We have seen a lot of moms that have left their kids in the - in the river. MARGARET BRENNAN (voice over): Valeria Wheeler runs the only shelter in Eagle Pass. She helps as many as 1,200 migrants a day after they're released by Border Patrol. She thinks Congress should make clear the trek isn't worth it. VALERIA WHEELER: We know that not everybody is going to be granted for asylum, so what's the point of all the struggles that they have to pass through and all the suffering that this is causing. MARGARET BRENNAN: Can America balance the national security risk of a hemisphere wide crisis while keeping our humanity and stay a nation of immigrants. That's the vexing challenge. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) MARGARET BRENNAN: That's it for us today. We'll see you next week. (ANNOUNCEMENTS) Meet Taylor Tomlinson, late-night comedy's newest host How artificial intelligence is revamping customer call centers Reporter's notebook: Can the U.S. balance security risk with staying a nation of immigrants? A gay Black inmate in Florida struggling with mental health issues was left clinically brain dead after a beating by his cellmate last month, and his family now wants answers from authorities. Janard Geffrard, 29, was found in his cell at Broward County jail in Fort Lauderdale on December 16 nonresponsive and suffering from a fractured left rib, a fractured sternum, and pulmonary bruising, according to court documents seen by local ABC affiliate WPLG. His cellmate, Kevin Barnes, 35, allegedly waived his Miranda rights and confessed that he choked, kicked, and beat Geffrard because he was gay and smelled from poor hygiene. Detective Kristina Luna wrote in her report that Barnes admitted to placing Geffrard in a chokehold for approximately two minutes and later kicking and stomping his limp body as it lay prone on the ground. He also reportedly held Geffrards face in the water in their shared toilet. Geffrard was not discovered for over 20 minutes. He was eventually taken to a local hospital where he was declared clinically brain dead. When told that Geffrard was in critical condition from the attack, Barnes reportedly responded that he got what he deserved. Investigating officers reported the duration of the attack was caught on video, although Barnes and Geffrard were not fully in the video at all times. Both men suffer from mental health issues and were both found mentally incompetent by the courts. Now Geffrards family wants to know why he was left alone in his cell with Barnes for so long while the attack was being recorded live for guards. "The news of his death was obviously a complete shock to the family," Josiah Graham, an attorney who represents Geffrard's family, told ABC News. Graham added that Geffrard had a 10-year-old son. Marcia Irving, Geffrards grandmother, told WPLG she had believed he was safer in custody than on the streets, but now she just wants answers to how he could have been beaten to near death with nobody stopping the attack. Somebody beat my kid up real bad, and then he kept doing it, he kept after he was out, Irving told WPLG. Broward County Public Defender Gordon Weekes also wants answers and sent a letter to Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony about the attack. He told the Miami Herald there is a pattern of questionable deaths in Broward County jails over the past several years. Otherwise healthy individuals are finding themselves dying or being neglected medically in the jail, Weekes told the paper. It has to come to an end. Two guards have reportedly been placed on paid leave while the incident is further investigated. Barnes has been charged with multiple offenses related to the attack, including attempted murder. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on Sunday for an end to the cycle of violence in the Middle East ahead of her fourth visit to the region since the October 7 attacks mounted from the Gaza Strip. "Terrorism must end, people's humanitarian need must end, the region must emerge from the eternal cycle of violence," she said before leaving for Israel, where she is due to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Israel Katz. While Israel had the right to defend itself against terrorism, civilians had to be better protected during military operations, she said. Baerbock called for a substantial increase in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip to combat hunger, disease and the cold. Talks in Jerusalem are to focus on efforts to free hostages being held by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian conditions for the population there and on moves towards a two-state solution once the current war ends. Gaza should not be permitted to pose a threat to Israel in the future, Hamas should lay down its arms and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and Houthis in Yemen had to end their dangerous activities, she said. Both sides would be able to live in peace only if "each sees the suffering of the other," she said. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on Sunday for an end to the cycle of violence in the Middle East ahead of her fourth visit to the region since the October 7 attacks mounted from the Gaza Strip. "Terrorism must end, people's humanitarian need must end, the region must emerge from the eternal cycle of violence," she said before leaving for Israel, where she is due to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Israel Katz. While Israel had the right to defend itself against terrorism, civilians had to be better protected during military operations, she said. Baerbock called for a substantial increase in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip to combat hunger, disease and the cold. Talks in Jerusalem are to focus on efforts to free hostages being held by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian conditions for the population there and on moves towards a two-state solution once the current war ends. Gaza should not be permitted to pose a threat to Israel in the future, Hamas should lay down its arms and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and Houthis in Yemen had to end their dangerous activities, she said. Both sides would be able to live in peace only if "each sees the suffering of the other," she said. On Sunday, the German Red Cross (DRK) organized a flight of 33 tons of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including tents, tarpaulins, lifting devices and rescue backpacks. The flight took off from Leipzig/Halle airport and was due to land in Egypt, from where it was to be transported to the Gaza Strip with the aid of the Egyptian Red Crescent for distribution by the Palestinian Red Crescent. "There is huge demand for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. More of practically everything is needed," DRK head secretary Christian Reuter said. The aid was aimed at the most urgent needs and would support the work of the Palestinian Red Crescent, he added. A second plane carrying 26 tons is to take off from the same airport on Monday. The flights are receiving financial support from the German Foreign Ministry. According to the DRK, there is a lack of medicines, drinking water, food, fuel and clothing. Most of the population have lost their homes. During a rally by the German Train Drivers' Union (GDL) in front of the main station, a participant wears an orange vest with the word "GDL" on it. Germany's GDL train drivers' union is again calling for a strike lasting several days in the wage dispute with state-owned Deutsche Bahn and other railway companies. Soeren Stache/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa Germany's GDL train drivers' union is again calling for a strike lasting several days in the wage dispute with state-owned Deutsche Bahn and other railway companies, the union announced on Sunday evening. In passenger transport, the strike is to begin overnight in the early hours of Wednesday and last until Friday evening. In freight transport, GDL members plan to put down work on Tuesday evening. Deutsche Bahn criticized the action and announced that it would take legal action. The strike marks the return of the GDL after the "Christmas truce." The union had ruled out industrial action over the Christmas period and the turn of the year up to and including Sunday. Now the union plans the third and longest strike in the ongoing dispute. "The DB Group has not used the Christmas truce to counteract industrial action with a negotiable offer," GDL said. Since the start of wage negotiations at the beginning of November, the GDL has already brought passenger trains to a standstill twice with 20-hour and 24-hour strikes. The railway announced that it would take legal action against the planned action. A corresponding urgent application for a temporary injunction will be submitted to the Frankfurt Labour Court. "This strike is not only completely unnecessary, but we also consider it to be legally inadmissible," said Martin Seiler, head of human resources, according to the press release. Seiler said that only two days ago, Deutsche Bahn had presented an extended offer in which the company had taken a major step towards the union's core demand regarding working hours. "DB is prepared to compromise. It is now time to negotiate again. The GDL leadership has overreached, it must finally come to its senses." Among the sticking points in the wage dispute is the union's demand for a reduction in working hours. GDL boss Claus Weselsky has called for a cut in the working week for shift workers to 35 hours from currently 38, but at full pay. The company already operates optional different working-hour models, and the current offer aims to extend the system. Last month, Weselsky said the GDL was planning strikes lasting between three and five days for 2024. The GDL had also ruled out further industrial action over Christmas and the New Year after two rounds of strikes. The words "GDL strike" are written on the display board at the main station. Germany's GDL train drivers' union is again calling for a strike lasting several days in the wage dispute with state-owned Deutsche Bahn and other railway companies. Bernd Wustneck/dpa Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz (R), and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (L), at the start of her trip to the Middle East. Her first stop will be talks in Israel on the situation in Gaza, the situation in the West Bank and the tense situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Michael Kappeler/dpa Three months into the current war in Gaza, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Sunday called for an end to the cycle of violence in the Middle East. "Terrorism must end, people's humanitarian need must end, the region must emerge from the eternal cycle of violence," she said before leaving for Israel, where she met Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday and was due to meet Foreign Minister Israel Katz. While Israel had the right to defend itself against terrorism, civilians had to be better protected during military operations, she said. Baerbock called for a substantial increase in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip to combat hunger, disease and the cold. Talks in Jerusalem are to focus on efforts to free hostages being held by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian conditions for the population there and on moves towards a two-state solution once the current war ends. Gaza should not be permitted to pose a threat to Israel in the future, Hamas should lay down its arms and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and Houthis in Yemen had to end their dangerous activities, she said. Both sides would be able to live in peace only if "each sees the suffering of the other," she said. Baerbock's trip is her fourth to Israel and the region since the Hamas attacks in October. Baerbock also noted that "the script of terror must not continue to unfold." The foundation must finally be laid for sustainable peace and security, the German foreign minister asserted. To achieve this, Gaza must no longer pose a threat to Israel's existence, Hamas must lay down its arms and the Iranian-backed Shiite militia Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen must "stop their dangerous bombing." Israelis and Palestinians would only be able to live side by side in peace if the security of one meant the security of the other, said Baerbock. This will only succeed "if everyone sees the suffering of others." Baerbock is to visit a Palestinian village in the West Bank on Monday and meet Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki in Ramallah. Afterwards, the onward journey to Egypt is planned, followed by a visit to Lebanon on Wednesday. After her visit, the German official is to fly to the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore. On Sunday, the German Red Cross (DRK) organized a flight of 33 tons of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including tents, tarpaulins, lifting devices and rescue backpacks. The flight took off from Leipzig/Halle airport and was due to land in Egypt, from where it was to be transported to the Gaza Strip with the aid of the Egyptian Red Crescent for distribution by the Palestinian Red Crescent. "There is huge demand for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. More of practically everything is needed," DRK head secretary Christian Reuter said. The aid was aimed at the most urgent needs and would support the work of the Palestinian Red Crescent, he added. A second plane carrying 26 tons is to take off from the same airport on Monday. The flights are receiving financial support from the German Foreign Ministry. According to the DRK, there is a lack of medicines, drinking water, food, fuel and clothing. Most of the population have lost their homes. Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz, welcomes German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (L), at the start of her trip to the Middle East. Her first stop will be talks in Israel on the situation in Gaza, the situation in the West Bank and the tense situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Michael Kappeler/dpa Israel's President Izchak Herzog (R) welcomes German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (C), at the start of her trip to the Middle East. Her first stop will be talks in Israel on the situation in Gaza, the situation in the West Bank and the tense situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Michael Kappeler/dpa Israel's President Izchak Herzog welcomes German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (L), at the start of her trip to the Middle East. Her first stop will be talks in Israel on the situation in Gaza, the situation in the West Bank and the tense situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Michael Kappeler/dpa Nearly every Republican presidential candidate has rejected an offer to participate in what the organizer describes as the nations oldest minority-focused presidential forum, despite GOP optimism and repeated campaign trail comments from several candidates about improving the partys performance with voters of color in 2024. For nearly as long as Iowa has held its first-in-the-nation title, Wayne Ford has organized the Iowa Brown and Black Presidential Forum. The event often focuses on issues of national significance, such as crime, education and the economy, but it gives presidential aspirants an opportunity to tailor their message specifically to communities of color. Ford co-founded the organization behind the forum alongside Iowa-based Latina activist Mary Campos in 1984. Ford, a Democratic former state representative who was working with Iowa Republican leaders to try to put on a 2024 event, said he has extended invitations to Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls alike since the forum started 40 years ago. But only Democratic presidential candidates have participated so far. Past attendees include President Joe Biden as well as former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Jesse Jackson and George McGovern. Iowa Brown and Black Presidential Forum founders Mary Campos, left, and Wayne Ford at the 2020 edition of the event. (Courtesy Wayne Ford) Ford had reason to think this election cycle might be different: Exit polls have shown Republicans making gains with Black and Latino voters since Donald Trumps election as president in 2016. But only a few months after extending invitations, organizers for the Republican forum canceled it due to a low number of committed participants. Weve reached out to the Republican Party whether it was Bush, Reagan, it didnt matter. We always reached out to both parties, Ford said. Over the years, we started recognizing that Republicans were not coming but Democrats were. He added: Im disappointed that as of today, we still have not done a Republican forum from the presidential level. The latest attempt to host a Republican forum began in the summer, when Ford, with the support of Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann, began sending invitations to all Republican presidential candidates, with the exception of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who Ford noted said from day one hes not coming to Iowa to campaign. More dialogue is always a good thing in the political process, Kaufmann said in a statement at the time. Republicans are especially keen to engage in conversations with groups such as The Brown and Black Forums of America about how bold leadership and ideas can benefit all Americans regardless of race. Nearly every remaining Republican presidential candidate, with the exception of Christie, has held dozens of campaign events in Iowa. But Ford told NBC News that only one offered a firm commitment to attend the forum: Ryan Binkley. politics political politician (Charlie Neibergall / AP file) In a statement to NBC News, Kaufmann called the cancellation of the forum unfortunate. Republicans have always been fierce champions of free speech and the fair exchange of ideas, and I applaud my good friend and Iowa political trailblazer Wayne Ford for attempting to provide another platform to facilitate debate and discussion, Kaufmann said. Ford says Vivek Ramaswamys campaign, which has notched the most events in Iowa of all presidential campaigns, told him the candidate would put the event on his schedule and look at it. Binkleys campaign said, as Ford recounted, Hes committed. Hes excited. He will be there. Those were the only responses Ford says he received from the Republican presidential candidates. Binkley told NBC News he agreed to participate in the forum because he recognized the deep need for reconciliation in our nation, not just politically, economically, but certainly racially. The Republican Party has not really done well with minorities or with young people, or with major cities, Binkley said. You may have noticed that we lost 46 of the top 50 cities in the last election. My vision is that we would really dive into urban America with some real solutions. NBC News reached out to the five other Republican candidates to learn why they declined to attend the event. Wayne Ford (Charlie Neibergall / AP file) Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung suggested the former president was inclined to continue declining events that would put him on a stage with other candidates, given his polling lead. President Trump continues to dominate the race by wide margins. Its time for everyone to stop wasting time, energy and resources, Cheung said. The campaigns for former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson did not respond to requests for comment from NBC News. A golden opportunity left behind For Ford, Republican candidates decision to skip the event is perplexing given the near-record voter turnout among Black and Latino voters in 2020, as well as the shifting margins among those groups. This is the highest in the history of America you have minorities voting for a presidential candidate, Ford said. There are also signs that more Black and Latino voters, groups traditionally supportive of Democrats, are up for grabs in the 2024 general election a fact on the mind of some Republicans eager to once again win over a majority of the country. We have to go after the people in the middle, said Christopher Garcia, an Iowa resident who plans on caucusing for DeSantis. The independents, the Blacks and Hispanics that are falling away from Biden right now. Thats the people were gonna have to go after. Exit polls and other voter studies showed a small shift among Black voters toward Trump from 2016 to 2020 and a more sizable one among Latinos, particularly among men. While Biden still carried Latinos nationally, it was by a much smaller margin than Democrats enjoyed in other recent presidential elections. And higher-than-normal shares of Black voters are eyeing Trump in recent 2024 polls. There have been few, if any, attempts by Republican candidates to hold events in predominantly Spanish-speaking communities in Iowa. West Liberty, Iowa, is a majority-minority rural community that was the first in the state to elect a majority-Latino city council. Cara McFerren, a member of the nonpartisan West Liberty City Council, told NBC News that she has yet to see any specific correspondence directed to minorities in our area from any candidates from any front running party. Most of the candidates I see that make actual stops in town tend to be from the Democratic Party; while the Republican candidates tend to rally in more metropolitan neighboring cities that like to draw in larger crowds, McFerren said via email. Part of that is due to the reality of this early-voting state: Iowa is the nations fifth-whitest state, according to census data. But Ford was hopeful that the shifting demographics of general elections would lead to increased participation. There was also the symbolism behind this years caucus date. There was a golden opportunity our caucus will be held on Martin Luther Kings birthday. When we first heard about that, we were very excited, Ford said. The Brown and Black forum was set to be held two days prior, on Jan. 13. Ford believed the caucus falling on Kings birthday sent a strong message that couldve changed the perception of the state, especially in light of the Democratic Partys decision to remove Iowas first-in-the-nation status in its nominating contest. Even though we have lost number one for Democrats, even though you got a perception of us as being a red state even though we are a red state, we still believe in fair equity, Ford said. Remember, were still the white state that got Obama started. Were the white state that got a woman started with Hillary Clinton. The forum has in the past been an opportunity to speak to communities of color in Iowa and nationally, through media partnerships. The organizations last presidential forum in 2020 was hosted by Vice News and won a News and Documentary Emmy. Members of the 2008 Democratic presidential field, including then-Sens. Joe Biden and Barack Obama, participate in that year's forum. (Courtesy Wayne Ford) Given the dearth of polling specific to Black and brown constituencies, Ford throughout his nearly 50 years of organizing minority-focused forums has framed them as an effective way to amplify those voices and the issues they care about. He says its also a way to gauge their reaction to various acts on the campaign trail, like Trumps recent assertion that undocumented immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country. We have not interviewed minorities who live in Iowa, who are Republicans to see if Trumps comments affected his standing or not, Ford said. Thats why our forum becomes more and more important. Organizers for the Iowa Brown and Black Presidential Forum said in light of the cancellation, they will still work to foster a platform that not only resonates with our audience but also shapes the national dialogue on pivotal issues affecting our communities through media collaborations during the 2024 election cycle. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com My mind is on the Gospel, but its not according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It's a different kind of Gospel. Some context before learning what it is. In the Bible, God empowers Moses to lead the freed Jews to the Promised Land. But there was a problem. Non-Jews occupied the Promised Land. To make room for the Jewish people, God promises to drive out the occupiers. God declares in Exodus 23: I will send my terror ahead of you I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River. The eviction and ensuing wars over many generations must have created a lot of resentment. The British taking over Palestine after World War I and declaring in 1917 its intention to establish the state of Israel must have created more resentment. The partitioning of Palestine and the United States declaring in 1948 that it recognizes the state of Israel must have created more resentment. The ensuing Arab-Israeli wars and the displacement of Palestinians must have created more resentment. Before Oct. 7, Gaza had already experienced years of conflict, poverty and humanitarian crises, according to the CIA. Seven years ago, the poverty rate in Gaza was close to 29%. Gaza water was undrinkable because it tasted like sea water. Gaza beaches were unswimmable because the sea water was polluted with raw sewage. Gaza is a narrow strip of land sandwiched between Israel, Egypt and the Red Sea. It has 2.1 million inhabitants despite being the size of Las Vegas, which translates to 36,000 people per square mile. Half of those living in Gaza are children. Since 2007, the Israeli blockade of sea, air and land routes has prevented the flow of goods and people into Gaza. Food was in short supply. Medicines were in short supply. Human rights groups likened Gaza to the worlds largest open-air prison. The harsh life in Palestinian territories must have created more resentment. But forget resentment, what can such harsh life do to a person's mental health? Israel is determined to eliminate over 20,000 Hamas fighters who are located primarily in Gaza. If the Hamas fighters are in one spot in Gaza, bombing the location might neutralize them as Israel wants. But if the Hamas fighters live among civilians, destroying them would also destroy civilians. How then to best eliminate Hamas? Israel thinks artificial intelligence, or AI for short, can help. Nothing new; the U.S. military also uses AI for combat purposes. Simply defined, AI is a technology that allows machines and computer applications to execute tasks like the human mind. I imagined Moses and the Jews walking in the desert at night. I wanted to draw the Pillar of Fire, so I tasked Microsofts Bing Image Creator, a free online AI tool for creating images, with the job. The AI-generated image was breathtaking. Microsofts Bing Image Creator, a free online AI tool for creating images, produced the picture from a prompt to show the biblical Pillar of Fire. The AI behind the image creation tool is based on complex mathematics trained with a large dataset of images. The AI searched for patterns in the data and made predictions of the Pillar of Fire independent of me. But AI does not always create fun things. If the AI training data is biased, the output can also have bias. Training AI with a dataset of images of persons of interest captured by retail stores security cameras and employees phones is one example. This is what Rite Aid did resulting in The Federal Trade Commission imposing a ban on its AI-powered facial recognition technology for falsely flagging women and people of color as potential shoplifters. Despite the likelihood of bias, the Israeli Defense Forces is using AI named the Gospel or Habsora" in Hebrew to increase efficiency in identifying Hamas targets. The data used to train the Gospel are things like cell phone messages, satellite imagery, drone footage and even seismic sensors, according to NPR. The Gospel might also have been fed feedback about how AI performed when it was first used by the IDF in Gaza in 2021. Intelligence from the Gospel is passed on to commanders on the battlefield through an app named Pillar of Fire. The field commanders then decide to strike or not to strike a target. Without the Gospel, it would have taken an intelligence analyst 300 days to identify three to five targets. Yet by Oct. 12, the IDF had struck over 22,000 targets in Gaza. Israel claims it has killed 7,000 Hamas fighters. Yet some of its commanders have approved the killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians in an attempt to assassinate a single top Hamas military commander, according to +972 Magazine, a nonprofit Israel-Palestinian magazine. Has the Gospel done a good job in Gaza? Let's see. Over 20,000 civilians, killed. Over 10,000 children and infants, killed. Over 130 aid workers, killed. Over 60 journalists, killed. The Gospel did find targets. To be killed. Walter Suza, Ames Tribune guest columnist Walter Suza of Ames, Iowa, writes frequently on the intersections of spirituality, anti-racism and social justice. He can be contacted at wsuza2020@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The Gospel has failed to save lives in Gaza. Here's why. There is a dangerous political storm brewing in America. Radical conservatives are attempting to change our democracy to an authoritarian-type government for the benefit of the elite. Their strategy is a classical approach to bringing down a great nation from within. It is based on redefining the truth, controlling future generations of Americans' thinking, establishing a new political philosophy and controlling the nation's identity of nationalism. Current social and political conditions make America susceptible to converting our democracy to an authoritarian dictatorship based on these four issues. Disrespect for our government is driven by some politicians' personal conduct and their disregard for ethics and established laws. Congress inability to function properly is more evident daily. Efforts to deny the 2020 presidential election results have severely damaged Americans confidence in our democracy and political election system. Technology-driven social media is afloat with lies, threatening conspiracies and misinformation that is compounded by the use of artificial intelligence. Public schools are being changed to meet radical conservative philosophies. Efforts are being made to establish a new nationalism by condemning Americans for their beliefs, culture and orientations. The Heritage Foundation, a political nonprofit, is taking advantage of these nation-dividing conditions to promote a program called Project 2025. It builds off Heritages Mandate for Leadership. The Trump administration relied on Heritages Mandate for policy guidance during his term as president. Project 2025 is described as "The Conservative Promise," which lays out how to use many tools, including how to legally fire supposedly un-fireable federal bureaucrats. Project 2025 is also referred to by the originators as the "Presidential Transition Project." It is a document of almost 1,000 pages. After reading through these documents and enduring the questionable political rhetoric, it seems more like the The Radical Conservatives Machination. Launching Project 2025 to coincide with the 2024 presidential election campaign is aimed at avoiding the pitfalls encountered by former President Trumps first years in office, when he and his inexperienced team were not capable of providing proper leadership. Former President Donald Trumps policies were met with resistance by lawmakers, existing government workers and even his own appointees who refused to violate regulations to please him. In short, our democracy was working to stop dictatorial behavior. The 30 departments under control of the president including the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of State, and others are all subjects of political criticism by the authors of Project 2025. The most critical department addressed, in my opinion, is described in "Central Personnel Agencies: Managing the Bureaucracy." It is focused on restaffing the administrative offices of the president to install radical conservatives in all departments. It describes the need to replace long-time career staffing with individuals specially trained to support the new president. The originators of Project 2025 claim most current staffing has existed too long and are loyal to past leadership or opposing political parties. Directors of Project 2025 are currently recruiting an army of Americans from across our nation to move to Washington, D.C., as new presidential staffers. Recruitment began at the 2023 Iowa State Fair. The plan is to have indoctrinated human resources available on Day One of a new president to commandeer, reshape and do away with what these conservatives call the existing deep state bureaucracy. All new presidential staffing and others will undergo training that will be accomplished through a special Presidential Administration Academy established by Project 2025. It is an online educational system taught by experts from the Heritage Foundation conservative coalition. This training will explain how the new government will function. In-person seminars will be offered to set the bar for what is expected of them. It has been reported these new staffers will replace as many as 50,000 federal workers across all presidential-controlled departments. Chapter by chapter, Project 2025 offers a how-to manual for the conversion of our democracy to an authoritarian style government. It can best be described as an insurrection from within. It is the thunder and lightning before a nation's devastating tornadic storm. Any individual elected U.S. president that uses the Project 2025 document to guide our nation presents a significant threat to our democracy. It plants the seeds of rebellion to change our United States of America from a democracy to an authoritarian-style dictator government. Project 2025 echoes the steps taken that led to the rise of Nazi Germany. It reflects an insidious effort against our democracy. Our government has problems, but processes currently exist to address and remedy them. Resistance to efforts that destroy our democracy begins by voting for individuals who have the fortitude, if elected, to protect our democracy. This means holding those we elect responsible for taking legal actions against insurrectionist and political criminals, regardless of their titles. It is up to voters to choose such representatives for our America, not some radical political party. Yes, OUR America. It belongs to every citizen equally. My opinions are based on analysis of Project 2025 documents and from listening to political comments by former President Trump, who is referenced repeatedly in Project 2025 documents. I still believe democracy is the best form of government for our great nation. We must constantly fight against authoritarian-focused radicals. Richard C. "Dick" Hall Richard C. "Dick" Hall, of Norman, is an Army veteran who served 30 years in federal civil service and retired as a division manager. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Analysis of the Project 2025 plan for the next conservative president Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was just released from prison in the killing of her mother, revealed in a new docuseries that she once shot her at their home before she had even met the boyfriend with whom she conspired to fatally stab her mom in 2015. Years of abuse from her mother made Blanchard increasingly desperate to escape her household, she says in interviews filmed for the Lifetime docuseries The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Her mother is believed to have had factitious disorder imposed on another, formerly known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a rare mental condition that led her to subject her daughter to unnecessary and painful medical procedures for nonexistent illnesses. Gypsy Rose Blanchard spoke about her mother's abuse and the role she played in killing her mom in Lifetime's Gypsy Rose Blanchard spoke about her mother's abuse and the role she played in killing her mom in Lifetime's "The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard." As Blanchard grew up and sought independence, she said, her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, became more tyrannical. Dee Dee said her daughter suffered from epilepsy, leukemia and muscular dystrophy, forcing her to use a feeding tube, shaving her head and confining her to a wheelchair. Blanchard said she could walk unassisted but went along with her mothers ruse in public. In 2011, when she ran away to be with a man shed met at a science fiction and fantasy convention, her mother brought her home and chained her to the bed for two weeks, she said. And then Dee Dee bought a gun. That scared the ever-living f out of me, Blanchard says. I was afraid that she would kill me. I was afraid she would do something worse than hitting me or starving me. Blanchard decided to run away again, but her mother found her packed bag and confronted her. Blanchard grabbed the gun, she says, and threatened her mother with it. And before I knew it, I pulled the trigger as many times as I could. Blanchard shot at her 10 times. Only when she saw that her mothers wounds were superficial did she realize it was a BB gun and not a deadly handgun. After the shooting, Dee Dee told another lie to garner more sympathy: She said shed been shot by a robber whod held them up in a Walmart parking lot. Blanchard said she was relieved she hadnt killed her mother but was also angry. Gypsy Rose Blanchard says her mother, Dee Dee, forced her to use a wheelchair even though she could walk on her own. Gypsy Rose Blanchard says her mother, Dee Dee, forced her to use a wheelchair even though she could walk on her own. Why wont you let me have a normal life? Why is my life this way to begin with? Blanchard said she asked her mother after the shooting. She kept reiterating that she takes care of me and I need special care. Blanchard says she felt defeated. My mom was such a good master manipulator that she was able to slip me right back into submission again. When she met Nick Godejohn about a year later on a Christian dating site, Blanchard thought shed found her Prince Charming. Eventually, she came to see her mother as the villain in their fairy-tale romance and that the only way she could escape her manipulation would be to kill her. Godejohn went to the Blanchards house in Springfield, Missouri, on June 9, 2015, and stabbed Dee Dee. Gypsy Rose, who says she cowered in a bathroom as the killing took place, then went with him to his home in Wisconsin, where police found them. Gypsy Rose pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced in 2016 to 10 years in prison. She was released early last month. Godejohn was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder. Blanchard says shed known that asking for help would have made things worse with her mother. And she was probably right: A manager at a movie theater the Blanchards frequented said she wasnt sure she would have believed Gypsy Rose because her mother had told people the girl was mentally challenged. It seemed genuine, the manager says in an interview for Prison Confessions. It really seemed for real. So I dont know if I would have [believed her], and that hurts my heart. It really does. Related... A 31-year-old New Hampshire man has been arrested in connection with a shooting that injured two men on Main Street in Pittsfield on Saturday, state police said. Ryan Scott Ashley of Gilmanton is being held at Merrimack County Jail pending an arraignment on Monday, state police said. He is charged with first degree assault and two counts of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon. At approximately 11:50 a.m., officers responded to a report of shots fired in the area of 54 Main St. When officers arrived, they found two injured men in a parking lot, police said. The victims were taken by ambulance to Concord Hospital as officers began to search for the suspect. Their conditions were not known on Sunday. After the shooting, police advised residents to avoid the area as investigators searched the area. Troopers with the New Hampshire State Police responded to assist and are investigating. Police said there is no ongoing threat. Anyone with information about this incident, and who has not talked to investigators, is asked to contact Trooper First Class Amanda Johnson at Amanda.L.Johnson@dos.nh.gov. Pittsfield is a small town located east of Concord. The towns population was 4,075 at the 2020 census. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard are a culmination of 18 months of interviews, over the phone and in prison, with the titular Gypsy Rose Blanchard. The Lifetime docuseries, airing nightly through Sunday, marks one of the first times she has spoken about her life in more than five years. The 32-year-old was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxya disease officially known as factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA) in which a caretaker pretends and/or even induces illnesses in their loved ones to get praise for taking care of a sick personand a conspirator in the 2015 murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. Gypsy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2016 and was sentenced to 10 years at Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri. On December 28, 2023, she was released early after being granted parole. In Prison Confessions, Blanchard opens up about a number of traumatizing experiences that havent been shared before, like allegations of sexual abuse and the severity of her mothers physical and emotional abuse. The first two episodes cover a lot of the background of the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case, with interviews from her family members, public defender, neuropsychologist, and pediatrician from when she was 13. Its a great refresher of a lot of the information revealed in the 2017 HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest but with even more details and anecdotes, such as the fact that Blanchard never thought her father was a viable escape plan because her mother had told her he didnt want her. What Happened on Night 1 The series begins 24 hours before Blanchards parole hearing on December 9, 2021, and breaks down the most egregious abuses in her life, organized by year and what age Gypsy was at the time. Speakers like Beatrice Yorker, an FDIA expert, and Gypsys psychologist Dr. John Matthew Fabian offer insight into the depths of Dee Dees abuse of Gypsy. One of the most shocking revelations is Gypsys allegations of being molested by her grandfather, Claude Pitre, when she was a child. At 9, I dont think that I knew that it was wrong. But then my grandfather told me not to tell anyone. You dont want me to go to jail, do you? Blanchard said. She also speaks publicly for the first time about her addiction to painkillers that began after a painful, unnecessary surgery. Blanchard gave more details about her first attempt at running away, with a 36-year-old man named Dan that she had met at Vision Con. She revealed that she made the decision to leave after learning that she was actually 19 years old, when her mother had been telling her she was still only 15. Dee Dee had gone so far as to change Gypsys birth year on official forms, which alarmed Gypsys pediatrician, Dr. Robert Steele, when he saw three different birth years listed for her: 1991, 1993, and 1995. In the docuseries, he admits he was the one who contacted the Department of Family Services anonymously in 2009, because he thought she might have been kidnapped. When DFS came out for an inspection, Gypsy said she loved her mother, and they didnt dig enough to find any evidence at their home, nor did anyone follow up. Years after Dee Dees murder, Gypsy knows what she did was wrong but admitted she didnt think she had any other way out. Gypsy took a trauma therapy class in prison and is coming to terms with the emotional, physical, and medical abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother. Our Thoughts Its genuinely jarring to hear and see the lengths that Dee Dee went to to keep Gypsy young, like forcing her to wear a diaper when she got her period instead of explaining how to use pads and tamponssomething Gypsy eventually learned about from a woman in prison. In the interview, Blanchard comes across as nervous but confident and seems happy to be able to finally tell her own story. The editing, reenactments, and music make for a truly compelling watch, even when rehashing previously published information. Teasers following the episodes promise more shocking revelations and a lot of tears. Overall Rating: 4 Drama Rating: 4 How to Watch The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard You can stream the first two episodes for free on mylifetime.com through January 15. Nights two and three of The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard air on the Lifetime network on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, at 8 p.m. ET. Check back for more nightly recaps and reactions. You Might Also Like "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Catch up with the first two episodes of Lifetimes new docuseries The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard in our night one recap. The second part of The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard dives deeper into what landed Gypsy Rose Blanchard in prison in the first place; her relationship with Nicholas Godejohn; and the murder of her mother, Dee Dee. If youre familiar with the case, you might find some parts to be a bit of a retread, but hearing the story directly from Gypsy makes it more compelling. Episodes 3 and 4 of the new Lifetime docuseries follow Blanchard and Godejohns relationship, from the moment they met on a Christian dating website in 2012 to how Blanchard feels about him now. She opens up about a never-before-seen video she made for Godejohn to prepare him for sneaking into her house to commit the murder. The video shows Blanchard making a stabbing motion with her hand while showing her mothers bed, an uncomfortable gesture she blames on being high on painkillers. Blanchard also finally addresses that infamous video of her and Godejohn in bed in their motel room in Springfield, Missouri, after the murder. A play-by-play of that fateful night, June 14, 2015, is particularly gutting, as Blanchard takes accountability through tears. Id do anything to just go back to that moment in time, Blanchard said. There was still a point that she didnt have to die, and I wish I couldve stopped it. She had hatched the plan to have her online boyfriend kill her mother after learning that Dee Dee had picked up power of attorney papers to declare her mentally incompetent. I started to really feel like it was either her or me, Gypsy said. One particularly heartbreaking punishment from Dee Dee involved putting a voodoo hex on Gypsy. The ritual included photos of Gypsy and Dan, the man from Vision Con that she tried to run away with, as well as a cow tongue, menstrual blood, and the promise she would never find love and never be happy. Blanchard admits, through tears, that she thinks her mothers curse is real, because its like every time I get close to someone, they leave me. As evidence, she recounts her ill-fated courtship with Ken, the man she got engaged to in 2019 while in prison. Another shocking revelation is Blanchards admission that she shot her mother with a gun that had been purchased as a means of intimidation by Dee Dee. I was afraid that she would kill me, Gypsy said. She only realized after shooting Dee Dee about 10 times that it was a BB gun. The point is that I was shocked that I pulled the trigger at all, she said. The incident occurred after Gypsys attempt to run away with Dan lead to a series of harsh punishments from Dee Dee, including chaining Gypsy to the bed with handcuffs and a dog leash, denying her food while eating in front of her, and hitting her with coat hangers. Dee Dee covered up the incident by telling everyone her injuries were from someone robbing her in a Walmart parking lot. As time went on, it began to be more clear that I was not going to get away from my mother while she was alive, Gypsy said. Interviews with her father Rod, stepmother Kristy, and half-sister Mia show the support the family had for Gypsy ahead of her December 9, 2021, parole hearing. Kristy spoke for Blanchard at her hearing, in a move that Blanchard called both meaningful and symbolic. The docuseries is so well-done that despite knowing about Blanchards release from prison on December 28, 2023, there is still so much suspense as to how the hearing will pan out. Teasers reveal the third night will focus on Blanchards relationship with her husband, Ryan Anderson. Overall Rating: 3 Drama Rating: 4 How to Watch The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard Night three of The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard airs on the Lifetime network on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. You can stream the first two episodes for free on mylifetime.com through January 15. Episodes 3 and 4, which aired Saturday, are also available to watch on the platform with a subscription. You can also purchase the first four episodes on Amazon Prime Video and Vudu. Check back for our final nightly recap with part threes major takeaways and our reactions. You Might Also Like Mourners carry the coffin of Saleh Arouri, one of the top Hamas commanders who was killed in an apparent Israeli strike Tuesday, as they pass in front of a graffiti that shows late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, during Arouris funeral in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. | Hussein Malla, Associated Press The killing of a senior Hamas leader in the Lebanese capitol of Beirut this week shows how the war in Gaza could pose region-wide risks, according to CNN. Per Reuters, an Israeli drone killed deputy Hamas chief Saleh Arouri in a Beirut suburb Tuesday. The area where Arouri, 57, was killed is a stronghold for Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, and the attack signals that the conflict between Hamas and Israel could be expanding to engulf more of the region, according to Reuters. Related Hezbollah responds According to The Associated Press, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah seemed to be appealing to the Lebanese public when he said that Hezbollah must retaliate against Israel for the killing. Nasrallahs statement risks escalating the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel. Despite calls to react, Nasrallah gave no specifics of how or when the militants would act, AP reported. ... with Lebanon suffering a massive economic crisis, there is virtually no public support for any military confrontation, BBC reported. The Beirut attack The drone attack in Beirut that killed seven people total was Israels first attack on Beirut since 2006, according to AP. Back then, Hezbollah and Israel were in a month-long conflict, BBC reported. Now, Arouri is the most senior Hamas officer to be killed by Israeli forces since the Oct. 7 attack, according to CNN. Fighting between Hezbollah and Israel has been confined to small areas for a awhile, CNN reported, but that could change after the assassination. Arouris death also comes as Israels military begins to draw down the number of soldiers on the ground in Gaza as it looks to move to a new phase of its war on Hamas amid a spiraling civilian death toll in the besieged enclave, per CNN. Deputies in Harnett County say a man accused of fatally shooting a 46-year-old in Sanford was apprehended in Florida. Sunday afternoon, the Harnett County Sheriffs Office responded to calls in the Winding Ridge area of the Carolina Hills Subdivision of the town and found Anthony Antonio Washington dead from a gunshot wound, a news release read. The sheriffs office obtained warrants for Tahmeer Mykail Jones, 31, for first-degree murder, the report reads. Deputies say he was last seen running away from the scene. Now being apprehended, Jones will be extradited back to Harnett County, deputies say. Deputies have not revealed more information about the connection of the two men nor what led to the incident. Sanford is about an hour south of Raleigh. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. If you follow the world of robotic exoskeletons with any frequency, youre no doubt aware of the two primary categories. The first is aimed firmly at workers with strenuous or repetitive jobs such as lifting and transporting packages. The second is assistive, largely focused at individuals with mobility impairments. The latter category is often the domain of soft robotic exoskeletons those with fabric parts designed to be more of a day-to-day assistive accessory. These systems are also increasingly focused on specific issues that impact peoples ability to get around. After all, not all mobility impairments are created equal. In the case of people with Parkinsons disease, freezing is a frequent issue that impacts the ability to walk, while increasing the likelihood of falls. The symptom causes people to lose their footing while walking, shortening steps before stopping altogether. There have been a number of attempts to tackle the issue, from medication to physical therapy to surgery, but existing solutions are limited in their efficacy. New research from a joint team from Harvard and Boston University, published in Nature Medicine, demonstrates how soft robotic exoskeletons can address the issue. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAWrypkeDXM?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=640&h=360] The wearable technology features sensors that detect movement and utilize algorithms to estimate the walkers gait. Cable-driven actuators kick in, assisting walking midstride. We found that just a small amount of mechanical assistance from our soft robotic apparel delivered instantaneous effects and consistently improved walking across a range of conditions for the individual in our study, says Harvard professor Conor Walsh. Researchers worked with a 73-year-old man with Parkinsons who suffers from freezing more than 10 times a day. In their research, which was carried out over the course of six months, Walshs team was able to eliminate freezing in patients while walking indoors. In turn, they were also able to walk farther and faster. Harvard notes, The effect was instantaneous. Without any special training, the patient was able to walk without any freezing indoors and with only occasional episodes outdoors. He was also able to walk and talk without freezing, a rarity without the device. The Harvard Biodesign Lab is the same group that designed an exosuit for stroke patients that was subsequently licensed by the startup ReWalk Robotics. If the promising early results are any indication, this new technology could someday follow in its footsteps to commercialization. Reports of hate crimes are on the rise across the United States, including Illinois. The 75 incidents of hate crimes against LGBTQ individuals in 2022, the latest U.S. Department of Justice statistics available, dwarf the totals set in Illinois over the previous two years combined. Here's a look at hate crime trends tracked by the DOJ and FBI against other groups in the Land of Lincoln and the rise in hate in 10 big U.S. cities. Race, ethnicity, and ancestry DOJ data reported 190 incidents of hate crimes against people because of their race, ethnicity, and ancestry in 2022 in Illinois, significantly higher than in 2020 and 2021, when 38 and 70 such incidents, respectively, were reported statewide. More: Dawn Sterling set to join WICS-TV as news anchor after nearly 20 years at WAND That makes up nearly 55% of all hate crimes reported to the National Incident-Based Reporting System, used by DOJ to compile data for the incidents. No data was reported from Springfield, but Litchfield had at least one race-related hate crime reported. FBI data provides a clearer picture of the sorts of hate crimes committed in Illinois and reported to NIBRS. Out of 319 hate crimes reported, 28% were anti-Black, while 11% were anti-white, 6% were anti-Hispanic or Latino, 2% were anti-Asian, and 3% were multiracial in origin. Religion According to the DOJ data, 68 religion-related hate crimes were reported in Illinois in 2022, making up nearly 20% of all hate crimes reported. Most of those involved Jewish people, with 13% of all hate crimes reported in Illinois being against those of Jewish ancestry, 2% being anti-Muslim, and 1% being anti-Catholic or anti-other Christian groups. Gender DOJ data shows 12 gender-related hate crimes in 2022, with three relating to gender and the other nine having to do with gender identity. Most of those relate to anti-transgender crimes, with 2% of all hate crimes in Illinois falling under that umbrella. Another 1% relates to those who are gender non-conforming, with the three others being either anti-female or anti-male, respectively. Disability DOJ data notes a single reported instance of a hate crime related to someone with a disability. That lone disability-related hate crime took place in Huntley in McHenry County. People vs. property Out of the 346 hate crimes in Illinois in 2022 reported to DOJ, 61% of those were crimes against people, such as intimidation, assault, or other violent crimes. Under 38% were crimes against property, such as vandalism, burglary, or theft. Record levels of hate crime in big cities Hate crimes in Americas 10 largest cities hit another consecutive record according to an annual report from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University. The study tallied preliminary data that 2,173 hate crimes were reported to police in 2023 in the 10 cities, an increase of 11% from 2022. Anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hate crimes especially spiked. In New York, anti-Jewish hate crime rose 12.6% and in Los Angeles it rose 48%. In New York, anti-Muslim hate crimes rose 22% and in Los Angeles it rose 40%, according to the study. In a larger study of 25 American cities, hate crimes also increased an average of 15% from 2022. Working to report and prevent hate crimes U.S. Attorney's offices and the FBI have been working to guide community groups through how to report hate crimes to local law enforcement. For instance, the FBI's Springfield office partnered last summer with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois to meet with religious groups. More: Sangamon County sheriff won't arrest owners of banned assault weapons for not registering FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge David Nanz said that their work will help people protect places of worship. "It is our hope that in informing our faith-based communities about hate crimes, we will empower worshipers to recognize threats and know proper actions to take to protect themselves," Nanz said. "Everyone deserves to practice their religious faith and attend religious services without fear of violence. The FBI is committed to protecting houses of worship from bias-motivated crimes." USA Today contributed. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Hate crimes are on the rise in Illinois and the U.S., DOJ data shows SAN DIEGO Wintry conditions on Mount Laguna has prompted the County of San Diego Department of Public Works to enact chain control requirements. On Sunday at 8:15 a.m., chain control level one went into effect for the Sunrise Highway, a road that runs through the Laguna Mountains east of San Diego from Interstate 8 at Laguna Summit (Exit 47) to State 79 near Cuyamaca Lake. San Diego FBIs Most Wanted in 2024 This comes as light snow covered the roadway as seen on the Mt. Laguna Live Cam, located on the S1 Scenic Byway on Sunrise Highway. (Mt. Laguna Live Cam) Chain control level one, also referred to as Requirement 1 (R-1), means chains are required on all vehicles except passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks. Those trucks, according to Caltrans, must be under 6,000 pounds gross weight and have snow tires on at least two drive wheels. Cosmic phenomenon: King tides returning to San Diego coastline During R-1, Caltrans said chains must also be carried by vehicles using snow tires, and all vehicles towing trailers must have chains on one drive axle. Trailers with brakes must also have chains on at least one axle. More information on chain controls can be found here. According to 12-hour precipitation levels provided by the National Weather Service at 5:46 a.m. Sunday, Mount Laguna received about 0.11 inches overnight. These chain requirements are subject to change as weather conditions develop. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. Great journalism has the power to inform, educate and create lasting impact, whether by holding the powerful to account, righting a wrong, telling an interesting story about someone or something, or just making the world a better place. It's what The Columbus Dispatch aspires to do every day in ways both big and small. Last year was no different as The Dispatch illustrated the carnage, heartbreak and destruction that gun violence has left on our communities, uncovered more than 40 years of sexual abuse by hundreds of Ohio physicians that was shrouded in secrecy and, in many cases, went unpunished, and previous reporting by the newspaper resulted in the indictment of top Columbus zoo officials for theft, bribery and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. While the list is too long to go into every story that made a difference, here is more on those and a few other examples: Ohio youth prison investigation spurs action from Gov. Mike DeWine Roxanne Gillenwater hugs her one-year-old granddaughter, Brielle, whom she cares for, at the gravesite of her daughter, Alana Richardson, 17, who died in January 2023 while in custody at the Central Ohio Youth Center in Marysville. The Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer and USA TODAYs network of Ohio newspapers published a report in November following an eight-month investigation of Ohios juvenile prisons and detention centers. The 12-page special section appeared in newspapers across the state and online. State bureau reporter Laura Bischoff and more than a dozen journalists from the Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal, Canton Repository and The Dispatch (including courts reporter Jordan Laird and videographer Courtney Hergesheimer) scoured public records, interviewed more than 100 children, parents and employees, and documented what happens to kids behind bars. What they found is that Ohios juvenile detention system is not working. The investigation uncovered that troubled youth who were sent to jail for what might be their last chance at turning their lives around before they become adults instead found a more dangerous situation inside. Particularly heartbreaking was the story of Damarion Allen, a 15-year-old paralyzed in a fight in Franklin Countys juvenile jail. An internal investigation revealed that a guard's error allowed the fight to happen and that guards used improper force on Allen after he was injured. Damarion Allen, 15, gives his youngest brother Woody, a ride on his wheelchair, in the back of their Linden home in September. Damarion was paralyzed from the chest down on May 7, 2023, inside the Franklin County Juvenile Intervention Center. The day after the report was published, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called for a special working group of experts to examine the problems identified in the report. DeWine praised the reporting, saying, Youve highlighted some very horribly tragic stories that I think anybody can relate to. Its now time for a reset, or a relook, at DYS (Department of Youth Services) and the whole system. But Democratic lawmakers went further, demanding an investigation of the department as well. The Ohio Correctional Institution Inspection Committee has called for hearings to question the department's director. Gun violence doesn't discriminate Gun violence has taken far too many lives in Columbus and central Ohio, leaving a wake of devastation and fear throughout neighborhoods in every direction. The Columbus Dispatch partnered with Columbus City Council, Columbus Metropolitan Library and Columbus City Schools to host "A Community Conversation about Teens and Gun Violence" at the Main Library, Downtown. It's a problem that The Dispatch chose to highlight in a nearly yearlong project titled "Under Fire" that explored the impact and unexpected consequences of gun violence; what lawmakers and other government officials, public health, social service agencies and citizens are (and in some cases are not) doing to reduce the deaths and the disregard for life; and the growing numbers of Glock switches which turn handguns into machine guns that are popping up throughout the Columbus area, causing death and chaos. The Dispatch highlighted the recent rise in teens (sometimes as young as 13 or 14) charged with murder and other gun-related charges and explored what's being done in Franklin County to stem their involvement. The newspaper additionally deployed 28 journalists (including reporters, photographers and editors) to capture gun violence and its lingering effects in real time over an 80-hour period from the early morning hours of Thursday, July 20, until the early morning hours of Sunday, July 23, and their riveting account might shock you. Preying on Patients A Dispatch investigation of 42 years of records uncovered how the State Medical Board failed to protect Ohioans from serial sexual abusers and harassers despite a clear, decades-long pattern of doctors preying on patients. A review of tens of thousands of board disciplinary records showed a broad range of sexual misconduct allegations and the heartbreaking impact on victims, while also showing that the board bungled some accusations of sexual misconduct. Many cases went years without any action, while some fell into a state-described black hole." In one example, a Circleville doctor got away with abusing patients for decades at about the same time Dr. Richard Strauss was abusing students at Ohio State University. At least 17 women and girls eventually came forward to accuse the Circleville doctor of sexual abuse, and authorities say there may be dozens more. Legislation created to better protect patients from sexually abusive medical professionals is moving forward, and state leaders say they have confidence it will become law. It remains a top priority for the governor, Dan Tierney, spokesman for Gov. Mike DeWine said of Ohio Senate Bill 109. Power clash between former OSU president and Les Wexner? Former Ohio State President Kristina Johnson shocked many when she abruptly announced her decision to retire in November 2022. Staff members had complained about her abusive management style, but some close to the Ohio State president said that's not why she stepped down only halfway through her contract. Instead, they said, there was too much pressure from the New Albany billionaire whose name sits on several campus buildings, including the Medical Center, and those on the board who are loyal to him. "Les Wexner wanted things done his way, and there is a faction of the board that makes sure he gets what he wants," said one source close to Johnson. "Kristina decided it would be nearly impossible to finish the amazing work she had started with that kind of pressure. That's why she made the painful decision to resign, not because of some exaggerated complaints from her staff." Ohio State University President Dr. Kristina Johnson is seen in the photo at left during an OSU Wexner Medical Center board of directors meeting Feb 14, 2023, at the Longaberger Alumni House. Les Wexner is seen at right in the photo at right from the Wexner Medical Center board meeting on Feb. 20, 2019, where the board announced Dr. Harold "Hal" Paz as the new executive vice president and chancellor for health affairs. Paz is at center, with his hands folded on the table. Struggling in cold, unsafe apartments In November, reporter Peter Gill broke the story of more than 850 Haitians including at least 248 children who were tricked into coming to Columbus from Florida by human traffickers with the promise of jobs and dumped into substandard housing, which in many cases lacked heat or hot water. Cynthia Wray, who has sickle cell anemia, slowly packs up her apartment at Colonial Village. She had lived there for 12 years and complex management gave tenants until Dec. 31 to find new housing. The situation is not unlike what happened with the relocation of residents at the Latitude Five25 twin towers a year earlier. When Columbus officials emptied the Latitude Five25 apartments on Christmas Day 2022, they needed to scramble to find shelter for 154 households after heat problems and burst pipes forced the evacuation of the twin towers on the Near East Side that are visible on the south side of Interstate 670 near Downtown. The buildings also had problems with non-working elevators and other code issues. Residents of the 508-unit Colonial Village had until the end of last year to leave their apartments. The city has paid for temporary hotel housing for some. And several local groups, including the Community Shelter Board, Legal Aid and Community Refugee and Immigration Services, are providing legal and other assistance. But what will happen to the former residents in the long term remains to be seen. Reporting fatal bus crash on I-70 in Licking County a statewide effort Both directions of Interstate 70 are closed in Licking County near the State Route 310 interchange after a "mass casualty incident." Around 8:45 a.m. Nov. 14 dozens of emergency personnel from across Licking County and eastern Franklin County were dispatched to the area on a report of a crash. Scanner traffic indicated that a tractor-trailer hit a commercial bus carrying dozens of passengers. When The Dispatch first started getting reports just after 9 a.m. on Nov. 14 of a crash on Interstate 70 in Licking County, we werent sure how bad it was. An Ohio Department of Transportation image showed a fiery scene blocking westbound traffic at State Route 310. All we knew at the time was that the freeway was closed because of what authorities called a mass casualty incident involving a tractor-trailer and a commercial bus. Within a half-hour of posting our initial story by several Dispatch and Newark Advocate reporters and photographers, we had staff headed to the scene, reaching out to local hospitals and scouring social media for potential leads. Around 10:30 a.m., we began hearing reports the bus had been carrying band students from Tuscarawas County in northeast Ohio. We immediately began collaborating with various other USA TODAY NETWORK colleagues in New Philadelphia and Canton, as well as Akron, Cincinnati and elsewhere, to pursue multiple angles. These included reaction from the Tusky Valley community, the reunification of students with their families, live updates from ODOT and Gov. Mike DeWine, emerging details from the National Transportation Safety Board and accounts of the very first emergency responders at the scene. Since then, we've posted more than two dozen stories, several photos and countless videos. A few other notable stories: We hope, if you enjoy The Dispatch, that you will consider supporting this invaluable work by subscribing. The Cincinnati Enquirer and Dispatch editor Nathaniel Shuda contributed to this story. Encarnacion Pyle is managing editor of news at The Dispatch can be reached at epyle@dispatch.com. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: The Dispatch's impact felt throughout Greater Columbus and beyond Here in Redding, people turn to their local newspaper to find out about the day's weighty news: decisions being made that affect the quality of their children's schools, how politicians plan to use their tax dollars and when their neighborhood streets will get fixed. Our readers also rely on their local newspaper for coverage that give them a smile: the teen who flew his own airplane to high school, the best spots for watching fireworks on the Fourth of July and how some North State firefighters rely on pack mules along with high tech when fighting wildfires in remote regions. During my time as local managing editor, I've also learned that readers dont want to just hear reps from the Record Searchlight say the paper intends to hold people in power accountable, be a watchdog on local government and make sure to shine a light on all major developments in the region be they good or bad. The community wants to see that we're doing that work, day in and day out. Michele Chandler Throughout 2023, Record Searchlight reporters Damon Arthur, David Benda and Jessica Skropanic indeed have put in the work required to stay on top of several huge and continuing stories, including those dealing with the political chaos that put Shasta County in the national spotlight. With all that in mind, heres a look at some of the Record Searchlight's most impactful stories of 2023. A fight for transparency and to restore trust in county government Standing up for transparency in local government and serving the community through watchdog journalism is what defined the Record Searchlight and Redding.com's efforts in 2023. Reporter Damon Arthur dug through thousands of documents that Shasta County released last year under court order following its two-year public records battle with the newspaper. At the center of the R-S' legal fight in Shasta County Superior Court was an investigation of the management of the sheriff's office by its former leader, Eric Magrini. In a series last August, the newspaper shed light on an agency that was riven with mistrust under a new sheriff who admitted he violated state laws, allegedly bragged about working with a local militia group and claimed to defy the county Board of Supervisors. "Our readers can finally examine the findings of an investigation into the highest levels of the Shasta County government. They can come to their own conclusions about those findings. One thing is certain it should not have taken this long for a full accounting of the Ellis Report and related documents to be made public," said Silas Lyons, director of Gannett's Center for Community Journalism. Gannett is the Record Searchlight's parent company. A timeline of events: How we got here. The two-year effort to obtain records from Shasta County The Ellis Report was completed in 2021 just as Magrini was stepping down as sheriff to accept his promotion as assistant county executive shortly after his own department had given him a vote of no confidence, citing lack of leadership, poor communication and mistrust. Obtaining the findings of that investigative report was the main reason the R-S filed its lawsuit against the county in July 2022 after four public records requests were denied. The court ruled in the newspaper's favor in April 2023. That spring, readers rallied behind the newspaper, sometimes publicly putting pressure on supervisors at board meetings to abandon the county's fight to keep the documents secret. After numerous attempts to overturn the ruling or delay its enforcement, the county relinquished the documents in August. The case is not yet finalized both sides are scheduled to attend a status hearing Monday morning. Walt McNeill, who represents the newspaper, also seeks to recover its legal fees, which the California Public Records Act affords to prevailing parties. McNeill estimated the case could be nearly triple the cost of other public records lawsuits he has won due to the county's efforts to further fight the case. Because the lawsuit is ongoing, the county has not disclosed how much it has spent on attorneys' fees. Separately, the Record Searchlight continues to work with transparency groups, like the First Amendment Coalition and ACLU of Northern California, in its challenge of Shasta County's 2021 ordinance that charges people and organizations a search fee to fulfill records requests. Siskiyou County officials in December voted to repeal a similar law. Shasta County forced into the national spotlight Thats not the only example of how Record Searchlight reporters dug deep to present a steady supply of high-impact local news to our readers. Journalist David Benda, along with Arthur, have for months tag-teamed coverage of the Shasta County Board of Supervisors, which has increasingly drawn national attention for its many decisions that have divided the community. Those changes are often determined by a 3-2 vote, with the three ultra-conservative supervisors typically in the majority and driving the boards direction. In January, our reporters covered the boards decision to axe the countys longstanding contract with voting machine provider Dominion Voting Systems as a way to deal with untrue allegations of election fraud. Instead, the board voted to develop a process to tally votes by hand during future elections. A report from the county's Registrar of Voters in March said opting to manually count ballots in an election could set Shasta County back more than $1.6 million, require hiring 1,300 workers to help with the tally and renting a facility large enough to carry out the work securely. Also in March, District 1 Supervisor Kevin Crye said at a meeting that he wanted to leverage money from billionaire My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell, a conspiracy theorist and adviser to former President Donald Trump, to help Shasta County set up a new pilot voting systems program in the wake of the countys decision to prematurely terminate its contract with Dominion Voting Systems. In April, the board voted to spend $950,000 to bring in the necessary software and machines to provide the equipment needed to hand-count ballots made by a different company, Hart InterCivic.When the California Legislature headed off Shasta County's plan by adopting a new law forbidding hand counting votes except in very limited circumstances, the board chairman at the time, Patrick Henry Jones, said the county was prepared to sue the state so election hand counts could still take place. That didnt happen. Throughout 2023, Arthur and Benda continued to chronicle the high level of dysfunction and often chaos on view during the supervisors' weekly meetings, some of which started on Tuesday morning and didn't end until 10 that night. More than once, discord shut down the proceedings after Jones lost control of the meeting. In August, Jones ordered security to clear everyone out of the chambers after numerous people in the audience began shouting at a speaker and then started yelling back and forth among themselves. At a board meeting in May, a Black man was kicked out of a supervisors' meeting after he objected to a white speaker who used the N-word while addressing the five-member board. The white speaker was not chastised and was allowed to speak again. The board was criticized for some of its other decisions, including lowering the experience qualifications for the countys next top health officer, a Redding family physician who opposes COVID-19 vaccines for the general public and was hired in October. The prior holder of the job, though well-qualified for the more stringent qualifications and popular with the public, had been fired in mid-2022 for enforcing state laws during the COVID-19 pandemic. The board found both recruiting a replacement health officer and holding on to existing workers difficult, reporting 225 vacant jobs in its Health & Human Services department in May 2023.. Our reporting team brought readers an understanding of these and other board actions that they'll continue to follow as the issues play out in 2024. Lake Shasta water level rises, at long last Our reporting team also focused on issues affecting the community beyond critical coverage of Shasta County government. They mobilized to report on all angles pertaining to the happy end of Californias historic drought, brought about by massive snowfalls and tons of rain during the winter months. In addition to chronicling the regions relief over its now-ample water supplies, their stories also captured other angles about the rain bounty, including who was responsible for cleaning up the free-roaming driftwood that suddenly clogged boat ramps on Lake Shasta after melting snow and rains raised the lakes water levels and which cities were easing water use restrictions for their residents. What's next? Stay tuned to the Buzz and the R-S for comprehensive news on local issues Bringing our readers vital news about business comings and goings in Shasta County, Benda continued in 2023 to deliver Buzz on the Street, his weekly column on business news in the North State. His columns are a must-read for Redding residents interested in behind-the-scenes perspectives about restaurants, retailers and the local economy. The "Buzz" marks its 20th anniversary this year. The staff also provided feature stories about people in the community that readers might not otherwise meet. Reporter Jessica Skropanic in December wrote about a man who finally got a permanent place to call home this Christmas after experiencing several crushing personal setbacks illustrating the kinds of obstacles that often drive people into homelessness. And who can't resist a read about a Redding art teacher who just swam the Catalina Channel and is closing in on achieving the 'Triple Crown' of open water swimming? Our commitment for the future We are excited about 2024 as we look to expand our coverage of issues that affect you, your families and your understanding of what makes our region tick. But we need your support to carry out this work. Some of you have given us feedback about our coverage; please keep it coming because we want you to hold us accountable. We also urge you to call us with news tips and story suggestions. And please subscribe. That support gives the Record Searchlight the footing it needs to be able to inform and entertain our community with impactful local news for years to come. As always, we value your feedback and suggestions. Please let us know what questions you have about the community where we all live and which stories we should tackle this year to continue making a difference. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Record Searchlight made big impact on Redding news in 2023 TSA agents talk among themselves as they wait for passengers at St. Louis-Lambert International Airport in St. Louis on Saturday, March 28, 2020. Assistant federal security director Maxine McManaman was arrested on charges of forgery. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A top-ranking Transportation Security Administration official has been arrested on charges of exploiting a family member with dementia. Maxine McManaman, the assistant federal security director of the TSA, was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on December 28 after being arrested on charges of forgery, which is a third-degree felony, NBC News reported. The warrant was issued by the Port St. Lucie, Florida Police Department. Florida officials began their investigation in April after reports of elder abuse, according to an incident report obtained by WPTV, which accuses McManaman of crafting a false form involving the deed of the family home. A quitclaim, which is used to transfer a claim on property from one party to another, was written in Florida by McManaman on Dec. 5, 2022. It listed her and her father, Delroy Chambers Sr., as the grantee, the report said. Officials said the quitclaim purposely did not include any Jr. or Sr. designation. McManaman's brother, Delroy Chambers Jr., was granted power of attorney after their mother, the sole owner of the home, fell ill, Atlanta Fox affiliate WAGA reported. Police said that Chambers Jr. could not have signed the quitclaim on that date because he was in Atlanta. "Maxine McManaman and Delroy Chambers, Sr. were determined to have both falsified the quitclaim deed," police said. The incident report also accuses Chambers Sr. of failing to properly care for his ailing wife. He was arrested on December 20 in Port St. Lucie on charges of exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult, forgery, and simple neglect of an elderly or disabled adult. He has been released from the St. Lucie County Jail on bond. Chambers Sr., 80, denied the abuse allegations. "It's a family thing," he told WAGA. McManaman was detained at the Clayton County Jail in Georgia awaiting extradition to St. Lucie County. She told authorities during a recorded call that her brother has made these allegations multiple times, according to a probable cause statement. TSA has said it is aware of McManaman's arrest, and that she is on leave pending further law enforcement action for a "non-work related charge." "TSA holds its employees to the highest professional and ethical standards and has no tolerance for misconduct on or off-duty. Any employee who fails to meet our fundamental ethical standards is held accountable," a spokesperson said Friday. Each day a small but dedicated group of State Journal-Register journalists set out to tell the stories of Springfield, Sangamon County, and central Illinois. In telling those stories, our goal above all else is to inform but also to engage, enlighten, and entertain our readers. Leisa Richardson Over the last year, those stories have included explaining the impact of the post-Roe era on Illinois and how government shutdowns affect day-to-day operations in the state. We've alerted you to area restaurants with the most food safety complaints and kept you in the know about candidates seeking public office from the sources of campaign funds to their backgrounds and stances on important issues. It is work that has an impact large and small on this community. Here are other stories from SJ-R reporters that have exposed wrongdoing and shortcomings but also highlighted community positives. More: Adams sentenced to 14 months in prison for involvement in U.S. Capitol riot Sometimes, stories come about as follow-ups in ongoing coverage. Steven Spearie had reported on the Springfield-area people involved in the Jan. 6, 2021 breach at the U.S. Capitol. Thomas B. Adams, Jr., a north side resident, was among those convicted for his part in the breach. "I wouldn't change anything I did," Adams told Spearie just days after his conviction and release on his own recognizance. Spearie's exclusive report reached the federal judge in Washington D.C., overseeing Adam's case. The comments landed Adams back in court and 30 days of confinement. He eventually was sentenced to federal prison on the insurrection-related charges. Our reports include short takes and deep dives into issues that shed light on government and elsewhere. One such example was a listing of the 10 top-paid officials in Springfield and Sangamon County. The list was simple but brightly illuminated the lack of gender and racial diversity among our top taxpayer-supported jobs. Reporter Patrick Keck brought attention to how Illinois uses and pays prison laborers. While the Illinois Department of Corrections has made some changes, advocates liken the situation to "slave labor." Legislators have proposed bills setting minimum standards for the incarcerated on work release or work training programs and are expected to continue the effort. More: Thousands of jobs, pennies on the dollar: How Illinois uses prison labor Keck also kept tabs on Navigator CO2 Ventures' plan to build a 1,350-mile plus, $3.4 billion pipeline through Illinois and four other Midwestern states to remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere and store it underground. We published stories explaining the path of the pipeline that touched Sangamon, Christian, and other nearby counties, why Sangamon County objected to the plan, the safety concerns of mostly rural residents, and the failure of at least one similar pipeline. The coverage elevated the voices of rural communities that often go unheard. The company scrapped the plan in October after having difficulties selling it primarily over those safety concerns. In 2023, we supported projects such as Friend-In-Deed which provides food to people during the holiday season. And as we've done for the last 60 years, we recognized a deserving community volunteer with the First Citizen Award. Patricia Benanti, "the face of St. Martin de Porres Center," received the esteemed honor. We remain committed in 2024 to telling the stories, asking hard questions of those in power, and being a voice for the voiceless, all for the betterment of our community every single day. As always, thank you for reading the SJ-R and for supporting local news. Leisa Richardson is executive editor of The State Journal-Register and Lincoln Courier. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: The State Journal-Register is committed to storytelling with impact LAWRENCE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) First responders spent Saturday morning battling a blaze in Lawrence County that destroyed a house and multiple vehicles. Lawrence County Fire and Rescue said units were dispatched to a report of a fully-involved residential structure fire in the Gandy Fire District more specifically, in the 200 block of Mt. Lebanon Road shortly after 8 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6. Have breaking come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts When the first crews arrived, they said they found heavy wind driven fire conditions, so an extra tanker and manpower from the Lawrenceburg Fire Department responded to the scene. According to officials, personnel launched an aggressive attack against the blaze and dragged one vehicle away from the home. (Courtesy: Lawrence County Fire and Rescue) (Courtesy: Lawrence County Fire and Rescue) (Courtesy: Lawrence County Fire and Rescue) (Courtesy: Lawrence County Fire and Rescue) (Courtesy: Lawrence County Fire and Rescue) (Courtesy: Lawrence County Fire and Rescue) Since the scene was in an area with no municipal water supply for fire suppression, Lawrence County Fire and Rescue said tankers shuttled water from a power fill site a few miles away, which was set up by crewmembers at Stribbling Road and Grandaddy Road. First responders brought the blaze under control, but they said the fire is expected to continue smoldering throughout the day and night. Man accused of hitting wife with hammer, burying her body in DeKalb County There are no reports of injuries resulting from the blaze. Meanwhile, investigators are still working to determine the cause of the incident. Fire officials told News 2 the house was ruled a total loss following the fire, along with two vehicles and a side by side. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they deal with the loss of their property and personal items this morning, Lawrence County Fire and Rescue wrote on Facebook. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. WARREN, Pa. (AP) A homicide suspect who escaped from a northwestern Pennsylvania prison last year and was on the run for more than a week before a pet dog led to his recapture has been sentenced to decades in prison. Michael Burham, 35, was sentenced Friday in Warren County Court to serve from 25-plus years to 50-plus years after pleading guilty in November to charges in the July escape and the earlier kidnapping of a Pennsylvania couple. Judge Gregory Hammond called Burham a grave threat to the public who would do anything to anybody to maintain his freedom, the (Warren) Times-Observer reported. Hammond said the 89-year-old and 68-year-old kidnapping victims, retraumatized by his escape, will never completely recover and the escape has had a greater negative impact on the community than anything else he could think of. Everyone in the community changed the way they lived their lives, Hammond said. They know you were capable of victimizing a law-abiding couple in their own home. Hammond sentenced Burham to 10- to 20-year terms on kidnapping and burglary charges and 3 1/2 to 7 years on the escape which he said were the maximum terms allowed by law. He imposed lesser terms on reckless endangering, terroristic threatening, and theft counts. The judge also ordered some of the sentences to be served consecutively. Burhams attorney, Chief Public Defender Kord Kinney, had pointed out that his client only previously had a driving under the influence count on his record, had served 12 years in the Army reserves and had a solid work history. He said his client was remorseful and understands the impact of his actions. Burham, given the opportunity to speak, apologized to the victims and everyone in Warren and also to Erie County correctional officers whom he said he had treated poorly. Hammond said during the hearing that there had been 25 misconduct violations during Burhams time in the prison. Burham had been accused of kidnapping the couple in Pennsylvania and driving them to South Carolina to evade a New York murder investigation when he escaped from the Warren County jail, about 66 miles (105 kilometers) east of Erie. Authorities said he climbed from exercise equipment to a grated metal roof and slid down a rope made of bedsheets. During his time on the lam, police described Burham as a self-taught survivalist with military experience, warning he could be dangerous. He evaded authorities for nine days before a couple responding to their barking dog encountered him. They contacted police and Burham was recaptured about two hours later. His escape came just months before another high-profile incident in southeastern Pennsylvania, where a murderer evaded authorities for nearly two weeks. District Attorney Jason Schmidt, of Chautauqua County, New York, said in June that Burham was the prime suspect in the May 11 killing of Kala Hodgkin, 34, and a related arson in Jamestown, New York. Officials in that state said they opted to let Pennsylvania handle the initial prosecution as they probe the killing and arson. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. House Republicans are plotting to swiftly impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas early this year, as key swing-district Republicans express fresh openness to the idea amid a recent surge of migrant crossings at the southern border. The controversial move to make Mayorkas the first Cabinet secretary impeached in nearly 150 years amounts to a shift for the House GOP, which had set its sights on potentially impeaching President Joe Biden in early 2024. But with the Biden probe moving methodically and a number of Republicans still skeptical about impeaching the president, senior Republicans now believe targeting Mayorkas will be an easier lift as the border crisis becomes a defining campaign issue. From the far right and the Freedom Caucus to those more moderate, we have all been a part of this, Rep. Anthony DEsposito, a freshman congressman from a New York district that Biden carried in 2020, told CNN. Weve all asked the tough questions, and I think we are at a point, and I believe that the American people agree with us, that Mayorkas needs to be impeached and we need to find quality leadership to lead Homeland Security. The emerging plan, according to multiple GOP lawmakers and aides, is to run the Mayorkas impeachment effort entirely through the House Homeland Security Committee as opposed to the House Judiciary Committee, where impeachment articles typically originate, though it is not constitutionally required. The reason for that strategy which sources said has been green lit by House Speaker Mike Johnson is largely related to internal politics. Senior Republicans are confident they will have the votes to advance impeachment articles through the Homeland Security Committee, whereas there are still key Republican holdouts on the judiciary panel. Housing the effort in the Homeland Security Committee was also seen as a way to placate firebrand GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who serves on the panel and had been threatening to force another snap floor vote on a Mayorkas impeachment resolution. Plus, the House voted in November to refer Greenes initial Mayorkas impeachment resolution to the Homeland Security Committee, which has jurisdiction over border security issues and already led a monthslong investigation into problems at the southern border. And with the Judiciary Committees plate already full with other investigations, lawmakers say it makes sense to have the Homeland Security Committee take the lead as they race to capitalize on the issue with the Biden administration struggling to contain the crisis at the border. Its more critical right now than anything. And I think the American people are very, very attuned to that, Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green told CNN. So I do think it will be a political issue (in November). Green said he has been in near-daily communication with the speaker and plans to move on impeachment fairly quickly. The Tennessee Republican does not anticipate there will be many hearings, since hes already held numerous ones during his investigation into the southern border. The first impeachment hearing, which will take place Wednesday, is expected to largely be a summary of his probe and will feature witnesses. The chairman has accused Mayorkas of failing to enforce the nations existing immigration laws and argued its a violation of his oath to uphold the Constitution, amounting to an impeachable offense. He declined to reveal what charges he is eyeing for impeachment articles, but expressed confidence theyll have the votes to succeed. Mayorkas, Green said, has doubled down on policies that he knows are hurting Americans, he knows theyre defying the law. I think its grounds for his impeachment. But Democrats and even constitutional experts say policy disputes hardly rise to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors. And while many Democrats acknowledge the current immigration system is broken and the border has been overwhelmed in part because global migration overall has increased they also strongly refute the notion that the border is open or that Mayorkas has violated any laws. According to the Department of Homeland Security, 1.4 million individuals who were encountered at the border were removed in fiscal year 2022, which is more than in any previous year. The agency has also stopped more fentanyl and arrested more individuals for fentanyl-related crimes in the last two years than in the previous five years combined. The House majority is wasting valuable time and taxpayer dollars pursuing a baseless political exercise that has been rejected by members of both parties and already failed on a bipartisan vote, Mia Ehrenberg, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement. There is no valid basis to impeach Secretary Mayorkas, as senior members of the House majority have attested, and this extreme impeachment push is a harmful distraction from our critical national security priorities. GOP leaders navigate thin majority The border crisis has galvanized Republicans, unifying their party for more aggressive action on an issue central to the 2024 campaign. Eight Republicans voted with Democrats to scuttle an effort to impeach Mayorkas in November. But several of those members are indicating theyd back impeaching Mayorkas if it goes through the committee process. I look forward to voting for impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas when weve adhered to regular order and made good on our commitments, said Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican of North Carolina, who voted with Democrats in November to send the Mayorkas impeachment resolution to the Homeland Security Committee. But it is far from guaranteed that Republicans will have the votes, given their razor-thin majority and the fact that one member, Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, told CNN that impeaching Mayorkas could set a dangerous precedent. With early resignations and a temporary absence from Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the House GOP is contending with a two-seat margin in the near future. Ill apply the same standard to impeaching a cabinet official as I would to impeach the president: which is a high crime and misdemeanor, Buck told CNN. Yet as it remains unclear whether Johnson can get the votes to impeach Biden, Republicans believe targeting Mayorkas will help channel the bases growing demands to hold the administration accountable. The Homeland Security Committee has laid out tremendous evidence for impeachment, Scalise told CNN. Theyve been building a strong case for months now. And the case is overwhelming. Scalise said that its too early to predict whether the full conference will be on board, but added: It hasnt gone to the full membership yet, but you can see it coming to a head in the Homeland Security Committee. Even moderate Republicans, including ones in districts that Biden carried in 2020, are signaling more willingness to impeach Mayorkas than the president a sign of the shifting political terrain on the issue. GOP Rep. Nick LaLota, another New York freshman congressman in a competitive reelection who also sits on the homeland security panel and has not yet backed Bidens impeachment, said he believes Mayorkas ought to be removed because he is the one most solely responsible for our nations open border. And Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, who represents a district won by Biden and has expressed caution against impeaching the president, signaled an openness to impeaching Mayorkas. Ill be in listening mode on this, Bacon told CNN. We have a disaster at the border, and hes in charge. DEsposito, the New York freshman, said he absolutely, backed impeaching Mayorkas, attacking the secretary for a dereliction of duty. Asked what crime Mayorkas allegedly committed, DEsposito said: If there is any high crime higher than allowing potential terrorists into this country to cause harm to American people, Im not sure what else we need to hear other than that. Data shows that slightly more people on the terrorist watch list were apprehended at the border under Trumps watch than under the Biden administration. According to Customs and Border Protection data, there were 559 so-called terrorist screening data set encounters at the southwest border from fiscal year 2017 through 2019, versus 532 such encounters from fiscal year 2021 through 2023. Senior Republicans see GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas who represents a key swing district along the southern border and quickly came around to impeachment last year as a critical voice for their Mayorkas impeachment effort, and they are leaning on him to help convince the remaining moderate holdouts to get on board. Last week, Johnson and Gonzales led a delegation of over 50 House Republicans in Eagle Pass, Texas, to tour the border and hear from officials first-hand; several key vulnerable Republicans, including from New York, were among those in attendance. Gonzales declined to comment on the Mayorkas impeachment push. Border battle upends 2024 agenda The impeachment battle comes as immigration is expected to dominate the congressional session. While the GOP is taking steps to impeach Mayorkas, senators are engaged in intense talks over new border policies to unlock aid to Ukraine and Israel. And in the House, a growing number of Republicans are willing to try to sink a must-pass bill to keep the government open unless their restrictive immigration measures are included in it. I want to say if our president and the Democrats and whoever doesnt love our country and the citizens enough, respect our laws enough to shut down our border then we need to use our leverage, which is cutting off their funding in order to force them to shut the border, said Illinois Rep. Mary Miller, a member of the House Freedom Caucus. The White House, however, has labeled those calls as hypocritical, noting a government shutdown would threaten national security and the very resources dedicated to securing the border. As President Biden and both parties in the Senate seek common ground to address the needs of the American people, their conference is instead choosing extreme politics that would subject American families to needless pain, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said of House Republicans. DEsposito said that hes not in favor of shutting down the government. Yet he added: I often dont fully agree with the Freedom Caucus members, but I will say I understand their frustration. While GOP leadership hasnt gone as far as calling to shut down the government over the border, they are making the issue a top priority in 2024. And when asked whether he thinks they should use the upcoming government funding deadline as leverage for their border demands, Scalise told CNN: Every tool and option for fixing our broken and open southern border needs to be on the table. CNNs Haley Talbot and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The holidays are over, but theres one winter tradition left. CES is back, once again turning Las Vegas into a haven for the tech-obsessed. Samsung is holding its annual CES press conference on January 8 at 2PM PT / 5PM ET, a day before exhibitions officially open. Engadget will have a dozen staffers on the ground at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, and you can follow along from home by watching the livestream on Samsungs Global Newsroom site or tuning into the YouTube video below. Samsung is, of course, a big company with its hands in just about every cookie jar, so you may wonder what the press conference will focus on. And you know the answer already. Its AI. The presser is titled AI for All: Connectivity in the Age of AI, which manages to somehow squeeze in the term twice. What we expect The event will be led by Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Samsungs DX (Device eXperience) Division, Jong-Hee Han. Samsung has remained fairly tight-lipped regarding the specifics, instead relying on the overarching theme of AI for all. Maybe well get more information on the companys forthcoming chatbot Gauss, which can write emails, code and, well, you know the rest. It can, however, also upscale low-resolution images, which is pretty neat. According to The Korea Times, Gauss is set to launch in forthcoming Galaxy S24 devices, so CES 2024 would be a great time to make that official. The S24 line is expected to release in mid-January, so in just about a week or so. Of course, Samsung is primarily a hardware manufacturer, so itd be strange if it spends the entire keynote on AI. Last years press conference found the company announcing everything from a smart oven with an interior camera to MicroLED and 8K televisions. In any event, we dont have long to wait. What Samsung announced In case you missed Samsung's CES news conference live, here's the tl;dr version: the company unveiled the world's first transparent MicroLED screen a real showstopper. Samsung also surprised us by bringing back its Ballie robot, which now has a built-in projector and an overall different look. On the hardware-you-can-buy-soon front, we also got new TVs, projectors, an HDMI 2.1 soundbar, a Music Frame speaker to go with the company's Frame TVs (which we also got hands-on with), a smart monitor that works without the need for a PC, and a new interface for its TVs that lets you use your television as a smart home hub. So far at the show, we've gotten an up-close look at Ballie. Engadget's Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham concluded that, while it sure is cute, it still doesn't do a whole lot. We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here. This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Relatives of captured soldiers, including Azovstal steelworks defenders, have gathered in the centre of Kyiv on 7 January for the Free Azov rally. Source: Ukrainska Pravda Details: Several hundred people gathered in the centre of Kyiv to raise awareness of the fact that Azovstal defenders are still in Russian captivity. ALL PhotoS: Dmytro Larin, Ukrainska Pravda Ukrainians stood with placards reading "Bring my son back from captivity", "Don't be silent, captivity kills", and "While you are silent, my family is being tortured". The police reminded the protesters to take shelter during an air raid. Support UP or become our patron! Idaho saw the largest percentage increase in median household income in the nation between 2018 and 2022, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data. Median household income in the Gem State grew by 15% over the five-year period, rising to $70,214 per year, per the bureaus latest American Community Survey. Idaho was followed by other Western states including California, Oregon, Washington and Arizona. Idaho also ranked fifth in the nation in dollar-for-dollar income growth during that period, up by $9,153. The jump in median household income is partially due to the states rapid population growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Idaho Department of Labor economist Jan Roeser. Wages in industries like health care, education, retail and food service got a boost as the need for entry-level service workers exceeded the supply. Construction, too, saw an increase in workforce demand as the housing market heated up. Were getting new people who really appreciate our quality of life, our slower pace, our lower crime and definitely our recreational opportunities, Roeser told the Idaho Statesman by phone. Much of the in-migration comes from prime-age workers, or people 25-54 years old, she said, citing data from a 2020 Internal Revenue Service report. Idahos population growth last year was more than double the national average, with the number of residents rising to 1.96 million. She said an exodus of retirees from the states workforce also contributed to Idahos income growth, leading to the higher wages needed to retain existing employees and to recruit new hires. Idaho saw the largest percentage increase in median household income in the nation between 2018 and 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureaus 2018-2022 American Community Survey. Roeser believes residents choosing to live in Idaho while working for out-of-state companies may have driven up incomes as well. Her own daughter, a 29-year-old with a bachelors degree in psychology, got a huge pay bump when she took a job as a marketing analyst at a California-based firm, working remotely from Boise. I was worried for her, Roeser said. But now she makes more than her mother. Despite the gains, wages in Idaho are still lower than average. Robert Spendlove, senior economist at Zions Bank, told the Statesman that the state ranks No. 31 in the country for median household income. And, the cost of living has soared over the last few years. Spendlove said the cost of a single-family home in Idaho is still too high for many residents to afford, especially for those born and raised in the state. Idaho has, traditionally, been unique among the states, where we had a young population, relatively lower cost of living and relatively lower income, he said. But weve seen this infusion of people into the state that has pulled up housing prices, pulled up the cost of living and its also pulling up income. While Idaho has long had a few small enclaves of wealth think Sun Valley and Driggs the states burgeoning affordability crisis may be a motivator for low-wage earners to leave, as higher-income residents become a larger share of households. Idahos housing growth ranks No. 4 in the nation, outpacing all its neighbors apart from Utah. The state saw an uptick of nearly 57,000 housing units between the end of the five-year American Community Survey period ending in 2017 and the latest period ending in 2022. Most of those new units were built in the Treasure Valley. Five in eight, or 62%, of those new housing units went up in the Boise Metropolitan Statistical Area. Idaho is becoming more of an elite state, Spendlove said. It is consistent with the dramatic migration that weve seen out of many parts of the country and into Idaho and other states in the Intermountain West. As Idaho home prices skyrocketed, wage increases lagged. Heres how big the gap is New year, new career? These open Boise area jobs offer $60k-plus annually, plus benefits Who is Idahos largest employer? (Its not who Idaho Labors top 10 list says it is) The state of Idaho has spent millions defending its laws from legal challenges in recent years, and some of the highest bills have come from defending state laws that restricted ballot initiatives and abortions. Money to defend lawsuits at the Legislature comes largely from two state funds, which have paid out nearly $11 million in legal bills since 2017, according to records obtained by the Idaho Statesman. Over the last two decades, to name a few, the state has paid Planned Parenthood, a womens reproductive rights advocacy group, close to $600,000 in legal fees, according to records. It paid $474,000 over another lost abortion lawsuit. And it paid more than $663,000 to defend itself against attorneys representing lesbian couples who challenged the states same-sex marriage ban and won, one of the costliest lawsuits for Idaho yet. When lawmakers again tried to make it more difficult to place voter initiatives on the ballot, they were sued by Reclaim Idaho, an advocacy group. The state lost and paid the organization more than $150,000 in legal fees. Luke Mayville, the co-founder of Reclaim Idaho, said in an email that it is shameful that elected officials spend so much time violating the basic rights of Idaho citizens and use taxpayer money to defend their laws. They attack the citizens and make the citizens pay for it, he said. Idaho fund meant to defend against feds The Idaho Legislature defends state laws in court primarily with two pots of money: the Constitutional Defense Fund and the Legal Defense Fund. Decisions about spending from the constitutional fund are made by the leaders of both legislative chambers, the governor and the attorney general, while the legal defense funds are made by the Legislatures leadership. At the time the constitutional fund was created, in 1995, lawmakers said it would help defend the states rights from federal initiatives. The first set of expenses was over conflicts with the federal government about nuclear waste. But in the years since then, the account has been used to defend state laws raising the requirements to place citizen-led initiatives on the ballot, limiting abortions and banning same-sex marriage cases the state has lost. Its become a backstop for passing shaky legislation, said Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise. The second account, the Legal Defense Fund, covers general legal expenses for the Legislature and was established in 2012, a year after lawmakers rejected an effort to set up an office of legal counsel within the Legislature, according to previous reporting by the Associated Press. The office was intended for lawmakers to avoid overly relying on the attorney generals opinion on whether proposed legislation is legal. Attorney General Raul Labrador has said he would support the establishment of such an office, he told Idaho Reports in December, noting that he worries his legal opinions could later be used by opponents in court. The Legal Defense Fund has spent over $10 million since 2017, according to records obtained by the Statesman. The general account has outspent the constitutional fund by absorbing millions in costs ranging from legal settlements with the Federal Communications Commission to more than $2 million paid to Boise law firm Holland & Hart for legal representation. After spending close to $4 million in the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years, largely because of big payouts in a broadband settlement with the FCC, the Legislature has averaged $528,000 in expenses from the Legal Defense Fund annually over the last five fiscal years. Its unclear what specific cases all the money was spent on. In some cases, legal fees have been paid out of neither account. After Idaho lost a lawsuit that challenged its law to prevent transgender people from changing the gender on their birth certificates, a federal judge ordered Idaho to pay more than $321,000. The state paid the bill through a supplemental appropriation, according to Idaho Reports. House speaker suggests end to constitutional fund House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, expects to hire legislative counsel within the Legislature this year, he told the Statesman, in part because Labrador has been more reluctant to issue written opinions on proposed legislation than previous attorneys general. Moyle said in the past the Legislature has hired outside counsel rather than using the attorney generals office for representation if a particular case requires an attorney with a certain expertise. Moyle also noted that sometimes the Legislature and attorney general will respond to lawsuits with different arguments. We want to make sure we did the taxpayers and the state good and sometimes outside counsel was more learned in the subject, and you had a better opportunity to win if you hired outside counsel, he said. Moyle said there has been discussion of eliminating the constitutional defense fund, because lawmakers have mostly stopped using it. A case could be made that we should end the constitutional defense fund because we just dont use it like we used to, he said. We change directions more and use more and more outside counsel. Lawsuits with state agencies result in large bills Since January 2020, the Legislature has spent more than $854,000 defending its laws before the Idaho Supreme Court, according to records obtained through a public records request. More than half of those taxpayer expenses were spent on lawsuits with two government agencies the State Treasurers Office and the superintendent of the Idaho Department of Education. In 2020, lawmakers shifted funding away from the Department of Education, which is led by the school superintendent, to the State Board of Education. The former superintendent, Sherri Ybarra, fought the Legislature in court and ultimately lost. The case cost the Legislature more than $173,000. The Legislature also spent over $347,000 on a lawsuit after leaders of the House and Senate sued the state treasurer, Julie Ellsworth, to evict her from her office at the Capitol. Lawmakers wanted Ellsworth out to expand office space for legislators, while Ellsworth argued the treasurer had always occupied the same office since the building was built in 1912. The Idaho Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Legislature. The lawsuit began in 2019, and the records obtained by the Statesman date back to 2020. State funds have periodically been transferred to the legal accounts over the years. The Constitutional Defense Fund currently has a budget balance of $1.1 million, and the legal defense fund has a balance of $2.7 million, according to state records. A lawmaker proposed creating a separate $2 million Federal Overreach Legal Defense Fund in 2021, but the bill did not make it out of committee, according to Idaho Reports. Mayville, of Reclaim Idaho, said he thinks the Legislatures problems begin with its laws. The root of the problem is that elected officials knowingly enact laws that are unconstitutional, he said. They know that taxpayer dollars will be wasted defending these laws in court, but they enact the laws regardlessusually in response to demands from special interest groups. It needs to stop. Israels military has released a new picture of Hamass shadowy military commander clutching a wad of US dollars while relaxing outdoors as it continues to hunt him down in Gaza. The image shows Mohammed Deif, the leader of the terror groups Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, casually checking his watch as he clutches a half-full plastic cup in one hand and a wad of US dollar notes in the other. It was found among some 70 million digital files the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had unearthed in Gaza, where he is believed to be hiding out in the terror groups sprawling network of underground tunnels. Deif, who is known as The Guest for his habit of continually moving around within the enclave to avoid detection by the Israelis, masterminded Hamass murderous Oct 7 rampage on southern Israel. The Israeli military did not say when or where the photo was taken, or exactly how or where its forces obtained the image. The new image shows the grey-haired 58-year-old sitting on a sandy bank in front of two pairs of shoes and alongside an unidentified man, who appears to be counting a stash of US dollars. His right eye appears to be missing. Photos of the Hamas commander are rare A shadowy figure, he has been on Israels most wanted list for nearly three decades and has survived at least seven assassination attempts that left him with impaired sight and movement His wife, infant son and three-year-old daughter were reportedly killed amid the attempts on his life. Reports last month by Israeli media suggested IDF troops had uncovered video footage in Gaza which showed him walking without assistance, albeit with a slight limp, and a wheelchair that he may have used while traversing Hamass tunnel network owing to his injuries from the assassination attempts. Born in Khan Younis in Gaza in 1965, he has been described as the Cat with nine lives because of the number of assassination attempts he has survived. He also goes by the names Mohammed Diab and Mohammed al-Masri. Photographs of the Hamas commander are rare. Last week Israeli media published one image reportedly taken in 2018 at a social event, which had also been uncovered by the Israeli military in Gaza. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine's Interior Minister, has said that at least 11 people, including five children, were killed in Russian strikes in the Pokrovsk district in Donetsk Oblast on 6 January. However, the bodies of three victims, including a three-year-old child, have been recovered from the sites of the strikes in the city of Pokrovsk and in the village of Rivne. Source: Klymenko on Telegram Quote: "Donetsk Oblast, Pokrovsk district. Search and rescue operations have been going on for more than a day. Rescuers have dismantled over 100 tonnes of destroyed building elements at the strike sites. Police have recovered more than fifty body fragments, taking biological samples and doing everything possible to identify the victims. As of 17:00, the bodies of three people, including a three-year-old child, were recovered from the sites of the strikes in the city of Pokrovsk and the village of Rivne. According to the latest information, at least 11 people, including five children, were killed in the Russian strikes. However, the final death toll will be confirmed by an expert examination. The force of the enemy strike was too powerful, so this work will take time." Photo: National Police of Ukraine Details: Klymenko also released a video of the search and rescue operation. Background: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration reported that a total of 11 people, including five children, were killed and ten others were injured as a result of Russian strikes in the Pokrovsk district, Donetsk Oblast, on 6 January. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reported that "more than ten people" had been killed. However, the prosecutor's office and police published information about a much lower number of deaths and injuries, noting that they still were searching for people under the rubble. On Sunday morning, the State Emergency Service reported that the body of a child had been removed from under rubble by emergency workers in the village of Rivne, Pokrovsk district (Donetsk Oblast). Meanwhile, a civilian was rescued from under the rubble of two destroyed private houses in the town of Pokrovsk, and the body of a woman was recovered. Support UP or become our patron! As 2023 drew to a close, South Africa pulled the trigger on its latest anti-Israel initiative, weaponising the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague in order to promote a modern blood libel against the only Jewish state and fuel the fire of antisemitism around the world. The 84-page application instituting proceedings against Israel includes a request that the Court require Israel to immediately suspend its war against Hamas. The case that South Africa brings is a clear example of lawfare, an abuse of legal processes and legal institutions in order to advance political and propaganda aims against Israel and buttress the internationally proscribed terrorist organisation Hamas. South Africas application furthers the purposes of Hamas, but this is not surprising. South Africa has form, from its support of Muammar Gaddafi, one of the biggest sponsors of terrorism, including the Lockerbie bombing, which killed 259 people in 1988, to its current close and deepening relations with Iran, the worlds foremost state sponsor of terror. While South Africas latest move may have been anticipated, it should nevertheless be of deep concern to all law-abiding states and upholders of the rule of law, because it is a blatant attempt to exploit the international legal order with a bogus allegation of genocide against Israel. It is plain that South Africa has tailored its application to the ICJ to focus on genocide because, as a party to the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Israel has accepted the jurisdiction of the ICJ in relation to this specific treaty. The charge also fits with South Africas increasingly vitriolic political statements promoting falsehoods against the Jewish state. It is, however, exceptionally grotesque that South Africa is seeking to abuse a legal term famously coined by Raphael Lemkin to properly label the systematic extermination of Jews by the Nazis in the holocaust. The irony should not be lost. On a practical level, the charge of genocide provides a vehicle for South Africa to engage in this propaganda exercise in light of a recent decision by the ICJ. In a case between the Gambia and Myanmar, which also concerned the Genocide Convention, the Court recognised a form of standing before it on the basis of erga omnes obligations, which are owed to all. Following that case, South Africa argues that the dispute which it raises before the Court concerns its own obligations, as a state party to the Convention, to undertake to prevent genocide, as well as Israels compliance with its obligations under the Convention. The definition of genocide is not at issue; it is well settled, commonly agreed and articulated at Article II of the Convention. The critical aspect of genocide is the intention to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such. Only if that intention is established is the legal test for genocide met in respect of specified acts, such as killing or causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of a national or ethnic group. What connects these acts is that they serve the intention or the purpose of destroying a specified group. Such acts are necessary but not sufficient to satisfy the crime of genocide; they must be accompanied by an intention which establishes that the specified acts had a genocidal purpose. In Israels case the allegations are false. The defamatory application put forward seeks to quote Israeli leaders, but does so without context and consistently misrepresents the statements as relating to Palestinian civilians, rather than Hamas terrorists. Some of the material is simply invented, for example where it purports to quote a Danny Neumann calling for the complete destruction of Gaza, a former Israeli Knesset member. No such member exists. Against this context, we should not forget the words of the senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad in October last year, when he stated that the terror group would repeat the 7 October massacre again and again until Israel was annihilated, openly admitting the groups genocidal intentions. Israels actions are equally grossly distorted. Every states primary obligation is to keep its citizens safe. Over the last three months, Israel has been defending its citizens from a genocidal attack from the terrorists who have governed Gaza for the last 17 years. Since the genocidal atrocities of 7 October, Hamas and other Palestinian terror organisations have continued their attacks, firing over 13,000 rockets targeting the Israeli civilian population. The current estimate of the ratio of civilian to combatant casualties in this war is 2:1, against a global average of 9:1, according to UN Statistics. This is unparalleled in urban warfare and testament to the unprecedented measures Israel has taken to protect Palestinian civilian life. South Africas application is unprecedented, in that it seeks a declaration from the Court that Israel should be prevented from defending its civilian population against the estimated 40,000 strong Hamas forces. The US government has said: This submission [is] meritless, counterproductive, and completely without any basis in fact whatsoever. The reputation of international law is hanging in the balance and the world will be watching next weeks hearing to see if the ICJ will protect the international legal order from this abuse. Natasha Hausdorff is a barrister and legal director at UK Lawyers for Israel Charitable Trust Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Roya Heshmati, 33, was told she was being punished because she had violated public morals An Iranian woman received 74 lashes for refusing to wear the hijab, defying the strict dress code even as she was taken to be whipped. Roya Heshmati, 33, was charged with encouraging permissiveness after appearing unveiled on several occasions in the capital, Tehran. Her penalty of 74 strokes of the lash was carried out in accordance with the law and with sharia, and for violating public morals, the judiciarys Mizan Online website said late on Saturday. Ms Heshmati was also reportedly ordered to pay a fine of 12 million rials (225). The convicted encouraged permissiveness [by appearing] disgracefully in busy public places in Tehran, Mizan reported. All women in Iran have been required by law to cover their neck and head since shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Roya Heshmati posted a photo of herself online without the mandatory hijab - Agenzia Nova Whippings for breaching the dress code are uncommon, although officials have increasingly cracked down on those defying the rules after the practice surged during anti-government protests that began in late 2022. The mass demonstrations were triggered by the September 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd arrested for an alleged breach of the Islamic republics strict dress code for women. During the protests, female demonstrators cast off their headscarves or even burned them. Other women also increasingly began to flout the dress code, leading to the crackdown. Ms Heshmati was identified as being of Kurdish origins by Hengaw, a Kurdish-focused rights group. Iranian women risk uncovering their heads in Tehran after morality police were reinforced in 2023 - Majid Asgaripour/Wana As the lashes struck my body, I whispered, In the name of woman, in the name of life, dawn will come, BBC Persian quoted her as saying, adding she had refused to cover her hair even as she was transported to be flogged. She was arrested in April for publishing a photo on social media without wearing a headscarf, her lawyer Maziar Tatai told the reformist Shargh daily. Ms Heshmati was also charged with not wearing the Muslim veil in public, he added. Officials have installed surveillance cameras in public places to monitor violations of the hijab law and have shut businesses that breached the rules. Irans parliament has also discussed a bill that would toughen penalties for those breaching the dress code. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Isomorphic Labs, the London-based, drug discoveryfocused spinout of Google AI R&D division DeepMind, today announced that it's entered into strategic partnerships with two pharmaceutical giants, Eli Lilly and Novartis, to apply AI to discover new medications to treat diseases. The deals have a combined value of around $3 billion. Isomorphic will receive $45 million upfront from Eli Lilly and potentially up to $1.7 billion based on performance milestones, excluding royalties. Novartis, meanwhile, will pay $37.5 million upfront in addition to funding "select" research costs and as much as $1.2 billion (once again excluding royalties) in performance-based incentives over time. Were thrilled to embark on this partnership and apply our proprietary technology platform," DeepMind co-founder and Isomorphic CEO Demis Hassabis said in a press release. "The focus we share on advancing groundbreaking drug design approaches and appreciation of state-of-the-art science makes [these] partnership[s] particularly compelling." Fiona Marshall, president of biomedical research at Novartis, added in a statement: "Cutting-edge AI technologies . . . hold the potential to transform how we discover new drugs and accelerate our ability to deliver life-changing medicines for patients. This collaboration harnesses our companies' unique strengths, from AI and data science to medicinal chemistry and deep disease area expertise, to realize new possibilities in AI-driven drug discovery." Isomorphic, which Hassabis launched in 2021 under DeepMind parent company Alphabet, draws on DeepMind's AlphaFold 2 AI technology that can be used to predict the structure of proteins in the human body. By uncovering these structures, the hope is that researchers can identify new target pathways to deliver drugs for fighting disease. The tech isn't perfect. A recent article in Nature Methods pointed out that AlphaFold occasionally makes obvious mistakes and, in many cases, is more useful as a "hypothesis generator" rather than a replacement for experimental data. But the scale at which the model can generate reasonably accurate protein predictions is beyond most methods that came before. Researchers recently used AlphaFold to design and synthesize a potential drug to treat hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of primary liver cancer. And DeepMind is collaborating with Geneva-based Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, a nonprofit pharmaceutical organization, to apply AlphaFold to formulating therapeutics for Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis, two of the most deadly diseases in the developing world. The latest version of AlphaFold can generate predictions for nearly all molecules in the Protein Data Bank, the worlds largest open access database of biological molecules, DeepMind announced in October. The model can also accurately predict the structures of ligands -- molecules that bind to receptor proteins and cause changes in how cells communicate -- as well as nucleic acids (molecules that contain key genetic information) and post-translational modifications (chemical changes that occur after a proteins created). Already, Isomorphic is applying the new AlphaFold model -- which it co-designed with DeepMind -- to therapeutic drug design, helping to characterize different types of molecular structures important for treating disease. The pressure's on for Isomorphic to start generating a profit. In 2021, the company recorded a 2.4 million (~$3 million) loss as it ramped up hiring ahead of opening its second office location in Lausanne, Switzerland. Al Jazeera's bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Al-Dahdouh (C-L) hugs his daughter during the funeral of his son Hamza Wael Dahdouh, a journalist with the Al Jazeera television network, who was killed in a reported Israeli air strike in Rafah in the Gaza Strip on January 7, 2024. Secretary Antony Blinken kicked off a Middle Eastern diplomatic push as the Israeli-Gaza conflict is threatening to expand into a regional war. Photo by Ibrahim Al-Khatib/UPI Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Israel conducted an airstrike on a car that was carrying an Al-Jazeera journalist and a freelance journalist who contributed to France's AFP newswire, it was revealed Sunday. The two journalists were identified as Hamza Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya and a third passenger in the car, identified as Hazem Rajab, was also killed, Al-Jazeera reported. Hamza Dahdouh was the son of Wael Dahdouh, the news organization's bureau chief in Gaza. Wael Dahdouh was injured in a strike in December. The younger Dahdouh and his colleague Thuraya were on their way to interview civilians who have been forcibly displaced by Israel's bombing of residential houses in Gaza. "Hamza was everything to me, the eldest boy, he was the soul of my soul," Wael Dahdouh said as his son was buried on Saturday. "These are the tears of parting and loss, the tears of humanity." Al Jazeera's bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Al-Dahdouh (L) hugs his daughter during the funeral of his son Hamza Wael Dahdouh, a journalist with the Al Jazeera television network, who was killed in a reported Israeli air strike in Rafah in the Gaza Strip on January 7, 2024. Secretary Antony Blinken kicked off a Middle Eastern diplomatic push as the Israeli-Gaza conflict is threatening to expand into a regional war. Photo by Ibrahim Al-Khatib/UPI Meanwhile, Al-Jazeera strongly condemned the attack in a statement that said the slaying of the journalists "reaffirms the need to take immediate necessary legal measures against the occupation forces to ensure that there is no impunity." The Committee to Protect Journalists has previously blasted Israel's war on Hamas for its "record toll" on journalists. Al Jazeera's bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Al-Dahdouh (C) prays during the funeral of his son Hamza Wael Dahdouh, a journalist with the Al Jazeera television network, who was killed in a reported Israeli air strike in Rafah in the Gaza Strip on January 7, 2024. Secretary Antony Blinken kicked off a Middle Eastern diplomatic push as the Israeli-Gaza conflict is threatening to expand into a regional war. Photo by Ibrahim Al-Khatib/UPI "The Israeli army has killed more journalists in 10 weeks than any other army or entity has in any single year. And with every journalist killed, the war becomes harder to document and to understand," said CPJ's Sherif Mansour. At least 68 journalists had been killed since the latest iteration of the war began as of mid-December. But journalists have been killed by Israel throughout the decades-long conflict. In 2022, the Palestinian-American reporter Shireen Abu Akleh was shot by an Israeli soldier raiding a refugee camp in the West Bank, Palestine. Al Jazeera's bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Al-Dahdouh (C) prays during the funeral of his son Hamza Wael Dahdouh, a journalist with the Al Jazeera television network, who was killed in a reported Israeli air strike in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, on January 7, 2024.Secretary Antony Blinken kicked off a Middle Eastern diplomatic push as the Israeli-Gaza conflict is threatening to expand into a regional war. Photo by Ibrahim Al-Khatib/UPI "Journalists are civilians and must be treated as such under international humanitarian law," said Mansour in December. "It's imperative we see independent, transparent investigations into the latest pattern of killings. In addition, the Israeli army must end its muzzling of international media by allowing them to report from Gaza, stop its harassment of journalists in the West Bank, and allow the free flow of information and humanitarian aid into Gaza." Smoke billows over Khan Yunis city in the southern Gaza strip during Israeli bombardment on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Israeli military hit the southern city of Khan Younis and Rafah. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI A Hezbollah supporter passes next to a portrait that shows top Hamas official Saleh Arouri who was killed Tuesday in Beirut by apparent Israeli strike, during a ceremony to mark the fourth anniversary of the assassination of slain Iran's Quds force General Qassem Soleimani assassination, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) JERUSALEM (AP) Hezbollah has struck an air traffic control base in northern Israel, the Israeli military said Sunday, and warned of another war with the Iran-backed militant group. The increase in fighting across the border with Lebanon as Israel battles Hamas militants in Gaza gave new urgency to U.S. diplomatic efforts as Secretary of State Antony Blinken prepared to visit Israel on his latest Mideast tour. This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and even more suffering, Blinken told reporters after talks in Qatar, a key mediator. The escalation of cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has complicated a U.S. push to prevent a regional conflict. The Israeli military said Hezbollah fire hit the sensitive air traffic control base on Mount Meron on Saturday but air defenses were not affected because backup systems were in place. It said that no soldiers were hurt and all damage will be repaired. Nonetheless, it was one of the most serious attacks by Hezbollah in the months of fighting that has accompanied Israel's war in Gaza and forced tens of thousands of Israelis to evacuate communities near the Lebanese border. Hezbollah described its rocket barrage as an initial response to the targeted killing of a top Hamas leader in a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut last week, which is presumed to have been carried out by Israel. The Israeli military chief of staff, Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi, said military pressure on Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, was rising and it would either be effective or we will get to another war. Military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari asserted that Israels focus on Hezbollahs elite Radwan force was pushing it away from the border. Israel has mostly sought to limit the fighting in its north. Hezbollahs military capabilities are far superior to those of Hamas. But Israeli leaders have said their patience is wearing thin, and that if the tensions cannot be resolved through diplomacy, they are prepared to use force. I suggest that Hezbollah learn what Hamas has already learned in recent months: No terrorist is immune," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet. We are determined to defend our citizens and to return the residents of the north safely to their homes. Lower-intensity fighting along Israels northern border broke out when Hezbollah began firing rockets shortly after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel triggered the war in Gaza, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking some 250 people hostage. Hezbollah has said its attacks aim to ease pressure on Gaza. In a joint news briefing with Blinken, Qatars government acknowledged that the killing of the senior Hamas leader in Lebanon could affect the complicated negotiations for the potential release of more hostages held by Hamas in Gaza but we are continuing our discussions with the parties and trying to achieve as soon as possible an agreement. Ten people died in violence in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, including a Palestinian man killed by attackers while driving a car with Israeli plates, and a young girl shot as Israeli police fired at a car that rammed a checkpoint. Inside Gaza, the war against the militant group entered its fourth month Sunday. The Israeli military has signaled that it has wrapped up major combat in northern Gaza, saying it has completed dismantling Hamas military infrastructure there. Now it presses its offensive in the south, where most of Gazas 2.3 million Palestinians are squeezed into smaller areas in a humanitarian disaster while being pounded by Israeli airstrikes. Netanyahu insists the war will not end until the objectives of eliminating Hamas, getting Israels hostages returned and ensuring that Gaza wont host a threat to Israel are met. Biden administration officials have urged Israel to wind down its blistering air and ground offensive and shift to more targeted attacks against Hamas leaders. More than 22,800 Palestinians have been killed and more than 58,000 wounded since the war began, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The death toll does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Health officials say about two-thirds of those killed have been women and minors. Israel blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the group operates in heavily populated residential areas. An airstrike near the southern city of Rafah killed two journalists on Sunday, including Hamza Dahdouh, the oldest son of Wael Dahdouh, Al Jazeera's chief correspondent in Gaza, according to the Qatari-owned Arabic-language channel and local medical officials. Al Jazeera broadcast footage of Dahdouh weeping and holding his son's hand. Israel's military had no immediate comment. Al Jazeera strongly condemned the killings and other brutal attacks against journalists and their families by Israeli forces. Dahdouh also lost his wife, two children and a grandchild in an Oct. 26 airstrike, and was wounded in an Israeli strike last month that killed a co-worker. The world is blind to whats happening in the Gaza Strip, he said, blinking back tears. Another airstrike hit a house between Khan Younis and the southern city of Rafah, killing at least seven people whose bodies were taken to the nearby European Gaza Hospital, according to an Associated Press journalist at the facility. One man hurried in carrying a baby, and later walked the blanket-wrapped child to the morgue. Everything happening here is outside the realms of law, outside the realms of reason. Our brains cant fully comprehend all this that is happening to us, said a grieving relative, Inas Abu al-Najja, her quavering voice rising. Men worked the rubble with picks and bare hands. On Sunday, officials at Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis received the bodies of 18 people, including 12 children, killed in an Israeli strike late Saturday on a home in the Khan Younis camp set up decades ago to house refugees from the 1948 war over Israels creation. Israeli forces pushed deeper into the central city of Deir al-Balah, where residents in several neighborhoods were warned that they must evacuate. The international medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by the French acronym MSF, said it was evacuating its medical staff from Deir al-Balah's Al Aqsa Martyrs' Hospital. A bullet penetrated a wall of the hospitals intensive care unit on Friday, and drone attacks and sniper fire were just a few hundred meters from the hospital over the past couple of days, said Carolina Lopez, the groups emergency coordinator there. She said the hospital received between 150 and 200 wounded people daily in recent weeks. The International Rescue Committee and Medical Aid for Palestinians said they also were forced to withdraw from the hospital. The amount of injuries being brought in over the last few days has been horrific, surgeon Nick Maynard with the IRC medical team said. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo and Jobain from Rafah, Gaza Strip. ___ Find more of APs coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Palestinians check the site where an Israeli air strike killed six men, near Jenin Palestinians check the site where an Israeli air strike killed six men, near Jenin JENIN, West Bank (Reuters) -Israeli forces killed six Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said on Sunday, and an Israeli police officer was killed, Israeli officials said. Israel said its aircraft fired on Palestinian militants who had attacked troops in the city of Jenin. The Palestinian ministry said the strike targeted people who had gathered at the site. Eyewitnesses said the attack happened as Israeli forces were withdrawing. Four of those killed were brothers, according to family members. Mujahid Nazzal, a Palestinian doctor and first responder at the scene, told Reuters one of the dead was hit directly by a missile and the strike also seriously wounded a seventh person. Another witness, Ahmed Suleiman, said, "The air strike happened at the entrance of Jenin in an area called Martyr's Triangle. You can see the effects of the missile. Blood and body parts scattered everywhere." An Israeli border police officer was killed and others wounded when their vehicle was hit by an explosive device during operations in Jenin, the Israeli military and police said. A helicopter helped rescue them with covering fire, the military said, adding that an aircraft fired at a "terrorist squad that hurled explosives and endangered our forces, a number of terrorists were killed". The Jenin Brigade, an armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack on the Israeli security forces. The West Bank had already seen its highest levels of unrest in decades during the 18 months before the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the militant Hamas group that rules Gaza. Confrontations in the West Bank have risen sharply since Israeli forces launched their retaliatory offensive on Gaza, seeking to wipe out Hamas. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers and settlers over the past weeks and security forces have made thousands of arrests. (Reporting by Ali Sawafta in Jenin and and Maayan Lubell in JerusalemWriting by Hatem Maher and Adam MakaryEditing by William Mallard, Clarence Fernandez and Frances Kerry) JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli police killed a young Palestinian girl in a car at a West Bank crossing when they opened fire on another car suspected of a ramming attack, Israeli emergency services said. The border police said they hit the girl after firing at a couple in a car who they said rammed into two Israelis at a crossing in the occupied West Bank just outside Jerusalem. Israeli paramedics gave her age as three but Palestinian sources told the WAFA official Palestinian news agency that the girl was four. The Israeli ambulance services said she was treated on the scene but pronounced dead, without specifying the cause of death. An Israeli was lightly injured, paramedics said. A statement from the Israeli police said a car with a man and a woman pulled up a crossing near Jerusalem and committed a ramming attack against border police. The police responded with live fire, the statement said. It said the police "neutralized" the two in the car, without providing details. Palestinian sources told WAFA the couple were killed in the shooting. (Reporting by Emily Rose, Ali Sawafta; Editing by Ros Russell) Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Sunday that the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza is absolutely not the position of the Israeli government, despite widely rebuked remarks from a few Cabinet members embracing this position. Absolutely, absolutely not, Herzog said in an interview on NBC Newss Meet the Press on Sunday, when asked whether Palestinian displacement in Gaza was the official position of the Israeli government. Totally not agreed or is not the position of the Israeli government, or the Israeli parliament, or the Israeli public. Im saying outright, officially and unequivocally: This is not the Israeli position, Herzog added. His remarks come after some high-level Cabinet officials have come under fire advocating the resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza. In the interview, Herzog was asked about remarks from the countrys heritage minister, who reportedly said about Palestinians in Gaza, You will not be here. You will not live by our side, and that is the main point. We should encourage them to leave the place. In response, Herzog stressed Israel is a democracy and said Cabinet ministers are free to express their views, even if they dont represent the official position of the government. But we are a democracy, and in democracy, you have a variety of ideas. And in a variety of ideas, and in a society where free speech is the basis of our national DNA, people can say whatever they want, Herzog said. So, in a Cabinet of 30 ministers where its not the security Cabinet, a minister can say whatever he wants. I may not like it, but this is Israeli politics. He added: And, by the way, you have in America people who say things which you dont like. But that doesnt mean its the policy of the administration. In Israels parliamentary democracy, Herzog serves as head of state but does not participate in partisan politics or legislative affairs. Herzog noted this unique position when side-stepping a question on whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the right leader for the moment. He also did not respond directly to a question on whether Netanyahu should similarly publicly state that displacement is not the Israeli governments position. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Al Jazeera's bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Al-Dahdouh, mourns over the body of his son Hamza - Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images The eldest son of Al Jazeeras Gaza bureau chief has been killed in an Israeli strike in southern Gaza, weeks after several other members of his immediate family died in a separate bombing. Hamza al-Dahdouh, himself an Al Jazeera journalist and cameraman, was travelling with other reporters in southern Gaza when he was struck by a drone. Mustafa Thuraya, a freelance journalist, was also killed and a third reporter was wounded. A video posted online showed Wael al-Dahdouh crying next to his sons body and kissing his hand. Later, after his sons burial, he said that journalists in Gaza would keep doing their job. All the world needs to see what is happening here, he said. Wael al-Dahdouh (left) has lost 12 members of his immediate family since October Mr Dahdouh is well known to viewers across the Middle East after he learned during a live broadcast in October that his wife, 15-year-old son, seven-year-old daughter and one-year-old grandson had been killed in an Israeli air strike. Eight members of his extended family were also killed. Nothing is harder than the pain of loss. And when you experience this pain time after time, it becomes harder and more severe, Mr Dahdouh said on Sunday. In October, Wael al-Dahdouh was informed of the death of his wife, two children and one grandson live on air - AHMAD HASABALLAH/GETTY IMAGES EUROPE According to Hisham Zaqout, an Al Jazeera correspondent, the three journalists were travelling to the Moraj area northeast of Rafah designated a humanitarian zone by the Israeli army but which had reportedly experienced recent bombings. Hamza had been planning to report on the aftermath of the bombings in the area, including a strike on a house, according to Al Jazeera. Footage broadcast by Al Jazeera showed the aftermath of the strike on the car they had been travelling in, and a body covered in blood being moved. The car in which the two journalists were killed Hamza was not just part of me. He was the whole of me. He was the soul of my soul. These are tears of sadness, of loss. These are tears of humanity, Mr Dahdouh said at the funeral. In December, Mr Dahdouh was also wounded during filming and treated for shrapnel wounds. His cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa was killed. The Israel-Hamas war that started on Oct 7 has been deadly for journalists. The Committee for the Protection of Journalists, an international watchdog, said as of Saturday, 77 journalists and media workers had been killed 70 Palestinians, four Israelis and three Lebanese. In a message to his father the day before he died, Hamza wrote on social media: You are steadfast and patient. Do not despair of Gods mercy. Be certain that he will reward you. The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strike. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) -An Israeli air strike on a car near Rafah in southern Gaza on Sunday killed two Palestinian journalists who were reporting, according to health officials in Gaza and the journalists' union there. Hamza Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya were both freelancers. Al-Dahdouh had done freelance work for Al Jazeera and was the son of the Qatar-based TV station's chief correspondent in Gaza, Wael Al-Dahdouh. A third freelancer, Hazem Rajab, was wounded. Al Jazeera Media Network condemned the killing of the two and said it had been a deliberate attack. "We urge the International Criminal Court, the governments and human rights organisations, and the United Nations to hold Israel accountable for its heinous crimes and demand an end to the targeting and killing of journalists," the network said in a statement. A statement from the Israeli military said that "an IDF aircraft identified and struck a terrorist who operated an aircraft that posed a threat to IDF troops." "We are aware of the reports that during the strike, two other suspects who were in the same vehicle as the terrorist were also hit," the statement said. In a statement on Dec. 16, in response to the death of another Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza, the Israeli army, said "the IDF has never, and will never, deliberately target journalists". The Israel-Hamas war that started on Oct. 7 has been deadly for journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international watchdog, said that as of Saturday, 77 journalists and media workers had been killed - 70 Palestinians, four Israelis and three Lebanese. The Hamas-run Gaza government's media office said the two new deaths raised its own tally of journalists killed by the Israeli offensive to 109. A video posted on an Al Jazeera-linked YouTube channel showed Wael Al-Dahdouh crying next to his son's body and holding his hand. Later, after his son's burial, he said in televised remarks that journalists in Gaza would keep doing their job. "All the world needs to see what is happening here," he said. Wael Al-Dahdouh is particularly well known to viewers across the Middle East after he learned during a live broadcast last month that his wife, another son, daughter and grandson had been killed in an Israeli air strike. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday's killings were an "unimaginable tragedy" and that he was "deeply deeply sorry" for the Al-Dahdouh family's loss. "One (journalist killed) is far too many" Blinken said at a press conference in Doha, the Qatari capital. Another journalist who died covering the conflict was Reuters visuals journalist Issam Abdallah. A Lebanese citizen, he was killed on Oct. 13 by an Israeli tank crew while filming cross-border shelling in Lebanon, a Reuters investigation found. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, additional reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha; Editing by Estelle Shirbon, Frances Kerry, Hugh Lawson and Cynthia Osteramn) Israel's president said Sunday that the expulsion of Palestinians is not the government's official policy, even though some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government have called for exactly that. "I'm saying outright, officially and unequivocally, this is not the Israeli position," President Isaac Herzog said during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press." "A minister can say whatever he wants. I may not like it, but this is Israeli politics," Herzog told host Kristen Welker. Months after Hamas' Oct. 7 incursion into Israel led to an Israeli invasion of Gaza, total casualties on both sides now exceed 24,000 dead, most of them in Gaza. Even as fighting in Gaza winds down, it's not clear what the future will hold for either Gaza or Israel itself, and some in Israel's government have suggested that moving much the Palestinian population out of Gaza could be part of the solution. The United States has said that idea is not acceptable: "The United States rejects recent statements from Israeli Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir advocating for the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza. This rhetoric is inflammatory and irresponsible," the State Department said last week. On Sunday, Herzog said the world should keep in mind what Israel has gone through in recent months, citing the hostages taken on Oct. 7, more than 100 of whom are still being held. "We should remember, however, the national psyche here. We are in deep trauma in the last three months. We have seen so much agony, pain, and sadness," he said, adding: "Our nation is bereaving, is worried, is agonized, and we are doing whatever we can to do whatever it takes to bring back these hostages." The EU should have its own army, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview with the Italian media outlet La Stampa published on Jan. 7. Calls for an EU army have been floated as far back as 1950 but have never come to fruition. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has forced defense issues back onto the agenda and seen public opinion shift, as well as the expansion of NATO. Tajani said the proposed EU army could be involved in peacekeeping and preventing conflict. When asked if the EU was ready to go to war, Tajani said the focus should rather be on "peacekeeping, monitoring, deterrence." At the same time, Tajani said, "If we want to be bearers of peace in the world, we need a European army. And this is a fundamental precondition for having an effective European foreign policy." A YouGov poll released in May 2022, shortly after the beginning of the invasion, found that countries throughout Europe increasingly supported the idea of creating a common EU army. Out of all 17 countries polled, all but three saw an increase from 2021. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Military reports striking Russian arsenals in Crimea, cross-border raid inside Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. ROME (Reuters) - The European Union should form its own combined army that could play a role in peacekeeping and preventing conflict, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said. In an interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa, Tajani said that closer European cooperation on defence was a priority for the Forza Italia party that he leads. "If we want to be peacekeepers in the world, we need a European military. And this is a fundamental precondition to be able to have an effective European foreign policy," he said in an interview published on Sunday. "In a world with powerful players like the United States, China, India, Russia - with crises from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific - Italian, German, French or Slovenian citizens can only be protected by something that already exists, namely the European Union," he added. European defence cooperation has risen up the political agenda since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago. However, efforts have been more focused on NATO expansion, with EU nation Finland joining the alliance last year and Sweden also on track to become a member. Tajani also said the 27-nation EU should streamline its leadership and have a single presidency, rather than the current structure of a European Council president and a European Commission president. The foreign minister became leader of Forza Italia following the death of Silvio Berlusconi last year. European Parliament elections in June will be the first gauge of the party's popularity after the loss of its charismatic former leader. (Reporting by Keith Weir; Editing by Mark Potter) The impact of the Journal & Courier's reporters continues to inform our readers, temper policy makers and spur conversations and debate in the public square. Looking back over the last few years, one can see that the J&C now more than ever is still a watchdog against corruption and for the public's interest. One J&C story's impact motivated Tippecanoe County residents, forcing Gov. Eric Holcomb to get involved. While some Indianapolis-area media reported on the Lebanon LEAP project's plans to pump 100 million gallons of water from Tippecanoe County to Boone County, the story seemed to fly under the radar until a three-day J&C series exposed the plan. More: The series: Transferring Wabash River aquifer water to Lebanon for its business park What followed was a grassroots effort to "stop the water steal" of Tippecanoe County resources. J&C reporter Noe Padilla follows up on that grassroot effort, which forced state government officials to tap the brakes on the project until a study can determine if the Wabash River aquifer is large enough to sustain the demands from Boone County. A resident concerned about Wabash River sits next to a sign that says "Stop the water steal" as he attends a public hall to share his concerns regarding Indianas Economic Development Corp.'s LEAP project, at the Lafayette Army National Reserve building, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. The tapping of Tippecanoe County water resources is now front and center in the local halls of government, among the people and receives regular coverage from Tippecanoe County's crowded media market. Thats just one of the ways the staff of the Journal & Courier impacted our community in 2023. The Journal & Courier broke the news on Dec. 22, 2020, about Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising living outside of her township when Indiana law requires a trustee to reside in the township. We continued to follow the unfolding of the former trustee's case in 2023 as she won an appeal, then argued her case before the Indiana Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has not yet accepted the case or published an opinion on Teising's case. Like a bulldog not willing to let go of a good story, the J&C also reported in 2023 how Teising voted in Tippecanoe County in 2022, but yet, she claimed a property tax credit only available to owner-occupied houses on the Vincennes house that she owns. The Journal & Courier's impact also affected Fairfield Township. Former Fairfield Township Trustee Taletha Coles racked up 42 grand jury indictments for allegations from her nearly four years in office, and this year she pleaded guilty to four of them. We know exactly how Coles mishandled the townships money, because the J&C filed a lawsuit to force access to public records. That lawsuit was pivotal to shining light into the township's finances and informing the public of how their money was spent. Coles' case played out through 2023 as she pleaded guilty in November to tax exemption fraud, conflict of interest and two counts of official misconduct. She is awaiting sentencing later this month. Former Fairfield Township Trustee Taletha Coles, right, pleaded guilty Thursday to four of 42 indictments against her accusing her of crimes while she was in office between 2019 and Oct. 19, 2022, when she resigned. The J&Cs watchdog journalism doesnt stop there. In 2023 we uncovered a landlord's excessive use of eviction proceedings at his properties, which when we visited them, appeared to be substandard for human occupation and poorly maintained. A hole in the ceiling of the house where Angela Moody and Randall Tanksely were renting from Chaofeng Liu, an adjunct professor at Purdue University in the Department of Statistics, on Monday, June 5, 2023, in Lafayette, Ind. Padillas series also reported what rights a renter has in Indiana and Tippecanoe County. Hes also not done with this subject that has so clearly resonated with our readers. More: Purdue professor ducks accusations of being an "unethical" landlord; evictions mount More: As Hoosier renters, what rights do you have? Different than your landlord's rights As we enter 2024, the Journal & Courier will continue to be the tip of the spear, informing readers about the issues and events that shape our lives and affect our decisions. Reach Ron Wilkins is a reporter and currently serving as interim editor at the Journal & Courier. He can be reached at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: J&C journalists play a big role in Greater Lafayette community Jacksonville resident, Gabe Garcia, has been selected as the lucky winner of a unique sweepstakes hosted by the Jacksonville Jaguars and Vaunt, a leading platform connecting travelers to private flights. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Gabe Garcia, originally from Chicago and a Bears fan at heart, has embraced the Jaguars since moving to Jacksonville four years ago. His admiration for Trevor Lawrence, dating back to Lawrences Clemson days, further fueled his passion for the Jaguars. Garcia has been a loyal season ticket holder for the last two years. Garcia, a restaurant management professional and a devoted Jaguars fan, will enjoy a round-trip private flight to Nashville to witness the Jaguars take on the Tennessee Titans this weekend. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. During the month of January, the 52nd Lights for Peace flag to fly at the Fort Taber - Fort Rodman Military Museum honors the memory of Rev. Father John Baptist DeValles, a WWI Veteran who was awarded for extraordinary heroism and exceptional devotion to his duty. He was born, Joa Baptista DeValles, on Aug. 29, 1879, on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores, and emigrated to the United States at the age of two years old, eventually residing at 39 Ingram St., New Bedford. DeValles attended local schools and studied for the priesthood. He was ordained in 1906, serving in local parishes in New Bedford and Fall River. John B. DeValles Elementary School's namesake, Rev. Father John Baptist DeValles. According to the War Records Dept., When the United States entered World War I in 1917, despite being nearly 40 years old, (DeValles) set aside his comfortable life to volunteer as a chaplain through the Knights of Columbus and was attached to the Massachusetts National Guards 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Yankee Division. He was appointed to First Lieutenant (1LT) Chaplain on July 17, 1918. The Yankee Division was organized from National Guard units throughout New England and as the first entire U.S. division to arrive in France, it saw action in every major campaign of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). The AEF helped the French Army on the Western Front during the Aisne Offensive and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. DeValles took part in the Defensive Champagne-Marne; Offensive Aisne-Marne; St. Mihiel; and Defensive Sectors: Rupt (Lorraine) and Troyon (Lorraine). He was known as the Angel of the trenches often in no mans land, comforting the injured and carrying the wounded to aid stations, administering to the dying. He made no distinction between allies or Germans. Father DeValles returned to the United States with the Yankee Division in 1919 but died in May 1920 of abdominal cancer at St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford, MA at the age of 41, due to exposure to mustard gas in France. He was awarded the nations second-highest military decoration, the Distinguished Service Cross, posthumously by Major General Clarence Edward, former Commanding General of the Yankee Division. "For extraordinary heroism in action near Apremont, Toul sector, France, April 10 to 13, 1918. Chaplain DeValles repeatedly exposed himself to heavy artillery and machine-gun fire in order to assist in the removal of the wounded from exposed points in advance of the lines. He worked for long periods of time with stretcher bearers in carrying wounded men to safety. Chaplain DeValles previously rendered gallant service in the Chemin des Dames sector, March 11, 1918, by remaining with a group of wounded during a heavy enemy bombardment." He was also awarded the foreign decorations of the French Croix de Guerre with gilt star, under General Order No. 736-A, dated April 26, 1918, 32nd French Army Corps, with the following citation: "Extraordinary heroism and exceptional devotion to his duty. Under uninterrupted enemy fire, did not cease to care for the wounded and to encourage to renewed efforts the men worn out by hard fighting." Some insight as to what the soldiers went through during WWI as documented by WWI letters explained that there were no trenches in the area of the front, little wire and no shelters (dugouts). Rather, defenses were designed for open warfare and consisted of shallow foxholes covered with brush, positioned to provide mutually supporting fire along with numerous machine gun positions. The outpost line and principal resistance line were separated by a 1,000 yard artillery barrage zone designed to break up any attack that overran the outposts. Occupants of the outposts had the usual mission of fighting to the last man with no hope of reinforcement. At all hours, troops of the outpost line were fired on by machine guns and artillery of the German 7th Army. Food and water had to be carried to the forward troops by ration details through machine gun fire under cover of darkness. The troops suffered a high number of casualties due to heavy gas exposure. In October 1920, shortly after Chaplain DeValles death, the Katherine Street School in New Bedford was rededicated as the John B. DeValles School in his honor. Linda Ferreira, of Empire Ford, researches the life histories of area residents. American flags are provided by Empire Ford. Flags are raised by the staff at Fort Taber - Fort Rodman Military Museum. Those who would like to honor a local veteran in the future can contact Ferreira at lferreira@empirefordinc.com. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 52nd Lights for Peace flag to honor distinguished veteran Japan has decided to contribute US$37 million to the NATO trust fund for UAV detecting systems in Ukraine. Source: Yoko Kamikawa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, during a joint press conference with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv, as cited by Ukraines Foreign Affairs Ministry Details: An air raid warning was issued during the meeting so the two ministers had to go down into the shelter. Kamikawa expressed her admiration and respect for Ukrainians. Quote from Yoko Kamikawa: "Japan is actively promoting support for Ukraine. Within our support Japan has recently decided to contribute $37 million to the NATO trust fund in order to finance the drone detection system." Details: She added that five mobile gas turbine generators and seven transformers were transported to Ukraine with the help of Japan to help Ukrainians survive severe winter. Background: Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa has arrived in Kyiv on the morning of 7 January. Support UP or become our patron! By Kevin Buckland and Kiyoshi Takenaka WAJIMA, Japan (Reuters) - Japan's prime minister vowed to provide "ceaseless" support to areas devastated by the New Year's Day earthquake as snow and sleet hampered rescue and relief efforts and local media reported that the disaster had now claimed at least 126 lives. The adverse weather on the Noto peninsula continued to vex survivors at the epicenter of the magnitude 7.6 quake that left more than 30,000 homeless and cut power to tens of thousands of residences and businesses. At least 222 people are still reported missing and more heavy snow or rain is forecast overnight for the region. Footage on national broadcaster NHK showed construction trucks digging through piles of dirt three meters (almost 10 ft)tall to unearth houses buried by landslides. "Rescuing people trapped under the rubble and responding to isolated areas are issues that must be tackled with the highest priority," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on an NHK program on Sunday. "As we move forward with ceaseless reconstruction and recovery efforts, we must not hesitate in responding due to budget constraints in the disaster-affected areas," he added. Kishida had said on Friday that his government would tap 4.74 billion yen ($32.77 million) of budget reserves for reconstruction efforts. The governor of Ishikawa Prefecture, where the Noto peninsula is located, declared a state of emergency on Saturday, calling the quake "an unprecedented disaster" for the region, NHK reported. In the city of Wajima, on the peninsula's northern coast, a line of cars stretching as far as the eye could see had formed to refuel at a petrol station as fuel supply to the region gradually returned. Prefectural governments have sent trailers equipped with several flushable toilets to evacuation centres in Wajima and other disaster-struck cities, where water supplies are only just restarting, NHK reported. At a centre near Wajima's famed "Asaichi" morning market, which was burnt to the ground after the quake, some of the 700 people taking shelter there stood in a line on a stairway, passing boxes of water to higher floors. "Some people have left as electricity is restored in parts of the city (but) we are still at capacity and not accepting new evacuees," the centre's receptionist said. ($1 = 144.6500 yen) (Reporting by Kevin Buckland and Kiyoshi Takenaka; editing by Miral Fahmy) Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa attends a working session of the G7 foreign ministers on the situation in Ukraine. Sina Schuldt/dpa During a visit to Kiev, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa has promised Ukraine support in its continued defence against Russian aggression. Japan will pay $37 million into a NATO fund, Kamikawa said at a joint press conference with her counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday, according to Ukrainian media. This money would then benefit Ukraine's air defence and flow into drone detection systems, she said. Russia has been bombarding the neighbouring country with large-scale combat drone attacks for months. Japan is supporting Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion, which has been ongoing for almost two years, and has also imposed sanctions against Russia in line with the West. Kamikawa's predecessor Yoshimasa Hayashi and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also visited Ukraine for talks a few months ago. However, the country's pacifist constitution does not allow Japan to supply weapons to Ukraine itself. A man visits the site of a palace of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia at the archaeological site of Aigai in Vergina, Greece, Jan. 5, 2024. (Photo by Dimitris Tosidis/Xinhua) ATHENS, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Greece is ready to reopen on Saturday a palace of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia where Alexander the Great (356 B.C.-323 B.C.) was declared king. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis inaugurated the restored palace in the northern Greek city of Vergina on Friday. The site has been under restoration over the past 16 years. The palace, named after Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, is the centerpiece at the archaeological site of Aigai. Mitsotakis expressed hope that the restored palace will draw more visitors to Aigai, which served as the capital of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia and was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The archaeological site of Aigai was the largest building in classical Greece, covering nearly 15,000 square meters. The palace was destroyed in the 2nd century B.C., after the definitive destruction of the kingdom by the Romans. Over the centuries, most of its building materials have been looted. The remains of the stones were revealed through the excavations that began in the 19th century. The 20.3-million-euro (22.22 million U.S. dollars) restoration project was funded by the European Union, Greek national news agency AMNA reported. This photo taken on Jan. 5, 2024 shows a view of the site of a palace of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia at the archaeological site of Aigai in Vergina, Greece. (Photo by Dimitris Tosidis/Xinhua) Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) visits the site of a palace of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia at the archaeological site of Aigai in Vergina, Greece, Jan. 5, 2024. (Photo by Dimitris Tosidis/Xinhua) This photo taken on Jan. 5, 2024 shows a view of the site of a palace of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia at the archaeological site of Aigai in Vergina, Greece. (Photo by Dimitris Tosidis/Xinhua) This photo taken on Jan. 5, 2024 shows a view of the site of a palace of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia at the archaeological site of Aigai in Vergina, Greece. (Photo by Dimitris Tosidis/Xinhua) The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Yoko Kamikawa, arrived in Ukraine Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa arrived in Ukraine on Jan. 7 for her first foreign visit this year, the Japanese Foreign Ministry announced in a statement. Embassy of Japan in Ukraine Read also: Japan launches program granting refugee-like rights to war-displaced foreigners During the visit, Kamikawa will confirm Japans consistent policy of supporting Ukraine, even in the current challenging international situation, the Foreign Ministry said. She will also inform the Ukrainian side about the details of planned aid to Ukraine. The ministry emphasizes that Japan will demonstrate its commitment to Ukraine on Feb. 19 during a Japanese-Ukrainian conference on economic reconstruction, personally attended by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. As part of the visit, the Japanese Foreign Minister will consult with Ukrainian partners on expanding cooperation between the two countries in February 2024. Read also: US turns to Japan to boost Ukraine's air defenses Kamikawa will also participate in open discussions with Ukrainian partners on efforts towards achieving a just and lasting peace, which Ukraine attaches great importance to, and Japans potential for a specific contribution to this process, the ministry added. She also plans to participate in a handover ceremony of large-scale winterized energy equipment, and to visit a site providing assistance to women and children, highlighting the importance of womens active participation as leaders in peace restoration, the Japanese Foreign Ministry noted. Earlier reports mentioned that Ukraine received approximately $950 million from Japan to the state budget for World Bank projects on recovery and social protection. Earlier, a report by U.S. newspaper the Washington Post revealed that Japan is planning to implement changes to its defense policies to allow it to export several dozen Patriot missiles to the United States. In turn, Washington will be able to redirect air defense system to Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa arrived in Kyiv on the morning of 7 January. Source: Japanese Embassy in Ukraine Details: The embassy posted a photo of the minister at Kyiv railway station. The report noted that this is her first foreign visit this year. Photo: Japanese Embassy in Ukraine Background: Kamikawa's visit to Kyiv was announced earlier, and the statement indicated that she would meet with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba. Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa arrived in Kyiv as part of a visit to Europe, the Japanese Foreign Ministry announced on Jan. 7. Japan will host a conference promoting Ukraine's economic reconstruction on Feb. 19. Kamikawa's visit involves discussions with Ukrainian representatives on preparations for the event. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who will travel to Tokyo for the event, said in November that Japan's experience of post-war reconstruction is a useful case to learn from. The Foreign Ministry said that Kamikawa will also participate in a handover ceremony of power equipment that Japan has donated to help Ukraine through the winter months, when Russia frequently targets energy infrastructure. The Embassy of Japan in Ukraine shared photos of Kamikawa shortly after her arrival visiting Irpin and Bucha in Kyiv Oblast, which were occupied by Russian forces at the start of the full-scale invasion. Kamikawa will also meet her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and will "highlight the importance of protecting women and children who are particularly vulnerable in war and of ensuring human dignity," the Foreign Ministry said. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced during a virtual meeting with G7 leaders in December that Japan was ready to contribute $4.5 billion in additional funds to support Ukraine's recovery efforts. Read also: Japan to transfer Patriot missiles to US Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa is scheduled to visit Ukraine on 7 January and will have meetings in Kyiv, specifically with Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Minister of Ukraine. Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Quote: "During the visit, Minister Kamikawa will once again reiterate to the Ukrainian side that Japan's consistent policy of standing with and supporting Ukraine remains unchanged even in the face of the current severe international situation. Minister Kamikawa will also brief the Ukrainian side on the details of relevant assistance and plans of ours." Additionally, as stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Kamikawa will also inform her Ukrainian counterparts that Japan "will strongly demonstrate its commitment to the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine under the close public-private partnership," and that on 19 February Japan will host the Japan-Ukraine Conference on Promoting Economic Reconstruction, which will be attended in person by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Also during the visit, Minister Kamikawa will hold consultations with partners from the Ukrainian side to expand cooperation between the two countries. Kamikawa will take part "in a candid discussion with the Ukrainian partners on the efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace, to which the Ukrainian side attaches great importance, and on Japans potential for concrete contribution to the process as well." As part of the visit, Kamikawa will take part in a ceremony to hand over large-sized power equipment to help prepare for winter. The Minister will visit a site where assistance is provided to women and children to emphasise that the active participation of women as leaders in restoring and building peace will achieve a more sustainable peace. "Throughout all the programmes during the visit, Minister Kamikawa is to demonstrate Japans determination to uphold the international order based on the rule of law from the perspective that unilateral changes to the status quo by force, such as Russia's aggression against Ukraine, cannot be accepted," the Japanese ministry adds. Support UP or become our patron! JAMES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) A James City County police officer fired their gun after a man allegedly came toward them with a shotgun. On Saturday just before 7 p.m., officers were called to the 5200 block of Pierside Reach in the Lake Powell subdivision for a domestic dispute call. Police say the suspect was brandishing and threatening his spouse with a shotgun to keep them from leaving the home. By the time police arrived, the suspect and his spouse had made their way outside. At approximately 7:03 p.m. the two responding officers took cover as the suspect moved through the front yard. According to police, the first officer ordered the suspect to drop the gun while the second officer safely took the suspects spouse out of harms way. The suspect allegedly advanced toward the officers with the shotgun drawn, and the first officer fired their gun, the suspect dropped the shotgun, and officers were able to detain him. Police say no one was hurt. The suspect has been identified as 83-year-old Paul Baker of James City County. Baker was evaluated at the scene by medics and was then taken to Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail. Baker was charged with two counts of assault and battery of a family/household member, assault and battery against a law enforcement officer, brandishing a firearm, and reckless handling of a firearm. He is being held without bond and may face additional charges at a later date. The investigation into this incident has been transferred to the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation at the request of Chief Mark Jamison. The involved officer has been placed in a non-enforcement, modified assignment by the Chief of Police until the investigation is complete. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. JEA Chief Operating Officer Raynetta Curry Marshall, right, is shown discussing a student research project with a UNF student in the utilitys Sustainable Solutions Lab at the college. At JEA, members of our 2,200-person team work daily including nights, weekends and even through the recent holidays to provide utility services to our customers. They also ensure we are prepared to keep serving our growing Northeast Florida community during the new year ahead and well into the future. Since keeping you informed about these plans is a top priority for me, I wanted to share an update on some of JEAs strategic objectives and my appreciation for your ongoing engagement. More than two years ago, we began, with our community stakeholders, to examine Jacksonvilles future energy needs. This effort culminated in the development of JEAs electric Integrated Resource Plan released last May. We are grateful for the time, commitment and integral contributions members of the community shared with us during that time. JEAs plan identifies and advocates for energy-balanced options that serve the highest possible public good. We've set ambitious targets 35% clean energy in our supply portfolio by 2030 while also ensuring reasonable costs and system reliability. Achieving our goals will result in an 80% reduction in JEAs overall carbon emissions from 2005 levels. Im proud of the plan we developed with input from so many corners of the community, and particularly grateful for all that we learned along the way from our engagement with customers. The feedback we received throughout this process (and will continue to receive as the plan evolves) will bolster our work to improve the quality of life in Northeast Florida. As we continue to move forward on these plans through 2024, JEA is entering into agreements with vendors who will manage four solar farms totaling 280 megawatts of additional renewable capacity on JEA property in Duval County. Beyond these solar sites in our service territory, we also are receiving solar power through purchase power agreements from other regional suppliers. We are receiving carbon-free nuclear energy from Plant Vogtle in Georgia as well. Understanding the importance of implementing lasting solutions, JEA is also taking a thoughtful, phased approach to exploring water purification to help ensure the sustainability of our underground aquifer. This is while continuing our state-mandated steps to reduce treated water discharges into the St. Johns River watershed. The phased project, which JEA began with research in 2014, is called H2.0, a nod to providing version 2.0 of our water supply. One way we will help provide a sustainable water future is by taking water our customers use, purifying it through multi-barrier technology, and returning it to the aquifer. We recently began construction on the JEA H2.0 Purification Center on Jacksonvilles Southside, which will house this industry-leading process, educate the public, train JEA team members and help us ensure a sustainable water supply for future generations here in Northeast Florida. JEA has long been a strong environmental steward, and H2.0 is part of that commitment. Letters: Local mom to Florida lawmakers dont reopen Charleston Loophole Lastly, Im looking forward to seeing the renewable energy and water research that will come from our collaboration with the University of North Florida. JEA has made a five-year financial commitment to establish the JEA Sustainable Solutions Lab, now part of UNFs College of Computing Engineering and Construction. Time is running out: Floridians must have a real conversation on climate change As JEA prepares for a more sustainable, eco-friendly future, partnerships like these are critical to developing a workforce prepared to meet our communitys energy and water needs. This partnership will establish a pipeline of talented professionals ready to meet these dynamic challenges; and this investment will benefit UNF students, JEA and our entire Northeast Florida community. These are just a few of the strategic objectives we are working on to improve lives and build community. As our work evolves, we will continue to reach out to you, our valued customers, to share our progress. Im grateful for your engagement and continued support. Stowe Jay Stowe, CEO and managing director, JEA This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Solar farms, water purification among JEA projects moving forward now To the world, 2024 Golden Globe nominee Jennifer Lawrence is often thought of as the girl who played Katniss Everdeen. But in her private life, she's Jennifer Maroney, also a wife and mother. Lawrence, who is nominated for her film "No Hard Feelings" at the Jan. 7 ceremony, has made it a point to keep her personal life private. While the three-time Golden Globe winner is no stranger to the spotlight, she keeps her relationship with husband Cooke Maroney out of it. Despite their private relationship, Lawrence has on rare occasions spoken about her love for her husband and his support for her career. Here's everything to know about Lawrence and Maroney's love story. Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney (Gotham / GC Images) Who is Cooke Maroney? Maroney is a New York-based art gallery dealer. Since 2022, Maroney has served as the director-at-large of Gladstone Gallery, a group of galleries with locations in New York, Belgium and Los Angeles. How did they meet? A mutual friend reportedly introduced Lawrence and Maroney in the spring of 2018, following her separation from "Mother!" director Darren Aronofsky in 2017. The couple got engaged after months of dating, and in October 2019, they officially tied the knot in a ceremony in Rhode Island. The wedding took place at the famous Belcourt of Newport mansion and was attended by famous faces including Kris Jenner and Emma Stone. In June 2019, Lawrence spoke to Catt Sadler on her podcast, "Naked," and opened up about her feelings towards marriage. I definitely wasnt at a place where I was like, Im ready to get married, she explained at the time. I just met Cooke and I wanted to marry him. We wanted to marry each other. We wanted to commit fully," she continued. "Hes my best friend so I want to legally bind him to me forever. And fortunately the paperwork exists for such a thing. Its the greatest. You find your favorite person in the planet and youre like you cant leave. So I wanted to take that offer. But Jennifer Lawrence initially felt commitment anxiety In a 2022 interview with the New York Times, Lawrence reflected on her life in 2019, when she was filming "Causeway" and was about to marry Maroney. She shared that she related to her character because she also experienced a fear of commitment. When you dont fully know yourself, you have no idea where to put yourself, she said. And then I met my husband, and he was like, Put yourself here. I was like, That feels right, but what if its not?'" She revealed that she was experiencing commitment anxiety, something that was also affecting her creative life. "I wasnt conscious of it. Then I went back, and when Im home with my husband making this family, Im so happy I stayed," she said. "Im so happy I didnt freak out and cancel the wedding and run away and go, Ill never be taken down! She also shared in the interview why she decided to take her husband's last name, revealing that she initially had a "feminist meltdown" about it. She said that she liked the differentiation between her personal and public lives. I was born with the name Jennifer Lawrence, but that got taken from me when I was 21 and I never got it back, she said. So it didnt feel like I was giving up anything. That name already belongs to them. Cooke Maroney loves to spoil his wife The couple have since been spotted on a few public outings together with matching outfits, and the "No Hard Feelings" actor has dished on her husband's love of gift giving. In a 2021 interview with Vanity Fair, Lawrence recounted how the New York art dealer has showered her with gifts on numerous occasions, including three special necklaces: a pearl necklace, a diamond necklace and her wedding band on a chain. She received one of those gifts in an unorthodox fashion. She said Maroney gave her the diamond necklace for her 30th birthday inside a hardbound copy of the screenplay for Hereditary, her favorite movie. It was so sweet, she said. She also opened up about married life, telling the publication that simply spending time with Maroney is one of her favorite activities. I really enjoy going to the grocery store with him. I dont know why but it fills me with a lot of joy, she said. I think maybe because its almost a metaphor for marriage." The actor also quipped about her infatuation with cooking magazines and how Maroney always pulls her back to reality when she gets recipe-obsessed. She says, "I always get one of the cooking magazines, like '15 Minute Healthy Meals,' and he always gives me a look like, Youre not going to use that. When are you going to make that? And I say, Yes, I am. Tuesday! And hes always right, and I never do. Do Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney have kids? Yes, Lawrence and Maroney share one child, a son. In February 2022, Lawrence and Maroney welcomed their son, Cy, named after one of Maroneys favorite artists, American painter Cy Twombly. In an October 2022 interview with Vogue, the "Hunger Games" actor opened up about motherhood and the highlights of parenting. The morning after I gave birth, I felt like my whole life had started over, Lawrence told the publication. Like, Now is day one of my life.' I just stared. I was just so in love. The actor also opened up about experiencing two miscarriages before the birth of her son, telling Vogue that she became pregnant in her 20s and intended to have an abortion before losing the child. I miscarried alone in Montreal, she says. A few years later, while filming Dont Look Up in 2021, Lawrence became pregnant after marrying Maroney, but miscarried again, before conceiving Cy. She's gushed about Maroney's parenting skills as a father. Speaking with Cameron Diaz for Interview Magazine in June 2023, she spoke on her work-life balance as a new mom. She said her metric for deciding whether or not to take on a project became simply, "Is this worth being away from my child for half the day? Fortunately, my husband is the greatest father in the entire world, she added. So when Im working, I dont have any more guilt than the usual every day, all-day parent guilt." This article was originally published on TODAY.com President Joe Biden is set to deliver his 2024 State of the Union speech on Thursday, March 7. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) sent the customary invitation on Saturday, inviting the president to address a joint session of Congress to fulfill his constitutional obligation. Looking forward to it, Mr. Speaker, Biden responded on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Johnson noted that it was a moment of great challenge for our country in his short letter. Looking forward to it, Mr. Speaker. https://t.co/YChdO92WQK President Biden (@POTUS) January 6, 2024 Biden used last years State of the Union to announce that the Democratic Party was, under his leadership, returning to its decades-old roots as a champion of labor rights and the middle class. This years speech comes ahead of a widely expected showdown between Biden and former President Donald Trump, who has only intensified his divisive rhetoric since leaving office in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Johnson, a Trump supporter, sent his brief invitation just one day after Biden made a fiery campaign speech skewering Trump. As we begin this election year, we must be clear: Democracy is on the ballot. Your freedom is on the ballot, Biden said from Valley Forge, a key Revolutionary War battle site. Donald Trumps campaign is about him. Not America. Not you, Biden said. Donald Trumps campaign is obsessed with the past, not the future. Hes willing to sacrifice our democracy to put himself in power. Related... House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) defended former President Trumps poisoning the blood remarks, arguing that while he would not use the language himself, he understands the urgency of Trumps warning about immigration. Pressed by CBS Newss Face the Nation anchor Margaret Brennan if he agrees with Trumps poisoning the blood comments, Johnson said, Thats not language I would use but- but I understand the urgency of President Trumps admonition. Hes been saying this since he ran for president the first time that we have to secure the border, and I think the vast majority of the American people understand the necessity of that and I think they agree with his position, Johnson said. Brennan then sought to clarify if Trumps statement goes beyond what the Speaker is personally comfortable with, to which he said, Its not language I would use. Butunderstand- Cause it sounds hateful, Brennan interjected. Well, its not hateful, Johnson shot back. What President Trump is trying to advance is his America first priority. And I think that makes sense to a lot of people. The current President, President Biden wants additional supplemental spending on national security, but he denies the most important point of our own national security. And that is our own border. Brennan argued those points could be made without bringing up blood and purity, to which Johnson then said, President Bidens position is frustrating to us. Its frustrating to the American people, and certainly to President Trump. And I think thats what hes, thats what hes articulating there. Trump came under fire last month after he claimed immigrants were pouring into the United States and poisoning the blood of our country. All over the world, theyre coming into our country. From Africa, from Asia, all over the world, Trump said during a New Hampshire rally last month, later suggesting the influx will lead to an uptick in crime and terrorism. The former presidents rhetoric drew comparisons to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, which Trump dismissed days later. Trumps allies downplayed his remarks, stressing border security is of real concern for many Americans. Some claimed Trump was referring literally to how illegal drugs are poisoning Americans. Johnson spoke to Brennan from Eagle Pass, Texas, last week, where he led a delegation of around 60 Republicans to the U.S. southern border. Calling it a humanitarian catastrophe, Johnson has recently upped his calls on President Biden to take executive action on the migrant influx. Johnson and several House Republicans are demanding hard-line immigration policies as featured in the House bill H.R. 2 as a condition for passing President Bidens supplemental funding request for Ukraine. H.R. 2 would bring back several policies from under Trump, including further border wall construction and new restrictions on asylum seekers. Biden has vowed to veto this bill if it makes it to his desk. Meanwhile, Senate lawmakers have engaged in negotiations with the White House for weeks in an effort to strike a deal on border policies that would also unlock funding for Ukraine. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Jordans King Abdullah II expressed his support for a cease-fire between Israel and militant group Hamas during a Sunday meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a week-long trip in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East to discuss the next phases of the Israel-Hamas war. His Majesty King Abdullah, during a meeting on Sunday with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, warned of the catastrophic ramifications of the continued war on Gaza, stressing the need to end the tragic humanitarian crisis in the Strip, the Royal Court said in a statement. Abdullah emphasized the important role the U.S. plays in pushing towards an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the protection of civilians while guaranteeing the sustainable delivery of sufficient humanitarian and relief aid to the Strip, the Court added. The Jordanian leader further argued there would be no stability in the region without a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of two-state solution, and reiterated Jordans rejection of separating Gaza and the West Bank. Jordan, alongside other Arab states, has voiced repeated criticism of Israels actions in Gaza, calling for a cease-fire since mid-October amid the rising death toll in the coastal enclave, the Associated Press reported. The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza on Sunday said at least 22,835 people have been killed in the coastal enclave since early October, according to AFP News. Blinken reiterated Palestinians and Israelis equally deserve to live safely and security, and to enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity and democracy, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Jordan said. In his meeting with Abdullah II, along with separate talks with Turkish and Greek leaders on Saturday, Blinken further warned against the conflict spreading further into the region. The war between Israel and Hamas has raged on for nearly three months since Hamass Oct. 7 attack that saw the killing of about 1,200 people and kidnappings of 240 others. The U.S. has offered Israel unwavering support in the countrys fight against Hamas following the groups Oct. 7 assault, but has recently upped calls for the Jewish State to minimize civilian deaths in Gaza. U.S. officials have also called on Israel to allow greater amounts of food, water, fuel and medicine into Gaza. However, humanitarian leaders have warned the aid supplies have not significantly increased. The Associated Press contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg met with Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh on Sunday to brief him on the latest developments of the UN-led peace process. According to the state-run Saba news agency, Grundberg updated Al-Alimi on his coordinated efforts with international partners to resume comprehensive political talks between the Yemeni warring sides under UN auspices. The meeting touched on the current situation in Yemen and the need for greater international pressure on the Houthi militia to seriously engage in peace efforts and end the suffering of the Yemeni people, said the report. Al-Alimi reiterated the support of the PLC and the Yemeni government for the UN envoy's efforts and pledged to facilitate his work toward fulfilling his mandate. In a statement after the meeting, Grundberg said he discussed the UN roadmap with Al-Alimi, which aims to operationalize commitments by the parties to a nationwide ceasefire, measures to alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis, and the resumption of inclusive political negotiations. But in an interview with the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper earlier on Sunday, Grundberg cautioned that any peace plan would require a gradual approach and hinge on securing a durable cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Yemen. While the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels have participated in several rounds of UN-brokered peace talks, a long-term solution remains elusive. Skirmishes between government forces and the Houthis continue sporadically across the war-torn country. Yemen has been engulfed in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthis battling the internationally recognized government. In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition entered the conflict in support of the Yemeni government. The humanitarian toll has been immense. The UN designates Yemen as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with millions on the brink of starvation, susceptible to disease, and displaced from their homes. Continuous fighting has decimated infrastructure, crippled the economy, and left most people dependent on aid to survive. King Abdullah II of Jordan talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza. The Jordanian King warned against catastrophic repercussions of an ongoing Israeli campaign in the Gaza Strip. -/Royal Hashemite Court/dpa US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Amman on Sunday and met Jordanian King Abdullah II, who warned against catastrophic repercussions of an ongoing Israeli campaign in the Gaza Strip. According to a royal court statement, the Jordanian monarch stressed the need to put an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in the densely populated enclave. He also renewed an emphasis on the importance of the US role in pressuring for a ceasefire in Gaza, protecting civilians and guaranteeing delivery of relief and humanitarian aid to the Strip in an adequate and sustainable way. Blinkens talks in Jordan were part of a current trip to the Middle East aimed at reducing tensions in the region amid a raging war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement. After stopping off in Crete in Greece on Saturday, Blinken flew to the Jordanian capital at the start of on an extended tour of the Middle East, his fourth to the region in four months. He is also to visit Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia as well as Israel, the West Bank and Egypt, according to his office. He had previously met Turkish President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul. During the trip, Blinken is seeking to discuss concrete steps on how actors in the region could use their influence to avoid an escalation of the Gaza war, his office said. Washington also wants to ensure increased humanitarian aid enters Gaza and that Hamas militants free the remaining hostages they hold. The US is seeking to avoid the conflict, which erupted following the October 7 attacks mounted by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, from spreading throughout the region, amid increasing cross-border attacks on the Lebanese-Israeli border and an Iran-allied militia's attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Officials say a teenage girl died in a weekend Northland house fire, and she was identified on Monday. Liberty North High School informed FOX4 that the person who died in the fire was Sophie Fazel, a junior at LNHS. Kansas City Police Department bomb and arson unit and the Kansas City Fire Department were previously searching for a child with special needs after an early morning fire Sunday. Independence man hospitalized after hit-and-run in Blue Springs Around 2:40 a.m., KCFD was called to a house fire at the 8300 block of Northeast 103rd Terrace. When firefighters arrived they found heavy fire and thick smoke from a two-story house. They saved five people from the fire, which included three children. Before those evacuated were sent to the hospital, they told KCFD that there was a child with special needs who was still in the house after others got out. Firefighters attempted to go back inside and find the teen while the house was on fire, but the flames and smoke were too advanced. Fazel died due to the fire. We cannot wrap our heads around it. They are one of the nicest families on this street, Kelly Hurt, a neighbor of the house fire victims said. She and other neighbors started immediately collecting donations to help the family. Anything that can help provide them a sense of relief during this devastating loss is appreciated. The neighbors said that they are a very tight-knit community, saying that families have already shown up to support the family. Hurt told us shes had Nonstop cars coming to my house and dropping off donations, Target gift cards, toiletries, shoes, clothes for the kids, anything to help make this easier. This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is house-fire-rotated.jpg We are a family here and we stick together through thick and thin, Hurt said about their neighborhood. Theres been a very tough year here and this is another battle, and we are here to see it all the way through. They started a GoFundMe page to help replace some of the items lost in the fire. Liberty North High School sent out this message to the community: Liberty North High School Family, It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that one of our current Eagle students, Sophie Fazel, passed away in a tragic accident this weekend. Sophie was a junior here at LNHS, and was an active member of our school community, and loved by so many in our Eagle and LPS family. We know that we have many in our school community that were friends with Sophie and will take this loss hard. We will have additional counseling support available for our school community this week for any students that need any additional support. Also, we have provided below several resources for our school staff, and feel that you might find it useful as we process this difficult news. https://whatsyourgrief.com/helping-a-teenager-deal-with-grief-2/ https://www.edutopia.org/blog/tips-grief-at-school-2-chris-park https://esme.com/resources/bereavement/dealing-with-grief-in-the-classroom Please keep the Fazel family in your thoughts as they work through this extremely difficult time. Finally, never hesitate reaching out to us here at Liberty North High School with any needs that you may have. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. The governing body of the Republican Party of Kentucky passed a resolution Saturday claiming many people charged with crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol have been wrongfully held. It recognizes citizens who have been held without due process after the attempted insurrection led by supporters of former Republican President Donald Trump, who has falsely asserted he won the 2020 presidential election. The resolution is identical to one filed by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, in the Kentucky Senate on Friday. Bobbie Coleman, chair of the Hardin County GOP who read the resolution at Saturdays meeting, told the Herald-Leader the vote was tight: The Republican State Central Committee, the governing body of the Republican Party of Kentucky, adopted the resolution by a razor-thin 34-32 vote. Im not saying that not everybody was innocent, but theres a lot that are, Coleman said. If the justice system was doing it properly and constitutionally, then the ones that deserve to be in there (jail) would be in there and the ones that were were led in or were just trespassing wouldnt. She estimated that 99 percent of people who attended the rally preceding the Capitol riot were just there to practice their First Amendment rights. As of December 2023, about 1,240 people have been arrested, according to the New York Times. The Department of Justice reported in October that nearly 600 people had pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the Capitol riot and nearly 100 had been convicted by a jury. The New York Times reported two people have been acquitted. Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge said the GOP resolution amounted to supporting and defending those who attacked our Capitol and our law enforcement officers on January 6. After Kentuckians rejected hatred and extremism this past November, the Republican Party of Kentucky and its leaders are doubling down on hate, division, and even political violence, Elridge said in a statement. Kentucky Republicans, especially elected officials and candidates, should condemn this appalling and unpatriotic resolution and stand up to extremism, violence and the insurrectionists that have taken over their party. A spokesperson for the Republican Party of Kentucky has yet to respond to a request for comment on the resolution. The Kentucky GOP resolution does not take any specific action, but acknowledge(s) the events of January 6, 2021, and recognize(s) those citizens who have been wrongfully held without due process. In his bid to regain the presidency this year, Trump has underplayed the severity of the attack on the U.S. Capitol and called those charged with crimes and still detained J6 hostages. While campaigning in Iowa Saturday, Trump dismissed the Jan. 6 riot as patriotic and peaceful. He also called on President Biden to release those convinced and imprisoned for crimes related to the riot. They ought to release the J6 hostages, Trump said in at a campaign stop in Clinton, Iowa. I call them hostages. Some people call them prisoners. The Republican Party of Kentucky recently underwent a change in leadership, as Lexington attorney and former state representative Robert Benvenuti took the reins as chair last month after former chair Mac Browns tenure ended. Brown, in an exit interview with a Louisville TV station, said the Republican party should move on from Trump. The Kentucky State Police is investigating a shooting in Wayne County that involved an officer and left one man dead. The Wayne County Sheriffs Office requested KSP Post 11s assistance after the shooting, which took place around 9 p.m. Friday in Monticello. A man was pronounced dead by Wayne County coroner Gordon Hicks, according to KSP. The state polices news release did not identify the individual nor the officer, or share any information about what led up to the fatal shooting. . It is KSPs standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered, KSP noted in its release. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case. Hicks confirmed to Herald-Leader news partner WKYT that the victim was a 45-year-old man. Hicks said the shooting took place at a residence along Highway 200, near Tuggle Hollow Road, where the victims girlfriend was also at the scene. Hicks was not available for comment Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Once again several of our state government leaders are calling for cutting taxes in the upcoming legislative session. Their carefully worded statements make it seem so appealing. They say we are taking in too much money, more than we need to spend on core services, that our surpluses are too high, that we are overtaxing our citizenry. The thing is, we have heard these arguments before, and they put our state into economic peril. We are finally back on a strong financial path; we must heed the lessons of the past. In 2023, Oklahoma was in the bottom 10 of all states in overall tax burden, according to WalletHub, a nonpartisan personal finance website. That means that when property, sales, income, motor fuels and all other taxes are combined, we are bottom 10 in the percentage of taxes our residents bear to fund government. The reason our surplus is growing is that we are still not investing in our state like other successful states invest in theirs. For example, if we say that we have not cut public education funding but are not giving steady cost-of-living increases, then we are stagnating and not keeping up with costs. Successful states that are attracting new businesses are investing in services such as improved infrastructure, quality public education, investing in high quality subsidized early child care programs, more mental health care beds, increased public safety, and higher matched rates for health care workers in nursing homes and rural hospitals. More: Guest: Why policymakers need to invest in programs that address Oklahomans' food insecurity. In 1993, Oklahoma City made a massive investment in MAPS. The goal being if you build it, they will come. Under Mayor Ron Norick and followed by all his successors, it was a road map for investing in the city to make it a destination for businesses and residents. The project has been an unparalleled success. These investments in infrastructure, parks, wellness centers and bike trails have paid off in spades. Oklahoma City is a template for investing in yourself paying off for future success. They are thriving because they have not starved out services and quality of life. In the last few years, our state has tried to lure multiple multinational businesses to the state with massive tax credits, but we keep losing the projects to other states. Why, you might ask? Because we have not used the success of MAPS on a state level. We put the bare minimum into things that change the trajectory of our future. We pay low wages to critical occupations, such as public school teachers, who have a 32% pay discrepancy with commensurate bachelors degrees, to social workers and mental health professionals. More: A forward-thinking legislative approach to early childhood is not just about spending money Instead, last year we eliminated the corporate franchise tax at an estimated $55 million a year impact. We believe the false narrative that if we lower taxes everyone will want to move their businesses here, but instead they opt for states that have a higher quality of life. If you agree, it is the perfect time to reach out to your local legislators and give your input. Your outreach and opinions can make an impact in our future. Leslie Osborn Leslie Osborn is Oklahoma's labor commissioner. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma could learn from OKC's MAPS investment strategy Students at Wichita Public Schools didnt get the snow day that many others area school districts did on Friday. Will they get one Tuesday as another winter storm rolls in? This storm will be much bigger, and more powerful with high winds that will cause blizzard-like conditions, though the forecast, as of Saturday evening, still isnt clear about how hard Wichita will get hit. Wichita is going to see some snow on Tuesday, it just depends how much, National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Darmofal said around 5 p.m. Saturday. The potential is there that this storm will be a lot more impactful, it is just a matter of where. NWS will have a better idea on Sunday of what areas will be impacted and how much. For now, it looks likely that at least western Kansas and north-central Kansas and into Nebraska will have very bad, near white out and if not blizzard, near blizzard conditions, the Wichita meteorologist said. Some areas could see as much as a foot of snow, he said. School officials decide whether or not to cancel school. But, when asked if it will be likely for students to have a snow day on Tuesday, he said: Based on the current forecast, I cant put a percentage on it. All I can say is its definitely possible Tuesday. Rain and a mix of rain and snow are forecasted throughout the day Monday in Wichita. Moderate snow is expected late Monday night and early into Tuesday morning. The snow isnt expected to stop until around noon. As of around 4 p..m. Saturday, this is the forecast the National Weather Service has for the upcoming winter storm. Wind is one of the biggest concerns with this storm compared to Fridays, which surpassed the Jan. 5 record of 2.6 inches set in 1929 with a total of 3.3 inches. Fridays storm had sustained winds in the single digits. Tuesdays forecast has sustained winds between 20-30 mph and even higher gusts. The higher gusts are forecasted to be in the mid to high 40s between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., according to the forecast Saturday evening. People needing to travel should keep an eye on the weather and consider making other plans, he said. Travel could be very difficult to impossible over central Kansas, the NWS in Wichita said in a winter-storm packet released around 4 p.m. Saturday, adding the vigorous storm system will bring moderate and heavy snow with blowing and drifting. Additionally, colder temperatures next week should keep Tuesdays snow on the ground longer. The low temperature Tuesday night will be in the high teens; Thursday night has a low around 11 degrees and Friday night has a low around 2 degrees. Wichita could also see more snow later into next week. CAIRO, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The historic expansion of BRICS to include five new members helps create a more balanced global economy and push for further development of the Global South, an Egyptian economist has told Xinhua in a recent interview. Diaa Helmy, a member of the Economic Committee of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, said that the BRICS expansion "opens new markets for economic cooperation and trade exchange between the countries of the group, which is in the interest of South-South cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries." Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the BRICS group welcomed Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as new members during the bloc's summit in August 2023. Their membership has taken effect since Jan. 1. With the new members, BRICS would also contribute to counterbalancing the Western hegemony in the global economy, said Helmy, also secretary-general of the Cairo-based Egyptian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce. "The BRICS bloc helps create a global economic balance, which would promote international economic justice, and remove barriers to the sustainable development of some countries," said the Egyptian expert. Calling BRICS "a moderate and balanced group," Helmy commended its efforts to seek win-win cooperation for a shared future. "This is the philosophy of BRICS and its founding members," he said, adding that he expected more countries to apply for BRICS membership in the future. The BRICS expansion, which indicates a growing global awareness of the dominance of a few rich nations in the international affairs, has also raised the hope of emerging economies to reform the global governance system where the Global South is underrepresented, Helmy said. "The U.S. control over international economic decisions leads to the suffering of other countries, especially countries of the Global South," the expert said. As far as Egypt is concerned, Helmy believed that joining BRICS "opens vast economic horizons" for the most populous Arab country as it is working hard to localize modern technologies and industries as part of its sustainable development goals. "BRICS is a group that seeks to enhance economic cooperation, open new markets, and exchange trade, technology, and expertise for common development," he noted. Helmy said that the BRICS expansion is also "a win-win solution" for both the new members and the bloc. "BRICS is a strong platform for economic cooperation as well as cultural and social exchanges, and a solid bridge for comprehensive sustainable development across the world," he said, adding that the bloc "will be surely strengthened by the presence of new members." U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and her ex-husband, Jayson Boebert, are the subjects of an investigation after a physical fight between the two on Saturday evening. The incident happened at a restaurant in Silt, a town in Lauren Boebert's congressional district, according to The Daily Beast . The outlet reported that Jayson Boebert called the police to the scene, claiming he was a victim of domestic violence. However, an aide to Lauren Boebert denied these allegations, asserting that the congresswoman did not engage in any form of domestic violence. According to an aide of Lauren Boebert, the lawmaker had gone to Jayson Boeberts house to pick up one of their sons, The Daily Beast reported. During this visit, there was a physical interaction where Lauren Boebert allegedly pushed Jayson Boebert away as he attempted to hug her. Later that evening, the situation escalated when they met at the Miners Claim restaurant. The aide described Jayson Boeberts behavior at the restaurant as aggressive and disrespectful. It was reported that a physical altercation of indeterminate severity occurred at the restaurant. As described by the aide, anti- LGBTQ + far-right Colorado Republican tried to keep Jayson Boebert back, which involved putting her hand on his face and nose. Related: Neighbors Call 911 on GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert's Husband Following this altercation, Jayson Boebert called the police, alleging that he was a victim of domestic violence, according to The Daily Beast. In response, Lauren Boebert also contacted the police, denying any domestic violence and expressing her willingness to speak with an officer at the restaurant. Although the police arrived at the scene, they did not arrest anyone. The congresswoman was then reportedly driven home by a friend. Silt Police Chief Mike Kite confirmed the incident and investigation in a conversation with The Advocate. We were called to the Miner's Claim restaurant in town, and it involved Lauren and her ex-husband, Kite said. Kite explained that his department is seeking additional witnesses and that investigators are reviewing videos. In August 2022, neighbors in Garfield County called 911 over concerns about Jayson Boeberts behavior, including allegations of driving under the influence and damaging property. Additionally, their children were accused of speeding in the neighborhood, leading to a confrontation. No charges were filed, and the incident was resolved among the involved parties. Lauren Boebert was caught in a compromising position during a family-friendly musical production of Beetlejuice in Denver at a packed theater in September. Security camera footage showed Lauren Boebert and her companion, Quinn Gallagher, being disruptive, vaping, and engaging in public sexual behavior, leading to their removal from the theater. At first, Lauren Boebert and aides denied that she had been disruptive and vaped in the theater but later admitted to some bad behavior, blaming it on stress and her recent divorce. However, she did not address the mutual fondling caught on camera. Related: Lauren Boebert Caught Fondling Dates Genitals During Family-Friendly Musical: Video Lauren Boebert recently announced her decision to run for reelection in Colorados 4th Congressional District , switching from the 3rd District, where she has held office since 2021. This move has been widely viewed as an attempt to avoid challenging reelection odds in the 3rd District, where she faced notable challenges from Republican and Democratic opponents. In the 2022 midterms, Boebert narrowly defeated Democrat Adam Frisch by fewer than 600 votes. Lauren Boebert cited her personal life as one of the main reasons behind her decision to switch districts, referring to her divorce in May 2023, The Durango Herald reports . She described the move as a fresh start and claimed it was the right decision for her and her supporters. Critics and opponents have been vocal about this decision, with some accusing her of trying to evade tough competition and questioning her commitment to her constituents. The Advocate contacted a spokesperson for Lauren Boebert but did not immediately hear back. If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, there is help available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 800-799-7233. Other resources can be found here. There are many documented benefits for communities that have a local daily newspaper. Studies have shown that local election coverage increases voter engagement and election turnout, as well as diminishing biases and political polarization. Regions without local watchdog and accountability journalism not only have higher corruption but also have reduced municipal bond ratings, making borrowing more expensive for local government. Research also shows that local newspapers increase community cohesion and decrease loneliness among their readers. Sometimes, though, the impact of local news coverage is more immediate. From new laws and government policies to directly helping people in the community, here are some examples of how stories in the Herald-Tribune changed things for the better in 2023. New law attempts to mitigate Sunbiz.org fraud In 2022, Sarasota Police arrested Robert Houston, 49, and Linda Lukas, 72, on numerous fraud counts alleging they assumed leadership of Glenco Properties Group Corp. using a shockingly easy-to-exploit flaw in Sunbiz.org, Florida's public record-keeping system for businesses. Houston is accused of filing fraudulent information with Sunbiz that named him the company's chief executive officer, which he then used to take out mortgages on Glenco's properties. Both remain in jail awaiting trial. Robert Houston, left, bragged on Facebook about a "20 SFR (single-family residential) Package" deal three days before the first mortgage on Glenco's properties was taken out. Houston has since been sued by the owners of Glenco Properties Group, accusing him of fraud. A new law is intended to make fraudulent use of the state's business records site more difficult. A Herald-Tribune investigation cast a spotlight on the use of the state's business records system in the alleged fraud and the impact it had on Jim Glenn and his mother Beatrice Glenn, the owners of the properties Houston is accused of mortgaging. State Rep. Fiona McFarland filed a bill in February 2023 aimed at preventing the misuse of Sunbiz.org. McFarland, R-Sarasota, said she first learned about how the state's public business records filing database has been abused after reading the Herald-Tribune investigation that highlighted the use of Sunbiz.org to improperly assert control over Florida businesses. The bill, which allows the state's Division of Corporations the agency that oversees Sunbiz.org to implement a password system to prevent similar unauthorized takeovers of businesses, was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last May. TheNorth Port home of Jeffrey and Virginia Rapkin was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian. The city of North Port originally refused to allow FEMA to put a two-bedroom mobile home on their property, but changed the policy after Herald-Tribune reporting highlighted the issue. North Port revisits rules that prevented use of FEMA trailers after Hurricane Ian In 2022, Hurricane Ian caused widespread damage in North Port after making landfall to the south, dumping more than 20 inches of rain and spreading high winds. In the aftermath, the North Port City Commission passed an emergency order extending a 30-day window permitting the use of recreational vehicles on single-family lots to serve as temporary shelter, but specifically did not include allowance for placement of larger mobile homes, which included FEMA trailers. Though FEMA urged North Port commissioners in April 2023 to reconsider, city leaders indicated they were unwilling to suspend that rule for hardship, citing fears it would be hard to later get rid of the units. After the Herald-Tribune wrote about a North Port couple with an autistic daughter who were still living in their Hurricane Ian-ravaged home because of the city's rule, North Port revisited the issue in May 2023 and approved an ordinance that allowed FEMA to temporarily place larger mobile homes on single-family lots to help families impacted by Hurricane Ian. Season of Sharing helped Jeanine Santiago and her family move into a new apartment. Season of Sharing continues to give a hand up to Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto residents in need Started more than 20 years ago as a partnership between the Herald-Tribune and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County as a way to help local residents in danger of becoming homeless, Season of Sharing has become a vital resource for the community. The fund is used year-round to help residents of Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte counties with emergency expenses in rent or mortgage payments, utilities, childcare or vehicle repairs. The money comes entirely from local donations, ranging from $5 sent in an envelope to hundreds of thousands of dollars transferred from devoted philanthropists, mostly during a three-month fundraising campaign that runs from November through January. Collected and distributed by the Community Foundation with no administrative fees, 100% of the donations make it into the hands of those in need. During the yearly campaign, the Herald-Tribune tells the stories of just some of the people who have been helped by Season of Sharing, from fathers and families impacted by trauma and tragedy to single mothers who need a simple boost to get back on their feet after a surprise medical emergency. These stories also help illustrate the impact of larger issues our region struggles with, from a lack of affordable housing to a shortage of childcare. While Season of Sharing typically helps about 3,000 households a year with one-time assistance, the final number from 2023 is expected to top 4,500, causing the fund to start tapping into its reserves. With our readers' help, the current fundraising campaign, which ends Jan. 31, is on track to raise close to $4 million to help locals in need. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: From new laws to helping those in need, see the impact of Herald-Tribune reporting FILE - Planes are grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic at the Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, on March 19, 2020. The information display screens at Beiruts international airport have been hacked by domestic anti-Hezbollah groups, as clashes between the Lebanese militant group and the Israeli military continue to intensify along the border. Departure and arrival information Sunday was replaced by a message accusing the Hezbollah group of putting Lebanon at risk of an all-out war with Israel. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File) BEIRUT (AP) The information display screens at Beirut's international airport were hacked by domestic anti-Hezbollah groups Sunday, as clashes between the Lebanese militant group and the Israeli military continue to intensify along the border. Departure and arrival information was replaced by a message accusing the Hezbollah group of putting Lebanon at risk of an all-out war with Israel. The screens displayed a message with logos from a hardline Christian group dubbed Soldiers of God, which has garnered attention over the past year for its campaigns against the LGBTQ+ community in Lebanon, and a little-known group that calls itself The One Who Spoke. In a video statement, the Christian group denied its involvement, while the other group shared photos of the screens on its social media channels. Hassan Nasrallah, you will no longer have supporters if you curse Lebanon with a war for which you will bear responsibility and consequences, the message read, echoing similar sentiments to critics over the years who have accused Hezbollah of smuggling weapons and munitions through the tiny Mediterranean countrys only civilian airport. Hezbollah has been striking Israeli military bases and positions near the country's northern border with Lebanon since Oct. 8, the day after the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza began. Israel has been striking Hezbollah positions in return. The near-daily clashes have intensified sharply over the past week, after an apparent Israeli strike in a southern Beirut suburb killed top Hamas official and commander Saleh Arouri. In a speech on Saturday, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in a speech vowed that the group would retaliate. He dismissed criticisms that the group is looking for a full-scale war with Israel, but said if Israel launches one, Hezbollah is ready for a war without limits. Hezbollah announced an initial response to Arouri's killing on Saturday, launching a volley of 62 rockets toward an Israeli air surveillance base on Mount Meron. The Lebanese government and international community have been scrambling to prevent a war in Lebanon, which they fear would spark a regional spillover. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said the hack briefly disrupted baggage inspection. Passengers gathered around the screens, taking pictures and sharing them on social media. Israel and Hezbollah fought a monthlong war in 2006 that ended in a draw. In the early stages of the war, Israel bombed Lebanon's airport and put it out of commission. Lee County Parks & Recreation hosts the Calusa Blueway Speaker Series, a January through March program that showcases aspects of Lee Countys 190-mile marked trail for canoeists, kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders. Whats happening: Lee County Parks & Recreation hosts the Calusa Blueway Speaker Series, a January through March program that showcases aspects of Lee Countys 190-mile marked trail for canoeists, kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders. Where: North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 North Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers. Cost: The Calusa Blueway speaker series is free. Calusa Blueway Speaker Series schedule Jan. 9 John Shinner Wildlife Photography and Paddling the Florida Saltwater Circumnavigational Trail Jan. 23 Johnny Molloy A Wealth of Waterways, Canoeing & Kayaking in Florida Feb. 13 Annisa Karim- Knowing the Calusa - Turning Anthropology on its Ear March 12 John Connelly- Dying out Here Is Not an Option: 1500 1500 Mile, 75 Day, Solo Canoe and Kayak Odyssey March 26 Bill and Mary Burnham- Burnham Guides Paddling Adventures in Florida, Costa Rica, and ESVA What to expect Wildlife Photography and Paddling the Florida Saltwater Circumnavigational Trail will be the first talk in a series of free Calusa Blueway-related programs. John Shinner is a wildlife photographer and avid Florida paddler. He will share his photos and tips for getting great shots. John has paddled the entire 1,515 Florida Saltwater Circumnavigational Trail and will discuss his paddling adventures. Tips The North Fort Myers Recreation Center is closed through Jan. 7 for holidays and building maintenance; the park remains open. All programs begin at 6:30 p.m. History The recreation center started in 1997 in the boardroom of the little league building. Shortly after, a portable was established on the south side of the shuffleboard courts. In December of 2002, a new building opened offering more programs and space for the already successful after school program. Construction of the new 35,000-square-foot Recreation Center was completed in October 2013. Information: leeparks.org or 239-533-7200. Calusa Blueway Trail information is at calusablueway.com or leeparks.org/blueway. Find Calusa Blueway on Facebook. Visitors can find information at fortmyers-sanibel.com. Driving directions: From I-75, take exit 143 west on Bayshore Road for 5.2 miles. Turn right at N. Tamiami Trail and the park entrance is on the left next to the North Fort Myers Library. Lee County Parks & Recreation has 263 positions, a $42 million budget and more than 31,500 acres of parks, preserves, facilities and other sites. The department oversees four recreation centers, 10 community centers, community parks, Conservation 20/20 lands, greenways, the Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail, four year-round pools, seven boat ramps, sports complexes including the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins spring training facilities, dog-friendly facilities and Gulf of Mexico beach parks. Contact: Learn more about Parks & Recreation by visiting our website leeparks.org, email questions to leeparks@leegov.com, 239-533-7275 or visit LeeParksandRecreation on Facebook and Instagram. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Lee Parks: Rec Center offers free Calusa Blueway speaker series To the editor: Rabbi Danny Burkeman's article (Dec. 31) on the rise of anti-Jewish racism and discrimination, and the widespread indifference to it in Greater Boston and nationally, resonated painfully for me. As someone who grew up in Greater Boston and who has always had a deep love for Massachusetts and New England, it has been particularly painful to experience feeling increasingly unwelcome when I return, excluded and unsafe in my home state and region and in the country as a whole. As a university lecturer at the University of California Berkeley, I witness and experience much the same discriminatory dynamic that Rabbi Burkeman describes in Wayland and New England. Unfortunately, it's all too typical in Massachusetts and around the country. Until more people from outside the Jewish community stand up in defense of equality for Jewish people and the human rights of Jewish people, anti-Jewish hate, hate crimes, discrimination and prejudice will continue to grow and threaten. Not just Jewish people, but also American society as a whole, American democracy and fundamental freedoms, and the rights and welfare of people of other minority faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds Intolerance metastasizes. The longer it is allowed to grow and spread, the harder it is to contain it and limit its influence and harm. Too many human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have been quiet or silent without a vigorous response of allyship and solidarity with Jewish people and the Jewish community. Anti-Jewish hate has become increasingly common, accepted and normalized. Hate crimes and abuse that used to be met with protest and rejection now frequently go unreported by the media and even when reported, receive little attention and rejection from civil society. The silence of so many is causing hurt and harm. It needs to end after some serious soul-searching and efforts of repair. Noam Schimmel, Lecturer, international and area studies University of California Berkeley This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Cal Berkeley lecturer: Wayland rabbi is right about anti-Jewish racism The Supreme Court in Washington is seen in 2020. (Associated Press) To the editor: Former President Trump's legal team has asked the U. S. Supreme Court to buy its inept "violent political protest" characterization of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. ("Trump asks U.S. Supreme Court to keep him on the ballot in Colorado," Jan. 3) That dubious attempt to preclude Trump's ballot disqualification under the 14th Amendment reflects how the high court's conservative super-majority often is deemed to rule as "partisan hacks." But however inclined Republican appointees may be to issue partisan-contorted decisions, they surely are smart enough to know the lurking truth: Reliable polls confirm that Trump's primary opponents stand the best chance of prevailing over President Biden in the general election. No doubt the high court's conservatives want to see their super-majority preserved through the next presidential term. So look for them to quash Trump's reelection bid by upholding the Colorado court's decision. M. Edward Alston, Santa Monica .. To the editor: Former U.S. attorney and deputy assistant attorney general Harry Litman discusses an amicus brief by the group American Oversight in United States vs. Trump that he describes as persuasively suggesting the former president's immunity claim doesn't qualify for immediate appeal. However, American Oversight's argument is contrary to the U.S. Supreme Court's opinion in Mitchell vs. Forsyth (1985), in which the court held that "the denial of a substantial claim of absolute immunity is an order appealable before final judgment, for the essence of absolute immunity is its possessor's entitlement not to have to answer for his conduct in a civil damages action." Clearly, the same reasoning would apply (even more so) in a criminal case, such as that against Trump. Accordingly, although not a fan of the former president, I must agree with his counsel's position. Pamela Hobbs, Los Angeles The writer is a lawyer who has taught classes on 1st Amendment law at UCLA. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) One person was hospitalized following a Saturday afternoon shooting along Lewis Street, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department. Metro Nashville Dispatch said the shooting was reported at approximately 3:30 p.m. in the 700 block of Lewis Street, near the J.C. Napier area. Text messages lead to arrest of man connected to deadly East Nashville shooting, police say When officers from the Hermitage Precinct arrived at the scene of the incident, officials said they found one person with a gunshot wound to the thigh. Authorities told News 2 the victim was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with serious injuries. Man accused of hitting wife with hammer, burying her body in DeKalb County No additional details have been released at this time. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. This is a locator map for Libya with its capital, Tripoli. (AP Photo) CAIRO (AP) Production at Libyas largest oil field was suspended Sunday, the countrys state-run oil company said, after protesters forced the facility to close over fuel shortages. The National Oil Corp. declared force majeure at the Sharara oil field in the countrys south starting Sunday. Force majeure is a legal maneuver that releases a company of its contractual obligations because of extraordinary circumstances. The company said in a statement that the closure of the field forced the suspension of crude oil supplies to the western Zawiya terminal on the Mediterranean coast. Libya produces more than 1.2 million barrels of oil per day, and Sharara is the countrys largest field, with a capacity of up to 300,000 barrels per day. The company said negotiations with the protesters were underway to resume production as soon as possible. Local media reported that residents of the desert town of Ubari, about 950 kilometers (590 miles) south of the capital Tripoli, shut down the field to protest fuel shortages. The protesters also called for rehabilitating infrastructure and repairing roads in the southwestern region of Fezzan, one of the historic three provinces of Libya. They had closed the field for two days in July. Libyas light crude has long featured in the countrys yearslong civil conflict, with rival militias and foreign powers jostling for control of Africas largest oil reserves. Libya has been in turmoil since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The North African nation has for most of the past decade been split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each backed by militias and foreign governments. LUSAKA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Maxwell Zulu, a 60-year-old resident of Lusaka, Zambia's capital, is a happy man after successfully planting his maize and groundnuts at his farm in Nyimba District in the eastern part of the country. Zulu, who had stopped farming following a sharp rise in the price of fertilizer and the low price at which the government was buying maize, decided to start farming again after the price of fertilizer dropped and the government made a good offer to purchase maize. "Farming is the way to go now," Zulu said, expressing his belief that if the rainy season does not disappoint, he will have a good harvest, which will go a long way in improving his standard of living. Zulu is among the smallholder farmers in Zambia who have heeded President Hakainde Hichilema's call for people to venture into agriculture to improve food security and take advantage of not only the government's good policies but also the huge market in the southern African nation. Several people have since posted photos on various social media platforms of their farms planting different crops. Elisha Matambo, Copperbelt Province minister, who posted a picture of himself in his maize field, encouraged people in the province to look for land and venture into farming in line with government policy and the president's vision. "They will never be disappointed. We have been farming for more than 15 years, and we have seen the benefits of farming," he said in a post on his Facebook page. According to him, Zambia is blessed with good rains, soils, and weather; venturing into agriculture will be a game changer for many families. Recently, the Zambian president encouraged citizens, especially women and young people, to venture into agriculture as it has become a "lucrative business." "We are extremely happy to note that several of you, our citizens, have this farming season ventured into maize production. As the government, we are extremely impressed because there is no other way out of the food crisis apart from more production," Hichilema said in a post on his Facebook page. While acknowledging the challenges in the agricultural sector, such as climate change issues, the Zambian president was optimistic that nothing would stop the country from realizing its dream of becoming a "food basket," not only in the southern African region but in Africa as a whole. Apart from crop farming, Hichilema is also encouraging citizens to venture into beef production, saying that it is one of the most rewarding farming enterprises in agriculture, and that the government will continue to implement measures to grow the agricultural sector. In addition to the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP), a government initiative that provides subsidized inputs for smallholder farmers, the government last year introduced a credit scheme for people intending to venture into farming. Reuben Mtolo Phiri, minister of agriculture, said the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facilities (SAFF) is a market-based initiative for tailor-made financing to the agricultural sector, especially for small- and medium-scale farmers with limited access to affordable financing. In a ministerial statement in parliament recently, the minister said the credit window aims to provide seasonal loans and financial services for maize, soybean, and wheat production. The government, he said, is determined to promote the agricultural sector by putting in place policies to enhance productivity. The importance of community journalism has never been more important than it is today. Local journalists are looked to for reliable information whether its the celebration of a new park, recognition of heroes in the community, social issues or controversial growth and developments. As we start a new year, we reflect on some stories that made an impact in our community during 2023. Shelby Crump holds a photo of her grandmother, Dot Hyde, who was killed in a hit and run in January. Tragic hit and run On the evening of Jan. 20, 2023, Dorothy Dot Hyde, 74, was walking back from the Bulldog Quik-Snak to retrieve her car parked at a nearby pharmacy after dining out with friends and family in Boiling Springs. She was struck and killed near the intersection of North Main Street and Woodland Avenue and police said the driver didnt stop. Law enforcement utilized cell phone data, search warrants and partnered with other agencies to track down information that has led to arrest warrants seven months later. Boiling Springs Police Chief Nathan Phillips said a car was seized and warrants were issued for James Wesley Harris. The Blacksburg, South Carolina, man was charged with felony hit and run causing serious injury or death. In a previous interview, Hydes granddaughter described her as a loving, Christian woman who loved spending time with family. She was my best friend since I was born, Shelby Crump said. Albemarle and Caterpillar Inc. announced a partnership in this Star file photo. Leaders from both companies signed an agreement at the site of the lithium mine in Kings Mountain. Mining in Kings Mountain Work continues to move forward at the old rock quarry sandwiched between Battleground Avenue and I-85 in Kings Mountain which is rich with spodumene, a lithium ore mineral. Albemarle owns the 1,300-acre property, which abuts Martin Marietta, a similar mining operation but with a different type of rock, just a couple of miles from downtown Kings Mountain. On site is a technology center with a research and development lab and a hydroxide plant, which has been in operation for decades. One of the first steps will be draining the 165-feet deep rainwater in the quarry, a process that will take 12 to 18 months to ensure its done safely. The company has done drilling to extract rock and get a better picture of just where and how much spodumene deposits are in the ground. Albemarle hopes to be up and running by 2027 if the permitting process goes according to plan. The mine pit will be extended southwest from its current location on property already owned by the mine. There will be a buffer zone built in, and Albemarle acquired additional property to create that buffer. A company spokeswoman said the project may create as many as a thousand construction jobs and more than 300 skilled full-time jobs. Alleged inappropriate behavior A Cleveland County Detention Center officer was arrested in September, accused of having sex with an inmate. Jessica Lynn Dover, of Grover, was initially arrested Sept. 7 and charged with providing a cell phone to an inmate. She was booked into the Gaston County jail and posted a $10,000 bond. According to the arrest warrant, on Aug. 20, Dover provided an inmate with an electronic device, a felony charge. More charges were added later, including felony sex act by a government employee and misdemeanor providing tobacco or vape products to an inmate, according to arrest warrants. The documents state that on Sept. 1 Dover engaged in a sexual act with (a male inmate) at a time when that person was in the custody of the Cleveland County Detention Center, an institution at which the defendant was then employed. According to county personnel records, Dover was hired as a detention officer on Sept. 1, 2018 and was promoted to the rank of detention corporal on Aug. 22, 2023. Her employment with the Sheriffs Office ended on Sept. 6, 2023, and she is awaiting her next court date. Zechariah Freeman Jury returns verdict A man is serving a life sentence after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder. A Cleveland County jury found Roderick J. Young guilty of first-degree murder after a two-week trial that began in late November. Zechariah Freeman, 18, of Shelby, was shot and killed on April 2, 2022, outside of a local establishment. Shelby Police got a call at 12:30 a.m. about shots fired in the parking lot of Skooterz Saloon at 1981 E. Dixon Blvd. Officers arrived to find Freeman dead from at least two bullets. Another man was found injured at the scene, and a man and woman who were also hit by bullets had driven themselves to the hospital. None suffered life-threatening injuries, and all were treated at Atrium Health Cleveland in Shelby. Young, now 39, was arrested days later, and in addition to first-degree murder, he was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and possession of a firearm by a felon. Young was held in jail for more than a year awaiting trial. When he entered a not guilty plea, Young turned down a plea arrangement from the state. That offer meant he would plead guilty to second-degree murder, and the other charges would be dropped. He would've been sentenced to 30 to 36 years in prison. Instead, he received a life sentence. Kozi Italian Kitchen opened in Shelby in July. All about the eats One thing that didnt change in 2023 is readers interest in restaurants. Restaurant ratings returned to The Star and let readers know how local eateries scored in sanitation inspections. The Star also reports on restaurants coming to the area, those that have relocated and unfortunately the ones that close, such as Fatz Cafe. The most recent buzz is about the potential of McAlisters Deli moving into the former Kozi Italian. Diane Turbyfill This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: A look at local, impactful journalism in 2023 Miss North Carolina 1964 Sharon Finch Van Vechten flipped through the pages of the Miss America program from that year and stopped at page 25. Statistics of 1964 Contestants is the page title. It lists the state each woman represents, her name, height and weight. Then it proceeds to detail her measurements for bust, waist and hips. As she looked at the page, Van Vechten made a sour face and said she was embarrassed that they published such information. In the early days, they would put a quarter between the thighs of the contestants, she said, and if it didnt drop you were disqualified. We did quarter turns to be judged like cattle in the state fair. I was ready for feminism after that. Van Vechten received a $ 1,000 scholarship for being crowned Miss North Carolina, which she used toward her education at UNC-Chapel Hill. Tuition was $800 a semester. When people say college scholarship, thats really a misnomer, Van Vechten said, They ought to have just called it a scholarship, but they wanted college in that because they wanted that image of highly educated and also attractive and talented young ladies. The Miss America organization, which will crown a new winner Jan. 14, is aware of these issues. It changed the events name from Miss America Beauty Pageant to Miss America Scholarship Pageant, and in 2018 eliminated the swimsuit competition. This was dubbed Miss America 2.0. I think there were some people who were really happy because they saw the suit, as you know, objectifying women, said Adrienne Sulkey, business manager of the Miss North Carolina Scholarship Pageant. But I never saw it that way. But then again, I was someone who competed and had my own opinion of it. An illustration with Miss North Carolina 1964 Sharon Finch Van Vechten and a page from the Miss America program that year. Then, it listed the state each woman represents, her name, height and weight and other body measurements. Efforts to increase diversity One of the problems Sulkey has been trying to solve is the lack of diversity on stage. Sulkey is also the outreach coordinator for Historically Black Colleges and Universities for the state pageant. In the early years of the pageant, under the leadership of Lenora Slaughter, it implemented Rule No. 7, which stipulated that contestants must be of good health and of the white race. The rule was officially abolished in 1950. When I competed there (diversity) was very limited, Sulkey said, I was used to being maybe one of the only Black women when I would compete in locals. I think its important for us to have that representation, because we are out here in the world, and were just as smart and talented and beautiful as anyone else. Sulkey wants to help the organization expand and bridge new relationships with local colleges and universities, focusing on HBCUs first. Karolyn Martin, the 2022 Miss NC, described the moment she was on stage and saw history in the making. There were 10 other Black women on stage competing with her; a record-setting number. Sometimes you dont realize that you are in a part of history when youre in it, Martin said, and you dont realize how big of a moment it is when youre in the midst of it. But what a beautiful moment. Martins face lit up as she reminisced about the sister luncheon held the day before she handed over the title. It was the first time she met Deneen Graham, the first woman of color to win the Miss NC pageant in 1983. And me, her and Alex Badgett were all there. We are the only three Black women that have held the title of Miss North Carolina, Martin said. Taylor Loyd, the current Miss North Carolina, will compete at the Miss America pageant the week of Jan. 6 to 14 in Orlando, Fla. She is a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she is double majoring in psychology and music with a concentration in classical vocal performance. A way to earn scholarships Because of the Miss America Organization, Martin was able to graduate debt-free with her undergraduate degree. Martin was awarded $21,000 in scholarship money when crowned; a stark difference to Van Vechtens $1,000. Martin is currently enrolled in law school at UNC-Chapel Hill. Some of the loans I am taking out now I get to pay for immediately because of Miss America, Martin said, Its one of those opportunities that young women dont really get anywhere else to earn such an amazing life-changing amount of scholarships. Taylor Loyd, the current Miss North Carolina, will compete at the Miss America pageant the week of Jan. 6 to 14 in Orlando, Fla. She is guaranteed $3,000 a month, even if she doesnt make any appearances or bookings for companies. Van Vechten, who made 471 appearances during her year-long reign, made only $12,500. As a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill, Loyd has had to come to terms with balancing school, appearances and having a personal life. Loyd is a double major in psychology and music with a concentration in classical vocal performance. For the talent portion she sang Amour, ranime mon courage from the opera Romeo et Juliette; she won the talent preliminary. I really do think thats a reflection of how well this university prepares women for the role of Miss NC, Loyd said. For this type of job you have to be flexible, carrying that warmth and having that musical skill and technique and knowledge thats been instilled by so many professors here. Loyd is the third music major from UNC-Chapel Hill to win Miss NC. The only time a contestant from North Carolina won Miss America was in 1962, when Maria Beale Fletcher won the national title. However, its not just her talent that led to her success. She described the interview questions as the most important factor in winning the title. No matter how good your fitness is or your evening gown is, if you cant speak youre not going to win, Loyd said, I knew when I won the evening gown portion, it was because they liked my interview. I knew everything revolves around it because if you have a horrible interview, but you have the best talent on stage, you might not win talent. Being able to walk into a room and talk to anybody is a skill Loyd said she gained at UNC-Chapel Hill. When Van Vechten won Miss NC, talent was worth 50 percent of the score, swimsuit was 25 percent and evening gown was 25 percent. Once there were five contestants remaining, judges would ask each finalist one question to determine the winner. Talent used to be three minutes at the pageant, now its one-and-half minutes, Van Vechten said, Theyve cut it down because theyve put more emphasis on STEM, and this is why they have three interviews instead of one. So its much more on the basis of how you come across because thats the way most people get to see you during the year. Loyd believes one of the biggest misconceptions is that she got crowned just for her looks. If I want to win scholarship money while wearing a really great dress, whos to say that it makes me look stupid just because Im wearing a dress, Loyd said. Camille Schrier, a biochemist and winner of Miss America 2020, dressed in a lab coat and gave a colorful chemistry demonstration of the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide for her talent portion. In her acceptance speech, Schrier said she hoped to break stereotypes about what it means to be Miss America in 2020. They are teachers, they are lawyers, theyre doctors, theyre scientists, and its just about being able to see that, Sulkey said. UNC Media Hub is a collection of students in the Hussman School of Journalism and Media working to create multimedia packages covering stories across North Carolina. A woman casts her vote at a polling station during the 12th national general election in Bangladesh. Habibur Rahman/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Low turnout and sporadic incidents of violence marred Bangladeshs parliamentary election, which was boycotted by the main opposition party, as voting across the country ended on Sunday. Turnout was more or less 40%, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibul Awal told a news conference after the polls were closed, compared to more than 80% in the 2018 general election. He said his office had tried its level best to ensure fairness in the election. There has been no report of death out of election-related violence, he said, adding that his office was verifying allegations of vote rigging and falsification in some places. The counting of the ballots has started, and the results would start coming in from across the country in five hours, he said. The polling stations were opened in the morning across Bangladesh for the country's 12th parliamentary election in 299 out of 300 constituencies for eight hours. The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and its right-wing allies boycotted the election, fearing that the polls would be rigged. They had demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the installation of a non-party caretaker administration to ensure the election was credible. The BNP called a nationwide general strike for the weekend, calling for people not to go to the polling stations. During Sundays voting, the commission scrapped the candidacy of a ruling Awami League (AL) party nominee from the south-eastern Chattogram constituency for violation of the election code of conduct. The contender, Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury, had allegedly threatened to chop off the hands of law enforcement agencies if they did not abide by his instructions and created chaos in a polling station in his constituency, said Election Commission spokesman Jahangir Alam. Incidents of violence took place in at least 30 places during the voting, he said, adding that the law enforcement agencies arrested at least seven troublemakers. He said the commission was informed that at least 27 candidates had stayed out of the race on the final day over allegations of falsification, vote rigging and intimidation. An AL supporter was stabbed to death by the supporters of an independent candidate in Munshiganj district near Dhaka during Sundays voting. The incident took place when rival groups got locked in an altercation over the election, election official Abu Jafar Ripon said, adding an investigation was launched into the murder. Four people were wounded in Dhakas Hazaribagh neighbourhood after two home-made bombs exploded near a polling station, police officer Bachchu Mia said. Four people were killed after a passenger train was set ablaze in Dhaka on Friday and more than a dozen polling stations were hit in arson attacks on Saturday. Authorities have deployed more than 800,000 security personnel to maintain order during the election, in which voters had options to cast their ballots for all but one of 300 parliamentary seats, with 1,970 party-affiliated and independent candidates running for office. Nearly 120 million people were eligible to vote, with results expected on Monday People arrive at a polling station to cast their votes during the 12th national general election in Bangladesh. Habibur Rahman/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's plans for downtown Corpus Christi include a five-story building housing an art gallery, mission control center for a drone program and a new home for archives and historical documents. The university is working to renovate an existing 79,000 square foot building at 233 N. Chaparral St. The building, near many Water Street restaurants, was once a JC Penney. Once complete, the university plans to use the building to connect arts and media programs with the community, provide space for research and business incubator activities and expand the university's Lone Star Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's downtown building on April 12, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas. In November, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi President Kelly Miller shared information about the project with the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents' buildings committee. The committee appropriated nearly $8.4 million for phase one the renovations, adding to the $930,000 already directed by the university system towards the project. Included in that funding directed towards the project is a $2.8 million grant from the city of Corpus Christi. "Because we're an island, we don't get brand recognition the same way (as others)," Miller told the regents in November. "You don't accidentally drive by us. This puts our branding in the middle of downtown Corpus Christi." The first phase of renovations addresses the first and fourth floors of the building, with a completion date of fall 2024. The rest of the building will be addressed as funding becomes available. An art gallery will be housed on the first floor. "This is very important to add cultural vibrancy to the growing arts happening in Corpus Christi," Miller told the regents in November. "We need another gallery." The fourth floor will include Lone Star UAS, Economic Development Council and College of Business iPort programs. This will be Lone Star UAS's second mission control center, which is where drone missions are monitored and controlled. "Our vision for this building goes beyond its physical structure; it is a strategic initiative aimed at driving economic development through robust industry partnerships," according to a statement shared by the university. In addition to its downtown location, the building was also attractive to the university because it has withstood several hurricanes, Miller said. This makes it an ideal space for the unmanned aircraft control center in the event of a hurricane, as well as a safe location to protect the university's archives and special collections. In spring 2023, the university launched fundraising efforts for phase two of the renovations, which will focus on the building's second floor. There, the university's Bell Library Special Collections and Archives department will house thousands of books, manuscripts and items documenting Corpus Christi and South Texas history, including records and surfboards from the Texas Surf Museum and a Hector P. Garcia collection. Currently, the department can only house of portion of its 320 collections in the Bell Library. The rest is kept in outside storage in San Antonio and must be fetched if a researcher wants access to it. Among the documents stored off-site are the papers of congressmen Solomon P. Ortiz and John Young. The price tag to build a space to properly house the archives and special collections is $2.4 million. "We need what's called 'high-density storage', which are shelves that move back forth," Dean of University Libraries Catherine Rudowsky said. "Since they're compact you can fit a lot more of a collection into the space. We're building out a multi-purpose room where we hope to engage with the community and have events." Cate Rudowsky, dean of University Libraries at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, explains plans to renovate its downtown building to house the library archives and special collections during a tour on April 12, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas. The department also needs cold storage to hold negatives and film, which won't break down or degrade when kept in a freezer, as well as a "quarantine room" to prevent mildew from spreading from new donations and space to continue the department's digitization efforts. So far, the team has raised just over $300,000. It has also secured a fund-matching agreement from the National Endowment for the Humanities of up to $500,000. Rudowsky said the goal is to move into the second floor of the new building in 2025. "We want to interact with the community," Rudowsky said. "We want them to help us build that history and we want them to have access to that history." Here are 10 essential chicken sandwiches Corpus Christi eateries have to offer Flu cases are still high. Here's where to get a flu vaccine. Corpus Christi ISD school board named finalist in H-E-B education awards This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: A&M-Corpus Christi plans for five stories of drones, art and history A 49-year-old man was killed in a drive-by shooting Sunday morning in the Garfield Park neighborhood, according to Chicago police. Police said a vehicle approached the man at 6:08 a.m. while he was standing outside in the 600 block of South Washtenaw Avenue. An unknown number of gunmen fired shots at the victim, police said. The man was shot multiple times, and was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. The Cook County medical examiners office Monday identified the man as Donald Dee Banade Williams, ruling his death a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds. No suspects are in custody, and police said theyre investigating the shooting. rjohnson@chicagotribune.com The search for a missing 76-year-old Tennessee woman is over, and now her husband is accused of killing her, investigators told news outlets. Police say Joseph Glynn, 70, bludgeoned his wife, Jackie Glynn, to death with a hammer at their Nashville home on New Years Day, then buried her body the next day, WZTV reported. Joseph Glynn was charged in her death on Jan. 5, a day after she was reported missing and a statewide Silver Alert was issued, according to state and local authorities. For days after her Jan. 1 disappearance, Joseph Glynn lied to his wifes family, telling her adult children that she had left him because she was terminally ill, WZTV reported. However, when her kids talked with her medical provider, they were told that wasnt true, police said, adding that her family noticed other inconsistencies with Joseph Glynns story as well. Joseph Glynn later told police that hed killed her, placed her body inside of a cargo box, then buried it in a 6-foot hole that was already dug on a property they owned in DeKalb County about 80 miles southeast of Nashville, police told WTVF. Joseph Glynn hired a contractor to dig the hole on Dec. 16, more than two weeks before the killing, police said. Following Jackie Glynns death, police say Joseph Glynn sold a number of her belongings and also tried to sell the property where he buried her, he told investigators, the station reported. Joseph Glynn was taken into custody Jan. 6 on charges of homicide, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, jail records show. His bond is set at $1,030,000. Police did not say what may have motivated the killing. Pregnant 18-year-old, boyfriend were killed in drug deal gone wrong, Texas cops say Crash victim is run over by passing vehicle and dragged 3 miles, Wisconsin cops say Dad shoots daughters stepfather after the girl writes disturbing note, Texas cops say Man shoots good Samaritan who tried to help him at scene of crash, Michigan cops say A judge in the U.K. gave a suspended prison sentence to the unemployed construction worker who sucker-punched Drag Race UK star The Vivienne in a fast-food restaurant last year, according to the Mirror and other media outlets. Alan Whitfield, 51, was found guilty last month of attacking The Vivienne at a McDonalds in Liverpool in June. In a Liverpool Magistrates Court on Friday District Judge Paul Healey gave him a 12-week prison sentence which he suspended for 18 months dependent upon Whitfields behavior. Whitfield was also ordered to avoid contact with The Vivienne, whose non-drag name is James Lee Williams, for two years. Healey cited Whitfields role as caring for his elderly mother and lack of related or recent crimes in handing down the suspended sentence. He chastised Whitfield for his actions noting the attack took place during the lunch hour when children were present. Your behavior was really appalling, Healey said during sentencing. The most serious aggravating feature of the offense is the fact that it was motivated by hostility to the victim because of their sexual orientation. Whitfield had earlier denied he was motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias, instead saying he was only hurling repeated verbal abuse at The Vivienne because she had green hair and looked like an Oompa Loompa character from the Charlie and the Chocolate franchise of books and films. What have you come as, an Oompa Loompa? he told the court he asked The Vivienne. He also claimed he only threw a punch after The Vivienne commented on the appearance of his face which was suffering from skin cancer, something The Vivienne appeared to confirm in testimony before the court last year. He carried on, then after the fourth look at the state of you, The Vivienne testified as reported by the Mirror. I said, Look at the state of you, I said, Look at the state of your face, to which he said, Ive got skin cancer and then punched me straight in the face. The Vivienne apologized in court to Whitfield for the comments. Police officers secure an entrance to Cologne Cathedral. A 30-year-old Tajik man arrested on December 24 in connection with a terrorist threat to Cologne Cathedral remains in custody two weeks after his arrest, police in the western German city said on January 07. Roberto Pfeil/dpa A 30-year-old Tajik man arrested on December 24 in connection with a terrorist threat to Cologne Cathedral remains in custody two weeks after his arrest, police in the western German city said on Sunday. The man was arrested in the town of Wesel, some 100 kilometres north of Cologne after a police special unit searched a residence there, initially taking five men into custody. The original police statement said he would be detained for two weeks. Cologne police were to provide information on the reasons for continuing to hold the man in custody later. A week ago on New Year's Eve, police arrested a 41-year-old in the western German city of Bochum also in connection with a possible attack on the iconic cathedral. The man has both German and Turkish citizenship. Three other men arrested on New Year's Day were released on the instructions of a court. A Texas man was arrested after a woman told police he kidnapped her and kept her locked inside a garage for four to five years, officials told news outlets. It makes me sick as a human being, Houston Police Cmdr. Michael Collins told KTRK. Lee Carter, 52, is charged with aggravated kidnapping. The call in April 2023 In April 2023, police were called to a Houston home after the woman contacted 911 from a texting app and told authorities she was being held against her will, according to KPRC. Police then rescued the woman from the garage where they said she was being held captive, KHOU reported. The woman told police she met Carter when she was pregnant and panhandling about four to five years prior. Carter pulled up next to her to give her a dollar, then asked if she needed help, KHOU reported, citing court documents. She got in the car with Carter because she was in a vulnerable position, she told police. Carter took her to his home, then locked her in the garage, police said, according to KHOU. The woman told police Carter raped her and forced her to take drugs for years, according to KTRK. Investigators who responded to the home went inside the garage and found a broken toilet, a dirty mattress, food, clothes and diapers, court documents said, according to the outlet. The woman told police there was no shower in the garage, so Carter would take her in the house from time to time, KPRC reported. Court documents said the woman told police that Carter would give her chips and snacks, but she rarely got a full meal, KPRC reported. Police said they were called to the home eight times in the past year. The woman had been taken to a hospital multiple times, but Carter would come pick her up, KTRK reported. On one occasion, a neighbor said they spoke with officers about what was going on at the home. At one point, maybe a year ago now, the cops come banging on my door claiming somebody had called from inside the house and was kidnapped or not able to leave on her own, Jedediah Beights told KTRK. Right then, as the cops are standing at my door, a gal comes crawling out that window just there, just clawing her way out, pregnant, eight months. Police said the woman would beg Carter every day to let her go, but he would threaten to hurt her. She told offices there were times she tried to escape, but Carter would catch her and take her back to the garage, KHOU reported. Carters arrest Carter was not arrested when police were called in April. Collins told KRIV that Carter was not at the home at the time police got there and would not comment on why it took so long to find him. On Jan. 4, Carter was found at a motel and arrested, Collins told KRIV. He remains in jail, and his bail was set at $100,000, KPRC reported. He was ordered to not have contact with the woman, and the public defender representing him said if he bails out he will be required to wear an ankle monitor. McClatchy News could not find contact information for the public defender. The call in January 2024 On Jan. 5, officers were called back to the residence after receiving a tip that the woman was possibly still there, KPRC reported. Due to the very serious nature of the warrant and aggravated kidnapping, we had exigent circumstances to make entry, Collins told the news outlet. We would not have entered a residence without a warrant unless we had serious concerns about somebodys safety. And again, due to that, the nature and the severity of the allegations in that incident report and the complainants statement. After knocking with no answer, police entered the home and garage, but did not find the woman, according to KRIV. Police do not know the current whereabouts of the woman. They also do not know what may have happened to the possible baby, KRIV reported. Sadistic mans fate revealed after he brutalized Florida woman for days, cops say Man vanishes on New Years Eve then family receives disturbing texts, Ohio cops say Parents vanished days before Christmas. Dad is found but mom is still missing, cops say A man died Thursday after being shot in Montgomery. A man has been killed in a hit and run accident in Montgomery. On Friday at 10:22 p.m., police and fire medics went to the 1100 block of West South Boulevard after getting a report of a pedestrian hit by a vehicle, said Maj. Saba Coleman, spokeswoman for the Montgomery Police Department. They found a man who had sustained fatal injuries and was dead, Coleman said. His name has not been released. The driver of the vehicle had fled before MPDs arrival, she said. Police did not immediately release any other information about the incident. Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Man dies in Montgomery hit-and-run accident, police say PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) The Prince William County Police Department said a man shot and killed his wife on Saturday afternoon. Police said that at about 5:05 p.m., they responded to investigate a shooting that happened earlier in the day in the area of Possum Point Rd. and Leonard St. in Dumfries. Officers were originally called to a hospital where a 24-year-old woman was taken after being shot. Woman shot, killed by estranged husband at grocery store in Frederick County Police said the husband, who was later identified as the accused, brought the woman to the hospital after the shooting happened. He told police what led to the shooting. The weapon used in the shooting was given to police. The accused was identified as 24-year-old Daniel Okoe Lawson from Woodbridge, Va. He is being charged with felony murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and shooting into an occupied vehicle. Okoe Lawson is being held without bond. The victim was identified as 24-year-old Desire Alexandria Buggs, of Woodbridge, Va. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. A man authorities say is wanted in connection with a murder case in New York was arrested Saturday in Columbia. The Richland County Sheriffs Department arrested Deion King, 22, and charged him with identity fraud and assaulting an officer. Richland authorities also said King is wanted on a New York murder charge. As of Sunday afternoon King was being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. A release from the sheriffs department said that, at about 2:45 p.m. Saturday, deputies attempted to identify a man walking near the 1800 block of Decker Boulevard in regard to an investigation about a stolen car. The sheriffs department alleges the suspect provided false information to officers, then ran away. Authorities attempted to detain the man, and he allegedly assaulted deputies, one of which was injured. The suspect ran away again, and was eventually captured with the assistance of a sheriffs department K9. The man was taken to the county jail, where he was eventually identified as Deion King, who is wanted on a murder charge by the New York Police Department. The injured deputy was checked out by medical personnel and is fine, the sheriffs department said. MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) Visiting Mobile for Mardi Gras? WKRG News 5 is here to help with everything you need to know about the citys biggest celebration. The birthplace of Mardi Gras in America, Mobile goes big every year leading up to Fat Tuesday. Thousands of revelers turn out for parades and balls, and even the well-initiated can use a little help navigating the weeks of festivities. WKRG News 5 is pulling together everything you need to know about Mardi Gras 2024 in Mobile. From parade and ball schedules to the best places to stay, eat and drink, we have everything you need to laissez les bons temps rouler. We also dip into local Mardi Gras history and traditions that will help you make the most of your Mardi Gras experience. In addition to this guide, WKRG News 5 is covering all things Mardi Gras in Mobile and across the Gulf Coast. You can find all of our complete Mardi Gras coverage on the WKRG News 5 Mardi Gras page, including information and reports from Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Mississippi, Baldwin County and Pensacola. Jump to: Parade Schedule: Mobile Mardi Gras 2024 Friday, January 26 6:30 p.m. Conde Cavaliers Route A Saturday, January 27 2 p.m. Bayport Parading Society Route A 2:30 p.m. Mystic DJ Riders Route A 6:30 p.m. Pharaohs Mystic Society Route A 7 p.m. Conde Explorers Route A Thursday, February 1 6:30 p.m. Order of Polka Dots Route A Friday, February 2 6:30 p.m. Order of Inca Route A Saturday, February 3 2 p.m. Mobile Mystics Route A 2:30 p.m. Mobile Mystic Revelers Route A 3 p.m. Mobile Mystical Friends Route A 6:30 p.m. Maids of Mirth Route G 7 p.m. Order of Butterfly Maidens Route A 7:30 p.m. Krewe of Marry Mates Route A Sunday, February 4 6:30 p.m. Neptunes Daughters Route A 7 p.m. Order of Isis Route A Monday, February 5 6:30 p.m. Order of Venus Route A 7 p.m. Order of Many Faces Route A Tuesday, February 6 6:30 p.m. Order of LaShes Route A 7 p.m. Order of Olympia Route A Thursday, February 8 6:30 p.m. Mystic Stripers Society Route A Friday, February 9 6:30 p.m. Crewe of Columbus Route A 7 p.m. Krewe de Secondline Route A Saturday, February 10 12 p.m. Floral Parade Route A 12:30 p.m. Knights of Mobile Route A 1 p.m. Mobile Mystical Ladies Route A 1:30 p.m. Order of Angels Route A 2 p.m. Joy of Life Route A 5:45 p.m. Mystics of Time Route H Sunday, February 11 Joe Cain Day 12 p.m. Alba Temple Motorcade Route I 2 p.m. King Elexis I Route E 2:30 p.m. Joe Cain Marchers Route A 3 p.m. Joe Cain Society Route A 5 p.m. Le Krewe de Bienville Route A Monday, February 12 Lundi Gras 12 p.m. King Felix III Parade Route A 12:30 p.m. Floral Parade Route A 3 p.m. MLK Business & Civic Organization Parade Route D 3:30 p.m. MLK Monday Mystics Route D 4 p.m. Northside Merchants Route D 7 p.m. Infant Mystics Route F 7:30 p.m. Order of Doves Route F Tuesday, February 13 Fat Tuesday 10:30 a.m. Order of Athena Route A 12:30 p.m. Knights of Revelry Route A 1 p.m. King Felix III Parade Route A 1:30 p.m. Comic Cowboys Route A 2 p.m. MAMGA Mammoth Route B 6 p.m. Order of Myths Route C This is the current parade schedule from the City of Mobile for Mardi Gras 2024. We will update this schedule should dates, times or parade routes change. Mobile Mardi Gras parade routes Route A Route B Route C Route D Route E Route F Route G Route H Route I How to watch Mobile Mardi Gras parades LIVE WKRG News 5 is your home for Mardi Gras on the Gulf Coast. From the first parade in downtown Mobile on Jan. 26 through the final parades on Fat Tuesday, WKRG News 5 will livestream the action and excitement on our website, our mobile app and on our Facebook page. Watch LIVE on WKRG.com: The best destination for Mobile Mardi Gras 2023 live is the WKRG News 5 Mardi Gras page. You can find all of our live coverage there, plus everything you need to know about Mardi Gras in Mobile and all across the Gulf Coast. You can also find all of our livestreams on the WKRG News 5 Watch Now page. Watch LIVE on the WKRG News 5 App: Our WKRG News 5 app is a great way to stay connected to news and weather on the Gulf Coast, including all things Mardi Gras. Download the app today and turn on push alerts to get notifications when we go live with Mardi Gras coverage. Watch LIVE on the WKRG News 5 Facebook page: When were live online, were live on Facebook. Head over to the WKRG News 5 Facebook page and tap to follow. That way Facebook will notify you when we go live with Mardi Gras coverage. Mardi Gras Ball schedule 2024 The Mobile Mask has created a list of the Mardi Gras balls dates and locations. Organization Location Date Queens with Dreams The Grounds Saturday, Jan. 6 Port City Secondliners The Grounds Friday, Jan. 12 The Sirens Country Club of Mobile Friday, Jan. 12 Domino Double Rush Athelstan Club Saturday, Jan. 13 Etruscans Mobile Civic Center Saturday, Jan. 13 Krewe de la Dauphine Dauphin Island Community Center Saturday, Jan. 13 New Mobillians The Locale Saturday, Jan. 13 Nereides Fort Whiting Friday, Jan. 19 Order of Osiris Mobile Convention Center Friday, Jan. 19 Joy of Life Daphne Civic Center Saturday, Jan. 20 Krewe of Phoenix Fort Whiting Saturday, Jan. 20 La Luna Servante Mobile Civic Center Saturday, Jan. 20 Marquis de Lafayette Societe Inc. Abba Shrine Center Saturday, Jan. 20 Why Not Knights Eastern Shore Art Center Saturday, Jan. 20 Conde Cavaliers Mobile Civic Center Friday, Jan. 26 Order of Dragons Country Club of Mobile Friday, Jan. 26 Conde Explorers Mobile Convention Center Saturday, Jan. 27 Carnival Krewe Du Rue The Calirojae Saturday, Jan. 27 Gulf Coast Military Ball Holiday Inn Downtown Saturday, Jan. 27 Mystics of the Bay Belforest Pointe, Daphne Saturday, Jan. 27 Order of the Rolling River Holiday Inn Tillmans Corner Saturday, Jan. 27 Pharaohs Expo Hall Saturday, Jan. 27 Pierrettes Mobile Civic Center Saturday, Jan. 27 Spinsters Cedar Street Social Club Saturday, Jan. 27 Order of Polka Dots Mobile Civic Center Thursday, Feb. 1 Apollos Mystic Ladies Daphne Civic Center Friday, Feb. 2 Order of Inca Mobile Civic Center Friday, Feb. 2 Order of Mardi Gras Maskers Fort Whiting Friday, Feb. 2 Deaf Mystics of the Galaxies Holiday Inn Downtown Saturday, Feb. 3 Krewe du Cirque Foley Civic Center Saturday, Feb. 3 Knights of Ecor Rouge Fairhope Civic Center Saturday, Feb. 3 Krewe of Marry Mates Expo Hall Saturday, Feb. 3 Krewe of Mullet Mates Oak Hollow Farm Saturday, Feb 3 Maids of Mirth Crown Hall Saturday, Feb. 3 Mobile Mystics Mobile Convention Center Saturday, Feb. 3 Order of Butterfly Maidens Fort Whiting Saturday, Feb. 3 Order of Juno Mobile Civic Center Saturday, Feb. 3 Neptunes Daughters Mobile Civic Center Sunday, Feb. 4 Order of Isis Fort Whiting Sunday, Feb. 4 Order of Many Faces Portier House Sunday, Feb. 4 Order of Venus Mobile Convention Center Monday, Feb. 5 Order of LaShes Mobile Civic Center Tuesday, Feb. 6 Order of Olympia Expo Hall Tuesday, Feb. 6 Fifty Funny Fellows Mobile Civic Center Wednesday, Feb. 7 Mystic Stripers Society Mobile Civic Center Thursday, Feb. 8 Carnival Royales Abba Shrine Center Friday, Feb. 9 Crewe of Columbus Mobile Civic Center Friday, Feb. 9 Knights of Mobile Elks Lodge, DIP Friday, Feb. 9 Maids of Jubilee Fairhope Civic Center Friday, Feb. 9 MAMGA Grand Marshals Mobile Convention Center Friday, Feb. 9 Mystical Order of Aurora Perdido Beach Resort Friday, Feb. 9 Comrades Fort Whiting Saturday, Feb. 10 Midnight Mystics The Calirojae Saturday, Feb. 10 MLK Monday Mystics The Locale Saturday, Feb. 10 Mystics of Pleasure Orange Beach Event Center Saturday, Feb. 10 Mystics of Time Mobile Civic Center Saturday, Feb. 10 Order of Angels Holiday Inn Downtown Saturday, Feb. 10 Original Dragons The Grounds Saturday, Feb. 10 Krewe of Sparta Steele Creek Lodge Saturday, Feb. 10 The Marshals Perdido Beach Resort Saturday, Feb. 10 The Shadow Barons Daphne Civic Center Saturday, Feb. 10 Order of Myths Downtown Sunday, Feb. 11 Infant Mystics Mobile Civic Center Monday, Feb. 12 Krewe du Bon Temps Battle House Hotel Monday, Feb. 12 Order of Doves The Calirojae Monday, Feb. 12 Order of Mystic Magnolias Fairhope Civic Center Monday, Feb. 12 Knights of Revelry Mobile Civic Center Tuesday, Feb. 13 Order of Athena Abba Shrine Center Tuesday, Feb. 13 Where to stay: Hotels for Mardi Gras 2024 in Mobile Its not just tourists who book hotel stays during Mardi Gras in Mobile. Locals are known to take rooms at hotels convenient to Dauphin Street and downtown festivities during the Mardi Gras season. These ten hotels are Tripadvisors top picks for accommodations near downtown Mobile. Where to eat in downtown Mobile King Cake and Moon Pies arent the only Mardi Gras munchies revelers can enjoy in Mobile. Downtown Mobile boasts a vibrant food scene. Here are some of the top restaurants within walking distance of downtown hotels, according to Yelp. Downtown bar guide Downtown Mobile offers Mardi Gras revelers plenty of options for drinks, before and after Mardi Gras parades and balls. These are some of the top locations for libations, according to Yelp. Alchemy Tavern : Alchemy Tavern is located just across the street from the Saenger Theatre and offers selections of whiskey, scotch, rum, tequila, vodka and beer. The Haberdasher : The Haberdasher is a gastropub located in the heart of downtown Mobile. Las Floriditas : This bar is a hidden gem in downtown Mobile. Its a speakeasy and in order to enter you must know the password. Wet Willies : If youre a fan of Daquiris then Wet Willies is where you need to be. The bar has many different daiquiri flavors to choose from. Hayleys : Hayleys is a dive bar located on Dauphin Street that has been in business for 25 years. The Merry Widow : The Merry Widow regularly hosts events for bar-goers including live music acts, comedy shows and burlesque performances. B-Bobs: B-Bobs is the premier LGBTQ+ night club in Mobile, according to their website. They host drag shows as well as karaoke among other events. Mardi Gras 2024 FAQs When is Mardi Gras 2024? Mardi Gras 2024, or Fat Tuesday, is on Tuesday, February 13. What does laissez les bons temps rouler mean? Parisians are not likely to understand this Cajun French phrase, but when you visit the Gulf Coast during Mardi Gras season, youll hear the locals use this literal translation of the English phrase let the good times roll. Learn more Mardi Gras lingo here. Who can go to a Mardi Gras ball in Mobile? Mobile Mardi Gras ball attendance is invitation only. Members of Mardi Gras Crews who organize the balls can invite non-members to the lavish celebrations. When did Mobile first celebrate Mardi Gras? Mobile is proud of its Mardi Gras heritage and claims the first official Carnival celebration in the United States. It was started in 1703 by Frenchman Nicholas Langlois when Mobile was the capital of French Louisiana. What is a mystic society? Mystic societies are secret societies that organize parades and balls during Mardi Gras season. They date back to 1704. The oldest existing parading society is the Order of Myths. Mystic societies each have their own traditions, rich with symbolism and ritual. What is King Cake? A King Cake is a traditional Mardi Gras pastry with roots in Christian tradition. Traditionally, you start enjoying King Cake on Jan. 6, epiphany. The pastry is a cakey-bread dough formed into a ring and decorated with Mardi Gras colors, gold, purple and green. Bakers do get creative. A bakery in Daphne, for example, offers a crawfish King Cake. What are MoonPies? MoonPies come in many different flavors including chocolate, banana, mint, and peanut butter. A MoonPie is made up of marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate. The MoonPie got its name in 1917 when a coal miner asked a traveling salesman from the company for a snack as big as the moon. The MoonPie website reads, It was filling, fit in the lunch pail and the coal miners loved it. The rest, as they say, is history. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. CBS News Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan sparred with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in an interview that aired Sunday over the House GOPs efforts to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, pressing the Louisiana Republican over why lawmakers would boot the person they need to negotiate with over border policy. Brennan, speaking with Johnson during his trip to Eagle Pass, Texas, last week, suggested Congress needs Mayorkass help to improve the situation at the border. So these but these are very, very real and immediate issues, what youre describing, it is a crisis. So dont you need the help of the Homeland Security secretary, instead of trying to impeach him? Brennan asked Johnson. Weve been asking Secretary Mayorkas since he took office, to enforce the law, to do his job, and hes done exactly the opposite. Hes testified untruthfully before Congress, repeatedly, Johnson responded. Brennan interjected to ask Johnson, But why focus the congressional resources on going ahead with an impeachment when they could be dealing with the actual issues here on the ground? Our Homeland Security Committee has done its job, he responded. They have a constitutional responsibility, a legal responsibility, to investigate what is happening with the agency that they have oversight for. Theyve done that for a year, very methodically, carefully, in detail. And theyve documented all that. Johnson was referring to the House Homeland Security Committees ongoing investigation into Mayorkas over allegations the secretary displayed dereliction of duty in his handling of the border. The committee has threatened to introduce another resolution to boot Mayorkas from his role and will begin a series of impeachment hearings this week that could lead to such action. Johnson told Brennan he believes Mayorkas is an abject failure, while noting its not because of impotence. I believe he has done this intentionally. I think these are intentional policy decisions that hes made. And I think there must be accountability for that. And I can tell you, the vast majority of Americans agree with us on that point, Johnson said. Brennan pushed back, arguing it doesnt sound very hopeful, given Mayorkas is the main leader from the Biden administration involved in negotiations with the Senate to pass a border policy deal. Secretary Mayorkas is not a good-faith negotiating partner, Johnson said. He is unwilling to enforce existing federal law. Why would we believe that he would do any new provision? Hes lied to Congress repeatedly. Hes lied to me personally, under oath. Brennan asked Johnson what Mayorkas has lied about to which he said, Hes stood in front of my committee on multiple occasions and insisted that the border is closed and secure when everyone in America knows its not true. Hes not a good-faith partner. Well, thats also a semantic argument, you know that, Brennan interjected. No, no, thats a matter of objective fact. And he has lied to Congress repeatedly, Johnson said, to which Brennan responded, Well, that is a matter of semantics in terms of people being apprehended, as you know, coming here, and once theyre apprehended, then say they want to claim asylum. Secretary Mayorkas has been to the border, hes talked to the same officials that we have. He knows that this border is not secure. No one here believes it, Johnson said, adding later the workers he met with at the border are doing heroic work in an impossible situation created by Mayorkas. Mayorkas has faced scrutiny from the right over his leadership for more than a year, including from Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas), who filed articles of impeachment against the Homeland Security chief on the first day of the 118th Congress. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) attempted to force a vote on his impeachment last November but later withdrew the vote after she claimed she was assured by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.) that the House would move forward with impeachment proceedings. As Brennan noted, Mayorkas has been involved in negotiations with the Senate for weeks to pass a bipartisan border policy deal that would also unlock funding for Ukraine. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority unveiled a new special bus honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. MARTA said this is the first of several bus designs planned for its yearlong celebration of Atlanta Civil Rights leaders. The bus will begin service on Route 3, which is on MLK/Auburn Ave., and move to different routes over the next four months, according to MARTA. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Transit is a place where all are welcome, and like the Civil Rights movement, where inclusion and equality serve as the foundation for opportunity, said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. MARTA is proud to have played a role in the rich history of the City of Atlanta and the Civil Rights movement and recognize the impact of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King, and the road they traveled as they changed the world. TRENDING STORIES: MARTA officially unveiled the new bus at the King Center on Thursday. Upcoming honorees to be featured on MARTA buses this year will be announced during Black History Month. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Convicted mass murderer Anders Breivik appeared in court on Monday in a second attempt to sue the Norwegian state for allegedly breaching his human rights. Breivik, a right-wing extremist who killed 77 people in a bomb and gun rampage, appeared before a judge in Oslo claiming his solitary confinement since being imprisoned in 2012 amounts to inhumane treatment under the European Convention of Human Rights. Norway favours rehabilitation over retribution - and Breivik is held in a two-story complex with a kitchen, dining room and TV room with an Xbox, several armchairs and black and white pictures of the Eiffel Tower on the wall. He also has a fitness room with weights, treadmill and rowing machine, while three parakeets fly around the complex. Mourners push the coffin of Bano Abobakar Rashid, 18, the first victim of the shooting rampage at Utoeya to be buried, at a church in Nesodden, near Oslo, Norway in 2011 - Lefteris Pitarakis/AP/File Even so, his lawyer, ystein Storrvik, says it is impossible for Breivik - who now goes by the name Fjotolf Hansen - to have any meaningful relationships with anyone from the outside world. He adds preventing his client from sending letters is another breach of his human rights. A similar claim made by Breivik in 2016 was accepted, but the case was later overturned in a higher court. It was then rejected by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The killer sought parole in 2022 but was judged to have shown no signs of rehabilitation. On 22 July 2011, Breivik killed eight people in a bomb attack in Oslo before heading to a youth camp for a centre-left political group on Utya island. Dressed as a police officer, he stalked and gunned down 69 people, mostly teenagers. The following year, Breivik was handed the maximum 21-year sentence with a clause - rarely used in Norway's justice system - that he could be held indefinitely if he was still considered a danger to society. Since then, he has shown no remorse for his attacks, which he portrayed as a crusade against multiculturalism in Norway. Many regard Breiviks flirtations with the courts as an attempt to draw attention to his cause and even bask once again in the international limelight. He was accused of doing this during his criminal trial. Lisbeth Kristine Ryneland, who leads a support group for survivors of the attacks and bereaved families, says she is satisfied with the decision not to allow a live stream of his comments from this court case. The state rejects Breiviks claims of human rights offences. In a letter to the court, government attorney Andreas Hjetland wrote that Breivik had so far shown himself to be unreceptive to rehabilitative work. It was therefore difficult to imagine which major reliefs in terms of sentencing are possible and justifiable. The trial will be held on Monday in the gymnasium in Ringerike prison, a stones throw from Utya. Any person who feels that their rights have been violated by a state can take their case to the ECHR. If the court finds that to be the case, it can rule against a state and order them to pay compensation. However, the court is not empowered to overrule national decisions or annul national laws. Much of the data and commentary coming out of the Met suggests a force overwhelmed by its current mission. Knife crime in London has surged by 20% in the past year, the vast majority of burglaries remain unsolved and just over a year ago Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley believed the Met needed a 27 per cent funding boost just to stand still. Despite this background, the Met has now decided to direct some of its limited resources away from London and towards speculative war crimes in Israel or Gaza. Responding to an investigation into the Situation in the State of Palestine launched by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Met is displaying posters at Heathrow urging travellers who have been in Israel or Palestine and may have witnessed or been a victim of terrorism, war crimes, or crimes against humanity to come forward. Should this really be a priority for the Counter Terrorism Command, currently facing a range of serious threats including those posed by Iran? The Met claims that under the terms of the 1998 Rome Statute, our war crimes team is obliged to support any investigations opened by the ICC that could involve British subjects. Has the UK received a request for assistance? At the very least it will seem odd to tax-paying Londoners that the Met is obligated to investigate alleged offences over 2,000 miles away while victims of burglary are left waiting. At what level was it determined that the Met must now allocate time and resources to soliciting for evidence? Who signed off this decision? Above all, did the Met consult with the Home Secretary who has obligations under the 2001 International Criminal Court Act before deciding to undertake their investigation? What will he do now? The ICC is currently looking into War Crimes in Venezuela, the Republic of the Philippines, and Afghanistan. Who decides, and under what criteria, which conflicts are worthy of investigation by our capitals police force? What has marked out the investigation in Israel/Gaza as especially deserving of police time? Indeed, where are the posters asking travellers from Gaza to report any contact with people whom they have reason to believe may be connected to Hamas? After all, it is a proscribed terrorist grouping in this country. Sir Mark Rowleys mission to reform the Met is no easy feat and far from complete. Many Londoners still feel their neighbourhoods have been abandoned by the police. Since well before this Commissioner was appointed trust and confidence in the Met had fallen to a record low. Policy Exchanges 2022 report Policing Can Win set out the case for a Met which provided local police commanders with the autonomy and resources to focus on fighting crime and anti-social behaviour in local communities. With those commanders held to account by the public and senior officers Londoners would be able to see the difference on their local streets and in their communities. Every time the Met elects to focus on activities not related to the mission of fighting crime and disorder in the capital it is to the detriment of Londoners. It is increasingly clear that to enable the Met to truly serve Londoners effectively serious consideration needs to be given to transferring the Mets non-London responsibilities elsewhere. Some will say that the risk of such a change is too great but while these concerns may be legitimate, they underplay the risk to Londoners from the daily scourge or crime and disorder that is playing out on our streets close to home. David Spencer is the Head of Crime and Justice for Policy Exchange and a former Detective Chief Inspector with the Metropolitan Police Service Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Cold weather and snow are expected across much of the UK - Simon Maycock / Alamy Live News/Alamy Snow and ice will cause rush hour travel disruption across the South East on Monday morning, the Met Office has warned. The public were urged to take care in the cold conditions, with roads and train services likely to be affected across Greater London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Craig Snell, a forecaster at the Met Office, told The Telegraph on Sunday night: We are expecting snow across the South East overnight and into tomorrow. The main risk will be icy patches for journeys to work tomorrow and there could be knock-on delays to roads and railways. He urged travellers to be extra vigilant outside, especially if walking on foot to work tomorrow be careful as it could be slippery under foot. That remains the way for the rest of the week, he said. It comes after authorities issued an amber cold weather health alert to last until Friday. The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office issued the alert for the north-west of England, the West Midlands, East Midlands and the south-west of England until midday on January 12. An amber alert means cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service for an extended period of time. Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: With the Met Office forecasting drops in temperature across the United Kingdom into next week, it is important to check in on the wellbeing of those most vulnerable to the cold. A yellow cold health alert, one level below amber, remains in place for the north-east of England, Yorkshire and The Humber, the East of England, the south-east of England and London. Sunak visits flood victims Earlier on Sunday, the Prime Minister met residents affected by flooding in Oxford. Rishi Sunak spoke to people on their doorsteps before visiting Environment Agency workers at their depot on Osney Island. Mr Sunak said: Flooding has been having a devastating impact on communities up and down the country. I was in the East Midlands last week on Thursday and Im in Oxfordshire here today talking to some of those that have been affected, but also saying thank you to our first responders who were doing a fantastic job over the past week. Mr Sunak said there were over 1,000 Environment Agency personnel on the ground in local communities helping with the flooding, with over 200 pumps deployed. Weve invested 5.2 billion in flood defences over the period in question - thats a record sum, far more than weve done, in the future thats contributed to protecting over 300,000 homes, he said. And of course, there have been many people affected by whats happened over the past week, but also over 49,000 have been affected by flooding. After being shown pumps and barriers working to get rid of water from the still-flooded River Thames in Osney, Mr Sunak spoke with Environment Agency staff. Houses have historically been severely damaged by floods in the area, but there has reportedly been less devastation this time. Mr Sunak said: Just walking around talking to residents, everyones been very complimentary about the response, just as Ive been walking around talking to people, people have been at pains to say they felt the engagement has been great and actually what has been happening has made a difference. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Authorities take part in an operation following an attack by an armed group, in Buenavista de los Hurtado Authorities take part in an operation following an attack by an armed group, in Buenavista de los Hurtado MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican authorities in the violence-plagued southwestern state of Guerrero said they were investigating a gruesome massacre that took place in a part of a remote desert where two rival criminal groups have been fighting for control. Police investigators had found five burned bodies stacked onto a burned vehicle when they arrived in Buenavista de los Hurtado on Friday, the state attorney general said in a statement shared late on Saturday. Citing footage shared by alleged members of the Familia Michoacana on social media and interviews with unnamed sources in the area, local media reported that 30 people had died after a drone attack. In the footage shot in the desert, heavily armed men dressed in military clothing were shown piling bodies - some naked, their clothes scattered around the ground - on the hood and the rear of a red pickup riddled with bullet holes. Some of the men appeared to have limbs cut off and at least one had a head missing. A severed head is shown being arranged atop the human pile by one man while another, holding the camera and filming the pickup from all sides, says in heavy Mexican swear words to "send more." Since being posted on Friday night, the video racked up 3.1 million views on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Reuters was unable to independently verify the video, but several local media later published widely-shared videos showing what appeared to be the same pickup and burned bodies. Mexican authorities in the statement said they were aware of a "confrontation between the criminal groups of Familia Michoacana and Los Tlacos, which have a running dispute for control of the area." Police investigators in the area found no evidence of other crimes, the statement said, adding that villagers had declined to give DNA samples that would allow for the identification of the remains and advance investigations. Reuters was unable to get comment from villagers. (Reporting by Stefanie Eschenbacher; Editing by Bill Berkrot) Mike Pence has denounced the debunked conspiracy theory that the FBI instigated the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol. As recently as this weekend Donald Trump has continued to spread the baseless theory that Antifa and the FBI were behind the attack on Congress rather than his own supporters. Speaking to CNNs Jake Tapper on State of the Union on Sunday morning from Tel Aviv just one day after the third anniversary of the attack former Vice President Pence said: Weve been assured again and again that it was not the case. I just must tell you, having been there that day, to see people literally breaking windows, ransacking the Capitol, it just infuriated me. I remember thinking not this, not here, not at the United States Capitol, he said. Mr Pence added he is very grateful for the efforts of the FBIs efforts to arrest those who ransacked our Capitol and did violence against police officers that day, demanding those who participated in the attack be held to the fullest extent of the law. The attack, he said, should never have happened. As Ive said many times before, the former presidents words that day were reckless. I believe history will judge his role in that. Former Vice President Pence was in Israel to show support for Israels war against Hamas. He also spoke about the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza, the secrecy surrounding the hospitalisation of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and his hopes that Iowa voters give Republicans a fresh start when they caucus on 15 January. On #CNNSOTU, former Vice President @Mike_Pence rejects false claims by Donald Trump and other Republicans that the FBI instigated the January 6 attack and says everyone that conducted that riot at the Capitol needs to be held to the fullest extent of the law. pic.twitter.com/3pcANZfdo6 State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) January 7, 2024 Mr Trump continues to try and reframe the violence that occurred at the Capitol in early 2021 as he campaigns for reelection ahead of the Iowa caucuses. By the way, there was Antifa, there was FBI, there were a lot of other people there too leading the charge, Mr Trump said at a rally in Sioux, Center Iowa on Friday, 5 January. You saw the same people that I did. Mr Trump also said at the campaign event that he believed the audience on 6 January 2021 was the biggest crowd, I believe, I ever spoke toyou never hear about that do you? He then turned to the hostages, his term for those arrested and charged for their actions on January 6. The J6 hostages, I call them. Nobodys been treated ever in history so badly as those people, he said. Their imprisonment, Mr Trump said, will go down as one of the saddest things in the history of our country. And they went there to protest a rigged election. Democratic Rep Jamie Raskin also spoke about the debunked conspiracy in an appearance on Inside with Jen Psaki on MSNBC on Sunday morning noting that if the hundreds of people who had been arrested in connection with the riot were indeed the FBI and Antifa, why would Mr Trump want to pardon them? Raskin: Theyre spreading disinformation about how it was really antifa and FBI agents which would make it strange to argue that all of these people should be released and trump is going to pardon them. Why would he want to pardon all of these antifa fighters? pic.twitter.com/GLfWSTDfLq Acyn (@Acyn) January 7, 2024 The Justice Department reported since the 2021 riot, over 1,200 individuals have been charged with crimes connected to the Capitol attack, while more than 700 people have pleaded guilty to various federal charges. Saturday marked three years since the violent attack on the Capitol building, which led to the deaths of four rioters and five police officers and left many more injured. Mr Trumps false claims about the Capitol riot and 2020 election fraud come as he faces charges at the federal level and separately in Georgia regarding his alleged efforts to overturn the presidential election. In its final report in 2022, the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack also named Mr Trump as the central cause of the riot whom many others followed. Paula Vennells led the Post Office when sub-postmasters were wrongfully prosecuted between 2012 to 2019 - Tom Stockill Rishi Sunak is under pressure to intervene in the Post Office honours row as a petition calling for the former chief executive to lose her CBE surpassed one million signatures. More than one million people have signed an online petition calling for Paula Vennells, who led the Post Office when sub-postmasters were wrongfully prosecuted, to be stripped of the honour. Two cabinet ministers also said the former chief executive should lose her CBE awarded in 2019 over the Horizon IT scandal, described as the worst miscarriage of justice in recent British legal history. Mr Sunak said on Sunday ministers were considering options including exonerating all those unjustly convicted, and stripping the Post Office of handling the appeals process, with announcements expected this week. Backbench campaigners over the scandal are attempting to force a debate in the House of Commons today or tomorrow as they call for much tougher punishments on those responsible. Renewed focus has also turned to Ms Vennells, who was CEO of the Post Office between 2012 to 2019 and was given a CBE at the end of her tenure. Calls for her to be stripped of the honour are now being voiced at the top of the Government, The Daily Telegraph can reveal. One Cabinet minister said they had been moved to tears by the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office which has forced the scandal back into the headlines this month. Sought to defend the indefensible The minister said of Ms Vennells: She should definitely lose her CBE. It is absolutely disgraceful what has happened to these people. A second Cabinet minister said that if Ms Vennells did not wilfully give up her honour then she should have it removed. She wilfully obfuscated and sought to defend the indefensible and that is just not honourable or becoming of the office, the minister said. Mr Sunak on Sunday called the scandal an appalling miscarriage of justice. But, like Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, he has not endorsed calls for Ms Vennells to lose her CBE. More than 700 sub-postmasters were prosecuted and convicted between 1999 and 2015 based on information from the Horizon accounting system which made it look like money was missing. To date, fewer than 100 convictions have been overturned. Decisions on revoking an honour are made by the honours forfeiture committee, which is convened under the Cabinet Office but is arms length from government ministers. While the Prime Minister has no formal role in deciding what cases the committee considers, in the past UK leaders have expressed backing for a case being scrutinised. Lord Cameron, when prime minister in January 2012, said it was right that the committee looked at whether Fred Goodwin should lose his knighthood. Mr Goodwin is the former chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland, which was nationalised in 2008 after making a 24.1 billion loss. He eventually had his knighthood removed. Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced former Hollywood mogul found guilty of rape and sexual assault, was stripped of his CBE in 2020 after his conviction. An appalling miscarriage of justice The forfeiture committee says on its website there is an expectation that those who receive an honour are, and will continue to be, good citizens and role models. Sir Chris Wormald, the Permanent Secretary of the Health Department, chairs the six-person committee, which has a majority of independent members. The committee never confirms whether it is looking at individual cases. Sometimes a decision to remove an honour is made public once taken, though this is not obligated. In April 2022, Sir Tom Scholar, then the committees chairman, indicated no decision would be taken until the Horizon IT public inquiry was completed. It is unclear when that will happen. Ms Vennells has apologised in the past for what occurred, saying back in April 2021: I am truly sorry for the suffering caused to the 39 sub-postmasters as a result of their convictions which were overturned last week. Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, and Kevin Hollinrake, the business minister whose brief includes the Post Office, will meet on Monday to discuss proposals to speed up compensation. Mr Chalk said: This was an appalling miscarriage of justice. I am concerned that many sub-postmasters remain convicted, and I am exploring what lawful options are available to speed up and secure justice. The Post Office scandal has been described by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) as the most widespread miscarriage of justice the CCRC has ever seen and represents the biggest single series of wrongful convictions in British legal history. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. In November 2022, when Minnesota Democrats elected a governor, gained narrow majorities in both state legislative offices, and had a Democratic attorney-general, they became a laboratory for how to effectively use that power to achieve progressive policy priorities. Our imminent legislative session, plus the return from Minnesota of a friend whos a seasonal Las Crucen, prompts this look at all that Minnesota has done including things we did before them and others where we lag. As soon as the 2023 legislative session started, Minnesota protected abortion rights by encoding Roe v. Wade, expanded background checks on gun purchasers and passed a red flag measure through which officials can take guns away from people deemed to be threats to themselves or others, legalized recreational marijuana, and enacted major protections of voting rights. (They instituted automatic registration, pre-registering 16- and 17-year-olds, and cut the use of dark money in state and local races). Peter Goodman Minnesota has also increased school funding (including providing universal breakfast and lunch for every student in the state); expanded public child care support; increased paid family and sick leave to 12 weeks; provided legal refuge to trans youths from states that restrict gender-affirming and other medical care; set minimum wages for Uber and Lyft drivers; enacted green energy goals such as requiring utility companies to offer carbon-free electricity by 2040; and expanded public child care support programs. Governor Tim Walz says he wants Minnesota to be the best state in the union to raise a child in. As U.S. Sen. Tina Smith said, these policies have a direct and clear impact on improving peoples lives; but Minnesota enacted them with a slim majority and while also maintaining a robust economy and keeping crime rates low, the criteria by which conservatives judge progressive local governments. The narrow majorities might have suggested caution; but Minnesotans, deciding that doing good beats doing nothing, took massive steps to improve the lives of real people and protect citizens rights. Some say theres a lesson here for the national Democratic Party. People call Minnesota a laboratory for progressive policy and a model for what the states can accomplish. Such a laboratory reassures other states that enacting laws to protect people and the environment can be done; and that such pro-people steps can succeed in a state thats relatively moderate, socially. I recall a very different episode in Kansas, where Republican Governor Sam Brownback and his Republican-controlled Legislature abused their unhindered power so extensively and created such a huge deficit that people wondered if the state could keep funding basic needs like public education. That seared the conservative state (where Republicans outnumber Democrats nearly two to one) so badly that Democrats have held the governorship ever since. Its essential to maintain basic services and help the states economy; but lets also compare Minnesota and New Mexico with neighboring states where close-mindedness, intolerance, and hatred of folks who are different rule the day. States that try to erase slavery and racism from history, minimize assistance to poor folks, suppress minority voting, beat gay kids into submission with cruel therapies, and jail not only pregnant women seeking abortion but the bus driver who takes them to the Minnesota or New Mexico border to get medical care. Abortion-rights advocates note that Minnesotas new law is especially crucial for pregnant women in neighboring states, where abortion remains illegal since the Supreme Court vaporized Roe v. Wade. That sounds quite familiar. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: What Minnesota did in its legislature can inform NM's work CMPD canceled the alert issued for a 70-year-old woman missing from her familys home in Charlotte. They canceled the alert around 12:28 p.m. Sunday and did not specify whether Virginia May Oates has been found. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: A womans car tag was spotted an hour away from where she told her family she was going, and CMPD is asking for help finding her. Virginia May Oates, 70, was last seen on Saturday as she left her familys residence in the 6000 block of Raintree Way. CMPD says she was in a 2010 black Toyota Corolla with the North Carolina license tag ZF-1579. The North Carolina Center for Missing and Endangered Persons says she was heading to a McDonalds at 1201 W Sugar Creek, but her car tag was read in Mocksville, one hour away around 1:12 a.m. Sunday. Her family says she may have been trying to go to her residence in the 100 block of Kornegary Dr in Dudley, N.C. This location is almost three hours away from where her car was spotted. The Wayne County sheriff did not find her there. READ MORE: 44-year-old man reported missing in Caldwell County, deputies say CMPD says Oates may have a cognitive impairment. She is a Black woman with hair-length black hair, standing 5 feet tall. She was wearing a pink jogger suit, denim Bank of America bucket hat, and Sketcher shoes when she left. (WATCH: ) The moment in legislative time when rank-and-file Mississippi lawmakers might have the most impact is during the opening weeks of a new four-year term when they adopt the rules that govern the House and Senate. Granted, once the rules are adopted, they can be amended. But changing the rules after they are adopted is a burdensome process and not often undertaken. The time to have an impact is when the rules are first being voted on by the members. Legislators will have an opportunity to have such an impact in the coming days when the rules are adopted by the full House and Senate for the new four-year term. But members almost assuredly will not take advantage of that opportunity and instead meekly approve the rules spoon fed to them by leaders. Sure, discussions of the legislative rules fall into the category of being nerdish or an inside baseball type endeavor, but the joint rules can make a difference a difference, for example, in how much money is appropriated to educate Mississippis children or to provide public health services. In 2012, the Mississippi Legislature approved at the behest of the two new presiding officers, House Speaker Philip Gunn and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, a rule that prevented the rank-and-file legislator from having impact on their most important duty: funding state government. Mississippi State Rep. Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, presents the oath of office to the newly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives Jason White, R-West, left, in the Mississippi State Capitol. Both chambers of lawmakers were sworn into the new four-year term that began at noon Tuesday. The joint rule first adopted in 2012 prohibits a member from adding money in one area, such as for health care, without specifying another agency or program from which the money would be taken. Legislators say the rule is designed to prevent fiscal irresponsibility. They argue it prevents lawmakers from just offering a popular proposal to provide a teacher pay raise, for example, without specifying how to fund the pay raise. On the surface that sounds good. But importantly, the rule specifies that the money must be taken from a budget that is still before the chamber where the proposal is offered to increase funding for a specific agency. And that is a big deal considering that no more than half of the states budget bills are before a chamber at any particular time. Even more restrictive is the fact that lawmakers also cannot access state surplus funds to propose adding extra money to an agency or a program. So, in other words, a legislator looking to offer an amendment to the full chamber to increase the money going to a program does not have all state revenue available in making the proposal. And remember, in recent years, thanks to the national economic conditions and the billions of dollars in federal COVID-relief funds, the state has had an unprecedented surplus. Going into the 2024 legislative session, the state will have at least $2 billion in surplus funds most likely a lot more, but the rank-and-file legislator has virtually no say in how those funds are spent. Perhaps it is a bad idea to tap into the surplus funds, but it is reasonable to assume legislators elected by the people to fund state government should be able to vote on whether to spend some of those funds. But under the 2012 rule, members cannot, for instance, offer an amendment to spend some of those surplus funds to fund a program to deal with the nations worst infant mortality rate or to deal with the nations highest diabetes rates or worst heart disease rate or to address any of the litany of other areas where an argument could be made that an extra financial effort is needed to improve the states standing. The rule requires a legislator to specify that the money would come from education, for example, to provide additional funds to combat infant mortality. A legislator cannot offer an amendment to use a small portion of the state surplus funds for such an amendment. The result of the rule is that the budget is prepared by a handful of appropriators under the leadership of the presiding officers, and the rank-and-file members simply rubber stamp those budget bills when they reach the floor. Perhaps one of the great mysteries of the Mississippi Legislature is why members so willingly relinquish their most important duty. Maybe it is just because they do not want to have the responsibility of making tough decisions. Or perhaps rank-and-file members are reluctant to oppose the leadership by trying to change such restrictive rules. They would rather vote with the leadership, and then tell their constituents they are part of the leadership making those pivotal decisions, when in reality they have little real impact on perhaps the most important function of the Mississippi Legislature: funding state government. This analysis was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics and culture. Bobby Harrison is Mississippi Todays senior Capitol reporter. Clarification: This story was updated to clarify the date of a planned Freedom Caucus launch event. In a legislative session many fear will be fruitless, Missouri Senate leaders echo sentiments expressed in the Missouri House hoping for a productive session. As 2024 is an election year, many are pessimistic about accomplishing legislative goals. With five state senators seeking statewide office and 15 state representatives eyeing state senate seats, there is concern that lawmakers will use this session for political grandstanding and scoring campaign wins. Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden hopes to disprove these doubts, but the formation of the Freedom Caucus, a coalition of hardline conservatives in both the House and the Senate, seems poised to challenge any bipartisan or moderate work. The Missouri Senate chamber on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. In the second day of session, the Senate adjourned in less than an hour after talks devolved into personal attacks between Sens. Denny Hoskins and Mike Bernskoetter. Hoskins is a member of the newly formed Freedom Caucus, and he considers Bernskoetter to be a more moderate Republican. Senate Floor Leader Cindy OLaughlin called an early end to the session after seeing that it would not lead to any constructive legislative action. I'm always open to listening to anybody who wants to advocate for a certain position or a certain policy, OLaughlin said. But I don't want to see us devolve into personal attacks or personal positions on something. Freedom Caucus member Sen. Bill Eigel listens to Senate Floor Leader Cindy O'Laughlin speak at a press conference at the Missouri State Capitol Building on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. The legislature is adjourned until Monday afternoon, when lawmakers in both the House and the Senate will reconvene to consider legislation and assign bills to committees, where further work can be accomplished. We've got a weekend. Folks are going to go home to their families, and sleep a few times, Rowden said, expressing hopes for a more constructive start to next week. Federal funding, education among priorities A top concern for lawmakers this session will be approving the federal reimbursement allowance, or FRA, which allows federal funds to supplement the states Medicaid program. If not accomplished this session, a special session will be called, as it was in 2021. It makes up about $4.3 billion of the state budget. Lawmakers in both the House and Senate have turned their focus to education this session. While state Sen. Bill Eigel, who is running for governor this year, wants to abolish the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, others think a reevaluation is in order. I'm not an advocate for saying, I don't think this department works the way I think it should, so I'm just gonna burn that to the ground and start over, OLaughlin said. It's a time-consuming thing. You have to be able to put in the work, see what is working, see what isn't working. Investing in childcare, in some capacity, has also been an idea tossed around by members of the House and Senate in the first week of session. Industry groups, such as National Federation of Independent Business, have implored lawmakers to focus on this issue. Gov. Mike Parson also hoped to see it addressed in the last session. However, while lawmakers are cognizant of the issue, they arent quite sure the best way to approach it at this time. Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden speaks at a press conference at the Missouri State Capitol Building on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. You don't want to start a new kind of bloated government subsidy or government bureaucracy that is aimed to try and fix a problem, and it ends up doing it the wrong way, or it doesn't fix the problem, Rowden said. Most folks aren't saying that there's not a problem. The struggle is going to be trying to figure out exactly what the government involvement should not be. More: Missouri legislature's 2024 session has started. Here's what lawmakers hope to do Democrats could capitalize on dysfunction Senate Democrats are also eyeing a solution for the childcare issue, as well as focusing on lowering health care costs, investing in classrooms and raising teacher pay. Democrats are in a super-minority in both the House and Senate, but the formation of the Freedom Caucus may give them more maneuverability to work with moderate conservatives to accomplish goals. However, Senate Minority Floor Leader John Rizzo laments the Republican infighting, as it usually only serves to stymie progress on legislative goals that could help the people of Missouri. Senate Minority Floor Leader John Rizzo speaks at a press conference at the Missouri State Capitol Building on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. We got into public service to try to help Missourians, to try to help the average worker and to get things done to provide relief for taxpayers, Rizzo said. To see the Senate devolve into what it has these last four or five years is, it's not enjoyable, regardless of what side of the aisle you sit on. To Rizzo, the current conservative divide is reminiscent of the split in Democratic ideologies in Missouri in the 90s, which led to the loss of the Democratic majority in the state. You get to a place where you're so big, that you have to try to appease so many different factions, which then gets you to a place where people faction off from the majority, Rizzo said. Freedom Caucus wants initiative petition reform, budget cuts The Freedom Caucus stands resolute in its goals. Sen. Rick Brattin, chairman of the newly formed caucus, said that its members arent there to be obstructionists, but to advance Republican goals. Our mission is to advance the Republican platform, (initiative petition) reform, budget cuts, educational choice, giving every single student a choice and the capability to be able to get a good quality education, Brattin said. Along with altering the initiative petition process and overhauling the education department, the Freedom Caucus is focused on cutting the budget. Last year, the budget was about $52 billion, a number that members of the caucus feel is far too bloated. We need to make those hard cuts, and that is what we're sent here to do, Brattin said. That's what people would expect, again, (the budget was) $21 billion when I came into this office, now $52 billion. Its insane. Sen. Rick Brattin, chairman of the newly formed Freedom Caucus, speaks at a press conference at the Missouri State Capitol Building on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. The Freedom Caucus planned to host its official launch Friday afternoon, Jan. 5, in St. Charles, at which time its full current membership would be revealed. On Thursday, Brattin was joined by other Freedom Caucus members, which include Sens. Bill Eigel, Hoskins and Nick Schroer. The Freedom Caucus is part of a larger national organization that provides research and resources to the Missouri branch that formed last month. Brattin expressed that the time for playing nice in the Senate was over, stressing that members of the caucus will stand strong for the issues that they want to see accomplished. If we're forced to really press in on an issue, to advance that issue that I'm elected to advance, then we're going to do whatever means necessary, Brattin said. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri Senate leaders hope for productive session despite division Editor's note: Events are subject to change, and contacting your church ahead of time is recommended. Churches may send updates to worship services, events or schedules via email to kwood@lubbockonline.com. Please note that this is a partial compilation of local religious congregrations, and listings are sorted below by newest information. First Church of Christ Scientist Amarillo 2701 Julian Blvd. Everyone is welcome at our Sunday Service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday School meets at the same time for children and teens. This week's subject: GOD "The word of our God shall stand for ever." (KJV Isaiah 40:8) Our weekly testimonial meetings on Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. are a wonderful opportunity for inspiration and fellowship. For more details, see our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/First-Church-of-Christ-Scientist-Amarillo-104483494978237 or our website at https://www.cschurchamarillo.com/ . Grace Church Grace Church was founded by Pastor Bill Gehm, his wife, and a small group of believers in 1985, and has grown over the past few decades into a much larger and diverse group of believers in Christ. We are Making Disciples verse by verse at the corner of Plains and Western (4111 Plains Blvd.) in an old grocery store, on the radio at 88.7FM with the Radio by Grace network, and online at GraceAmarillo.com. Service times are 9 & 11am on Sundays and 7pm on Wednesdays. The Colonies Church of Christ 4500 Wesley Road, Amarillo, TX 79119. Please join us Sundays for Bible class at 9:30 a.m. and worship service at 10:30 a.m. Any questions, call 806-355-7303. For more information visit our website at: thecolonies.org Grace Communion International (GCI Amarillo), 1400 Wolflin (Covenant Presbyterian) Saturdays 2:30 p.m. (weather permitting). Fellowship Group gathering for worship music, prayer, Bible study, and seasonal messages. Multi-generational service. New participants of all ages welcome. Refreshments following and potluck on the 1st Saturdays. For information and schedule confirmation call 806-473-8753 or 806-340-4704. During our fellowship group this fall, you are welcome to bring items for children or filled shoe boxes for Samaritans Purse Operation Christmas Child through Nov. 11. Hartley, Texas A life-size marble casting of Michelangelos Pieta has been placed at St. John Paul II Family Life Center, 1400 Central Avenue, in Hartley. The famous work of art depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion. The Vatican Observatory Foundation has authorized and licensed the creation of only 100 Pieta marble castings from a mold derived from the original Pieta. This Pieta has been donated as a legacy gift by the Catholic Loyalty Foundation of Santa Clarita, California. Polk Street Methodist Church Please worship with us in person at 8:30 and 10:55 a.m. in our historic sanctuary at 1401 S. Polk St., or worship online with us at 10:55 a.m. at www.polkstreet.org or on our Facebook page. From Bible studies and small groups to exercise classes and outreach to the impoverished, there is a place for you. If you would like more information, please visit www.polkstreet.org and either email us or complete a contact form. Messiahs House 6901 Bell St. Sunday morning services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. For more information, visit their website at https://mh.church . First Christian Church 3001 Wolflin Ave. Sunday school at 9 a.m. and worship service at 10 a.m. FCC Facebook page: facebook.com/FirstChristianAmarillo , FCC YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCkyDAlGKrx82S5qCbiBlS_g Christian Heritage Church - 900 S Nelson St. Service times are Sunday at 9:45 a.m. and Wednesday at 7 p.m. For more, email info@chcamarillo.com . Amazing Grace Amarillo (Lutheran Church - WELS) - Join us for worship at 10:30 a.m. at 8700 Clinton Glenn Dr. Amarillo, TX 79119. We've moved! We also offer children's Bible school at 9:15 a.m. along with our teen/adult Bible study on Sundays. You can stream our services at AmazingGraceAmarillo.com and join us for Bible Study on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Message our pastor at pastorhans@amazinggraceamarillo.com . The Loft Church 4400 S. Georgia. Services at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Power Church 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (bilingual) Sunday service. Also Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Sandell Drive In Theater, Clarendon Sunday service at 10 a.m. Add in a beautiful Sunday drive out to Clarendon and experience church. Accelerate Church, 4400 S Crockett, and Accelerate North Campus, 1300 E Central. Triumphant Truth Church, 1701 S Manhattan St. Central Church of ChristJoin us on Sundays for class at 9 a.m. and worship at 10:15 a.m. Youll find us in person at 1401 S. Madison St. and online at www.amarillocentral.org. Paramount Baptist Church 3801 S. Western St. in Amarillo. Sunday school is at 9 a.m. with worship at 10:15 a.m. We also have a Spanish speaking service at 10:15 a.m. Visit www.paramount.org for more information. St. Luke Presbyterian Church 3001 Bell St. Visit the churchs website at stlukeamarillo.com for a link to the bulletin and live streaming videos. In-person and live streaming service on Sundays at 11 a.m. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2101 N. Coulter St. "The Cross" in Groom, Texas Information: Cross Ministry Jason Eugea, 806-248-9006. Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 4109 Cornell St. Fellowship at Sunday at 11 a.m. Our services are in-person and also live-streamed on our YouTube and Facebook pages. For more information about AUUF, see our website at uuamarillo.org. Redeemer Presbyterian Church 7603 77th Ave. Sunday school at 9:30 am, followed by worship service at 10:30 and evening worship service at 5 p.m. We offer live streaming on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHc6sCADFHQ6xD91jMxktfQ. Please visit our website at http://redeemeramarillo.com/ for more information. Pleasant Valley Methodist Church 316 Valley Ave. Everyone is welcome at our Sunday worship service. Visit with us in person at 10 a.m.; Sunday School is at 9 a.m. From Bible class Wednesday at 5 p.m. to food cupboard, AISD ministry and outreach to the impoverished, there is a place for you. If youd like more information, go to Pleasant Valley Methodist Church (Amarillo) on Facebook, or call (806) 383-3342. Mail us: info@yourpvumc.org . Olsen Park Church of Christ invites you to visit our worship services and Bible studies at 4700 Andrews Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106, Sunday: 9 a.m. (short service), 9:30 a.m. (Bible class), 10:30 a.m. (worship); Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class). For more information, go to www.olsenpark.com and Olsen Park Church of Christ on Facebook, or call 806-352-2809. Second Baptist Church 419 N. Buchanan St. Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. for worship followed by Sunday School at 10:45 a.m. For more information please visit sbcama.org or call the church at 806-373-1737. Also, our sermons are broadcast on KAMR channel 4 every Sunday morning at 8 a.m. Life.Church Amarillo Located on the northwest corner of I-27 and Hollywood Road; services held at 10 and 11:30 a.m. Life.Church is made up of people from different backgrounds linked together by a common mission: leading people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. For more, see www.life.church/amarillo. South Georgia Baptist Church 5209 S. Georgia St. You're invited to join us each Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for small group Bible study and at 10:30 a.m. for our morning worship service. Our 10:30 a.m. service streams live at sgbc.co/watch. Visit sgbc.co for more information. Bell Avenue Church of Christ Amarillo 1600 Bell St. For more information, please contact the Bell Avenue Church of Christ at 806-355-2351 or visit our website, www.bellavenue.org . Pathpoint Fellowship Church, 6215 Canyon Drive, Amarillo, 79110, 806-463-7284. Jenkins Chapel Baptist Church, 1801 N. Hughes St. For more info, please call 806 373 2576. Bible Believers Baptist Church, 12,200 W Rockwell Rd. Services at 10 a.m.; Bible Study at 11 a.m. Preaching and Worship at 7 p.m. On Wednesday at 7 p.m., prayer meeting and Bible Study. On Friday at 7 p.m., Youth Night. Services streamed on our website biblebelieversbaptist.com . Call 806-499-3231 for more information. Westminster Presbyterian Church Sundays at 10:30 a.m.; available to watch from the churchs website at wpcama.com, click on Sermons. Church is located at 2525 Wimberly Road. Coulter Road Baptist Church 4108 S. Coulter St. Sunday school at 9:15 a.m. and worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship is streamed on our website, www.coulterbc.com. Contact info: 806-352-5278. Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church of Amarillo worship/communion service is at 9:30 a.m. each Sunday. The service is also available on the churchs website on Sunday evenings at https://www.beautifulsavioramarillo.org.videos. Covenant Presbyterian Church in Amarillo 1400 Wolflin Ave. We invite you to join us for worship where we praise God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - every Sunday at 10 a.m. We have Sunday School for adults at 9 a.m. If you would like more information, you can call the church office at 806-376-5244. Trinity Fellowship Family Worship and Prophetic Nights: Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Visit TFC.org/Sundays. Church online at 9 and 11 a.m. on all viewing platforms. Anna Street Church of Christ 2310 Anna St., across from Olsen Park Elementary. Sunday: 9:45 a.m. classes; 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship. Wednesday: 6:45 p.m. Song Practice; 7:35 p.m. Evening Teaching. Visit http://www.annastreetchurch.org/ for more information. Southwest Church of Christ Come see us Sunday for Bible class at 9:30 a.m. and for Worship at 10:30 a.m. A list of current classes can be found on our website: www.southwest.org. First Baptist Church Gathering at 12th and Tyler. Sunday morning worship service times are 8:30 and 11 a.m., with Bible study for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Sunday evening worship meets at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary. Bell Avenue Church of Christ Sunday morning worship begins at 9:30 a.m., with classes immediately following. Sunday evening worship begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday night devotional and classes at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Bible Believers Baptist Church Sunday school at 10 a.m.; preaching at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study at 7 p.m. Visitation and Soul Winning: Saturday at 10 a.m. Minister, Glen A. Stocker. Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church Morning and evening worship services. Hillside Christian Churches www.hillsideonline.com. Arden Road Baptist Church Sunday School, children's ministries and nurseries. Service times: Sundays, 9:30 a.m., Sunday school, 10:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Amarillo First Nazarene Church, 5201 Soncy Road; 806-374-2242, https://onenaz.org/ . North Beacon Church of the Nazarene, 1601 N. Nelson St., 806-367-8544 Valleyview Church of the Nazarene, 7601 S. Western St., 806-358-8829, https://www.facebook.com/vvnazarene/ , http://www.vvnaz.org/ This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo faith calendar for Jan. 7, 2024 (Bloomberg) -- Most Thais expect domestic political turmoil to persist in 2024, a survey showed, though the majority foresee Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin remaining in office. Most Read from Bloomberg About 45.7% of survey participants expect the discord to be at the same level, with 28.4% projecting heightened turbulence, according to a survey by the National Institute of Development Administration. The poll was conducted via telephone between Dec. 12 and 20 among 1,310 Thai nationals aged 18 and above. About 14.3% of respondents predict the situation will ease in 2024, while 7% anticipate no disarray in Thai political developments, the Nida poll showed. Around 4.7% are either indifferent and uninterested, or didnt respond. Political twists and turns dominated Thai politics in 2023 as the May general election ended nearly a decade of military-backed rule, and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra returned from exile after 15 years. Srettha was sworn into office in September after months of political stalemate and wrangling that caused a partial policy paralysis and an exodus of foreign funds. About 39.2% in the Nida poll expect Srettha to remain in office this year, and 20.5% project a Cabinet reshuffle. Two verdicts are set to be delivered later this month by the Constitutional Court. It will rule on a case on Jan. 24 against Pita Limjaroenrat then-leader of the Move Forward Party when it won the most parliamentary seats in the election about his shareholding in a media company. The court will also issue a ruling on Jan. 31 on whether Move Forward and Pita violated the charter by campaigning to amend the countrys lese majeste law. The 250-member Senate will also face changes in May that will present a crucial turning point in Thai politics. The senators will no longer have the power to elect a prime ministerial candidate, an authority given to them by a military-drafted constitution in 2017. New senators will also be chosen this year. READ: What to Watch For as Thai Politics Promises More Drama in 2024 Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Tunica, Mississippi man is in custody after he reportedly shot and killed his childs mother while children were in the home. According to reports, the Tunica County Sheriffs Office received a 911 call on Jan. 5 at around 9:50 p.m. The woman on the phone stated that a child came to her home, claiming his mother had been shot inside their apartment next door. Reports say upon arrival at 2669 Kirby Road in Robinsonville, Miss., deputies heard shots fired inside the apartment, and two additional children were located outside the residence. Two charged with murder after separate shootings in Clarksdale, MS Deputies evacuated the surrounding apartments and reportedly spoke with the man inside the apartment over the phone. They were able to get the man to drop his weapon and leave the apartment at 10:35 p.m. They detained him, a neighbor told WREG. He didnt seem to put up any sort of fight or anything. The man police say is responsible for the shooting is 37-year-old Donald Demario Patrick of Tunica, Miss. According to a press release, Patrick told deputies on the scene that he shot his childs mother, 34-year-old Shaterica Queshun Bell of Robinsonville, Miss., and that there was a newborn inside the apartment. Download the WREG App today and stay up to date with breaking news and weather. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Bell was located inside the apartment with an apparent gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead on the scene due to her injuries, reports say. The newborn baby was also located inside the home, unharmed. Patrick is being held at the Tunica County Detention Center, pending charges. Our hearts are heavy today for this family. Please keep their children in your prayers, said the Tunica County Sheriffs Office in a press release. While neighbors say shootings arent necessarily uncommon in the neighborhood, this one was different. I feel fairly safe in our house. Its just kind of crazy, especially since we knew him, a neighbor said. And my husband has been over there and hung out with him a couple of times. So it was just very shocking, I guess, to say the least. The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information regarding this incident, you are urged to call the Tunica County Sheriffs Office at 662-363-1411 or Crime Stoppers at 662-910-0400. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Delaware received a wintry mix of snow, rain and ice on Saturday, Jan. 6. The forecast calls for a chance of rain and snow into Sunday morning. Here is a real-time look at how much precipitation has fallen in the past 24 hours, according to the Delaware Environmental Observing System. A sortable table follows the map. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How much precipitation has fallen in Delaware in the past 24 hours? PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) An early Saturday morning shooting left one person dead in Gresham but no arrests have been made despite the shooter being interviewed by investigators, Gresham police said. The person was shot near E. Burnside and SE 188th, officials said. First responders provided on-scene aid and rushed the person to a hospital. But the person whose name has not been publicly released died a short time later. I thought he was dead: Family seeks hit-run suspects who left father critically injured Authorities said the person shot was involved in multiple physical disturbances prior to the shooting, the second such incident in a little more than a week. On December 28, a 34-year-old man was shot to death after a series of multiple physical confrontations with a number of others who were almost immediately contacted by police. In neither case were any arrests immediately made. Gresham police told KOIN 6 News there is no connection between the cases. Saturdays case is an active investigation and police believe there are more witnesses who had contact with the slain person before the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call Gresham PD at 503.618.2719. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Jan. 6 (UPI) -- The Navajo Nation is protesting the planned delivery of human remains to the moon as part of an unmanned lunar launch scheduled for Monday. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said in a statement issued Friday that plans to deliver the cremated remains and DNA of 66 individuals aboard Astrobotic Technology's Peregrine lunar lander, set to launch Monday, would amount to the desecration of the moon, which the Navajo consider a sacred site. "The placement of human remains on the moon is a profound desecration of this celestial body revered by our people," Nygren said. "This act disregards past agreements and promises of respect and consultation between NASA and the Navajo Nation, notably following the Lunar Prospector mission." The Peregrin Mission One launch would be the first lunar mission launched from the United States to touch down on the moon since NASA ended its Apollo missions in 1972. Although the mission is unmanned, it would deliver the cremated remains to the moon. During the 1999 Lunar Prospector mission, NASA intentionally crash-landed a spacecraft on the moon, carrying the cremated remains of scientist Eugene Shoemaker, who founded astrogeology and is the co-discoverer of the Shoemaker-Levy comet that eventually impacted Jupiter, according to the Lowell Milken Center. Shoemaker was the first person whose remains were sent to the moon. Nygren said officials for NASA and the Department of Transportation should have consulted with indigenous tribes and nations before planning a permanent lunar memorial containing remains. The flight would land on the moon's northeastern portion where the 66 capsules would remain. The mission is a joint commercial endeavor between Celestis and Elysium Space and is being carried into space aboard an unmanned lunar lander owned and operated by Astrobotic Technology. A Vulcan Centaur Rocket owned and operated by United Launch Alliance will send the lunar lander into space. Celestis CEO Charles Chafer disagrees with the notion that the flight would be offensive. "We reject the assertion that our memorial Space mission desecrates the moon," Chafer told CNN. "Just as permanent memorials for deceased are present all over planet Earth and not considered desecration, our memorial on the moon is handled with care and reverence [and] is a permanent monument that does not intentionally eject flight capsules on the moon." NEW YORK (AP) For nearly two decades, journalists, police detectives, FBI agents, lawyers and amateur sleuths have pried into the depraved world of Jeffrey Epstein. Yet even after the release of thousands of pages of court records in recent days, some questions about the millionaire pedophile remain unanswered. The documents have gotten a lot of attention, but they shed little new light on the financiers habitual sexual abuse of underage girls. Wexner named in Epstein court documents, not accused of wrongdoing More than anything, the public is still fascinated with the possibility that some of the rich and powerful men in Epsteins social circle were also involved in the abuse. Heres a look at what we know and what we dont about Epstein and his crimes: JETSETTER TO CONVICT Epstein first began getting media attention in 2002 after news organizations, including The Associated Press, covered a trip to Africa by former President Bill Clinton, actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Chris Tucker. The five-day tour of Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique and South Africa was intended to draw attention to the fight against AIDS. After the visit, New York magazine ran a profile of the man who provided the private jet for the trip: Jeffrey Epstein. The story portrayed him as an international moneyman of mystery, who cultivated relationships with Nobel Prize-winning scientists and diplomats but puzzled Wall Street insiders who couldnt figure out how a college dropout got so rich. Terrific guy, Epsteins neighbor in both Florida and New York, Donald Trump, said in the story. Hes a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. Jeffrey Epsteins connection to New Albanys transformation Those celebrity contacts made it big news when Epstein was arrested in 2006 over allegations that he had hired multiple teenage girls to give him sexualized massages at his home in Palm Beach, Florida. Two years later, prosecutors allowed Epstein to plead guilty to a charge involving a single victim. He served 13 months in a jail work-release program, then quietly started rebuilding his network of influential friends, with the help of his socialite former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. After a series of Miami Herald stories about the plea bargain that deprived Epsteins victims of justice, federal prosecutors in New York revived the investigation and charged Epstein in 2019 with sex trafficking. When Epstein killed himself in jail, prosecutors charged Maxwell with facilitating his illicit sexual encounters and participating in some of the abuse. She was convicted and is serving a 20-year prison term. WAS ANYONE ELSE INVOLVED? In 2009, one of Epsteins victims, Virginia Giuffre, filed a lawsuit saying he had flown her around the world for sexual encounters with billionaires, politicians, royals and heads of state. She initially kept the names of those men secret, but in later legal filings started providing names: Britains Prince Andrew, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, the French modeling scout Jean Luc Brunel, the billionaire Glenn Dubin and the law professor Alan Dershowitz, who had represented Epstein. Some details of Giuffres allegations have changed over time. She initially said she was 15 when Epstein began to abuse her, but she later acknowledged that she met him the summer she turned 17. In 2022, she withdrew her allegations against Dershowitz, saying she may have made a mistake in identifying him as one of her abusers. She said she was very young at the time and it was a very stressful and traumatic environment. In one newspaper interview, for which Giuffre was paid $160,000, she described dancing with Prince Andrew at a club but said there was no sexual contact. Later, she said they had three sexual encounters. She said the newspaper had refused to print those allegations. In another interview, she described riding in a helicopter with Bill Clinton and flirting with Donald Trump, but she later said in a deposition that those things hadnt happened and were mistakes by the reporter. Giuffres allegations have been investigated by the FBI. No charges have been brought based on her claims, but because of the attention generated by them Brunel was investigated in France and charged with raping other underage girls. He killed himself while awaiting trial. Manhattans top federal prosecutor in 2020, Geoffrey Berman, sought to speak with Prince Andrew about matters related to Epstein, but the royal declined to be interviewed. Berman blasted Andrew at the time for falsely portraying himself to the public as eager to cooperate when he was actually dodging questions. Andrew has repeatedly denied having sex with Giuffre and said he couldnt recall ever meeting her, though a photograph appears to show them together, and a member of Epsteins household staff also testified about seeing the two at Epsteins home in New York. Many of the documents unsealed in recent days involve efforts by Maxwells lawyers to discredit Giuffre, and Giuffres lawyers efforts to gather evidence backing up her accounts. The records released in the case have contained scant evidence of wrongdoing by famous figures, but testimony from multiple witnesses confirmed Giuffres accounts of Epsteins sexual misconduct. DEATH BEHIND BARS Any chance that Epstein himself might have been able to answer questions about his famous friends died with him at a federal detention center in Manhattan in August 2019. The death, a month after he was arrested, has fueled conspiracy theories. But multiple investigations, including an autopsy and FBI probe, have concluded Epstein died by suicide. Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz said in a June report that Epstein was able to take his own life because of negligence, misconduct and outright job performance failures within the jail. The Metropolitan Correctional Center was shut down in 2021 amid concerns about squalid conditions, COVID-19, crumbling infrastructure and lingering questions about Epsteins death. Overworked officers assigned to guard Epstein had failed to recognize he had amassed a surplus of bed linens. After a first suspected suicide attempt, jail officials left him alone and never assigned him a new cellmate. On the night Epstein died, officers sat at desks just 15 feet (4.6 meters) from his cell, shopping online and snoozing instead of making required rounds every 30 minutes, prosecutors said. The day before Epstein killed himself, a federal court unsealed about 2,000 pages of records in Giuffres lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell the same case involved in the records released in recent days. That, combined with a lack of significant interpersonal connections and the idea of potentially spending his life in prison were likely factors contributing to Mr. Epsteins suicide, prison officials wrote in documents obtained by The Associated Press. Whether Epstein would have ever been keen to answer questions to clear up some of the mysteries surrounding his life is a different story. In a 2016 deposition in Giuffres lawsuit, he repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination. WHATS NEXT The document dump isnt over yet. So far, 191 of the approximately 250 files that U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska authorized for release have been made public. Lawyers involved in the case are posting them to the docket on a rolling basis, as per the judges instructions. Another batch is expected Monday, though there is little indication they will yield more than what has already been seen in the nearly 3,000 pages of deposition transcripts, legal memos, emails and other records made public since Wednesday. Versions of many of those records had already been made public in past years, though with some sections blacked out for privacy reasons or to protect the identities of Epsteins victims. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. A Florida teens Christmas holiday plans were slightly delayed after he boarded the wrong plane. Instead of going to Ohio, the 16-year-old who was traveling without a guardian found himself days before the holiday in sunny Puerto Rico. Florida teen endured an extended travel day when he traveled from Florida to Puerto Rico, back to Florida then to his intended designation in Ohio. (Photo Credit: Stock photo/Pexels) The boy, who has only been identified by his first name Logan, was mistakenly allowed on the wrong Frontier Airlines flight while at the Tampa International Airport on Dec. 22, 2023, according to a statement from the airline. Both the San Juan and Cleveland flights departed from the same gate with the San Juan flight departing first, the statement read, according to Spectrum News 1. Frontier agents promptly addressed the error as soon as they identified it, taking swift action to rectify the situation. He was immediately flown back to Tampa on the same aircraft and accommodated on a flight to Cleveland the following day, an airline representative wrote, adding, Frontier has extended its sincere apologies to the family for the error. The teen was traveling over the holiday season to visit his mother for the holiday and was allowed to fly to the wrong city because the boarding gate did not verify that the boarding pass and ticket matched the flight. Logans father, Ryan Lose said his son who suffers from anxiety when flying was embarking on his first solo travel so they took extra precaution to minimize potential issues. They chose Frontier because the flight was direct from Tampa to Cleveland, and believed there could be no slip-ups since he had no layovers. However, there were a few slip-ups. Logan saw people boarding a plane for Cleveland when he arrived at the gate around 8:30 p.m. Even though his flight was supposed to leave a bit later, around 10:30 p.m., he thought it might be boarding early. When he asked a gate agent if it was boarding, the agent told him yes and then checked if Logans bag could fit the flight. The agent then let him board after only quickly looking at his boarding pass. Had the agent scanned the boarding pass, the mix-up might not have happened. While on the flight and in his seat, Logan put on his headphones and started to listen to music to help him relax. He missed the flight attendant announcing that the flight was going to the Caribbean island. Context clues signaled to Logans family that he was on the wrong flight. First, before putting on his headphones, he called his mother and told her he was on the flight. Logans mother called his stepmother to share the news, but she immediately thought the boarding was too soon. Then, his 9-year-old brother looked up the flight and saw the flight leaving from that terminal at that time was not going to Cleveland, but Puerto Rico. The dad said he tried to call his son to see if he was on the wrong flight but got his voicemail. If you know 16-year-old boys, theyre not going to turn the phone off unless they absolutely have to, Lose said in an interview with Business Insider. So thats when we immediately were like, Hes on this Puerto Rico flight somehow, and we dont know how he got on it.' Loses family tried to reach out to Tampa Airport and Frontier Airlines to confirm if Logan was on the flight, but believe Frontier didnt take their concerns seriously. The airline only confirmed Logan was on the plane close to 10 p.m. after he didnt show up for the Cleveland flight. After verifying he was on the flight, Frontier arranged for Logan to stay on the plane when it landed and return home and was placed on the flight to Ohio the next day. This is not the only flight mix-up with a minor traveling over this holiday season. The day before the teens flight, a 6-year-old boy en route to visit his grandmother for the holidays, scheduled to travel from Philadelphia to Fort Myers on Thursday via Spirit Airlines, inadvertently boarded the wrong plane. Although purportedly under the supervision of a gate agent in Philadelphia, the child ended up on a plane bound for Orlando, landing 160 miles away from his designated destination at Fort Myers airport, despite the child having a tag around his neck indicating final destination RSW. Spirit Airlines released a statement saying it had terminated the agent who was responsible for the first grader and placed him on the wrong flight. US carrier Dwight D Eisenhower pictured last November. The big ship is now operating to the south of the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, and her jets have shot down Houthi drones - Information Technician Second Class Ruskin Naval/US Navy Yesterday, the ongoing disruption of shipping in the Red Sea took an interesting turn. The Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV), a threat well known to anyone who has operated in the Gulf in the last few years and very well known to the Russian Black Sea Fleet, some of whom have taken up residency on the bottom as a result made its appearance in the southern Red Sea. So far, details are scant. Vice Admiral Cooper, the US Fifth Fleet commander based in Bahrain, said: This was a one-way attack, unmanned surface vessel that had launched from Houthi-controlled territory, had transited out to international shipping lanes, clearly with the intent to do harm. Fortunately, it detonated. Its unclear who the target vessel was Its a significant development for Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), the international naval effort whose aim seems to be something like providing sufficient reassurance to shipping companies to restore the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. First, its clear that the Houthis show no sign of slowing down, despite a joint statement from the governments of the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore and the United Kingdom on 3 December that this must not continue. The entirely defensive nature of OPG coupled with stern warnings isnt deterring the Houthis. Second, the USV explosion will not help reassure the major shipping companies such as Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd and Evergreen who have elected to route around the Cape of Good Hope rather than run the Houthi gauntlet through the Bab-el-Mandeb chokepoint. For the big shippers, the strait truly is living up to its name: the Gate of Grief. It is important to note that despite the big companies currently not making the transit, many ships still are. Whilst container shipping numbers are down 20 per cent, overall numbers are down by only a few percent. This reflects the complexity of the shipping business and the sheer number of vessels of all sizes and types who are happy to take the risk, do not believe themselves to be under threat and in some (probably illegal) cases, may even be assured of protection. However, whilst the big ones are wobbling, short-term rates for container shipping have increased by 173% from mid-December. This and other costly trends are only going one way and will do so until the situation settles. The arrival of USVs on the scene will not help. Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Laboon, one of the warships now operating in the Red Sea, fires a missile on a previous occasion - Reuters Third, the USV provides a tactical dilemma for the warships of OPG who are tasked to defend against the differing threats there. I postulated a while ago that these ships will be operating in air defence boxes up the eastern side of the Southern Red Sea in which they have responsibility for providing cover from missiles and drones, and that occasionally, they would be detached to provide escort cover for specific ships. This methodology was confirmed yesterday by Admiral Cooper. The USV threat changes a couple of things. First, it puts more emphasis on the requirement for persistent fast jet and helicopter cover these are the best ways to deal with USVs. Aviation fuel bills for OPG just went up. Second, the ships in the boxes nearest where this threat is based now have to deal with both air and surface threats. This can be done concurrently but with as little as thirty seconds warning time for the very fastest missile threat, it is not easy. On its own, a single USV isnt a problem. However, send a swarm of them and it is a different matter. And swarm tactics are Navy Warfare 101 for the country that is both training and supplying the Houthis. Added to this is the vast amount of small boat traffic zipping around there anyway, fishing, smuggling and who knows what else. Under normal conditions you have to be on your guard because these things are fast, low in the water and dont paint well on radar, but it used to be reasonably safe to assume that theyre not packed with explosives and heading for you. Now, the warships will have to assume that they are. Finally, and perhaps most important, is the nature of the damage a USV would cause if it got through compared to the Houthis missiles. The latest missile and drone figures (courtesy of @Schizointel) show that in the last months, the Houthis have fired 14 anti-ship ballistic missiles, one anti-ship cruise missile, six land attack cruise missiles and 72 drones. Of these, the ships of OPG have defeated six ASBMs, six LACMs and 60 drones. This impressive strike rate of 77 per cent shows two things. First, the ships there are doing an outstanding job in a complex multi-threat environment and second, there is no such thing as a probability-of-kill of 100 per cent. Hollywood leads you to believe there might be, real warfare does not. So far, the missiles that have snuck through and struck targets have not been catastrophic. The fire on the chemical tanker MV Strinda on 12 December was probably the worst but the crew did an excellent job to bring it under control, no one died and there was no spillage. However, if a USV hits a vessel it will likely hole it at the waterline. It will be carrying a large explosive charge and even a double-hulled vessel is likely to be pierced. Best case, whatever is behind that hole spills into the Red Sea. Worst case, the ship sinks and people die. If the ship is an oil tanker or gas carrier, youre looking at a major explosion. Clearly, a 77 per cent reassurance isnt enough for the major carriers just yet. So we need to ask: what is enough, how many ships and aircraft does that take, and how long can it be sustained? While OPG remains entirely defensive in the face of this steady stream of attacks, its hard to say that a sustainably reassuring solution is achievable, no matter how much excellent work goes into improving civil-military liaison at sea. So the Houthis will continue to excel at keeping their activity sub-threshold, sapping resources and sowing discord. Its a very effective operation. Meanwhile, quite apart from destructive warfare from the Houthis, actual pirates are making a comeback. The Houthi helicopter hijack of Galaxy Leader on 22 November stole the headlines but MV Ruen has been at anchor off Somaliland since 14 December. Yesterday another vessel was taken 460 nautical miles to the east in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The old game of seizing ships to make money, as opposed to making a political point, has begun again. That this is emerging as an issue for the first time since 2017 isnt a coincidence. HMS Diamond, the British air defence destroyer on task in the Red Sea. Diamond has shot down a Houthi missile using her Sea Viper interceptors - AS1 Amber Mayall/Royal Air Force It will also probably not be that long before a mine is seen (either real or imagined) in the Bab-el-Mandeb. The main strait is several hundred metres deep, so not a good place for moored or seabed mines, but drifting unmoored floating mines can be released anywhere. Theyre illegal under the Hague Convention, and ironically enough Iran did sign up to this back in 1907, but todays mullahs havent felt bound by this in previous Gulf mining campaigns. The one good thing about drifting mines is that theyre much easier to see and dispose of (by simply shooting them so that they sink or blow up) than other kinds of mine. An even better method is destroying the craft that lays them. Even so, in big enough numbers mines could be a real problem. So OPG continues to take shape in the face of a diversifying threat, masses of ongoing liaison work across the vast shipping sector, countries joining, countries joining with caveats/agendas and countries who have vested interests there but are not bothering. We must give OPG time the threat, merchant vessel complexity and political uncertainty demand it. Ultimately though, a purely defensive naval operation is unlikely to deliver sustainable reassurance. An operation which was allowed to make offensive strikes into Houthi territory, I believe, could deliver such reassurance: but thus far the White House has declined to cross that line and those allies which could act have decided to follow the US. In my view, the emergence of USVs wont change that but it will if one gets through. Hope is not a strategy. Tom Sharpe is a former Royal Navy officer and surface combatant warship captain, with experience in the Gulf and Red Sea Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Much of the Republican donor class has a distaste for Donald Trump and maintains the classic tycoon belief that fat wallets can shape the world. Nikki Haleys campaign is becoming a grand test of whether they can still change the course of a presidential run. Major political financiers who have gotten behind Haley in recent weeks include billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller, Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone, metals mogul Andy Sabin and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, a Democratic megadonor. Citadel hedge fund founder Ken Griffin and Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JP Morgan Chase, have also expressed interest in backing her campaign. Its a group of people who can buy anything. Except, perhaps, the Republican nomination for president. Its like having the best bows and arrows in the age of gunpowder, said Mike Madrid, a Republican strategist who was a co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project. That doesn't mean (big money) is not relevant. You can still do some damage with it. You'd rather have it than not, but its not going to win the battle anymore. Haley and her allies, newly embraced by a cohort of the countrys wealthiest people, are now spending more on television than any of their competitors, including Trump. And as voting starts this month in the first nominating states, she has a trove of resources at her disposal, with the recent endorsement from the Koch-aligned Americans for Prosperity, a top conservative spending group. But it is far from clear that all this financial power can generate a breakthrough for Haley. Big donor kingmakers have lost power steadily in recent years, with their influence eroded by a torrent of small-dollar donations online and Trumps overpowering grip on the GOP base. It didnt help that Republican megadonors vacillated for months before settling on Haley as their preferred champion. Before Haleys rise, Wall Street executives and billionaire tech founders spent much of last year eyeing and even backing candidates like Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott. It didnt do anything to alter the course of the race, with the donor class failing to steer the Republican primary electorate to any alternative to Trump. Now they are with Haley, arguably the only candidate left with even a plausible shot of upsetting Trumps glide path to the nomination. And still, Haley is polling, on average, more than 30 points behind Trump in Iowa, and at best, 15 points behind him in New Hampshire. One word explains it, and its Trump, said Tom Tancredo, a former Republican member of Congress and an anti-illegal immigration crusader from Colorado. Which is one reason why the establishment hates him so much, because they cant control him through money. Nikki Haley is their last hope this go around, he said. Armed with big money, Haley is now unloading a barrage of spending in an effort to end DeSantis and catch up to Trump. Her allied super PAC has spent and reserved more on advertisements this primary than any other group more than $50 million so far, according to the ad tracking firm AdImpact. And her campaign and the super PAC, SFA Fund Inc., are the two top spenders for television ads reserved since Jan. 1. Thats a major sign of her continued financial strength as the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary approach this month. In the case of Americans for Prosperity, the organizations backing of Haley in the Republican primary followed months of testing the waters and considering other candidates all while Trump continued building his lead. Their endorsement of Haley came at the end of November, just a month and a half before Republicans would start picking a nominee. A spokesperson for AFP Action said the group has spent nearly $23 million so far in the primary, $5.7 million of which has specifically been on Haley advocacy. That includes a network of field staff it deployed in early primary and Super Tuesday states, so far reaching out to roughly 600,000 voters by phone or at doors since endorsing Haley. But the only place Haley has begun to close the gap with Trump is in New Hampshire, and she remains locked into a tight race for second place in Iowa, where DeSantis focused heavily throughout the summer and fall. Meanwhile Trump, with his army of small-dollar donors, is still holding his lead, now polling above 60 percent nationally in the GOP primary. And some major GOP donors are already admitting defeat. Marc Rowan, a billionaire investor who co-hosted a fundraiser for Scott this summer and gave to his super PAC, in December suggested that the race was destined to be a Trump-Biden rematch, and that he was disappointed in the field of candidates. And at least one major national conservative group that hoped to stop Trump from clinching the nomination has effectively taken to the sidelines for the rest of the GOP contest. The Club for Growth opened the primary season 10 months ago with a donor retreat in Palm Beach, inviting nearly every major potential candidate except Trump. Their associated super PAC, Win It Back PAC, went on to run anti-Trump television ads this summer, but eventually acknowledged their intervention was doing little stop Trumps polling lead in the primary. The group spent just over $6 million on ads, according to AdImpact. But by September, they had informed donors that the strategy of attacking Trump had done nothing to further consolidate the field. Online focus groups suggested the ads made Republican voters like Trump even more. Since the organization halted its presidential primary spending in late summer, the Club for Growth and Win It Back PAC have declined to make any further commitments about getting involved in the contest instead featuring Trump in a positive light in multiple ads for down-ballot candidates the group has endorsed. I think big moneys dead in this Republican primary, said Chuck Coughlin, a political strategist in Arizona who left the GOP after Trumps election. But I dont know that its dead forever. At some point in time youll have the horse race again, after presumably Trump loses again, and youll have a vigorous effort to redefine what the party is. Candidates like Haley are relying on big money making a comeback. Haley has not yet filed a fourth-quarter fundraising report, due Jan. 15, but her campaign on Wednesday announced it had raised $50 million from 180,000 donors since launching her candidacy, $16.3 million of which came from digital and mail grassroots efforts in the final quarter of the year. Olivia Perez-Cubas, a spokesperson for Haley, said she has donors from all 50 states. The vast majority of them are regular Americas who are tired of the chaos in Washington and fed up with Republicans losing, Perez-Cubas said in a statement to POLITICO. You can see the groundswell of support in her standing room-only town halls in Iowa and New Hampshire and the number of new supporters. Nikki believes the Republican Party needs to be about bringing new people in and thats exactly what shes doing. Still, the proportion of Haley's fundraising coming from small-dollar donors, defined as giving less than $200, was less than half Trump's through the end of September, according to a POLITICO analysis of the latest available campaign finance reports. DeSantis percentage of small-dollar donors through that period was even less than Haleys. Haleys campaign pointed to her opposition to Wall Street and Silicon Valley bailouts over the years, as well as her resignation from the Boeing board when it sought a bailout, as examples of her willingness to buck the donor class. In a statement, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung likened Haley to Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, calling her the latest carbon copy from Establishment Central Casting. Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2016, said the task for Haley, who has benefited from a late consolidation of donor cash, is to prove to voters that she is her own person. She received a warm reception after the Republican primary debates, he said, because of her willingness to say what was on her mind. Voters want leaders who dont care about what the establishment thinks and are willing to take on the swamp. It is why President Trump has such a large lead, Walker said, adding that the conservative electorate is hardly susceptible to donor class kingmaking efforts. Voters particularly primary voters want to pick the nominee themselves. Corry Bliss, a Republican consultant who ran the Congressional Leadership Fund and American Action Network in 2018 major outside spending groups supporting House Republican candidates that cycle said big money may matter less in a presidential race than any other contest. Its the only race in the country where voters automatically care, Bliss said, citing the high name recognition of national candidates and the wall-to-wall coverage they receive. But in any other political contest today, much less-known candidates are still desperate to get as much cash behind them as possible to get their message out. I think if you called every U.S. Senate and U.S. House candidate in the country and asked, Does fundraising matter? Do you want to be the candidate in your race with the bigger super PAC or the smaller super PAC? Bliss said, 100 percent would say, I want to be the candidate with the bigger super PAC. And it may find new life in presidential politics, too. Tancredo, who ran a long-shot campaign for president in 2007, said he suspects the influence of the donor class will surge again in GOP presidential nominating when Trump is no longer a candidate. Money is just such a pervasive influence in politics, he said. The only way to dislodge it is with a person who will grab people by the heart. Palestinians gather in the West Bank city of Jenin, near where six of their fellow refugees were killed in an Israeli airstrike - Majdi Mohammed/ap Violence surged in the West Bank on Sunday as Israeli air strikes and a drive-by shooting left nine people dead. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) jets targeted Jenin refugee camp in the early hours of the morning after a border police vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb. In a statement overnight the IDF said a female soldier was killed and several other soldiers were injured when their car hit the explosive device as they carried out counterterrorism activities in the camp. A helicopter was sent to help evacuate the wounded soldiers before its airstrike killed six people, the IDF added. The Palestinian health ministry said seven people were killed by Israeli warplanes, including four brothers. The IDF said it had targeted people who were hurling explosive devices at Israeli troops, but the Palestinian health ministry said that those killed had merely gathered at the site. Theyre all gone. I have no one, the mother of the four dead brothers wailed in a video shared on social media when she discovered their bodies at the hospital. Palestinian killed in drive-by shooting was victim of mistaken identitiy Later, a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem was reported to have been killed in a drive-by shooting at a busy intersection in the West Bank, in what appeared to be a case of mistaken identity. The Israeli military initially said he was Israeli, but the Associated Press reported that he was later identified as a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem who was driving a car displaying Israeli number plates. The Magen David Adom rescue service said the shooters had fired through the windscreen of his car and paramedics arriving at the scene in the central West Bank found the man unresponsive in his car. Sundays deaths bring to five the total number of Israelis killed in the West Bank since Oct 7, and the Palestinian death toll in the same period to 322, according to the UN. The West Bank was witnessing one of its most violent years in the past two decades before Hamass Oct 7 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis. Since then, the Israeli army has stepped up deadly raids in the West Bank amid a surge in settler attacks against Palestinians. The UK, US and other Western nations have called on Israel to do more to prevent settler violence. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. It starts around 6:45 a.m.a faint, faraway boom, followed by a low growl that makes my stomach tighten and hands clench. Within seconds, the growl turns into a low rumbling, then a loud rumbling, then an intensely loud roar and whine, up to 70 decibels, as a 737 shoots over its low path across the Mulholland Corridor. This goes on constantly for the next four hours as the planes of Southwest and other airlines fly west from Hollywood Burbank Airport and over Studio City, where I live, and the homes of 200,0000 of my fellow San Fernando Valley residents, from Toluca Lake to Encino. In the late morning, the frequency of these flights slows down, though they are joined by scores of helicopter flights that follow the same path. About 5:00 p.m., the 737s pick up their pace again, along with low-flying UPS and FedEx jets. This goes on until about 10 p.m., when the celebrity and business flights enter the narrow airspace in droves, jetting to and from Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, or even Anaheim or Santa Monica. Things die down after 11 p.m., when only the occasional American or JetBlue flight makes a connection, or when Jay-Z needs to head out to a meeting in New York. For many Angelenos, the Burbank airport is a well-loved alternative to LAX. But 7 years ago, a sudden shift in flight patterns at Burbank airport allowed for more flights and forced more of them south of the 101 freeway. Those of us living under the changed flight paths now contend with a new level of daily noise, air pollution, and a huge amount of black plane soot in our yards, trees, and plants. Several activist groups have labeled this jet superhighway a sacrifice zonea place where others profit off residents health and safety degradations. An estimated 10,000 school children live and study under this jet superhighway, which also spans 75,000 acres of Santa Monica Mountains parkland that is home to a dwindling wildlife population and draws hikers and others from all over Southern California. How did a part of Los Angeles that is both densely populated and contains legally protected green space become a dumping ground for jet fuel soot and dangerous levels of noise pollution? In late 2016, the Federal Administration of Aviation (FAA) shifted flight paths south ostensibly to save money on fuel and modernize its flight procedures. Most communities deeply impacted by this shift did not know about the change until it was too late for residents to file petitions or protest. One day in the winter of that year, several jets in rapid succession flew so low over our home that we thought there was military action nearby. Seven years later, 100 to 200 flights per day go directly or nearly directly over my home. At the time of the change, this specific swatch of land was governed by some of the most vocal environmental champions in the Los AngelesCity Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and Paul Koretz. They, as well as a deputy from then-Senator Kamala Harris office, attended meetings with the public about the new flight paths with and formal task force meetings with the public and the FAA from September 2019 to May 2020. Congressman Adam B. Schiff has asked the FAAA for a review of noise around the airport, and Congressman Brad Sherman wants the project halted until the FAA can reduce the noise and environmental impacts on the community. But the FAA informed Sherman that the recommendations made by the task force didnt meet federal safety criteria. The agency recently issued a draft Environmental Assessment on the proposed changes to the airports southern departures. The public can submit comments until January 24. No single community should have to bear the brunt of the airports noise and environmental impact. The airport should fairly disperse the flights and revert to higher altitudes. Los Angeles City and County leadership, the states Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority all have stakes in the impacts caused by the Burbank airport. They may be the only people able to bring the federal regulators to the table. Meanwhile, my neighbors and I, as well as the animals and plants of the Santa Monica Mountains, are suffering. Julia Bricklin is an author and historian from Studio City. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: No sleep for those under the 'jet superhighway' South Korea has urged the North to stop escalating military activity near their shared border after a third consecutive day of live-fire artillery drills. Seoul warned it would be forced into an overwhelming response if North Koreas provocations continued. On Sunday, North Koreas military fired shots into the sea close to South Koreas Yeonpyeong island, which lies some 12km off the coast of North Korea in the Yellow Sea to the west of the Korean peninsula. It comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns influential sister Kim Yo-jong issued a statement mocking the Souths military capabilities, denying claims it fired artillery shells into the sea while deriding Seouls ability to effectively track its activities. Let me be clear once again that our army has its trigger already unlocked, Ms Kim said, the kind of incendiary rhetoric that has become common from the woman who is widely seen as Kim Jong-uns second-in-command. Our army will immediate launch a baptism of fire in case of even a small provocation, she said, using the official name of the North Korean army, according to KCNA. South Korea says the North fired over 60 artillery rounds on Saturday near their disputed maritime border, after a similar volley of over 200 rounds there the previous day. Ms Kim acknowledged the country fired its artillery on Friday, but said it didnt fire a single round on Saturday, the Associated Press reported. She claimed the country only detonated blasting powder, simulating the sound of its coastal artillery, to test the South Korean militarys detection capabilities. They misjudged the blasting sound as the sound of gunfire and conjectured it as a provocation. And they even made a false and impudent statement that the shells dropped north of the sea boundary, she said in her statement on Sunday. The South Korean military rejected the suggestion that it was misled by the drill and called the Norths statement a form of low-level psychological warfare. It urged the neighbouring country to stop military activity that raises tensions near the border. People living in South Korean border islands sought cover in bomb shelters on Friday and over the weekend, though there were no reports of shells crossing the border. South Korea conducted its own live-fire drills in the sea on Friday in response to the artillery shelling, but there appeared to be no immediate plan to do so after Saturday and Sundays events. Tension between the two countries have been on the rise since the North began conducting missile tests with renewed vigour in 2022, while the South expanded its military training with the US in an escalating cycle of events. Some of the shells launched by the two Koreas in recent drills fell at a maritime buffer zone set up under a 2018 military agreement to ease frontline tensions between the countries. Experts say this agreement could be in danger of collapsing as measures taken by the countries are in breach of the accord. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The door that blew off Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 shortly after takeoff from Portland Friday night is believed to be around Barnes Road near Hwy 217 and the Cedar Hills neighborhood. Thats the information from NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy during a press conference Saturday night that is the first of likely many public briefings over the terrifying accident that happened on a Boeing 737 Max 9 with 171 passenger and 6 crew. Since the NTSB has now assumed the lead role in the investigation, anyone who spots anything is urged to email: witness@ntsb.gov Shortly after takeoff from Portland to Ontario, California, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 lost a door mid-cabin at 16,000 feet. The pilot requested an emergency landing back at PDX, and safely landed the plane around 5:30 p.m. Pilot calmly landed her Alaska Air flight during emergency Homendy said their first full day of investigation will be Sunday and she said she would not speculate on what caused the mid-cabin door to blow out. She said no one was seated in 26A and 26B, the seats immediately next to the non-operational door. That door, Homendy said, can be opened from the outside but was not operational on this aircraft because of the customers request, which is to provide for a little more comfort for travelers. The headrests are gone from seats 25A and 26A, she said, and there was some clothing in the area. It was a very chaotic scene inside the plane, she said. Although it may not seem this way from the video, it was very loud as well. Fortunately they were not at cruise altitude of 35,000 feet, she said. At that altitude, people have unbuckled their seat belts and could have been walking around. Alaska Air passenger describes trip from Hell Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reached out to Homedy to offer help and coordination, and she went out of her way to thank the first responders at the scene, including the Port of Portland and the Portland police. The lead investigator is John Lovell. NTSB lead investigator John Lovell, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy at a press briefing regarding the door that blew off Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 out of Portland, January 6, 2024 (KOIN) As the investigation begins with other parties including the FAA, Boeing, Alaska Airlines and the pilot and flight attendants associations, Homendy said their focus at this time is this particular aircraft. But she added, At this stage of the investigation, everything is in. As we are gathering information, we could go very broad or we could hone in on certain aspects. There will likely be another press briefing on Sunday and Homendy said she hopes to have more detail on the pressurization, locks and hinges around the door along with safety briefings. At this time, Homendy said they do not suspect a design flaw. We are only focused on this investigation and this airplane. But, again, nothing is out and we will go where the investigation takes us. The Associated Press reports the plane involved in Fridays incident is brand-new it began carrying passengers in November and has made only 145 flights, according to Flightradar24, a flight-tracking service. In a statement late Saturday afternoon, Alaska Airlines said, The aircraft involved in flight 1282 was delivered to us on Oct. 31, 2023. The part of the aircraft involved in this event is called a plug door a specific panel of the fuselage near the rear of the aircraft. Alaska Airlines flight headed for Ontario, Calif. diverted back to PDX after a window blew out (Courtesy to KOIN from passenger who want to remain anonymous) Alaska Airlines flight headed for Ontario diverts back to PDX Alaska Airlines added, As of 4pm PT today (Saturday), we have cancelled 160 total flights, affecting roughly 23,000 guests. We are identifying necessary cancellations for tomorrow and expect the disruption to last through at least mid-week. A flexible travel policy is in place for guests to change or cancel their flights. Guests should visit alaskaair.com for rebooking options. We are deeply sorry for the disruption this has caused our guests. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Editor's note: This story was updated at 2:55 p.m. Jan. 8 to note that Kadrian Lewuan Clayton has been arrested. Two men charged in connection with the Saturday shooting death of a 21-year-old man will be held in jail without bail, a judge has ruled. Kamrun O'Shea Goffe and his cousin Jaden T. Burton were denied bail by Circuit Judge Steven Rogers during a first appearance hearing Sunday. Sunday was Goffe's 23rd birthday. Assistant State Attorney Wynn Vickers told the judge that prosecutors will file motions seeking pre-trial detention for the men. If the requests are granted, there will be no chance for bail until the cases are resolved. The next hearing for the defendants is arraignment on Feb. 6. For now, Goffe is being held on charges of first-degree murder, engaging in a criminal offense with a firearm and possession of marijuana more than 20 grams. Burton, 20, is being held on a first-degree murder charge. Both men are from Ocala. The killing is the first of the year in the city of Ocala. Last year, city detectives investigated eight murders, with at least four of them involving guns. Shootings Goffe and Burton were taken into custody within hours of each other on Saturday in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Patrick Stanley, whose 22nd birthday would have been Jan. 9. At 11:19 a.m. Saturday, officers were called to the 2200 block of Southwest Second Street in reference to shots fired and someone screaming. It was the second shooting of the day. At 1:30 a.m., officers investigated a shooting at Berkeley Pointe Apartments (formerly known as Spring Manor) at 2833 NE Seventh St. Police officials said a man had been shot and showed up at a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Detectives were searching for 31-year-old Kadrian Lewuan Clayton. Clayton was arrested Monday in a traffic stop and taken to the county jail. He's being held on a charge of first-degree attempted murder. State records show Clayton is a convicted felon who spent time in prison for several offenses including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, burglary and grand theft. He was released from prison in 2022. In the Southwest Second Street shooting, when officers arrived they found Stanley on the ground with a gunshot wound to the leg and a woman applying a tourniquet. An ambulance came and took Stanley to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where he died later Saturday night. Officers said Stanley suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Gathering evidence Detective Ryan Park investigated the shooting. He learned that two cars, a Hyundai and a Toyota, were connected to the case. Park interviewed several people and found footage from surveillance cameras that helped him piece together what happened before and after the shooting. Police officials recovered 9mm shell casings that indicated there were two shooters. They also found marijuana in a nearby wooded area. The detectives said they were able to confirm that Goffe and Burton were at the shooting scene, and they think they know what vehicles they were driving. The Toyota was recovered at Northwest Seventh Street and Eighth Avenue. Burton was in the vehicle at the time. He was transported to the Ocala Police Department for an interview. Interviews by Ocala police detective Burton declined to answer questions posed to him by Park. Goffe eventually was found at an apartment complex located off Northeast 17th Place. The Hyundai was also found. Officers obtained a search warrant. Inside the apartment they found a Glock handgun that detectives were told was used in the shooting. Goffe was taken to the police department, where he was interviewed by Park. According to police, he said he accompanied his cousin to sell marijuana, though they drove separate cars. Apparently something went wrong at the meeting spot. According to Ocala police, Goffe said he and Burton fired shots at the victim. Bail denied: No bail for second man accused in fatal Burger King parking lot shooting After the interview, the men were taken to the jail for booking. Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala police detectives charge cousins with murder in shooting death FILE - Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., a member of the House Freedom Caucus, speaks during a news conference, July 14, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. There is an ongoing investigation into an apparent altercation between Rep. Lauren Boebert and her ex-husband Jayson Boebert at a restaurant, police in Silt, Colo., confirmed on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) SILT, Colorado (AP) An investigation is being conducted into an apparent altercation between U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and her ex-husband Jayson Boebert at a restaurant, police in Silt, Colorado, confirmed Sunday. Its unclear what happened on Saturday, but Boeberts campaign released a statement Sunday in which she said she didnt punch Jayson in the face and no one was arrested. I will be consulting with my lawyer about the false claims he made against me and evaluate all of my legal options." Police Chief Mike Kite confirmed the investigation, but declined to release details, including who called police. Officers planned to talk with witnesses and ask the restaurant owners for any video that might have captured what happened, Kite said. The Miner's Claim restaurant issued a statement Monday saying it was cooperating in the investigation. Since the beginning, the Miner's Claim has fully cooperated with law enforcement and intends to continue until this matter is resolved, it said. Jayson Boebert did not respond to a Facebook message from The Associated Press seeking comment, but told The Denver Post that he called police on Sunday morning to say he didn't want to press charges. I dont want nothing to happen, Jayson Boebert said. Her and I were working through a difficult conversation. Kite declined to say whether Jayson Boebert made that call. This is a sad situation for all and another reason Im moving, Lauren Boebert's statement said. Boebert, a Republican who has served two terms in the U.S. House representing the western side of Colorado, announced on Dec. 27 that she was switching congressional districts this year to run for a seat representing the eastern side of the state. The seat is open with the retirement of Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Buck. In her current district, Boebert probably would have faced a Democratic challenger who nearly defeated her in the 2022 general election and who has far outraised her. In September, Boebert and a guest were kicked out of a musical performance of Beetlejuice in Denver after guests complained they were vaping, singing, using phones and causing a disturbance. She later apologized. In her relatively short time in Washington, Boebert built a national profile and has aligned with the extreme right wing of the GOP. Her assertive style has grabbed headlines, most famously when she heckled President Joe Biden during his 2022 State of the Union address. Hazards caused by extreme weather in Australia led to at least 10 deaths in December. What happened? The Associated Press reported that severe weather started ravaging parts of southeast Australia starting on Dec. 25. By Dec. 27, officials in Queensland and Victoria had announced 10 deaths. Three of the deaths came after a boat overturned in rough waters off the coast of Queensland. The storm was still raging when they were rescued, Queensland Police acting chief superintendent Andrew Pilotto said of the boats eight survivors, per AP News. It would have been very difficult to survive in those conditions anywhere. Other fatalities were attributed to fallen trees and branches, and flooding, which swept several people including a nine-year-old girl into stormwater drains. It has been a very tragic 24 hours due to the weather, Queensland Police commissioner Katarina Carroll told reporters, per the AP. Thunderstorms and strong winds also downed more than 1,000 power lines in Queensland, leaving 85,000 in the dark. Why is severe weather concerning? According to NASA, we can expect to see more and more extreme weather events as our planet continues to warm. October 2022 was a particularly active month for severe weather across the globe, from a drought in Brazil drying up the Amazon River to devastating floods in Nigeria that killed at least 600 people and displaced another 1.5 million. Not all areas face the same risks. In the United States, for instance, coastal states like California and Florida suffer the most from rising sea levels and warmer waters, which can lead to more severe flooding and hurricanes. Meanwhile, southwestern states have been dealing with severe drought. According to one report, inland states like Kentucky might begin to face more flash flooding due to stronger hurricanes. Whats being done about worsening severe weather? Some organizations and governments are coming up with innovative solutions to help people survive extreme weather. Venice, which regularly floods due to high tides, is using a system of 78 floodgates to keep the city dry, as CNN reported. Officials are even thinking about injecting ocean water into the ground to raise the city, which has sunk due to water extraction, per the Economist. In Vancouver, Canada, a team has created a plan to revamp the waterfront area to take advantage of floodwaters. The proposed project includes vertical extensions of flood-adaptive townhouses and mixed-use spaces on stilts, among other things. And in some southwestern U.S. cities, like Phoenix and Los Angeles, officials are laying cool pavement, a simple paint-like solution to reflect the suns heat and alleviate extreme temperatures. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Organizers of Oklahoma County's latest warrant clearance event already are looking forward to the next one in February. Bob Ravitz, Oklahoma County chief public defender, said county prosecutors, public defenders and court officers from the city of Oklahoma City served nearly 400 people, nearly doubling the number of those they helped during a similar October event. Persons who showed up to the mid-December event sought to either clear outstanding warrants by getting back on court dockets issued after they missed hearings or by agreeing to pay off owed fines and fees through payment plans set up by court officials. Josue, of Oklahoma City, came to the event to clear an outstanding warrant he faced after failing to pay a ticket he had been issued for driving a vehicle with a bad headlight that he said he quickly replaced after being stopped. The Oklahoma County jail "Honestly, I don't remember getting the ticket. It was from 2022, they said," he explained as he waited in line to visit with someone to get the matter resolved. He learned there was a warrant for his arrest after trying to get his license renewed. While it was taking a little bit of his time to get the issue resolved, Josue wasn't complaining. "They are moving as fast as they can, given the numbers of people who showed up. It is definitely worth it," he said, adding he also was appreciative participants were being treated to a free lunch from Big Truck Tacos. "This is nice. I appreciate it." Also waiting in line was Allena, a woman who came to the clearance event after hearing about it from a neighbor. "I knew I had a traffic ticket I hadn't taken care of, so I decided to come down here and see what they could do for me," she said. "If it will keep me out of jail because I missed my court date, it will be worth it to me." Josue and Allena did not provide their last names. Handcuffs are attached to a security bar at the Oklahoma County jail. Municipal, district judges join court clerks to deal with issue December's warrant clearance event involved judges from Oklahoma County District Court, a city of Oklahoma City court judge, clerks and other associated personnel. "When people take accountability for their actions, I think that it encourages them to be able to successfully complete what they have in front of them," said District Court Judge Amy Palumbo. "They will be able to focus on making healthy choices, maintaining gainful employment and being productive members of our community." District Court Judge Cindy Truong said she had been told more people are making rescheduled court dates after participating in warrant clearance events. "I think it saves taxpayers money any time that we can get people in and clear a warrant without having them being arrested and held in the county jail," Truong said. "When they are arrested, they can lose their job, lose custody of their kids and even face evictions. "Being arrested costs them more money, too," she added. "Everybody wins." The Dec. 15 event helped 397 people, with more than 200 of those waiting when doors to the building where the event was held were opened at 9 a.m., Ravitz said. Truong An additional six attorneys beyond the six public defenders and two assistant district attorneys already working the event were summoned from Oklahoma County's courthouse later in the day to help handle the crowd, he said. Beyond that, representatives of Oklahoma County's Diversion Hub, The Education and Employment Ministry and other organizations that provide services to city and county residents also set up tables where clearance participants could learn more about what they offered. "We are probably pushing 300 right now," Ravitz said at 11 a.m., adding the turnout surprised him. "We are really helping people. I saw one lady who was facing a prostitution charge, and they were able to work that case out with her," Ravitz said. "She was crying, she was so happy. "We are able to do a whole lot, for a whole lot of people." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma County helps hundreds avoid arrest, jail time with event CANADIAN COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) The son of Oklahoma Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat suffered life-threatening injuries after a Friday morning Yukon crash that also sent a Deputy to the hospital. Treats office confirmed Saturday that his oldest son was on his way to school when he was pulled over for a minor traffic violation near I-40 and Garth Brooks Blvd. | MORE LOCAL NEWS > Systematic, coordinated effort: Allegations of document shredding in Enid facility abuse case forces OK judge to act fast > The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported that during the traffic stop, the deputy was hit while standing outside of his vehicle. That Deputy was said to be Jose Tayahua-Mendoza and he was sent to OU Medical Center with arm, leg, and foot injuries. As of Friday, he was in stable condition. Canadian County Deputy Jose Tayahua-Mendoza Accident involving Canadian Co. deputy. Image courtesy Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Accident involving Canadian Co. deputy. Mason suffered serious, life-threatening injuries which require surgery. He is still in the hospital and is thankfully recovering. Maress and I are beyond grateful for all of the outreach and support, Senator Treat posted on X formerly known as Twitter Saturday afternoon. The crash is still under investigation according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. This was a horrific crash and Jose could have very easily been killed. We are so grateful for all the support of first responders and the medical team who have provided excellent care for him. Everyone at the sheriffs office appreciates the prayers on Jose and his familys behalf, said Chris West, Canadian County Sheriff. | MORE LOCAL NEWS > Police thought her phone contained evidence, so they took it. Now they wont give it back. > Treat also thanked all of the first responders and medical staff who he said worked quickly and efficiently to help save Masons life. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Senior figures in Olaf Scholzs party are said to be highly anxious about the approaching elections - Jens Schlueter/Getty Germanys mainstream political parties are facing a nightmare 2024 in which they risk being clobbered by the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in local and European elections. Senior figures in Olaf Scholzs centre-Left SDP party, as well as his opposition rivals in the CDU, are said to be highly anxious about the polls, which will be held in June. Both rounds of voting will take place on June 9, when Germans will vote on MPs to represent them in the European parliament. The elections typically favour fringe movements in EU states, such as Ukip and the Brexit Party prior to Britains withdrawal from the bloc in February 2020. At the same time, municipal elections are being held in seven German states, including the Bavarian state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, where the CSU, the CDUs sister party, is increasingly threatened by a swing towards the hard-Right AfD. Also on the ballot paper is a new populist party led by Sahra Wagenknecht, which offers an unusual mix of left-wing economics, anti-wokism and a rejection of mass migration. Her BSW party could prove particularly dangerous for Mr Scholz, who continues to plummet in the polls due to his December budget crisis and perceived dithering on the issue of military support for Ukraine. Extremist fringe movements German political analysts said the country has always struggled with extremist fringe movements, but pointed out that the AfD has recently managed to shrug off that label and woo middle-class voters who would not usually consider themselves far-Right. Prof Ursula Muench, the director of Germanys Academy for Political Education, said: The AfD presents itself to the outside world with the appearance of the Buergerlichkeit [bourgeoisie]. This means that it also appears to be electable to those who do not perceive themselves as extremist, but, for example, want a restrictive migration policy. Above all, the AfD also succeeds in mobilising former non-voters, i.e. those who did not vote in past elections because of their general dissatisfaction with the political parties. Germanys decades-long struggle with the Ost-West-Kluft [east-west divide] between the former Communist GDR and West Germany could also influence a swing in the east towards populist parties. Dr Benjamin Hoehne, a German political scientist at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, said: Right-wing populism is stronger in the east due to a lack of resilient civil society organisations and East Germans experiences with democracy, which have been more problematic than in the west. Tougher stance on migration Both Mr Scholz and his CDU rival, Friedrich Merz, have sought to appear far tougher on migration in an attempt to appease voters leaning towards the AfD. Mr Scholz declared that we have to deport more people more often and faster in a recent interview with Spiegel, while his government has agreed to consider a UK-Rwanda-style processing system for asylum seekers in third countries. Mr Scholz could also benefit in polling from a last-minute resolution to his coalitions budget crisis, after it agreed in mid-December on a spending plan for 2024. The new budget had to be drawn up after Germanys constitutional court blocked the use of pandemic-era funds on a series of major green and business development projects, creating a 17 billion (14.6 billion) financial hole for the coming year. Mr Merz, meanwhile, has overhauled his partys new campaigning material, stripping out positive language on Islam such as the 2010 slogan, Islam belongs to Germany. The party has also vowed to campaign for Mut zur Leitkultur - courage for a dominant culture - a concept that Angela Merkel, the former chancellor, rejected when she was leader as it was too divisive. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Its been a while since I wrote the column about our dog, Sadie, and our fond memories of her as such an integral part of our lives. After her passing, the months turned into a couple of years, and we still returned home expecting to greet a 16-year-old without much time left but wagging her tail as though we had left her for good. The time thing is what gets dog lovers the most. Why such a short lifespan? Im sure there are dog lovers who have found a way to rationalize the short life span, but Im not one of them. Calling in the vet to end Sadies misery was one of our toughest assignments as it is for anyone who has cherished the loyalty and love of a pet. I kept up those long walks after Sadie, but it was never the same. Without her at my side, I was left with memories of our daily treks through the neighborhood and Hulls Gulch. It was a walk of memories at every turn. That was where she often stopped to pick up the scent of some creature who traveled the same path. Oh, thats the street she turned away from for some unknown reason. Heres where she greeted shoppers at the co-op as she waited patiently for my return from the store. Theres that path off the Greenbelt where she pulled the leash toward the Boise River, ever so careful as to only get her legs wet and never dare to swim. The trip through downtown on Sunday mornings was the toughest memory. She loved scavenging for small pizza pieces dropped from Saturday nights diners her only experience with people food. Like many dog owners who lost their best friend, the day finally arrived when we considered bringing another doggie into our home, a pal who could join me on those long walks and offer canine friendship at home. I can think of so many reasons why a dog makes sense, but one stuck with me after I read it years ago. Our canine friends and their often-comical ways make us laugh, and laughing is an essential ingredient for a good life. And lets not leave our feline friends out of this analysis. They too make us laugh. Is there ever a better time to take life a bit less seriously and bring more laughter and joy into our lives? Might laughing at a dog or cats antics reduce stress, lower blood pressure and boost our immune system? Im not making this up. The Mayo Clinic and other researchers like those at Case Western Reserve University say just that. According to the research, those dogs and cats and their wacky antics increase our level of endorphins which make us feel better and happier. And feeling better is just what the doctor ordered these days. That occurred to me the other day as I watched the evening news and wondered what global calamity would hit our shores next. Another COVID to fret about? Can the news get any worse in Gaza? Will Iran or North Korea finally enrich enough uranium to produce and use a nuke on their neighbors like Israel or South Korea? And how long does it take before nuclear war spreads beyond small countries? Or do we worry about something closer to home like the killing fields of our highways and streets where 99 Americans die daily and over 7,500 are injured from car accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Thats a statistic much higher than any other first-world country, due in part to the new behemoth trucks coming out of Detroit. Those in passenger cars dont stand a chance. The list goes on, but you get the drift. Watching the evening news these days is tantamount to walking over hot coals. But life does go on and finding a way to focus on the positive is a prerequisite for the good life. Our pets, whether they be dogs, cats or other animal friends remind us of the simplicity and innocence of life before it is distracted by the dreadful news of the day. For those of us who do not have kids in the house, they keep us focused on obligation, on the importance of watching out and taking care of those who cannot care for themselves. Most of us have had the experience of caring for others, whether its our kids or pets weve had over the years. We learned the importance of looking out for others and giving to others not blessed with the basics of the good life that we often take for granted. Why stop now that the kids are gone, especially when we sometimes need a reason to keep moving and remain active? Then theres the loyalty factor. Our canine buddies have earned the aphorism a dog is a mans best friend. They are devoted to their owners like no other member of the animal kingdom. To our dog, we can do no wrong. Those canine eyes look up at her owner as though she is the only person in the world. I have just learned once again what it feels like to be the only person in the world in the eyes of my dog because our Christmas present this year was a new doggie we welcomed into our home. It reminds me of that scene in The Lion King when Rafiki raises up the young Simba for the animals of Pride Rock to witness the Circle of Life. Just as we rescued Sadie from the streets, lost and in search of a home, now we welcome and celebrate Lexi coming into our Circle of Life, and once again, we wonder who rescues whom. Lexi follows me everywhere and when she is not following me, then she is following Kathy. A lap dog who would rather not take no for an answer, she sometimes winds up on our laps, especially in the evening when we are watching a movie. And the laughs keep on coming every time Lexi passes a full-length mirror or window that sends back her reflection. She lets loose with her funny little growl to warn the doggie in the mirror that she is the boss of this household. Shes the first dog weve had that likes to watch television with us. Those big round eyes are focused on the screen like she is following the plot. Cant wait to hear her reviews, but in the meantime, our reviews of her are filled with love and laughter. Bob Kustra served as president of Boise State University from 2003 to 2018. He is the host of Readers Corner on Boise State Public Radio and is a regular columnist for the Idaho Statesman. He served two terms as Illinois lieutenant governor and 10 years as a state legislator. MEMPHIS, Tenn. One year ago, Memphis police officers pulled over Tyre Nichols and brutally beat him. Days later, he died in the hospital. Since then, his family, loved ones and the city have tried to heal. Tyre was a beautiful person. For this to happen to him is just unimaginable, RowVaughn Wells said at her sons funeral. A mothers pain was forced into the nations spotlight as she grieved her sons death. Tyre Nichols was pulled over one year ago on January 7, 2023. Police said he was recklessly driving although theyve shown no proof. It quickly escalated and was all caught on camera. It ended with a group of officers in black clothing surrounding Nichols. He was handcuffed as they used pepper-spray and a stun gun, kicked and beat him. Nichols was heard calling for his mother. Her home was blocks away. He was taken to the hospital where he died three days later. You just beat him like a dog in the street, Wells said in an interview days later. Nichols family hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump. Meanwhile, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy asked the TBI to investigate. Soon after, the FBI and DOJ said they were investigating the incident too. On January 20, 2023, the Memphis Police Department announced it terminated five police officers involved. Indictments then followed. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills, Emmitt Martin and Justin Smith charged with second-degree murder among other charges. The world is watching us, and we need to show them what lessons can be learned, DA Mulroy said. The world continued to watch as part of the body camera and video footage of the brutal beating was released the next day. Outcry, pain and emotions felt near and far. I want each and every one of you to protest in peace, Wells told protesters. Thousands across Memphis and the country united to call for change. It was clear Memphis reignited a larger, nationwide debate of what police reform should look like. How can we make some progress? President Joe Biden asked as he called on lawmakers to once again discuss the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. It would ban things like no-knock warrants and make it easier for the federal government to successfully prosecute police misconduct. While the bill didnt make it past the Senate, there was action locally. The Memphis City Council passed an ordinance in April preventing police from stopping drivers for minor traffic infractions. It also required MPD to make more of its traffic stop data public data that has yet to be published. Some activists said they want more. This has been a long-standing narrative and historical trajectory of the department, activist and pastor Earle Fisher said. Others argue the councils reform prevents police from doing their job to keep the city safe. One state lawmaker will try to pass a law this session reversing the councils actions. In the weeks and months to follow Nichols death, three Memphis firefighters were fired, two Shelby County Sheriffs deputies were relieved of duty pending an investigation, and at least two more Memphis officers were terminated. Seven officers were placed under internal review, and we found out the supervising police lieutenant that night resigned before he could be disciplined. Its going to be important for us to demonstrate to the community that we can be trusted, Chief C.J. Davis said after the five officers were terminated. Davis has since said officers are getting more training and supervision, and she disbanded the specialized unit the officers were assigned to. It was known as the SCORPION unit, and it was created in 2021 to focus on crime suppression, auto theft, and gang activity. Through the Tennessee Records Act, WREG Investigators requested the units directives, but that request remains in limbo. In fact, most of our requests pertaining to the unit like complaints made and officers disciplinary files havent been provided. Despite a judge issuing an order last fall granting permission for the city to release additional video and employment files, that hasnt happened. At last check, the city said it was working to release the rest of the footage and employment files but there were a lot of redactions required by the court. What has happened, misconduct complaints have since surfaced surrounding the SCORPION Unit and the now former officers and more lawsuits were filed. The DAs office says it dropped more than 30 cases since they all depended on testimony and reports from the five now-former officers. A dozen more sentences in cases were reduced. The DOJ has also launched an investigation into the pattern of practice investigation within MPD over the summer. In September, the former officers were federally charged, and two months after that, Mills pleaded guilty to two felony charges in federal court as part of a plea agreement, which includes pleading guilty to some of the state charges. This is one of many that I hope will come in our favor, Wells said. Nichols mother says it was the first time someone admitted to what they did to her 29-year-old son. The person who one year ago she was expecting to come home. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. The entrance road to Arches National Park outside of Moab begins to back up with visitors on Sept. 19, 2021. Passenger rail between the Wasatch Front and Moab would be relatively affordable, while requiring relatively little new infrastructure, one reader writes. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News According to the National Park Service over 1.8 million people visited southeastern Utahs national parks in 2020, equivalent to over half of Utahs population. Every summer, residents and visitors alike make their motorized pilgrimage down to Moab to see Utahs natural beauty with their own eyes. Unfortunately, several hundred miles of road lie between the Wasatch Front and Moab. Highways 6 and 191 become a perilous journey, and a barrier to the free movement to residents of southeastern Utah during the busy months. Expanded passenger rail has been a topic of conversation in Utah for some time now. However, Moab is often left out of this conversation. Of all potential routes for regional rail, Moab would likely be the easiest. Rail has existed to Moab for decades, moving freight, not people. Passenger rail to Moab would require construction of less than one mile of new rail and a single station. Stations already served by Amtrak exist in Salt Lake City, Provo, Helper and Green River. With a decline in coal, the rail corridor through eastern Utah sits mostly empty. Ideally, a station would be located at the UMTRA cleanup site just north of Moab. Passenger rail between the Wasatch Front and Moab would be relatively affordable, while requiring relatively little new infrastructure. It would serve to benefit eastern Utahs economy while making the roads safer for those who do drive. Nathan Strain Murray PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The Oregon Health Authority has a new public service announcement in its Rethink the Drink campaign. The goal is to discourage alcohol abuse, but the ad is facing backlash. It depicts a man grocery shopping with his young daughter, who questions his decision to buy beer and wine. In the end, the man puts the wine back on the shelf after telling his daughter its, not good for you. But the Oregon Beverage Alliance sent a letter to OHA and Gov. Tina Kotek, saying the ad is wasteful and offensive. Seattle aviation lawyer, pilot calls Alaska plane incident preventable Their letter says in part: We are disturbed to see the Oregon Health Authoritys Rethink the Drink ad campaign pivot from educating Oregonians about responsible, moderate consumption by legal-age adults to a neo-prohibitionist agenda Stating there is no safe level of drinking. KOIN 6 has reached out to both OHA and Gov. Koteks office for a response. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. At the core of the 1960s sexual revolution was female sexual empowerment. It fell short of this goal. Specifically, while the revolution made women having intercourse before marriage acceptable, it didnt lead women to have equally pleasurable sexual experiences. This assertion comes from my vantage point as a sex researcher and educator. I teach human sexuality to hundreds of college students a year. As a teaching and research tool, I anonymously poll students regarding their sexual experiences and compare the results to published research. Both sources provide striking evidence of an orgasm gap between women and men. This spurred me to write a book to foster pleasure equality. Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters And How to Get It aims to expose, explain and close the orgasm gap. The orgasm gap exposed One study of college students found 91 percent of men and 39 percent of women always or usually orgasm during sexual encounters. While this study didnt ask about the sexual context, another revealed that the gap is larger in casual sex than relationship sex. Women were found to orgasm 32 percent as often as men in first time hookups and 72 percent as often in relationships. This study didnt specify that the sexual encounters include activities that could result in orgasm. When I specify this, 55 percent of male students and 4 percent of female students report always orgasming during hookups. The orgasm gap isnt limited to students. Among a nationally representative U.S. sample, 64 percent of women and 91 percent of men said theyd orgasmed at their most recent sexual encounter. Clearly, theres an orgasm gap. But, what are the cultural reasons for this gap? The orgasm gap explained Some say the gap isnt cultural but due to the elusive nature of womens orgasms. Yet one landmark study found that when masturbating, 95 percent of women reach orgasm easily and within minutes. Four minutes was the average time that sex researcher Alfred Kinsey found it takes women to masturbate to orgasm. Orgasm isnt elusive when women are alone. Its also not elusive when women are together. One study found that orgasm rates dont vary by sexual orientation for men but do for women. Lesbians are more likely to orgasm than heterosexual women. What do lesbian sex and female masturbation have in common? They focus on clitoral stimulation. One study found that when women pleasure themselves, almost 99 percent stimulate their clitoris. Yet, when with male partners, especially casual ones, women forgo the clitoral stimulation needed to orgasm. A survey conducted by a womens magazine found that 78 percent of womens orgasm problems in heterosexual sex are due to not enough or not the right kind of clitoral stimulation. An academic study found that receiving oral sex and touching ones clitoris during intercourse increases orgasm rates and that these behaviors occur more often in relationship sex than casual sex. Women not getting clitoral stimulation, especially in casual sex, is a major reason for the orgasm gap. This leads to a more nuanced question: Why arent women getting the stimulation they need? A double standard and a lack of knowledge The first reason is ignorance of the clitoris, fueled by our sex education system. Best-selling author Peggy Orenstein pointed out that sex education ignores the clitoris, teaching only about womens internal organs. No wonder a study found that over 60 percent of college students falsely believe the clitoris is located inside the vaginal canal. Many of these students also mistakenly believe that women orgasm from intercourse alone. In actuality, only a minority can. Depending on the way the questions are worded, 15 percent to 30 percent of women say they orgasm from intercourse alone. When I ask students, What is your most reliable route to orgasm?, 4 percent answer penetration alone. Yet, by failing to teach this in sex education, we leave people to rely on media images. Orenstein asserts that porn has become the new sex ed. One false image portrayed in porn, and mainstream media, is that it is normal, indeed ideal, for women to orgasm from intercourse. This false belief is a main culprit in women not getting the stimulation they need to orgasm. But research tells us its not the only culprit. Knowledge of the clitoris increases womens orgasm rate during masturbation but not during partnered sex. Womens pleasure may not be a high priority in casual sex especially. Stas Ponomarencko So, what in our culture is preventing women from bridging the gap between self and partnered pleasure, especially in casual sex? Researchers in one study found that young adults believe that in casual sex, womens pleasure is less important than mens pleasure. They concluded that while it is now acceptable for women to engage in casual sex, it is not acceptable for them to seek sexual pleasure outside of a relationship. They say we have a new sexual double standard. This takes us full circle, but begs two questions. Why is it important to close the orgasm gap? How can we do so? The orgasm gap closed On a surface level, closing the gap is important for equal access to pleasure itself. Some scholars believe that closing the pleasure gap can empower women to say no. Sylvie Bouchard/Shutterstock.com On a deeper level, scholars connect pleasure equality and sexual consent. They say learning about sexual pleasure empowers one to communicate ones desires to others, making it less likely to be coerced, or to coerce others, into unwanted sex. A number argue for sex education reform. A position paper by the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine also advocated for reform, saying abstinence-only education reinforces gender stereotypes about female passivity and male aggressiveness. While the position paper didnt suggest teaching about pleasure in sexual education, others do. Information on pleasure, masturbation, the clitoris and orgasm is taught in commonly used sex education programs in Dutch schools. So is information on abstinence, birth control, consent, communication, sexual decision-making, and the difference between porn and real sex. The Dutch have lower pregnancy and STI rates, and three times less sexual violence than the U.S. Connecting sexual violence and the orgasm gap, one writer declared: Let 2018 be the year we demand more than freedom from sexual harassment and abuse. This year, its time we demand pleasure. Time magazine said the #MeToo movement was simmering for years. It seems that a related sexual revolution for pleasure equality is also emerging. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It was written by: Laurie Mintz, University of Florida. Read more: Laurie Mintz does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin vowed on the eve of Orthodox Christmas to back soldiers who "with arms in hands" defend Russia's interests, ordering his government greater support of those who fight and calling on his people to be merciful and just. "Many of our men, our courageous, heroic guys, Russian warriors, even now, on this holiday, defend the interests of our country with arms in hand," Putin said at a late Saturday meeting with families of Russian soldiers who have died in Ukraine. Russia lunched its full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022, in what Kyiv and its Western allies said was an unprovoked imperialistic land grab. Nearly two years later, the war, which has killed thousands and displaced millions, has shifted to increased air strikes at each other's territories as both sides have struggled to make significant gains along the frontline. State television footage showed the Russian leader attending with a small group of families of soldiers killed an intimate midnight service, known as the Divine Liturgy, later on Saturday at a chapel at his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow. There was no call from Putin this year for a ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with the holiday, which many Orthodox Christians celebrate on Jan. 6-7 - as was the case a year ago. Ukraine said on Saturday that a Russian missile strike killed 11 people and injured 10 in and around the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, while a Russian-installed official accused Kyiv of shelling parts of Donetsk now under Moscow's control. Putin, who is facing elections in March and has been softening his speeches to focus on traditional values and unity, ordered the whole of his government a greater support to the families of killed servicemen. "I would like our meeting to be a clear, understandable signal to all my colleagues throughout the Russian Federation, and at all levels - a clear signal to ensure that my colleagues are always and everywhere with you, I repeat, any level of power," he told the families. GOODNESS, MERCY AND JUSTICE In a separate greeting issued on the Kremlin's website, Putin called on Russians to follow the "unshakable" values of "goodness, mercy and justice" and on the Russian Orthodox Church to help strengthen "the institution of families" and patriotism. Putin has used the Orthodox Church as a powerful ally to promote his vision of a "Russian World" based on traditional conservative values, in contrast with what he portrays as a decadent West. Reflecting that trend, Russia last year banned what it called "the international LGBT social movement" on the grounds of "extremism". In Moscow's Christ the Saviour cathedral, people were able to pray in front of Russia's most famous religious painting - the 15th century Trinity icon, by Andrei Rublyov - which was brought out from a restoration workship and placed on display for a service on Orthodox Christmas Eve. Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, bowed his head before the painting and scattered incense from a censer as believers crossed themselves. The BBC Russian service reported that the fragile artwork had been taken to the cathedral the night before in temperatures of -20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit) and placed on view in an ordinary glass case without special protection to regulate its temperature and humidity. Putin transferred the artwork from Moscow's Tretyakov Museum and handed it to the Orthodox Church last year despite opposition from cultural experts who voiced fears over its preservation. Christmas services were also held in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine - unlike the rest of Ukraine, where President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a law last July to change the date of the Christmas holiday to Dec. 25 from Jan. 7 as part of a drive to "renounce Russian heritage". In the southern Russian city of Belgorod, where 25 people were killed on Dec. 30 in Ukraine's deadliest cross-border attack of the war, Mayor Valentin Demidov said Christmas Eve services had been cancelled. The city, just 40 km (25 miles) from the border with Ukraine, has come under further sporadic rocket attack within the past week, overshadowing New Year and Christmas celebrations. (Reporting by Reuters in Moscow, Maria Starkova in Lviv and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Leslie Adler) Less than a week after the agreed-upon deadline for its demolition, the blighted and crumbling former Horner Woolen Mill is still standing at the corner of M-99 and Main Street and city officials have again filed suit against its owner demanding that the structures come down. EATON RAPIDS An agreed-upon deadline for its demolition has passed, but the blighted and crumbling former Horner Woolen Mill is still standing at the corner of M-99 and Main Street. Now, city officials have again filed suit against its owner demanding that the structures come down. Utah-based Mill Street LLC, the property's owner, had signed an agreement following a lawsuit by the city saying it would demolish all but one building on the 7-acre site at 224 N. Main St. by the end of the year. The county secured a grant to help pay for that work, but Eaton County Treasurer Bob Robinson said this week that the $653,000 grant from the Michigan State Land Bank Authority was revoked. City and county officials say the best outcome for the historic property now is if Mill Street LLC, a subsidiary of Utah-based Cache Private Capital Diversified Fund, agrees to deed the property over to the Eaton County Land Bank. That's a clear possibility, Robinson said. Mill Street LLC reached out to him this week asking "for a meeting to discuss with their attorneys their signing over the Mill property to the Land Bank," he said in an email. "They have indicated that after investing north of $100,000 last year to progress the project forward, their investors cannot see a way, even with the blight grant in hand, that the project is viable with their out-of-state lens and abilities." Luke Loveland, vice president of assets and funding operations for Cache Private Capital Diversified Fund, didn't respond to an email or message from the State Journal this week. Meeting is scheduled to discuss property transfer County officials have a meeting scheduled for next week "to discuss legalities and arrangements for Mill Street LLC to transfer the property to the Land Bank," Robinson said in a text message on Friday. Land bank leadership has indicated a willingness to take it, he said. The news comes seven years after the Utah-based company became the property's owner and less than a year after the city dropped a lawsuit against them for failing to care for the site. Horner Woolen Mills operated in Eaton Rapids from about 1880 to the mid-1950s. The property has been falling further and further into disrepair for several decades. In July, Loveland told the State Journal his company planned to redevelop at least one building on the site, located at the intersection of Dexter Road and Main Street, into residential housing and mixed-use space. But this week, Robinson said after county officials secured grant money to help pay for the demolition work, "They never got an approved development plan. We never heard back from them." In December, officials with Mill Street LLC told Robinson they may not move forward with demolition, he said. "They wanted to know if the county land bank would be interested in receiving ownership of the property," he said. "I think both the city and the land bank board feel that that would be a viable option because as a land bank, we have a lot more access to grant dollars. We could work directly with the city to come up with a plan." City officials say land bank ownership best option The city filed the new lawsuit against Mill Street LLC Thursday, according to Eaton County Circuit Court records. Eaton Rapids Mayor Pam Colestock agreed land bank ownership of the property is the best option for it, but she and Eaton Rapids City Attorney Cullen Harkness are skeptical its owners will deed it over. "I hope that this is the path that they will go down," Colestock said. "I think it would be a positive step for sure, because the land bank has a lot more resources at their disposal to be able to clean the property up. However, just knowing how these people have operated in the past, it gives me a little bit of pause. I don't know if they're saying this to try to hopefully delay anything with a lawsuit." The property is a hazard, Harkness said. "You've got structures there that have roofs collapsing. There's a smokestack that's falling apart, but then there's just garbage all over the property," he said. "The city's biggest concern is the danger to public safety. Not all those structures are in danger of imminent collapse, but some of them are already caving in." Robinson said it could cost as much as $3.2 million to remediate and demolish buildings on the property and much of the property is located within a flood plain. "So, obviously, the owners are facing that and not wanting to deal with it or it appears that way," he said. "It's going to take, I think, something like land banking it to resolve it. I think the community would be better served if they did sign it over." Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ . READ MORE: Making a Michigan winter bucket list? Here are some experiences, places to consider Why Lansing's BWL is a model for Biden's plan to replace the US stock of lead water lines This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Owner of Eaton Rapids' Horner Mill fails to demo buildings; city files suit (BCN) A resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza will come before the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for a committee hearing Monday, one day before a potential final vote by the full board. On Dec. 5, hundreds of Palestinian supporters spoke in support of the resolution at its introduction. A public comment period will be open again Monday at a Rules Committee hearing. Alaska Airlines grounding all Boeing 737 MAX-9s after hole blows open in cabin The ceasefire resolution could be brought before the full board at its regular meeting on Tuesday. If approved, San Francisco would join the cities of Oakland and Richmond in publicly condemning the genocidal war on the Palestinian people.\ The resolution calls for a sustained ceasefire, an influx of humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages and the condemnation of antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hate. Since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, which resulted in the death of more than 1,200 Israelis, more than 22,500 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Copyright 2024 Bay City News, Inc. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. SAN DIEGO A 91-year-old pedestrian was taken to the hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a car in Normal Heights Saturday evening. San Diego Police responded to calls for a vehicle vs pedestrian accident on Felton Street and Adams Avenue in Normal Heights at 6:17 p.m. Saturday. SDSO: Two dead in murder-suicide at apartment complex near El Cajon, victims identified The San Diego Police watch commander confirmed to FOX 5 the 91-year-old male pedestrian was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after being hit by a Toyota Corrola while crossing the road. SDPD say the driver stayed at the scene; there is no word on what caused the accident or if any charges will be filed at this time. Man injured in Saturday night shooting in Oceanside SDPD closed off westbound Adams Avenue from Felton Street while they worked to clear the scene. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in this crash. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Stay with FOX 5 for the latest updates. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. The Pentagons second-in-command did not know that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was being hospitalized when she began assuming some of his duties last week, raising more questions about the stunning lack of transparency in the four-star Army generals status. On Friday, the Pentagon revealed to the public that Austin had been hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center since Monday due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure. The announcement came almost immediately after notifying Congress, and only hours after Austins chief of staff reportedly informed top military officials of his condition in an email. Defense Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks was apparently among several leaders including President Joe Biden, the commander-in-chief who were not told about Austins medical situation until at least three days after the 70-year-old checked into the hospitals intensive care unit. According to The Associated Press, Hicks was vacationing in Puerto Rico when she was asked to assume some of Austins responsibilities. Defense officials do not necessarily consider temporary transfers of power to be unusual, even if the reason for them is unclear. The department had a communications setup that allowed her to do her job from the island while Austin was hospitalized. Hicks assumed some of Austins duties on Tuesday, but it was not until Thursday that she was allegedly informed of his hospitalization. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized since Monday due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized since Monday due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure. CNN first reported Sunday on the lack of transparency for Hicks, which was later confirmed by NPR and USA Today. All three outlets cited unnamed defense officials. HuffPost could not independently verify these reports. Hicks immediately engaged staff on the drafting of a public statement and congressional outreach when she learned of Austins hospitalization, a defense official told NPR. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that Austin is still in the hospital as of Saturday night, but resumed his full duties Friday evening from his hospital bed, according to the AP. I want to thank the amazing doctors and nursing staff at Walter Reed for the exceptional care they have delivered to me and for the personal warmth they have shown my family, Austin said in a statement on Saturday. I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon. I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better, he continued. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure. The secrecy around Austins illness including its severity and how soon he could be released is considered an extremely unusual practice, particularly at a fragile time when the U.S. is facing multiple high-profile national security challenges. Iranian-backed militias have repeatedly attacked bases where U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq and Syria, resulting in retaliatory strikes that often involve top-level decisions by Austin. The U.S. is also leading a new international maritime coalition to patrol the Red Sea in an effort to push back against commercial vessel attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Biden administration particularly Austin has also spearheaded the effort to supply Ukraine with training and weapons in their fight against Russia. The secretary has also been in regular communication with Israeli officials in their bombardment of Gaza. The Pentagon Press Association has written a letter to the public affairs heads of the Pentagon, expressing outrage about this manner in which this was released to the public and the press. pic.twitter.com/aPZnBhlBHh Oren Liebermann (@OrenCNN) January 6, 2024 The Pentagon Press Association, which represents members of the media who cover the military, sent a scathing letter on Friday to the Pentagons public affairs heads that said the four-day delay in announcing Austins hospitalization falls far below the normal disclosure standards. The public has a right to know when U.S. Cabinet members are hospitalized, under anesthesia or when duties are delegated as the result of any medical procedure. That has been the practice even up to the presidents level, the letter read. As the nations top defense leader, Secretary Austin has no claim to privacy in this situation. At a time when there are growing threats to U.S. military service members in the Middle East and the U.S. is playing key national security roles in the wars in Israel and Ukraine, it is particularly critical for the American public to be informed about the health status and decision-making ability of its top defense leader. Related... Sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff has been identified as the student killed during a mass shooting at Perry High School in Iowa on Thursday. Authorities on Friday confirmed Jolliff was one of eight victims in the shooting, upping the previously reported number of victims by two. Seven others among them three staff members and four students received wounds or injuries of varying degree, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said in a statement Friday night. The gunman, identified as 17-year-old Dylan Butler, was also found dead in wake of the deadly violence at Perry High, where he was a student. Police said he burst into the building, 40 miles west of Des Moines, around around 7:40 a.m. local time, just before the first day of the spring semester was set to begin. Butler, armed with two guns a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun then opened fire, at one point fatally striking 11-year-old Jolliff. Authorities said he suffered three gunshot wounds. He was my best friend, his classmate, Zoey Bautista, told KCCI. He was always there for everybody. Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, who has been with the school for 25 years, was also wounded in the gunfire. The investigation thus far confirms Principal Marburger acted selflessly and placed himself in harms way in an apparent effort to protect his students, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said. His daughter in a Facebook post said he approached the gunman near the cafeteria, where a smattering of students were eating breakfast, with the hopes of giving them time to flee. She added that after a series of surgeries, her father was listed in stable condition. Perry schools superintendent Clark Wicks called Marburger a hero, adding that he likely saved some lives. Two other students remain hospitalized while the remaining victims have since been treated and released, the Iowa Department of Public Safety confirmed. So far, a motive for the deadly violence remains unclear and an investigation is ongoing. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) For more than 8 hours Saturday, a person in crisis threatening to jump from the Marquam Bridge blocked traffic along I-405, I-5, Harbor Drive and transit, Portland police said on social media. Around 10:30 p.m., as the man remained on the outside of the fence at the edge of the Marquam Bridge, police said crisis team negotiators are giving him space by disengaging from the bridge, hoping hell come down on his own. The traffic closures remain in effect, officials said. The Oregon Department of Transportation is also involved. KOIN 6 News will have more information later. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Peter Bone and Helen Harrison out on the campaign trail in 2017 - 151135319 The Conservatives have selected the girlfriend of former MP Peter Bone as their candidate in the upcoming by-election to replace him. Helen Harrison will stand as the Tory candidate in Wellingborough in a contest triggered by her 71-year-old partner losing his seat following claims of bullying and sexual misconduct against a member of his staff. Mr Bone, a former minister, had represented the Northamptonshire seat since 2005. He was stripped of the party whip in October after the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) upheld the accusations against him, which he continues to deny. A by-election was confirmed last month after more than 10,000 of his constituents signed a recall petition on his future, exceeding the required 10 per cent threshold. Richard Holden, the Conservative Party chairman, was in attendance for Ms Harrisons selection on Sunday afternoon, and wrote on X, formerly Twitter: Congratulations to Cllr Helen Harrison on being selected for Wellingborough at a packed meeting of Conservative members. Helen Harrison and Peter Bone - Imageplotter/Alamy Stock Photo Ms Harrisons selection was immediately met by criticism from the Tories political opponents, with Steve McCabe, the Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, joking: Nothing like a fresh start. Jonathan Ashworth, Labours shadow paymaster general, said: Rishi Sunak caving to Peter Bones demand to select his partner so he doesnt run as an independent shows just how weak the Prime Minister is. Rishi Sunak is too weak to lead his own party, let alone the country. The people of Wellingborough deserve the best possible candidate to represent them, not the product of a quick political fix. Only Labour can deliver the change the voters want to see and give Britain its future back. It was reported by The Sunday Times in November that Mr Bone had allegedly threatened to stand as an independent in any by-election unless Ms Harrison was included on the Tory candidate shortlist. The newspaper also claimed that he had offered to resign as an MP immediately, ensuring a by-election took place by Christmas, if her inclusion could be guaranteed. Mr Bone denied putting forward any such proposal because the allegations against me are untrue and without foundation, but added it would be entirely unsurprising if his partner had made the list as she had been included on other candidate lists. Ms Harrison, 51, is a physiotherapist who currently serves as a Tory councillor in North Northamptonshire. She was among the directors of Grassroots Out, a Brexit pressure group co-founded by her partner months before the European Union referendum. Mr Bone confirmed in 2018 he had separated from Jenny, his wife of 37 years, after his affair with Ms Harrison was made public by The Sun newspaper. He regularly mentioned his former spouse during his speeches in the Commons, leading senior figures including David Cameron, the then prime minister, to joke about giving pleasure to Mrs Bone. Peter Bone with his former wife, Jennie - Ian Mcilgorm/Mail on Sunday/Solo Labour on track to take Wellingborough Wellingborough had been a Labour seat between 1997 and 2005 and Sir Keir Starmers party is currently the bookmakers favourite to regain the seat. Labour has chosen Genevieve Kitchen, one of its former councillors, as its candidate, while the Liberal Democrats have opted for care worker Ana Savage Gunn and Reform UK is to field Ben Habib, a Brexit activist and its deputy leader. The result of the recall petition was confirmed after Parliament rose for the Christmas recess, meaning that the exact date of the by-election will not be known until Monday at the earliest. Wellingborough was one of the strongest Leave-backing constituencies in the 2016 Brexit vote, and the general election the year before saw Ukip beat Labour into second place. This has led to predictions that Reform could be in contention in the seat as it seeks to decimate the Tory vote, with James Johnson of JL Partners telling GB News: Im not sure we should write them off too quickly but of all the by-elections weve had recently this is the one where youd expect them to do a bit better. Mr Habib has talked up his chances of winning the seat. At a Reform press conference last week, he said: This Government has brought the UK to the precipice of economic collapse and cultural collapse. I intend to give the Wellingborough by-election the best swing of my bat. Rishi Sunak is also facing a separate contest in Kingswood after the departure of Chris Skidmore, the MP for Kingswood and the Governments former net zero tsar who quit last week over legislation that will allow new oil and gas licences. Harrison: Im best suited for Wellingborough Four separate allegations of bullying against Mr Bone were upheld in the IEP report, in which he was said to have exposed his genitals to his employee, a man who was in his early 20s, while the pair shared a hotel room during a trip to Madrid. The IEP recommended that the veteran MP should be suspended from the Commons for six weeks, which triggered a recall petition and subsequently a by-election. Mr Bone continues to deny the accusations against him. Ms Harrison said she was delighted to have been selected as the candidate for Wellingborough, adding: I cannot wait to get out campaigning to get my message across to everyone here. I want to help deliver for the people of Wellingborough and Rushden, as we continue to focus on their priorities halving inflation, growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting waiting lists and stopping the boats. As the local candidate, I am best suited to deliver for the people of Wellingborough, having already done so on a local authority level. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. I appreciate the freedoms of assembly, association and the freedom of speech. I have no problem with people gathering to share their thoughts and opinions. We must be able to assemble peaceably to share thoughts and opinions without persecution or backlash of any kind. Having said that, it doesnt mean that I have to trust every assembly of opinionated pundits. In fact, there are some whose gatherings only serve to make me trust them less. Phil Williams I try not to let myself delve too deeply into conspiratorial darkness, but there are a few groups that I believe are intent on wreaking havoc. Certain groups, once out in the open, speak their nonsense about what they will do if the rest of us dont get on board with their agendas. Every once in a while, theres a gathering that just seems next level as if something more is happening than just a cavalcade of opinions. As if evil just massed itself in one place and celebrated plans for world domination. Sound extreme? Maybe. The two that give me the most pause are the annual gatherings of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, and the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known simply as the COP. From these two meetings, we hear calls to action that sound like sub-plots from a "Hunger Games" movie, met by applause by the worlds elite who look like 'Hunger Games' characters. These meetings include calls to eliminate fossil fuels, eat bugs, eradicate national borders, eliminate cultural norms, erase biological truths, declare crises where there are none, and to declare peace where there is none. The WEF and the COP are the incubators of liberal progressive power grabs, fully sanctioned and attended by world leaders. Their agenda items make it into the policies, regulations and laws of the nations of the world. This years U.N. climate conference, christened COP28, met in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. It was a star-studded affair, with grand speeches and a heady atmosphere that comes from being in a room where everyone is important and every speech is like a sermon filled with words of life-changing evangelism. According to the United Nations website the world came together to agree on ways to address the climate crisis, such as limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.. Impressive. Noteworthy. For the greater good. Then they announced how they plan to engage the world in their quest for all that is good, right, and fossil-fuel free. First off, after 30 years of waiting more than 190 nations agreed to a framework to transition away from fossil fuels. Not climate activists and intellectual elites, but actual nations signing on to the COP28 agenda. But that wasnt good enough. A spokesman for Africa Movement Building Space, adamantly stated, Proposing a transition away from fossil fuels may sound like a step in the right direction, a glimmer of hope amidst chaos. However, let us not underestimate the cunning tactics of fossil fuel giants and petrostates. They will cleverly disguise their products as transitional fuels, especially in the most vulnerable corners of our world. Yet, .. Even the once unyielding fossil fuel giants and petrostates are now witnessing the inevitable a world thats free of their toxic grip. Guess who the petrostates are? You got it. The evil US of A is a charter member, along with the UK and Germany. To atone for our sins, we pledged a joint commitment of $700 million for a global climate reparations fund. Nice. That was followed by a U.S. pledge of $3 billion for a Green Climate Fund for reducing emissions and adapting to climate change in developing countries. Which then drew a rebuke, because apparently we pledged the same amount during the Barack Obama years but only paid $1 billion . just $1billion. But dont worry because COP28 also launched the first-ever task force on international taxation to tax polluting industries worldwide with the potential to unlock billions. President Joe Bidens climate czar, John Kerry, was there representing the United States in an official capacity, lest anyone think that we are not fully on board with the whole climate-change-is-an-existential-crisis mantra. But the one attendee that really got me was the U.S. Department of Defense. What is the DoD doing at COP28? Arent there wars to be fought, bad guys that need killing, threats that need stopping, tyrants that need toppling, or something? Apparently, climate change is the one true existential threat we face and therefore it is a matter of national security. It is imperative therefore that our uniformed warfighters attend the annual gathering of evil henchman known as the COP. The DoD was quite proud of its attendance and issued a press release to describe the climate change resilience of the various branches of the military, the commitment to combat global climate change by the armed forces of the United States, and to highlight the attendance of multiple high level DoD officials, announcing the Defense Department's role as a global leader in managing the impacts of climate change on resilience, peace and stability. These are not rational people, but irrational people are ignored at great risk. Global taxation? Global climate reparations? And the fact that our military is bragging about its participation in an international conference in which the U.S. is excoriated as an evil petrostate is something we should not stand for. The COP is a joke, but the COP is also serious. It is past time for the U.S. to instigate a COP-out. Phil Williams is a former state senator from District 10 (which includes Etowah County), retired Army colonel and combat veteran, and a practicing attorney. He previously served with the leadership of the Alabama Policy Institute in Birmingham. He currently hosts the conservative news/talk show Rightside Radio on multiple channels throughout north Alabama. The opinions expressed are his own. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Phil Williams on U.S. participation in global climate change panel A group of Phoenix City Council members is considering a new partial ban on homeless encampments, a move likely to reignite moral and legal controversy about how the city navigates the homeless crisis if it advances. Phoenix has been here before. Its ban on camping at city-owned properties, still on the books but rarely enforced, landed Phoenix in court. Still, Councilmembers Ann O'Brien, Jim Waring and Kevin Robinson discussed enacting a limited camping ban modeled after a San Diego ordinance at Phoenix's public safety subcommittee meeting Wednesday. San Diego City Council passed a ban in June that prevents homeless encampments in sensitive areas regardless of shelter availability. O'Brien, chair of the subcommittee, said she was working behind the scenes to pass a similar measure in Phoenix for areas near schools, day cares and, potentially, city parks. The councilwoman and Waring have frequently complained that parents in their north Phoenix districts feel unsafe taking kids to the park for fear of encampments or drug paraphernalia. The potential ordinance, however, would likely come with legal complications and enforcement challenges. O'Brien believes an amended federal court opinion paves the way for a legally permissible limited camping ban. But Deputy City Manager Gina Montes effectively told councilmembers to tread lightly, reminding them Phoenix already has an anti-camping ban and that federal court requirements prevent the city from enforcing it unless there are available shelter beds or alternative space. The city enforces it "on some occasions," Montes said, but they are "very careful about it," to not violate its federal court order. The requirements stem from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 2018 case, Martin v. City of Boise. The court decided anti-camping bans were unconstitutional if cities enforced them without having adequate shelter space for the cited individuals. Office of Homeless Solutions Deputy Director Scott Hall said in the first five months after San Diego passed its ordinance, none of the 19 citations could be prosecuted. The problem? The individuals cited said there was no other shelter available and were let go, Hall said. The U.S. Department of Justice's investigation into the Phoenix Police Department also stands to complicate the potential anti-camping rule. Among other inquiries, the DOJ is investigating whether officers who interact with people experiencing homelessness routinely violate their civil rights and improperly seize or dispose of their belongings. The ban on encampments in new locations stands to put officers in positions to interact more with unsheltered individuals, potentially increasing cases for conflict. Another court case: Arizona groups want Supreme Court to hear homelessness case Montes told the subcommittee that staff would follow council's direction but warned, "It is critical that we have places for (people experiencing homelessness) to go. ... We want to make sure we don't inadvertently do something that gets our ability to address encampments restricted even further." Derrik Rochwalik, chief of staff to O'Brien, said the subcommittee is expecting staff to bring back new ordinance language in March. An amended federal court decision may pave the way Rochwalik said he thinks an amended decision from the Ninth Circuit Court in Johnson v. City of Grants Pass could pave the way for the new, limited camping ban in Phoenix. The amendment upheld the argument that enforcing anti-camping rules without another place for unsheltered individuals to go is unconstitutional. But it also changed a formula used to determine whether a city could enforce its anti-camping rule. The initial decision's formula was based specifically on shelter beds. If there were more homeless people than beds, then the city couldn't enforce its anti-camping ordinance. The amended opinion replaced that formula with broader language, saying it was unconstitutional for cities to enforce anti-camping rules if there "are no other public areas or appropriate shelters where those individuals can sleep. The inclusion of "other public areas" is key, Rochwalik said. The new ban, which would amend the city's existing anti-camping ban rather than create a new one, would only prevent camping in some city areas, not all, he said. Broadening where unsheltered individuals can go to include "other public areas" is also what Phoenix attorneys argued for in their own appeal of a court order imposed on them by U.S. District Court Judge G. Murray Snow. Snow ordered Phoenix to cease encampment cleanups unless there was shelter availability, after the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona sued the city in November 2022. The ACLU claimed officers were violating unsheltered individuals' civil rights and improperly taking their belongings. Snow's decision was based on precedent from the Grants Pass decision, so when it was amended, Phoenix successfully lobbied to have its own court order likewise broadened. Rochwalik said O'Brien's understanding of how Grants Pass creates a pathway for a limited camping ban was based on discussions with city attorney Julie Kriegh. Kreigh declined to comment. The ACLU, however, could take issue with the new ban depending on what "other public areas" the city makes available. In federal filings, the ACLU has said if the U.S. District Court were to consider allowing Phoenix to enforce any camping bans, the court should "prohibit" enforcement until the city can offer an unsheltered person "immediate access to outdoor space that is reasonably suited to their individualized needs." Accounting for individualized needs may in some cases require indoor shelter, the ACLU argued. The ACLU also pointed out how the Grants Pass amendment "specifically proclaimed it is 'not decid(ing) whether alternate outdoors pace would be sufficient under (the Martin v. City of Boise case)." In other words, the Grants Pass amendment allows cities to enforce anti-camping rules if there's other shelter or space, but the amendment does not clarify what "other space" is considered adequate, the ACLU argued. What's needed for an anti-camping ban to pass For O'Brien's anti-camping effort to succeed, the ordinance would need to pass by a majority vote from the four-member subcommittee to the full nine-member council for a vote. Waring already said he was on board for the measure. Robinson said he was open, although he wanted to review the suggested language. Councilwoman Betty Guardado, also on the subcommittee, was absent for Wednesday's meeting. Reporter Taylor Seely covers Phoenix for The Arizona Republic / azcentral.com. Reach her at tseely@arizonarepublic.com or by phone at 480-476-6116. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix mulls new homeless camping ban near schools, day care Phoenix residents saw minor rain and wind gusts throughout the day Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Phoenix. Hail fell over north Phoenix in the afternoon hours. The Arizona Department of Transportation initially reported snow on Interstate 17 just north of Jomax Road, but later clarified what was seen on the road was hail. The metro Phoenix area had a high of 51 degrees and a low of 32 degrees, the weather service said. The weather service said that the Phoenix area was expected to have minor precipitation totals of 0-0.1 inch throughout the day with a 90% chance of precipitation before clearing out by the evening. There will also be anticipated wind gusts with the west wind starting from 10-15 mph during the day and 5-15 mph at night, along with gusts as high as 20 mph throughout the day, the weather service said. Yes, it snows in Arizona: Here are 5 tips for how to drive in snow and ice this winter Arizona will also expect to see possible snowfall with snow showers likely before 4 p.m. in Flagstaff (Northern Arizona) and snow showers in Huachuca City (Southern Arizona) by 7 p.m. The weather service in Phoenix issued several special weather statements warning of strong winds and small hail, also known as graupel, for areas including Scottsdale, Peoria, Sun City, Apache Junction, Queen Creek and Gold Canyon. Weather statements for these areas were expected to be valid through 5:15 p.m. For the first half of this week from Monday through Wednesday, Phoenix-area residents should expect widespread frost and calm wind, the weather service said. Monday through Wednesday is expected to be sunny throughout the day and to get gradually warmer each day. Monday should see a high of 53 degrees with a low of 31 degrees. Tuesday is expected to have a high of 55 degrees and a low of 34 degrees and Wednesday a high of 58 degrees and a low of 36 degrees, according to the NWS said. There will be a moderate freeze warning Monday and Tuesday from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. that will cover portions of LaPaz, Maricopa, Gila and Pinal Counties. This will come with freezing temperatures with lows from the mid 20's to lower 30's, the NWS said. The NWS said that the freeze warning will come with precautions. They advise that the freezing temperatures could cause damage to plants that are sensitive to the cold, and to check on neighbors with insufficient heating and make sure pets have a warm shelter. Meteorologist Mark O'Malley also advised to make sure that outdoor piping is secured as well during this warning. "If you have any outdoor piping, you may want to protect that, it depends on your location or how cold it's going to get. Just be prepared for cold weather for the remainder of the week," O'Malley said. The department of transportation announced closures on the following highways due to weather conditions or weather-related incidents: Interstate 40 eastbound at US 93 Interstate 40 eastbound near Ash Fork (milepost146) Interstate 40 westbound near Williams (milepost158) Interstate 40 westbound in Winslow (at milepost252) US 60 eastbound outside Globe (milepost 255) US 60 westbound in Show Low State Route 87 southbound outside Winslow(milepost 338) State Route 89A in both directions in Sedonabetween mileposts 375-397 State Route 64 in both directions near GrandCanyon National Park (milepost 243) This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix residents see hail, light rain, wind gusts Sunday Meghan McCain slammed former President Donald Trump for mocking her late father, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), over injuries he sustained during his career in the military. My dad was an American hero. An icon. A patriot that will be remembered throughout history. I cannot buy a bagel without someone approaching me about how much they loved and miss him, she wrote on X, formerly Twitter, Saturday. Trump is a piece of shit, election denying, huckster whose own wife wont campaign with him. Trump name-dropped McCain in an Iowa speech on Saturday as he remarked on efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, during his administration. Obamacare is a catastrophe, nobody talks about it. You know, without John McCain, we wouldve had it done, said Trump of McCain, who voted against a Republican measure that wouldve repealed parts of the act in 2017. Trump later made a thumbs down gesture, imitating McCains vote at the time: John McCain, for some reason, couldnt get his arm up that day, remember? He goes ... like that. That was the end of that. McCain spent 5 1/2 years in a North Vietnamese prison, where he was subjected to torture after his Skyhawk dive bomber was shot down in 1967. At the time, he was a lieutenant commander in the Navy. He sustained injuries from the crash, the torture and from inadequate medical treatment, ABC News noted, which left him unable to raise his arms above his shoulders. My dad was an American hero. An icon. A patriot that will be remembered throughout history. I cannot buy a bagel without someone approaching me about how much they loved and miss him. Trump is a piece of shit, election denying, huckster whose own wife won't campaign with him. https://t.co/f3RlWLqT9B Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) January 7, 2024 Trump, the current front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, has attacked McCain on a number of occasions, both before and after his death in 2018. The former president notably declared on the 2016 campaign trail that McCain was not a war hero, before adding that he likes people who werent captured. He also grumbled about McCain last year in his Letters to Trump coffee-table book, where he wrote about giving the late senator the worlds longest funeral. Its worth noting that Trump did not attend the funeral, at the request of McCains family. Much like his wars, it never ended, Trump wrote. Related... Ukrainian poet and soldier Maksym "Dali" Kryvtsov has been killed in action. Source: Kryvtsovs mother on his Facebook page; writer Liubko Deresh; volunteer Lesia Lytvynova Details: On Sunday evening, the poet's mother Nadiia Krytsova wrote: "My dearest son will sprout violets," recalling lines from one of his poems. In addition, the death of the poet was reported by writer Liubko Deresh, with reference to his friends, as well as volunteer and soldier Lesia Lytvynova. Maksym Kryvtsov is the author of the book Poems from the Loophole, recognised as one of the best Ukrainian books of 2023 according to the Ukrainian PEN. According to the Nash Format publishing house, Kryvtsov went to war as a volunteer in 2014. Subsequently, he worked at the Centre for Rehabilitation and Readaptation of Anti-Terrorist Operation and Joint Forces Operation participants and the Veteran Hub. After the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion in 2022, he returned to the front. Support UP or become our patron! A suspect was arrested Sunday morning after authorities chased him from Central Oak Park to the Southside Park neighborhood of downtown Sacramento where the man barricaded himself inside a car for about an hour. According to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office, the pursuit began after a driver took off from a vehicle stop on 44th Street and 11th Avenue around 11:50 p.m. Saturday. The suspect, driving a white Infiniti Q45, was pulled over for a traffic violation, said Sheriffs Office spokesman Sgt. Amar Gandhi. Deputies later identified the vehicle and suspect in connection with multiple arrest warrants relating to firearm and drug charges. The suspect fled Central Oak Park and led officers to downtown Sacramento, where the Sheriffs Office requested assistance from the Sacramento Police Departments SWAT team. Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper also was on the scene. The suspect crashed into a residential fence at Fifth and S streets, and Sacramento officers deployed spike strips to prevent him from driving away from the scene, Gandhi said. When the suspect refused to leave his vehicle, SWAT officers broke one of his windows and deployed pepper spray. According to dispatch audio reviewed by The Sacramento Bee, deputies said the suspect then lit a cigarette and started a fire in the vehicle before surrendering around 1 a.m. There were no passengers in the vehicle, and the suspect was arrested without injury and taken to the Main Jail, Gandhi said. Sacramento firefighters then responded to extinguish the fire in the car, which was a total loss. The suspect, identified as a 42-year-old man, is facing a host of charges ranging from felony evasion of a police officer to hit and run property damage, as well as prior felony warrants for alleged possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. According to jail records, he was also wanted for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The man is being held in lieu of $105,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Sacramento Superior Court. A man died Jan. 4 after being found shot at a Northeast Side apartment complex. The death was the first homicide in Columbus in 2024. The Columbus Division of Police released the name of the victim of the city's first homicide of 2024. Yahya Mohamad, 24, died after being shot on the city's Northeast Side on Jan. 4, according to a police statement released Sunday. Police were called to the 1800 block of Belcher Drive in the Trails at Arbor Court apartments shortly after 8 a.m., Jan. 4, on reports of a man lying in the parking lot. Witnesses and officers performed CPR on the victim, but medics pronounced him dead at 8:19 a.m. Thursday, Sgt. Joe Albert previously told the Dispatch. There were gunshots reported earlier that morning, at around 5 a.m, in the area, but no one was found when officers went to the scene, according to police. Detectives are working to determine whether the 5 a.m. call and the shooting are related. When identifying Mohamad, police also named Jevin E Campbell, 19, as being arrested on charges of murder in the case. While investigating, police said they found out that Campbell had intervened in a theft from a motor vehicle when Mohamad was shot. Anyone with information about the shooting should contact detectives at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS. Calls to Crime Stoppers are anonymous. Dispatch reporter Bethany Bruner contributed to this reporting. dking@dispatch.com @DanaeKing This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus police identify man killed on Northeast Side on Jan. 4 Update: Police say Nolan Richardson has been found. Police are searching for an 11-year-old boy last seen Saturday night in Kansas City. Nolan Richardson was last seen around 11 p.m. in the area of East 56th Street and Ridgeway Avenue, where he left on foot after returning home with family. Nolan is 5 feet and 4 inches tall and weighs around 130 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Family is concerned for his safety. Anyone who sees Nolan or knows of his whereabouts should call 911 immediately. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A 66-year-old woman has vanished again. Bonnie Olds initially disappeared around 9 a.m. on Saturday. She was found safe by about 4:30 p.m. Later around 9:40 p.m. Saturday evening she was reported missing again. FOX4 newsletters: Get the latest news delivered to your inbox She was last seen in the area of 23rd Street and Charlotte Street wearing a green pajama jumpsuit and carrying several bags. This is right outside the Truman Hospital. Shes a 66-year-old white woman with grey hair and brown eyes. Olds family is concerned for her safety. If you see her, contact Missing Persons at 816-234-5043 or call 911. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) Police say a suspect has been arrested after a hit-and-run crash in Grandville. The hit-and-run happened around 4:25 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of Canal Avenue SW and 44th Street SW, according to the Grandville Police Department. Police say nobody was hurt in the crash. This embedded content is not available in your region. The suspect left the scene but was later found in Ottawa County and arrested, according to the Grandville Police Department. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Sen. Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, is serving as Senate majority leader in the 2024 legislative session. Albritton's district includes most of Polk County south of Winter Haven. As the Florida Legislature opens its annual session Tuesday, three of Polk Countys six lawmakers hold elevated status. Sen. Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, is Senate majority leader and scheduled to become Senate president after this session. Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, enters her second session with the expectation of becoming House speaker for the 2028-2030 term. Another legislator, Sen. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, is shepherding a mammoth health-care bill that is the top priority of the Senate president. Meanwhile, two legislators are entering their final sessions. Rep. Sam Killebrew, R-Winter Haven, is in his fourth term and barred by term limits from seeking re-election. Rep. Melony Bell, R-Fort Meade, will leave the Legislature to run for Polk County supervisor of elections. Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, enters her second session with the expectation of becoming House speaker for the 2028-2030 term. The Legislature meets early this year for its two-month session because it is an election year. In other years, the session begins in March. Albritton, Canady and Rep. Josie Tomkow, R-Polk City, are running for re-election. Albritton, whose district covers most of Polk County south of Winter Haven, served in the Florida House for eight years before joining the Senate in 2018. Something that I've learned over the last 13 sessions is that you just never know what's going to pop up, Albritton said. Seems like every session that goes by, I just think to myself, Wow, next session, there is no way it's going to be this busy again. I have every expectation this session is going to be as wide open as any other one we've had. More action on insurance? Both Albritton and Burton said the Legislature will again devote attention to property insurance. Floridians have endured soaring insurance rates in recent years, as some companies have folded or stopped issuing policies in the state. Sen. Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, is serving her first term in the state Senate after serving eight years in the House. She is chair of the Health Policy Committee, where she will shepherd a massive health-care bill that is a priority of the Senate president. The Legislature passed a series of bills during two special sessions in 2022 and last years regular session aimed at providing relief. Among other actions, lawmakers created a $1 billion reimbursement fund for insurers, changed the property insurance claims process and took steps to reduce enrollment in the state-supported Citizens Property Insurance Corp. State leaders have said that it will take time before the actions moderate the insurance premiums that Floridians are paying. Burton said she did not anticipate any major new legislation on property insurance but emphasized that lawmakers understand the magnitude of the issue. We've done so much, and unfortunately and frustratingly, I will say, for a lot of Floridians, it's not a quick fix, right? Burton said. And unless you're paying attention to all of the details and the nuances in insurance, and you're just getting an insurance bill where your rates have gone up again, youre wondering what's happening. Burton said that more insurance companies are now writing policies in Florida and that other signs suggest the market is stabilizing. So things are looking like they're going in the right direction, for sure, she said. But it's certainly the number one, if not the number two, issue on the minds of Floridians, when I talk to people. Bell said that the financial outlook seems favorable entering her sixth and final session as a legislator. The revenue streams looking good, with the tourism back and all, so our revenues back up, Bell said. So I would see a lot of things getting funded this year that maybe did not (last session). One dynamic to watch in this years session: How much influence will Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis exert? DeSantis, first elected in 2018, has actively directed legislative priorities in the past five sessions, even asserting control over the rewriting of congressional district maps in the 2022 session. Shortly after last years session ended, DeSantis launched his long-anticipated campaign for president as a Republican. The Iowa Caucus takes place Jan. 15, followed by primary elections or caucuses in more than 20 states before the scheduled end of the session. As he campaigns in other states, how much sway will DeSantis hold over the Legislature? If this had been going on 25 years ago, I would say it will have a substantial impact, Albritton said. But being that its happening today, and this is what I mean by that, with cell phones and emails and the kind of connectivity that people work miles and miles away from their job site, I don't have any concerns about the flow of session or the urgency of session, from the governor's office or anybody else, as a result of him running for president. For the second straight session, Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers, with a margin of 85 to 35 in the House and 28 to 12 in the Senate. Canady, Killebrew and Tomkow did not respond to interview requests. Here is an overview of bills filed by Polk County legislators: Florida House Bell is vice chair of the Houses Education and Employment Committee and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee. As of Thursday, Bell had filed five bills as sole sponsor. One of those (HB 451), a companion to a bill filed by Burton in the Senate, seeks a permanent allocation of $20 million to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to fund water projects in the Green Swamp. The bill refers to a measure passed in 2017, the Heartland Headwaters Protection and Sustainability Act, intended to safeguard the sources of the Alafia, Hillsborough, Kissimmee, Ocklawaha, Peace and Withlacoochee rivers. Rep. Melony Bell, R-Fort Meade, is in her final year in the legislature, having announced plans to run for Polk supervisor of elections. The matching bills say the funds would be used for projects that protect, restore, or enhance the headwaters of the river systems located in the Heartland Region of Central Florida. Bell filed a bill (HB 959) that would increase access to mental-health services for inmates in state prisons. She said that legislation emerged from discussions with Ricky Dixon, secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections. Form 6 Eagle Lake nearly loses majority of commission in resignations over financial forms The Fort Meade lawmaker also sponsored a bill that would allow people with diabetes to get emergency refills of insulin and related supplies or equipment up to three times a year. One of Bells adult daughters has Type-1 diabetes. Canady is vice chair of the House Infrastructure Strategies Committee and sits on one other committee and five subcommittees. She co-sponsored a bill passed in last years session and signed into law by DeSantis barring almost all abortions beyond six weeks of pregnancy. The law is on hold pending a review by the Florida Supreme Court of a 15-week ban enacted in the previous session. As of Thursday, she was the sole sponsor on three bills. One of them (HB 275) would establish penalties for causing intentional damage to critical infrastructure, such as electrical power plants and distribution equipment, natural gas storage centers or pipelines, wireless communications facilities, water treatment facilities, deepwater ports and railroad switching yards. Such actions would be classified as a second-degree felony. A violator found liable in a civil action would have to pay a utility or other owner an amount equal to three times the actual cost of damages. Another of Canadys bills (HB 775) would expand the circumstances under which parents may surrender infants. After delivery in a hospital, a parent could leave the infant with medical staff or a licensed health care professional. The bill would also allow a parent to call 911 and surrender an infant to an emergency medical service provider. The measure would increase the age at which an infant may be surrendered legally from seven days to 30 days. Her other bill (HB 523) creates the Florida Seal of Fin Arts Program in the Department of Education. Killebrew is the only Polk County representative who is not the chair or vice-chair of a committee. He sits on three committees and three subcommittees, including the Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Sam Killebrew, R-Winter Haven, also is in his final session in the House, as he faces term limits. Killebrew serves on three committees and three subcommittees and has filed five bills as sole sponsor. As of Thursday, Killebrew had filed the maximum seven bills allowed, with two others withdrawn before introduction. Under one bill (HB 79), judges could order someone convicted of driving or boating under the influence to pay financial support for each child of a victim killed in a resulting vehicle crash, up to age 18. Another bill (HB 303) would allow employees and contractors of city or county animal control authorities or sheriff departments to give rabies vaccinations to dogs, cats and ferrets in the custody of the agency under indirect supervision of a veterinarian. Killebrew also filed a bill (HB 1033) that would prohibit pet stores from selling dogs or cats. Killebrew has introduced legislation (HB 475) to provide an annual sales tax holiday for retail sales of micromobility vehicles, such as electric bicycles and scooters that travel at under 30 mph. Another of his bills (HB 649) would allow utility terrain vehicles to be driven at all hours on nonfederal roads with speed limits of less than 55 mph. Tomkow, a third-term legislator, is chair of the Pre-K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee and is assigned to two committees and one other subcommittee. Rep. Josie Tomkow, R-Polk City, is a third-term legislator. She chairs the Pre-K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee and is assigned to two committees and one other subcommittee. As of Thursday, Tomkow had filed one bill (HB 1147), which would extend the period for a promotional rate given to broadband providers to provide attachments needed to add service to unserved or underserved users from July 1, 2024, to the end of 2028. Florida Senate Albritton chairs the Select Committee on Resiliency and sits on five other committees, including the Joint Legislative Budget Commission. In keeping with legislative custom, as Senate majority leader he is not filing any bills of his own. Albritton said he expects the Legislature to advance bills focused on water quality as well as rules for homeowners associations and condominium associations. Burton, a first-term senator who served eight years in the House, is chair of the Health Policy Committee and vice chair of the Judiciary Committee. In early December, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, joined with Burton and Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, in announcing plans for a package of legislation labeled Live Healthy. The measures seek to increase Floridas health-care workforce and increase access to care, the trio said. Approximately 300,000 people a year are moving to Florida, and, as I oftentimes say, they're not bringing their health-care providers with them, Burton said. We're not having a proportionate number of health-care providers move here to care for all of us who are here as well. Passidomo began talking in the late spring about making health care her chief priority in the 2024 session, and Burton said she has engaged in serious discussions with the Senate president since last summer. Burtons Health Policy Committee developed SB 7016, which contains multiple elements and carries a cost of about $800 million. The 234-page measure aims to entice medical students and recent graduates to Florida through a variety of incentives, including a very robust tuition-reimbursement program, Burton said. The bill would create and subsidize a program in which medical residents and students could do clinical work at nonprofit health centers, rural health clinics and behavioral health clinics. It would also expand training opportunities to nurses and behavioral health-care providers willing to work in underserved areas. Among other provisions, the legislation is intended to widen the use of telehealth for maternal care and to reduce pressure on emergency departments by requiring hospitals to develop plans for directing patients with non-urgent medical needs to more appropriate treatment options. In addition to that voluminous bill produced by her committee, Burton had introduced 12 bills as primary sponsor as of Thursday. One of her bills (SB 238) would shield nursing homes and assisted-living facilities from punitive damages for alleged negligence unless a court finds that a specific individual or corporate defendant actively and knowingly participated in intentional misconduct or gross negligence. Another bill (SB 1224) contains revisions to Floridas Guardian ad Litem program, which advocates for children in the foster care system. The legislation would include the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office among other agencies assigned to develop a plan for promoting adoption, supporting families and preventing abuse, abandonment and neglect of children. It would direct courts to appoint a guardian ad litem at the earliest possible point of a childs involvement with the legal system. Burton submitted legislation (SB 986) that would allow owners to alter the topography of their land, such as diverting or impeding the flow of water or impacting wetlands, if the activities or improvements result in a net increase in wetland resource functions. Killebrew filed a similar bill in the House but withdrew it prior to introduction. Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County legislators will play key roles as session begins Tuesday Appreciating Pope Francis Pope Francis is a refreshing breeze blowing through the halls of the Roman Catholic Church. I was inspired to read that the pope has adopted rules to allow priests to give a blessing to same-sex couples. Just a simple, casual blessing. Though the popes message is directed to priests, seemingly not contingent on the approval of local bishops, some bishops are barring the door. Cant embrace those intrinsically disordered gay or LGBTQ+ people with a simple blessing because the church might collapse. Nonsense. The central message Jesus preached was to love your neighbor as yourself. Have people forgotten that Jesus was always embracing others? U.S. Archbishop Raymond Burke, a high-profile critic of Pope Francis, said in October that the sheep depend on the courage of pastors who must protect them from the poison of confusion, error and division. Burke and his allies, however, fail to understand that people are not sheep. Regardless of faith, people use their critical-thinking skills, religious background, education and experiences to navigate life. They have a right to make decisions based on conscience. It is important to challenge the rigid ideologies of some conservative clerics and to embrace the compassionate gesture by Pope Francis. Michael P. Redden, Clovis Why Trump hats? So I unfold my Jan. 1, 2024 Fresno Bee and think I have a Trump campaign publication in my hands. There on the front of The Bee is a large picture of Trump MAGA hats as if to remind the readers that Trump is The Bees man. Will we see picture of Bidens campaign material soon? Ill wait. Don Hughes, Los Banos Gun laws miss the mark I am a gun owner and a CCW permit holder, I thoroughly believe in gun safety and being trained. I also agree with reasonable and proper gun laws. In the state of California, we have passed some of the most ridiculous gun laws in existence. Some of those laws have been deemed unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. We also have a system of checks and balances to question those laws and their constitutionality. After a law has been overturned by a federal court, the state has the right to appeal that, but after the third appeal has been reversed, when do we stop? Our attorney general seems to think that the more he appeals a ruling, he will then get a different answer. Sort of like a child testing their parent over and over. When will it stop? But wed rather make law-abiding citizens criminals. Why not go after the real problem criminals with guns and people with mental health issues. Dont blame the guns, blame the user. You are not going to solve any problems by putting your head in the sand and making your law-abiding citizens criminals . Again fix the real issue and fix it now. Duane Opie, Clovis Fong is a fraud Vincent Karchi Fong, another Abernathy/McCarthy minion, can hold two public offices at the same time in blatant violation of state law, per the last minute ruling by corrupt Sacramento Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Wai Ling Chang. This judge has been overturned on appeal many times. Opinion Fong used a case from 1851 saying he can hold two offices at the same time. Of course, the state laws have been changed since then to prevent such a ridiculous situation. Fong is a selfish fraud and is wasting taxpayer funds. Ken Mettler, Bakersfield Working together to help students Our nation can only be strong if our future citizens can read, write and do math. Students need the tools and teachers should have the freedom to address individual differences in order to each these goals. As a retired school administrator and former school board member, I saw that success in districts where students, teachers and parents worked together. Richard Asadoorian, Visalia America must help Ukraine Christmas and New Years holidays were celebrated differently in Ukraine and the rest of the world this year. While people in most countries enjoyed the warmth of their homes and time with their families, Ukrainian people suffered under the barrage of air attacks. Based on the information published by the Ukrainian air defense forces, the Kremlin launched 226 missiles and 262 drones between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2. Dozens of dead, and hundreds of injured innocent civilians, ruined houses, schools, hospitals. Wave after wave of devastating attacks on Ukraine. Ukraine urgently needs assistance, and U.S. support is crucial. The longer the assistance is postponed, the more Ukrainians will be killed by the Rashist terrorist regime. Putin is a war criminal. The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for his arrest for committing genocide against the Ukrainians. Please call or email your elected officials asking them to support and vote for aid to Ukraine. It is vital for Ukraine and for the U.S. security. Victoria A. Malko, Fresno The Trump 24 virus America has fallen ill with a virus. It is called the Trump 24 virus, and it is sweeping the land. The only question is will a cure be found, or will the patient, America, die a painful death. People are praying an answer is near. Unfortunately, we are running out of time. This is a powerful virus. It has already claimed the lives of its many victims. One of the symptoms of the Trump virus is an inability to stand on your own two feet. Other symptoms include an inability to think for yourself, and its ability to inflame racism as the virus takes over your brain. It is lethal, and now incurable. There is hope. There are people working diligently to develop a vaccine to end our suffering. The hope is they will eradicate this virus forever. Let us keep the faith that in the end a new day will dawn, the virus will disappear, and America will be saved once again. Gary Dashjian, Clovis The following letter is being republished due to an editing error when it ran last week: Golden State now tarnished Gov. Newsom and the California Legislature have much to be proud of as we start 2024: 1. California starts 2024 with a $68 billion dollar budget deficit. 2. Over 815,000 people left the state from 2021 to 2022, the most recent census data show. 3. An all-time high for the number of homeless living on the streets. 4. Robberies under $10,000 value are at an all-time high. 5. Drug and human smuggling across our open boarder is at an all-time high. Welcome to the Golden State without the gold. D. Housepian, Fresno California really doesn't make a lot of sense. I guess here in New Hampshire, one could argue, who cares what happens on the West Coast? Well, unfortunately, trends from California tend to traverse their way across the country, and like the resurgence of bell bottom pants in fashion, the trends aren't always good. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill that will raise the minimum wage on many fast food workers to $20 per hour, starting April. I say "many" because it only applies to those who work for fast food chains with more than 60 locations nationwide, and no, it doesnt matter if they are corporate owned or franchised. I have a lot of questions. Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos Let's start with, who does this benefit? Multiple Pizza Hut franchises in California have announced that in response they will be laying off their drivers and switching to delivery apps like Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc. instead. That is more than 2,000 employees laid off. Its not benefiting them. I guess Door Dash and the rest will benefit. But, as a $37 billion corporation, is that who Newsom and California lawmakers were trying to benefit here? That's kind of weird. I suppose those 2,000 laid off Pizza Hut workers could go work for a delivery app instead, but, they aren't required to pay $20 per hour. Which begs the question of, why just fast food workers? Well, there is also another new law for health care worker wage increases and while I'm generally a free market person, at least for health care workers its to bring more people into a field that has been shrinking and is vital. But, what about everyone else and why just fast food workers? The answer has something to do with unions, of course, but it still doesn't make sense. Is the California government saying employment at McDonald's is more important than working at a grocery store or farm or what about a teachers aid, which according to Zip Recruiter, averages $14.82 per hour in California as of December 2023. Of the new law, one legislative advocate noted: We did not just raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour for fast food workers. We helped a father or mother feed their children, we helped a student put gas in their car, and helped a grandparent get their grandchild a birthday gift. Poetic, but false. You just lost thousands of people their jobs and while you were at it, you lost small businesses their employees. As noted, this wage increase only applies to corporations with 60 or more locations nationally. That means Alicias Pizza Joint is now competing for employees with global corporations who can either take the financial hit a bit more safely, because they have more wiggle room, or, simply the ability to automate as we are all seeing at fast food locations everywhere. Do you see those order kiosks at your neighborhood sub shop? Of course not. It only makes economic sense for big companies that can program and manage en masse. So, you havent benefitted workers, small businesses, or customers who will be paying higher prices at the drive thru, but you've given billion dollar corporationsbe they fast food chains or delivery appsa huge boon. Congratulations, California lawmakers, I'm sure your campaign coffers will be aplenty with the donations from the union you negotiated this with. Besides, it's not like the workers who lost their jobs or the little coffee shop owner is able to donate to political campaigns anyway. When Gavin Newsom ultimately decides to run for president at some point, let's keep this one in our back pocket. Why does government all too often think its the solution? The reality is, the free market is the solution to things such as minimum wage. We saw it in the wake of COVID. Wages in fast food and other service industries skyrocketed because the market demanded it. Here in New Hampshire we dont have a minimum wager per se. Our law simply says were whatever the federal government has it at, and that is currently $7.25. However, according to Zip Recruiter, the average hourly wage in the Granite State is $19.47 and we didnt need a government mandate for that to happen. But, we are now officially in an election year, which means candidates who want our attention from the Pacific to the Atlantic will start sharing some pretty wild ideas to pander to someone and get some headlines. I just hope things like the industry-based-unneccesary-minimum wage goes the way of Shleggings, toe shoes and high heeled Croc's and stays in California. Happy New Year! May 2024 be filled with joy, health and prosperity! Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos is a former political consultant and member of the media. Shes a native of Hampton Beach where she lives with her family and two poodles. Write to her at PrestonPerspective@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Preston Xanthopoulos: I'm definitely not California dreaming FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) A priest has been removed from public ministry amid the Franklin Police Departments investigation into reports of sexual misconduct, according to the Catholic Diocese of Nashville. In a statement released on Saturday, Jan. 6, the diocese said the priest in question served as the associate pastor at St. Philip Catholic Church in Franklin, but he has been removed from his position at the parish. According to the statement, St. Philip officials notified the Diocese of Nashville Safe Environment Office that a teen at the parish reported improper touching involving the priest. Representatives from the diocese and St. Philip immediately made a report to the Tennessee Department of Childrens Services (DCS), per diocesan protocol. Man accused of hitting wife with hammer, burying her body in DeKalb County In addition, church officials said they followed the diocesan safe environment policy by retaining an outside investigator, who used to be an FBI agent, to investigate the report. The diocese said its review board was promptly convened to evaluate the information available from the investigation, as well as advise the bishop. Based on the boards recommendation, the priest was reportedly removed from active ministry. In addition, on the Dioceses own initiative, officials said the the investigative report and all available details were shared with police. Man arrested for posting lewd photos of himself inside Giles County school, church That investigation is continuing with the full cooperation of the Diocese and its representatives, mindful of the due process accorded to all parties, Saturdays statement said. The Diocese reiterates that any person who reasonably suspects that child sexual abuse has occurred is required by law to make a report to civil authorities. If the suspicion of abuse involves either an employee or volunteer in a ministry or a parish, a report should also be made to the Diocesan Safe Environment Coordinator. According to church officials, a detective from the Special Victims Unit said the case will be sent to the Williamson County District Attorney for review. If you have any information regarding the priest who served as associated pastor at St. Philip, you are urged to call Detective Andrea Clark with the Franklin Police Department at 615-476-2809. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com In a statement, Franklin police told News 2 reached they are taking the allegations very seriously. The Franklin Police Department takes any allegations like this very seriously. We are working with leadership and families at Saint Philip Catholic Church and the Diocese of Nashville, and the Tennessee Department of Childrens Services to investigate this matter. Due to the nature of this active investigation, the Franklin Police Department cannot comment any further at this time. Franklin Police Department Meanwhile, the diocese said it provides victim assistance to those who may have been abused by someone in the ministries of the diocese or a parish, no matter how long ago it happened. You can find more information about reporting abuse and the victim assistance program by clicking here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, left, council members Manny Pelaez, center, and Marc Whyte talk Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in the the city council chambers in San Antonio before the start of a city council meeting. William Luther District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry collects his thought before he gives a statement at his district office on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 prior to a City Council special session to admonish Perry for his involvement in a hit-and-run incident last week. The council will likely seek his resignation from office. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer More than a week after Council Member Marc Whyte was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated, most of his City Council colleagues are struggling over whether to formally reprimand him. That's a far cry from council's reaction after Council Member Clayton Perry, Whytes predecessor in District 10 on the Northeast Side, drunkenly crashed into a Honda Civic on a busy North Side street and fled the scene Nov. 6, 2022. A day after a police report of the incident involving Perry was made public, Mayor Ron Nirenberg called for his resignation. Eight days after the accident, Nirenberg stripped Perry of his committee assignments, and council members cast a 9-0 vote of no confidence. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The San Antonio Police Department was quick to release body camera footage in Perry's case it was available four days after the crash. It showed Perry answering an officer's question in the backyard of his home, barely coherent and with a bleeding head wound. Body camera video of Whyte's interaction with police and his arrest the night of Dec. 29 has yet to be released. Most council members dont want to speak publicly about Whytes situation or say they need more information before deciding how to move forward. I think were at a point where we need to learn more details, District 5 Council Member Teri Castillo said. Those details include the results of Whytes blood alcohol test, which aren't expected for several weeks. She said she was "grateful no one was hurt." Advertisement Article continues below this ad The details in Perry's police report were shocking enough so that most on council quickly decided to penalize the three-term council member. In Whyte's case, the few details that have come to light so far seem less egregious. Whyte, 43, was arrested shortly after 11 p.m. that Friday night. An officer with SAPD's DWI unit pulled Whyte over after watching him driving erratically in the eastbound lanes of the Northeast Loop 410 access road just south of San Antonio International Airport. According to an arrest report, Whyte told the officer he had consumed three beers that night: the first at El Mirasol, a popular Mexican restaurant at the upscale Alon Town Centre shopping and dining center on Northwest Military Highway; a second at Myrons Prime Steakhouse next door; and another at the Thirsty Horse Dance Hall & Saloon, just over a mile south of Alon Town Centre. Whyte refused to take a breathalyzer test or have his blood drawn to determine his blood alcohol concentration. Police got a warrant, and a nurse drew his blood about 1:30 a.m. that Saturday. While Whyte was booked into the Bexar County Jail the night he was pulled over, Perry wasnt taken in until four days after his crash. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Whyte was released from the jail early that Saturday. His bail was set at $2,000. A court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30. The crime of driving while intoxicated is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail. City Council is expected to discuss Whytes arrest in a closed-door meeting this week. Council's role In Perry's case, council members fell short of passing a resolution calling for him to resign but then slapped him with the no-confidence vote a symbolic measure that carries no real penalties. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Days before Perrys crash, council had censured then-District 1 Council Member Mario Bravo and passed a vote of no confidence after he verbally attacked then-District 7 Council Member Ana Sandoval the day council approved the 2022-2023 budget. District 8 Council Member Manny Pelaez said he doesn't think council should reprimand Whyte, in part because the city charter does not outline how measures such as votes of no confidence should be carried out. Council doesnt have established rules that set forth when and how we censure, he said. That lack of rules subjects censure decisions to the whims of the majority of council. Whims should not guide our decisions. Thats why I dont think we should be in the business of censuring. We need to leave the censures to the voters when they cast their ballots. District 2's Jalen McKee-Rodriguez takes a similar view on the use of censures and calls for resignation. Censures are really just a message we cant back up with any tangible action, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pelaez and McKee-Rodriguez have changed their thinking. In 2022, both voted to reprimand Bravo and Perry. Since first winning her District 4 seat in 2019, Council Member Adriana Rocha Garcia has pushed council to adopt a code of conduct and procedures for how to respond when council members behave badly but she said her colleagues have rejected several versions. This is kind of my third 'I told you so,' Rocha Garcia said, referring to Whyte's arrest. Hopefully we get to do that and hopefully that helps set a process of what we do in these situations, specifically in situations where a law is possibly violated. District 7 Council Member Marina Alderete Gavito said she's waiting to see what actions, if any, the mayor proposes before she'll publicly discuss Whyte's situation. Nirenberg mostly has been silent on the matter, only issuing one vague statement early last week. I spoke with Councilman Whyte and appreciate his willingness to immediately acknowledge his behavior, but his actions cannot be condoned, he said in the statement. Representatives of the public should be held to a higher standard and a further course of action will be determined once more details of the case come to light. Nirenberg has far more power than council's 10 members. He can unilaterally decide to strip a member of their committee assignments. Each council member serves on several committees, allowing them to have a say in policy proposals before they make it to the full council for a vote. Nirenberg took away Perry's and Bravo's committee assignments in fall 2022. Whyte serves on three committees: Audit, Public Safety, and Economic and Workforce Development. Protesters calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war block Interstate 5 northbound, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 in downtown Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) SEATTLE (AP) Protesters calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war blocked northbound traffic on Interstate 5 in Seattle for several hours Saturday. Additional demonstrators on a nearby overpass cheered in support of the blockade, which began around 1:15 p.m., the Seattle Times reported. The state transportation department said on the social media platform X that traffic at one point was backed up more than 6 miles (9.7 kilometers), and the agency asked drivers to use alternate routes. Demonstrators chanted Free, free Palestine and Hey hey, ho ho, the occupation has got to go. Seattle police posted on social media at 3:40 p.m. that officers gave a dispersal order, though protesters disputed receiving any such orders. Stormy weather, including hail, moved through the area, and protesters left the freeway around 4:45 p.m., according to the Times. Trooper Rick Johnson with the Washington State Patrol said via X that while people had abandoned the freeway, 12 vehicles were left behind. He said the roadway would reopen when they were towed. Hamas Oct. 7 attack from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel killed around 1,200 people, and some 250 others were taken hostage. It was the worst such attack in Israels history. Since then the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Saturday a total of 22,722 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's subsequent assault. The count does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. Israel has held Hamas responsible for civilian casualties, saying the group embeds itself within Gazas civilian infrastructure. Still, international criticism of Israels conduct has grown because of the rising civilian death toll. As state lawmakers reconvene for a new legislative session, one of the tasks theyll face is reviewing school governance at New York City public schools. Now, in whats known as mayoral control, the mayor and his handpicked chancellor control the public schools. That has been renewed multiple times since it was first passed in 2002, viewed by proponents as a way to effectively run the nations largest school district. But support for the status quo is facing increased challenges, as frustrated teachers and parents at a series of public hearings have questioned its effectiveness and demanded a more representative structure, including more checks and balances on the mayor through school boards or other elected officials. If not extended, mayoral control would expire at the end of June. I want the same thing that my former mayors had, Mayor Adams told reporters last Tuesday at City Hall. We have a public school mayor and a public school chancellor. We understand the importance of a quality education, and both of us had two different experiences. So I would like the same thing they had. They were allowed to turn around the school system. We sense a real productivity in the Department of Education, everything from giving our children quality food to what weve done with Summer Rising to the test scores outpacing the state. So were seeing some real Ws. I think give us the opportunity to continue, like we gave to other mayors. Last time mayoral control was renewed, in 2022, Adams was granted power over the school system for two years with some caveats. The Panel for Educational Policy, the citys school board with most members appointed by the mayor, was expanded to include more parent representatives. State education officials were tasked with hearing from the public, as well as issuing a report on the last two decades of mayoral control and other public school systems, such as Chicagos, that are phasing it out. The study is expected by the end of March and may push an agreement in Albany until after state budget negotiations. I suspect that we in the Legislature, said state Sen. John Liu (D-Queens), chairman of the New York City Education Committee, and perhaps the governor as well, will take a serious look at that study. And that study would and should inform our decision-making as to how New York City public schools should be run in the coming years. The boroughs weigh in Two of the citys five boroughs have hosted public hearings so far, with the rest scheduled for this month. City Schools Chancellor David Banks defended the school governance structure as more functional than the pre-2002 school boards, and it allows the city to act decisively during a public health or an illiteracy crisis and hold mayors responsible during a general election if they fall short. I know from firsthand experience the flaws of the previous system, Banks said in the Bronx last month, and the ways that our students suffered as a result. Mayoral accountability, in contrast, is as close as we can get to a system that is the most manageable, least politicized and most impactful. A representative for Assemblyman Michael Benedetto (D-Bronx), chairman of the Education Committee, said he could support at least six more years of mayoral control with tweaks kept to a minimum. But the vast majority of speakers who chose to attend the hearings were no longer content with the status quo. They described mayoral control as undemocratic and with little to no checks on the mayors power. The structure, critics say, is too removed from the classroom and leads to shifting priorities with each new administration and their signature programs. While some speakers called for the elimination of mayoral control, others called for the mayor to have fewer appointees to the Panel for Educational Policy. We have said that there has to be watchdogs and seeing how that goes, United Federation of Teachers Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro said in Queens last month, and so that the [Panel for Educational Policy] is not voting in unison without really understanding what theyre voting on. District Council 37 publicly backed an extension for Adams in 2022, the last year mayoral control was renewed whereas the UFT skipped a rally in support. DC 37 represents Education Department staff including cafeteria workers, parent and community coordinators, crossing guards and child-care workers. Both unions last month sued the city over unpopular budget cuts. DC 37 did not return a request for comment on whether it will back Adams for another renewal. Class size law It was not immediately clear what, if any, role the citys approach to the recent class size legislation, which was passed alongside the most recent school governance law, would have on an extension of mayoral control. While education officials have said they are in compliance with the laws five-year, phase-in period, critics point to data trending in the wrong direction as class sizes grow with the arrival of migrant students. Adams hinted Tuesday that the classroom caps, which set limits of 25 students or fewer depending on grade level, would be a focus of the administration during this legislative session. The ideal of that legislation gets in the way of the real, of making sure were not taking resources from those schools that are in greater need, he told reporters. Thats going to be part of our agenda when we go to Albany. A schedule of upcoming mayoral control public hearings is available on the New York State Education Departments website. As state lawmakers reconvene for a new legislative session, one of the tasks theyll face is reviewing school governance at New York City public schools. Now, in whats known as mayoral control, the mayor and his handpicked chancellor control the public schools. That has been renewed multiple times since it was first passed in 2002, viewed by proponents as a way to effectively run the nations largest school district. But support for the status quo is facing increased challenges, as frustrated teachers and parents at a series of public hearings have questioned its effectiveness and demanded a more representative structure, including more checks and balances on the mayor through school boards or other elected officials. If not extended, mayoral control would expire at the end of June. I want the same thing that my former mayors had, Mayor Eric Adams told reporters last Tuesday at City Hall. We have a public school mayor and a public school chancellor. We understand the importance of a quality education, and both of us had two different experiences. So I would like the same thing they had. They were allowed to turn around the school system. We sense a real productivity in the Department of Education, everything from giving our children quality food to what weve done with Summer Rising to the test scores outpacing the state. So were seeing some real Ws. I think give us the opportunity to continue, like we gave to other mayors. Last time mayoral control was renewed, in 2022, Adams was granted power over the school system for two years with some caveats. The Panel for Educational Policy, the citys school board with most members appointed by the mayor, was expanded to include more parent representatives. State education officials were tasked with hearing from the public, as well as issuing a report on the last two decades of mayoral control and other public school systems, such as Chicagos, that are phasing it out. The study is expected by the end of March and may push an agreement in Albany until after state budget negotiations. I suspect that we in the Legislature, said state Sen. John Liu, D-Queens, chairman of the New York City Education Committee, and perhaps the governor as well, will take a serious look at that study. And that study would and should inform our decision-making as to how New York City public schools should be run in the coming years. The boroughs weigh in Two of the citys five boroughs have hosted public hearings so far, with the rest scheduled for this month. City Schools Chancellor David Banks defended the school governance structure as more functional than the pre-2002 school boards, and it allows the city to act decisively during a public health or an illiteracy crisis and hold mayors responsible during a general election if they fall short. I know from firsthand experience the flaws of the previous system, Banks said in the Bronx last month, and the ways that our students suffered as a result. Mayoral accountability, in contrast, is as close as we can get to a system that is the most manageable, least politicized and most impactful. A representative for Assemblyman Michael Benedetto (D-Bronx), chairman of the Education Committee, said he could support at least six more years of mayoral control with tweaks kept to a minimum. But the vast majority of speakers who chose to attend the hearings were no longer content with the status quo. They described mayoral control as undemocratic and with little to no checks on the mayors power. The structure, critics say, is too removed from the classroom and leads to shifting priorities with each new administration and their signature programs. While some speakers called for the elimination of mayoral control, others called for the mayor to have fewer appointees to the Panel for Educational Policy. We have said that there has to be watchdogs and seeing how that goes, United Federation of Teachers Vice President for Education Mary Vaccaro said in Queens last month, and so that the (Panel for Educational Policy) is not voting in unison without really understanding what theyre voting on. District Council 37 publicly backed an extension for Adams in 2022, the last year mayoral control was renewed whereas the UFT skipped a rally in support. DC 37 represents Education Department staff including cafeteria workers, parent and community coordinators, crossing guards and child-care workers. Both unions last month sued the city over unpopular budget cuts. DC 37 did not return a request for comment on whether it will back Adams for another renewal. Class size law It was not immediately clear what, if any, role the citys approach to the recent class size legislation, which was passed alongside the most recent school governance law, would have on an extension of mayoral control. While education officials have said they are in compliance with the laws five-year phase-in period, critics point to data trending in the wrong direction as class sizes grow with the arrival of migrant students. Adams hinted Tuesday that the classroom caps, which set limits of 25 students or fewer depending on grade level, would be a focus of the administration during this legislative session. The ideal of that legislation gets in the way of the real, of making sure were not taking resources from those schools that are in greater need, he told reporters. Thats going to be part of our agenda when we go to Albany. _____ Vladimir Putin staged a lavish Orthodox Christmas Eve dinner for children of soldiers killed in Ukraine as he attempted to present himself as a caring leader by ordering officials to do more for the countrys troops. The Russian leader vowed to back those with arms in hands as he hosted Saturday evenings heavily choreographed event at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence on the outskirts of Moscow. It came as festivities were cancelled in the border region of Belgorod amid continued Ukrainian attacks that have left dozens dead over the past week. Many of our men, our courageous, heroic men, the soldiers of Russia are right now defending the interests of our country with weapons in their hands, on this holiday, Putin said. Addressing the children directly, he told them their dead fathers were heroes. I will not talk about a very delicate, maybe even difficult subject on the eve of this holiday, concerning your families. But I want to assure you once again that well always be by your side, Putin said. Vladimir Putin staged a lavish Orthodox Christmas Eve dinner for children of soldiers killed in Ukraine - GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock The Russian leader, who is facing elections in March and has been softening his speeches to focus on traditional values and unity, ordered the whole of his government to give greater support to the families of killed servicemen. I would like our meeting to be a clear, understandable signal to all my colleagues throughout the Russian Federation, and at all levels - a clear signal to ensure that my colleagues are always and everywhere with you, I repeat, any level of power, he said, without providing further details on what form the extra support might take. The event came as 11 people, including five children, were killed in a Russian missile attack in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, on Saturday evening. Putin rarely meets with the families of soldiers fighting in Ukraine. When he does, the Kremlin uses photoshoots to lionise its offensive, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people in fewer than two years. Exiled Russian opposition media said the individuals picked to attend Saturdays event, which saw Putin first meet families in a reception room before sitting down for the traditional dinner, were carefully selected for their pro-war and pro-Kremlin credentials. Putin rarely meets with the families of soldiers fighting in Ukraine - Gavriil Grigorov/Pool Sputnik Kremlin They allegedly included two Kremlin-linked social activists and the widow and children of a priest attached to Russias Strategic Missile Forces who was killed in Ukraines Kherson region in 2022. Saturdays dinner came as Putin readies for elections that he intends to use as a major display of public support for his war in Ukraine. State television footage showed the Russian leader attending an intimate midnight service, known as the Divine Liturgy, later on Saturday at a local chapel alongside a small group of families of soldiers killed. But there was no call from him this year for a ceasefire to coincide with the Orthodox Christmas holiday, which many adherents celebrate on January 6-7, as was the case a year ago. Addressing the children directly, Putin told them their dead fathers were heroes - Gavriil Grigorov/Pool Sputnik Kremlin A few hours before Putin hosted the relatives of dead soldiers, the wives, girlfriends, sisters and mothers of mobilised men staged rare protests at Second World War memorials across Russia. Free mobilised men. Return our men, husbands, sons, read a poster held up by one of the women in Moscow. Protests are banned in Russia, but the Kremlin has to deal delicately with women linked to the mobilised men, organised into a group called The Way Home. They have not directly criticised the war, instead calling for mobilised men to be rotated out of the fighting, and they are typically revered in Russia. Meanwhile, in the Belgorod region of southern Russia, Christmas celebrations were cancelled after 25 people were killed a week ago in a suspected missile attack on the centre of the city. Many of the dead were reported to be children. Ukraine has denied responsibility for the attack and said that a stray Russian missile hit the city. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Questions on Sunday continued to mount over Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austins undisclosed hospitalization, with several political figures raising concerns over the publics and President Bidens unawareness that the nations most senior defense official was unable to execute his official duties for days. News of Austins hospitalization became public Friday, when the Pentagon announced he was recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland after experiencing complications following a recent elective medical procedure. The Pentagon said he was admitted four days prior on New Years Day. A Pentagon spokesperson Sunday confirmed to The Hill that Austin remains hospitalized but said they cannot disclose information on his condition or what prompted the visit due to privacy reasons. This has been an evolving situation, in which we had to consider a number of factors, including medical and personal privacy issues, the spokesperson said, adding that Austin was doing well. The White House deferred questions about Bidens unawareness to the National Security Council, who declined to comment. Several reports swirled over the weekend that indicated Austin was admitted to the intensive care unit of the medical center, according to NBC News and The New York Times. Austin resumed his full duties Friday from the hospital, the Pentagon said. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, whom reports indicate carried out the duties of Defense secretary in the first few days of Austins hospitalization, was also left in the dark about Austins location until Thursday, CNN reported, citing two defense officials. Austin transferred certain operational responsibilities that require constant secure communications capabilities to Hicks on Jan. 2, a day after he was admitted to Walter Reed, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told CNN. Hicks was on vacation in Puerto Rico last week and as of Friday, opted to stay there after Austin resumed his duties. During the week, Hicks madesome routine decisions on behalf of Austin, a spokesperson for the Defense Department told The Hill. Defense officials confirmed to CNN that Hicks did not find out about Austins hospitalization until Thursday afternoon, though Ryder told CNN it is not uncommon for the secretary to transfer certain responsibilities without providing a specific explanation. Secretary Austin did not have to affirmatively delegate his duties because by statute, the Deputy Secretary is automatically authorized to perform the duties of the Secretary if he is unable to perform them. Medical professionals have been consulted throughout, the Defense Department spokesperson said. Soon after the Pentagons acknowledgement Friday, various media reports surfaced that the White House, including President Biden, was unaware of Austins hospitalization for nearly three days a potentially major breach of protocol as Cabinet secretaries whereabouts are typically closely kept track of from the Situation Room. It was not until Thursday that Biden was informed of Austins hospitalization at Walter Reed. That was the same day the Pentagon confirmed the U.S. had ordered a strike in Baghdad targeting a militia leader without disclosing yet that Austin was not acting as Defense secretary at the time. Politico was the first to report the delayed notification. National security adviser Jake Sullivan and other senior White House aides received word about Austins situation from the Defense Department on Thursday and shortly after the notification, Sullivan informed Biden. A spokesperson for the National Security Council declined to comment on the timeline of the notification, pointing to the Pentagon for further comment. As questions swirl about why the information surrounding Austin was kept in the dark for days, several political figures are calling out the lack of transparency. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said the situation is shocking as the whereabouts of nations top Defense official have to be known by other officials. Its pretty shocking on this because when youre the secretary of Defense, you need to make everyone aware that youre actually going to be out of pocket, Lankford said in an interview on Fox News Sunday. Lankford noted the timing of the delay is also important, given the international turmoil. Former Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday called the lack of disclosure around the hospitalization a dereliction of duty. Well, first, I wish the secretary of Defense well, and Im pleased hes making a full recovery, but the handling of this by the secretary of Defense is totally unacceptable, Pence said on CNNs State of the Union. And I believe the American people have a right to know about his medical condition, about the reasons for it. Like Lankford, the former vice president pointed to the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Israel-Hamas war and called on the secretary and the Biden administration to come forward with the information. Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) similarly said there was some explaining to do. I think that theres a, theres a real difference between public transparency and, you know, alerting the commander in chief to the fact that the secretary of Defense is in the hospital, Cheney said Sunday during an interview with CBS Newss Face the Nation, adding later, Its inexplicable. We need to know more about exactly what happened there. But thats not the way the Pentagon ought to be conducting business. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) on Sunday pushed back on the argument that the undisclosed information was a dereliction of duty. I dont think it was a dereliction of duty. No, I dont think that at all. I do wish that it had been disclosed, and maybe it was, maybe just not made public. So I dont know all the particulars here, Clyburn said on CNNs State of the Union. I do know Lloyd Austin. He is a stand-up guy. Hes a great Defense secretary. He has been a tremendous military man in this country, and Im told he is now in charge of things as he was before the illness. Biden has yet to weigh in publicly on the reports. The New York Times, citing a U.S. official, reported Biden and Austin spoke by phone Saturday night and that another official said the president expressed confidence in his Defense secretary. Austin acknowledged in a statement Saturday that he could have better informed the public about the hospitalization. I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better, the statement read. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure, Austin added. Updated 4:10 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory laid off 100 contractors last week and will scale back part of the first-ever effort to bring pieces of Mars to Earth, after a cost-cutting order from NASA that lawmakers called short-sighted and misguided. In an email to staff on Thursday, JPL director Laurie Leshin said that NASA is bracing for a federal budget that could cap spending on the Mars Sample Return mission at $300 million this fiscal year just 36% of the previous years $822-million budget and less than one-third of the $949 million the Biden administration requested for the program. Adjusting to such a large budget cut in one year will be painful, Leshin wrote to employees at the federally funded La Canada Flintridge research institution. It is also becoming more likely that there will be JPL workforce impacts in the form of layoffs, and the way such JPL workforce actions are implemented means that the impact would not be limited to MSR. Last weeks layoffs of contract employees along with a hiring freeze are part of a lab-wide effort to reduce spending, Leshin wrote. In addition, NASA has ordered JPL to cease operations at the end of this month on a key project within the mission to bring a piece of Mars back to Earth, a joint project with the European Space Agency and one of the biggest and most complex missions undertaken at the lab. Work on Mars Sample Returns Capture, Containment and Return System will be paused while an independent review team analyzes the overall design of the much-anticipated mission to collect dust and rocks from Mars and bring them to Earth for study, Leshin wrote. These are painful but necessary adjustments as we work through the current budget environment while striving to maintain our unique skills and world-class workforce for NASA and our nation, JPL said in a statement. Read more: NASA gives JPL green light for mission to bring a piece of Mars back to Earth The cuts come while Congress is still debating how its going to parcel out the 2024 fiscal year budget. Lawmakers have criticized the agencys decision to scale back on staff and science on the Mars effort before final numbers are in. NASAs unilateral and unprecedented decision to cut funding for the Mars Sample Return mission, before Congress has finished its appropriations process, is having devastating real world consequences, Rep. Adam Schiff said on Friday. This critical mission was identified as NASAs highest scientific priority by the decadal survey , and to back away now will relinquish important American leadership in space science. The sample retrieval lander was originally scheduled to take off in 2028, with a planned return to Earth in 2033 after the first-ever rocket launch from another planet. These tubes hold samples of rock cores and regolith (broken rock and dust) collected by NASA's Perseverance rover for the Mars Sample Return campaign, which aims to bring Martian samples to Earth for closer study. (NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS) An independent review of the project that NASA commissioned last year found that the mission was not arranged to be led effectively, and that there was a near zero probability that it would make its 2028 launch date. Even meeting a postponed launch date of 2030 would require more than $1 billion a year for at least three years starting in 2025. The missions final price tag could be nearly $10 billion, the review concluded more than double the $4.4 billion estimated in 2020. California lawmakers have lobbied to preserve JPLs funding, citing the need to protect jobs and keep the U.S. space program competitive. China has announced a sample return mission of its own to launch in 2028 or 2030 a prospect, the review stated , that would challenge the USAs technical, engineering, and scientific leadership in Mars exploration. In a November letter to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, a bipartisan group of six California lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate said they were mystified by NASAs preemptive belt-tightening before a final budget was announced. Implementing the cuts ordered by NASA means JPL will not be able to meet the 2030 launch window, billions of dollars in contracts supporting American businesses will be subject to cancellation, and hundreds of highly skilled jobs in California will be lost, they wrote. If this uniquely talented workforce is lost to the private sector, it will be near impossible to reassemble. Read more: A space engineer who brought us images of Mars confronts Earth's brutal realities in Gaza In the most recent planetary science decadal survey , a report prepared for NASA every 10 years by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, planetary scientists named the Mars Sample Return mission as the highest scientific priority of NASAs robotic exploration efforts this decade and argued that the program should be completed as soon as is practicably possible with no increase or decrease in its current scope. But the authors cautioned that the ambitious mission shouldnt come at the cost of other planetary science. "Mars Sample Return is of fundamental strategic importance to NASA, U.S. leadership in planetary science, and international cooperation and should be completed as rapidly as possible," the report stated . "However, its cost should not be allowed to undermine the long-term programmatic balance of the planetary portfolio." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Anger at migrants is based on lived realities Breezy Point: The Daily News recently ran a story sympathetic to the migrants who take the Q35 bus to and from their shelter at Floyd Bennett Field (Stone-cold weather and neighbors in Brooklyn, Dec. 24). It discussed how the migrants get dirty looks, people beating them out for seats and passengers speaking English. If The News wanted to do a balanced story, it should have had a reporter join us during morning and afternoon rush hours. At the FBF stop, about 20 people board pushing carriages with toddlers and kids. They make no attempt to pay or to accommodate the paying passengers. They do not fold their carriages, but choose to line them up in the aisle, blocking people moving from the front to the back while creating safety hazards. Their kids take seats from paying passengers, who need to get to and from work so we can pay taxes to support them. They cough and sneeze without covering and stare at you when you put on a mask. They talk from rows apart in Spanish, yet they are annoyed that we speak English. At the Kings Plaza stop portrayed in the article, more than 35 board, a repeat of the morning but with a bus so packed that paying customers are left to wait until the next bus. Some board carrying pizzas, bags of Popeyes and bottles of soda as kids snack on gummies. I wish I could buy these little luxuries but I need to pay my fare. If they are going to ride the bus, they need to pay the fare and follow the rules. Then maybe people will accept them. Carlotta Rhondi National origin South Richmond Hill: Do citizens who have written that we should send migrants back to Texas really think they originated there, or in any other state in this country? Duh! They come from other countries outside of our borders (when we did have borders). Why should any of the border states have to bear all the burden and responsibility to handle these thousands upon thousands of migrants? All the politicians in the states and cities who believe we should welcome any and all of them, let them take in their share. Even Democrats who support President Bidens policies, like Gov. Phil Murphy, do not want to have them in their jurisdictions. If you want to send them back to where they came from, thats fine, but they did not come from Texas! Joseph Napoleone Old news Lakewood, N.J.: I know its been yet another disappointing and frustrating year for the New York Jets and there is not much to write about. However, can you please advise your Jets beat writer, Antwan Staley, to write just one article where he doesnt mention Aaron Rodgers Achilles injury? Its been nearly four months, yet virtually all of his articles mention this. Jets fans are very aware of what happened on opening night. Please stop reminding us! Frank Mongiello Bird murder Dover, Del.: I noticed that your article Flood of stray cats hits many city nabes (Aug. 20) references an outdated statistic. You mentioned that 2 billion birds are killed by cats annually. Based on our most recent data, these figures have been updated, and in the U.S. alone, 2.4 billion birds are killed by outdoor cats annually. As one of the leading organizations in advocacy, its the World Animal Foundations utmost duty to ensure such statistics are current, not just on our platform but also on other relevant platforms. Sarah Rose Timely decision Merion Station, Pa.: Knowing that his past illegal activities might result in doing time, New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez made the best of his predicament by accepting expensive timepieces from Qatar. Paul L. Newman Pick a winner Edinburgh, Scotland: It seemed that Papa Joe was the only person who could have defeated Trump in 2020 and hold his nerve in the post-election, pre-inauguration nightmare. However, Papa Joe is not the person for 2024. From over here, it seems so extraordinarily clear, and the moderates and liberals praising this good, kind, brave old man and desperately proclaiming how different he is from the orange monster now has a ring of desperation. All decent people know the two are chalk and cheesy. In baby language: Biden is a good man and Trump is not. But that does not make Papa Joe the right Democratic candidate this time around. America needs someone everyone can vote for. Whether or not Mr. Stinky makes it to the ballot, Joe needs to step aside with dignity. He did the job he was born for in 2020. Thank God. Now he needs to recognize his next great responsibility and step aside. Amanda Baker Unqualified grifter Basking Ridge, N.J.: To Voicer Greg Van Den Berg: That is so well said. Ive struggled with the best way to describe the criminal former President Trump. Yours was the best yet and you made the ultimate point that people need to think about. The problem that concerns me, Greg, is there seems to be millions of people in our country who cant grasp this simple concept. I dont know if its a lack of education, pure ignorance or both. Either way, you said it perfectly. Joe Tierney For sale Staten Island: Trumps obvious payday stands in stark contrast to the muddled corruption allegations that Republicans have lobbed at President Biden. No one has been able to calculate the harm done to the country by Trumps theft of, and insecure storage of, top-secret government documents either. Knowing how corrupt, self-serving and unpatriotic Trump is, he probably showed or sold them to Americas greatest enemies. The question is what did Trump give foreign governments in return for the millions he collected from them? Did he sell top-secret U.S. documents? No country gives up millions of dollars for nothing. Trump was ignoring all the rules and ethics from day one. No one in his cult understands what a grifter and unethical person he truly is. It seems like the emoluments clause is another provision of the Constitution that isnt worth the parchment it was hand-written on because nobody cares enough to enforce it. Michael Rosenkrantz Entrenched opposition Davis, Calif.: The Hamas Covenant states, Israel exists and will continue to exist until Islam obliterates it. The never-actually-amended PLO Covenant declares, The Arab Palestinian people, expressing themselves by the armed Palestinian revolution, reject all solutions which are substitutes for the total liberation of Palestine. Those statements are both completely clear and utterly intransigent. Regarding the 1,200 people who were murdered on Oct. 7, Maya Angelous observation is absolutely on point: When someone shows you who they are, believe them. Israels worst threat is the decades-long, hate-fueled Palestinian intransigence we saw in action on Oct. 7, and which precludes any hope of peaceful coexistence with Israel. Julia Lutch Objection Manhattan: Your paper is a total disgrace. After the atrocities of the terrorists of Hamas in Israel, you have the gall to publish the ravings of a self-hating Jew accusing Israel of apartheid politics (Classroom criticism of Israel isnt antisemitic, op-ed, Jan. 4). You actually have the unmitigated audacity to publish that rubbish on your op-ed page. Perry Greenberg Discredited Vashon, Wash.: Now that it is reported that Alan Dershowitz has been accused of participating in Jeffrey Epsteins sex trafficking ring of underage girls, I am hopeful that you will stop publishing anything from him. Reed Harvey As a warning Greenburgh, N.Y.: Glad that Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned over her insensitivity to antisemitism, among other issues. The president of the worlds top university must set an example for students. A suggestion to university presidents around the country: Require students who apply for admission to the university to write an essay on antisemitism, hate, bigotry and discrimination as part of the admissions process how they would deal with the incident if observed on campus. This essay will send a message to possible students that antisemitism and participating in hate could be a factor in denying their admission to the university. Paul Feiner 1986's Top Gun was the highest-grossing film that year and cemented Tom Cruise's Maverick into pop culture. Combine quotes like "Talk to me, Goose" and, "I feel the need, the need, for speed," with aviator sunglasses and leather jackets and everyone knows exactly what you're referencing. The 2022 sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, picked up the torch from its predecessor and became the 12th-highest-grossing film of all time. Vital to the success of both movies were their respective Navy technical advisors. These real-life TOPGUN instructors even had cameos in the films they helped make. Pete "Viper" Pettigrew as Perry in Top Gun (Paramount) Remember the "older guy" in the bar scene of Top Gun where Mav first meets Charlie? She shoots down Maverick and goes to sit with him, calling him "Perry." His real-life name is much cooler: Viper. At least, that's his callsign. Rear Admiral Pete "Viper" Pettigrew lent his callsign to Tom Skerrit's character, Commander Mike Metcalf, in Top Gun. Beyond serving as the technical advisor on the film, Viper arguably made Top Gun what it is today. A formation of F-4S Phantom IIs over NAS North Island with Viper in the lead aircraft, March 27, 1981 (U.S. Navy) During casting, producer Jerry Bruckheimer sent Tom Cruise a number of scripts and revisions to bring him on board. However, the young actor remained unconvinced. So, Bruckheimer called Viper and asked him to take Cruise up for an intense flight to convince him that a movie about fighter jets would be exciting. Cruise called his agent right after they landed and accepted the part. The rest is history. Cruise and Viper on the set of Top Gun: Maverick (twitter.com/topgunarchive) A Stanford graduate, Viper earned his Wings of Gold in June 1966. Flying the F-4 Phantom II, he deployed with VF-151 aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVB-43) to Vietnam from April 1967 to February 1968. Viper served a second combat tour from July 1968 to February 1969. In early 1970, he joined the fledgling U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School and served as an instructor. Of course, the flyers called it TOPGUN. On May 6, 1972, while deployed aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) he shot down a MiG-21 in his F-4J with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. Viper transferred to the Navy Reserve the next year and retired in 1998. Cruise and Ferg on the set of Top Gun: Maverick (U.S. Navy) In Top Gun: Maverick, the sequel film's technical advisor makes his cameo at the Hard Deck Bar. After Penny rings the bell to signal that Mav is buying everyone a round, an aviator approaches and tells him, "Much appreciated, pal." That aviator is Captain Brian "Ferg" Ferguson. After attending TOPGUN's Adversary Instructor Course, Ferg commanded VFC-13, one of the Navy Reserves adversary aircraft squadrons dedicated to providing the highest quality adversary training for Navy fleet squadrons and other units. Ferg and Cruise planning an aerial scene (U.S. Navy) "Toward the end of my tour of duty as the Deputy Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve, the Chief of Staff for Commander, Naval Air Forces contacted me," Ferg said in a Navy news story. "He said he thought I might be the right person for the role of advisor for TOP GUN: Maverick." Although Ferg initially declined, the Chief of Staff was persistent and Ferg's wife convinced him to take the job. "She told me, 'If they get it wrong and you had a chance to make it better that you didnt take, youll be complaining about it for the rest of your life, and if they get it right, youll regret that you werent a part of it.'" Ferg poses with an adversary aircraft (linkedin.com/in/brian-ferguson-28027b30) After graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Ferg attended Navy OCS and commissioned in 1993. Like Viper, he deployed with VFA-151 aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64). During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ferg flew numerous night combat missions in the F/A-18 Hornet. Working on Top Gun: Maverick, Ferg provided his expertise to Cruise, Bruckheimer and director Joseph Kosinski. "I would work with them and the civilian aerial cinematographer to find a way to make [aerial scenes] work safely and still be spectacular," he recalled. "I was also responsible for assisting with realism in the script, storyline and uniform accuracy, minus a few scenes that were filmed prior to my arrival." The Indianapolis skyline as seen from the White River Parkway near the Elanco Global Headquarters on the former site of the General Motors Stamping Plant on August, 17, 2023 in Indianapolis. This year, The Indianapolis Star reached a milestone moment in its history: June 6 marked the 120th anniversary of the first printed edition of our paper. In the bustle of daily news coverage, its easy to lose sight of and take for granted the kind of longevity these journalists and this institution have achieved. But its a remarkable feat, particularly as the local news industry continues to face every challenge from financial to ideological. IndyStar journalists work to keep our democracy healthy, their neighbors informed and to hold those in power accountable. But above all, theyre advocates for their community because Indianapolis is their home, too, and they want to see their city and their neighbors thrive. Subscribe to IndyStar: 5 things you'll get if you subscribe to support IndyStar's award-winning journalism We publish the IndyStar Community Impact Report not to congratulate ourselves, but to recognize the ways we can all make a difference for each other every day, in ways big and small. The range of articles featured in this report is evidence of the difference good journalism can make. Accountability reporting on failures to regulate problem bars, mismanagement of public housing, failure by a gunmaker to report lobbying activity with state lawmakers are among the important work we have published this year. But this report also showcases what IndyStar journalists do best: documenting how we live together. It includes examples of Hoosiers raising money to purchase a service dog for a young boy with a debilitating disease, rallying cries to change laws regarding youth bullying and stillbirths and readers giving tens of thousands of dollars to support youth-serving nonprofits. This is a celebration not of our staffs accomplishments, but Hoosiers shared humanity. Were looking forward to continuing this tradition of producing change-making journalism, connecting neighbors and telling the story of Indianapolis, one day at a time. IndyStar's Community Impact Report: For the greater good of Central Indiana This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyStar impact 2023: Our commitment to Indy is 120 years strong Rep. Burgess Owens said when Congress returns next week, no issue should take precedence over stemming the flow of illegal immigration into the country. Owens, who represents Utahs 4th Congressional District, joined over 60 of his colleagues, including Utahs 2nd District Rep. Celeste Maloy, in touring the southwest border this week. The visit, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was purportedly the largest congressional delegation ever to do so. As the House returns from its holiday recess next Tuesday, amid another round of stalled budget talks before funding deadlines in mid-January and early February, Owens said advancing the House Republicans border security agenda will be integral to every part of the negotiations. Its probably the most important conversation were going to have as a country right now, Burgess told the Deseret News in an interview at his district office on Friday. The last few years have seen migrant encounters with U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the U.S.-Mexico border skyrocket to levels never seen in American history. December saw the greatest number of border encounters ever recorded, with the total exceeding 300,000 migrants to be apprehended and processed by Border Patrol agents in a single month, according to multiple media reports surpassing Septembers high of 270,000. These totals come after fiscal year 2022 and 2023 recorded the greatest surge in border crossings since the country began keeping track. Owens said these levels are unsustainable for Border Patrol agents, who have seen an increase in resignations and suicides in recent years, as well as for border communities and national infrastructure. Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, poses for a photo at the border in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. | The Office of Rep. Burgess Owens Were seeing chaos throughout our country. Were seeing overwhelming of the system, Owens said, making specific mention of the strain being placed on hospitals and welfare programs in locations with high levels of immigration. Poorly designed or enforced border policy has also contributed to the influx of the cheap and deadly fentanyl into the U.S., Owens said. The synthetic opioid is one of the main drivers of the soaring rate of overdose deaths in the country, which now typically surpass 100,000 every year. In an interview with the Deseret News on Thursday, Maloy said her visit to the border confirmed everything she had heard about the migrant crisis. We talk a lot about people coming across the border and how we dont know who or how many. We talk about fentanyl coming across the border. We talk about all these bad things that are coming across the border, and all of thats valid, she said. And we need to have control over our border because of all of those reasons. House Republicans are gearing up to make border security a central component of any annual spending bill for the 2024 budget which is now more than three months past due or any bill negotiated between the Senate and the White House that contains supplemental foreign aid for Ukraine and Israel, according to Punchbowl News. At the center of these negotiations is a GOP proposal passed by the House last year called HR2, which would restrict the number of migrants entering the country with asylum claims, mandate the continued construction of a border wall, require U.S. employers to screen workers for legal documentation, and allocate more funds for Border Patrol agents. The bill passed along party lines and is unlikely to gain any traction in the Democratic-led Senate, even when paired with Ukraine or government funding. While the White House did include some funding for border processing in a foreign aid package proposed in October, Democrats have failed to come to the table with a substantive alternative to HR2 that would address the wave of illegal immigration, according to Owens and Maloy. Right now the House has a plan. The Senate doesnt have a plan. If the Senate had a plan, then we could be talking about whether to compromise between those two plans. But right now HR2 is the only border bill, Maloy said. So before we even start talking about what in HR2 is good and what in HR2 should be compromised on, someones got to show up at the table to compromise. Some House lawmakers in the conservative House Freedom Caucus have gone as far as saying that government funding should be allowed to expire in the first part of 2024 unless HR2 is passed a proposition echoed by Utah Sen. Mike Lee. I will not vote to fund the government until our border is secure, Lee said on Tuesday. Owens called HR2 the smartest, most strategic, strongest border security bill that weve put through and said it would disincentivize individuals from making the perilous journey to the United States southern border because the chances of entering and being released into the country would be greatly diminished. We should not be looking at any other thing in terms of funding any other thing if we cant take care of our own country, Owens said. While a bipartisan working group in the Senate has labored intensively for weeks over a border proposal that both chambers can tie to foreign aid, Owens said Democrats, following the lead of President Joe Biden, have shown an unwillingness to try and decrease the number of border crossings. The administration wants money just to process more people. Thats the difference. We want money to control the border, stop the flow, to protect the American people, Owens said. The disconnect between parties on what Owens says is a unifying issue for most Americans comes down to the prioritization of political ideology over national security realities. Anyone who decides, when seeing whats happening at the border, We do not want to close the border down, ... then they care more about their political party than they care about our country, Owens said. Upon entering office, Biden rescinded controversial Trump-era border policies, such as Remain in Mexico, which required migrants seeking asylum to await processing and court dates on the other side of the border. He and his cabinet, including Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, have been routinely criticized by Republicans, including Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, for what conservative lawmakers see as a refusal to adequately enforce border laws. House Republicans will begin holding impeachment proceedings against Mayorkas next week, Punchbowl News has reported. Owens suggested Biden is equally responsible for the crisis at the border, calling his lack of action a derelict of his duty. If we care about our children, our future, our country, we should all be one on this one, Owens said. Carriages and their passengers move through the streets Dec. 19, 2023, in downtown San Antonio. A handful of City Council members proposed phasing out horse-drawn carriages in late 2022, but there has been no movement on that proposal. Robin Jerstad A carriage makes its way Dec. 19, 2023, in downtown San Antonio. In 2022, a handful of City Council members proposed phasing out horse-drawn carriages but there has been no movement on that proposal. Robin Jerstad Carriage driver Melissa Corley speaks with visitors on Dec. 19, 2023, in downtown San Antonio. Robin Jerstad Carriage driver's vie with traffic Tuesday evening in downtown San Antonio. Last year a handful of City Council members proposed phasing out horse drawn carriages but there has been no movement on that proposal. Robin Jerstad A carriage makes its way through the traffic on Dec. 19, 2023, in downtown San Antonio. Robin Jerstad Carriage drivers wait for customers on Dec. 19, 2023, in downtown San Antonio. Robin Jerstad A visitor has her picture taken with one of the horses Tuesday evening in downtown San Antonio. Last year a handful of City Council members proposed phasing out horse drawn carriages but there has been no movement on that proposal. Robin Jerstad Carriage drivers wait for customers Dec. 19, 2023, in downtown San Antonio. In 2022, a handful of City Council members proposed phasing out horse-drawn carriages, but there has been no movement on that proposal. Robin Jerstad Carriage drivers wait for customers Tuesday evening in downtown San Antonio. Last year a handful of City Council members proposed phasing out horse drawn carriages but there has been no movement on that proposal. Robin Jerstad Carriage's make their way through the streets Tuesday evening in downtown San Antonio. Last year a handful of City Council members proposed phasing out horse drawn carriages but there has been no movement on that proposal. Robin Jerstad A white horse with gray spots, its mane in braids, stood at the intersection of Navarro and East Pecan streets waiting for the traffic light to turn green. Blue Jeans was getting a short break from pulling a Cinderella-style carriage, decked out in blue LED lights and white tinsel, along downtown streets. Behind him, a GMC Sierra pickup with a lit-up wreath affixed to its grill blared Grupo Fronteras Vete from its souped-up stereo system. A double-decker tour bus passed by the horses left side, its exhaust fumes mingling with the odor of manure. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Blue Jeans and dozens of other horses haul tourists and locals past the Alamo, River Walk and other center-city landmarks year-round. The holiday season is one of carriage operators busiest periods, and that Sunday night in mid-December was near the peak of Christmas revelry, with lines of people waiting for carriage rides. In other words, it was business as usual. But the new year could be fraught for the carriage companies. If a handful of City Council members get their way, horse-drawn carriages will be a thing of the past, replaced by electric carriages like those starting to crop up in Philadelphia and other U.S. cities, or pedicabs, which are a staple of downtown Austin. In late 2022, District 2 Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and District 3 Council Member Phyllis Viagran proposed banning horse-drawn carriages from city streets by the end of 2023, calling the business an inhumane, cruel means of travel in San Antonio. Many animal rights activists agree. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Their proposal has gone nowhere so far. But Mayor Ron Nirenberg said a key council committee will likely take up the issue this year if not an outright ban, then possibly new rules that would at least partially push the industry out of a traffic-choked downtown. Nirenberg chalked up the lack of movement to council having more pressing issues to tackle. As the chair of the City Councils Governance Committee, which includes councils four senior-most members, the mayor has the power to decide which policy proposals land on its agenda for discussion and review which is often the first step in turning a council members idea into a city policy. The committee has met eight times since McKee-Rodriguez and Viagran submitted their proposal. It just hasnt been scheduled because theres been a lot of high-priority issues that weve had to put on the agenda, including (city) commission interviews and things like that, Nirenberg said. Weve had a budget process to go through. We had a council election that we had to go through. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Push to ban Animal rights activists have long pushed for stricter regulations for San Antonios carriage industry. And they won a victory in 2013, when the City Council lowered horses maximum workday from 10 to eight hours, required a 16-hour break between shifts and limited the number of occupants in a large carriage to 14 changes carriage operators supported. At the time, however, activists urged the council to go farther and abolish the industry entirely. Five carriage companies have permits to operate downtown, according to the San Antonio Police Department, which enforces local regulations for the industry. Each company is allowed to operate five carriages within a 2-mile radius of City Hall at any one time. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Animal rights advocate Mariah Smith launched a change.org petition in January 2022 renewing the call to outlaw horse-drawn carriages. It had garnered 2,265 signatures as of Friday. Some big cities have been struggling to decide what to do about the industry, a perennial favorite among visitors. Its one small flank of the hospitality industry. Chicago banned horse-drawn carriages in 2020. New York City leaders have been trying to do so since 2007. The Dallas City Council is considering a ban, with public discussions planned for later this year. Smith had hoped that San Antonios council would take up the phase-out of horse carriages within a few months of Viagran and McKee-Rodriguez filing their proposal, known as a council consideration request. I feel the mayor doesnt feel like this is a priority for him, which is why the CCR is just sitting there, Smith said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I get its just horses its not the biggest human rights issue, its not the most popular issue, she said. But this is something that a lot of San Antonians are passionate about, and its not just for the animals sake, its for public safetys sake. The slow moving carriages can be a headache for drivers. Activists say the presence of carriages amid traffic puts the horses, their passengers and motorists at risk of a collision. The pause button Smith believes Texas House Bill 2127, which opponents dubbed the Death Star bill, may have contributed to the delay or at least city officials fears about the laws reach. It aims to stop cities and counties from adopting stricter regulations than what state law allows in eight broad areas, including labor and business. The law empowers individuals and businesses to sue local governments that they believe have violated HB 2127. City Attorney Andy Segovia refused to say whether he believed the law, which took effect Sept. 1, would apply to the carriage industry. Recognizing that a State court recently ruled HB2127 unconstitutional, we will not comment on the potential application of HB2127 to a specific ordinance until the appeal process has run its course, Segovia said in a statement. A Travis County judge in August ruled that the law is unconstitutional after Houston, San Antonio and other cities challenged the bill in court. Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed, and until a high court rules on the appeal, the law remains in effect. District 8 Council Member Manny Pelaez rejected the notion that the new law contributed to the lack of action on Viagran and McKee-Rodriguezs proposal. Pelaez and District 4 Council Member Adriana Rocha Garcia signed their memo, making a show of support for council taking up the issue. I think there was some consensus that hitting the pause button temporarily while we dealt with other issues was smart, particularly (given) the loud reaction we got from some of the community, Pelaez said, referring to the outcry from carriage operators and drivers who want horse carriages off downtown streets. Neither McKee-Rodriguez nor Viagran responded to interview requests. The citys Animal Care Services Department spent much of 2023 crafting its new strategic plan, which could have been another reason the ban proposal didnt move. ACS regulates, inspects and issues permits for the horses and barns, so department staff would be involved in any discussions about changing local regulations for the industry. Pelaez, who is considering a run for mayor in 2025, said he still supports doing away with horse-drawn carriages in the central business district. The increase in the number of extremely hot days with last summer being the hottest on record in San Antonio has only reinforced his position, he said. Carriages are barred from operating when the temperature exceeds 95 degrees, and from noon to 8:30 p.m. on Air Quality Health Alert Days when the ozone pollution level is high. In September 2022, however, the citys Transportation Advisory Board approved recommending doing away with the air quality rule, but that recommendation has yet to go to the City Council for approval. ACS Director Shannon Sims supported that move, according to meeting minutes, based on the recommendation of city-contracted veterinarian Dr. Benjamin Espy. The advisory board also was set to consider whether to recommend allowing carriages to operate after 8:30 p.m. when the temperature is above 95 degrees, a discussion that has yet to happen. In October, the board was informed that until the council reviews McKee-Rodriguez and Viagrans policy proposal, staff would not take any recommended changes to the City Council concerning the horse carriage industry, minutes note. Room for compromise Pelaez said he would be open to a compromise that stops short of outlawing the industry. Im happy to negotiate some kind of resolution to this. Maybe that is that the horses are only out during much lower temperature thresholds or in different parts of town, he said. Were a downtown that has tens of millions of people in it, and more and more cars every single day, with lots of construction going on, and I feel like this is not an appropriate place for horses while a lot of this activity is going on. The mayor expressed a similar position. My approach to this is that its dangerous for people and animals where horse-drawn carriages are interacting with increasingly congested downtown traffic, Nirenberg said. So, at the very least, I would like to have a policy discussion about where horse-drawn carriages should be operating. The original policy proposal should come before the Governance Committee almost certainly this year, Nirenberg said. Representatives of the five permitted carriage companies Bluebonnet, Lollypop, H.R.H., Yellow Rose and Lonestar did not return requests for comment. Operators previously told the Express-News that if the city bans their business, they would have to euthanize some of their horses if they were unable to find animal rescue organizations to take them in. The companies have Oklahoma-based The Cavalry Group on their side. The industry organization aims to protect and advance the constitutional and private property rights of law-abiding animal owners by taking legal action, if necessary. Animal rights activists such as Smith have Florida-based The Brady Hunter Foundation in their corner. The foundation is involved in efforts to outlaw carriage horses in Philadelphia and New York. As part of that fight, it has been looking for opportunities to collaborate with like-minded strategic partners to develop eco-friendly electric carriages to be introduced in select U.S. cities, including San Antonio, founder Josh Fox said in a statement. We have been actively vetting production partners and are excited about the opportunity to introduce electric carriages in cities across the country in an effort to garner the much-needed support for the removal of horse-drawn carriages, he said. It remains to be seen whether San Antonios tourism industry would wade into the fight. Chaitan Mugili, board chair of the San Antonio Hotel & Lodging Association, said the group does not currently have a position on McKee-Rodriguez or Viagrans proposal. In the meantime, Blue Jeans will keep plodding his way through downtown traffic, as long as tourists are willing to pay. The two passengers in Blue Jeans carriage at the corner of Navarro and East Pecan streets had paid a total for $50 for a 23-minute ride. Justin Trudeau is currently serving his third term as prime minister - Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press A repeat glitch with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeaus official aircraft risked stranding him overseas for the second time in four months. The Canadian Armed Forces said that they were forced to send a second plane to Jamaica after Mr Trudeaus jet broke down during his recent visit to the Caribbean country, with a repair team dispatched to address the issue. Mr Trudeau, who was on the Caribbean island for a family holiday, is required to travel on a military plane for security reasons. The incident came after an earlier fault with the Canadian premiers aircraft delayed his departure from a G20 summit in India in September 2023 by two days. Pre-flight checks revealed a part on the CC-150 Polaris was defective and needed to be replaced. Mr Trudeau travels in a CC-150 Polaris military plane for security - Future Publishing Both planes were relatively new acquisitions by the Canadian Armed Forces. We can confirm two Royal Canadian Air Force CC-144 Challengers were in Jamaica supporting transport for the prime minister, a spokesman for Canadas defence department said. Trudeau returns on original plane An inspection uncovered the maintenance issue on Tuesday, before Mr Trudeaus was due to fly back to Canada, the spokesman added. A maintenance team and aircraft were sent to the island to restore the craft to service the next day. Mr Trudeau, 52, was able to return on the original plane, the spokesman said. In 2019, Mr Trudeau was also forced to use a backup plane to attend a Nato summit in London after the one he had been originally scheduled to travel on was damaged in a hangar accident. Also that year, during his re-election campaign, a chartered Boeing plane he was due to fly on was grounded after a bus ferrying journalists collided with the aircrafts wing. Mr Trudeau is currently serving his third term as prime minister, having first been elected in 2015. By the time the next election is due in 2025, he will have been in power for 10 years, and polls indicate Canadians could be in the mood for a change. Most opinion polls currently show Mr Trudeau significantly trailing his newest rival, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. No Canadian prime minister since Wilfrid Laurier in 1908 has won four consecutive elections. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) slammed President Biden and his administration as lawless over the border crisis during a Sunday podcast discussion. Scott joined John Catsimatidis on his talk show Cats Roundtable on Sunday to discuss the Senates ongoing negotiation on asylum policy changes. Weve got to say, were not gonna do anything else, were not gonna do Ukraine funding, were not going to continue funding our federal government, were not gonna do anything, unless we get a secure border, Scott said. The Biden administration is lawless. They dont care what the laws are. Both chambers of Congress are set to begin 2024 with a heightened focus on border issues, as House Republicans took a trip to the border near Eagle Pass, Texas this week and the Senate gears up its impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, The Hill previously reported. Republicans have made migration issues central to their messaging efforts, even passing a package that would limit asylum protections earlier in 2023. The issue is now getting heightened attention amid historic border crossings and as the U.S. attempts to send aid to Ukraine and Israel in their respective wars. In the interview, Scott argued that we dont need a new law we need enforcement of law. And so thats what Im going to work on. Theres a lot of us working on it, Scott said of the recent House GOP trip to the U.S.-Mexico border. Theyre completely committed, that were going to have a secure border, or were not going to continue to pass legislation. Scott continued, saying that Democrats in the Senate dont care about the border because they continue to support Biden in everything. Schumer has them acting like little robots that whatever Biden wants, thats what they get, he said. Biden wants an open border. This is a risk to your family, my family, every family in this country, Scott continued. We have got to say, the number one thing to do, when we get back up there on Monday, is to secure the border. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The natural world is a constant source of pleasure in Rio de Janeiro the colossal rocks that tower like ancestral gods at the end of every street, the rainforest encroaching all around, the vast golden beaches, the soaring seabirds, the heat and light and the roaring, sparkling surf in all, an ecstatic, ever-shifting symphony that no other city on the planet can match. Rising easily to the challenge, however, is the city's music, from the orchestral visions of Villa Lobos to the rich tradition of samba, with its roots in Afro-Brazilian culture and religion. It's the lifeblood of Rio's famous nightlife, and of the fabulous street parties in the weeks leading up to Carnival , culminating in the televised samba parade, the biggest show on earth. Mountains, beaches, music and dance Rio is best known for these, but there's far more to the city than them. Founded in 1565, it was the capital of Brazil from 1763 until 1960, and has much to show for itself in every sphere of culture, including gilded baroque churches, iconic works of modernist architecture, august museums and art galleries, and an increasingly diverse and exciting restaurant scene. Carnival is Rio de Janeiro's biggest party Discovering Rio's art scene Rio has always drawn artists with its wealth, its political importance and its sheer beauty. It has several grand art museums, from the 19th-century Museu Nacional de Belas Artes to Oscar Niemeyer's spectacular Museu de Arte Contemporanea. And it is home to many of Brazil 's best-known artists Beatriz Milhazes, Vik Muniz and so on and to some of its liveliest up-and-coming talents, many of whom started out in the street art scene of the suburbs and favelas. On a recent trip, I got to meet some of these luminaries thanks to the Rio-based tour operator Dehouche , whose contacts can arrange visits to the city's top studios and private collections. Grumari is one of Rio's most breathtaking beaches Exploring Rio's wild side The outdoors life is half the fun of being in Rio. You might visit one of the breathtaking beaches on the city's outskirts (Grumari, for instance), or try paragliding from the Pedra da Gavea, one of its tallest peaks. But there's no surer way of tapping into the deep magic of its wild places than a bird watching trip in the jungled mountains at its heart the world's biggest urban forest. I went with the expert guide Ricardo Barbosa (another Dehouche contact) and spotted 64 species in a single morning, from toucans and black hawk eagles to dazzling smaller species with delectable names, such as the black-cheeked gnateater, the blue manakin, the masked water-tyrant and the violaceous euphonia. Theatro Municipal opera house in the Centro district of Rio A city of music and dance Music fans are likely to enjoy the small but intriguing Museu Villa-Lobos, and the Theatro Municipal, Rio's magnificent Belle Epoque opera house. But still more indispensable are the samba joints in the raucous districts of Lapa and Gamboa, such as the Vaca Atolada, a tiny neon-lit bar with a central table around which samba groups regularly gather to play and sing. During one of my trips to Rio, I delved deeper into this scene, taking dance lessons, visiting the studio of a top-flight samba parade costumier, and spending an evening at one of the suburban samba schools half rehearsal space, half social club where locals prepare for the big day. Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel Where to stay The grand dame of Rio hotels is the Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel , an airy Art Deco edifice featured in "Flying Down to Rio", the 1933 film in which Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers appeared together for the first time. Chic modern alternatives include the Fasano (in Ipanema), the Emiliano (in Copacabana) and the Arpoador (between the two), which is smaller and more affordable but impeccably stylish, and sits on the only pedestrianised stretch of beachfront in the city. Alternatively, you might stay away from the ocean in the gorgeous old hilltop district of Santa Teresa. Among its most elegant hotels is Chez Georges , a modernist villa set among trees, with its own recording studio and soul-stirring views across the city. Alberto Landgraf's Oteque has two Michelin stars Eating out During the last century, Rio couldn't compete with Sao Paulo, Brazil's modern financial and industrial powerhouse, when it came to gastronomy. But in the past couple of decades, its restaurant scene has flourished. Chefs such as Felipe Bronze, Alberto Landgraf and Rafa Costa e Silva have won Michelin stars for their wildly sophisticated takes on Brazilian culinary traditions at the likes of two-star Oro , two-star Oteque and one star Lasai . And Rio is also a good place to discover some of the country's most exciting regional cuisines at Tacaca do Norte, for instance (a tiny cafe serving dishes from Belem, on the Amazon river), or Aconchego Carioca (for imaginative versions of the African-influenced food of the north-east). Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro How to get there Dehouche , a British-owned company based in Rio, can organise tailor-made trips to Brazil from 4,500 per person for 12 days, including flights. Tom Yarwood was a guest of Dehouche; dehouche.com Sign up for The Weeks Travel newsletter for destination inspiration and the latest news and trends. Riviera Beach Mayor Ronnie Felder has launched a broad investigation into city departments, saying the probe is "related to concerns about a hostile work environment, low morale among employees and potential irregularities in the hiring process." Felder's investigation, announced in a letter to City Council members on Dec. 29, raises questions about governance and administration in Riviera Beach as voters there are considering whether to back a March 19 referendum to approve a $115 million bond issuance. Money from the bonds would pay for a new police department headquarters, new parks and a new fire station. City Manager Jonathan Evans and other city officials have described the bond money as crucial to the city's efforts to replace aging infrastructure and spur development. Riviera Beach Mayor Ronnie Felder Replacing broken-down infrastructure and spurring development have long been unmet goals in Riviera Beach, but both have gotten a boost during Evans' tenure. A string of massive projects are on the drawing board, and a few, including an affordable housing project, a new library and a fire station, are under construction or already completed. Infighting among city leaders continues to plague Riviera Beach Riviera Beach City Manager Jonathan Evans. While Evans' tenure has included lots of ribbon cuttings, it has also been pockmarked by political intrigue and infighting among the City Council members to whom he answers. Evans was hired as city manager in 2017 and, under Riviera Beach's "mayor-council-manager" form of government, assumed extensive authority to hire and fire city staff members. Seven months into the job, Evans was fired by City Council members. Many residents were enraged by the unexplained firing and launched an effort to recall the council members who had voted in favor of it. The recall effort failed, but several of those who backed Evans' ouster were defeated in the next election. ALSO IN RIVIERA BEACH: City to crack down on repeat violators of its code enforcement laws A new council voted to re-hire Evans and, in May of 2019, he agreed to return. But this second stint hasn't been smooth sailing. City Council member Tradrick McCoy has been critical of Evans' leadership, questioning his dual role as head of the city staff and of its Community Redevelopment Agency. McCoy has accused Evans of using the coronavirus pandemic to pad his salary by more than $130,000, and the councilman filed suit against the city over what he called Evans' refusal to redraw council district lines in accordance to the city charter. Riviera Beach Council member Tradrick McCoy At the time, Evans did not publicly address the district lines question, citing his policy of not discussing ongoing litigation. And a city spokesperson said that employees were granted additional pay during the pandemic but noted that Evans' base salary was $206,000 during the pandemic and $220,667 afterward. What led the mayor to prompt the investigation? In Riviera Beach, there are often subterranean political contexts to moves like Felder's investigation, though it is unclear what, specifically, prompted the mayor to initiate it. Felder and Evans did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment. In his Dec. 29 notice to council members, Felder laid out the scope of the investigation. ALSO IN RIVIERA BEACH: Officials mark groundbreaking of $35 million affordable apartments "Pursuant to the authority granted to me by the City Charter, I plan to examine the condition of the books, records, and papers of City departments and the manner of departments conducting official business," he wrote. "I also plan to report to the city council all violations and neglect of duty that may come to my knowledge as a result of this investigation. Additionally, in good faith, I plan to conduct inquiries and investigations in order to report any violations and /or neglect of duty that may be found." The mayor, who has no vote in Riviera Beach's form of government, said he would provide council members with regular updates on progress and findings. Riviera Beach has previously confronted allegations of a hostile work environment The news of the investigation is not the first time the city has dealt with such issues. Ladi March Goldwire, a former building official in the city, sued after her termination, alleging discrimination, retaliation and that she was made to endure a hostile work environment. Ladi March Goldwire A court rejected her discrimination and hostile work environment claims, though a jury did later find that the city retaliated against her by posting her unredacted personnel file online. She was awarded $60,000 for pain and anguish, which the city has contested on appeal. March Goldwire, who grew up in Riviera Beach and still attends some attends City Council meetings, has been critical of the city administration under Evans. She and others including the mayor's wife, Carla Felder have also been critical of council member Julia Botel, a staunch supporter of the city manager. ALSO IN RIVIERA BEACH: City rejects request for expanded boat repair operations along its waterfront Wayne Washington is a journalist covering West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and race relations at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Mayor in Riviera Beach launches investigation of city departments Winter Is Coming Famed roboticist Rodney Brooks, who co-founded the company iRobot which invented the Roomba has been keeping score on the AI industry. And from where he's standing, the near future of AI isn't looking too hot, in spite of its countless hype men who he says are due a harsh reality check. In his latest annual Predictions Scorecard on the tech sector, the former director of MIT's AI and computer labs warns that despite its unprecedented levels of success, the AI industry is merely "following a well worn hype cycle that we have seen again, and again, during the 60+ year history of AI." More than likely, Brooks avers, advancements in the field will stagnate for many dark years before reaching the next huge breakthrough. That dry spell could make for quite a calamitous comedown for an industry that's supposedly on track to be worth over $1 trillion by the next decade. "Get your thick coats now," Brooks wrote in his scorecard, as quoted by The Los Angeles Times. "There may be yet another AI winter, and perhaps even a full scale tech winter, just around the corner. And it is going to be cold." Dog Days Brooks made his original predictions on technological advancements as such: as happening by a specified year, as happening no earlier than a specified year, and "Not In My Lifetime" (NIML) meaning not before 2050. Then with each year that passes, he judges these as accurate, too pessimistic, or too optimistic. Often, his wagers are on the money. As the LA Times notes, Brooks predicted back in 2018 that the "next big thing" in AI would happen sometime between 2023 and 2027. The rise of large language models like OpenAI's ChatGPT turned out to fit that bill perfectly, with practically every leader in tech trying to capitalize on the trend with smart chatbots of their own that have garnered their creators billions of dollars in investment. But going forward, Brooks takes a more measured stance. The next next-big-thing, often framed as artificial general intelligence and hyped up by industry heads as being imminent, is in Brook's opinion a resounding "NIML." In fact, he's skeptical that we'll even be able to create "a robot that seems as intelligent, as attentive, and as faithful as a dog" before 2048. "This is so much harder than most people imagine it to be," he wrote, as quoted by the LA Times. "Many think we are already there; I say we are not at all there." Still, Brooks isn't saying the AI industry is doomed, mind you, but that such ambitious technological advancements take time and a lot of it. Whether the industry's financial backers are ready to hunk down and play the long game, though, is more dubious. More on AI: ChatGPT Says It's Reached the Limit of How Silly It Can Make the Goose Statement: Donald Trump deported less, believe it or not, than Barack Obama even did." Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that if elected president, hed do better at deporting people who are illegally in the country than former President Donald Trump did. "Trump promised the largest deportations in history," DeSantis said Jan. 2 during a town hall hosted by Gray Television. "He deported less, believe it or not, than Barack Obama even did." As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump promised to deport every immigrant living in the U.S. illegally (then estimated to be 11 million people). He failed to do so, earning him a Promise Broken on PolitiFacts Trump-O-Meter promise tracker. But did Trump deport fewer people than Obama? There are different deportation metrics, and Obama surpassed Trumps numbers in each one. Immigrant rights advocates had dubbed Obama the "deporter-in-chief" by the time he left office in 2017. The federal government classifies deportations as the removal of noncitizens from the U.S. This is tracked in a few different ways: Removals: People are sent out of the U.S. via an official court order and often penalized for the illegal entry. This can involve people who have lived in the United States for years as well as people who recently arrived. Returns: People are returned to their home countries without legal penalties and without being put through formal removal proceedings. This happens at the border. Title 42 expulsions: These happened from March 2020 to May 2023 under a public health policy. Some people arriving at the border were not let into the United States and were expelled without legal penalties. Under Trump, from fiscal year 2017 to fiscal year 2020, the Department of Homeland Security recorded 2 million deportations, a combination of all three metrics. (Fiscal year 2017 included about four months of the Obama administration.) During Obamas first term, fiscal year 2009 to fiscal year 2012, there were 3.2 million deportations (removals and returns). Fiscal year 2009 included about four months of the second George W. Bush administration. During Obamas second term, covering fiscal years 2013 through 2016, there were 2.1 million deportations (removals and returns). These figures for Obama and Trump encompass deportations of people stopped at the border and people who were already living in the U.S. and were picked up by immigration authorities. A DeSantis campaign spokesperson pointed us to a 2020 report from the libertarian Cato Institute that supports DeSantis claim. The report focused on Immigration and Customs Enforcement removals of people already living in the U.S. and shows that there were more deportations under each of Obamas terms compared with Trumps term. "By any measure, the Trump administration failed to meaningfully increase immigration enforcement in the interior of the United States," compared with the Obama administration, the report said. Our ruling DeSantis said Trump "deported less, believe it or not, than Barack Obama even did." Federal data tracking the removals, returns and expulsions of noncitizens supports this claim. During each of his terms, Obama deported more people than Trump did during his term. We rate DeSantis claim True. Our sources This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: PolitiFact: Obama deported more people than Trump did Shown is the low pressure trough in the western United States on Sunday. Over the next 24 hours, it will move east toward Texas and cause wild weather across the state. Pivotal Weather A powerful low pressure system has already moved from the Pacific ocean into the western United States, and it will continue moving east toward Texas over the next 24 hours. It will be the focus of some wild weather across the Lone Star State to start the new work week. Light snow is possible in the Panhandle. Severe storms are likely in Southeast Texas, near Houston. The storms could bring large hail and a few isolated tornadoes. Here in San Antonio, impacts are expected to be lower, but there still is a chance of rain and very strong winds across South Texas. Sundays forecast Before Monday arrives, Sunday will bring relatively quiet weather to the state, especially in San Antonio. It will be another cold start as morning low temperatures fall to 37 to 38 degrees in the Alamo City. Parts of the Hill Country, including Kerrville and Fredericksburg, will likely experience another light freeze. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Here are expected low temperatures for Sunday morning, Jan. 7. Freezing temperatures are expected in parts of West and North Texas, as well as the Hill Country. Pivotal Weather As the day moves on, temperatures will warm very nicely. San Antonio will reach 50 degrees at 10 a.m. and could touch 60 degrees by noon. High temperatures will be a few degrees cooler than Saturday, topping out in the low to mid 60s. Partly cloudy skies are expected. As the low pressure system moves closer, winds will become increasingly breezy by the second half of the day, reaching 15 to 20 mph after 5 p.m. Wild Monday weather Panhandle snow: Extremely dangerous conditions are expected in the northern Texas Panhandle on Monday. The National Weather Service office in Amarillo is warning of near blizzard conditions for some spots. They say between two and five inches of snow will be possible for towns like Dumas, Dalhart, and Perryton. The wind will also be a huge issue. Gusts between 50 and 65 mph are expected in the northern Texas panhandle. That could knock wind chill values below zero at times for several towns. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Here is the probability of at least one inch of snow in the Texan Panhandle on Monday, Jan. 8. Some areas could see between two and five inches of snow. NWS Amarillo Southeast severe weather: The other side of this storm system will cause scattered severe thunderstorms in Southeast Texas, especially in and around Houston and Beaumont. Some storms will be capable of large, damaging hail and a few tornadoes. The best chance of severe storms will occur after 1 p.m., and the storms will likely move all the way outside of the state by 8 p.m., as they move east to Louisiana. Here is the Storm Prediction Center outlook for Monday, Jan. 8. There is a Level 2 Slight risk of severe thunderstorms for Southeast Texas, including Houston and Beaumont. NOAA/SPC San Antonio: Effects in the Alamo City will not be as severe as other parts of the state, but folks in the Alamo City will still feel the cold front. A few showers and storms will be possible Monday morning and into the early afternoon. However, severe weather is not expected. Chances are only about 30 to 40%, so not everyone will see rain. The best chance of rain will occur between 4 a.m. and noon. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The wind will be the larger factor in San Antonio. After a breezy morning, wind speeds will rise to 20 to 25 mph during the afternoon. Then, after 5 p.m., sustained winds will be close to 30 mph for the rest of the night. Some wind gusts could exceed 45 mph. If you havent taken your Christmas decorations down yet, it would probably be smart to do so before the intense winds arrive. UK Defence Intelligence has noted that the Russian Guard (Rosgvardia) is strengthening its resources and personnel against a background of turmoil in the internal security of Russia caused by the war against Ukraine. Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 7 January on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda Details: The department recalled that from October 2023, the Rosgvardia has included units of the Wagner private military company, and on 3 January 2024, the Vostok battalion from the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic. The review notes that the Russian Federation is also making efforts to disband the Kaskad Group, which specialises in using drones, to subordinate parts of it to the Russian Guard. In addition, as UK intelligence recalls, in July 2023, the State Duma of the Russian Federation allowed the Russian Guard to use heavier weapons. "New capabilities, along with its augmentation with experienced veterans from other groups, will likely represent a significant increase in combat effectiveness," the review says. Background: In a previous review, UK Defence Intelligence assessed that the downing of three Russian Su-34 fighter jets over the south of Ukraine has affected the operations of the Russians on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast. UK intelligence also reported that ground combat operations in Ukraine over the past week have featured either a static front line or very gradual, localised advances by Russian forces in critical areas. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces have been concentrating their attacks on the Kupyansk sector in recent days, storming Ukrainian positions with both regular troops and units made up of Russian prisoners, Luhansk Oblast governor Artem Lysohor reported on Telegram on Jan. 7. The invaders are "not sparing tanks and armored vehicles" in their assaults, the governor said, noting that the enemy had fired 550 shells at villages and Ukrainian military fortifications, targeting the towns of Nevske and Bilohorivka in particular. Russian occupation authorities recently announced their intention to restore the destroyed territories of Luhansk region by 2035, but their plan covers only about 10% of the facilities in need of repair or construction. That is, less than 1% per year, Lysohor said. Russian forces may intensify their efforts to capture Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast in the coming weeks because they have a less degraded grouping there than in other areas of eastern Ukraine, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in an earlier analysis. Read also: Kharkiv governor warns of intensified Russian attacks on energy infrastructure amid worsening weather conditions Ukraine is bracing for a renewed Russian offensive near Kharkiv as Moscow ramps up its bombardment of the northeastern city and the surrounding region. Targets included both civilian buildings and military positions in what is seen as preparation for a large-scale offensive in the coming weeks, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported on Jan. 4, citing a source close to Ukraines armed forces. The Russian army is carrying out daily assaults near Synkivka to create a foothold for another offensive on Kupyansk, army commander Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Jan. 4. No Russian troop concentrations have been detected on various front lines in the region, Synyehubov said on Jan. 5, adding that the missiles used by the Russian military to strike Kharkiv and the region in late December and early January were not of Russian manufacture. Russian forces may intensively target energy infrastructure as winter weather conditions worsen, the head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, Oleh Synyehubov warned on Telegram on Jan. 6. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian forces shelled five communities in Sumy Oblast on Jan. 6, the regional military administration reported. A total of 138 explosions were recorded throughout the day. Russian troops fired at the border 31 times, targeting the communities of Bilopillia, Svesa, Velyka Pysarivka, Seredyna-Buda, and Krasnopillia. The Russian military targeted different communities with mortar, artillery, and grenade launcher attacks, while also dropping a mine onto the Svesa settlement and its outskirts. No casualties have been reported. Shelling is a daily occurrence for the communities near Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia. Residents in the region's vulnerable border settlements experience multiple attacks per day. Read also: Russian attacks injure 4, including twin boys, in Kherson Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian shelling of Kherson killed two people and injured two more on Jan. 7, Roman Mrochko, the head of the city's military administration, reported. Russian troops attacked the city earlier in the day, hitting a residential house, according to Mrochko. "As a result of a direct hit by an enemy projectile, one woman died, and another one was injured," he wrote on Telegram. Later in the day, Mrochko said that Russian attacks on Kherson killed a 62-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman, as well as wounded a 66-year-old man and an 82-year-old woman. Another 73-year-old man sought medical assistance on Jan. 7 after being injured in a Russian attack on Sadove, Kherson Oblast, on Jan. 2, according to Mrochko. Ukrainian forces liberated the part of Kherson Oblast that lies on the west bank of the Dnipro River in November 2022. The region comes under daily Russian attacks from Russian forces on the east bank. On Jan. 6 alone, Russian attacks on Kherson Oblast killed one man and injured seven people, including two children, according to local authorities. Read also: Under deadly attacks, Kherson fights to keep life going 1 year after liberation Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian attacks have killed one man and injured seven people, including two children, over the past day in Kherson Oblast, the local authorities reported on Jan. 7. Ukrainian forces liberated the part of Kherson Oblast that lies on the west bank of the Dnipro River in November 2022. The region comes under daily Russian attacks from Russian forces on the east bank. A 62-year-old man was injured following a Russian attack on the center of Kherson on the morning of Jan. 7. He died shortly afterward in the hospital, the Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported. Two other civilians were injured in the attack, according to the Kherson Regional Prosecutor's Office. Among reports of five injuries on Jan. 6, the regional authorities reported that two 9-year-old twin boys had been hospitalized with shrapnel wounds after Russian forces hit the settlement of Darivka to the east of Kherson. In total, Russian forces fired 382 times at the region over the past day and launched 89 attacks, Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. The city of Kherson was fired at 24 times. Russia used drones, tanks, aircraft, mortars, and artillery to attack the region. Targeting civilians violates the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a war crime. Read also: Governor: Russian missile strike on Donetsk Oblast kills 11, including 5 kids Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A 16-year-old boy from the North Caucasian Russian republic of Dagestan was arrested for allegedly torching a Su-34 fighter jet at an airbase in Chelyabinsk, local Russian media reported on Jan. 7. The jet was lit on fire overnight on Jan. 4 while parked at the Shagol airbase outside of Chelyabinsk, some 2,000 kilometers east of the Ukrainian border. Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) released a video of the jet being lit on fire but did not explicitly take responsibility for the sabotage. Earlier on Jan. 4, Ukrainska Pravda reported that the HUR was behind the torching, citing an undisclosed intelligence source. While the HUR said that the aircraft burnt down, the full extent of damage to the plane, which costs at least $50 million, is not apparent from the published footage. The jet belonged to the 21st Mixed Aviation Division of the Russian Air Force, the HUR said. Russian media claimed that the fire was quickly extinguished and did not cause any major damage, but did not release evidence to support the claim. The Dagestani boy was arrested the following day. A city court in Chelyabinsk ordered him into pre-trial detention on Jan. 7. The Russian state-run media outlet TASS reported on Jan. 5, citing information from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) that a suspect had been arrested in the case, and added that the individual in question was also allegedly involved in other sabotage attacks on Russian infrastructure in Dagestan. TASS claimed that the FSB had found evidence of the suspect's correspondence with Ukrainian intelligence. There is no way to independently verify this information. Russia does not provide transparent access to its legal system, and international human rights organizations have long detailed rampant abuse in its justice system, as well as the use of torture. Read also: 10 books to better understand wartime Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Screenshot: video by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Border guards in Chernihiv Oblast have detected a large floating object which had flown from Russia to Ukraine by the Desna River. Source: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Details: The border guards were watching a suspicious construction until it stopped near the shore in Ukrainian territory, the report says. It turned out to be a pontoon bridge which Russians used as a crossing until recently. Bomb disposal experts have established that the metal construction is not dangerous. Support UP or become our patron! Russian prisoners on a bus during the last major exchange Russian prisoners-of war expressed their gratitude towards Ukrainian forces for their humane treatment, Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said on Facebook on Jan. 6, commenting on a video of his recent conversation with Russian POWs awaiting exchange. "Another confirmation of Ukraine's strict adherence to the Geneva Conventions, Lubinets wrote. Read also: Ukrainian coordinator explains prisoner swap rationale, says many Russian POWs were convicts It is important that the Russians once again said that they had no complaints and thanked us for our humanity. When asked how they were treated in captivity, the POWs replied: "good," "normal." "humane," "arms and legs intact". "We somehow expected a different attitude, not so positive, one of the POWs said on camera. Read also: Three Ukrainian POWs murdered by Russian paratroopers, says war crimes investigator They didn't humiliate our honor and dignity, they treated us normally. The prisoners also mentioned that they were allowed to contact their families, correspond through letters, and receive medical care. Read also: Former Ukrainian POWs require extensive treatment, suspected as having been tortured Lubinets, for his part, urged the Russians to share their positive experiences when they return home and expressed his desire for exactly the same conditions for Ukrainian POWs. He also wished that the Russians would stop coming to Ukraine with weapons. 224 Ukrainian POWs and six civilians have returned home after a prisoner exchange with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Jan. 3, including 130 soldiers, 55 national guardsmen, 38 border guardsmen, one police officer, and six civilians who had been illegally detained. Lubinets later added that the number included defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol more broadly, as well as of Snake Island, whose defiant stand against the Russian Navy has been a rallying cry for Ukrainians since the first weeks of the full-scale invasion. He further stated that Ukraine strives to exchange all its citizens and continues to work on this issue. This was the 49th official exchange, with 2,828 prisoners exchanged in total, and the largest since February 24, 2022. It was the first publicly announced prisoner swap in six months. Freed Ukrainian prisoners-of-war from the latest swap all evidenced extreme amounts of weight loss, and require medical and psychological treatment after likely being tortured in captivity, Lubinets noted. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine In Dnipro, the Russians hit a house with 22 families with a shahed A residential building housing 22 families was hit by a Russian suicide drone in Dnipro on the evening of Jan. 6, regional governor Serhiy Lysak reported on Telegram. "Fortunately no one was injured, he said. Emergency services rescued six people, including two children. Two people received medical assistance. Read also: Maternity patients in Dnipro survived Russian missile attack by going to shelter The attack caused damage to the apartment building and vehicles of the residents, according to the Interior Ministry. Investigation teams, forensic experts and other specialized services are working at the scene. A mobile point has been set up to receive citizens' appeals and help to document the consequences of the Russian aggression, the National Police reported. The State Emergency Service has deployed a team of 45 rescuers and 11 firefighting units with special equipment to deal with the aftermath of the attack. Eleven people, including five children, lost their lives, and eight others were injured in the barbaric Russian S-300 missile attack which destroyed three private houses in direct hits in and around the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, in a separate incident on the same day, according to a preliminary report by the State Emergencies Service on Telegram. Read also: Russia missile strike on Kurakhove destroys another kindergarten and school photo Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The City of Manila is preparing for the return of the full celebration of the feast of the Black Nazarene next week. In preparation for the procession, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared this coming Tuesday (January 9) as a special non-working day for the capital city to anticipate traffic congestion and rerouting along the route of the procession and in the vicinity of Quiapo Church. The localized holiday would also give Catholics in Manila a "full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy the celebration," according to the proclamation published by the Malacanang dated Thursday (January 4). The procession from Manila's chief public square of Luneta to Quiapo Church was to commemorate the transfer of a copy of the Spanish-era image of the suffering Jesus from Manila's Old City to its current shrine at some point in the 17th or 18th century. Read Also: China Designates Patrols in Disputed South China Sea Amid Philippines, US Joint Military Drills Police, Medical Staff Beefed Up for Procession Around 15,000 personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) across Metro Manila would be deployed to secure the procession, which would be expected to draw millions of Catholic devotees from across the archipelago. Sunstar Philippines also reported that Manila hospitals have been placed on high alert to ensure hospital readiness to provide medical services to those participating in the celebration. Philippine Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa also told local media that ambulance and triage teams would be placed in several key locations along the procession route. In previous processions - where rowdy commotions around the image were commonplace - several devotees have been rushed to hospital for physical injuries and breathing problems, some of which have resulted in death. Although transparent bags are allowed, authorities have also urged participants to avoid bringing umbrellas, pyrotechnics, water tumblers, and bags or backpacks. The wearing of hoodies, sweatshirts, and headgear is also discouraged. Intoxicated individuals and vendors would also be prohibited along the procession route. Church officials have also discouraged devotees from climbing the carriage carrying the image to allow people to see it from a distance. Related Article: Manila's Nazareno Procession Returning to Full Glory in 2024; Plans, Routes Revealed There has been an escalation in drone attacks by Russia on the countrys frontline regions, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Forces, Yuriy Ihnat, reported on Jan. 7. This follows a familiar pattern, showing no substantial deviation from [January] 5th, Ihnat said. Read also: Focus of Russias New Years Eve drone attacks has shifted to frontline zones, says Air Force A total of 21 drones have been neutralized, regrettably not intercepting all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The adversary is adjusting the focal points of their attacks onto frontline territories, with drones exhibiting varying trajectories beyond Khmelnytskyi, said Ihnat. He emphasized that the air defense forces primarily target mobile fire groups, preserving anti-aircraft guided missiles for potential large-scale attacks, similar to those on Dec. 29 and Jan. 2. No intention to intimidate Ukraine is apparent, he said. We maintain a regulated supply of missiles. Despite expending some reserves, ongoing processes ensure an ample missile supply for repelling potential aerial assaults. Read also: Ukraine Air Force comments of destruction of 3 Russian Su-34 fighters, gives their approximate cost Earlier reports from the Ukrainian Air Force detailed that on the night of Jan. 7, Russians deployed 28 Shahed drones over Ukraine, with 21 successfully intercepted by air defense forces. The air defense system remained active over Zaporizhzhya, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, and Cherkasy oblasts. During the drone onslaught, one UAV struck a residential building in Dnipro, housing 22 families. There were no casualties reported. Another Shahed drone targeted a decommissioned recreation base in Mykolaiv Oblast. In Kirovohrad Oblast, debris from a downed drone caused damage to a home and a power line. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Russians are trying to strengthen mobilisation measures in the temporarily occupied territories of southern Ukraine, according to the National Resistance Center. Source: National Resistance Center Details: The centre reports that more and more repressive measures by the Russians are aimed at finding men to forcibly mobilise into the ranks of the Russian army. As noted, doctors, educators, employees of municipal companies are included in mobilisation lists. Also, as previously reported, teenagers from 17 years old are included in these lists. In particular, new "military enlistment offices" have been set up to carry out mobilisation measures in the occupied cities of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. They are headed by military personnel brought in from the Russian Federation. Quote: "The enemy benefits from the death of Ukrainians, regardless of which side they are fighting on. Therefore, the occupiers use Ukrainians in their army for cannon [fodder] assaults, because their death does not create social tension in the Nazi society of the Russian Federation." Support UP or become our patron! A civilian was killed and two more people were injured on Sunday, 7 January, as a result of a Russian strike on Kupiansk district, Kharkiv Oblast. Source: Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office on Telegram ' , Destruction in Kupiansk district ALL Photos: Prosecutors Office Quote: "On 7 January, at about 12:50, the invaders fired at the village of Senkove of Kupiansk district. A 17-year-old boy received a shrapnel wound. At 14:20, the enemy fired at the village of Nechvolodivka in Kupiansk district. Residential buildings, farm buildings and cars were destroyed and damaged in the village. A 50-year-old civilian died. Another woman was injured, and doctors provided help on the site." Details: The prosecutor's office says that Russians attacked the village from multiple-launch missile systems. Support UP or become our patron! An investigation into allegations that a school employee in Henry County was hitting students over their Chromebooks has found it did not happen. In October, Channel 2s Michael Doudna spoke with a mother who claimed her daughter and several others in her class at Dutchtown Elementary School were hit by a paraprofessional. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to her fourth-grade daughter, the parapro, whose identity hasnt been released, became irritated with some students because they didnt have their Chromebooks or they were not charged. She turned red and started yelling at us, and when we walked out, she hit us in our backs, the girl said. Immediately when I looked at her back, mom Britany Walker said. Her back was red, and it looked like someones handlines. TRENDING STORIES: Months later, the school district shared a statement with Channel 2 Action News saying that there is no evidence this happened. After multiple investigations by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, Henry County Police Department, HCS Human Resources, and Dutchtown Elementary School, there were no findings to support the allegations in this case. We are now working with attorneys to officially close this matter, a spokesperson wrote. The employee was previously placed on leave. Her current status with the district is unclear. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A concerning report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services from 2019 said that one million plant and animal species worldwide are threatened with extinction. The organization said the decline of nature is happening at a rate unprecedented in human history, with invasive species, global heating, and pollution all said to be responsible for this rapid deterioration of the natural world, among other factors. To observe the threat up close, Voxs Benji Jones went to Hawaii, which he noted has been dubbed the extinction capital of the world. Whats happening? Human-related actions are accelerating the threat to habitats and ecosystems all over the world. Land use from agriculture, dirty-fuel pollution, and rising ocean temperatures and water levels are among the reasons for such worrying declines in species populations. Jones observed that Hawaii was once an island group where creatures evolved in isolation, but settlers brought along foreign plants and animals that the native species have struggled to deal with. In 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed 21 species from its endangered species list because of extinction. Among them were eight species of Hawaiian birds, including the poouli, the Molokai creeper, and the Bridled white-eye. Of the 1,670 species and subspecies on the organizations Endangered Species Act, Vox analysis found nearly a third of them are found in Hawaii. Jones visited a Hawaiian lab that is working to halt the decline of snail species. According to Hawaiis Department of Land and Natural Resources, around 60% of the 750 snail species in Hawaii have gone extinct. Jones spoke to David Sischo, a scientist at a lab run by Hawaiis Snail Extinction Prevention Program, who argued the Achatinella fulgens snails are one of the rarest animals on Earth. It paints a bleak picture for Hawaii, which also had to contend with devastating wildfires in 2023 that were linked to the effects of global heating. Why is this so concerning? Its not just Hawaii where extinction is a threat. It is simply a microcosm of the impact that human activities have had on the natural world in the last couple of centuries. If we continue to see patterns like this worldwide, with the death of vital species disrupting the natural balance and creating increased challenges within ecosystems, the knock-on effects for humans in terms of food supply, air quality, and the impact of invasive species could be disastrous. What can we do to help? Things might seem overwhelming, and our ability to reverse the decline of plant and animal life is impossible to do alone, but small lifestyle changes can make a huge difference. Whether its reducing the pollution we produce through travel, energy use, meat and dairy consumption, or single-use plastics, or being more conscious about how we can help encourage biodiversity in our green spaces, hope isnt lost. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) After an Alaska Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing in PDX when a portion of the aircraft blew out in mid-air shortly after takeoff Friday night, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered the temporary grounding of certain Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft. This incident has also prompted aviation experts to weigh in on how it happened, the overall mechanical malfunctions and the potential legal ramifications. Robert Hedrick, an attorney with Aviation Law Group in Seattle, who is also a licensed pilot and aircraft mechanic, said that federal law classifies this a preventable accident and that specific plane only had two months operating in the field virtually brand new. I thought he was dead: Family seeks hit-run suspects who left father critically injured While this aircraft does have a history of having some problems, I want to think that this door coming off, this panel coming off, is an isolated incident, Hedrick told KOIN 6 News. And I think that we can rely on the NTSB and the FAA to fully investigate this and to get this right. Since social media video appeared to show that one of the passenger window panels had been blown out, there was some concern that passengers would have been sucked out of the plane due to sudden depressurization. However, Hedrick said we can thank the FAA for their high standards with regard to how secure seats are attached to the floors of the fuselage. Robert Hedrick is an attorney with Aviation Law Group in Seattle. He is also a licensed commercial pilot and aircraft mechanic. (KOIN) But he also offered up some helpful advice for future passengers. Winter will be back: Mount Hood Meadows prepares for snowy weekend If you see something abnormal, a strange sound, something looks different on an aircraft that concerns you, say something to the flight crew so that it can be looked at. However, from a legal standpoint, it is too early to tell as far as lawsuits or injury claims taking place. Hedrick believes the claims will likely stem from physical injuries sustained during the depressurization of the aircraft, which can cause inner ear problems. Also emotional distress, added Hedrick. Fear of impending doom, thinking you may perish after the accident occurs. Then flying back to Portland with this gaping hole in the side of the airplane must have been horrifying for the passengers. The mechanic side of Hedrick still has a big question that could be the key to figuring out what caused the incident: Where did the door go? Armed man who prompted SERT response in Southeast Portland in custody: police I hope that there is a large search out to find this door, because its going to be needed to determine fully how it failed. Despite this, Hedrick believes that flying overall is safe and he is coincidentally traveling next week on an Alaska Airlines flight. As of noon Saturday, Alaska Airlines said their maintenance team had begun the detailed inspection process of the grounded fleet early that morning. Of the 65 Boeing 737-9 aircrafts, 18 were been cleared to return to service. The airline said the inspections of the remaining planes will be completed in the next few days. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Washington officials renewed their criticism of the Nicaraguan government of Daniel Ortega earlier this week for "unjustly" putting Matagalpa Bishop Rolando Alvarez in prison for alleged treason, demanding the regime to free the prelate immediately and without conditions. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called on Ortega and his vice president, Rosario Murillo, to release Alvarez, who has spent over 500 days in La Modelo Tipitapa - one of Latin America's most notorious prisons. He added that the videos and photographs released by Managua only exacerbated concerns about his well-being. Keeping Alvarez in Jail The pronouncements came after the Ortega regime sentenced Alvarez to more than 26 years in prison, stripped him of his citizenship, and declared him a traitor last February for allegedly "undermining national integrity" and "propagation of false news." The conviction came after the bishop refused to be exiled to the United States with four other priests and 222 other political prisoners who were expelled to the US as part of a prisoner exchange with the US State Department. The regime also claimed late last year that they released an additional 12 priests in a separate deal with the Vatican. Despite this, Alvarez chose to remain in Nicaragua in protest against the regime's crackdown on the Catholic Church in recent years. Another bishop named Isidoro Mora and several priests also remain in Nicaraguan captivity, according to EWTN. Read Also: Italian Priest Calls Pope Francis 'Anti-Pope Usurper,' Gets Excommunicated Washington Accuses Ortega's Regime of Crimes Against Humanity The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recently reported that the Nicaraguan government has shut down charities, stripped universities of funding and legal status, eliminated non-governmental organizations, and banned news media. Meanwhile, Pope Francis - the Vatican's first Latin American pontiff - compared Alvarez's imprisonment to Hitler's Nazi regime and called out Ortega as "unstable." US officials have long accused Ortega's administration of crimes against humanity for waging war against religious freedom and civil liberties. Both the Trump and Biden administrations and members of Congress passed measures to sanction financial lifelines to the Nicaraguan government. However, Republican representative Chris Smith (NJ) told Fox News Digital that the Biden administration has not been doing enough to address Nicaragua's erosion of civil society and its diplomatic leanings toward China, Russia, and Iran, suggesting that the US needed to add more "concrete steps to punish the regime." Related Article: Nicaragua Claims They Released 12 Catholic Priests After Making Deal with Vatican Seattle firefighters rescued people who were trapped in their vehicle in Rainier Beach Saturday afternoon. Officials say it all started with a three-car crash in the 8800 block of Rainier Avenue South. 8800 block of Rainier Ave. S.: All patients are out of the vehicles. The response is being downgraded to just a few crews. Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) January 6, 2024 This is an ongoing story, check back for updates. (Bloomberg) -- Americans increasingly favor tougher measures to curb immigration at the US border with Mexico, though sentiment is shifting against the practice of border states to send migrants northward, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll. Most Read from Bloomberg With Senate negotiations on border policy stuck in a partisan deadlock, the issue has become an early battleground in the 2024 election spurred by former President Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination. Asked whether President Joe Bidens administration should be tougher on immigrants crossing the border, 63% in the poll agreed, compared with 55% in September. Two lawmakers said Sunday that Senate negotiators on border security are expected to present a proposal this week after months of impasse. Were hoping to get a text out later this week, Senator James Lankford, the main Republican negotiator, said on Fox News Sunday. Everybody will have time to be able to read it and go through it. Nobody is going to be jammed in this process. Representative Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, cited chaos at the border with Mexico and said hes hopeful a Senate package will emerge this week. Thats encouraging. I want us to see that. I want us to start talking about these national-security issues that we have, he said on ABCs This Week. Poll respondents faulted both the White House and congressional Republicans for the situation at the US-Mexican border 68% disapproved of Bidens handling, while 65% said the same about GOP lawmakers. Support for officials in US border regions who are sending migrants to northern cities and states declined to 43% from 50% in September. Read more: Speaker Weighs Talks With Biden on Border as Senate Stalls Lankford and Gonzales didnt provide specifics on which policies the bill might include, nor on a potential top-line spending number. Republicans are demanding stricter asylum policies and measures to reduce the number of migrants entering the southern border in exchange for clearing the foreign military aid sought by the White House. Were working to thread the needle for things that actually work, Lankford said. House Speaker Mike Johnson has been considering talks with the White House over immigration policies. Lankford suggested that such talks would be helpful. At the same time, Congress must reach a deal for funding the US government to avoid the start of a government shutdown on Jan. 20. Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York whos closely aligned with Trump, sought to blame any government shutdown on President Joe Biden. We dont support shutting down the government, but we must secure the border, Stefanik said on NBCs Meet the Press. So, the person whos threatening a government shutdown is Joe Biden, who refuses to secure the border. The Jan. 3-5 CBS poll of 2,157 people has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -The Roman Catholic Church should "seriously think" about allowing priests to marry, a senior Vatican official and advisor to Pope Francis said in an interview published on Sunday. "This is probably the first time I'm saying it publicly and it will sound heretical to some people," Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, who is also adjunct secretary in the Vatican's doctrinal office, told the Times of Malta. Pope Francis in 2019 ruled out any chance that he would change the Roman Catholic rule requiring priests to be celibate. But it is not a formal doctrine of the Church and so it could be changed by a future pope. In an interview with a Latin American news outlet in 2023, Francis spoke about the celibacy rule again, saying that "it is not eternal, like priestly ordination", but a "discipline" that could be revised. A Vatican spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Scicluna, perhaps best known for his investigations of sexual abuse crimes, noted that priests were allowed to marry in the first millennium of the Church's history and that marriage is allowed today in the Eastern rite of the Catholic Church. "If it were up to me, I would revise the requirement that priests have to be celibate," he said. "Experience has shown me that this is something we need to seriously think about." Scicluna, 64, said the Church had "lost many great priests because they chose marriage". He said "there is a place" for celibacy in the Church but that it also had to take into consideration that a priest sometimes falls in love. He then has to choose "between her and the priesthood and some priests cope with that by secretly engaging in sentimental relationships". The debate over whether Roman Catholic priests should be allowed to married has been around for centuries. Married men are allowed to become priests in the Eastern Rite of the Catholic Church as well as in the Orthodox Church. Protestant and Anglican Churches also allow a married priesthood. Opponents of a married priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church say celibacy allows a priest to dedicate himself entirely to the Church. In 2021, the pope dismissed a proposal to allow some elderly married men to be ordained in remote areas in the Amazon where in some places the faithful saw a priest as little as once a year. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Ros Russell) An estimated 236,200 people in Ohio over age 65 have Alzheimers, according to estimates released by the Alzheimers Association in 2023. Alzheimers disease afflicts an estimated 6.7 million Americans, and that number is only growing. Medical professionals believe the volume of diagnoses could double by 2060 if there isnt a breakthrough in preventionor a cure. For the first time, the Alzheimers Association released estimates on Alzheimers prevalence in each state and county. Researchers hope these figures will help regional public health officials better treat Alzheimers patients, develop localized care plans, and budget for careparticularly as new treatments come at a cost. Alzheimers is the most common form of dementia and is among the top 10 causes of death in the U.S. These deaths are increasing as fatality rates from other health-related causes, including heart disease and stroke, are on the decline. With Alzheimers, the brain shrinks, brain cells die, and peoples memory and language centers fail. As the disease advances, the loss of brain function leads to dehydration, malnutrition, infection, and ultimately death. Developing a cure or effective treatment has been slow, as medical professionals still dont know what causes Alzheimers. But earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration fully greenlit the first drug proven to effectively treat the disease: lecanemab (sold under the brand name Leqembi), created by Eisai Inc. and Biogen. Earlier treatments only addressed symptoms of Alzheimers, while lecanemab treats the early stages of the disease itself and slows its progression. The drug costs $26,500 annually and is partially covered by Medicare if a patients medical team participates in a registry to track the drugs outcomes. Those high costs could keep the treatment out of reach for low-income Americans, who already have higher odds of developing Alzheimers, studies have shown. Nearly all Alzheimers patients are on government insurance, and estimates show that Medicare could spend $2 billion to $5 billion annually on lecanemab and related care. That pales in comparison to the $345 billion that Alzheimers and other dementias cost in 2023, including nursing home stays, symptom management medications, and other care for those with the disease. Without medical advancements, the Alzheimers Association expects those costs could rise to nearly $1 trillion by 2050. If lecanemab and similar drugs can slow progression in even half of mild Alzheimers patients, one study from the University of Chicago estimates Americans would save $212 billion to over $1 trillion in care-related costs over the next decade. Having a treatment to slow the progression of Alzheimers also creates more urgency to diagnose the disease sooner to retain more brain function. Warning signs for the disease include disruptive memory loss, difficulty with familiar tasks, worsening judgment, and changes in mood and personality. The U.S. has a shortage of specialists in elder and memory-related medicine and nurses providing care at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. In regions with high rates of Alzheimers, these shortages could be catastrophic within the current models of care. Stacker mapped states by the share of the population over age 65 that is estimated to have Alzheimers disease, using data released by the Alzheimers Association in July 2023. As a part of the national analysis, Stacker also took a closer look at Ohio and ranked the counties within it by their estimated Alzheimers prevalence. 1 / 51 Stacker Alzheimers rates by state State and detailed county-level estimates show vast disparities in the prevalence of Alzheimers disease based on racial and socioeconomic factors. Older Americans, women, Black and Hispanic Americans, and those with lower education levels are at higher risk for developing Alzheimers dementia, according to data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project, on which these estimates were based. The East and Southeast regions of the U.S. were estimated to have the highest prevalence of Alzheimers, particularly Maryland, New York, Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana. In Maryland, nearly 30% of residents are Black, and a slightly higher share of the population is 85 and older compared to national numberssubstantial risk factors that earn it the #1 spot. In addition to a high prevalence of the disease, Mississippi has the highest Alzheimers mortality rate, largely due to having the worst-quality health care system in the country, Time reported. Some of the most afflicted counties are home to Black and Hispanic populations in the South, low-income populations in Appalachia, and older adults in Florida, according to Time. Other studies have found that people in rural areas tend to be underdiagnosed or diagnosed in later stages of dementia, delaying or preventing potential treatments. Read on to see where in Ohio has the highest prevalence of Alzheimers, ranked by the share of the 65 and over population estimated to have the disease. Initial ties were broken by the number of people estimated to have Alzheimers, but some ties may remain. 2 / 51 Canva #50. Highland County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.4% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 900 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 3 / 51 James W. Thompson // Shutterstock #49. Marion County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.4% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 4 / 51 redtbird02 // Shutterstock #48. Ashtabula County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.4% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 2,000 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. 5 / 51 JNix // Shutterstock #47. Gallia County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 600 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. 6 / 51 Madison Muskopf // Shutterstock #45. Coshocton County (tie) Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 800 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 7 / 51 Roberto Galan // Shutterstock #45. Fulton County (tie) Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 800 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 8 / 51 Canva #44. Shelby County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 900 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. 9 / 51 Canva #43. Ashland County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,100 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 10 / 51 Canva #42. Washington County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,400 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. 11 / 51 Canva #41. Scioto County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,500 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. 12 / 51 Canva #40. Monroe County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.6% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 400 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 13 / 51 Canva #39. Pike County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.6% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 500 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 14 / 51 Roberto Galan // Shutterstock #38. Defiance County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.6% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 800 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 15 / 51 JNix // Shutterstock #36. Belmont County (tie) Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.6% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,500 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 16 / 51 Joshua DAriano // Shutterstock #36. Hancock County (tie) Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.6% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,500 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 17 / 51 Susie Prentice // Shutterstock #35. Geauga County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.6% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 2,100 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. 18 / 51 Canva #34. Wayne County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.6% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 2,300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. 19 / 51 Canva #33. Butler County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.6% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 6,300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 350 peopleof the estimate. 20 / 51 CourtneySimons // Shutterstock #32. Mercer County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.7% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 800 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 21 / 51 Canva #31. Seneca County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.7% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,100 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 22 / 51 Henryk Sadura // Shutterstock #30. Sandusky County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.7% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,200 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 23 / 51 Canva #29. Jefferson County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.7% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,600 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 24 / 51 Canva #28. Muskingum County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.7% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. 25 / 51 BLAZE Pro // Shutterstock #27. Tuscarawas County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.7% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 2,000 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. 26 / 51 Canva #26. Wyandot County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 500 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. 27 / 51 Nagel Photography // Shutterstock #25. Van Wert County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 600 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. 28 / 51 Canva #24. Holmes County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. 29 / 51 Roberto Galan // Shutterstock #23. Williams County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 800 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 30 / 51 Canva #22. Auglaize County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 900 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 31 / 51 Canva #21. Crawford County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,000 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 32 / 51 Canva #20. Darke County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,100 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 33 / 51 Almal3xia // Shutterstock #19. Greene County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 3,300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 200 peopleof the estimate. 34 / 51 Mikhalis Makarov // Shutterstock #18. Lake County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 5,200 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 300 peopleof the estimate. 35 / 51 Canva #17. Putnam County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.9% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 36 / 51 Lake Front Drones // Shutterstock #16. Lorain County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.0% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 6,700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 350 peopleof the estimate. 37 / 51 Canva #15. Morgan County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.1% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 400 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 38 / 51 Canva #14. Henry County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.1% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 600 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. 39 / 51 Big Joe // Shutterstock #13. Erie County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.1% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,900 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. 40 / 51 James Marciniak // Shutterstock #12. Clark County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.1% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 3,000 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. 41 / 51 Canva #11. Trumbull County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.1% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 4,900 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 250 peopleof the estimate. 42 / 51 BLAZE Pro // Shutterstock #10. Stark County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.1% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 8,400 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 400 peopleof the estimate. 43 / 51 Donna Wickerham // Shutterstock #9. Richland County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.3% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 2,800 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 150 peopleof the estimate. 44 / 51 Bravo Charlie Productions // Shutterstock #8. Allen County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.4% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 2,200 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 150 peopleof the estimate. 45 / 51 Showcase Imaging // Shutterstock #7. Summit County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11,700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 550 peopleof the estimate. 46 / 51 Sean Pavone // Shutterstock #6. Franklin County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 19,300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 950 peopleof the estimate. 47 / 51 Michael Shake // Shutterstock #5. Lucas County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.7% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 8,600 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 400 peopleof the estimate. 48 / 51 Canva #4. Mahoning County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 12.1% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 6,000 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage pointsor 300 peopleof the estimate. 49 / 51 Canva #3. Montgomery County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 12.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 12,300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 600 peopleof the estimate. 50 / 51 photo.ua // Shutterstock #2. Hamilton County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 12.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 16,500 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 800 peopleof the estimate. 51 / 51 Canva #1. Cuyahoga County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 13.4% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 31,500 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.7 percentage pointsor 1,500 peopleof the estimate. This story features data reporting by and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. An estimated 129,200 people in Tennessee over age 65 have Alzheimers, according to estimates released by the Alzheimers Association in 2023. Alzheimers disease afflicts an estimated 6.7 million Americans, and that number is only growing. Medical professionals believe the volume of diagnoses could double by 2060 if there isnt a breakthrough in preventionor a cure. For the first time, the Alzheimers Association released estimates on Alzheimers prevalence in each state and county. Researchers hope these figures will help regional public health officials better treat Alzheimers patients, develop localized care plans, and budget for careparticularly as new treatments come at a cost. Have breaking come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Alzheimers is the most common form of dementia and is among the top 10 causes of death in the U.S. These deaths are increasing as fatality rates from other health-related causes, including heart disease and stroke, are on the decline. With Alzheimers, the brain shrinks, brain cells die, and peoples memory and language centers fail. As the disease advances, the loss of brain function leads to dehydration, malnutrition, infection, and ultimately death. Developing a cure or effective treatment has been slow, as medical professionals still dont know what causes Alzheimers. But earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration fully greenlit the first drug proven to effectively treat the disease: lecanemab (sold under the brand name Leqembi), created by Eisai Inc. and Biogen. Earlier treatments only addressed symptoms of Alzheimers, while lecanemab treats the early stages of the disease itself and slows its progression. The drug costs $26,500 annually and is partially covered by Medicare if a patients medical team participates in a registry to track the drugs outcomes. Those high costs could keep the treatment out of reach for low-income Americans, who already have higher odds of developing Alzheimers, studies have shown. Nearly all Alzheimers patients are on government insurance, and estimates show that Medicare could spend $2 billion to $5 billion annually on lecanemab and related care. That pales in comparison to the $345 billion that Alzheimers and other dementias cost in 2023, including nursing home stays, symptom management medications, and other care for those with the disease. Without medical advancements, the Alzheimers Association expects those costs could rise to nearly $1 trillion by 2050. Alzheimers drugs might get into the brain faster with new ultrasound tool, study shows If lecanemab and similar drugs can slow progression in even half of mild Alzheimers patients, one study from the University of Chicago estimates Americans would save $212 billion to over $1 trillion in care-related costs over the next decade. Having a treatment to slow the progression of Alzheimers also creates more urgency to diagnose the disease sooner to retain more brain function. Warning signs for the disease include disruptive memory loss, difficulty with familiar tasks, worsening judgment, and changes in mood and personality. The U.S. has a shortage of specialists in elder and memory-related medicine and nurses providing care at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. In regions with high rates of Alzheimers, these shortages could be catastrophic within the current models of care. Stacker mapped states by the share of the population over age 65 that is estimated to have Alzheimers disease, using data released by the Alzheimers Association in July 2023. As a part of the national analysis, Stacker also took a closer look at Tennessee and ranked the counties within it by their estimated Alzheimers prevalence. Stacker Alzheimers rates by state State and detailed county-level estimates show vast disparities in the prevalence of Alzheimers disease based on racial and socioeconomic factors. Older Americans, women, Black and Hispanic Americans, and those with lower education levels are at higher risk for developing Alzheimers dementia, according to data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project, on which these estimates were based. The East and Southeast regions of the U.S. were estimated to have the highest prevalence of Alzheimers, particularly Maryland, New York, Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana. In Maryland, nearly 30% of residents are Black, and a slightly higher share of the population is 85 and older compared to national numberssubstantial risk factors that earn it the #1 spot. In addition to a high prevalence of the disease, Mississippi has the highest Alzheimers mortality rate, largely due to having the worst-quality healthcare system in the country, Time reported. Some of the most afflicted counties are home to Black and Hispanic populations in the South, low-income populations in Appalachia, and older adults in Florida, according to Time. Other studies have found that people in rural areas tend to be underdiagnosed or diagnosed in later stages of dementia, delaying or preventing potential treatments. Read on to see where in Tennessee has the highest prevalence of Alzheimers, ranked by the share of the 65 and over population estimated to have the disease. Initial ties were broken by the number of people estimated to have Alzheimers, but some ties may remain. Canva #50. Putnam County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.2% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,400 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. Canva #49. Blount County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.2% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 2,900 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 150 peopleof the estimate. Tracy Burroughs Brown // Shutterstock #48. Sumner County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.2% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 3,300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 200 peopleof the estimate. Canva #47. Rutherford County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.2% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 3,900 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 250 peopleof the estimate. Ida Jones // Shutterstock #46. Trousdale County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.3% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 200 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #45. Lawrence County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.3% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 800 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #44. Maury County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.3% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Tracy Burroughs Brown // Shutterstock #43. Bradley County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.3% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 2,000 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. Canva #42. Washington County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.3% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 2,600 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 150 peopleof the estimate. Canva #41. Perry County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.4% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 200 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. Canva #39. Cannon County (tie) Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.4% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage points of the estimate. 2Kahns Photo Arts // Shutterstock #39. Lewis County (tie) Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.4% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. Canva #38. White County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.4% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 600 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage points of the estimate. Canva #37. Coffee County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.4% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,100 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #36. Carter County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.4% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #35. Clay County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 200 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. Canva #34. Wayne County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #33. Unicoi County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 500 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. NancyRutledge // Shutterstock #32. Lincoln County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #31. Franklin County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 900 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #30. Roane County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #29. McMinn County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.6% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,200 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #28. Sullivan County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.6% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 3,800 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 200 peopleof the estimate. Canva #27. Knox County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.6% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 8,400 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 450 peopleof the estimate. Canva #26. Henry County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.7% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 800 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. | Check out more lists and rankings from across Tennessee SevenMaps // Shutterstock #25. Tipton County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.7% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,000 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #24. Montgomery County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.7% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 2,300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 150 peopleof the estimate. Canva #23. Moore County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 200 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. SevenMaps // Shutterstock #22. Decatur County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. Canva #21. Henderson County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 600 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Sabrina Janelle Gordon // Shutterstock #19. Hardin County (tie) Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #19. Obion County (tie) Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. Canva #18. Hamblen County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. Canva #17. Anderson County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. Canva #16. Dyer County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10.9% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. SevenMaps // Shutterstock #15. Chester County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.0% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. JNix // Shutterstock #14. Giles County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.0% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.5 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #13. Carroll County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.2% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 600 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #12. Weakley County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.2% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #11. Lauderdale County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.4% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 500 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. Canva #10. Fayette County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.4% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,100 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #9. Hamilton County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 11.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 8,000 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 400 peopleof the estimate. Canva #8. Davidson County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 12.0% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 10,700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 550 peopleof the estimate. Canva #7. Crockett County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 12.2% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 300 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. Canva #6. Lake County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 12.3% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 100 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. ultramansk // Shutterstock #5. Gibson County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 12.3% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 1,100 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 50 peopleof the estimate. Canva #4. Madison County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 12.3% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 2,200 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 100 peopleof the estimate. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Canva #3. Hardeman County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 12.5% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 600 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. Canva #2. Shelby County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 13.8% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 18,700 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage pointsor 800 peopleof the estimate. Canva #1. Haywood County Share of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 13.9% Number of 65+ population with Alzheimers: 500 people *These are estimates; actual values have a 95% likelihood of being within 0.6 percentage points of the estimate. This story features data reporting by and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. A coastal town in North Korea's Hwanghae Province is seen from an observatory on Yeonpyeong Island, a South Korean border island in the Yellow Sea. Tensions remain high after North Korea fired a barrage of artillery shells from its western coast on 5-6 January. -/YNA/dpa North Korea's army has fired around 90 more artillery shells into the sea to the north of the disputed sea border with South Korea, according to information from the South Korean General Staff on Sunday. South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that the inhabitants of South Korean islands off the west coast had been urged not to leave their homes during the artillery exercises. The South Korean military said that no damage had been caused. According to the South Korean authorities, North Korea fired shells into a military buffer zone in the Yellow Sea, which lies between the Korean Peninsula and China, on Friday and Saturday. Seoul accused Pyongyang of exacerbating already-high tensions in the region. On Friday, South Korea's military responded to the firing of around 200 shells by North Korea into the Yellow Sea with its own firing exercises on two islands close to the border. The sea border has in the past been the scene of naval conflict between the two. Pyongyang does not recognize the Northern Limit Line (NLL) set by the United Nations Command following the signing of an armistice ending the 1950-53 Korean War. Relatives mourn over the body of one of seven Palestinians who were killed in an Israeli army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin. Seven Palestinians were killed early on Sunday during an Israeli airstrike on Jenin. Ayman Nobani/dpa Seven Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in the West Bank, the Palestinian health authority in Ramallah reported on Sunday. The dead were between 18 and 29 years old, it said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described them as terrorists. An aerial device had hit a Palestinian who was throwing explosives at the military unit, the IDF said. "In the attack, six terrorists were killed." The IDF said a female Israeli border guard had been killed in the anti-terrorist operation in Jenin as a vehicle drove over an explosive device. Other personnel were injured, it said. Media reports said the dead officer was 19 years old and that three others had been injured. The Palestinian health authority said another person was seriously hurt, when Israel struck "a citizens' gathering in Jenin." According to local reports, there had previously been fighting between Palestinians and the Israeli army. According to the Ramallah health authority, a 28-year-old man was killed in another incident in the West Bank. There had been confrontations between Palestinians and Israel's army in a village near Ramallah. In Jenin and Nablus, both of which are administered by the Palestinian Authority and are considered strongholds of terrorist groups, regular raids are carried out by the Israeli military. In a separate incident, an Arab Israeli man was shot and killed and his wife, also an Israeli Arab, was injured, the IDF reported on Sunday. The attackers were being sought, the IDF said. Media reports said the man was 33 years old and that the couple had been driving near an Israeli settlement to the north of Ramallah on Sunday morning. Since the beginning of the Gaza war following the massacre by the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas on October 7, the Israeli army has been carrying out such raids in the West Bank more frequently. A further 113 people have been killed and 250 injured within 24 hours in the Gaza war, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry controlled. The number of Palestinian killed by Israeli attacks since October 7 in the coastal strip rose to 22,835, the authority announced on Sunday. In addition, 58,416 Palestinians have been injured since then, it said. The figures could not initially be independently verified. Meanwhile on the Israeli-Lebanese border, the IDF and Hezbollah once again exchanged fire, both sides said. The IDF said a "hostile flying device" had been intercepted in the early hours of Sunday. Hezbollah said it had attacked Israeli troops near the border with rockets. Lebanon's NNA state news agency reported that a number of localities along the border had been hit by Israeli artillery fire. There were no reports of casualties. Hezbollah has reported the death of 150 of its members since October 7, while the IDF has said that nine of its troops have been killed. There have also been civilian casualties on both sides in the worst fighting since the 2006 Lebanon War. Israel is demanding that Hezbollah withdraw away from the border and has warned that it will use military means to enforce a pullback. Speaking during an Israeli cabinet meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning to Hezbollah. "I suggest that Hezbollah learns what Hamas has learned in recent months: No terrorist is immune," he said, according to his office. Allowing residents to return to their homes in northern Israel remained a national goal, he said. "If we can, we will do it diplomatically, and if not, we will proceed in other ways," he said. "What happened on October 7 will not happen again," Netanyahu warned. According to a report in the Washington Post, the United States has urged Israel not to open a second front along its border with Lebanon. A second front would reduce Israel's chances of success, in the view of the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), it said. The newspaper cited two sources not identified by name. It said US administration officials were concerned that an escalation in the fighting on the border could result in more casualties than in the 2006 war. Relatives mourn over the body of one of seven Palestinians who were killed in an Israeli army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin. Seven Palestinians were killed early on Sunday during an Israeli airstrike on Jenin. Ayman Nobani/dpa Palestinian gunmen attend the funeral of the Palestinians who were killed in an Israeli army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin. Seven Palestinians were killed early on Sunday during an Israeli airstrike on Jenin. Ayman Nobani/dpa At night, the Russians attacked the south with Shaheds During the night on Jan. 7, a Russian Shahed suicide drone struck a decommissioned recreation base in Mykolaiv Oblast, regional governor Vitalii Kim reported on Telegram. Air defense forces in Mykolaiv downed five Shaheds during the attack, but one slipped through Ukrainian defenses, starting a fire at the decommissioned base. Read also: Five Russian drones downed in Cherkasy Oblast, causing power outages but no casualties Simultaneously, in Kirovohrad Oblast, debris from a downed drone damaged a house and a power line. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in either incident. Russians launched 28 Shaheds at Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Air defense forces successfully downed 21 of them. Air defenses systems were reported to have been operating in Zaporizhzhya, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, and Cherkasy oblasts. One of the drones struck a residential building in Dnipro city, housing 22 families. There were no reported injuries. Read also: Ukraine to produce a million drones in 2024 Zelenskyy Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A man in Pennsylvania was forced to pay squatters invading his house after the police refused to intervene with the issue. He paid them thousands of dollars so that they would leave his residence, which he was planning to sell. Although squatting is illegal in the United States, all U.S. states have squatters' rights (aka the adverse possession law). This is why it is important to protect the house you're not currently occupying. If you own more than one residential place, here's what you need to know about the disappointing experience of a Pennsylvania homeowner. Pennsylvania Man Pays Squatters to Leave His Home! According to Fox News' latest report, Chris Harte asked for assistance from law enforcement authorities after he discovered that squatters invaded his house. His issue with squatters began in December 2023, when he was processing to sell an investment property he renovated in northwest Philadelphia. However, on December 8, 2023, his real estate agent said that someone living near Harte's residence called him. Real estate agent Bob Cervone said the woman told her that she heard a commotion at night and saw some people moving into the house. The neighbor even claimed that those unknown individuals took down the "for sale" sign. Because of this, Harte called police officers, who went to the house. But, instead of making the squatters, they called him back and informed him that people had attempted to put new locks on the door. They said that squatters claimed to be renting the house, leaving them no other option but to leave them alone. After that, Harte, his real estate agent and locksmith, decided to meet the police at his house. "I had all my paperwork, purchase and sale agreement, homeowner's insurance, the deed to the home, everything on me. They said it didn't matter," said the homeowner. Harte said that cops told him that people who invaded his house had squatters' rights as soon as they moved in. Because of this, they suggested filing a landlord-tenant complaint. Read Also: [UPDATE] Eric Adams Sues Transportation Companies for $700 Million Amid Crackdown on Transfer of Migrants Pennsylvania Man Blames Squatters' Rights Harte said that the court staff told him that he had to pay $300 to file for an eviction against the settlers, which could take almost a year. This fee is not included in the $1,200 he had to pay a squatter just to leave his house. Because of this, he is now blaming squatters' rights for his negative experience. "It's just unbelievable. The city is rewarding criminals, basically," he said. The American Apartment Owners Association (AAOA) said that all 50 U.S. states have squatters' rights, which refer to laws that allow squatters to inhabit another person's property. They will have these rights if the lawful owner doesn't evict or act against them. Squatters' rights will apply depending on the years required by the state. For example, in Pennsylvania, squatters will have their squatters' rights if homeowners don't take action against them within 21 years. If you want to learn more about squatters' rights in the U.S., you can click this link. Related Article: US Military Troops Suffer From Toxic Living Conditions, Claims GAO-Toxic Waste, Bed Bugs Just Among the Problems Here are this weeks letters to the editor of the Sheboygan Press. See our letters policy below for details about how to share your views. Is the city its people or government leaders? I see by the headlines that the city of Sheboygan wants to build a 2,000-unit small town near Sheboygan (City of Sheboygan makes movement on Gartman farm redevelopment that could bring 2,000 housing units, published online Dec. 13, 2023). Is the city citizens like me, I wonder? Nobody asked my opinion. Or is the city our mayor and a majority of the alders, who just fired the city manager for his lack of wokeness? If we citizens are the city, do we need to finance it, too? Do we own it? Are we its managers? When our tenants wont or cant pay our rents, do we get to go bankrupt, too? Do our kids, our grandkids and great grandkids inherit the debts? Projects like this remind me of the Johnson administrations Great Society and Urban Renewal projects that converted so many historic downtowns into empty parking lots and subsidized housing, like the notorious Cabrini-Green that went under the wrecking ball on South Side Chicago not long ago. For our generation, the now-ironic Great Society and Urban Renewal boondoggles that wrecked so many cities and the families who live there merited Ronald Reagans now famous dry observation that the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, Im from the government and Im here to help. Or should he have said, Im from the city? Art DeJong Sheboygan Read more letters to the editor: Click here for more letters to the editor of the Sheboygan Press With Republicans, its pay to play in Wisconsin The reason we cannot get good daycare in this state is childcare businesses dont have millions of dollars to grease Republicans palms. Im sure childcare businesses would get everything they wanted if they would only donate a few million dollars to Robin Vos or some other Republicans. Just look at all the tax breaks Republicans give to their wealthy owners. Republicans know they will get a couple million-dollar kickback (campaign donation) for every taxbreak they give their wealthy owners. When their wealthy owner needs more profit, Republicans fall all over themselves making sure they get it. They dont tell their wealthy owners to go get a loan. Republicans love to say they are for small business. What Republicans dont tell you is their version of a small business is one that makes millions and millions of dollars in profit. Just like Republicans think that someone making a quarter million dollars a year is middle class. The first thing anyone who wants to own a business in Wisconsin should know is its pay to play here in Wisconsin. Buy a Republican or take your business elsewhere! Robert R. Ries Sheboygan Our letters policy Letters to the editor are published in the order in which they are received and letter-writers are limited to having one letter published per month. Letters can be emailed to news@sheboyganpress.com and Editor Brandon Reid at breid@gannett.com. Letters must meet specific guidelines, including being no more than 250 words and be from local authors or on topics of local interest. All submissions must include the name of the person who wrote the letter, their city of residence and a contact phone number. Letters are edited as needed for style, grammar, length, fairness, accuracy and libel. This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan letters: Gartman redevelopment, pay to play in Wisconsin Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina arrives for Munich Security Conference at the Hotel Bayrischer Hof. Tobias Hase/dpa Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is about to secure her fourth consecutive term with her ruling Awami League (AL) party heading towards yet another victory in a parliamentary election that was boycotted by the main opposition party. Hasinas party won more than 50% of the seats in the 300-strong unicameral parliament, according to initial election results from 208 parliamentary constituencies announced by Election Commission official Jahangir Alam. The constituency-wide election results were being announced as counting of ballots progressed on the ground with officials sending them to the commission headquarters in Dhaka. So far, the Awami League secured 152 seats while the current opposition in parliament, the Jatiyo Party, got only eight seats. Independent contenders, mostly AL rebels, bagged 45 seats in the election, marred by low turnout and sporadic violence that killed at least one person on Sunday. An election official said results in rest of the constituencies would be completed and announced by Monday morning at the latest. Voter turnout was more or less 40%, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal told a news conference after the polls closed in the afternoon, compared to more than 80% in the 2018 general election. He said his office had tried its level best to ensure fairness in the election. There has been no report of death out of election-related violence, he said, adding that his office was verifying allegations of vote rigging and falsification in some places. Polling stations were opened in the morning across Bangladesh for the country's 12th parliamentary election. Nearly 120 million voters had eight hours to cast their votes. The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and its right-wing allies boycotted the election, fearing that the polls would be rigged. They had demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the installation of a non-party caretaker administration to ensure the election was credible. The BNP called a nationwide general strike for the weekend, calling for people not to go to the polling stations. The party said its call for boycotting the vote was successful. People of this country rejected the stage-managed election, where the real voters turnout was not more than 2 per cent, Abdul Moyeen Khan, a senior leader of the BNP told reporters. In a post-election news briefing, Obaidul Qader, the ruling Awami Leagues secretary general, said the voters have rejected the BNPs call through ballots. They (voters) have rather boycotted the BNP and its allies, he said. During Sundays voting, the election authorities scrapped the candidacy of a ruling Awami League (AL) party nominee from the south-eastern Chattogram constituency for violation of the election code of conduct. The contender, Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury, had allegedly threatened to chop off the hands of law enforcement agencies if they did not abide by his instructions and created chaos in a polling station in his constituency, said Election Commission spokesman Jahangir Alam. Incidents of violence took place in at least 30 places during the voting, he said, adding that law enforcement agencies arrested at least seven troublemakers. He said the commission was informed that at least 27 candidates had stayed out of the race on the final day over allegations of falsification, vote rigging and intimidation. An AL supporter was stabbed to death by the supporters of an independent candidate in Munshiganj district near Dhaka during Sundays voting. The incident took place when rival groups got locked in an altercation over the election, election official Abu Jafar Ripon said, adding an investigation was launched into the murder. Four people were wounded in Dhakas Hazaribagh neighbourhood after two home-made bombs exploded near a polling station, police officer Bachchu Mia said. Four people were killed after a passenger train was set ablaze in Dhaka on Friday and more than a dozen polling stations were hit in arson attacks on Saturday. Authorities deployed more than 800,000 security personnel to maintain order during the election, in which voters had options to cast their ballots for all but one of 300 parliamentary seats, with 1,970 party-affiliated and independent candidates running for office. A Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office deputy, while on patrol in south Modesto, intervened in an assault involving a firearm, according to a news release. About 10:35 a.m. Saturday, Deputy Carson McCarty was on patrol near Dallas Street and Butte Avenue when he encountered four men assaulting a man, the release said. All four suspects fled the area, abandoning the weapon. McCarty, with the assistance of others, was able to aid the man, who suffered minor facial injuries, the release said. The man reported that the alleged primary attacker, later identified as 19-year-old Modesto resident Keynu Bordeau, was armed with a firearm, the release said. Bordeau was taken into custody, and further investigation uncovered a loaded, unserialized polymer 80 ghost gun in his possession, according to the release. The press release reported that Bordeau had pointed the firearm at the male individual, chambered a round and aimed directly at him just as law enforcement arrived on the scene. No shots were fired. It is quite possible our deputy saved this mans life, the release read. Bordeau faces felony charges, including suspicion of assault with a firearm, brandishing a firearm, being a previously convicted felon in possession of a gun, and carrying a loaded and unregistered firearm in public, as well as assault and battery. He was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center. The most recent laptop designed by Huawei is powered by a chip manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), as shown by a gadget breakdown, which ended speculation about yet another technological breakthrough in China. Huawei's new laptop, the Qingyun L450, was released in China not long ago, and it runs on the advanced 5-nm HiSilicon Kirin 9006C. This has sparked speculation that Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), a Chinese chip manufacturing behemoth from whom Huawei sources processors, has finally achieved a 5nm manufacturing breakthrough. Chip Made by TSMC Research firm TechInsights discovered, during the disassembly process, that the Qingyun L540 laptop contained a 5-nm semiconductor manufactured by the Taiwanese business in 2020, around when the United States imposed sanctions that severed Huawei's ties to the chip manufacturer. According to Bloomberg, that disproves the rumor that SMIC, a mainland Chinese chipmaker partner of Huawei's, has made a significant technological advancement in fabrication. When Huawei unveiled a smartphone in August 2023 with a 7-nm processor manufactured by Shanghai-based SMIC, it generated quite a stir in China and the US. A breakdown by TechInsights showed that the Mate 60 Pro's chip was only a few years behind the latest technology. This is exactly what US trade restrictions were meant to stop. The Chinese technology industry celebrated the news while the US debated the efficacy of penalties. See Also: Huawei Ships Chinese-Made Surveillance Chips in Defiance of US Sanctions Leading China's Domestic Tech Development In a report by South China Morning Post, the Mate 60 smartphone's innovations in 2023 solidified Huawei's position as the vanguard of China's drive to develop indigenous technology and distance itself from Western influences. The smartphone was a smashing success in China in the last quarter, helping the business reclaim the very significant $100 billion sales mark and chipping away at Apple's iPhone supremacy in the process. Entering the 5-nm market would have been a huge step forward for Huawei, putting it in line with the state-of-the-art techniques that are now in use, which are mostly focused on 3-nm nodes. Chips as sophisticated as 5-nm were supplied to Huawei by TSMC before the two companies severed relations. Over the last several years, Huawei has invested billions into semiconductor research and development (R&D) and inventory while simultaneously establishing a network of local suppliers and manufacturing partners--sometimes with the support of the government. Huawei, which was formerly dominant in the networking industry, started selling laptops like the L540 in 2016 as part of its efforts to diversify its product portfolio. Its release is timed with an upsurge in demands for the replacement of foreign equipment in sensitive areas, such as the outright ban on iPhones in the workplace and the replacement of Dell and HP personal computers. The new laptop, according to some sellers, was made to meet China's strict regulations for the protection of sensitive government data. The security aspects of the gadget are highlighted on Huawei's official site, but no specifics are provided. See Also: Huawei Unveils New EVs After Aito Rapidly Gains Popularity in China EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Socorro Independent School District (SISD) hosted its annual robotics competition ROBOCOM X from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 at the main gym at Pebble Hills High School. SISD says that the competition allows elementary and high school students to immerse themselves in real-world science and technological challenges, as per FIRST LEGO League (FLL) rules. The theme of the 10th annual districtwide robotics contest was Masterpiece, which challenged student groups to present projects that showcase how technology and art can intertwine to support hobbies. Over 40 teams from SISD elementary, PK-8 and middle schools participated, and all high schools had students supporting the event. Different teams competed in the six rounds of the competition. The winning teams will be announced at the awards ceremony that will be held at 5:30 p.m., according to SISD. Additionally, approximately 25 teams from ROBOCOM X will advance to the regional competition organized by UTEP on Jan. 27. The teams then will have the opportunity to be invited to different invitationals across the country and/or advance to the state competition. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. South Korea accused North Korea of firing hundreds of artillery shells near its disputed sea boundary for the third straight day as the North pledges further military action in response to any provocation. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff on Sunday claimed North Korea fired off over 90 rounds near the countrys western sea boundary with the North, the Associated Press reported. The South warned of an overwhelming response if the North does not stop halt the firings, the news wire added. Kim Yo Jung, the sister of the Norths leader Kim Jong Un, said Sunday the Korean Peoples Army (KPA) detonated blasting powder, which simulated the sound of its coastal artillery, in a test of the South Korean militarys detection abilities. She maintained the North did not fire a single shell into the disputed waters. The result was clear as we expected. They misjudged the blasting sound as the sound of gunfire and conjectured it as a provocation, Kim said in a statement issued by state media KCNA, adding later, The ridiculous behavior of these puppets in military uniform is nothing new today. Kim reiterated the North will launch an immediate military strike if the South makes even a slight provocation, calling the South gangsters. I cannot but say that [South Korean] people are very pitiful as they entrust security to such blind persons and offer huge taxes to them, she said. It is better 10 times to entrust security to a dog with a developed sense of hearing and smell. In the wake of the Norths firings last Friday, South Korea directed troops on border islands to fire artillery rounds near the sea boundary. The shells landed at the buffer zone between the two countries, known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The area was created under a 2018 agreement that required the two Koreas to dismantle or disarm several guard posts and created a no-fly zone at the border and a ban on aerial reconnaissance and live-fire exercises. Tensions between the two Koreas have spiked in recent months as the North continues missile tests and the South expands military training with the U.S. The recent breaches of the 2018 agreement put the deal at risk, with experts warning the North will boost weapons tests in the coming months, the AP reported. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A man who was stopped at the Georgia-North Carolina border after a drug investigation and then escaped was arrested on Wednesday, according to Towns County deputies. Deputies said on Dec. 10, 2023, a man was stopped at Sunoco gas station on Hwy 17 at the North Carolina state line when deputies initiated a traffic stop. The men then drove away into North Carolina in an attempt to evade deputies. The driver was identified by deputies as Wayne Bruce Odom. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The pursuit was terminated for safety concerns. Warrants were then issued for issued for Odoms arrest. Then, on Jan. 3, deputies received a tip that Odom was working at Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris. Deputies then arrived and Odom attempted to escape, but was arrested, according to deputies. Odom was found in possession of methamphetamine along with other drug-related objects. TRENDING STORIES: Odom was arrested and charged with: Felony possession of methamphetamine Possession and use of drug related objects Willful obstruction of law enforcement officers These charges are in addition to the outstanding charges of felony fleeing or attempting to elude police officers and seatbelt violation. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS Special counsel Jack Smith's team has uncovered previously undisclosed details about former President Donald Trump's refusal to help stop the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol three years ago as he sat watching TV inside the White House, according to sources familiar with what Smith's team has learned during its Jan. 6 probe. Many of the exclusive details come from the questioning of Trump's former deputy chief of staff, Dan Scavino, who first started working for Trump as a teenager three decades ago and is now a paid senior adviser to Trump's reelection campaign. Scavino wouldn't speak with the House select committee that conducted its own probe related to Jan. 6, but -- after a judge overruled claims of executive privilege last year -- he did speak with Smith's team, and key portions of what he said were described to ABC News. New details also come from the Smith team's interviews with other White House advisers and top lawyers who -- despite being deposed in the congressional probe -- previously declined to answer questions about Trump's own statements and demeanor on Jan. 6, 2021, according to publicly released transcripts of their interviews in that probe. MORE: Supreme Court denies special counsel's request to take up Trump immunity claim in Jan. 6 case Sources said Scavino told Smith's investigators that as the violence began to escalate that day, Trump "was just not interested" in doing more to stop it. Sources also said former Trump aide Nick Luna told federal investigators that when Trump was informed that then-Vice President Mike Pence had to be rushed to a secure location, Trump responded, "So what?" -- which sources said Luna saw as an unexpected willingness by Trump to let potential harm come to a longtime loyalist. House Democrats and other critics have openly accused Trump of failing to do enough that day, with the Democrat-led House select committee accusing Trump of committing "an utter moral failure" and "a clear dereliction of duty." But what sources now describe to ABC News are the assessments and first-hand accounts of several of Trump's own advisers who stood by him for years -- and were among the few to directly engage with him throughout that day. Along with Scavino and Luna, that small group included then-Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, then-White House counsel Pat Cipollone, and Cipollone's former deputy, Pat Philbin. PHOTO: President Donald Trumps supporters gather outside the Capitol building in Washington D.C., Jan. 6, 2021. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, FILE) According to sources, when speaking with Smith's team, Scavino recalled telling Trump in a phone call the night of Jan. 6: "This is all your legacy here, and there's smoke coming out of the Capitol." Scavino hoped Trump would finally help facilitate a peaceful transfer of power, sources said. In his wide-ranging indictment against Trump, announced this past August, Smith accuses the former president of trying to unlawfully retain power by, among other things, "spread[ing] lies" about the 2020 election and pressuring Pence to block Congress from certifying the results when it convened on Jan. 6. The former president has pleaded not guilty to all charges. 'Very angry' As the House investigation established, after Trump finished his remarks at the "Save America" rally early on Jan. 6, as protesters began making their way to the Capitol, Trump returned to the White House, where he and Meadows settled into chairs around a table in the Oval Office dining room to watch TV coverage of the event. But, as also previously recounted in public reports, when Scavino and other White House officials learned that rioters had violently stormed the Capitol, they rushed into the dining room to urge Trump to help calm the situation. Still, Trump didn't do anything. According to what sources said Scavino told Smith's team, Trump was "very angry" that day -- not angry at what his supporters were doing to a pillar of American democracy, but steaming that the election was allegedly stolen from him and his supporters, who were "angry on his behalf." Scavino described it all as "very unsettling," sources said. At times, Trump just sat silently at the head of the table, with his arms folded and his eyes locked on the TV, Scavino recounted, sources said. After unsuccessfully trying for up to 20 minutes to persuade Trump to release some sort of calming statement, Scavino and others walked out of the dining room, leaving Trump alone, sources said. That's when, according to sources, Trump posted a message on his Twitter account saying that Pence "didn't have the courage to do what should have been done." Trump's aides told investigators they were shocked by the post. Aside from Trump, Scavino was the only other person with access to Trump's Twitter account, and he was often the one actually posting messages to it, so when the message about Pence popped up, Cipollone and another White House attorney raced to find Scavino, demanding to know why he would post that in the midst of such a precarious situation, sources said. MORE: Judge puts hold on Trump's federal election interference case while appeals process plays out Scavino said he was as blindsided by the post as they were, insisting to them, "I didn't do it," according to the sources. Some of Trump's aides then returned to the dining room to explain to Trump that a public attack on Pence was "not what we need," as Scavino put it to Smith's team. "But it's true," Trump responded, sources told ABC News. Trump has publicly echoed that sentiment since then. At about the same time Trump's aides were again pushing him to do more, a White House security official heard reports over police radio that indicated Pence's security detail believed "this was about to get very ugly," according to the House committee's report. As Trump aide Luna recalled, according to sources, Trump didn't seem to care that Pence had to be moved to a secure location. Trump showed he was "capable of allowing harm to come to one of his closest allies" at the time, Luna told investigators, the sources said. With the chaos inside the Capitol continuing, Trump's aides believed Trump still needed to do more. Sources said Cipollone recalled telling Trump that he needed to explicitly instruct rioters to leave the Capitol. Scavino printed out proposed messages to post on Twitter, hoping that Trump would approve them despite his reluctance to write such posts himself, sources said. The congressional probe found that even Trump's daughter, Ivanka, "rushed down to the Oval Office dining room" to convince her father that issuing a public message could "discourage violence," as the congressional report put it. More than a half-hour after Trump was first pressed to take some sort of action, Trump finally let Scavino post a message on Trump's Twitter account telling supporters to support law enforcement and "stay peaceful." It was 2:38 p.m. PHOTO: Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they push barricades to storm the US Capitol in Washington D.C, Jan. 6, 2021. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images) Minutes later, Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt was fatally shot when she tried to break through a barricaded entrance near the House chamber. And the violence at the Capitol continued to escalate. At least six of Trump's closest aides continued to push Trump to do something more forceful than posting what they saw as a weak message on Twitter, sources said. Trump listened to the pleas, "but he was just not interested at that moment to put anything out," Scavino told Smith's team, according to the sources. Instead, Trump was focused on watching TV and taking in the chaotic scenes, Scavino said, the sources added. Testifying before the House committee, an aide to Meadows similarly said she heard Meadows say of Trump that day, "He doesn't want to do anything." MORE: Supreme Court will consider special counsel's request to rule on Trump's immunity in Jan. 6 case As recounted in public reports, then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, other members of Congress, members of Trump's family, and even Fox News personalities also tried to push Trump to take further action. But in response, Trump repeated to many of them that his supporters were simply angry about the election being stolen, sources said. In his own closed-door interviews with federal investigators, Meadows confirmed previous media reports saying that when a desperate McCarthy called Trump, the then-president told him, "Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are." Instead of taking action at that point, Trump allegedly continued to watch Fox News on TV. "During this time, law enforcement agents were attacked and seriously injured, the Capitol was invaded, the electoral count was halted and the lives of those in the Capitol were put at risk," the House committee said in its report. 'It doesn't justify this' Sources said that eventually, at the urging of Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, Trump agreed to record a video for release. The video, more than a minute long, was posted to Twitter at about 4:15 p.m. "This was a fraudulent election," Trump said. "[But] we have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You're very special." PHOTO: In a video message posted to Twitter on the afternoon of Jan. 6, 2021, President Donald Trump addresses supporters participating in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. (White House) Sources said that when investigators questioned him, Scavino told them he has yet to be shown any evidence of fraud that would have changed the outcome of the election. As ABC News has previously reported, sources said other loyal aides to Trump, including Meadows, allegedly provided similar statements about the 2020 election when speaking to Smith's team. According to the House panel's report on Jan. 6, the video Trump released -- several hours after the attack on the Capitol began -- "immediately had the expected effect; the rioters began to disperse immediately and leave the Capitol." As for Trump, after the video was released, he returned to watching TV coverage of the day with Philbin and others, according to sources. And when clips of the riot were splashed across the screen, Trump declared something to the effect of, "This is what happens when they try to steal an election," Philbin recalled to investigators, sources said. According to the sources, Philbin said he responded: "Mr. President, it doesn't justify this." Sounding 'culpable'? As described by sources, it was a tense, uncomfortable evening for Trump. Sources said one close aide told Smith's team that Trump was in "disbelief" that night, even as he showed no remorse. None of the Trump aides who spoke with investigators said they heard Trump concede even in private that he lost the election, sources told ABC News. According to the sources, shortly before 6 p.m. on Jan. 6, Trump showed Luna a draft of a Twitter message he was thinking about posting: "These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously and viciously stripped away from great patriots. ... Remember this day for forever!" it read. The message echoed what Trump had allegedly been saying privately all day. Sources said Luna told Trump that it made him sound "culpable" for the violence, perhaps even as if he may have somehow been involved in "directing" it, sources said. Still, at 6:01 p.m., Trump posted the message anyway. About an hour later, Twitter suspended Trump's account. PHOTO: Supporters of President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) After that -- but before Congress reconvened to finish its vote certifying the 2020 election -- Cipollone called Trump, relaying what a "horrible day" it had been and urging Trump to tell Republican allies in Congress that they should withdraw any objections to the certification so the country could move on, sources said. Instead, Trump again declined to act, telling Cipollone, "I don't want to do that," Cipollone recalled to investigators, according to sources. Trump then had another strained phone conversation, when he called Scavino to ask for his take on how the public was digesting the day's events, sources said. "Not good," Scavino told Trump, according to the sources. Scavino had hoped Trump's presidency would end on a better note, and he told investigators his conversation with Trump was not "comfortable," sources said. But Scavino also essentially told Trump that -- despite how the media might portray Jan. 6 -- his "legacy" could remain intact if he took the right steps moving forward, sources said. MORE: Timeline: Special counsel's probe into Trump's efforts to overturn 2020 election As a longtime Trump associate, Scavino has been so supportive of Trump over the years that he was asked to speak at the Republican National Convention in 2020. At a campaign rally in Colorado a few months earlier, Trump joked that, as a close aide to the president, Scavino was "the most powerful man in politics." In April 2022, the House held Scavino in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena seeking testimony in the congressional investigation, after Scavino cited executive privilege. The Justice Department ultimately declined to charge him in that matter, but last year -- after a monthslong court battle -- a federal judge ruled that Scavino had to comply with a grand jury subpoena from Smith's team. A federal judge similarly ruled that, despite any claims related to executive privilege, Meadows, Cipollone, Philbin and Luna also had to comply with Smith's subpoenas for testimony. When asked about what sources told ABC News regarding Scavino's statements, including his comments to Smith's team about "smoke coming out of the Capitol" and Trump's "legacy," a spokesperson for the Trump campaign said, "President Trump and Dan Scavino both agreed that it could be part of legacy but, regardless, wanted to get it done and did it. There is no dispute over that." "Media fascination with second-hand hearsay shows just how weak the Witch-Hunt against President Trump is," the spokesperson added. "Dan Scavino is one of President Trump's longest-serving, most loyal allies, and his actual testimony shows just how strong President Trump is positioned in this case." An attorney for Scavino, Stanley Woodward, declined to comment to ABC News, as did an attorney representing both Cipollone and Philbin, Michael Purpura. An attorney for Luna did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the special counsel also declined to comment to ABC News. Special counsel probe uncovers new details about Trump's inaction on Jan. 6: Sources originally appeared on abcnews.go.com SAN DIEGO One person was killed Sunday morning after an abandoned house caught fire in Spring Valley, authorities said. According to the San Diego County Sheriffs Department, a call came in just after 4 a.m. requesting assistance with a reported house fire on the 8600 block of Eileen Street. The San Miguel Fire Department (SMFD) said responding crews found heavy smoke and a blaze coming from the back side of the structure. Firefighters went into defensive mode due to this being an abandoned house with hazards. San Diego FBIs Most Wanted in 2024 SMFD said the fire was put out within 45 minutes. According to the sheriffs department, crews entered the home and found one person inside. Despite life-saving measures, that individual was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the deceased person has not been released at this time. No other injuries were reported. The sheriffs bomb arson team is investigating the incident as per protocol. The origin and cause of the fire has yet to be determined. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. The Star Press is unique in that it's the only major news outlet on the block, but that lock on the market hasn't slowed down reporters Doug Walker and David Penticuff. When the shock hit after the July 30, 2023, shooting at Willard and Hackley streets that killed one and wounded 17, our readers rushed to thestarpress.com to get the most current updates. The Star Press was the definitive source for breaking information about the shooting and its fallout. That violence impacted the Muncie community, and The Star Press informed our readers, as well as curious readers across Indiana and the country. Muncie police at the scene of an early morning shooting on July 30, 2023, at Willard and Hackley streets. One man was killed and several other victims were wounded. Better than any other news outlet, Walker and Penticuff covered the crimes and subsequent task forces that emerged to address the social undercurrents that led to the shootings. In October, The Star Press spearheaded a public forum to discuss public violence and what to do about it. The Star Press Editor Deanna Watson, top left, moderated a virtual public forum on gun violence in Muncie Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, in the wake of a July 30 shooting where one person was killed and more than a dozen injured. Joining the panel were, clockwise, Michael Patrick, clinical director for outpatient services at IU Health Ball Behavioral Health Services; Ken Hudson, executive director of the Whitely Community Council; and Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman. As for some of the finer points to The Star Press' impact over the last few years, I asked Walker and Penticuff to hit some of the highlights. The Star Press spent time in recent years at the Federal Courthouse in Indianapolis keeping readers up-to-date about federal investigations targeting Muncie officials, Walker recalled. The investigations concluded in early 2023 with the sentencing of eight co-defendants in a scheme that exposed city officials of bribes in exchange for Muncie Sanitary District contracts. Mayor Dennis Tyler gives the 2016 State of the City address at the Horizon Convention Center. "Over the years, those convicted of corruption-related charges, included (former Muncie Mayor Dennis) Tyler and his building commissioner, two Muncie Sanitary District officials, a city police officer and two vendors," Walker wrote of the federal investigation. "Six of the defendants would spend time for the most part measured in months, not years in federal prison. "The other federal probe, also years in the making, focused on allegations of brutality lodged at Muncie police officers, and also wound to a conclusion in 2023," Walker wrote. "In August, former officer Chase Winkle son of the Muncie police chief at the time he physically abused five local arrestees and then filed false reports about his actions, in 2018 and 2019 was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison," Walker wrote of The Star Press' impact in the community. Doug Walker "The FBI investigation resulted in convictions for three other now-former Muncie officers, two of them charged with filing false reports concerning Winkles behavior," Walker wrote. "Those co-defendants all received prison sentences, ranging between 19 months and six months." Penticuff's work also impacted Muncie and in some cases, changed its landscape after exposing a developer's questionable history. "On March 24, Horizon Companies of Atlanta abruptly canceled plans to build a 276-unit apartment complex on Muncie's south side after The Star Press questioned the company's general partner about the developer's history of fraud," Penticuff wrote about his work's impact in the community. "Federal court records show Preston E. Byrd, general partner with Horizon, had twice been sentenced to federal prison, most recently in connection with real estate fraud," Penticuff wrote about his impact on the community. "Byrd was also ordered to pay about $7 million in civil court in a separate case of alleged fraud as well as additional filings in civil court in Tennessee regarding Horizon's business practices." Penticuff's reporting might have ended the plans for a new apartment complex, but it protected the community from a business partner with a questionable past. The Star Press probably won't cover all of the 2024 openings of small businesses. We wish we could. But we'll be the tip of the spear for the 2024 events that shape our lives and affect our decisions. Ron Wilkins is a Journal & Courier reporter and currently serving as interim editor over the Journal & Courier, The Star Press and the Richmond Pallium-Item. He can be reached at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: The Star Press packs a strong punch, uncovering Muncie news in 2023 Children play during a noon balloon drop at the Massillon Public Library rotunda during the library's special Noon Year's Eve Party. Court of Appeals elects presiding and administrative judges CANTON Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals Judge Patricia A. Delaney was elected presiding judge by the other members of the court, effective Jan. 1. She has served on the Fifth District Court of Appeals since February 2007. Prior to joining this court, she served as an Ohio assistant attorney general in the environmental section, staff attorney for Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Beverly Pfeiffer and was in private practice at the Columbus law firm of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease. Prior to joining the bench, she was a Columbus assistant city attorney for nine years, practicing in civil litigation in both state and federal courts. She has served by assignment on the Ohio Supreme Court on numerous occasions. She received undergraduate (1987) and law (1990) degrees from the University of Toledo. She and her husband have four grown children and seven grandchildren. Meanwhile, Judge Andrew J. King was elected administrative judge. He was elected to the Court of Appeals in November 2022. Prior to his election, he served as an attorney for Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Attorney General Dave Yost and the Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District. He spent over five years as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Delaware County, and prior to that, he served as an assistant public defender for the Ohio Public Defender. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University and received his law degree, summa cum laude, from Capital University Law School. He is married and has two children. The Fifth District comprises 15 counties: Ashland, Delaware, Coshocton, Delaware, Fairfield, Guernsey, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Richland, Stark and Tuscarawas. Abortion-loss support group for men meets Wednesday CANTON Arrows group, abortion-loss support for men, will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The informal, drop-in group meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. For the meeting location and more information, call or text 330-834-8224. The support group is designed for men and will be led by men. Fundraiser luncheon is Feb. 10 JACKSON TWP. The Women's Ministry Committee of Church of the Lakes will host a "We Love Children" fundraiser luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Church of the Lakes Activity Center, 5944 Fulton Drive NW. All proceeds will benefit Hope Bridge Ministry, a nonprofit that helps foster children and their families with a variety of special programs. Guest speakers will be Nicole Bowman, director of foster programming for Hope Bridge, and Lisa Robertson, executive director for Hope Bridge. The luncheon will feature live music, a catered lunch, door prizes, an inspirational program, a silent auction and more. One of the silent auction items will be a one-week stay at a resort in the mountains of North Carolina in August. Tickets are $25 per person and are available at the church office. Massillon Public Library volunteer Melody Anderson helps Makenzie Ohman, 8, make a "firework ring" at the Massillon Public Library's Noon Year's Eve Party. Learn about Social Security PLAIN TWP. The Stark County District Library Plain Community branch, 1803 Schneider St. NE will host the program Social Security: Your Questions Answered, presented by Edward Jones financial advisor Kenneth Griffin, from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. For more information and to register, call 330-494-3399, email plain@starklibrary.org or visit http://tinyurl.com/53vpn5ht. Indoor farmers market at church Jan. 14 PLAIN TWP. St. Stephen Martyr Lutheran Church, 4600 Fulton Drive NW, will host an indoor farmers market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan 14. Featured products include breads, candy, cheese, goat milk, rolls, honey, apples and apple butter, bee products, beef products, wooden toys, essential oils, home grown popcorn, cupcakes, chipotle seasoning, soups, cookies, homegrown plants, candles, and micro greens. The Aultman Hospital WOW van will be on site with tips for a healthy new year. The cafe will serve homemade vegetable soup, which also is sold by the quart to take home. The church is fully handicap accessible and has ample parking. For more information, call the church at 330-492-4591. Jennifer Mayer takes a photo of her granddaughter Mary Feaser, 8, left, and friend Addison Knight, 4, at the Massillon Public Library's Noon Year's Eve Party. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County roundup: News from around the Canton region State Colleges long-awaited Calder Way Project is finally underway. The first phase of the multi-year project, focused on turning Calder Way into a pedestrian-preferred corridor, was twice delayed in July 2023 and then September 2023 before restarting earlier this month. Once everything is finished, which is expected by 2027 or 2028, visitors and residents will be treated to a scenic route from High Street to Atherton Street for bicyclists and pedestrians one with utility poles wrapped in ornamental covers, crisscrossed string lights, planted tree pits and stamped concrete to emphasize the arts. The changes to Calder Way will be done in tandem with replacing aging utilities and infrastructure at an estimated cost of about $6.5 million, which the borough will not be fully responsible for. Utility companies will pay for their costs, and state/federal grants will cover other expenses. Exploratory excavation, or the work to confirm the placement of existing utilities, restarted Jan. 2 and is set to finish Monday. Other preliminary work will then start Monday with sawcutting, and the real construction work is tentatively set to begin Jan. 22 and continue at least through June. Whats happening Monday? Phase 1 of the five-phase project will continue Monday with sawcutting on Calder Way, between McAllister and South Fraser streets. Flaggers will be on-hand to direct the flow of traffic and, because the road will remain open, traffic disruptions should be minimal. The sawcutting should be finished by the end of next week, although plenty of other work remains. Phase 1, expected to be completed by Junes end, will focus on utility replacement on Calder Way, between McAllister Street and South Fraser Street. Construction crews will install a new water main and service connections on three streets emanating from Calder Way Kelly Alley, Humes Alley (from Calder to East Beaver Avenue) and McAllister Street (from Calder to East College Avenue). Crews are scheduled to begin work on McAllister Street on Jan. 22. Other work planned for Phase 1 involves sanitary sewer, stormwater piping and gas mains, along with upgrading infrastructure like telecommunications and electrical utilities. By the full projects end, the hope is for all utilities to be underground. The borough has been open about the expected impacts of the project. There will be noise. There will be traffic changes. There will be inconveniences. Former council member Deanna Behring even described the project in June as very disruptive and as a necessary evil. But borough officials have repeatedly stated that, despite the inconveniences, they believe the project will be worth the trouble in the end. Although local businesses around the area will bear the brunt of the construction impact, no businesses are expected to temporarily close during the project and the borough has been working with those businesses for more than six months to minimize the disruption. Our message to the community is downtown is open for business and will continue to serve you throughout the process and into the future, Lee Anne Jeffries, director the Downtown State College Improvement District, told the CDT last year. Project overview Every year through 2027, a new stretch of Calder Way along with some nearby connected streets will undergo construction and utility work. Near the projects end, once utilities and infrastructure have been fully replaced on Calder Way, crews will install a bike lane for eastbound traffic, along with many of the streetscape improvements that defined the initial vision. Phase 1 continues Monday. Heres a look at the timeline of the other phases: Phase 2 : Extends on Calder Way, from South Fraser Street to Atherton Street. The borough is working on the design for Phase 2 and plans to put it out to a bid later this year. Its not yet known if construction will still start in 2024, although that was the projects initial goal. Phase 3 : Extends on Calder Way, from McAllister Street to South Garner Street. Work should still begin in 2025. Phase 4 : Extends on Calder Way, from South Garner Street to Hetzel Street. Work is expected to begin in 2026. Phase 5: Extends on Calder Way, from Hetzel Street to High Street. Work is still scheduled to begin in 2027. Although the project was twice delayed over the summer, the overall project timeline has not drastically changed. The initial delay from July to September happened due to supply-chain issues, and another delay occurred, from September to January 2024, because of those issues and concerns that starting construction in September could negatively impact more businesses than originally believed. AUSTIN (Nexstar) The Department of Justice announced Wednesday afternoon that it filed a lawsuit against Texas over its contentious new border security law, accusing the state of infringing on federal authority and empowering local police to unconstitutionally arrest suspected illegal immigrants. Last week, federal authorities threatened to sue to block Senate Bill 4 if Governor Greg Abbott did not assure them the state will not enforce the law by January 3. According to the complaint filed in an Austin federal court, the DOJ argues that Texass Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) creates purported state immigration crimes for unlawful entry and unlawful reentry, permits state judges and magistrates to order the removal of noncitizens from the country, and mandates that state officials carry out those removal orders. But Texas cannot run its own immigration system. Its efforts, through SB 4, intrude on the federal governments exclusive authority to regulate the entry and removal of noncitizens, frustrate the United States immigration operations and proceedings, and interfere with U.S. foreign relations. SB 4 is invalid and must be enjoined. US Department of Justice threatens to sue Texas over new border security law The four defendants named in the DOJ lawsuit are the State of Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety and that agencys director, Col. Steven McCraw. Abbott signed SB 4 into law last month, telling Nexstar at a border bill signing ceremony in Brownsville, Texas that he believes the law is constitutional, but would welcome a Supreme Court challenge to test the current balance of power over immigration law. Texas is prepared to take this fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to protect Texans and Americans from President Bidens open border policies, Abbotts communications director Renae Eze said. President Bidens deliberate and dangerous inaction at our southern border has left Texas to fend for itself. The lawsuit came on the same day a delegation of Congressional Republicans traveled to the border to highlight frustration with the Biden administration. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, made the first public trip of his speakership to Eagle Pass, Texas, leading more than 50 House Republicans to tour the border and meet with Texas law enforcement. Eagle Pass has been the epicenter of the humanitarian crisis on the southern border and the political crisis in the White House. Federal immigration authorities encountered more than 300,000 migrants in December, including more than 71,000 in the sector including Eagle Pass. Only 32% of Americans are confident in President Joe Bidens ability to make wise decisions on immigration policy, Pew Research Center reported in December. Johnson said he applauded Abbott for pushing to have the state step in when it comes to enforcing immigration laws. If youre the governor of Texas or a border state, or any governor, you have the responsibility, the right, the constitutional authority to do the right thing and secure your people, Johnson said at a news conference in Eagle Pass. Senate Bill 4 is set to go into effect in March unless a federal challenge puts it on pause. Amid the divisions on border policy, an event Thursday in Laredo highlighted bipartisan efforts to improve border crossings to boost trade and tourism. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and the governor of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas were among border leaders who came to Laredo to tout a new U.S. law that could expedite the expansion and creation of several international bridges. Were here today to celebrate a tremendous victory for Laredo, for South Texas, for all of the state of Texas and for the entire country, Cruz said. Unfortunately expansion of these bridges have been delayed for years due to roadblocks. Cruz and the other dignitaries addressed reporters assembled at the World Trade Bridge the No. 1 land port for trade in the United States. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, speaks to reporters on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) One after another they took to the podium to stress how important expediting the construction process is to the border region and the American supply chain, a process they believe could begin as early as April. Under a provision that was put in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which Congress passed and Biden signed into law on December 22, the new law applies to only three counties in South Texas Webb, Maverick and Cameron. The law allows for the construction of new international bridges and expansion projects of existing bridges to begin while environmental studies are being conducted. Cruz described it as a shot clock that started Dec. 22, and under the new law, the U.S. State Department must make its recommendation to the White House on pending bridge projects within 60 days. After that point, Biden has another 60 days to approve, or deny, construction permits. The World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas, handles nearly 40% of all incoming trade with Mexico. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) So on April 20, we will have a decision. We will have the presidential permit to go forward on this bridge, and not just this bridge, but bridges in Webb County, here, in Cameron and Maverick County, Cruz said. Lawmakers want presidential permits for the expansion of the World Trade Bridge in Laredo to increase it to 18 lanes. They also want to build three other bridges in Texas: The 4/5 Bridge in Rio Bravo, southeast of Laredo. The Flor de Mayo International Bridge in Brownsville. The Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge in Eagle Pass. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, worked with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to get the language put into the 2024 NDAA bill, which authorizes the budget and expenses for the armed services for Fiscal Year 2024. This is the type of bipartisan work that gets the job done, said Cuellar at a news conference on Thursday outside the bridge administrative offices, where leaders held a morning roundtable discussion. This is the type of news that we want to see here at the border; legitimate trade and tourism and the efficiency of this. School district aims to add more police officers with cadet academy School districts across Texas are working to get more armed officers on campus. Its the result of a new Texas law to increase campus safety, but many districts are finding it hard to fill all the positions. House Bill 3, or HB 3, which passed last summer, required school districts to have an armed officer on every campus. So we have doubled our size, said Hutto Independent School District Police Chief William Edwards. We need six more full-time officers at this particular time. In April, the district will begin its cadet academy program to train safety officers into full-time Hutto ISD police officers. Candidates would start as campus safety officers and then move to cadets. Finally, if it all goes well, they would become Hutto ISD police officers. Schools struggle to find money, hire more officers after lawmakers gut safety bill They can go from the safety aspect to the police aspect and stay within the same district, Edwards said. Edwards said putting an emphasis on safety is important. Having more officers on campus is definitely going to make the district safer, Edwards said. Hutto ISD is committed to finding innovative ways to create the staff of the future. The Safety Officer to Police Cadet pipeline is yet another way we are investing in our current employees, helping them develop their skills, and providing career pathways that will ultimately benefit our students. Raul Pena Hutto ISD Superintendent Groups monitor for compliance, overreach of new Texas anti-DEI law When students at the University of Texas at Austin return to classes on Jan. 16, they may notice a name change at one of the campus offices. The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement is dropping the word diversity to now become the Division of Campus and Community Engagement. This is one of the ways university leaders are working to comply with Senate Bill 17, which was one of 30 new state laws that took effect on Jan. 1. New Texas DEI law closes campus LGBTQ+ centers. Heres the student impact The law requires public universities in Texas to no longer have offices dedicated to DEI, which stands for diversity, equity and inclusion, or employees focused specifically on that purpose. Higher education workers and job applicants also can no longer sign any statements dedicated to upholding DEI or attend trainings that reference race, color, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation, according to the law. Supporters argued last year during the regular legislative session that the state needed this law to eliminate a political ideology from higher education. Our goal is to make sure that every Texas student who enters the university has the resources they need, said Sherry Sylvester, a distinguished senior fellow at the conservative thinktank Texas Public Policy Foundation. We want to make sure every student gets that help, but we dont want to separate them under an ideology that some students are descended from oppressors and some students are descended from people who are oppressed. Thats what were trying to get rid of with this law. However, opponents contend this is all part of a targeted effort to scrutinize education across a growing number of states. Texas is at the vanguard of this attack on diversity, equity and inclusion, said Antonio Ingram, an assistant counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. In some ways, were dealing with it at ground zero through the new legislation and Senate Bill 17. Before SB 17 went into effect, Dr. LaToya Smith, UTs vice president for diversity and community engagement, sent out a message about her offices name change. While we continue the work to adjust programming to meet SB 17s requirements and reflect this change in our focus, it is important to reiterate what will not change: our Divisions commitment to fostering access and belonging, Smith wrote in her statement. Other public universities throughout the state are making similar decisions to either revamp their programs or outright remove them because of this new law. The president of the University of Texas at San Antonio shared in a message Tuesday that the school would not repurpose its Office of Inclusive Excellence. After continued and considered evaluation, we decided not to launch the new office, said UT San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy in his statement. Given our evolving understanding of SB 17 as well as continuing voluntary changes in staffing and personnel reappointments from that office, it no longer made sense to launch the new office. Eighmy instead said certain services and activities would be rehoused within existing departments. A spokesperson for UT San Antonio did not respond to a request for clarification Thursday morning, though, about how many peoples jobs would be impacted by this or whether theyre now working in other departments at the university. Meanwhile, the University of North Texas announced in December that its developing a new structure that incorporates the staff and future work of the Multicultural Center and Pride Alliance into the student engagement area of Student Affairs to ensure the university continues to best serve our students and meet their needs. President Neal Smatresk said that the university would create a new Center for Belonging and Engagement. In aligning with the requirements of this new law, UNT will continue to support all students, including our first-generation, low-income, and underserved students, Smatresk said. We will ensure any university-developed programs or activities are designed and implemented without reference to race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. As these changes unfold, at least two groups are monitoring how closely Texas universities are following the new law as well as which efforts may be considered overreach. Sylvester said the Texas Public Policy Foundation will soon launch a hotline and an online portal where students and faculty members can report suspected violations of this law. Our goal is every student, regardless of their opinion, should be free to speak and not feel like that they are being coerced under this ideology, she added, so this will give students and faculty an avenue to speak out. However, Ingram said the Legal Defense Fund is pointing out areas where the law does not apply, including over what professors can teach or the types of student groups. For example, if a Black student group wants to bring in a speaker from Black Lives Matter, they are full within their rights under Senate Bill 17 to do so, he explained. If a Latinx student group wants to have a mentorship program for their community, they still have that ability. He said his organization has a network of contacts helping to make sure exceptions to the law are followed. I think its really important to note that students in this new landscape actually have a lot of power and have a lot of ability to continue to cultivate these experiences in their individual and student group capacities, Ingram added. Tributes for a Texas trailblazer: remembering Eddie Bernice Johnson Memorial services next week will honor the life and legacy of former Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, who died on New Years Eve at the age of 88. Her death comes less than a year after she left office, ending a career of nearly 50 years in public service. Johnson was once a psychiatric nurse before winning her first election to the Texas House of Representatives in 1972. She later won election to the Texas Senate before winning a Congressional seat in 1992. She was the single most effective legislator Dallas has ever had, said Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson in a statement. Nobody brought more federal infrastructure money home to our city. Nobody fought harder for our communities and our residents interests and safety. And nobody knew how to navigate Washington better for the people of Dallas. The Congressional Black Caucus put out a statement detailing Johnsons impressive accomplishments. A former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, the first registered nurse elected to Congress, the first Black woman elected to Congress from Dallas, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Congresswoman Johnson was a trailblazer who served her constituents and her country honorably in the U.S. Congress for 30 years. Johnson was also the first Black woman to chair the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. President Joe Biden lauded her immense courage and proclaimed her an icon and mentor to generations of public servants, through whom her legacy of resilience and purpose will endure. After Johnson announced her retirement in 2021, she handpicked the Dallas Democrat she wanted to carry on her legacy, calling on then-Texas House member Jasmine Crockett to run for the seat. She was the one that I asked to run, because she has shown shes willing to work, Johnson said of Crockett. I never imagined that I would be running for Congress, said Crockett about Johnsons call to run. I never imagined that she would call me of all people. Crockett says big transportation projects are part of the legacy Johnson leaves for her North Texas district, and she plans to keep the momentum that Johnson built going. There will be three days of memorials to celebrate Johnsons life. Johnson will lie in state at Fair Park in Dallas on Monday, leading up to a wake that evening. Her funeral will be held Tuesday in Dallas. On Wednesday, Johnson will be buried in Austin at the Texas State Cemetery. Zaffirini makes history, again, becoming Dean of Texas Senate Judith Zaffirini is no stranger to making history. In 1986, she became the first Mexican-American woman elected to the Texas State Senate. Since taking office in 1987, shes never missed a vote in the Senate. Earlier this year, she cast her 70-thousandth consecutive vote. Thats a record among Texas lawmakers. Now, Senator Zaffirini is making history again. Shes taking on the role of Dean of the Texas Senate. Zaffirini will be the first woman to serve as Dean. The role of the Dean is determined by seniority, and no one has served longer in the Senate. The previous Dean, John Whitmire, resigned late last month after more than 40 years in the Senate. Hes now serving as the Mayor of Houston. Zaffirini said because the next three senators in seniority are men, it could be a long time before another woman gets the chance to assume the deanship. Only 24 women have served in the Texas Senate with 952 men, including the four Democratic and four Republican women who serve today, Zaffirini said. She said she is excited to serve the public in this new role but hopes this first is a reminder that more women are needed in public office. Its very sad that its taken that long, and its very disappointing that we have had only 24 women in the Texas Senate. So we need more women to run for elected office and to win, Zaffirini said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. A Granite City police officer shot at a suspect who allegedly pulled out a weapon after getting out of a vehicle that had been fleeing police and crashed Friday in Madison, Illinois State Police said Saturday. The suspect was not struck or injured by the gunfire and was arrested at the scene on State Street at Market Street in Madison, according to a news release from state troopers. A second suspect was arrested in a nearby abandoned building, where a police canine and his handler assisted officers. The incident began when two Granite City police officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle, but the vehicle fled and continued into Madison city limits at about 2:22 p.m. Friday, the news release states. The vehicle crashed after passing over a set of train tracks and two allegedly armed suspects began to flee on foot, according to the news release. This is when one of suspects is alleged to have presented a weapon to the officers and one of the officers their weapon in return. A weapon was recovered at the scene. Neither the names of the suspects nor the officers were released. The Granite City Police Department requested Illinois State Police investigate the shooting. No other information about the shooting was released. An Alaska Airlines flight made an emergency landing in Oregon, United States, when an outside portion of the aircraft came off minutes after taking off from the Portland airport on Friday, Jan. 5. Following the terrifying event, which prompted the temporary suspension of the 737 Max 9 airplanes by federal regulators, Boeing is once again under fire for the safety of its best-selling airliner. Any 737 Max 9 aircraft flown by US airlines or foreign carriers into US airspace must undergo urgent inspections, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The agency's emergency order impacts about 171 planes globally. NEW: A piece of the wall on an Alaska Airlines flight popped off mid-flight as the plane was traveling from Portland to Ontario, California. This is terrifying. After about 35 minutes into the flight, the side panel of the plane came off, reportedly sucking out passengers pic.twitter.com/7lDTgAPF1h January 6, 2024 Window Breach in Alaska Airlines' Plane Just seven minutes after taking off from Portland, a glass panel on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 burst off, leaving a big hole in the side of the plane. A surprisingly unharmed 171 passengers and six crew members survived the abrupt decrease in cabin pressure, which sent oxygen masks dropping from the ceiling. The pilots accomplished a successful emergency landing. Aside from the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also investigates the event that occurred on Friday. In a statement, Boeing expressed its agreement with the FAA's decision to mandate rapid inspections and offered technical assistance to the investigators. The aircraft that was involved in the Friday incident is reportedly brand-new. According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, it started transporting passengers in November 2023 and has only completed 145 flights so far. In a report by PerthNow, aerospace expert and consultant Richard Aboulafia said Boeing would be under increased pressure to alter its procedures and delay the delivery of new aircraft if the Alaska Airlines window rupture was determined to be a manufacturing fault. See Also: 5 Japanese Coast Guardsmen Dead After Plane Collides with JAL Commercial Jet Boeing Is Under Scrutiny Again Developing a brand-new aircraft to replace the 737 was something Boeing contemplated over a decade ago. However, to avoid falling behind European competitor Airbus in sales, Boeing opted for the easier route of making minor adjustments to the 737, giving birth to the Max series. In 2018, a Lion Air Max 8 plane went down in Indonesia, and in 2019, an Ethiopian Airlines Max 8 also crashed. As Boeing modified an automatic flight control system linked to the disasters, regulators globally grounded the jets for over two years. Congress and federal prosecutors questioned Boeing's motives for expediting the Max approval process with minimal pilot training requirements. As part of a criminal settlement in 2021, Boeing paid $2.5 billion, which included a $244 million fine. Chicago attorney Robert Clifford, who is representing the relatives of the victims of the Ethiopian tragedy, said that Friday's event made one wonder whether authorities were hasty to allow Max aircraft to fly again. Boeing, he said, prioritized money above safety. "This is a company that went from being the gold standard in engineering expertise and precision to now a company that seems like it's at the bottom of the barrel," he added, as reported by PerthNow. See Also: Jet2 Incident: Passenger Found Dead in Airplane Toilet-What Happened? House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) did not rule out the possibility of being Donald Trumps 2024 presidential running mate and stressed that she would be honored to serve in the Trump White House should he win a second term. Well, I, of course, would be honored to serve in any capacity in a Trump administration. Im proud to be the first member of Congress to endorse his reelection. Im proud to be a strong supporter of President Trump, and hes going to win this November, Stefanik told NBC Newss Kristen Welker on Meet the Press. Stefanik would not say whether she has discussed the possibility of being Trumps vice presidential pick with the former president, saying instead that the focus is on winning. Im not going to get into the content of my conversation with President Trump. I talk to him frequently. Weve been focused on winning, Stefanik said. Theres so much work to do as the House Republican Conference chair, as the representative for New Yorks 21st congressional district. We need to make sure that President Trump is in the strongest position to win in the general election. Thats what Ive been focused on, and thats what Im going to remain focused on, she added. Stefanik reiterated that she would be honored to serve in the next Trump administration, when pressed again for a clearer answer on whether she would accept the hypothetical offer, adding, But Im focused on doing my job right now, which is a really important role as the conference chair and as, most importantly, the representative for the people of New York 21. Trump, the leading Republican candidate for president, has publicly entertained the possibility of selecting a woman to be his running mate in 2024. Stefanik, as chair of the Republican conference in the House, has been in charge of messaging for the House GOP. In recent years, she has become one of the former presidents staunchest defenders on Capitol Hill. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Dynamic weather patterns are in store for Austin this week, led by a combination of rain, thunder and strong winds expected to move into the area Sunday night and early Monday morning. Light rain will return to Central Texas on Monday, with chances sitting at 80% at 6 a.m. before dropping to 20% by midday. Wind speeds are likely to reach 25-35 mph, with gusts of over 45 mph. A wind advisory will be in effect for Central Texas, and in the Hill Country and the Edwards Plateau to the west, from Sunday night until Monday evening, prompting the National Weather Service to recommend storing and securing any loose and lightweight outdoor items. Keith White, a weather service meteorologist, predicted the Austin area will see about a quarter-inch to a half-inch of rain Monday, though some spots could see up to an inch. There is a 30% to 50% chance of thunderstorms during the same time. "Most (storm) activity should move in during the morning hours, and by the afternoon the Austin area should be mostly dry, with storm activity moving east," White said. To the east, parts of Bastrop, Lee and eastern Williamson counties could see slightly more severe weather than Travis County, the weather service said. Low levels of humidity, strong winds and dry fuels have led the weather service to issue a fire weather watch in counties west of Travis, stretching across the state. Windy conditions will continue throughout most of the week, with strong cold fronts Wednesday and Saturday, which will bring lows in the 30s. Heres the weekly forecast: Monday High: 69 Low: 50 Winds will reach up to 25 mph, with some gusts in the lower 30s. Despite the wind, rain and thunderstorms, the daily high will hit nearly 70 degrees by noon. Tuesday High: 57 Low: 40 Temperatures will drop, and windy conditions will make it feel like 30 degrees in the early morning. Some wind gusts may reach up to 45 mph. Wednesday High: 65 Low: 35 A cold snap will see temperatures dip into the mid-30s, with the feels like temperature reaching into the upper 20s in the early morning before warming up into the mid-60s by afternoon. Windy conditions will continue, with some 30 mph gusts. Some low-lying areas could see temperatures below freezing. Thursday High: 68 Low: 44 A milder day, with partly cloudy skies and wind speeds ranging from 7 to 13 mph, gusting to 18 mph. Friday High: 61 Low: 41 Another partly cloudy day, with slight chances of rain from early morning to noon. Strong winds will return, with nearly 40 mph gusts expected. Saturday High: 54 Low: 31 A harsher cold snap will roll into the area, with wind chill temperatures reaching 20 degrees in the early morning. Wind gusts will reach up to 23 mph, though sunny conditions will help temperatures rise into the lower 50s by early afternoon. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Strong winds, possible storms, cold fronts expected in Austin this week Area residents may need to brace for strong winds expected to come their way Tuesday and Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service, a strong low pressure system could come to the Great Lakes region for Tuesday and Wednesday. This system will bring elevated winds to the region with gusts at more than 40 mph possible on those days. Monday's high temperature in the Akron area is expected to be 36 degrees, with a low of 31 degrees, with a chance of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Tuesday is expected to be warmer and rainy, with a high of 47 degrees and a low of 34 degrees. Wednesday's high is expected to be 37 degrees and a low of 28 degrees, with an 80% chance of precipitation during the day. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Elevated winds expected Tuesday and Wednesday in Akron area Marcos Maldonado, 35, was booked on suspicion of felony aggravated sexual assault of a child and is being held on $1.25 million bail. (Culver City Police Department) A man has been arrested on suspicion of breaking in to a Culver City home last month and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, police said. Marcos Maldonado, 35, was on a bus headed to Bakersfield when it was stopped by police and he was arrested Thursday, according to the Culver City Police Department. Police identified Maldonado through DNA evidence. Maldonado was booked on suspicion of felony aggravated sexual assault of a child and is being held on $1.25 million bail, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department jail records show. On the morning of Dec. 2 , Culver City police responded to a call of a sexual assault in the Blair Hills neighborhood. Investigators said that Maldonado allegedly entered the childs home around 2 a.m. and left around 7 a.m. The family reported the crime a short time later, police said. Officers immediately canvassed the surrounding area for witnesses and additional evidence, recovering video surveillance footage that showed the suspect leaving the area. At the time, investigators released images from that video. From the day that this crime occurred, detectives have worked tirelessly to identify and locate the involved suspect, Jennifer Atenza, a department spokeswoman, said in a news release. Culver City police collaborated with the UCLA Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center and the Los Angeles district attorneys office throughout the investigation and will continue to do so for the filing and prosecution of this case, authorities said. The police department has not received any reports of Maldonado's connection to additional crimes in the Culver City area. The department said it will continue collaborating with other law enforcement agencies to identify any potential additional victims. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A former employee at the Galleria Mall has been arrested for allegedly recording videos of him and other unidentified people sexually assaulting two toddlers, according to a federal criminal complaint. Marie D. De Jesus/Staff photographer A former employee at the Galleria has been arrested after videos surfaced allegedly showing him and others sexually assaulting two toddlers, at least one of whom he appeared to record, according to a federal criminal complaint. In the graphic, seven-page complaint, a special agent with the FBI in Houston laid out detailed allegations against Arthur Hector Fernandez III, 29. Six other men were observed sexually assaulting a child in four videos obtained by the FBI, according to the complaint. The other men were not identified in the document. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One of the four videos appeared to have been taken in a public bathroom in which one of the children was seen lying on a changing table, according to the complaint. It noted that the Galleria has public restrooms, private stalls and changing tables. Fernandez was arrested Dec. 18 in Kingwood, according to federal court documents. He was being held at the Federal Detention Center Houston pending trial, according to jail and court documents. In an order detaining Fernandez until trial, Andrew Edison, magistrate judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, called the evidence in this case overwhelming and revolting. I cannot allow (the) defendant to abuse any other minors, and there are no conditions or combination of conditions (of release) that can alleviate a danger to the community. This is not a close call, Edison wrote in his order. Fernandez previously worked at a store in the Galleria that has since shut down, according to the complaint. Both children seen in the videos, ages 2 to 3, were related to women who also worked at the mall, the complaint said. The Houston Chronicle is not naming the stores or the women to avoid releasing identifiable information about the children. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The women sometimes took the children to their workplaces at the mall when they couldnt afford or find child care, the complaint said. Both women considered Fernandez their friend and previously had allowed him to take the children around the mall while they were busy working, according to the complaint. The FBI headquarters was alerted to the four videos in early December by the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, a government organization, according to the complaint. The videos were posted on a private, invitation-only forum on the dark web, the complaint said. Fernandez was identified by two distinctive silver bracelets worn by a man present in three of the videos, according to the complaint. Both women identified the bracelets as belonging to Fernandez, and investigators found photo evidence on Fernandezs social media accounts that also showed him wearing the bracelets, the complaint said. Authorities are unsure when the videos were taken. One woman told investigators that Fernandez walked her relative around the mall once in December 2022 and took the child trick-or-treating without her present in October. The other woman said Fernandez took her relative around the mall once this summer. The FBI searched Fernandezs home in early December and seized items that could purportedly tie him to the videos and to electronic devices that could store child sexual abuse materials, according to the complaint. He was not home when the FBI conducted its search, it said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Every single day, The Tennesseans journalists strive to make a difference in our community. This commitment is not new. The first edition of The Tennessean was published 117 years ago, in 1907. And over all the decades since, our institution has served a critical function covering the most important and often divisive issues of the day. From the fight over prohibition to the very structure of our unified government to Nashvilles role in the Civil Rights Movement, The Tennessean has been here to deliver local news that matters. Much has changed in the news business over the years. Of course, our product is no longer limited to the print edition. In fact, The Tennesseans digital reach is surging, with readership increasing by nearly a third and eclipsing 3 million monthly unique views over the first eight months of 2023, according to media measurement and analytics firm ComScore. Those numbers led all media outlets in the Nashville market. What has not changed is our mission to serve Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Whether than means digging into the long-term implications of our regions explosive growth or an exclusive look inside the newest restaurant opening in your neighborhood, our team is here to help you understand and navigate life in fast-changing Nashville. In 2023, there was no shortage of major news, with the devastating Covenant School shooting, the intense political fallout that followed with the Tennessee Three expulsion votes, a heated mayoral election and a deadly tornado that came calling in December. Below are just a few examples of stories that made an impact on Nashville in the last year. Covenant shooting reporting leads to gun scrutiny Students demonstrate against gun violence and call for gun law reform during the March For Our Lives walkout at the state capitol Monday, April 3, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. The group is demanding tougher gun control laws on the one-week anniversary of the mass shooting at Covenant School during which three students and three adults were killed. In the wake of the Covenant School shooting in March, investigative reporter Kelly Puente began exploring how Tennessees background check system for gun purchases works and whether there are flaws in the system. Her exclusive story in May detailed how the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is working to clear a backlog of 230,000 case dispositions that have not yet been linked to criminal records in the background check system. Puente wrote that the gap means some individuals could potentially have a criminal conviction that would disqualify them from buying a gun. But the case may not show up in a background check. The reason? Most courts use a vendor software system to report their information, but some still send case information through the mail, which can take longer. In the wake of the story, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, vowed action. He is backing legislation to create a universal, statewide court records system. He has the funding and support to make it happen and is expected to push lawmakers to make the change when they return to work this week. Sexton has said the bill would help to address the thousands of court case dispositions that have yet to be entered into the state database used for prospective gun buyers. A political firestorm ensues Reps. Justin Pearson, Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson on April 3 greet protestors in solidarity outside the House chamber amid chaotic scenes inside the Tennessee Capitol after Republican lawmakers voted to hold expulsion hearings for the three Democrats. When calls for gun control in the mass shooting's aftermath erupted into a fiery debate over expulsions of sitting members of the Tennessee General Assembly, The Tennessean's reporters and visual journalists gave the country a front-row seat. And amid the chaos, statehouse beat writers Melissa Brown and Vivian Jones provided smart analysis and important context about how the episode, while energizing Democrats, would likely not diminish Republican dominance in the legislature or upcoming statewide races. Shining a light on disparities facing Black farmers PJ Haynie stands in one of his rice fields in Arkansas. For three consecutive years, The Tennessean's "Uneven Ground" series has shined a spotlight on the struggles of Black farmers in the United States. In the past, news stories have explained how bureaucracies failed the farmers and explored the struggle for justice. But not much has been written about who the farmers are and why they keep at the work they do. Not much has been written about why their work matters to them and their communities. Our team set out to share those stories. The first chapter of this project appeared in 2022. The second chapter three stories about the challenges and opportunities climate change brings for Black farmers went live in July. In chapter three, the team spoke with farmers who are applying for federal funds earmarked for those who were discriminated against by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Those stories published this month. The series has brought readers positive stories, while showing why they matter. These were stories of adversity that never lost sight of the people behind the statistics. They conveyed a long history of injustice without letting it overshadow the vibrant community that still exists. The series has been recognized with local, regional and national awards. Convening mayoral debate series Alice Rolli and Freddie O'Connell speak during a mayoral debate at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. Metro Council Member Freddie OConnell and former state official and businesswoman Alice Rolli will face each other in a Sept. 14 runoff election. Part of our mission is to convene discussions on topics important to the community. To that end, The Tennessean organized The Nashville Mayoral Debates, the premier community engagement event of the 2023 municipal elections. We partnered with NewsChannel 5, the League of Women Voters of Nashville, Belmont University and American Baptist College. The two schools hosted a total of four debates between May and August. The top-tier of the dozen candidates participated and a runoff debate in August featured the top two candidates in Freddie O'Connell (who eventually was elected mayor) and Alice Rolli. The Tennessean's work began in September 2022 to secure partners. In addition to the debates, our engagement team sent questionnaires to 106 candidates for local elective office mayor, vice mayor, and Metro Council. The effort, led by opinion and engagement editor David Plazas, helped the community understand the issues and the candidates' positions. And no reporter covered the race more closely than Tennessean Metro reporter Cassandra Stephenson. A natural disaster strikes Damaged homes are seen on Jackie Lorraine Drive in Clarksville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. Tornadoes struck Middle Tennessee on Saturday, killing at least six people and leaving more than 160,000 Middle Tennessee residents without power. Storms generating six tornadoes tore across Tennessee, initially killing six people and injuring scores more as night fell in Middle Tennessee on a Saturday evening in early December. With five separate communities thrust into chaos on a weekend night, The Tennessean launched a full-scale reporting effort. More than two-dozen journalists joined the effort to bring the region real-time information about the looming threat of the weather and the devastation it wrought. In the days that followed, the team delivered unparalleled coverage of the aftermath, including information about how citizens can help, profiles of the victims and questions about steps that could be taken to lessen future disasters. All of these stories, and thousands more, were reported, written and photographed by journalists who call Middle Tennessee home. Many of our own staff have lived through the devastation of tornadoes themselves in the past and lived close to the path of the current storms and took shelter. Just like The Tennessean has been for over a century, we remain resolved to delivering the news you need in the year ahead. To our subscribers: Thank you. If you don't yet subscribe to The Tennessean, please consider a New Year's resolution to support local journalism. Tennessean News Director Ben Goad This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: The Tennessean is committed to impact journalism: 2023 was no exception The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will be hosting multiple ag conferences in the coming weeks in the region, including events in Clarendon, Dumas, Dalhart, Plainview and Stratford; here are some details about a few of the ones announced this week. Southeast Panhandle Agriculture Conference WHAT: Southeast Panhandle Agriculture Conference, focusing on cotton crops and weed management WHEN: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 WHERE: Donley County Activity Center, 4430 Texas Highway 70 in Clarendon DETAILS: Hosted by the AgriLife Extension offices in Donley, Hall and Briscoe counties, the event will offer a total of five Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units, including three general, one laws and regulations, and one integrated pest management. There also will be demonstrations from local and area representatives showcasing new technologies and products for 2024. The cotton market will be one of the topics discussed at the 2024 Southeast Panhandle Agriculture Conference on Jan. 16 in Clarendon. COST / CONTACT INFO: Registration is $20 and is payable at the door, but an RSVP is required. Lunch will be provided. To RSVP, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Donley County at 806-874-2141. SPEAKERS AND TOPICS: The conference topics will include: Management of cotton diseases and nematodes Terry Wheeler, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant pathologist and professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Lubbock. Cotton market outlook John Robinson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension cotton economist and professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Bryan-College Station. Cotton weed management decisions for 2024 Peter Dotray, Ph.D., AgriLife Research weed scientist and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Lubbock. Crop budgets DeDe Jones, AgriLife Extension risk management program specialist, Amarillo. Laws and regulations update Leonard Haynes, AgriLife Extension ag and natural resources agent in Donley County. Cotton agronomics Ken Lege, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension cotton agronomist, Lubbock. Cotton will be one of many crops that will be discussed during the first Northwest Panhandle Crops Conferences that will be held on Jan. 17 in Stratford. There will be additional conferences later in January and in February. 3 Northwest Panhandle annual crop conferences WHAT: Northwest Panhandle Crops Conferences WHEN: Each event's programming will be 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., with lunch included, on Jan. 17 in Stratford, Jan. 25 in Dumas and Feb. 6 in Dalhart. WHERE: For Stratford, the conference will be in the Sherman County Exhibit Barn, 501 S. Maple St.; for Dumas, it will be held in the Moore County Community Building, 1600 S. Maddox Ave.; and for Dalhart, it will be held in Frank Phillips College, 2890 Farm-to-Market Road 281. DETAILS: Producers from the northwest Panhandle can hear the latest updates on agronomic and pest management issues at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Northwest Panhandle Crop Conferences during three separate events being held in the region this month and February. Dennis Coker, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomy agent in Dallam, Sherman, Moore and Hartley counties; Marcel Fischbacher, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Moore County; and Laura Taylor, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Dallam and Hartley counties, coordinated the events. COST / CONTACT INFO: The programs are free; however, advanced registration is requested at the following AgriLife Extension offices: Moore, 806-935-2594, Dallam-Hartley, 806-244-4434; or Sherman, 806-366-2081. SPEAKERS AND TOPICS: All the programs and speakers will be the same at each location. The topics and speakers include: Overview of second-year plant mapping progress and its contribution to a standard target development curve for the northwest Texas Panhandle Craig Bednarz, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research crop physiologist and director of the Semi-Arid Agricultural Systems Institute and associate professor at West Texas A&M University, Canyon. Acreage optimization tools for crop water management David Parker, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension water engineering specialist and associate professor at West Texas A&M, Canyon. Survey of soil carbon levels in cotton and corn cropping systems on different farms scattered across the northwest Texas Panhandle and comparison to soil carbon levels elsewhere in the High Plains Joseph Burke, Ph.D., AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension cropping system agronomy and weed scientist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Lubbock. Market outlook for cotton and grains cropping systems, coping with increasing input costs and protection measures for adverse weather DeDe Jones, AgriLife Extension program specialist, Amarillo. What is going on with the use of biologicals in crops? Cameron Murley, Ph.D., senior station superintendent, Oklahoma Panhandle Research and Extension Center, Goodwell, Oklahoma. Pest management, weed management and regenerative agriculture are some of the topics that will be discussed during the Mid-Plains Ag Expo on Jan. 18 in Plainview. Mid-Plains Ag Expo WHAT: Mid-Plains Ag Expo, addressing regenerative agriculture and pest management, among other topics WHEN: 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 18 WHERE: At the assembly room in the Hale County Justice Center, 225 Broadway St. in Plainview DETAILS: There will be a total of seven Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units available, including one laws and regulations, four general, one integrated pest management and a second laws and regulations CEU for those who attend the auxin training. Lunch will be provided, and sponsorships will also be available. COST/CONTACT INFO: Registration is $30 per person and $100 per vendor booth. An RSVP is required for both individuals and vendors. To RSVP, call the AgriLife Extension office in Hale County at 806-291-5267 or visit https://tx.ag/MidPlainsAgExpo. TOPICS AND SPEAKERS: The program agenda includes the following: Laws and regulations Mark Navarrete, inspector, Texas Department of Agriculture, Plainview. Regenerative agriculture and nutrient management Katie Lewis, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research soil chemistry and fertility scientist and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Lubbock, and Joseph Burke, Ph.D., AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension cropping system agronomy and weed scientist and assistant professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Lubbock. Update on herbicide resistant weeds Peter Dotray, Ph.D., AgriLife Research weed scientist and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Lubbock. Residue management using cover crops R.N. Hopper, farmer, Harmony Farms, Petersburg. Water quality Jourdan Bell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and associate professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Amarillo. Advances in integrated pest management and impact of 2023 research results Blayne Reed, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management agent in Hale County. Farm Bill updates Kody Bessent, chief executive officer, Plains Cotton Growers, Lubbock. Auxin training Kristie Keys, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Castro, Hale and Lamb counties. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Texas A&M AgriLife to host ag conferences in the region Editors Note: A version of this story appears in CNNs Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a three-times-a-week look inside the regions biggest stories. Sign up here. Three months ago, speaking to citizens rocked by a horrific day of attacks by Hamas, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a promise. The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamass capabilities, Netanyahu said. We will destroy them. Now, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is shifting to a new phase of its war on Hamas in Gaza and there are signs its objectives are changing too. The record is not very friendly to military campaigns seeking to eradicate political military movement that are deeply rooted, Bilal Y. Saab, an associate fellow in the Middle East and North Africa at Chatham House, told CNN. IDF leadership understands very well that the most they can do is severely degrade the military capabilities of Hamas, Saab said. Israel has seen some successes in that regard; its forces claim to have killed thousands of Hamas fighters, including some high-ranking members, and have dismantled some parts of the groups vast tunnel network under the enclave. But challenges remain and an endgame is far from sight. Few countries at war set deadlines. Israeli officials have warned of a lengthy war that could stretch through the entirety of 2024 and beyond. Smoke billowing over Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip during Israeli bombardments on Friday. - AFP/Getty Images It will unfold in front of an international community that is increasingly aghast at the extraordinary humanitarian crisis and spiraling civilian deaths in Gaza. And as international pressure increases, so too could domestic unease towards Netanyahu an embattled prime minister eager to point to tangible victories. There is a race against time, said Saab, outlining the key questions facing Israels leadership. At what price is this tactical success going to come, and how much time do the Israelis have to achieve that tactical success without suffering from more significant international outrage? A new combat approach The destruction of Hamas the goal that Netanyahu touted on October 7 was lofty, elusive and, according to many analysts, impossible. This kind of mission cannot be completed weve seen it fail over the years many times, Saab said. Hamas influence extends far beyond Gaza, meaning a total defeat of the group is at least highly ambitious for Israel, if it can be achieved at all. In a speech marking the anniversary of the attacks, Netanyahu reiterated his goals for the conflict: To eliminate Hamas, return our hostages and ensure that Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel. But it remains unclear whether IDF leadership places eliminating Hamas atop its priorities. IDF intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva left out the destruction of Hamas when listing military goals in a speech on Thursday, Israeli media noted. And also on Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant unveiled plans for the next phase of the war in Gaza, emphasizing a new combat approach in the north and a sustained focus on targeting Hamas leaders suspected to be present in the enclaves southern territory. In the third phase, IDF operations in northern Gaza will encompass raids, the destruction of terror tunnels, aerial and ground activities, and special operations, according to Gallant. This phase will be less intense, but it will take more time, Yohanan Plesner, the President of the Israel Democracy Institute and a former Knesset member for the Kadima party, told CNN. If the more realistic target is a severe reduction in Hamas fighting capabilities, many analysts say that tangible progress has been made in the past three months. The definition of success will not be to catch or kill all Hamas operatives, but to ensure that Hamas can no longer effectively govern the Gaza Strip, Plesner said. Hamas is organized like an army, with command and control centers, regiments and brigades. This command structure is being seriously challenged and dismantled. Addressing reporters in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said last week that the Israeli military is fighting with force and new systems above and below the ground and claimed to have killed 8,000 Hamas fighters in Gaza, according to Army Radio. CNN cant verify this figure. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says nearly 23,000 people have been killed in the territory since the war began. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but both the ministry in Gaza and its counterpart in the occupied West Bank suggest that approximately 70% of those killed or injured are women and children. Israel believed Hamas had about 30,000 fighters in Gaza before the war began on October 7, the Israel Defense Forces told CNN in December. The fighters were divided into five brigades, 24 battalions and approximately 140 companies, the IDF told CNN, each with capabilities including anti-tank missiles, snipers and engineers, and rocket and mortar arrays. A hunt for Hamas leaders Israel has also claimed some success in targeting Hamas tunnel shafts, a complex notoriously difficult for IDF troops to infiltrate. The IDF released a video this week which it says showed the dismantlement of one tunnel route under Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex in Gaza, that it accused Hamas of excavating. Last month, it released other videos it said showed a network of tunnels which connect to residences and offices of senior Hamas leadership including Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Muhammad Deif. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is a key target of the IDF. - Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images/FILE But the bigger goal of finding and killing Hamas most important leaders in Gaza has eluded Israel to date. This is where intelligence is king, Saab said. Gallant and other officials have repeatedly emphasized the importance of their efforts to eliminate senior Hamas commanders, with the defense minister vowing in late December that Sinwar would meet the barrels of our guns soon. A longtime figure in the Islamist Palestinian group, Sinwar was responsible for building up Hamas military wing before forging important new ties with regional Arab powers as the groups civilian and political leader. Organizations like these replace commanders pretty easily. I dont think anyone is irreplaceable in Hamas, Saab said. But if you take out the symbolic heads of the organization, who knows if that might have a trickle down effect, especially with people who have military responsibilities. It seems unlikely that the new phase of Israels war will bring relief for the Palestinians trapped in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis has spiraled to extraordinary levels. But Netanyahu may be more likely to be bow in the face of domestic pressure, which has been rising in particular over the continued captivity of more than 100 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7. Israel believes 25 hostages are dead and still being held by in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office told CNN Friday. It leaves 107 hostages from the Hamas attack last year still thought to be alive. The return of those hostages remains a goal in the wars new phase, but failure to deliver would intensify political pressure on a decisive leader whose popularity among Israelis has only plunged since October 7. From day one, there was a clear disparity there is support for the war goals and for the IDF, (but) the trust in the Israeli government is at an all-time low, Plesner said, Theres a huge gulf. CNNs Richard Allen Greene, Alex Marquardt, Niamh Kennedy and Lauren Izso contributed reporting For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Boeing, which has been plagued by issues involving its aircraft, is at the center of new questions after a panel of an Alaska Airlines plane detached in midair, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to temporarily ground some Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes. The Friday incident saw a California-bound flight make an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon, after about 10 minutes of flight time. No one was seriously injured in the accident. "The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 Max 9 planes before they can return to flight," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. He added that safety will continue guiding the agencys decision-making as it assists the National Transportation Safety Boards investigation into Fridays incident. The grounding of the 737 Max 9 planes that operate in U.S. territory affect about 171 of the airplanes out of 218 worldwide. It's the latest in a history of issues for Boeing, which include crashes that killed hundreds on board, a faulty engine control sensor and cockpit airflow issues. NBC aviation analyst Jeff Guzzetti, a former NTSB and FAA investigator, said: "Even an incident like this that doesnt involve injuries or fatalities does serve to undermine, to some degree, the confidence in Boeings ability to manufacture safe aircraft." He drew a comparison to Airbus, a European multinational aerospace corporation, saying, "In terms of a significant one, or in terms of stories in which Airbus had a series of production and quality issues where they had to shut down a line or had to delay delivery of airplanes theyve had a lot less than Boeing has had." They have them, but theyre much less significant, he added. Here are some of Boeings past mishaps: A Boeing 737 Max aircraft (Gilles Rolle / Sipa via AP Images) An engine cover detached on an Alaska Airlines flight An Alaska Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after an engine cover detached midflight in 2022. Part of the metal paneling that covers the engine, called the cowling, detached from the aircraft when it landed, the airline said at the time. No one was injured on the Boeing 737-900ER, headed from Seattle to San Diego. A faulty engine control sensor forced an emergency landing A Rossiya Airlines Boeing 777-300ER cargo plane made an emergency landing in Moscow during a 2021 flight from Hong Kong to Madrid due to a problem with the engine control sensor, the airline said at the time. No one was injured and the aircraft were not suspended from flying. Federal aviation agency Rosaviatsiya said at the time that Russian airlines operate those types of Boeing 777 planes, which are equipped with General Electric GE90-115B engines. 737 Max 8 crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia kill 346 people Perhaps the most infamous tragedies involving Boeing airplanes were in Indonesia in October 2018 and in Ethiopia in March 2019. All 189 passengers and crew flying on a brand-new Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 from Jakarta to Sumatra died after the plane crashed into the Java Sea just 13 minutes after takeoff. Not even five months later, another new 737 Max 8 plane operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 157 passengers on board. The flight was headed from Addis Ababa en route to Nairobi, Kenya. The nose of a Boeing commercial airliner (Cameron Spencer / Getty Images) A 2020 U.S. House investigative report into the two incidents blamed Boeing and the FAA for repeated and serious failures, and called the crashes a horrific culmination of a series of faulty technical assumptions by Boeings engineers, a lack of transparency on the part of Boeings management, and grossly insufficient oversight by the FAA. The committees report claimed Boeing made extensive efforts to cut costs and refused to slow its production of 737 Max aircraft, citing financial pressure. The crashes led to the grounding of all 737 Max planes internationally. Boeing said at the time that it learned many hard lessons and made fundamental changes following the crashes. An engine failure left a woman dead In 2018, a woman aboard a Southwest Airlines flight from LaGuardia Airport in New York to Dallas Love Field died after the left engine on the plane failed, damaging the aircrafts main body and forcing an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport. Passengers told NBC News that a piece of the engine crashed into the window, shattering it and depressurizing the plane. Then, the woman was partially sucked out of the broken window midflight. Passengers said they witnessed people pulling her back inside. Multiple alarms blared on the Boeing 737-700 just 20 minutes after takeoff, former NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said at the time. Crew members on board reported an engine fire and immediately prepared for an emergency landing. The engine that malfunctioned, a General Electric CFM 56-7, is a very, very reliable engine, Gary Kelly, Southwests former chief executive, said at the time. A Boeing 777 lost the cowling on its right engine In 2018, the right engine of a United Boeing 777 lost its cowling the engines removable covering forcing an emergency landing while en route to Honolulu from San Francisco. The plane eventually landed safely in Hawaii on time, the airline told NBC at the time. A jet engine malfunction forced a Southwest plane to divert An engine on a Southwest Boeing 737 heading from New Orleans to Orlando malfunctioned midflight and caused major damage to the plane. The flight, which occurred in 2016, was forced to divert and land in Pensacola, Florida. Plenty of passengers feared they were under attack after hearing a loud boom, but the plane landed safely and all passengers and crew members were unharmed. British Airways pilots got sick as their cockpit was starved of air Three pilots of a 2015 British Airways flight got sick after debris, including bubble wrap, insulation materials and wires, blocked airflow to the cockpit on a Boeing 777 plane. The flight, en route to Seattle, was forced to turn back and make an emergency landing at Londons Heathrow Airport after the pilots reported headache, nausea, light-headedness, a constant urge to take deep breaths and difficulty maintaining concentration, according an Air Accident Investigation Branch report. The pilots had to keep the door to the cockpit open and wear oxygen masks in order to safely land the plane. The exact plane was reported to have had airflow issues to the cockpit twice in the weeks leading up to the incident, but engineers believed the issue had been fixed, the report said. A damaged windshield forced an emergency landing A Boeing 777 was forced to make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport after the windshield cracked in 2015. The plane had just taken off from LAX and was headed to Brisbane when it was forced to turn back around. The aircraft landed safely. Overheating batteries caused the grounding of Boeing 787 planes In 2013, regulators approved a new and improved battery system for Boeing 787 Dreamliners after the aircraft had been grounded because the planes lithium-ion batteries kept overheating. The redesign addressed more than 80 causes of fires, Boeing said at the time. The move allowed Boeing to make repairs to the fleet of 50 planes owned by eight international airlines. Fuel leaks prompted inspection of Boeing 787 planes The FAA in 2012 said it was requiring Boeing 787 Dreamliners to be inspected after fuel leaks linked to manufacturing flaws at Boeing plants were discovered. The leaks were due to an improper assembly of couplings at the factories, the FAA said. Earlier that same week, a 787 with 184 people aboard was forced to make an emergency landing in New Orleans after experiencing a mechanical problem on a flight from Houston to Newark. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com By Phil Stewart and Hannah Lang WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hospitalization was kept far more secret than previously known, officials disclosed on Sunday, adding his deputy to a long list of people right up to President Joe Biden who were kept in the dark for days. Austin, who is 70, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's Intensive Care Unit on New Year's Day after experiencing severe pain following a still-undisclosed elective medical procedure on Dec. 22. Austin sits just below Biden at the top of the chain of command of the U.S. military, and his duties require him being available at a moment's notice to respond to any national security crisis. That includes always being ready to enter secure communications with other officials in the event of an incoming nuclear attack, something that would be difficult to do from an ICU bed. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks assumed some of his operational duties on Jan. 2, while she was on vacation in Puerto Rico, a U.S. official said. But, Hicks was only told why Austin was unavailable on Jan. 4, three officials told Reuters. That's the same day that Biden and other senior White House officials were told that Austin had been hospitalized since Jan. 1, five officials said. At least some circles in the Pentagon were aware of Austin's situation earlier. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Charles "CQ" Brown, learned of the hospitalization two days earlier, on Jan. 2, one U.S. official said. The Pentagon said on Sunday the delay in disclosing his whereabouts was at least partially due to Austin's chief of staff being off sick. Austin said in a statement on Saturday that he took "full responsibility" for the secrecy surrounding his hospitalization. The U.S. Congress was only informed on Friday, shortly before the Pentagon published its public statement. The Pentagon has yet to say what Austin is being treated for, when he will be discharged from hospital and whether he lost consciousness or was under anesthesia over the past week. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said during a press conference on Sunday he "wasn't aware of (Austin's) medical issue." "I'm very much looking forward to seeing him fully recovered and working side by side," Blinken said. Several lawmakers say the communication breakdown raises serious questions about Pentagon leadership. A joint statement from the top Democrat and Republican lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee called for the Pentagon to be transparent about Austin's health "and the decision-making process that occurred in the past week." "Several questions remain unanswered including what the medical procedure and resulting complications were, what the Secretary's current health status is, how and when the delegation of the Secretary's responsibilities were made, and the reason for the delay in notification to the President and Congress," the joint statement said. The top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Roger Wicker, also took aim at Austin's handling of his ill health. "When one of the country's two National Command Authorities is unable to perform their duties, military families, Members of Congress, and the American public deserve to know the full extent of the circumstances," Wicker said in a statement. The Pentagon said Austin remained in hospital on Sunday but was recovering well and was in good spirits. "Since resuming his duties on Friday evening, the Secretary has received operational updates and has provided necessary guidance to his team," it said. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Hannah Lang; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Caitlin Webber, Ross Colvin and Sandra Maler) As we head into the week, let's take a look at the news from this past week. New Bedford High School senior Emma Gibney will compete at Miss America's Teen 2024 next week. She is one of 51 national candidates headed to Orlando, Florida to compete in the 18th Annual Miss Americas Teen Scholarship Competition. Crowned Miss Massachusetts Teen 2023 last year and hopes to spread her platform on mental health to touch the lives around her. There were some changes for students at New Bedford High School after Christmas break, including a new breakfast bar to allow students to grab a nutritious bite to eat before school. Lunches are also being improved in quality and quantity as well as efforts to bring snacks to students participating in after-school activities. The school day also shrank by 28 minutes, moving dismissal from 2:40 p.m. to 2:12 p.m. Keep up with high school sports with scores, game highlights, and player of the week voting at https://www.southcoasttoday.com/sports. Here are the most-read stories of the week on https://www.southcoasttoday.com: New Bedford High School's new Principal Joyce Cardoza and Associate Principal Jeffrey Longo are seen in the school library. Fall River native Joyce Cardoza's mid-winter move into the principal role is in preparation for the impending spring retirement of now-former NBHS Principal Bernadette Coelho. While former Grade 11 Assistant Principal Jeffrey Longo has replaced Cardoza as new associate principal. Cardoza who has been with New Bedford High School since 2016, says she's especially excited to be assuming the principal position at this particular time, citing a "renewed sense of energy" in the building. "I felt like that's really my passion to see students from that stage in 9th grade, and then graduation and post-secondary to see what they become," Cardoza said. "I think thats such a gift that we get to see at this level." Longo has a relationship with New Bedford Public Schools that predates even his earliest days as a student, being the son of former longtime NBPS Superintendent Michael Longo. "I look at it as just expanding my reach to be able to drive the work we're doing around student achievement," he said. Get to know them: New Bedford High has a new principal and associate principal. Former deputy fire chief Paul Coderre Jr. is seen here in this file photo. Former interim New Bedford Fire Chief Paul Coderre was shot and killed by police officers outside of the Bayside Lounge in Fairhaven on Friday, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn reported, after Coderre first shot at police, hitting an Acushnet officer in the leg. Coderre was reportedly drinking with friends at Bayside Lounge when "there was an altercation inside the lounge that led to him going outside. Coderre had attempted to get in a vehicle to leave but was stopped by individuals who were present at the time "because of his condition," and police were called. After learning Coderre had possession of a firearm, police on scene "attempted to speak to him and de-escalate the situation," Quinn said. "Several attempts were made to use non-deadly force to subdue him including the use of a taser. Those attempts were not successful. Altercation: Former interim NBFD Chief Coderre confirmed dead after shooting Acushnet officer A 28-year-old New Bedford woman died Friday evening as a result of a motor vehicle crash on Route 140 South in New Bedford. The preliminary investigation revealed that Julia Luiz was operating a Toyota Camry when it apparently became disabled in the left lane. The disabled car was then struck by two different vehicles. The investigation is active and ongoing. Accident: New Bedford woman killed in multi-vehicle car crash on Rt. 140 Friday identified Ribbon cutting at the former Holy Family High School building which has been converted into housing. Several development projects are moving forward - or are expected to move forward - in 2024 in New Bedford while the city continues to focus on the implementation of its new housing plan. The 28 units of market-rate apartment and loft-style housing and two commercial spaces designed for a restaurant and retail tenant at the bottom of Union Street and Route 18 are under construction; The former Holy Family High School is being developed into 15 apartments at 123 North St.; Construction is also underway at the former Moby Dick Chandler Building at 117 Union St. which will have 45 units of mixed-income housing; Groundbreaking at 278 Union St should be very soon with a five-story, 53-unit apartment building; and the 89 North Water St redevelopment project calls for 18 units of multi-family apartments. There are also a couple of smaller developments of 10 units or less nearing completion on Brock Avenue and Purchase Street. This year: New Bedford will have several new apartment developments ready The Fairhaven bridge is often closed due to repairs. Construction on the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge's replacement is targeted for 2027, but there's still much to decide in the meantime. After 121 years in operation "functional deficiencies" need to be addressed, according to the Mass. Dept. of Transportation. MassDOT is providing a project update on Tuesday, Jan. 9, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Hayden-McFadden Elementary school auditorium, 361 Cedar Grove St. Where does it stand: New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge replacement project All of these stories can be found in their entirety at SouthCoastToday.com. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Top stories this week NBHS's new principals, former fire chief killed In New York City's East Village, asylum seekers lined up in front of a city-run shelter in December. Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, left, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Abbott's migrant busing scheme has stretched New York's capacity to provide and food and shelter for thousands of migrants. Brandon Bell / Getty Images and Peter K. Afriyie / AP Photo Gov. Greg Abbott is a genius. His devious plot to school the smug liberals to the north about the migrant crisis on our Southern border is working beautifully. When the Texas governor sent another charter bus full of migrants to Manhattan in August 2022, New York City Mayor Eric Adams waited at the Port Authority bus terminal to extend a welcoming hand to the new arrivals. Weve always welcomed them, and this governor is not doing that in Texas, Adams said at the time. But we are going to set the right tone of being here for these families. Part of that tone-setting included establishing a welcome center inside the bus terminal, where migrants were given clothes and a hot meal, as well as guidance for navigating their new life in a vast, overwhelming metropolis. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nine months later, the Adams administration shuttered the welcome center with little notice. An administration spokesman assigned blame to activist volunteers who worked at the center for luring migrants to the city with false promises. Adams would later declare that the migrant issue was, in fact, a burden that would destroy his city. He exaggerated the extent to which the new migrants were straining the city budget. He sought to unravel a 42-year-old consent decree establishing the citys legal obligation to provide housing for anyone who needed it, which has forced the city to pay for additional shelter space and hotels to temporarily house migrants. Last week, Adams limited new bus arrivals to a single location and threatened criminal charges for bus companies that ran afoul of the new rules. On Thursday, he announced a lawsuit seeking $700 million in damages from 17 bus companies he asserted were transporting migrants from Texas with evil intentions of forcing the city to care for them. Back at the governors mansion in Austin, Abbott is likely delighting in New Yorks winter of discontent. Adams' flailing and overheated rhetoric have reinforced the potency of Abbotts political gambit. By callously dumping Texas' migrant problem onto a major blue city nearly 34,000 migrants have been bused to New York since August 2022 Abbott has goaded Adams, a high-profile Democratic politician, into bucking his partys orthodoxy that supporting and protecting immigrants should never be questioned, even for immigrants who cross our borders illegally. In doing so, Abbott is not only sowing chaos in New York; hes attempting to erode support for critical legal protections such as migrants' right to seek asylum and New Yorks right-to-shelter law. He has effectively put President Joe Biden in the uncomfortable position of having to confront the fact that the massive wave of migrants arriving at our border is, indeed, a crisis, despite administration officials' preference to call it anything but that. After all, if New York, a well-resourced megacity, cant handle thousands of migrants arriving each week, how can we expect smaller border cities such as El Paso and Laredo to do the same? And lets not forget that New York prides itself on welcoming immigrants. From 1886 through 1924, the Statue of Liberty greeted some 14 million immigrants arriving at Ellis Island. As City Comptroller Brad Lander noted in a September op-ed, these immigrants built the Erie Canal, the railroads, the Empire State Building, the garment industry, and the citys status as a global financial center. Its not just a catchy tune from Hamilton New York City immigrants really do get the job done. They make up 36% of the citys population and close to half of its workforce. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Even so, this latest migrant influx is testing New York Citys noble commitments to ensuring shelter for all and welcoming newcomers with open arms. More than 60,000 migrants live in city shelters, leading to a massive shortage of beds for a homeless population that has ballooned to more than 90,000 people. While the Adams administration has imposed 60-day limits on shelter stays for migrant families with children, they can simply reapply for another 60 days if they cant find permanent housing. St. Brigid, a former Catholic School in Manhattans East Village, has been converted into a reticketing center, a shelter that will also provide free one-way tickets to migrants who want to leave town. Every day hundreds of migrants line up in the bitter cold, waiting to hear whether theyve been granted another shelter stay. Some sleep on the street so they dont lose their place in line. Its especially expensive to shelter and feed migrants in this high-rent city: nearly $400 per person each day. Over the next two years, the total cost is expected to reach $3.1 billion. While Abbotts cruel, opportunistic busing program bears much of the blame for straining New Yorks resources, the citys right-to-shelter law also exerts a singular pull for migrants. Migrants with no connection to the city are showing up at its doorstep, with word of mouth spreading across the globe that the city can provide free shelter and a gateway to a better life. Adams' rhetoric, which can be read as vilifying migrants, is dangerous and irresponsible. He is, however, correct on one point: the federal government must finally take responsibility for this problem. So far, Bidens solutions have been mostly half-measures. He has attempted to ease the burden on cities dealing with the migrant surge by authorizing temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who are already in the country, which, in theory, will allow them to find work and pay rent. He has worked with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to set aside federally owned land in the city for shelter space. Hes allocated $50 million to New York to shoulder the costs of housing and caring for migrants, with another $100 million supposedly on the way. Perhaps the most impactful thing Biden could do to help New York immediately is heed Adams' call to expedite work permits. Many of the new migrants have myriad skills and yearn to work and contribute to the city. Allowing them to find work will free up shelter space and, eventually, benefit the city economically. Biden could do more on the U.S.-Mexico border, too. Thousands more asylum officers are needed to screen migrants. And to stem the wave of migrants at the points of entry, Biden should direct those officers to process migrants on a last in, first out basis, with new arrivals getting priority for asylum screenings. Doing so would help clear the backlog of 1.6 million pending asylum cases. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Abbott, meanwhile, should really find something more constructive to do with his creative genius. He was right that busing migrants to so-called sanctuary cities would draw needed attention to the border crisis and cause dissent among Democrats who otherwise support Biden. But what now? Where does the stunt end and the solution begin? Its tempting to imagine a reality in which Abbott, Adams and Biden step out of their political silos and work together. If Abbott and Adams were less interested in grandstanding, they would organize a joint meeting with Biden and fashion a bipartisan appeal for the comprehensive immigration reform that everybody even those who work against it these days knows that we desperately need. At the very least, Abbott and Adams could rise to this moment and urge congressional leaders to work together on the border security compromise thats reportedly been in the works for weeks. Meghan Riley Lewis' typical signoff for emails, texts and other messages to friends reflected her own outlook on life: "Stay sparkly." The Bel Air, Maryland, woman made it her mission to help people see their own sparkle, even when the outside world didn't. A transgender woman, Lewis donated time, money, food and love to Baltimore Safe Haven, the state's only full-service housing and wellness center for LGBTQ+ people. "Meghan was sparkly," said Iya Dammons, Baltimore Safe Haven's founder and executive director and Lewis' friend. "She made sure our kids were able to have a Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving dinner, whatever they needed to smile. She was always sending over sparkly things." Lewis even invited strangers into her home on Christmas Day, hoping to ease the pain of loneliness and loss felt by many during the holidays including trans people who often feel alienated from friends, family and society. But her sparkle was extinguished before the holidays were over. Lewis was fatally shot Dec. 27, allegedly by a man delivering food in her neighborhood. Brian Michael Delen, 47, is facing murder, assault and weapons charges. He was released to home detention on GPS monitoring Dec. 29, according to court records and local news reports. A bulletin board holds messages in remembrance of Meghan Riley Lewis, a transgender woman whose signature sign-off was "Stay sparkly." Lewis, known for her support of LGBTQ+ people, was fatally shot Dec. 27. She reached out to the isolated and beyond Lewis was more than just a smiling face to people who too often feel isolated, Dammons said. The two had known each other since 2018, when Dammons founded Baltimore Safe Haven and Lewis immediately reached out to see how she could help. When Dammons underwent gender reassignment surgery, Lewis was there, not just offering advice and sharing intimate details about the procedure and recovery, but bringing over groceries and making sure Dammons had whatever they needed. Her generosity extended beyond the LGBTQ community. Clara Longo de Freitas, a reporter with the Baltimore Banner, was fishing for a Christmas Day story when she came across Lewis' Facebook post offering a meal and fellowship to "some of my fellow queers who need to be fed and loved, including a feast fit for royalty, with turkey, roast beef, casseroles and desserts. I have incredibly sad news to report. A trans friend of mine, Meghan Lewis, was murdered last night. She was a fixture in the community and loved by many. We were just chatting only a few days ago about how she was devoting her life to feeding hungry and unhoused queer people. pic.twitter.com/AQwJUKIgnr Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) December 29, 2023 When Lewis learned Longo, a native of Brazil, was spending her first Christmas alone, she invited the reporter as well, greeting her in Portuguese and offering to make traditional Brazilian foods. Though Longo didn't go, she was moved by the gesture and wrote about Lewis after her death. Meghan Riley Lewis was known to friends as someone who loved sparkly things and worked to make LGBTQ and transgender people feel loved. She was gunned down near her Maryland home on Dec. 27. "This is true community love and kindness toward strangers," she said. "It's hard to spend Christmas alone and I think a lot of queer and trans people experience that as well. I was very touched by that, and how she offered to make Brazilian dishes. It provided me with the strength to be alone on Christmas Day." Hearing of Lewis' death was "very jarring," the young reporter said. Also jarring, especially for Lewis' friends and members of the trans community: Initial reports by the Bel Air Police Department misgendered Lewis and used her name assigned at birth. (The department later issued a corrected release and apologized for the mistake.) A 'collector of the folks who fall through the cracks' Lee Blinder of Trans Maryland called Lewis "an excellent collector of the folks who fall through the cracks in the system, who don't have anyone else." Lewis, who had two teenage children of her own and had worked in tech, "really took seriously the invitation to reach out to and provide care to our community." Bel Air Police, in response to USA TODAY's inquiry, said in an email that "nothing in our investigation thus far has indicated any motive related to anti-transgender or homophobic sentiment." But Blinder, Dammons and Kurt Doan of Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride all believe differently. The Human Rights Campaign in late 2023 declared a national state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the United States, citing a spate of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, demonization of transgender people and escalating violence against transgender people, gender nonconforming people and other members of the LGBTQ+ community. A bouquet rests on a bench after a celebration of life in honor of Meghan Riley Lewis, a transgender woman who was fatally shot Dec. 27 near her Bel Air, Maryland, home. Lewis' death is "deeply unsettling," Blinder said. "This causes a ripple effect that's already layering onto anti-transgender sentiment in many states, including Maryland and neighboring states, mostly to our south." Doan said Lewis' death has spurred more people connected to Maryland's LGBTQ+ community to action and advocacy. A celebration of her life on Jan. 2 was attended by more than 100 people, he said, and that helped people in the rural area feel less isolated. A Justice Rally for Meghan Lewis is planned for Monday morning at the courthouse in Bel Air. "This will shift our conversation (to) what we are going to do to advocate more for the LGBTQ+ community," he said. "We used to be all about putting on (a Pride) parade, but now we have to talk to kids in schools, talk to local police departments." Dammons, like Blinder and Doan, is upset that the suspect in the case is not in jail. The three vowed to raise their alarm with authorities in Maryland, from Harford County (where Lewis was shot) to the Statehouse. "I've buried, I think, 13 trans siblings in last five years," Dammons said. "We have been the pallbearers for our community. We stand in solidarity. We want to make some noise. This is our injustice and our blood runs in the streets. Meghan was not just a statistic." Blinder said Lewis wouldn't have wanted people to mourn her, and those who planned the Jan. 2 remembrance were deliberate about calling it a celebration of her life, rather than a vigil mourning her death. "Her perspective was about finding that joy and creating spaces for others to find their joy," Blinder said. "Nobody in the transgender community wants to be a statistic, particularly around violence or death. I think Meghan would want people to take the initiative and create lasting change for other people." Contact Phaedra Trethan by email at ptrethan@usatoday.com, on X (formerly Twitter) @wordsbyphaedra, or on Threads @by_phaedra. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trans woman Meghan Lewis killed days after hosting a holiday dinner The following is a transcript of an interview with 2024 GOP hopeful Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that aired on Jan. 7, 2024. MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who joins us from Des Moines, Iowa. Good morning to you, Governor. GOV. RON DESANTIS: Good morning. MARGARET BRENNAN: You know, when we were in Texas, we saw Florida law enforcement trucks patrolling along that Texas border. I know you've been very supportive of Governor Abbott of Texas. Do you think that immigration should be left up to federal authorities? Or do you also plan to have Florida try to use its local law enforcement to arrest migrants? GOV. RON DESANTIS: Well, when I'm President, we will of course, it's a federal issue- a federal interest. But states and local localities should absolutely be able to supplement the federal government. And we're in a situation now where the federal government asserts under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, that they have the sole dominion over enforcing immigration laws, but they're choosing not to faithfully enforce immigration laws. MARGARET BRENNAN: But supplementing is different than superseding. And as you know, the Supreme Court was asked to weigh in on this in the state of Arizona back in 2012. Are you saying in Florida, you're going to use law enforcement to arrest migrants now? GOV. RON DESANTIS: What I'm saying is, as President, I am going to deputize state and localities. And you're right about that Arizona case, I actually think the Supreme Court would- would reevaluate that today, especially in light of what we've seen. But as president, I am going to say state and localities have the authority to enforce immigration laws, as long as they're upholding the law. It's one thing if a state was trying to frustrate the law - of course, under the Supremacy Clause, they couldn't do that. But that's not what we have here. It's the federal government that's frustrating the imposition- the enforcement of the law. It's the states that just want the law enforced. MARGARET BRENNAN: So there were at least two groups of migrants fleeing Cuba that landed in your state of Florida this past week. But the numbers versus last year are actually way down. The Biden administration said anyone caught at sea will be banned from humanitarian parole programs. Do you believe that the Biden policy has helped Florida? GOV. RON DESANTIS: Well, what's helped Florida, Margaret- because this coast guard does a good job. And they are in charge of that. We started to have a rash of boats coming and there were a lot of gaps because the Coast Guard didn't have enough resources. So I marshaled state resources, state maritime assets, we filled in the gaps. And so what would happen if you had a boat coming from Haiti, let's say, Florida law enforcement would interdict, we would have to turn over the potential illegal aliens to the Coast Guard, but then the Coast Guard would deport them back to Haiti or Cuba or wherever. That had a huge, huge deterrent effect, because people are not going to want to go- go over those choppy waters, knowing that most likely they're just going to end up back where they came. It's the same principle applied to the southern border. People know, if they just get to the border, they're gonna get a free pass in the United States. So they're gonna be willing to pay thousands of dollars to coyotes and cartels. If we have a new sheriff in town on this, and they know they're going back to their home country, you're gonna see a dramatic decrease in people that are going to even try this voyage. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, let me ask you about that. Because you said this past week, you would like to deport nearly 8 million undocumented migrants? Would you deport those who are awaiting asylum legal proceedings before they've had their day in court? GOV. RON DESANTIS: Well, what we're gonna do is we're going to streamline that, you know, we're going to do a presumption against asylum for the people that come across the border illegally, from the from the traditional countries, which- you know, look, America has is a better place to live than some of those countries, but they just don't qualify for asylum. So yes, they will be included. We're going to work through that to make sure that we can streamline it, but the idea that you can come to the southern-- MARGARET BRENNAN: -- Do you think you need Congress to do that? GOV. RON DESANTIS: --border. I think we can do, I think we could do a lot through executive action. I do think it'd be helpful for Congress to do some things on that. And I know the House of Representatives with HR 2 is doing that. I would support that. But we have a situation now, you show up at the border, you say the magic words, then they give you a sheet of paper and they say come back in two years. Enjoy your stay in America. How is that something that is ever going to get this border under control? And I'll tell you, I'm here in Iowa now talking to people in New Hampshire, South Carolina, these early states. They're frustrated with how the federal government will treat people coming into our country illegally, better than Americans in some respects. Free- free lodging, free transportation. You know, the Biden administration was charging people to get out of Israel to take them to Greece. I sent planes to Israel, we sent- we brought people back free of charge. So we've got to put the American people and our sovereignty first. MARGARET BRENNAN: Our CBS polling shows half the country expects there will be violence from the side that loses in future elections. Do you share that concern about this race? GOV. RON DESANTIS: Oh, I hope not. I mean- I think that, you know, we have an opportunity, one of the- one of the reasons I'm running is I think the Republicans, we have a great shot to win. If we frame the issues about the problems facing the country, the failures of the Biden administration, and how we have a great set of ideas to turn the country around. And I've shown how that can be done in Florida. I think if we're re-litigating the past elections, if it's about, you know, Donald Trump, or his legal issues, or criminal trials or all that stuff, you know, I think it's going to be a really nasty election. I don't think that puts Republicans in a good position to win. So we need to have an election on the issues. You know, we need a candidate that can win a clear cut victory, and we need to start looking forward as a country. MARGARET BRENNAN: You have never lost a political race before in your career. You are a second in the CBS Iowa projections. Is that victory enough for you? GOV. RON DESANTIS: Well, we got to win a majority of the delegates. This is a long process. We're doing really well in Iowa. You know, I kind of like being underestimated, Margaret. So I hope people kind of say- say that. But we've got the enthusiasm. When the calendar clicked to '24, you see, we got more undecided voters coming out to all our events. So we're going to outwork everybody. But this is a long process. There's a lot that happens to accumulate all these delegates, we're going to do well in Iowa, but we're also going to be competing in all these other states. And I think that there's a lot of real estate, I think a lot of things are going to happen. I wish the former president would actually debate though, I mean, I think if you're going to stand for nomination, you should be able to stand on a stage to do it. I'm happy to debate him on your program, or if your network wants to host a debate in New Hampshire, South Carolina. But the idea that he can go and just read off the teleprompter for 45 minutes and then go back, you know, back home, that doesn't cut it in Iowa. And that doesn't cut it in a lot of these states. And so, let's go. Get on the stage and let's have the debate of ideas and I hope Donald Trump will be willing to do that. MARGARET BRENNAN: We will see. Governor, thank you for your time this morning. GOV. RON DESANTIS: Thank you. MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll be right back. Meet Taylor Tomlinson, late-night comedy's newest host How artificial intelligence is revamping customer call centers Reporter's notebook: Can the U.S. balance security risk with staying a nation of immigrants? The following is a transcript of an interview with former Rep. Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, that aired on Jan. 7, 2024. MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney. Her book is "Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning." Good morning to you here. LIZ CHENEY: Good morning. Margaret. Great to be with you. MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to give you a chance to respond to the Speaker. Is it a fact, as he asserted that when you were in House leadership, you considered signing on to that challenge to Donald Trump? LIZ CHENEY: It is not. We were, as Mike said, in constant contact throughout that period. I actually know precisely when he sent me the brief and precisely when less than 30 minutes later, I told him my concerns with the brief. Mike knows that as well. The brief itself was- was legally and constitutionally infirm. I made that clear. Mike's claims that somehow and this is very dangerous, that somehow, as a member of Congress, he has the right to reject, ignore the rulings of the courts. You know, we have dozens of state and federal courts that assessed the claims, assessed the constitutionality and rejected them. And Mike's position, which- which people really need to think about because it's so chilling, is that somehow as a member of Congress, he has the right to ignore the rulings of those courts to assert absent any fact- finding a fact that somehow he feels that something that happened was unconstitutional, and therefore, that he can throw out the votes of millions of Americans. That's tyranny. It's not the rule of law. It's tyranny. And- and it's important for people to understand that because this notion of rejecting, ignoring, refusing to abide by the rulings of the courts, is also what we will see in a second Trump term if Donald Trump is reelected. MARGARET BRENNAN: And you write extensively about this in your book, and you say it was actually Donald Trump's own lawyers who wrote that legal brief that Speaker Johnson circulated. LIZ CHENEY: Correct. And the other thing is, Johnson and I made this clear to him too the very first time we spoke after I reviewed the brief, that he was misrepresenting the brief to the members of conference. I also told him that I thought that signing on to this brief for anyone who was a member of a bar raised significant and serious ethical issues, because you were asserting to a court facts that not only were untrue, but which had already been rejected by other courts, and for which you had no basis, no knowledge. So he knows the truth, but the American people beyond the disagreement between Johnson and I need to recognize how dangerous it is to have elected officials who think they can ignore the rulings of the courts. MARGARET BRENNAN: And so for- for those folks who say, oh, this sounds very complicated. One of the reasons we're talking about this is because the members of the House Republican leadership signed on to it. All of the members of the House Republican leadership supported Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and currently are endorsing him to be the next President of the United States. So from your perspective, it sounds like you're saying you don't trust Republican leadership in the House and their conduct in the upcoming election. LIZ CHENEY: Look, you've had two members of Republican leadership in the House on television this morning. You've had Mike on, again, claiming that he has the right, individually, to decide that he's going to throw out millions of votes and ignore the rulings of the courts. You've had Elise Stefanik on this morning talking about the J-6 hostages. I mean, you don't have to take my word for the fact that you can't count on these elected Republicans to defend the Constitution. Every time they go out and give an interview. They demonstrate it themselves. MARGARET BRENNAN: Now Elise Stefanik was on another network this morning, you just mentioned her. The quote was I have concerns about the treatment of the January 6 hostages. Hostages is a very specific word. And there are well over 1,200 people in the US legal system going through legal proceedings right now for their role in the attack that day. That word she used is exactly the word that Donald Trump uses. LIZ CHENEY: And that's why she's using it. And it's outrageous, and it's disgusting. And if you- if you go and you look at what individuals have been convicted for, who are incarcerated, you'll find it you know, extensively, these are people who were involved in violence against police officers in the assault on the Capitol. And it is really- it's disgraceful for Donald Trump to be saying what he's saying. And then for those who are attempting to enable him or attempting to further their own political careers to repeat it, it's a disgrace. And you cannot say that you are a member of a party that believes in the rule of law. You can't say that you're pro-law enforcement. If you then go out and you say these people are, "hostages." It's disgraceful. MARGARET BRENNAN: We have other Republican candidates for President like Ron DeSantis, who have said they are open to reviewing the cases against these defendants and considering pardons for them. LIZ CHENEY: Look, you know, the President has- has pardon power and pardon authority. I think that it's a very important piece that people ought to consider when they're thinking about for whom they're going to vote. Someone who says that they would pardon individuals who assaulted the Capitol who attempted to stop a constitutional process, who assaulted police officers- I mean, it was a bloody battle. I had police officers, one tell me that it was- it was like medieval hand-to-hand combat. The notion that the Republican Party would continue its efforts to whitewash that day. When the peaceful transition of power is at the core of the survival of our republic tells you that they're unfit for office. MARGARET BRENNAN: We have to take a break, but I want to come back with you on the other side of it. So stay with us. We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to Face the Nation, we return to our conversation with former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney. The Supreme Court is going to take on that Colorado case, where the state was going to remove him from the ballot citing insurrection and the 14th Amendment. The Special Counsel Jack Smith, charged Donald Trump with a number of things, insurrection was not one of them. So given that it doesn't meet that Justice Department standard, do you think the Supreme Court will ultimately disqualify Trump? LIZ CHENEY: We'll see what happens in the courts. If you look at the Select Committee's work, we made a criminal referral with respect to the part of the 14th amendment that talks about providing aid and comfort to an insurrection. I certainly believe that Donald Trump's behavior rose to that level, I believe that he ought to be disqualified from holding office in the future. It's working its way through the courts. And in the meantime, and in any case, we have to be prepared to ensure that we can defeat him at the ballot box, which ultimately I believe we'll be able to do. MARGARET BRENNAN: The Supreme Court may ultimately hear it but right now, the DC Circuit will be taking on this question of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution this Tuesday. Lindsey Graham was on this program, the senator, last Sunday saying no one's immune from prosecution, but presidents do have immunity in order to do their job. And he said Trump just gave a fiery speech. As a conservative, what do you make of this and the broader argument that this will be undermining presidential immunity? LIZ CHENEY: Look, I think that there's no basis for an assertion that the President of the United States is completely immune from criminal prosecution for acts in office. And I suspect that that's what the Court will hold. I think it's really important for people as they're looking at all of this litigation to recognize what Donald Trump's trying to do. He's trying to suppress the evidence. He's trying to delay his trial, because he doesn't want people to see the witnesses will testify against him. And we just saw again, this morning news reports that Dan Scavino, Pat Cipollone, testimony that they have apparently given in front of the grand jury, that once again confirms, you know, what we were able to discover in the select committee confirms that Donald Trump did not want to tell people to go home, did not want to tell the mob to leave the capitol, that he watched the attack on television. And Trump knows that the witnesses in his trial are not his political opponents. He knows that they're going to be the people who are closest to him, the people that he appointed, and he doesn't want the American people to see that evidence before they vote. They have a right to see that evidence before they vote. And so I think it's very important he not be able to delay his trial MARGARET BRENNAN: Very quickly. What do you think of the fact that Secretary Austin has been hospitalized since January 1, and didn't tell the White House until days later? LIZ CHENEY: I think they've got some very serious explaining to do. I think that there's a, there's a real difference between public transparency and, you know, alerting the commander in chief to the fact that the Secretary of Defense is in the hospital. Apparently the deputy secretary was on vacation in Puerto Rico. I think it's it's, it's- it's inexplicable. We need to know more about exactly what happened there. But that's not the way the Pentagon ought to be conducting business. MARGARET BRENNAN: Still be asking questions about it. Thank you. LIZ CHENEY: Thank you. MARGARET BRENNAN: Liz Cheney, thank you for being here. How artificial intelligence is revamping customer call centers Sen. Chris Van Hollen says situation at Rafah crossing is a "24/7 humanitarian crisis" Ron DeSantis says 2024 race will be "really nasty election" if the race is about Trump Former President Donald Trump returned to mocking the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, alluding to the former prisoner-of-wars broken limbs to explain Republicans failure to pass health care legislation. Speaking to supporters Saturday in Newton, Iowa, Trump noted McCains 2018 vote that sank GOP efforts to repeal former President Barack Obamas signature domestic law, known as Obamacare. McCain, R-Ariz., memorably traveled across the country while battling deadly brain cancer to allow a vote on repealing the Affordable Care Act, but then voted against his partys plan with a dramatic thumbs-down gesture. He later said he did so because the hasty effort had not gone through the usual legislative process. Obamacare is a catastrophe. Nobody talks about it. You know, without John McCain, we would have had it done. John McCain, for some reason, couldnt get his arm up that day. Remember? Trump said, pointing his thumb down as McCain did. He goes like that. That was the end of that. Former President Donald Trump addresses the audience during a campaign event Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the DMACC Conference Center in Newton. The mocking reference to McCain in Iowa was only Trumps latest in a feud with the former GOP presidential nominee. McCain's legacy is now largely shunned by his party, and his supporters may have thwarted Republican elections in the years since his death. By venting his contempt for McCain, Trump pushes away a small but potentially critical bloc that again could play a role in settling elections in Arizona later this year. Meghan McCain reprimanded Trump in a social media post after his broadside. My dad was an American hero. An icon. A patriot that will be remembered throughout history, she wrote on X. I cannot buy a bagel without someone approaching me about how much they loved and miss him. Trump is a piece of (expletive), election denying, huckster whose own wife wont campaign with him. Trumps attack came on the third anniversary of the riot at the U.S. Capitol by a mob supporting his efforts to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. McCains home state of Arizona figured prominently in Trumps loss: The one-time red state that McCain never lost was Bidens narrowest victory in the country. Aided by the endorsement of McCains widow, Cindy McCain, Biden carried Arizona, in part because Trump underperformed in traditionally Republican areas across Maricopa County. That pattern repeated in 2022 when Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake, a Trump loyalist, narrowly lost similarly after memorably antagonizing McCains supporters. Lake told McCain Republicans to get the hell out and said, Boy, Arizona has delivered some losers, havent they? John McCain: an American story Trump has never moved past his differences with McCain. While McCain was alive, he and Trump battled over many issues. Most prominently, in 2015 Trump, who did not serve in Vietnam, mocked McCains POW record. Trump said McCain, a former Navy aviator who was shot down in 1967, was a war hero because he was captured and that he liked people that werent captured. The North Vietnamese held McCain as a POW for more than five years. Trump relentlessly attacked McCain over his views on immigration, veterans issues and other topics. For his part, McCain eventually withdrew his endorsement of Trumps 2016 presidential bid after a 2005 recording surfaced that revealed Trump trivializing sexual assault, using vulgar terms about women and making other misogynistic comments. On the night Trump won Arizona by 3.5 percentage points, McCain won his sixth and final Senate race by 12. In 2019, Trump still brooded about McCain and his vote on the ACA. Trump said that McCain told us hours before that he was going to repeal and replace, and then for some reason I think I understand the reason he ended up going against the measure. And frankly, had we even known that, I think we wouldve gotten the vote, because we could have gotten somebody else, Trump said. I think thats disgraceful. Plus, there are other things. I was never a fan of John McCain, and I never will be. Last year, Trump penned a coffee table book that returned to his hatred of McCain. In it, Trump said McCains funerals and memorial services lasted too long. Trump wrote that he never warmed to him and never felt good about anybody having anything to do with John McCain and never will, even despite the fact that at their request, I gave him the worlds longest funeral, 11 days. Much like his wars, it never ended. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump and McCain: Former president mocks late senator Cryptocurrency miners should not be rewarded at all by Gov. Greg Abbott and the state of Texas for creating a crisis with our energy grid, a Chronicle letter writer argues. Dreamstime/TNS Crypto con Regarding Mega-cartoon: How crypto miners raised Texans' electric bill (Opinion), (Dec. 30): Crypto miners are getting a sweetheart deal from the state of Texas. They can help drive the grid into crisis, and then get paid handsomely by the state to shut down and avert the crisis they helped create. In any other field this would resemble a Mafia shakedown: Give me money or Ill shut you down. This just reinforces the notion that the Republican Party of Texas cares more for large business corporations than it does for the people of Texas. More crypto mining should be halted immediately, and those that remain should not be as handsomely rewarded as Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick want them to be. They should not be rewarded at all for creating a crisis with the grid. Please do not tell me the grid is secure. That hogwash no longer sells. Gonzalo Martinez, La Porte Advertisement Article continues below this ad Well done! to the Chronicle and cartoonist Nick Anderson for the mega-cartoon on crypto mining. A lengthy article on the topic, and the related electricity usage and its impact on the electricity prices we consumers pay, probably wouldnt have been read by many. Anderson tells the sordid story very effectively with his 13 engaging panels and, not unexpectedly, in the middle of it we find the two sleaziest, most self-dealing Texas politicians of them all: Greg Abbott and Ted Cruz. David Bradley, Spring A possible way to remove absolutely unnecessary crypto mining in Texas is to simply ban it, starting in three (or maybe five) years. That is, unless its energy is entirely supplied by some form of renewable energy and backed up by some form of stored energy. If enacted, this solution would emulate the ban on the manufacture and sale of incandescent light bulbs. After a fair amount of screaming that it couldnt be done, that ban is now in effect nationally. Milton D. Rosenau Jr., Bellaire Thank you, Houston Chronicle and Nick Anderson, for a full-page, easily digestible explanation of why crypto mining is not only bad for our budget with increased electric bills, but also bad for our health when the grid is compromised by crypto miners greed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Why is this such a massive industry in Texas? According to 2022 data from the U.S. Federal Reserve, only 2% of U.S. adults made a payment using cryptocurrency. Want to know who is using it? Read Andy Greenbergs 2022 book, Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency. Yes, cryptocurrency is what fuels the dark webs criminal activities. I hope the Houston Chronicle will continue to cover this issue and ask the tough questions: Just why are Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz so in favor of this industry? Exactly what are they getting in return? Marene Gustin, Houston Thank you for shining a light on the crypto mining scam going on under the collective noses of our elected officials. Now all we need to do is find someone with the time and resources to sue Abbott and end this legal fleecing of Texas taxpayers and energy consumers. David Kelly, Spring Advertisement Article continues below this ad Crypto is a con. Its tokens are intrinsically worthless, but they want suckers to treat them as money. For the sake of your financial well-being, stay out of crypto. Patricia Roberts, Bellaire A small reminder Regarding Texas-sized shame, (Jan. 5): I would like to add to Gary Thies' note regarding litter on our Texas highways by reminding the multitude of pickup truck owners like myself that when you place cans, bags, cups and other trash in the bed of your truck, and its gone by the time you get home, its not magic. Its litter. Mike Farrell, Conroe Advertisement Article continues below this ad Trump off the ballot I disagree with Nick Andersons view as expressed in his Jan. 5 print cartoon. In my opinion, the voters of Colorado, Maine and all states should have the opportunity to vote for whichever candidate they want. Donald Trump has not been charged with insurrection, much less convicted. Larry Roland, Weston Lakes Threat to democracy Regarding American democracy has overcome big stress tests since the 2020 election. More challenges are ahead, (Dec. 31): The irony of it all. Every time a Democrat says there is a threat to democracy, what they are really saying is that there is a threat to their staying in power. Democrats seem to want a one-party country where they can dictate what appliances we can have, what types of cars we can drive and to some extent what food we can eat (not meat). Folks, thats not democracy. That is called fascism. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Jan. 5. Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center, Iowa, on Jan. 5. Former President Donald Trump expressed his condolences for the victims of last weeks Iowa school shooting and then urged them to get over it. Its a very terrible thing that happened, Trump said at a campaign event in Iowa on Friday. And its just horrible to see that happening. Its just horrible. Its so surprising to see it here, but you have to get over it. You have to move forward. We have to move forward. But to the relatives and all of the people who are so devastated right now to a point they cant breathe, they cant live, we are with you all the way. On Jan. 4, a sixth grader was killed by a 17-year-old suspect at a school in Perry, Iowa. Five others were wounded, including the schools principal. Trump, who is running for president in this years election, called himself pro-gun during the NRAs annual meeting in April and vowed to be the most pro-Second Amendment president ever. A month later, Trump spoke at the NRAs convention in Dallas and proposed that teachers should carry guns in an effort to discourage mass shooters. There is no sign more inviting to a mass killer than a sign that declares that this school is a gun-free zone, Trump said at the Dallas convention. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been five mass shootings in 2024 and eight school shootings. Related... Strikes by London Underground workers which would have crippled Tube services this week have been suspended, the RMT union has announced. The union have suspended their planned tube strike this week following talks with TfL. Planned action from Monday to Thursday will no longer go ahead after RMT made progress in discussions with TfL today. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: Following further positive discussions today, the negotiations on a pay deal for our London Underground members can now take place on an improved basis and mandate with significant further funding for a settlement being made available. This significantly improved funding position means the scheduled strike action will be suspended with immediate effect and we look forward to getting into urgent negotiations with TfL in order to develop a suitable agreement and resolution to the dispute. Londoners faced little to no service on Tube lines as strike action was set to cause severe travel disruption in the capital. Transport for London (TfL) has advised customers who must travel on the London underground to complete their journeys by 5.30pm on Sunday as industrial action by striking tube workers was due to begin. Key Points Union looking forward to urgent negotiations following cancelled tube strikes 21:34 , Maira Butt The RMT is looking forward to urgent negotiations with TfL following suspended tube strikes which were set to cost London 100 million a day according to some business leaders. The RMT announced it was suspending the planned strikes after progress in talks with Transport for London (TfL). RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: Following further positive discussions today, the negotiations on a pay deal for our London Underground members can now take place on an improved basis and mandate with significant further funding for a settlement being made available. This significantly improved funding position means the scheduled strike action will be suspended with immediate effect and we look forward to getting into urgent negotiations with TfL in order to develop a suitable agreement and resolution to the dispute. Crippling London Tube strikes called off at last minute after positive TfL and RMT talks 21:04 , Maira Butt Tube strikes that would have crippled London transport services all week have been cancelled at the eleventh hour. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) were due to walk out from Monday until the end of the week in protest at a 5 per cent pay offer. But on Sunday evening, the RMT announced it was suspending the planned strikes after progress in talks with Transport for London (TfL). Crippling week-long London Tube strikes called off at last minute London Mayor slams ministers for years of strikes as tube walkout suspended 20:30 , Maira Butt Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: Im delighted that this weeks Tube strikes have now been suspended. They would have caused huge disruption for Londoners and would have been a major blow to the capitals businesses at the worst possible time. The week of action would have cost our hospitality industry 50 million alone. This shows what can be achieved by engaging and working with trade unions and transport staff, rather than working against them. In contrast, the adversarial approach taken by ministers has led to years of strikes across the country, whether on national rail, or in our health and education services all exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis. The suspension of strikes is really good news as commuters return after the new year. In case you missed it: Strikes by London Underground workers suspended 20:05 , Maira Butt Strikes by London Underground workers which would have crippled Tube services this week have been suspended following progress in talks over a pay dispute. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) were due to walk out from Monday until the end of the week in protest at a 5% pay offer. The RMT announced it was suspending the planned strikes after progress in talks with Transport for London (TfL). Strikes by London Underground workers suspended Tube strikes: What is the dispute between RMT union and TfL? 19:30 , Maira Butt Matt Mathers explains the ongoing dispute between RMT and TfL as latest tube strikes cancelled at the eleventh hour: Why are workers striking? RMT members are walking out in the ongoing dispute over wages. In December last year, the RMT rejected a below inflation pay offer of 5 per cent from the London Underground. The union described the offer of 5 per cent as unacceptable when TfL has created a bonus pot of 13 million for senior managers and the commissioner took an 11 per cent pay rise in 2023 taking his salary up to 395,000. The RMT said it wanted to see full staff travel facilities for all Tube workers restored and criticised bosses for freezing pay bands, warning that it would create a two-tier workforce. Tube strikes: What is the dispute between RMT union and TfL? TfL says they cannot afford any more and additional funds made available through mayor 19:03 , Maira Butt TfL have confirmed that they cannot afford any more pay increases for staff, however they reported that the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan had been able to provide additional funds to enable discussions to continue. A Transport for London spokesperson said: Last week, we discussed our pay offer extensively with the three trade unions that had rejected it, making clear that TfL cannot afford any more. This remains the case. Today, we were made aware that the mayor was able to provide additional funds to enable discussions with the unions to continue. We have all consistently made clear that strike action is bad for everyone and would have a negative impact on the city as it recovers from the pandemic. This intervention from the mayor has been discussed with the unions, and the RMT union has now suspended the planned strike action. However, as the action has been suspended at this late stage, Londoners will still face disruption tomorrow and we advise all customers to check the TfL website or the TfL Go app for the latest travel information. We will now meet with representatives of all the unions to agree on the best way for this funding to be used to resolve the current dispute. We will also seek to meet as soon as possible with the unions representing TfL staff. We always strive to work constructively with the unions and avoid disruption to London. (PA Archive) TfL: Services will be disrupted this evening and tomorrow morning after cancelled tube strikes 18:27 , Maira Butt Transport for London released a statement following cancelled tube strikes on Sunday saying: The strike action affecting London Underground from Sunday 7 January to Friday 12 January has been suspended. Services will be disrupted this evening and tomorrow morning, and customers should ensure they check their journeys before travelling. The strike action affecting London Underground from Sunday 7 January to Friday 12 January has been suspended. Services will be disrupted this evening and tomorrow morning, and customers should ensure they check their journeys before travelling.https://t.co/VwGVrrFDaU TfL (@TfL) January 7, 2024 London Mayor Sadiq Khan reacts to cancelled tube strikes 18:02 , Maira Butt Londons mayor Sadiq Khan reacted to the news of cancelled tube strikes in the capital on Sunday evening. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: This weeks tube strikes have now been suspended. Londoners and visitors to our city will no longer face several days of disruption. This shows what can be achieved by engaging with trade unions and transport staff rather then working against them. NEW: This weeks tube strikes have now been suspended. Londoners and visitors to our city will no longer face several days of disruption. This shows what can be achieved by engaging with trade unions and transport staff rather then working against them. Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) January 7, 2024 Relief for commuters - and businesses 17:37 , Simon Calder Simon Calder, The Independents travel correspondent, said the news the strike had been cancelled at the last minute would be welcomed for commuters and businesses alike. He said: This 11th-hour settlement will be greeted with relief by commuters except for those who have already made alternative arrangements for the week and businesses in the capital. Basically, I think that TfL has managed to find more money down the back of the sofa and has conceded that its full and final offer of 5 per cent has some wriggle room. After talks broke down on Friday night, it appeared the chances of a solution had vanished evidently, though, there was will on both sides for a settlement. Ironically, the restoration of the full Tube service will make it easier for members of the Aslef executive committee to meet in at the London headquarters of the train drivers union this coming week during which it seems highly likely that more national rail strikes will be called for late January. A source close to the talks said that TfL had offered up to 30m extra to help resolve the pay dispute. Tube strikes that would have crippled London called off at last minute 17:29 , Maira Butt RMT have suspended their planned tube strike this week following talks with TfL. Planned action from Monday to Thursday will no longer go ahead after RMT made progress in discussions with TfL today. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: Following further positive discussions today, the negotiations on a pay deal for our London Underground members can now take place on an improved basis and mandate with significant further funding for a settlement being made available. This significantly improved funding position means the scheduled strike action will be suspended with immediate effect and we look forward to getting in to urgent negotiations with TfL in order to develop a suitable agreement and resolution to the dispute. Tube strike OFF RMT has suspended the planned tube strike this week following talks with Transport for London. General secretary Mick Lynch said there is "significant further funding for a settlement being made available." "Strike action will be suspended with immediate effect." Simon Calder (@SimonCalder) January 7, 2024 Tube strikes cancelled after RMT makes progress with TfL 17:20 , Maira Butt RMT have suspended their planned tube strike this week following talks with TfL. Planned action from Monday to Thursday will no longer go ahead after RMT made progress in discussions with TfL today. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: Following further positive discussions today, the negotiations on a pay deal for our London Underground members can now take place on an improved basis and mandate with significant further funding for a settlement being made available. This significantly improved funding position means the scheduled strike action will be suspended with immediate effect and we look forward to getting into urgent negotiations with TfL in order to develop a suitable agreement and resolution to the dispute. | BREAKING Tube strike averted after progress made in dispute@RMTunion have suspended their planned tube strike this week following talks with @TfL .https://t.co/fexgXmvhIf RMT (@RMTunion) January 7, 2024 Sadiq Khan hits back after 140 strikes announced during his terms 17:03 , Maira Butt Sadiq Khan has hit back after Greg Hands, Conservative MP for Chelsea and Fulham, accused him of overseeing 140 strikes as Mayor. A spokesperson for the Mayor of London, said on Sunday: Strikes are bad news for everyone, and no worker or union wants to have to make the difficult decision to take industrial action. Before the pandemic and the subsequent emergency funding deals, the number of days lost due to strikes action had reduced by over 70 per cent compared to the previous Mayors time in office. This is a result of the constructive engagement between Transport for London, the Mayor, his office and the trade unions. This is an approach Sadiq intends to continue taking in London. By the Government attaching punitive conditions to TfLs funding deal and failing to engage with trade unions across a range of sectors, we continue to see disruptive strike action across the whole country. This has been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis putting pressure on workers across all sectors. (EPA) 18.9bn Elizabeth Line grinds to a halt during strikes 16:33 , Barney Davis The newly opened 18.9 billion Elizabeth Line will be closed in parts throughout the strikes. During the following times, Elizabeth line services are not expected to call at Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Whitechapel. These stations may also be subject to further short notice closures throughout the day. TfL announced the closures at the following times Monday 8 January: Before 06:30 and after 22:30 Tuesday 9 January: Before 07:30 Wednesday 10 January: Before 06:30 and after 22:30 Thursday 11 January: Before 07:30 (PA) TfL urging passengers to only travel on the strike days if journey essential 16:02 , Barney Davis There will be severe disruption on the London Underground network from 5.30pm on Sunday through to the morning of Friday 12 January. Other TfL workers on bus, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line services wont be striking, but those services will be busier and affected by station closures at stations that also serve London Underground lines. One-way or queueing systems may also be in place, it says. Lines serving the Emirates Stadium are expected to remain open later to accommodate fans watching the Arsenal v Liverpool FA Cup tie. Those services will begin to wind down from 7.30pm. TFL advises passengers to complete journeys by 5.30pm Sunday 15:37 , Maira Butt Transport for London have advised those travelling on the London underground to complete their journeys by 5.30pm on Sunday as industrial action by striking tube workers begins. A message on their website read: RMT strikes on the Tube are currently planned in early January. If they go ahead, there will be severe disruption on the London Underground network from the evening of Sunday 7 January through to the morning of Friday 12 January. Sunday 7 January: Tube services will close earlier than normal. Complete Tube journeys by 17:30. UK Hospitality has warned the strike is expected to cost the sector up to 50m 15:05 , Barney Davis UK Hospitality Chief Executive, Kate Nicholls, warned that the RMT strike could hit hospitality businesses by up to 50m over the next week. With the strike days affecting Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week (9-11 January) the key week days that commuters now come into the city we estimate that the impact to the sector from next weeks tube strike could be up to 50 million, she said. And that figure is on top of the lost 4 billion in sales over the past 18 months that hospitality businesses have already had to absorb from ongoing transport strikes. January is already one of the quieter trading months of the year for hospitality, where every sale counts, and this disruption will make the start to the year even more challenging. We need all parties to come together to urgently reach a resolution and bring to an end this long-running disruption. Trade minister calls Sadiq Khan feeble' ahead of new RMT strikes 14:33 , Barney Davis Sadiq Khan has been accused of failing to use strike-busting minimum service legislation on TfL services as a fresh wave of walkouts. Greg Hands, local MP for Chelsea and Fulham, posted on X: Mayor Khan is feeble. 140 Tube strikes with him as Mayor. And he wont use the Governments new legislation to provide a minimum service on the Tube. And he promised us zero days of public transport strikes to get elected in 2016. Its time for a new Mayor. New regulations are aimed at ensuring a minimum level of services during strikes, starting in sectors including the railways and the Border Force before being more widely introduced. The Government brought forward the new law following 18 months of strikes by hundreds of thousands of workers including nurses, teachers, junior doctors, civil servants and train drivers. (PA) 10,000 RMT workers to walkout over the next week 14:00 , Barney Davis London Underground workers are taking strike action, over pay, grading structures and travel facilities, the RMT has said. Control staff will strike on Sunday for 24 hours and from Monday to Wednesday nearly 10,000 RMT members will strike across the Tube. An RMT spokesperson said: TfL has failed to avert this strike by not offering a deal that was acceptable to our members on London Underground. We do not take strike action lightly but we are determined to get a negotiated settlement on pay, travel facilities and a grading structure that means our members will not lose out. Union man: Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, in his office at the unions HQ (Simon Calder) RMT demanding a modest pay rise after rejecting 5% increase 13:51 , Barney Davis The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has urged people to join them on the picket line at Kings Cross on Monday morning as travel chaos is expected. The walkout comes after last-ditch talks failed over a pay increase. For all those who have expressed Solidarity with us Tube Workers, come on down & meet us in person, you'll see we're lovely humans who do vital work to earn the capital lots of money, we just want a modest payrise, with no strings @alexgordon4me @RMTLondon @RMTlondonLGBT https://t.co/7vgn0xrv7w RMT London Transport Regional Council President (@RMTLTRPresident) January 7, 2024 Glynn Barton, TfLs chief operating officer, said he was disappointed the RMT had refused a 5% wage increase offer. TfL warns all tube passengers to complete journeys by 5.30pm 13:04 , Barney Davis Transport for London has warned of disruption across the entire tube network as RMT members walk out on Sunday afternoon. TfL outlined a timetable for the strikes Sunday 7 January: Tube services will close earlier than normal. Complete Tube journeys by 5.30 Monday 8 to Thursday 11 January: Severe disruption is expected, with little to no service expected to run Friday 12 January: Tube services will start later than normal, with a good service expected by midday No other TfL services will be on strike. A spokesman said: Some bus, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and national rail services will be busier. They may also be subject to change or affected by station closures where stations also serve London Underground lines. Planned Tube strikes will affect TfL services between Sunday 7 and Friday 12 January. There is expected to be severe disruption across the whole Tube network. Plan ahead and check before you travel. TfL (@TfL) January 5, 2024 Jeramie Skylar Hoover, 25, was sentenced to 80 years to life in state prison on Wednesday for the 2020 murder of a man during an attempted gun sale in Turlock. The standard sentence for murder in Stanislaus County is normally 25 years to life. However, his sentence was multiplied and enhanced due to several prior convictions that made him eligible for Californias three strikes law. Hoover sat before Judge Linda McFadden in his assigned orange and white striped jail attire as his sentence was delivered. He appeared restless and fidgety throughout the hearing, shaking his head at times when the prosecution read testimony about his arrest. Hoover did not make a statement. McFadden urged Hoover to make his time in prison productive, particularly because of his young age. She told him there were multiple ways he could benefit and educate himself as he served his sentence. I really hate to see the fact that two lives now are affected by the conduct, said McFadden. Obviously, what happened here its a complete tragedy for the victim and the victims family. But, dont make this a tragedy for you completely. Do something that will still benefit you and others. Good luck. In addition to the time served, Hoover was ordered to pay nearly $2,000 in restitution to the victims family. The murder and Hoovers arrest Hoover shot and killed Joel Guzman Jr. on Nov. 16, 2020, in the parking lot of the Turlock OReilly Auto Parts store when a deal for a gun went bad, according to an affidavit authored by Detective Jason Tosta with the Turlock Police Department. Initially, Hoover wanted to purchase a gun from his cousin but couldnt afford it. Instead, they both agreed to sell the weapon to Guzman and split the profits. Hoovers cousin told police that he drove Hoover to a spot and waited in the car. He said he heard gunshots and then Hoover got back into his car and demanded he flee the scene. They eventually stopped in a parking lot in Ceres, which is where Hoover demanded, at gunpoint, that his cousin hand over his vehicle to him, which he did, according to the affidavit. Throughout his investigation, Tosta interviewed several friends and family members of both Hoover and Guzman. While speaking to Hoovers mother, he gave her his phone number and asked her to tell Hoover to call him. Hoover eventually did call Tosta in December 2020. During the conversation, Hoover said that he shot Guzman because he was reaching for his gun. He also expressed fear of going to jail at a young age and told Tosta he didnt remember the actual shooting because he had blacked out. Hoover told Tosta that he had fled to Oklahoma and was trying to make some money before coming back to California to turn himself in. Phone records confirmed his location and he was arrested in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Law enforcement there arrested Hoover during a traffic stop Jan. 7, 2021. He was extradited to Stanislaus County. Two men were arrested in Pepperell Saturday, one in connection to a police chase the night before. A Pepperell police officer found a 2020 Toyota Camry owned by Freddy Deya in a Foster Street parking lot Saturday. Pepperell police say the car was involved in a police chase in Revere Friday night before officers stopped the pursuit. Later, Chelsea police tried to stop the vehicle but Deya allegedly struck a police cruiser and evaded arrest again. After noticing the Camry Saturday afternoon, Pepperell Police set up a perimeter at about 3 p.m. with support from surrounding departments. Officers approached a man leaving a building, later determined to be Pedro Cuadrado, who ran away before Deya exited the building and also ran away. Deya was arrested behind a tree in a vacant lot. Deya, 36, of Webster is facing charges of resisting arrest, trespassing and being a fugitive from justice while Cuadrado, 35, of Leominster, is facing charges of improper storage of ammunition without a firearms identification card and possession of a Class B substance. The two men will be arraigned in Ayer District Court at a later date. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A Cuban journalist is looking to spread awareness of the US trade embargo in two illuminating documentaries arriving in early 2024. Liz Oliva Fernandez says whenever she covered news or events on the island, be it the push for democratic reforms, or the private businesses springing up after the Castros loosened their grip on power, they always intersected with the sanctions. Related: He was mocking his captors: a poets confession and the Cuban revolution Those sanctions, first imposed six decades ago, are the subject of Uphill on the Hill, and Hardliner on the Hudson. Oliva Fernandez, who traveled to the US to promote the films she co-created, says the sanctions have a huge impact. Were not talking about a small country in the Caribbean sanctioning another one, she said. Were talking [about] an empire like the United States that not only stops Cuba having normal relations with the United States, but also stops it having normal relations with the rest of the world. She elaborated on the really desperate situation of the Cuban economy. If you cant do business with any country, if you have to pay three or four times the regular cost of everything because youre buying from faraway countries, if you cant use dollars, if you cant create bank accounts, if you cant pay with credit cards, there is nothing you can do, she explained. The sanctions were first imposed by President John F Kennedy in February 1962, three years after Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries came to power in an armed uprising that ousted the dictator Fulgencio Batista. Almost a year earlier, the CIA had tried to kill the nascent revolution in the military debacle known as the Bay of Pigs. It had been one of dozens of attempts to kill Castro. In October 1962, the world held its breath for 13 days during a standoff between the US and the Soviet Union over Nikita Khrushchevs plans to install nuclear missiles on the island, which would have been in easy range of the US. The crisis was resolved peacefully, but it set in place a strategic antagonism from Washington towards Havana that has never been resolved. The sanctions have had a devastating impact. Cubas current GDP per capita is less than $10,000, twice that of Jamaica but a lot less than in the US, where it is $70,000. Because the sanctions are so wide-reaching, countries across the world who choose to trade with Cuba can find themselves punished. The UN general assembly has voted many times for the sanctions to be lifted. Outside a brief period when they were loosened as part of a diplomatic breakthrough with Barack Obama, they remain more pervasive than ever. To widespread outcry on the island, Donald Trump added Cuba to the list of state sponsors of terrorism during his administration. President Joe Biden has barely changed that policy. When you talk about the USs Cuba policy, youre really talking about the Trump-Biden Cuba policy because theyre the same, says Oliva Fernandez. Despite its challenges, she says, Cuba has long managed to achieve healthcare results better or on a par with the US, become a major producer of drugs and vaccines, and is known for sending doctors and nurses to countries including Venezuela and Haiti, which suffer from a lack of health infrastructure and some of which themselves are often at odds with the US. Nobody dares to have a social revolution or a different system in [front of] the USs nose, she said. Oliva Fernandez, who works for the US-based independent media outlet Belly of the Beast, is attempting to get an answer as to why these sanctions are still in place. Shes eager to find the evidence the US is relying on when it heaps Cuba in with North Korea, Syria and Iran as a sponsor of terror. In Uphill on the Hill, Oliva Fernandez travels to Washington DC, talks to former US officials and learns about the ongoing political power of the Cuban American lobby particularly in states like Florida and New Jersey. One memorable scene shows Oliva Fernandez attending a state department press briefing and asking the principal deputy spokesperson, Vedant Patel, about what Cuba has done to deserve the label of sponsor of terrorism. The regime has a long track record of egregious human rights abuses, suppression of a free press, suppression of civil society and other key factors that continue to keep them on that list, claims Patel, failing to offer a specific example and refusing Oliva Fernandez a follow-up. In a statement to the Guardian, a spokesperson also failed to detail specific acts but claimed Cuba was repeatedly providing support for acts of international terrorism in granting safe harbour to terrorists. We do not publicly discuss or comment on internal deliberations regarding designations, the statement added. In the forthcoming Hardliner on the Hudson, which will also be released on YouTube, Oliva Fernandez details the role that Senator Bob Menendez, the chair of the powerful Senate foreign relations committee, has had in shaping US policy towards Cuba. Menendez, who is 70 and whose parents moved to the US from Cuba in the early 1950s, was recently forced to step down as chair after being charged with taking bribes from the government of Egypt. He has denied the accusations. He had previously been charged with corruption, though that case ended with a mistrial. In one clip from the movie, Menendez refuses to respond to Oliva Fernandezs questions when she confronts him at an event announcing a bill to support firefighters. On a second occasion, his press assistant appears to get angry. Oliva Fernandez, who talks about the challenges of growing up as a Black woman in Cuba, says she has no links to the Cuban authorities and does not speak for them. Cuba, like any other country in the world, has its own internal problems, but this is something we can solve inside of the country. But the sanctions are something we dont have any agency on, she said. She says the US has a record of hypocrisy by doing business with nations such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, but never talks about [those countries] human rights violations. Of course Cuba is not perfect. Were far away from being a perfect county, she said, before a screening of her documentary in Seattle. But were trying to build a country in a war because US sanctions are an economic war. As to whether the sanctions are used by Cuban authorities to try to blame the US for the nations problems rather than tackling them themselves, she adds: Maybe the best way to figure that out is to lift the sanctions. The U.K. is investing 300 million pounds ($381 million) into the production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) as a part of a larger bid to improve the country's self-sustainable energy resources and cut dependence on Russia, the U.K.'s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announced on Jan. 7. HALEU is a specialized fuel required to power most modern nuclear reactors, and it is currently only produced commercially in Russia. The U.K., along with the EU, has worked to reduce its energy dependence on Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The U.K. reported in June 2022 that it had not imported any fossil fuels from Russia for the first time since 2000, when the data was first collected. The EU also said in October 2023 that it reduced coal imports from Russia by 90% and gas imports by 75%. Investments into the U.K.'s domestic production of HALEU are part of a strategy to increase the share of nuclear power to 25% of the U.K.'s energy needs by 2050. As of 2022, nuclear energy accounted for 14% of total electricity supplied. "We stood up to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin on oil and gas and financial markets, we wont let him hold us to ransom on nuclear fuel," said Claire Coutinho, the U.K.'s Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. "This will be critical for energy security at home and abroad and builds on Britains historic competitive advantages." Read also: Ukraine war latest: Military reports striking Russian arsenals in Crimea, cross-border raid inside Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The UK faces a week-long cold snap as days of flooding are followed by plunging temperatures. Britons can expect an overnight freeze on Sunday, forecasters have said. with temperatures dropping as low as -4C in parts of the country. Sleet and snow showers are due on Monday, with temperatures during the day struggling to get above 4C. The Met Office has issued a weather warning for ice across southeast England. The alert is in place from 4am until 10am, meaning drivers could face treacherous conditions on the Monday morning commute. It will be a freezing start to the week on Monday morning, and temperatures could fall even further (Met Office weather) An amber cold health alert has also been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the northwest of England, West Midlands, East Midlands and southwest of England all week. In place until noon on Friday, 12 January, the second most serious health warning means the impact of cold weather is likely to be felt across the whole health service. There is also a yellow alert in place for the northeast of England, Yorkshire and The Humber, east of England, southeast of England and London. Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at UKHSA, said: With the Met Office forecasting drops in temperature across the United Kingdom into next week, it is important to check in on the wellbeing of those most vulnerable to the cold. The cold weather can increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections and can have a serious health impact for older people and those with pre-existing health conditions. An ice warning is in place for south east England on Monday morning (Met Office) The Met Office yellow weather warning states: A mix of sleet and snow showers will move in from the east later on Sunday night along with temperatures near zero. Given these wintry showers, and also wet surfaces after recent wet weather, some icy patches are likely on untreated surfaces. Additionally a few of the snow showers could turn quite heavy; these probably only affecting a narrow zone but a few places could see 1-3cm, mainly over the north Downs and on grassy surfaces. Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said there would be a widespread frost on Monday morning, with temperatures dipping down to -3C or -4C in rural areas, though there will be sunshine despite the cold. After a foggy, frosty start it will be staying cold with temperatures no better than four or five degrees in the afternoon, he said. Add on the effects of quite a brisk eastern or northeasterly breeze, especially across the south and east of the UK and it will feel more like a -1C or -2C. The cold snap comes after days of flooding following heavy rain this week. As of Sunday evening, there were 171 flood warnings and 161 flood alerts still in place in the wake of Storm Henk. Cars stuck in the floods in a parking area near the River Thames in Oxford on Sunday (AP) The Environment Agency has previously warned that more properties may be flooded in the coming days amid increased river levels and more rain. More than 1,800 properties have already flooded after prolonged wet weather and intense rainfall, the agency said, with the impact of high water levels likely to continue, particularly around the rivers Trent, Severn and Thames. The prime minister met residents hit by flooding in Oxford on Sunday. Rishi Sunak spoke to people on their doorsteps before visiting Environment Agency workers at their depot on Osney Island, telling them: Touch wood, were past the worst of it. Flooding in Marlborough, Wiltshire, as hundreds of flood warnings and alerts remain in place in England on Sunday (PA) Addressing the media in front of the fast-moving River Thames, Mr Sunak said: Flooding has been having a devastating impact on communities up and down the country. I was in the East Midlands last week and Im in Oxfordshire here today talking to some of those that have been affected, but also saying thank you to our first responders who were doing a fantastic job over the past week. We have over 1,000 Environment Agency personnel on the ground in local communities helping, over 200 pumps have been deployed. Weve invested 5.2bn in flood defences over the period in question, thats a record sum, far more than weve done [previously], in the future thats contributed to protecting over 300,000 homes. And, of course, there have been many people affected by whats happened over the past week, but also over 49,000 have been protected from flooding. Labour has accused the government of being asleep at the wheel over flood warnings with leader Sir Keir Starmer vowing to make flood defences fit for purpose, writing on social media that peoples lives shouldnt be upended by extreme rain. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to members of the Environment Agency as he looks at flood defences during a visit to Osney, Oxford (PA) MET OFFICE OUTLOOK Sunday evening: Some wintry showers near coastal areas and across the southeast but otherwise a dry night with variable amounts of cloud. Fog patches returning, most likely across Northern Ireland, Scotland and northwest England. Widespread frost and icy stretches. Monday: Fine for many with sunny spells, best of these in the west after fog clears. Scattered sleet and snow showers across southern areas. Wind chill for England and Wales. Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday: High pressure dominating, with overnight frost and fog. Generally dry and bright, though turning cloudier in the north from Wednesday. Remaining cold with a brisk wind in the south. Ukraines Defense Ministry has codified and approved the use of nearly 15 new models of domestically-produced weapons and military equipment in the first week of 2024, Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk told Ukrainian news outlet Ekonomichna Pravda on Jan. 6. Among the new models is the mobile anti-tank missile system (ATMS) Sturm-SM. Ukrainian missiles with different types of warheads have been developed for it. The upgraded version of the Soviet-era Sturm-SM has been equipped with the guided missile RK-2P Barrier-P with a range of seven kilometers. The sighting device is the domestic optical station OPSN-I, designed for observation, target selection, guidance, and rangefinding. Read also: Top ten most effective Ukraine-made weapons Additionally, the Defense Ministry has approved the use of a ground robotic platform for remote mine clearance, a new modification of the Leleka drone, and two types of FPV drones with different payloads. Special attention was given to protecting UAVs from enemy electronic warfare, said Havryliuk. The Ministry has also authorized the use of a two-seater quad bike with a cargo capacity of 800 kg and a separate tactical trailer on the frontlines. The codification of the mentioned weaponry allows for their procurement using state funds and deployment to the frontlines, added the deputy minister. Ukraine has increased the production of mortar shells by 42 times in 2023 and elevated the production speed of the Bohdan self-propelled artillery unit to the level of global defense giants as of Dec. 27, said Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin. Ukraine also expanded the production of Stuhna anti-tank missile systems, said Kamyshin, adding that the first hybrid air defense systems from the FrankenSAM project are already operational on the frontlines. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated in January that the U.S. aims to make Ukraine self-sufficient in arms production and procurement, in advance of a lessening of U.S. financial and military support to Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Microsoft and OpenAI are sued by two nonfiction book authors after the alleged illegal copying of the writers' work to train its billion-dollar artificial intelligence system. Read Also: CES 2024 to Highlight AI Domination Without Sam Altman's Presence on Event Microsoft, OpenAI Under New Copyright Infringement Issue The lawsuit was filed on Friday in Manhattan federal court, just a few weeks after The New York Times sued the companies as well for copyright infringement. Writers Nicholas Basbanes and Nicholas Gage proposed to court a class action suit for the infringed copyrights. According to the filing, the companies are responsible for including their books to train OpenAI's GPT large language model. Moreover, the companies also did not offer any compensation for using their materials for data training. The potential class suit will represent all people in the U.S. who are authors or legally beneficial owners of copyrights for works that have been and are being used by the company to train their language models. It is expected to reach almost tens of thousands of people. American Authors, Publication Seek Class Suit Against OpenAI, Microsoft Aside from The New York Times, several prominent fiction writers also reached out to the Manhattan federal court for the same issue. George R.R. Martin, Jonathan Franzen, and Michael Connelly, previously sued and requested to represent fiction writers in a case. "For some reason, companies seem to devalue the work of writers," lawyer of Basbanes and Gage, Mike Richter, said. Both writers are also prominent in their field with their works being acknowledged publicly by big publications and politicians. While Microsoft and OpenAI are yet to comment on the new case, the ChatGPT company stated previously that it respected the rights of content creators and is "committed to working with them." Related Article: New York Times Sues Microsoft, OpenAI for Copyright Infringement Ukrainian air defence forces shot down a missile heading towards the Dnipro district (Dnipropetrovsk Oblast). Source: Air Command Skhid (East); Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration Details: The Ukrainian military reported that a Kh-59 guided missile was destroyed over the Dnipro district. Quote: "Russian terrorists are active. They sent a missile towards the Dnipro district. But soldiers from Air Command Skhid have destroyed it!" Support UP or become our patron! Some Verizon customers may be eligible to get a part from its $100 class-action lawsuit settlement but they need to act fast. Eligible can apply for their claim by April 15 via the postcard or email alert to receive up to $100. The settlement is a result of four lawsuits against Verizon accusing it of adding undisclosed "administrative charge" to customers' monthly bills "without [their] consent." The telecom was charged with "deceptive and unfair manner" in its marketing, contracts, and sales. The settlement was approved in December but still needs a "fairness hearing" this coming March 22. Also Read: 102 Million People Eligible for $630 Million Google Play Settlement: How to Get Your Share How to Claim Share from Verizon $100M Settlement? Qualified customers can apply for their claim via the special website Verizon provided for the settlement. Applicants are required to submit the Notice ID and Confirmation Code they received from email or postcards. Claimants will also be asked to choose a method of payment where they can receive their shares. Customers who paid bills for Verizon's post-paid wireless plans from January 1, 2016, to November 8, 2023, automatically becomes eligible for the claims. Individual payments will depend on how long the customer have been using Verizon and the number of active claimants. The minimum share that can be received is $15. Customers can also still opt-out of the "payment from the settlement and retain any right you may have to sue Verizon" until Feb. 20. Of course, there is also the option of just do nothing and give up rights to sue Verizon. Inquiries and complaints regarding the settlement can be sent to Verizon's Administrative Charge Settlement Administrator at Exclusions, P.O. Box 58220, Philadelphia, PA 19102. Verizon Maintains Innocence on the Issue The settlement money is part of Verizon's insistence that it "clearly identifies and describes" administrative charge to its customers "multiple times." Verizon maintains that the settlement is to "recover certain regulatory compliance and network related costs." The Federal Trade Commission has already filed a proposal last October to address the issue of hidden or misleading fees in paid subscription services. Related Article: Verizon Prepaid Users Get Notified of Security Breach Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at Vahdettin Mansion. -/Turkish Presidency/dpa US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has landed in Amman on the next step of a trip to the Middle East aimed at reducing tensions in the region, Blinken's spokesman Matthew Miller posted on X early on Sunday. "Jordan is a vital partner in helping to prevent the conflict in the region from spreading," Miller said. "We are grateful for their leadership in facilitating aid to civilians in Gaza," he added. After stopping off in Crete in Greece on Saturday, Blinken flew to the Jordanian capital at the start of on an extended tour of the Middle East, his fourth to the region in four months. Apart from Amman, he is to visit Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia as well as Israel, the West Bank and Egypt, according to his office. He had previously met Turkish President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul. During the trip, Blinken is seeking to discuss concrete steps on how actors in the region could use their influence to avoid an escalation of the Gaza war, his office said. Washington also wants to ensure increased humanitarian aid enters Gaza and that Hamas militants free the remaining hostages they hold. The US is seeking to avoid the conflict, which erupted following the October 7 attacks mounted by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, from spreading throughout the region, amid increasing cross-border attacks on the Lebanese-Israeli border and attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken gives a press conference. Sina Schuldt/dpa The financial regulator said Sunday that it will launch an investigation into sales of derivative products that track Chinese stocks listed on the Hong Kong exchange, amid concerns that such products would put investors at risk of posting heavy losses. The inspection into 12 local banks and brokerages will begin Monday, according to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS). The five banks and seven brokerages have sold a combined 19.3 trillion won ($14.66 billion) worth of so-called equity-linked securities (ELS) products tracking Hong Kong's H index since 2021, the FSS said. ELS refers to hybrid securities whose returns are linked to the performance of underlying equities, including a stock index. Of the total outstanding amount, 79.6 percent, or some 15.4 trillion won, worth of products will be redeemed in the first half of this year, but they are expected to post heavy losses due to poor performances by the H index, according to the FSS. The FSS has conducted a preliminary review of sales of H index-based ELS products after complaints had been filed against at least the two largest sellers of the ELS products KB Kookmin Bank and Korea Investment & Securities. "As a result of the review, a considerably large number of problems have been detected, including inadequate management of the sales cap, failure to store documents related to sales and a policy drive to sell high-risk, high-level ELS products," the FSS said. An investigation into the complaints filed against the two major sellers will take place simultaneously with the inspection of all 12 sellers, it added. (Yonhap) Switzerland has some of the highest Starbucks prices in the world. I was underwhelmed when I stopped at a Zurich Starbucks to try drinks. My almost $10 iced caramel macchiato was milky and bland, and the cold brew was inconsistent. Starbucks has something special going on in Switzerland: its prices. The coffee chain may not be the first place you think of when you're scouting for espresso in Europe, but Switzerland is home to some of the highest Starbucks prices in the world. So, is there something different about these super-priced coffee drinks? I stopped at a Starbucks in the center of Zurich to find out. It wasn't much on the outside, but the inside had a quaint view and Instagram-worthy walls The Starbucks was next to a McDonald's, with a small spa wedged between them. Morgan McFall-Johnsen I found the Zurich Starbucks on a strip next to a McDonald's and a small spa. It was similar to locations I've frequented in the US, but I noticed the space was especially aesthetic. There were Instagram-ready walls everywhere inside this Starbucks. Morgan McFall-Johnsen The walls and the stairway to the second floor, where all the seating was, were painted bright pink. The pink stairway led from the order counter upstairs to the cafe seating. Morgan McFall-Johnsen Upstairs, the walls were decorated with brightly colored prints of flower patterns in a corporate illustrated style. Panels of corporate flower patterns lined one wall of the seating area, with windows lining the opposite wall. Morgan McFall-Johnsen The second-floor booths and tables lined a wall of wide windows with a quaint view of the nearby train station. The view from the upstairs seating at this Starbucks was pretty nice. Morgan McFall-Johnsen I ordered a basic, very expensive drink first The menu seemed limited compared to Starbucks locations I've visited in the US. That said, this cafe apparently sold the highest-priced Starbucks menu item globally in 2022. You might ask yourself: What luxurious, decadent, brightly colored, hyper-flavorful, blended monstrosity could be the most expensive Starbucks menu item in the world? In the most recent analysis of that question published by CashNetUSA in February 2022 the answer was an iced caramel macchiato in Switzerland. Behold, the most expensive Starbucks menu drink worldwide as of 2022! Morgan McFall-Johnsen Notably, the analysis didn't seem to include the many alterations and additions that can drive up the cost of one drink, nor did it include the "secret menu" items or some of the chain's latest seasonal drinks. The study found the world's second-most expensive Starbucks menu item was Denmark's chocolate-cream Frappuccino, which sounds unique and interesting. An iced caramel macchiato is a super basic Starbucks classic that's available around the globe. Still, I ordered one made with soy milk. It came out to 8.20 Swiss francs, about $9.50. I (sort of) enjoyed my drink with a view. Morgan McFall-Johnsen The coffee drink is made with steamed milk, vanilla-flavored syrup, espresso, and caramel. It wasn't impressive and it was more milky than sweet. I didn't taste caramel at all. The caramel seemed to be stuck to the bottom, where I could see how little of it there was. A small amount of caramel was stuck to the bottom of my drink. Morgan McFall-Johnsen I mixed it up more, only to take a sip and find it tasted even milkier. Still no hint of caramel. It hardly tasted like coffee. I felt like I paid $9.50 for a cup of lightly sweetened soy milk. This drink was one big shrug. I also splurged on cold brew and found it to be inconsistent I tasted the cold brew black, then added oat milk the way I like it. Morgan McFall-Johnsen I returned for a regular coffee because the macchiato didn't have enough caffeine for me. This location didn't have regular drip coffee on the menu, so I got a cold brew for 7.8 Swiss francs, about $9. The menu at the Zurich Starbucks was more pared down than the US locations I've been to. Morgan McFall-Johnsen It tasted pretty good not too bitter, just a bit acidic, almost chocolaty, and rich. I went back to order the same drink the next day because I needed an emergency boost of caffeine before catching my train. The cold brew was good the first time, but when I went back it was different. Morgan McFall-Johnsen This time, the cold brew tasted much weaker and more watery. It didn't have the pleasantly acidic, chocolaty flavor. Maybe I'd just been lucky the day before. My verdict: It's not worth it to visit Starbucks in Switzerland Overall, I was disappointed. The high prices in this Starbucks location didn't seem to be a sign of higher quality. If you're in Switzerland, I suggest you get coffee somewhere else. Read the original article on Business Insider Far-Right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman says if the West really cared about the plight of Gazans it would accept them as refugees - Lizzie Porter Western nations that claim to care about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza should put their money where their mouth is and resettle Palestinians in their own countries, a far-Right member of Israels parliament has said. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Simcha Rothman, whose ultra-nationalist party forms part of Benjamin Netanyahus coalition government in the Knesset, urged Western countries to support the people - and getting them out of danger and poverty. Several members of ultra-nationalist parties, including Mr Rothmans National Religious Zionism Party, have called for Palestinians to leave Gaza in recent weeks, eliciting condemnation from the West. The Israeli government has denied reports that it was in talks with third nations such as the Democratic Republic of Congo to resettle some of Gazas 2.2 million inhabitants. International law prohibits the forcible transfer of protected persons within or deportation from occupied territory. Israel is widely viewed internationally as an occupying power in Gaza, although it disputes this. Asked where Gazans might be resettled, Mr Rothman said he did not have a clear answer, but called on other countries to come to the refugees aid. Its a humanitarian crisis, anyone who cares about humanitarian crises should help Where? I dont know, he said. But I think its a humanitarian crisis, that anyone who cares about humanitarian crises should help. You know how many refugees we accepted from from Ukraine? By the way, Mr Rothman added, were still angry about the UK that did not let Jewish refugees come from Europe 80 years ago. Not to the UK, to here [Israel]. Taking in Gazans would cost less and do more for humanitarian aid than donating funds to them in the Strip, he added. Mr Rothman, who lives in a settlement in the occupied West Bank, studied law at Tel Aviv and Northwestern universities. His ancestors arrived in what is now Israel from the USA in the early 20th century. Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli finance minister, who heads the far-Right party that Mr Rothman is a member of, last week said that most Israelis support a humanitarian solution involving the voluntary migration of Gazas Arabs and their absorption in other countries. The UK has said it firmly rejects any suggestion of resettling Gazans outside of the enclave. Around 1.9 million people - 85 percent of Gazas population - have been displaced within the strip since the start of Israels military operations in October. The feasibility of a return of Gazans displaced within the Strip to their homes would depend on many, many, many, many issues, Mr Rothman said. I dont think thats the question. When you see a humanitarian crisis, you solve it. According to the Geneva Conventions, people displaced from their homes due to military operations should be transferred back to their homes as soon as hostilities in the area in question have ceased. Netanyahus government divided over some Gaza policies Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stance on Gaza has created divisions among his governing coalition - RONEN ZVULUN/afp Mr Rothman also suggested there were divisions in Netanyahus governing coalition over some Gaza policies, especially the entry of fuel. Oil products were permitted entry in November after Israel initially refused, following the Oct 7 terror attacks. Its not something that I support, but of course, there was debate about it in the government, said Mr Rothman. Even if we have our differences, after the decision is made we are behind it, because this is the meaning of being united during the war. Doctors and humanitarian aid groups say fuel is essential to keep basic services running in electricity-starved Gaza, while others argue that Hamas takes reserves to run its war machine. Mr Rothman, who heads the Knessets Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, was among the senior Israeli officials who put forward controversial judicial reforms last year. The proposals sparked enormous protests in Israel, amid fears that the changes would reduce the scope of checks and balances in the judicial system and harm the nations democratic standards. A major Supreme Court ruling last week striking down one key element of the reforms should not have come while Israel waging an intense fight against Hamas, Mr Rothman said. Israel now should be focused on one mission and one mission only, which is winning this war. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. By Lee Kyung-min The countrys top five commercial lenders made a combined 411 billion won ($312 million) in donations last year, up more than 65 percent from the previous year, prodded by the government's mutual growth push to help small businesses, data showed Sunday. The money was put mainly toward helping children, low-income earners, multicultural families and small businesses. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration is spearheading the push whereby banks are to set up a fund reorienting tens of trillions of won in interest income accumulated over the past few pandemic years. Most of it will be used to support low-income earners, small businesses and the underprivileged. The donations made by KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH NongHyup banks came to 411 billion won, up 65.7 percent from 248 billion won in 2022. Hana made the largest contribution of 108.9 billion won, up 157.4 percent from 42.3 billion won in 2022. KB Kookmins year-on-year increase of 46.4 percent raised the total to 91.8 billion won, up from 62.7 billion won. NongHyups amount stood at 85.6 billion won, up 43.1 percent from 59.8 billion won the year before. Shinhans figure of 70.5 billion won rose by 72.8 percent from 40.8 billion won in 2022. Woori made a donation of 42.3 billion won in 2022, and the figure went up 28.1 percent to 54.3 billion won last year. KB Kookmin used part of the funds to advance KB Dream Wave 2030, a project to help children of low-income backgrounds. Shinhan made donations to create safe child care services and help with legal fees for victims of "jeonse" fraud. Jeonse is the countrys unique housing rental system whereby tenants pay a lump sum refundable deposit instead of monthly rent for the term of the contract. Over 10,000 people lost their housing and jeonse deposits last year. Hanas donation will fund projects to build more day care centers and create jobs for innovative companies. Woori will expand scholarships for multicultural families. NongHyups contribution will fortify disaster responses and recovery programs. Trust, transparency needed to shatter generational divide By Lee Yeon-woo Last March, the K-Policy Platform announced intriguing results that highlight generational challenges surrounding the national pension. It surveyed 14 graduate students, asking if they would prefer to receive 30 percent or 40 percent of their average monthly income after retirement. Surprisingly, nine out of the 14 chose the 30 percent option. Currently, the average monthly payout amounts to around 1 million won ($765.46) for those subscribing to the National Pension Service (NPS) for over 20 years. Even when supplemented with other subsidies, the amount falls short of covering the minimum living expenses, which stand at around 2.5 million won. Given this context, it would seem more logical for them to opt for the 40 percent proposal. Could this preference be a result of the young people's lack of foresight about their later years? To explore this, the platform facilitated a discussion led by two experts, each advocating for the 30 percent and 40 percent options. However, the number of young people favoring the 30 percent option even increased to 11 after the discussion. This shift suggests that young people's preference for a lower income replacement rate isn't due to indifference about their future. Rather, it is a consideration of the immediate financial impact: to receive a higher income later, they would need to contribute more now. Many young adults, in conversations with The Korea Times, expressed similar concerns. "Receiving a national pension feels like a distant prospect, especially given the current challenging economic situation," said a 29-year-old freelancer, asking to be identified only by her surname Lee. "The elderly population we need to support is increasing continually, while the number of children who will support us is limited. It seems nowadays youths are investing heavily in supporting the current elderly, only to potentially face neglect on ourselves in our later years. Wouldn't it be better to invest the money elsewhere and prepare on my own?" Such concerns are not without justification. According to the National Pension Research Institute, under the current premium and income replacement rate, individuals born in 2020 will end up paying over 10 million won in insurance fees more than those born in 1970. Yet, the total pension amount they will receive after retirement will be 80 million won less. "It's crucial to focus on enhancing benefits for the younger generation, rather than merely implementing financial stabilization measures that increase the burden on young adults," the institute noted in a report released last May. This generational disparity has roots in the original design of the pension system. Initially, the system was structured such that contributing a mere 3 percent of one's monthly income would guarantee retirees 70 percent of their average earnings. This model has proven to be highly unsustainable during this period of record-low birthrates. Without significant reforms, the national pension is expected to start facing deficits by 2041, and it is anticipated to be completely depleted by 2055. This depletion aligns with the retirement period of individuals born in the 1990s. A special committee in the Assembly is anticipated to draft a consensus bill by April. Yet, the process does not suggest an easy journey, given the fierce conflicts of interest involved. One question emerges. Is increasing insurance fees truly "unfair" to young adults? In his book "Uncomfortable Pension Book" (direct translation), Kim Tae-il, head of the Korea University Institute on Aging, clarifies that delaying insurance premium increases actually harms the younger generation, contrary to popular belief. "Contributions to the national pension are made up to the age of 59. If the insurance premium is raised next year, an individual who is 50 years old now will be required to pay the higher premium for the next nine years. On the other hand, if the premium hike occurs in five years, they will need to pay the increased amount for only five years," Kim said. Seok Jae-eun, a social welfare professor at Hallym University, echoed the sentiment. During a public hearing in December, she proposed increasing the insurance premium rate gradually from 9 percent to 15 percent, while raising the pension eligibility age to 68 by 2048, in order to sustain the reserve fund until 2093. "Even under this revision, the pension benefit ratio would still be about 1.23 times for an average earner born in 2000, making it a favorable proposition for the younger generation," Seok said. Experts say if there was a guarantee that this system could secure one's welfare in later years, many would agree to pay higher premiums. This, again, highlights the urgent necessity for system reforms. "If the national pension constitutes a significant proportion of retirement income, as seen in Western societies, and plays a key role in reducing the elderly poverty rate, people will recognize the importance of the pension system. Then, there will be fewer people saying, 'I'd rather not contribute and receive nothing,'" Kim said. To regain people's trust, it is necessary to provide transparent information about the pension system and consider various policies that can lift the burden. An exemplary case can be found in the U.K. In 2003, the primary task of the U.K. pension committee was to deliver objective facts related to the pension in an honest, detailed and easily understandable manner. After publishing several reports for years, it conducted extensive public hearings across various regions for six months. The committee also established National Pensions Day on March 18, 2006, inviting citizens from all over the country to discuss issues throughout the day. In earlier surveys, most citizens seemed to view retirement as a distant concern, and were opposed to tax increases despite disliking the idea of suffering poverty in old age. However, later surveys indicated a shift, showing a growing acceptance of the costs and burdens associated with reform. Consequently, pension reform has continued to be pursued with its essential framework maintained, even following a change in government. "For the national pension to be genuine in its purpose, the vast majority of the public should be entitled to benefits in their old age, and the pension should be sufficient to sustain at least a basic standard of living. The aim of pension reform should be to transform it into a true pension for the people, not just in name, but in actuality," Kim said. Kim expresses condolences to quake victims, orders artillery drills on same day By Jung Min-ho In his first message to Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Friday expressed condolences over the deadly earthquake in western Japan last week in a letter. According to Saturdays report from North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency, Kim sincerely hoped that the people in the affected areas would eradicate the aftermath of earthquakes and restore their stable life at the earliest date possible. On the same day the letter was sent, North Korea fired more than 200 artillery rounds into waters off its western coast, prompting hundreds of South Korean island residents near the maritime border to evacuate to shelters. The next day, it fired an additional 60 artillery rounds in the same area, further stoking tensions. Experts told The Korea Times on Sunday that the timing of the two contrasting North Korean messages one conveyed by its warm remarks and the other by military action was no coincidence. They said the North may be trying to isolate South Korea as part of its effort to sabotage the Seoul-Tokyo-Washington security cooperation by taking a different strategy to each country. I think the goal is weakening the trilateral partnership, said Lee Ki-tae, an expert on North Korea-Japan relationship at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a state-funded think tank. North Korea shows no interest in resuming talks with the U.S. under Joe Biden, while strengthening its hard-line stance toward the South. It might have thought that it should aim for the Japan link. Such a letter from North Koreas top leader is unprecedented. When major quakes hit Japan in 1995 and 2011, Pyongyangs diplomatic message of sympathy came from high-ranking officials, not Kim Jong-il, the leader at the time. As North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens remain a sensitive political issue, leaders in Tokyo have long attempted to find diplomatic resolutions, all to no avail so far. Officially, 17 such abductees are recognized by the Japanese government. Kang Chae-yeon, a scholar at the National Institute for Unification Education, believes North Korea could step up efforts in the coming months to rebuild diplomatic networks with Japan by taking advantage of that political need. But given what North Korea has done and insisted to date, I am skeptical that any progress would be made in resolving the issue, Kang said. Also, Japan is expected to tread carefully, as any diplomatic concessions to the regime could draw opposition from the U.S. and South Korea. Experts said any significant changes in Japans relations with North Korea are unlikely, at least in the short run, as long as Washington maintains its tough stance on Pyongyang. So the key would be the outcome of the U.S. presidential election (scheduled for Nov. 5). It is expected to affect not only the U.S.'s future policy on and relationship with North Korea but also those of Japan, Lee said. Speaking to journalists, Yoshimasa Hayashi, chief cabinet secretary, said the government in Tokyo is grateful for support messages from a number of countries, including North Korea, according to local media reports. But he did not answer if the Kishida administration would respond to the letter from Kim. Severe storms with probable tornadoes tore through several central U.S. states, damaging homes and businesses and killing at least three people, with more bodies likely to be discovered, authorities said. As the sun rose Friday, officials scrambled to assess the extent of the destruction wit Morocco is featured among the best world destinations to visit in 2024, according to the Travel segment of the renowned media outlet CNN. CNN has highlighted in a recent feature on its Travel segment, Morocco as one of the top 24 must-visit destinations for the year 2024. Morocco is one of the few African countries, alongside Angola, to secure a spot on this prestigious list, joining the ranks of destinations such as Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore, Chile, Canada and others. A longtime travel favorite thanks to its diverse landscape and spectacular architecture, Morocco has bounced back determinedly after a devastating earthquake this past September, CNN points out. The media recommends that tourists explore other lesser-known places in Morocco, such as Tetuan and Meknes, less crowded but undoubtedly as enchanting as the popular cities of Marrakech, Rabat, and Fez. The media states that while visitors tend to congregate in popular cities such as Marrakech, Rabat, and Fez, the country certainly is not short of less crowded spots that are just as fascinating like Tetuan and the historic Meknes, which is among the countrys nine UNESCO World Heritage sites. Also, Morocco is proving to be a world leader when it comes to sustainable tourism, with the launch of various initiatives to boost its renewable energy generation, the media states. The media outlet highlights that the country is home to a number of important eco-friendly hotels, including the Berber-run Kasbah du Toubkal, located at the foot of the spectacular High Atlas Mountains. Moroccos ability to seamlessly blend tradition with modernity, coupled with its commitment to sustainable tourism, positions it as a compelling destination for global travelers in 2024. The growing popularity of Morocco as a tourist destination is reflected in the statistics, with the country attracting 13.2 million tourists as of November 2023. Furthermore, revenues from the tourism sector experienced a significant boost, jumping from MAD 84.12 billion in November 2022 ($8.5 billion) to MAD 97.4 billion in November 2023. A Moroccan-Saudi economic forum will be held in Riyadh this January 21-22 by the Moroccan Employers Association (CGEM) in cooperation with the Federation of Saudi Chambers. The program of the forum features presentations on the business climate in Morocco and Saudi Arabia, a session on investment opportunities in the two countries, a meeting of the Saudi-Moroccan Joint Business Council, as well as sectoral and B2B meetings, and field visits, the CGEM said in a statement. The CGEM said the Moroccan economic mission, to include around a hundred Moroccan businessmen and entrepreneurs, aims to explore investment opportunities between Moroccan and Saudi companies in various sectors, including agriculture, industry, finance, renewable energies, real estate, construction, services, health, and technology. I thought that was usually the standard? Reply Thread Link Mostly is. A lot of actors, from beginning to a-list drive themselves. They usually have the option of driving themselves with mileage reimbursement, getting a car for the duration of the shoot, or getting a driver. There isn't a set standard or SAG or something rule as far as I know. I think the issue here is that based on the location she felt it would have been more secure to have them be driven to set, or given the option to which is fair. Especially given the context of the notoriety of the producers, and that it's a 100 million budget film. Reply Parent Thread Link i think it depends? my experience was if it's someone not from the area they tend to default to having a driver Reply Parent Thread Link In the UK (in Scotland anyway) we would accommodate them and have cast drivers to collect them for their call time and be on stand-by on shoot days, but we also have reliable public transport so they can get around on their off-days without a vehicle rental. Especially if they are on set for 14/15 hour days. For A-list or top billing actors, they would usually have deal where they have a driver to themselves (so they can go straight back to their accomm or share their car with day-players. Crew on the other hand lol fucking drive yourself mate (is the attitude) Edited at 2024-01-07 07:29 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Depends on where they are staying/being housed and where they are filming. Usually if they are within about a 20-30 mile radius they are expected to drive in (if they live in the area like so many do in LA to the studios). If they are in somewhere foreign they are often driven in as they aren't expected to be able to drive in that country well. If they are in a city like New York or Chicago, they are often given a driver so they don't have to take a cab or a subway. Atlanta, it isn't absurd to drive yourself. She's making something bigger than it is. If she is being housed say in downtown and filming in Covington, then sure, get a driver. But if she's within about 20 minutes of where she's filming she's being a brat. Reply Parent Thread Link also bc it's a way production can make sure shooting happens on time if they're in control of transporting talent to and from set??? it's not even a courtesy thing, it's to make things move more smoothly Reply Parent Thread Link If you're working for enough days, they'll hire you as a local and give you a cost of living stipend instead of housing/car service/per diem. So they'll travel you to/from the filming city, but it's up to you to book your lodging/parking/car. If you were only working for a few days/weeks, you'd get flights/car service/hotel/per diem. Reply Parent Thread Link Hmmm on the one hand this sounds kind out out of touch and entitled like regular people drive themselves to work in dangerous areas every day and they are just fine but on the other hand if having the principal cast be driven to set on major motion picture is an industry standard(I honestly dont know) then shes right to complain Reply Thread Link Yeah like it would be easy to dismiss this as first world problems but if theyd do it for a majority-white cast thenthis feels like the sort of thing studios would spin to make her seem difficult when really its about equality. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah, my immediate reaction was not the same as when she was talking about pay inequality. Even though this seems to be part of the same conversation. Reply Parent Thread Link See, as somebody with driving anxiety, I read the whole dangerous and insurance liability thing about driving in Atlanta to be more about her being expected to drive herself in an unfamiliar area on unfamiliar highways. That CAN be dangerous af. Highways vary so much from state to state (stoplights on the freeway in LA??) and some people really drive like they dont give af if they live or die so I would want a driver too. Reply Parent Thread Link I dont have anxiety about driving, but driving in an unfamiliar area after long days on set seems like a bad idea. Hell, plenty of people who know their areas and drive well end up in wrecks on their commute. Reply Parent Thread Link I feel like being chauffeur driven through rough parts of town would make you more of a target though? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I see how it may sound entitled but actors are literally the face of a project. As crew, I can easily be replaced if something happens to me but the absence of talent, for whatever reason, can potentially ruin an entire day of shooting. It might seem like a privilege (and it is) but its mostly a matter of logistics. Reply Parent Thread Link Why would you want major actors of your movie driving themselves around? That would make me nervous as a producer. Especially a movie costing 100 mil. Plus, I heard Atlanta people drive like they're possessed. Reply Thread Link Not possessed, just stupid Reply Parent Thread Link but how is having a driver any less dangerous on the road? like i just fail to understand the logic of driving yourself being "an insurance liability" over being driven by someone. unless they're asking actors to ski boat to the locations, every means of travel is a liability risk when you think about it. and in this climate, producers are thinking about keeping the costs as low as possible so that the budget won't go over the already astronomical 100 mil (i don't understand how/why this particular movie with no CGI and extravagant sets would cost so much), which is why they replied with "well if we do it for you, we'll have to do it for everyone". securing private cars and drivers for every actor every single day can drive up costs like a motherfucker so it's really not a question of a-listers vs. co-stars. i think taraji is coming off a bit tone-deaf here but i can understand her frustration having been mistreated for so long that even the slightest downgrades can feel as disrespectful or personal. Edited at 2024-01-07 01:41 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Because thats their job, to drive. Like their only work task for the day is to be a professional driver, not be a tired actor driving unfamiliar roads who then has to start their job. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link getting drivers for the cast is totally normal for pretty much every production, even the CW did it Reply Parent Thread Expand Link If they're coming off long hours or insane call times it absolutely makes a difference. Cast and crew technically should get rides there and back for that reason alone, it doesn't have to be full rentals + drivers waiting all day long, it can be as simple as uber reimbursements and livery cab services etc. SNL does it for everyone every week they have a show because of how late they get out so they definitely can do that here as well. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I lived in Atl and the driving wasnt so bad. Now drivers in Miami thats a whole other mess. Reply Parent Thread Link reminds me of that riverdale actor who had to drive himself home after a 16 hour day shoot and got into a car accident Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I've seen the way people drive in Atlanta so she's not kidding. Worst I've ever seen, even worse than NYC. Reply Thread Link can't be worse than miami Reply Parent Thread Link Cant be worse than Jersey Reply Parent Thread Link Maryland! I am convinced they just let anyone with a pulse drive. Reply Parent Thread Link I am glad that she has been speaking up about so many different issues lately. It seems like she is done holding her tongue and I am here for it. Hollywood and the industry need to be called out for the multiple shitty ways they treat people, especially POC. Reply Thread Link It makes me sad that we are in an era of black actresses who ARE being booked having to martyr themselves and blow up their careers to advocate for everyone else....it must be so bad out there Reply Thread Link This! I am so glad she is exposing all of this because it needs to be known but I hope her career can survive! Reply Parent Thread Link The press tour for this movie has been exhausting. Or maybe its just been the medias coverage of the tour thats been so negative and (for me) off-putting. Reply Thread Link Theyve done really cute promo. But thats not what is being pushed or is getting the most attention. Reply Parent Thread Link I mean, youre going to get robbed if youre sitting in the back seat or the drivers seat. Youd think the smartest thing would be to put up the cast all in one location and just have a couple vehicles driving them back and forth.. Reply Thread Link I thought a similar thing, some kind of carpooling would be smart, cuts costs (and environmental impact) a bit but makes sure the cast is safe and not driving on just 5 hours of sleep or after a 14 hour day on set. Reply Parent Thread Link Absolutely wild. If anyone knows anything about Atlanta its that its a traffic hellscape. Im so glad shes speaking out about all the clear racism and sexism shes experienced even as a star. Reply Thread Link Ah yes, the true tragedy in hollywood, not being able to be driven by someone else to a movie set. Just not enough drivers for the entitled. Lol @ emojis. Y'all know damn well if this was a guy, or a yt you'd be saying the same, hypocrites. Edited at 2024-01-07 04:17 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link the point is this isnt a white man or woman speaking up, genius. theyre probably already getting drivers taraji is fighting for black actors to get them Reply Parent Thread Link Exactly because this has absolutely nothing to do with race, other black actors I have seen get personal drivers. They already spent $100 million dollars on this film, that did not need to be remade, especially since nothing can touch the original. But the point is, you're all still hypocrites. Not everyone gets personal drivers unless you b**** about it and that's the last thing that anyone needs that's not an issue whatsoever. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The faerie is a racist troll. Do not engage. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link years ago this was an issue on Riverdale, KJ almost crashed driving home after filming way into the night and they cast had to really pressure production to get drivers if the CW can do a $100 million production should be able as well Reply Thread Link i just commented trying to remember what that situation was, thank you! Reply Parent Thread Link Glad she got her drivers, and really rad she included everyone else too!! That was very selfless of her And obviously what drownsodapop , v is for Violet, and curdles said & just444 brings up a good point, I forgot about that- Actually, I know Wendy Williams always had a driver to set(not sure if she paid for it oop, or business expense) and I said Id like to be rich enough to have a driver to and from work. And Im sure athletes have drivers and maybe doctors? But there are so many other industries where incorporating a driver into your contract would like its just feels like a class thing idk made me Sad . Reply Thread Link Not in the US but a family friend is a doctor and she has no driver, just a nice car and drives herself. Reply Parent Thread Link If Warner Brothers can provide the barbie cast and crew with special menus and shit on set then surely a movie backed by Oprah and Spielberg shouldnt have to ask for the basic industry standard. Its so frustrating that people of color are still fighting for equity and when they rightfully speak up about it, people are bothered as if they should just accept their circumstances and be grateful. Reply Thread Link What was going on with this production? No drivers, no food, no dressing rooms? It wasnt an indie film with a tight budget so Im confused as to why this has to be asked in the first place. Its a huge liability to have actors drive too. I wanna say because black, but I have to think there was another reason. Reply Thread Link oprah is cheap as hell Reply Parent Thread Link This isn't Oprah's fault. Stop that. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link That's all I'm getting from this. Reply Parent Thread Link Canadas oil producers plan higher output for this year and expect to earn more from their heavy crude once the long-delayed expanded Trans Mountain Pipeline enters into service. The start date of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion (TMX) is the key uncertainty this year for the Canadian oil industry, the benchmark Canadian heavy oil prices, and the revenues for the oil-producing province of Alberta. Despite this uncertainty about the additional export capacity from Albertas oil sands, some of the biggest Canadian producers plan to boost production in the short to medium term. The top liquids producer, Canadian Natural Resources, for example, announced last month its 2024 capital budget that targets exit 2024 production levels of around 1.455 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), up by around 40,000 boepd from the targeted exit 2023 production levels. The company also targets 2025 average annual production growth of approximately 4% to 5% compared to the 2024 average annual production levels. In the second half of the year, assuming commodities do not have material price declines in 2024, the program will shift to being weighted towards shorter cycle development opportunities to better align with incremental market egress, allowing us to maximize value for our shareholders, Canadian Natural Resources said in December. Cenovus Energy plans to invest capital this year primarily for progressing the West White Rose project as well as incrementally growing production at the Foster Creek, Christina Lake and Sunrise oil sands facilities. Analysts expect tie-backs to existing oil sands facilities or expansion of operational sites by some of the biggest Canadian oil firms to boost Canadas crude oil production by 8% by 2025. Key to that expanded production would be the progress of TMX, the project that the Federal Government of Canada bought from Kinder Morgan back in 2018, together with related pipeline and terminal assets. That cost the federal government $3.37 billion (C$4.5 billion) at the time. Since then, the costs for the expansion of the pipeline have quadrupled to nearly $23 billion (C$30.9 billion) and could continue to increase. The expansion project has also faced continuous delays over the years. The latest roadblock emerged in December when the Canadian regulator denied a variance request from the project developer to move a small section of the pipeline due to challenging drilling conditions. Trans Mountain is now waiting to receive the reasons for the decision, the corporation said, adding that construction on the project was more than 97.8% complete. Trans Mountain has previously said that it plans on achieving first oil on the expanded pipeline to the Westridge Marine Terminal by the end of the first quarter of 2024. This week, the company said it plans to start line fill in March or May, depending on the diameter of pipe it uses and assuming there would be no other setbacks. The expanded pipeline will triple the capacity of the original pipeline to 890,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 300,000 bpd to carry crude from Albertas oil sands to British Columbia on the Pacific Coast. The sooner the expansion project is up and running, the higher Albertas takeaway capacity will be, narrowing the discount of the Western Canadian Select (WCS) crude to the U.S. benchmark WTI. Additional pipeline capacity to move oil out of the province next year is expected to support Alberta oil prices and narrow the discount between WTI and the Western Canadian Select (WCS). The completion of TMX in the second half of 2024 will help bring the differential to around US$14-15/bbl in the next two fiscal years, Albertas government said in its 2023-24 Mid-year Fiscal Update and Economic Statement in November. ADVERTISEMENT Producers are expected to continue drilling at a solid pace ahead of TMX coming online in the second half of 2024, the provincial government said. Increased takeaway capacity will help propel Albertas crude oil production from nearly 3.8 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2023 to over four million barrels bpd by 2026. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: For Turkmenistan and its ambitions to export its vast natural gas reserves westward, Iran is a tantalizing but also potentially cheap, and quick, Plan B. Relying on a partner like Tehran, however, creates potentially profound complications. The possibility of falling prey to Western sanctions cannot be discounted. And Iran has at times proven an unreliable supplier. Turkmenistan is already sending gas to Iran, albeit as part of a swap arrangement with Azerbaijan. Two billion cubic meters of gas are piped into remote northeastern areas of Iran that are in need of the fuel. And Iran then sends an equivalent amount to Azerbaijan. The result, if only in purely notional terms, is that Azerbaijan is a buyer of Turkmen gas. Tehran has been expanding pipeline capacity with a view of increasing annual Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan swap volumes to 5.5 billion cubic meters. The apparent success of this model has inspired more of the same. In November, Turkmen and Iraqi officials met in Ashgabat to discuss the prospect of a similar swap, of up to 9 billion cubic meters annually over a period of five years. Again, Iran would act as the go-between. The dream when contemplating sending gas to Europe has been to build the so-called trans-Caspian pipeline, or TCP, which would bridge Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan. This solution would cost upwards of $20 billion. And there are the geopolitical headwinds coming from Russia to consider. Moscow has made little secret of its opposition to seeing a TCP completed in any form, despite having signed off on the 2018 Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, which would allow the construction of a sub-sea gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan. Russia undermined its own positions in this area, however, by embarking on its catastrophic full-blown invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. One key result has been that Europe has radically slashed the amount of gas it buys from Gazprom. This state of affairs has benefited Azerbaijan. In July 2022, Azerbaijan reached a landmark agreement with the European Union that should see it doubling its exports to Europe to 20 billion cubic meters a year by 2027. The most recent TCP alternative being explored by Turkmenistan involves Turkey playing a more active role than being just a transit route. On December 6, conversations took place in Ashgabat at the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Turkish Commission on Economic Cooperation around the possibility of transiting Turkmen gas to Turkey via Iran. Details are sparse for now. Turkmenistans Foreign Ministry, which chaired that exchange, remarked only on the promise of the project and that more detailed negotiations at governmental and company levels would start in the near future. Existing infrastructure suggests what might be possible. There are two pipelines able to carry gas from Turkmenistan to Iran: the 8 billion cubic meter per year capacity Korpeje-Kurtkuyu pipeline; and the 12.5 billion cubic meter capacity Dauletabad-Sarakhs-Khangiran pipeline. Iran and Turkey, meanwhile, are linked by the 14 billion cubic meter Iran-Turkey pipeline. Turkey already imports 9.6 billion cubic meters a year of Iranian gas via its pipeline link, suggesting up to 4.4 billion cubic meters could be available for export to Turkey - or possibly more if Iran could expand the capacity of its pipeline to the Turkish border. Turkish officials have declined to be drawn on any of the details - either on how talks with Turkmenistan are proceeding, or on what progress there has been in the parallel negotiations to renew a gas supply with Iran that is set to expire in the coming two years. The latter talks are rumored to be deadlocked. While Tehran is said to be seeking a straight-down-the-line renewal, it is believed Ankara wants a substantial price reduction and concrete guarantees that Tehran will not arbitrarily suspend supplies as it did in January 2022. That unexpected interruption in deliveries triggered gas and power cuts across Turkey. Iran is in a difficult position. Years of international sanctions have starved its domestic gas sector of investment. When exceptionally cold winter weather descends, it struggles to meet both high domestic demand and export commitments. Allowing Turkey access to Turkmen gas via its pipeline grid could alleviate Irans troubles while ensuring Ankaras supply security. Turkmenistans gas could also play a role in Turkey's ambitions to host a gas trading hub. Currently Ankara's plans appear to be limited to imports of Liquified Natural Gas, or LNG, by ship and gas from Russia. This has sparked concerns that Ankara could use the hub as cover to re-export Russian gas to European markets that have halted Russian gas imports since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENT Whatever spare gas Turkey is one day able to import could later be re-exported to Europe via Turkey's pipeline connections with Greece and Bulgaria, both of which also have spare capacity. The fact that any of this is contingent on Iran, though, is a problem. It is unclear whether Iran would even be open to allowing Turkey to import Turkmen gas through its pipelines. It is not certain that Ankara may not merely be attempting to use possible Turkmen gas imports as a bargaining tool in ongoing negotiations with Tehran. Equally unclear is whether the transit of Turkmen gas via Iran would fall foul of the international sanctions in place against Tehran since 2018. Azerbaijan's gas swap deal with Turkmenistan and Iran has not been sanctioned, while Turkey's existing gas import contract with Iran, held by Turkey's state gas importer Botas, has always been exempt from sanctions. That exemption may not be extended to any new deals, however. In late 2022, Ankara offered private companies the chance to import gas from Iran using the spare pipeline capacity, but quickly abandoned the move, reportedly due to fears it would breach the international sanctions regime. By David OByrne via Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Christian Church concludes the 12 days of Christmas on January 6th telling the Gospel of Matthews story of magi visiting the Christ child. We call the day Epiphany. Epiphany is defined as a moment of sudden revelation or insight. Epiphany in literature refers generally to a moment when a character has a sudden insight or realization that changes their understanding of themselves or their comprehension of the world. Think of George Bailey in Its a Wonderful Life and Scrooge in The Christmas Carol or any rom-com or crime drama movie when the main character figures it out, solves the conflict, unravels the mystery. Epiphany is the ah- ha, the oh, I get it. The magi of Matthews gospel were not political kings; they were priestly astrologers coming from eastern traditions who sought wisdom through star-gazing. Something in their upward-gazing, star-measuring, tells them that something in the cosmos is changing. A new star has been born; a new light is shining. Matthew says in his story, that this one will be One to draw all people of the world as one; these foreigners awake to find the Christ light. Epiphany, enlightenment, awakening, these are words used throughout ancient Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Islam and other world religion teachings. This is the goal of the spiritual journey; to awaken to a new understanding of oneself and ones relationship with all others and ones relationship with the Divine. To be enlightened is a positive advancement. To awaken to ones true nature is desired. Wake up, the Divine is Here! Wake up, God is shining on you, and in you, and through you! Wake up! Spirit is speaking and invites you to listen and see and know. See God in all around you. Be awake to the racial injustice and prejudice and discrimination in society. Be awake to the social inequalities of racism and sexism and denial of rights to anyone. Be woke by Gods love. Recognizing ourselves as spiritual beings and relating to all others as spiritual beings is the purpose of faith, religion, life. It is the teachings of Christ. It is the epiphany we live into each day. Dare to go on a journey this year. Dare to quest after true wisdom, and you will find what will light up the world: mercy, and justice and peace, and goodness, compassion shared by wisdom seekers throughout the ages. May our journey in 2024 awaken us to Gods goodness. May your journey this year awaken in you Gods love every day. May we be woke to the epiphany of Love. Rev. Jane Florence, St. Paul UMC, Lincoln Edgewater Insurance, LLC Welcomes Industry Veteran Jeff Greenwald to Board of Directors Edgewater Insurance, LLC proudly announces the addition of Mr. Jeff Greenwald to its Board of Directors. With a rich legacy spanning over 50 years in the insurance industry, Jeff brings unparalleled expertise and a wealth of experience to our growing team. As a seasoned professional, Jeff has been a constant in the insurance business, contributing his knowledge to various boards both within and outside the industry. His remarkable career has been marked by a commitment to excellence and a passion for fostering growth. "We are thrilled to welcome Jeff Greenwald to our Board of Directors," said Justin Shavlik, President at Edgewater Insurance. "Jeff's extensive background in insurance, coupled with his involvement in numerous boards, will be invaluable as we navigate the dynamic landscape of our region. His insights and leadership will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in our continued success." Edgewater Insurance, LLC, a locally owned and operated independent insurance agency, is dedicated to providing top-notch insurance solutions to its clients. With a presence in 14 locations in Nebraska and two in Kansas, Edgewater specializes in Property and Casualty, Crop, Life, and Health Insurance. The company boasts a team of over 55 dedicated associates committed to delivering personalized service and comprehensive coverage to meet the unique needs of their clients. Jeff's addition to the Board of Directors is expected to enhance Edgewater Insurance's capabilities and contribute to its ongoing expansion. His tangible assets and deep industry knowledge align seamlessly with the company's vision and commitment to excellence. "We look forward to the positive impact Jeff will undoubtedly bring to our organization," added Shavlik. "His presence will undoubtedly strengthen our ability to serve our clients and communities with the highest level of professionalism and care." For more information about Edgewater Insurance, LLC, please visit https://www.edgewaterins.biz/ Nebraska Medicine Katie Beach has been promoted to vice president, People Operations at Nebraska Medicine. Beach first joined Nebraska Medicine in 2015, successfully developing a new approach to recruiting and hiring. She began her career in recruitment and leadership consulting before transitioning to human resources leadership. In her new role, Beach will supervise several aspects of HR, including operations and talent acquisition. Beach earned her bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and advertising from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. North Korea fired some 90 artillery shots into waters off its western coast Sunday, South Korea's military said, the latest in a series of drills near the tensely guarded western border. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the artillery firings into the waters north of Northern Limit Line, a de-facto maritime border in the Yellow Sea, and South Korea's border island of Yeonpyeong from about 4 p.m. to 5:10 p.m. There was no damage to the South Korean military or civilians from the latest firing, according to a JCS official. Earlier in the day, Ongjin County, which has jurisdiction over South Korea's northwestern border islands, issued a warning to the islands as artillery fire was heard from the North Korean side. "Troops on Yeonpyeong Island are currently responding, but residents are advised to be cautious of outdoor activities," the county said in a text message sent to islanders. It marked the third consecutive day of North Korean artillery drills in the area, the South's military said, raising tension near the maritime border. On Friday, North Korea fired some 200 artillery shells from its southwestern coastal areas, prompting the South Korean troops on the front-line islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong to stage live-fire drills in response. North Korea's Friday artillery firing marked the 16th one of its kind, including a missile launch in December 2022. The South Korean military conducted live-fire drills near the maritime buffer zone for the first time since the signing of the 2018 pact. The latest saber-rattling came after Pyongyang in November vowed to restore military measures halted under a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement, which set up buffer zones in land, sea and air, and banned live-fire drills near the border area to prevent accidental clashes. On Saturday, the North carried out live-fire drills for the second consecutive day to fire around 60 shells from the western coast, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Earlier in the day, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, claimed the North conducted a "deceptive operation" by detonating explosives simulating the sound of 130 mm coastal artillery the previous day, deriding the South Korean military's detection capabilities. The JCS dismissed the statement, calling it "comedic low-grade" propaganda attempting to cause division within South Korea and damage trust in the military. "Kim Yo-jong appears to have announced a false statement as (she) was surprised by our military's detection capabilities," the JCS official said. "North Korea's artillery firing (on Saturday) was also detected by our military's detection assets." (Yonhap) SECURITY NATIONAL BANK NAMES JARRYD ISRAEL AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF CREDIT OFFICER Security National Bank has appointed Jarryd Israel to executive vice president (EVP) and chief credit officer (CCO), based at its Three Pacific Place headquarters at 1120 South 101st Street in Omaha, Neb. As CCO, Israel will lead the bank's team of credit professionals responsible for underwriting, lending administration and portfolio management. Israel joined the bank two years ago and has spent the last 14 years in various credit administration roles. He earned a Juris Doctorate specializing in banking and commercial law from the University of Nebraska College of Law. Israel attended the Graduate School of Banking in Colorado and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas. "Jarryd has proven to be an important team member in our bank's growth," said Tim Sullivan, president. "His expertise in credit analysis has improved our efficiency and driven more collaboration amongst our associates, leading to a better experience for our customers." Israel succeeds Vince Pille, who joined the bank 32 years ago and will transition to EVP, credit administration. Pille led the bank's credit department for a vast majority of his tenure, protecting and maintaining the bank's credit profile, achieving remarkably low loan losses while building a quality credit administration team. "Vince has been an outstanding part of the bank's leadership team and his dedication to our employees and customers has been tremendous," said James "Jim" E. Landen, executive chairman. "He has managed the growth of the loan portfolio with integrity and prudent underwriting and portfolio management practices showing an unwavering commitment to the safety and soundness of the bank. This commitment has resulted in minimal loan losses during his tenure, and we look forward to his assistance and guidance as a senior advisor." BauerFinancial, the nation's premier bank rating firm, maintains that Security National Bank has earned its Top (5-Star) Rating for financial strength and stability. Having earned Bauer's 5-Star rating for 63 consecutive quarters, the bank garners an even higher designation as an "Exceptional Performance Bank." Additionally, IDC Financial has rated the bank as "Superior," its highest rating. Security National Bank is one of the Midwest's largest privately-held community banks with nearly $1.6 billion in assets. Its trust and wealth management division exceeds $2.0 billion in assets under management. The bank has nine full-service locations in Omaha, Neb.; Council Bluffs and West Des Moines, Iowa; and Dallas. For nearly 60 years, the bank has offered comprehensive financial solutions for business and private banking, treasury management, wealth management, employee benefits and consumer needs. To learn more, visit SNBconnect.com. Reading Lessons: With low reading scores continuing across Nebraska, The World-Herald is investigating why some Nebraska students are struggling to learn to read and what can be done to improve student outcomes. * * * The Elkhorn elementary school teacher recalls feeling unprepared to adequately teach reading in the classroom when she graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha seven years ago. Because she had specialized in English as a second language, she only took a couple college classes on teaching reading. And even those classes, she felt, hadn't given her enough instruction. I really, really struggled with reading, she said. A lot of it literally was me YouTubing or asking older teachers on how to teach reading and that's how I got better. The Elkhorn teacher, who spoke anonymously because she is restricted from publicly talking about her job, was caught in a problem that continues today in colleges across Nebraska and the nation: Some teacher colleges arent educating teachers correctly in reading instruction, contributing to lower reading proficiency for students. The "correct" way to teach reading has been debated for centuries, but recently there has been an overwhelming shift to incorporate what's described as the "science of reading" in instruction across the U.S. The science of reading is a body of research about how humans learn to read and how reading should be taught, according to the International Literacy Association. Nebraska has recently made moves to enhance its reading instruction in its teacher preparation programs. Earlier this year, the Nebraska Department of Education initiated a rule change to require teacher colleges to implement the science of reading in their instruction. But the current revision draft is also missing some key parts: There are no benchmarks, directions or additional resources in Rule 20 to help teacher colleges implement the science of reading. Asked how colleges will know if they are implementing the science of reading correctly, the education department said: This is still in progress. The science behind reading Cognitive scientists have found that most children will become better readers with structured, systematic phonemic awareness and phonics instruction, according to the National Reading Panel, which issued an influential report in 2000. The primary focus of phonics instruction is to help beginning readers understand how to use letter-sound relations to read or spell words. The panel's analysis concluded that systemic instruction in phonemic awareness and phonics, paired with fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension, was the most effective way to teach children how to read. The five parts are often referred to as the five components or pillars of reading. One Omaha teacher, who graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln 10 years ago, said her college program lacked instruction about the science of reading. She went on to become a reading specialist and had to go back for a masters degree to learn more. We really didn't talk about how to teach students to read at all, she said. It was, like, theory, pedagogy, and then how to write lesson plans. While receiving a masters degree in 2020, she learned that other Nebraska teachers she talked to some newly graduated, others in the field for decades also didnt know the correct way to teach reading to students. None of them could identify what the five big essential components of reading were by just me asking, she said. Over half of them had a master's degree, and still struggled to answer the questions I was asking. Reading has been, and continues to be, under scrutiny because of the nations dismal rates of student reading proficiency students who are either on track or advanced in reading. Nebraska isnt untouched by this struggle roughly 60% of Nebraska fourth graders are not proficient readers, according to data on a national test released last year. In fact, reading scores in 2022 were roughly the same as they were in 1994 in Nebraska, erasing nearly 30 years of slight improvements. Research shows the impact of low reading achievement can be felt for the rest of a struggling readers life. Children who cant read by third grade are more likely to drop out of school and more likely to become involved with the criminal justice system. I think people blame the school districts, but really, we should be putting accountability on the universities and the teacher preparation programs, because they are the ones not preparing teachers, said the Omaha teacher. Teachers are graduating, not prepared to teach reading, and then they're hired by districts who expect them to have (those) skills. Many school districts arent even using practices that align with the science of reading, according to a variety of studies including a 2019 survey from the EdWeek Research Center. Instead, they are using techniques that arent backed by science, making it more difficult for children to learn to read proficiently. Teresa Franks, vice president of the Nebraska Dyslexia Association, said the problem continues to happen in Nebraska classrooms. In some cases, she said, it's because schools use faulty or outdated curriculum. But Franks said it also is because some teachers dont receive the proper training in college. More people are now hearing what we've been saying: that what is taught in the teacher education programs is not what the scientific consensus is around how reading happens and how it should be taught, Franks said. How reading has changed Scientists discovered decades ago that unlike listening and speaking, reading doesn't come naturally to humans. For children, what's hard about learning to read is understanding that marks on a page represent units of language, wrote Rebecca Treiman, a psychologist with Washington University in St. Louis, in a 2018 report. "It is particularly unnatural when the marks represent individual speech sounds, as in alphabetic writing systems," Treiman wrote. "Adults who know how to read and write an alphabet find it obvious that spoken words are composed of sounds. We can easily judge that bean begins with the same sound as bat and that went includes the same n unit that name does. But these things are not obvious to preliterate children." Back in the 1980s and 1990s, teachers were taught the practices of an approach called whole language when teaching reading, which focused on children learning to recognize and understand entire words instead of sounding out words letter by letter, which is usually found in more phonics-based education. Even after the National Reading Panel issued its report in 2000 calling for more focus on phonics, few teachers and colleges got fully on board, so the reading approach shifted more to something called balanced literacy. In balanced literacy, phonics, decoding and spelling may be taught in lessons, but the skills typically are not emphasized and rarely taught systematically, according to the Iowa Reading Research Center. Students are encouraged to use word analogies and pictures or context to identify words. In schools, this can look like a teacher offering lessons on topics like how to find a texts main idea. Students are encouraged to read independently or in groups. If a student needs help understanding the text, teachers often encourage the use of accompanying pictures to guess at its meaning. The use of pictures and guessing as strategies has since been debunked by scientists, who found that people who rely on context to identify words are poor readers. Teaching children to use context and prediction as strategies for word recognition resulted in greater numbers of reading disabilities than phonics instruction, according to research conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Balanced literacy helps some students who naturally excel at reading, but it lacks structured, explicit instruction needed for struggling readers. Franks said the students who suffer the most are children with dyslexia. Structured literacy, based on the science of reading is the best way for dyslexic students to learn. But balanced literacy techniques are still being used, Franks said. Balanced literacy techniques have persisted even though the science of reading has been around for more than 100 years and has been well established in the last 50 years, Franks said. So there's plenty of evidence, but our teachers arent taught that, so they come out of school and they have been taught these techniques that don't work. Progress across the nation More than half of U.S. states 32 of them have passed laws or implemented policies over the past decade to bring teacher materials, interventions or preparation programs in line with approaches based in the science of reading, according to a 2023 survey conducted by EdWeek. Mississippi, the first state that passed such a law in 2013, has become a focus after reading scores of fourth-graders climbed in the following years. Franks, who used to teach in Mississippi, said the state worked for years to advance teacher training, focus on dyslexia, introduce new literacy laws and more. Once your teachers know how to teach reading, things improve dramatically, she said. Nebraska has been slow to adapt, though action has been ramping up in the last few years, from the states Reading Improvement Act that was implemented in 2019 to updated state standards for English language arts in 2021. The most recent action requiring teacher preparation programs to incorporate the science of reading was crafted by the Nebraska Department of Education, said Elizabeth Tegtmeier, a member of the State Board of Education. This summer, the state board approved a revision of Rule 20, which sets parameters for the states teacher colleges. The rule revision is currently under approval by the Attorney Generals office and will still need to be approved by Gov. Jim Pillen before it can go into effect next fall. Tegtmeier said she knows Nebraska teachers who have been taught reading wrong in the past and are now just learning ways that are based in the science of reading. "If that's what I would have been taught...I would have bought into it, she said. The Nebraska Department of Education said in an email statement that the inclusion of the science of reading was prompted because its best practice in regard to reading instruction and we want to ensure we are preparing teachers to meet the latest requirements and expectations." The change on paper is quite small if approved, teacher candidates will have to understand and use a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, build reading and writing skills through the application of the science of reading, and to apply knowledge in meaningful ways. The department said each teacher college annually submits an assurance statement that affirms their program complies with Rule 20. The NDE could audit that info at any time and frequently does check in to see if everything is correct, the department said. Darci Karr, chairwoman of the education department at Hastings College, was part of the workgroup of educators who helped revise Rule 20. She said representatives from institutions of all sizes helped with the revision. When asked about the wording of the rule revision, Karr said it's more generalized on purpose. Yes, it's broad, but we also don't want it so specific that institutions can't implement it in a way that works best with their program and their students, Karr said. What colleges are doing now A report published in June from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a think tank dedicated to education reform, revealed evaluations of hundreds of elementary teaching preparation programs across the U.S., with several in Nebraska. While the study found only 25% of programs surveyed adequately taught future educators all five pillar components of reading, results from the NCTQ have been debated in the past, according to the National Education Policy Center, a research nonprofit within the University of Colorado. A review of the June report said the study relies on flawed research methodology due to selective use of evidence. But the study has been widely circulated in the media and gave four Nebraska teacher colleges an F grade in elementary teaching preparation for reading instruction. These schools were UNLs undergraduate and graduate programs, Creighton University and the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Union College and Wayne State College received a C grade, while Doane University and Concordia University received a B grade. The only teacher college that received an A grade was UNO. The rest of the states programs refused to participate, according to NCTQ. Despite the controversial ratings, many Nebraska teacher colleges still offer assurances that they are currently using the science of reading in their programs and say the rule revision wont have a huge impact on future instruction. Jennifer Lemke, professor in the teacher education department at UNO, said the university has always taught the five pillars of reading, but it is doing a better job of it now than it did in the past. There was definitely some balanced literacy that lived in our undergrad program, Lemke said. But I definitely think that there's been much more intentionality, even as we look at our graduate courses we've done a lot of redesign in the past three years, and that's a conversation that we're always having. Lemke said she also teaches multiple courses at UNO that are grounded in the science of reading. In Teaching and Assessing Reading in Elementary Schools," college students use evidence-based strategies to teach elementary students how to read in real-time through the practicum class. UNL has its own tutoring community at the Kit and Dick Schmoker Reading Center, which has been in operation for 15 years. Director Rachel Schachter said the university has a series of courses for undergraduate students that culminates in a class with the reading center, working with students who have disabilities or are in elementary school. I wouldn't say that suddenly we're doing the science of reading, because for me, the 'science of reading' is the best information that we have at the moment about how children learn to read and how to teach reading, Schachter said. So we've kind of always been doing the science of reading. Schachter said she agrees that some school districts are still using outdated strategies when teaching reading. Some schools are still moving towards evidence-based practices or those aligned with the most up-to-date research, Schachter said. There is still room to ensure that components of literacy are being appropriately targeted in classrooms, especially with early readers." Jamie Martin, a professor in the Hastings College education department, said techniques gradually shift in the college as new science is introduced regarding how children learn to read. She specifically teaches a foundational reading course for future educators. We begin by talking about the brain and the science behind it, Martin said. So this is one complete class in which they're really introduced quite deeply into the science of reading and some of the skills from birth to grade three. Karr said there will be no change in instruction within the education department at Hastings College if the revision is approved for next fall. We have amazing institutions in our state preparing amazing teachers. So when people read that and go, 'Oh, are teachers being prepared?' I would actually argue that the majority are, (but) I can't speak for all my colleagues across the state," Karr said. "I think in talking to most institutions, you will find that no one is shocked and no one is scared about it. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024 In a few weeks, you might be stepping on and off of your Eppley Airfield parking shuttle out on Abbott Drive, in front of the airport. Just before the holidays, city officials closed the outside northbound lane of Abbott between Pratt Court and East Carter Boulevard so the Omaha Airport Authority can build a temporary drop-off zone for airport shuttles and commercial vehicles to use during the next several months. The drop-off zone is needed to accommodate the construction of a new all-weather canopy over the terminal drive. The $65 million project kicked off in June and is expected to continue until the spring of 2025. Since Oct. 27, the three inner lanes of the terminal drive have been closed to allow for construction. Passenger pickups and drop-offs were moved inside the South Parking Garage. Trucks and shuttle buses continued to use the outside lane of the terminal drive. But in early February, that lane will close, too, said Steve McCoy, the airport authoritys chief information and development officer, to allow for the installation of steel support beams. Until May or June, he said, the shuttles and commercial vehicles will use Abbott Drive instead. McCoy said the affected stretch of Abbott isnt heavily used, anyway, since most northbound traffic uses the south airport entrance. None of Eppleys entrances or driveways are affected. There were no backups during what he said was a busy but trouble-free holiday travel period. The impact to access to the airport is virtually nonexistent, McCoy said. Eppley is in the midst of a transformational change that has seen the reconfiguration of the airport entrances and the construction of the North Parking Garage. Yet to come: a new $92.5 million power plant, and a major renovation of the airport terminal. That one is still in the design phase. * * * If you heard cheers coming from the direction of central Omaha over the holidays, it might have been the folks who live along Grover Street. Just before Christmas, the citys Public Works Department reopened Grover between 50th and 60th Streets following nine months of road construction. During that time, all or part of the road which runs parallel to, and one block north of, Interstate 80 has been closed to traffic. People who lived along the residential street had to access their homes through back roads, sometimes using temporary driveways built by the contractor. The road was regraded and repaved, adding new curbs, gutters, sidewalks and ramps. New utility lines were added, including an enclosed storm sewer. The $4.4 million project was funded through the Street Preservation Fund, with proceeds from a pair of bond issues passed by Omaha voters in 2020 and 2022 to upgrade city streets. Don Annis, longtime owner of the Grover Street Barber Shop at 50th and Grover, said the work drastically affected his business. My regular customers havent had a problem, they all figured out how to get here. But drive-by (traffic) Ive got nothing, he said. Were glad its wrapping up. He said he heard some grousing about the construction, but hes all for rebuilding Omahas weather-beaten roadways. Some people have gotten irate about it, but it doesnt help at all, Annis said. Our street here is past due. I think most people are glad to see the project. That way, they can see where their money is going. Whats New Southbound traffic will be shifted to the center lane on South 42nd Street between Emile and Leavenworth Streets at the UNMC campus until Jan. 19 because of a water-main break. Saddle Creek Road will be restricted to one lane southbound at Emile Street for utility work in the outside curb lane until Jan. 12. Farnam Street between South 37th and South 38th Streets will be restricted to one lane each direction for road construction until April 1. South 48th Street between Leavenworth and Howard Streets will be closed for street improvements until Jan. 15. The northbound lanes of South 18th Street between Farnam and Douglas Streets will be closed to through traffic for utility work until Feb. 15. Vernon Avenue between North 66th and North 67th Streets will be closed to through traffic for sewer repair until Jan. 19. Mary Street between North 75th and North 77th Streets will be closed to through traffic for sewer repair until Friday. Fort Street between North 107th Plaza and North 108th Street will be restricted to one lane westbound for fiber-optic installation in the inside lane until Saturday. South 95th Street between Pine Street and Poppleton Avenue will be closed to through traffic for street repair until Thursday. Southbound traffic on South 42nd Street between Farnam and Harney Streets will be shifted to the center lane for utility work until Tuesday. The intersection of South 20th and Harney Streets will have various lane restrictions for street repair until further notice. South 19th Street will be restricted in the northbound lanes at Douglas Street for utility work in turn lane until Monday. South 13th Street will be restricted to one lane in each direction at Pine Street for utility work in the southbound lanes until Jan. 17. Harney Street between South 25th and South 26th Streets will be restricted to one lane eastbound for street repair until Tuesday. Westbound Q Street 430 yards west of South 61st Street will have lane restrictions for utility work until Jan. 16. The intersection of Abbott and Lindbergh Drives will have various lane restrictions for utility work until Tuesday. Franklin Avenue is closed eastbound between Valley View Drive and Kingsridge Drive in Council Bluffs until Jan. 19 because of a water-main extension project. is closed eastbound until Jan. 19 because of a water-main extension project. Lane restrictions are in place in the westbound lanes of Underwood Avenue between Elmwood and Hackberry Roads because of utility work until Wednesday. Around Omaha Northwest (north of West Dodge Road and west of I-680) The outside lane is closed eastbound on West Maple Road between 177th and 180th Streets for road work related to the construction of a Costco warehouse store. No completion date is listed. for road work related to the construction of a Costco warehouse store. No completion date is listed. State Street is closed from 168th Street to HWS Cleveland Boulevard for grading, paving and reconstruction of the 168th and State intersection until November 2024. for grading, paving and reconstruction of the 168th and State intersection until November 2024. North 108th Street between Burt Circle and Decatur Street will be closed with local access only for street widening until July 31, 2024. will be closed with local access only for street widening until July 31, 2024. Fort Street between 183rd and 186th Streets is closed because of grading and paving of the three-lane roadway until spring. Northeast (north of Dodge Street and east of I-680 North 99th Street between Ogden Plaza and Fort Street will be closed for utility work until Wednesday. Keystone Drive between North 84th Street and North 85th Avenue will be closed to through traffic for utility work until Thursday. will be closed to through traffic for utility work until Thursday. Traffic on Military Avenue between Northwest Radial Highway and Binney Street will be restricted until further notice southbound for creation of a building safety zone in the curb lane. will be restricted until further notice southbound for creation of a building safety zone in the curb lane. Westbound Dodge Street between North 38th and North 40th Avenues will be restricted for building construction in the outside curb lane until Jan. 24. will be restricted for building construction in the outside curb lane until Jan. 24. Binney Street between 26th Street and 28th Avenue over the North Freeway is closed for repair and painting through January. Traffic is detoured to Lake Street. The entrance ramp from Lake Street to northbound U.S. Highway 75 is closed during the project. is closed for repair and painting through January. Traffic is detoured to Lake Street. The is closed during the project. North 16th Street will be closed at various points between Pinkney and Clark Streets for CSO sewer separation improvements through Aug. 31, 2024. will be closed at various points for CSO sewer separation improvements through Aug. 31, 2024. North 16th Street will be closed between Ohio and Corby Streets for utility work until Wednesday. will be closed for utility work until Wednesday. Because of construction at the Kiewit corporate campus, North 15th Street between Mike Fahey and California Streets will be restricted southbound, and Mike Fahey between North 16th and North 15th Streets will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane until March 15, 2024. North 16th and North 17th Streets between Cuming and Mike Fahey will have restrictions in the curb lanes until Jan. 18. will be restricted southbound, and will have eastbound traffic shifted to the center lane until March 15, 2024. will have restrictions in the curb lanes until Jan. 18. Florence Boulevard between Read Street and Sharon Drive will be restricted northbound because of a sewer separation project until Friday. Southwest (south of West Dodge Road and west of I-680/80) South 168th Street between Q Street and West Center Road will have lane restrictions for street widening until December 2024. will have lane restrictions for street widening until December 2024. South 120th Street between West Center Road and Pedersen Drive will have varying lane restrictions for street panel replacement until Monday. Southeast (south of West Dodge Road and east of I-680/80) The West Dodge Frontage Road South between 84th and 86th Streets is closed for building construction until Feb. 29, 2024. is closed for building construction until Feb. 29, 2024. South 72nd Street and Mercy Road will have varying lane restrictions for utility work until Thursday. will have varying lane restrictions for utility work until Thursday. South 71st Street for about 200 feet north of Hascall Street is closed because of building construction until Feb. 22. is closed because of building construction until Feb. 22. Harney Street between South 38th and South 37th Streets is restricted to one lane eastbound for building construction until Jan. 17. South 37th Street between Farnam and Harney is closed as part of the same project. is restricted to one lane eastbound for building construction until Jan. 17. is closed as part of the same project. The eastbound curb lane on Douglas Street will be closed between 44th Street and Saddle Creek Road for construction until March 31, 2024. will be closed between for construction until March 31, 2024. South 44th Street between Douglas and Farnam Streets is limited to head-to-head traffic because of building construction on an adjacent property until Tuesday. is limited to head-to-head traffic because of building construction on an adjacent property until Tuesday. South 36th Street between E and F Streets will be closed for utility work until Monday. will be closed for utility work until Monday. L Street between Dahlman Avenue/South 30th and South 32nd Streets will have various lane restrictions for utility work until Monday. will have various lane restrictions for utility work until Monday. L Street between South 26th and South 24th Streets will be restricted to one lane eastbound for building construction in the outside curb lane until June 23, 2024. will be restricted to one lane eastbound for building construction in the outside curb lane until June 23, 2024. Traffic in the east curb lane is restricted on South 24th Street between Landon Court and Howard Street due to building construction until Jan. 17. due to building construction until Jan. 17. South 15th Street between Farnam and Douglas Streets will be closed for utility work until Friday. will be closed for utility work until Friday. The eastbound lane on Farnam Street between 10th and Eighth Streets is restricted because of building construction until Thursday. is restricted because of building construction until Thursday. 14th Street is closed between Farnam and Douglas Streets, and curbside lanes is closed on Farnam, Douglas and 15th Street until early 2026 because of construction of the new Mutual of Omaha tower. Sarpy/Cass Counties 180th Street is closed for a half-mile south of Highway 370 near Vala's Pumpkin Patch for replacement of a culvert and reconstruction into a three-lane road until summer 2024. is closed for near Vala's Pumpkin Patch for replacement of a culvert and reconstruction into a three-lane road until summer 2024. Platteview Road from Highway 31 to 210th Street is closed through January to allow for construction of a three-lane road. Pflug Road is suggested as an alternate route. is closed through January to allow for construction of a three-lane road. Pflug Road is suggested as an alternate route. Lane restrictions can be expected on U.S. 34/75 from Nebraska Highway 1 to Oak Hill Road in Plattsmouth through November 2024 to allow for road construction. Around Nebraska Head-to-head traffic is limited to 55 mph only on U.S. Highway 30 between North Ridge and North Luther Roads northwest of Fremont until Fall 2024. northwest of Fremont until Fall 2024. Varying and intermittent lane closures can be expected on U.S. Highway 275 eastbound between B Road (5 miles east of West Point) and Pebble Street (1 mile west of Scribner), using flaggers because of road and bridge construction through Summer 2024. Council Bluffs Occasional nighttime lane and ramp closures may occur on I-80 at the Madison Avenue interchange through June 2026 while the interchange is being rebuilt. through June 2026 while the interchange is being rebuilt. Lane restrictions are in place on South Third Street between Story Street and Ninth Avenue until Friday because of water-main installation. Photos: Omaha's Eppley Airfield temporarily changing pick-up/drop-off location A strong winter storm bringing between 5 to 10 inches of snow is expected to impact Omaha and eastern Nebraska Monday through Tuesday. A winter storm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service Office in Valley, according to meteorologist Becky Kern. She said the warning is from 6 a.m. Monday through noon on Tuesday. Were looking at about a 25% chance of snow falling after midnight increasing to a 95% chance by 6 a.m., Kern said Sunday. It might be a little bit of a (rain-snow) mix initially before turning over into heavy snow. The impending storm caused area schools to announce they would be closed Monday. Districts not holding in-person classes include Omaha, Papillion La Vista, Millard, Elkhorn, Gretna, Douglas County West, Ralston, Westside, Springfield Platteview, Bennington and Council Bluffs. Omaha Catholic Schools also are closed Monday. Millard and Council Bluffs announced they would have remote-learning days. The first round of snow was expected to develop across northeast Nebraska late Sunday and early Monday. The second round of snow will move into the Omaha area from the southwest Monday morning. Were looking at snowfall totals between 5 and 10 inches, Kern said. Following the snow, we are predicting very gusty winds. Heavy snowfall rates greater than an inch per hour will be possible, especially Monday afternoon, according to the winter storm warning. As snow comes to an end Monday night into Tuesday morning, wind gusts up to 40 mph are possible. Blowing and drifting snow will be possible Tuesday morning, especially west of U.S Highway 77 that travels through Fremont, Lincoln and Beatrice. Tuesday, the peak (wind) intensity is expected to be between 4 a.m. and 11 a.m., Kern said. The winds could be gusting at 35 to 40 mph, Highs Monday in Omaha will be mainly in the lower to mid 30s with readings in the 20s to low 30s Tuesday, according to the forecast discussion on the National Weather Service website. The passage of an Alberta Clipper to the north of the region on Wednesday will allow a significantly colder air mass to plunge south into the mid-Missouri Valley Wednesday night and continue into the weekend. Overnight lows will be routinely in the negative single digits. The cold temperatures will contribute to dangerous wind chills on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings with values approaching minus 25 to minus 35 degrees in some areas. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024 WASHINGTON Shortly after deciding to run for Congress on a platform that supports abortion rights, Democrat Michelle Vallejo had a conversation with her grandmother. Given their generational differences, the complexities of the abortion politics and her grandmothers deep religious faith, they didnt find consensus on every aspect of the issue. That was probably one of the most challenging conversations I had, said Vallejo, the daughter of Mexican immigrants, who is making her second run for Congress in a South Texas swing district against Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz. But where we agreed is that nobody other than (a) woman and her health care providers should be the ones making that decision, she said. Its not right for politicians like (Texas Gov.) Greg Abbott or Monica De La Cruz or (Texas Sen.) Ted Cruz to be involved in these very private decisions. Vallejo is one of at least seven Latina Democrats running for Congress in 2024 who have made access to abortion a cornerstone of their campaigns. They know that it is a winning issue across the board and are running unapologetic campaigns centered on abortion rights, said Danni Wang, a spokeswoman for EMILYs List, which backs Democratic women who support abortion access. BOLD PAC, the campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, plans to lean in very hard on the issue this cycle, said Victoria McGroary, the groups executive director. We know that we are on the right side of the argument, she said. We know that voters hate the Republican position and that it is key to our path to victory. While Republicans have made inroads with Latino voters in recent years, Democrats say the GOPs support for strict limits on abortion threatens to undercut those gains. A majority of Hispanics, 57%, say abortion should be legal in most or all cases, according to a Pew Research Center survey released in 2022. Among young Latinos, one of the nations fastest-growing demographic groups, that figure climbs to 72%. Support for reproductive rights remains strong even among Catholic Latinos. Polling data from eight key states compiled by UnidosUS, a Hispanic civil rights organization, found that 71% of Latinos opposed efforts to make abortion illegal or take that choice away from everyone else, regardless of their personal beliefs. We know that Latinos want all the options on the table, McGroary said. This is (true) even among individual voters who may be more conservative in their own lives. Ultimately, they believe that this is a decision reserved for them and the people that they care about. They do not, in any way, shape or form, want politicians making that decision for them. The GOP has been struggling to find its footing on the abortion issue since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022 and Republican-controlled states began passing new restrictions or outright bans on the procedure. Meanwhile, supporters of reproductive rights have won ballot initiatives in seven states, including Ohio, Kansas, Montana and Kentucky, all states that Donald Trump won in 2020. Activists in Florida, Arizona and about seven other states are seeking to put similar initiatives to protect abortion rights on the November ballot. (Two other states, New York and Maryland, have already approved such ballot measures, while in Iowa, abortion opponents are pressing for a referendum to restrict access to the procedure.) Asked how the party planned to talk about abortion in the upcoming election cycle, a House GOP strategist said messaging is key. Republican candidates cannot allow their opponents to define their position on abortion for them, said the strategist, who requested anonymity, a sign of how politically fraught abortion rights remain for the GOP. The key to neutralizing the attack is simple be open and honest about their policy beliefs, the strategist added. Republican vulnerabilities on abortion were exposed last month, when a Texas woman named Kate Cox was barred from obtaining an abortion after discovering that her fetus had a fatal genetic disorder. Were not talking about hypotheticals anymore, Vallejo said. This is a very real issue that is directly putting women and families in danger. Allyson Muniz Damikolas, a Democrat seeking to unseat Republican Rep. Young Kim in Southern California, said the GOPs stance on abortion fails to take into account the personal impact of such policies. She has two daughters who have underlying medical conditions that she said could put their lives at risk if they became pregnant. Running against Republican Sen. Rick Scott in Florida, Democratic former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell says she hears from Latinas across the political spectrum who are concerned about reproductive rights. An immigrant from Ecuador who would become the first Latina senator from Florida, Mucarsel-Powell said many Hispanic women who came to the United States to escape government repression view strict limits on abortion as an infringement on their civil rights. We know what its like to live under a government that tries to control every aspect of our life, and were not going to tolerate that here in Florida, she said. This is the kind of control and extremism that we see in Latin American regimes, not here in the United States of America. 10 wellness apps to help with your New Years resolutions 1. Headspace 2. Streaks 3. WaterMinder 4. Calm 5. Lifesum 6. Noom 7. Nike Training Club 8. Down Dog 9. Daylio 10. Breathwrk GRAND ISLAND, Neb. Three Conestoga Mall businesses Dees Hallmark, the Incredible Bulk and LensCrafters will close their doors this month. Dees Hallmark and the Incredible Bulk have no plans to reopen elsewhere in Grand Island. An employee at LensCrafters, which will close Jan. 20, said the company hasnt given any indication if it will reopen elsewhere. The leases for both the Hallmark store and the Incredible Bulk are expiring. They are among the stores currently operating in the south end of the mall, as Conestoga Mall is being transformed into Conestoga Marketplace. Dees Hallmark needs to vacate its space by Jan. 31, but may close before then, said owner Colleen Belitz, who lives in Columbus. Belitz used to own three Hallmark stores in Columbus, Beatrice and Grand Island. Now the only one left will be in Beatrice. Shes owned the Grand Island business for about 10 years. Belitz has checked other possible sites in Grand Island. We have, yeah, since we werent provided a spot in the redevelopment, she said. She said shes been looking around for eight or 10 months and has talked to several landlords in Grand Island. Theyve all been really helpful, but we just could not find a spot that worked. Randy Price of Lincoln has owned the Incredible Bulk for 24 years. Because of reduced foot traffic in the mall, this last year has been horrible, Price said. The number of tenants has been reduced from more than 100 to about 15, he said. And its just cost me money every month, he said. The mall is being redeveloped by Woodsonia Real Estate. Price believes Conestoga Marketplace will be an asset to Grand Island. But he said he doesnt like the way Woodsonia has treated the current tenants. He doesnt believe he could have stayed in the mall after his lease expires Feb. 1. They offered me so many different things, he said. The last thing Woodsonia representatives told him was that they dont want little mom-and-pop stores anymore in here, he said. They said we wont renew your lease. So could I have gone on? Nope, I dont think so. I think what theyre doing in Grand Island to that mall is fantastic for Grand Island. But what they did to Incredible Bulk was classless. And thats a fact. A Hastings woman has purchased the Incredible Bulk name and a sign from Price. So a store of the same name will probably continue in central Nebraska. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024 The social and community impacts of Nebraskas fledgling casino gambling cant be gauged yet because the industry is too new, a consultants report says. The industry is concentrated in the more populated eastern portion of the state, where Iowa casinos have been available for 30 years, making it impossible to measure the impact of new gambling options, the report by The Innovation Group says. The firm was tasked by the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission with analyzing the socioeconomic impact of expanded gambling as well as doing market analyses on racetracks and casinos. The firm devotes much of the report to establishing benchmark data that would be used as a measure in the future. The report says that because tribal casinos and lottery gambling are already prevalent in Nebraska and adjacent states, it is reasonable to assume a problem gambling population currently exists. In other words, the report says, those with a propensity for problem gambling already have ready access to gambling products, so this expansion of gaming is likely to impact the population of problem gamblers only marginally. Nebraska law requires the commission to track the number of people who have voluntarily self-excluded from casinos. Self-exclusion would be a sign of someone having problems. As of last month, 97 people had self-excluded using these voluntary bans since the inception of Nebraska casinos, according to the commission. The report touches on a number of potential impacts, noting studies in other states or nationally, but some of the data cited is from the 1990s. The report states that, generally across the country, the perception that casinos breed crime is not supported by the evidence. While the number of reported crimes can increase, as with any commercial development that attracts visitors, casino gambling has not been shown to lead to an increase in crime rates, the report says. Host communities should expect impacts similar in kind to other commercial development of similar scope and visitor potential, it says. The projected increase in visitor population should be expected to lead to increases in public safety services and judicial system caseload, it says. Pat Loontjer, executive director of Gambling with the Good Life, said the state should put the brakes on approving new racetrack casinos until it has good data on the impact of existing ones. Its way too soon to start expanding, Loontjer said. Voters in 2020 approved a ballot initiative linking casino development to racing licenses. That means that anyone who wants to build a casino in Nebraska, other than the six existing racing license holders, must win state approval for a racetrack. Last week, Bellevue Mayor Rusty Hike declared his backing for a proposed racetrack casino in his town, saying that Bellevue and Sarpy County shouldnt be denied the benefits. Currently, there are six licensed racetracks eligible for casinos. In Omaha, WarHorse is building a casino at Horsemens Park. Its slated to open in September. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of January 2024 A Nigerian woman who wakes up at 4:50 am to cook and pack her husbands lunch for work has received a whopping sum of over N2 million from men. In a post shared on her Twitter page, the woman revealed that she started waking up early to cook for her husband after he mentioned how his female colleague brought two spoons to the office so that she could share her meal with him. The woman, who was initially hesitant to wake up early, decided to start packing her husbands lunch to prevent any outside influence. She tweeted on Thursday, Ive always been too lazy to wake up and get his lunch ready. But the day he told me a colleague brought two spoons so hell eat with her, was the day I set my alarm for 4:50am. I feel men will understand better. She just resumed there o, she saw he wasnt bringing food and suddenly brought spoon. He came back home and told me about how shes been extra friendly, I decided to try to start packing his lunch, before he fall for the friendliness. Her revelation sparked a debate on social media, with some claiming she is insecure, while others supported her dedication to protecting her family. Impressed by her devotion, Nigerian men donated money to her after discovering her desire for a bedside fridge. Gifts, including household items and over N2 million, were sent to her bank account to fulfill her wishes. Meanwhile, Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday has condemned a man who was exposed as gay after having three children with his female partner. By Izunna Okafor, Awka Anambra State Government has threatened to suspend traditional rulers who ignore the due process and haphazardly confer chieftaincy titles on individuals without getting clearance from the States Ministry of Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs. The States Commissioner for Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Tonycollins Nwabunwanne, disclosed this in an interview with this reporter, Izunna Okafor, on Saturday, during which he condemned the unauthorized conferring of chieftaincy title on people by some traditional rulers in the State. The Commissioner, who recognized traditional rulers as royal fathers and custodians of culture and traditions of the land, also hinted that Governor Chukwuma Soludos administration respects and hold traditional rulers to a highest esteem and acknowledges their good works and efforts in facilitating achievement of his vision for the State, especially at the grassroots. According to the Commissioner, who also commended the pivotal roles of traditional rulers in the State in facilitating community development; it is known to every traditional ruler in Anambra State and is also contained in the Code of Conduct for Anambra State Traditional Rulers in Anambra State, that any monarch who wants to confer chieftaincy title on any individual must first notify the state government through the Ministry of Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs, explaining what and what the person has done for the community to deserve such honour and chieftaincy title. The Commissioner, while explaining that the clearance process will help to ensure that chieftaincy titles are conferred on deserving individuals and also motivate others to do good works, also hinted that the process will equally help to prevent duplication of chieftaincy titles (giving the same chieftaincy titles to two or more different people), as well as guard against potential abuse of traditional stool, among other things it will help stem. He further noted that the traditional ruler of the hometown of the person to be conferred with the chieftaincy title (if he is from another town order than that of the monarch giving him the chieftaincy title) must also be contacted to attest for the character and integrity of the person before he would be conferred with the chieftaincy title, to ensure chieftaincy titles are not given to people who have questionable characters and integrity problem. Some relevant portions of Traditional Rulers Code of Conduct and supporting documents read thus: Igwes can only confer title on indigenes of their community after they must have obtained security clearance from the relevant security agencies and approval from Mr. Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs. If the Igwe must confer title on an indigene of another community, he must get the consent of the Igwe of the recipients community. The title must be that of the conferring community. The Commissioner regretted that many traditional rulers still do not comply with these provisions, despite being aware of them. These traditional rulers know these things, and it is even there in their Code of Conduct; but some of them still disregard the process, due to reasons best known to them. But enough is enough. Any traditional ruler who henceforth confers or recently conferred chieftaincy to anybody without our clearance will be suspended, the Commissioner warned. According to him, despite the repeated warnings and press release he recently issued against unapproved conferment of chieftaincy titles in the State, some traditional rulers in the State still recently flouted the due process. He however said some careful traditional rulers have been adhering to the process and doing the right thing, such as the traditional rulers of Aguleri, Awkuzu, Obosi, Ifitedunu, and others who recently got clearance from the Ministry for chieftaincy title conferment. While noting that most of the traditional rulers who disregard the right process do not attend meetings of traditional rulers in the State; Commissioner Nwabunwanne also issued a 48-hour ultimatum to all traditional ruler who recently conferred chieftaincy titles to individuals without getting clearance, to explain to the Ministry the reason behind their action, or risk suspension any moment from now. They must explain to my office why they gave those chieftaincy titles without my clearance and without letters from the traditional rulers of the communities of those people they gave the chieftaincy titles, or they risk suspension. We cant tolerate this arbitrariness anymore, he concluded. He also clarified that his Ministrys insistence on the monarchs getting the governments clearance as a prerequisite for chieftaincy title conferment was not to witch-hunt anybody, but to ensure that the right thing is done and done through the right process. By insisting on this adherence to prescribed process, the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration aims to ensure that deserving individuals are recognized for their contributions to the community, thereby fostering a culture of meritocracy, he clarified. Aside the above-mentioned reasons for the Ministrys insistence, the Commissioner, who underscored the benefit of the process in preserving the sanctity of traditional honours, also explained that in a society where symbols of recognition carry profound cultural weight, the insistence on following due process also serves as a reminder that chieftaincy titles are not mere accolades but reflections of substantial contributions to community development. According to him, by requiring traditional rulers to articulate the merits of each conferred title, his Ministry instills a sense of purpose and responsibility in the honour, ensuring that those bestowed with such distinctions are individuals who have left an indelible marks on the tapestry of communal progress. Emphatically, the Commissioner said the approach would also safeguard the venerable tradition of chieftaincy titles from dilution, elevating their significance, as well as perpetuating a legacy of honor intricately woven with meaningful service to the community and humanity at large. Related Recall that the band leader was abducted in December 2023, alongside his crew, while returning from a show in Kogi State Adewunmi Samuel Sofomade, the leader of the Abuja-based music band that was abducted along the Lokoja highway, has revealed the amount paid for their release. Recall that the band leader was abducted in December 2023, alongside his crew, while returning from a show in Kogi State. The 13-man group was later released after a few days in captivity. However, recounting his ordeal in a recent interview with BBC Yoruba, the band leader, also called Omoba De Jombo Beats, stated that the kidnappers later reduced their ransom from N10m to N7 million each before they were released. We were 13 that went to perform at a burial ceremony in Itakete Isao, close to Isan-Olu in Kogi State. And we had to move by road because they dont have an airport in Kogi. We had gone since Thursday. We finished performing at about 5:30 pm on Friday. So we felt that there was still time to return to Abuja. The incident happened just after we have past Dangote Cement. We spent six days with the kidnappers inside a very thick forest and the six days felt like six years because a lot of things happened in that forest. They asked for N10 million each. We started begging their commandant that we could not gather N10 million. He later reduced it to N7 million each. When we received the information that the money had been completed but there was no cash during the December period, we started looking for cash. They initially agreed that the money be converted to dollars, but their leader later changed his mind and insisted on naira. French Ambassador Philippe Bertoux On the occasion of the new year, I would like to send my warmest and most sincere wishes to the Korean people and the French community in Korea. In the troubled international context that we are experiencing, France and the Republic of Korea maintain a forward-looking strategic partnership based on a shared attachment to sovereignty, international law, multilateralism and universal values. More than ever, our dialogue and cooperation continue to progress, and we expect high-level discussions on our bilateral relations this year in Seoul. France and Korea will share numerous events in 2024. The highlight will be this summer in France, with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and I invite everyone to come to Paris and share privileged moments in the City of Light. I also wish all the best to the young French athletes attending the 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon Province from Jan. 19, 2024. Finally, I share with you one of my wishes for 2024: to see the number of French people in Korea surpass the record set in 2023, with over 100,000 entering the country. France loves Korea. Korea loves France. Lets make the best out of it! I wish success, happiness and health to all for 2024! Danish Ambassador Svend Olling To all in Korea, Happy New Year! The winds of change are already upon us. Danes got off to a shocking start to the new year when our Queen announced she will soon abdicate the throne after 52 years of reign. Here on the peninsula, attention is turned to the general elections in April that will determine the direction of the great democracy of Korea for the next four years. With the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Palestine, as well as unrest in many other parts of the world, I truly hope that this new year will be a better year for peace, security and prosperity for all. To this end, Denmark is hoping that 2024 will be the year in which we are elected to serve on the U.N. Security Council for the period of 2025-26. Equality, security, and action will be our guiding principles. If elected, Korea and Denmark will have overlapping terms on the U.N. Security Council. We are likeminded on most global issues and hope to cooperate close to secure international rule of law, solidarity and cooperation. Israeli Ambassador Akiva Tor Dear The Korea Times readers, On behalf of the state of Israel, I would like to wish you and your families and the entire Republic of Korea a year of happiness, success and fulfillment in 2024. Israel finds itself engaged in a difficult war at the start of this new year. More than one hundred hostages remain captive in Gaza taken by Hamas on their Oct. 7 attack, despite strong Israeli military gains against Hamas they are still not defeated and their leadership eludes capture. Israel is still hurt and bruised from the great number of Israeli men, women and children brutally murdered, and the IDF being a true citizens army we feel the pain of every soldier killed and wounded. But 2024 will be a better year. Israel will prevail, the Abraham Accords process will renew and peace will spread, and our diplomatic, economic and cultural relations with Korea will deepen! Greek Ambassador Ekaterini Loupas The Embassy of Greece welcomes the New Year 2024 with particular enthusiasm, after the especially productive past year for bilateral relations and looks forward to a rapid upgrading of economic, cultural and educational relations, as our two peoples have the potential to boost ties in continuation of the unshakable relationship that brought them together during the Korean War of 1950-53. Our common fate has consolidated our relations that come from afar and will go even further. Despite the large geographical distance, our countries are united by many common characteristics that create important opportunities for rapprochement. The sea and our shared experience in maritime cooperation have created a unique relationship that stands out on a global level, as Greece is the world's largest ship owning nation. Greece and the Republic of Korea continue to strengthen their bilateral bonds, seeking new opportunities beyond the shipping sector, in technology, green energy, culture and international cooperation, after last years meeting of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with President Yoon Suk Yeol on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 20. Also, the Embassy of Greece is particularly proud about the fact that Greeces economy has been ranked in top place by the Economist for its 2023 economic performance for the second year in a row. This performance was the outcome of an effort that included major reforms. Furthermore, Greece is the pillar of stability in Southern Europe and East Mediterranean in a world of increased turmoil and with its presence in international fora (eg. as a longstanding member of the EU and NATO) has a constructive and responsible role to play. For this year, the Embassy of Greece wishes the Republic of Korea to keep up with the unique progress that the country has shown in the past and with the positive impact in the world and the Korean people to enjoy prosperity and peace. Last but not least, I sincerely wish The Korea Times to continue its fruitful contribution to enlightening foreign readers with quality news and inspiring analysis about everything that matters in this very important part of the world. Indian Ambassdor Amit Kumar As we bid farewell to the somewhat challenging year and welcome the promise of a fresh start, I extend my warmest New Year greetings to Korea Times readers. The Korea Times has played a significant role as a bridge connecting foreigners with contemporary Korea along with its vibrant culture and rich heritage. Through its insightful reporting and diverse perspectives, it has fostered deeper understanding and friendship among the international community. We recently celebrated the 50th Anniversary of India-Republic of Korea diplomatic ties. Over the years, our countries have forged a deep and wide-ranging Special Strategic Partnership encompassing political, security, trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges. This milestone anniversary serves as a testament to the enduring friendship between our two countries, and the immense potential for mutually beneficial collaboration in the years ahead. May the New Year bring joy, good health, growth and prosperity to everyone for a brighter future. Kazakh Ambassador Nurgali A. Arystanov I would like to extend warmest congratulations to all the readers of The Korea Times on the New Year 2024 and express my sincere gratitude for your crucial support and assistance in strengthening multifaceted relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea. The past year has been very eventful and fruitful for the enhanced strategic partnership between the two countries. In 2023, regular meetings took place between the leaderships of the two countries, including between Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Yoon Suk Yeol, Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Korea Park Jin, and also between the Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Erlan Koshanov and the Speaker of the National Assembly of Korea Kim Jin-pyo. In addition, trade and economic cooperation has gained momentum, with the launch of new and continuation of existing projects in cooperation with companies such as KIA, Hyundai, Samsung Electronics, Doosan Enerbility, KNOC and Lotte. People-to-people ties have been greatly facilitated. There were concerts of ethno-folklore ensembles and artists of Kazakhstan, fashion shows from leading designers of Kazakhstan, art exhibitions and screenings of Kazakh cinema. I hope that the New Year 2024 will expand the horizons for the friendly and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries. I am convinced that the Kazakh-Korean friendship will flourish even further, with the support of major stakeholders, media, think tanks and citizens. On this festive occasion, I wish you good health, personal happiness and prosperity in 2024. Happy New Year! British Ambassador Colin Crooks On behalf of the British Embassy in Seoul, I would like to wish a Happy New Year to the readers of The Korea Times. With U.K.-Korea relations the closest they have ever been, our focus for 2024 will be to use the momentum generated by President Yoon's successful State Visit to the U.K. and the signing of the Downing Street Accord to drive even closer collaboration between the U.K. and Korea across a wide range of areas. I'm particularly looking forward to the British Embassy's first-ever "Green Week" in March, which will bring together British and Korean climate, energy and sustainability experts, and the start of negotiations to upgrade our Free Trade Agreement. I'd also like to see closer people-to-people ties in that regard, we're off to a great start with this year's expansion of the Youth Mobility Scheme, which will allow up to 5,000 young Korean people to go for a two-year "working holiday" in the U.K. Cambodian Ambassador Chring Botum Rangsay The start of the New Year 2024 is a time for reflection, gratitude and renewed hope. In the face of the challenges we have encountered, and as Ambassador of Cambodia, I have witnessed the unwavering friendship and support that the two countries shared. Together, let us continue to foster collaboration and bring a new year of prosperity, joy and an abundance of opportunities for growth and success. Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy and Healthy New Year! The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he was offered substantial benefits to work against the emergence of President Bola Tinubu. Despite the offers, Wike maintained his position and actively contributed to Tinubus emergence as president. He made these statements while visiting Victor Gaidom, the South-South Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Gokana, Rivers State, on a Saturday According to Wike: When I was governor, Nigeria heard about Rivers State. That is what I have always preached. So, nobody should be afraid. I have no regrets when I stood by with my colleagues and friends that the presidency must go to the south. There was nothing I was not offered. But I said no. That is why I will continue to support the government of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. As I am going back home, I am going with the satisfaction that my friend is back This visit I came today will cause a lot of trouble. Some people will start visiting now. Follow whoknowsw road. Continue to support Victor and all your leaders who mean well for all of you. Kanyi Daily recalls that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike had expressed a renewed commitment to peace amidst the recent tensions with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The Nigeria Police Force has arrested Igwe Gift Okechukwu, a fraudulent individual posing as a doctor, involved in criminal conspiracy, organ trafficking, fraud, cybercrime, stealing, impersonation, cheating, and identity theft. The arrest took place in Nasarawa State by officers of the Force Criminal Investigation Department after the suspect was involved in fraudulent activities in Owerri, Imo State. The individual, presenting himself as Henry Ovie, a newly transferred neurologist at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owerri, deceived a point-of-sale (POS) operator, Anita Chinwe Mathias into entering a code on her POS machine. As a result, the entire sum of twenty-one million naira (N21,000,000) was withdrawn from her account, prompting her to report the incident to the police. Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed the details of the arrest during a press conference in Abuja He detailed the suspects method of operation, which included gaining the victims trust, transferring a considerable amount into her account, and later manipulating her to input a code enabling the fraudulent withdrawal. Adejobi stated that Anita, the complainant, explained how the suspect employed multiple identities and phone numbers, presenting himself as Igwe Richard and Ovie Henry. She proceeded to state that on September 11, 2023, the suspect tricked her into entering a code on her POS machine, which she did due to the trust she had for him. After the suspect left her place, she noticed that all the money in her POS account was withdrawn, which amounted to the sum of twenty million naira (N21,000,000), and all efforts to reach out to the suspect proved abortive. She also went to the Federal Medical Centre, where the suspect claimed to be working, to ask about him and she was told that none of their doctors bears such a name. Immediately, she reported the case to the Force Criminal Investigation Department Abuja, where intelligent officers swung into action to arrest the suspect, the statement reads in part. Investigations uncovered that the fake doctor changed his phone number and moved from Owerri to Lafia, Nasarawa State, where he was later tracked down and apprehended. It was discovered that the suspect is engaged in organ trafficking and has connections to a contact in Toronto, Canada. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, reaffirmed the forces commitment to fighting crimes and ensuring the safety and security of communities. The IGP reassured Nigerians that an extensive investigation is ongoing, and all those involved in this heinous act will be apprehended and charged appropriately. Kanyi Daily recalls that Police in Kano State had arrested a 24-year-old man, Chidera Ugwu, suspected of being a fraudulent medical practitioner specializing in terminating unwanted pregnancies. A 25 years old man, Alkasim Yau, has been arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, in Kano State. The man was arrested for allegedly stabbing his father to death at Tudun Yola C, area of Gwale Local Government Area of the state. The NSCDC Corps Commandant, Mohammed Falala, disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Kano on Sunday. He said the incident occurred on Friday at about 1330 hours at the residence of Alhaji Salisu Bala. The deceased father, Alhaji Yau Mohammed, brought his mentally ill son, Alkasim Yau, to Psychiatric Hospital Dawanau for medical treatment, where they booked to see a medical doctor on Saturday, Jan. 6, he said. He explained that instead of going back to Katsina, the deceased decided to sleep at his brothers house at the same address. Our investigation revealed that Alkasim became mentally ill due to his engagement in hard drug activities. On their arrival at Tudun Yola, the ill son took a sharp object and injured the father, until the intervention of the NSCDC operatives attached to the area who took the victim to a hospital and arrested the suspect, he said. He said that the family was making arrangements to return the corpse to Katsina for funeral, while the suspect and the exhibit were handed over to the Rijiyar Zaki Divisional Police Station for further investigation. Calls for Special Investigation Panel A human rights body in Nigeria, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has exposed how Osun State Government installed a deposed monarch, Mr. Adegboye Taiwo Abdulrasaq, as new Alawo with no fewer than Nine(9) documents being forged by Adegboye and in favour of himself in respect of selection process to fill the vacant Stool of Alawo in Egbedore Local Government area of Osun State , alleging Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke of protecting Adegboye against investigation on the alleged forgery scandal ravaging the Stool. The group also called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to give effect to the Appeal Court Judgement that had earlier dethroned Adegboye from the Chieftaincy Stool of Alawo as enshrined in the Section 287 sub-section (2) of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, noting that no law or civil litigation stopped the state government including State House of Assembly from investigating the mind-boggling criminal forgery scandal leveled against Adegboye Taiwo Abdulrasaq. It would be recalled that the Appeal Court, Akure Judicial Division had nullified the illegal selection/or election, appointment, approval and subsequent installation of Adegboye as new Alawo by Osun State Government, through its landmark Judgement dated 8th day of August, 2022 by stopping Adegboye from wearing any insignia or parading himself as new Alawo henceforth. It alleged that the State Government under Governor Ademola Adeleke still encouraging Adegboye to be parading himself as new Alawo in flagrant disobedience to Appeal Court Judgement which lead to the recent Governor Adelekes elder sister, Mrs Modupe Adeleke Sanni and her husband, Mr Aderemi Sanni to be conferred illegal Honourary Chieftaincy Titles by deposed Adegboye Taiwo Abdulrasaq on Saturday 9th of December,2023. CHRSJ highlighted that the said fake and forged documents were ranging from the forged of selection documents, falsification of dates of birth, identity theft of school Certificates, perjury and host of other fake and forged documents presented by Adegboye in respect of Alawo of Awo Chieftaincy Stool , reiterating the call on Governor Adeleke to institute an investigation into this weighty allegations leveled against Adegboye by setting up the Special Administrative Panel of Inquiry (SAPI) to investigate the mind-boggling forgery scandal. The ancient town of Awo in Egbedore Local Government area of Osun State, had been thrown into the Chieftaincy imbroglio since midnight of September 13th,2021, when the State Government imposed Adegboye amidst flagrant disobedience to Court pronouncements with fake and forged documents, adding that this lead to the people of the community to institute several legal Suits in the Court of competent jurisdiction. The rights group further stressed that all the processes that led to the purported appointment and illegal installation of Adegboye Taiwo Abdulrasaq as new Alawo on the 13th of September, 2021 by the Osun State Government, was faulty as due process was not followed, hence, Adegboye was a product of fraudulent process, flagrant disobedience to Court Orders and judgement, falsification of age, identity theft of educational certificates, perjury, fake and forged selection documents and therefore, should not be allowed to hold the office of Alawo of Awo, Osun State, Nigeria. According to the signed Press Statement by the CHRSJs Assistant General Secretary (AGS), Pastor Michael Agassi and copies were made available to newsmen on Sunday, alleging Governor Adeleke of being accomplice of Adegboye Taiwo Abdulrasaq in this forgery scandal by giving him government coffer without investigating the weighty criminal allegations. Pastor Agassi maintained that Adegboye was being able to manipulate the process with these enormous forgery documents with the aid of Staff of Administration Department of Egbedore Local Government, Awo, particularly, one Aina Adelu with phone number (+2347063920646), because Adegboye was the Legislative Leader of the Council at the material time in year 2020. He added that the Local Government Staff who claimed to be an observers at the fake Selection Meeting dated August 24st,2020, without having any video clip to show where the family members of Abioye Ruling House/Compound, Awo, choose Adegboye Taiwo Abdulrasaq as their candidate out of the two persons that obtained the Expression of Interest Forms to fill the vacant Stool of Alawo in the Ruling House. He further explained that all these forged documents were contained in the particulars of credentials attached by Adegboye to his Expression of Interest Form Number: 000000114, to fill the vacant stool of Alawo with the different two fake and forged Selection Minutes with three different signatures and thumbprint impressions of the Head/Mogaji and Secretary of Abioye Ruling House/Compound, Awo. It said that the two Covering Letters with the same Reference N0:ELG.396/T/28B, dated 24st August, 2020 and signed by one Mrs. Olabimtan F. Abiola+2348032249644, the Council Manager for Chairman Egbedore Local Government, Awo, having different thumbprint impression, signatures, typing characters and received stamps which one out of it,was submitted to Osun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for the Selection Process. Also having another Selection Minutes attached to the Covering Letter contained different thumbprint impression, signatures, received Stamp as Exhibit B03 which was submitted to Osun State High Court, Ede Judicial Division in HED/26/2020 to get favourable judgement dated 17th day of September, 2020. Further that the Bond to Prosecute Appeal with Appeal N0:CA/AK/58/2021 on Suit N0: HOS/84/2020 with another different signature of the Secretary, Abioye Ruling House/Compound, Awo. Explaining that the Affidavit of Statutory Declaration of Age dated 15th day of December,1999 deposed by one Rasheed Adegboye(+2348034350362), the Senior Brother of Adegboye Taiwo, made from the Federal High Court, Osogbo Judicial Division, claimed that Adegboye Taiwo was born on the 10th day of October,1980. While Adegboye also having another date of birth embossed on the West Africa Examination Senior School Certificate (WAEC-SSCE) of June 2001 with Certificate Number: NGWASSCS2682561, claiming to be belonging to Adegboye Taiwo A. that he was also born on another date of 8th day of August,1979. Stating further that the identity of the owner of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owos Notification of Results of National Diploma (ND) with Reference N0: SO1/MKT/2003/0354, awarded on 31st August, 2005 and obtained on 10th August, 2006 respectively and Higher National Diploma (HND) with the Reference N0: SO1/MKT/2003/0354, awarded on 31st July, 2008 and obtained on 14th of November, 2008 respectively and as well obtained Certificate of National Service of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) awarded on 19th November, 2008 with NYSC/RD/OWO/08/350353, were not known to belong to Adegboye Taiwo Abdulrasaq because the Two(2) Polytechnic Notification of Results and NYSC Certificate bearing the name another person called Adegboye Taiwo Abudulie So, Adegboye Taiwo just knew that he was bearing Abdulrasaq not Abudulie according to his claims in the Notification of Results and NYSC Certificate, when he wanted to contest for the stool of Alawo of Awo in Egbedore Local Government area of Osun State in the year 2020 as contained in his Expression of Interest Form Number: 000000114. He equally disclosed that Adegboye Taiwo Rasaq was wrongly and illegally appointed and subsequently installed by former Governor Gboyega Oyetola on September 13th, 2021 with obsolete, repealed, outdated and revoked 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration, instead of subsisting 1979 Alawo of Awo Chieftaincy Declaration in flagrant disobedience to Court Orders and Judgement to all the parties to restrain actions in respect to Suits HED/26/2020 and CA/AK/58/2021 on HOS/84/2020 respectively. The rights body, therefore, advised Adegboye Taiwo to honourably removed the thought of vying for the Stool with these enormous documentary forgery evidences by respecting the Appeal Court Judgement that earlier dethroned him from the Alawo Chieftaincy Stool and accept everything in good faith. Agassi, then submitted that the time of reckoning has come to ask about the evil actions perpetrated by Adegboye in respect of Alawo Chieftaincy Stool, adding that Adegboye forged aforementioned documents out of desperation, with the sole aim of outsmarting his only legitimate contender from the same Abioye Ruling House/Compound, Awo, for the Stool of Alawo of Awo, in person of Comrade (Prince) Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, the Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ). Signed: Pastor Michael Agassi Assistant General Secretary (AGS), Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ). For Enquiry from the two contenders of the Chieftaincy Stool, contact (1). Comrade Prince Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman (+2348038591504 / +2348022697573). (2). Adegboye Taiwo Abdulrasaq (+2348035163991 / +2348123241784). and (3). Bar. Kolapo Alimi (+2348060761591), Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment. All the forged documents including falsification of age, identity theft of another person Certificates, fake and forged selection documents and perjury are attached to proof the matter beyond reasonable doubt. Related These times are unsettling times for the people of Agulu community in the central senatorial district of Anambra State, the hometown of presidential candidate of the Labour party, Peter Obi. Available information indicates the community has found itself in a mess as it battles with the realization that a State contractor charged with the construction of a general hospital in the community at a contract cost of over N190million swindled the community and state government and have failed to execute the same project. According to information obtained from a leader in the community, Chief Benji Obi Mbuze Agulu, a contract for the reconstruction and refurbishment of the Agulu General Hospital was awarded to a construction company by the name, Vivid Construction Company, during the Peter Obi administration for the sum of N100million. The construction company is owned by an indigene of Agulu community who goes by the name Engineer Akpulu. The contract was awarded eighteen [18] years ago. Mbuze Agulu indicated that Engr Akpulu made away with the funds and failed to execute the project. For the duration of the Peter Obi administration, Engineer Akpulus construction firm did not mobilize to the site, and the then Governor failed to question the whereabouts of the money or the contractor. With the arrival of the Willie Obiano administration, stakeholders in the Agulu community led by Chief Benji Obi approached the then Governor, Chief Willie Obiano to intervene and assist in getting the contractor to site to execute the project. The then Governor obliged and dispatched the then commissioner of health, Dr. Joe Akabuike to Agulu to resolve the issues holding the contractor from starting the project. The then commissioner addressed a town hall meeting where the people of Agulu community were assembled. He told them that the contract sum had been paid to the contractor to execute the project and that the contractor had chosen to not execute the project, Engineer Akpulu was also seated inside the town hall with the community members. The revelation and thus confirmation at the Town Hall by Commissioner Akabuike caused a ruckus as the youths of the community under the auspices of Ogene Agulu rushed the Contractor and began to initiate what would have resulted to a severe beating of the contractor. But the contractor was protected and/or rescued by the village security personnel who were present for the town hall meeting. Engineer Akpulu was then fined N100,000 by the community as penalty for not executing the project. He agreed to pay the fine. Commissioner Akabuike under the direction of Gov Willie Obiano released an additional N45million for the project. Months after the said town hall meeting, the contractor failed to mobilize to site. The contractor, according to Mbuze Agulu, claimed to have an agreement with the then Gov Peter Obi concerning the hospital project which may have led to the non-execution of the project. The contractor did not elaborate on the nature of the agreement. But the people of Agulu being mindful of the need to rehabilitate the Agulu General Hospital returned to the drawing table to raise additional funds to enable the contractor to start and complete the project. Agulu community residents in Lagos raised additional funds approximately N50million for the said project this was during the Obiano administration. The raised fund was handed to the contractor. And yet the contract remains abandoned. Through this action, an organization led by Mbuze Agulu by the name Ogene Agulu sprung to action. They queried the non-execution of the project and the whereabouts of the monies released for the project. A sum totaling N195million. Ogene Agulu charged themselves with unearthing the truth about the missing funds. The members decided to organize a peaceful protest to raise awareness over the missing money and the abandoned Agulu General Hospital. As information of the planned protest leaked to the leaders of the Agulu community, the trajectory of the planned event took a different turn. Both the President General of the Town Union, Oliver Afamefuna and the Monarch of the town, Igwe Innocent Obodoakor working in tandem decided to stop the protest. According to Mbuze Agulu, Oliver Afamefuna and Igwe Innocent Obodoakor and other collaborators recruited the officers of the Nigeria Police Force [NPF] to stop the planned protest. Through this effect, the officers of the NPF began harassing suspected members of Ogene Agulu. Mbuze Agulu stated that his house was surrounded by mobile police men with over 24 vehicles heavily armed to the teeth. They blocked the entrance to my house, about 50 to 60 armed men, army, police, local vigilante. They were patrolling Agulu yesterday terrorizing everybody until I made a call to a higher authority who disengaged them. The operation was led by the Area Commander from the Ekwulobia police station. According to the leader of Ogene Agulu, it is the cabal consisting of Oliver Afamefuna, Igwe Innocent Obodoakor and other collaborators who made away with the contract sum [N195million], and it explains why they are battling to keep the truth from being exposed. They want to kill me. But the truth must come out. I want the State Government to know where their money is. This is the essence of what we are doing. For 18years, they ate our money and kept it a secret. I want the public to know that if anything happens to me to hold Oliver Afamefuna and Igwe Innocent Obodoakor responsible, he said. Why are they interested in this case, if they were not part of the people that ate the money. The cabal ate the money that Peter Obi released during his administration, stated Mbuze Agulu who continued that the Agulu cabals went to the extent of reporting his person to the police in Awka labelling him as anti-Soludo administration, while also simultaneously reporting him to the police in Agulu labelling him as anti-Peter Obi. In an effort to sway emotional support of the police officers stationed at the various locations away from his person. Interestingly, while the personalities in Agulu clash over the state of the hospital, the Agulu general Hospital continues to suffer undue neglect in the hands of the government and general community. To the extent it lacks essential items required to operate and maintain a hospital. Mbuze Agulu recalled visiting the hospital on one occasion and noticed an elderly woman being operated on without the necessary pain-killer to numb the pain. The medical operation was being conducted by a medical doctor from a neighbouring community in Awgbu. The elderly woman was groaning in pain. According to Mbuze Agulu, there were no surgery beds or surgery lights. I provided all those things. He continued to add that he cleaned up the surgery room, added window blinds, repainted the room, declared to the hospital that all childbirths that the hospital will be free of charge. That he will pick up the tab. I then instructed my daughter who is a medical doctor in Poland to ship some medical equipment used to administer painkillers, which she did. Other indigenes of Agulu also donated other medical equipment such as oxygen tanks. All this medical equipment is still there now. Related The management of the company producing indomie noodles has dissociated the company from company-branded truck intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Seme border conveying 1,500 parcels of cannabis sativa. The Public Relations Manager of indomie Noodles was said to have declared that no truck in the companys fleet is missing. The PRM insisted that the management has no knowledge of the truck confiscated by the Customs Service involved in illicit trade across the border with Benin Republic. ALSO READ: Customs intercept marijuana parcels concealed in human corps National Daily had earlier reported the revelation by the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Border Command, of the interception and confiscation of several contraband goods at the Seme Border axis. Some of the illegal goods were identified to include parcels of Cannabis Sativa said to be concealed in human dead body, banned cars, bags of 50kg rice, among others. The Cannabis Sativa was aid to be conveyed in a Mitsubishi Canter Indomie branded truck by the smugglers. The Seme Command Area Comptroller had said that the bus was intercepted along the Mowo/Ibeji axis of Seme border conveying 1,582 parcels of Cannabis Sativa valued over N30 million. Vice President Yemi Oshibanjo has condemned imposition and arbitrary high surcharges by shipping lines in the West and African countries. He also tasked the Union of African Shippers Council to adopt common, political and diplomatic strategies to check the operations of shipping lines servicing the ports in the sub-region. Osinbanjo made the calls on Monday in Abuja while declaring open the sub-regional summit on unfair shipping surcharges and high local shipping charges at the ports of West and Central Sub-region. The Vice President listed some of these unnecessary items to include bunker adjustment factor, currency adjustment factor, war risk surcharge, confession sub charges, peak season surcharges, extra risk insurance sub charge, freight rate surcharge, and port operation recovery surcharge. He said the surcharges amounts to huge sums of illegal capital flight from the countries of the sub-region and has been depleting their foreign reserves. He also disclosed that data obtained from the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) revealed that about N2billion is repatriated by multi-national shipping companies from reasonable of demurrage charges for Central Bank of Nigeria in each quarter of the year. READ ALSO: IYC slams Fed Govt for high port charges Attributing the poor transport infrastructure development to one of the reasons for the high port charges, he called on AU member state to prioritize development of transport infrastructure for the work-ability of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA). The Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi also condemned the unilateral manner in which transport service providers introduce and increase freight rates on the West African trade through the various surcharges. He pointed out that the federal government through its partnership with the Global Shippers Forum (GSF) has been checking claims of terrorism, piracy, armed attacks on ships and other negative events in the Gulf of Guinea to increase charges and introduce more Surcharges in Nigeria. Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Hassan Bello disclosed that over the last one year, the Council has been negotiating with shipping lines to collapse the myriad of charges to a manageable standard. He said: We have actively engaged the shipping lines in Nigeria in comprehensive negotiation on local shipping charges such that all changes must be justified and tied to measurable services and to also ensure no review of charges would be made without negotiation with NSC. President Muhammadu Buhari has assured EU that the country is capable of defeating the Boko Haram insurgents ravaging the Northern eastern part of the country. President Buhari who disclosed this while receiving Janez Lenarcic, the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Crisis Management in State House on Friday, said though the Boko Haram crisis in the North East might take a bit longer to resolve, the nation will surely overcome and move ahead. According to him, if the country was capable of fighting a 30-month civil war and also during the process re-organized the country, he wonders why people are thinking that Nigeria could not over Boko Haram insurgents. We have the experience of the civil war. I could recall the role of the military, the army, and each commander had in his pocket how to behave himself and how to allow international bodies like yourself to go round and see for themselves that people are treated in the most humane way. We have this experience and I assure you that we also have this confidence in your organisation. That is why I feel that Nigeria is capable of handling this crisis, it may take long but we are capable of handling it. The Nigerian leader also appreciated the recent meeting in Germany which deliberated on the happenings in Libya. The important thing really is weapons reaching the Sahel; the instability it is causing. Look at the casualties in Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali; Libya has a direct impact on the stability of the Sahel. As for Boko Haram, we try to disabuse the mind of the people and I think our people now understand the basic dishonesty in it. With my experience personally in the civil war, I am sure we will get over it. President Buhari further assured that the newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, will do a splendid job of managing the various humanitarian issues evolving from the Northeast: The EU Commissioner emphasized that Nigeria plays a big role in the African continent and globally in economic, social and other spheres and asked for the development of a plan between the EU and Nigeria concerning the issues in the Northeast. He said he had visited Borno State and appreciates governments efforts to end the conflict there. We would like to support your efforts. We believe all relevant actors; military, civilian as well as humanitarian should come together. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is suggesting such high level dialogue. In situations such as what we have in the northeast, international law and international humanitarian law should apply. We believe in your efforts to end the conflict; military effort alone probably will not be sufficient without identifying and addressing the socio-economic factors causing it, he stated. PV: 0 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approve $500 million in grant-based debt service relief to 25 of IMFs member countries, with Nigerias name conspicuously missing from the list of countries. The 25 beneficiaries include Afghanistan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, D.R., The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Tajikistan, Togo and Yemen. According to the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, the debt relief is part of the IMFs revamped Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT) to help address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic Today, I am pleased to say that our executive board approved immediate debt service relief to 25 of the IMFs member countries under the IMFs revamped Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT) as part of the Funds response to help address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, said IMFs Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva. According to Georgieva, the grant was provided to the poorest and most vulnerable members to cover their IMF debt obligations for an initial phase over the next six months. She noted that the fund would help them channel more of their scarce financial resources towards vital emergency medical and other relief efforts. Countries granted immediate debt service relief over an initial 6-month period on their IMF obligations can now channel more financial resources towards vital #COVID19 emergency medical and other relief efforts. She went on to urge donors to help the Fund replenish the Trusts resources and boost its ability to provide additional debt service relief for full two years to IMFs poorest member countries. Recall that the IMF had disclosed the United Kingdoms recent pledge of US$185 million as well as the US$100 million provided by Japan as part of the CCRT. Nigerias exclusion from the list has become a topic of discussion in the media space, as many are already worried about the countrys debt portfolio and the unwillingness of international organisation to provide relief at this time of the Coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile investigation has revealed that Nigeria was never part of the countries indebted to IMF. Contrary to the news going viral, Nigerias exclusion from the list should have never been debated as the West African country is not owing the Fund. The debt relief will help countries move towards achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals, which aim at halving poverty by 2015. Debt in developing countries is singled out as a principal cause of poverty, causing human suffering and misery as well as hampering economic development. A new Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Cyprian E Otoibhi, has assumed duty in Lagos state. Kehinde Mary Bada, Public Relations Officer, in a statement on Monday, said Otoibhi replaced Mr. Tajudeen Balogun who has been transferred to Zone F. In a brief handing over ceremony held at the Command headquarters in Alausa, Balogun thanked God and the Commandant General, Abdullahi Mohammed Gana, for the opportunity to serve and for the achievements recorded during his three and a half year tenure. He commended the Lagos government for providing the enabling environment through logistic support which he said, contributed immensely to the success so far recorded by the Corps. Balogun lauded the personnel for exhibiting high level of professionalism and commitment in the discharge of their duties. He urged them to extend the same level of cooperation to his successor to enable him improve on the successes recorded so far. In his address, Otoibhi promised to continue from where his predecessor stopped while charging the officers and men of the Command to respect the stipulated rules and regulations. He admonished the personnel to deal with the public with utmost respect. Prior to his deployment, Otoibhi had served in FCT, Kogi, Katsina and Bayelsa State Commands respectively. Tensions have escalated amid tit-for-tat military moves between the two Koreas along the border, but life goes on as usual for the students of Daeseongdong Elementary School, the only school inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). On Friday, five sixth-graders wearing the Korean traditional clothing, hanbok, enjoyed their unforgettable moment with parents and teachers during a graduation ceremony, which was guarded by armed soldiers from the United Nations Command (UNC) security battalion. Dozens of senior South Korean and U.S. military officials, as well as senior members of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, which oversees the 1950-53 Korean War armistice, attended the celebrated annual event in the Daeseongdong Freedom Village. The village is the only inhabited area in the 4-kilometer buffer zone separating the two Koreas, located just south of Kijong-dong, its North Korean counterpart. South and North Korea decided to build their model villages in 1955 to extol their respective superiority after the war. At the school inside of the world's last-remaining Cold War frontier, congratulatory messages were somewhat different from what ordinary elementary school students hear from their graduation ceremonies. Maj. Gen. Choi Chang-soo, the commander of the 1st Infantry Division, said the school under the jurisdiction of the U.S.-led UNC is a symbol of the bilateral alliance between Seoul and Washington. "I want the young students to grow up as adults who contribute to security and global peace," Choi said during the ceremony, attended by a group of journalists. One out of the five graduating students is a Daeseong native, while the rest of them were bused in daily from Munsan, the nearest town outside the DMZ. The school now has 30 students and 22 teachers and other staff. A total of 226 students have graduated from there since it was established in 1968. Yoon Young-hee, the school's principal, called out each of the five students' names and introduced their future dreams to special guests. "I want you to savor memories from the school as it will be hard for you to come back here after graduation," said Yoon, who retires next month after 40 years in the job. Access to the village is strictly limited to about 180 residents, who have to pass through several checkpoints when entering and leaving the area. Villagers, all of them original inhabitants and their direct descendants, must abide by a midnight curfew and spend more than eight months a year there to maintain their residential cards. They are guarded by Joint Security Area personnel while farming. In return for the inconveniences, residents pay no taxes and men are exempted from the mandatory military service. The ceremony, filled with laughter, claps and hopeful messages for the next stage in life, felt a little surreal as it was held against the backdrop of the escalating military tension along the shared border. On Friday, North Korea fired around 200 rounds of artillery shells into waters off its western coast, prompting residents on two South Korean western border islands to take shelter. In response, the South Korean military staged live-fire drills on the northwestern islands. It was the latest saber-rattling by the North after it vowed to restore all military measures halted under the 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement in late November. The agreement signed under former liberal President Moon Jae-in set up buffer zones on land, sea and air and banned live-fire drills near the border to prevent accidental clashes between the two Koreas. Since then, North Korea has been spotted restoring guard posts and forward deployed heavy arms in the DMZ, while rearming soldiers in the truce village of Panmunjom. According to military sources, North Korea has been spotted rebuilding some destroyed guard posts with concrete structures since last month and installing mines on a road connecting to the Kaesong industrial complex, once regarded as a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation and exchanges. Despite turbulent inter-Korean relations, UNC officials said they remain committed to their role of ensuring the safety of Daeseong residents and students to help them keep calm and carry on their normal life. "The great privilege for me is to be able to provide security for the villagers every single day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provide normal lives for them inside of the Demilitarized Zone," said Lt. Col. Chris Mercado, the UNC Security Battalion Commander. (Yonhap) The COVID-19 pandemic was a horrible period in history, not least for the United States, which suffered more than a million dead and at least 6.5 million hospitalizations and counting. In terms of lives disrupted, businesses ruined and urban downtowns deserted, the U.S. fared especially badly. Just imagine how much worse the pandemic could have been without the selfless determination of medical professionals who cared for the isolated, sick and dying, as well as other essential workers. No one should ever forget the sacrifices of those who rose to the occasion, from firefighters to retail sales clerks. Nor should we forget the ongoing effects among those who suffered during lockdown, lost loved ones, continue to contract new cases of the virus or struggle with lingering symptoms. A group composed mostly of Chicagoans who also believe no one should ever forget has come up with a smart plan to make sure no one ever does. We admire what they are doing. The self-titled COVID-19 Monument Commission is leading a grassroots fundraising campaign via private and corporate donations for a sculpture and outdoor park area that will provide a physical location to reflect on the pandemic and help people to heal. The all-volunteer group recently announced the winner of a global design competition, choosing a Georgia-based artist whose sculpture concept features a dandelion. The common flower is intended to reflect the global ubiquity of the disease, the starburst-like shape of the virus itself and the promise of resilience. (Those who have tried to get rid of dandelions in lawns can testify to their resilience.) The Illinois Medical District, a special-use urban zoning area with 560 acres west of the Loop, has donated land for the monument and park, in a spot open to the public, as a tribute to front-line workers and those who suffered from the illness. Fittingly, the district is anchored by four major hospitals: the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Rush University Medical Center, Stroger Hospital and University of Illinois Hospital. Construction is expected to get underway next year, with a dedication set for spring 2025. A virtual, online presence also will ensure the monument is accessible for those far removed from its physical location, according to Sally Metzler, a longtime Chicago resident and art historian who chairs the commission. While its true the latest strain of COVID-19 is much less lethal than its predecessors, it is still killing Americans at a shocking rate, accounting for 3% of deaths from all causes. That translates into more than 1,000 deaths from COVID-19 every week. Lets never forget the pandemic, and especially the heroes who helped us get through it. And lets honor them not only with a fitting monument, but also by doing everything possible to knock out this dreadful disease. Chicago Tribune Pressure group, OccupyGhana is seeking legal advice on how it can compel the Special Prosecutor to disclose the name of the alleged Ghanaian rich businessman who reportedly attempted to bribe some members of the Majority caucus in Parliament. The report of the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) regarding the investigation into the alleged attempted bribery of members of the majority caucus of the Parliament of Ghana stated that although witnesses who appeared before investigators did not divulge the name of the businessman involved, the OSP was able to obtain the information and the name of the wealthy individual on its own. However, the OSP did not disclose the name of the said businessman. Reacting to this report, OccupyGhana in a statement claims We have instructed our lawyers to advise whether we and Ghanaians have the constitutional right to information, to the name of the businessman, which the OSP inexplicably redacted from the report. If we receive advice that we are entitled to that information, we will commence the relevant proceedings under the Right to Information Act to compel the OSP to reveal the name Read the full statement below OCCUPYGHANA PRESS RELEASE Accra, 5 January 2024 Re: REPORT OF INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED ATTEMPTED BRIBERY OF A SECTION OF THE MAJORITY CAUCUS OF PARLIAMENT OccupyGhana has read with much disappointment, the report of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on the above, dated 28 December 2023. The OSPs investigation was triggered by our 3 November 2022 petition to that office to investigate the alleged, attempted bribery of the majority caucus of Parliament by an unnamed businessman. This was after both Andy Appiah-Kubi, MP and Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, MP, Majority Leader and Minster for Parliamentary Affairs, had taken turns to make these allegations. That is why we find shocking the claim by the otherwise respectable Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, MP that the only bases of his allegations, were rumours and Appiah-Kubi, MPs allegations. We find it difficult to believe that with all the resources at his disposal, the Majority Leader and Minister would trot out and repeat allegations that he now say he did not verified either beforehand or after-the-fact. Then there is the reported hostility by Appiah-Kubi, MP towards officers of the OSP and his flat-out refusal to cooperate with the investigation. What is even more shocking is the report that both Appiah-Kubi, MP (the accuser) and the unnamed businessman (the accused) apparently engaged in a rehearsed and well-choreographed joint and similar denial of the attempted bribery event. The result is that the OSP could not obtain any prosecution-worthy evidence on yet another allegation of corruption involving Parliament, an institution which has been plagued by and dogged with several corruption allegations over the years. Although there have been no charges or prosecutions, the repeated allegations that MPs engage in various acts of corruption is not one that Ghanaians can ignore. Some derisorily, and maybe with some justification, refer to our Parliament as Ghanas leading transactional centre. From time to time, some MPs end up confessing that these shenanigans happen. While examples are legion, there has been one assured result investigations lead to nothing. For example, in 2014, Alban Bagbin (then MP and now Speaker of the House) was reported to have admitted that there is evidence that some MPs take bribes and come to the floor and try to articulate the views of their sponsors. As expected, a reported parliamentary inquiry led to nothing. In 2017, some minority MPs on the Appointments Committee, led by Mahama Ayariga, MP, reported an attempt to bribed them to approve a ministerial nominee. Another reported parliamentary enquiry led to nothing, as expected. This time, two senior sitting MPs took turns to announce on radio that an unnamed rich businessman attempted to bribe a section of Parliaments majority caucus. These MPs are considered as heavy weight leaders in our politics, and the least expected of them are dignity and the courage to stand by their convictions, if they have any. They ought to be good examples for the rest of us and our children. Yet, their behaviour renders them unfit to be leaders. One would have expected them to resign in good conscience, but alas, we are stuck with such mediocrity. As the OSP indicated in the report, the case is all but dead for lack of serious evidence to prosecute; but these Honourable MPs (a phrase that is now generally accepted and understood as an oxymoron) will continue to occupy their seats and offices, and earn their salaries and even ex gratia, not caring about the damage they are causing to this country. But we are not done yet. We have instructed our lawyers to advise whether we and Ghanaians have the constitutional right to information, to the name of the businessman, which the OSP inexplicably redacted from the report. If we receive advice that we are entitled to that information, we will commence the relevant proceedings under the Right to Information Act to compel the OSP to reveal the name. Corruption, like fungi, thrives in darkness and shadows, taking advantage of secrecy, self-imposed redactions, unjustified self-censorship and lack of accountability. The corruption fungus abhors and cannot stand sunlight, and we will do all in our civil power to direct the power of light unto this matter. It just might produce the further evidence that the OSP requires to revive the dead.0 Source: OccupyGhana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Akufo-Addo has made a lighthearted remark in a message to the nation to commemorate Constitution Day on January 7. He mentioned that his main opponent in the 2020 elections (former President John Mahama) has not yet congratulated him on his victory, even though it has been three years since the election. "On a lighter note, three years on, I'm still waiting for my main opponent in the 2020 elections to congratulate me on my victory," President Akufo-Addo said in jest. The President has stressed the importance of maintaining and safeguarding the country's democracy. "By common consent, all well-meaning Ghanaians agree that the democratic form of government is the most preferable and we must do everything possible to guarantee the longevity of the Fourth Republic," he said. Read the full text below By common consent, all well-meaning Ghanaians have agreed that the democratic form of governance is the most preferable, and we must do everything possible to guarantee the longevity of the 4th Republic. I have spent my adult life fighting for our individual and collective rights, and it is, therefore, gratifying to note that the nation's adherence to democracy has not waned. We know that there are no quick fixes to the challenges confronting us, and, as we have seen in recent times, democratic structures of governance are capable of accommodating the most difficult of circumstances. We have, happily, turned the corner on our economic situation, as we experience the rebound of the national economy, and we will continue to work strongly at the problems facing the nation, knowing that the solution, every four (4) years, rests, in part, on the sovereign will of the Ghanaian people, when you exercise your power to choose freely your leaders to manage the affairs of the country. Democracies are grounded on viable elections, and, this year, like we have done on eight (8) other preceding occasions, we will go to the polls to elect the President and my successor. No true democrat can disregard the importance of elections and the sanctity of the ballot. It must, thus, be in our collective interest to ensure that the rules and regulations for the conduct of this year's elections are fair and transparent, and that we all develop respect for them, a respect that should not be a function of whether you win or lose. All stakeholders, that is the Electoral Commission, the political parties and their leaders, the electorate and citizenry, should work to assure the consolidation of Ghanaian democracy, and help us maintain our pride of place on the continent as a model of democracy in Africa. At the end of it all, there should be no lingering doubt about the legitimacy of the election, and the winning candidates, on the conclusion of the process, should receive the unalloyed support of all. That is how we can strengthen our democracy and the peace and stability of our nation. On a lighter note, three (3) years on, I am still waiting for my main opponent in the 2020 elections to congratulate me on my victory. I swore an oath on 7th January 2017 and, again, four (4) years later, on 7th January 2021, to be faithful and true to the Republic of Ghana, and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. I shall continue to do just that. It will not be under my watch that any adventurer will seek to torpedo the democratic path on which we are embarked. I will help see to it that we have a free, fair and transparent election in December 2024. You have my word! Ghana will be the victor of such an outcome, not any individual party or candidate. Nonetheless, I urge you, my fellow Ghanaians, to continue to embrace the basic values of the Constitution, founded on the principles of democratic accountability and respect for the rule of law, human rights and individual liberty and freedom, which the great majority of us believe must form the bedrock of our national development and individual prosperity. Yet alongside this freedom, we must, with the same passion and commitment, uphold our individual and collective responsibility to contribute proactively toward the greater good of society. This is the vision of a free society. No society can be truly free unless its citizens feel the need to embrace both liberty and duty, hard work and compassion. Ghana is considered a beacon of democracy and stability in Africa, and the celebration of Constitution Day should inspire us, Ghanaians, even further, to hold on to this enviable status. Once again, I thank Almighty God, and, you, the Ghanaian people, for giving me the opportunity to serve you these past seven (7) years. I have not taken it lightly. I remain committed to the mandate you freely gave me, and will use the last year of my stay in office to do all in my power to continue to help create a free and prosperous nation of opportunities for all. The Battle is the Lord's!! Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Deputy National Communications Director of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), George Krobea Asante, has urged all aspiring parliamentary candidates in the party to conduct issue-based campaigns ahead of the elections on January 27, 2024. He wants the aspirants to keep the unity of the party in mind during their campaign as any form of personal attacks, character assassination, name-calling and unfounded allegations will be used against the party in the general elections. "This is an internal party exercise and whatever we say about the other will be used against the party in the general elections. Therefore, I am entreating all to be measured and circumspect with our public pronouncements," he said. Mr Krobea Asante made the call in a congratulatory message to commend the leadership of the party and aspirants for an incident-free, transparent, peaceful and smooth vetting process. "The manner in which the entire process was conducted and managed was excellent and highly commendable and we must applaud the leadership", he said. The NPP ended the three-day vetting process on Friday, January 5, 2024 and has slated the primaries in the constituencies where it has sitting MPs on January 27, 2024. It is the last phase of internal elections as part of preparations for the December 7, 2024 general election. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In this image provided by Coleman Fredricks, coal miners unearthed a mammoth tusk in May 2023 at the Freedom Mine near Beulah, N.D. The large scoop of an electric shovel dug the tusk out of the earth and dropped it into a truck, which later dumped the load, revealing the tusk. The North Dakota Geologic Survey subsequently visited the mine and dug for more bones at the site, finding more than 20 mammoth bones, now wrapped in plastic for their protection as paleontologists work to preserve them. Credit: Coleman Fredricks via AP The first person to spot it was a shovel operator working the overnight shift, eyeing a glint of white as he scooped up a giant mound of dirt and dropped it into a dump truck. Later, after the truck driver dumped the load, a dozer driver was ready to flatten the dirt but stopped for a closer look when he, too, spotted that bit of white. Only then did the miners realize they had unearthed something special: a 7-foot-long (2.1 meters) mammoth tusk that had been buried for thousands of years. "We were very fortunate, lucky to find what we found," said David Straley, an executive of North American Coal, which owns the mine. The miners unearthed the tusk from an old streambed, about 40 feet (12.1 meters) deep, at the Freedom Mine near Beulah, North Dakota. The 45,000-acre (18,210-hectare) surface mine produces up to 16 million tons (14.5 million metric tons) of lignite coal per year. After spotting the tusk, the crews stopped digging in the area and called in experts, who estimated it to be 10,000 to 100,000 years old. Jeff Person, a paleontologist with the North Dakota Geologic Survey, was among those to respond. He expressed surprise that the mammoth tusk hadn't suffered more damage, considering the massive equipment used at the site. "It's miraculous that it came out pretty much unscathed," Person said. North Dakota Geologic Survey Paleontologist Jeff Person examines mammoth bones wrapped in plastic in a drawer at the Geologic Survey office in Bismarck, N.D., Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Coal miners at the Freedom Mine near Beulah, N.D., dug up a 7-foot mammoth tusk in May 2023. Paleontologists called to the site subsequently found more than 20 mammoth bones overall. Credit: AP Photo/Jack Dura A subsequent dig at the discovery site found more bones. Person described it as a "trickle of finds," totaling more than 20 bones, including a shoulder blade, ribs, a tooth and parts of hips, but it's likely to be the most complete mammoth found in North Dakota, where it's much more common to dig up an isolated mammoth bone, tooth or piece of a tusk. "It's not a lot of bones compared to how many are in the skeleton, but it's enough that we know that this is all associated, and it's a lot more than we've ever found of one animal together, so that's really given us some significance," Person said. Mammoths once roamed across parts of Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Specimens have been found throughout the United States and Canada, said Paul Ullmann, a University of North Dakota vertebrate paleontologist. The mine's discovery is fairly rare in North Dakota and the region, as many remains of animals alive during the last Ice Age were destroyed by glaciations and movements of ice sheets, Ullmann said. Other areas have yielded more mammonth remains, such as bonebeds of skeletons in Texas and South Dakota. People even have found frozen carcasses in the permafrost of Canada and Siberia, he said. Mammoths went extinct about 10,000 years ago in what is now North Dakota, according to the Geologic Survey. They were larger than elephants today and were covered in thick wool. Cave paintings dating back 13,000 years depict mammoths. Ullmann calls mammoths "media superstars almost as much as dinosaurs," citing the "Ice Age" film franchise. This ivory tusk, weighing more than 50 pounds (22.6 kilograms), is considered fragile. It has been wrapped in plastic as the paleontologists try to control how fast it dehydrates. Too quickly, and the bone could break apart and be destroyed, Person said. North Dakota Geologic Survey Paleontologist Jeff Person sits behind a 7-foot mammoth tusk on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, at the Geologic Survey office in Bismarck, N.D. Coal miners unearthed the tusk in May 2023 at the Freedom Mine near Beulah, North Dakota. Paleontologists subsequently discovered other mammoth bones at the site. The tusk and other bones are wrapped in plastic for their protection as the paleontologists work to preserve them. Credit: AP Photo/Jack Dura Other bones also have been wrapped in plastic and placed in drawers. The bones will remain in plastic for at least several months until the scientists can figure how to get the water out safely. The paleontologists will identify the mammoth species later, Person said. The mining company plans to donate the bones to the state for educational purposes. "Our goal is to give it to the kids," Straley said. North Dakota has a landscape primed for bones and fossils, including dinosaurs. Perhaps the best known fossil from the state is that of Dakota, a mummified duckbilled dinosaur with fossilized skin, Ullmann said. The state's rich fossil record is largely due to the landscape's "low-elevation, lush, ecologically productive environments in the past," Ullmann said. North Dakota's location adjacent to the Rocky Mountains puts it in the path of eroding sediments and rivers, which have buried animal remains for 80 million years or more, he said. "It's been a perfect scenario that we have really productive environments with a lot of life, but we also had the perfect scenario, geologically, to bury the remains," Ullmann said. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Police officers remove the debris from a fire at a market in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. A series of powerful quakes set off a large fire in the town of Wajima, as well as tsunamis and landslides in the region. Credit: Kyodo News via AP Aftershocks threatened to bury more homes and block roads crucial for relief shipments, as the death toll from the earthquakes that rattled Japan's western coastline this past week rose to 126 on Saturday. Among the dead was a 5-year-old boy who had been recovering from injuries after boiling water spilled on him during Monday's 7.6 magnitude earthquake. His condition suddenly worsened and he died Friday, according to Ishikawa prefecture, the hardest-hit region. Officials warned that roads, already cracked from the dozens of earthquakes that continue to shake the area, could collapse completely. That risk was growing with rain and snow expected overnight and Sunday. The death toll on Saturday rose to 126. Wajima city has recorded the highest number of deaths with 69, followed by Suzu with 38. More than 500 people were injured, at least 27 of them seriously. The temblors left roofs sitting haplessly on roads and everything beneath them crushed flat. Roads were warped like rubber. A fire turned a neighborhood in Wajima to ashes. More than 200 people were still unaccounted for, although the number has fluctuated. Eleven people were reported trapped under two homes that collapsed in Anamizu. For Shiro Kokuda, 76, the house in Wajima where he grew up was spared but a nearby temple went up in flames and he was still looking for his friends at evacuation centers. Police officers conduct a search operation around a burnt market in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. A series of powerful quakes set off a large fire in the town of Wajima, as well as tsunamis and landslides in the region. Credit: Kyodo News via AP "It's been really tough," he said. Japan is one of the fastest-aging societies in the world. The population in Ishikawa and nearby areas has dwindled over the years. A fragile economy centered on crafts and tourism was now more imperiled than ever. In an unusual gesture from nearby North Korea, leader Kim Jong Un sent a message of condolence to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Saturday. Japan earlier received messages expressing sympathy and promises of aid from President Joe Biden and other allies. Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that Japan was grateful to all the messages, including the one from North Korea. Hayashi said the last time Japan received a condolence message from North Korea for a disaster was in 1995. In this image from a video provided by Osaka Municipal Fire Department, a woman, on a stretcher, who was found trapped under her destroyed house is rescued 72 hours after a strong earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. The woman was conscious and sent to a hospital, according to Osaka Municipal Fire Department. Credit: Osaka Municipal Fire Department via AP A resident checks her destroyed house in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Mondays temblor decimated houses, twisted and scarred roads and scattered boats like toys in the waters, and prompted tsunami warnings. Credit: Kyodo News via AP A burned-out building and a vehicle are seen after a fire in Wajima in the Noto peninsula, facing the Sea of Japan, northwest of Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, following Monday's deadly earthquake. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae A resident carries belongings in Suzu, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Mondays temblor decimated houses, twisted and scarred roads and scattered boats like toys in the waters, and prompted tsunami warnings. Credit: Kyodo News via AP A road is damaged by Monday's earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Mondays temblor decimated houses, twisted and scarred roads and scattered boats like toys in the waters, and prompted tsunami warnings. Credit: Kyodo News via AP People affected by a strong earthquake receive food in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Mondays temblor decimated houses, twisted and scarred roads and scattered boats like toys in the waters, and prompted tsunami warnings. Credit: Kyodo News via AP In this image from a video provided by Osaka Municipal Fire Department, a woman, center, who was found trapped under her destroyed house is rescued 72 hours after a strong earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. The woman was conscious and sent to a hospital, according to Osaka Municipal Fire Department. Credit: Osaka Municipal Fire Department via AP A resident checks her destroyed house in Suzu, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Mondays temblor decimated houses, twisted and scarred roads and scattered boats like toys in the waters, and prompted tsunami warnings. Credit: Kyodo News via AP Rescuers conduct a search operation in Suzu, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Mondays temblor decimated houses, twisted and scarred roads and scattered boats like toys in the waters, and prompted tsunami warnings. Credit: Kyodo News via AP A man walks between collapsed houses in Suzu, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Mondays temblor decimated houses, twisted and scarred roads and scattered boats like toys in the waters, and prompted tsunami warnings. Credit: Kyodo News via AP Members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces stay in their vehicles in front of a landslide that has shut down a road in Wajima in the Noto peninsula, facing the Sea of Japan, northwest of Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, following Monday's deadly earthquake. Credit: AP Photo/Hiro Komae Police officers conduct a search operation at a burnt market in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. A series of powerful quakes set off a large fire in the town of Wajima, as well as tsunamis and landslides in the region. Credit: Kyodo News via AP Rescuers conduct a search operation at the site of a landslide in Anamizu town, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Mondays temblor decimated houses, twisted and scarred roads and scattered boats like toys in the waters, and prompted tsunami warnings. Credit: Kyodo News via AP Firefighters conduct a rescue operation at the site of a landslide in Anamizu town, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Mondays temblor decimated houses, twisted and scarred roads and scattered boats like toys in the waters, and prompted tsunami warnings. Credit: Kyodo News via AP Along Japan's coastline, power was gradually being restored, but water supplies were still short. Emergency water systems were also damaged. Thousands of troops were flying and trucking in water, food and medicine to the more than 30,000 people who had evacuated to auditoriums, schools and other facilities. The nationally circulated Yomiuri newspaper reported that its aerial study had located more than 100 landslides in the area, and some were blocking lifeline roads. The urgency of the rescue operations intensified as the days wore on. But some have clung to life, trapped under pillars and walls, and were freed. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain India's solar observation mission on Saturday entered the Sun's orbit after a four-month journey, the latest success for the space exploration ambitions of the world's most populous nation. The Aditya-L1 mission was launched in September and is carrying an array of instruments to measure and observe the Sun's outermost layers. India's science and technology minister Jitendra Singh said on social media that the probe had reached its final orbit "to discover the mysteries of Sun-Earth connection". The United States and the European Space Agency have sent numerous probes to the center of the solar system, beginning with NASA's Pioneer program in the 1960s. Japan and China have both launched their own solar observatory missions into Earth's orbit. But the latest mission by the Indian Space Research Organization is the first by any Asian nation to be placed in orbit around the Sun. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed it as yet another "landmark" in the country's space program. "It is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists," he said on social media. "We will continue to pursue new frontiers of science for the benefit of humanity." Aditya, named after a Hindu Sun deity, has traveled 1.5 million kilometers (932,000 miles) from the Earthstill only one percent of the distance between humanity's home planet and the star at the center of our solar system. It is now at a point where the gravitational forces of both celestial bodies cancel out, allowing it to remain in a stable halo orbit around the Sun. The orbiter, which reportedly cost $48 million, will study coronal mass ejections, a periodic phenomenon that sees huge discharges of plasma and magnetic energy from the Sun's atmosphere. These bursts are so powerful they can reach the Earth and potentially disrupt the operations of satellites. The mission also aims to shed light on the dynamics of several other solar phenomena by imaging and measuring particles in the Sun's upper atmosphere. India has a comparatively low-budget space program, but one that has grown considerably in size and momentum since it first sent a probe to orbit the Moon in 2008. In August last year, India became the first country to land an uncrewed craft near the largely unexplored lunar south pole, and just the fourth nation to land on the Moon. India became the first Asian nation to put a craft into orbit around Mars in 2014, and it is slated to launch a three-day crewed mission into Earth's orbit later this year. It also plans a joint mission with Japan to send another probe to the Moon by 2025 and an orbital mission to Venus within the next two years. 2024 AFP Less than half of South Korean students think unification is necessary ATLANTIC CITY The city is extremely and cautiously optimistic that the boiled water advisory issued Friday will be lifted by sometime Sunday afternoon, Mayor Marty Small Sr. said Saturday. Small held an afternoon news conference to update the public with city officials, including Cliff Keen, the deputy executive director of the Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA), Scott Evans, the citys fire chief and emergency management coordinator, and Jarrod Barnes, the citys director of health and human service. We met earlier with MUA officials who gave us some encouraging news, and the encouraging news is that the Department of Environmental Protection from the state of New Jersey was satisfied with their 1:30 a.m. flushing of their system, said Small. We have permission to begin testing the water, and after the test is complete, they have to be driven to a lab. The turnaround time is 18 hours for a reason for the results. So we are extremely and cautiously optimistic that hopefully sometime tomorrow afternoon the boiling water advisories be lifted, and, you know, things can return back to normal. The advisory was for Atlantic City only. It does not apply to surrounding towns. The city issued the boil-water emergency advisory Friday after a processing issue Thursday night into Friday morning. Sludge from the settled basin that was to be recycled to the water treatment plant caused turbidity, which is the cloudiness of water due to the particles in the filters to rise above required standard. That essentially meant that the water treatment filters received more iron than they could handle, which made the water cloudy and created a small potential for the water to have contaminants that could cause harmful effects on people, Keen said Friday. They (Department of Environmental Protection) asked for more information this morning, and through a very nice, collaborative working relationship, we have been able to move forward with the sampling that is taking effect as we speak right now, Keen said at Saturdays news conference, which the city streamed live on its Facebook account. Keen said residents should still boil their water for consumption purposes, like cooking or drinking. Barnes added to make sure the water was boiled to 212 degrees Fahrenheit before using it for any types of ingestion. People could also use the water to shower, bath, wash clothes and feed plants, which were misconceptions city officials wanted to clear up. All those things that you would normally do, just doing consumption is not something wed recommend at this time, added Keen. The MUA has purchased more than 500 cases of bottled water to make available to Atlantic City residents, with more shipments coming in the next couple of hours, while supplies last, Small said. Residents living around the Atlantic City Expressway to Maine Avenue, could go to the fire station on Maryland and Atlantic Avenue to pick up water. Residents living from the expressway to Albany Avenue could go to the fire station on California and Atlantic avenues for their water supplies. Again, I want to let our residents know, visitors know, that this is a very serious matter. Were taking every action to assist the MUA through their mitigation methods, and more importantly notifying our residents, Evans said. He asked residents to check on their neighbors, in addition to notifying others who may not be aware of the boil-water emergency, in particular the elderly, those who dont have a cell phone, and those without access to the internet or social media. Evans added that the moderate to heavy winds, heavy rains and flooding due to Saturdays weather was another hazard people needed to be aware of. So he urged people that didnt need to travel to stay home, and those that were, to be careful. Evans also warned people of the storm coming into the island on Tuesday, which is expected to bring more rain, winds, flooding and beach erosion. So we are not out of the woods yet. Mitigation methods have been taken and now as we await the testing, we will continue to press on that please follow the instruction of boiling your water, and just maintain situational awareness, Evans said. Were going to continue to work with MUA to ensure that our residents stay safe, and stay informed. Staff Writer John Russo contributed to this report. ATLANTIC CITY A 14-year-old boy died Saturday after being shot in the head Friday night, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said. Another teenager, a 16-year-old boy, suffered a gunshot wound in the incident, the Prosecutor's Office said Sunday in a news release. At 10:48 p.m. Friday, police responded to the 3300 block of Atlantic Avenue in response to reports of a disturbance involving numerous people and possible gunshots, the Prosecutor's Office said. Officers found the two gunshot victims on the ground. The 14-year-old, a city resident, was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus, with a gunshot wound to his head. He died at 3:27 p.m. Saturday, the Prosecutor's Office said. The cause of death was pending an autopsy by the Southern Regional Medical Examiner's Office. The 16-year-old, also a city resident, was taken to AtlantiCare for a gunshot wound to his leg. He was treated and released, the Prosecutor's Office said. This is the third killing in Atlantic City of 2024. Two people were found dead in separate incidents New Year's Day. One of them has resulted in an arrest. Police and the Prosecutor's Office are investigating. Anyone with additional information can call the Prosecutor's Office at 609-909-7666 or visit acpo.tips. People also can call Atlantic County Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit crimestoppersatlantic.com. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County. BRIGANTINE Since the owner of the former Conoco gas station on Atlantic Brigantine Boulevard remains unresponsive about addressing issues stemming from the blighted property, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has gotten involved, Mayor Vince Sera said. Sera said that with the help of state Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, the DEP has issued fines against the owner concerning the sites underground gas tanks, in addition to a number of other issues. The amount of the fines was not disclosed. The citys major concern is that there might be some environmental issues with those tanks, and we want to make sure that the situation is properly addressed, Sera during the last City Council meeting. Theyve leveraged a number of fines now against the owner. Were continuing to push that the DEP forces the owner to remediate the tax and any environmental issues that are there, so theyre taking us through the process. The gas station is owned by Las Vegas-based Agre Holdings LLC % Pontus Capital. It bought the property from Bronson Oil Fee Holdings LLC in 2008 for $800,000. Since the gas station closed in 2021 after the DEP took administrative action against it, the property has been seen as an eyesore by both residents and city officials. Four tattered, exposed gas pumps that some visitors still try to use remain there, as well as a workers hut filled with old goods and a red-and-white Conoco gas sign. The property sits right next to the Dunkin and is one of the first things people see as they enter the barrier island. As I said, we have a number of investors who are interested in buying that property, but theyve all said the same thing: Theyre not going to buy it if theres environmental issues. So we want to make sure that we get that taken care of, Sera said. We have our faith in them (the DEP), that theyre going to make things right there. Will provide more patient as soon as its available. A Davenport man is facing charges after he allegedly lied on a federal firearms transaction record in order to purchase four firearms in 2022, Davenport Police said. Breon Anthony Humphrey-Wellington, 35, is charged in Scott County District Court with three counts of providing false information in acquiring a weapon. Each of the charges is a Class D felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of five years. According to Davenport Police Detective Cory Hughes, on Jan. 5, 2022, Humphrey-Wellington purchased a Century Arms Draco pistol from G&G Retailers in Davenport. When he was asked to complete ATF Form 4473, Humphrey-Wellington lied about being a marijuana user and provided a false address. On April 22, 2022, Humphrey-Wellington again went to G&G Retailers in Davenport and purchased a Heritage revolver and a Charter Arms revolver. When completing ATF Form 4473, Humphry-Wellington said he was not a marijuana user and provided an address at which he did not reside. On Aug. 27, 2022, Humphrey-Wellington went to G&G Retailers and purchased a Standard Thunderstruck pistol. When completing ATF Form 4473, he again said he was not a marijuana user, and provided an address at which he did not reside. While some states have legalized or decriminalized marijuana for medical and personal use, under federal law the possession and use of marijuana remains illegal. People who use illicit drugs are prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. Humphrey-Wellington also is charged with reckless use of a firearm, a simple misdemeanor that carries a jail sentence of up to 30 days. According to the arrest affidavit, on Nov. 16, 2023, Detective Hughes obtained a search warrant for Humphrey-Wellingtons Snapchat account. A video was located dated July 3, 2023, that was taken from 11 p.m. to 11:08 p.m. In the video, Humphrey-Wellington recorded himself driving a gray Pontiac sedan. He was in possession of a .40-caliber Glock handgun. Humphrey-Wellington stuck the gun out of the cars sunroof and fired it seven times into the air. The cellular location data maps indicated that he was in the area of West 4th and Marquette streets and the time of the shooting. Humphrey-Wellington was arrested Friday and booked into the Scott County Jail. He also is charged with possession of a controlled substance, a serious misdemeanor that carries a jail sentence of up to one year. During a first appearance on the charges Saturday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Catherine Cartee scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for Jan. 16. Humphrey-Wellington was released from the Scott County Jail on Saturday after posting 10% of a $6,000 bond through a bonding company. With just more than a week to go until the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses, GOP hopefuls have ramped up their campaign schedules in the state. And on Saturday, Scott County was a popular place for Republican candidates three presidential hopefuls campaigned with their endorsers. Ohio biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy arrived at the Quad Cities Outreach Center in Davenport for a 9 a.m. event, introduced by former state Senate President Jake Chapman and Ramaswamy's wife, Apoorva, a throat surgeon. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigned with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas at a noon-ish event on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. And Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the UN, campaigned with New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, in the afternoon at the Tangled Wood restaurant in Bettendorf. Sapphire Lutheran Homes will receive over $3-million in grant funding for the rehabilitation of The Manor to be 60 affordable homes for seniors. The Montana Department of Commerce granted over $9.4 million to increase the number of affordable homes in six Montana communities. The funding is through Commerces Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Housing Trust Fund (HTF) programs. Cheryl Cohen, Montana Housing Division Administrator with the Department of Commerce said it is critical that all Montanans have a safe and affordable place to call home. Thats why Commerce will continue to support programs that help increase the number of affordable, attainable homes across the state, Cohen said. This funding will provide homes for Montanans who are at risk of homelessness, in lower wage-earning jobs and those experiencing special needs. Montanas CDBG Housing grants help local governments fund new construction or rehabilitation of single-family or multi-family homes that benefit Montanans earning less than 80% of the area median income. The HOME Program is designed to create affordable homes for lower earning households. The HTF is an affordable housing production program that complements existing federal, state and local efforts to increase the supply of safe and affordable homes for the most vulnerable households living in Montana. All three programs are financed from federal funds allocated to Commerce from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Through Commerces housing programs, the awarded funds will be used to build new and rehabilitate 485 affordable homes in Montana. Hamilton will receive $750,000 of CDBG funding, along with $1,500,000 of HTF and $1,900,000 of HOME funding for the rehabilitation of The Manor 60 affordable homes for seniors. Cole Harden, Regional Senior Officer of Sapphire Lutheran Homes, said the grant awards will preserve 60 units of affordable housing for seniors in Hamilton for many years to come. The funding will also allow us to provide an updated and energy efficient housing solution for seniors who currently call The Manor home, he said. We are excited about the upcoming transitions that will take our aging building and transform it into a modernized asset for the community. Hamilton City Planner Matthew Rohrbach said it is important to bring money into the community. We worked with The Manor as the pass-through for that grant, Rohrbach said. The Citys grant was CDBG for $750,000 to rehabilitate The Manor senior apartments and make them deed-restricted affordable housing. Thats in the line of affordable housing preservation. He explained that with a CDBG grant a city, council or Tribe has to apply. We can act as a pass-through, Rohrbach said. The city is the applicant it is going to the city but we are just a pass-through for the grant. It is all good news. We are just playing our role in trying to more of these housing dollars to the community. Other communities included in the Montana Department of Commerces grants are Butte, Billings, Helena, Missoula and Kalispell. In Billings, Mitchell Court LLLP will receive $1,650,000 of HOME funding for construction of the Mitchell Court Apartments creating 32 affordable homes for families and individuals. Butte Silver Bow County will receive $750,000 of CDBG funding for the rehabilitation of the Aspen Place Apartments insuring 68 affordable homes for families and individuals. In Helena, United Housing Partners LLC will receive an additional $947,232, for a total of $2,526,194 of HTF funding, to support the construction of Twin Creeks Apartments creating 62 affordable homes for families and individuals. Additionally, Accessible Space, Inc. will receive $1,200,000 of HOME funding for the rehabilitation of the Queen City Estates making 24 affordable homes for households with individuals with disabilities. In Missoula, Homeword, Inc. will receive $1,500,000 of HOME funding for the rehabilitation of the Creekside Apartments insuring 161 affordable homes for families and individuals. An emerging, tick bite-related allergic condition is raising concern among state health experts, prompting a Virginia legislator to introduce a bill requiring the Virginia Department of Health to track and report cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) may be a meat-lovers worst nightmare: one moment, enjoying a burger at a cookout with friends; the next, rushing to the emergency room with anaphylactic shock. That is how Ben Sanderford, 39, of Chesterfield County, found out he had AGS, which causes the human body to react allergically to a sugar molecule found in mammalian meats, dairy and other products. Sanderford said he hosted a barbecue at his house in June 2017, a few days after he had discovered a tick on his body. Shortly after the barbecue, he said, he got really itchy and (his) throat started to close. I felt my body shutting down, Sanderford said. His wife rushed him to the emergency room, where he said he received treatment that saved his life. A short while later, blood tests came back positive for an alpha-gal-specific type of immunoglobulin E, an antibody that had reacted to the presence of the mammalian sugar molecule alpha-gal. I learned the hard way, Sanderford said of discovering that he is one of what the CDC estimates is up to 450,000 Americans who have dealt with the little-known syndrome since 2010. Cases of AGS have been increasing steadily in recent years, so much so that Del. H. Otto Wachsmann, R-Sussex, has introduced a bill for consideration in the 2024 legislative session that began Wednesday. If passed, the bill would mandate the VDH to report cases of AGS to the CDC in the same way that it reports tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. AGS really changes your life, Wachsmann said. He would know. He dealt with the symptoms and countless complications of AGS for three years, and he is worried that the condition could become rampant in his largely rural district, where hunting and other outdoor activities are popular, he said. What is alpha-gal syndrome? Dr. Julia Murphy, a state public health veterinarian at the VDH, said AGS is an allergic condition that the human body develops when it is directly exposed to alpha-gal through the bloodstream. People are exposed to alpha-gal all the time, Murphy explained: any time they eat red meat, consume dairy or even interact with substances like gelatin. And while that sort of contact with the sugar does not appear to trigger an immune response, alpha-gals direct introduction into the bloodstream can cause the body to panic, Murphy said. The lone star tick, which Murphy said is found in abundance throughout Virginia, appears to be the main driver of AGS. Lone star ticks with alpha-gal in their saliva can inject the sugar into the bloodstream when they bite, stimulat(ing) the immune system to create antibodies against (it). That immune response can then become an allergy, such that the next time you eat meat, your body will react to alpha-gal as if it is a foreign substance, Murphy said. But despite all that is known about AGS, there is still much that is not known. For example, it is not clear how long a person with AGS will experience symptoms. For some, symptoms clear up after a few months and life can, more or less, return to normal. But for others, the condition can linger indefinitely sometimes for years, with no end in sight. Experts also are not sure why there is such a broad range in the severity of reactions from person to person a range that runs from mild heartburn to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Once you have alpha-gal, your future is somewhat uncertain, Murphy said, meaning there is no clear-cut course of treatment or timeline for recovery. For some period of time we cant really tell you how long you will have to be careful, on a daily basis, about what you consume. The lone star menace Murphy said the geographic distribution of AGS tracks closely with the distribution of the lone star tick, which is common across Virginia, especially in areas of lower elevation. The ticks are identifiable by the white dots, or lone stars, on the center of their backs. They are aggressive biters often concentrated in grassy meadows, woodlands, locations with heavy leaf fall and other areas below 1,500 feet. If Texas were not already the Lone Star State, Virginia would be, Murphy said of the ticks significant presence in the state. Experts are still working to figure out how the lone star tick picks up alpha-gal, how long the tick must be attached to a body in order to contaminate it and whether the tick must have a blood meal in order to introduce the sugar into the bloodstream. Theres a lot were still getting a handle on, Murphy said. The first ... work on this really began in earnest about 20 years ago. Murphy said the best approach to managing AGS is prevention: wearing protective, tick-repellent gear and light clothing while in natural tick habitats, or avoiding those habitats altogether. She also said people who have recently ventured into tick-inhabited areas should thoroughly check their clothing and bodies afterward and should shower as soon as possible. Those who have been bitten by ticks should remove them, but not throw them away, Murphy said. The ticks should be kept for identification, and can even be sent to the VDH for analysis. Life with AGS Wachsmann said a constituent in Franklin recently sent him a letter detailing the difficulties of alpha-gal, and it struck a key note with (him) given his own experience. He developed AGS after being bitten by multiple ticks while mowing, so he is familiar with the hardships associated with the condition. His symptoms were moderate, he said mostly rashes and swelling. But he explained that not being able to eat ice cream, trying to get used to almond milk, (exercising) extreme caution while eating (and) dissecting menus at restaurants came with a heavy emotional toll. Wachsmann also described himself as one of the lucky few who have fully recovered from AGS. Others have dealt with the condition for much longer and have little to no immediate hope of improvement. Sharon Forsyth, of Washington, D.C., developed AGS after a 2019 trip to see rare butterflies in Virginia. The syndrome has affected her dramatically, she said. She faces the widely known issues she cannot eat meat or even be present when meat is cooking. But Forsyth also stressed some of the lesser-known consequences of her condition. Forsyth said she had to carefully research and switch household and personal care products to avoid alpha-gal soap, toothpaste, cosmetics and other household supplies can all contain the sugar. The lifestyles of everyone in her home had to change alongside hers, she said. Even worse, Forsyth said people with AGS struggle to access medical treatment that is safe for them. By far, the greatest issue is health care, Forsyth said. We react to lots of medical products. Medical supplies that can contain alpha-gal include vaccinations, heart valves, adhesive bandages and liquid medicine capsules. Certain treatments and therapies for cancer, blood clots and venom exposure present risks as well. If you have a patient getting cardiac surgery, whats safe for them? Our providers are really struggling to care for us, Forsyth said. Forsyths experience prompted her to create a website to share information about AGS and establish a support group for people with the condition. That support group has around 4,000 members, she said, but is hardly the largest such group. Deirdre Westerhoff, who contracted AGS while living near Farmville, said she has had the syndrome for over 14 years. Much like Forsyth, Westerhoff has had to overhaul her consumer habits completely. I ended up having to change everything my system was exposed to in, on and around me, said Westerhoff, who also started a support group for people with AGS. Forsyth and Westerhoff also said it can be very difficult to figure out whether certain products contain alpha-gal; the list of ingredients can be indecipherable and companies are not always responsive to requests for information. There needs to be more awareness, support and further education of both the medical community as a whole and community outreach for the public to bring awareness to this life-changing and potentially life-threatening condition, Westerhoff said. The way forward Forsyth said she suspects that many more people have had AGS than have been diagnosed. She pointed to one study, published by Global Cardiology Science and Practice in 2019, that found that the prevalence of alpha-gal allergen positivity in Virginia was as high as 18%. Another study, published by the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in 2018, suggested that AGS could be a leading trigger of U.S. anaphylaxis cases that have a definitive cause. While sensitivity to alpha-gal does not necessarily mean a person has AGS and will react if exposed to the sugar, Forsyth said the prevalence of alpha-gal antibodies means the syndrome is grossly underdiagnosed. If you think you may have developed IBS or a rheumatological disorder, it may actually be (AGS), Forsyth said. So (Wachsmanns bill) is absolutely critical, Forsyth added. Theres a lot we dont know, and we absolutely need (reported) numbers. Murphy said she could not comment on pending legislation, but noted that AGS has caught the attention of public health experts and that data indicates Virginia is in the top five states for AGS cases. There is still a lot of research that needs to be done in this space, Murphy said. But this is a growing concern. Best places to live for people who love the outdoors Where you should live if you love the outdoors #50. Naperville, Illinois #49. Bridgeport, Connecticut #48. Arlington, Virginia #47. Fort Collins, Colorado #46. Chicago #45. Corona, California #44. Santa Ana, California #43. Alexandria, Virginia #42. Riverside, California #40. Provo, Utah #39. Pasadena, California #38. Philadelphia #37. Glendale, California #36. Washington D.C. #35. Manchester, New Hampshire #34. Spokane, Washington #33. Burbank, California #32. Everett, Washington #31. Denver #30. Boulder, Colorado #29. Santa Clara, California #28. Hayward, California #27. Orange, California #26. Sunnyvale, California #25. Tacoma, Washington #24. Thousand Oaks, California #23. San Francisco #22. Long Beach, California #21. Jersey City, New Jersey #20. Salt Lake City #19. Torrance, California #18. San Diego #17. Berkeley, California #16. Anaheim, California #15. Costa Mesa, California #14. Vancouver, Washington #13. Reno, Nevada #12. Oakland, California #11. Stamford, Connecticut #10. Kent, Washington #9. Irvine, California #8. San Jose, California #7. Cambridge, Massachusetts #6. Boston #5. New York City #4. Bellevue, Washington #3. Portland, Oregon #2. Los Angeles #1. Seattle On Oct. 22, Sheri Prupis son Jonathan was in a catastrophic car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down and with limited use of his hands. Jonathan a professional chef, husband and father to an 18-month-old baby saw his life change instantly, Prupis said. The lives of his family members and loved ones changed, too. Its overwhelming to navigate, said Prupis, who is originally from New Jersey but now lives in Henrico County. Prupis needed information on how to help Jonathan and his wife manage his condition. On Sunday, Prupis was at the Weinstein JCC in Henrico to attend the inaugural Disability Expo organized by the Friendship Circle of Virginia, a nonprofit that aims to create an inclusive community by facilitating friendships and social opportunities for people with and without disabilities. The expo featured 40 different groups and organizations united by a common goal: connecting people with various disabilities with available resources and services across Virginia. When we think about disability, we often come into it with our own lens, said Sarah Kranz-Ciment, 42, of Richmond. Kranz-Ciment, the executive director of the Friendship Circle of Virginia, planned the event with assistance from her staff, host Weinstein JCC and sponsor Markel. We dont always think of (disability) as this big umbrella, Kranz-Ciment explained, but people with disabilities span all ages and walks of life. And sometimes, those disabilities can be invisible. Kranz-Ciment said mental illnesses, learning disorders, allergies and chronic pain are just a few examples of disabilities that may not be immediately evident to others. With so many people experiencing some kind of disability, Kranz-Ciment stressed the importance of gathering all of the available information into one place. There are so many resources in the community, she said. Being able to have one place where you can get information from birth all the way to seniors, that includes everything from mental health, to senior living, to accessible equipment ... to have it all in one place is such a huge need for families. Kranz-Ciment is no stranger to the struggle to find help. She said her son has been diagnosed with ADHD, and her mother is navigating the early stages of dementia. Trying to find services (and resources) for a child with ADHD and a mom ... who needs social experiences in one place is hard, and we dont always know where to go, she said, so events like the Disability Expo are critical. The expos vendors included representatives from the United Spinal Association, a nonprofit that supports and advocates for wheelchair users across the country. Prupis said the knowledge and connections she has gained from the nonprofit have been instrumental in helping her son. They are people who actually understand his specific injury and what kind of resources and help he needs, she said, and they were also able to connect (Jonathan and his wife) with another couple where the husband is also in a wheelchair. Forming those kinds of relationships is vital, said Kate Blackwell of Chesterfield County, who works for the Virginia chapter of the United Spinal Association. Blackwell represented the nonprofit at Sundays Disability Expo. We provide pair support ... and peer mentors ... to come alongside newly injured folks, Blackwell said. One such mentor is Blackwells husband, Jason Blackwell, who has been in a wheelchair since 2002. Jason Blackwell met Jonathan in the hospital after the car accident and established a relationship that is still growing. Events like (the expo) are so important because there are so many resources ... in the state of Virginia, but we need to get the word out, Kate Blackwell said. So many people dont even know where to begin. Kranz-Ciment said the event had been a success and would be the first of many. The families who walked through here havent heard of at least half the places that are here, and they need these services, she said. This is just the beginning. Recognize any of these famous people visiting Richmond? The storm system expected to bring a wintry mix of precipitation to a wide section of the eastern U.S. over the weekend produced gray skies and steady showers for the Richmond region on Saturday, with some snow to the north. Between 1 and 2 inches of snow were reported in the Winchester and the mountainous areas west of the Shenandoah Valley. Richmond Times-Dispatch meteorologist Sean Sublette said snow had been expected in the valley near Staunton and Harrisonburg, but it failed to materialize. Warm air moved in more quickly and there was effectively no snow at all, Sublette said. Temperatures in the Richmond area stayed above the 40s on Saturday. Even if it had snowed in Richmond, it may not have been likely to remain on the ground. For the most part, the storm did what was expected in Richmond, Sublette said. As of 2:15 p.m., 2/3-inch of rain had fallen in Richmond. With temperatures creeping up, freezing rain turned to plain cold rain before the storm left the region, he said. The Virginia Department of Transportation warned motorists to beware of icy spots in the Salem region and to watch for wet roads that could freeze overnight. Virginia crews began pretreating roads on Friday. Greg Carbin, chief meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said precipitation is expected to move into Pennsylvania and upstate New Jersey before spreading to parts of New York and New England through Sunday, with snow totals of up to 12 inches. Were keeping a close eye, especially on Boston. They could pick up quite a bit of snow. Most areas in interior New England should see anywhere from half a foot to a foot of snow with this event before it starts to wind down, Carbin said. In Massachusetts and portions of Rhode Island, the weather service declared a winter storm warning from 4 p.m. Saturday through 1 a.m. Monday, with snow accumulations of 6 inches up to a foot and winds gusting as high as 35 mph. The weather service predicted similar levels of snow in portions of Maine and New Hampshire, with slightly less 3 to 6 inches in areas of Vermont. Before Saturdays system, a snowfall drought had been setting records across the eastern U.S. For the number of consecutive days with less than an inch of snow, Philadelphia reached 705 days through Friday beating the prior record of 661 days that ended Dec. 15, 1973. New York City went 691 days through Friday, outstripping the prior record of 383 days that ended March 21, 1998. Baltimore reached 707 days through Friday, a record, with a prior record of 672 days that ended Dec. 25, 2012. Sublette said the Richmond area can expect more precipitation next week, including 1 to 2 inches of rain on Tuesday. That will be followed by colder weather, he said. So snow lovers need not give up, Sublette said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Another rainy Saturday across the area, with rain developing this morning before tapering off tonight. Precipitation will start as a wintry mix across the piedmont. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect over these areas for light freezing rain and sleet this morning. pic.twitter.com/8WCNsbxwmJ NWS Wakefield (@NWSWakefieldVA) January 6, 2024 PHOTOS: Ice on the James River over the past 70 years A critical look at 30 years of allies' attempts to curb N. Korea's nuclear ambitions This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first North Korean nuclear crisis. Three decades are long enough to look back critically on what happened during this time and to analyze what went wrong with South Korea and the United States regarding their joint, yet failed, efforts to end the Norths nuclear program. It all began in March 1993 when North Korea threatened to pull out from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). After a flurry of bilateral diplomatic efforts, the U.S. and North Korea eventually signed the Agreed Framework the following year which called for freezing Pyongyang's nuclear program in exchange for economic assistance. The deal was praised as a diplomatic breakthrough. However, peace was short-lived. Tensions erupted again in 2002 when the North made the bombshell announcement that it had a highly enriched uranium program to produce the material necessary to manufacture nuclear weapons. The situation has gone from bad to worse since then. North Korea withdrew from the NPT in 2003 despite international condemnation; conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, which was followed by five more tests up to 2017; and launched several different types of missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It is now assumed that the North has ICBMs capable of carrying nuclear warheads that can reach the mainland U.S. A variety of sanctions and diplomatic engagements were introduced over time to persuade the North to halt its nuclear program. But none of these carrots nor sticks succeeded. Rather, North Korea has advanced its nuclear and missile programs to produce sophisticated atomic weapons that pose a greater threat to international security. Some experts are calling for an arms reduction deal, stressing that denuclearization of the North has become unrealistic. Such an idea was addressed publicly in December last year when a U.S. media outlet reported what former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is gearing up to run for a second term in November, has in mind regarding North Korea. According to the report, Trump is contemplating a plan to freeze North Koreas nuclear program in return for economic incentives, while allowing the North to retain the nuclear weapons it already has in its arsenal. Trump has denied the report. In a show hosted by Voice of America streamed on YouTube on Jan. 7, Robert Soofer, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, made a similar remark. My own personal view is that its going to be difficult to get them to give up their nuclear weapons so now we must treat North Korea as a deterrence problem and we can limit the number of nuclear weapons they ultimately deploy is an easier deterrence problem to solve, he said. His remark indicated that the allies policy goal of denuclearizing the North has failed. In retrospect, persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear program is a job easier said than done, if not completely unrealistic. South Korean and U.S. officials should have known the intrinsic risks of dealing with North Korea, a country operated based on a very different political system. Unlike Seoul and Washington where presidential elections are held regularly to elect political leaders who replace their predecessors, Pyongyang is a dynastic autocracy where the leadership is passed on from father to son. Since 1993 when the first North Korean nuclear crisis rattled global politics, there have been five different U.S. presidents until the incumbent President Joe Biden took office four years ago. And there were four government changes from Democrat to Republican and vice versa. During the same period of time, in South Korea where a sitting president is not allowed to seek reelection for a second term, six presidents have governed the country one after another before President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in May 2022. There were also four government changes from conservative to liberal and back again. Compared to constant leadership changes in South Korea and the U.S., North Korea has had only three leaders from 1993 till the present, including current leader. All three are from the same family, as the current leader Kim Jong-un was destined for power after the sudden death of his father, Kim Jong-il, who also inherited the leadership from his father, Kim Il-sung, after the latters death following a heart attack. Leadership changes in North Korea have not affected its nuclear weapons program, and this has been strengthened following the ascendancy of Kim Jong-un. But in South Korea and the U.S., government changes influenced policy approaches to North Korea. Despite their shared goal of denuclearizing the North remaining intact, the way of dealing with the reclusive regime has changed a lot depending on who has the top job. In South Korea, for example, the zig-zagging on North Korea policy has been explicit and its direction has moved from one extreme to the other, depending on which leader was in office. The allies have wasted their time due to government changes in Seoul and Washington and the ensuing policy modifications, if not downright shifts. Meanwhile, North Korea has taken advantage of these inconsistencies among its adversaries, buying itself enough time to remain focused on its weapons of mass destruction programs. To avoid repeating the same mistake, the allies need to contemplate introducing measures that can guarantee policy consistency on North Korea. What is a life worth? Its a question no reasonable person can answer. But theres a more difficult question: What is the life of a child with all its endless potential worth? Many of you might answer incalculable or priceless. Virginia lawmakers would disagree. Many readers are probably unaware that Virginia has a medical malpractice cap, a limit on how much an individual may receive as the result of any medical malpractice case. A judge can only award $2.6 million (a portion of which pays attorney fees and costs), no matter how grievous and clear-cut the medical error, no matter if a jury of their peers determines the victims deserve many times more for their pain and suffering. It sounds like a lot of money, but I remind you of your (presumed) answer that a childs life is priceless. I know from experience that most parents would gladly and without hesitation hand over $2.6 million and every other worldly possession, even their own life, to give their child another chance at theirs. The 2-year-old boy whose photo you see is Artemis Harrison McRae, my son. He died at a Virginia hospital in November 2022. A traveling nurse in the emergency department administered 1,000 milligrams of Tylenol through his IV instead of the 175 milligrams a boy his size should have received. We had traveled past other hospitals to go to one of the best childrens hospitals around for what turned out to be a case of appendicitis. What should have been a routine procedure turned into a nightmare we will never wake from. The error was caught days later, only after I realized what might have happened and demanded the staff check the machine that had administered the fatal dose. Though we did not know it until much later, it was already too late for Artemis. We spent nearly two weeks in the hospital trying to coax our son back from the brink of death, watching him slowly fade away. Artemis liver failed, and the resulting swelling in his brain left his mother and me with an unimaginable decision. Do we try to pull our son through this to live out his life unthinking, unfeeling, unsmiling, never knowing love or how to feed or clothe himself or do we let him go? We chose the latter. Artemis passed away in my arms nearly 24 hours after his breathing tube was removed. We had one last night with our child. After two weeks of hell, there were no more medical alarms, just the occasional nurse coming in to assure us Artemis felt no pain. One last night of cuddles, just like we used to do. If we had brought Artemis home, the emotional turmoil of seeing our child view life from the sidelines would have been accompanied by a lifetime of medical bills necessary to keep him alive and comfortable. Even though we were prepared to shoulder that burden, we felt it would be unfair to Artemis. We made the decision to let our son go. But I would not hold the slightest judgment on any parent who decided to save their child, consequences be damned. Even when it is clear where the fault lies, Virginias medical malpractice cap still applies. Even when the party accepts responsibility for the injury, and the insufficiency and injustice of the cap is acknowledged by all parties, the cap still applies. If Artemis had lived, do you think $2.6 million would have been nearly enough to keep him comfortable for the rest of his life? With the lifelong medications, procedures and specialized care he would have required, the idea is laughable. Virginias medical malpractice cap protects medical staff and facilities and the companies who insure them from the repercussions of their actions. I dont want to see doctors under fire with frivolous lawsuits, unable to perform their jobs for fear of litigious patients. Most medical staff do incredible work. One of the people I respect most in this world is a doctor who did everything in his power to save Artemis life, well beyond the scope of his job. He personally delivered the good news when there was any, celebrating with us as we clung to hope, then cried with us when we had to face the inevitable. Another pediatric ICU doctor answered every one of our questions, knowing we were untrusting and terrified. She guided us through the whole ugly process. She stayed with us until the very end, ensuring Artemis felt no pain, crying with our family gathered around the hospital bed. I want to protect these good people, not punish them. The cap does nothing to prevent frivolous lawsuits against good doctors who make small mistakes. Someone who sues for a minor bed rash after visiting the hospital is going to sue for hundreds or thousands, not millions. Many of these cases may never even go to trial. We have judges and juries to determine the validity of a lawsuit and whether penalties are awarded. Virginia politicians appoint the judges who preside over these cases. Presumably, they have been vetted and proven capable of making these important decisions involving large sums of money. However, those same politicians decided those judges are not to be trusted to decide what is fair and just in medical malpractice cases. A judge would be trusted to award tens of millions of dollars in a personal injury case involving a drunk driver, but the same individual is stripped of that power once that case involves a doctor. Most importantly, Virginias cap endangers patients. If a hospital and their insurers know they will only ever have to pay $2.6 million (a drop in the bucket for large hospitals), no matter how grievous the error, they are likely to become complacent. Maybe if they knew the penalty was only restricted by what a judge deems worthy, they would double-, triple- and quadruple-check their systems before signing off on a policy or program that allows a healthy 2-year-old to receive an overdose. They would have safeguards in place to ensure no nurse could make such a mistake. The hospital where Artemis died has since instated protocols to prevent a repeat of our tragedy and is working with us to honor Artemis memory. Artemis lived a short but wonderful life full of love and laughter. As much as we long to have him with us, we do not regret our decision, and we can look back on his life as the happiest two years we could possibly know. Artemis is gone. All the money in the world wont bring him back. But I know there are families who need the funding to care for their child who may have been injured or disabled through a medical error. They should not be denied the choice to keep their child by their side. I cannot begin to describe the unending, unrestricted love a parent feels for their child. That love is only intensified in loss. I cannot put a price on those feelings. I cannot put a price on what I would give to hold Artemis in my arms again. A childs life is priceless. End Virginias medical malpractice cap. Close 03-28-1977 (cutline): Miss Charlotte Swann manages Williamsburg SPCA Kennel last year, only 30 per cent of dogs here found homes. 06-24-1976 (cutline): Beth Vetrovec, 4-year-old daughter of Dr. and Mrs. George W. Vetrovec, has a difficult time choosing among the cats up for adoption at the SPCA. 05-10-1950: Richmond SPCA 11-08-1973 (cutline): Mrs. John VanHorn (left), and Mrs. Woodrow W. Shaffer, members of the SPCA Women's League, watch two orphans, a cat and dog, square off for a momentary confrontation over the handknit winter coats for sale in the Pet Corner Booth at the annual Arts and Crafts Sale ...Proceeds will go to support the homeless animals. 05-23-1968 (cutline): Mrs. V.R. Ludgate, meber of SPCA Women's League. 11-14-1959: SPCA receives new vehicles. Drive Joseph C. Smith with dog next to new vehicle. 05-02-1960 (cutline): The Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals decided this year that it would seek members during Be Kind to Animals Week, which opened yesterday. Among applicants for membership was Deborah, a four month old chimpanzee which turned over 50 cents to Mrs Samuel b. Taylor, SPCA secretary here. 06-14-1979: Richmond SPCA 03-22-1981 (cutline): Marge Bailey is president of Southside SPCA. 04-26-1991: Rich Dallmeyer inspects a dog for fleas and parasites. 05-02-1991 (cutline): The Atkins family--mom, Kimberly; dad, Richard; sons Dustin and Ricky--shop for a puppy to adopt at the Richmond SPCA, 1600 Chamberlayne Ave. 03-09-1970 (cutline): Leslie E. Lewis stands ready at his truck for weekend calls. 12-11-1959: Dog awaits adoption during the holidays. From the Archives: The SPCA in Richmond A look back at the Richmond area SPCA. 03-28-1977 (cutline): Miss Charlotte Swann manages Williamsburg SPCA Kennel last year, only 30 per cent of dogs here found homes. 06-24-1976 (cutline): Beth Vetrovec, 4-year-old daughter of Dr. and Mrs. George W. Vetrovec, has a difficult time choosing among the cats up for adoption at the SPCA. 05-10-1950: Richmond SPCA 11-08-1973 (cutline): Mrs. John VanHorn (left), and Mrs. Woodrow W. Shaffer, members of the SPCA Women's League, watch two orphans, a cat and dog, square off for a momentary confrontation over the handknit winter coats for sale in the Pet Corner Booth at the annual Arts and Crafts Sale ...Proceeds will go to support the homeless animals. 05-23-1968 (cutline): Mrs. V.R. Ludgate, meber of SPCA Women's League. 11-14-1959: SPCA receives new vehicles. Drive Joseph C. Smith with dog next to new vehicle. 05-02-1960 (cutline): The Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals decided this year that it would seek members during Be Kind to Animals Week, which opened yesterday. Among applicants for membership was Deborah, a four month old chimpanzee which turned over 50 cents to Mrs Samuel b. Taylor, SPCA secretary here. 06-14-1979: Richmond SPCA 03-22-1981 (cutline): Marge Bailey is president of Southside SPCA. 04-26-1991: Rich Dallmeyer inspects a dog for fleas and parasites. 05-02-1991 (cutline): The Atkins family--mom, Kimberly; dad, Richard; sons Dustin and Ricky--shop for a puppy to adopt at the Richmond SPCA, 1600 Chamberlayne Ave. 03-09-1970 (cutline): Leslie E. Lewis stands ready at his truck for weekend calls. 12-11-1959: Dog awaits adoption during the holidays. Correction Jan. 8, 2024, 2:19 p.m.: Roanoke experienced a 50% increase in gun-related homicides. An earlier version of this story contained an incorrect percentage. The story has been updated. In 2023 Roanoke police reported a record-setting 31 homicides, for a rate thats nearly six times the national average. But Police Chief Scott Booth told city council Tuesday that, overall, crime is down in the Star City. We are down in overall violent crime by about 4.76%, almost 5% overall, so thats good, said Booth, who has been on the job for about two months. But its bad when we look at our homicides, and our domestic violence aggravated assaults, and our aggravated assaults are up slightly. Booth presented preliminary 2023 crime statistics showing that, compared to 2022, the number of homicide incidents were up by about 44%, the number of domestic aggravated assaults were up by about 40% and the number of aggravated assaults were up by about 2%. In terms of shootings in Roanoke in 2023, the statistical picture doesnt look all that different from 2022. Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 11 in 2022, Roanoke saw 63 incidents in which people were struck by gunfire, according to a statistics report prepared by the police department. In the same time frame in 2023, the city saw 62. Thats one less shooting with injuries and/or fatalities. But while the gun-related incident numbers didnt change much last year, the fatality count certainly did. In 2022, Roanoke police reported 19 homicides, 18 of which were gun-related. In 2023, the department reported 31 homicides, 27 of which were gun-related. Thats a 50% increase in gun-related killings. Across the nation and the state, annual firearm-related homicide rates appeared to trend down in 2023, even though they werent back down to pre-pandemic and pre-George Floyd protest levels. In 2019, 4.39 homicides occurred for every 100,000 U.S. residents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2020, that annual rate jumped to 5.84, then 6.32 in 2021 and 5.9 in 2022. According to provisional and partial data, the national homicide rate in 2023 dropped to 5.33 per every 100,000 people, the CDC reported. Roanokes preliminary rate in 2023 was approximately 31 per 100,000 residents. That is a record for Roanoke, but below the national leaders in homicides: New Orleans, Cleveland, Baltimore, Memphis and Washington, D.C., where 274 people were killed for a homicide rate of 40 per 100,000 people, The Washington Post reported. By way of comparison, Richmond, with more than twice the population of Roanoke, had a homicide rate of 25.9 in 2022, according to state police data. The Virginia Department of Health hasnt released annual homicide rate data yet for 2023, according to its website. But it has reported a statewide decline in firearm injury emergency department visits. According to the departments firearm injury surveillance dashboard, 7.4 of every 10,000 emergency department visits statewide in 2022 were due to firearm injuries. In 2023, that annual rate dropped to 6.3. In Roanoke in 2022, there were 14.7 firearm injuries per every 10,000 visits. Last year, that rate dropped to 12.7. In 2019, before the pandemic, Roanokes rate was about half that 6.4 firearm injuries per every 10,000 emergency department visits. But in a couple of major Virginia cities, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported increases in homicides from 2022 to 2023. According to data collected through September, Hampton saw 15 homicides in 2022 but 26 in 2023. Newport News saw a jump from 23 to 36. Like in those localities, Roanokes homicide count increased from 2022 to 2023. But Booth said Roanokes clearance rates tell a more hopeful story. Of the citys 22 gun-related homicide incidents in 2023, the chief told council Tuesday, 11 have been closed by an arrest. The rest are still under investigation. Thats 50% of those cases that are cleared by arrest, Booth said. I believe two of those have already gone to court, and both of those have gleaned convictions. Of the citys 31 killings, Booth said 28 were under the investigation of Roanoke major crimes unit detectives. Twenty-one of the 28 are closed by arrest or are awaiting indictments, the chief said. This results in a 75% clearance rate on homicides thus far. The national clearance rates for homicides are about 53%, so were well above the national average. The police chief said at the December meeting of the Gun Violence Prevention Commission, or GVPC, that he wants his department to focus on the citys northwest quadrant in 2024. Forty-three of the 62 gunfire incidents that resulted in injuries and/or fatalities between Jan. 1 and Dec. 11 last year occurred in that zone, according to the departments latest statistics report. Our intervention and our prevention efforts, we need to be in northwest Roanoke, Booth said. It overwhelms me that we have that portion of our community that is hurting that much, and we have to be there for them. But even as the police department narrows its focus, city officials recognize that the nature of the violence is changing. Tim Harvey, a GVPC member and pastor at Oak Grove Church of the Brethren, said Tuesday that hes observed a shift in the last five years from gang-related violence to conflict resolution by homicide. Weve seen an increase, I think, certainly, in dating violence. But weve seen a significant shift to interpersonal violence amongst adults, said Vice Mayor Joe Cobb, who chairs the GVPC. I think we need to continue to work collectively on violence interruption and what that looks like. Several projects and programs funded by the city through the commission are focused on preventing crimes in the future by providing resources and support to city youth. But Mayor Sherman Lea, who voiced impatience at the beginning of 2023 after police reported two juveniles were shot outside a northwest Roanoke convenience store, suggested a more immediate remedy. In June, the mayor and the rest of city council approved changes to the citys existing youth curfew code, lengthening the hours of the night at which juveniles under the age of 16 are not permitted to be on the streets without an adult. City code explains that if a police officer finds that a minor is in violation of the curfew, the officer shall cause a report thereof to be made to the judge of the juvenile and domestic relations court. But Roanoke Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Presiding Judge Frank Rogers said at the GVPCs December meeting that his court hasnt seen a single case since the city ordinance was revised. Maybe that means kids arent on the street anymore after curfew. I kind of doubt that, but Ive not seen the cases, Rogers said. Im not sure thats the solution. Its certainly not one that we have been asked to the address as a court. Clerk of Court Michelle Ong Esparagoza confirmed Wednesday that in the past, officers sometimes wrote summons for juvenile curfew violations. Id say maybe in the last six months, we havent received any that I can recall, she said. Of the 27 people gunned down in Roanoke in 2023, two were 16-year-old boys: Jacari Reynolds, shot in his bedroom in June, and Jamar Muse, shot in August on Patton Avenue Northwest. Booth said Tuesday that two suspicious infant deaths are also under investigation. According to the police departments latest statistics report, 17 juveniles between the ages of 6 and 18 were struck by gunfire as of Dec. 11. Of those 17, four died. Ten juveniles between the ages of 11 and 18 were identified as shooting offenders, according to the same report. Four of those 10 were associated with homicides. In 2022, between Jan. 1 and Dec. 18, 10 juveniles between the ages of 11 and 18 were struck by gunfire. Only one of those 10 died, according to a December 2022 police department statistics report. And only one juvenile between the ages of 16 and 18 was identified as an offender. Plenty of people have said plenty of things over the years about former (and perhaps future) Roanoke mayor David Bowers. Those who follow local politics know hizzoner served in the post from 1992-2000 and again from 2008-2016. Arguably, hes the best parade-marshal and ribbon-cutter the Star City has ever seen. At one time, Bowers was a staunch Democrat. That was before he became a staunch independent. Then in September, he announced he had joined the party of Donald Trump. Now Bowers is a staunch Republican. And it didnt take long for him to drop potent hints he might wage a GOP campaign for mayor this year. The seat is open, because Mayor Sherman Lea announced hes not seeking reelection. Thats why I honored Bowers with a 2023 Dano Award in the subcategory, Most Amazing Political Transmogrification. (Since 2009 when I began awarding Danos, Bowers has racked up more than any other individual. In 2021, I named a legal pot plant after him, too.) But one thing nobody should ever say about our ex-mayor is that he lacks grace, manners or a sense of humor. As evidence, we have his emailed response gratefully accepting the honor. Hi Dan and thank you for one of the 2023 awards, Bowers wrote. I had to look up the definition of transmogrification and the best example given was the story of the frog becoming a prince Ha. Ha, indeed! Hopefully, the most recent award will help put Bowers back in city hall and thus, back in contention for a 2024 Dano. Rich Alvis of Christiansburg thanked me for honoring Reps. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt, Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, and Bob Good, R-Campbell, with Danos for Stalwartly Sticking By a Lying Lawmaker. The award noted their votes against expelling a fellow Republican, New Yorker George Santos, from Congress. Santos won election to an open seat in 2022 while fibbing about his background and (allegedly) lying about the source of his campaign war chest. More recently hes been charged with federal felonies of conspiracy, wire fraud, false statements, falsification of records, aggravated identity theft and credit card fraud. After the bipartisan House Ethics Committee recommended Santos expulsion, most Republicans (and nearly all Democrats) in the House agreed. But not Cline, Griffith and Good. They cast votes to keep the alleged fraudster on Capitol Hill. Good called it a matter of due process because Santos has yet to face trial for any of the alleged crimes. The other two congressmen ignored my inquiries as to why they voted to retain Santos. In an email, Alvis questioned whether the three reps would have voted to keep George Santos in the House if he was a Democrat? Would Bob Good have voted to retain Democrat Santos for reasons of due process? Alvis asked. Griffith and Cline, you remember, voted not to certify the Biden victory election results in the early morning of January 7th, 2021, despite any proof of voter fraud. Would they have voted against certification if the loser was a Democrat? Just wondering. Deena Flinchem of Christiansburg appreciated the Freedom from Rainbows Dano awarded to Roanoke County businessman Damon Gettier. The real-estate broker persuaded the Roanoke County School Board to ban rainbows and Pride flags from county classrooms by attacking staff at Glen Cove Elementary during Mays monthly meeting. At that, Gettier blasted Glen Cove employees as sexual predators masquerading as teachers and staff and accused them of child abuse, grooming and indoctrination of students. A few years back, it was forbidden for a person to wear a shirt or to display a sticker or flag with the Confederate flag on it, Flinchem wrote. I wondered then how long it would be before the rainbow flag got the same treatment and how that treatment would be received. Now we know. Flinchem added: As someone who supported gay marriage long before either of the Clintons or Obama did, I have no problem with a rainbow flag or decoration; but neither do I have any problem with the Confederate flag as long as nobody sporting either is using it to intimidate or force others into some sort of compliance. The Danos werent the only things readers wrote and called about. Another hot topic was Gail Dehaeseleer, the longtime waitress who served patrons of The Roanoker Restaurant for 30 years. Currently, she works at Renees Family Restaurant, 1340 E. Washington Ave. in Vinton. In June, Dehaeseleer was laid off temporarily from a schools cafeteria job. But until December, the Virginia Employment Commission ignored her application for unemployment benefits. Suddenly last month, the VEC paid her $2,500 after I and an aide to incoming state Sen. Chris Head started asking questions about her ignored application for benefits. Unfortunately, by then, Dehaeseleer was deep in debt. With little income last summer, she survived on credit cards. Tuesday, I noted that generous people who read that column helped Dehaeseleer pay the debts she had incurred. At Renees Family Restaurant, they mailed or dropped off personal donations to Dehaeseleer. Roughly 30 individuals contributed and three of their checks were for $1,000 each. Great praise to you all for looking out for one of the salt of the earth, wrote Butch Johnstone of Botetourt County. Seeing Gail on the front page, and the accompanying follow-up, was one of the greatest gifts of this season! That column was a very uplifting beginning to the year, Bonny Lee of Roanoke agreed in a voicemail message. Gails a very nice person. I remember her waiting on me numerous times at The Roanoker. And they werent the only readers who felt that way. Thank you so much for the article you wrote in the paper on Gail, wrote JoAnne Justis of Roanoke. She deserves every bit of it, and we thank you for your love and care of the Roanoke Valley. Last but not least, I heard from Carol Moon. In the voicemail message she left, Moon was clear that she dislikes almost anything I write that involves politics. But shes my biggest fan whenever Im helping readers solve problems, she added. The article reporting on Gail Dehaeseleer, the waitress at Renees, was wonderful and heartwarming, Moon said in the voicemail. Its so wonderful to hear that people rallied around her. Keep up the good work! By Rebecca Black, PA The UK Government has been urged to step in over the ongoing political paralysis at Stormont. Devolved government in Northern Ireland has been effectively collapsed for almost two years amid DUP protest action over post-Brexit trading arrangements. Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said his party will not re-enter Stormont until unionist concerns over the Windsor Framework are addressed. Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris convened multi-party talks at Hillsborough Castle last month to discuss a 3.3 billion (3.8 billion) financial package for Stormonts return. Stephen Farry claimed Northern Ireland is falling apart, with massive pressures in terms of public sector pay (Liam McBurney/PA) However, without the participation of the DUP, the institutions have not been able to be reconvened. Mr Heaton-Harris then said the talks with the DUP over the Windsor Framework had concluded, but Mr Donaldson has indicated those talks will resume in the coming days. Alliance Party deputy leader Stephen Farry said his party has a proposal to allow the next biggest party to take on the office of deputy First Minister in the absence of either of the two larger parties Sinn Fein and the DUP. Alliance is currently the third largest party at Stormont. Weve had a situation over the past 25 years where the Assembly has only been operational for 60% of the time, so clearly there is a problem in terms of how the structures are working, he told the BBC. Were talking about continuing powersharing and preserving the principles of the Good Friday Agreement, but learning the lessons of what happened in the past. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said talks on the Windsor Framework are due to resume (Liam McBurney/PA) For example, Sinn Fein took the assembly down for three years in recent times and now the DUP have collapsed the institutions for almost two years. Mr Farry said Northern Ireland is falling apart with massive pressures in terms of public sector pay with a series of strikes taking place by workers over pay and a major day of action planned for January 18. Something has to give in in this particular regard, he said. We dont have any institutions, we dont have any stability. Northern Ireland is careering into deeper and deeper crisis, and indeed if we end up in a situation where this is allowed to continue for more and more months we are risking yet another year of decline, another year of a health service falling backwards trust in politicians going backwards. The stakes here are incredibly high. Meanwhile, Mr Donaldson told the Belfast News Letter that the DUP is holding out for an outcome that restores Northern Irelands place within the UK and its internal market. He said the talks will be under way with the UK government within the next few days but declined to comment on what stage those talks are at. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA Cannabis worth an estimated 611,000 has been seized in three locations across Ireland this week. Two of the seizures were made with the assistance of detector dogs Enzo and Harley. Revenue said as a result of risk profiling, its officers examined parcels at a premises in Dublin on Thursday. They found 14.2kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of almost 285,000 in parcels which had originated in Thailand and were destined for addresses in Dublin. In a separate operation on Thursday at a premises in Athlone, Revenue officers examined parcels originating from France and Spain which were destined for Dublin and Galway addresses. Based on risk profiling and with the assistance of Enzo, they seized 11.8kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of 236,000. In a third separate operation carried out this week, Revenue officers seized 4.5kg of herbal cannabis at Shannon Airport in parcels originating from the USA and destined for Clare, Limerick and Cork addresses. The seizures were made as a result of risk profiling and with the assistance of Harley, and the drugs have an estimated value of 90,000. Revenue said the seizures are part of its ongoing operations targeting the importation of illegal drugs. BISHOPVILLE, S.C. Duke Energy recently donated $1,250 to CareFirst Carolina Foundation for its food pantry in Bishopville. CareSouth Carolina, through its fundraising arm, CareFirst Carolina Foundation, has been operating the Bishopville resource center and food pantry for over a year and has seen its clientele grow. Many challenges and needs have come with that growth. Duke Energy does not want to see anyone go hungry or have to make difficult choices on supplying basic needs for themselves and their families, said Duke Energy government and community relations manager Quinetta Buterbaugh. CareSouth Carolina provides communities with more than health care, and I was proud to present the donation on behalf of Duke Energy to aid in their work at the Lee County food pantry. In addition to this gift, employees from the H.B. Robinson Nuclear Plant in Hartsville recently donated $4,000 to the pantry as part of their employee giving campaign. These funds were raised solely by plant employees and are separate from donations from the company as well as the Duke Energy Foundation. CareSouth Carolinas chief of community health Joe Bittle said the Resource Center is making a big impact on Bishopville and surrounding communities. In September of 2022, the inception of the food pantry, we provided 63 meals to twenty-one families, Bittle said. This past December 2023, we distributed 552 meals to 184 families. Donations from corporations like Duke Energy allow us to further assist with helping families with food insecurities. We are very thankful and appreciative of Duke Energys donation and others from our communities. This wonderful gift to CareFIRST Carolina Foundation will be added to local donations for the Lee County Food pantry, said Mark Sobiski, director of the CareFIRST Carolina Foundation. Duke Energy will have donated a total of $5,250 for this project and will be able to stock the shelves with much needed shelf-stable foods along with produce and frozen proteins to assist Lee County families in food crisis. (Yahoo News Singapore file photo) SINGAPORE A 65-year-old man was charged with the murder of a woman in Bukit Batok on Sunday (7 January). This followed the discovery of his neighbour's deceased body in a Bukit Batok apartment on Saturday. Quek Eng Hock is accused of killing the 43-year-old woman on Saturday. The victim cannot be named due to a gag order, according to CNA. The news outlet reported that the police received a call for assistance from a residential unit at about 8.20am. Upon arrival, law enforcement found a motionless 43-year-old woman inside the apartment. Paramedics later pronounced her dead. A five-year-old boy, who is believed to be the deceased woman's child, was taken to the hospital while conscious. Arrest made as authorities seize knife The man was arrested at the scene, and the authorities seized a knife suspected to be involved in the incident. Police have said that investigations are ongoing. The Straits Times (ST) reported earlier that at least four police vehicles were parked at the foot of the block in the morning, and a man dressed in white protective gear was escorted to a police vehicle. Singapore Civil Defence Force said it had received a call for assistance at about 8.25am. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and another was brought to the National University Hospital. According to ST, the area surrounding Block 460B Bukit Batok West Ave 9 had been cordoned off by the police, including the void deck as well as the public walkway. MP of Hong Kah North SMC extends condolences ST also reported that the Hong Kah North SMC MP, Amy Khor, expressed her sadness regarding the incident. She conveyed her "deepest condolences" to the deceased's family and offered prayers, particularly for the "child that has been hurt". She said, "My grassroots (team) and I will find out how we can be of assistance to those who have been affected and provide support as necessary." Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube. Noelia Sanchez was born in the rolling farmlands of southwest Missouri, where her Mexican parents worked as seasonal farmworkers in the 1950s. When she was 1, Noelia and her mother, Aurora, who had no work documents, were rounded up with dozens of other immigrants in a Texas town near the border. The U.S.-born child and her mother were forced to go to Mexico along with hundreds of thousands of other people. Their deportations were part of a U.S. government effort that was known in official papers and the media as Operation Wetback." The term wetback, which was used to describe Mexicans who swam or waded across the Rio Grande, is considered a racial slur. Donald Trump has lauded the Eisenhower-era raids without using their name since he first ran for president and is now promising voters he would begin the largest domestic deportation operation in American history, exceeding the 1950s. He has escalated his verbal attacks on immigrants as he seeks a second term, telling supporters twice in recent weeks that immigrants were poisoning the blood of our country." People affected by Operation Wetback and historians on immigration argue Trump is using fragments of history and rhetoric for political reasons while discounting his own administration's failures to carry out mass deportations, even as it separated families at the U.S.-Mexico border and enacted sweeping restrictions on asylum. Families were divided by misapplied immigration policies and discriminatory immigration policies specifically geared toward Indigenous people, Mexican Americans, Latinos, said Joaquin Sanchez, Noelias son, who is now an immigration attorney in Chicago. These are the types of policies that my family has witnessed for generations. Operation Wetback coincided with a guest worker program that provided legal status to hundreds of thousands of largely Mexican farm workers. Noelia Sanchez, who was born in Missouri, and her mother were able to get their papers in about a year and return to settle in Chicago. The administration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower launched a military-style campaign in the summer of 1954 seeking to remove Mexican immigrants who were in the country illegally. The operation followed several other deportation efforts of the 1940s and 1950s. Scholars have challenged the 1 million arrests reported under that summer operation, saying that they included figures from previous years and that the number for that entire year was actually much smaller at about 250,000. The government relied on scare tactics to prompt people to self-deport so that they could have another chance to return to the U.S. Experts have highlighted it was no coincidence the deportation drive happened as farmers were looking for guest workers under the Bracero program that began in the 1940s, aimed at allowing Mexican farmworkers to enter the country and work in the U.S. legally. The program excluded women and children, driving some families to enter the country illegally to remain together. Adam Goodman, a professor of Latin American and Latino Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, wrote in his book The Deportation Machine that organizations such as the ACLU contacted immigration authorities in Chicago and ultimately advised immigrants who were in the country illegally to return to Mexico. Those groups sent a press release with a brochure to all newspapers in Illinois to give the deportation campaign more publicity. It was a terror campaign that was designed to scare people from the country, said UCLA history professor Kelly Lytle Hernandez. It was really a PR campaign designed to terrorize communities into self-deporting. Hernandez said the administration would round up a sizable number of people, broadcast it and announce they were traveling to other towns. There is no way the United States had that force to affect that number of deportations. Trump often labels immigration as dangerous in his speeches, suggesting people crossing the border are criminals who are trying to invade the U.S. and bring diseases. Speaking in Ankeny, Iowa, in September, he said, Following the Eisenhower model, we will carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history. He invoked the same operation in 2015 when he was first running for president. But his administration did not deport millions during his four-year presidency as he promised before and after becoming president. Just as in the 1950s, the U.S. government was limited in how many deportations it could carry out at one time. According to the Migration Policy Institute, the Trump administration deported about one-third as many immigrants in the country illegally from the interior during its first four fiscal years as the administration of President Barack Obama during the same time frame. Enforcement sweeps take months of planning, and arresting an immigrant can often require days of surveillance. Officers dont usually carry search warrants, and advocates warn immigrants not to open their doors. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement often struggled to find adequate detention space during the Trump administration, and people can fight their deportation cases for months or years. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for information on why his administration did not come close to deporting millions and how a second term would conduct such a large-scale effort. The Trump administration was more hostile to immigration than any administration in decades. Trump prevented people from applying for asylum at the southwest border, separated children from their families, and built a border wall in environmentally sensitive areas. Advocates and extremism experts have noted his language echoes writings from Hitler about the purity of Aryan blood, which Nazi Germany used to justify murdering millions of Jews during World War II. Photos: Chicago, other cities say shelters full, budgets hit by immigration uptick Staying at home with kids is a full-time job on its own. But many moms also want to make extra money online or with a home-based business idea. If youre looking for the perfect business idea for stay at home moms, read on for some options. What is a Mompreneur? A mompreneur is any mom who also runs a business. The term is often applied to those who run companies that serve other moms, or those who serve as the primary caregiver for their children. Business Opportunities for Stay-at-Home Moms in 2022 Technology has opened lots of opportunities for stay-at-home moms and anyone looking to run a business remotely. You can run a company completely online and enjoy time flexibility to complete tasks while the kids are napping or entertaining themselves. Read more: 21 Successful Mom Entrepreneurs to Inspire You Why You Should Consider Starting Your Own Business as a Stay-at-Home Parent Some aspiring small business owners who are also parents may consider waiting until their children are grown or away at school. However, here are some reasons why you should start a business while staying home with the kids: Earn extra income: Most families with a parent who stays home live off one income. However, if you can build a lucrative business from home or during a partners off-hours, you can increase your familys resources significantly. Most families with a parent who stays home live off one income. However, if you can build a lucrative business from home or during a partners off-hours, you can increase your familys resources significantly. Demonstrate work ethic to your kids: If your kids see you working hard at something you love, they may emulate you and create their own career opportunities in the future. If your kids see you working hard at something you love, they may emulate you and create their own career opportunities in the future. Enjoy a flexible schedule: Home-based business ideas often allow you to work on your own schedule. You can run your business while the kids sleep, go to school, or enjoy fun activities. Home-based business ideas often allow you to work on your own schedule. You can run your business while the kids sleep, go to school, or enjoy fun activities. Get your kids involved: As they get older, certain business opportunities may even create family bonding opportunities. For example, your kids may weigh in on your web design options or help you prepare decorations for an event youre planning. As they get older, certain business opportunities may even create family bonding opportunities. For example, your kids may weigh in on your web design options or help you prepare decorations for an event youre planning. Do something for yourself: Stay-at-home parents spend most of their time taking care of others. Creating your own business opportunity can help you reclaim some of your individuality, creativity, and sense of purpose outside your family. Criteria for Choosing Business Ideas for Stay-at-Home Moms: Our Methodology To assist stay-at-home moms in finding entrepreneurial opportunities that align with their lifestyle and responsibilities, we use a specific set of criteria. These criteria are essential for identifying ventures that are feasible, flexible, and rewarding. Each criterion is rated on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates the least importance and 5 the highest importance in our review process: Flexibility and Time Management Importance: 5 We prioritize business ideas that offer flexibility in terms of time and scheduling. This allows stay-at-home moms to balance business activities with family responsibilities effectively. Low Start-Up Costs and Overhead Importance: 4 Business ideas with minimal initial investment and low ongoing costs are preferable, as they reduce financial risk and are more accessible for moms working from home. Potential for Home-Based Operations Importance: 5 We assess the feasibility of running the business entirely or primarily from home, which is crucial for moms who need to be available for their children. Skill and Talent Utilization Importance: 4 Business ideas that leverage a moms existing skills, talents, or interests are highly rated. This could include areas like crafting, writing, consulting, or teaching. Market Demand and Economic Viability Importance: 4 The demand for the product or service in the market and its potential for generating income are important considerations. Scalability and Growth Potential Importance: 3 We consider whether the business idea offers potential for growth and scalability, either in the short term or as the children grow older. Social Interaction and Networking Importance: 3 Opportunities for social interaction and networking can be beneficial, especially for stay-at-home moms looking to build a community or expand their professional network. Work-Life Balance Importance: 5 Its crucial that the business idea aligns with maintaining a healthy work-life balance, ensuring that family life is not adversely impacted. By applying these criteria, our aim is to guide stay-at-home moms towards business ideas that are not only feasible and flexible but also fulfilling and compatible with their family-oriented lifestyle. Best Business Ideas for Mompreneurs Here are the top home businesses for moms interested in offering profitable products or services online. 1. Freelance Writing Business As a freelance writer, you contract with publications to create content or articles as needed. This business model allows for flexibility and creativity, enabling you to write across multiple genres and for various platforms. There are a few ways to structure this business. Some writers work with just one or two companies on an ongoing basis, developing a deep understanding of their clients voice and needs. Others prefer to diversify, marketing their writing skills on a wider scale, and partnering with multiple clients for short projects, which can range from blogs, magazine articles, or even ghostwriting books. 2. Proofreading Business If your strength lies in refining content rather than creating it, then starting a proofreading service might be a great fit for you. You can serve a range of clients, including online publications, print journals, academic scholars, or independent authors looking to self-publish. As a proofreader, your keen eye for detail ensures the content is error-free and meets high-quality standards. Proofreaders may charge an hourly rate, per word, or even per project. As the digital age continues to boom, the demand for error-free content becomes increasingly crucial, making proofreading a sought-after skill. Its also incredibly flexible and can easily be done from home on your own schedule. 3. Bookkeeping Business For those with a knack for numbers and a financial background, running a bookkeeping business can be both profitable and satisfying. Many local businesses, especially small to medium enterprises, require bookkeeping services but dont have the resources to hire a full-time accountant. By offering your services, you can help these businesses maintain their financial health. With the aid of modern bookkeeping software and cloud-based solutions, you can easily manage your clients financial records, process payroll, and generate financial statements. Plus, the ability to work remotely allows you to serve clients beyond your local area, right from the comfort of your home office. 4. Virtual Assistant In todays fast-paced digital world, businesses and entrepreneurs often find themselves juggling a myriad of tasks. Enter the virtual assistant (VA), a savior for those overwhelmed with administrative duties. Virtual assistants provide a broad spectrum of services, from scheduling meetings, managing social media accounts, drafting emails, to more specialized tasks like market research. As a VA, you can choose to work with one large client, offering a comprehensive range of services, or diversify and provide specific services to several clients. The flexible nature of this role means you can tailor your services to suit your strengths and expertise, and with many businesses moving online, the demand for VAs is on the rise. Read more: Small Business Ideas for Beginners 5. Direct Sales Direct sales contract with larger companies to sell products. Alternatively, some offer multi-level marketing opportunities where you purchase products yourself and then sell them to others. This can be another flexible opportunity, but one that can allow you to network with others in your industry. 6. Social Media Manager Social media managers schedule content and interact with followers on clients social media accounts. Create your own website and social media profiles to market your services to other companies. 7. Personal Training Business Those with a fitness background can serve personal training clients online thanks to video chatting platforms. Or you can work with people in your local community if you prefer and if your schedule allows. You just need a home gym and computer to start this type of business. 8. Consulting Business If you have experience with business, marketing, or other technical skills, work with clients remotely as a consultant. These professionals usually give clients the knowledge and tools to improve operations on their own, rather than offering ongoing services. More Great Home Business Ideas for Moms There are tons of diverse opportunities for making money as stay-at-home parents. Whether looking for an online business idea or something that you can run with your kids, here are some opportunities to consider. 9. Course Writing Business Online education is experiencing a boom as more people seek to upskill or learn new topics from the comfort of their homes. If you have expertise in a particular subject, creating an online course can be a lucrative venture. Online courses typically consist of multiple videos, written lessons, quizzes, and interactive elements tailored to suit various learning styles. Once your course is ready, you can offer it for sale on your website or use platforms like Udemy or Coursera to reach a wider audience. A well-structured course can serve as a passive income stream, as students can enroll and complete the course at their leisure, without any active involvement on your part post-launch. 10. Online Store There are tons of products you can sell online, from t-shirts to tech devices. Manage your own inventory from home or use a fulfillment or drop shipping service to simplify operations. 11. Graphic Design Business In an increasingly visual world, businesses are continuously in need of standout graphics. If you have a flair for design, starting a graphic design business can be both fulfilling and profitable. Graphic designers assist companies in crafting their brand identity by creating logos, promotional materials, website designs, and more. With the advent of tools like Adobe Creative Cloud and communication platforms like Slack or Zoom, its easier than ever to collaborate with clients from all over the world, making your operations entirely remote. 12. At-Home Daycare For those who love children and have the space and resources, an at-home daycare can be an ideal business. By providing care for your own children alongside others in the community, you can earn an income while also creating a social environment for the kids. Parents are always in search of reliable and nurturing spaces for their children, and by offering a safe, structured, and loving environment, you can create a thriving business. Just ensure you have the necessary licenses and adhere to local regulations. 13. Dog Walking Business For animal enthusiasts looking for an active business, dog walking can be both enjoyable and profitable. Its a great way to combine your daily walks with an income stream. If you have children who adore pets, this business becomes a fun family affair, teaching them responsibility while enjoying the outdoors. As your reputation grows, you can expand services to pet sitting or even grooming. 14. Craft Business For those who find joy in creating, a craft business can be a rewarding endeavor. Whether youre into pottery, jewelry making, or creating bespoke home decor, theres a market for unique, handcrafted items. You can establish an online presence through platforms like Etsy or Shopify, or participate in local craft fairs and farmers markets to showcase your creations. As demand grows, you can also consider offering craft workshops or tutorials, adding another revenue stream to your business. 15. Event Planning Business Organizing events, whether theyre birthdays, weddings, or corporate functions, requires meticulous planning and a keen eye for detail. As an event planner, youd collaborate with clients to bring their vision to life, liaising with vendors, venues, and suppliers. Even though much of the coordination can be done remotely, youll sometimes need to visit sites or attend the actual event to ensure things go smoothly. Event planners build a reputation based on the experiences they curate, so exceeding client expectations is key. This is an ideal opportunity for those who love social interaction and networking. 16. Tutoring Business With the proliferation of online education, theres a growing demand for online tutors. Use platforms like Zoom or Skype to offer personalized lessons in subjects youre proficient in. This business can range from academic subjects to skills like musical instruments or languages. 17. Wholesale Baking Business For those who find solace in baking, turning this hobby into a business is a delightful proposition. From cupcakes to artisan bread, if you can bake it, theres likely a local cafe or bakery interested in purchasing. Do ensure youre familiar with health regulations and obtain the necessary licenses. 18. Stock Photography Business Quality images are in high demand for websites, blogs, and advertising campaigns. If you have a knack for photography, selling your images on platforms like Shutterstock or Getty Images can provide a steady income. Diversify your portfolio to increase sales opportunities. 19. Digital Product Sales Digital products are cost-effective to produce and distribute. Create and sell items like eBooks, printable planners, or design templates. Websites like Gumroad or Shopify make selling these products seamless. 20. YouTuber Create your own YouTube channel about your family or another subject youre passionate about. Then earn income from ad sharing or sponsored content. 21. Social Media Influencer Similarly, focus on growing your own social media presence and work with brands you love to provide sponsorship opportunities. This is a flexible opportunity that you can scale over time. 22. Podcaster For those who prefer an audio format, podcasting allows you to share content you care about. Then offer sponsored ads within each show. 23. Affiliate Marketing Affiliate marketers earn a commission from each sale made when they direct followers to a site via an affiliate link. This is a popular passive income stream for bloggers or influencers. 24. Content Marketing Service Offer writing services to businesses that want to start a blog or build a robust online presence. There are many in-demand niches that you can specialize in, while working remotely on your own schedule. 25. Vacation Rental Business If you have the resources to purchase properties in a popular tourist destination, rent those spaces on sites like Airbnb or VRBO. Youll need to maintain those properties regularly or work with a management company to get them ready for new guests. 26. Meal Prep Service Those who love cooking may offer prepared meals to clients, especially those looking to save time and eat more healthy foods. 27. Catering Service Turn your culinary passion into a business by catering events. Whether its intimate gatherings or grand affairs, delivering exceptional food and service will secure repeat clientele. 28. Alterations Service For those with sewing skills, alter clothing and hem curtains for local customers from your own home. You can run this business on your own schedule, and you only need a few supplies to get started. 29. Laundry Service Similarly, you can offer laundry services like washing, stain removal, and pressing. Either let customers pick up their items or deliver them to each persons home. 30. Web Design Business If you have the technical skills to design and build websites, help businesses create their own online presence in exchange for a fee. Create your own website with an online portfolio to showcase your work. Business Ideas for Stay at Home Moms Summary Brief Description Freelance Writing Business Contract with publications to create content. Options for diverse clientele or specializing in one or two. Proofreading Business Refine content for clients; service online publications, academic scholars, and more. Bookkeeping Business Serve local businesses with financial record management. Work remotely with modern software. Virtual Assistant Manage administrative duties for businesses. Services range from scheduling to specialized tasks. Direct Sales Contract with companies to sell products or engage in multi-level marketing. Social Media Manager Handle content and interactions for client's social media accounts. Personal Training Business Offer fitness services online through video chats. Consulting Business Share expertise to help clients improve operations. Course Writing Business Create online educational courses in specialized subjects. Online Store Sell various products online. Graphic Design Business Craft visual materials for businesses, including logos and promotional items. At-Home Daycare Provide care for children in a structured and loving environment. Dog Walking Business Offer walking services for dogs. Craft Business Sell unique, handcrafted items online or at local events. Event Planning Business Organize and manage various events for clients. Tutoring Business Offer online lessons in various subjects. Wholesale Baking Business Bake goods for local establishments. Stock Photography Business Sell quality photographs for various purposes online. Digital Product Sales Produce and distribute digital items like eBooks or design templates. YouTuber Create content on YouTube and earn from ads or sponsorships. Social Media Influencer Grow online presence and collaborate with brands for sponsorships. Podcaster Produce audio content and monetize through ads or sponsorships. Affiliate Marketing Earn commissions by directing followers to sites via affiliate links. Content Marketing Service Offer writing services to businesses wanting to build an online presence. Vacation Rental Business Rent properties on platforms like Airbnb or VRBO. Meal Prep Service Offer prepared meals for those wanting convenient, healthy options. Catering Service Provide food services for events. Alterations Service Sew or alter clothing for customers. Laundry Service Provide washing, stain removal, and pressing services. Web Design Business Design and build websites for businesses. What Business Idea Can you Do While Staying Home? There are numerous online business ideas you can run from home while creating your own hours. For example, offer freelance services like writing, marketing, or web design where you serve other businesses. You can also start your own eCommerce site or offer services directly to consumers, like dog walking or laundry and alterations. Which Home Business Is Most Profitable? Many home-based businesses can be profitable since they often dont come with high overhead costs like retail or office space. There are several that can be started with little to no investment, including freelance writing, web design services, and VA business, all of which can be profitable quickly. Conclusion The journey of a stay-at-home mom is undoubtedly a full-time job in itself, filled with love, care, and dedication to family. However, the modern world has opened up a world of opportunities for moms who wish to balance their caregiving responsibilities with the pursuit of entrepreneurial dreams. The term mompreneur encapsulates the spirit of these mothers who successfully manage both roles nurturing their families and running businesses of their own. The year 2022 ushered in a wealth of business opportunities for stay-at-home moms, thanks to the ever-evolving landscape of technology and remote work. The ability to operate businesses entirely online has provided moms with the flexibility to manage their businesses while attending to their childrens needs. This new paradigm has transformed what it means to be a stay-at-home mom, offering a chance to earn income and pursue personal passions simultaneously. The decision to start a business while staying at home with the kids is a significant one, and its not without its challenges. However, the benefits and opportunities that come with this choice are substantial. Here are some compelling reasons why aspiring mompreneurs should seriously consider starting their own businesses: 1. Earn Extra Income: Many families rely on a single income when a parent stays home to care for the children. By establishing a profitable business from the comfort of home or during a partners off-hours, moms can significantly increase their familys financial resources. This extra income can be a game-changer, providing financial security and the ability to pursue family goals more comfortably. 2. Set an Example of Work Ethic: Children often emulate the behaviors and values they observe in their parents. When kids see their moms working hard on something they are passionate about, it instills a strong work ethic in them. This example can inspire the next generation to create their own career opportunities, fostering independence and a lifelong love for learning. 3. Enjoy a Flexible Schedule: One of the most significant advantages of home-based business ideas is the flexibility they offer. Moms can manage their businesses during the hours that best suit their familys needs. Whether its working during nap times, school hours, or late at night, this flexibility allows moms to strike a balance between caring for their children and pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. 4. Get Kids Involved: As children grow older, certain business opportunities can create unique bonding experiences for families. Involving kids in aspects of the business, such as web design decisions or event planning, not only educates them but also strengthens family ties. Its an opportunity for kids to learn about entrepreneurship firsthand, gaining insights into creativity, responsibility, and teamwork. 5. Reclaim Personal Identity: Stay-at-home parents often dedicate the majority of their time to caring for their families. While this is a noble and fulfilling role, its equally important for parents to nurture their individuality and personal interests. Starting a business allows moms to reclaim some of their creativity, passion, and sense of purpose outside their family role. The article has explored a wide range of business ideas suitable for mompreneurs, each offering unique opportunities for earning income and personal fulfillment. Here are some of the top home businesses for moms: 1. Freelance Writing Business: Freelance writers have the flexibility to create content for various platforms and genres. Whether they choose to work with a few long-term clients or diversify their portfolio, this business allows moms to express their creativity and writing skills. 2. Proofreading Business: If attention to detail is a strength, a proofreading service can cater to online publications, academic scholars, and authors seeking error-free content. 3. Bookkeeping Business: Moms with a financial background can offer bookkeeping services to local businesses. Modern bookkeeping software and remote work capabilities make this business accessible from home. 4. Virtual Assistant: In todays fast-paced digital world, virtual assistants help businesses and entrepreneurs manage administrative tasks. Moms can choose to work with one primary client or offer specific services to multiple clients, adapting their roles to their strengths and expertise. 5. Direct Sales: Moms can engage in direct sales by partnering with larger companies to sell products or exploring multi-level marketing opportunities. This business model offers flexibility and the chance to earn commissions through product sales. 6. Social Media Manager: Social media managers schedule content and engage with followers on clients social media accounts. Establishing an online presence to market services to other businesses is a key aspect of this business. 7. Personal Training Business: Moms with fitness backgrounds can offer personal training services online through video chatting platforms, combining their passion for fitness with income generation. 8. Consulting Business: Moms with expertise in various fields, such as business or marketing, can work as consultants, offering clients knowledge and tools to improve their operations independently. Beyond these business ideas, numerous other opportunities await stay-at-home moms. From creating online courses to selling products through eCommerce, the options are diverse and tailored to individual skills and passions. In the pursuit of entrepreneurship, moms can find fulfillment, financial independence, and a sense of personal identity while continuing to provide the love and care their families deserve. The path to becoming a successful mompreneur is not without its challenges, but with determination, creativity, and a strong work ethic, moms can achieve their business goals and inspire the next generation to follow their dreams. As we look to the future, let us celebrate the resilience and ingenuity of stay-at-home moms who have ventured into the world of entrepreneurship. They are not just managing businesses; they are also nurturing their families, proving that with dedication and ambition, its possible to create a harmonious balance between career and family life. The mompreneurs of today are paving the way for a new generation of empowered women who can thrive both at home and in the business world. Coffee businesses have seen massive growth over the last few years, especially as customers become more discerning about the perfect cup of coffee. Customers are flocking to coffee shops in search of the elusive perfect cup of coffee and the right coffee bean, making it the ideal time to start a coffee franchise. What is a Coffee Franchise? If youre looking to start a coffee business but dont quite know where to start, a coffee franchise could be the right option for you. Because the franchise already has an established brand, starting as your first coffee shop can be easier. There are many coffee shop franchise options available that offer top-quality coffee. Some franchises focus solely on brewing fresh coffee, while others have a coffee beanery option for roasting coffee beans. READ MORE: See our Franchise Guide The Coffee Industry in 2022 The number of coffee drinkers has grown, as with coffee options. The number of coffee shops has nearly doubled in the last decade and continues to increase to sell coffee, including espresso drinks. As coffee consumption continues to stay high, this is one of the best times to consider starting your own coffee cafe. Why You Should Consider a Coffee Shop Franchise There are many reasons to consider starting your coffee shop franchise and selling beverages and coffee beans, such as: Ample brand resources: As an independent coffee shop owner, youll have to invest significant capital into branding and marketing. You can avoid that by opting for a coffee shop franchise instead. Serve a new market: Many discerning coffee drinkers are always looking to try new franchises, and as a coffee chain owner, you can bring the market to you with your coffee shop. Proven business model: With espresso beverages and coffee on the rise, there is a proven business model that demonstrates that coffee shops can operate successfully if there is enough market demand. READ MORE: 10 Startup Tips from Affordable Franchise Coffee News Criteria for Choosing the Best Coffee Franchise Opportunities In guiding potential franchisees toward successful coffee franchise ventures, we employ a specific set of criteria. These criteria are designed to assess the viability, market demand, and strategic fit of coffee franchise opportunities. Each criterion is rated on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates the least importance and 5 the highest importance in our review process: Brand Recognition and Reputation Importance: 5 The strength and recognition of the franchise brand in the coffee industry are crucial. Well-established brands with a loyal customer base usually offer a higher chance of success. Quality of Coffee and Menu Offerings Importance: 5 The quality of the coffee and the variety and appeal of the menu offerings are key factors in attracting and retaining customers. Initial Investment and Franchise Fees Importance: 4 We evaluate the cost of starting the franchise, including initial fees, equipment purchases, and any inventory requirements. Training and Support from the Franchisor Importance: 4 The level of training and ongoing support provided to franchisees, which can include barista training, business management, and customer service, is essential for running the franchise successfully. Location and Territory Analysis Importance: 4 The potential of the proposed location(s) and the franchisors policy on territory rights and exclusivity can greatly impact the success of the franchise. Market Demand and Target Audience Importance: 5 Understanding the target markets demand for coffee and related products and the demographic preferences of the area are essential for choosing the right franchise and location. Marketing and Branding Support Importance: 4 The franchisors support in marketing and branding efforts, including local advertising and promotional campaigns, is important for attracting customers. Supply Chain and Product Sourcing Importance: 4 Efficient supply chain management and ethical sourcing of coffee and other products are vital for maintaining quality and sustainability. Profitability and Return on Investment Importance: 5 We assess the potential profitability of the franchise and the expected return on investment, considering factors like sales performance, profit margins, and market trends. Sustainability and Environmental Practices Importance: 3 With increasing consumer awareness of sustainability, franchises that demonstrate a commitment to environmentally friendly practices can have a competitive edge. By applying these criteria, we aim to guide potential franchisees towards coffee franchise opportunities that offer not only a viable business model but also align with market trends, customer preferences, and operational best practices in the coffee industry. Best Coffee Franchises There are some incredible coffee shop franchise opportunities available for business owners. These brands are known for their premium coffee beans, selection, and expertly crafted beverages. Well go through some of the best coffee franchises currently out there. 1. Biggby Coffee Biggby Coffee is perfect for those seeking a local coffee shop opportunity that serves gourmet coffee and strong sales. Bob Fish initially started it to form Global Orange Development with a team of baristas. However, its name was changed to Biggby in later years. Biggby Coffee isnt just a coffee chain; it also fosters community and creates strong connections between people. So the company has strong brand recognition and a solid reputation for quality products and franchisee support. The total investment needed to start your own Biggby franchise is estimated to be between $276,000 $439,000. 2. PJs Coffee PJs Coffee is definitely a franchise to consider for premium cold coffee drinks and delicious coffee. It has a lot to offer with many locations, a high volume of unit sales, and strong company culture. The initial franchise fee will start at $25,000-35,000, with additional expenses depending on the location and size of the shop. 3. Dunn Brothers Coffee A staple in the specialty coffee industry, Dunn Brothers, is a franchise opportunity that could be a great option due to its premium coffee quality. With both food and coffee options, its a full-service coffee location that customers will keep coming back to, which increases the chance of profitability. The initial franchise fee starts at $37,500. 4. Aroma Joes Coffee Many coffee shops have that comfortable, cozy feel, and Aroma Joes is one of them. For those who drink coffee and want a place to hang out and see friends, this could be the right franchising option. Aroma Joes offers an exclusive proprietary premium blend and a wide selection of food and beverage options, with plenty of quality locations available for franchisees. 5. Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees Maui Wowi is a unique franchising option because its not just about coffee. The brand also offers fresh fruit smoothies, refreshing organic tea, and other quality menu items that set it apart from the rest. So whether its a cup of cold brew or something fruity and delicious, this is the franchise option that has it all. 6. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Another titan of coffee, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, is one of the best coffee shop franchises out there. Its authentic Italian roasted coffee, trendy teas, and baked goods made a name for itself, with strong brand recognition worldwide. This franchise can also be operated as coffee kiosks as well, decreasing potential startup expenses. However, their franchise agreement usually consists of multiple store commitments over a period of years. 7. Dunkin Donuts An icon in the coffee industry, Dunkin Donuts has made a name for itself as not just a doughnut shop but for its premium coffee as well. One of the more popular franchises out there, Dunkin is known for its iced coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and value for money, which means it has a strong brand reputation with customers 8. The Human Bean The Human Bean is worth exploring if youre looking for a drive-thru espresso brand. Its an industry leader, with relatively low startup costs compared to other franchises. In addition, no royalty or marketing fees are involved, and since theres no sit-down component, it lowers the initial investment needed. 9. Gloria Jeans Coffees Gloria Jeans Coffee has a global presence due to its franchise model. The initial investment isnt all that high, and the business model has been shown to work. You can contact a representative from the brand to learn about possible locations where the coffee shop could work. 10. Bad Ass Coffee Bad Ass Coffee is an excellent option for new business owners looking to enter the coffee world. They offer a lot of support to help the franchise succeed and have a distinct coffee blend that customers enjoy. Plus, the brand is known for its innovative coffee machines and approach to coffee, which resonates with customers. 11. Classic Rock Coffee Company Classic Rock Coffee Company has a unique brand, making it easy to start this franchise. The whole brand works on an enjoyable theme that can be easy to adapt and run with, with great coffee systems and premium blends. 12. Its a Grind Coffee House With a clever name and marketing, its no surprise that Its A Grind Coffee Shop has been so quick at expanding with multiple franchises. Customers enjoy the vibe, high-quality coffee, and innovative menu items, making Its A Grind Coffee Shop a strong contender for franchising options. READ MORE: The Best Commercial Coffee Maker for Your Small Business 13. Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea Sweetwaters is a neighborhood coffee brand that feels like a part of the community. Its about bringing love, care, and passion to coffee and the customer experience, with lots of support available to help the business succeed. 14. Scooters Coffee Scooters Coffee isnt just about coffee its also about fun merchandise that brings Scooters coffee to customers and doing business with integrity and passion. The franchise is another option for those seeking their own coffee kiosks and wanting a mobile coffee shop option to explore. How to Choose the Best Franchise to Set Up Your Coffee Shop Business Choosing from the top coffee franchises can be challenging, but here are some top factors to consider. These include what customers want, what the market is like in your chosen area, and who you will compete with. Brand awareness and interest Initial investment versus predicted revenue Market demand for coffee shops, especially in rural or suburban areas Competitors in the area and pricing READ MORE: How to Start a Coffee Shop of Your Own How Much Does It Cost to Open a Coffee Franchise? The initial investment to open a coffee shop can vary depending on the brand, the location, and the franchise fee associated with it. Generally, starting your coffee franchise can cost anywhere from $200,000 to $400,000 and more. Are Coffee Shop Franchises Profitable? Coffee shop franchises can be profitable for many depending on the level of investment and the demand for coffee in a market. Some coffee shops also have a strong brand associated with them and may be familiar to consumers, making them potentially more profitable and expensive to get started with. READ MORE: Coffee chain opens 1st pet-friendly store in Guri By Ko Dong-hwan To attract the growing number of pet owners in the country, Starbucks Korea has opened its first pet-friendly store in the country, according to the global coffee chain, Friday. Guri Galmae DT store opened in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, on the same day. The two-story, 645-square meter cafe with 142 seats makes coffees and beverages on the first floor and offers a separate 166-square-meter space on the second floor as a pet zone. The pet zone has chairs for pets, a reserved section where patrons can keep their leashes and a 67-square-meter lounge where patrons can walk their pets on leash. Another section with a specially designed set offers as a photo zone where pets and their owners can take pictures. Pets are banned from the first floor to keep the baristas' workstation clean. They can use a separate entrance that leads to the second floor. Certain canine species that are categorized under dangerous breeds by the country's Animal Protection Act, including mastiffs, pitbull terriers and rottweilers, are banned from the store. So are pets that are not immunized. "I have been here since this morning and we've seen visitors keep coming," an official from the company said on Friday afternoon. "There are still patrons waiting outside to enter." Starbucks Korea CEO Sohn Jeong-hyun said he launched the store after coming across consistent demands from consumers to introduce a Starbucks store where they can bring their pets. Last year, his company acquired an approval from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to test the new store under the authority's regulatory sandbox policy. It allowed the company to run the store for two years despite the country's food safety law that bans patrons from eating at restaurants or cafes with animals. "We will keep expanding our franchise to cater to consumers' diverse lifestyles so that we can create spaces to satisfy visitors with not just pets but with their special someones," Sohn said. On Thursday, Sohn met the president of Happy Animal Companion, a local pro-animal activists' group, at the store and presented her a charity donation of 100 million won ($76,000). It was part of the campaign jointly launched by the two parties last November to promote protection and adoption of stray animals. Starbucks Korea's pet business comes at a time when the pet-raising population in the country has been on a steady rise. According to a survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the country's pet-owning households counted over 25 percent in 2022. The pet-related market in the country was found to have reached record scale of over 3 trillion won in 2022 and is expected to have grown to 3.25 trillion in 2023. But there are concerns that pets allowed in the cafe might cause unforeseen troubles. There have been cases in the country's pet-friendly stores that visitors feed animals with random snacks with potential health hazards. In other cases, pets' unexpected behavior developed into conflicts between patrons. "We have arranged the place so that pet owners don't share the same space with those without pets," the Starbucks official said. "We will see how things go from now on. If anything happens, we will adjust the environment as requested by our patrons." Fiverr International Ltd. has declared Montserrat as the Font of the Year for 2024. This decision, announced on December 7, 2023, underscores the growing recognition of Montserrats versatility and modern appeal in the realm of business branding. Montserrat, an open-source sans-serif typeface, has garnered acclaim for its clean geometric lines and contemporary style. Its diverse range of weights and styles makes it a versatile tool for businesses aiming to refresh their visual identity. Nadav Barkan, Fiverrs VP of Design, commented, Montserrat is a fan favorite thanks to its clean geometric lines and modern aesthetic. It has a wide range of weights and stylesso its super versatile. Its a go-to choice for businesses aiming to contemporize their visual language. In other words, Montserrat has both form and function. A thorough analysis informed Fiverrs decision of customer preferences on its Logo Maker platform and insights from over a hundred freelance designers. The typeface emerged as a leader in sales and designer preferences, a testament to its adaptability and relevance in current design trends. Yonat Rauner Trieger, Fiverr Logo Maker Business Owner, noted an intriguing trend: the discrepancy between designer favorites and top-selling fonts. While designers enjoy creative exploration, clients often opt for logos that balance visual appeal with clarity and accessibility. Montserrats selection reflects this balance, offering a design that resonates with both designers and clients. The creation of Montserrat, by designer Julieta Ulanovsky, was inspired by the traditional signage in the Montserrat neighborhood of Buenos Aires. As part of Googles catalog of open-source fonts, it has been used in over 20 million websites, illustrating its broad acceptance and significant impact in both printed and digital communications. Ulanovsky expressed her honor and gratitude for the recognition, highlighting Montserrats widespread use and importance in contemporary communication. For small business owners, the selection of Montserrat as the Font of the Year offers valuable insights into the current design landscape. Its popularity and versatility suggest that adopting this font could be a strategic move for businesses seeking to modernize and enhance their brand image. With its broad application across various platforms and its alignment with current design preferences, Montserrat stands out as a potent tool for businesses to communicate their brand effectively in an increasingly digital world. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/attacks-on-serbian-church-prompt-more-americans-to-explore-orthodox-christianity---bishop-1116027341.html Attacks on Serbian Church Prompt More Americans to Explore Orthodox Christianity - Bishop Attacks on Serbian Church Prompt More Americans to Explore Orthodox Christianity - Bishop Sputnik International The attacks on the Serbian Orthodox Church during and after the Yugoslav wars have prompted some Americans to learn more about Orthodox Christianity, with some of them converting to it, Bishop Jerome (Shaw) of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia said. 2024-01-07T07:29+0000 2024-01-07T07:29+0000 2024-01-07T07:30+0000 americas us orthodox church church christmas christianity https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/07/1116028292_0:12:3072:1740_1920x0_80_0_0_82d1e6d3d476f64bc7fac9431382d242.jpg The bishop, who was born and raised in the United States and converted to Eastern Orthodoxy in the 1960s, said that news about Orthodox Christianity in years past were often published in the US newspapers' culinary sections. However, the Western attacks on Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church during the 1990s and later on changed the situation and stories about that part of the Christian world became "hard news," he said. "As a result, more and more people found themselves asking 'What is it that somebody hates so much - and why?' Thus, many Americans went from cultural to ideological Orthodoxy and finally joined the Orthodox church," he said. Archpriest Michael van Opstall, rector of ROCORs St. George church in the US state of Utah, said that an increasing number of Americans have expressed interest in Russian Orthodox Christian traditions. "I suspect that changes happening elsewhere in the world are pushing some people to seek something more firm and less changing," Opstall said. While some Orthodox denominations turned to the so-called "new" calendar and began celebrating Christmas on December 25, the Russian Orthodox Church, including ROCOR, continues to follow the old calendar style and commemorates the Nativity of Christ on January 7, he said. When asked about differences in holiday traditions in Russia and the United States, Opstall said most ROCOR parishes hold the Divine Liturgy in the morning, as they have for decades, but in Russia, the Moscow Patriarchate generally holds it at midnight. Bishop Jerome pointed out that Christmas in the United States has been commercialized but in Orthodox Christianity it is "first and foremost a religious event." The bishop noted that after the split into Eastern and Western Christianity in 1054, the latter went a long way through reformation, counter-reformation, Jesuit reform and other changes, resulting in the change of many traditions. "Efforts have also been made in this country to secularize Christmas observances so that some avoid saying 'Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year' lest they offend non-Christians by mentioning anything connected with the New Testament or with the Bible at all. But the result of all that has been that for those who do keep to Christmas, the spiritual meaning is felt all the more," he said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/russian-president-vladimir-putin-celebrates-orthodox-christmas-1116024081.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian orthodox church, russian orthodox church abroad, russian orthodox church in us, orthodox christianity https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/ballot-cleansing-how-democrats-pushing-us-to-political-chaos-1116024952.html 'Ballot Cleansing': How Democrats Pushing US to Political Chaos 'Ballot Cleansing': How Democrats Pushing US to Political Chaos Sputnik International Democrats have resorted to nothing short of "ballot cleansing" as they try to bar Republican candidates for Congress under the 14th Amendment theory, writes renowned American legal expert Jonathan Turley, warning against placing the US on a slippery slope to political chaos. 2024-01-07T05:03+0000 2024-01-07T05:03+0000 2024-01-07T05:03+0000 us illinois maine democrats congress colorado americas jonathan turley donald trump republican https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/08/1103909826_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_da5356f0d1d7f8914d349aad5e3cdc47.jpg Several US voters in Illinois and Massachusetts have filed motions seeking to remove former President Donald Trump from each state's primary ballot for the 2024 election. Earlier, Colorado and Maine moved to disqualify the ex-president.Jonathan Turley, a renowned US legal scholar, raised the red flag over Colorado's Supreme Court decision to bar Trump from the 2024 election last month, stressing that the states justices "put this country on one of the most dangerous paths in its history."The unusual initiative is driven by Democratic politicians who decided to utilize Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which says that any candidates who have engaged in acts of insurrection after vowing to defend the US Constitution should be barred from holding political office. The amendment was ratified in 1868. Now, the Dems are arguing that the January 6 riots were a full-fledged "insurrection" and that the law could be applied to the former president.According to the legal expert, the January 6 events no matter how bad they were cannot be compared to the US Civil War (1861-1865) and qualified as an "insurrection.""It was a protest that became a riot, not a rebellion," Turley highlighted, arguing that the Civil War-era amendment should not be used in this case.He warned that the Colorado court's undemocratic decision and clear defiance of the First Amendment could result in a domino effect "where red and blue states could now engage in tit-for-tat disqualifications."Turley's concerns aren't unjustified given that Democrats have decided to bar not only Trump, but all Republican candidates for Congress who have dared to question the fairness of the 2020 elections. Some Democratic lawmakers have called for the disqualification of up to 126 Republican colleagues as "insurrectionists." What is especially chilling is that many have supported them.Thus, on December 11, US Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) called on House leaders to remove congressional lawmakers who were "supporting Donald Trumps efforts to invalidate the 2020 presidential election.""Stated simply, men and women who would act to tear the United States government apart cannot serve as Members of the Congress. These lawsuits seeking to obliterate public confidence in our democratic system by invalidating the clear results of the 2020 presidential election undoubtedly attack the text and spirit of the Constitution, which each Member swears to support and defend," claimed Pascrell, citing Section 3 of the 14th AmendmentRep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) introduced a similar initiative which was supported by 63 Democratic co-sponsors, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, Ritchie Torres, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib.Meanwhile, Turley drew attention to an obvious double-standard approach exercised by Democrats: previously, some of them have openly challenged and even sought to block certification of election results.According to Turley, Democrats are increasingly using labels of "insurrectionists" and "Putin lovers" to cancel their political rivals, opponents, and even journalists. However, if the trend turns into some sort of a legal precedent, nothing would stop overzealous lawmakers from expanding this cancellation spree, according to the expert. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/report-trump-privately-fearing-us-supreme-court-may-back-colorado-ballot-decision-1116003826.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240102/trump-appeals-maine-decision-blocking-him-from-states-2024-primary-ballot-1115954974.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240104/trump-taps-us-supreme-court-to-overturn-colorado-decision-barring-him-from-ballot-1115968895.html illinois maine americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova donald trump barred from primary ballot, maine, colorado, 14th amendment section 3, ballot cleansing, democrats seeking to remove trump and maga republicans from ballots, jonathan turley, us supreme court https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/biden-mocked-after-first-lady-escorts-him-offstage-like-a-child-1116038521.html Biden Mocked After First Lady Escorts Him Offstage 'Like a Child' Biden Mocked After First Lady Escorts Him Offstage 'Like a Child' Sputnik International Joe Bidens first campaign event of 2024 offered users on social media fodder for mockery as the 81-year-old was seen being led off stage by the First Lady. 2024-01-07T14:28+0000 2024-01-07T14:28+0000 2024-01-07T14:28+0000 americas us joe biden jill biden gaffes https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/07/1116037149_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_1679af747a071fcd4070688b93b9994e.jpg Joe Bidens first campaign event of 2024 offered netizens fodder for some relentless mockery as the 81-year-old was seen being led off stage by the First Lady on January 6.The Democrat was giving an address in Pennsylvania on the eve of the third anniversary of the January 6 storming of the Capitol. However, once the POTUS was done, his wife was quick to offer him a guiding hand to save him any embarrassment should he once again lose his bearings.Reporters seized upon the clip to remark on the new arrangement whereby the first lady had been entrusted with escorting the "zoned-out-looking" president off the stage after public appearances.The problem has now been solved, several users quipped on X.Others on the social media platform observed that Jill was walking him [Joe] off the stage like a child."One user remarked in relief that, "Someone had to do it."People on the internet also recalled Joe Biden's faux pas when he appeared to "shake hands with a ghost."Numerous netizens likewise mentioned what they referred to as elder abuse, pointing out that Nobody over 80 years old should be allowed to serve as president of the United States.Polls indicate that 70% of US citizens express concerns over Joe Bidens ability to serve a second presidential term because of his age.Biden turned 81 on November 20. In 2021, he was the oldest president to have ever been inaugurated, taking the oath of office at the age of 78. If Biden wins the 2024 presidential race, he will turn 86 before completing a second term.Earlier, reports indicated that the first lady and her team are deeply involved in the everyday schedule of the 46th POTUS. Senior aides and Jill were trying to urge the 81-year-old to rest more and pay additional attention to his health, US media reported, citing sources. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231227/gaffes-mistakes--bloodshed-scandals-that-enveloped-joe-biden-in-2023-1115840507.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko us president joe biden's cognitive ability, biden's health, biden's inability to do the job https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/chinese-shipping-giant-cosco-stops-calling-at-israeli-ports---reports-1116040986.html Chinese Shipping Giant COSCO Stops Calling at Israeli Ports - Reports Chinese Shipping Giant COSCO Stops Calling at Israeli Ports - Reports Sputnik International Chinese state-owned company Cosco, one of the world's largest container shipping companies, has decided to stop calling at Israeli ports for reasons yet unknown, Israeli financial newspaper Globes reported on Sunday. 2024-01-07T17:42+0000 2024-01-07T17:42+0000 2024-01-07T17:42+0000 world israel china red sea houthis cosco cargo ship red sea crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107705/93/1077059369_0:31:3000:1719_1920x0_80_0_0_9e89831e0ab1bb885e248953a6ca27bb.jpg The company made the decision even though the Houthis are unlikely to attack its ships in the Red Sea because of economic and political ties between China and Iran, which supports the Yemeni rebel group, the report read. Cosco's decision will significantly affect trade between Israel and the Far East, the newspaper reported, adding that the Israeli shipping company ZIM, which works closely with COSCO, may face higher transportation costs as it will have to increase the number of ships operating on the Far East routes. The disruption to maritime trade routes led to the formation of a US-led maritime coalition to provide security for ships navigating through the region. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240106/uk-finance-minister-says-attacks-on-red-sea-ships-may-impact-national-economy-1116015301.html israel china red sea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International china, chinese company, cosco shipping, israel, red sea, red sea crisis, houthis, palestine-israel conflict, gaza war https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/conflict-in-gaza-strip-to-continue-until-all-hostages-return-home---israeli-defense-minister-1116042914.html Conflict in Gaza Strip to Continue Until All Hostages Return Home - Israeli Defense Minister Conflict in Gaza Strip to Continue Until All Hostages Return Home - Israeli Defense Minister Sputnik International Military operations in the Gaza Strip will continue until all Israeli hostages are returned, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday. 2024-01-07T20:35+0000 2024-01-07T20:35+0000 2024-01-07T20:35+0000 palestine-israel conflict israel-gaza conflict world humanitarian crisis yoav gallant gaza strip israel palestine hamas humanitarian catastrophe https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/01/1115933766_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_bc300dc7ba60370a69f8ef3b6967244a.jpg "Military activities in Gaza will not end until the hostages return home," Gallant stated at a meeting with the families of people held hostage by the Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip. On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 22,800 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231114/israels-intent-to-genocide-palestinians-in-gaza-is-very-clear---journalist-1114949285.html gaza strip israel palestine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International humanitarian disaster, humanitarian catastrophe, humanitarian ceasefire, israel-hamas conflict, gaza strip crisis, shelling of gaza, gaza devastation, israel-palestine conflict, palestine-israel conflict, israeli-palestinian conflict, palestinian-israeli, zionist regime, zionists, hamas attack, israeli strikes, israeli forces, hostages, israeli military, hamas fighters, hamas soldiers, hamas military, killings of civilians, civilian infrastructure, civilians dead, civilians die, israel kills civilians, civilian casualties, civilian deaths https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/ec-presidents-parliamentary-bid-shakes-bloc-as-hungarys-orban-eyes-role-1116040251.html EC President's Parliamentary Bid Shakes Bloc as Hungary's Orban Eyes Role EC President's Parliamentary Bid Shakes Bloc as Hungary's Orban Eyes Role Sputnik International Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban may take the chair of the European Council after its current leader Charles Michel departs. 2024-01-07T09:28+0000 2024-01-07T09:28+0000 2024-01-07T17:28+0000 world europe newsfeed viktor orban charles michel ukraine kiev belgium european union (eu) eu council https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/12/1106465438_0:159:3079:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_9863bd8d907c2db5d5c8e0320703786c.jpg European Council President Charles Michel has announced his intention to participate in the upcoming European parliamentary election in June and leave his current role, according to Belgian press.Michel told the media that his choice stems from a "responsibility both to account for the work of the past few years and to advance a project for the future of Europe Above all, the European project is at a crossroads, and there is a need to strengthen the legitimacy of European democracy.Leading the list for the liberal Belgian party, Mouvement Reformateur (MR) for the June 9 elections, Michel aims to contribute to the vision of a united Europe. Despite his impending departure, he has pledged to fulfill his responsibilities as EU Council president until the new members of the EU Parliament are sworn in on July 16.Meanwhile, discussions about Michel's potential successor are rife. Should the EU heads of state and government fail to reach a consensus on a suitable replacement, the mantle could fall upon Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.With Hungary poised to assume the EU Council presidency in July, Orban will oversee the meetings, a function usually executed by the European Council president.While Orban's potential ascendance may cause other members of the bloc to raise objections given his critical stance on aid to Ukraine, the circumstances could thrust him into a position of even greater influence.In a letter to Michel in November, Orban warned of halting all European Union assistance to Ukraine and its prospective EU membership unless the bloc reconsiders its support approach for Ukraine.He questioned Europe's commitment to backing Ukraine, especially considering the uncertainty around the United States' ability to sustain its military supplies to the country due to political disagreements over forthcoming support.The European Council is not in a position to make key decisions on the proposed security guarantees or additional financial support for Ukraine, endorse further strengthening of the EU sanctions regime, or agree on the future of the enlargement process unless a consensus on our future strategy towards Ukraine is found, Orban stated in the letter. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231105/trump-says-hungarys-viktor-orban-one-of-strongest-leaders-he-knows-1114731570.html ukraine kiev belgium Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg european council president, charles michel, european parliamentary election, mouvement reformateur (mr), european democracy, eu council presidency, hungarian prime minister viktor orban, eu assistance to ukraine, european union aid, united states military aid, enlargement process. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/germany-has-no-clue-whos-operating-mystery-drones-flying-over-bundeswehr-bases-1116034002.html Germany Has No Clue Whos Operating Mystery Drones Flying Over Bundeswehr Bases Germany Has No Clue Whos Operating Mystery Drones Flying Over Bundeswehr Bases Sputnik International Berlin has delivered 17.1 billion ($18.7 billion US) in military support and tens of billions more in economic aid to Kiev for the proxy war against Russia ... 07.01.2024, Sputnik International 2024-01-07T11:43+0000 2024-01-07T11:43+0000 2024-01-07T12:00+0000 world bundeswehr bundestag germany berlin kiev boris pistorius military & intelligence europe https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101973/44/1019734418_0:107:2048:1259_1920x0_80_0_0_b0574107c33a4db5c5129b3670d9c415.jpg Military bases across Germany are reportedly vulnerable to espionage activities by mystery drones and the Bundeswehr has no clue whos operating them.The problem, reported on by commanders since at least October of 2022, has apparently been especially prevalent in areas where Bundeswehr troops train Ukrainian fighters.Former Bundeswehr Territorial Command chief Carsten Breuer ordered military police units to use HP 47 portable jammers to target the mystery drones, but their effectiveness has not been sufficiently investigated, according to media. The Bundeswehr apparently suspects Moscow of the aerial surveillance, but has no proof in part because not a single drone has been shot down to date.So far it has not been possible to capture a drone or its operator, Nils Hilmer, state secretary to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, said.Areas where the drones have been spotted include the Klietz military training area in the former East Germany, where the Bundeswehr has been training Ukrainian tankers to operate Leopard 1 main battle tanks.According to Hilmer, part of the problem has been delineating responsibility for drone defense between ministries, and figuring out what kinds of anti-drone defense systems exist and how quickly they can be procured. The Bundeswehr founded a drone task force in November of 2023 under the command of an Army one-star general to deal with the problem, but two months later, there are still no tangible results, according to media.We must not allow Russia to spy on military training areas with drones while we get tangled up in the confusion of responsibilities, Andreas Schwarz, an MP from Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Social Democratic Party, said of the growing problem.But the paranoia about the Russians may be premature. According to German news outlet Tagesspiegel, a drone operator was detained in Saxony-Anhalt in the countrys east in November while operating a drone near a Bundeswehr base where Ukrainian officers were present. State Criminal Police opened an investigation and discovered that the drone operator was a documentary filmmaker, not a spy.Nevertheless, a security official insisted that there have been so many drone sightings that it would be dangerous even if a small percentage of them were spy flights. We are open sometimes to the Russian intelligence services, at least from the air.Under German law, civilian-operated drones are not allowed to be flown within 100 meters of any of the roughly 1,500 facilities used by the Bundeswehr.But the military has had problems targeting the intruding UAVs as Germany continues to ship billions of euros in military equipment off to Ukraine. Berlin has already committed 17.1 billion to Kiev, and plans to further ramp up deliveries in 2024, despite a recent budget crisis close call and a faltering economic outlook.The rapid pace at which the Bundeswehrs armories have been emptied to arm Ukraine has been quietly criticized by generals, with some grumbling that Berlin will be unable to field even one of three planned new combat-ready divisions by at least 2025 due to lack of equipment, and defense experts warning that Germany would last less than two days in the event of a full scale military emergency at home. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/germany-sends-ammo-for-leopard-tanks-marder-fighting-vehicles-to-ukraine-1115984882.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231231/scholz-claims-putin-to-blame-for-germanys-economic-woes-in-new-years-speech-1115921603.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240101/german-lawmakers-want-to-send-ukrainian-refugees-to-trenches-as-nato-proxy-war-falters-1115930063.html germany berlin kiev Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov bundeswehr, bundestag, germany, berlin, kiev, boris pistorius, military & intelligence, europe https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/idf-says-completed-destruction-of-hamas-infrastructure-in-north-of-gaza-strip-1116022344.html IDF Completes Destruction of Hamas Infrastructure in North of Gaza Strip IDF Completes Destruction of Hamas Infrastructure in North of Gaza Strip Sputnik International The Israeli military has completed the destruction of Palestinian movement Hamas infrastructure in the northern Gaza Strip and will now focus on fighting the Palestinian movement in the central and southern parts of the enclave, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Saturday. 2024-01-07T01:17+0000 2024-01-07T01:17+0000 2024-01-07T04:24+0000 world palestine-israel conflict humanitarian crisis humanitarian catastrophe israel gaza strip palestine israel defense forces (idf) hamas humanitarian disaster https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/18/1115780668_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b5f1d02df51bfb8471ca8a0ec9e4075a.jpg "We have completed the dismantling of Hamas structures in the northern Gaza Strip and will continue to deepen achievements, as well as strengthen the barrier and defense along the border. We are now focused on eliminating Hamas in the center and south of the Gaza Strip," Hagari told a briefing. According to the spokesman, the complete destruction of Hamas will take a long time, so "fighting will continue through 2024". The Israeli territory remains under a threat of missile attacks from the enclaves north as Hamas operatives who operate without commanders may still be present in these areas, Hagari said. He added that the center of the Gaza Strip is densely populated with Hamas fighters and there is an underground city of tunnels under the city of Khan Yunis in the south. The IDF also said on Saturday that it had conducted an airstrike as a result of which the commander of Hamass Nuseirat Battalion and his deputy were killed."Ismail Siraj, the Commander of Hamas Nuseirat Battalion, as well as Ahmed Wehbe, his Deputy Commander, were eliminated during an IAF strike in an operation led by the Southern Command and with the direction of the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate and the ISA overnight (Friday)," the IDF said on Telegram.On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 22,700 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231114/israels-intent-to-genocide-palestinians-in-gaza-is-very-clear---journalist-1114949285.html israel gaza strip palestine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International hamas infrastructure, humanitarian disaster, humanitarian catastrophe, humanitarian ceasefire, israel-hamas conflict, gaza strip crisis, shelling of gaza, gaza devastation, israel-palestine conflict, palestine-israel conflict, israeli-palestinian conflict, palestinian-israeli, zionist regime, zionists, hamas attack, israeli strikes, israeli forces, hostages, israeli military, hamas fighters, hamas soldiers, hamas military, killings of civilians, civilian infrastructure, civilians dead, civilians die, israel kills civilians, civilian casualties, civilian deaths https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/iran-arrests-all-suspects-believed-to-be-behind-kerman-carnage-1116040461.html Iran Arrests All Suspects Believed to Be Behind Kerman Terror Attack Iran Arrests All Suspects Believed to Be Behind Kerman Terror Attack Sputnik International 91 people were killed and over 280 others wounded in a twin suicide terror bombing in Kerman, eastern Iran on January 3 during a ceremony commemorating late Islamic Revolutionary Guard Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani. The bombing was the deadliest of its kind in the Islamic Republics history. 2024-01-07T16:37+0000 2024-01-07T16:37+0000 2024-01-07T16:38+0000 world qasem soleimani middle east iran afghanistan iraq quds force islamic revolutionary guard corps (irgc) daesh https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/03/1115960942_0:0:1024:577_1920x0_80_0_0_4c6f2a425e55b1c4292ad0a92fd9de31.jpg All suspects allegedly involved in planning and carrying out the Kerman terror attacks have been arrested, Kerman region Prosecutor Mahdi Bakhshi has announced.This reportedly includes two other would-be suicide attackers who were exposed before the assignment of tasks in the ceremony.Along with the two bombs that went off in Kerman, 16 additional explosive devices were discovered throughout the province by the security services and disarmed, the prosecutor said. In addition, he said, over the recent months, as many as 23 Daesh* terrorists ready to carry out suicide attacks have been arrested across Kerman province.Bakhshi did not elaborate on the identities of the Kerman suicide attackers, but reiterated that one of them was a Tajik national.Daesh claimed responsibility for the Kerman bombings, with Esmail Qaani, the current commander of the IRGCs Quds Force, accusing the perpetrators of being supplied by the United States and the Zionist regime, i.e. Israel. Iranian officials and military officials including Soleimani prior to his death have repeatedly accused the US and Israel of sponsoring and otherwise supporting Daesh. The two countries have vocally denied these allegations, with a US State Department spokesman saying this week accusations of US involvement in the Kerman attack were ridiculous.US officials have told Western media that Daeshs Afghanistan branch, ISIS-K, was responsible for the Kerman bombing. Afghanistans Taliban authorities have repeatedly accused Washington of conceiving and training ISIS-K in a bid to destabilize Afghanistan.In the aftermath of the Kerman attacks, Iran ordered border security along its frontiers with Afghanistan and Pakistan to be beefed up.Iran played a decisive role in crushing Daesh during the terror groups attempts to build a caliphate in western Iraq and eastern Syria between 2014 and 2017, with Soleimanis Quds Force advising Syrian and Lebanese Hezbollah militants fighting the terrorists in the west, and aiding the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces fighters drafted to help the regular Iraqi army in driving the terrorists from Iraqi territory in the east.Soleimani and PMF deputy commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in a US drone strike in January 2020 in Baghdad, Iraq, while the Iranian commander was on a secret peace mission aimed at restoring ties with Saudi Arabia. Iran has repeatedly sought to take members of the Trump administration and Israeli officials allegedly involved in planning the attacks to international court, but INTERPOL has refused to accept the case, citing its politicized nature. Last month, a court in Tehran ordered the United States government and individuals and entities charged with conspiring to assassinate Soleimani to pay nearly $50 billion in compensation for material, moral and punitive damages in a lawsuit filed by over 3,300 Iranians.* Also known as ISIS or ISIL, a terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/ex-pentagon-analyst-mideast-crisis-may-spiral-out-of-control-after-beirut-and-kerman-blasts---1115991140.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240104/iranian-supreme-leader-organizers-of-kerman-attack-will-be-met-with-strong-response-1115969491.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231206/iranian-court-rules-us-must-pay-50-bln-in-compensation-for-soleimanis-murder-1115434567.html iran afghanistan iraq Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov how many suspects are there in kerman terror attack case, who is responsible for kerman terror attack By Park Jae-hyuk POSCO International's motto for this year is global expansion as it aims to enhance corporate and shareholder value by strengthening its global value chains, the company said Sunday. The trading firms annual operating profit is estimated to have surpassed 1 trillion won ($760 million) for the first time last year, thanks to a merger with POSCO Energy, the groups power generation unit. During the first three quarters of last year, POSCO International posted 25.2 trillion won in sales and 948.5 billion won in operating profit. However, the company seeks to grow further this year instead of keeping the status quo. The POSCO Group affiliate is considering building another traction motor core factory in Mexico during the first half of this year, following the first one built last October, to target the North American electric vehicle market. It also aims to expand its presence in the European eco-friendly mobility market through the construction of a traction motor core factory in Poland, during the first half of the year at the earliest. Regarding its agricultural business, the company seeks to establish joint ventures in Australia and the U.S. this year for the stable supply of grain from the northern and southern hemispheres. It will also build a palm oil refinery in Indonesia during the first half in collaboration with GS Caltex. For its energy exploration and production business, POSCO International is pushing ahead with liquefying and importing natural gas from Australian gas fields. The company will also continue to look for energy sources in Malaysia and Indonesia this year. To overcome growing uncertainties in our business environment, we should not stop running toward being eco-friendly, expanding value chains and securing strategic assets in advance, POSCO International CEO and Vice Chairman Jeong Tak said in his New Years address. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/iran-faces-all-out-battle-with-the-enemy-says-military-chief-1116023740.html Iran Faces 'All-Out Battle With the Enemy' Says Military Chief Iran Faces 'All-Out Battle With the Enemy' Says Military Chief Sputnik International The head of Irans armed forces is known for his fiery rhetoric directed towards Israel, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. 2024-01-07T03:19+0000 2024-01-07T03:19+0000 2024-01-07T09:07+0000 world houthis israel red sea joe biden benjamin netanyahu hossein salami islamic revolutionary guard corps (irgc) us https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/07/1116023583_0:272:3072:2000_1920x0_80_0_0_c5f2a6f75dbcd8881007e12bbec2ae66.jpg The commander-in-chief of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sounded a note of defiance in a speech Saturday, warning enemy countries to stay away from this area.Today we are facing an all-out battle with the enemy, said Major General Hossein Salami in a ceremony marking the debut of a new ship and missile launchers.The remark comes as war threatens to break out in the Red Sea, where Houthi militants in Yemen have been attacking ships associated with Israel in retribution for the countrys incursion in Gaza. The death toll recently reached 22,438 in the besieged enclave according to local authorities.He added that Irans navy had made a brilliant leap in its offensive and defensive powers.The United States recently announced a coalition of countries would work together to counter the Houthis attacks, but the Biden administration has had difficulty securing substantial commitments. Spain was originally believed to be part of the coalition, but its defense minister clarified it would only act along with NATO or the EU. France insisted its ships would only operate under its own command.Meanwhile several shipping countries have begun taking longer routes around Africa in order to avoid the area.Iran sent a warship to the Red Sea earlier this month to protect its own commercial interests there. Some analysts have suggested Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu desires a broader war between the United States and Israels arch-enemy Iran. Netanyahu frequently employs threatening rhetoric against the country.The Israeli president recently announced military operations would continue in Gaza for several more months, but international condemnation of the countrys conduct there is mounting. Recently South Africa filed charges against Israel in the International Court of Justice, accusing the country of authoring genocide. Israel is expected to answer the charges next week in The Hague. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240101/iran-deploys-cruise-missile-armed-warship-in-red-sea-amid-us-houthi-standoff-1115932031.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/us-reportedly-preparing-for-gaza-war-to-broaden-into-regional-conflict-1115982158.html israel red sea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International houthi ship attack, yemen ship attack, us aircraft carrier yemen, houthi strikes, us sends warships against houthis, war on yemen, us-iran relations, us-iran war, iran-us conflict, us-iran conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/iran-warns-israel-will-face-nightmare-after-killing-senior-hamas-leader-1116038953.html Iran Warns Israel Will Face Nightmare After Killing Senior Hamas Leader Iran Warns Israel Will Face Nightmare After Killing Senior Hamas Leader Sputnik International Hamas Political Bureau deputy-chief Saleh al-Arouri was killed in a drone strike allegedly perpetrated by Israel on January 2 in Beirut, Lebanon. Israeli officials were instructed not to officially claim responsibility for the attack. Lebanese Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned that the assassination would not go unpunished. 2024-01-07T14:18+0000 2024-01-07T14:18+0000 2024-01-07T14:42+0000 world hassan nasrallah benjamin netanyahu middle east ismail haniyeh israel lebanon beirut hamas hezbollah https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/07/1116038770_0:161:3070:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_2fc587544dbdea80ebef6b55ffc346fd.jpg Israel will face a nightmare for its decision to assassinate a senior member of Hamas political leadership, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani has warned.The world will see how the comrades of Martyr [al-]Arouri turn into a nightmare for Israel, the Iranian commander added.Al-Arouri, 57, was killed in a drone attack in the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh on January 2 along with five other individuals, with Israeli and US officials unofficially confirming Tel Avivs responsibility. Members of the Netanyahu government were purportedly instructed not to comment or claim responsibility publicly. Whoever did this has a gripe with Hamas, Netanyahu foreign affairs spokesman Mark Regev sarcastically said following al-Arouris murder.Al-Arouri was picked as Hamas Political Bureau deputy chief in 2017. In 1993, he founded the al-Qassam Brigades Hamass military wing. In his capacity in the Political Bureau, Arouris job included engaging in diplomacy, with the official visiting Moscow in late October to negotiate the release of Russian nationals held captive by Hamas.Secretary-General of Lebanons powerful Hezbollah political and military movement Hassan Nasrallah warned Friday that al-Arouris death would not be left without an answer.Allied diplomatically to Iran and possessing up to 75,000 fighters and up to 150,000 missiles and rockets of various classes, Hezbollah is significantly more powerful militarily than Hamas, a Sunni militia concentrated in Gaza with which it has had periods of poor relations.The Lebanese Shiite militant group has gotten into multiple skirmishes with Israeli forces on the border amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza, but neither it nor Iran have allowed themselves to be pulled directly into a wider war with Israel believing this may be part of Tel Avivs strategy to draw the US and its allies into the crisis directly. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240103/how-could-beirut-killing-of-hamas-deputy-leader-change-gaza-war-1115962514.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/israel-ready-to-settle-hezbollah-conflict-by-political-or-other-means---netanyahu-1116035348.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/ex-pentagon-analyst-mideast-crisis-may-spiral-out-of-control-after-beirut-and-kerman-blasts---1115991140.html israel lebanon beirut gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov why did israel kill hamas deputy chief, is middle east heading for regional war https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/israel-ready-to-settle-hezbollah-conflict-by-political-or-other-means---netanyahu-1116035348.html Israel Ready to Settle Hezbollah Conflict by Political or 'Other' Means - Netanyahu Israel Ready to Settle Hezbollah Conflict by Political or 'Other' Means - Netanyahu Sputnik International Israel is ready to settle the conflict with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement through political means, but if they fail, "other" options will be pursued, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday. 2024-01-07T12:56+0000 2024-01-07T12:56+0000 2024-01-07T12:56+0000 world israel lebanon middle east benjamin netanyahu ismail haniyeh hezbollah hamas gaza strip palestine-israel conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/07/1116035190_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_ee658cf5eb68c38e759e20ad789c7e85.jpg Israel is ready to settle the conflict with Lebanon's Hezbollah through political means, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.He went on to clarify, however, that if such means fail, non-specified "other" options will be pursued."I suggest that Hezbollah learn the lesson that Hamas has already learned in recent months no terrorist is immune. We are determined to protect our citizens and return the residents of the north safely to their homes. This is a national goal that everyone shares, and we are acting responsibly to achieve it. If we succeed, we will do it through political means, and if not, we will act in other ways," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting.Earlier, Hezbollah said in a statement that "as part of the initial response to the crime of assassinating the great leader Sheikh Saleh al-Arouri... the Islamic resistance (Hezbollah) targeted the Meron air control base with 62 missiles of various types."Last Tuesday, an Israeli drone attacked the office of Hamas in southern Beirut and killed six people, the chairman of the movement's political bureau Ismail Haniyeh said, adding that those dead included his deputy Saleh al-Arouri. Hezbollah, allied with Hamas, threatened Israel with retaliation and punishment for the murders.The situation in southern Lebanon worsened after the start of Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army and Hezbollah fighters fire at each other's positions in areas along the border daily.On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240103/lebanon-to-file-complaint-with-un-security-council-against-israel---govt-1115956089.html israel lebanon gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International israel, lebanon, benjamin netanyahu, hezbollah, hamas, palestine-israeli conflict, gaza war https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/italy-calls-for-european-army-suggesting-desire-for-greater-independence-from-us-1116043092.html Italy Calls for European Army, Suggesting Desire for Greater Independence from US Italy Calls for European Army, Suggesting Desire for Greater Independence from US Sputnik International Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called for the creation of a European Union military force Sunday, reviving an idea that has been occasionally floated by leaders throughout the continent. 2024-01-07T21:21+0000 2024-01-07T21:21+0000 2024-01-07T23:02+0000 world nato european union (eu) emmanuel macron giorgia meloni antonio tajani brothers of italy (fratelli d'italia) italy france germany https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/0f/1107454899_0:0:3055:1719_1920x0_80_0_0_592a7f74a829f32b0127241b399b1c7c.jpg If we want to be peacekeepers in the world, we need a European military, the foreign policy chief stated in an interview with an Italian newspaper. This is a fundamental precondition to be able to have an effective European foreign policy.The comment represents an expression of independence on the part of Italys ruling right-wing Brothers of Italy party. Some observers believed populist Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni might challenge Western military prerogatives after taking office late in 2022. But Meloni has supported US backing of Israel as well as continued lethal aid to Ukraine.Some European leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron have suggested the idea of an EU army in the past. Macron famously called NATO brain dead in 2019 and said Europe should pursue strategic autonomy from Washington. However Macron changed his position after the launch of Russias special military operation in Ukraine, now supporting NATO expansion in Europe.Macron was preceded in his desire for greater French sovereignty by historical leaders like Charles de Gaulle, who refused to place the countrys military under NATO control in the 1960s. He also rejected the establishment of NATO bases in France, seeing the alliance as a tool of US domination.Although NATO is ostensibly an alliance of equals, every supreme allied commander of the bloc has been American. Some throughout Europe have begun to question the continents subservience to US foreign policy as Western-backed economic sanctions against Russia have backfired, causing a major energy affordability crisis. Europe was rocked by demonstrations protesting the rising cost of living last year and some German industry has been forced to shut down.But the rearming of Europe also brings to mind some of the greatest historical tragedies of the twentieth century. After decades of disarmament, Germany has begun to expand its military capabilities in recent years. Russia views the expansion of NATO as a threat to its security and has cited the concern in relation to its special military operation in the Donbass region.In Germany, right-wing political parties have been gaining prominence with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party securing support of more and more voters, according to recent regional elections. Right-wing politicians are also enjoying greater support in Spain, the Netherlands, and in Italy via Melonis aforementioned Brothers of Italy party. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231125/us-global-grip-american-military-bases-around-the-world-1115192966.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231126/rise-of-right-how-ukraine-conflict-and-gaza-war-affect-eus-political-balance-1115214954.html italy france germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us hegemony, eu army, european army, independent europe, us dominance, european independence https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/king-of-jordan-warns-blinken-of-catastrophic-repercussions-of-gaza-war-1116040114.html King of Jordan Warns Blinken of Catastrophic Repercussions of Gaza War King of Jordan Warns Blinken of Catastrophic Repercussions of Gaza War Sputnik International Jordanian King Abdullah II warned US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during their meeting on Sunday of the "catastrophic ramifications" brought about by the continued hostilities in the Gaza Strip and stressed the need to end the humanitarian crisis, the royal office said. 2024-01-07T15:57+0000 2024-01-07T15:57+0000 2024-01-07T15:57+0000 world abdullah ii middle east antony blinken gaza strip israel hamas us jordan palestine-israel conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/07/1116039951_0:78:3072:1806_1920x0_80_0_0_5cb4ef2c1b99f94ef2c91f0a42cdf121.jpg "His Majesty King Abdullah, during a meeting on Sunday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, warned of the catastrophic ramifications of the continued war on Gaza, stressing the need to end the tragic humanitarian crisis in the Strip," the office said in a statement. The monarch also pointed out Washington's major role "in pushing towards an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the protection of civilians, while guaranteeing the sustainable delivery of sufficient humanitarian and relief aid" to the Palestinian enclave, the statement read. Blinken embarked on a trip to the Middle East on Thursday to discuss immediate measures to boost humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and raise the need to take steps to deter the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, among other things. On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 22,800 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240106/turkish-foreign-minister-calls-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-during-talks-with-blinken---source-1116017873.html gaza strip israel jordan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International jordanian king abdullah ii, us secretary of state antony blinken, jordan, israel, gaza war, gaza strip, palestine-israeli conflict, hamas https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/russian-forces-repel-four-counterattacks-by-ukrainian-army-in-kupyansk-region---mod-1116034765.html Russian Forces Repel Four Counterattacks by Ukrainian Army in Kupyansk Region - MoD Russian Forces Repel Four Counterattacks by Ukrainian Army in Kupyansk Region - MoD Sputnik International The Ukrainian military in the Donetsk direction lost more than 300 servicepeople, four armored vehicles, a CAESAR self-propelled howitzer and a US-made M119 howitzer over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. 2024-01-07T11:46+0000 2024-01-07T11:46+0000 2024-01-07T11:46+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine russia donetsk russian defense ministry russian army https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/07/1116034319_0:295:3071:2022_1920x0_80_0_0_1e8f86bf9222e11b627e4b1564784e32.jpg "Total enemy losses in this direction amounted to more than 300 military personnel killed and wounded, four armored combat vehicles, as well as 20 vehicles," the ministry said. A Ukrainian army ammunition depot was also hit in counter-battery fire, the ministry added. In the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops repulsed four counterattacks of the Ukrainian army, destroying over 50 soldiers, two infantry fighting vehicles and three vehicles, the ministry said. In the Liman direction, Kiev lost up to 55 troops and four vehicles, the ministry added. At the same time, in the Zaporozhye direction, the Russian forces hit six Ukrainian brigades, eliminating up to 40 troops, a tank and two armored combat vehicles, as well as four vehicles, the ministry said. In the Kherson direction, Ukraine lost over 35 soldiers, three vehicles and an electronic warfare station. In the South Donetsk direction, the Russian forces destroyed up to 130 Ukrainian servicepeople, two armored vehicles, a Polish-made Krab self-propelled howitzer and two FH-70 howitzers, the ministry said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240106/russian-armed-forces-obliterate-ukrainian-command-center-in-donbass-1116015612.html ukraine russia donetsk Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian special military operation, ukrainian crisis, conflict in ukraine, war in ukraine, russian defense minitry, russian forces, russian armed forces https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/russian-president-vladimir-putin-celebrates-orthodox-christmas-1116024081.html Russian President Vladimir Putin Celebrates Orthodox Christmas Russian President Vladimir Putin Celebrates Orthodox Christmas Sputnik International Russian President Vladimir Putin has celebrated Orthodox Christmas in the house church at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence near Moscow, a Sputnik correspondent reported. 2024-01-07T04:08+0000 2024-01-07T04:08+0000 2024-01-07T04:21+0000 russia christmas orthodox christmas christmas eve vladimir putin https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/07/1116024317_0:0:2705:1521_1920x0_80_0_0_a09abf518bc407f6290d2c0150a70820.jpg On Christmas Eve, Putin met with the families of the heroes of Russia who died during the special military operation in Ukraine, and together they attended the Christmas service at the church. The church there was erected in 1765. The head of state has been there on Christmas Eve more than once -- the last time was in 2022. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International putin, christmas eve, christmas https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/russian-strategic-missile-forces-to-launch-7-icbms-in-2024---defense-ministry-1116038180.html Russian Strategic Missile Forces to Launch Seven ICBMs in 2024 - Defense Ministry Russian Strategic Missile Forces to Launch Seven ICBMs in 2024 - Defense Ministry Sputnik International Russia's Strategic Missile Forces plan to conduct seven launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in 2024, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. 2024-01-07T13:51+0000 2024-01-07T13:51+0000 2024-01-07T16:07+0000 military russia russian defense ministry icbms https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/07/1113997400_83:242:1095:811_1920x0_80_0_0_cbae8a21a135dacf37e9dcda76406e96.jpg Russia's Strategic Missile Forces plan to conduct seven launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in 2024, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday."This year, the Strategic Missile Forces plan to conduct seven launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles. Over the past five years, the Strategic Missile Forces have carried out over 20 launches of ICBMs as part of flight tests of advanced missile systems and exercises in managing the Russian armed forces," the Ministry said in a statement.Amid heightened tensions stemming from the US pullout from numerous treaties meant to safeguard against a strategic escalation and after Ukrainian attempts to attack a Russian nuclear bomber base, Moscow has pledged to inform its counterparts in Washington of all strategic-level tests ahead of time to avoid a nuclear escalation.In December, Russian Strategic Missile Forces Commander Sergei Karakaev said that Russia and the US had agreed to provide one another with at least 24 hours of advance warning ahead of the test launch of any ICBMs or submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).Russia's nuclear deterrent - consisting of ground-based mobile and silo-based missiles, sub-launched missiles and payloads deliverable by strategic bombers, has undergone a multi-trillion ruble modernization over the past decade. The program has included replacing older legacy missiles with Yars and Sarmat ICBMs, RSM-56 Bulava SLBMs and Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missiles, and ship and air-launched strategic weapons with a complement of nuclear-armable, maneuverable, hypersonic missiles like the Zircon, Kinzhal and Avangard.Russia's nuclear doctrine forbids Moscow from using nuclear weapons of any sort unless the country comes under attack using nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, or in the event of an act of conventional aggression so great that it threatens the country's survival. The US - the only nation in the world to have ever used nuclear weapons against an enemy, presently has no such restrictions on its strategic doctrine, with the latest Nuclear Posture Review allowing for preemptive attacks even against non-nuclear armed adversaries.The US walked out of the Anti-Ballistic Treaty in 2002, scrapped the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, and threatened to allow the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) to expire without renewal in early 2021. Russia suspended its participation in New START last February, citing attacks by NATO-backed Ukrainian forces on an airfield basing Russian nuclear bombers, but has pledged to continue abiding by the agreement's terms so long as the US also does so. New START is expected to expire in 2026, with the US previously indicating that it wants to include China's nuclear arsenal into any future agreement. Beijing has balked at such proposals. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231217/watch-russian-forces-employ-yars-icbms-in-military-exercise-1115650398.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231231/how-global-nuclear-weapons-landscape-has-changed-over-2023-1115908488.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov russian strategic missile forces https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/ukraine-hits-donetsk-hospital-on-christmas-eve-1116029532.html Ukraine Hits Donetsk Hospital on Christmas Eve Ukraine Hits Donetsk Hospital on Christmas Eve Sputnik International Three hospital patients were wounded during shelling of the Leninsky district of Donetsk, the Donetsk peoples Republic (DPR) by Ukrainian troops on Orthodox Christmas Eve. 2024-01-07T11:00+0000 2024-01-07T11:00+0000 2024-01-09T13:28+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia donetsk belgorod ukrainian armed forces donetsk peoples republic multiple-launch rocket systems (mlrs) denis pushilin russia's belgorod shelled by ukraine video https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/07/1116030060_2:0:793:445_1920x0_80_0_0_8080cf0284a9a999be83977a4baa3b3d.jpg Three hospital patients were wounded during Ukraine's shelling of Donetsk city in the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) on Orthodox Christmas Eve.In Leninsky district, on the territory of hospital No. 6 on Klinicheskaya Street, three patients sustained injuries, Mayor Alexey Kulemzin wrote on Telegram.The hospitals staff organized an evacuation of the patients to a shelter in the basement and provided all necessary care to them. Kulemzin added that the roof and glazing of the hospital building were damaged in the attack, with window frames and doors blown out.The heating mains, gas pipeline, transformer substation and a vehicle were also damaged.The Ukrainian military has been launching daily attacks on Donetsk throughout the winter holidays. The shelling of the city center on New Years Eve left four people dead and 13 more injured. The Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) strikes on residential areas in downtown Donetsk as residents prepared to ring in 2024 and in the early hours of Monday morning came just a day after a similar attack on Russia's border city of Belgorod. The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine shelled the central part of Belgorod using Czech-made Vampire rockets and missiles with cluster munitions. Air defenses intercepted most of them, but several projectiles and cluster fragments from downed rockets fell on the Russian city. Moscow vowed inevitable punishment for those responsible for the terrorist attacks.The head of the Donetsk Peoples Republic, Denis Pushilin, told Sputnik that what sets Moscow apart from the regime in Kiev is that Russias Armed Forces only target military installations as part of the ongoing special operation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240101/ukraines-new-year-attack-on-donetsk-pure-terrorism-enabled-by-us--ex-cia-analyst-1115934546.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240105/donetsk-peoples-republic-shelled-by-ukraine-48-times-in-past-day-1116005362.html russia donetsk belgorod Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 On Christmas Eve, the Ukrainian Armed Forces hit city hospital No. 6 in Donetsk Sputnik International On Christmas Eve, the Ukrainian Armed Forces hit city hospital No. 6 in Donetsk 2024-01-07T11:00+0000 true PT0M39S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko ukraine's shelling of donetsk, donetsk peoples republic, dpr https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/ukraines-defense-budget-deficit-reaches-113bln---reports-1116022148.html Ukraines Defense Budget Deficit Reaches $11.3Bln - Reports Ukraines Defense Budget Deficit Reaches $11.3Bln - Reports Sputnik International The budget deficit of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry for 2024 is 36% or 430 billion hryvnias ($11.33 billion), a member of the Ukrainian parliament, Oleksiy Goncharenko, said on Saturday. 2024-01-07T00:36+0000 2024-01-07T00:36+0000 2024-01-07T00:36+0000 economy ukraine ukraine crisis ukrainian conflict ukrainian crisis ukrainian counteroffensive attempt economic crisis volodymyr zelensky alexei goncharenko budget deficit https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/02/1115342020_0:321:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_b01fd0c2f09b1e69a95de0b969355de4.jpg "At a meeting of the National Security Committee, information was announced about the budget deficit of the Ministry of Defense for 2024. It amounts to 36% or 430 billion hryvnias only in terms of monetary support expenses," Goncharenko stated on Telegram. The head of the Ukrainian parliament's tax committee, Danylo Hetmantsev, said in November that Ukraine's state budget was critically dependent on external assistance and that Kiev needed to attract about $9.5 billion in financial support in the form of grants and soft loans by the end of the year. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Ukraine expected to receive over $30 billion in financial aid from the European Union, the United States, the allied states and the IMF to compensate for the state budget deficit. On September 15, Shmyhal said that the Ukrainian government adopted a draft budget for 2024 with record military spending of $45.6 billion, which exceeded the spending on the social sphere, medicine and education. The Ukrainian Ministry of Finance said later that the draft budget for 2024 provided for spending on security and defense of more than $48 billion, which is 23% of the countrys GDP. In late November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law on Ukraine's 2024 state budget with a deficit of over $43 billion. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230928/west-pays-for-70-of-zelensky-govts-expenses-as-ukraines-debt-hits-new-high-1113767741.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International budget deficit, economic crisis, european union, funding for ukraine, ukrainian troops, ukrainian losses, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian counteroffensive, eu money, weapons for ukraine, financial aid, financial support, european aid, european support, europe for ukraine, eu aid to ukraine, eu funding of ukraine, no money for ukraine